Best of the Week on The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of the Week

Release Date: December 14, 2024
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

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1. Introduction

The episode titled "Best of the Week on The Herd" dives deep into the current NFL landscape, analyzing team performances, playoff predictions, quarterback evaluations, and strategic trends shaping the season. Hosted by Colin Cowherd, the discussion primarily features insights from sports analysts Doug Gottlieb and Justin Jefferson.

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2. NFL Playoff Predictions and Team Rankings

Justin Jefferson kicks off the segment by presenting his "Top 10 NFL Teams" list, evaluating teams based on performance metrics, player statistics, and strategic prowess.

• Number 10: Los Angeles Rams

  • Jefferson: "I don't think the Rams could duplicate that effort again this season."
    (Timestamp: [15:32])
  • Analysis: Despite having key players like Matt Stafford and Rob Havenstein, Jefferson doubts the Rams' ability to maintain their performance levels.

• Number 9: Seattle Seahawks

  • Jefferson: "They look at Baltimore's defense since Seattle hired their coordinator as head coach, they've held offenses under 20 points in three of their last four games."
    (Timestamp: [15:58])
  • Analysis: With Geno Smith leading and a strong defensive strategy, the Seahawks are on a four-game winning streak, making them a formidable contender.

• Number 8: Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Key Points:
    • Russell Wilson's resurgence and the impact of George Pickens' absence.
    • Jefferson: "Mike Tomlin is the best underdog coach in NFL history. I think it goes down to the end."
      (Timestamp: [16:50])
  • Analysis: The Steelers' ability to perform against strong opponents keeps them in the top tier, though they face upcoming challenges against teams like the Eagles and Chiefs.

• Number 7: Baltimore Ravens

  • Key Points:
    • Strong offense and rushing capabilities.
    • Jefferson: "Their defense is like a baseball team with a bad bullpen. They can outplay but are leaking on the back end."
      (Timestamp: [17:24])
  • Analysis: While offensive metrics are impressive, defensive inconsistencies pose a threat to their playoff aspirations.

• Number 6: Minnesota Vikings

  • Key Points:
    • Six-game winning streak and effectiveness in close games.
    • Jefferson: "Minnesota's really good. Are they great? I don't know."
      (Timestamp: [17:57])
  • Analysis: The Vikings' consistency in one-possession games and strategic gameplay make them a dark horse in the playoff race.

• Number 5: Green Bay Packers

  • Key Points:
    • Transformation into a power run team with Josh Jacobs.
    • Jefferson: "They are taking a lot of the responsibility from Jordan Love, who can be a tad reckless despite being an excellent talent."
      (Timestamp: [18:44])
  • Analysis: The Packers are evolving under Jordan Love, balancing the passing game with a robust running strategy, positioning themselves closer to greatness.

• Number 4: Buffalo Bills

  • Key Points:
    • Talented roster but struggles in big games.
    • Jefferson: "Buffalo's great and I do. But they can't practice. Now they're off a highly emotional game."
      (Timestamp: [19:29])
  • Analysis: The Bills' high-caliber offense is tempered by recent practice limitations and emotional setbacks, raising concerns about their consistency.

• Number 3: Philadelphia Eagles

  • Key Points:
    • Strong running game led by Saquon Barkley.
    • Jefferson: "How do you quiet the locker room? There are increasing stories."
      (Timestamp: [20:04])
  • Analysis: The Eagles have shifted focus to a run-centric offense, effectively managing quarterback dynamics and maintaining offensive balance.

• Number 2: Kansas City Chiefs

  • Key Points:
    • Historic performance in one-score games.
    • Jefferson: "They are such a complex team because they're the best third down team in the sport."
      (Timestamp: [21:15])
  • Analysis: Kansas City's strategic mastery in close games and third-down efficiency cements their position as a top contender, though their overall offensive explosiveness is a point of juxtaposition.

• Number 1: Detroit Lions

  • Key Points:
    • Outstanding scoring offense and offensive line.
    • Jefferson: "Detroit has the personnel to say we're going to play keep away and have a nine-minute drive."
      (Timestamp: [22:05])
  • Analysis: With a potent offense and strategic defensive plays, the Lions emerge as the frontrunner, showcasing dominance that potentially surpasses even elite teams like the Chiefs.

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3. Quarterback Performance and Evaluation

Doug Gottlieb delves into the performance trajectories of key quarterbacks, assessing their impact on team dynamics and playoff potentials.

• Matt Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

  • Gottlieb: "I've said before he was better in high school, college, and first four years in the NFL than Aaron Rodgers, and he's better now."
    (Timestamp: [04:42])
  • Analysis: Stafford's enduring talent and leadership are highlighted, with expectations of sustained success provided the team maintains quarterback protection.

• Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

  • Discussion Points:
    • Concerns about ownership and executive decisions.
    • Gottlieb: "They have a chance at Jim Harbaugh, but apparently Kevin Warren, the president and Harbaugh have a history, and it's not a good one."
      (Timestamp: [05:20])
  • Analysis: Williams' struggles are attributed to organizational instability, impacting his performance and the team's overall strategy.

• Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

  • Gottlieb: "I defend Kyler Murray more than anybody... he is five, nine and a half."
    (Timestamp: [06:15])
  • Analysis: Despite Murray's agility and skill set, physical limitations and performance inconsistencies raise concerns about his long-term viability.

