Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 2 – Blazin' 5
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre and guest Robert Griffin III)

Overview

This episode dives into Colin's weekly NFL "Blazin' 5" picks, in-depth analysis of key college and NFL storylines, and expert commentary from Robert Griffin III (RG3). The show explores themes such as the impact of coaching changes, player development and career arcs, transfer portal shakeups, and the connection between cities, teams, and franchise quarterbacks. The tone is lively, opinionated, and deeply analytical, with memorable moments, friendly debates, and candid insights for both fans and bettors.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Blazin' 5 NFL Picks & Analysis

Segment starts: 03:01

Colin outlines his five favorite games and picks for the weekend, complete with reasoning and score predictions.

Picks & Rationale:

• Seahawks at 49ers

  • Seattle (-1.5) on the road, citing recent dominance and roster depth.
  • Memorable stat: "Seattle on the road is really good. Almost better than they are at home." (04:01)
  • Prediction: Seahawks 27, 49ers 23

• Browns at Bengals

  • Bengals favored, based on recent offensive success and turnover margin.
  • Key line: "Shador Sanders against Burrow feels like a major, major disadvantage." (05:08)
  • Prediction: Bengals 30, Browns 21

• Lions at Bears

  • Bears (-2.5) at home, with an edge due to their rushing offense.
  • Insight: "Caleb Williams...has always been good at Soldier Field." (05:29)
  • Prediction: Bears 28, Lions 24

• Cardinals at Rams

  • Rams to win and cover: McVay's motivation is highlighted.
  • From Colin: "If Stafford is comfortable, he rolls. I think Sean McVay would pour it on if he could." (06:40)
  • Prediction: Rams 31, Cardinals 20

• Ravens at Steelers

  • Takes the underdog Steelers to cover in a close divisional matchup.
  • Sharp stat: "Ten of the last 11 meetings with these two have been one-score games." (07:58)
  • Prediction: Ravens 21, Steelers 20 (Steelers to cover)

Colin’s recap: “Last week we took all dogs...and we were 2 and 3. Let's end our blazing 5. We've had a good year. 58.3%. Let's end it on a strong note." (03:14)

2. Guest Analysis: Robert Griffin III on College & NFL QBs

Segment starts: 09:34

Ohio State’s Offensive Shift

• RG3 on coaching changes:
  • “...very weird transition, especially when you haven't been doing it the entire season...If you're really trying to win the big one, you don't want to make that drastic of a switch at the last second.” (10:24)
  • Highlights the importance of continuity for teams in big games.

Fernando Mendoza as a Pro Prospect

• RG3: “I think he's a first-round pick, I think he's a top-10 pick...He can make every throw on the field and he's not afraid of the big moments.” (11:42)
• Emphasizes maturity, football IQ, and size.

Miami’s Season & Identity

• RG3 on Miami's midseason shift:
  • “...they decided we're not going to be the Carson Beck led Miami Hurricanes... Sometimes you got to go back to the trenches, which is where football has always won.” (13:57)
• Praises coaching for adapting to roster strengths.
• Conference bias and the rise of teams beyond traditional bluebloods discussed.

Ole Miss Playoff Hopes

• RG3 on Ole Miss:
  • “I don't think they're good enough defensively. Georgia put 34 on them...”
  • Trinidad Chambliss’ story called “phenomenal” and movie-worthy (16:00)

3. Quarterback Career Arcs & Evaluations

Sam Darnold’s Journey

• Colin: “I look at him and I think nobody can win in New York.”
• RG3: “...a classic case of an organization failing a young quarterback...If you don't believe in a quarterback wholly, you know, head coach, gm, owner, don't draft.” (18:23)
• Success hinges on team support, weapons, and consistent belief.

