The Herd with Colin Cowherd: "3 & Out – Justin Herbert & Chargers DOMINATE Carson Wentz & Vikings on TNF"

Date: October 24, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (with guest Stucky from Action Network)

Episode Overview

In this lively Fugazi Friday edition of the "3 & Out" podcast (part of The Herd with Colin Cowherd), host John Middlekauff breaks down the Chargers’ decisive Thursday Night Football victory over the injury-ridden Vikings, pinpoints the Minnesota quarterback debacle, and delves into other NFL headlines from draft missteps to player development. Stucky (Action Network) joins to provide detailed NFL and college football betting insights, and the episode closes with digressions on both a major NBA-mob betting scandal and some of the host’s personal adventures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chargers’ Rout of the Vikings (Starts ~[02:54])

• Score Recap: “37 to 10. That was a complete massacre. The Chargers just obliterated the Minnesota Vikings.” ([02:54])
• Quarterback Analysis:
  • Justin Herbert led a battered Chargers roster to a huge win; quality QB play sets good teams apart even amid injuries.
  • The Vikings, after a 14-win season, are unraveling due to risky draft choices and no contingency plan at QB.
• J.J. McCarthy Pick Fallout:
  • Vikings took McCarthy high in the draft, despite his limited experience and injury history.
  • Middlekauff: “If that guy is not good, you’re screwed.” ([03:15])
  • With McCarthy out, Vikings had no backup plan and resorted to Carson Wentz, leading to disastrous results.

2. Vikings’ Front Office Mistakes (03:40 – 13:00)

• Hindsight & Draft Review:
  • Vikings should have paid to retain Sam Darnold instead of betting everything on McCarthy.
  • They also used another first-round pick on DE Dallas Turner, who hasn’t lived up to expectations, especially compared to Jared Verse.
• Outcome:
  • “If they could do it over, they would not take J.J. McCarthy and obviously they would rather have Jared Verse than Dallas Turner…now their team…is a shell of itself.” ([10:00])
• Injury & Depth Issues:
  • “Your quarterback situation is in major flux. You’ve missed on some draft picks, and…you’re just going to get injured throughout the season.” ([12:05])
• Implications in the NFC North:
  • The Vikings risk falling rapidly behind Lions, Packers, and Bears.
  • “It shows you how fast things can change and decisions in the NFL…and they had a lot of conviction on it. They've told us how awesome they thought this player was…[but] it blew up in their face.” ([13:47])

3. Difference-Makers in the NFL: Quarterbacks & Scouting (14:00 – 21:05)

• Chargers’ Hidden Gem:
  • Running back Kamani Vidal (6th round pick from Troy) impresses after injuries to Chargers’ RBs.
  • “Sometimes in football you get discriminated against when you’re a little shorter at certain positions…I’m watching tonight going well, that translates.” ([17:59])
• NFL Parity and QB Value:
  • Despite injuries, the Chargers stay afloat due in part to Herbert.
  • Middlekauff: “Both teams got injuries everywhere and one team has a high-level quarterback…the other has no quarterback.” ([22:05])

4. The TNF Grind & NFL Scheduling Critique ([19:00 – 21:05])

• Long-Distance Thursday Games:
  • “Making a team as the season goes on travel a long way on Thursday night, it’s borderline criminal activity.” ([19:00])
  • Criticism of the NFL’s claims about player safety: “How little, and I mean little, you know what the NFL gives about player safety…they don’t care at all.” ([21:13])

5. The NBA Mob/Gambling Allegations (28:35 – 38:00)

• Middlekauff reacts to news of major arrests involving the NBA, including Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier.
• Key Observations:
  • NBA’s tanking culture enables illicit insider activities.
  • “When you do it for so long, people involved in the sport become numb to who cares? This game doesn’t matter…” ([28:48])
  • “You can’t be worth $160 million and try to do some prop bets for your buddies…You deserve to go to jail for being a complete idiot.” ([31:07])
• Cites the NBA as “by far of all the major sports, the most corrupt sport. It’s not even close because [it’s] the easiest to manipulate…” ([34:12])
• Strongly criticizes Adam Silver’s handling.

