The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out: Steelers DEFEAT Ravens to Clinch AFC North & No. 4 Seed in NFL Playoffs

Host: John Middlekauff
Date: January 5, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

John Middlekauff dives deep into the thrilling Sunday Night Football showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, where the Steelers pulled off a dramatic victory to claim the AFC North championship and a No. 4 seed in the NFL Playoffs. The episode blends analytical breakdown, personal perspective, and NFL industry insight, covering the game’s wild finish, coaching storylines, playoff implications, and broader league news—including coaching changes and draft order intrigue.

Main Segments & Timestamps

• Steelers vs. Ravens Game Breakdown (00:00 – 27:30)
• NFL Coaching Carousel: Falcons Firing & Rivers Speculation (~27:30 – 43:00)
• Draft Order, Playoff Matchups, and NFL Tanking (43:00 – 57:30)
• Playoff Formatting, TV Schedule, and Matchup Previews (57:30 – End)

1. Steelers vs. Ravens: A Wild AFC North Decider

Theater, Rivalry, and Physicality

• Middlekauff sets the stage, pointing out how Sunday Night Football is still king in American television, capturing the nation for big NFL moments.
• He confesses he doubted this matchup deserved the SNF prime slot but was proven wrong:

  “But that was the right decision. And midway through I was like, this game is badass.” (04:02)

The Emotional Rollercoaster

• Compares Steelers–Ravens rivalry to “criminal activity on the field” in the late 2000s, showing deep admiration for the hatred and physicality between these teams.
• John admits his Steeler partisanship, including a parlay that paid $7,000 thanks to this win, adding a layer of personal investment—

  "I was on the edge of my seat, I was screaming at the TV at the end of the first half..." (08:40)

Game Management, Quarterback Duel

• Praises Aaron Rodgers’ performance:

  “That was a pretty awesome Aaron Rodgers performance... [he was] conducting himself down the field like he's Peyton Manning or Tom fucking Brady in terms of his mental acuity, but he still has this arm.” (16:42)

• Harshly critiques Rodgers’ late-game time management:

  “He blew two timeouts... if this was any other quarterback... he would get eviscerated.” (12:30)

• Notes the lack of offensive firepower for the Steelers, highlighting how Rodgers elevated the skill group.

Defense vs. Offense

• Identifies blown coverages and missed assignments by both defenses, especially for Pittsburgh:

  “If Nick Saban or Belichick or some defensive guru was here, they were probably puking in their mouth watching the blown coverages...” (06:40)

• Details Lamar Jackson’s individual brilliance and why trading him would be unthinkable:

  “He has stuff in the bag... I don’t ever remember what he has in the bag. Seeing very often, if ever at all.” (32:40)

Notable Game Moments

• Jalen Ramsey bites on play fake, leading to wide-open Zay Flowers touchdown.
• Steelers defense nearly loses it—missed sack on Lamar leads to a Ravens score, but Ravens kicker misses the potential game-winner.

“That’s one of the luckiest wins I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” (18:30)

• Middlekauff’s wife jokes about NFL "scriptwriters" after the missed kick:

  “She looks at me and goes, NFL script writers, NFL script writers did that.” (21:20)

Steelers’ & Mike Tomlin’s Legacy

• Discusses Tomlin’s potentially tenuous future if the loss happened:

  “Is that going to be it for Mike? Like, is that it for Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh losing that game the way they would have lost it on defense when, you know, at the end of the day he's a defensive guy.” (26:02)

• Adds that, despite the game’s sloppiness and “lucky” outcome, Rodgers’ gritty performance vindicates the team’s decision to acquire him.

“Winning this game makes you forget all about that… the victors usually are the people right in history and you can scrub that thing a little bit.” (24:35)

2. Ravens’ Collapse and Lamar/Harbaugh Dynamics

Aftermath of the Loss

• Describes the defeat as an “all time kick in the dick loss” for Baltimore given the late missed field goal.
• Speculates on the possibility of a rift between Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh, referencing past iconic head coach–QB spats (Elway–Reeves):

  “The conversation to me, if I’m operating around the Ravens, starts with Harbaugh before it starts with Lamar Jackson.” (36:30)

Stance on Lamar Jackson’s Value

“You do not get rid of Lamar Jackson before you get rid of a lot of other people. And you would have to be high on drugs to get rid of Lamar Jackson before you got rid of the coaching staff.” (29:45)

3. Around the NFL: Coaching Carousel, Draft, and Tanking

Falcons Fire Raheem Morris & Terry Fontenot

• Criticizes the team’s QB decisions as organizationally disastrous, leading to inevitable firings:

  "Their quarterback decisions two years ago broke them. That's the way it works.” (50:45)

• Predicts Matt Ryan could land in a made-up executive role with the Falcons.

Philip Rivers Coaching Rumors

• John advocates Rivers has the tools to coach but questions his desire, given lifestyle, finances, and family:

  “Why does he need that stress?... Pays well, but most of the days are long, no one's paying attention and shit is hitting the fan left and right.” (53:30)

Tanking & End-of-Season Product

• Laments the tanking on NFL's final Sunday:

  “Today felt like an NBA slate in the middle of March when 12 teams aren't trying... that's what the NFL was today, an unwatchable product.” (43:30)

• Praises how SNF’s drama “wiped that stink away.”

Draft Order & Big Moves

• Raiders have #1 pick, Chiefs draft in the top-10—rare for a dynasty:

  “The Chiefs to me are by far the most fascinating team drafting in the top 10.” (55:25)

• Ponders Chiefs potentially trading up for an elite player to extend their dynasty.

4. Playoff Picture, Scheduling, and Format Rant

Playoff Matchups and Home Field

• Strongly asserts that under-.500 division winners shouldn't host playoff games:

  “If you go under .500 and win a division, you should not host a playoff game. It's very simple.” (1:00:10)

• Shares surprise at how TV networks scheduled certain games.

Steelers Outlook

• Picks Houston to beat the Steelers in the playoff opener.
• Notes how this wild win was a redemptive story for both Rodgers and Tomlin.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SNF's entertainment value:

  “That was entertainment. That was theater. That was fun.” (01:10)

• On blown coverages and luck:

  “That’s the crazy part about sports—sometimes you can do the stupidest shit... and you get lucky.” (22:00)

• On Lamar's talent:

  "I've been watching football... for 30 years... I don't ever remember [seeing] what he has in the bag." (32:40)

• On the NFL "script":

  “If you wanted to convince me that thing was like pre planned in a writer's room... I would believe it.” (21:49)

Tone and Atmosphere

• Candid, passionate, occasionally brash and self-deprecating.
• Combines hard-nosed football analysis with moments of genuine excitement (yelling at the TV, describing chaos), seasoned with profane, humorous asides.

Summary: Who’s This For?

If you missed the episode, this recap gives you every major perspective on the Steelers’ improbable win, the emotional and strategic threads running through the game, and how it fits into the broader NFL landscape as the playoffs begin. Middlekauff’s insights, colorful analogies, and blunt commentary provide football fans with both the how and why beneath the weekend’s drama—and a roadmap for what’s coming next in the league.