Wild Card Weekend Day 2 delivered fantastic drama and Kevin Clark breaks it all down. Through just four games, this postseason has already featured more fourth-quarter lead changes than any playoff run in NFL history, and it’s exposing something bigger: real parity is back. The era of one or two juggernauts cruising through January is over.

In this episode:

• Why the NFL’s elite quarterbacks no longer guarantee dominance

• The uncomfortable conversation around Justin Herbert and why he gets treated differently

• How the NFC West turned into the old SEC West, and why fading the 49ers might be a mistake

• Kyle Shanahan’s best coaching job yet amid a brutal injury season

• The Eagles’ troubling vibes, A.J. Brown disappearing acts, and why Big Dom might be the most important man on the sideline

• Josh Allen reminding everyone he’s the best player on the planet

• What the Jaguars got wrong, and why “young team, they’ll be back” is a dangerous lie

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Wild Card Weekend Day 1 is in the books, and Kevin Clark breaks down a stunning slate of playoff football. The Bears flip decades of trauma on the Packers in one of the most shocking collapses in recent rivalry history. From clock management failures to emotional play-calling, what does this loss mean for Matt LaFleur’s future in Green Bay, and where could he land next?

Plus:

• Why Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson just changed the Bears–Packers dynamic for good

• How a few missed kicks may have altered the next decade of NFL franchises

• The Rams survive the Panthers — but did we just see their ceiling?

• What Matthew Stafford’s finger injury means for the rest of the NFC

• Bryce Young’s future, Carolina’s brutal loss, and why “moral victories” don’t exist

• Kevin’s NFC contender tiers heading into the rest of the playoffs

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Kevin Clark is joined by Ron Rivera to discuss his role as Cal's general manager and the chaos that the transfer portal brings this time of year. Ron highlights the coaches in the NFL that he loves to watch and relives some of the battles with Sean Payton. Plus, why Ron thinks Cam Newton deserves more respect for what he accomplished during his career.

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5-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning joins This Is Football to give his assessment of the Quarterbacks in this year's playoffs. Peyton details what he's seen from the Texans & Browns while scouting for Monday's Manningcast on ESPN2, the lessons he can learn from Sam Darnold's journey, what he's seen from Bo Nix that's impressed him, what the key is to a good marriage between a coach and QB, who he thinks should be MVP of the 2026 season, and how close Jim Harbaugh came to getting him to join the 49ers when he hit free agency.

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Kevin Clark breaks down the biggest winners and losers from Week 18, including why a single missed kick in Ravens/Steelers may shape the next decade for both franchises. From Atlanta’s long-overdue reset, to major questions looming for Baltimore, Las Vegas, and New York, this was one of the most illuminating days of the NFL year.

Kevin digs into:

• Why rookie kickers feel more pressure when trailing than when tied

• How the Ravens’ long-term outlook may have changed overnight

• What Atlanta, the Raiders, and Giants should actually be looking for in their next head coach

• Why the “Patriot Way” should finally be retired

• Seattle’s rise, Baltimore’s flaws, and Kevin’s biggest miss of the season

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Kevin Clark is joined by Hall Of Fame Defensive Back Rod Woodson to breakdown the matchup that will decide the AFC North on Sunday. Having played for both teams Rod provides unique insight into what we should expect from the Ravens/Steelers. 

Rod also shares his thoughts on how he would have to adjust his game if he played present day, why Patrick Surtain II reminds him of himself, and shares a few hilarious stories from his playing days.

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ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler joins Kevin Clark to break down what’s shaping up to be a quieter-than-usual NFL Black Monday. With teams firing coaches earlier than ever, the traditional end-of-season chaos has changed, and Jeremy explains why fewer openings may actually make this hiring cycle more intense.

The guys dive into:

• Why Black Monday isn’t what it used to be
• The teams already getting a head start on coaching searches
• Which jobs Jeremy has his eye on (Cleveland, Las Vegas, Miami, Arizona & more)
• Why there could be big changes on the horizon in Baltimore including at the QB position

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Kevin Clark recaps everything from the penultimate week of the NFL's regular season. Was Buffalo right to go for 2 against the Eagles and has Philadelphia established themselves as the favorites in the NFC on the strength of their pass rush? Kevin tackles Myles Garrett's comments on how the Steelers went out of their way to prevent him from getting the sack record and hurt themselves offensively in the process. 

Plus, why Tyler Shough has made it clear that he's the Saints quarterback next season. Kevin details why he believes it's time for the NFL to institute a draft lottery in an effort to curb teams taking at the end of the season.

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Former Chiefs All-Pro tackle Mitch Schwartz joins This Is Football to break down what actually went wrong for Kansas City and what comes next. From the evolution (and stagnation) of Andy Reid’s offense, to why Mahomes can’t fix everything on his own, to the importance of schematic advantages in the modern NFL, this is a masterclass in how football really works.

Schwartz explains why under-center offenses are back, how teams like the Rams and 49ers are creating run-game advantages with motion, and why winning on third-and-long is the real separator for contenders. 

Plus:

• Why elite defensive linemen could still play into their 40s

• The best offensive line in football right now

• Who deserves “Protector of the Year”

• How Tyrann Mathieu changed the Chiefs’ culture

• The funniest trash talk Mitch ever heard on an NFL field

• What it’s actually like being a Jewish NFL player during Christmas week

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Week 16 is in the books, and Kevin Clark breaks down three wild days of NFL football. From the Bears finally showing signs of real life behind Caleb Williams, to Bryce Young’s growing résumé as one of the league’s most clutch quarterbacks, this episode is about the rise of the quarterback whisperers and why offensive head coaches may be taking over the NFL for good.

Kevin explains why Carolina, Chicago, and Jacksonville are all changing their trajectories, and why Trevor Lawrence suddenly looks like the player everyone scouted at Clemson.

Plus:

• Why the Lions/Steelers ending was an officiating mess, and why the NFL needs replay transparency now
• What’s gone wrong in Houston despite the win
• Why the Giants’ nine-game losing streak is completely indefensible
• Kevin’s blunt take on Joe Schoen and the myth of “young talent”
• And a reminder that celebrating a big win over age 35 can end in injury

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Kevin Clark is joined by Daniel Jeremiah to take a look at whether the Chargers are legitimate contenders in the AFC and what makes Jim Harbaugh such a great coach. DJ lays out what the plan should be for the Chiefs this offseason as they look to rebound from their worst year in a decade. Plus, an incredible story from Daniel's scouting days about Colts legend Bob Sanders.

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