The Lead

For a while, it looked like Ohio State might give Alabama a run for the money in the CFP National Championship game on Monday night. But then the Crimson Tide did what the Crimson Tide does -- they got some stops and continued pouring on the offense, eventually winning the game 52-24 and helping Nick Saban earn his record seventh national title. The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach joins us to break down the action, to discuss the incredible performance of wide receiver DeVonta Smith, and to reflect on the strangest college football season in recent memory.

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This past weekend we had six NFL playoff games on the schedule, with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens getting revenge on the Titans, while the Bills and the Browns both picked up their first playoff wins since the 1990's. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Arif Hasan to break down some of the weekend’s biggest story lines and takeaways, including how the Browns engineered a win over the Steelers without their head coach — and what to expect when they take on Patrick Mahomes and the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs.

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During the first half of this NFL season, there was almost no stopping Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf and the Seattle Seahawks passing game. However, in the second half, it’s been a lot less #LetRussCook, and a lot more of Russ handing off, with the team grinding out wins on defense. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar to look at why Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have made such a dramatic shift in playing style, and how the whole thing is sitting with their franchise QB.

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After three straight years of incredible playoff disappointments (and arguably the worst no-call in NFL history), the New Orleans Saints might be facing their last real chance at a Super Bowl for some time. The Athletic's Larry Holder, who has been covering the team since Drew Brees' arrival 15 years ago, joins us to break down the story of the Saints' 2020 season so far, what to watch for in their first-round matchup with the Bears, and why so much is riding on this postseason run.

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For the last few weeks, Kevin Harlan has been hard at work calling NBA games for TNT, with one notable exception. Rather than call these games from the arena, he’s been doing play-by-play from his basement in Kansas. The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch recently got a virtual tour of Harlan’s underground broadcast studio, and today he joins us to break down the setup — and consider whether this is the future of televised sports. 

Read Richard Deitsch’s story about Kevin Harlan’s basement studio: https://theathletic.com/2290109/2020/12/29/kevin-harlan-basement-nba-broadcast-studio/?source=theleadpodcast

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Two weeks into the NBA season and things are already getting spicy. The Athletic’s Zach Harper joins us to look at three of the most interesting storylines thus far: the Suns’ possible playoff potential, the mercurial but perhaps too talkative Clippers, and the Milwaukee Bucks' quest to turn the page on their playoff struggles.

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The Cleveland Browns snapped an 18-year playoff drought, the Baltimore Ravens continued their hot streak, and the Tennessee Titans clinched the AFC South in dramatic fashion, setting up a mouth-watering first round game against the Ravens. Lindsay Jones joins us to break down the AFC's wild Week 17, and to discuss what these three teams will have to do to succeed in the playoffs.

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With 2020 now officially in the books, we’re taking a final look back at the year in sports -- and replaying one of our favorite episodes of 2020. It’s about Baltimore’s most unforgettable young sports fan, Mo Gaba, who inspired people throughout the city and across the world before passing away from cancer. The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli spoke with us about Mo’s brief, incredible life and a moment after his death that she will never forget.

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In late October, the L.A. Dodgers ended their World Series drought in one of most surreal nights in baseball history. Today, as part of our look back at the year in sports, we’re re-airing our episode about that game. The Athletic’s Pedro Moura joined us to discuss the strange night in Texas when the Dodgers won the title and the scene that unfolded after third baseman Justin Turner tested positive for Covid-19.

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Back in August, there was a stunning night when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court against the Orlando Magic inside the NBA bubble. This was shortly after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin -- an event that triggered protests in Wisconsin and across the country. As part of our look back at 2020, we’re revisiting that story today. The Athletic’s Michael Lee spoke with us about how things unfolded on that day and why the events in Kenosha were hitting NBA players particularly hard.

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