SMQBs Episode 44: NFL Playoff Scenarios and F1 Championship Controversy
NFL! College Football! F1 Drama! PFOTW! Lasso!!
This episode could also be dubbed the “John Riggins episode”.
The guys pay tribute to Hank Aaron as the iconic number 44, while also debating other famous athletes who wore the number, including Reggie Jackson, Pistol Pete Maravich, Jim Brown, and John Riggins himself. In NFL action, they highlight the return of key players like Dalvin Cook and the emotional win for the Broncos after the passing of Demaryius Thomas. They also touch on the struggles of the Jaguars under Urban Meyer and the potential impact of Lamar Jackson’s injury on the Ravens’ playoff hopes.
A major segment of the episode is dedicated to the dramatic conclusion of the Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi, where Max Verstappen clinched the championship on the final lap, overtaking Lewis Hamilton. The hosts meticulously recount the controversial events of the race, including the tire strategies, a first-lap incident involving Hamilton and Verstappen, and the pivotal late-race safety car period caused by Nicholas Latifi’s crash. They intensely debate the race director Michael Masi’s decision to allow only certain lapped cars to unlap themselves, effectively setting up a one-lap shootout between Hamilton on old hard tires and Verstappen on fresh soft tires. The “Punchable Face of the Week” is unanimously awarded to Michael Masi for his controversial calls. The episode concludes with a heartwarming “Ted Lasso” segment, highlighting a story of perseverance about a young athlete’s battle with cancer and his journey to play college football.