Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: NFL Predictions

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
• Episode: Hour 2 - NFL Predictions
• Release Date: July 14, 2025

1. NFL Division Winners Predictions

Timestamp: [02:25] - [07:00]

Colin Cowherd kicks off the episode by presenting his predictions for the NFL division winners, preparing audiences for a deep dive into his analysis as he heads to Las Vegas for Futures bets. He outlines his picks for each division, emphasizing both favorites and surprise contenders:

• AFC East: Buffalo Bills – Colin asserts, “They are an absolute lock” to win the division, highlighting Josh Allen’s leadership and the team's dominance ([04:33]).

• AFC North: Baltimore Ravens – With Lamar Jackson at the helm and key players like Derek Henry and Marlon Humphrey, Colin believes the Ravens are “heavily favored” ([04:33]).

• AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars – A surprising pick, Colin forecasts a turnaround from 4-13 to division winners, citing Travis Hunter and a promising new coach ([05:20]).

• AFC West: Los Angeles Chargers – Contending against the Chiefs, Colin supports Jim Harbaugh’s leadership and Herbert’s improved offense ([05:20]).

• NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles – Defending champions with a robust defense and a solid offensive lineup make them favorites in this division ([06:00]).

• NFC North: Minnesota Vikings – Colin takes a major curveball by predicting the Vikings to top the division at +350 odds, banking on J.J. McCarthy’s potential ([06:00]).

• NFC South: Atlanta Falcons – Bolstered by Michael Penix and Kirk Cousins as a reliable backup, Colin sees the Falcons dethroning Tampa Bay ([06:00]).

• NFC West: San Francisco 49ers – Despite challenges, Brock Purdy is expected to lead the Niners to a division win, emphasizing their schedule advantage ([06:00]).

Colin concludes with a summary of his picks: “Bills and Ravens, no surprise. Jags are a surprise. Chargers, an upset. Eagles nobody would be surprised by, and then Vikings, Falcons, Niners” ([07:00]).

2. Guest Segment: Matt Hasselbeck on NFL Predictions

Timestamp: [07:00] - [28:27]

Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joins Colin to dissect the division predictions and delve deeper into quarterback performances.

Key Discussions:

• Quarterback Rankings and Evaluations:

  • Daniel Jones vs. Anthony Richardson (Colts):

    • Colin expresses skepticism about Anthony Richardson’s readiness, stating, “the Bills will win the AFC East. That is an absolute lock” and favors Daniel Jones for consistency ([09:17]).

    • Matt counters by highlighting Richardson’s athleticism but agrees on Jones's steadiness: “Daniel Jones is kind of a slow and steady wins the race kind of thing” ([13:19]).

  • Jaden Daniels’ Performance:

    • Colin praises Daniels’ clutch performances, noting his ability to “make it in the one opportunity” ([19:28]).

    • Matt questions whether one stellar season warrants a top-10 ranking, contemplating potential regression ([19:28]).

  • Brock Purdy’s Role:

    • Colin downplays Purdy’s placement in the top 10, asserting, “No, listen, I think he's awesome and I think Dak's a good quarterback, too. But top 10 is top 10” ([22:15]).

    • Matt agrees but emphasizes Purdy’s suitability for the 49ers despite not being a top-10 QB ([22:15]).

• Team Improvements:

  • Las Vegas Raiders:

    • Colin lauds the Raiders for acquisitions like Geno Smith and Ashton Gentry, attributing improvements to Tom Brady’s influence ([24:00]).

  • New England Patriots:

    • Upgrades in coaching and player acquisitions, particularly on the offensive line and defense, position the Patriots as potential playoff contenders ([25:39]).

  • Chicago Bears:

    • A significant offseason improvement with a stabilized GM and head coach, focusing on Caleb Williams as a franchise quarterback ([25:39]).