• Kirk Cousins (Green Bay Packers)

  • Gottlieb: "Last four games, zero touchdowns, eight picks. Listen, he's older, he's never been a dynamic athlete."
    (Timestamp: [07:10])
  • Analysis: Cousins' decline in performance metrics casts doubt on the Packers' decision to retain him, suggesting a need for evaluation as the season progresses.

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4. Strategic Trends: Shift to the Run Game

Jefferson and Gottlieb explore the NFL's evolving strategic landscape, emphasizing a renewed focus on the running game.

• Jefferson: "It's a cyclical league, and in the last year and a half, something has happened where teams now are moving back to the run game."
  (Timestamp: [26:33])

• Gottlieb: "There's a lot of great running backs in this league... defenses are defending, you know, teams and offenses, I think they become more valuable."
  (Timestamp: [27:16])

• Analysis: The shift towards a more balanced or run-heavy offense is a response to defensive adaptations. Running backs are gaining prominence as teams seek to control the game tempo and mitigate aggressive pass rushes.

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5. Offensive and Defensive Dynamics

The conversation further delves into the balance between offensive strategies and defensive capabilities, highlighting how teams adapt to maintain competitiveness.

• Jefferson: "So there are decisions... What would be the first thing you would see with a quarterback and think whisper to Bill or whisper to a coach?"
  (Timestamp: [30:21])

• Gottlieb: "I think if you start to feel like they don't want the hits... your body makes for you that, you know, it may not want to go through this anymore."
  (Timestamp: [31:19])

• Analysis: The physical toll on quarterbacks is scrutinized, with emphasis on recognizing subtle declines in performance and addressing them proactively to preserve player longevity and team integrity.

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6. Closing Remarks and Final Predictions

As the podcast approaches its conclusion, Jefferson solidifies his playoff predictions, emphasizing Detroit as the top contender, followed by Kansas City. He also touches on key matchups and the potential impact of upcoming games on the playoff landscape.

• Jefferson: "Detroit is absolutely great at home. That's my blazing five..."
  (Timestamp: [27:16])

• Final Picks:

  1. Detroit Lions
  2. Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Buffalo Bills
  4. Philadelphia Eagles
  5. Green Bay Packers

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7. Notable Quotes

• Doug Gottlieb on Hate in Society:
  “It's going to take all of us to stop this sort of hate because we're all on the same team in this country.”
  (Timestamp: [00:00])

• Justin Jefferson on Team Strategies:
  “You can't have teams playing highly emotional games then crank it up and say, do that again.”
  (Timestamp: [19:53])

• Jefferson on Kansas City's Strategy:
  “They're the best third down team in the sport and yet they're only averaging five yards of play, which is the worst in the Mahomes era.”
  (Timestamp: [21:30])

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8. Conclusions and Insights

The episode underscores the dynamic nature of the NFL, where strategic adaptations and player performances significantly influence playoff outcomes. The resurgence of traditional strategies like the run game illustrates teams' efforts to counteract defensive evolutions. Quarterback performance remains pivotal, with organizational decisions directly impacting player efficacy and team success. Detroit's dominance, combined with Kansas City's strategic mastery, sets the stage for an electrifying playoff season.

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Note: Advertisements, sponsorship messages, and promotional segments were intentionally excluded from this summary to focus solely on the content-driven discussions and analyses presented during the episode.

Transcript

[Doug Gottlieb]

This is Doug Gottlieb from All Ball with Doug Gottlieb. Listen, I'm gonna get serious for a minute and talk about something personal. The hate in our country is getting out of control. In fact, it's at an all time high and people are facing just too much hate. A lot of people don't think it's a problem, I can tell you. I've experienced it firsthand, you know, living outside of the country in Russia when my teammates found out I was Jewish and at the time, granted this is 25 years ago, I couldn't get into the country of Dubai. They just treated me differently. I knew what they were saying in Russian because I could speak it, but they didn't know I understood that they were talking behind my back. Look, there's lots of examples of it, but it's going to take all of us to stop this sort of hate because we're all on the same team in this country. So let's take a break from our hate so our team can regroup and regain our momentum. We need to take a time out against hate. Visit standuptolhate.org to help and join me in calling for time out against hate by following the at what's up with Hate? Or posting the Blue Square emoji standup to allhate.org that's the place to go if you wanna help.

[Colin Cowherd]

As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your Pocke cards issued by JPMorgan.

