PMS 2.0 1632 - TNF Recap, NFL Week 3 Preview/Picks, Ian Rapoport, Nick Saban, Stanford Steve, Tennessee Head Coach Todd Huepel, Browns Head Coach Todd Monken, & AJ Hawk

Summary of PMS 2.0 1632 - TNF Recap, NFL Week 3 Preview/Picks, Ian Rapoport, Nick Saban, Stanford Steve, Tennessee Head Coach Todd Huepel, Browns Head Coach Todd Monken, & AJ Hawk

by Pat McAfee, ESPN

2h 30m•September 25, 2026

Overview of PMS 2.0 1632

This episode is a wide-ranging Friday football show built around the Falcons’ stunning Thursday night win in Green Bay, a full NFL Week 3 preview and picks segment, and major college football conversation from Knoxville ahead of Tennessee vs. Texas. Pat McAfee, A.J. Hawk, Ty Schmidt, Boston Connor, Ian Rapoport, Nick Saban, Stanford Steve, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, and Browns head coach Todd Monken all contribute to a fast-moving show that blends game analysis, betting angles, coaching insight, and the usual chaos.

Thursday Night Football Recap: Falcons Shock the Packers

The show opens with a deep dive into Atlanta’s convincing road win over Green Bay.

Key takeaways

  • Michael Penix Jr.’s return changed everything for Atlanta after a long injury layoff.
  • Bijan Robinson was the star of the night, with the crew praising his patience, burst, vision, and control.
  • The Falcons’ backfield looked like a true two-headed monster with Brian Robinson Jr. spelling Bijan.
  • The Packers were heavily criticized for:
    • poor offensive line play
    • lack of rushing production
    • penalties and discipline issues
    • looking flat at home on prime time

Packers reaction

  • Ty Schmidt takes a very bleak but “level-headed” stance: the Packers are bad right now, and he’s not investing emotional energy until they improve.
  • The group notes the front office and coaching staff have big expectations, but the roster still has major flaws.

Betting/boost sweat

  • The crew celebrates a DraftKings super boost win tied to Tucker Kraft, describing it as a heart-attack finish.
  • They also talk about how hard it is to predict NFL outcomes and point out the bizarre trend of teams that lost by 20 points bouncing back the next week.

NFL Betting Trends, Odds, and Week 3 Pick’em

One major running thread is how unpredictable the NFL has been early in the season.

Big trend discussed

  • Teams that lost by 20+ points are 5-0 the following week so far this season.

Week 3 picks with Stanford Steve

A few of the more notable consensus/disagreement picks:

  • Seahawks vs. Commanders: split opinions, with weather and injuries adding uncertainty.
  • Bills vs. Chargers: McAfee/Hawk lean Buffalo; Steve takes the Chargers +7.
  • Chiefs vs. Dolphins: Chiefs are favored heavily; the crew debates Mahomes covering as a double-digit favorite.
  • Jets vs. Lions: some disagreement, but the Lions are viewed as a potential blowout candidate.
  • Browns vs. Panthers: Browns are a home dog, but the crew likes Cleveland’s direction.
  • Bengals vs. Steelers: split due to line value and Pittsburgh’s up-and-down form.
  • Patriots vs. Jaguars: the Jaguars get support at home.
  • Colts vs. Texans: the crew likes Indianapolis at home despite the line.
  • Giants vs. Titans: weather and quarterback uncertainty drive the discussion.
  • Cardinals vs. 49ers: the Cardinals getting points attracts attention.
  • Vikings vs. Bucs: the Bucs hat on the desk becomes part of the joke, but Minnesota gets support.
  • Rams vs. Broncos: strong debate, with the Rams getting the nod from some.

Ian Rapoport Segment: Injuries, Giants QB Situation, and NFL Fine Culture

Ian Rapoport joins to cover league-wide news, then gets pulled into a broader discussion about NFL policy and absurdity.

Giants quarterback update

  • Jaxson Dart is out after surgery on his meniscus and MCL.
  • The likely plan is Jameis Winston at quarterback, with Jake Haener behind him.
  • The crew discusses backup options, but Rapoport notes teams usually don’t want to trade their backup quarterbacks.

