Takes

One of the three rookie/first-time playoff quarterbacks will win their first game

You gotta think, I think one of the three quarterbacks that are making their first playoffs start this year—Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Sam Darnold—one of those three is gonna win the game.

Jaden Daniels will run all over the Buccaneers

I think Jayden is going to run the fuck outta the football. And I think Austin Eckler is gonna run the fuck outta the football. I think that Todd Bowles is going to, if he tries to blitz Jayden the way that he did in week one, it's not gonna end up well for him.

The Chiefs will beat the Lions in the Super Bowl

I'm gonna pick Kansas City and Detroit in the Super Bowl. And I'm gonna say Kansas City does it... I'm afraid of not picking Mahomes... 15 finds a way, man.

The Giants GM and coach will overspend in free agency to save their jobs in 2025

What is the GM gonna do? He's probably gonna spend as much money as he possibly can at in free agency... now you have the coach and GM in their Hot Seat years. Gonna just try to spend as much money as possible and hope that that keeps their job.

The Giants will likely start a rookie quarterback early in the season to save their jobs

If they get Cam Ward or Shedeur or somebody like that and they wait around for four weeks into the regular season and he doesn't look great in practice, they're going to be more likely to be like, fuck it, let's just pull the emergency start rookie quarterback lever so that we can save our own job.

I don't want Mike McCarthy to be the Bears coach, but I'm probably going to end up with him

I don't want Mike McCarthy, but I'm probably gonna end up with him. [The Bears] are interviewing a hundred people just so that Ryan Poles can hire the guy he played college football with.

Sam Darnold's playoff performance will result in a $100 million difference in his next contract

Sam Darnold was gonna be my next pick. Yeah. Because the, the difference in how much money he's going to make next year based on how he performs in the playoffs is there's probably a hundred million dollar difference. If he stinks, he could get franchise tagged... if he plays really, really well in the Playoffs now we're talking about like $150 million. Yes. 175, 200 million.

Jaden Daniels will run all over the Buccaneers defense in the Wild Card round

I'm now back big time thinking that Jaden Daniels is gonna put on a crazy display where I'm talking. I think he's gonna run all over the bucks. Ooh, that's, and I know they have a good rush defense, but I think I know what Todd Bowles is gonna do. I think I'm one step ahead of Todd Bowles.

Ben Johnson's chances of landing the Bears job are higher now that Trent Baalke is staying in Jacksonville

The chance of [Ben Johnson] landing in Chicago are much better now that Trent Baalke is in Jacksonville... I think Ben Johnson still has a lot of questions about management in both of those organizations [Jaguars and Saints].

Anthony Weaver will likely be a head coach in this hiring cycle

Anthony Weaver is a name don't that I'm hearing a lot of teams are putting in for... people in Baltimore were, they think that this is gonna be the run he gets. This is the cycle. He'll be a head coach. Yeah. It, it's time.

Penn State will beat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal

I have Penn State winning this game because I think Penn State and Notre Dame are very, very, very similar... I think Penn State's a little bit better version of the team they're going for... great defense, better quarterback... I don't think Drew Aller is gonna make the mistakes the backup quarterback [for Georgia] made.

Ohio State will beat Texas by two touchdowns in the semifinal if they stay aggressive

If Ryan Day and Chip Kelly don't hold this team back, if they call plays the same way they've been calling plays, I think they win about two touchdowns... I don't know how you stop 'em.

Ohio State will beat Penn State to win the national championship

I think Ohio State beats Penn State in the national championship. Ryan Day gets rid of his problems... they are unequivocally the most talented and the best team in this playoff.

The Bills will demolish the Broncos in the Wild Card round

I think the Bills are going to fucking demolish the Broncos. [I] might, by the way, I think I saw the line open at seven and a half. If it, if it's seven or even six and a half, I might Game of the year. The bills.

The Chiefs will win their first playoff game in the divisional round

But this also is set up The Chiefs, you, you know, they're, they're set up for the playoffs. I know they're gonna have whatever, 25 days off or whatever it might be... they'll win their first game in the, in the divisional round.

Mike Vrabel will be the next head coach of the Patriots

I do think it was a smart decision [to fire Jerod Mayo]. I also think that they wouldn't have done it as quickly as they did if they didn't know that they are getting the coach that they want. Which I believe is Mike Vrabel... I am of the belief that the answer to that question is yes.

