Best of The Herd

Summary

Summary of "Best of The Herd" Episode | The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
• Episode: Best of The Herd
• Release Date: January 20, 2025

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Introduction

In the "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd, along with his co-host J. Mac, delves deep into the current landscape of the NFL playoffs, focusing primarily on the Buffalo Bills' remarkable performance, comparisons with other top teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, and broader discussions on team strategies, player performances, and officiating challenges. The episode is enriched with expert insights from guest analyst Matt Hasselbeck, offering listeners a comprehensive analysis of pivotal games and emerging storylines in the league.

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1. Buffalo Bills' Impressive Playoff Performance

Overview: Colin Cowherd opens the discussion by highlighting the Buffalo Bills' disciplined and effective gameplay in the playoffs. Contrary to their usual reactionary style since Josh Allen's arrival, the Bills showcased a mature approach with minimal turnovers and penalties.

Key Points:

• Discipline and Strategy: The Bills avoided losing more than they won, executed smart football with no turnovers and only one penalty. This marked a significant shift from their typically loose and reactionary playstyle.

• Josh Allen's Performance: Despite Josh Allen recording his fewest yards (147 total) in a playoff game, his efficiency was commendable. "Josh Allen only had 147 yards, total yards, fewest of his career in a playoff game yet. I've never been more impressed." [05:10]

• Comparison to Kansas City Chiefs: Drawing parallels with the Chiefs after Tyreek Hill's departure, Colin notes that both teams transitioned from flashy to more effective and responsible football. "They are the new Kansas City Chiefs with a more dynamic offense." [06:00]

Notable Quote:

"They've kind of grown up. I feel like I've watched the Bills grow up in the last year." — Colin Cowherd [30:19]

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2. Analysis of Bills vs. Ravens Game

Overview: The Bills' matchup against the Baltimore Ravens is dissected, emphasizing the Bills' superior discipline and strategic execution compared to the Ravens' flashier but flawed performance.

Key Points:

• Bills' Execution: The Bills dominated with clinical play, avoiding turnovers and penalties, contrasting the Ravens' issues with fumbles and dropped two-point conversions.

• Ravens' Struggles: "The Ravens were bigger and flashier... they had an ugly pick. They had a couple of fumbles." [04:50]

• Supporting Cast: The Bills benefited from their best supporting cast around Josh Allen, enhancing both offense and defense.

Notable Quote:

"This is what championship-winning football looks like. Run it, defend it. No penalties, no turnovers." — Colin Cowherd [05:45]

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3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams Playoff Performance

Overview: The Eagles' performance against the Rams is examined, highlighting their strong offensive line and defensive prowess despite having one of the few passing yards in recent playoff history.

Key Points:

• Star Players: Saquon Barkley and Jalen Carter are spotlighted as pivotal figures. Saquon's exceptional running ability and Carter's defensive contributions were crucial.

• Team Dynamics: The Eagles operated as a collective unit, relying less on their passing game and more on their running and defensive strategies. "It's a Saquon Barkley team." [12:00]

• Jalen Hurts' Leadership: Hurts' selfless approach and focus on winning rather than personal statistics are lauded as key factors in the team's success.

Notable Quote:

"Jalen Hurts is okay with it. He's about winning. That's all he cares about. You don't get a lot of ego." — Colin Cowherd [32:23]

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4. Discussion on NFL Quarterbacks and Team Strategies

Overview: The conversation shifts to the evolving role of quarterbacks in the NFL, emphasizing mobility and versatility as defining traits of the league's top QBs.

Key Points:

• Mobile Quarterbacks: Jaden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes are highlighted for their mobility and ability to extend plays.

• Team Strategies: Teams like the Bills and Chiefs are noted for their strategic approaches, focusing on balanced offensive plays and minimizing turnovers.

Notable Quote:

"The Eagles have 65 net passing yards, the fewest in 10 years for a winning playoff team. It’s a Saquon Barkley team." — Colin Cowherd [12:30]

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5. Officiating and Replay Challenges in the NFL

Overview: Colin and Matt Hasselbeck engage in a critical discussion about officiating inconsistencies and the impact of replay reviews on game outcomes.

Key Points:

• Inconsistencies in Calls: Discrepancies in officiating between games are addressed, with specific instances like the Will Anderson hit being scrutinized.

• Replay Assist System: The effectiveness and clarity of the replay assist system are debated, highlighting moments where replay reviews could have altered the game's flow.

• Officials' Accountability: Emphasis on the need for improved officiating standards and the potential for rule tweaks to ensure consistency.

Notable Quotes:

"I will never criticize officials. It's bang, bang, you're trying to do the best you can." — Matt Hasselbeck [40:53]

"Until the competition committee gets together in the offseason and puts a proposal out there, I don't, I don't know how much they can get a change in a way that's consistent." — Matt Hasselbeck [42:05]

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6. Upcoming Match-up: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Overview: The anticipation builds around the upcoming AFC Championship game between the undefeated Buffalo Bills and the formidable Kansas City Chiefs, with both teams boasting top-tier performances.