[Justin Jefferson]

Chase Bank NA member FDIC I'm Colin Coward from the Herd. Are you a small business owner launching a company or dreaming of starting one? Then be sure to catch up on seasons one and two of Mind the Business Small Business Success stories from Ruby studio and Inuit QuickBooks and stick around for season three launching Thursday, January 9 hosts Austin Hankiewicz and Janice Torres talk to small business owners about how they've grown and maintained their business. You don't want to miss these inspiring stories of small business journeys. Listen to Mind the Business Small Business Success stories on the I Heart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The Herd brought to you by Grainger Grainger Knows Space at your facilities limited as a maintenance specialist. You only have so many spots for backup products in your inventory roster, which means space on your bench comes at a premium. Well, when it comes to breadth and depth, Grainger's got you covered. They've got over 1 million industrial grade products. Plus fast delivery helps reduce the inventory you need to keep on hand, freeing up space and capital while giving your operation a winning edge. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com or just stop by a local branch what's poppin Justin Jefferson here Football is a lot of explosions, a lot of energy and attitude. It's a whole different vibe with these open earbuds. It's like you're in the moment, but also you can hear everything around you. You can be involved. To have good sound and to be so light on your ear means a lot to me putting that music into my ears. You feel good enough to go out there and play. You turn on that switch, no one can stop you. For more, check out Bose.com thanks for listening to the Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and 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. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's hour two. Matt Hasselbeck in five minutes. He's been such a great find for us this year. Live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. JAC the 12 team playoff is out. I cannot figure out how Penn State has a significantly easier route than Oregon. I would have flipped Ohio State and Penn State. I would have given the Buckeyes. Despite a rough loss to Michigan, they went to Happy Valley and won. But the committee seemed paralyzed by what to do with SMU and instead hosed Oregon, who had the best regular season and the best conference championship performance. Other than that fun weekend. Working theory is hey, we're we're leaving Alabama out of the playoff. Let's help the SEC by giving Georgia the EAS path to the national championship. I mean, you could argue they screwed Alabama, right? Alabama has more talent than SMU. Alabama has more 5 star guys, more future pros, more a better win, better wins. Now I don't think Alabama should be in, but you could argue that they're more better for the television product, which.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Is what this is.

[Justin Jefferson]

Yeah. All right, here we go on a Monday as usual. Colin right? Colin wrong. Where Colin was right. Matt Stafford. I've said before he was better in high school, college and first four years in the NFL than Aaron Rodgers and he's better now. He was always the most talented guy in the NFL in a bad spot. He's only 36. He's got two to three more Super bowl runs with his young team. In my opinion, he's still a complete workhorse fifth and past attempts. If they can protect him for the next three years, there's no reason to get another quarterback on his. I mean, how many people could have beaten Josh Allen last night? Mahomes, Stafford burrow with a better defense like Stafford's in a completely elite class. Where Colin was wrong, I thought the committee like J. Mac said would choose Alabama. I think the SEC is certainly good enough to get four teams but Alabama lost to Vandy and by the way, that Oklahoma game I still can't figure out. They got run out of the stadium against an Oklahoma team that was 2 and 6 in the SEC. So nobody to blame except Alabama. But I just don't think the SEC deserves just one more team than the acc. So I was surprised where Colin was right. Kansas City, 10 and 0 and 1 possession games. I keep pushing back on the they're lucky. No, it's a business model. When they called that timeout in the fourth quarter, it was Matt, Nagy, Mahomes and Andy Reid and then through to a sitting Travis Kelsey. This is what they do. It wasn't luck when Brady, Josh, McDaniels, Edelman and Grong did it. And it's not luck now. Kansas City is great at it because it's the best quarterback, the best coach, one of the best tight ends. It's how they win. Where Colin was wrong. I'll stop mining to Texas football someday. But it is. Does anybody lose games they should win more than Texas. Georgia was down to a backup, but they had 11 penalties and that's 19 penalties in two games against Georgia. Quinn Ewers, not a huge fan. Banged up a lot. Don't see a lot of special there. They average 1.1 yards per rush against Georgia. Georgia couldn't run the ball in the first half either. But when the game really mattered, suddenly Georgia with a backup quarterback found a way to run the ball. I have always loved Texas. Sark's a friend. He's very good at what he does. They recruit at an elite level but in these big games, not shocking that Georgia with Better play calling, better decision making with a backup quarterback could win the game. Where Collin was right. This was my concern for Caleb Williams. I don't trust the Bears ownership. The executive suite yesterday was embarrassing. Seven straight losses. I mean, they couldn't get the press conference right when they fired Matt Eberflusse. This is the concern again. They had a chance at Jim Harbaugh, but apparently Kevin Warren, the president and Harbaugh have a history and it's not a good one. They were outgained. 