← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - The Bears Are For Real, College Football Playoff, Indiana Takes Down Ohio State, What’s Wrong With Lamar Jackson?
01:22:17
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- [00:00]
Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human.
- [00:07]
Get your mother lovin ears on because your big time radio DJs got news. PayPal lets you choose how you want to pay for all the stuff. With PayPal I can pay in store, pay online, or pay overtime. What's that? You want this translated into song? I hope you're sitting down.
- [00:25]
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- [00:28]
Colin Cowherd
You keep those ears on, you hear. Don't just pay baby.
- [00:32]
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- [00:33]
Colin Cowherd
Learn more at paypal.com love the night.
- [00:37]
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- [01:01]
This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical this is.
- [01:05]
Colin Cowherd
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- [02:13]
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- [02:51]
Colin Cowherd
The volume doesn't watching football without food just feel, you know, wrong? Have you ever tried it? It's weird. Like you're missing part of the experience. The game's still great, but I don'. Know, something's off. Luckily, you can prevent this from ever happening with Uber Eats. Just open the app. Get great game day deals all season. I got fries. Chicken McNuggets, two orders. Barbecue sauce. Today, when you buy one on Uber Eats right now, 10 piece Chicken McNuggets. You get another 10 piece free. That's 20 crispy golden McNuggets for the price of 10, delivered straight to your door. And they were delivered straight to my door. And as the official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL, Uber Eats keeps the deals rolling all season long. Burgers, chips, dips, tacos, pizza, whatever you crave. So don't make the mistake of watching without food. It's weird. Get some McDonald's. McNuggets. Your favorite sauces on Uber Eats today. Terms apply. See the app for details. Picking your favorite sauce is like trying to pick your fantasy team.
- [03:50]
All right, it's Sunday. This time I'm in my LA office, which is not much of an office. It's a room with whiskey in the back. John Midkoff, the former NFL scout, got his three and out podcast. Let's just start with the Green Bay Packers 28. End zone interception, Bears 21. Caleb didn't have a very good first half and he didn't have a very good final throw. But you know, and I'm watching this game, Jordan Lowe was very good early, but Green Bay looked exhausted in the second half because Caleb just kept extending drives with plays. You know, every. I wrote down multiple notes during the game, John. And all these young quarterbacks, Shador Sanders, Bo Nix, they're all uneven except Drake May. Everybody's. You don't know when it. Today, J.J. mcCarthy was pretty good, but I, but I. In the second half, I did feel like, I mean, Caleb makes plays and Jesus, does he have an arm. A couple of those throws in the final drive are just. And this is cold weather. It's a great defense. I don't know, I mean, I think this, it's not pretty, but I think losing to arguably the best team in the league with Jeff Halfley's defense. 28, 21. He doesn't throw picks. It was just a bad throw by him. He just, he was short. I, I come out of that and I'm like, those are two really good football teams to me.
- [05:12]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I thought the Bears were a big winner today. I mean, at one point in time it's 14:3 and you're like, I could see this being like a 31 to 10 final.
- [05:19]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [05:20]
John Middlekauff
And he's 6 to 13 in the first half. Ben's trying to make him play like a pocket quarterback. And what happened in the second half, you kind of got to let him run around and cook. Yeah, I mean, that. That's him. And they let him run around and cook, and he made a lot of plays. Ben Johnson was fantastic in the second half. That one drive when it was 21 to 14 and they went 17 plays, almost nine minutes. They ran a quick screen to Burton on a third down, got a first down. The. The touchdown pass to slip the tight end out. It was like, man, this is. The Bears were impressive today. Mental toughness, physical toughness. Because early on, the packers, they were hitting on defense like they were the 85 bears. I'm like, it's. It's 10 degrees out there. You got Brady wearing 17 layers up in the booth freezing his. You know what? Off. I'm like, this place looks miserable. And the Bears kind of prove what we've seen all season. They don't really tap out. And that was a game. There was a moment where you're like, this could get. It's in Green Bay. It honestly be understandable. They'd won a bunch of games. They've had a great season. It's like, hey, they end up winning 12 games. You can lose this, you know, in. By a couple touchdowns and no one's even going to judge you. But when they tied it at 21, 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.
- [06:38]
Colin Cowherd
I felt same way.
- [06:40]
John Middlekauff
I didn't know if they were going to win it or not, but I knew I would have bet big money that they were going to be in the red zone and have a shot. And that's exactly what happened. I did think, listen, a lot going on. They haven't. This is the first time this franchise has been in a moment like this in a long time. I thought they didn't manage the clock great because it went from like a minute to 27 seconds. Really fast, really fast. So I think their back was against the wall a little bit a little quicker than they thought. And they called that play, that what worked for him last week. And Caleb was just a little late and obviously underthrew it.
- [07:11]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, he could have run for the first down, actually. But I think. I think to his credit, earlier this year, he had a. He had a similar kind of play and he ran it in for a touchdown and we all said he could have thrown it here. He, he opts to throw it. And he, and we've noted this many times, he doesn't throw a lot of interceptions. He really doesn't. He's pretty good at throwing the ball in a tough spot, but not giving the defender some of its velocity. He throws the ball so hard, it's not an easy ball to intercept. At one point, Green Bay had 149 passing yards to 11 passing yards advantage. And I even wrote down here, lousy Caleb, first down, one of six on third down. But, you know, and I think this is something, this is kind of the, the meld between coaching and quarterback play is that you do have to. And Andy Reid, who, you know, well, you gotta let Mahomes kind of do his thing. Greg Cosell says on my show every week, he's just kind of, now, Mahomes is a playmaker. He's not a classic pocket guy. He throws up most of his stuff moving. Now, some of it's. They have a really bad offensive line. But you know what, it's funny because I watched Jordan love, I think you'd admit this. Jordan loves throwing the deep ball. He loves going, I mean, and he's got, he's got the arsenal to do it. Caleb is doing a lot of tough throws, John. He's rolling to his right, throwing to the sideline. He's making a lot of throws down the seam. The degree of difficulty with some of the Caleb throws, to me, it's like, we got it. You know, Jordan loves to go over the top and he's got the art and he's got the guys to do it. But I don't know. I just look at this and I think Green Bay, there's an argument they're as good as anybody in the league. I don't know if I trust New England in the post season. I just, they don't run the football. The weather is going to be crappy. But I came out of this thinking, are these two. Like, when I watched this weekend, I watched Indiana play Ohio State and I'm like, those are two of the three best teams I've seen in college football. I'm watching Bears and Packers today. I think Green Bay would have blown out a lot of people. I don't think they would have blown out the Rams. I don't, you know, I mean, but I, I, I, I'm like you. I came out of this second half, I thought Chicago pretty much did they.
- [09:25]
John Middlekauff
Control the clock well, when it's 10 degrees like that, like that game to me. And I wasn't at either place obviously, but was dramatically more difficult to play than let's say the Bills game, which was snowing but didn't feel as frigid right now. Those quarterbacks were like that game, it's hard to catch. Every time a guy's tackled you went what's his name? Gets kicked in the chin. I. That had to feel like he landed on concrete. I mean, I. So the physicality of that game. But to me, running the ball in those environments is huge. And the Bears can't. They got two running backs who were good. And Josh Jacobs on that final drive which ended up being the game winning drive. I mean that 1/3 down play, it should have been TFL. And what did he do? He cut it. He broke a tackle and what he gained like 15 yards and he's. So it's basically Josh Jacobs versus their two running backs. He had, he had looking 80 yards and those two guys had over 100 yards combined. So it's, it's, it's a very physical game. A long drives. Now the difference is Jordan Love, like you said Christian Watson, I looked it up when he scored a second touchdown. That's five touchdowns last four games.
- [10:31]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [10:31]
John Middlekauff
And he, he is, I mean in the transfer portal era, I don't know if North Dakota State would have kept him. So he's, he looks really good right now. He's flying. And Jordan Love, Jordan Love took notes on those. Aaron Rodgers kind of back foot, just let it fling because he is on the money. He's playing well and he was beside the one pass. He was really good today defensively. You know, the Bears off and you've talked about this, adding those offensive linemen, they kind of leaned on them on those last drives in the fourth quarter. And you could tell Green, I mean Micah Parsons, the sucking win, you could tell all those guys, even Caleb in the huddle trying to catch his breath. That was, that was a playoff game. I mean that was it. That was, that was fantastic theater. I mean I was, I'm sure you were. I'm sure all of America were. I'm sure the numbers are going to be huge. That was excellent football. I mean, I'm glad the Bears are good. That, that was forever. When's the last time the Bears and Packers played in a real game that mattered? It's always been the packers and Aaron Rodgers going, I own you. That, that was, that was cool.
- [11:33]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And you know what's interesting is the packers have done it. If you take Micah out, mostly drafting and developing most of those receivers, your Watson, you know, Reed, a lot of that. Now Josh Jacobs is an acquisition, but.