Key Points:

• Bills' Preparedness: The Bills are praised for their balanced team, effective offense, and strong defense, positioning them as serious contenders for the Super Bowl.

• Chiefs' Dominance: Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's synergistic partnership, along with the Chiefs' deceptive efficiency post-Tyreek Hill, underscores their potential to clinch the championship.

• Home Field Advantage: The significance of home field advantage is underscored, with strategies like play communication being pivotal in high-stakes games.

Notable Quote:

"The Chiefs have played eight straight games without a turnover. That, to me, is not luck." — Colin Cowherd [47:36]

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7. Insights from Guest Analyst Matt Hasselbeck

Overview: Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joins the discussion, offering professional insights into team strategies, player performances, and the intricacies of playoff football.

Key Points:

• Team Dynamics: Matt agrees with Colin on the Bills' shift towards a team-oriented approach, emphasizing the importance of spreading the ball and minimizing reliance on individual performances.

• Lamar Jackson's Leadership: He commends Lamar Jackson for his accountability and leadership, which fosters respect from teammates and opponents alike.

• Washington Commanders' Potential: Matt expresses optimism about the Commanders' chances, highlighting Jaden Daniels' poise and the team's defensive improvements.

Notable Quotes:

"Lamar is one of the great quarterbacks of all time. One of the reasons his teammates love him and opponents respect him is his accountability." — Matt Hasselbeck [31:20]

"Washington is so engrossed in the game. They've got poise that's never been seen before out of a rookie quarterback." — Matt Hasselbeck [36:05]

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Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode provides an in-depth analysis of the NFL playoff landscape, with a particular focus on the Buffalo Bills' disciplined gameplay and their potential to secure the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. Colin Cowherd and Matt Hasselbeck offer expert opinions on team strategies, player performances, and the challenges posed by officiating inconsistencies. The episode encapsulates the excitement of the playoffs, the strategic nuances of top-tier football, and the anticipation surrounding the upcoming championship clash.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• "Josh Allen only had 147 yards, total yards, fewest of his career in a playoff game yet. I've never been more impressed." — Colin Cowherd [05:10]
• "It's a Saquon Barkley team." — Colin Cowherd [12:30]
• "Lamar is one of the great quarterbacks of all time...his accountability." — Matt Hasselbeck [31:20]
• "The Chiefs have played eight straight games without a turnover. That, to me, is not luck." — Colin Cowherd [47:36]

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the "Best of The Herd" episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by Colin Cowherd and his expert guests.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Steve Covino]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[NPR Up First Host]

Card Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up first. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd Podcast. All right, here we go. It is a Monday. Gonna be a good one live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening or watching. Thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac Only a few football games left. I said a couple of weeks I'm going to take the Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl. I still feel very strongly about that. And how do you feel after the weekend? Go Bills baby.

[J. Mac]

Bills Mafia. Let's go.

[Colin Cowherd]

All Right. So let's start with this. The Buffalo Bills, and this is not generally what they have been since Josh Allen arrived, avoided losing more than they won that football game. No turnovers and one penalty. Smart, adult, focused football. They've always been gifted, but a little loose, never quite disciplined. Felt kind of reactionary. Not this team. From the opening drive, ran the ball, not heavily reliant on Josh Allen. It was clinical, it was effective. Much more than it was impressive. I mean, Josh Allen only had 147 yards, total yards, fewest of his career in a playoff game yet. I've never been more impressed. This is what the Kansas City Chiefs did when they moved off Tyreek Hill. They went from a fireworks show to a more effective football team. And that's what I saw. Responsible football, one penalty. Jimmy Johnson's been saying this for years. You will lose more playoff football games than you'll win. Josh Allen sacked one time. He had four attempts. This is the strongest armed guy in the league. Josh Allen had only four attempts over 10 yards. Now, the Ravens were bigger and flashier. They averaged 7.3 yards of play. It was big. Derrick Henry run. Big pass by Lamar Jackson. They looked like Buffalo generally looks, but they had an ugly pick. They had a couple of fumbles. They had a drop, two point conversion. Baltimore looked like Buffalo for years. Mark Andrews, great player and great tight end, picked a bad day to have the worst game of his career. Lamar Jackson, I'll defend him. He played well enough to win. In fact, the Ravens never punted. I mean, think about that. You get. Lamar Jackson is going to be mvp potentially. They never punted. They only got stopped when they stopped themselves. And that was the problem. They did and Buffalo didn't. They had 13 big plays. Bills had four. I watched that game and I thought, meet the Buffalo Bills. They are the new Kansas City Chiefs with a more dynamic offense. The Bills, finally, finally, and we've been saying this all year, this is the best supporting cast Josh has had, maybe the worst defense, but they're finally comfortable being effective. And by their standards, let's be truthful here, kind of boring by their standards, not most teams. So the Ravens kept pressing and making big plays and it worked to a large degree. But in my lifetime and even recent memory, the San Antonio spurs with Duncan, the Bama dynasty with Saban, the New England Patriots, this dynasty in Kansas City really started when Tyreek Hill left. The Bills have always had a Ferrari at quarterback. But you know what gets old? Speeding tickets. And vanilla remains the most popular ice cream. So congratulations. To the Buffalo Bills. Mature, focused, doubted on defense. Effective. One sack, one penalty. In the biggest game of the year, the biggest game ever for Josh Allen. He is back now to facing the vaunted Kansas City Chiefs. I said it last week and the week before, I think Buffalo wins the Super Bowl. And it's this pivot. From speeding tickets in the Ferrari to just letting all the other kids fly by. You don't beat yourself. Here's Josh Allen.

