The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Colin Cowherd Podcast

Episode: The Bears Are For Real, College Football Playoff, Indiana Takes Down Ohio State, What’s Wrong With Lamar Jackson?
Date: December 8, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd with guest John Middlekauff (Former NFL Scout, “3 and Out” Podcast)

Overview

This episode delivers a deep dive into the weekend’s biggest stories across the NFL and College Football. Colin Cowherd, joined by John Middlekauff, unpacks why the Chicago Bears have arrived as a true NFL contender, the fallout from the Packers clash, major takeaways from Indiana’s stunning win over Ohio State, lingering concerns about Lamar Jackson, and college football’s playoff selection drama. The duo also rapid-fires analysis on key NFL matchups, franchise trajectories, and the evolving landscape of college football.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers: Bears Are Legit
• College Football Playoff Selection Fallout
• Indiana Upsets Ohio State: A Historic College Shock
• What’s Wrong with Lamar Jackson? Plus AFC North State
• NFL Whiparound: Bills/Bengals, Browns/Titans, More
• Rapid Fire: NFC West, Coaching Drama, Quarterback Spotlights
• Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers: Bears Are Legit <a name="bears-packers"></a>

Main Theme: The Bears proved themselves against an elite Packers team, showcasing depth, resilience, and star power at quarterback. Both Colin and John agree: Chicago isn’t pretty, but their credibility is no longer in doubt.

• Game Recap [03:49-06:37]: Packers 28, Bears 21. Caleb Williams started poorly but made special plays under pressure. Packers' defense faded late; Bears displayed mental and physical toughness.

  • John Middlekauff: “The Bears were a big winner today...That was a game where you thought the Packers might run away, but the Bears are real” [05:12].
  • Colin Cowherd: “Caleb makes plays – Jesus, does he have an arm. Those are two really good football teams.” [03:49].

• Quarterback Play: Caleb Williams’ blend of athleticism and arm talent stood out. His 2nd-half play almost stole the upset.

  • Colin: “A couple times today, Caleb escaped the pocket on those last two drives, and I’m like, Jesus. He really does have a nice sense of what’s around him. Burrow’s got this...it’s instinctive. You can’t teach some of that.” [14:50]

• Coaching & Roster Construction [11:32]:

  • Both teams are praised for smart acquisitions and bold moves.
  • Colin on Chicago GM Ryan Poles: “Give Ryan Poles credit...Chicago has been a little bit like Green Bay, Philadelphia, and the Rams; they’ll go in the league and take some swings.”
  • John on Ben Johnson (OC): “Ben Johnson was fantastic in the second half...but you kind of got to let Caleb be him.” [12:44]

• Physical Game Play & Defense [09:25]:

  • Packers’ defense draws comparison to classic tough units.
  • John on Packers defense: “Ten of their 11 guys are hitting, kind of like an old school Denver, Seattle team a decade ago. That’s a high-end defense.” [15:35]

• Notable Moment:

  • John: “When they tied it at 21, my first thought was, this Bears team’s real. And when they got the ball back at 28-21, I didn’t think for a second they weren’t going to drive down the field.” [06:39]

College Football Playoff Selection Fallout <a name="cfp-selection"></a>

Main Theme: The playoff committee’s choices stir controversy—debate centers on “little guy” programs vs. Power 4 giants, with Miami, Notre Dame, Tulane, and JMU at the epicenter.

• Selection Discussion [29:15-37:45]:

  • Colin’s take: “I think going Indiana 1, Ohio State 2, Georgia 3, Texas Tech 4—I have no problem with it. I thought getting Miami in was the key to all of this.” [31:03]
  • John: Power 4 needs its own playoff; including Group of 5 distorts the postseason. “What has to happen is the Power four needs to have their own playoff. The group of five have their own playoff.” [32:41]
  • “Notre Dame, Miami…have nothing in common with Tulane, especially James Madison.” [35:08]

• Notre Dame Opt-Out [38:00-45:50]:

  • Both hosts criticize ND’s choice to skip a bowl and expose flaws in the ND schedule—soft defenses, lack of toughness in big games.
  • Colin: “Notre Dame played one great defensive line—Miami—and Miami, Notre Dame’s run game completely dried up.” [45:39]
  • John: “I have no empathy. If you’re going to play this game and toggle between conference and independent, go examine Notre Dame’s schedule.”

