Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: 3 & Out - Reaction to Bo Nix & Broncos OT win vs. Commanders on SNF + NFL Week 13
Date: December 1, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (for The Volume & iHeartPodcasts)
Duration: ~60 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode, hosted by John Middlekauff, dives deep into an eventful Week 13 in the NFL with a focus on the Denver Broncos' dramatic overtime win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football. The main discussions include Bo Nix's rollercoaster performance, Denver’s playoff trajectory, the unpredictable state of the AFC, the wide-open NFC West, and analysis of coaching moves such as Lane Kiffin's shift to LSU. The show also features Middlekauff’s candid critique of the Pittsburgh Steelers and broader thoughts on college football’s evolving landscape.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Denver Broncos: A Team of Contradictions

Timestamp: 03:33 – 20:36

• Overtime Win and Season Record

  • The Broncos pulled off an OT win against the Commanders, elevating their record to 10–2 and tying for the best in the NFL.
  • Denver’s season is marked by volatility; both its offense and defense swing between elite and “off” from series to series.
  • “Is there a team with a bigger variance in the NFL that’s a good team than the Denver Broncos?” – John Middlekauff [04:25]

• Player Performance: Bo Nix

  • Nix’s play epitomizes Denver’s inconsistency: brilliant scoring drives followed by baffling turnovers.
  • "There probably hasn't been a more frustrating player throughout this season on a good team than Bo Nix for the Broncos." – Middlekauff [10:54]
  • He led a superb end-of-half TD drive but also threw a “can’t happen” interception directly to Bobby Wagner.
  • Middlekauff notes that while Nix’s upside could take Denver deep in the playoffs, he’s just as likely to torpedo their chances with turnovers.
  • Comparison with Marcus Mariota (the Commanders’ QB this week): both flashed skill and athleticism, both were streaky.

• Coaching Analysis: Sean Payton’s Philosophy

  • Critique of Sean Payton’s reluctance to lean on the running game when things go sideways for Nix.
  • "It just feels like he's hesitant to do that or he just refuses to do that. But at the end of the day, only New England has as many wins as they do." – Middlekauff [14:38]
  • Questions whether Payton is trying too hard to prove Nix is his next Drew Brees.

• Broncos’ Playoff Outlook and AFC Landscape

  • The AFC is as open as it’s ever been due to injuries and parity—a dynamic not seen “in decades.”
  • Despite Denver’s flaws, Middlekauff declares the path to the top seed is open: “It's all for them to take now. Do you have faith that they can take it? I don't, but I don't know who else I would pick.” [19:03]
  • Praise for Denver’s weapons and defensive strength but significant doubts linger about their ability to put it all together for a Super Bowl run.

2. The NFC West: Suddenly Wide Open

Timestamp: 22:52 – 32:43

• 49ers’ Organizational Win

  • San Francisco’s lopsided 26–8 win over the Browns is used to highlight how franchise stability and competence separate top teams from perennial underachievers.
  • "It's just because we have nothing in common with you. We're well run. And you guys are just a complete joke." – Middlekauff on the Browns [23:45]
  • 49ers’ resilience praised given their injuries, now sitting at 9–4.

• Shuffling at the Top: Rams and Seahawks

  • Rams suffered a puzzling loss to the Panthers (now both at 9–3).
  • Seattle benefited from playing a QB-less Vikings; Middlekauff is skeptical of their real legitimacy.

• Division Race Outlook

  • Suddenly, 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks all have nine wins—a scenario “no one would have seen coming.”
  • Middlekauff predicts the 49ers may surge post-bye against an easier schedule and an underwhelming Titans team.

3. Steelers and Mike Tomlin: Roster Issues and Front Office Failings

Timestamp: 32:43 – 40:00

• Steelers have collapsed to 6–6, losing five of their last seven; Middlekauff is blunt about their “poorly constructed” roster and waning front office standards.
• Contends Tomlin’s coaching remains sound, but front office departures (notably Kevin Colbert) have left talent dry.
• “I started texting around to just my buddies out there in the trenches of football scouting and I got a couple people to hit me back like, John, their scouting staff's kind of embarrassment and it shows.” [37:26]
• Calls for more critical front office help and reflection from ownership.

4. College Football: Lane Kiffin Moves to LSU and the Rise of the GM

Timestamp: 40:00 – 51:31

• Kiffin’s Move to LSU

  • Emphasizes that Kiffin is one of college football’s biggest “villains” and storylines, calling the move “fantastic for college football” [40:17].
  • Discusses the image rehabilitation Kiffin has attempted (sobriety, family man narrative) and how SEC drama boosts the sport’s entertainment value.
  • “He’s become the number one villain in college football. He’s an extremely polarizing individual. And buckle up because I can’t wait to watch.” [47:40]
  • Warns that at LSU, “you better win big” due to the intense fan and media scrutiny.

• The Expanding Role and Pay of College GMs

  • Notes the migration of NFL front office talent (e.g., Dave Caldwell) into lucrative college GM jobs.
  • “If you get the opportunity to be the GM for LSU for Lane or be the GM for Florida or...Ohio State. These jobs are pretty elite because a lot of them pay...$850,000.” [51:00]
  • Middlekauff encourages aspiring football personnel to consider the college path for career and financial upside.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Broncos’ volatility:
  “You could convince me Denver could win the AFC pretty easily... You could also convince me they could lose in the first round.”
  — John Middlekauff [09:43]

• On Bo Nix:
  “He just puts his hands on his helmet... that can’t happen.”
  — John Middlekauff recounting Nix’s game-changing interception [08:36]

• On the state of the AFC:
  “The AFC hasn’t been this wide open in a long, long time... I’d say decades.”
  — John Middlekauff [16:34]

• On Lane Kiffin:
  “He’s become the number one villain in college football. He’s an extremely polarizing individual, and buckle up.”
  — John Middlekauff [47:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:33: Opening remarks; transition from ads to NFL analysis
• 04:25: Broncos' unpredictability, defensive issues
• 07:22: Bo Nix’s hot-and-cold performance
• 13:54: Sean Payton’s run/pass balance critique
• 16:34: State of the AFC & playoff picture
• 22:52: NFC West shake-up after Week 13 results
• 23:45: Browns vs. 49ers, organizational contrast
• 32:43: Steelers’ collapse & Tomlin’s future
• 40:17: Lane Kiffin’s transition to LSU; SEC drama
• 47:40: On the value of villains in sports; Lane Kiffin’s polarizing role
• 51:00: Rise of college football GMs; NFL-to-college front-office pipeline tips

Tone & Style

Middlekauff’s commentary is direct, conversational, and unfiltered—with a preference for vivid analogies and pointed critiques. He blends humor with insider football knowledge, making broader connections to sports culture and business. The episode is packed with hot takes, honest appraisals, and an eye for storylines that matter both on and off the field.

End of Summary