Podcast Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: 3 & Out – Josh Allen & Bills STUNNED by Drake Maye & Patriots on SNF + NFL Week 5
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (Three & Out Podcast, The Volume)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the NFL Week 5 slate with a heavy focus on the New England Patriots’ upset win over the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Host John Middlekauff breaks down both the marquee matchup (Drake Maye vs. Josh Allen), coaching decisions, and ripple effects for both teams. The show then pivots to rapid analysis and candid takes on the most compelling stories around the NFL and college football, including the wild Broncos-Eagles game, the Sam Darnold vs. Baker Mayfield shootout, and significant happenings with college stars like Arch Manning and James Franklin. The tone, as always, is opinionated, conversational, and loaded with vivid, colorful metaphors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patriots Upset Bills: Spotlight on Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel

[03:10–18:00]

• Vrabel Impact: Moving from Gerard Mayo to Mike Vrabel was a move aimed at turning the Pats around quickly. Vrabel’s leadership is already visible — "There's no greater turnaround you can have... than going from a terrible head coach to a good one. You are immediately good like that. Like overnight, you're good." (16:00)
• Drake Maye’s Breakout: Previously dismissed as a stats compiler in losing efforts, Maye had the best and most important performance of his young career: “…watching tonight on the road in that environment, Drake May, I mean, had the best game and most important game of his young career and he was awesome.” (07:39)
• Diggs as a Weapon: Stefon Diggs came back from injury and looked dominant. Maye smartly force-fed him the ball: “...In the peak of his career, I don’t know where he ranked...he clearly was a high, high end player and you can't teach what he has. His skills...are pretty special. Even though coming off the injury...relative to the group he’s playing with, he’s in a different universe.” (09:55)
• Patriots Offensive Grit: Win came despite Maye not throwing a TD and the backs combining for under 60 yards. Patriots capitalized on Bills' turnovers, but not always with points.

Memorable Moment:

• “If you would have told me...the Patriots are going to win and Drake Maye would not throw for a touchdown, and their running backs would combine for less than like 60 yards...I would be like, I don’t think that’s possible.” (12:40)

2. Josh Allen and the Bills' Limitations

[14:00–20:00]

• The "NBA Team" Analogy: Bills sometimes resemble a one-man show: “The one downfall of the Bills...They do feel kind of like an NBA team. And Josh is there, Nikola Jokic. When he has 40, 20 and 17, you probably win 90% of those games. But there are going to be games where he has like 30, 10, and 7 and you might lose by a couple points. And that’s what it felt like tonight...” (15:25)
• Superstar Dependence: Allen scrambles, improvises, and keeps hope alive, but can't always bail them out, especially with only good-not-great skill weapons surrounding him.
• Predictability Concerns: Bills offense tips plays with formations (pass from shotgun, run under center).
• Home Field Crucial: To attain Super Bowl goals, the Bills must secure home-field advantage: "It is extremely important for them, extremely important to have home field." (22:20)

3. Around the NFL: Rapid-Fire Reactions

[27:08–46:55]

Denver Stuns Eagles

• Denver’s comeback questioned the Eagles’ offensive play-calling and lack of balance: "The Eagles had 11 total carries as a team. Jalen Hurts almost had 40 pass attempts. They were winning the game heading into the fourth quarter by multiple scores…That just, that's unacceptable." (34:17)
• New play-caller Kellen Patola scrutinized for inconsistency: “Something's off. Like, we've all been watching football long enough. You watch him coach like today against Denver and you go, there's good and there's not good.” (41:15)

Sam Darnold vs. Baker Mayfield Shootout

• Darnold and Mayfield are finally showing consistency and high-level play, fulfilling draft expectations: “Sam Darnold is just a good player…Baker Mayfield now has years…he's fucking good. I am one of the best players in the NFL. I'm watching those two guys thinking…that's what it's supposed to look like.” (43:08)

NFC Picture

• 49ers, Lions, Eagles, and Seahawks discussed as NFC contenders — injuries and depth could shape the wide-open conference race.

4. College Football: Arch Manning & Penn State Meltdown

[50:37–66:05]

• Arch Manning is nowhere near NFL-ready: “There is not a chance on God's green earth before the Florida game that Arch Manning would have gone in the first round. Not one, like zero percent chance. There is less than a zero percent chance after the Florida game that he would go in the first round.” (52:10)
• Penn State crumbles after a big loss, calling James Franklin’s future into question: “Some people thought it's one of the worst losses in the history of the program...Losing a game like that can be a nail in a career at Penn State.” (61:55)
• Tim Skipper (UCLA) praised for his coaching acumen and huge upset over Penn State.

5. Mark Sanchez Altercation: Life & Consequences

[65:00–68:10]

• News of former QB Mark Sanchez’s arrest after an altercation: “Whatever was in his body, alcohol plus whatever, if that's the case, going to change the guy's life forever...With one, I, you know, drunk induced whatever decision, you just throw your whole life away.” (66:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Drake Maye’s night:

  "Drake May, I mean, had the best game and most important game of his young career and he was awesome." (07:39)

• On Stefon Diggs’ impact:

  “His instincts for playing the position are pretty special… Diggs, his motivation coming into this game against the Bills, clearly, I mean, he was fired up for this bad boy and he dominated.” (09:55)

• On the Bills’ structure:

  "Their offense is a well-oiled machine, but it's not exactly like they got Jerry Rice or Ladanian Tomlinson or Travis Kelce in his prime run around out there." (20:36)

• On Mike Vrabel:

  "He's kind of like the defensive version of like Dan Campbell or something. Just total tough guy, very serious, great leader. But he's a defensive guy. He's a linebacker." (18:57)

• On the Eagles play-calling woes:

  "Their passes weren't working and the time didn’t run off the clock. So the Broncos got more possessions, and then, I don't know how, but Bo Nix went from being a horrendous football player to like a high-end player." (35:25)

• On Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield’s redemption:

  “Sam Darnold is just a good player… Baker Mayfield… I'm fucking good. I am one of the best players in the NFL.” (43:08)

• On Arch Manning’s draft status:

  “There is less than a zero percent chance after the Florida game that he would go in the first round. I'm not even sure he's draftable right now.” (52:12)

• On Mark Sanchez incident:

  "With one... drunk induced whatever decision, you just throw your whole life away." (66:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 03:10–18:00 | Patriots upset Bills; Drake Maye, Vrabel, and Diggs focus | | 14:00–20:00 | Bills' limitations, Josh Allen dependency | | 27:08–46:55 | Denver comeback vs. Eagles; Darnold–Mayfield duel | | 50:37–66:05 | College Football: Arch Manning, Penn State, Tim Skipper | | 65:00–68:10 | Mark Sanchez altercation & reflection |

Summary Conclusion

This episode captures the chaos and storylines of an NFL weekend, from upstart QBs and transformative coaches to perennial contenders with fatal flaws. John Middlekauff’s unscripted, insightful style critiques, celebrates, and pokes fun at players, coaches, and even legends like Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. The show also doesn’t shy away from hard truths in college football or off-field events, providing a sweeping weekly snapshot for fans who want the real story—not just the box score.