• Transition Era [35:26]:

  • Colin: “Every time you go through rapid change—nil, transfer portal, bowls don’t matter—conference championships don’t matter. College football is going through this wild transition, and they're not quite there yet.” [36:38]

Indiana Upsets Ohio State: A Historic College Shock <a name="indiana-ohio-state"></a>

Main Theme: Indiana stuns the defending champs, highlighting program transformation under Coach Signetti and spotlighting star QB Fernando Mendoza.

• Game Significance & Play [47:08-54:51]:

  • John: “That was the type win that almost gets you a contract for life...Think how long they’ve been in that conference playing that team.” [54:04]
  • Colin: “Indiana’s D line is big and if you watch the matchups, they bullied Ohio State like they went. They bull rushed.” [53:30]
  • Both agree: Indiana’s physicality is new, and Mendoza’s stock soars.
  • “If you just lined up arm talent in the league and just in velocity, Caleb’s top three or four in the league—might be one. His ball totally cuts through bad weather.” [18:26]

• Coaching Comparison & Program Vibe:

  • Colin: “They look kind of like Harbaugh’s Michigan team, don’t they?” [57:51]
  • John: “Signetti’s team immediately turned into just one of the toughest teams in the country physically. That’s what’s eye opening.”

What’s Wrong with Lamar Jackson? Plus AFC North State <a name="lamar-afcnorth"></a>

Main Theme: Lamar Jackson’s play is underwhelming amid Baltimore’s struggles; broader questions loom over the AFC North and the Steelers' future.

• Steelers vs. Ravens Recap [24:02-28:52]:

  • Steelers survive despite being outgained and outplayed; officiating under scrutiny.
  • Colin: “I'm still not sure. Pittsburgh surrendered 420 yards...felt like a reprieve. That’s why you got Aaron Rodgers. The defense isn’t great. They can’t run the ball.” [24:20]

• Lamar’s Struggles [25:03-27:47]:

  • John: “Lamar Jackson looks like a shell of himself. Percentage is closer to 50 than 70...He looks not nearly as fast. Clearly a little off.” [25:03]
  • Colin: “With Lamar Jackson, anything over 15 yards, I don’t necessarily trust him. I just don’t think he’s right.” [25:52]

• AFC North Outlook:

  • Baltimore and Pittsburgh are not playoff threats; questions regarding Tomlin’s contract and the Steelers’ direction.
  • “If they are the 4 seed...I’d be stunned if they win a playoff game.” [27:47]

NFL Whiparound: Bills–Bengals, Browns–Titans, More <a name="nfl-whiparound"></a>

Bills vs. Bengals — Josh Allen, Joe Burrow Duel [59:52-67:22]

• Recap: Bills squeak by after Burrow’s critical pick six; Allen puts the team on his back, but doubts linger about Buffalo’s overall quality.
  • Colin: “Did Josh Allen and Christian Bedford save Sean McDermott’s job?...Cincinnati out schemed and outplayed them.” [59:52]
  • John: “Those are the two best quarterbacks in the league right now...Physically, what Burrow can do—he’s the most mobile pocket passer.” [60:30]
  • John: “You cannot...win in these big games in January” without a championship defense, which Buffalo lacks. [62:19]

Browns vs. Titans — Shador Sanders’ Emergence [67:28-70:31]

• Shador Sanders Assessment:
  • Up-and-down QB play, flashes above other replacements.
  • Colin: “He’s good enough to start in the league, isn’t he?” [68:34]
  • John: “He does just bring you some more explosive plays than anything you've had. This has a Tebow-like quality to it, though Shador is a much better passer.” [69:24, 70:05]

