Richard Sherman Podcast - AFC Wild Card REACTION: Texans-Steelers, Bills-Jaguars, Patriots-Chargers | Richard Sherman NFL

Summary

---

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Richard Sherman Podcast – AFC Wild Card REACTION

Air Date: January 14, 2026
Featured: Richard Sherman (host), Mitchell (co-host)

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Richard Sherman and Mitchell break down an electric AFC Wild Card weekend, focusing on the Houston Texans' dominant defensive performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, analyze the Bills' gritty win over the Jaguars, and dissect how the Patriots edged out the Chargers under coach Mike Vrabel. The conversation is energetic, with Sherman's signature defensive insights and candid takes on team legacies, coaching, and players’ futures. Notable moments include direct comparisons to Sherman’s legendary "Legion of Boom" days and sharp critique of “offensive genius” coaching decisions.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Main Focus: Defensive dominance, Texans’ upside, Steelers’ future, Aaron Rodgers’ season

• Sherman’s Defensive Praise:
  • Texans’ defense “looked like the class of the AFC” ([01:31]).
  • “I just wanted the offense to just take a knee...because I want this defense back on the field.”
  • Praises defensive stars: “Will Anderson, Daniel Hunter, Kalen Bullock, Kamari Lassiter, Aziz Al-Shaair. Everybody got in on it, and it was a beautiful, beautiful game by that defense.” ([01:31]-[02:30])
• Mitchell’s Offense Notes:
  • Christian Kirk resurges: "Eight receptions, 144 yards, and a touchdown" ([04:20]).
  • "Nick Chubb looked like his old self...48 tough yards.”
  • CJ Stroud struggled: multiple fumbles, a red zone INT.
• Sherman’s Humorous Take:
  • “I thought maybe [Coach] Tomlin was calling the police because, Mitchell, this is assault. Sometimes assault with a deadly weapon.” ([05:30])
• Key Defensive Statline: Texans D: four sacks, several turnovers, two defensive TDs, including a “50 yard pick-six late in the game” ([07:00])
• Legion of Boom Comparison:
  • "What you just described...was reminiscent of the Legion of Boom era" – Mitchell ([07:30])
  • Sherman tempers the comparison but calls it “the best performance by far this playoffs by a defense.” ([07:56])
  • “They finished...took the heart, pulled it out of their chest, threw it on the ground and stepped on it.” ([08:30])
• Steelers’ Offense and Aaron Rodgers:
  • Rodgers’ visible frustration after defensive TDs ([09:18]).
  • Mitchell asks if Rodgers will stay; Sherman calls Steelers fanbase “fatigued…hamster wheel…always first round exit.” ([10:16])
  • “They’ve played in eight playoff games and have eight playoff losses and I think that gets kind of stale.” ([11:00])

Notable Quotes

• Richard Sherman: “Who wants to play the Houston Texans? And the answer is nobody. Not a soul.” ([02:30])
• Richard Sherman: “They didn't even need their offense...Their defense scored two touchdowns. If the offense didn’t show up at all, they still win that game. And that is impressive.” ([28:52])

2. Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Main Focus: Trevor Lawrence’s playoff loss, Jacksonville’s future, Josh Allen’s moment

• Lawrence’s Growth and Jaguars’ Story:
  • Sherman: “I don’t think it does anything for his legacy...It was house money for them...They’re just happy to be here.” ([14:21])
  • Praises emergence of Jacoby Myers and Parker Washington, sees promise with coach Liam Cohen’s system.
• Coaching Critique:
  • “They get too damn cute in these games and they cost their teams every time...If you got a running back that got 12 [yards] a carry, then you let him get a few more carries...” ([17:10]-[18:00])
  • Jags overly reliant on passing, just 14 rush attempts between backs averaging over 8 ypc ([19:12]).
• Buffalo’s Win and Allen’s Legacy:
  • Mitchell: “This is Josh Allen’s time, right? He is the giant that is remaining in this playoffs...This is a big deal for Josh Allen.” ([19:45])
  • Sherman: “I like Buffalo and their performance because they win a road game...But I think the Buffalo Bills are reaching their peak and they could have easily lost this game if [Jags] continued the run game.” ([20:59])
  • Praises Allen: “Josh Allen does not play bad in the playoffs...Even in games that he’s lost to Mahomes and Burrow and Lamar, he’s done his part.” ([21:50])