319 yards to 4 in the first half. That's beyond bad. That's embarrassing. Where Colin was right. I defend Kyler Murray more than anybody. But you know something, and somebody mentioned this to me a couple of weeks ago, when he starts poorly, he gets moody. His body language changes. It's, it's, it's just a fact. And that game early he played poorly and it felt like, yeah, it's over. He only has only one game all year with over one touchdown pass. And again I defend him, but he is five, nine and a half. There was the Internet, gaming over study issue. I don't love his body language when he starts slow. He's got five picks in the last three games and I don't think it's talent. I think I like Arizona's defensive effort. I like their coach. I like their weapons. Some of this my bad is just on Tyler Murray, where Colin was right. Robert Sala got fired. I said, you're nuts. He's the best coach on the staff. Yesterday's a prime example. Tua dropped to throw 47 times. No sacks, barely got hit. Would that have happened with Robert Sala as the head coach? The jets are a circus and I never bought into them as a playoff team. But they're 1 and 7 since Robert Salah got fired and they couldn't get to 20 with their defensive personnel in their corners. Didn't like the firing. Never let the best coach out of the building. Where Colin was wrong. I thought Kirk Cousins for about a year and a half was a really good signing as Michael Penix, the rookie waited and watched. Kind of a Flacco Lamar Jackson thing. But boy, Kirk has aged quickly. Last four games, zero touchdowns, eight picks. Listen, he's older, he's never been a dynamic athlete. But I mean in the fourth quarter this year and we've seen a little bit of this Aaron Rodgers, he has a 56 passer rating. So I thought Kirk Cousins for a year and a half until maybe late October next year, that handed the Penix was the right call. I did not think it would look like this by December. Where Colin was right I said in preseason keep your eye on my dark horse pick for the national championship. The Tennessee Volunteers only losses Georgia and on the road at Arkansas. They're 10 and 2. They now face Ohio State and Tennessee's defensive line is elite and Ohio State's offensive line has been injured for the last several weeks. Ryan Days on the hot seat. Josh H's one of the best young coaches. I actually think Tennessee is better served facing arguably the first or second best team be a giant killer early in this playoff. So Tennessee was my pick for the Natty. I didn't look very smart middle of the season. I if I'm Ohio State this is one of the last teams I want to face. Tremendous defensive line against a so so Ohio State banged up offensive line where Colin was right where Colin was wrong. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd what makes the holiday special are the details from Genesis and every little detail in a Genesis is another gift to you. Like during winter, you'll be thankful for the available heated steering wheel and the available snow mode to help get you through the snowiest of snow days. And the available all wheel drive is helpful all year round, but especially during the winter. I mean, Genesis has put a lot of thought into the details. And of course the best gifts are thoughtful ones like the available Nappa leather seating. Oh, speaking of gifts, you'll have plenty of room to haul around everything you've picked up for family and friends, no matter which Genesis you're driving. And with a lineup featuring SUVs, EVs, Sedans, something for everybody. Experience the Genesis Signature event. And as one big final gift, Genesis is offering you a $1,000 bonus on select Genesis vehicles. The deal ends January 2nd. See participating Genesis retailers for details. Visit genesis.com to see how Genesis can make your holidays even brighter. Details make the Holidays this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Did you know the PayPal debit card now earns you 5% cash back in the monthly category of your choosing. Groceries, health restaurants, beauty, gas and apparel in up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Sephora and Instacarts. Like having a little extra in your pocket every month? I'm using PayPal debit card to earn 5% cash back on apparel. With my travel schedule, I'm on the go. Sometimes I have to buy clothes online. It's the new normal. Just Sign up for the PayPal debit card through the new app and you're ready to go. Download the new PayPal app. Sign up Start earning 5% cash back today. Don't just pay PayPal terms and limits apply. See paypal.com rewardspal Cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options on up to $1,000 spend per month. The PayPal Debit MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. And may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted as we gather together.