- [11:48]
They'Ve done a little of both. But, you know, give Ryan Poles Credit. You know, D.J. moore, they got in a trade, Drew Dahlman, their three interior offensive linemen, Joe Tuney, Montez, Sweat. They've taken swings. They missed on Chase Claypool. That was a miss. And it's not that they haven't drafted some good players. They got their right tackle and Caleb Williams, obviously, but DeAndre Swift was a move. Chicago has been a little bit like Green Bay and Philadelphia and the Rams, they'll go in the league and they'll take some swings and they've. When I watch Chicago play, I always said to win a Super bowl, you have to have your seven best players. Mostly have to be in their prime. Well, Dolphins, Coleman is, Toonie is. Dj Moore is. Sweat is.
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I'll tell Loveland and Caleb Williams, now that's becoming a real relationship. He's not in his prime yet, but you can tell that's Caleb's guy.
- [12:45]
John Middlekauff
Well, I would say this to the draft. You know, Luther Burden, he had four catches for 5067 yards, a big catch on that final drive, you know, to kind of get that drive going. Loveland had the touchdown pass and just makes big plays. Manungi is what a seventh round guy. I mean, he looks, he, he looks fantastic. He looks every bit the same as Swift. So now you have a 1, 2 combination. The packers are, you know, the backup did have a nice run, but I mean, they're, they're going to ride Josh Jacobs like you would Derek Henry or Christian McCaffrey. You know, the Bears having multiple running backs with a coach that's, that's not afraid to lean on them and, you know, does a good job of skiing up the run. Ben Johnson on the drive that tied at 21, 21, had a couple play calls that were just fantastic. And he. One thing that's going to be hard for him because he's, you can tell like his nature, I mean, he's a little tight. Yeah, it's hard for him to let Caleb just kind of be USC Caleb. And if they're going to go and win playoff games and win a game like today, you gotta, gotta let him be him. And he tried. I mean, he gave him multiple options on that last play. I think they thought that, I think it was commit was the tight end that he was throwing to would be a little more open. The DB made a good play. And then Caleb was probably a half step. Generally throwing the ball.
- [13:58]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, generally in the rule in the end zone, if you throw it to the front, throw it low. If you throw it to the back, throw it high. So Caleb kind of got caught in between. It was high, but not high enough.
- [14:09]
John Middlekauff
The old weather plays a part. Doesn't quite fly because his arms have a problem.
- [14:13]
Colin Cowherd
You know, the. The other thing it was.
- [14:17]
This was a really important game for Green Bay. They were a 6 1/2 point favorite. John, if they lose this game at home to Chicago, you know, we say we all wanted to watch, but the Bears were almost a touchdown dog this. There was some pressure on Green Bay and, you know, some.
- [14:37]
John Middlekauff
I think it was all on Green Bay. I think it was 100% on Green Bay. The Bears were playing with house money from where I was sitting.
- [14:43]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And I think they took Green Bay's best shot and vice versa. I just thought it was fantastic. I.
- [14:51]
That's about as good as NFL gets between Indiana, Ohio State and Green Bay and Chicago. We've had some good weekends, but that was. Chicago's a legitimate NFL team. And unlike Detroit, which is. You're not quite sure what you get week to week. Also, I do think it's a disadvantage having, you know, Jared Goff. There's certain things you can't do. A couple of 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. Burrow just kind of feels it. You know, he. He can just kind of tell. So maybe it's hearing. But there were a couple times today with Caleb, I'm like, man, some of that's instinctive. You can't teach some of that stuff with his pocket feel.
- [15:35]
John Middlekauff
Well, I think right now him and Josh Allen are the best scramblers. You know, Burrow doesn't go that far outside the pocket. Right. He's just great at moving up, moving to the left, but he's staying within, what, a three or four yard kind of radius. And then to get rid of the ball, Caleb and Josh take off to then throw. Especially Caleb. You know, Josh also runs probably more than Caleb. Caleb will run for a first down. But it, to me, it was huge for the packers because if they lose this game one, the Bears would add multiple more wins. But the Rams dominate today. Seattle dominates. The Niners are going to come off a buy. They're playing the Titans. So all of a sudden you look Are you headed to be the 7 seed? Which you know would have been a major problem given that you just made this huge trade for Micah Parsons. The expectations and their team, you watch them, they are, they are a legitimate team that can win the Super Bowl. I mean their defense and if they get ahead and those rushers can just fly, all their DBs hit. I mean their defense is, you know, the Bears defense isn't that great, right. They make plays and they come through in big moments. But the Packers, I would say 10 of their 11 guys are hitting kind of like an old school Denver, Seattle team a decade ago. Like that's a, that's a high end defense.
- [16:45]
Colin Cowherd
And Jeff Halfley, they run a lot of stuff. I mean that one play where I mean Micah is literally almost jumping, then he scales back and within a heartbeat he's 12 yards off the line of scrimmage in space.
- [16:58]
John Middlekauff
They got versatile players, right? You know, Micah's a unique player. Rashawn Gary's a unique player. I mean, you look at those two guys. Wasn't Rashawn Gary the number one overall recruit when Jim Harbaugh got him?
- [17:08]
Colin Cowherd
He was number one D lineman. Yep.
- [17:10]
John Middlekauff
I don't know where Micah fell, but I would imagine pretty high when he went to Penn State. So you're talking about some elite blue chip kids from when they were like 15, 16. And you watching them now, those two guys alone, I mean, you don't know what to do, right? With, with 52 and number one, I mean they are their team. Speed up front. I mean Caleb, what did they say he ran 20 miles an hour again and they are right behind him. I mean usually Caleb, when he gets away, it's like he's got a little gap today. I think he's not used to a guy literally going step for step with me and he had to adjust as the game went and he did. I mean he's Caleb. Listen, his accuracy issues, you know, at times can be a little maddening, but there is no disputing his. You know, we see some guys, you're like, how is this guy a high pick? This guy's physical attributes are pretty eye opening and they're actually today in the cold was because he made a comment Brady said that he felt more confident in a cold weather game. You know, he's a D.C. kid, he's used to playing in the cold weather and you know, he's 6 or 13 in the first half. I'm like, ah. But as the game went on like his, his ball is not going to be affected, you know, throwing that the duvernay pass rolling to his right late in the game and the touchdown pass to Zakias, you know, which was an incredible pass and catch.
- [18:26]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I know. I would say 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. Yeah, his ball totally cuts through bad weather.
- [18:43]
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- [20:47]
Colin Cowherd
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- [23:32]
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- [24:03]
Colin Cowherd
All right, I want to talk Pittsburgh it was a winner gets first place. Pittsburgh 27, Baltimore 22 I thought Mike Tomlin got a little lucky today because I thought the tight end Isaiah likely I thought that was a touchdown. They reversed it. I would have called if I was an official.
- [24:21]
I, I'm still not sure. I mean Pittsburgh surrendered 420 yards lost badly. Time of possession only had 13 first downs. I thought Aaron played pretty well for a 42 year old with no run game on the road. DK met caffeine. Aaron had a really good day. It's, it's what's interesting. The Steelers still can't run the ball 2.2 yards of carry and it felt like a reprieve. I think this is why you got Aaron Rodgers. The defense isn't great. They can't run the ball.
- [24:53]
I mean it the two guys you went and got DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers saved your bacon today again. What did you make of the likely non touchdown.
- [25:03]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I agree to Tony Romo. That's what are we doing? I mean that's, it was a pretty clear touchdown. But I also thought, I thought the story of the game is Lamar Jackson looks like a shell of himself. You know he's, I don't know what you know his percentage is but it's closer to 50 than it feels to 70 or 80. I mean he looks not nearly now relative to his standard looks slow clearly it's just a little off. Still makes a couple plays but I mean I, I, I think the guy that we've seen become just an all time great player over you know the prime of his career. Whatever the version is he's playing at now is, is limiting him. I mean he had that one awful pick where typically that's a Lamar play lob it right over a guy when you're scrambling. How many places a scrambling around you go from him to that Caleb scrambling around. It's like they're playing at different speeds.
- [25:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. No, I mean he Zay Flowers, Andrews, Henry, he's got playmakers. We know the coaching staff is fine. It's, I thought the Final drive of the game by him. It was just. It just. There was nothing to it. I kind of feel like with Lamar Jackson, we've gotten to a point where anything over 15 yards, I don't necessarily trust him. I just don't think he's right. I mean, that's my take on this and I've said it for weeks. Brock Purdy, when I saw him on Monday night, throw two picks and they were both behind the guy, I'm like, well, he's not 100%. I can tell. I think Lamar's hurt and he just doesn't want to mention it because he's an athletic guy and he doesn't want to give the defense who he plays a heads up. I mean, these. These are not serious. I mean, neither one of these teams can do anything in the playoffs. I mean, sometimes you win a division and that's the best you can do. I mean, Mike Tomlins, probably now, the way Baltimore's playing Burrow, you know, lost. I thought Cincinnati was going to win that game. We'll talk about that. I thought Cincinnati had them. And then Joe Burrow, one of the few awful picks of his life.
- [27:01]
I mean, lamar was what, 19 of 35 with a 72 passer rating.
- [27:07]
John Middlekauff
Yeah. One thing, too, is last year, remember, early on in the season, the Ravens defense was terrible. And then they figured something out and they became a lot better as the season went on. Today there was a moment it was. It was 20 to 16 and, you know, the Steelers were kind of back against the wall. You're like, God, this thing's kind of going to fall apart here. And Rogers, just a pretty, I don't know, elementary play, drops it off to Warren. He walks in for a touchdown. There's no one even around him. So it went from 20 to 16 to, boom, 27 to 16. And the way that the Ravens are playing on offense, it's like they're in trouble and they are just, listen, they dug themselves in the hole early in the season.