Notable Quotes:

• Colin on Jaden Daniels: “He makes it in that split second and just he makes it look easy.” ([19:28])
• Matt on Daniel Jones: “His weakness is that he was putting himself in, in put himself in harm too much.” ([14:27])
• Colin on Top 10 QBs: “Top 10 is top 10. I mean, that's, you know, it's, it's, it's rare air.” ([22:15])

3. Offseason Winners and Team Builds

Timestamp: [23:38] - [28:27]

Colin and Matt shift focus to the NFL offseason, discussing teams poised for significant improvement.

Colin’s Offseason Winners:

• Minnesota Vikings: Emphasizes their strong defense and investment in the offensive line, banking on J.J. McCarthy’s development ([24:00]).

• Las Vegas Raiders: Credits Pete Carroll and strategic signings for the team's enhanced performance ([24:00]).

• New England Patriots: Highlights coaching upgrades and key player acquisitions as drivers for their resurgence ([24:00]).

• Chicago Bears: Applauds the Bears for securing Ryan Poles and building around Caleb Williams, setting a foundation for success ([25:39]).

Matt’s Insights:

• Colin’s choices resonate with Matt, especially regarding the Patriots and Bears.
• Matt discusses the challenges Detroit faces, noting their coordinator losses and leadership strength, suggesting potential struggles in their division ([26:46]).

Notable Quotes:

• Colin on the Patriots: “They were terrible last year. They're going to be potentially a playoff team this year.” ([25:39])
• Matt on Team Improvements: “They got a lot of change. We got to see how they do now.” ([24:00])

4. Controversial Topic: Travis Hunter Playing Both Ways

Timestamp: [28:58] - [47:28]

A heated debate unfolds around Jacksonville Jaguars’ Travis Hunter potentially playing both offense and defense.

Key Points:

• Travis Hunter’s Dual Role:

  • Matt expresses concerns about the feasibility of Hunter excelling on both sides of the ball, comparing it to Deion Sanders and citing the NFL's increased complexity ([35:07]).

  • Colin remains skeptical, highlighting the grueling schedule and the high-pressure environments Hunter would face: “Travis Hunter may excel for a week, and maybe he has a splash play or two… but that schedule is brutal” ([35:07]).

• Expert Opinion:

  • Marlon Humphrey, Ravens Defensive Back:
    • Warns against the feasibility, stating, “I think he's really got a tough challenge ahead” and doubts Hunter can sustain high-level performance on both fronts ([35:07]).

• Fan and Celebrity Reactions:

  • Matt mentions backlash from fans like Lil Wayne, who defends Hunter, emphasizing his athleticism and popularity ([35:07]).

Notable Quotes:

• Marlon Humphrey: “I think eventually he will realize, man, it's really, really hard to do this at a high level” ([35:38]).
• Matt on Travis Hunter: “The idea that he's going to go out on the first defensive series and try to tackle running backs in space… that's insane” ([35:07]).

5. Teasers and Future Topics

Timestamp: [47:28] - [End]

The episode concludes with teasers for upcoming segments, including discussions on LeBron James with former NBA center Ryan Hollins and a preview of Colin’s own controversial top 10 quarterback list.

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners received an in-depth analysis of NFL division winners, quarterback performances, and team offseason moves, enriched by expert insights from Matt Hasselbeck. The debate around Travis Hunter’s potential dual-role role highlighted the challenges and differing opinions within the sports community. The episode effectively covered key NFL topics while maintaining engagement through expert commentary and notable quotes.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• Colin on Buffalo Bills: “They are an absolute lock” ([04:33]).
• Colin on Jaden Daniels: “He makes it in that split second and just he makes it look easy.” ([19:28]).
• Marlon Humphrey on Travis Hunter: “I think he's really got a tough challenge ahead.” ([35:38]).
• Matt on Travis Hunter: “That's insane. That's way too much pressure on a young kid.” ([35:07]).

For those who haven’t listened, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the current NFL landscape, blending predictions with expert analysis and spirited debates.