The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Darnold’s Apex: How the Seahawks Broke the Rams & Sean Payton’s Fatal Mistake
26 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What led to the Seahawks' success in reaching the Super Bowl?
Hi, hello, my fellow football Americans. Super Bowl 60s all set. Seahawks, Patriots, excited to talk about that, but the majority of the conversation, it seems, is about the weather conditions at the AFC title game. What happened to you people? Okay, it snowed, and I heard it was also windy.
I don't get it, just a few weeks ago I could swear I heard you singing about how you wanted to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Now all of a sudden you're Milli Vanilli in winter, blaming it on the snow? As you may have noticed, that game sucked before it started coming down.
By the way, I don't mean to hurt anybody on either side's feelings, but if Bo Nix had played, Denver obviously wins that game. Either way, everyone watches Thousand Pound Sisters, right?
Chapter 2: How did weather conditions affect the AFC title game?
Right. Well, as you know then, Amy's getting married and she wants the ceremony to be haunted. Ghosts for bridesmaids. Not people dressed as ghosts, mind you. Ghosts. Now, Tammy doesn't want to go. She thinks it's sacrilegious and more to the point too weird, and I agree with that. But Amy's the one with the ring on her finger. You don't get to tell her about her wedding.
And that's what home field advantage is. Getting home field is a big reward for a big season long achievement. It was 82 and sunny in Jacksonville on Sunday. If the Jags had the number one seed, it would have been hot for the visitors. Is that unfair? The 99 Rams were ideally constructed to play under a dome, as their nickname Greatest Show on Turf indicated.
I bet the Brownie Bucks didn't like playing under that dome. In fact, you might go so far as to say they felt disadvantaged. Are we also throwing out the results of the ice bowl? I mean, there's a pretty good case Bart Starr scored on that QB sneak only because it was slippy at. Maybe they're right though.
Chapter 3: What were Sean Payton's critical decisions during the game?
That green wall in Boston's ballpark is tall. The rough at Oakmont is rough. Maybe football fans should keep it down a little too. We don't want to distract those guys out there. Who needs actual empathy when you express your concern for a multi-millionaire who's chilly? What are we talking about? People are complaining about obstacles to success?
Half the guys out there are paid to be human obstacles. They chase you around and everything. You know what? I've had it. I've got to go get some earmuffs, ski pants, and bubble wrap. Let's chop chop and start the show. Yes, hi, and hello, and welcome to Super Bowl 60, my fellow football Americans. Welcome to Football America. We're presented as ever by our pals at DraftKings.
DraftKings, the crown is yours. Hawks, Pats, Super Bowl XLIX sequel. Get ready for lots and lots of references to Malcolm Butler. Get ready, San Francisco and Santa Clara.
Chapter 4: How did Sam Darnold's performance impact his reputation?
We're on our way up there in about a week from now. Be on the lookout for me at media night. The opening night is what they call it. I have some questions to ask the Seahawks and Patriots players. One reference here. for you about the Football America YouTube page. In between shoveling the snow or whatever else you're doing, please be a dear, subscribe, spread the good word on Football America.
We enjoy the conversation in the comment section on YouTube and or wherever you find your podcasts. We appreciate you subscribing. Be a patriot, not the kind with a capital P, although if you are with a capital P, we welcome you as well and congratulations. It's episode 46, the players who wore that best in NFL history. Tim McDonald and Todd Christensen. Andy Pettit wore it well in MLB.
Two good ones, though, 46. First of all, Pete Johnson, who was the fat Bengals running back in the 80s. In 1983, he had three and a half yards of carry and 14 touchdowns. Then he left.
cincy and an 84 for the chargers and dolphins how about this 87 total touches 12 of them touchdowns how does that math work he rushed for 2.4 yards per carry he was the ultimate goal line back and he was a slob on top of it it was very funny and also doug plank wore it for the chicago bears i bring him up because he is who the 46 defense of the bears
were named after, and now the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl, and they lost Super Bowl XXII, the 46th defense of the Chicago Bears. And now we say hello to our fellas, the Fuentes boys.
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Chapter 5: What is the significance of Mike McCarthy's hiring by the Steelers?
We have Moe Damoshek coming up in one second, and Jeff Schwartz for the Jerk List. How are you, fellas?
Feeling pretty bummed, man. The Patriots are back in their 10th Super Bowl appearance since the Dolphins last won a playoff game.