[Colin Cowherd]

During this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.

[Justin Jefferson]

Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC I'm Colin Coward from the Herd Intuit QuickBooks wants you to achieve your dreams of starting your own business and working for yourself. And if you're a small business owner launching a company, then you'll want to check out Mind the Business Small business Success stories from iHeart's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks Season 1 and 2 are out now and Season 3 is launching Thursday, January 9th with new episodes coming out every other Thursday after that. So make sure you catch up and listen as hosts Austin Hankiewicz and Janice Torres talk to small business owners about how they've grown and maintain their businesses and tackle the hurdles and challenges that come with being your own boss. From tracking money in and out to cutting through day to day management with an all encompassing platform like Intuit QuickBooks, you don't want to miss these inspiring stories of small business journeys. Listen to Mind the Business small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Justin Jefferson]

Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Herd hierarchy time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams according to college number 10. I don't think the Rams could duplicate that effort again this season. But Matt Stafford, Sean Mc, Kyron Williams, Cooper Cup, Puka Nakua, Rob Havenstein. I mean they've got pieces here. They've got five or six really top of the chart pieces. And when Matt Stafford has time to throw and they didn't allow a sack against Buffalo. He is beautiful. He's what Aaron Rodgers wishes he still was. When you give Stafford time to throw, he's in that Burrow class. It is just different. Rams at 10 number 9. You know the Seahawks look at Baltimore's defense since Seattle hired their coordinator as head coach held in three of their last four games they've held offenses under 20 points. And Geno Smith, you know he's second in the league in completions to Joe Burrow. But they're on a four game winning streak since the bye. I think John Snyder has put together the last couple of years, excellent drafts and I don't think there are a lot of holes in this roster. I think I don't think they're special at quarterback, but they're certainly good enough, I think to make the playoffs and potentially win a playoff game. Seattle at nine. Number eight Steelers. George Pickens. Absence really was impactful. They really need him. But Russell Wilson 6 and 1 as a starter. Here's what I like. They're 4 no against teams with winning records. So they tend it's Mike Tomlin's history is he is a great underdog coach. Now they got the Eagles coming up at Philly at the Ravens and the Chiefs. So we're going to find out contender or pretender in the next three weeks. Number seven, the Ravens. Listen, they have five losses by a combined 22 points. They're losing to teams like, you know, the Chiefs. Number one total offense. Number two rushing offense. Listen, they get penalized way too much. That is a problem. And their past defense. What I don't like about this team, they're like a baseball team with a bad bullpen. They can outplay and lose. This team can outplay you, but on the back end they are leaking so much oil that they can lose games. They should win. So I think Baltimore is out of the super bowl bubble with the back end of their defense. Number six, I. You keep waiting for the Minnesota bubble to burst and they're on a six game winning streak. Seven and one and one score games. You know who else is good at one score games? Kansas City. Really good coaches and good quarterbacks are good in one score game. Sam Darnold in the last month, 11 touchdowns, no picks. There was an aspiring young sportscaster years ago that said he was going to be a great player. Hey, it took a while. Hey, all I know is this. Minnesota's really good. Are they great? I don't know. Number five. The packers are closer to great now. I think they're a year away. They're like Detroit last year. They're really young, but they become a power run team behind Josh Jacobs. So they are taking a lot of the responsibility from Jordan Love, who can be a tad reckless despite being an excellent talent. So they are now kind of a power running team. And for years and years with Aaron Rodgers, we were always like, they don't have much of a run game. Oh, they got it now. Josh Jacobs. They got it now. Green Bay at five, Number four, Buffalo. Super talented, but they beat themselves. Rams, they had a block punt nine guys on the field. They're two and three against winning record teams. Why? Because you got to have it buttoned up against winning record and winning teams. Now they're not allowing sacks anymore. And the Rams had a good defensive front. That's why Josh Allen's putting up these numbers. I like their roster, I like their momentum, but I don't trust them in big games. And the Rams are an inferior team to the Bills. And the Rams blocked a punt and the Rams didn't waste a time out at the goal line. So Buffalo's great and I do. My final four teams I think are super bowl teams, but they really concern me in close games. Number three, Philadelphia. So do they. Nick Sirianni. Now we've got A.J. brown and Jalen Hurts don't get along. But clearly since the buy, the coaching staff has been very intentional. They've become a run team over a pass team. Clearly Saquon Barkley is leading them. It's got a Christian McCaffrey Niners feel like they like the quarterback, don't love him. So I think it's a very, very good team. I think they have the best roster in the league, slightly better than Detroit, but I've got my issues in tight spots with the coach and the quarterback. Number two Kansas City. First team in NFL history to have three plus kickers with game winning field goals as time expired in a single season. Listen, they're 100 in games decided by 7 or less and you can keep telling me it's luck. It's not luck. It's their brand. It's their business model. They are, they're such a complex team because they're the best third down team in the sport and yet they're only averaging five yards of play, which is the worst in the Mahomes era. So they're not as explosive. They're not going to give you the total yards, they're not going to blow you away. But they've never been better than on third down. So that's the complexity of this dynasty. It's got a Patriots feel. You don't feel they have the best roster, but they have the best coach, the best quarterback and like Michael Jordan, when you need a bucket, that's the team you want. KC at two number one by an inch Detroit. Listen, since week nine of 2022 they're 34 and nine, half of them blowouts. They have the number one scoring offense and the number one offensive line. They're the one team I think could make Mahomes sit on the sidelines and watch a game. I trust Mahomes to beat everybody in this league. Detroit has the personnel to say we're going to play keep away and have a nine minute drive. So that's the kind of personnel they have. And the other thing is about Detroit is Aiden Hutchinson got hurt, hasn't hurt the defense. Now I think a lot of that is because they lead and so their defense knows what's coming, right? They're not in a lot of close games so the defense can pin their ears back and go for the pass rush. But I have them as by an inch as a number one team. One more herd the herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. What makes the holiday special are the details from Genesis and every little detail in a Genesis is another gift to you. Like during winter you'll be thankful for the available heated steering wheel and the available snow mode to help get you through the snowiest of snow days. And the available all wheel drive is helpful. All year round, but especially during the winter. I mean, Genesis has put a lot of thought into the details. And of course, the best gifts are thoughtful ones like the available Nappa leather seating. Oh, speaking of gifts, you'll have plenty of room to haul around everything you've picked up for family and friends, no matter which Genesis you're driving. And with a lineup featuring SUVs, EVs, Sedans, something for everybody. Experience the Genesis Signature event. And as one big final gift, Genesis is offering you a $1,000 bonus on select Genesis vehicles. The deal ends January 2nd. See participating Genesis retailers for details. Visit genesis.com to see how Genesis can make your holidays even brighter. Details make the Holidays this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Did you know? The PayPal debit card now earns you 5% cash back in the monthly category of your choosing Groceries, health restaurants, beauty, gas and apparel in up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Sephora and Instacart. It's like having a little extra in your pocket every month. I'm using PayPal debit card to earn 5% cash back on apparel. With my travel schedule, I'm on the go. Sometimes I have to buy clothes online. It's the new normal. Just sign up for the PayPal debit card through the new app and you're ready to go. Download the new PayPal app. Sign up Start earning 5% cash back today. Don't just pay PayPal terms and limits apply. See paypal.com rewardspal Cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options on up to $1,000 spend per month. The PayPal Debit MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. And may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted.

[Colin Cowherd]

As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only experience the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.