Broncos–Raiders — Coaching & Franchise Dysfunction

• Raiders Spiral, Denver Progress:
  • Pete Carroll/Chip Kelly/Brady triangulation is a mess.
  • John: “They’re the worst team in the league right now...This is the type of stuff the Browns do.” [76:15]
  • Colin: “It’s a friends and family staff. You’ve got to put the time in.” [78:28, 80:21]

Rapid Fire: NFC West, Coaching Drama, QB Spotlights <a name="rapid-fire"></a>

NFC West Showdown

• Seahawks, Rams, 49ers All in Mix
  • Colin: “You watch Seattle, they’re fast. Seattle is super athletic and Darnold is a playmaker.” [84:10]
  • John: “Seattle’s defense, top to bot. They might have the best defensive backfield right there with Denver in the League.” [84:10]
  • “Niners coming off a buy, they get the Titans...Seattle will assume they beat the Colts. That [Rams/Seattle] game could determine the division right there in Seattle.” [83:06]

Rams Dissect Arizona

• Colin: “Rams had over 500 yards offense and almost nine yards of play. Not competitive. The other thing—the Rams are healthy.” [85:33]

NFC South & QB Check

• Washington’s Freefall
  • Colin: “Washington probably has the worst defense in the league. It may not be particularly close...A year after they shocked the world, Jaden Daniels got banged up again.” [89:38]
  • John: “Their defense is just atrocious though. I mean, it's really bad...If you can't stay on the field, who cares?” [91:05]

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments <a name="noteworthy-quotes"></a>

On the Bears and Packers

• John: “That was a playoff game...That was fantastic theater. I’m glad the Bears are good.” [10:30]
• Colin: “Chicago's a legitimate NFL team...Caleb really does have a nice sense of what's around him. Some of that's instinctive. You can't teach that.” [14:50]

On Caleb Williams & Quarterback Evolution

• Colin: “If you just lined up arm talent in the league and just in velocity, Caleb's top three or four in the league — might be one.” [18:26]
• John: “His arm strength, he's big...He made a couple plays, rolling out, sidearming the ball. I was blown away.” [42:24]

On College Football’s Future

• Colin: “We have to now get over the Bowls. They just don't matter. And conference championships don't matter going forward. I would get rid of them as well.” [39:12]
• John: “Power 4 needs to have their own playoff. We don't need to invite [Group of 5]." [32:41]

On NFL Team Building & Ownership

• John: “You can do that in some companies. Right. Football is not one of those where you can just live, you know, on the other side of the country and just phone it in.” [79:02]
• Colin (on team building): “Go look at national signing day. Alabama, Notre Dame, usc, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan...we all know who's got the Miami.” [36:38]

On NFL Quarterback Development

• Colin: “Sam Darnold...eliminate the Jets from his career. Jsn. Two more touchdowns. I'm sorry, but Darnold's a franchise guy. He is. He's big, he's strong. He loves the deep ball.” [81:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears-Packers deep dive: [03:49–18:43]
• College Football Playoff Selection: [29:15–39:12]
• Notre Dame/Miami bowl & CFP implications: [39:12–45:50]
• Indiana stuns Ohio State: [47:08–58:32]
• AFC North (Steelers/Ravens/Lamar): [24:02–28:52]
• Bills-Bengals, Burrow & Allen: [59:52–67:22]
• Browns-Titans & Shador Sanders: [67:28–71:35]
• NFC West: Seattle, Rams, 49ers: [82:27–86:04]
• Rams blowout Arizona: [85:33–86:39]
• Washington woes & NFL QB health: [89:38–94:35]

Final Thoughts

Colin and John skillfully blend football analysis with big-picture trends, connecting quarterback performances, team building, and college football’s major changes into a cohesive, engaging discussion. From the field to the press box, the episode captures the drama, evolution, and personality that make football’s present and future so compelling.