[Josh Allen]

After all year, this team has heard, we got no talent, we're too small, we can't stop the run. We're not good enough to compete. We just put our head down and worked hard. I'm so proud of our defense. I'm so proud of our offense and special teams. What a complete win. Obviously, on the offensive side of the ball, we wish we scored a little more so we didn't have to take it down to the fourth quarter like that. But that's a really good team. Credit to them as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

And it should be noted, you could tell this was game plan. The opening drive for the Buffalo Bills. Run, run, run. Short passes. This was their game plan. Let's not beat ourselves. We don't have to be the flashiest. We've done that thing. It doesn't get us to where we want to go. I really think championship teams pivot. Remember, Tyreek Hill leaves the Chiefs less flashy, more effective. Stefan Diggs, some drama leaves. And they immediately figure out we're not about one whiteout, we're about a collective. And if we don't beat ourselves, nobody else is going to beat us either. That's super bowl winning football. Run it, defend it. No penalties, no turnovers. Every team last couple of weekends that's won in the playoffs has had zero turnovers. Took Buffalo a while to figure it out, but, man, did they. Now let's go to the Eagles and the Rams. First of all, the fact that the Rams kept it close, tip of the cap to those guys, because I really do believe they need about four to five more players to beat a team like Philadelphia. But the Eagles have two stars and they're the best players in the NFL at their position. One is in his prime, Saquon Barkley, and one's a kid, Jalen Carter. And you know, I may have my reservations about Philadelphia, but they're great players, deliver when it matters, as dysfunctional as they can seem. No turnovers, only three penalties. And I've always rooted for great players to land in great organizations. Shohei Ohtani needed to be a Dodger, not an angel. LeBron needed to be with Pat Riley, not the Cleveland Cavaliers. And Saquon Barkley deserved better than the New York Giants, who have increasingly over the last decade been highly dysfunctional. There is a short list on the greatest running backs I've ever seen. Walter Payton's the best ever. Barry Sanders way up there. But Saquon Barkley is on that short list as well. And day one of his career, even at Penn State when they had weak offensive lines and the Giants had horrible offensive lines, he's never been one to point fingers. He has been total class, understated, just does his job. And when hard working people get the opportunity to work with great people, magic happens. And I've always been, I tell my kids this, you don't really deserve stuff, you earn stuff. But I do feel in his case, he sort of deserved a great offensive line. And then he's got Jalen Carter slamming the door shut. Carter has a chance to be Reggie White and Aaron Donald here, like unblockable. And the NFL is so quarterback centric that it is fascinating to watch. The Eagles have 65 net passing yards, the fewest in 10 years for a winning playoff team. I mean, A.J. brown could have read two books. This is. It's a Saquon Barkley team. And you know, the other thing I think about is here's a guy that was not on this team a year ago, and this is a team with Alphas. Best offensive line arguably in football. Great defensive line, A.J. brown. There are stars and alphas, Alpha, even the coach all over the locker room. And this quiet kid walks in and becomes the alpha of the Alphas. It's somewhat ironic and beautiful that in a loud city with a loud coach and loud fans and at times a loud organization, it's the quiet, classy kid who's taken over the team. He and the remarkable Jalen Carter. And we don't talk a lot about interior defensive linemen, but the Rams had a shot on a short week in the snow. After that, Puka Nukua cats down the sidelines. They had a chance to win this game. I'm sitting there on my couch thinking, timeout. The Eagles have the better roster. They're at home. They're better suited for snowy weather. Are the Rams going to pull it out? And Saquon did it on offense and Jalen Carter sealed it on defense. Here's Nick Sirianni. Jalen Carter is a special player and he's just done so many of the right things to continue to make himself a special player for him to rush the passer the way that he did in our group, rush the way that we did in moments of where the footing wasn't great. That, that to me, that was a championship effort by the defense. He's so talented. But this league, there's a lot of guys that are talented and it takes more than talent to reach your potential. And he's continuing to rise and that speaks a lot to Jalen Carter. This Eagles football team feels like it's led by Jalen Carter, Saquon Barkley and the general manager. But what I do like about it as well is Jalen Hurts is okay with it. Jalen Hurts is about winning. That's all he cares about. You don't get a lot of ego. So it sort of all works as dysfunctional as it often feels. It just sort of all works for Philadelphia. So had a 30 weekend feel good next weekend. I do think Buffalo is the better team now. Can they win at Arrowhead? After watching him this weekend, I think what you're going to get is two, really the two best football teams I've seen in this league are both in the afc and for a while this year in September, October, I thought Detroit was it. They're not. We'll address that after the break. And Philadelphia just seems like they let teams they're clearly better than stay in the game. Be honest about this. When Stafford completes that ball down the sideline to Puka Nkua, you were sitting there thinking they LA team on a short week without the personnel to match. Philly is going to steal this game. I, I sat there and thought everything I was going to say about this game is going to be turned on its head. And then Jalen Carter back to back ends.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, Eagles have not been great in either playoff game, Colin. They have not. They did not look particularly sharp against the Packers.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is who they are.