[Justin Jefferson]

Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC I'm Colin Coward from the Herd Intuit QuickBooks wants you to achieve your dreams of starting your own business and working for yourself. And if you're a small business owner launching a company, then you'll want to check out Mind the Business Small Business Success stories from iHeart's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks Season 1 and 2 are out now and Season 3 is launching Thursday, January 9th with new episodes coming out every other Thursday after that. So make sure you catch up and listen as hosts Austin Hankiewicz and Janice Torres talk to small business owners about how they've grown and maintained their businesses and tackled the hurdles and challenges that come with being your own boss. From tracking money in and out to cutting through day to day management with an all encompassing platform like Intuit QuickBooks, you don't want to miss these inspiring stories of small business journeys. Listen to Mind the Business Small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Justin Jefferson]

6 Super bowl rings 14 years offensive coordinator 4 years as a head coach what a pleasure to have Josh McDaniels back. There's so many things today I want to touch on. I I said this as that for years I was sort of like the cake is the quarterback, left tackle, the run game, the D line, the O line. Receivers are the icing. They make it fun.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yep.

[Justin Jefferson]

But they're not essential. And then the rule changes and then they became more essential. But I'm looking at the resurgence of running backs. Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Washington power teams. It's a cyclical league and in the last year and a half something has happened where teams now are moving back to the run game. Why?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, I think, I think in many regards it's the defense's response to those Elite players on the outside. And when there's more safeties in the deep part of the field and less people down near the line of scrimmage, there's just less things you can do to get those guys the ball. And so the guy that's standing by the quarterback or behind the quarterback becomes more valuable because, honestly, that's the right thing to do. When there's a light box or a fair fight inside, you give those guys the ball and you can see there's. There's a lot of great running backs in this league.

[Justin Jefferson]

Right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

You know, I don't think they should be devalued, but, you know, based on how defenses are defending, you know, teams and offenses, I think they become more valuable.

[Justin Jefferson]

As we're seeing right now, historically, receivers have been noisier and more verbal. I've always said they're kind of the pro basketball players of football. They break the huddle first. It's one on one. They're often the biggest, longest athlete. They want the ball, and I get it. But like in Philadelphia now, now we got an issue. We're red hot. We're clearly off the by. Josh, we're going to throw less, we're going to run more. The centerpiece is Saquon. It's working. How would you quiet the locker room? There are increasing stories. Brandon Ingram, Jalen, you know, Dak and Des had an issue, and Dallas, I thought, made the right decision. They moved Des out. A.J. brown's really good. How do you quiet the noise in season?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, I think you. Look, you have to tell them and show them. Honestly, showing them is more important than telling them that you're interested in getting them the ball. And the only reason you want them to have the ball is because they're going to help your team win more than any other player at that position. And there's certain guys like A.J. brown, and we just saw one game on Monday night with Jamar and CD and, you know, the Justin Jeffersons in the world, and these guys that are. They're elite players, they deserve to have the ball. As an offensive coordinator and the quarterback, you want to get them the ball, but there's also a lot of attention being paid to those guys. So, look, I think there's. There's a balance there, you know, between forcing it to them too much where, you know, they're trying to take them out of the game, and now you're. You're just punting a lot, you know, and throwing a lot of incomplete passes and not getting them the ball at all. And so I think you just try to find the balance, you know, keep them. Keep them involved early in the game. I think that's important, is to get them involved right away. Just so they touch the football, they're in the flow of the game. And then the design of the offense, when you are throwing the ball, you know, it should go through those guys. It just should.

[Justin Jefferson]

So there are decisions. Russell Wilson is. I would say there's a resurgence, but he was seen as a declining player in Denver. Kirk Cousins appears to be declining fast. Brady was remarkably able to stay at a high level, and his decline was very, very hard to see. If you're. I mean, you're like a master at this. This may not something that you would talk publicly about, but what would be the first thing you would see with a quarterback and think whisper to Bill or whisper to a coach? He doesn't have blank anymore.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, I think. And we didn't see it with Tommy, you know, and he's rare, as, you know. I mean, like, very rare. Yeah. You know, to me, if you start to feel like they don't want the hits, you know, and the ball's kind of coming out maybe earlier than it should.

[Justin Jefferson]

Beat early.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, beat early. Because they just know what's about to come, you know, and hit them in the. In the chest or in the shoulder or, you know, those start to accumulate over time and they start to hurt more. And we were talking about it, you know, the NASCAR drivers that get a little older, that all of a sudden they start to fall down the leaderboard and they're still driving for the same organization. They're still doing the same thing.

[Justin Jefferson]

They got four kids.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yes. Right. There's a little bit more to drive for or play for. And I don't even know that anybody makes those decisions consciously. I think it's almost a subconscious decision that your body makes for you that, you know, it may not want to go through this anymore.

[Justin Jefferson]

Yeah. If you were in Chicago. So it structurally is an organization on tilt. Give me the first thing. I'm Caleb Williams. You walk into the room. What is the first thing you do? Because he was struggling, ascending, plateaued, dropping. What's the first order of business to a talented young quarterback to get him right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

You're talking about right now.

[Justin Jefferson]

Caleb Williams walked in today.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Today.

[Justin Jefferson]

How do you get it back?

[Doug Gottlieb]

What do you feel most comfort doing? You know, just ask you. Yeah. What do you feel most comfortable doing? Because the offense isn't going to be very good. Doing things that I like if you don't like them.