6. Brief Cultural & Personal Bites ([38:00 – 42:34])

• Love Is Blind: Middlekauff humorously rants about the “unrealistic” premise and believes the cast are paid actors. ([39:30])
• Hot Yoga Odyssey: Attempting hot yoga for self-improvement inspires both respect and humility.
  • “Hot yoga, that was one of the most difficult things I’ve done in a long time.” ([41:26])

7. Gambling Preview with Stucky: NFL and College Football (46:15 – ~1:08:00)

NFL Betting Landscape

• Injury Epidemic: Major NFL teams beset by injuries, making betting markets volatile.
• Key Betting Takeaways:
  • Chiefs vs. Commanders: “Too many points…Washington’s at least competent.” (Stucky at [48:00])
  • Analysis of line moves, matchup breakdowns for games featuring Titans/Colts, Giants/Eagles, Browns/Patriots, 49ers/Texans, Cowboys/Broncos, and more.
• Notable Trend: Mike Tomlin is “the most profitable underdog coach in NFL history.” ([81:59])

College Football Previews (from [89:31] onward)

• Playoff & Conference Dynamics:
  • Indiana’s push for a first-round playoff bye; margin of victory matters.
  • Vandy’s rise and limits for teams like Missouri and Texas.
• Coach Talk:
  • Discussion of Lane Kiffin’s rise and grooming for higher-profile jobs.
  • Vigorous endorsement of Jeff Brohm: “If I’m a big program, that's the guy I'm going after…he's the most underrated coach in the country.” ([105:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Minnesota’s QB blunder:

  • “If that guy is not good, you’re screwed…They didn’t have a contingency plan…I'm not the biggest Carson Wentz guy. Clearly he’s not a very good player.” – John Middlekauff ([03:15], [05:04])

• On NFL volatility:

  • “It shows you how fast things can change and decisions in the NFL…” – John Middlekauff ([13:47])

• On the NBA scandal:

  • “NBA, by far, of all the major sports, is the most corrupt sport. It’s not even close…It is the easiest to manipulate.” – John Middlekauff ([34:12])

• On Kamani Vidal and NFL scouting:

  • “He was the Sun Belt player of the year…how did this guy end up in the sixth round? Well, he’s like 5’7” …That translates!” – John Middlekauff ([17:40])

• On the physical toll of prime-time games:

  • “Making a team as the season goes on travel a long way on Thursday night, it’s borderline criminal activity.” – John Middlekauff ([19:00])

• On “Love is Blind”:

  • “I don’t believe any of these people are real…I think they’re all paid actors…” – John Middlekauff ([39:36])

• On hot yoga:

  • “Hot yoga, that was one of the most difficult things I’ve done in a long time...Congrats to all you yogis out there.” – John Middlekauff ([41:26])

• Stucky on Tomlin:

  • “As an underdog…he’s the most profitable underdog coach in NFL history. He’ll have them ready. That’s what he excels at…” ([81:59])

Useful Timestamps for Important Segments

• 2:54 – Chargers-Vikings game reaction
• 3:40–10:00 – Analysis of Vikings draft debacle
• 14:00–22:05 – Chargers’ depth, RB Kamani Vidal's emergence, TNF travel/scheduling issues
• 28:35–38:00 – NBA Mob/tanking/gambling scandal
• 39:30 – “Love Is Blind” rant
• 41:26 – Hot yoga misadventures
• 46:15 – Stucky joins for NFL/college football betting preview
• 81:59 – Tomlin as the ultimate underdog coach
• 105:55 – Praise for Jeff Brohm as a top coaching target

Final Takeaways

This episode is a classic "3 & Out": sharp, irreverent, and packed with actionable insights from the NFL's week-to-week mayhem, the perils of front office overthinking, the knockout power of elite quarterbacks, and the interconnected drama of college football and pro sports. Whether you're a bettor, a fantasy player, or just love sports radio’s wild ride, Middlekauff and Stucky combine analysis, storytelling, and humor to break down the biggest wins, worst decisions, and under-the-radar trends shaping football and beyond.