- [27:47]
They don't look right and clear. Their quarterbacks banged up. And I listen, Rogers is taking shots and everyone needs to shut up about us. Like, you guys have been losing game after game and looking terrible. So, I mean, I don't know, I bet against them pretty big this week. I had little to no faith in the Steelers, but I thought today was as much of an indictment in the Ravens. Just they're just not very good like the Steelers. If they are the 4 seed playing whoever that they end up drawing, I'd be stunned if they win a playoff game. And I don't think all these stories coming out the last couple of days about Thomas contract set up like, like the Rooney. I think this thing's kind of being laid out like there's, you know, we're coming to the end of the road.
- [28:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And I also think Kansas City doesn't feel the same, but Kansas City was getting the Super Bowls. Baltimore wasn't winning playoff games, and they feel less than that. So Baltimore the previous two years has blown out more teams than anybody in the sport. The Lions the previous two years, and the Ravens have kicked a, you know what, out of teams four to five times. Now. Seattle's the team this year that has beaten six teams by two touchdowns or more. So they're just something that's not right. So I want to look at.
- [28:53]
John Middlekauff
Look at both those two teams, right? I mean, they. They've had their moments. The Lions were the number one seed last year. Two years ago, they had the Niners up 24 to 7 at halftime in the NFC Championship. The Ravens have the home field two years ago, lost to the Chiefs last year. It's like they should beat the Bills in the second round. They lose the game, kind of feels like their little moments for both those two teams kind of shut.
- [29:16]
Colin Cowherd
And now for our next segment, whiskey business. Yes, whiskey business. Brought to you by Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the Colin Coward podcast. Okay, I want to go to college football for the next 10, 15 minutes. Then we'll come back to Bengals, Bills, and some of the NFL stuff. So I thought the committee and this John, I feel like this happens every year because college football's so tribal. A lot of college football fans, they live in a small town. It's their team. If you live in Philadelphia, you love the Phillies, you love the Eagles, you're a Sixer fan, you love Villanova basketball. You've got a lot of different. You know, there's a lot of different stuff in your life. You travel a lot. For college football fans, they live and breathe with their team. Often it's the biggest entertainment in their state or in their. In their town. So we argue, we yell, we scream. I basically thought, I mean, you can. You can say what you want about Alabama, but they're favored over Oklahoma, so they're obviously one of the 12 best teams. They listen. Georgia, they had people knock Alabama getting in over Notre Dame. They did go to Athens and beat Georgia. There is some value in that, you know, Notre Dame, my take on Notre Dame is all you have to do is either Beat Miami or beat Texas A and M. You had to win one of those two games and you didn't. So usc, which has been a bad road team, can't be your big W. Go ask USC fans. They're disappointed in their season. That's not a. That's like beating Michigan this year. It doesn't really count for much. Michigan's really not very good with a true freshman quarterback. So I thought by. And I mean I wouldn't put Tulane in or James Madison, but I've never been a believer in the little guy. We all know who recruits the best players. Although I do think Tulane can beat Ole Miss.
- [31:03]
But I think going Indiana 1, Ohio State 2, Georgia 3, Texas Tech, 4. I have no problem with it. I think Bama Oklahoma is a great game. I probably take Bama close. I like Miami against Texas A and M and M is favored by four and a half. But I thought. I thought getting Miami in was the key to all of this.
- [31:27]
So I wasn't deeply bothered. Listen, Texas, you lose three games and by the way, you were in close games against a lot of bad teams. Did it bother you? Were you okay with a final result?
- [31:40]
John Middlekauff
No, I wasn't. Because I do think back to the little guy. You'd know better than me. But it clearly felt a couple of years ago when they created this and they included that a non Power 5 team would essentially be a lock. It felt like they did that so they didn't get sued. Right. And basically just have it for the top four power conferences. And I got my start in football at Fresno State, which was playing Boise State, which I would say Utah and Boise State kind of created. We deserve a seat at the table.
- [32:09]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [32:10]
John Middlekauff
Well, look back at Utah before they became what they've become at the Power 4 level, they had a team with probably 10 pros on some of their better teams. Boise. I was at Fresno when we played Boise state. They had 11 guys drafted on a team and they were beating Oregon and Georgia. Those teams are outlier. They have nothing in common with JMU and Tulane.
- [32:29]
Colin Cowherd
Right. Right.
- [32:29]
John Middlekauff
So to me, to have this.
- [32:33]
Odoo Advertiser
Set.
- [32:33]
John Middlekauff
Up and allow them a guaranteed seat at the table and this year got all screwed up because the ACC sucked and two of their teams, you know, took spots.
- [32:41]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [32:41]
John Middlekauff
Is a joke. And to me what has to happen is the Power four needs to have their own playoff. We don't need to invite them and the non. The group of five, whatever they call it, have their own playoff and the Division 1 have a playoff because I think that's where we need to go. Because the Notre Dame, Miami argument only became an argument because Tulane and JMU were taking a spot.
- [33:06]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [33:06]
John Middlekauff
Alabama kicking us out for playing a game when a bunch of teams did not have to play a game yesterday and Google our schedule. We were playing a lot of teams. They had a stretch of like four straight games. It was really impressive. I remember everyone bragging about it and then everyone just forgets about it because they get their ass kicked by Kirby Smart, who I don't know is like the modern day new Nick Saban. So it's like who literally was trained by him. The problem is the little guy. And if you're comparing the Boise State with Chris Peterson, that's an outlier little guy team. You know who that was? That was a team that probably could have won a national championship. Tulane, I'm with you. I watched it on Friday. They look pretty good. Their coach is also his foot's half out. He's already ready to take off.
- [33:48]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [33:48]
John Middlekauff
So even if and same thing with JMU, their coaches, UCLA. So I immediately like most people. What is JMU? A three touchdown underdog. What is Tulane? Almost 70. We saw Tulane play Ole Miss, who people say, you know, before Lane left could have won a national championship. I think that's a little bit of a stretch. They can win a playoff game or two. They're not winning a national champion, but they're a real playoff team. They play too lane. They won 45 to 10. The committee screwed up like Notre Dame. And listen, I don't know where you stand. They did not handle it well like quitting the bowl game. It's like guys, did they pull like, you know, you can practice during that period of time.
- [34:29]
Colin Cowherd
I know you play the young guys practices.
- [34:32]
John Middlekauff
So it's a very, you know, you're big on. Don't make emotional decisions. That clearly feels like very emotional decision that no way they pulled. They were going to go to Florida and play byu. You can't get anything out of that week. You're not going to the playoffs either way. You might as well take advantage of, I don't know, a free five day vacation in Florida to work on your program and get some. And here's the other thing. Most guys in college football, even at Georgia don't play in the NFL. So you got a lot of seniors on Notre Dame that are going to be working at Goldman Sachs here in six months. You don't think they just like you coach, you quit. And I have a lot of respect for Marcus Freeman and who knows it Might not have been all his call.
- [35:08]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [35:08]
John Middlekauff
That's. That's an embarrassing call. But to me it all gets back to the non power four teams getting involved is. Is screwed everything up and created this situation where it pitted Notre Dame and Miami and it's like what Notre Dame and Miami have nothing in common with Tulane, especially James Madison.
- [35:27]
Colin Cowherd
Well, and I think sometimes it had. Remember when Covet hit we just kind of made stuff up for two years. We didn't know. Anytime you have a transition, we're seeing it with AI. We saw it with.com 30 years ago. Sometimes in, in certain sports or in certain businesses, it changes rapidly. I mean we went from not. We went from paying a players the death penalty to bidding wars on high school players. And I mean so we literally. The thing that literally got you SMU death penalty is now you brag about it. And it happened overnight. So there was no guardrails. And then transfer portals like wilder than free agency and coaches making 12 million. So we're. I've seen it with a pand. I've seen it with AI, I've seen it all politically with Trump. Oh, this is a different kind of White House. College football is going through this wild transition and they're not quite there yet. I'm with you. I don't listen. Go look at national signing day. Alabama, Notre Dame, usc, Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan. We all know Georgia, lsu, we all know who's got the Miami.
- [36:39]
John Middlekauff
Notre Dame.
- [36:40]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So Mario Cristobal, I mean when you watch Miami play, and that was my take on Miami, is you, you can't let Miami go. First of all, they have better O and D lines than Notre Dame. And I was talking about this the other day on the air. Notre Dame played seven teams rated below 100. Defensively, they played one great defensive team, one Miami and Jeremiah Love rushed for 33 yards. They literally couldn't run the ball. You just had to beat Miami or Texas A and M, you had to beat one of them. You couldn't beat either. And so once I watched the Pittsburgh game, I'm like, I started deep diving, sitting at home googling NCAA stats and I'm like this, this isn't right. So I did think the committee moved them next to each other, knowing BYU was going to get the, you know what kicked out of them again by Tech. So when they lost, they could leapfrog them that I was happy with. And I actually like Miami. I think Miami is going to beat A and M. I think Bama's good. It's Oklahoma. They'll beat. I think Bama as a favorite will win. I just think we're going through.
