The Underdog NFL Show

Underdog Sports

Chris Horwedel and Mario Hines talk all things NFL football year round, covering the sport with a unique blend of insight and humor -- along some help from their contacts from around the football world.

  1. 4D AGO

    Episode 266: NFL Week 13

    00:13 – Intro & Lions/Eagles Misery Chris and Mario open from “on location,” joking about Uzbekistan, then dive into Lions and Eagles frustrations: injuries, failed physicals, underperforming CBs (Arnold, Okuda), tired defenses, Saquon's decline, O-line issues, and constant coordinator turnover. 09:56 – Coaching Personalities & Fit Discussion of Mike McDaniel, Lane Kiffin, Joe Judge, personality conflicts, and how coaches struggle when they aren't “the guy.” 13:56 – Recruiting, NIL & Transfer Portal Chaos Shifts to college football: strange QB commitments (Houston/Vanderbilt), Penn State's recruiting collapse, BYU coach leverage, loyalty vs. opting out, and Wrexham anecdotes about finishing seasons with teammates. NFL Week 14 Games  23:46 – Cowboys at Lions Debate over Detroit's ability to stop Dallas, injury concerns, and Lions' must-win stakes. 24:50 – Bengals at Bills Buffalo's inconsistency, Cincinnati's uneven form, and how each team's identity is shifting. 26:15 – Colts at Jaguars Conversation about both teams' surprising rise, T-Law's volatility, and AFC hierarchy questions. 27:18 – Dolphins at Jets Jets' cold-weather advantage, defensive competence, and Miami's road vulnerability. 29:07 – Saints at Buccaneers Tampa rediscovering rhythm, Saints' issues, and how injuries complicate both sides. 30:26 – Steelers at Ravens Baltimore's higher ceiling, Steelers' struggles, and roster decisions (Mark Andrews, Likely). 34:45 – Seahawks at Falcons Atlanta's offensive talent vs. collapse, QB uncertainty, and Seattle's playoff relevance. 37:23 – Titans at Browns Cam Ward soundbite, Tennessee's internal frustration, Cleveland's QB chaos, and fan unease. 45:42 – Commanders at Vikings Both teams' self-inflicted issues, run-game reliance, and thin margins. 46:10 – Broncos at Raiders Denver's need to “prove it,” Raiders' volatility, and why this matchup remains unpredictable. 48:15 – Bears at Packers Playoff-seeding implications, Chicago's surprising standing, and Green Bay skepticism. 50:41 – Rams at Cardinals Arizona fading post-elimination; Rams viewed as eye-test contenders. 51:14 – Texans at Chiefs Discussion of Kansas City's strange season, playoff positioning, and Houston's growth. 54:42 – Eagles at Chargers Herbert's health, Trey Lance possibilities, Eagles' defensive punch, and LA's underachievement.

