Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (3 & Out with John Middlekauff)
Episode: REACTION to the Ravens-Buffalo Bills THRILLER + Recapping NFL Week 1
Release Date: September 8, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

This episode finds John Middlekauff reeling from one of the wildest NFL games in recent memory: a Week 1 shootout and comeback between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens. Middlekauff reacts to the game, analyzes the implications for both teams, discusses the quarterback duel between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, and expands to in-depth takes on broader Week 1 NFL storylines, including strong opinions on player performances, coaches, team trajectories, and a dash of speculation on coaching futures.

Tone: Direct, energetic, opinionated, and conversational—Middlekauff brings both insight and candid reactions from a former scout's perspective.

Ravens vs. Bills: A Game for the Ages

Key Segment: Game Reaction
— Timestamp: [04:30] – [25:00]

• Immediate Reaction:
  "I'm still shell shocked. I mean... this is just an awful matchup. This is the type team you just desperately want to avoid in the playoffs. The Ravens really have no excuse. They are the best team in football and eventually you're either going to win a Super Bowl, or the story will be: what the hell happened with that run?" ([06:15], Middlekauff)

• The Ravens dominated most of the game, physically overwhelming the Bills. John draws a vivid analogy:
  "If this was boxing or UFC, they would be in different weight classes. It was like heavyweight versus a lightweight... And then all of a sudden, Derrick Henry fumbles the ball. The Bills get the ball back, score..." ([08:30], Middlekauff)

• Buffalo's Comeback:

  • Derrick Henry’s costly fumble changed the game's momentum.
  • Middlekauff critiques Baltimore’s decision not to go for it on 4th down, noting Chris Collinsworth’s broadcast surprise.
  • He describes Josh Allen as "an unstoppable force," drawing comparisons to Nikola Jokic and even John Elway:
    "You watch him now, you're like, that's fucking John Elway. This is like one of the best players I've ever seen." ([13:00], Middlekauff)

• Quarterback Play:

  • Deep dive into Allen’s physicality and passing skill and Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat game.
  • Middlekauff heaps praise on both, contrasting their skill sets but calling both transcendent.
    "Lamar Jackson, we all agree: most dynamic player, I'd argue, in my life. I'd put him right up there with Steve Young… He's just a complete player." ([15:50], Middlekauff)
  • He notes the evolution of Lamar as a passer and his intelligence when running.

• Why the NFL is Special:

  • "The reality television show that is the NFL" shines brightest with games like this, where talent and randomness combine for high drama ([12:15]).
  • Emphasizes the power of the quarterback to transform rosters, spotlighting Josh Allen’s impact on Buffalo’s culture and respectability (pre-Allen: "They fucking sucked.").

• Rivalry & Implications:

  • If these teams played ten times, John thinks the Ravens win eight or nine. But in single games, chaos can happen: turnovers, injuries, and wild momentum shifts.
  • The win puts the Bills in conversation for home field advantage; John notes the impact of conference dynamics and the importance of hosting playoff games ([20:30]).

• What’s Next:

  • Ravens, despite the bitter loss, still look like potentially the best team in the AFC.
  • Bills’ defensive injuries and lack of size up front remain a concern.

Memorable Quotes:

• On Josh Allen: "That's as good as it gets—the physicality of his running, the ability to make the throws on the run. That’s fucking John Elway." ([13:00])
• On Lamar Jackson: "He’s a much more complete player than Michael Vick … He throws a great outside-the-numbers ball. He’s just a complete player." ([15:50])
• On the culture shift: "There was a long period of time... you wouldn't have dreamed about putting the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football as the heavyweight fight of the weekend." ([18:45])

Week 1 NFL Recap and Reactions

Biggest Losers

• Miami Dolphins ([28:11]):

  • John offers a scathing critique—"Miami sucks … no chance Miami’s any good"—and calls Mike McDaniel’s tenure "sad" and "over."
  • Lack of discipline cited as a fatal flaw: "When all the people making the most money on his team wouldn't show up to his meetings on time … this thing's over."