- [37:45]
John Middlekauff
I mean, Oregon's going to murder these guys if they try.
- [37:48]
Colin Cowherd
Oregon could win by 40. Ole Miss, Tulane, I. Literally nobody who cares. I don't even. But I guess I came out of it. I will say this.
- [38:01]
But Notre Dame saying we're not going to go to the bowl. Baylor, I think, has come out saying we're not going to accept the bowl. I do think it's a moment in time where bowl games are in big trouble. And John, you know me and you've listened to me. I am a big believer in live your life through the windshield. Listen, the Pac 12 people. Colin, why didn't you fight for the Pac 12? Because the Pac 12 teams were making $30 million in the back. Big Ten were making 90 million a year. It was. I was talking to USC. I was talking to these athletic directors. They're like, we can't compete. So the four best or, you know, at least three of the four, Washington, Oregon, USC are like, okay, we're gonna. Especially USC and Oregon, we're gonna. We're gonna double our. Our. Our money here. Or is it usc, ucla, double. I forget which. USC is for sure. So I'm not somebody that just. I think we'd seen enough of Cal against Washington State and Oregon State against Arizona. So my take is that really bothered people, the convergence. But clearly the ratings are up. We're getting more big games. We have to now get over the Bulls. They just don't matter. And John, I don't think conference championships matter going forward. I would get rid of them as well.
- [39:13]
John Middlekauff
That's what I was going to say next. I think that's why, you know, the conversation over the last 48, definitely 24 hours was Alabama getting booted. Well, until. Until we know for sure it's concrete that the conference championships are done. These people in the committee could not get rid of Alabama because they lost in a game that. That is very economically important. I tried to explain to Maria last night. I'm like, it is amazing how hard Ohio State, like, I got Indiana trying really hard. Ohio State's defending champs, they could lose this game. They'll be too. Yet. They played that game like it was the national champion, and I respected it. I'm like, this game doesn't really matter, you know, but it felt like a national championship. Yeah, but the other games didn't really. And I think they've lost a little juice. What I think is clearly going to happen is they're going to expand it to 16 and the conference championship game will turn into more of a play in game weekend where the SEC play Texas Vanderbilt playing right. I don't know who the two teams would be in the Big Ten. USC versus someone and that that game is basically like the NBA kind of did with their playing game. You win, you're in the playoffs.
- [40:23]
Colin Cowherd
When you want to enjoy life's simpler pleasures, reach for Green river whiskey. Whether it's rye whiskey or single barrel bourbon, you're getting over a century of craftsmanship packed into every bottle. Hop on over to greenriverwhiskey.com and discover a legend in a bottle today. For the record, the committee put Miami over Notre Dame. They won head to head. The committee also put Texas over Vandy. They won the head to head. So in the end the committee said head to head did matter. We just didn't like that it took to the final ranking. If you go look at the final rankings is that it did matter to the committee. No, I think. Listen, think about the changes in college football. A nil you can pay players. B the transfer portals the wild wild west. C bowls don't matter. D is going to be conference championships don't matter. Oh I forgot to mention we now have a 12 team playoff that'll move to 16. I will say one of my real takes because it made me happy that Miami made it in. It made it feel more credible. Fernando Mendoza I've now watched them against Ohio State and Penn State. Neither game at home and they have good receivers. I'm not saying that dude. Big, big arm, accurate deep. I felt like he secured the number one pick. I thought Tennessee won today. So we'll see who gets the number one pick if it's the jets or Tennessee. He looks like such a lock is the number one pick to me.
- [41:49]
John Middlekauff
I mean Raiders, Raiders are still very alive too for the number one pick. They lost again. They're.
- [41:54]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, I'm sorry the post game interview. He's got that aw shucks, Andrew luck thing. Big, smart, hard worker, big arm, great deep ball. You could just watch the Penn State and Ohio State games. Take two drives out of those games. His accuracy. That last drive you and I talked about it at Penn State. Jesus, he went like five or five. They were all gorgeous. Those Ohio State corners. John, that's the best secondary in college football in years. You had to have. It was like tiny little football size spaces to put the ball.
- [42:25]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean I, I think. Not that he gets crushed for it but definitely people in the league Bring up, you know, he's goofy, nerdy, kind of like Cousins was at the same age.
- [42:33]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [42:34]
John Middlekauff
But physically he's in, you know, from an athletic standpoint, from a deep ball standpoint. I thought yesterday at halftime a couple people text me like, what do you think? Like, I've been pretty impressed. He's playing the best defense in the country. No one moves the, they don't give up 10 points. No one moves the ball on this team. His the kid who caught the game winning touchdown at Penn State, Omar Kelly. He got, the guy got hurt in like the first drive. The Indiana is not, you know, USC in their heyday, he only had, they don't have unlimited weapons. So he starts, you know, he's got the one guy that caught the touchdown, Surat, who's a really good player. But like he had to manufacture some stuff. He made a couple plays, rolling out, sidearming the ball. His arm strength, he's big. I was, I was blown away. I have no clue what his stats were. I don't care. I thought top start to finish, you know, he gets destroyed on the first play of the game. I mean absolutely hammered. Shakes it off. And I thought obviously the game winning essentially pass at the end of the game. But I thought he was fantastic from a physical standpoint of just the attributes that teams look for. Poise, calmness, arm strength. How do you do it? Like no one cares when you throw five touchdowns against one of the Rutgers or Maryland. That game means nothing to all the GMs in the league. Honestly, they might not even watch it. What is the point? I am watching this game. I, I thought he made himself because again, it's just, I don't think this quarterback class is clearly viewed super highly. And we'll see what Dante Moore chooses to do because he could still make himself a lot of money and play really well. But I would say Mendoza as we sit here right now would be, it would be pretty stunning if he's not, you know, the number one or two pick, depending. I mean Moore's a little bit of a wild card. We'll have to see. I mean, because they could win the national championship. He could play great. His OC leaves, maybe he knows that, you know, the quarterbacks leaving. Now granted, I think Will Stein's dad played at Kentucky, so it's not as crazy of a move. But yeah, I'm with you there. Really quick on the Notre Dame thing because you look at, you know, even Indiana, people go, well, they didn't really, you know, beside the Oregon game, look at their schedule. They're still playing. Like when you play conference games, you build up over time a rapport and little rivalries and knowledge of the other coach. Like it's intense.
- [44:49]
Colin Cowherd
They beat 50.
- [44:52]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, but like playing Illinois is much more like Notre Dame. Here's where I feel no sorrow and no empathy for their situation. They play in a situation where if they make the playoffs, they get to keep all the money. They don't have to split it with any conference partners. They mix and match their schedule every year. Like, I'm sorry guys, it's time to change. Like, let's just join one of these conferences and get with the program. You no longer get to just be your own little NC out there making all this money with NBC, mixing and matching a schedule because even that, Indiana, Ohio State, Alabama, you name it, their schedule changes year to year. It doesn't change that much. Maybe they miss one of the top, but it's still going on the road. Because this is what I think Kaylin DeBoer would say. Well, yeah, just a random road game, even against a down Tennessee. That's a lot harder than some of this crap that Notre Dame has to do on the road.
- [45:39]
Colin Cowherd
Notre Dame again. Notre Dame played one great defensive line. Miami and Miami. Notre Dame's run game completely dried up.
- [45:50]
John Middlekauff
Greg McElroy talked about it last night. He's like, I rewatched the game this morning and I was like, God, they got dominated in the trenches in that game.
- [45:57]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, no, Miami's got better line play by far. So it doesn't. And that's my takeaway. If you really examine Notre Dame schedule, this is why Notre Dame desperately wants to play usc. They, that's why they signed a five year deal with Clemson. Notre Dame signed a five year deal with Clemson. That's what. Because they, they'll get, they're going to get these years where they play the weakest of the acc. It's why they're outraged when anybody brings up the USC game. USC game. USC doesn't need Notre Dame. Have you seen USC scheduled next year? Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, they play everybody. They don't know where they play. But it's like the last thing you need another Notre Dame game. So I don't. I've always liked Notre Dame. I respect it. Their kids are real student athletes. But if you're going to play this game and toggle between conference and independent, go examine Notre Dame schedule, how bad the defenses they played? I think it's seven teams they played had defenses under 100. There's only 100 and what 38 college football teams. Seven of the teams they played were under 100 defensively. So they look like a powerhouse.
- [47:09]
John Middlekauff
Do you think I was thinking about this last night. I understand that the you know it was less than a five point spread right. I think Indiana was plus four and a half when the game kicked off. I did feel though the outcome that Indiana actually won that game and I don't, I don't feel I'm being super hyperbolic here is one of the crazier outcomes in college sports I've ever seen. Obviously Indiana is really good. They have a quarterback that might go one their coach. Yeah Saban like it's not like as crazy once you get add context to it. And all those games they lost for decades kind of irrelevant to this two years but still for them and I get it they a big home field advantage and but Ohio State tried like it wasn't like you know, they're kind of mailing it in. Like Ohio State really tried. They hadn't won the conference since 20. I kind of forgot that I'm like Ohio State really hasn't won this game in a while.