    58 min
  2. NOV 27

    Episode 266: NFL Week 13

    Episode Summary  00:13 – Intro & Week 13 Setup Chris and Mario open with holiday chatter, late-season bye weeks, collapsing hopes vs. rising hopes, and early playoff-picture talk. 02:00 – NFC South & Panthers/Bucs Context Discussion of the messy NFC South, Tampa's losing streak, Carolina hanging around, and how late-season momentum matters. 02:44 – Thanksgiving Game 1: Lions vs Packers Detroit hosts Green Bay; conversation centers on Lions' uneven play, Gibbs' breakout, Jameis' chaos last week, and defensive lapses. 12:13 – Thanksgiving Game 2: Chiefs vs Cowboys Dallas at home vs Kansas City; focus on Dallas' inconsistency and Kansas City stabilizing under Andy Reid. 17:18 – Thanksgiving Game 3: Bengals vs Ravens Cincinnati visits Baltimore; the hosts examine Burrow's return, injury-management tension, and Baltimore's steadier form. 22:51 – Bears vs Eagles Chicago travels to Philly; talk centers on Steelers' overrating, the Bears' late-game competitiveness, and Philadelphia's tendency to ease off early leads. 24:38 – Cardinals vs Buccaneers Arizona goes to Tampa; concern over Baker's injury status and whether Tampa's offense can steady itself. 29:20 – Falcons vs Jets Discussion of both teams' identity issues, Cousins' age/health arc, and Tyrod Taylor giving the Jets some stability. 30:56 – Texans vs Colts Houston at Indy; focus on D'Amico Ryans' coaching, QB uncertainty (Stroud protocol), and how each team adjusts to lineup changes. 32:35 – Jaguars vs Titans Jacksonville visits Tennessee; long examination of Trevor Lawrence's turnover issues, misleading stats, and Jacksonville's strange 7–4 profile. 38:59 – Rams vs Panthers LA travels to Carolina; praise for McVay's revival, young defensive standouts, and the Panthers' struggles. 44:46 – Saints vs Dolphins New Orleans heads to Miami; discussion of Miami's pre-bye bounce-back, coaching strengths, and both teams managing volatile offensive stars. 46:52 – 49ers vs Browns San Francisco at Cleveland; Shador Sanders' steadiness vs. limitations, Browns' defensive stars (Myles Garrett, Carson Swessinger), and rookie LB impact. 52:23 – Vikings vs Seahawks Minnesota travels to Seattle; focus on J.J. McCarthy's struggles, Darnold's steadier play, and JSN's meteoric rise. 55:50 – Bills vs Steelers Buffalo at Pittsburgh; uncertainty around Buffalo's identity, fading defense, and what Pittsburgh lacks offensively. 58:03 – Raiders vs Chargers Las Vegas visits LA; Chargers leaning on run identity against a Raiders defense that can't stop much. 58:36 – Broncos vs Commanders Denver at Washington; praise for Denver's competitive rebuild and Washington's inconsistency. 1:00:12 – Giants vs Patriots New York travels to New England; Patriots' strong record vs. perception, but needing to prove real staying power against an irritating opponent.

    1 hr
  3. NOV 20

    Episode 265: Miami Kev

    Episode Summary  00:13 – Intro & Opening Banter Jokes about soccer/football confusion, UFC chatter, and baseball lineup mix-ups before moving into NFL Week 12. 02:24 – QB Records & NFL History Discussion of Jacoby Brissett's completions record, past record holders (Jared Goff, Drew Bledsoe), Bledsoe's career, and a deep dive into the 1994 Patriots roster. 11:13 – Delivery Apps, Tipping & Life Rants Funny segment on DoorDash behavior, tipping strategy, and delivery frustrations. 20:13 – NFL Week 12 Begins NFL GAMES  20:13 – Bills at Texans 22:18 – Colts at Chiefs 26:41 – Vikings at Packers 34:28 – Patriots at Bengals 35:08 – Giants at Lions 46:50 – Jets at Ravens 48:10 – Steelers at Bears 49:39 – Seahawks at Titans 52:47 – Browns at Raiders 58:13 – Jaguars at Cardinals 59:43 – Falcons at Saints 60:13 – Eagles at Cowboys 66:20 – Buccaneers at Rams 66:51 – Panthers at 49ers Non-Game Segments 28:02 – QB Carousel Talk Conversation about McCarthy, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz, and how teams overthink QB decisions. 31:44 – NIL, College QBs & Lane Kiffin How NIL affects smaller-school quarterbacks, plus discussion of Kiffin's future and program dynamics. 35:14 – Lions/Eagles Offense & Defensive Changes Breakdown of recent offensive issues, Saquon usage, WR dynamics, and Jalen Phillips' impact on the Eagles' line. 41:43 – Coordinator Turnover & Coaching Careers How losing coordinators affects team identity, retread coaching candidates, and system fits. 50:59 – Miles Garrett Segment His sack pace, Browns defensive context, and the franchise's long history of bad luck. 55:05 – Rookie QB Struggles & Shador Sanders Talk Evaluation of his rough debut, overanalysis of prep, and realistic expectations. 67:51 – Closing Final remarks and sign-off.

