The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Richard Sherman Podcast

Rams-Seahawks & Patriots-Broncos Reaction: Sam Darnold vs Drake Maye Super Bowl

Podcast Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Richard Sherman (with co-host Mitchell)

Episode Overview

This episode covers NFC and AFC Championship game reactions, breaking down the Seattle Seahawks’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots' close win in snowy Denver against the Broncos. Richard Sherman and Mitchell analyze the standout performances, coaching decisions, and set up early storylines for the looming Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl. The hosts also dive into player redemption arcs, the controversial decisions in both games, and Richard reflects on comparisons to his own Super Bowl experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Seahawks vs. Rams: Sam Darnold’s Redemption

• Sam Darnold’s Breakout:
  Sherman opens with high praise for Sam Darnold, highlighting his stats — 25/36, 346 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Despite early-career criticism and a "can't win the big one" reputation, Darnold delivered an MVP-level performance.

  “Sam Darnold could not have played a better game... Sam Darnold, 25 of 36, 346 yards, three touchdowns. Guess how many interceptions, Mitchell? Zero.” (Sherman, 03:00)

• Seattle’s Defense:

  • Key to holding the Rams to only 1-for-8 on third downs.
  • The "dark side" of the defense made crucial stops, especially in late-game situations.
  • Reek (Tyreek) Woolen’s emotional penalty and recovery highlighted as a turning point and learning moment.

• Offensive Standouts:

  • JSN (Jackson Smith-Njigba):

    “If you're going to the Super Bowl and don't know his name, JSN is perfectly acceptable. Probably the offensive player of the year.” (Sherman, 03:32)

  • K9 (Kenneth Walker):
    • Not a huge rushing night but critical in the passing game and on converting crucial third downs.
    • Mitchell nominates K9 as a potential Super Bowl MVP:

      “I'm calling it... I like K9 to take home the MVP.” (Mitchell, 25:31)

• Coaching & Schematics:

  • Clint Kubiak’s Play Calling: Noted for a particularly creative design on the JSN touchdown.
  • Mike Macdonald’s Defensive Packages: Sherman details adjustments and personnel versatility, especially Nick Emmanwori's defensive exploits:

    “He was everywhere like project roaches.... Is he playing corner, is he playing safety, is he playing nickel? ...And he's only a rookie.” (Sherman, 08:16)

• Critical Game Moments:

  • Seahawks score just before halftime to flip the momentum.
  • Rams’ Xavier Scott muffed a punt, leading to a pivotal Seahawks touchdown.
  • Emotional swings: Tyreek Woolen penalty leads directly to Rams' score but is followed by defensive composure and resilience.

2. Comparisons and Historic Context

• Seahawks Then and Now:
  Sherman declines to directly compare this team to the 2013-2014 squad, calling them “two different species of animal” (Sherman, 05:47), but acknowledges the symmetry: Seahawks returning to the Super Bowl against the Patriots.

• Darnold’s Career Arc:

  • Both hosts marvel at Darnold's journey from Jets “bust” to Super Bowl starter.

    “You talk about career arc, you talk about a resurgence, you talk about a comeback story. Don't call it a comeback. He's been here for years.” (Sherman, 12:00)

• Minnesota Vikings’ Regret:

  • The conversation turns to the Vikings’ decision to move on from Darnold, casting it as a franchise-altering mistake:

    “Minnesota Vikings fans, I tried to tell you... You go from 14 wins to trying to find a win.” (Sherman, 20:25)

    • Compares their position to “eating ice cream out the tub” while watching their ex thrive.

3. Patriots vs. Broncos: Old-School Football and Coaching Gambles

• Denver’s Critical Mistake:

  • Sean Payton's decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 instead of taking the field goal is criticized:

    “Yes, yes. You take the point, you always take the points. And it's just become a day and age of analytics...” (Sherman, 32:42)

  • Sherman respects Payton's analytical approach but says this gamble will “haunt him for a very, very long time.”

• Drake Maye's Progress:

  • Patriots' young quarterback Drake Maye, called "starving" and “hungry” by Sherman (05:54), managed the snow and physical Denver defense, but was sacked five times.
  • Maye's legs, not arm (10 completions, 86 passing yards, 1 rushing TD), were key to the win.

• Vrabel’s Coaching Stock:

  • Richard lauds Mike Vrabel, now Patriots head coach, for mastering the transition and coaching style — contrasting New England’s trajectory with Tennessee’s “Hall of Fame bad decisions” (Sherman, 34:35).

