Joe Buck and Mark Sanchez on Super Bowl Rematch and QB Legacies
It is a birthday show in the office as Big Cat and PFT celebrate their 39th (not 40th, despite what Hank says) birthdays with a heavy dose of football cleanup. The celebration was slightly dampened by the news that Ben Johnson is staying in Detroit, leaving PFT to wonder what the future holds for the Commanders. Despite the heartbreak of losing out on the top coaching candidate, PFT is still trying to look on the bright side of the situation in Washington.
The Washington Commanders head coaching job is actually a very good job
The mess is gone. We don't have the mess... You've got Josh Harris, good owner, he'll spend money, we're gonna get a new stadium... I think about the Washington job as still being a good job because you've got a new owner, new stadium coming, possible new team name. You have the most salary cap room in the NFL, and you have the number two overall pick. It's pretty good.
Before getting into the Super Bowl storylines, Big Cat had to issue a rare public apology regarding the 49ers' signal-caller. After a late-night Sunday session where the comparison between the current Niners offense and the Jimmy G era came up, Big Cat decided it was time to set the record straight on Brock Purdy.
I was wrong: Brock Purdy is much better than Jimmy Garoppolo
I would like to correct myself at the end of the show. We, we were talking about Jimmy G and Brock Purdy. I did. I was like, oh, was Jimmy G's be, you know, is he that much worse than Brock Purdy? That was wrong. Brock Purdy's much better than Jimmy G... Brock Purdy is better both with his legs with taking shots.
Ravens vs. Lions Cleanup
The guys spent some time dissecting why the Ravens' loss felt so much more catastrophic than the Lions' collapse in San Francisco. While Dan Campbell went down swinging in his own aggressive style, Baltimore seemed to abandon its identity at the exact moment it needed it most. Big Cat argued that the Ravens essentially handed over a golden opportunity that they might not get back for a long time, especially considering the physical toll of Lamar Jackson’s playstyle over time.
The Ravens' AFC Championship loss is much worse than the Lions' NFC Championship loss
I think that Ravens loss is so much worse than the Lions... I think it's so much worse because the Lions, and it sounds cliche, they, they died on their sword. They did what they do and it didn't work... The Ravens squandered a incredible opportunity as a favorite at home to beat Patrick Mahomes that they may never get again... Your game plan stunk.
Lamar Jackson's window is shorter than Patrick Mahomes' because of his reliance on athleticism
When you think about the Raven's future, it's not a knock on Lamar to say that. Who would you rather have a 35-year-old Patrick Mahomes or a 35-year-old Lamar Jackson? Yeah. It's, there will be a limit on his athleticism... I'm just saying the window is a little bit shorter for a Lamar Jackson than it is for a Patrick Mahomes.
Joe Buck and the Puffy Jacket
Our good friend Joe Buck joined the show to recap his season on Monday Night Football and talk about the transition to ESPN. The conversation naturally turned to his iconic chemistry with Troy Aikman and, more importantly, the puffy ESPN jacket that set the internet on fire. Joe also took a second to weigh in on the character of the man everyone loves to hate: Patrick Mahomes.
Patrick Mahomes is a genuinely good guy who does a lot of charity work when cameras aren't there
I'm amazed at Patrick Mahomes. He's a legitimate good guy that I think has a really big heart. When you talk to their PR folks, they're like, you should see what this guy does when nobody's looking. When cameras aren't there... he does stuff that nobody has any idea about. Just 'cause he is a good guy.
With Tom Brady looming as the next big media arrival, Joe offered some veteran wisdom for the GOAT as he transitions from the pocket to the headset. He thinks the key is for Brady to avoid the trap of trying to sound like a traditional broadcaster.
Tom Brady should not over-prepare and should just be himself in the broadcasting booth
If I am telling Tom Brady anything... I would just say be yourself. I, I don't get into this trying to sound like what you've heard over the years... You know the game. Don't over prepare and see what you see and react with your gut on what you see. I, I think so many times people like that's, they, they overdo it to the point where they're just paralyzed by so much information.
Mark Sanchez on Super Bowl Strategy
Mark Sanchez made his first appearance on the program and proved he is an elite storyteller. From the "Gold Jersey Standard" at USC to the sheer absurdity of the butt fumble and the hot dog incident, the Sanchize covered it all. When it comes to the actual football in the upcoming Super Bowl, Mark thinks the Niners need to keep it simple and get extremely physical against a lighter Chiefs defensive front.
The 49ers should run the ball 40 times and live in big personnel to beat the Chiefs
Rematch... the 49ers handling business for three and a half quarters [last time]... dude, if I, I'm telling you, if I'm San Francisco, I'm in big personnel two, two backs. So use Juszczyk, McCaffrey... just go three tight ends, big personnel. Get in a phone booth and duke it out. Run it right at 'em... try and rush it 40 times.
He also gave Brock Purdy his flowers, arguing that the mental load Purdy carries in Kyle Shanahan's offense is much higher than people realize. While many call him a game manager, Mark sees a top-tier talent who is solving complex puzzles at the line of scrimmage every single snap.
Brock Purdy is a top five quarterback in the NFL
[Option for spicy take: top five or worst?] I'm going top five. 'cause I mean, I saw something the other day that said, you know, he was leading the league in yards per attempt, passing efficiency... Patrick Mahomes, right? So don't forget about what Brock Purdy did all year... those three scrambles he made in the second half... that turned the tide of the game.
Despite the Niners' roster depth, the conversation eventually returned to the Mahomes problem. After watching the Chiefs navigate a difficult road path through the AFC, Mark is officially out on the business of picking against the best player in the league.
I can't bet against Patrick Mahomes ever again
I can't bet against Mahomes anymore, man. Yep, yep. And I thought, I thought Baltimore would handle 'em. Yeah. I thought the bills, the bills had 'em... and this dude just finds a way to win. So if I bet against the guy, I'm like, that's crazy. I'm, I'm doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured a deep dive into the new Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who apparently co-wrote a very honest (perhaps too honest) book with his wife. Big Cat wondered if writing about your own porn addiction is really the best move when you're trying to lead an NFL locker room.
Panthers HC Dave Canales made a mistake writing a book about his infidelity and porn addiction
This is kind of a lesson in like, maybe don't ever get that big job. 'cause then people will start looking at your life. Dave Canales co-wrote a book with his wife about marriage... Canales admits to having had multiple affairs earlier in his life... also described in the book the addictions he once had to both pornography and alcohol. It sounds like his wife made him write a book. If you're co-authoring a book with your wife talking about your porn addiction, it's like a self-flagellation.
Meanwhile, Jake Marsh is officially on high alert as the Heat Culture seems to be crumbling in Miami. Seven losses in a row has the resident Heat fan looking for answers before the season completely slips away.
The Miami Heat season is at a crossroads after a seven-game losing streak
I have to be accountable here and say the Heat have lost seven games in a row. They've lost every game since they extended Erik Spoelstra. And this is really a crossroads for your season. This is where the documentary starts or this is where everything lights up and is a disaster.
To wrap up the show, PFT introduced a new segment called Pardon Your Take, where listeners submitted their most unhinged sports theories. It was the perfect ending to a birthday episode that proved no matter how old they get, the guys are still the best at talking about nothing for two hours.
Happy birthday to everyone except the people who think 39 is 40.

