Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: 3 & Out – Reaction to Jaxson Dart & Giants DOMINATING Jalen Hurts & Eagles on TNF

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (with guest Stuckey)

Overview

This episode of "The Herd: 3 & Out" dives deep into the Giants’ surprising dominance over the Eagles on Thursday Night Football, spotlighting breakout performances from rookies Cam Skattebo (Scatterboo) and Jackson Dart. The conversation covers how these young talents are shaking up expectations, the current state of the Eagles and their mounting issues, and dives into additional NFL and college football storylines — including insights into team schedules, Browns’ quarterback chaos, and some pointed thoughts on broadcast rights and the future of football viewership. Stuckey joins for an extended breakdown of college football weekend matchups and closes with actionable NFL betting discussion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants' Big Win & Young Stars Shine (00:47–21:58)

• Cam Skattebo’s Professional Transition

  • Skattebo was a cult figure at Arizona State and many were skeptical about his NFL prospects due to his punishing, physical style.
  • John Middlekauff: “What I got wrong is... this NFL currently is not the NFL I grew up on... Linebackers now are much smaller and faster... his style kind of works because he’s not taking on Greg Lloyd or Ken Norton Jr. from the ’90s.” (04:40)
  • Skattebo’s ability to break tackles and relentless running “removed Philly’s soul” and was the emotional heartbeat for the Giants.

• Jackson Dart’s Emergence

  • Dart showed off his modern dual-threat skills, making accurate throws on the move and displaying “reckless toughness,” taking big hits but bouncing back.
  • Middlekauff points out Dart’s accuracy and composure, even noting, “The true toughness is when you’re standing in there... like what ended Andrew Luck’s career. Philip Rivers made a career doing this. Stand in there to the last possible second and deliver that ball.” (16:14)
  • Dabel’s all-in investment in Dart: “Brian Dabel knows his future is tied to this guy... If you have more games like this, Dabel’s not going anywhere.” (20:20)

• Memorable Moment

  • Brian Dabel’s emotional response: “He started — he, like, had a mental breakdown. And then Dart came back in the game and kind of the rest is history. But incredible moment by Cam Scatterboo who was going to be a cult hero.” (19:10)

2. The Eagles’ Meltdown & Organizational Tension (21:59–35:27)

• Missed Opportunities and Errors

  • Jalen Hurts’ bad miss on a wide open Devonta Smith and a subsequent pick-six sealed the Eagles’ fate.
  • John Middlekauff: “There was a moment when it was 20–17. Jalen... has Devonta Smith blown coverage? Wide open. Devonta could have run to Boston. No one would have touched him. But he overthrew him by like 15 yards. I mean it was an egregious miss...” (24:52)

• Defensive Holes and Worries

  • Without Jalen Carter and rookie standout corner Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles' defense looked vulnerable. Middlekauff: “Their DBs are Ringo and Adoree Jackson. Getting spun like a dreidel out there. Got no shot.” (28:02)

• Coaching Hot Seat

  • Middlekauff speculates the offensive coordinator won’t survive the year: “He’s in major trouble. There’s no way around it. If you tell me right now, do you think he’s going to get the year? I would say no.” (30:10)
  • Notable quote on organizational culture: “Intensity in that building... it’s not like put your feet up and chill. That’s not how they are when they’re undefeated, let alone when you get clowned.” (31:18)

3. NFL Whip Around: Browns, Schedules, Streaming Rights (35:28–41:45)

• Cleveland Browns’ QB Chaos

  • Browns paying eight QBs simultaneously, highlighting front office instability. “It is just not a well-run operation... let’s not act like the two Ivy League guys, the head coach and the GM, haven’t kind of been a disaster.” (36:35)

• Strength of Schedule Mini Analysis

  • Giants have the toughest remaining schedule; Patriots and Broncos the easiest. This adds pressure to Denver and opportunity for Buffalo to secure the #1 seed.
  • Notable insight: “Getting the number one seed is so big in this modern NFL... you want that AFC Championship at home. It’s all wide open for [the Bills], especially given their schedule.” (38:53)

• Streaming & Broadcast Rights

  • Netflix CEO says NFL bidding “doesn’t fit our strategy,” big win for traditional media. “If Netflix truly doesn’t get involved... that is a massive win for [Fox, CBS, ABC].” (41:00)

4. College Football Deep Dive with Stuckey (42:10–68:00)

• Saturday’s College Slate Preview

  • “There’s nice distribution, which I always like. I have nice distribution with my bets, too. I hate when I have seven things going at once…” – Stuckey (42:11)
  • Highlights: Oklahoma-Texas, Georgia-Auburn, Bama-Mizzou, Indiana-Oregon, Michigan-USC.

• Oklahoma-Texas QB Uncertainty

  • Stuckey: “I mean, if Matier does play... I think Oklahoma will go to like a two and a half point favorite… But the other thing is… if he plays, what would this line be? Minus 4 Oklahoma or something?” (48:51)
  • Discussion centers on Arch Manning’s struggles and both teams’ O-line issues.

