Overview of Pardon My Take
This episode mixes a recap of Bears-Patriots Thursday Night Football, a long interview with Blake Griffin about his new show The Step Back and the modern NBA, and a full Week 7 NFL picks and preview segment. The hosts also lean into their usual chaotic side bits: gifts for Hank, the “Glenn Tape Watch” saga, a fantasy-minute update, and the weekly Fire Fest.
Bears Defeat the Patriots on Thursday Night Football
The episode opens with an immediate reaction to the Bears’ 32-24 win over the Patriots.
Main takeaways
- Caleb Williams looked excellent, especially throwing downfield and creating plays under pressure.
- The hosts praised his:
- pocket command
- ability to evade pressure
- big throws to Rome Odunze and Luther Burden
- overall growth and calmness
- Drake May played well too, but an interception in the red zone and the final sequence helped swing the game to Chicago.
- The Bears’ defense was solid overall, though they gave up a terrible end-of-half touchdown.
- Cairo Santos was a major factor, including a crucial late field goal after a doink from long range.
- The hosts also discussed a bizarre Ben Johnson trick-play-like handoff, with a long debate over whether it was legal or intentionally designed as future film bait.
Patriots angle
- Hank argued the Patriots were still competitive and that the game turned on one bad turnover and a concussion hit on Drake May.
- The crew pushed back a bit, but agreed May showed a lot despite the loss.
- The Patriots’ late-game clock management and the fourth-down stop were also discussed.
Blake Griffin Interview
Blake Griffin joins to talk about his new show The Step Back, which is now streaming weekly.
What the show is about
- A mix of sports commentary, humor, and bigger-picture analysis
- Less hot-take-driven, more about stepping back and examining what’s happening in sports
- He says the goal is to be funny but also thoughtful
Topics covered
Sports media and criticism
- Griffin talked about how social media changed sports discourse:
- more constant scrutiny
- more anonymous criticism
- less accountability than in the old columnist/beat-writer era
- He said criticism is fine, but there’s a line when it becomes disrespectful.
NBA outlook
- He discussed:
- the Lakers
- the Sixers
- the Pacers
- the Thunder
- the Spurs
- the Nuggets
- He likes the Knicks, thinks the Sixers have huge upside, and sees Oklahoma City as a serious title favorite.
- He also gave his thoughts on:
- Victor Wembanyama
- Jalen Brunson
- Tyrese Maxey
- LeBron’s longevity
- J.J. Redick as a coach
- A recurring theme: elite players’ bodies and styles evolve, but skill can keep them productive longer than expected.
Fun bits from the interview
- He agreed that JJ Redick is terrified of his shadow on the golf course.
- He talked about court-side vs. “feet on the wood” seating.
- He joked about wanting to help the Clippers “fight back” after the Kawhi/Clippers discourse.
- He and the hosts agreed that one of the hardest parts of the modern NBA is voting and awards structure, especially when media votes affect contracts and legacy.
Key line of thought
- Griffin believes the modern NBA still rewards skill, but that role players, chemistry, and timing matter just as much as star power.
Week 7 NFL Picks and Preview
The crew moves into a full game-by-game preview, with several strong opinions and a few “hungry dog” picks.
Steelers vs. Saints in Paris
- The hosts like the Steelers and the over, but there’s uncertainty around:
- Aaron Rodgers traveling internationally
- the Saints’ kicking situation
- the possibility of weird international-game variance
- They also joked about Kellen Moore needing a tougher sideline personality.
49ers vs. Falcons
- One of the favorite upset-ish spots of the week.
- They questioned whether San Francisco’s defense has been truly tested.
- The case for Atlanta:
- home dog potential
- Falcons desperate after recent inconsistency
- San Francisco possibly due for a letdown
- This was discussed as a potential Hungry Dog game.
Browns vs. Titans
- A near-universal under spot.
- The hosts argued there may not be enough offense in either team to get to 38 points.
- They also discussed:
- the Titans’ recent strange practice/locker-room issues
- how the Titans have become a kind of “hospital” for veteran receivers
- whether the Browns are actually good or just “good-ish”
Colts vs. Vikings
- The hosts leaned Vikings and probably under.
- Minnesota’s defense and coaching were the main reasons.
- They noted the Colts’ interim GM situation and joked about how much power an interim GM actually has.
Dolphins vs. Jets
- A must-win for the Jets, according to the crew.
- They discussed the Jets being unable to manage the end of the second quarter, and how ugly it could get if they lose.
