Overview of PMS 2.0 1624
This episode of PMS 2.0 centered on a huge Week 1 NFL reaction show and a strong college football recap, with Pat McAfee, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Brian Baldinger, Ian Rapoport, Mike LaFleur, and Rece Davis breaking down the biggest storylines. The main themes were the Chiefs looking like the Chiefs again, the Broncos’ offensive struggles under Davis Webb/Sean Payton scrutiny, a growing league-wide emphasis on run football and tackling, plus major college football takeaways from Texas’ comeback win, Oregon’s concerns, and a deep Big 12.
NFL Week 1 Main Takeaways
Chiefs are still the Chiefs
- Kansas City looked physical, efficient, and increasingly built around:
- a strong run game
- an elite defense
- Patrick Mahomes making timely plays instead of carrying everything himself
- Travis Kelce was highlighted as still being a major weapon despite his age and a down year the season before.
- Pat and the crew repeatedly emphasized that the Chiefs’ identity may be returning to a more old-school formula: run game + defense + Mahomes in clutch moments.
Broncos offensive concerns after a rough opener
- Denver’s offense was the biggest question mark coming out of Monday night.
- The discussion focused heavily on:
- Davis Webb calling plays
- Sean Payton’s trust in younger coaches
- whether the Broncos should consider handing play-calling back to Payton
- The crew debated whether Denver’s struggles were more about the Broncos being bad or the Chiefs’ defense being legitimately elite.
- Bo Nix was described as a young QB still expected to grow, but the offense clearly looked out of sync.
Tackling and run-game emphasis are back in style
- A major topic was how many teams are leaning into:
- under-center runs
- 13 personnel
- fullbacks and tight ends
- physical, downhill football
- The group agreed Week 1 showed that the league is trending back toward “real football”:
- more rushing
- more explosive plays off the run
- more missed tackles early in the year as defenders get back into live-contact shape
Defense, punch-outs, and turnovers
- Darius Butler and AJ Hawk highlighted how important forced fumbles and punch-outs are becoming.
- Butler debuted his “Peanut Punch-Out Spotlight,” crediting the evolution of turnover-focused defensive technique.
- The point was that while tackling was sloppy in Week 1, defenses still made huge impact plays by attacking the ball.
Ian Rapoport Segment: Injuries and Quarterback Questions
Key injury updates
- Mansoor Delane: early-game injury for Kansas City; MRI expected, with optimism it may not be serious.
- Sam Darnold: clarified that the injury was to his glute/butt muscle, not a serious hip issue; he was expected to miss at least this week, possibly 1–2 games.
- Ladd McConkey: rib/chest injury, day-to-day, likely not major.
Broncos and play-calling
- Rapoport reiterated that Sean Payton trusted Davis Webb for a reason, and one bad game doesn’t necessarily mean the experiment is over.
- He suggested the Broncos’ offensive issues should be viewed in context, but acknowledged the pressure is real.
Carson Wentz and the Vikings
- Rapoport said Carson Wentz probably won’t be the long-term answer in Minnesota, but he looked excellent in relief.
- The door is open for Kyler-style uncertainty/injury management, but the expectation is still that the starter will eventually reclaim the job.
Joey Porter Jr. and possible trade chatter
- JPJ was discussed as ramping up after injury issues and missing camp.
- Because the Steelers typically don’t negotiate in-season, Rapoport said a trade is at least worth monitoring if the contract standoff continues.
Drew Brees Broncos rumor
- Rapoport confirmed the Broncos had at least explored the idea of Drew Brees as a possible emergency/temporary option in a major AFC title game situation.
- The conversation veered into how wild retired-QB comeback discussions have become in the modern NFL.
Mike LaFleur: Cardinals’ First Win, Culture, and Identity
Cardinals’ upset and early identity
- Arizona’s head coach, Mike LaFleur, reflected on his team’s Week 1 win over the Chargers and stressed the same message repeatedly:
- “one week at a time”
- “where your feet are”
- “1-0 each week”
- He said the Cardinals are built around toughness, preparation, and keeping the focus internal rather than on outside hype.
Jacoby Brissett and Trey McBride
- LaFleur praised Jacoby Brissett’s calmness, intelligence, and command.