Notable Quotes

• Richard Sherman: "The thing I'm concerned about is the same thing I'm concerned about with all these offensive genius coaches. They get too damn cute in these games and they cost their teams every time..." ([17:10])
• Richard Sherman: “He [Josh Allen] has not [played bad]...he’ll give them a chance, but this is a very tough defense to go against.” ([21:50])

3. New England Patriots vs. LA Chargers

Main Focus: Mike Vrabel's coaching, Patriots’ defensive identity, Chargers’ struggles

• Vrabel’s Impact:
  • Mitchell: “Mike Vrabel...the fact that he’s the same size as his players and played in the league for numerous seasons...” ([22:44])
  • Sherman: “[Vrabel] has so much passion and love and regard for his players and they can feel that…he wants to be able to look them eye to eye...I want to go to war with you. I’m bleeding like you’re bleeding.” ([23:32])
• Game Notes:
  • Patriots’ defense recorded 5 sacks, forced turnovers, high energy (“defense was roaring…they were feisty” ([25:00]); Chargers’ O-line injuries exposed, New England capitalized.
  • Patriots’ back end: “Christian Gonzalez...he’s going to be an issue...a factor in this game.” ([24:30])
• Looking Ahead vs. Texans:
  • Sherman: “If C.J. Stroud can protect the football…they’ll be fine. But Mike Vrabel is going to have them prepared...If they can beat this Houston Texans team, all bets are off.” ([26:45])
• Patriots’ Offensive Gameplan Against Texans:
  • Sherman: “It’s about protecting the football, and it’s going to be death by a thousand cuts...Stick to the run game. Stick to the run game. Stick to the run game...That’s how you win.” ([27:36])

Notable Quotes

• Richard Sherman: “There’s some success the Steelers found running these corner routes and attacking the edges of these zones...the problem is, it’s a lot easier said than done.” ([27:36])

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• [02:30] Sherman: “Who wants to play the Houston Texans? And the answer is nobody. And I mean, not a soul.”
• [05:30] Sherman (on Texans' defensive dominance): “I thought maybe [Tomlin] was calling the police because...this is assault...sometimes assault with a deadly weapon.”
• [08:30] Sherman (on Texans D): “They finished...took the heart, pulled it out of their chest...threw it on the ground and stepped on it.”
• [14:21] Sherman (on Trevor Lawrence’s loss): “It was house money for them...they’re just happy to be here.”
• [17:10] Sherman (on Jaguars' coaching): “They get too damn cute in these games and they cost their teams every time...”
• [21:50] Sherman (on Josh Allen): “Even in games that he’s lost...he's done his part...his defense has been the reason he's gone home.”
• [23:32] Sherman (on Vrabel’s coaching): “He wants to be able to look them eye to eye...I want to go to war with you. I’m bleeding like you’re bleeding.”
• [27:36] Sherman (how to beat Texans defense): “It’s about protecting the football, and it's going to be death by a thousand cuts...Stick to the run game.”
• [28:52] Sherman (wild card most impressive): “The team that probably impressed me the most: Houston Texans...Their defense scored two touchdowns. If the offense didn't show up at all, they still win that game.”

---

Upcoming Matchups/Outlook

• Texans at Patriots: Defensive masterclass expected, key battle in the trenches.
• Bills at Broncos: Sean Payton’s offense vs. Buffalo’s improving but tested defense.
• Steelers’ Future: Potential coaching changes on the horizon, Aaron Rodgers' fate in question.
• Jaguars: Bright future with Lawrence, key offseason for roster and coaching growth.

---

Summary Table: AFC Wild Card Highlights

| Game | Key Performer(s) | Notable Stat/Quote | Outlook | |-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------| | Texans vs. Steelers | Texans Defense, Christian Kirk | “They are who we thought they were.” – Sherman ([04:41])<br>Defensive TDs sealed blowout | Texans dominant | | Bills vs. Jaguars | Josh Allen, Jacoby Myers | “Josh Allen does not play bad in the playoffs.” – Sherman ([21:50]) | Bills survive, vs DEN | | Patriots vs. Chargers | Patriots Defense, Drake May | “He [Vrabel] wants to be able to look them eye to eye...” – Sherman ([23:32]) | Patriots resilient |

---

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is lively, candid, and analysis-driven with a defensive player’s perspective. Sherman’s high-energy delivery and insights are punctuated with memorable analogies, humor, and real talk about the league’s shifting dynamics, coaching philosophies, and the unique culture great coaches instill in winning teams.