- Also discussed:
- Aaron Glenn’s fine
- Justin Tucker’s tryout with Miami
- “two-finger” Jets fan lore
- The Dolphins/Jets game was framed as a potential disaster spot for New York.
Buccaneers vs. Panthers
- The Panthers were getting respect.
- The big storyline: “Fun Bryce” — Bryce Young’s new, looser, more confident version.
- Baker Mayfield’s return makes the Bucs more watchable, but Carolina was getting a lot of love due to defensive improvement and health.
Bengals vs. Ravens
- Lamar’s health status was a major question.
- The hosts leaned over because these teams often produce wild scoring games.
- They also discussed Trey Hendrickson’s contract situation and whether this is actually a revenge game.
Giants vs. Texans
- One of Hank’s boldest picks: he likes the Giants moneyline.
- Max and others pushed back hard, but Hank pointed to:
- Texans travel fatigue
- a possible letdown spot
- the Giants’ ability to be scrappy
- They also noted Malik Nabers’ absurd quarterback carousel.
Packers vs. Lions
- One of the best games on the slate.
- The hosts leaned over.
- They discussed:
- Detroit’s offensive consistency
- the possibility of a Brian Branch return
- Josh Jacobs potentially playing
- the “LaFleur sweep” idea for Dan Campbell
- They also noted both teams may be better than their critics admit.
Rams vs. Raiders
- The Rams were described as basically must-win territory.
- If they lose, the hosts suggested they may no longer be a true playoff team.
- They cited the Rams’ strong yardage differential and overall profile, despite concerns.
Cardinals vs. Broncos
- This became a discussion about whether Bo Nix is entering a crisis point.
- The hosts think the Broncos are still good, but Nix is in a mental slump and needs to bounce back.
- There was debate over whether “crisis point” is too strong, but everyone agreed this game matters a lot.
Seahawks vs. Chiefs
- The crew like the Seahawks as a hungry-dog style spot.
- Reasons:
- Seattle’s desperation at 3-3
- Kansas City’s schedule has looked softer than its record
- the Chiefs are still good, but this is a test
- They expect a tough, physical game and think Seattle has the edge.
Recurring Bits and Side Stories
Hank’s gift: the farting dog toy
- The crew revealed a custom Hank dog toy based on his famous Pelicans-hat look.
- It makes a fart sound and is being sold as a product.
- Hank was not amused, but the others loved it.
“Glenn Tape Watch” and the ticket mystery
- The episode revisits Glenn’s all-22 / tape-watch gimmick.
- Glenn allegedly offered Drake Maylover tickets to the game, which Hank viewed as suspicious.
- The debate became a major bit:
- Was Glenn being sincere?
- Was this a trap?
- Should Drake Maylover have accepted the tickets?
- The crew mostly treated Glenn as a mysterious, possibly sinister presence.
Fantasy minute
- Jerry joined with a chaotic fantasy update.
- A mix-up over Nicky Smokes vs. Tommy Smokes added to the bit.
- The hosts also discussed the state of their shared fantasy team and whether the league is salvageable.
Barstool New York / Banner Night
- The crew also revisited the Knicks’ banner night and the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden.
- There was discussion of:
- the 1973 championship celebration
- the ring presentation
- Roger Goodell’s presence
- Adam Silver not being the one handing out rings
- The hosts were very high on the Knicks after the opening games.
Fire Fest of the Week
Hank’s Fire Fest
- Hank’s main complaint was that he expected to get “locked in” in October, but instead:
- the weather has been fantastic
- he’s played a lot of golf
- he’s been winning left-handed
- He’s now on a run of beating friends lefty and may not stop doing it.
- He also mentioned a Patriots loss, but the golf weather clearly won the week.
Zach’s Fire Fest
- Zach’s New York trip was fun, but he got wrecked by bad bodega pizza after making the rookie mistake of buying pizza from the wrong spot.
- He had already been warned about the difference between:
- bodega food
- pizza-place pizza
- He was in the “puke zone” for nearly a full day after eating it.
Final Takeaways
- The Bears’ win over the Patriots was the most immediate on-air storyline, and the hosts were especially impressed by Caleb Williams.
- Blake Griffin delivered a strong, thoughtful interview that balanced humor and serious sports insight.
- The Week 7 picks leaned toward overs in a few key games and featured several strong takes on underdogs, especially the Giants, Falcons, and Seahawks.
- The episode also delivered a lot of classic Barstool chaos: farting dog toys, Glenn paranoia, fantasy-team nonsense, and food disasters.