We were talking about this in the office earlier, Dave, and I think that the Dolphins don't catch enough shit for being as bad as they've been over the last 20 years. I think people like to pile on the Browns. The Browns have won a playoff game. since I've exited high school.
So I think Football America and other Football Americans, yeah, we should find a way to collectively give the Dolphins more shit.
Listen, I think that's spot on as, you know, what do you call them, a legacy team or a tentpole franchise or whatever you would call them. Obviously, they don't date back to the 30s or anything, but deeply important in Super Bowl era lore, those two early 70s titles that they win and all of that. You're right.
They've been lost at sea for way too long, despite having one of the three or four best quarterbacks in the history of the Super Bowl era. Interesting stuff. By the way, Super Bowl XLVI, the lowest total since Super Bowl 50 between the Broncos and Panthers, that total was 43. Right now the total is 46 on this game, and the Seahawks are laying five.
Down in South Beach, they're sad because it's sunny outside but gloomy in their hearts. In Pittsburgh, it's actually snowy, and they have a new head coach up there. If you haven't heard about that, Let's get it to our weather girl, Moe Damoshek, for a quick update there before we talk about the two teams going to the Super Bowl and the Final Four.
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Chapter 6: How do quarterback wins influence player legacies?
Apparently some technical difficulties are getting in the way of our brand new segment in which we get a weather forecast. Today in Football America, we want to travel to the banks of the three rivers. It's apparently a tundra, a winter wonderland here as our correspondent, our weather girl. It's my mother, Momo Damaschek. I know time is short because you have to play Canasta.
We appreciate you squeezing us in to your busy schedule. First things first, Momo. Momo, what is it like out there? What are the latest conditions in terms of snowfall and otherwise?
It is. We had 12 inches of snow. It finally stopped snowing and they plowed the streets. But the snow is piled so high now on the streets. It'll be like April or May. You know that till it melts.
How great would it have been if there had been an AFC title game in Pittsburgh? It would have been even worse and the tears would have frozen even more quickly than they did in Denver. Everybody weeping about it snowing at a football game. Shame the devil. It would have been glorious in Pittsburgh.
Chapter 7: What are the implications of the Super Bowl for the teams involved?
So it's snowy there, in other words.
It is very snowy. It's very cold, going to be 12 or 13 all week. So as I said, it's not going to melt. But one good thing, one bad thing. Remember when I was in nursing school, I told you they shut down Fifth Avenue?
No, I wasn't alive then. But no, I've heard the story. Yes, yes.
Anyway, Negley Hill, Pittsburgh's a very hilly city. Negley Hill is right in the middle of a residential area. It's a big hill. They shut down the bottom of the street and we walked up and went sled riding down Negley Hill. They did the same thing yesterday. They shut down Fifth Avenue, this major thoroughfare, and people were skiing and sled riding down Negley Hill.
And the other thing would be horrible for you because you loved snow days. You loved them so much.
The only ray of sunshine that my youth ever saw was a snow day.
That was it for you. That's your only happiness.
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Chapter 8: What are the predictions for the upcoming Super Bowl matchup?
So I was happy. Now they all go to remote learning. And so they still have to sit there.
Oh, no.
No sled rides. The man wins again. I thought you would just be that man being like, no.
The forever war continues. This battle goes to the man. It does. Boy, does that suck.
All right. Your sisters would be like, okay, but you'd be like, oh, anyway. Yes.
So wait, they've taken away one of the few pleasures of being a school bound kid, which is in wintery climbs. When they announced the night before, you listen to the radio to hear if your school gets named or morning of. I don't know which is better. Both are great when you hear your school's name. Shout it out, and you have the day off.
Now the man weighs down on you and says, turn on your computer and learn some more. I can't stand it. That's the same noise a lot of people in Pittsburgh. You said that the weather, the temperature is 12 degrees, but the wind chill, they say it feels like. It feels like things are chillier in the reception from Steelers fans for Pittsburgh.
The local, the prodigal son coming home now to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems like from a distance there are more people upset by this news than happy about it. Give us a temperature check on how Pittsburghers are reacting to Mike McCarthy's hiring in Pittsburgh.
Many, many Pittsburghers just distraught. Of course, they're never going to another game. They're not going to watch them on television. They're finished. This is the last straw. Fortunately, our family... Really good, loyal fans, as you know. Much more optimistic. I mean, guarded optimism, but much more optimistic. Amy was over here Friday night, went on and on about it.
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