PMT DB
PMT DB
Divisional Round Preview, Kyle Long on O-Line Play, and the 49ers Substation Theory
The Divisional Round is finally here, and Big Cat and PFT are navigating a landscape where John Harbaugh is officially a New York Giant. The hire brings some much-needed adult supervision to an organization that has cycled through coaches like a revolving door since Tom Coughlin left. Big Cat is fully on board with the move, even if it means some growing pains early on.
Big CatHiring John Harbaugh is a smart move for the Giants because they desperately need stability.
This was, I mean, this is a smart move. I I, I like this move for the Giants. It feels like they needed stability... you hiring him. You're not gonna fire him in three years, even if it takes a little bit of time to get things going.
While the Giants are finding stability, the Steelers are losing theirs. With Mike Tomlin stepping down, Big Cat predicts a regression for the black and gold. He believes the fan base might be in for a rude awakening regarding just how much Tomlin was doing with subpar quarterback play over the last few seasons.
Big CatThe Steelers are entering a dark phase and fans will eventually realize Mike Tomlin was holding everything together.
I think that you, the Steelers might go into a dark phase here where they're gonna probably have to lose a little bit and they're gonna realize Yeah, actually Mike Tom was keeping this thing together better than we all thought.
Before the football talk really heated up, the conversation drifted into the world of golf and the absurdity of professional equipment. PFT has a theory that the prestige of playing with blades is entirely mental and that pros are finally starting to realize they should just use the clubs that actually help them.
PFT CommenterThe new Commanders stadium rendering is worth three wins a year alone.
This stadium, just looking at it, max, I think that this stadium is worth three wins a year. Yeah. The stadium alone.
Speaking of things that look good, the new stadium renderings for the Commanders dropped, and PFT is already counting the wins. He believes the sheer aesthetic of having a stadium back in DC proper is worth several points on the scoreboard before the ball is even snapped.
Big CatThe Divisional Round will be Bo Nix's time to have a splash moment and prove people shouldn't have forgotten about him.
Is it Bo Nix's time? We've had all three of these guys have their splash moments. Is it Bo Nix's time to say, Hey, you forgot about Bo Nix... If we're gonna have this be the 2024 draft, be like an all time QB draft, it's Bo Nix's time. It's about time for him to make his moment.
Divisional Round Preview and Picks
Moving into the actual games, the Bills heading to Denver is the matchup that has everyone talking. While Josh Allen is the ultimate equalizer, Big Cat thinks this is the weekend where the rest of the 2024 quarterback class finally gets overshadowed by the guy who went last in the first round.
PFT CommenterDrake May is the worst quarterback in the NFL on third-and-six since entering the league.
Drake May is the worst quarterback in the NFL on third and sixth. And it's not close. Since he got into the league... minimum of 10 attempts at third and sixth... He's 36th in the NFL. He is five for 18. 27% [completion percentage].
On the Patriots front, Hank is feeling confident about Drake May, but PFT and Stat Hole came prepared with some devastating research. It turns out the rookie sensation has a very specific Achilles heel when the chains are exactly six yards away.
PFT CommenterMatt Stafford is unreliable when protecting a lead in the second half.
Matt Stafford, when he has a lead at halftime, his record against the spread in the second half. The second half spread 35% of the time, he covers only 35%. Pretty bad.
The weekend concludes with the Rams visiting Soldier Field for what promises to be an absolute ice bowl. While the Rams have the more explosive offense on paper, PFT points out that Matt Stafford hasn't exactly been a lock when trying to close out games in the second half.
Big CatThe Bears have a significant special teams advantage over the Rams in the Divisional Round.
I've meant to say that the one place that the Bears have a significant advantage is special teams. The, the Rams have been kind of like, they got a punt blocked. The kicker's been bad. The Bears, Cairo. Santos has been good.
Big Cat is leaning into the Bear Weather narrative but also looking at the technical advantages. He thinks the Rams' struggles in the third phase of the game could be the difference-maker in a tight playoff atmosphere.
Kyle LongThe Broncos' wide defensive line alignment gives Josh Allen a free pass to scramble up the middle.
They line up super, super wide and when you line up super wide... it gives Josh Allen free reign to look at the guards, look at the center, figure out where he is gonna go... Josh is a guy who can drop back in a non non scheme anything and just be like, oh, the ends are by me. I'm gonna take what's given to me.
Kyle Long and the Trenches
Our good friend Kyle Long joined the show to break down the matchups from an offensive lineman's perspective. He offered a fascinating look at why the Broncos' defensive strategy might actually play right into Josh Allen's hands. By lining up so wide to utilize their speed, they might be opening up massive lanes for Allen to wreak havoc with his legs.
Big CatThe Bears and Rams game will be a shootout where the Bears need to score at least 38 points to win.
I think it's going to come down to a shootout... our defense is not great. I kind of jokingly said 38 [points] and I'm kind of like, was I getting [there]? Because you can take a look at Matt Stafford... he's been the MVP of the league. Caleb has to string together four quarters of clean football.
Kyle also weighed in on the Ben Johnson vs. the world feud, noting that the coaching fraternity is currently teaming up to try and solve the Lions' offensive coordinator. He also gave us a look into what it's like sitting in production meetings with guys like Andy Reid and the late-stage Raiders staff.
The 49ers Substation Mystery
Finally, the show went down a scientific rabbit hole with Peter Cowan, the man behind the viral thread about the 49ers' practice facility being next to an electrical substation. Peter explained his theory that the radiation is effectively "brittling" the players like old rubber bands.
Kyle LongThe Seahawks will beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl.
I've got the Seahawks beating the Bears in Seattle and then I've got the Seahawks beating the Broncos in the Super Bowl. Ooh. A little Seahawk. And I know it's chalky... just because they're higher seeds doesn't mean they're better teams.
While the science might be high-level, the advice for the average man was much simpler. Peter is a big believer in the power of the sun, and he didn't shy away from some of the more unconventional ways to boost testosterone through direct exposure.
Peter CowanThe electrical substation next to the 49ers facility is causing player injuries by dehydrating their cells.
The wireless stuff, basically it dries you out on the inside. So have you ever taken a rubber band and like left it out in the sun and it goes from being nice and stretchy to being brittle and snaps? ... there's been a lot of research in the past 50 years... showing that it can cause cause harm at the cellular level by dehydrating yourselves among other things.
We wrapped things up with a heartfelt goodbye to Pug as he heads back to the East Coast to buy a house and work from the New York office. Max also managed to win the lottery ball on Pug's final day, proving that even in a goodbye, he can still find a way to be the bad guy.
Good luck to everyone's bets this weekend, except for the people rooting for third-and-six against Drake May.
