Overview of PMS 2.0 1452 — Pat McAfee Show (guest host: A.J. Hawk)
This episode (Fri, Nov 14) is a mix of NFL Week 11 preview/picks, Thursday Night Football recap (Patriots vs Jets), a live-on-location feature from Pittsburgh for the big Pitt vs Notre Dame weekend, interviews with Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi and Nick Saban, plus news items, fan banter and betting takes. A.J. Hawk filled in for Pat McAfee from Indianapolis while Pat was in Pittsburgh; the show features the usual “toxic table” contributors and guests.
Key segments
- TNF recap: New England Patriots’ dismantling of the Jets — Drake May (Mac Jones? Drake May is the name used on show) breakout, rookie front five praise, Mike Vrabel leadership.
- Live from Pittsburgh: pregame vibe for Pitt vs Notre Dame, local food culture, and a feature interview with Pat Narduzzi (Pitt HC).
- Interview: Nick Saban — multi-sport athletes, college football playoff landscape, and analysis of marquee matchups.
- NFL Week 11 betting/picks — full slate preview and panel picks.
- News/short items: Jets struggles and personnel questions, Packers/LaFleur rumors, Indianapolis Zoo chimp incident (recaptured), MLB MVP awards recap (Judge, Ohtani, Cal Raleigh discussion).
- Local color: food, Heinz/Red Gold jokes, Gronk halftime/celebration clips and other lighter moments.
Patriots / TNF recap — main takeaways
- Patriots dominated the Jets; young core and coaching chemistry emphasized.
- Drake May (named on show as a rising MVP candidate) had an almost-perfect half; Stephon Diggs re-energized role cited as big impact.
- Big praise for Mike Vrabel’s culture-building and buy-in: Vrabel’s locker-room clip about building “a program” and gratitude for the organization was highlighted.
- Offensive line and rookies (left tackle/left guard Jared Wilson, Will Campbell) singled out for big performances.
- Panel noted New England is both likable and dangerous — could be “back” as a sustained contender and eventually will draw hate like past Patriot dynasties.
Notable quote (Vrabel, paraphrased from locker-room): “We wanted to put a program together… not just players or coaches — the entire program — to help you go out and make plays, perform and ultimately win. I’m proud to be your coach… but I’m going to enjoy a couple days away from you.”
Pat Narduzzi / Pitt interview — highlights
- Narduzzi framed the season in terms of daily focus: “The most important thing is our guys in that room” — one game at a time mentality.
- Pitt’s identity: attitude, effort, toughness — pride in run defense, three-linebacker sets, and physical front-four.
- QB situation: freshman Mason Heinz unexpectedly threw a spark; staff didn’t plan to play him early but he earned his way in.
- Tradition & recruiting: heavy Pitt alumni presence (Aaron Donald, Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, Larry Fitzgerald et al. referenced). Narduzzi values recruiting guys who “love football” over those who prioritize money/NIL first — development focus.
- Sharing facilities with the Steelers is viewed as a recruiting/teaching advantage (visibility into pro-level work habits and details).
Nick Saban interview — highlights
- On Pitt/Notre Dame: Narduzzi has built a tough team; Pitt’s passing/explosive-play ability can create upset chances if protection holds up.
- On recruiting & development: Saban is pro-multisport — playing several sports reveals competitive instincts and ball judgment (he praised Drake May’s basketball background).
- On the playoff/season landscape: discussed the SEC’s heavy slate of games, challenges of scheduling and the implications for playoff seeding — noted the value of testing teams vs. the paradox where a brutal schedule can hurt playoff chances.
- On evolving offense: acknowledged the need to score and build explosive offenses; teams now must stretch the field vertically/horizontally to win consistently.
Notable Saban quote (paraphrase): “I loved it when players played multiple sports — to me that says something about them as competitors. Baseball, for example, develops ball judgment you don’t always get elsewhere.”
Betting / Week 11 Picks — panel summary (highlights & disagreements)
The show walked the full NFL slate and made numerous panel picks. There was not always consensus — below are the notable picks called out on the show (panelists often disagreed; names listed where explicitly attributed):
- Commanders vs Dolphins (Madrid) — A.J. Hawk: Commanders +3 (panel backed Commanders +3 in conversation).