---

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This Wild Card reaction is a must-listen for fans of defensive football, those curious about AFC playoff trajectories, and anyone looking to understand the “why” behind big wins and losses. Sherman’s breakdowns go beyond the box score, highlighting culture, schematic nuance, and what separates good from great playoff teams.

---

Catch the next episode for a Divisional Round preview and more candid NFL talk!

---

Transcript

[Richard Sherman]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human new year. Same extra value meals at McDonald's. Now get a savory sausage McMuffin with egg plus hash browns and a small coffee for just $5 for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California. And for delivery, a man with down.

[Mitchell]

Syndrome tries the impossible, the grand slam in turkey hunting.

[Richard Sherman]

4:53 hits. We're legal, shooting light. And he gives us this one last chust. Ow. And he pitches off. And when he pitches off, he flies right into the gun barrel. I said to the cameraman, do you have him? He said, shoot him. I said, justin, shoot.

[Mitchell]

You can download this episode and others from Lines and Tines with Spencer Graves on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.

[Richard Sherman]

Wherever you get your podcasts. On June 11, 1998, a deputy from.

[Mitchell]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department went missing.

[Richard Sherman]

Hey, if they'll kill a cop and bury him, what are they gonna do to me? What really happened to the missing deputy? Valley of Shadows, a new series from Pushkin Industries about crime and corruption in California's high desert.

[Mitchell]

Listen to Valley of shadows on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Richard Sherman]

Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast, and I just want to say I appreciate you guys. You can be getting your NFL content from anywhere, but you're here with me. I'm thankful for you.

[Mitchell]

So.

[Richard Sherman]

So hit that sub button so you can get the notifications when I'm dropping a new episode. All love, Hope you guys are having a great New Year's, accomplishing all your New Year's resolutions, and staying healthy. Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast. And what a slate of AFC wild card games just finished off with the Houston Texans defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers. And what a game for them. Obviously, we're going to talk about the Bills and Jags and we got to talk about the Pats and Chargers, but the Houston Texans look like the class of the afc. Even on a day where it looked like everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Houston Texans offense. The defense said, hey, don't worry about it. Don't let him score, don't give him a pick six, or let him return a fumble for touchdown. We'll handle the rest. It was a healthy dose of Will Anderson, Daniel Hunter, Kalen Bullock, Kamari Lasseter, Aziz, Al Shair. Everybody got in on it, and it was a beautiful, beautiful game by that defense. I just love it. I enjoyed every second watching that defense. At times Mitchell. I just wanted the offense to just take. Take a knee, go back to the huddle, take another knee, go back to the huddle, take another knee and punt the ball. Because I want this defense back on the field. And I'm going to use a great. A hardball quote, Mitchell, because he always says, who got it better than us? And you got to say, nobody. And all I want to say is, who want to play the Houston Texans? And the answer is nobody. And I mean, not a soul.

[Mitchell]

I'm right there with you, Rich. You saw this one coming, too. You've been talking. You've been talking them up for the last eight weeks. I feel like this defense. I feel you sat down with this secondary at Thursday Night Football when you were down in Houston. You sung their praises, and they delivered. I mean, for a team, the Houston Texans really gave the Pittsburgh Steelers a lot of opportunity, especially in that first class. In that first half, CJ Stroud couldn't seem to hold on to the ball. Fumbled at what, five times. Two lost fumbles. I mean, if the Steelers could have just taken advantage of those opportunities, this game could have been so different. Because if you're just flipping it now and you're seeing a final score of 30 to 6, I can promise you it did not look like that throughout this game. The Texans defense. Oh, my goodness. Relentless, ferocious. Richard. This was a Richard Sherman game. I just feel like you loved watching good defensive football, and that's what we saw today. Offensively, though, the Houston Texans, they got. They got a guy who. A resurgence of which, if you want to call it that, Christian Kirk. What the heck happened there? Eight receptions, 144 yards, and a touchdown.

[Richard Sherman]

He.

[Mitchell]

He was a big bright light for them on that offense as well as Woody Marks. And then the battering ram, Nick Chubb looked like his old self. 48 tough yards. Richard, you love this Texans team, but this was a dismantling in the fourth quarter. I gotta believe you love them even more now.