The Jaguars will fire Doug Pederson despite him not losing the locker room.

I think Doug Peterson never lost the locker room. They actually fought pretty hard in this game. He's gonna get fired... it would be funny if they just forgot to fire him because he should have [been fired] two months ago.

Ben Johnson will be the next head coach of the Jaguars

The Jacks are gonna get Ben Johnson. I've, I've resigned myself to that. I I think that's, that's exactly what's gonna happen... They're gonna get Trevor Lawrence back and Ben Johnson.

The Rams will beat the Vikings in the Wild Card round.

I think I like the Rams [over the Vikings]... The fact that Sean McVay did not care about winning this game makes me think that the Rams are gonna be very dangerous.

The Cowboys will draft Ashton Jeanty.

Ashton Jeanty for sure is gonna be a cowboy. That is the most Cowboys pick ever. Oh my God. He's gonna run for like 1500 yards and they're gonna go to the playoffs like everything's fixed.

The Bears will hire Brian Flores and won't even interview Ben Johnson

The organization is not in a good place... Everything that I've read and heard, the Bears are going to hire Brian Flores. They're probably not even gonna interview Ben Johnson... Ryan Poles is gonna keep his job and that's gonna be an awkward [situation].

I like Penn State's chances as underdogs against Notre Dame in the semifinals

I like Penn State's chances. I like that they're dogs. I like that they're dogs in this game. As of right now, they're one and a half point dogs. Opened as dogs. It'll be a good game.

The Bears will not win a road game on a Sunday this season

The Bears haven't won a road game on a Sunday since 2021... 20 Sunday road games in a row. We're not gonna beat the Packers. Packers are going to embarrass us, they're gonna laugh at us.

Geno Smith will make $6 million in performance incentives on Sunday

Geno Smith could make $6 million on Sunday. He gets 2 million bucks if the Seahawks finish with a 10th win. He gets 2 million if he gets 4,282 yards—he's 185 away—and he also gets 2 million bucks if he finishes with a completion percentage better than 69.75. Right now he's at 70.23.

The Vikings might consider trading JJ McCarthy if Sam Darnold is the guy

I think all options will be on the table if and when they decide Sam Darnold is the guy... if there's a team out there that's willing to make the Vikings an offer that they won't refuse, then you do it... I think the Vikings get a hell of a lot more for JJ McCarthy than the 49ers got for Trey Lance.

The Chiefs are guaranteed to make the AFC Championship game

I'll say right now they're [Chiefs] in the AFC championship game. It's gonna be very hard to go into Arrowhead Stadium and win... Mahomes' floor is losing in overtime of the AFC championship. That's his floor.

Aaron Rodgers wants the Jets to break up with him, not the other way around

I think Aaron Rodgers doesn't want to come back to the Jets, but he wants them to be the ones that break up with him. He's been needling Woody Johnson... I think he wants them to end it. And then he'll see if anyone out there really wants him.

Kirk Cousins might be done as a starting NFL quarterback

Look at Cousins. He's gotta like muster every ounce of energy in his body... his body eventually rebelled against him this year because he was compensating for the torn achilles tendon... I've talked to people who said, you know what? There's a chance it just never comes back for him. He could be done.

Carson Wentz will do something in Week 18 that pisses everyone off regarding the playoff race

Carson Wentz. All I know for a fact is that he will do something that will piss everybody off with the way it impacts the playoff race. Probably gonna be a tie if you put Carson, if he starts that game, plays the whole game, it'll probably be a tie. Everyone's gonna get confused and then something's gonna happen where you're gonna be like, goddammit, that sucks that Carson Wentz started that game.

If Chris Ballard is not fired, the Colts will miss the playoffs next season

If Chris Ballard sticks around, if they don't change anything for the Colts, I'd like to make a prediction that the Colts will finish 8-9 or 9-8 and miss the playoffs.

The Cleveland Browns will get the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

I think the Cleveland Browns are gonna get the number one pick. I think the Browns, if they start DTR, I do not think you can win a football game with [him].

The Vikings must keep Sam Darnold after this season, potentially by using the franchise tag

Sam Darnold's. I I saw there was a report that there, I mean there're basically they have to keep him at this point. Yeah. Maybe franchise tag him. He's been awesome.

