PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 9 Recap: Bears Thriller, Jayden Daniels Injury, and a World Series Classic
NFL Week 9 actually showed up. After a Week 8 that was total garbage, Sunday delivered nine one-score games and enough drama to take years off Big Cat’s life. Between a high-scoring shootout in Cincinnati and a massive upset in Lambeau, the guys finally got the chaos they crave. Hank even dressed as an Amish person to celebrate the occasion, though the lack of electronics in that culture made podcasting a bit of a challenge.
Bears, Bengals, and Ben Johnson
The craziest game of the day was undoubtedly the Bears' 47-42 victory over the Bengals. Joe Flacco played out of his mind, throwing for 470 yards at 40 years old, but Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson had the answers. Big Cat is starting to believe that the identity of the team has fundamentally changed under this coaching staff.
Big CatThe Bears' culture has shifted under Ben Johnson; they finally win games they used to lose
The Bears never win that game. And they, something is different with Ben Johnson. ... more than anything it's Ben Johnson because that's a game The Bears would lose. The Bears would quit in a, in a dire situation. And they just kept on, they got, got off the mat. ... it really just comes down to like, the culture has shifted with Ben Johnson where the, the team looks like they're not gonna give up in situations where they would've given up in the past.
The Bears had no business winning a game where they gave up a kickoff return touchdown and botched an onside kick recovery, but they found a way. On the other side, the Bengals continue to waste electric offensive performances because their defense couldn't tackle a stationary object.
The NFC North is a Gauntlet
J.J. McCarthy returned to the lineup for the Vikings and looked like a seasoned pro in a tight win over the Lions. The defense under Brian Flores completely neutralized the Detroit ground game, proving that the Vikings are more than just a flash in the pan. PFT is fully convinced that the early-season coaching decisions regarding their rookie QB have paid dividends.
PFT CommenterThe 'soft benching' of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota has clearly worked
Do we think maybe it was still a soft benching and the soft— No, I think we should double down. Say the soft benching worked. It worked. Yeah. No, I'm a soft benching guy now. Listen, I'm gonna trust what [Kevin O'Connell] does. He's a quarterback whisperer. He's soft benched and he was right.
Meanwhile, the Packers suffered a shocking loss at home to the Panthers. Rico Dowdle was the engine for Carolina, despite a "two-pump" celebration that nearly cost them the game. Big Cat thinks it's time for the Panthers to lean into their running back even more.
Big CatRico Dowdle is the Panthers' best offensive player and needs a heavy workload
Rico Dowdle is by far their best offensive player and they need to give him the ball a lot. And they did. 25 carries, 130 yards, two touchdowns. ... Just, just let Rico loose because the passing attack for the Panthers is not— Bryce Young had a Josh Rosen stat line today.
Malpractice in the DMV
The mood turned somber as the guys watched the end of the Seahawks-Commanders game live. Down 31 points in the fourth quarter, Dan Quinn inexplicably kept Jayden Daniels in the game, resulting in a gruesome-looking elbow injury. PFT was predictably distraught, watching his franchise savior get carted off in a game that was already over.
PFT CommenterLeaving Jayden Daniels in a 31-point blowout was coaching malpractice by Dan Quinn
There's just no point to have your franchise quarterback in the game down 31. ... That's fucking dumb. ... To get him injured in the fourth quarter of a blowout, that seems like it would be something that in prime time, that an owner would have a serious problem with. ... Is this the guy to be the coach? That's a bad mistake by Dan Quinn.
The Seahawks looked incredible in the blowout, with Sam Darnold throwing fireballs and the defense swarming. Big Cat highlighted one specific wide receiver who is becoming a problem for the rest of the league.
Big CatJaxon Smith-Njigba is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL right now
The Seahawks, they're a really good team. ... Jaxon Smith-Njigba is, like, we've already said it, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. ... He was awesome again tonight.
With the NFC becoming so top-heavy, the race for the Wild Card is already getting tight. Big Cat is looking at the win totals and realizes it’s going to be a bloodbath just to get a seat at the table in January.
Big CatAn NFC team will need at least 10 wins to make the playoffs this year
I think especially because the NFC, I think you're gonna have to have 10 wins to make the playoffs. It doesn't feel like nine wins right now. The Bears and the Panthers are the eight and nine and they both have five wins.
World Series Masterclass
Away from the gridiron, the Dodgers secured back-to-back World Series titles in a classic Game 7 win over the Blue Jays. The series had everything: controversial wedgies, base-running blunders, and Miguel Rojas hitting a clutch home run despite not having one all season.
Big CatThe Dodgers/Blue Jays 2025 World Series was one of the greatest ever
That was one of the greatest World series, like start to finish. ... every game had its own like little unique personality to it and was crazy. It, it was nuts.
Yamamoto was the story of the series, showing up on zero days' rest after a high-pitch-count outing to shut the door on Toronto. Big Cat and PFT marveled at the Madison Bumgarner-esque performance that cemented his legacy in Los Angeles.
Big CatYamamoto is the first pitcher to win 3 World Series games since Randy Johnson in 2001
Yamamoto is not human. ... Denny [Then he] comes back and pitches game six and then he comes back and wins game seven. It's insane. ... Randy Johnson in 2001, [was the last to do it].
Who’s Back and Cable Feuds
To wrap things up, the guys discussed the ongoing feud between Disney/ESPN and YouTube TV. With Monday Night Football on the line, Big Cat didn't hold back on how corporate greed is ruining the experience for the average fan who just wants to watch sports without seven different apps.
Big CatESPN and Disney are screwing over sports fans in their feud with YouTube TV
ESPN is fucking everyone because ESPN's got a new app... they're screwing over everyone who has cut the cord... and it's just fucked up. It's fucked up. They're just screwing over the consumer. The people who just wanna watch sports. ... stop with this bullshit where everyone is trying to squeeze each other out for an extra dollar.
Despite the streaming headaches, the return of college basketball has the room buzzing. Big Cat is ready to dive into the deep end of the gambling pool as the hardwood season tips off.
Big CatI will bet on every single college basketball game tomorrow
I'm so excited for college basketball. I'm gonna bet, I'm gonna bet every game. I'm gonna bet every single game. It's gonna be awesome.
Hank is still Amish, PFT is still mourning Jayden Daniels' elbow, and we’re on to Week 10.
