Pushing the Pile: A CBS Sports NFL Podcast

By CBS Sports, Football, NFL

Pushing the Pile moves the NFL conversation across the line, led by former All-Pro offensive lineman Kyle Long, football analyst Mike Renner, and writer/thinker JP Acosta. Together, the three bring a mix of player perspective, analytics expertise, and sharp cultural insight across 4 episodes a week. It’s like hanging with your buddies and talking ball…if your buddies were 8-year NFL vets, film junkies who helped build evaluation systems used by NFL teams, and one of the most thoughtful young voices breaking down the game today.

40 episodes

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All Episodes

Seahawks' Explosive Offense vs. Patriots' Defensive Identity in Super Bowl LX

Seahawks' Explosive Offense vs. Patriots' Defensive Identity in Super Bowl LX

Jan 26, 2026

Seahawks' explosive offense exploits Rams' defensive weaknesses, while Patriots redefine success with a gritty, low-scoring defensive identity, setting up a compelling Super Bowl contrast.

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Rams' Athletic Defensive Line Exploits Market Inefficiency

Rams' Athletic Defensive Line Exploits Market Inefficiency

Jan 21, 2026

Discover how undersized defensive linemen leverage natural leverage for interior disruption, challenging traditional scouting with athletic prowess.

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NFL Coaching Carousel Drives Strategic Team Needs and Hires

NFL Coaching Carousel Drives Strategic Team Needs and Hires

Jan 20, 2026

NFL teams strategically hire coaches to align with roster strengths, while player development and defensive schemes reveal paths to success and competitive advantage.

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NFL Divisional Round: Team Building Philosophies Exposed By Playoff Outcomes

NFL Divisional Round: Team Building Philosophies Exposed By Playoff Outcomes

Jan 19, 2026

Elite defensive tackles are essential for modern NFL success, as Seattle's dominance against the 49ers proves. Evaluate your team's interior defensive line to neutralize opponents.

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Giants Invest Heavily in Harbaugh for Stability and Respectability

Giants Invest Heavily in Harbaugh for Stability and Respectability

Jan 15, 2026

Giants pursue John Harbaugh for $20M annually, seeking stability and respectability after a decade of coaching misses.

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Steelers' Tomlin Departure Signals Rebuild Amidst Defensive Decline

Steelers' Tomlin Departure Signals Rebuild Amidst Defensive Decline

Jan 13, 2026

Mike Tomlin's departure signals a necessary rebuild, moving beyond a 19-year streak of non-losing seasons to modernize the Steelers' strategic approach and address systemic defensive decline.

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NFL Team Offseason Needs Analysis and Strategic Outlook

NFL Team Offseason Needs Analysis and Strategic Outlook

Jan 13, 2026

Texans defense achieves historically low negative EPA, showcasing elite suffocating power. Steelers face a challenging offseason with an aging, expensive defense and quarterback needs.

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Wild Card Weekend Exposes Quarterback, Coaching, and Scheme Vulnerabilities

Wild Card Weekend Exposes Quarterback, Coaching, and Scheme Vulnerabilities

Jan 12, 2026

Established quarterbacks falter, coaching decisions face scrutiny, and early playoff exits expose systemic team vulnerabilities, questioning long-term viability.

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NFL Wild Card Matchups Highlight Key Player and Unit Battles

NFL Wild Card Matchups Highlight Key Player and Unit Battles

Jan 08, 2026

Drake Maye's MVP-caliber deep-ball efficiency and scrambling ability challenge defenses, even with limited support, showcasing a rare blend of aggression and control.

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Dolphins Prioritize Physicality Over Offensive Scheme in Coaching Change

Dolphins Prioritize Physicality Over Offensive Scheme in Coaching Change

Jan 08, 2026

Dolphins prioritize physicality and late-season resilience over offensive creativity, signaling a need for a coach to prevent team collapses against physical opponents.

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Ravens' Coaching Change Signals Shift From Stability To Championship Pursuit

Ravens' Coaching Change Signals Shift From Stability To Championship Pursuit

Jan 06, 2026

The Ravens' coaching change elevates their job to the league's most desirable, offering stability, a star QB, and a strong roster to attract top candidates.

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NFL Playoff, Coaching Carousel, and 2026 Draft Analysis

NFL Playoff, Coaching Carousel, and 2026 Draft Analysis

Jan 06, 2026

The Rams are favored to win the Super Bowl, but the AFC South teams are surging. Discover which coaching vacancies are most attractive and early 2026 Draft projections.