• Michigan-USC and Indiana-Oregon Analysis

  • USC’s offensive injuries (food poisoning, missing linemen) cited for recent struggle. “They were playing two freshman corners and in the slot, a true freshman who’d never played before, and were without their green dot who they didn’t know about until gameday.” (55:54)
  • Indiana “breaking models” but issues translating up a class; Oregon's true test questioned after an emotional win at Penn State.

• SEC: Bama-Mizzou & Georgia-Auburn

  • Stuckey bets both underdogs, citing bye advantages, matchup edges, weaker-than-usual defenses, and NFL-caliber RBs emerging at Mizzou. “This is a dangerous game for Alabama. The spot is awful. I think Missouri’s gonna be able to run the ball. I think this goes right down on the wire.” (68:00)

5. NFL Week Preview & Bettor’s Segment ("My Hammers") (70:22–87:32)

Narratives & Key Matchups

• Saints (+3.5) vs. Patriots
  • Rationale: Saints are “watchable,” not as bad as national narratives suggest, and it’s a tough spot for New England after an emotional win.
  • Middlekauff: “For a team that is going to be drafting really high... that is not this team. They are watchable on a weekly basis.” (72:12)
• Seattle (+1.5) vs. Jacksonville
  • Betting on Seattle’s resilience, Sam Darnold over Trevor Lawrence, and scheduling/physical edges.
  • Stuckey: “Sam Darnold by every single metric... has been the best quarterback in the NFL.” (77:29)
• 49ers (+3) at Tampa Bay
  • Trusting Shanahan and Mac Jones, minimizing concern about the travel. “You just gotta ride the wave right now — Mac Jones.” (82:18)
  • Fun moment: Mac Jones once DM’d Stuckey’s now-wife while on a recruiting trip as a high school kid. (83:59)
• Other Leans
  • Chiefs to cover versus Lions, Carolina as a home underdog vs Dallas.
  • Cautious on Ravens and Cardinals due to overwhelming injury/question mark situations.

On Parity & the Current NFL Landscape

• “If you look at market power ratings right now... The top six teams are within like a point of each other right now.” (74:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Giants’ win:
  “The story of the night is... Cam Scatterboo... was like a gliding, you know, driving force for ASU... I have to take the L because ... his style kind of works [in today’s NFL].” (03:00)

• On Jalen Hurts’ missed throw:
  “Devonta could have ran to Boston. No one would have touched him. But he overthrew him by like 15 yards. It was an egregious miss...” (24:52)

• On NFL parity:
  “If you look at market power ratings right now... The top six teams are within like a point of each other right now.” (74:24)

• Funny moment:
  Stuckey reveals Mac Jones once DMed his now-wife when she was 25 and he was a high school recruit, before he was a Bama star: “We still laugh about it to this day. So, yeah, Mack, you owe me a cover here for that.” (83:59)

• On football & life:
  “You get old... I went to a 40th birthday party for my buddy and just had a throwback all day drinking sesh... I didn’t feel right for like four more days.” (95:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:47 – Giants/Eagles game breakdown
• 04:40 – Cam Skattebo’s NFL adaptation
• 16:14 – Jackson Dart’s NFL readiness & style
• 19:10 – Brian Dabel’s emotional response
• 24:52 – Jalen Hurts’ costly miss
• 28:02 – Eagles’ defensive injury woes
• 30:10 – Eagles’ OC on the hot seat
• 35:28 – Browns’ QB situation
• 38:53 – Scheduling implications for New England, Denver, Buffalo
• 41:00 – Netflix’s NFL strategy & media rights
• 42:10 – College football week preview with Stuckey
• 55:54 – USC’s rough outing explained (food poisoning story)
• 68:00 – SEC underdogs: Mizzou and Auburn breakdown
• 70:22 – NFL “My Hammers” betting segment
• 77:29 – Sam Darnold vs. Trevor Lawrence
• 82:18 – 49ers–Bucs + personal Mac Jones anecdote
• 86:18 – How the NFL’s QB “inflation” changed expectations
• 94:22 – Stuckey’s “baby shower” party plan: NFL games & open bar
• 95:43 – Middlekauff on the perils of aging and partying

Tone & Style

• Direct, energetic, opinionated, and occasionally irreverent.
• Blend of deep football insight, honest assessments, personal stories, and humor.
• Not afraid to “name names” or critique coaches/GMs.

For New Listeners

This episode is an essential listen for fans looking to understand both the tactical evolution of the modern NFL and the larger systemic churn affecting football at every level. From on-field breakdowns to the business of football media, and from the emotion of Thursday Night Football to the wild world of college rankings and betting — John Middlekauff (with Stuckey) delivers accessible, sharp analysis with genuine personality.

(Summary skips all advertisements, product promos, and non-content interludes as requested.)