Nick Bosa update

  • Rapoport explains the 49ers may avoid putting Nick Bosa on IR because of roster/designated-return limitations.

Celebration fines / “No Fun League” debate

The crew is frustrated by NFL fines for celebrations:

  • Jamar Chase’s “People’s Elbow” celebration
  • Kyle Juszczyk’s juice-chugging fine
  • A Colts lineman fined for a beer-chug imitation

Their argument:

  • The NFL is being hypocritical and overly strict.
  • Players are being penalized for harmless, personality-driven celebrations while the league and sponsors profit from alcohol and entertainment imagery.

College Football Preview: Nick Saban on the Week Ahead

Nick Saban joins for one of the strongest football conversations of the show, focusing on how teams respond to pressure, letdown spots, and big-time matchups.

Saban’s main themes

  • Do not overreact to practice or public narratives; teams can look bad in practice and play well, or vice versa.
  • Winning teams need competitive character, not just motivation speeches.
  • “Rat poison” still matters: too much outside praise can weaken a team’s edge.
  • The best teams can’t rely on emotion alone; they need structure, discipline, and the ability to execute when the game is close.

Saban on specific games

  • Tennessee vs. Texas:
    • Tennessee’s home environment is one of the hardest in college football.
    • He praises Josh Heupel’s offense and the way Tennessee uses its run game to help its young quarterback.
    • Texas must stop the run and force the freshman QB into pressure situations.
  • LSU vs. Texas A&M:
    • LSU’s night-game home edge matters.
    • A&M’s quarterback play and defensive issues are concerns.
  • West Virginia vs. Oklahoma State:
    • West Virginia can shorten the game by running the ball and controlling tempo.
  • Michigan vs. Iowa:
    • He emphasizes physicality, execution, and winning a close, grinding game.
  • General SEC talk:
    • Saban continues to stress that the SEC is loaded and that every week is a battle.

Live from Knoxville: Josh Heupel Interview

With GameDay in Knoxville, Pat and the crew talk directly to Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel.

What Heupel says

  • He praises his young quarterback’s:
    • maturity
    • work habits
    • decision-making
    • continued growth
  • Heupel expects a tough, talented Texas team and says Tennessee must:
    • win at the line of scrimmage
    • stay composed
    • make the key play when it matters

Game-day atmosphere

  • Heupel calls Neyland a special environment and says the team should embrace the moment, not get overwhelmed by it.
  • The crew also asks about a surprising wrinkle: presidential visits can temporarily disrupt headset communication, something most of them didn’t realize.

Todd Monken Interview: Browns Culture, Deshaun Watson, and the Long Game

Todd Monken comes on fresh off a Browns win and gives one of the most compelling interviews of the episode.

Monken’s message

  • He says Cleveland is a special place and that he came in with a long-term vision.
  • He is focused on:
    • building the roster properly
    • developing players
    • creating consistent winning habits
  • He’s not interested in short-term theater; he wants sustainable success.

On Deshaun Watson

  • Monken defends Watson’s effort and work ethic.
  • He says the team believed in Watson and wanted to create a system where players can play fast and confidently.

On Cleveland fans

  • Monken praises Browns fans as deeply loyal and intense.
  • He says Cleveland is a place where success would be met with enormous passion and energy.

On the Browns vs. Panthers

  • He acknowledges Carolina’s hot start and Bryce Young’s play.
  • He says the Browns must:
    • avoid hurting themselves
    • take something away from the opposing offense
    • affect the quarterback

Closing Notes and Takeaways

Biggest themes from the show

  • The NFL is chaos: one bad week doesn’t define a team, and one great week doesn’t make a season.
  • Quarterback play changes everything, from Atlanta’s turnaround to the Giants’ uncertainty.
  • College football is entering its best stretch, with Tennessee-Texas, LSU-A&M, Iowa-Michigan, Georgia-Oklahoma, and more drawing huge attention.
  • Personality matters, whether it’s NFL celebrations, coach interviews, or the energy of a live GameDay in Knoxville.

Final vibe

The episode ends on a celebratory note: live from Knoxville, with the crew grateful for the job, excited for the weekend, and ready for a packed slate of football across both college and the NFL.