[J. Mac]

Maybe you're right.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't know.

[J. Mac]

I mean, are they going to cough up the football five times like the Lions did and give Washington the victory? I, I don't see that happening to you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you know, I mean, they should be favored over Washington. I remember, I remember a New York Giants team that was good in the regular season like Washington and they went on the road with Eli Manning and they played with house money and there wasn't a lot of pressure. Now that Giants team had very good defensive personnel up front. It wasn't just Eli Manning and I just don't think Washington has the personnel. If Washington got to the super bowl, this is not a shot at anybody because they're going to go buy some really good players and this is a good front office. It would be the weakest roster to ever get to a Super Bowl. I mean, the fact that they're winning, it comes down to. It comes down to one player. Yeah. Well, let's just be honest. It comes down to one kid.

[J. Mac]

He's a little more than a kid now. But home teams, by the way, did you see that 8 and 2 in the playoffs, the two road wins to win, Washington in Tampa, Washington against Detroit. I mean, home teams are dominating the.

[Colin Cowherd]

Teams that are winning. No turnovers.

[J. Mac]

No turnovers as well. Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

That has really been remarkable. You could always get away with one. Like turnovers one, you're done, you lose. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Josh Allen]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Steve Covino]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin Your Day with Up First subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hour 2 Matt Hasselbeck Five minutes out or less Urban Meyer Last hour on Ohio State Notre Dam Riley Leonard, I mean Josh Allen, I mean Riley Leonard leading Notre Dame to the national championship game. J Mac we are lucky I said I was talking to my wife yesterday and I said we have three football games left professionally and one in college and then I'm going back to hockey scores. So it's got a little emotional. I'm sitting there, I Got to be honest, in our lives, there's six months of the year that we can't wait to get to work.

[J. Mac]

A little melancholy Monday.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[J. Mac]

I mean, I will say four, four quarterbacks left in the NFL. Did you see what's similar among Jaden Daniels, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes? They're all mobile, all mobile quarterbacks. And we see one tonight in Riley Leonard. Let's see if he. Because Will Howard, he can run, but he's on mobile.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J. Mac]

Let's see if Riley Leonard could pull off some magic feeling. The Irish tonight. Well, luck of the Irish.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm not, but I think they have better special teams. The better quarterback, I would say, the better coach. And the defense is at least as good as Ohio State. But the Buckeyes offense is a different level. Yeah. And you get into these, you know, these three and a half, four hour games, somebody's going to pop. It's just hard to suppress. Now Michigan did it because I think, you know, they got into Ohio State's head.

[J. Mac]

