Overview of PMS 2.0 1631
Pat McAfee and the crew opened with a lively Thursday show centered on the Week 3 NFL kickoff between the Falcons and Packers, then branched into college football, the Presidents Cup, and a few signature chaos-filled segments. The episode mixed game preview analysis with interviews from Kirk Herbstreit, Coach Chuck Pagano, AJ Hawk, Matt Schneidman, Mark Schlabach, and Johnny Knoxville, while also reacting to injuries, betting angles, and a few memorable “What the Chuck” coaching breakdowns.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Falcons at Packers
Main storyline
- The big matchup was Atlanta at Green Bay, with Michael Penix Jr. returning for his first start in a long time.
- The conversation repeatedly highlighted that this game is hard to forecast because:
- Atlanta’s offense has been rough, especially early in the season.
- Green Bay’s offensive line is banged up and has struggled to protect Jordan Love.
- Both defenses have looked solid overall.
Packers concerns and strengths
- Green Bay’s biggest issue is its injured offensive line and poor run game.
- Despite that, the Packers’ defense was described as one of the bright spots.
- Several guests expected Green Bay to win at home, but some were less certain about covering the spread.
Falcons outlook
- The Falcons were framed as having their hopes tied to:
- Penix’s return
- Bijan Robinson being the most dangerous player on the field
- Better play from the skill group, especially Kyle Pitts and Drake London
- The line moved because of Penix’s return and the Packers’ injuries, but the crew still viewed Atlanta as a high-variance team.
Betting angle
- The show’s featured boost was:
- Bijan Robinson 100+ combined rushing + receiving yards
- Tucker Kraft 25+ receiving yards
- The spread and total were debated heavily, with the crew split between Packers confidence and Falcons covering because of the low-scoring setup.
Guests and Interviews
Kirk Herbstreit
- Herbstreit joined to break down the Thursday night game and several other college football matchups.
- He emphasized:
- Penix’s long layoff and the challenge of starting at Lambeau
- The Packers’ five different offensive line combinations in two games
- Green Bay’s defense and the impact of Micah Parsons’ absence
- He also discussed:
- Cincinnati’s improved defense
- Oregon vs. USC
- Iowa vs. Michigan
- Ole Miss vs. Florida
- Texas vs. Tennessee
- West Virginia’s QB situation
- He gave the show one of its funniest side conversations about special teams, kicking, and the NFL’s celebration fines.
Coach Chuck Pagano
- Pagano gave the most detailed football analysis of the day.
- His key takeaways:
- Atlanta’s offense has major questions, but Penix gives them hope.
- Green Bay’s inability to run the football and penalties are major red flags.
- The Packers’ defense has been very good and should pressure Penix.
- He ultimately picked Packers -4.5.
- Pagano also delivered entertaining segments about:
- Taxes and Social Security
- The NFL’s tendency to over-police celebrations
- His old special teams trick plays and “what the Chuck” moments
AJ Hawk
- Hawk, live from Ohio, gave the Packers perspective.
- He leaned toward a Packers win, saying Lambeau and the home opener should matter.
- He also helped break down the Packers’ defensive versatility and the three-safety look.
Matt Schneidman
- The Packers beat writer gave the clearest diagnosis of Green Bay’s offense:
- Offensive line injuries have been brutal.
- The run game is near the bottom of the league.
- Jordan Love has been forced into too many obvious passing situations.
- He was much more optimistic about the defense, especially the emergence of younger defenders and the overall depth in the secondary.
Mark Schlabach
- Schlabach, speaking from the Presidents Cup, discussed:
- The U.S. team’s dominance in the event
- How the format and depth favor America
- The team’s star power, especially Scottie Scheffler
- He also previewed several college football games, particularly:
- Georgia vs. Oklahoma
- Ole Miss vs. Florida
- Texas vs. Tennessee
Johnny Knoxville
- Knoxville was announced as the College GameDay celebrity guest picker for Texas at Tennessee.
- The segment leaned heavily into Knoxville’s long-standing Tennessee fandom and his willingness to do outrageous things for entertainment.
- The crew treated his appearance as a perfect fit for Knoxville and the Vols.
College Football Preview and GameDay Storylines
Biggest games discussed
- Texas vs. Tennessee
- Georgia vs. Oklahoma
- Ole Miss vs. Florida
- Iowa vs. Michigan
- USC vs. Oregon
- West Virginia’s matchup and future outlook
Notable college football themes
- Herbstreit and Schlabach both highlighted how loaded the weekend slate is.
- Tennessee quarterback Faison Brandon came up as a major storyline because of the environment and the challenge of facing Texas.
- Arch Manning was discussed at length, with the crew noting the pressure around him every week and how much scrutiny comes with the Texas job.
- Trinidad Chambliss at Ole Miss drew major praise as one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country.
- West Virginia was noted as a team with some real momentum and a quarterback in Michael Hawkins Jr. worth watching.
Presidents Cup Update
- The show checked in live on the Presidents Cup from Chicago.
- The U.S. team was expected to dominate again, with Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns teeing off and immediately setting a strong tone.
- Schlabach noted:
- The Americans have superior depth
- The international team has talent, but not enough to match the U.S. overall
- Team golf events still matter, but the format makes the event lopsided
What the Chuck: Coaching and Football Mistakes
Defensive communication breakdowns
- Pagano used film examples to show how:
- Defensive players get confused by bunch formations, motion, and late shifts
- Miscommunication creates easy touchdowns
- One example came from a Carolina/Atlanta defensive bust that opened up a clean touchdown.
Special teams chaos
- Another “What the Chuck” example focused on a blocked punt/fake situation and how special teams rules can decide games.
- The crew revisited older stories from Pagano’s coaching days about:
- Fake plays
- Safety-style special teams calls
- Wild punt block situations
- These stories were used to show why football preparation is so detail-heavy and why obscure coaching situations can swing games.
Final Picks
- Pat McAfee / Chuck Pagano: Packers -4.5
- Ty Schmidt: Packers by at least 10
- Boston Connor: Packers -4.5 after waffling
- A.J. Hawk: Packers by about 10
- Tone Diggs: Falcons +4.5
- Overall, the room leaned Packers, but the underdog argument hinged on the Falcons’ defense and Penix’s return.
Key Takeaways
- The show’s central NFL question was whether Green Bay’s injuries and offensive issues would open the door for Penix and the Falcons.
- The Packers were seen as the better team, but not necessarily a clean bet.
- Bijan Robinson was the most universally respected player in the matchup.
- The episode also doubled as a preview show for a loaded college football weekend, with Texas-Tennessee and Ole Miss-Florida drawing a lot of attention.
- Johnny Knoxville’s GameDay announcement and the Presidents Cup check-in added a lot of energy to an already busy episode.