Brian Baldinger on the Unstoppable Lions, Trade Deadline, and College Chaos
While the rest of the country was glued to the news, Big Cat and PFT focused on the most important vote of the year: electing a President of the podcast. In a landslide victory, Pug was named Commander-in-Chief with Blake Bortles agreeing to serve as his Vice President (after checking if he was allowed to decline the top job). The new administration immediately got to work, with President Pug promising a free popcorn machine for the office while the guys turned their attention to the Monday Night Football clash between the Chiefs and the Bucs.
Watching the Chiefs right now is like watching a horror movie where the killer just won't stay down. No matter how many mistakes they make or how many injuries Patrick Mahomes seemingly suffers before jogging them off, they find a way to break the opponent's heart in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs follow a predictable pattern of looking beatable before executing perfectly on third down to win
The Chiefs are going to play every game the exact same way where you think the Chiefs might lose and then they're gonna be perfect on third down and they're gonna get a big defensive stop and Patrick Mahomes is gonna make a big play.
Big Cat and PFT were specifically incensed by Todd Bowles’ decision to kick an extra point rather than going for two at the end of regulation. It was a classic vibe-check failure that ignored the reality of playing against Mahomes in overtime.
Todd Bowles is a coward for not going for two against the Chiefs
Todd Bowles is the biggest fucking coward in the world... You somehow got yourself in position where you can win the game, score a touchdown, and then you have the opportunity to go for two on the road Monday football against an undefeated team. Or you can kick an extra point like a coward, go to overtime and think that you can win an overtime against literally Patrick Mahomes.
The Trade Deadline and a Bears Funeral
The trade deadline saw the Commanders and Lions bolstering their rosters for a deep January run. PFT is officially feeling the soup in DC after the Marshawn Lattimore trade, and Hank is even looking at the top of the NFC standings with some lofty expectations for the Commies.
The Commanders could finish as the number one seed in the NFC
I was looking at the schedule and the standings. I think you guys [Commanders] could be the one seed.
On the flip side, the mood in Chicago is subterranean. Big Cat has officially entered the "let go and let god" phase of Bears fandom, convinced that the organization is a black hole that will eventually consume Caleb Williams’ talent while every other rookie flourishes elsewhere.
Caleb Williams will get ruined by the Bears and every other rookie quarterback in his class will be better
I'm officially down bad, and Caleb Williams is gonna get ruined. Drake May's gonna be better, Jayden Daniels is already better, Bo Nix is better, Michael Penix is gonna be better. They're all gonna be better and I'm just back in the whole cycle.
College Football Chaos and the Franklin Problem
The first CFP rankings are out, and Big Cat is leading the charge for the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. The disrespect for Curt Cignetti’s squad is palpable, especially when compared to the one-loss blue bloods getting a pass based on their logos.
Indiana should be ranked ahead of Ohio State and Texas because they are undefeated
I think you should just like, as a personal belief, the undefeated team should be ranked ahead of the team with a loss no matter what the schedule is like at this point in the season... Indiana's undefeated. And you could say, well they haven't beaten anyone. True. But if you go common opponents... Indiana beat Nebraska by a million.
Meanwhile, Penn State fans are once again living in Groundhog Day. James Franklin lost to Ohio State for the 10th time in 11 years, further cementing his legacy as a coach who can win 10 games every year but never the one that actually matters. PFT isn't convinced he has another gear.
James Franklin simply cannot win big football games
Can James Franklin win the big one? No... Ohio State is Penn State's big one. Yes. But Penn State is not Ohio State's big one.
Brian Baldinger’s Film Room
Friend of the program Brian Baldinger joined the show to break down what he's seeing on the tape. Baldy has been grinding every single game and says the Lions have reached a level of offensive efficiency that makes them virtually impossible to scheme against.
The Lions are essentially unstoppable on offense
I feel like every team is a man short... They just have the perfect combination right now of Montgomery, who's your mutter and closer, Jahmyr Gibbs, who's your home run hitter. And oh, by the way, Jared Goff doesn't miss an open receiver. So they're, they're pretty much unstoppable on offense right now.
He also touched on the resurgence of the Eagles’ ground game and why he believes Saquon Barkley is destined to take home some hardware by the time we get to the postseason.
Saquon Barkley will win the NFL rushing title
I think Saquon's gonna win the rushing title. I know Derrick Henry leads the league in rushing, but I think Saquon's gonna win it... I think their offensive line is better than Baltimore's. And I think that you watch Mekhi Becton in there at right guard, like he's just, you know, there's just, he's just a freak.
When asked about teams that might be dangerous down the stretch despite their records, Baldy pointed to a specific two-win team that is playing much better than their record suggests.
The Tennessee Titans are the best two-win team and will play spoiler
Tennessee Titans... seriously, like they can, they legitimately can run the football. Bill Callahan's coaching the offensive line... J.C. Latham was the right pick at left tackle... they've been in a lot of games. They won last week. They put up 400 something yards of offense against Detroit the week before. That's a team... I wouldn't take that team lightly on any given week.
Hot Seat/Cool Throne
Hot Seat/Cool Throne featured a look at Ja Morant’s incredible 360-layup, which prompted PFT to suggest a complete overhaul of the NBA's All-Star festivities.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest should be replaced by a Layup Contest
I think they should do a layup contest instead of slam dunk contest. [Ja Morant's 360 layup] was sick... I thought to myself like, with enough practice I could possibly do that. Also not true. But it still made me think.
On the MLB front, Gerrit Cole opted out of his contract only to immediately opt back in once the Yankees called his bluff, and Max is preparing to see the Phillies or some other deep-pocketed owner break the bank for Juan Soto.
Juan Soto will sign a contract for a 'stupid amount of money,' potentially worth $700 million
I think he's gonna get 700 million... Yeah, no, I'd like to walk that take back. I think he's gonna get a stupid amount of money. But the fact that the way he's going about it just means that like, yeah, it doesn't, he doesn't give a fuck who's giving him this money.
Don't let the popcorn machine run dry, President Pug.

