"Jared Stidham has NO CHANCE to beat the Patriots" - The Speakeasy BREAKS DOWN AFC Championship

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on the upcoming AFC Championship matchup between the Patriots and the Broncos, featuring Jared Stidham as the Broncos' quarterback. Despite some opinions suggesting the Broncos could thrive against backup quarterbacks, the consensus appears to be that Stidham faces significant challenges in overcoming the seasoned Patriots team.

Key takeaways

• The Patriots struggle against backup QBs—just a reminder, upsets happen more often than you'd think.
• Shawn Payton's magic: a great coach can turn backup into surprising contender—don’t sleep on Stidham just yet!
• Don't underestimate the Broncos' defense; in the playoffs, a solid D can be the ultimate game-changer.
• Backup quarterbacks often have something to prove; can Jared Stidham channel his inner underdog and rise to the occasion?
• Drake May may shine brighter than Bo Nix, but isn't the gap in talent as wide as fans believe?

Who speaks in this episode?

• Shady McCoy (Guest) · 7 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Bo Nix, Drake May, Prize Picks, ACC Championship
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Shawn Peyton, Jared Stidum, New England Patriots, Stefan Diggs
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Denver Broncos, Shawn Peyton, Drake May
4. 9:00 – 10:53: Shawn Peyton

Notable quotes from ""Jared Stidham has NO CHANCE to beat the Patriots" - The Speakeasy BREAKS DOWN AFC Championship"

• Moving forward, we do need to talk about this matchup that the Patriots are going to have. AFC Championship is now set. We have the Broncos with Jared Stdum taking on Drake May…

  about ACC Championship · at 0:00

• In more than 40 states, including California, Texas, my home state, and Georgia. But my favorite thing, Prize Picks is going to give you $50 in lineups when you make your first…

  about Prize Picks · at 1:01

• Yeah. No, Bo Knicks. I think Bo Nicks is a better quarterback than Stenham. I do believe that. But I don't think it's a super big gap. I truly don't. other than the athletic ability, you know.

  about Bo Nix · at 2:10

• Oh, I think Stefon Diggs is still like that, you know? I think he's still one of them dogs. you would say he's the best receiver on the team, of course.

  about Stefan Diggs · at 3:06

• But now once we got to get off scripts, what's up with it? I can't in good faith say that the Broncos with Jared Stdum have a legitimate chance to beat the Patriots. To me, it's disrespectful to the Patriots.

  about Jared Stidum · at 3:54

• That's the issue because at the end of the day like Shawn Peyton can't throw the ball for Jared Stum when Jared Stdum's heart is cuz that's what it's going to be doing.

  about Shawn Peyton · at 5:55

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Jared Stidum — Person · Referenced player (starting/backup QB in matchup) · 1 mention · first at 3:45
  Central to the debate: whether the Broncos can win with him at QB, especially once the scripted opening plays end.
• Shawn Peyton — Person · Referenced coach / strategic factor · 4 mentions · first at 4:47
  Discussed as the Broncos' offensive mind whose history with backup QBs and play-calling could keep Denver competitive.
• Bo Nix — Person · Referenced player (injured/absent starter benchmark) · 2 mentions · first at 0:18
  Used as the comparison point to evaluate the drop-off from starter to backup and whether the gap vs Stidham is overstated.
• Nick Foles — Person · Referenced example / commentator via tweet · 6 mentions
  Cited for a tweet predicting Patriots struggles vs backup QBs; later used as the archetype of a backup who can win big games.
• Drake May — Person · Referenced opposing QB (Patriots) · 3 mentions · first at 0:05
  Positioned as the Patriots QB in the AFC Championship matchup; his road playoff context and protection issues are discussed.
  This matchup that the Patriots are going to have. AFC Championship is now set. We have the Broncos with Jared Stdum taking on Drake May and the Patriots. Nick Fos put out a…
• Stefan Diggs — Person · Referenced comparison point (WR talent tier) · 1 mention · first at 3:06
  Used to illustrate that the gap between a star and #2/#3 options may be smaller than fans assume—analogous to starter vs backup QB debate.