- [48:01]
Colin Cowherd
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- [49:45]
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Colin Cowherd
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- [53:31]
Indiana's defensive line pushed the Buckeyes O line around. Julian sand was running. I mean it was a punctic evaporate. No Indiana, that's that's my takeaway. Mendoza's unbelievable talent at quarterback. Signetti is a great coach, but Indiana's D line is big and if you watch the matchups, they bullied Ohio State like they went. They bull rushed. They weren't, they weren't trying to be clever. Speed rush. They bull rushed the Buckeyes and pushed them back.
- [54:04]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, to me that that that was the type win that almost gets you a contract for life. You know I know when you become the number one seed in that like if they get to the Final Four and let's say they lose in the Final Four, I think that Ohio State win is unless they win the national championship is a win. Just given that think how long they've been in that conference playing that team. I think what they say last night I didn't write it down like 66 straight times or 81 straight games. Whatever the number, it was insane.
- [54:33]
Colin Cowherd
They haven't.
- [54:34]
John Middlekauff
They never beat Ohio State because they're probably at minimum 4 touchdown underdog when they play him. And then to beat them like that in that moment, that. That was. That was incredible theater. I mean, it was. It was. That's one of the coolest college games I've watched in a long. I didn't have a dog in the fight. I was just kind of enjoying it.
- [54:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And the. And the other thing to note is that I think it was a tough spot for Ohio State. It felt like the biggest game in the history of Indiana football by a long shot. You just beat Michigan because it was. Yeah, you're the national champions and it's really about the playoff. And everybody in your locker room knows, yeah, we lost to Michigan last year, then went on to roll. So what's happening in college football for these big powerhouse teams? Like Alabama didn't really want to have to play Georgia again. Ohio State would have rather met Indiana in two or three weeks for the first time. Now the advantage goes to Ohio State. Like, those players are like, if they play Indiana again, it's like, oh, oh, guys, we face these guys. I gotta tell you, my takeaway on that game coming out of it was, and I kind of felt this going into it, but in any order you want.
- [55:43]
Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State, I think those are the three best teams. And I don't think it's that close. I really don't.
- [55:50]
John Middlekauff
I do think Oregon could throw their hat in. They've looked really good coming down the stretch, and that is hard to judge.
- [55:56]
Colin Cowherd
John, they've been so beat up offensively. They don't have any of their receivers for all the big games. I watched them. They were never healthy.
- [56:02]
John Middlekauff
My question is, I agree with you on the Ohio State thing, but then why would Ryan Day kick the field goal late in the game? Like, what is. He's the defending champs, just beat Michigan. What does he have to look like? Who cares? Like, just play to win. That was a weird moment for him. I was like, what is going on?
- [56:17]
Colin Cowherd
I didn't like that call at all. I kind of feel, and I kind of feel like Indiana would have stopped him anyway, just the way they're. The pass rush was. Yeah, that was one of those things where I also think sometimes you do a play call because it makes you feel big. It's like a confidence builder for your team. You can. You can go crazy on, on. But if you have their receivers and you have I mean Ohio State's got on average better players. You kind of played into Indiana's hands kicking the field goal like, like, well.
- [56:53]
John Middlekauff
And Clatt said it is last year with Will Howard, they had a physical running element with their quarterback. So they, they had the running backs, they had the quarterback who could move and they had the wide receivers like saying, ain't really breaking a tackle for on a fourth and one. Right. So you are a little, little limited. You still have two guys that I, I don't know where Tate's going to go in the draft, but my guess would be high. Jeremiah Smith would go higher if he could come out. And I didn't know Bo Jackson still played football because that kid looked fantastic.
- [57:23]
Colin Cowherd
He's great.
- [57:23]
John Middlekauff
So it's like, I'm sorry, you're Ohio State. You have the best, you know, roster money can buy. The talent is elite. Even if your quarterbacks like you, you, you the defending champs. The insecurity for Ryan Day, he even beat Michigan seven days. Like what do you got to lose?
- [57:38]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [57:38]
John Middlekauff
And Signetti, I mean they, one thing you'd say about Signetti is his team immediately turned into just one of the toughest teams in the country physically. That, that's what's the eye opening part. They look kind of like Harbaugh's Michigan team, don't they?
- [57:52]
Colin Cowherd
That's exactly what I thought. I remember when Harbaugh went to the PAC 12 and took over Stanford and it was year two and everybody was like, oh, the most physical team by far is Stanford, not USC and Pete Carroll like Michigan's or Stanford's, way more physical. People say Signetti is a little cocky but I think for Indiana he has to be, he wants, you know, you're trying to elevate your players to believe and the self belief, I mean there, there was some trash talking. Like Indiana guys are trash talking and I'm okay with it. I, I think that's, they're at the stage in their program where they do need to stand up to Ohio State and have a little chip on their shoulder.
- [58:32]
John Middlekauff
So.
- [58:33]
Colin Cowherd
And I think in the NIL era it's easier for an older coach to succeed. Like I don't think Belichick, I think Belichick would have been a disaster in college football 10 years ago. He may still be a disaster but in the nil you can half year roster. So Signetti doesn't need 39 year old or 42 year old, you know, Lane Kiffin energy. You don't need it. You can buy a lot of players so we got ourselves another Big Ten power in Indiana. Let's go back to the NFL. Buffalo. Josh Allen plays Superman in the fourth quarter. Beats the Bengals 39, 34. Burrow had a really bad pick six. But listen Cincinnati, and this is why I have questions about buffalo. Joe Burrows 25 and 36, 234 yards. Great on third down, six yards of play. Basically he had a really bad pick six. But to go to Buffalo and Snow and drop 34, I don't know, I mean, listen. Josh Allen's top two targets were tight ends. Gabe Davis was his big receiving target. Had two catches. They just pulled Gabe Davis back to the team. They're very much about Allen and their tight ends. And I just, I thought to myself.
- [59:53]
Did Josh Allen and Christian Bedford, did they, did they save Sean McDermott's job? What if he loses at home to the 4 and 8 Cincinnati Bengals? What would our discussion be tonight? What would it be tomorrow in the country? Because I felt for a lot of the game Cincinnati out schemed him and outplayed him. Now Buffalo did have a fumble at like the two yard line. Boy, I am just a, I just. So I had the Bengals winning this game plus six. I moneylined it. I don't know what to make of Buffalo. I don't trust them. They can't defend the run. Burrow moved up and down the field, just had a terrible pick six.
- [60:31]
John Middlekauff
It's pretty crazy how good he is coming off the long layoff in the middle of the season. It's. Those are the two best quarterbacks in the league right now. I mean I Burrow had the two plays that obviously cost him the game. It's 28, 25 Cincy and Cincy is driving. And I thought, is this how this is going to end for Buffalo? Now granted, the Bengals have kind of owned the Bills, right? But it's like, you know, this guy's missed the whole season. They're 4 and 8. Their defense stinks. You're going to lose this team. And it felt like it was 28, 25. They're going to score and all of a sudden it's going to be 35, 25. And the math is just not going to math for the Bills. And then he throws the pick six and then the next play throws another pick and they score again. And it flips like that. I mean it really flipped within literally two plays. It was back to back passes for two picks and one was seven points and the other immediately led to seven. And Josh Allen, who is he going to win The MVP or not, I don't know. But he's the best player in the league. Like, I don't know how you just. Because physically what, like what Burrow can do is he's the most mobile pocket passer. You know, I maybe since Rogers in his heyday. And Rogers probably a better athlete than Joe, but like the Mannings, the Brady's, the Montana. They didn't. Maybe Montana a little bit in his younger days. His movement in the pocket, he's not a runner. He is just a passer. It is in his dominance now. He grew up in Ohio. He is so comfortable. How good he was early in that game. You're like, geez, how's he so good in the snow? Yeah, you know, he's just. His timing is really dropped.
- [62:02]
Colin Cowherd
They dropped a ball in the end, so they had several drops. It could have been a better day.
- [62:06]
John Middlekauff
And this is the thing, I think where they would feel pretty good. It's like, hey, listen, we pay two wide receivers and some people would debate, is that the right way to invest? They did a pretty good job on Chase today. And Higgins looked like, I don't know, Calvin Johnson out there.
- [62:18]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, he was a force.
- [62:20]
John Middlekauff
Oh my God. And right when he hits that, you're like, are the Bengals going to get right back in this game? I mean, they scored in like two plays. The Bills defense, Josh Allen is clearly good enough to win a championship. Their team is not. You cannot. You have no chance in the College Football Playoff or the NFL playoffs. Why do the packers have a chance? Not because their offense. Their offense is fine. It's. They have a championship defense. Denver, you have to have an elite defense to have a chance to win in these big games in January. And it's. How do you trust the. They can't cover anybody. Other pass rush is very hit or miss. They always get a bunch of injuries. I mean, Josh is doing things today that, I mean, some plays he looked like Michael Vicks. Other plays will look like Cam Newton, other plays will look like Tom Brady. It's.
- [63:03]
Colin Cowherd
It's.
- [63:03]
John Middlekauff
It's remarkable. And they, they got bailed out by the two interceptions, which, listen, the Bears have kind of lived like that this year. But you can't win a championship hoping for a turnover.