[Richard Sherman]

Yeah, I love them because they are who we thought they were. We. They are who we thought they would be in these playoffs. And CJ Stroud, I don't think he'll play another game this bad where he fumbles in the pocket, he throws a turnover, he throws an interception in a red zone. Like, it just was an awful, very humbling game for C.J. stroud. And I think. I'm sure he went into that locker room and hugged his defense and appreciated them because they bailed him out. And I know next week he'll go to Gillette Stadium. He'll play better than he did. That Patriots defense though, against the Chargers looked really formidable, really aggressive, running around, hitting very sound. You know, Vrabel is going to have them prepared. But I don't think anything can prepare you for what the Houston Texans are doing to people. Mitchell I thought I saw, I thought I looked over and saw Tomlin on the phone and I was like, why is Tomlin on the phone? It's a game going on. And I thought maybe he's calling the police because Mitchell, this is assault. This was assault and sometimes assault with a deadly weapon. Mitchell I saw people getting hit. Clothesline. I saw people getting flipped over. It was bad. It was bad and it was old school football, the best kind of football. And if the Houston Texans, you can't tell me there's an offensive line left in these playoffs that can, that can block them. And they only send in for. They don't need to send no mo. They only need to send foe. And if you can get away with sending four and getting the kind of pressure that they put on the quarterback, even with the tight end Chip and the running back Chip, it didn't matter. Daniel Hunter was all Pro. Will Anderson, All Pro, I think Petrie All Pro, but they didn't give it to him because they misclassified him. Stingley All Pro. Kamari Lasseter, future all probably Kalen Bullock, 50 yard pick six late in the game, but still put the exclamation point on it is a future all Pro. And when you got guys, young guys who just don't know any better, they get in playoff games and they just do what they did all season, play as sound as they could, run around, hit everything moving. And then you got the Pro Bowler at Mike linebacker Z Z Alstreier doing the same thing he did, commanding the ship, steadying the ship. They're going to be a tough outfit for any team to deal with and I can't wait to see what happens in New England because it's not going to be any kind of walk in the park. And obviously they understand that the, the issues are what are the Houston Texans offense? Is Nico Collins going to be healthy? Can they get that going? What are they going to do against this, this front of the, of the New England Patriots? They're the number two seed for a reason, but they haven't seen anything like this.

[Mitchell]

No question about it, Richard. The way you dissected Houston's defense got me thinking here, man. We've seen a lot of great defenses since the Seattle Seahawks of old Won the Super Bowl. The Legion of Boom, man, I mean, ferocious. What you just described to me was reminiscent of the Legion of Boom era. Richard, is this the closest thing we've seen to the Legion of Boom defense since your playing days with Seattle?

[Richard Sherman]

Well, I don't know because we haven't seen the Seattle Seahawks defense get a chance to play in these playoffs yet. And they've played fantastic all season long. So I can't wait to get it for them to get their chance to audition for that, that seat as the best defense since we stepped on the field. But with, with the teams that have played, that was the best performance by far this playoffs by a defense. They had four sacks, a couple force fumbles. They recovered a fumble and ran it in for a touchdown. They intercepted the football, ran it in for a touchdown. They said it. And that touchdown happened when the game was still in doubt. The score was 10 to 6 and their offense was still struggling. I'm sure Pittsburgh still had hope in this game. Hey, they just need a touchdown. Find a way to score a touchdown in this game. And the Houston Texans defense just said they did the old school Mortal Kombat deal. Mitchell, they finished, they said, took the heart, pulled it out of their chest. Mitchell threw it on the ground and stepped on it. They closed that game. And that's what great defenses do. What they did, if they can go to, if they can go to New England and do the same thing, we'll get a potential rematch of a regular season game versus two of these great defenses in the Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans. If the Denver Broncos can get through the. The Buffalo Bills. And that's going to be a defensive game that's going to have me on.

[Mitchell]

The edge of my seat, no question about it. Let's talk about these Steelers a little bit. You could see the frustration just take over Aaron Rodgers after the. The fumble return for six. Pick six. He was just letting it, letting it fly out there. Once they went down 10 points. Richard, are we going to see Aaron Rodgers back in Pittsburgh next year or is this it? I mean, he, he looked a lot better than I think a lot of folks had anticipated coming into the season. Help lead this team to the playoffs. You know, I don't think this is a season that the organization is going to say, hey, this is a lost season. I think this is a win for them. All things considered, Aaron Rodgers did a lot with not much. I mean, his primary weapon was DK Metcalf. They got Kenneth Gain well involved heavily at the end of the season. Jalen Warren, I mean those are their main offensive weapons that I just rattled off. And Aaron Rodgers led this team to the playoffs. I think he's still got something left in the tank. Do you think we see him next year?

