Elliott already said goodbye. Then he showed up anyway.

This episode of Taps & Takes opens in a strange, uncomfortable, and very on-brand place as the crew realizes Elliott is back for what is clearly his last full-time appearance. What follows is a dragged-out, half-emotional, half-hostile goodbye where jokes are used to deflect real feelings before the show forces itself to move on.

From there, the episode settles into controlled chaos. The crew breaks down major nerd news, including reactions to Avatar, Supergirl, Street Fighter, Marvel’s latest trailer strategy, and the fallout from The Game Awards. The second half shifts fully into sports, covering NFL playoff races, injuries, team collapses, fantasy football playoff recaps, and the usual fan misery that comes with December football.

It’s messy, funny, profane, and honest. A real transition episode that captures Taps & Takes exactly as it is when something real interrupts the routine.

00:00 We Thought Elliott Was Already Gone

01:07 Elliott’s Last Full-Time Appearance

02:15 Jokes, Letters, and an Awkward Goodbye

03:02 Elliott’s New Job and Exit

07:47 Forcing the Show to Move On

08:08 Nerd News Begins

12:50 Stranger Things Season 5 Talk

18:55 Supergirl and DC Debate

22:06 Street Fighter Movie Reaction

29:30 Game Awards and Fallout

35:40 Marvel Trailer Frustration

40:53 Switching to Sports

42:29 NFL Week and Playoff Picture

52:17 Team Misery and Fan Pain

01:02:09 Fantasy Football Playoffs

01:07:01 Elliott’s Goodbye Returns

01:11:17 Final Wrap-Up

#podcast

#sportsandnerdnews

#nflpodcast

#popculturepodcast

#fantasyfootball