- He described TE Trey McBride as one of the most complete and reliable players he’s ever been around:
- elite hands
- physical toughness
- savvy route running
- strong YAC ability
- He made it clear McBride is a foundational piece of the offense.
Culture and long-term optimism
- LaFleur said he loves Arizona, the ownership, and the players.
- He emphasized that the team’s success is tied to buying into the process and staying level-headed.
- The crew noted how much the Cardinals’ perception changed after one big upset win.
Brian Baldinger: Film Study, 13 Personnel, and the New Football Trend
Why the league looks different
- Baldy explained that the NFL is moving toward:
- more 13 personnel
- more power running
- more under-center football
- more play-action layered throws
- He said this trend helps quarterbacks, creates better run-game leverage, and makes defenses work harder.
Chiefs, Broncos, and offensive line play
- Baldinger praised Kansas City’s offensive line and the undrafted rookie tackle who stepped in and held up well.
- He argued that Andy Reid has an elite eye for offensive linemen and toughness.
- He also stressed that mental toughness matters just as much as physical talent.
Bears offense
- Baldy was extremely high on what Ben Johnson did in Chicago:
- massive rushing production
- creative blocking
- dynamic QB play from Caleb Williams
- He said the Bears may have the makings of a truly dangerous offense if they keep that structure intact.
Ravens and culture
- He also praised Baltimore’s size, toughness, and personnel usage, crediting the team for building a physically imposing offense.
College Football With Rece Davis
Big games and key storylines
- Rece focused on the major games and themes from Week 2:
- LSU vs. Ole Miss
- SMU vs. Louisville
- Houston vs. Texas Tech
- Oklahoma State vs. Oregon
- He highlighted several emerging quarterback and team storylines:
- Sam Leavitt’s turnovers
- explosive offenses in the Big 12
- Oregon looking sloppy and needing to prove itself
Texas’ comeback over Ohio State
- Rece said Texas’ huge comeback win was the weekend’s signature result.
- He still had Notre Dame No. 1, but Texas moved up near the top because of the size of the win.
- His main point: Texas may have the best résumé so far, but he still wants to see more consistency before crowning them.
Big 12 depth and chaos
- Rece suggested the Big 12 looks deep and volatile, with multiple good teams but no clear dominant one yet.
- Utah, BYU, West Virginia, Iowa State, and others were all discussed as teams that could matter.
Program concerns
- Oregon drew concern from Rece, who said they looked more like a team underperforming their talent than a team on a smooth national-title path.
- Michigan and Oklahoma also came up as teams with important early-season momentum questions.
The “AFC-NFC Shite Division”
The show introduced a new running bit: a weekly “shite division” for the four worst-looking teams after the weekend.
First four teams in the division
- Cleveland Browns
- Tennessee Titans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Rams
Why they were included
- Browns and Titans were obvious early candidates based on ugly Week 1 performances.
- Colts were added after getting blown out by the Ravens.
- Rams made the list despite being a Super Bowl favorite, because their Week 1 output was shockingly poor.
Other Notable Moments
Hot Arrowhead atmosphere
- Pat described the Monday Night Football environment in Kansas City as college-like and electric.
- He repeatedly talked about:
- the anthem
- the flyover
- the crowd noise
- getting kicked off the field during production
Pat’s broadcast and suite stories
- There were several long, comedic tangents about:
- being in the Kelsey family suite
- Taylor Swift and Donna Kelsey
- eating candy bacon
- interacting with Tom Cruise and other celebrities
- The segment was part game recap, part behind-the-scenes chaos.
Gambling and responsibility
- The crew repeatedly referenced losing a boosted bet and reminded viewers to gamble responsibly.
- There was a lot of joking about overreacting to Week 1 results, both on the field and in betting.
Bottom Line
This episode was a big Week 1 reaction show wrapped in a wide-ranging football conversation:
- The Chiefs look like contenders again.
- The Broncos have major offensive questions.
- Tackling and run football are central themes early in the season.
- The Cardinals and Bears both came away with optimism after impressive offensive/organizational showings.
- College football is already delivering huge wins, chaos, and debate about rankings.
If the first two weeks are any indication, the season is going to be defined by physical football, quarterback development, and which teams can adapt fastest.