[Richard Sherman]

That's a, that's a question I wish I could answer. I'm not in that front office. I'm not in that ownership group with Rooney, with Rooneys, but I don't know, I really, I really can't put. Because they're. The fan base from what I understand has grown fatigued. Just feeling like they're in a hamster wheel. Like it's always winning season, but it's always first round exit. Like if they make the playoffs, cool. That's like the celebration because they know it's going to be a first round exit. They, they've played in eight playoff games and have eight playoff losses and I think that gets kind of stale. Like it's, I think the same thing happened with the Baltimore Ravens. It's like, hey, okay, we understand you had, you want us a Super Bowl. We appreciate that you've been here a long time. But it's time for some new blood. And I think with the, with the Baltimore Ravens moving on for Jim Har, I mean, John Harbaugh, I think it's gonna, it's gonna maybe spark something in the Pittsburgh Steelers to potentially do the same thing. And maybe Tomlin's thinking the same thing. Maybe it's run its course. And I think if they do that, if they have a change at head coach. I couldn't see Aaron Rodgers coming back in that scenario. I can, I don't know if I see Aaron Rodgers coming back with the regime change in that, in that way because it's almost like a total franchise reset and they'd start, you know, shedding old things and getting new things in there. And, and Pittsburgh doesn't fire coaches often. They don't have new coaches very often. They, they stay with the same coaches for very long periods of time. So if they do get rid of Tomlin, the next coach is going to want to come in immediately and inject his culture and check his rules and everything in place. And does Aaron fit that? Do these older veterans who haven't been with the Pittsburgh Steelers very long fit what they're trying to do? Obviously they're going to have to make a choice on Joey Porter Jr. Who had a fantastic season. Are they going to pay him big time corner money because he showed he can be elite. He played a fantastic game in this playoff game and really showed what he can do. If they don't do it, somebody else will. But I really can't say. Next week will be a big week for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they'll tell.

[Mitchell]

Us a lot about their future, no question about it. Lines and Tines with Spencer Graves on the iHeartRadio app is a podcast designed.

[Richard Sherman]

For hunters and fishermen to enjoy success.

[Spencer Graves]

I like the idea of like, hey, put me on a big deer. You know, hey, there's a big deer out here. He's doing this. Be looking for this deer. But I also love doing it on my home. I love going out there and saying, running my cameras. I love patterning the deer. I like showing up at the right time, checking the wind, knowing what stand I need to be in. And then whenever it all comes together and it happens, that's the most satisfying thing ever. So when you do it on your own, it's like, I then can hang my hat. But if I had somebody say, hey, pull up on these dots and catch them right here and you're going to win. And then when I go in, it's like, yeah, it's cool. I won the tournament. The ultimate goal is done. But it's like, dude, when you find them and you make them bite, that's the puzzle.

[Richard Sherman]

I love it.

[Mitchell]

Listen to Lines and Tines with Spencer Graves on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know you're fired up to talk about this game. The Buffalo Bills take care of your boy. Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. A doozy of a game comes down to the wire. Trevor Lawrence ultimately throws an interception. One there, you know, could potentially go to tie this game, force overtime, potentially win it. Richard, you've had your reservations about Trevor Lawrence for years now, and I've been singing his praises for the second half of the season. And I like what I saw for the most part this game until the lights got bright and the pressure was on him. That interception, Richard, what does that do for Trevor Lawrence's career? Unable to get past the first round after having an overall great season.

[Richard Sherman]