• Chicago Bears & New England Patriots:

  • Concern with Caleb Williams’ and Drake Maye’s rookie performances ("looked really, really bad").
  • Reserves harsher judgment for Josh McDaniels: every time he leaves Belichick, "it's been an epic failure" ([32:56]).

• Denver Broncos / Bo Nix:

  • Middlekauff is open-mouthed at the poor QB outing: "Bo Nix was atrocious... He threw multiple interceptions, he had an awful fumble, and there were just countless drives that looked like the first game he's ever played in the NFL." ([34:40])

Biggest Winners

• Green Bay Packers ([37:01]):

  • Immediate impact of trading for Micah Parsons:
    "In 2025, for as of today, it was Kenny Clark for Micah Parsons, which every team in the history of sports would have made."
  • Jordan Love’s progression as quarterback lauded; if he maintains recent form, "they can win the Super Bowl, they can compete to win the NFC."
  • High praise for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

• Las Vegas Raiders & Pete Carroll ([43:30]):

  • Raiders look well-run and legitimate under Carroll: "When you get Pete Carroll, a real head coach, it just looks normal now... Are they a playoff team? … But I do know the Raiders are just a real football team and we haven't been able to say that a lot in the last 25 years."
  • Pete Carroll’s enduring energy and adaptability admired: "He just looked like he had the same energy and the same love of football he would have had 20 plus years ago." ([46:24])

• 49ers: Brock Purdy ([52:54]):

  • Mixed performance: two bad interceptions, but a clutch game-winning touchdown pass.
  • "He actually is much more of a gunslinger which gets him in trouble... But his game-winning touchdown pass... it felt like when it left his hand was going to get intercepted… Instead, his guy caught it, and he became the hero." ([54:30])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Analytics and In-game Decisions ([22:36]):

  • John questions the "numbers elitists" who aggressively push for early two-point conversion attempts, sometimes against a coach's instincts:
    "They know there's no recourse of getting mad at me. Honestly, you get mad at me when I don't follow the numbers."
    —on modern coaching under analytics-informed ownership.

• On Coaching Trees:

  • The tension between Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh (both Andy Reid tree alumni) provides an undercurrent to the Bills-Ravens battles.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ravens-Bills deep dive: [04:30]–[25:00]
• Week 1 Biggest Losers/Winners Rundown: [28:11]–[46:24]
• 49ers, Aaron Rodgers, Brock Purdy, and the state of the Bears/rookies: [52:54]–[57:30]
• Jon Gruden Coaching Watch & College Football Speculation: [59:15]–[61:45]

Additional Insights

• Derrick Henry’s Longevity & Contribution ([28:11]):

  • Despite costly fumble, Middlekauff is in awe: "Most running backs, as they age, they slow down. He looks like he's as fast as ever, as explosive as ever."
  • Envisions Henry in all-time rushing leaders if he stays healthy.

• AFC and NFC Power Hierarchies:

  • Buffalo’s easier division path noted, with Miami, New England, and the Jets all potentially in down years.
  • Home field advantage for both Bills and Ravens could be decisive for the AFC playoffs.
  • Packers’ win over the Lions and the "Micah Parsons trade" reframes the NFC North discussion.

• Coaching Market Speculation:

  • Jon Gruden’s return-to-coaching odds increase, especially if the Florida Gators job opens up due to Billy Napier's struggles.

Final Thoughts

• Middlekauff closes energized by the unpredictability and drama of Week 1, emphasizing the razor-thin margins between winning and losing in the NFL. "That was nuts. One pet peeve I have..." ([24:56])
• The evolution of team cultures (Bills rising, Ravens consistent, Dolphins descending), the importance of quarterback quality, and the intersection of analytics and coaching tradition run through the episode.
• If you missed Week 1 or the Bills-Ravens classic, this episode delivers all the main storylines and firebrand takes in Middlekauff’s signature no-nonsense style.

End of Summary