    1h 10m
  4. NOV 13

    Episode 264: Down Goes Daboll

    • Opening banter / birthdays / calendars (00:13) Light back-and-forth on missed birthdays, daylight-savings gripes, and Ireland closing early. MAJOR NON-GAME TOPICS • Giants fire Brian Daboll + “next coach” odds (04:00) They roast oddsmakers' list: Todd Monken as the favorite, confusion about Ben Johnson being listed despite already having a HC job, plus Joe Brady, Mike McDaniel, Raheem Morris, Jim Harbaugh, Bill Belichick, etc. • Jackson Dart discussion (06:11) Dart's toughness, upside, OL concerns, and whether his physical wear will affect development. • Bo Nix regression & evaluation (10:07) Why his tape isn't matching expectations, concerns about intermediate accuracy, and whether he settles into the QB20-35 tier. • Eagles offensive dysfunction / AJ Brown frustration (12:40) Play-calling issues under Kevin Petula, lack of targets for AJ Brown, OL injuries, lack of rhythm, Sirianni needing to self-correct. • Jaire Alexander stepping away (19:49) Concerns about mental health around the league and frustration that the trade happened right before this development. WEEK 11 GAMES (Each With Timecodes) Jets at Patriots (21:26) Biggest line of the week; Jets offense still broken; Patriots viewed as legit and physical. Commanders vs Dolphins (Madrid game) (24:20) Commanders imploded last week; Dolphins expected to enjoy the Spain trip more and play looser. Panthers at Falcons (25:11) Both teams inconsistent; Panthers “look OK until they don't”; slight lean Falcons at home. Bears at Vikings (26:33) Lack of belief in J.J. McCarthy; Bears' offense scores more reliably. Bengals at Steelers (27:21) Steelers need it to avoid losing ground in the division; Bengals pesky but overmatched. Packers at Giants (28:53) Jameis starting; Packers expected to control the game. Texans at Titans (29:21) Texans praised; Davis Mills “backup lifer” energy; Houston momentum favored. Chargers at Jaguars (29:58) Travis Hunter's season-ending injury; Chargers “need-to-win” tendency to collapse; Mario leans Jags. Buccaneers at Bills (32:22) Bills expected to bounce back; Bucs tough and disciplined; close game. 49ers at Cardinals (33:23) Strange line; Cardinals outmatched; Mario calls this his “lock of the week.” Ravens at Browns (35:18) Confusion why the line isn't bigger; strong confidence in Baltimore. Chiefs at Broncos (36:00) Chiefs in dangerous playoff position; must-win; trust placed in Reid/Mahomes. Lions at Eagles (SNF) (36:51) Eagles inconsistent but still NFC's #1 seed; Lions need to “earn it”; expected to be physical. Cowboys at Raiders (MNF) (39:04) Raiders' struggles vs Cowboys' volatility; emotional game following the tragedy; slight lean Dallas.

    1h 1m
  5. NOV 8

    Episode 263: Week 10 and The Big Moves

    • Trade Deadline Rundown (00:00:18–22:34:18) Chris and Mario unravel a chaotic deadline: Eagles add Jair Alexander and Jalen Phillips; Ravens grab Dre'Mont Jones; Cowboys land Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams; Jaguars secure Jacoby Myers; Jets shock the league trading Sauce Gardner and later adding Jasser Taylor; Seattle acquires Rashid Shaheed; Bears pick up Joe Tryon; Chargers trade for Trevor Penning. Conversation swings between fit, upside, contracts, scheme changes, and organizational direction. They also question the Jets' teardown, the Colts' aggression, and the Dolphins staying quiet. College QB class talk follows: Sellers, More, Simpson, and draft uncertainty. Week 10 NFL Games (with +18s added) • Raiders at Broncos – 23:10 Denver's physicality and consistency earn praise; Las Vegas looks flat and uninspired. • Falcons vs Colts (Berlin) – 29:23 Mario's “lock of the week.” Falcons' defense can't stop anyone; Colts favored to control the game. • Ravens at Vikings – 30:11 Minnesota gets JJ back, but Baltimore's momentum and Lamar's form make them the stronger side. • Bills at Dolphins – 31:09 Miami's instability overshadows talent; Buffalo seen as prepared and steady after a big win. • Browns at Jets – 33:38 Jets' teardown continues; Cleveland likely benefits from New York's dysfunction. • Jaguars at Texans – 36:15 With Houston missing CJ Stroud, Jacksonville's new WR additions give them the edge. • Patriots at Buccaneers – 37:27 Oddsmakers' tiny line surprises both hosts; Tampa viewed as clearly stronger. • Saints at Panthers – 40:52 Carolina suddenly competitive; New Orleans' inconsistency pushes the edge to the Panthers. • Giants at Bears – 45:22 Chicago still difficult to trust; despite issues, Bears are the more functional team. • Cardinals at Seahawks – 47:09 Seattle's home advantage and Arizona's uncertainty (including Kyler's future) point strongly toward the Seahawks.