- [63:14]
Colin Cowherd
Well, when, I mean, when I, When I watched New England go into Buffalo and really control the game and I still think I'd argue the Patriots are in a little bit of a rebuild. I still think they need one more draft and they need to get a little more explosive in the run. Game. They need a number one receiver. Their O line's okay. When I watched New England beat them, I was just like this. I mean, God, Vrabel just got to town and I feel they've got a lot of good. Okay, Josh is great. I like James Cook a lot. But I just think, when I look at Buffalo, I just think there's a lot of good players. And then I watch Detroit or I watch the Rams or I watch Green Bay, and I see great players. I don't see a lot of great players with. Outside of Josh Allen, I just. I think Dion Dawkins is a very good left tackle. James Cook I like a lot, but, I mean, I'm. I've watched Drake May move the ball in him. I. Joe Burrow today, and that one, pick six, where he. It was the line through about four yards. You're like, oh, God, Joe.
- [64:18]
John Middlekauff
But.
- [64:19]
Colin Cowherd
And when they came back and I mean literally, they threw the ball to the tight end that used to play at Miami. Mike. Is it Gasecki?
- [64:28]
John Middlekauff
Gasecki, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [64:29]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, he made a one and a catch, and then it's like a play later. You're like, they're in the end zone. I mean, that just can't. You're on the road, it's snowing. That's not the way you can score. So they're. I just. I think the one thing Buffalo has going for him. Josh and James Cook can pick up first downs, and they're. They're a tight end, dominant team. If they plan crappy weather in New England, Buffalo, wherever they play, they're kind of built for crappy weather because they. They're not a vertical team. I mean, they just. Gabe Davis had two catches. That was their big receiving target, where they're the opposite of the Miami Dolphins. Like when they had Waddle and Tyree, they're kind of. They're kind of built for crappy weather because, I mean, I. Generally, you don't want a great quarterback to play in the snow, but their defense is so mediocre. You don't want to play on a fast track.
- [65:25]
John Middlekauff
If you're Buffalo, I think it feels like now, I get they've had some injuries over the years, but part of defense, especially when you're good, you got to hit on some random, like, third, like, you got to find like a Landman, you know, you got to find like a random guy in the third or fourth round that becomes an All Pro. And you just watch their defensive talent. You're like, I don't really see It. And then immediately, you know, Maxwell, the kid they drafted from Kentucky, they're depending on him to be like their best defensive back. They had a pretty bad week. I mean, this is kind of inside baseball. But they cut a guy that they liked to claim. Darius Slay, he quits. The kid they cut gets claimed by the Texans. So all of a sudden they're just out a guy. And those are the type moves. When you're the Bills, it's one thing. If you're just the Cardinals and you're just doing different moves.
- [66:10]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [66:11]
John Middlekauff
The Bills are. You can't. That's a pretty devastating type transaction, especially when the guy that you cut gets claimed by another probably playoff team in the Texans.
- [66:20]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [66:21]
John Middlekauff
You're just like, this is. This is not ideal, especially on the defensive side of the ball. I'd also say if you're the Bills, the Steelers defense has been beyond awful. And they just cut Darius Slay. Why are you even messing with that? Why would you even want to acquire him? So I just think they defensively can't get it figured out from a personnel standpoint, because offensively, Cook is. I'd say this year Gibbs is the best running back. Cook's top two or three running back.
- [66:48]
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- [66:49]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [66:49]
John Middlekauff
And if you got Josh Allen, if you. If Kincaid and Knocks are on the field, like, you can mix and match with Shakir and, you know, Keon Coleman every once in a while and Gabe Davis, if you got the two tight, the offense is fine because Josh will make enough plays. But defensively, you just. You're not going to win in the playoffs with. Maybe if you get a matchup and Josh just goes superhuman against Bo Nix has a bad game, you can pull it off. But if you're playing a real quarterback, you just can't get stops. And that. That's kind of been their problem, you know, over the years. But I feel like this defense, personnel that we're watching on the field is worse than it's been over the last three or four years, isn't it?
- [67:23]
Colin Cowherd
Yep. Let's bounce around to four different games.
- [67:28]
Talk Titans 31, Cleveland Browns. I think it's 29. Shitter 23 of 42. Three touchdowns, 98 passer rating. Cleveland special teams actually lost in the game. They're like most bad teams or special teams are awful. Cleveland was missing six to seven starters and still had over 400 yards in bad weather. Six and a half yards per play. I think Shitter is very uneven. You know, he. He'll throw a bad pick every week. So I Watched him and Cam Ward. Cam's the much better athlete. But I will tell you, watching Shedeur, I said it last week, I'll say it again, it reminds me of the Colorado Shador. He throws a bad pick. He's not super athletic. He likes to throw the ball down the field. He's not overwhelmed. Again, I don't think he has a special trait. But, but to get 400 yards, that's a bad receiving core. I mean it really is a bad receiving core. Titans aren't any good. But I, I think my take is on Shador. He's good enough to start in the league, isn't he?
- [68:34]
John Middlekauff
Well, for the Browns, I mean to me he, he's better than Dylan Gabriel. So I, I do think it puts into question like you drafted Dylan Gabriel in the third round because Shador, the touchdown he threw to Judy, now granted the Titans, he's wide open. And that drive throw, like I don't even think Dylan Gabriel can make it. And there is just some natural playmaker to him. I mean the touchdown he threw to the, to the tight end in the corner.
- [68:57]
Colin Cowherd
Yep.
- [68:58]
John Middlekauff
Like he's just. That's a Colorado type play. Yep. And he does just bring you some more explosive plays than anything you've had. I do think it puts into question of like, listen, they were not alone. No one was drafting Shador. So I don't blame like fifth round. He was there for a reason because none of the other teams wanted them. But like you took another quarterback who clearly isn't even close to as talented as this guy and your organization is like the Browns are a bad organization.
- [69:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [69:26]
John Middlekauff
For a team that has some good players, they sure lose a lot of games. And then a story's coming out. They're bringing desean Watson back. Oh, you know, it's like, what are we doing? I think that Chador is, I mean at this point in time it's going to be so loud that he's going to have to start the rest of the season. He should. But it's like, like clearly Stefanski was never on board with this decision. I don't have as much of a problem. He's going to take a lot of crap for that two point play. It was open if he hands him the ball. But you could also argue why are you getting so tricky on a two point play when your quarterback's kind of humming.
- [70:00]
This has a Tebow like quality to it though. Now he's a. Shador is a much better passer.
- [70:05]
Colin Cowherd
Much.
- [70:06]
John Middlekauff
Not even T. I mean Tebow was not an NFL pass. Shador clearly is. But there is a quality of just the people talking about this situation that because I'm thinking I'm looking at the games like I kind of do have to pay attention to Titans, Browns. If it was Dylan Gabriel, I wouldn't have watched this.
- [70:22]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [70:23]
John Middlekauff
You know, and he does bring that and he makes enough plays like this offense was a remember how bad they were with Dylan Gabriel. They couldn't function.
- [70:31]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, they didn't turn it over, but couldn't function. I you know, my takeaway on him is if you look mostly like you look in college, then I think it's going to work. So I think he's a franchise quarterback. I think all these guys Bo Nicks is more talented. Bo Nick's a better athlete. Football season's here and if you want to go to an NFL or college football game, Game Time is the place for you. The Game Time app just gives you the advantage back to you, the fans. It's a hack for unlocking amazing tickets and experiences in a few taps. I love it. Easy to use. The Game Time guarantee means you can Trust you'll get 100% authentic tick on time and at the best price. 100%. So they even let you preview your seat on the app. That's special. Plus fees are always included. So what you see is what you pay every time. Take the guesswork out of buying professional football tickets with GameTime. Just download the GameTime app. Create an account if you use the code Colin C O l I N 20 bucks off your first purchase Terms apply again. Create an account redeem code C O L I N 20 bucks off swipe, tap ticket. Go download the Gametime app today.
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Colin Cowherd
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- [75:21]
Denver, it's the most lopsided 2417 game I've ever watched. At one point, Bo Nix was 25 of 30. It was like pitching cash. They had a 14 play drive, an 18 blade drive. Denver just wanted the game over and nobody hurt. And to get on the plane they had these long like death by a thousand cut drives. At one point in the third quarter, Bonick, you know the Denver had like 260 yards and the Raiders had 75. So it wasn't really that close.
- [75:53]
I gotta tell you, there's a lot of talk. Brady has gotten much better as a broadcaster, much more comfortable. He can't be comfortable with what's going on with the Raiders because again, this game wasn't close. Denver's getting better. The Chargers will eventually get their tackles back. They may beat Philadelphia tomorrow. Kansas City's Kansas City.
- [76:13]
You think the Raiders will blow it up?
