Overview of Chiefs, Bucs, and Drake Maye Are Big Winners. Plus, Danny Kanell on Penn State’s Overreaction, Indiana’s Biggest Win, and the SEC’s Problem
Host: The Ringer (Ryan Mallett)
This episode covers a packed Monday-football slate: NFL takeaways (Chiefs, Bucs, Drake Maye), college football shockers (Indiana’s big road win, Florida State’s collapse), a wide-ranging conversation with Danny Kanell about coaching, conference strength (SEC vs Big Ten), and Ryan’s own top-12 college rankings. The show closes with an extended Life Advice segment (listener letters about small domestic lies, engagement indecision, and an elderly grandfather’s self-destructive behavior).
Main segments and takeaways
NFL recap — winners, losers, and notable performances
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Best NFL win of the weekend: Chiefs’ convincing win over Detroit. Ryan views it as the best single win so far — Mahomes’ play and the Chiefs’ ability to run and close games were emphasized.
- Mahomes: statistically better over last three games than first three; still the position’s gold standard in Ryan’s view.
- Chiefs roster notes: Hollywood Brown touchdown, rookie Smith getting praise, Rice’s impending return (six-game suspension done).
- Tampa Bay vs. San Francisco
- Bucs’ notable win; Baker Mayfield’s highlight run/throw (3rd-and-14 to Tess Johnson for a TD). Tess Johnson quip: when he heard “MVP” chants he thought they were for him — self-aware and amusing moment.
- Drake Maye (rookie QB)
- Ryan was blown away by Maye’s poise and playmaking — multiple high-pressure completions (notable third-and-17/third-and-27 throws), a pocket escape/cross-field improvisation, and multiple TDs under pressure early in the game.
- Takeaway: Maye shows NFL-level awareness and calm; Ryan calls him the best bet from the 2024 QB class to be the top player long term.
- Other NFL notes
- Chargers/Herbert: another week of concerns about pass protection; clutch plays & sacks matter late.
- Trevor Lawrence/Jaguars: Massive pressure rate — Lawrence was pressured on ~59% of dropbacks in the Chiefs win (staggering number).
- Jets: poor offensive showing with Justin Fields; the roster/contract jokes continue.
Notable NFL numbers called out:
- Drake Maye: 7/8 and three TDs against pressure in the first half (audio claim on the episode).
- Vita Vea: double‑teamed 70% of the time vs. SF but still produced pressures.
- A staggering 59% pressure rate on Trevor Lawrence in that Chiefs game.
College football — Danny Kanell on several big stories
- Indiana’s win at Oregon
- Ryan and Danny both view Indiana’s road beatdown of Oregon as the single best win in college football so far — resume-enhancing, physical dominance in Eugene (a place few win).
- Coaching praise for Kirk Cignetti: Ryan argues coaching matters more than ever (staff hires, game management, fourth-down decisions).
- QB Mendoza and supporting cast: Mendoza’s throws and Indiana’s balanced attack earned Ryan’s respect; he moved Indiana high in his weekly Top 12.
- Florida State meltdown
- After the Alabama upset, FSU has cratered: three straight losses, historic missteps (first-time losses to Duke and an FCS team), defense cited as the biggest disappointment.
- Mike Norvell’s seat/longer-term patience: Ryan urges patience but notes resources and booster pressure complicate the reaction.
- Penn State / James Franklin
- Danny and Ryan discuss Penn State’s firing of James Franklin and the optics: $50M+ buyout, timing of the move, booster funding, and whether mid-season firings actually help programs long-term.
- Ryan warns about rushing coaching changes and the financial/operational ripple effects.
- Conference-wide thoughts
- SEC status: Danny and Ryan debate whether the SEC still holds the unquestioned edge. Both see depth but are skeptical about SEC headliners this year — the conference has many good teams but fewer true, dominant headliners so far.
- Parity is up — gaps between conferences have narrowed; upsets abound (e.g., Tennessee scares, Ole Miss slip-ups), making the national landscape more open.
DK / Ryan’s Top 12 (week snapshot)
Ryan ran through DK’s Top 12 and his own ordering combining resume and belief. Key placement summary (Ryan’s current view):
- Ohio State — top on resume and belief; defense and C.J. Stroud trust building.
- Miami — strong and deserving of top slots after big wins.
- Indiana — surge after Oregon road win; Ryan gives them huge resume credit.