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Cardinals Fire Gannon Due to Coaching Failures in Talent Development

Cardinals Fire Gannon Due to Coaching Failures in Talent Development

Jan 05, 2026

Cardinals' coaching failure stifled talent and offense, leading to a 15-36 record. The team must overcome quarterback uncertainty and a tough division to achieve consistency.

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Raiders Need Stable Coach for Multi-Year Rebuild Amidst Division Challenges

Raiders Need Stable Coach for Multi-Year Rebuild Amidst Division Challenges

Jan 05, 2026

Raiders need a coach to rebuild and develop talent amid a tough division, not short-term fixes.

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Browns' Coaching Search Hampered by Deshaun Watson Contract Burden

Browns' Coaching Search Hampered by Deshaun Watson Contract Burden

Jan 05, 2026

The Deshaun Watson contract cripples the Browns with over $80 million in future cap hits, limiting draft picks and making winning nearly impossible for three years.

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NFL Week 18 Chaos Sets Playoff Picture and Draft Order

NFL Week 18 Chaos Sets Playoff Picture and Draft Order

Jan 05, 2026

NFL Week 18 reveals teams stumbling into playoffs despite flaws, a draft class lacking top QBs leading to potential trades, and surprising performances challenging conventional metrics.

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Falcons' Organizational Reset Signals Offensive Scheme Failure and QB Limbo

Falcons' Organizational Reset Signals Offensive Scheme Failure and QB Limbo

Jan 05, 2026

A complete organizational reset signals a commitment to a clean slate, prioritizing future potential over rewarding late-season performance despite significant offensive talent.

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Coaching and Play-Calling Elevate NFL Teams Beyond Quarterbacks

Coaching and Play-Calling Elevate NFL Teams Beyond Quarterbacks

Jan 02, 2026

Coaching and play-calling prove as valuable as franchise quarterbacks in the NFL, driving rapid team turnarounds and playoff contention.

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NFL Playoff Contenders Evaluated by Offensive Line and Defense

NFL Playoff Contenders Evaluated by Offensive Line and Defense

Dec 30, 2025

Dominant defenses and strong offensive lines, not just explosive offenses, will decide the Lombardi Trophy, as teams like the Texans and Jaguars prove dangerous playoff contenders.

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NFL Week 16: Playoff Picture, Coaching Changes, and Surprise Teams

NFL Week 16: Playoff Picture, Coaching Changes, and Surprise Teams

Dec 23, 2025

The 49ers hold a significant chance at the NFC's top seed, while the Jaguars and Panthers surprise with strong seasons, showcasing coaching impact and competitive division races.

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NFL Week 16: Quarterback Play, Offensive Lines, and Playoff Implications

NFL Week 16: Quarterback Play, Offensive Lines, and Playoff Implications

Dec 22, 2025

Drake Maye's elite processing and pocket movement powered a Patriots win despite offensive line injuries, showcasing a new approach to quarterback evaluation.

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NFL Playoff Seeding Strategy and Matchup Analysis

NFL Playoff Seeding Strategy and Matchup Analysis

Dec 18, 2025

Playoff seeding offers strategic advantages beyond home-field, while key player absences and evolving QB performance create unpredictable NFL matchups.

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NFL Team Tiers: Rebuilds, Cap Cleanup, and Contention Outlooks

NFL Team Tiers: Rebuilds, Cap Cleanup, and Contention Outlooks

Dec 16, 2025

Teams face multi-year cap cleanup or rebuilds due to ugly contracts and quarterback uncertainty, reshaping future NFL contention.

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NFL Week 15: Injuries Reshape AFC, Contenders Emerge, and Teams Face Roster Questions

NFL Week 15: Injuries Reshape AFC, Contenders Emerge, and Teams Face Roster Questions

Dec 15, 2025

Patrick Mahomes' ACL tear reshapes the AFC, forcing Chiefs roster reevaluation and highlighting the Broncos' rise as a one-seed contender.

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NFL Week 15: Offensive Adjustments, Defensive Vulnerabilities, and Playoff Implications

NFL Week 15: Offensive Adjustments, Defensive Vulnerabilities, and Playoff Implications

Dec 11, 2025

The Chiefs' offense struggles with scheme and separation, appearing "lifeless," while the Bills shift to short gains via play-action, exploiting horizontal space.

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NFL Playoff Analysis: Eagles' Struggles, Chargers' Potential, NFC Strength

NFL Playoff Analysis: Eagles' Struggles, Chargers' Potential, NFC Strength

Dec 09, 2025

The Eagles' offense is faltering, while the Chargers' Herbert-Harbaugh partnership signals a decade of contention, and the NFC boasts superior depth for a Super Bowl run.

