Episode Summary

Scott and Peter dive into the NFL (Giants, Jets, and a sliding-doors QB story), preview the MLB playoffs in both leagues, share a World Series wish cast, then hit the lightning round with a Verlander farewell, a historic Rangers goalie goal, and a jersey-number thought exercise. They close with their TV Mount Rushmore picks inspired by The New York Times' top 100 shows of the 21st century.

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1. Cold Open — Lane Kiffin & LSU vs. Ole Miss Scott opens with the drama of Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU, signing former Ole Miss NFL players, quarterback injury gamesmanship, and a comparison to Bill Belichick's infamous Jets napkin resignation.

2. NFL Week 1 Recap

• Giants dominated Dallas in all three phases. Scott highlights Isaiah Likely's two TDs and Cam Skattabo's running. Playoff odds at 33% per The Athletic.
• Jets beat Tennessee. Peter praises the offensive line (zero pressures on 28 pass-block snaps), Geno Smith's clean game, and three first-round picks making instant impact. Preview of Week 2 vs. Green Bay.
• League-wide: Patrick Mahomes back 9 months post-ACL, Lamar Jackson looking like MVP form, and Derrick Henry quietly climbing the all-time rushing TD list at age 32.

3. Baseball — Final Week of the Regular Season

• AL: Cleveland vs. White Sox in the Central; Houston/Texas tied in the West. Yordan Álvarez chasing a Triple Crown. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s first home run at home.
• NL: Brewers clinch Central, Dodgers win West, Braves take the East. Scott tells the Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA) story — traded by the Mets for two months of Javy Báez, now the NL MVP lock.
• Local: Aaron Judge out with a calf strain. Yankees–Red Sox wildcard looming. Howie Rose's final weekend of Mets broadcasts. Pete Alonso's return to Queens with two home runs.

4. Lightning Round

• Least enforced rule: Scott picks offensive pass interference on pick/rub routes in the NFL. Peter picks traveling in the NBA.
• Hardest position over the last 5 years: Scott picks MLB catcher (pitch clock, bigger bases, ABS challenges). Peter picks NFL cornerback (pass interference, back-shoulder routes, defensive holding).

5. Pop Culture — Atari 2600's 49th Anniversary Nostalgia deep-dive on classic Atari games: Space Invaders, Missile Command, Adventure, Night Driver, and the Activision Sports series (hockey, skiing, tennis). Peter shares a Polaroid of his near-perfect slalom run. Scott nearly ordered a retro console.

S&P's Why Not Us — Episode Outline

0:00 — Cold open: Australia opener logistics and fan draw debate 1:32 — Show intro 3:45 — Snoopy Bowl recap: Jets vs. Giants preseason finale, OBJ's return 6:54 — NFL team previews: Jets (Geno Smith, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall) and Giants (Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, David Bailey), Week 1 predictions 10:50 — US Open tennis roundup: Sabalenka, Alcaraz, wrist watch, Shelton, Tiafoe, Gauff, Pegula, Jovic vs. Eala, Williams sisters 17:25 — Lightning round begins 17:40 — Francisco Lindor's Mets legacy and Cooperstown case 19:10 — NHL storylines: Hellebuyck trade request, McDavid's deal, Canada's Cup drought 21:42 — All-time favorite tennis players: Jimmy Connors vs. Roger Federer 27:33 — Mayor Greenhut's Platform: noise enforcement, subway upgrades, libraries, trash bins, theme weeks, bike lanes, theaters