4. Super Bowl Matchup: Early Look (Seahawks vs. Patriots)

• Schematics and Matchups:

  • Sherman expects Christian Gonzalez (Patriots) to cover JSN, Carlton Davis on Rasheed Shahid, but predicts Kubiak will move JSN around to avoid predictable coverage.

    “I think Jackson, Smith and Jigba is going to be on the move the entire game.” (Sherman, 39:00)

• Seahawks Favored:

  • Both hosts lean toward Seattle as favorites, but Sherman is cautious:

    “I just can't see a world... Nah, it's gonna be about—let's just say that I don't want to jinx nothing. It's going to be a dog fight. It's going to be a battle.” (Sherman, 40:40)

• Super Bowl History Lessons:

  • The AFC has been dominated by New England and Kansas City; only the Bengals (2021-22) broke the streak.

    “If you look at the AFC side, outside of the Cincinnati Bengals, there's nobody that goes to the Super Bowl from the AFC unless you're Kansas City or the New England Patriots...” (Sherman, 41:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Darnold’s playoff poise:

  “Turnovers don't matter if you're not doing them in the playoffs. Playoff football is what matters. And he has not turned it over... he’s playing his best ball when his best is required.” (Sherman, 19:24)

• On Vikings’ regret after trade:

  “That's like your ex girlfriend going out and marrying a movie star and she leaving you and going to marry Jeff Bezos. And now you gotta live with that.” (Sherman, 23:55)

• On emotional control in high stakes:

  “Being calm in chaos is what creates champions.” (Sherman, 10:40)

• On Nick Emmanwori’s defensive brilliance:

  “He was everywhere like project roaches.... Is he playing corner, is he playing safety, is he playing nickel?... And he’s only a rookie.” (Sherman, 08:16)

• On Tom Brady’s thoughts:

  “He was just talking, you know, glowingly about this defense and... even offensively, Jackson, Smith and Jigba and what they've done... They're an incredible team, like, they deserve to be here.” (Sherman, 16:43)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:50 | Episode intro, Seahawks return to the Super Bowl | | 02:58 | Sam Darnold's impressive, mistake-free performance | | 03:40 | Defensive highlights; JSN’s breakthrough; Stafford’s outing | | 05:42 | No direct Seahawks 2013-14 comparison; Patriots matchup setup | | 07:24 | Kubiak's offensive play design for JSN | | 08:16 | Defensive MVP talk—Nick Emmanwori’s impact | | 10:05 | Late-game defensive play calls, Tyreek Woolen penalty & coaching reactions | | 12:00 | Darnold's career redemption arc, Doug Baldwin’s in-game observation | | 15:43 | Seahawks score before half, game-changing muffed punt | | 16:43 | Sherman on Tom Brady’s evaluation of Seahawks | | 19:24 | Playoff turnovers; Darnold’s clutch postseason play | | 20:25 | Vikings' decision to trade Darnold; franchise implications | | 23:55 | Sherman’s “ex-girlfriend” analogy for Vikings’ regret | | 32:42 | Sean Payton’s analytics-driven 4th down call | | 34:35 | Mike Vrabel’s rise; Tennessee’s coaching/front office mistakes | | 36:51 | Breaking down Drake Maye’s AFC Championship performance | | 37:36 | Controversial Stidham fumble call; Sherman’s take on officiating | | 39:00 | Early Super Bowl matchup breakdown & coverage schemes | | 41:20 | AFC Super Bowl history; Seattle’s return |

Tone and Style

The discussion is lively, passionate, and thoughtful. Sherman mixes in blunt assessments ("You always take the points"), humor ("He was everywhere like project roaches"), relatable analogies, and in-depth technical analysis, especially on defensive schematics and emotional momentum. Both hosts meld detailed X’s and O’s breakdowns with accessible storytelling for casual and hardcore fans alike.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Sam Darnold’s playoff performance has finally cemented him as an elite, big-game quarterback.
• The Seahawks’ resurgence is attributed as much to elite coaching and defense as Darnold’s arc.
• Critical in-game decisions, like Payton’s and the Vikings’ front office, can echo through franchises for years.
• The Super Bowl matchup is rife with narrative: Darnold's redemption, Patriots' fast rebuild under Vrabel, and a rematch of the iconic Seahawks-Patriots clash.
• Emotional management and adaptability, as much as pure strategy, are key to NFL playoff success.

Next episode: Seahawks vs. Patriots Super Bowl preview and interviews.
Recommendation: Subscribe for continued in-depth NFL analysis, big-game previews, and exclusive interviews as the Super Bowl approaches.