I don't, I don't think it does anything for his legacy. And I think it was just a feel good story in the NFL. You know, the Jacksonville Jaguars had, you know, they won three games last year. So for them to win as many games as they did this season for put themselves in position when the AFC south be, be dominant in some of those games, he gets to play his best football of his career. I think it was, it was house Money for them. You know, they were, you know, it's one of those situations. They're just happy to be here. They're just happy to be here. So you know, he's not held to that same standard that all these elites that the, that the Joe Burrow and the, and the Josh Allen and Mahomes. He's not held to that kind of standard. They're, they're just happy to have made the playoffs. They have, they have something cool they, to build on. Liam Cohen looks like the, looks like a great coach. They built a good culture. They, they brought in, they brought in the receiver Kobe Myers. Jacoby Myers signed him to a longer term deal. He looks like to be a true number two at times a number one for them in that system and he's really comfortable and another offseason with him is going to be fantastic. I think they're really excited. They have really, really great building blocks on that defense as well. They, they created a lot of turnovers, played really good football down the stretch. So I think they feel good. I think the fans feel good and excited about the future. They have hope. So I, I don't think it's anything bad. Even the past that, that Trevor Lawrence got intercepted on, you know, I thought it was a good ball. It's one of those situations where DB made a great play. Our guy Trudevius White had a fantastic game for the Buffalo Bills. You love to see that for him. You know, that's his true home. The team that drafted him, he made his rounds other places and came back home and is still able to make plays for that team and it just felt good to see that. But you know, I know everybody thought I would just kill on, on Trevor Lawrence, but it just, he played solid in that game. You know, when, when it's deserved. When he, when he, when he does not play well, I will let you. You know, he did not play well, but when he plays well, he had a really good season. He had a really good game. He did unfortunately have the turnover but, but he was, he was pushing the ball down the field, making plays with his legs like he had all season. He didn't play, he didn't regress in this game. You know, the Buffalo Bills just played better. They had more time, they made enough plays and the ball bounced their way. So I think it was still a good season for the Jacksonville Jaguars and, and they got a bright future. They got to continue it. The, the, the. I don't even want to say resurgence of Parker Washington, but the emergence of, of Parker Washington was huge for them. He got a little banged up in this game and the offense went really stagnant. And then he got back in the game and you saw his impact immediately he started, they started to drive the ball down the field. He started to make big plays, explosive plays came right after he returned. So it was really cool to see him. The thing I was concerned about is the same thing I'm concerned about with all these offensive genius coaches. They get too damn cute in these games and they cost their teams every time they want to show. Oh, I got all these cool concepts. Watch, watch what I do with my quarterback. Watch, watch all these concepts down the field. When you had, when you had Tutin averaging 12 yards to carry, he only had four carries. Mitchell, he, he had four carries. He averaged 12 a carry. And you thought, hey, don't give him the ball anymore. Travis Etn was running the ball well. You think, ah, we don't need to run anymore. I got all these, I got this list of pass plays I want to get off. And that's the thing that is going to have to change in the playoffs. It's what LaFleur keeps learning, the hard lesson. He keeps learning. It's the lesson that, that Kyle Shanahan, mini Super Bowls, multiple Super Bowls, where everybody's conversation is, he should have won the ball more. And I'm sure he looks at himself and kicks himself about that because he knows he should have ran the ball more. And you look at this game, if they had just stuck with the run game, their defense was playing good football. Run the football, keep running the football. Run the clock like you're dominating. Their offensive line was dominant. They were moving the Buffalo Bills out. They're displacing them, resetting the line of scrimmage consistently. And they went away from it. And they went away from it. And that's when the interceptions come. That's when the mistakes started to happen because you unnecessarily went away from it. You don't need to showcase your quarterback like, cool. You gotta. You got a quarterback you believe in. Understood. But if you're, if you got a running back that got 12, getting 12 a carry, then you let him get a few more carries. Until proven otherwise, he was getting chuck plays. I think it was the first drive of the game. He got 14 yards, 12 yards, 20 yards. And then you look up and I don't think he touched the field again. And so those are the things that I'm sure Liam Cohen, it's his first, first year and he It's a great first year for him, things he'll learn from and be better in the future.

[Mitchell]

And to that point they had 14 rush attempts between ETN and Tuton all game. And guess what? On those 14 attempts they had 118 yards. Yeah, to that point. And this was a defense that overall contained one of the best running backs in football in James Cook held him to 46 yards on 15 carries. I saw a stat leading in I don't know the last time the Jags gave up more than 80 yards rushing to a running back. I don't know if it didn't happen all season or what, but there was, there was rumblings this might be the best run defense in football in Jacksonville and they took it to James Cook and that's when the tide turned and it was Josh Allen's time to shine and he rose to the occasion. 273 yards and a touchdown. Let's talk about legacy because this is, this is Josh Allen's time, right? He is the giant that is remaining in this playoffs. There is no Patrick Mahomes. There's no longer any Tom Brady's of the world out there. This is Josh Allen's moment as a seven seed. They're going to be going on the road playing against Denver. They took it to him last wild card last year and this is a different Buffalo team. I mean Khalil Shakir was who was leaned on all game, 12 receptions, 82 yards. You know he's a sure handed guy but he's not a deep threat. He's more of a sly guy. And then they got the guy, Brandon Cooks, you know the veteran, the sure handed veteran that unfortunately had a big drop this game. But he provides another safety net for Josh Allen. I know you're not as high on Buffalo as I am. I do like Buffalo to come out of the afc. Do you see anything differently after this game? Because let's not sell it short. Beating Jacksonville on the road and what Vegas called a toss up game is a big deal and it's a big deal for Josh Allen. Do you like Buffalo and their performance this game?