- Chargers vs Jaguars — AJ leaned Jaguars +3; other panelists (Pat / Gump) favored Chargers -2.5.
- Panthers vs Falcons — split debate: some picked Falcons at home, others took Panthers +3.5 (no consensus).
- Bengals vs Steelers — Pat/AJ favored Steelers −4.5 (home).
- Texans vs Titans — Panel favored Texans −5 (Davis Mills ride noted).
- Bills vs Buccaneers — split: Pat favored Bills −5; AJ took Buccaneers +6.
- Packers vs Giants — AJ/others favored Packers (around −6.5).
- Vikings vs Bears — Vikings −2.5 (panel leaned Vikings).
- 49ers vs Cardinals — 49ers −2.5 (strong panel consensus).
- Rams vs Seahawks — mixed; some took Rams −3 at home, others liked Seahawks +3.5.
- Chiefs vs Broncos — Chiefs −4 (panel lean Chiefs).
- Ravens vs Browns — Ravens −7.5 (panel lean Ravens).
- Eagles vs Lions (SNF) — Many on panel liked Lions +2.5 (Detroit getting points in Philly).
Note: the show’s format is conversational and different panelists take differing sides; this was intended as a preview and reflection rather than a strict “lock” sheet.
Other NFL/league topics covered
- New York Jets: heavy criticism of offseason QB decisions (Justin Fields trade/signing) and personnel evaluation; panel worried the rebuild could be mismanaged.
- Green Bay Packers: “rumor” discussion that Packers could consider replacing LaFleur if they miss playoffs — panel reacted to that as a major storyline and discussed LaFleur’s stability and fit.
- Bengals: Joe Burrow practicing but unclear on timeline to return; panel reacted to his green sweatpants moment as an odd detail.
- Gronk & Patriots culture pieces — nostalgia/celebration clips noted.
News & smaller items
- Indianapolis Zoo chimpanzee on the loose — later reported sedated and recaptured; show used this for lighthearted banter.
- MLB MVPs: Aaron Judge (AL) and Shohei Ohtani (NL) recognized; they discussed Cal Raleigh as another big candidate and compared metrics.
- Social/food banter: Pittsburgh food scene, Heinz vs Red Gold ketchup jokes, Gronk halftime antics, local celebrity guests and food logistics for GameDay.
Notable quotes & soundbites
- Mike Vrabel (locker-room paraphrase): “We wanted to put a program together… everything we do is to help you perform and ultimately win. I appreciate how hard you play but I’m also going to enjoy a couple days away from you.”
- Pat Narduzzi: “The most important thing is our guys in that room… our season is not derailed by one game.”
- Nick Saban: praised multi-sport athletes and said watching players in other sports (e.g., Drake May in basketball) gives valuable insight on competitiveness and ball judgement.
Recommendations / action items called out on show
- Must-watch: Pitt vs Notre Dame (big national implications and home crowd celebration in Pittsburgh; Aaron Donald’s jersey retirement at halftime).
- Tune in: College GameDay live from Pittsburgh (also available on X per the show’s notes).
- Panel urged listeners to check matchup injury reports before betting — they repeatedly emphasized player availability and late-week practice reports matter.
- For listeners: use picks as panel perspective, not guaranteed outcomes — the show mixes analysis with entertainment and fan banter.
Overall tone / context
The episode balances serious Xs-and-Os analysis (Vrabel’s culture, Pitt’s identity, Saban’s recruiting philosophy) with lighter, local-feel elements (food, hometown legends, Zoo story). The show is as much about the upcoming football weekend as it is about the spectacle of college football in Pittsburgh — big energy for GameDay and the Pitt/Notre Dame showdown. Betting commentary is present throughout, with multiple panelists offering differing takes rather than a single “consensus card.”
If you want a short checklist of what to watch this weekend:
- Pitt vs Notre Dame (GameDay city; halftime Aaron Donald tribute)
- Chiefs vs Broncos (AFC West implications)
- Ravens vs Browns (AFC North)
- Eagles vs Lions (Sunday Night) — high-profile matchup with NFC implications
(Prices/lines mentioned in the show reflect the time of broadcast and will move; always check current lines and injury reports before wagering.)