How much of that was the rivalry, though, Colin?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think it was a lot of rivalry, but I remember you're the big dog favorite. I watched the, I watched the Eagles yesterday almost lose to the Rams if not for Jalen Carter. So it's like. And I, I mean, I watch Washington hammer Detroit sometimes going as a favorite, you get a little tight if you fall behind. Here we do Monday, we call it Colin, right? Colin wrong. Plenty of both. Let's fire away where Colin was right and saying for weeks, the Bills, this is the real deal. I think they should be favored over Buffalo, Kansas City. They're not, but they've created balance. They're not as reliant on Josh Allen. The Frank office is excellent. I think McDermott's evolved as a head coach. They moved off a star receiver like Kansas City and they've become more complete. First team ever, 30 plus passing and rushing touchdowns. I like everything about Buffalo. Yeah, I wish their defense was as good as the Eagles and the Chiefs. It's not. But I think offensively you go to the last several Super Bowls, it's the offense making a play regardless of how good the opposing defense is. I like the Bills over Kansas City where Colin was wrong. Nick Sirianni, he's in his second NFC championship. I don't have to love his methods, but he's loud. Philly's loud. He's emotional. Phillies emotional. It's just different. It's been a rocky flight, but I will say this part of Coaching is getting your guys and your star players to rise to the moment. And he does it. And I just think it works. He's 52 and 23. It's a hard city to coach in. Maybe Doug Peterson, who won a Super bowl, was too chill. Maybe Chip Kelly was a bit too emotionally remote. Whatever it is, he feels like a fan coaching the team. I'm wrong. It works. Where Collin was right. Well, my number one preseason surprise team to make the playoffs was the Washington Commanders. Colin, there's too much change. Yeah, but when all the other people are bad and all the new people are good, who cares? I love the staff, the gm, the coordinator. One host in America had the courage to say, yeah, I think this 20 year tire fire is going to make the playoffs. It was me, a little boy with big dreams. And here's Washington in the NFC Championship. Good for them. Where Colin was wrong. Yeah, I'm a Jared Goff loyalist. That was ugly. Three picks, lost a fumble. It was just ugly. And got outplayed by a rookie, a great rookie. But when they had Jameis Williams throwing it, that the wide receiver from Alabama when he was throwing a pass, that felt like almost a message, like, you know, on Jared Goff throwing a ball. Because when you do those, you know, reverses, those receivers, they want to throw the ball. They're not going to. They're not going to tuck it. They're going to throw the ball. So listen, Sean McVay moved off golf. I don't think they're going to be moving off an impression now. But you couldn't watch that game as a pocket quarterback and wonder what's the offseason going to be like second, third, fourth round on a pretty stacked roster. Think they'll roll the dice now? Riley Leonard. Don't be shocked where Colin was right. Kansas City's not lucky. I've been hearing this all year. They're circumstantially the best team in football. Best coach, best defensive coordinator, best quarterback. Yes, Mahomes can manipulate the officials, but what do you know? Travis Kelce. We say this all the time. It's like Gronk. You go to the NBA playoffs, the NFL playoffs, there's a red light that goes on for the great ones. And here's Travis Kelsey, 70% of the offense. So listen, eight straight games without a turnover. I mean, just say that out loud. In the NFL, the Chiefs have played eight straight games without a turnover. That, to me, is not luck. Where Colin was right. I said, Mike McCarthy has the leverage. He should ask for the moon against Dallas. He'll have a market and all of it's been true. He now I believe could be the favorite to get the Chicago Bears job. And here's the thing about Mike McCarthy. Since he arrived in Dallas, only the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen have a more productive offense. He won with a far an old grumpy farb. He won with Aaron, he won with Dak, he went with Cooper Rush. He won some games with Andy Dalton. I believed it was a regressing franchise and he is still a marketable coach. We were right on Mike McCarthy who now is interviewing for other jobs where Colin was wrong. You know I love Sam Darnold but those Last couple of games 66 passer rating were not ideal. Yes I had him receiving MVP votes in week 14 and 15 but it's how it ends. Jaden Daniels ends great. Sam Darnold did not. I think he is now what he's probably always been. Baker Mayfield, little reckless, darn good, works his butt off, likable B plus guy making mid-30s a year where Colin was right Folks, all your billionaires or at least most of them could afford what the Dodgers are doing. Who who landed Roki Sasaki, the next great young pitching star from Japan. You do realize the Dodgers deferring payments. Every franchise could do that. They also win trades. They have arguably the best minor league system. They stole Teoscar Hernandez for nothing. This is an organization that is hyper aggressive. All these owners in baseball, even the A's in the Fischer family are billionaires. All of these organizations can defer payments. It's absolutely legal. I hear this all the time. What is wrong with baseball? When the Yankees were dominating the hot stove league it was celebrated. People don't like it because they think they're they're using some system that's not legal. Deferred payments are the future of baseball and the smartest team in the sport sport has figured it out. First where Colin was right. Riley Leonard led his team to a natty despite the fact they have one five star athlete. I think this is the most underrated player in college football. I think he's going to go to an offensive Coach like a McVeigh sit for two years not playing. You look up and he's getting reps on Sunday. I don't know I just when I watch him, tough, athletic, got kind of a weird delivery but every time they ask him to make a big throw he makes it. I think he has been my favorite dark horse player in college football for the entire year. And here he is. Taking a team that doesn't have as many five star football recruits as Kentucky to the national championship helps. He's got a great coach. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the News each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up first. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Because we got lots to say. I texted you and you texted me back. Now I don't know if you have the update, but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like it's all colored. They changed it and the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest, it was a little pink.

[Colin Cowherd]

There was something sentimental when you, when you send it. Yeah, it's like, do I send the heart now?

[Bobby Bones]

I don't like the color edition.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's extremely pink.

[Bobby Bones]

Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. The Daily show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of Today's news and pop culture. Culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports, and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

And with that, we got a great analyst. Matt Hasselbeck is joining us live. You know, when I watched Buffalo yesterday, it was funny. So Tyreek Hill left the Chiefs and they had to pivot to being more efficient because they weren't going to be. They weren't going to be as elegant over the top and. And Stefan Diggs leaves, and I'm like, this team runs the ball. They have pivoted to kind of a more boring team. They don't allow sacks, they don't get penalties, they don't turn it over. And I keep saying to myself, they've kind of grown up. I feel like I've watched the Bills grow up in the last year.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah, I agree with everything that you just said there. And, you know, the committee approach at the running back position. You know, I remember when Josh Allen would lead the team in rushing, and you didn't see that yesterday. I mean, really, you know, you saw one running back running it down to the one, and another guy comes in to score the touchdown. Like, so what? Who cares? We don't care about credit. We don't care about carries. We're sharing the load in the running game. I would say the same thing in the passing game. Think nine different guys caught passes yesterday. So it's much tougher to defend a guy, a quarterback, when he's spreading the ball around, taking what the defense gives him, in a sense, and like, not really caring about, do I have to get this guy his touches so he doesn't throw a little temper tantrum on the. On the bench. I think Buffalo has certainly lived that life. People live that life. But I think the life that they're living right now, where it's more of a team and more spreading it around, is certainly working for them.