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Week 14 NFL Games Reveal Shifting Playoff Landscapes And Troubling Trends

Week 14 NFL Games Reveal Shifting Playoff Landscapes And Troubling Trends

Dec 08, 2025

The Texans' defense stifles the Chiefs, exposing Patrick Mahomes' struggles against man coverage and jeopardizing Kansas City's playoff viability. Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence demonstrate elite growth, transforming their offenses.

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Week 14 NFL Matchups Determine Playoff Seeding and Elimination

Week 14 NFL Matchups Determine Playoff Seeding and Elimination

Dec 04, 2025

Exploit defensive weaknesses with powerful run games, as the Bills and Bears demonstrate, to dominate crucial Week 14 NFL matchups and secure playoff momentum.

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Drake Maye's MVP Rise Amidst AFC Flaws

Drake Maye's MVP Rise Amidst AFC Flaws

Dec 02, 2025

Drake Maye's MVP rise, Tomlin's streak ending, and the Cowboys' NFC dominance, plus a look at the AFC's flawed contenders and the NFC's deeper talent pool.

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Broncos Lock Playoffs, Steelers Defense Exposed, Eagles Offense Falters

Broncos Lock Playoffs, Steelers Defense Exposed, Eagles Offense Falters

Dec 01, 2025

The Broncos are playoff bound, the Steelers' defense is exposed, and the Jaguars are peaking, while the Eagles and Chargers face concerning trends.

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AFC South Chaos: Mad Max Fury Road Playoff Battle

AFC South Chaos: Mad Max Fury Road Playoff Battle

Nov 26, 2025

Dive into Week 13 NFL betting picks, uncover a deep 2027 draft class, and analyze vulnerable defensive schemes, all while navigating a chaotic AFC South playoff race.

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Burrow's Risk, Saints' Chaos, Panthers' Playbook Fumbles

Burrow's Risk, Saints' Chaos, Panthers' Playbook Fumbles

Nov 25, 2025

Rushing Burrow back risks long-term health, Saints chaos reigns, Panthers abandon identity, offensive lines dictate playoff fate, and Bears/Jaguars are future contenders.

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Eagles' Second-Half Collapse Raises Super Bowl Doubts

Eagles' Second-Half Collapse Raises Super Bowl Doubts

Nov 24, 2025

Eagles' second-half offensive collapse is a Super Bowl red flag, while Chiefs stage largest Mahomes comeback and Bears' offense finds its stride.

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Chiefs' Stale Offense Meets Colts' Ground Game Dominance

Chiefs' Stale Offense Meets Colts' Ground Game Dominance

Nov 20, 2025

Discover the Chiefs' offensive stagnation, the Cowboys' defensive resurgence, and the Bengals' questionable quarterback decision as the Pushing the Pile podcast previews Week 12 NFL action.

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Cowboys Shine, Raiders Struggle, Bears Rise, Playoff Picture Unclear

Cowboys Shine, Raiders Struggle, Bears Rise, Playoff Picture Unclear

Nov 18, 2025

The Raiders' shaky offensive line struggles, while the AFC playoff picture becomes a chaotic battle for seeding in a season defined by unprecedented parity.

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Eagles Defense Dominates, Chiefs Falter, Broncos Rise

Eagles Defense Dominates, Chiefs Falter, Broncos Rise

Nov 17, 2025

Eagles' defense dominates, Chiefs falter in close games, Broncos improve, Bills' run defense exposed, and Young shows flashes as NFL Week 11 unfolds.

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13 Personnel: Mismatches, Not Just Rushing Power

13 Personnel: Mismatches, Not Just Rushing Power

Nov 13, 2025

NFL offenses use 13 personnel to force lighter defensive boxes, creating one-on-one matchups for elite receivers, while slot corners become hybrid run-stopping, tackling playmakers.

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Eagles' Star Power Outlasts Packers' Offensive Struggles

Eagles' Star Power Outlasts Packers' Offensive Struggles

Nov 11, 2025

Eagles' defensive grit and star power secure a win despite offensive struggles, while the Packers' offense falters against pressure, revealing NFL's true team tiers and wide-open rookie races.

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Daboll's Downfall: Blowing Leads and Battering Dart

Daboll's Downfall: Blowing Leads and Battering Dart

Nov 10, 2025

Giants fire Daboll for inability to close games and protect franchise QB Jackson Dart, sparking calls for a full organizational reset and focus on player safety.

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Rodgers' Fear Stifles Steelers; Maye Sparks Patriots' Potential

Rodgers' Fear Stifles Steelers; Maye Sparks Patriots' Potential

Nov 10, 2025

Drake Maye ignites Patriots' hopes with elite flashes while Josh Allen's Bills falter, Devon Achane electrifies Miami, and the Jaguars suffer a historic collapse.

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