- [76:15]
John Middlekauff
Well, they're the worst team in the league right now. I mean at least the Titan showed a little life today. I mean no one's playing worse than the Raiders. That the moment Mims took that back, I'm like, I don't really need to pay attention to this game anymore. They got no shot. I think the problem with Pete Carroll is they hired this guy who had been making $15 million and setting the tone and deciding everything for 20 years to then tell him what to do. Now you could argue why do you even hire a 75 year old in the first place. But if you are going to hire him, Brady clearly forced Chip Kelly on him and then Pete forced him to run Shane Waldron's offense to Chip Kelly. It's like this is the type stuff the Browns do. You know, part of getting Brady was to kind of stabilize everything. But listen, Tom is the greatest player of all time and he's a very successful guy guy, but he's never ran a franchise. Bill did that. You know, Bill made a lot of moves that Tom didn't like. They kind of worked a lot of the times for a lot many of those years getting rid of. You think Tom would have got rid of Welker? Of course not. You know, so it's like being and hiring the coaches, it's a little more complicated. I think there are a lot of GMs throughout the league. They're like, yeah, Tom is a little harder than you think, huh? This isn't as easy because guess what? Pete and Chip, they got, they have egos like their players. These guys are used to making a lot of money put mixing and matching coaching staffs, I'd argue is a lot like building a locker room. You got to be very careful about the way you do that. Personalities mesh. And the Chip Kelly thing never made any sense if Pete Carroll didn't want him, which clearly was the case. But Pete had no leverage and he was desperate for a job you could argue was desperate to fail. The moment they hired Pete Carroll, if they weren't going to give him the power to hire who he wanted as.
- [78:01]
Colin Cowherd
His coach and well, and John Schneider, the GM of the Seahawks. And Pete butted heads on Pete's son. So he, you know, Pete wanted him on the scouting staff. Snyder. Snyder basically said he's. I'm taking him off the scouting staff. Let's. John wanted him gone. Pete put him on the coaching staff. Well, there's some stories that Chip Kelly and Pete's son did not see eye to eye in terms of running the ball or game planning, you know, whatever.
- [78:29]
I think one of the things I've said this about Bill Belichick and that North Carolina Mike Lombardi staff, it's a friends and family staff. I remember years ago AJ Smith wouldn't let Marty Schottenheimer put his son on the staff.
- [78:43]
I just think Pete's at a different. He made a lot of money. You know, he wants his son on the staff. Chip. I haven't talked to Chip, but I think that I know in Seattle that did not. There was real fissures between John Snyder and Pete that I've had two sources tell me so. It's a mess.
- [79:03]
John Middlekauff
I also think the Raiders last year had the opportunity. I think they thought for some reason they were kind of close.
- [79:09]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [79:09]
John Middlekauff
Like they should have just hired some. They should have been all in on like trying to get Liam Cohen or whatever. Because remember, Brady really wanted Ben Johnson. But Ben's no dummy. He's like, listen, your team's not even close to as good enough. I'm not taking my shot to come here here. But why not hire another young offensive guy? Because once you hire Pete, you're. Pete's trying to win every single game like it's the last game he's ever going to coach. That's not really the position the Raiders were in. And listen, they made a mistake and I'm a big John Spy Tech guy. But they should have traded Max Crosby this off season because their team wasn't going to be any good. But Pete Carroll would have put his body in front of that trade. Right. So you Just not everyone's on the same page. And I do think, think the other stories. It is very difficult when you're in Brady's position, who clearly has a lot of juice. I think there was Diana Rossini's article. He's been there like twice all season. So you're making these decisions. You're not in the building. John Schneider, Howie Roseman, they're spending 12 hours a day, every day for 320 days a year inside the building with the players, with the coaches, with the owner. It's really hard in this type. 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 in.
- [80:22]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, you, you. I was watching a clip this week. Somebody was talking about Jerry west and they. Everybody said, oh, Jerry was a genius. And this person said, no. Every time you went anywhere, Jerry west was in the gym. And Brad Stevens for the Celtics go anywhere, any college basketball game, he's in the gym. You got to put the time in. I mean, that's just the reality. Howie Roseman, he's on a plane 150 days a year. I mean, that's the reality of these guys. John Snyder, I know John has already seen Indiana play, you know.
- [80:54]
John Middlekauff
Yeah.
- [80:55]
Colin Cowherd
John Snyder is not a TV guy. He's a get to a game guy. Reportedly like he wants to be at a game. So speaking of Seattle, they tagged Atlanta 37 to 19. This is the sixth time Seattle has beaten a team, may not be the last this regular season by 14 points or more. If you look at the history of super bowl winners, that's the number super bowl teams get to six ugly blowout wins. They dominate. Rasheed Saheed had his best game as a Seahawk. Who they got from the Saints. This is interesting. In the last two years, Sam Darnolds had two different head coaches, two different coordinators, two different O lines. Now he's got the second youngest offense. Do you know Sam Darnold, the last two years, has the most wins of any quarterback, the third most touchdown passes and the second most passing yards. It is official. And he had a winning record in Carolina. It is official. Eliminate the jets from Sam Darnold's career. I watched them again today. Jsn. Two more touchdowns. I'm sorry, but Darnold's a franchise guy. He is. He. He's big, he's strong. He loves the deep ball. He's got. This Seattle offense is a bunch of kids. And I'm not saying this because I've always liked him or his. Usc. We just have to be honest. If you go two different teams, two different staffs, two different coordinators, two different. We didn't know if JSM was a number one receiver. He's arguably the best receiver in the league. Darnold's legit. He'll have bad games, but he's. He's legit.
- [82:28]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean, I, I think he's going to be defined by how he plays against the Rams here coming up in a couple of weeks in the playoffs. Right. Because there's no disputing his regular season prowess. And I, I think this division, I just pulled up all three schedules. You know, the Rams are technically in first place because they won the game head to head. You know, the Rams now are going to be playing the Lions, who are coming off a long week because they played on Thursday.
- [82:51]
Colin Cowherd
That.
- [82:51]
John Middlekauff
That's a massive game. The Lions still fighting for their playoff live.
- [82:55]
The. I'm looking at Seattle. They're playing the Colts this week whose quarterback just tore his Achilles and they got Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. They got problems. They are. Colts are headed the wrong way.
- [83:05]
Colin Cowherd
They're cooked.
- [83:07]
John Middlekauff
Niners coming off a buy. They get the Titans. So this division, you know, the Niners, it doesn't feel like should be right there with these teams, but they've already beat the Rams. They've already beat Seattle. They play Seattle at the end of the season in San Francisco. Now the Niners in a couple of weeks have the Bears. That's a massive game. But that same week the Rams in Seattle play. I'm pretty sure that's a Thursday night game.
- [83:28]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [83:29]
John Middlekauff
So, you know, you get Seattle will assume they beat the Colts. You give the Rams the benefit of the doubt. Let's say they beat the Lions. That, that's. That game could determine the division right there in Seattle. I think to me, that game, all the pressure would be on, on Sam because clearly that first game, you know, throw all those picks, you know, I think people kind of just combine that with a couple games at the end of last year. But you just watch them in these random games and I just think their team, you know, if I had to say who has the best. I think the Niners offense is pretty good and the Rams offense is really good. Right. Seattle's defense, to me, the Rams DBs, you just, it's hard to trust, you know, when you get in certain moments, Seattle's defense top to bot. They might have the best defensive backfield right there with Denver in the League.
- [84:10]
Colin Cowherd
You ever. You watch these teams, every couple years, you'll get a team and they just look more athletic than other teams. Seattle, if you turn the sound down and just watch Seattle, they're fast, like their ends rush, their tight ends run well, their backs run well. Seattle is super athletic and Darnold is a playmaker. So he's athletic.
- [84:32]
John Middlekauff
How would you. Because to me, I just think the Niners, you miss Fred Warner. It's, you know, it's going to be hard. Caleb scrambling around, you know, the playoff game. I just think that's going to come up in a big moment. Defensively, I would. I might still have Seattle one. The only reason you kind of hesitate is like, I do trust Stafford a little bit more, you know, but it's like Eli couldn't do it till he did it. You know, some of these guys, like I do think Dak Prescott is good enough to win a Super bowl, but you'd be like, well, he's been awful in the playoffs. True. You know, some guys like James Harden clearly melts down. Like he has long history. Like, maybe that is Dak. Maybe he'll just always melt down in these playoff games. But I also see him in big, normal games look good. You know, I see Sam Darnold. You know, I think in two weeks, that Rams game, I don't want to say career definer. I mean, he's 28 years old. But it's. There's going to be a big spotlight. That's what, what a great Thursday night game. That's. That's in Seattle too. That's going to. It could be raining. That could get ugly. It actually could benefit Seattle. Just run the ball, slow it down a little bit.
- [85:33]
Colin Cowherd
Play the Rams 45, Arizona 17. Rams had over 500 yards offense and almost nine yards of play. Not competitive. Puka Nakua was absolutely fantastic. So was Stafford. The other thing about the Rams is they're healthy.
- [85:51]
They're just dissecting teams. Arizona is a lost franchise. I mean, you live in the state. I'm not sure. Bidwell down. It doesn't matter. It's a. Do you have any takeaway on that at all?
- [86:04]
John Middlekauff
No. I mean, the Cardinals, God, they are. See some of these jobs, you know, like the Titans, like people are going to. People want to go be the head coach of the Titans. Like the Cardinals, they fire everybody. I get us the NFL and it pays a lot of money. These jobs are terrible. I mean, they are awful. And it just gets back to ownership. And you look, you look at this division now. I mean, is there a better coach division with McVeigh, McDonald and Kyle Shanahan? I mean, it's like, it's not even close. It feels like it'd probably be Sean Payton, Andy Reid and Jim Harbaugh. And that's where if you're the Raiders, like, what do we do? How do we get up to those two guys?