[Colin Cowherd]

How much blame goes to Lamar Jackson? What did you think?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

You know, Lamar is one of my favorite quarterbacks. I think he's one of the great quarterbacks of all time. And one of the things that I absolutely love about him is his leadership at the podium after the game. You hear a lot of quarterbacks, when the game doesn't go well, they say, oh, we got to be better on third Down. We can't turn the ball over. It's like, bro, you got to stop turning the ball over. You were the reason we turned it over. Lamar, you never hear that out of him. He always accepts the blame. It's almost like it just comes right from his head, right through his mouth. He's, like, mad at himself. I think that's one of the reasons that not only do his teammates love him, the opponents respect him. I think it's one of the reasons that he will eventually get there. But clearly the interception early, super uncharacteristic of Lamar. The fumble after the bad snap, taking a bad situation, make it. Making it worse. Those were two plays that he's really going to be kicking himself about the entire off season. But again, I just really believe that that accountability at the quarterback position, not a lot of guys have it. Lamar has it. And so for that reason, for the long haul, I'll take Lamar any day of the week.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, you know, it's interesting. The Eagles have 65 net passing yards, but I do believe that part of the sustainability of this team is that Jalen Hurts is okay with it. I mean, he played at Bama like, he knows, like, it's not just about me. And I also think if I was a quarterback and especially guy that's a little smaller and has had injuries, I would be okay having a star running back. Like, I think the personalities on this team. Saquon, professional, classy, quiet. Jalen Hurts, reserved. Like, there's something about this team. Jalen is comfortable not leading them, and I think that's unique. I think most quarterbacks want to throw the ball. I think they like to. I mean, I. Howie Long always jokes, you can't have multiple quarterbacks in the room. They all take the oxygen out of it. What do you make of Hurt style, Some inefficiencies? What do you make of this offense?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Well, I do think he is the leader, and I think he's got a great leadership style. He doesn't care about leading in stats, you know, in terms of the passing game, but I think they got to be better. They got to be better in the passing game. I'll just flat out say it. The quarterback that they're playing is amazing as a runner and is amazing as a thrower. And that's not just on Jalen. The guys around him got to step up. It was bad weather this weekend. It's going to be bad weather probably the next weekend. You got to catch the ball in bad weather. The better player, the guys around him got to step up and play well in cold weather. But at the same time, I thought, I don't know if it was injury or what. Jalen hurts didn't look like the best version of Jaden. Jaden Jalen hurts that I've seen. So he's got to raise his game and be at his best. Do I think Philly can, you know, not fly? Eagles fly, Ron Eagles run to the Super Bowl? I do. But at the same time, they do need more out of their passing game. I know they say they could do it if they wanted to. You're going to need it against Washington, in my opinion.

[Colin Cowherd]

You can lose at home in a playoff game, but the way Detroit lost, does that resonate in the off season? Do you think they're. They're. They're going to kind of review some things? That was ugly, some of it injury, but some of it just mistakes.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

I think some sometimes, and you saw it in some of the games, you can try too hard, you can want it too bad. And I think that was just the case. If you look at all the teams that didn't win, turnovers were really the story of the weekend. You got to protect the ball. You can't be sloppy.

[Colin Cowherd]

It.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

You can't be careless. You can't, I think, just try to force something that's not there. And, and really, you know, turnovers they did, that's what did Detroit in. And I know they won a game earlier this year where they had a bunch of turnovers, but by and large, if you want to know the formula to not losing, you have to protect that football. There's a lot of coaches in the NFL. They've got signs all around the building. I remember when Pete Carroll came to Seattle from usc. He took down just about every sign that Mike sign in picture that Mike Holmgren had hanging there for like 10 years and Jim Mora after that, he took them all down and he put up basically in every single room there was a sign that said it's all about the ball. And so whether you have a sign or not, that is true. Turnovers will get you beat. And that's what got the Detroit Lions beat this weekend.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, I watched Eli Manning, Joe Burrow go on the road, go through the playoffs as an underdog and get to Super Bowls. It can happen. The personnel wise, Washington Philly feels like a massive, a massive mismatch. How much of a shot do you give Jaden Daniels and the Commanders?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Well, unfortunately I lost the super bowl to a wild card team in the Pittsburgh Steelers who did just the same thing. And I also, if you look at just like what's gone on, the home teams are usually winning, but it hasn't mattered to Washington. I see people talking about their inexperience being a negative. It is not a negative. They went on the road to Tampa against the hot Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans team. They said, so what? There's a game, anyone, anywhere, anytime, let's go, let's win it. And they go. The next week, they win it. They're going to Philly. Like they don't care, like they don't even know. Like they don't. They're not like, oh, man, remember we had those home playoff games like it's nothing to them. So I just think that they're so engrossed in the game. They've got poise that's. That's never been. Never been seen before out of a rookie quarterback. And they're playing so well. Cliff Kingsbury has them dialed in. I think Dan Quinn has the bigger job on defense because I don't think the defense is as talented as the offense in Washington. So that'd be the big question for me. But can they get to the Super Bowl? I said it on this show a couple weeks ago, three weeks ago, a month ago. Absolutely. You could have a rookie quarterback in the super bowl, and Jaden Daniels is the guy to me.