Companies & orgs

• Denver Broncos — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 2:21
  NFL team discussed in the context of an upcoming AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.
  Moving forward, we do need to talk about this matchup that the Patriots are going to have. AFC Championship is now set. We have the Broncos with Jared Stdum taking on Drake May…
• New England Patriots — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 2:26
  NFL team discussed as the opponent of the Denver Broncos in the upcoming AFC Championship game.
  Moving forward, we do need to talk about this matchup that the Patriots are going to have. AFC Championship is now set. We have the Broncos with Jared Stdum taking on Drake May…

Places & events

• ACC Championship — Event · Core topic · 1 mention · first at 0:01
  The upcoming NFL playoff game between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots is the main discussion topic.

Sponsors

• Prize Picks — Product · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at 0:46
  A fantasy sports platform promoted during the podcast with a special offer for listeners.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 Moving forward, we do need to talk about this matchup that the Patriots are going to have. AFC Championship is now set. We have the Broncos with Jared Stdum taking on Drake May and the Patriots. Uh Nick Fos put out a tweet, uh Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP. He said, "Note for the Broncos and their fans. I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team and I'm sending prayers and strong recovery. A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup quarterbacks in championship type games." uh calling his shot there early. Uh do you guys have any faith any faith in the Broncos and Jared Sidum next week? Nick wrote this stuff.

0:37 Nick's funny. He he hit me up two days ago. I don't know. He talk like that. I like Okay, Nick. Okay. Okay.

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1:18 Just download the app and use promo code speak easy today. Five bucks. gets you 50 bucks in lineups. Prize picks. It's good to be right.

1:29 You got faith 25. You you you was talking about ST. I mean, my thing is just like and and I think Bo Nicks is is is a is a good player, especially good young player. I think what makes him really really unique is his um I think his dog inside of him, right? Because he shows it at times. Um the grit he plays with and also his legs. He's super athletic and he runs. But like I think under Shawn Payeyton, I mean look at his track record with backup quarterbacks. Dang gonna just get smoked, right? They got a really great defense for a reason. They're going to run the ball well what they do and then he's going to make passes. I just I mean obviously I I do think that

2:08 Nick or um um Drake May. Yeah. No, Bo Knicks. I think Bo Nicks is a better quarterback than Stenham. I do believe that. But I don't think it's a super big gap. I I truly don't. other than the athletic ability, you know.

2:21 You think the Broncos can actually pull it off? Yeah, I think so. I mean, everything you need, the recipe to win, they have great defense. They can run the ball. They have a great offensive mind head coach and coordinator and Shawn Payeyton.

2:35 Why can't you even and if and if another thing if you had Bicks against the the Patriots, which I mean the Patrick can still win that game, too, right? So, I just I just think everybody's making a big deal as a backup, but if you really was looking at the quarterbacks, yes, Bon Knicks is better, but I don't think he's just way way better. I know I was telling Alra this the other day, like sometimes when fans hear about backups or the number three dude or like Yeah, there's a reason why they are the backup or they are the number three, but there's not a like the number three wide receiver for I don't know. Okay, let's let's take the Patriots.

3:06 Oh, I think Stefon Diggs is still like that, you know? I think he's still one of them them dogs. you would say he's the best receiver on the team,

3:11 of course. But the number two, the number three dudes, I don't think they way off of Stefon Dicks.

3:16 Look at the games. You get what I'm saying? Yeah. So, I'm not here, you [clears throat] know, backing up or nothing like that. I'm just thinking that he's he's he's serviceable to win and they have all the help. It's not like he's out there going out there throwing for 40 attempts. Yeah.

3:29 You have the running game. You have Shawn Payeyton. You have a great defense. That's everything you need to to compete and win.

3:35 I think we'll find out in the second drive if the Broncos have a chance. I think Jared Stum in the first drive he can put a veil over our eyes. First drive, first 15 plays, those will be the plays that Jared Stidum is most comfortable with. John Payeyton is going to go to Jared Stumm. Shady can correct me if I'm wrong. Hey, what are you most comfortable with? Like those first 15. Cool.

3:54 But now once we got to get off scripts, what's up with it? I I can't in good faith say that the Broncos with Jared Stdum have a legitimate chance to beat the Patriots. To me, it's disrespectful to the Patriots.

