The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast - INSTANT REACTION: Blue Jays Advance To World Series, Lions Dominate Bucs On MNF, Dan Campbell Is The “Ripped Ted Lasso”
Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd

Episode Overview

In this energetic episode, Colin Cowherd delivers his instant reactions to two major sports stories: the Toronto Blue Jays advancing to the World Series after a dramatic Game 7 win over the Mariners, and the Detroit Lions’ dominant 24-9 Monday Night Football win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also discusses Dan Campbell’s leadership style, the evolving value of running backs in the NFL, and the complex dynamics shaping team hierarchies as the season unfolds. Cowherd’s tone is classic—opinionated, candid, and tinged with a sports-fan’s nostalgia and sharp analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Blue Jays Advance to the World Series

[02:11 – 07:18]

• Seattle Mariners’ Near-Miss:

  • Colin, a self-professed lifelong Mariners fan, describes the heartbreak as Seattle fell short in Game 7 despite strong performances from Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh.
  • “Julio Rodriguez came up for the final at bat of the season. He and Cal Raleigh. That’s who you would have chosen. They got a homer from Julio Rodriguez. They got a homer from Cal Raleigh. The Mariners led late, late innings on the road...” [02:22]

• Critical Managerial Decision:

  • Cowherd critiques Mariners manager Dan Wilson’s late-game choices—notably pitching to George Springer with a base open.
  • “Dan Wilson... elected to throw to George Springer... I would not have. There was a base open. You could argue they should have gone to Munoz, their top closer.” [03:01]
  • He acknowledges the team’s adherence to its season-long rotation strategy, but questions if it was the right call for the biggest at-bat in franchise history.

• Props to Toronto:

  • Colin gives credit to a “really good” Blue Jays team that thoroughly dominated the Yankees and outlasted the Mariners.
  • “Toronto’s a really good team, and they... thoroughly dominated the Yankees.” [04:12]

• Media and Ratings Perspective:

  • He offers a candid perspective on TV ratings in the U.S., noting networks typically prefer American teams for business reasons.
  • “If you’re any network in this country, our American networks want American teams. It’s better for business.” [05:15]

• World Series Outlook:

  • Dodgers vs Blue Jays: Dodgers are a “huge favorite and should be,” due to a star-studded lineup and “sensational pitching.”
  • Colin reflects on the Mariners’ magical season but concedes, “They got beat by a better team.” [04:46]

Notable Quote:

• “That was probably the biggest at bat the Mariners were facing arguably in their existence... I just would not have pitched to George Springer.” —Colin Cowherd [03:12]

Monday Night Football: Lions Dominate Bucs

[07:46 – 14:50]

• Dan Campbell’s Impact:

  • Colin dubs Lions coach Dan Campbell “a ripped version of Ted Lasso.” He emphasizes Campbell’s intangible leadership qualities.
  • “Dan Campbell, the coach of the Lions, is like a ripped version of Ted Lasso. I don’t know if he’s adding a ton schematically. But there’s that belief thing.” [07:49]

• Lions’ Defensive Performance:

  • Praise for Detroit’s defense, despite injuries and backups, for holding Baker Mayfield and the Bucs to just nine points.
  • Mayfield was “under duress all night long” and Detroit “winning their matchups all night long.” [08:12]

• Game Flow & Home Field Advantage:

  • Cowherd senses Detroit’s momentum “from early on... should’ve been 24-nothing,” fueled by “the juice in the building.” [08:28]
  • He suggests that if the game had been played in Tampa, the result could easily have flipped.

• League Hierarchy & Parity:

  • Kansas City is “the best team in the league”; Philadelphia has “the best roster”; Detroit is a genuine contender, especially at home.
  • “There’s an argument... Are [the Rams] the third best team in the league? Is it the Colts? I don’t know... I just know when I watch Detroit play, especially at home, that’s a really good football team.” [09:33]

• The Running Back Debate:

  • Discusses the resurgence of first-round running backs (e.g., Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey) as defensive schemes evolve.
  • “It’s to some degree... kind of pivoting to a running back league again, because everybody’s playing these shell defenses. They’re not giving you anything over the top, and so it’s forcing you to run more.” [11:28]

• Jameer Gibbs' Performance & Value:

  • Highlights Gibbs as “just quicker and twitchier and faster than fast NFL players—and he’s strong.” [11:58]

Notable Moments:

• “Congrats to Dan Campbell, Ted Lasso with a bench press. So much of what you do as a coach is getting these guys to believe.” [14:28]
• “So Detroit, when you play at home... this was my second favorite bet after Cleveland over Miami in harsh weather.” [12:09]

The Importance of Leadership in the NFL

[12:25 – 14:50]

• Explores how coaching styles are shaping the league.
• Contrasts CEO-type leaders (e.g., Sirianni, Campbell) with schematic wizards, arguing that belief and team buy-in matter as much as X’s and O’s.
• “Nick Sirianni is not a schematic whiz. He’s a CEO type. He’s an alpha... You just watch Detroit and Dan Campbell, it works. He has this team absolutely believing in themselves.” [13:05]

Memorable Quotes

• “That was probably the biggest at bat the Mariners were facing arguably in their existence... I just would not have pitched to George Springer.” — Colin Cowherd [03:12]
• “Dan Campbell, the coach of the Lions, is like a ripped version of Ted Lasso. I don’t know if he’s adding a ton schematically. But there’s that belief thing.” — Colin Cowherd [07:49]
• “It’s kind of pivoting to a running back league again, because everybody’s playing these shell defenses... it’s forcing you to run more.” — Colin Cowherd [11:28]
• “Congrats to Dan Campbell, Ted Lasso with a bench press.” — Colin Cowherd [14:28]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:11 – 07:18: Blue Jays beat Mariners, Game 7 analysis, World Series preview
• 07:46 – 14:50: Lions defeat Bucs on MNF, Dan Campbell’s leadership, NFL team hierarchy & offensive trends
• 12:25 – 14:50: Coaching leadership, belief vs. scheme in the NFL

Final Thoughts

Colin closes with high praise for Dan Campbell’s culture-building in Detroit, acknowledges the shifting landscape of NFL offenses, and reflects on the devastating-yet-memorable Mariners season. Whether dissecting the nuances of a Game 7 matchup or the understudied art of NFL leadership, Cowherd brings his trademark mix of snappy analysis and straight talk throughout this action-packed episode.