[Colin Cowherd]

So let's go back segue back to Bill's Chiefs. So it's interesting. Buffalo's beaten Kansas City several times. Not in the game. But this, this does not feel like Baltimore, Kansas City to me, where just Baltimore just can't get past it. We saw, I think, was first week of the year, Baltimore lost by a toe to Kansas City. I think Buffalo feels we've beaten these guys. We've beaten these guys multiple times. I don't think psychology plays a role in this game. I think better team wins. But I haven't played the game. You have. When you get to a conference championship, do those ghosts reappear for Buffalo?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah, I don't know. I think this is a pretty mentally tough team. They know each other really well. You know, I kind of mentioned that all year. I felt like all these team, you know, Kansas City and Buffalo, they were kind of going through the motions, knowing that these guys were going to meet up at the end of the year at some point. And that's what you see. I really think home field advantage is going to be the biggest player in this game. You heard Tony Romo talking about it, like getting into the perfect play. Not Wasting plays, using your cadence, that's an advantage that Buffalo has had so far in the playoffs. I think Josh Allen does a great job with that, but I think the best in the league is Patrick Mahomes at using his cadence, getting the protection right, getting into the right play. And so that home field advantage, there's a reason why guys care about it so much. It's not so much like, oh, you're, you know, you need people cheering for you or you don't want people booing against you. No, it's the communication at the line of scrimmage for these new age offenses that are calling one, two or three plays in the huddle. And it's just so important to get that communication done right. You talk about no penalties. It's a lot easier to have no penalties, especially offensively when you're at home.

[Colin Cowherd]

So the rule states very clearly in the NFL, you can't challenge roughing the passer. And it also says, we looked it up this morning. When in doubt, call roughing. If you think it's roughing, call it. They demand that it's in big black letters and underlined in the rule book. It's like we say in baseball, tie goes to the runner, tie goes to the quarterback, call it. I also think Mahomes manipulates refs. So does LeBron. Does it bother you what you're seeing, or did you try to whenever you could, to kind of leverage and manipulate moments physically?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah, I think there's a fine line there. I think the NFL get it right. I think everyone's a little bit embarrassed by, you know, the fact that they didn't get the call right. I think replay assist will probably come in at some point, but I'm kind of okay with, like, what happened because I do think they'll get it fixed. The Mahomes at the sideline flopping. I mean, I used to give Andrew Luck a lot of heat about that. I used to think, like, he'd sometimes flop, you know, he's a huge soccer fan. And I was like, okay, listen, this isn't soccer, you know, but at the end of the day, I think they will get it right. Do I think they got it right in that game? No. No, they didn't. There's room for improvement. But I also don't think that's why the Texans lost the game. I think the Texans lost the game for other reasons. And so I'm not going to sit here and discredit the Chiefs for the reason, you know, that being the reason they won the game. But did penalties have a huge play in that, in that early drive? Yeah, it did, it really did. But again, I think it's just something everyone needs to learn from basically.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now I will say for the record on the Will Anderson hit from the perspective of the official, when it happened in real time, Matt, I thought it was, I mean the way from my television seat I watched it like this one right here. My first take was, oh, that's helmet to helmet. And so, yeah, I mean I. Boom. That looks right there like helmet. The helmet the first time you see it quickly.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah. And that's why I will never criticize officials. It's bang, bang, you're trying to do the best you can. Happens in real time. I think our officials do a really good job actually. But we're using replay assists for all this other stuff. And there's only one game going on during the playoff, not a 1 o'clock game on a Sunday during the regular season where there's so much to watch. You got to get this right. We have slow motion, we have high def, we have replay assist. That's where I'm saying like, hey, now listen, I also would say watching the Baltimore vs Buffalo game the next night, you can't tell me that those officials didn't just let those guys play. Yeah, it was a completely different game. How it was officiated, consistency was not there. I saw an official get knocked over to the ground after a late hit on a fight. Nothing happened. Like they weren't even calling PI. So like to think that like there wasn't some sort of conversation like, hey, we maybe overdid it over protected. I saw Lamar Jackson, who probably going to win the MVP get tackled out of bounds with. I mean, trust me, these guys are human. They're talking about it. But until the competition committee gets together in the off season and puts a proposal out there, I don't, I don't know how much they can get a change in a way that's consistent.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think you make a great point. There was a lot of physicality in the Ravens Bills game and it's, you know, listen, officials walk. They're all sitting watching that one game at their hotel and they're going, oh boy, this is bad. Then they're on their phones and everybody's saying officials stink. So point made by.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