4:07 You know you know what's funny though? So, we watched the game against the Bills, right? And I think the the Patriots defense is way better than the Bills defense

4:14 apart in the second half before before Bo start getting off. I think he had like 25 yards, something like that in the second half. Do you remember last game? I'm thinking like, okay, well, I'm waiting for him to to turn it on.

4:24 And it's like that did happen and we're not really going to talk about that because he started playing well at the end of the game. But instead of him goes there and he looks bad for the first half, are we going to look at it the same way? Because we have more confidence in Bow Knicks eventually.

4:38 Bick. We have more confidence in both. You see, do you see what I'm saying though? Like this is crazy because like why get a guy like Shawn Payeyton. The Broncos was terrible, right? They bring Shawn Peyton, everything just changes. G give him some type of credit. Defense, you know, you talk about the the Broncos that have this defense. Give him some credit. Let's see what they do. And then the running game, being able to run the ball. I just think like for us to say that these professional dudes just can't get it done now cuz the backup. Look at this. the um the Eagles, Nick Nick Fo talking all this talk, but the truth is

5:10 people felt the same way about the Eagles and we didn't have they didn't have no real superstar players like that.

5:15 We going to see though. Yeah. In in the second half of that game against the Bills, Bonix before that touchdown drive they went on had 25 yards and an interception in the second half of that game. So, it's not like the Bills, it's not like the Broncos are are strangers to lols in the game and whatnot. But, I think if that opening script is good, I think if they if they're able to maybe jump out early on them, it's a home game as well.

5:35 What about keep it close? Yeah, just keep it close. Keep it close. The problem with keep it close is still you were asking, forget a backup, right?

5:43 You're asking a quarterback that has taken like 50 snaps all season. Yeah. Forget the backup part. A a dude that's taken 50 snaps all season to come out and win the game. worried about that.

5:55 That's the issue because at the end of the day like Shawn Peyton can't throw the ball for Jared Stum when Jared Stdum's heart is

6:04 cuz that's what it's going to be doing. Shawn Peyton can only say so many words to calm him down. And so that's the tension at large is like has to go play the game.

6:14 To play devil's advocate, it's Drake May's first ever uh road playoff game and he just had an offensive line that got whooped and we've seen that offensive line get whooped against elite pass rushers multiple times this year. here. The five sack game this year, it was Miles Garrett against uh against this Patriots offensive line. Today, five sacks against this Patriots offensive line. The Denver Broncos have one of the best pass rushes in the entire NFL, Nick Bonito and whatnot. If they go out there and get busy, if they can force some turnovers, if they can force fumbles like we saw today and get short field, I I trust Shawn Peyton and short yardage to be able to get touchdowns at the end of the day. So, if if there ends up being turnovers, this game, it's not I'm not saying it's a wash at the end of the day.

6:50 It's not what I'm saying. This why I like working with the likes of Shady or people way more talented than me. It's also why I like understanding who the hell I was in the game of football. I'mma be honest. I could do all the tackling drills in the world. Social trade. I could do all of them. Coach will roll a ball AT YOUR FEET. HEY, COME TO A BALANCE. SHED THE BLOCK. HEY, TACKLE THE LITTLE DUMMY. ROLL ON THE JOINT.

7:11 But I have to go tackle Shady in the open field. Not my coach. Yeah. THIS DRILL THAT I'M DOING, I HAVE TO GO MAKE THE PLAY. It's all fun in games. Heyo, cover one. Shady gonna he's going to run an angle route. He's going to run a text route. You know what's coming. Stay on his inside hip. Track his inside hip. At the top of the route, he's going to try to stem you. Just keep your eyes on his hips. Got you, coach. Ready? BLUE AT

7:35 READY TO GO. I HAVE TO GO DO IT. SO, it's all fun and games saying Shawn Payeyton can script this and script that and script this, but at the end of the day, and Jared Sidum can be 10 times greater than me. I'm not even saying that I'm as good a good Jared St. though he hasn't proven anything, but he can be 10 times greater than me. At the end of the day,

7:52 he has to complete the pass against Christian Gonzalez. He has to do it. Yeah. Like he has to It's not like Sean pros though. Like you you pros Shady. But remember there's levels to it.

8:03 Okay, but hold up. So there's other backups that play well in big games like Nick Foes. You want to use him for example? He don't count because he played good, right? And then we seen him on other teams and he didn't do as well.