    1h 1m
  6. OCT 30

    Episode 262: The Halfway Mark, Already

    🎙️ Opening (00:00 → 00:18) Birthday talk, mortality jokes, Amazon wishlists, tech habits Retail therapy & collecting kicks → soccer obsession as the “methadone” for sneakers Deep dive into new passion for global football (Wrexham, pyramid system, kits) MLS talk, DC United kits, future promotion/relegation in U.S. soccer Shoe pickup: Jordan Zion “Reverse Voodoo” Banter about acting, Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, random movie tangent 🏈 NFL WEEK 9 GAMES Ravens at Dolphins (14:33 → 14:51) Dolphins' huge offensive week discussed Ravens getting healthier; full 53 active reported Identity-shaping matchup for Baltimore Falcons at Patriots (16:33 → 16:51) Patriots gauge progress, protect ball with young QB Pats elite run defense vs. Falcons ground attack Panthers at Packers (18:26 → 18:44) Panthers offensive struggles highlighted Green Bay pass rush and run defense key storyline Bears at Bengals (23:51 → 24:09) Joe Flacco resurgence & feeding Jamar Chase Chase's massive target volume emphasized Broncos at Texans (29:19 → 29:37) Injury watch: key Denver defensive star hurt Houston's run-game questions; Mixon uncertainty Mention of trade buzz & Breece Hall's performance Colts at Steelers (32:32 → 32:50) Steelers' defensive struggles continue Colts physical play & momentum focus Chargers at Titans (34:10 → 34:28) Chargers inconsistency theme Personnel notes: McConkey usage rising, RB injuries Vikings at Lions (36:10 → 36:28) Vikings QB health uncertainty Detroit expected to reassert after bye 49ers at Giants (37:01 → 37:19) QB watch: Brock Purdy status monitored Giants QB injuries & emotional angle Officiating frustration from prior week mentioned Jaguars at Raiders (43:41 → 43:59) Raiders offensive line woes, young weapons Jaguars stability vs. struggling LV roster

