Overview of PMS 2.0 1619 with Pat McAfee
This episode is a high-energy NFL kickoff-eve edition of the show, centered on the start of the 2026 NFL season and a wild recap of SMU’s upset win over Florida State in a bizarre, power-outage-delayed game. The crew also dives into week-one college football takeaways, cornerback contracts, injury updates, and what to expect from the Patriots-Seahawks opener, with interviews from Ian Rapoport, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor, and SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee.
Biggest Storylines
NFL season is here
- The crew repeatedly frames the episode as the final stop before the 2026 NFL season begins.
- They hype up the opening slate, especially:
- Patriots vs. Seahawks on Wednesday night
- Rams vs. 49ers in Australia
- A strong Week 1 schedule full of divisional matchups and marquee games
SMU’s stunning win over Florida State
- SMU beat Florida State in a game delayed by a major power outage.
- The hosts joke that the game was played in “Amish-style football” conditions before the lights and communications came back.
- Florida State’s loss is framed as especially painful because they still had several statistical advantages but could not finish.
Key Football Takeaways
SMU showed toughness and adaptability
- SMU won despite:
- A muffed punt
- Red-zone turnovers
- Missed kicks
- Penalties
- Time-of-possession issues
- The crew praises SMU’s ability to win in chaos and calls attention to their special teams play and resilience.
Florida State’s rough night
- The show suggests this is a damaging loss for Mike Norvell and Florida State’s momentum.
- The program’s fan frustration and low vibes are emphasized.
- Taylor McGregor reports that the stadium atmosphere and team response were affected by the prolonged delay and unusual conditions.
Miami looked dominant in Week 1
- Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes are described as explosive, deep, and physically imposing.
- The hosts view Miami as one of the most impressive teams from the opening weekend.
- The team’s quarterback play, wide receiver talent, and defensive intensity are all highlighted.
Interview Highlights
Ian Rapoport on injuries and contract news
- Rapoport explains how Christian Gonzalez got his new Patriots extension done late, with the Patriots moving slightly on average annual value to close the deal.
- He discusses the ongoing cornerback market and how one new deal can reset expectations for others.
- He gives status updates on several players:
- George Kittle: likely to play
- Alec Pierce: likely to play
- Jeremiah Love: likely to play
- Malik Nabers: trending toward playing
- Joey Porter Jr.: still unresolved, but likely to play and potentially nearing a new deal
- Tyler Smith: out 4–6 weeks after thumb surgery
- Aaron Donald: expected to play, with optimism but not a formal final declaration
Notable takeaway
- The show repeatedly notes that early-season injury reports are fluid and that teams are not obligated to reveal much before game day.
Mario Cristobal on Miami’s identity
- Cristobal says Miami is focused on “the flat-out truth” and constant improvement rather than celebrating Week 1 too much.
- He emphasizes:
- Quarterback development
- Supporting-cast fit
- Recruiting and culture
- Building a roster for the long season ahead
- He praises his quarterback’s leadership, precision, and competitiveness.
- He also stresses that Miami’s success comes from collaboration across the staff, locker room, and recruiting pipeline.
Cristobal’s main message
- Miami is not treating Week 1 as proof of arrival.
- The Hurricanes are still “working at it” and aiming to get better every week.
Taylor McGregor on the delay at Florida State
- McGregor gives a detailed, on-the-ground explanation of how the outage unfolded.
- She says the teams were given only about 30 minutes to adjust before deciding to play without full technology support.
- She explains:
- The light outage and transformer issues
- Meetings with coaches and officials
- How both staffs agreed to play with limited communication
- She also confirms that the atmosphere around Florida State was tense and frustrated.
Rhett Lashley on SMU’s wild win
- Lashley describes the strange sequence:
- Delayed kickoff
- Power failure
- No coach-to-player communication
- No iPads, no play clock, limited scoreboard functionality
- He says SMU returned to an older style of football, using more direct signaling and huddle communication.
- He praises quarterback Kevin Jennings for handling the chaos and throwing for over 400 yards.
- Lashley argues that the team showed it can win even when everything goes wrong, but also admits they can’t rely on that formula often.
Running Bits and Tone
College football rankings and “above-average poll”
- Tone Diggs presents a tongue-in-cheek “above-average poll” with:
- Miami at No. 1
- LSU at No. 2
- Ohio State at No. 3
- Oregon drops a bit after a sloppy win, while Michigan is mocked for poor Week 1 performance.
Banter about quarterbacks, captains, and week-to-week leadership
- The crew discusses NFL teams using week-to-week captains instead of season-long ones.
- They compare it to old-school football and the idea that leadership should be earned regularly.
A long detour on pierogi pizza and Pittsburgh food
- A large chunk of comedic back-and-forth centers on pierogi pizza and Pittsburgh food culture.
- It’s mostly a bit, but it provides a running example of how far the show can wander off-topic while still staying sports-adjacent.
Main Takeaways
- Football season is officially underway, and the show treats this as a major cultural reset.
- SMU’s win over Florida State was one of the strangest and most impressive games of Week 1.
- Miami, LSU, and Ohio State emerge as early college football standouts in the crew’s eyes.
- Injuries and contract extensions are already shaping early NFL storylines.
- The episode reinforces a central theme of the show: chaos, humor, and football analysis all at once.
Notable Quotes / Refrains
- “We like doing hard things.”
- “Statuses are subject to change.”
- “You think you know, but you have no idea.”
- “It’s football season, baby.”
Action Items / Watch List
Games and players to monitor next
- Patriots vs. Seahawks
- Rams vs. 49ers in Australia
- Aaron Donald’s status
- Joey Porter Jr.’s contract situation
- Week 2 for Miami and SMU
- Cubs baseball and U.S. Open tennis as side stories carrying the show into football season