And even the golf interception on the pick six when he took it in the chin, he literally takes the helmet straight to the chin and there's no flag. And again, I think that's where, where people are kind of like, well why did it happen for one quarterback? I do think there's a little bit of a market correction in officials do communicate from game to game. They talk about it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Matt Hasselbeck is always on a Monday Money. Thanks for coming on the show. But as always, see you call. Yeah, yeah, it's, it's, it's the reality of it. Like games bleed into games. People sit in their hotel rooms, everybody's watching football and you watch the Mahomes game and think we got to back off and let these guys play. I've seen in the NBA series game to game, the offician officiating chain, like if it gets really, really physical and choppy in game one and tempers flare, it's almost like they get a call from the league office and the refs will in the first quarter of the game call everything and just course correct. We've seen this in the NFL in the preseason when they over officiate a new rule. So I remember a couple years ago in the super bowl, the Phillies special, when they allowed juggling balls as catches like because the league was getting so much heat and there was a ball in the back of the end zone for the Eagles and they constantly of bobbled it. That was an incompletion all year and I'm not complaining. But it was like leagues do react, watch games, talk to officials. It felt like Baltimore, Buffalo let the guys play.

[J. Mac]

So what's your guess is what happens in KC Buffalo? Because Colin, listen, Troy Aikman used to work here. I haven't heard an announcer put the league on blast the way he did in that Texans Chiefs game. And he was right. It was justified. He had a lot of backing. Again, these Island Games, 30 million people are watching and it's very obvious at all of them what's happening.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I have always, I think you and I both believe this when you. The higher the stakes, the less I want officials dictating anything. I do understand officials early in seasons or early in games saying guys like when you played the Ravens or you played the Patriots and the Patriots with Belichick were very grabby on the perimeter. Their cornerbacks would grab you and officials throw an early flag. They're like bill, we're not letting you do that. Yeah. Like so I am for an official being overly assertive early. But you know, I, I'll say it again. I thought the Will Anderson hit was. When I watched it in real time, my take was, oh, that's a shot. Mahomes sells it.

[J. Mac]

Well, wait, don't could you explain to me what the heck replay assist is? Because it seems to work very willy nilly. And I started asking around on text message be like I don't get it. The league is unclear. When does replay assist chime in like.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is a great point. Remember you and I, there was about a six year period in this league or longer. I didn't know what the hell a catch was. It started with a Calvin Johnson catch against the Bears in the end zone and they wouldn't allow and all of a sudden it was heightened during the.

[J. Mac]

Des Brian Bryant Packers.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I brought Roger Goodell on the show and I asked him and he was great about it. I said I love your sport, I don't know what a catch is. And he's like, we have to address it. I think to your question here was Will Anderson this morning on the Mahomes hit and officiating.

[Jon Stewart]

I'm not the type of chase calls. The NFL can do whatever they need to do for the thing. I feel like as a player you just have to keep playing. Some calls were, you know, in my opinion could have been better calls. And that's okay, that's my opinion. But at the end of the day, it's about us. We have to do a better job of executing. We have to do a better job of going out there and being ready. And no matter what the outcome is, we have to do a better job of handling Texas business on both sides of the ball.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, he's right. And listen, it's the NFL is a business. Business is tweak. This is what they do. The NFL has always been the ultimate tweak sport. They're unlike baseball, which took them forever to get a pitch clock or defensive shift abandoned. And the NFL will fix stuff. Rules committee, they'll tweak stuff. I mean in years where an officiating isn't controversial, they tweak. And they just changed the kickoff this year. A couple years ago they changed the pat. They will tweak.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. And you know I coach my kids in sports, Colin. I am, I am aggressive defensively. I say guys, I want you handsy, I want you all over them. Let the refs call it. If the refs call it, then we got to back off. But I want to see this game. Buffalo and Kansas City, I want the refs hands off. Let the teams play the game. Don't be all like, oh, here's a flag. I, I want to see. Let him play.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. Just know the Chiefs have the better defense. And so if the Bills have the better quarterback. Well, subscribing to your theory, let them play. Then the Chiefs defense will grab and hold and clutch. Hey, McIntyre said try grabbing Josh Allen.

[J. Mac]

On the run, big boy.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Huh?

[J. Mac]

Try grabbing, of course. Come on, Nick Bolton.

[Colin Cowherd]

What do you got?

[J. Mac]

I can't wait for this game.

[Colin Cowherd]

Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving from two for one Pizza. To buy one, get one Wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[NPR Up First Host]

Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up first. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast guests.

[Bobby Bones]

Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing With a Star. So where else you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.