[Richard Sherman]

I like Buffalo and their performance because they win a road game. But again I, I did. I wasn't as high on the Jacksonville Jaguars as everybody else was. I think, I think they're a fantastic feel good story. They played great ball. No question about it. I thought the Buffalo Bills could win this game. That's why I preview pre. In the preview playoff preview I said Buffalo Bills will win this game. But I think the Buffalo Bills are reaching their peak and they could have easily lost this game if they continue to stick to the run game. They, Buffalo had no answer for it. They had no answer for what they were doing on the ground. And I think they're going to run into the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton's not going to make that mistake. He has no problem. He's not going to get bored running the football. He'll. He'll run the football until the cows come home, if that's what you're going to give him. He's going to take what the defense gives him and I think that's what's going to make this game different. His defense isn't going to let Josh Allen just beat him. They're going to be good against the pass, they're going to be good against James Cook. And I think that's going to be the difference in this next game, is the run game. Can Bo Nix be, be as efficient as he needs to be to beat the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen? We'll see. Josh Allen does not play bad in the playoffs. He does not. He has not. And I don't think he will this game. He's even in games that he's lost to Patrick Mahomes and Burrow and Lamar. He's played, he's done his part and he's thrown for 300 plus yards and multiple touchdowns. And again, the defense has been the reason he's gone home. And I think that'll be the, the, the truth in this game. I think he'll do his part and he'll give, give them a chance. But this is a very tough defense to go go against. Really talented, really talented pass rushers. And I think on the other side, Courtland Sutton is going to give a lot of problems to this Buffalo Bills defense.

[Mitchell]

Next weekend is going to be a wild one, no question about it. We got to move on to the New England Patriots taking care of business against la. New England went off this offseason and spent a boatload of money on veteran free agents, one of which was Milton Williams, who we saw come over from the Philadelphia Eagles. And this guy, before we get into this game, the sack that ended this game, you could just see the energy on that sideline. Mike Vrabel, and I know you like Mike Vrabel a lot, former player, obviously. Heck of a coach, comes there with full emotion every day. He walks away chest bumps. Milt Williams gets a bloody lip. Richard, how much do you love seeing that from your coach? I know Pete was fiery, but I think Mike Vrabel is a different level of fiery. Having, you know, the fact that he's the same size as his players and played in the league for numerous seasons.

[Richard Sherman]

I think, I think that's what makes this, this New England Patriots team so fun. He's such a different coach than Bill Belichick. I'm sure he has some foundational things that he tries to emulate from a very successful New England Patriots coach. But he has so much passion and love and regard for his players and they can feel that. You, you can tell he doesn't want to be there to be a gap between them. He doesn't want there to be, hey, this coach player hierarchy, he wants to be able to look them eye to eye them to understand I care about you. We're in this battle together. I want to go to war with you. I'm bleeding like you bleeding. And I think that's why these guys are going all out and, and playing their best football to for him. He's maximizing these defensive players. There's so many guys that were, that were kind of cast offs that he's taken in and they have really, really played at the top of their game for him and it's beautiful to see. And then in the back end, Christian Gonzalez, he's going to be an issue. He's going to be a factor in this game. And but the Chargers defense got to Drake May and they got to him consistently. Owe had three sacks, they sacked Drake May five times, forced two fumbles in that game. They took one football from him. They intercepted him. And again that's the thing that I think is going to doom them against the Houston Texans is those issues dealing with Oway. You think Oway was an issue with, wait till you deal with Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson. They're a whole different beast than that. And they are, they are going to be there and they're going to be pass rushing consistently. They're going to be, they're going to give you a lot of issues. So can they push the ball down the field as they've done all season long? Can Drake may have the time to be as efficient of a downfield passer as he's been. I'm not sure, I'm not sure he's going to be able to do that. But he was able to do it in this game but versus the Chargers. But it started slow. This game was a 36 ball game for a lot of this game and it was back and forth. They couldn't get away. And a lot of the Chargers issues are because they were without their two star tackles and Rashan Slater, who they lost in training camp, and Joe Alt, who they lost multiple times during a season and finally lost for good somewhere a little past midseason to that high ankle sprain. They, they couldn't, they couldn't protect her. And the New England Patriots took advantage of it. They sacked him six times. That defense was roaring. They were, they were feisty. They were, they were running and hitting. I mean, they look like a Mike Vrabel coach defense, no question about that. But, but are they going to be able to do that to the Houston Texans? Now, the Houston Texans O line, they aren't world beaters. They gave up some pressure to, to, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, no question about it. And, and C.J. stroud fumbled the football, so that's going to be a concern. Clayvon Chase on played really well in this game, and Milton Williams, they both had two sacks a piece. But if C.J. stroud can protect the football and they can give it to Marks and they can do what they need to do to run the football, a consistent chub dose of, of Nick Chubb, they'll be fine. But we'll see. As I said, Mike Vrabel is going to have him so prepared. This is a big win against the Chargers. This team, everybody has said this Patriots team, they, they had such a light schedule, such an easy, soft schedule. They're not going to be able to beat winning teams. And they beat a very good Chargers team, a very good Chargers defense, and I'm looking forward. If they can beat this Houston Texans team, all bets are off.