    1h 10m
  7. OCT 23

    Episode 261: The Trade Deadline Approaches

    [00:18] Introduction & Welcome Back Chris returns safely from overseas travel Brief discussion of last week's unusual recording setup with AirPods and poor WiFi [01:05] NFL Trade Deadline Deep Dive Trade deadline approaching in less than two weeks Comprehensive review of ESPN's top 25 potential trade candidates Evan Neal (#25): Former #7 overall pick from Giants; hosts discuss potential reclamation project at guard for Eagles, similar to Mekhi Becton situation Saquon Barkley's concerning stats: now second in NFL for tackles in backfield, longest run only 18 yards this season (had 22 carries of 18+ yards last year) Roger McCreary (#14): Titans cornerback discussed as steady option for teams needing secondary help Arden Key (#13): Titans edge rusher - hosts skeptical of his value despite athletic profile Chris Olave (#7): Saints receiver as potential fit for Giants opposite Malik Nabers and Daniel Jones Riq Woolen (#4): Seahawks cornerback (6'4" with 4.3 speed) - doesn't fit Mike McDonald's defensive scheme; potential fits include Lions, Eagles, Falcons Breece Hall (#3): Jets running back; team fits include Chargers, Chiefs, Texans despite Hall wanting to stay Jaylen Waddle (#2): Dolphins receiver (10% trade chance); Giants and Steelers best fits Trey Hendrickson (#1): Bengals edge rusher most likely to be traded; Colts identified as intriguing fit [23:00] Indianapolis Colts Success Story Colts praised as surprise team with best record in league Shane Steichen's play-calling excellence highlighted Anthony Richardson benching decision discussed as bold move that paid off [24:22] NBA Scandal Sidebar Chauncey Billups arrest mentioned involving rigged poker games tied to the mafia Comparison to movie plots; discussion of how reality matches fiction Brief mention of other NBA controversies including Kawhi Leonard situation [27:04] Week 7 NFL Schedule Breakdown Thursday Night Football [28:04]: Vikings at Chargers (Chargers -3.5 per oddsmakers) Vikings dealing with quarterback issues; consistency concerns mounting Chargers at home with better positioning despite both teams having issues Sunday Early Games: [29:56] Bills at Panthers (Panthers +7) Panthers showing legitimate improvement with Bryce Young Rico Dowdle discussion as functional backup running back Ticket prices surprisingly expensive for Panthers home game Young and CJ Stroud playing at similar mediocre levels recently Bills expected to win convincingly by more than touchdown [32:50] Bears at Ravens (Ravens -6.5) Lamar Jackson's practice status TBD but expected to play Bears playing legitimate football but not expected to overcome Ravens at home [33:28] Browns at Patriots (Patriots -7) Shadeur Sanders discussion Sanders not getting any first-team practice snaps despite being backup Stefanski wouldn't commit to Sanders as #2 over Bailey Zappe Quinchon Johnson's recent performance analyzed: 25 carries, 3 TDs but only 3.4 YPC against Dolphins Drake May praised as likable with upside as top 10-12 quarterback May compared to Mitch Trubisky in personality (happy, puppy-like demeanor) Rhamondre Stevenson primary back but Henderson only got 2 carries despite being high draft pick [41:00] Dolphins at Falcons (Falcons -7.5) Michael Penix Jr. described as "okay" - consistent mediocrity expected Suggestion that Raheem Morris may dislike Kirk Cousins Dolphins described as "shell of an NFL team" [42:30] Giants at Eagles (Eagles -7.5) Strong revenge game narrative after Eagles' embarrassing blowout loss earlier in season Hosts expect Eagles to dominate convincingly Jalen Hurts in "area code" of Jordan/Kobe revenge mentality [43:40] Jets at Bengals (Bengals -6) Framed as "former Browns backup quarterbacks battle" with Tyrod Taylor vs Joe Flacco Jets moving to Taylor after Woody Johnson publicly criticized Justin Fields Described as skippable game [44:32] 49ers at Texans (Texans -2) Brock Purdy vs Mac Jones quarterback situation for 49ers Christian McCaffrey's return: 24 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs plus 72 receiving yards McCaffrey's performance gives hope for Saquon Barkley's potential recovery Joe Mixon return timeline unclear for Texans Texans reportedly interested in acquiring Breece Hall Discussion of "breaking inertia" with backup quarterback having residual negative effects [47:15] Buccaneers at Saints (Saints +3.5) Bucs expected to bounce back after disappointing Monday Night loss to Lions Baker Mayfield surprisingly inefficient in Detroit Defense gave up unexpected plays Gibbs praised for Lions' performance [48:15] Cowboys at Broncos (Broncos -3) Javonte Williams "revenge game" discussion against former team Williams having career year with Cowboys on one-year deal Extensive free agency speculation for 2025 Discussion of Williams as quality second running back, similar evaluation of Isaiah Pacheco Altitude factor in Denver mentioned [54:16] Titans at Colts (Colts -14.5) Largest spread of week at 14.5 points Colts identified as hosts' "favorite AFC team" Expected dominant Colts victory Sunday Night Football [54:25]: Packers at Steelers (Steelers +3) Steelers' inability to close games highlighted as persistent problem NFC North rivalry dynamics discussed Steelers can't protect quarterback concerns Monday Night Football [55:26]: Commanders at Chiefs (Chiefs -12) Marcus Mariota starting for injured Jaden Daniels Second-largest spread of week Daniels' injury concerns: longest rush only 18 yards this season, on pace for just 2,500 passing yards Question raised about overlooking size concerns too quickly RG3 comparison made regarding Washington's history of mismanaging franchise QBs Daniels praised for elite pure passing upside even without running Washington's "win now" moves discussed Team described as "weird" - perhaps anointed too early as contenders

    59 min
4.9
out of 5
332 Ratings

About

Chris Horwedel and Mario Hines talk all things NFL football year round, covering the sport with a unique blend of insight and humor -- along some help from their contacts from around the football world.