- [86:39]
Colin Cowherd
I think.
- [86:39]
John Middlekauff
And the answer is, you don't.
- [86:41]
Colin Cowherd
I think about this all the time. I was surprised when Sean Payton took the job with Denver because I'm like, oh, my God, they're a mess. There's a Russell Wilson cap. What the hell is he going to do? And, you know, Sean knew there was good. There were some good college quarterbacks coming up. And Sean has a lot of confidence in himself. But. And also, you know, Andy Reid was getting older and Mahomes was getting expensive and.
- [87:05]
But that division now, I mean, Mike McDonald and Sean McVeigh. Mike McDonald reminds me of the defensive Sean McVeigh and then Shanahan's probably the best scheme coach in the league. So, like, Arizona is just. I mean, that feels like you can say what you want about Cleveland, but Pittsburgh's wobbly. What's up with Lamar? Cincinnati's cheap. You know, you can bang on Cleveland, but if Cleveland landed Mendoza or something at quarterback, you'd be like, they could win the division easily. Arizona's trapped.
- [87:36]
John Middlekauff
But Denver's a great example, right? Once Walmart took over that franchise, don't they have like four kids that are in the top 20 of wealth in the world? I mean, the money that they're dealing with with is on a different level than what 95% of NFL owners like. What does the Walmart family have in common with Bob Kraft in terms of money? I mean, it's the levels we're talking. They are on a very, very short list as a family. I'm not even talking as an individual, so. I mean, the, the bid wells are so cheap. They, they're. Listen, Jonathan Gannon, I don't know if he's good or bad. I mean, it's hard to even tell. But you hit your wagon to Kyler Murray and this gets back to, you know, he was the number one pick, but it was still a little bit of a risk for Ben Johnson to take that job. But it's pretty clear Ben Johnson probably be good. No matter. If Ben Johnson been the Raiders coach, might not be a playoff team, but I guarantee you they're not two and whatever they are, right? He's the real deal. But Vrabel Knew like, I'm going back, you better have a quarterback because in this you could put Mike Vrabel with the Arizona Cardinals. He's probably not making the playoffs very often, right? So in this isn't college, where it's like, oh, I just lose my, my quarterback to the draft. I'll just go buy Fernando Mendoza, right? That's not the, the way it works. And now you hit your wagon to Kyler Murray and you're in the situation you're in where you got Jacoby Brissette running around there, down 30 points, it's like, what, what are we even doing? And like the Rams game. I, I, there's no takeaway. I, I do think though, they, you know, last week they lose to the Panthers, who sometimes you do that, you know, the west coast, east coast floor. But the one thing the Panthers can do, like, they can throw the ball pretty well. I mean, they got a couple of wide receivers and they kind of expose their db. So I, I do think this was a little bit of a rallying spot of like, hey, man, we got a plus, you don't have any margin if you're, you're the Rams, Seattle or the 49ers, right? You probably got to win 13 and 4, probably win to the division. So, you know, a missed field goal here, a screw up here, all of a sudden you're the six seed playing, I don't know, Green Bay or something. It could get a lot more difficult.
- [89:38]
Colin Cowherd
Really quick, let's wrap it up with this. Minnesota 31, Washington, nothing. JJ McCarthy played well. Washington probably has, they've lost eight straight, probably has the worst defense in the league. It may not be particularly close. Almost every Washington defender on PFF is like near the bottom of their position in the sport. I thought it was J.J. mcCarthy's best game. 16 to 23, three TDs, no picks. They were very, very good in the red zone. It was a smart game plan. I think one of the things that really jumps out to me now is Washington had three turnovers and they're just a horrible franchise. A year after they shocked the world, Jaden Daniels got banged up again. And I'm sitting there watching him when he's cringing on the field and I'm like, man, if you go back to his rookie year, remember he got banged up in his rookie year year. And I'm sitting there thinking.
- [90:34]
If you told me in one year he'd missed another eight, nine games, I'd be like, I wouldn't be shocked. There is value in like, Bo Nicks doesn't get hurt. Caleb doesn't get hurt. Drake May got beat up his first year. He blew 10 of it. Doesn't miss games like I. The Jaden Daniel thing is fascinating because it was the best rookie season statistically in the history of the sport. And a year later, physically, I have real issues.
- [91:06]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean, I think it's the knock on him going back to LSU was the reckless nature in which he played. And you look at Caleb and you look at Bo Nix, well, they're kind of built physically a little bit different than him. I mean, Caleb's built like a tank. Drake May's big. You look at Jaden Daniels, you know, he looks pretty slender. I tried to look his way. I don't even think he weighed into the combine. But he's just not, not. He's not exactly built like, you know, Lamar's thickened up as he's gotten older. It is really important. I also think Washington, you know, you get there, you have success out of nowhere. And they went all in on this season and it is backfired. I mean, if you are, if you're a draft nerd, the two crazy things, every time I look up at Atlanta's down 30, I go, the Rams have their first round pick and the for the Texans traded Laramie Tunsville to Washington. They did it for a third last draft and a second in this upcoming draft. Well, that pick for Washington could be like pick 35. So the Texans all of a sudden can, you know, they haven't had picks because of the Will Anderson trade. All of a sudden you get this great Washington pick. I mean, look at the Rams and the Texans. That's, that's some big time ammo for those two teams. And you know, they're old, their quarterbacks banged up a lot. They have some explosive playmakers. Zach Ertz shattered his leg today. You know, their defense is just atrocious though. I mean, it's, it's really bad. And this, you know, one story I saw today is Sirianni getting more involved with the offense. Well, it's like Dan Campbell, okay, My offensive coordinator is bad. I need to get more involved. And what happens, they look more explosive. So I go, listen, I give Dan credit. That's. He's an offensive guy. Sirianna, you're an offensive guy. Monday night, your offense should look better. Dan Quinn's a defensive guy. I just watched him for years. Helped turn Jerry's team into a 12 win team. Remember how good they were on defense with Micah Parsons and Dan Quinn? How I get. Your personnel's bad, but you should be a little bit. You made J.J. mcCarthy, who statistically was the worst quarterback since Jamarcus Russell, actually looked pretty good today. I mean, it's hard to argue, right? He looked, he looked better than like a lot of these other young quarterbacks throughout the league. So I think if you're Washington, you're going, God, maybe that last year was an 8. It almost feels a little bit like the Giants that year when they made the playoffs and they beat Minnesota and then the next three years were just a train wreck. Could be different because of Jaden Daniels, but if you can't stay on the field, who cares?
- [93:26]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. No, I mean, if you start looking at the teams that consistently make the playoffs, like we thought Houston. Oh, what happened to Houston? Well, Houston's a good football team now. Like, to me go Ryan's defense and the guys upstairs drafting, you know, we always kind of look at Houston like, I don't know. Well, like Jacksonville. Well, say what you want, but I watched Jacksonville today. Like, Jacksonville's got a lot of good players. They've hit on a lot of those draft picks. Travis Hunter is not even a factor. They're, they're. They got two backs, they got two ends. So there are these outlier seasons, John, where a team just gets hot. The division's weak, you know, the. And I, you know, Dak gets hurt. The Cowboys are bad. The Giants are worse. They didn't have Jackson dart. It's. I don't know. I look at Washington and I'm like, they need nine more players. They need so many more players there. And this, hey, good for jj. He needed a game like this again. They ran, they passed, they just. You can just watch football. You watch Seattle's defense. You're like, damn, they're fast. You like Washington. They can't bully, they can't run, they can't cover. They're awful. It's just a. They got very few good players. All right.
- [94:36]
Public Investing Advertiser
Right.
- [94:36]
Colin Cowherd
Let's do our Monday Night Football Hard Rock bet pick. It's the Eagles. They'll probably have home field advantage at SoFi. 60, 40, minus 2 against their Chargers team that is winning. Despite having the lowest rated offensive line. There are teams you can get away with that. I think if you have the Chargers online, Denver and Philadelphia are teams that you could really struggle. I just see the Chargers struggling to sustain drives.
- [95:10]
Two really special defenses. I'm going to take Philadelphia to win 24, 20.
- [95:20]
It's a really big game for both, but I'll take the healthier roster.
- [95:25]
John Middlekauff
A lot of institutional knowledge. You know Harbaugh's two coordinators in San Francisco, Fangio, Greg Roman, Jalen Carter. Though earlier this week, those shoulder surgeries, you know he's out. If you told me he was in this game, I'd be like adios for Justin Herbert. Obviously Justin Herbert coming off the injury. I'm taking Harbaugh, though as a home dog. I mean this is a classic spot where Jim Harbaugh has just won his whole career when you kind of count him out. I think Hampton the running back supposed to be back if, if Herbert can be like Aaron Rodgers there with a cast and sling that thing around. I think this Eagles thing gets gets uglier before it gets better.
- [96:02]
Colin Cowherd
Great. Nice job, John.
- [96:05]
The volume.
- [96:09]
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Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekauff
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Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekauff
It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.
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John Middlekauff
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Colin Cowherd
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John Middlekauff
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