[Mitchell]

You know what? They look confident, and Drake May looks poised beyond his years. And then you add in the battering rams at running back Travion Henderson and Ramandre Stevenson. They've got the pieces available at their disposal to take care of Houston. Richard, how do you coach the Patriots up offensively to beat a defense like Houston? Because it seems like it might be an insurmountable task right now.

[Richard Sherman]

It's, it's about protecting a football, and it's going to be death by a thousand cuts. You got to take what that defense gives you. There was some, there was some success that the Pittsburgh Steelers found, you know, running these corner, corner routes and attacking the edges of these defenses, the edges of these zones and putting them in tough positions. So if they can protect Drake May long enough there. There are some holes in this secondary, holes in these, these zones that they run that you can take advantage of. The problem is it's A lot easier said than done. Um, but if they can block it up, you know, they, they've been susceptible to, to some of these corner routes, and if you, if you can get in a second window, these dig routes so there's a chance they, they can do that, they can get that done. They'll have to really stick to the run game. Stick to the run game, Stick to the run game, Stick to the run game. And you can't go away from it. That's playoff football. And Mike Vrabel, of course, knows that. Run the football, don't turn the ball over, play great defense, and that's. That's how you win.

[Mitchell]

Well, it was an exceptional wild card weekend. You know what? I. I got to stay Saturday night wild finishes Sunday. Good games. I mean, which game impressed you the most? So, Richard, which team really impressed you the most this wild card weekend?

[Richard Sherman]

The team that probably impressed me the most. Houston Texans. It's. It's got to be the Houston Texans. Just because they just looked so dominant in this game. They didn't even need their offense to show up on the field at all. Their defense scored two touchdowns. If the offense didn't show up at all, they still win that game. And that is impressive. That's really impressive. They're going against a future hall of Fame quarterback and Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, a tough place to play in the weather, in the conditions, and they walk all. Dog walk that offense all over the field and had their way, and I expect them to go to New England and really, really be dominant.

[Mitchell]

Well, Richard, we've been doing this for a number of years now. You've developed, you know, a good fit fan base, but also a certain number of haters from different team markets. You know what, a lot of people coming at you in the comment section all season long, but I got to give it to you, man, you're a savant. Six for six right in. In your calls on wild card weekend. So all the haters up in Green Bay, hate to tell you, Richard was right. All the haters in Jacksonville, hate to tell you Richard was right. Richard, impressive showing by you. Wild car weekend. Impressive showing on Saturday night in Chicago. It's been a hell of a weekend. It's been a hell of a time all season long, my man. We got another great one coming up next weekend. Richard, always a pleasure. I'll let you sign us off, my friend.

[Richard Sherman]

As always, we appreciate you guys joining us. You could be anywhere in the world, but you're here with us, and we sincerely appreciate it. You're getting your NFL content. Understand this. The city season must go on. If your team lost, don't worry about it. Go watch some college football. Get ready for the draft. If your team's still in it, keep hope alive. Cheer loudly and make sure you check us out for a divisional round preview coming up later this week. Can't wait. Hit that sub button if you know. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.