Ohio State will beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl's gonna be awesome. I think I'm gonna take Ohio State in that game. And it's mostly based on the uniforms that Oregon picked. I didn't really like 'em, I thought they should have done more classic.

The Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl again

They're gonna win the Super Bowl again. Just accept it... what's gonna end up happening is the Chiefs now with the one seed, their second round game is going to be a team that they will kill and then they will play one game to get to the Super Bowl... and then it's Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.

The Panthers will cover +8 against the Buccaneers

I'll take the Panthers plus eight... I think the Panthers are live in this game... full on like the Panthers and the Cowboys are the two teams that stink but are playing actually good ball in the last month and feels like they're just ready to play spoiler.

I will read one entire book in 2025

I'm also gonna read a book. I haven't read a book in a decade. I'm gonna read a book... read with my two eyes. It might take me the entire year. I'm going to fucking do it. I feel it.

Spencer Carberry is the frontrunner for the Jack Adams Award

Probably the biggest surprise so far this year has been the Washington Capitals... I would have to say [Spencer] Carberry the coach. He, he, he's the front runner for the Jack Adams. He just is such a modern day coach.

The Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl again

The Kansas City Chiefs are going to do it again. They're gonna win the Super Bowl. They're 14 and one and everything is rounding into shape exactly as we expected and exactly as they always planned.

I like the Steelers on Christmas against the Chiefs

You know, as crazy as this is gonna sound because the last two recaps we just did. I kinda like the Steelers on Christmas... But I like 'em on Christmas... Tomlin dog at home Christmas. Everybody in Pittsburgh's gonna be at the, if you're not, you're not anybody unless you're at that game in Pittsburgh.

Jamar Chase will win the NFL Triple Crown for receiving

Jamar Chase, I believe will get the Triple Crown. He leads the NFL in receptions... receiving yards... and touchdown catches. For 16 Triple Crown. So he is defeated everybody in the NFL, including himself.

The Rams will win the NFC West

The Rams are a very big issue for my pinky because they're gonna win the NFC West now. They control their own destiny. And they have gone from a one in four team to a, what are they, nine and six? So they're eight and two in their last 10. They're one of the hottest teams in in the NFL.

The Vikings are a serious threat to win the Super Bowl if they get the one seed

The Vikings control their own destiny for the one seed. They are a serious threat in the playoffs. Especially if they get that one seed. I feel like there's gonna be a lot of casual NFL fans who if the Vikings went out, they'd be like, wait, what the hell? I thought the Lions had the one seed.

Indiana and Clemson are the two best upset bets in the first round of the CFP

Indiana and Clemson are the two horses I'm riding. I think the weather, I think the big, I think the weather, it's big 10 weather. It's tough to go against Penn State and Ohio State. I think Indiana's got a shot. And I think Clemson has a real shot because Indiana's Big 10. Notre Dame's not big.

The Houston Texans' offense feels broken and they will lose early in the playoffs

The Texans I had, I had hoped for them this year to be maybe a Super Bowl contender. And they've instead just slotted into like the traditional AFC South team that will lose in the playoffs because I just don't think their offense feels broken.

I bet $5,000 on the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl

I put a bomb future down and I put it on the Eagles. I almost five have five grand on the Eagles plus four 50. That, that I almost biggest, that'll be the biggest bet I've ever won.

The Falcons will likely switch from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr. soon

I think they might make a change. I think so too. It might be pennix time. [Big Cat: I agree. Time for the future.]

Indiana will pull off the upset against Notre Dame in the CFP

What's the, I, what's the IU Notre Dame? Seven and a half... I would say IU. I'd probably say IU would, would be [the upset].

Bill Belichick will prioritize academic performance at North Carolina

I really think as much as you guys are saying, Hey, don't worry about the education... I think he's gonna think about how I do both... I think he's gonna, the reason it took two weeks... I'm sure he sat there and just gathered so much intel... but I do think he's gonna do the academic side. I I, that's just me.

Paul Walter Hauser will be one of the biggest actors in the world within the next 10 years

I think you will be like one of the biggest actors in the world in the next 10 years. You should be, you should be.

I would win an Oscar if I played Teddy Roosevelt

I, I have three roles I really want to inhabit in the next five years. I wanna, I wanna play Teddy Roosevelt. [Big Cat: Oscar! Hauser: Yes.] And that's another one where I just, I know I can play him. I'm not even worried about it.