Lamar Jackson’s Value in Baltimore

• Colin’s tier system: Six QBs you never trade, Lamar is just outside but still nearly untouchable.
• RG3: “Baltimore Ravens fans would burn the city to the ground if the Ravens traded Lamar Jackson.” (22:48)
• Lamar is “the city” of Baltimore; his leadership style and authentic persona have endeared him to fans and the locker room.
• “They never tried to change Lamar...They allowed Lamar Jackson to be Lamar Jackson.” (26:17)

4. News & Storylines Around the League

Starts: 34:24 (Herdline News)

Micah Parsons & Cowboys Drama

• Jason & Colin discuss the fallout of Matt Eberflus’ interview and Parsons’ reaction to media criticism.
• Colin: “He was acting like [Parsons] was just a guy. It was disrespectful...I am a fan of the little man, Micah Parsons...he is the underdog here." (35:20)

Minnesota Vikings & J.J. McCarthy

• Concerns over McCarthy’s durability and development; Colin and J. Mac debate his future.

Arch Manning Breaks Out

• Noting 376 yards, 4 TDs in Citrus Bowl, MVP honors.
• Colin: “He looks really good in that game...”
• Debates on the transfer portal impact and Texas’s status as an emerging powerhouse.

5. NFL “Person of the Year” Reveal

Segment: 48:09

• Colin’s pick: Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears head coach)
• Rationale:
  • “For one man to have that influence to two separate organizations, you can go ahead and name Elon Musk or your favorite politician. The Herd’s first annual person of the year is Ben Johnson.” (48:37)
• Johnson transformed the Bears and previously made major impact in Detroit.

6. 49ers vs. Seahawks Debate: Darnold & Roster Depth

Starts: 49:59; resumes 51:59–54:44

• Colin: High on Seattle’s road performance, depth, youth, and defense.
• JSN and Darnold chemistry highlighted.
• Jason McIntyre: Slight edge to 49ers at home due to offensive momentum and line movement.

Quote:
“Seattle’s got the deeper, younger, more athletic roster. Much, much better defense. But again, if McCaffrey busts it for 140 yards, Kittle has seven catches...San Francisco wins the game.” (51:11)

Notable Quotes & Time Stamps

• Colin on offense and coaching switches:
  “I think it’s very difficult to suddenly pivot against the two best defenses you play.” (10:02)

• RG3 on QB support:
  “Every quarterback now, this myth that man, he can do it by himself, is just not true…” (18:23)

• Colin on Lamar:
  “There’s no quarterback in the league...more popular within the city, the area codes of the city, than Lamar Jackson.” (25:57)

• RG3 on city & quarterback synergy:
  “He is the city. Baltimore must be dark chocolate city or something...He embodies all those things.” (26:17)

• Colin naming Person of the Year:
  “The Herd’s first annual Person of the Year is Ben Johnson.” (48:37)

Memorable Moments

• Colin and J. Mac’s back-and-forth on the pros and cons of Sam Darnold and the nuances of “reckless” quarterback play.
• RG3’s anecdotes about coaching changes, mentorship with Lamar Jackson, and advocacy for patience and belief in young QBs.
• Friendly ribbing over “Person of the Year” and who gets their “Valentine’s” in the NFL (Sam Darnold for Colin, Brock Purdy for J. Mac).
• Detailed, lively breakdowns of Blazin’ 5 picks, with stats and locker room context.

Useful Timestamps

• Blazin’ 5 picks intro: 03:01
• Full picks and analysis: 04:22–08:56
• RG3 joins for college/NFL discussion: 09:34
• Lamar Jackson as the face of Baltimore: 22:48, 26:17
• Herdline News: 34:24
• Person of the Year announcement: 48:09
• Seahawks/49ers deep dive: 49:59, 51:59

Conclusion

This episode offered a blend of sharp sports gambling advice, high-level football analysis, and personal insight. Key topics included the importance of continuity for quarterbacks, how identity and culture tie a city to its quarterback, and a continued evolution in how teams assess value—on the field and sidelines. With RG3’s unique perspective and Colin’s trademark candor, it’s a must-listen for avid fans of both pro and college football.