8:14 But here's the difference. I had I had this argument yesterday and I'm glad you were on that team. We were both on that team. The 2013 Nick Fos won the Super Bowl in 2017.

8:22 But before 2017, you were on the team. 2013 Philadelphia Eagles, I'm talking to y'all. Shady knows it. I'm just reminding him. 2013 Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Fos had 27 touchdowns, two interceptions in a season. So like we have seen Nick Fos be good. Even remember before Nick Fos had to win the Super Bowl, Philadelphia Eagles started maybe 11 and one with Carson Wentz or something like that. Fos still had won several games before the Super Bowl. So like one I don't think it's fair to even compare STDM to Fos because I think Fos was just significantly better. He had 27 touch

8:50 but but he did have games in the playoffs run but he didn't look good right. No I disagree I don't to your point I don't think he looked as great as everybody was out to be but that that playoff franch he never was bad ever.

9:00 Okay so the first game he didn't play against the Falcons. Yeah he didn't really go crazy. I was at that game.

9:03 Yeah he didn't go crazy but it's still good. So he was it was serviceable. I got other game. Okay so let's not use FO. You don't want to use FO.

9:08 Yeah I don't I think FO was outstanding. What about the Chiefs though? I forget what year that was where

9:12 Chad Henny and yeah, do you want to use Chad Henny because they won a game and everybody said, "Oh, Mahomes ain't what they going to do."

9:18 Wasn't it a half? I think you were there cuz it was it was like it was a couple of plays and then they ended up having I forgot someone else came in at one point.

9:26 Matt Moore, but you remember Chad Henning's Jags game? Yes. But all all I'm saying is that like we acting like like

9:33 if if the defense wasn't as good and they cover the ball and Shawn Payton won there, I would be real nervous. Mhm.

9:38 But they do have a good defense and defense and they know like damn, first of all, our starting quarterback,

9:44 our defense like, "Okay, we got to we got to make sure we we start the game off the right way."

9:48 Yeah. Let's get that straight. We we acting like Bo Knicks is like Josh Allen or or or or Patrick Mahomes. No, the defense with Bo Knicks like, "Okay, we got to make sure we handle our business, right?" Okay. And then they feed off the offense. He feeds off the defense. Second secondly,

10:03 they can run the rock. And then the third point is like Sean Payne, he's built for this. THIS IS WHY YOU pay the big bucks. That is true. You know what I mean? THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE A GUY LIKE THAT. OKAY. YO, so now that we can't Oh, I got another one for you. Talk to me just now. Think about it. When they couldn't move the ball in the game with Bo Knicks, did you see that crazy ass play that that uh Sean Payne dialed up?

10:22 Remind me. The one where with the the post and he and he and then um he they rode they rode all the way to

10:27 Oh, the throwback joint. The throwback. Come on. YEAH. ST CAN'T MAKE THAT PLAY. Come on, Chase Daniels can make THAT PLAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? LIKE, WHAT I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU is this, man. Just because we got starters, we got this, we got that, I get all that. I'm I'm cool with that. But there's some backups, yo, that are serviceable.

10:47 Yeah, that's all. That's fair. Yeah. No, that's fair. Tummy here.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in ""Jared Stidham has NO CHANCE to beat the Patriots" - The Speakeasy BREAKS DOWN AFC Championship"?

Shady McCoy (Guest).

What is ""Jared Stidham has NO CHANCE to beat the Patriots" - The Speakeasy BREAKS DOWN AFC Championship" about?

The discussion centers on the upcoming AFC Championship matchup between the Patriots and the Broncos, featuring Jared Stidham as the Broncos' quarterback. Despite some opinions suggesting the Broncos could thrive against backup quarterbacks, the consensus appears to be that Stidham faces significant challenges in overcoming the seasoned Patriots team.

What is mentioned in this Speakeasy episode?

10 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including ACC Championship, Jared Stidum, Shawn Peyton, Bo Nix, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is ""Jared Stidham has NO CHANCE to beat the Patriots" - The Speakeasy BREAKS DOWN AFC Championship"?

The episode runs 11 min; the transcript is about 2,599 words in 47 timestamped sections.

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