[Justin Jefferson]

Right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

You know, and so I think the biggest thing you have to do is what's in his bucket that he feels really good about. And you start with that and honestly major in that. And then if you say, hey, I think there's a few things that would help us as a team if we could add these to your bucket, you know, and then at that point, you know, you got to have the conversation. And I think he deserves to know why you want to do that. You know, I think if we do this, that helps us get the ball down the field more. We can get this guy the ball if we do some, you know, some of this. But I think to me it has to start with where he's comfortable. And look, these rookie quarterbacks, as we've seen, there's been flashes of great play from all of them and all of.

[Justin Jefferson]

Them have had bad days.

[Doug Gottlieb]

That's right. And they all. And some of them have hit like a little bit of a lull or a wall, if you will, and then you kind of gotta get them back. And so I think to me it starts with what do you feel most comfortable doing on a play to play basis? Let's do more of that, let's major in that and then see where we go from there.

[Justin Jefferson]

So in any industry, if something's viewed as a high stress job and there's a lot, it could be a fighter pilot, could be an astronaut. The company usually gives you longer time to recover. Right. And so let's not perfectly analogous to football, but when you're the Chiefs and every game.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yep.

[Justin Jefferson]

Is a one score, one possession game, is it possible that it does wear on you over the course of a season, that you need some layups in this league and they don't get any layups.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, it can if you, if you're focused on just the result. I think if you're focusing on the process and, and that team knows on Monday when they watch the film that they're playing pretty good football. And right now, based on all of our injuries and the situation and circumstances that we have, this is the best we're going to do right now. You know what I mean? Not saying that we can't improve, but look, the days of thinking you're going to go in there and score 40 every time, that's not right now. That's not this team now when they had Hollywood and Rashee and they were healthier and they lost Pacheco for a while, I mean, look, they've had to deal with a lot of things this.

[Justin Jefferson]

Year for three years. Really?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, they really have. And they played more games than everybody else.

[Justin Jefferson]

Yes, too.

[Doug Gottlieb]

So there. Look, that happens. That happened to us in New England, where you just. There's a. There's an attrition that takes over when you're the team that's playing the final game of the season. So I think, to me, I think they'll do a great job. And he does a phenomenal job always, but he'll keep it in perspective. You know, there's value in winning close games. They're going to have to win them in. In January in that fashion.

[Justin Jefferson]

Yeah.

[Doug Gottlieb]

And so I think his team is mentally and physically tough, and for that, I think there's a lot of positive.

[Justin Jefferson]

Finally, we've seen Jordan Love of Green Bay and Jalen hurts. Both staffs have said, we want you to throw less. So Jordan loves getting in the 22 to 23 attempts. In fact, anytime he's thrown over like 30, 35, they're owing three. And by the way, it works. And they have a great running back. Philadelphia Jalen at 34. We get loose at 24. We're great. When you add Tom, and even though Tom is the most efficient and productive quarterback ever, was there a number you looked at and you would be in game thinking, this isn't what I want. We're going too many innings here. Because Tom was obsessed to begin with. You know, like, Tommy would just throw it 50 if you let him. Did you go into games or over the course of a season? Okay, now we're in November.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yep.

[Justin Jefferson]

Did you have a number as a quarter?

[Doug Gottlieb]

It depended on who we were playing.

[Justin Jefferson]

Okay.

[Doug Gottlieb]

You know, if you. If you go into the game and you say, listen, throwing the ball against Dwight Freeney and Mathis and that pass rush, you know, 52 times is not a good idea.

[Justin Jefferson]

Right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

We need to run the ball, you know, 28, 30, 32 times for us to feel better about controlling the game.

[Justin Jefferson]

Right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

That's different. There were times where we played, you know, the Baltimore Ravens, and we went into the game saying, you can't run. We're definitely throwing at 55 or more times. And I think the decision during the week and the comfort you get with it and you tell the team, this is how we're going to try to.

[Justin Jefferson]

Would you tell Bill that?

[Doug Gottlieb]

Yeah, well, he would. Yeah, he would tell me that, you know, like, I don't think we're going to make many yards running the ball this week, you know, and you say, okay, you know, well, how many is too many? You know, seven, you know, so. So you just, you just say, all right, we're going to put all our eggs in this basket. Now, you might design the offensive game plan a little differently, you know, maybe a couple less down the field throws and more screens or something else that are extensions of the running game but that stop the rush from a big factor. But I think what these teams are after is complimentary football.

[Justin Jefferson]

Right.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Don't turn it over. Score. Score points when we get our opportunities. Give the ball to the back as much as we can. Create some big plays off that and play action and then play good defense.

[Justin Jefferson]

Yeah. Get a lead. Run games are great with the lead, not just trailing.

[Doug Gottlieb]

That's right.

[Justin Jefferson]

With a lead.

[Doug Gottlieb]

That's right.

[Justin Jefferson]

Love having you on, man.

[Doug Gottlieb]

I love being here.