- Oregon — fell in some human polls after the loss, but still elite talent.
- Texas A&M — stout defense, excellent third-down numbers.
- Texas Tech — dark horse; offense + manageable remaining schedule could push them.
- Alabama — Ty Simpson, improved O-line, receiver depth.
- Ole Miss — undefeated but Ryan sees inconsistencies and tougher upcoming tests. (Other mentions — Texas, LSU, Georgia Tech were included in the broader mid/late spots Ryan discussed; resume vs. recency was a key tension.)
Why this matters: Ryan stresses resume-based ranking vs. recency bias — Indiana’s resume now merits Top-3 consideration even compared to traditional blue-bloods.
Notable quotes & lines
- On Patrick Mahomes: “I can’t believe anybody talks about the NFL and thinks anyone plays this position better than this guy.”
- Tess Johnson (Bucs): “When I score and I hear MVP chant, I’m thinking they talking about me... then I was like, they talking about Baker.”
- On coaching & parity: “Coaching matters more now than it’s ever mattered before.”
- On Drake Maye: his ball “ejects out of his hands” — Ryan’s colorful way of praising release and velocity.
Life Advice segment — listener letters and guidance
- Apple-core lie (small domestic lie)
- Listener tosses apple core out window, blames kids twice; advice: stop repeating the behavior, come clean if necessary, use simple procedural fixes (e.g., roll down correct window).
- Engagement indecision — “nut up or shut up?”
- Core advice: Ask yourself if you truly want to marry her. If yes, stop hesitating; if not, exit cleanly. Sometimes partners need a push/ultimatum — introspect and be honest with yourself and your partner.
- Grandpa “hooker-fueled” spiral after grandma’s death
- Family dilemma: grandfather turned reckless after grief (catfished, sexting, paying escorts, showing up at women’s houses). Daughters want to ban him from family events.
- Panel consensus: attempt a group, structured intervention first (not immediate exile). Elements to consider:
- Use a calm, unified group of family members (not just the daughters) to confront him about grief, finances, and risk.
- Address finances proactively (limit access, establish allowances or direct deposits, fiduciary controls) to prevent him being drained.
- Offer mental health/grief counseling and practical alternatives (community activities, vetted dating options).
- If interventions fail and he’s harming family wellbeing/finances, hard boundaries may be necessary.
- Ryan’s meta-note: he’s transitioning platforms (hints about new venture with Rudy & Kyle) and thanks listeners.
Practical takeaways / what to watch next
- College football
- Indiana is real — watch their remaining stretch for playoff/resume confirmation.
- Monitor the SEC’s top teams (Alabama, Ole Miss, A&M) for consistency; depth is there, but headliners aren’t blowing people away.
- Keep an eye on coaching carousel and mid-season firings — big buyout implications and long-term program effects.
- NFL
- Chiefs remain a team to trust even with an iffy record — Mahomes, weapons, and running game trending up.
- Drake Maye: rookie to monitor closely for poise under pressure and big-play potential.
- Watch QB protection/pressure metrics (e.g., Lawrence’s heavy pressure rate) — they’ll dictate playoff outcomes.
- For families facing elder recklessness: try intervention + financial controls before cutting ties.
Notable stats & quick hitters called out on the episode
- A&M: opponents convert on only 20.5% of third downs (A&M’s opposing third-down conversion rate noted as elite).
- Trevor Lawrence: pressured on 59% of dropbacks in Chiefs game.
- Vita Vea: double-teamed 70% of the time vs. San Francisco in one game but still produced five pressures.
- Drake Maye: multiple high-pressure TDs in the first half of his featured game (7/8 in one stretch — as reported on the show).
- Fun/joke stat: “Teams averaging 1.8 flea flickers per week” — delivered tongue-in-cheek.
Bottom line
- NFL: Chiefs are back on form; rookie QB play (Drake Maye) is a major storyline; pressure and protection remain decisive factors.
- College: Indiana’s road destruction of Oregon is a resume-defining moment; the national landscape is more open and chaotic than usual — coaching and scheme decisions are a bigger differentiator than ever.
- Family & life: interventions and honest conversations are recommended before punitive measures; know when to commit or be honest in personal relationships.
If you want the episode’s highlights at a glance: tune in for the Danny Kanell interview (college coaching/conference debate), the Drake Maye breakdown (rookie QB poise), and Ryan’s weekly Top-12 (Indiana jump + SEC skepticism).