[Justin Jefferson]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. All right. Love the picks. Desks on fire. Almost. I got to get this through this thing. The blazing five is hot. Here we go. That's a hot one. Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins. Blazing fire. Chiefs and Browns. I have the Browns plus four and keep your eye on a possible upset. Number three offense in the league since Jameis Winston arrived. And the number two passing offense, Miles Garrett tied for second in sacks and the Chiefs 07 against the spread in their last seven games and three straight games decided by a field goal or less. Their offense is not delivering big plays in Kansas City and Mahomes has been sacked a career high 35 times. Kansas City struggling four points. It's in Cleveland Browns to cover the final 28, 27. Chiefs. I'm taking the points. Steelers and Eagles. I'm taking Pittsburgh plus five and a half. They held that great Browns offense to 14 points last week because they were so great. On third down, they are tied for first in the league in turnover differential. They don't give it away, but they take it away. Their offense leads the NFL in time of possession. Their defense is the second best in the league on third down. And Russell Wilson since week seven, top five and six in everything. Meanwhile, the Eagles. Jalen Hurts held under 25 pass attempts three straight games. Kicking issues with Jake Elliot, A.J. brown, Drama. Mike Tomlin is the best underdog coach in NFL history. Not an opinion, a fact. I think it goes down to the end. I will take the Eagles to win narrowly again. Five and a half. Way too many points. Take Tomlin and the Steelers here to cover Bills and Lions. I've flipped. I like Detroit first. They're coming off rest The Bills are coming off a highly emotional game with the Rams. Jared Goff at home. Last five games, 78% completion percentage. You thought Stafford ate. The Bills secondary alive. Their defense is top three even since the Hayden Hutchinson injury. The Bills highly emotional on the road again, limited practice time. They couldn't practice yesterday because of 30ft of snow. So here's a team that has to go on the road again to the best home team in the NFL. By the way, the Bills are 2 and 3 against teams with winning records. I thought I liked Buffalo the more I went and looked at this. Jared Goff's last five games. I'm gonna take Detroit to win a great game and cover 33 to 28. Buccaneers at Chargers. You know, I really like the Chargers. Tampa Bay's all beat up. The Chargers coming off a two point loss to the Chiefs had them beat five two over their last seven. Their defense is fantastic. It's number one in the league. Fewest touchdowns allowed. Number one in the red zone. It is hard to get into the end zone on the Chargers. And Justin Herbert. Holy moly. Eleven straight starts without a pick. That's tied for the longest streak in league history. The Bucs are beating the Giants, Panthers and Raiders. Baker Mayfield back to back games with multiple interceptions. Their defense is not good. This is a mismatch of defenses. And I get the better quarterback and I think I get the better coach. And it's in la. What don't I get here? All right, I'm going to take the chargers to win it. 28, 23. Coach, defense, quarterback, home field edge. Packers at Seahawks. Green Bay is a better team. I'll lay the two and a half points at Seattle. They're just a better team. They're coming off extra rest. I love offensive coaches off after the rest. They're 7 and 2 since the start of October. Both losses to Detroit. Detroit's pretty good 9 and 1 when holding opponents under 30. Seattle's not going to score 30 points. Josh Jacobs. This is now a power run team. Four straight games for Jordan Love. Over 100 passer rating like Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. They're saying, listen, you don't need to throw at 38, we'll throw at 26. Seattle, they're an average home team. 3 and 4. Geno this year. I know we all love Geno. 14 touchdowns, 12 picks. Hasn't been very effective at home. They're beat up in the backfield. I like the packers to win and I like the packers to cover in a wildly entertaining game. 28 to 24. So if you look at my picks again, I really like these. We're getting down to the home stretch. I'm taking the Browns and I'm taking the Steelers as dogs, but I like the Lions, the Chargers and the Packers. I think in all those games, Buffalo I liked initially, but now they can't practice. Now they're off a highly emotional game. You saw how bad the Rams were in the first half last night. You can't have teams playing highly emotional games then crank it up and say, do that again. And Detroit is absolutely great at home. That's my blazing five this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like DoorDash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, Snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast and signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay Smart, Earn cash Back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms apply. See PayPal app cash back earned as points you can redeem for cash and other options. This card issued by the Bancorp and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International.

[Colin Cowherd]

Inc. As we gather together during this holiday season, let me share a gift that keeps on giving. Chase Freedom With Chase Freedom Unlimited, you'll not only the joy of 1.5% unlimited cash back, but also the freedom to create cherished memories with your loved ones. Discover the magic and learn [e-mail] and let this season be filled with love, laughter and the delight of extra cash in your pocket.

[Justin Jefferson]

Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC what's good Justin Jefferson here. Football is a lot of explosions, a lot of energy and attitudes with these openings earbuds.

[Doug Gottlieb]

To have good sound and to be.

[Justin Jefferson]

So light on your ear. It's like a dream. For more, check out Bose.com we've all.

[Colin Cowherd]

Got a thing, an obsession. For some of us, it's vintage fashion, our cars, anything we can collect. They all live under one roof. EBay. It's where closets get filled with statement pieces and vintage finds. Where must have sneakers wait for you, and designer handbags are the real deal on ebay. Doors open to stacks of the rarest trading cards, and a garage stocked with all the car parts you need for any DIY job. EBay's home to whatever thing you're into.

[Justin Jefferson]

That keeps you up at night.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ebay Things People Love.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes you want to eat.

[Justin Jefferson]

And this football season, Uber Eats has.

[Doug Gottlieb]

The best deals on game day food, no matter what you're craving, from two for one Pizza. To buy one, get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. Uber Eats Official On Demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order Now. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.