The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Guest Host: John Middelkoff)

Episode: Seahawks DOMINATE 49ers, Broncos BEAT Bills in OT, Nix breaks his ankle
Date: January 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode, guest-hosted by John Middelkoff, dives deep into a wild NFL playoff weekend. The main themes are:

• The Denver Broncos' dramatic overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, marred by QB Bo Nix's shocking ankle injury.
• The Seattle Seahawks’ complete domination of the San Francisco 49ers for the second consecutive week, making them clear NFC favorites.
• Broader discussions on franchise management, coaching futures (especially Sean McDermott’s status in Buffalo), and why Seattle’s physical defense now sets the standard.

The episode features Middelkoff’s signature energetic, candid, and occasionally irreverent analysis, mixing detailed football breakdowns with relatable anecdotes and league history.

Key Discussions and Insights

1. Broncos Outlast the Bills, But Lose Bo Nix (01:55–14:00)

Main Points:

• Denver’s overtime victory over Buffalo was chaotic, dramatic, and ultimately bittersweet—with rising QB Bo Nix breaking his ankle in a postgame twist.
• The Broncos will now host the AFC Championship game with backup Jared Stidham, dramatically lowering their Super Bowl prospects.

Notable Segment:

• Bo Nix did not appear injured after the game; news of his broken ankle blindsided the team and fans alike.
• Denver’s defense, once elite, struggled to contain the Bills’ rushing attack and gave up big plays.

“The team that's hosting the AFC Championship game? Their quarterback broke his ankle... you’re 120 minutes from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and you lose Bo Nix. I don’t really know what to say.”
– John Middelkoff (03:45)

• Middelkoff credits Nix: “Give the kid his credit... Broncos offense stumbled, but you gotta give the kid his credit. I don't even know if he's a kid, he’s like a 40-year-old second-year player...” (05:36)

On the Bills’ collapse:

• Numerous turnovers (multiple Josh Allen fumbles, Cook fumble) directly resulted in Denver points.
• Final drive defensive coverage “just left Sutton wide open,” and Nix delivered a clutch, “gorgeous touchdown pass.” (06:20)
• Questionable refereeing: “By the end of the game, the referees were getting very trigger-happy with the yellow flag.” (10:30)

Stadium Energy:

• Both Denver and Seattle credited for their “collegiate feel”—with playoff atmospheres that rattled opponents.

2. The Emotional Aftermath in Denver and Buffalo (16:15–34:00)

Pressure on Sean Payton:

• Middelkoff compares Payton’s situation to Dick Vermeil anointing Kurt Warner; now he faces the challenge of rallying the team around Stidham (“You don’t have much time, man...this is why you make $15, 18, $20 million—or whatever the hell the Broncos paid him.”) (16:30)

Buffalo’s New Low:

• Reminisces about Buffalo’s legacy of heartbreak, most recently “losing games in the most excruciating way of all time.” (17:25)
• Torches Sean McDermott for mismanagement before halftime: “...you got no timeouts...just kneel it and get out of there. Instead...running it up the middle, carrying it like a loaf of bread. Fumbles the ball with a couple seconds left and then they kick a field goal...that’s on the head coach.” (18:55)
• Suggests McDermott’s tenure may be over. “There’s probably above a 50% chance he gets fired.” (24:20)

Bills Roster Flaws:

• Scathing on front office and depth: “Is their team that good? ... Their personnel is not great.” (26:45)
• Urges that if McDermott is fired, GM Brandon Beane must go too: “If Sean McDermott goes, the GM has to go. It’s gotta be a package deal.” (27:15)
• On missed opportunity: “You just lost to a team who probably is going to lose next week because they don’t have a starting quarterback...it is what it is.” (33:55)

3. Seahawks Destroy the 49ers — The NFC Runs Through Seattle (34:16–39:30)

“A Massacre” (34:16–36:21):

• Seattle “beat down” the 49ers, winning 41–6 in a game that was never competitive.
• Stunning stat: “Their starting quarterback completed 12 passes for 120 yards. Think about that.” (34:18)
• Emphasizes dominance through physical defense and the run game: “They can just run the ball and really play defense...Their team speed, the violence...they can win the Super Bowl. I really do.” (35:10)

San Francisco’s Injury Crisis:

• Attributes 49ers downfall to repeated injuries—mentions bizarre “substation” theories for the team’s rash of major injuries.
• “The story of their season was the injuries...” (39:10)
• Suggests the 49ers “ran into a team that was a terrible matchup for them and just beat the living out of them...41 to 6. That was a massacre.” (39:10)

4. Seahawks’ Culture, Personnel, and Coaching Brilliance (39:30–46:00)

• Explores how John Schneider rebuilt Seattle with a relentless, violent, and speedy defense: “It’s outrageous how physically gifted they are. The speed and physicality...every guy is one of the hardest hitters in the league.” (39:35)
• Lavishes praise on DC Mike Macdonald: “If he was an offensive head coach, we would speak about him like a GOAT...defense is really, really confusing. Most people don’t understand it.” (41:55)
• Recaps how Seattle out-schemed Kyle Shanahan: “When he’s played Kyle twice in the last three weeks, he’s dictating the terms...” (43:06)
• Predicts Seattle will be favored in the NFC and likely to reach (and possibly win) the Super Bowl.

5. Kevin Stefanski to Atlanta & Other Coaching Notes (46:00–58:09)

• News breaks mid-show: Kevin Stefanski hired as head coach of Falcons.

“He called them an iconic franchise. Didn’t know the Falcons were an iconic franchise.”
– John Middelkoff (46:28)

• Skeptical of Stefanski’s recent offensive success with Browns: “They had objectively one of the worst offenses in the history of the league. So hell, we just saw the 49ers with a million injuries still figure things out.” (47:05)
• On Atlanta’s coaching carousel: “Look at their last two hires—Raheem Morris...Arthur Smith...that’s kind of their thing.” (48:10)
• Central issue for Atlanta: who plays quarterback? Options: Michael Penix (injury prone), potential Kirk Cousins reunion, or “hell, he drafted Dylan Gabriel in the third round...Time will tell.” (49:17)

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Memorable Moment | |-----------|------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:45 | Middelkoff | “The team that's hosting the AFC Championship game? Their quarterback broke his ankle...” | | 05:36 | Middelkoff | “You gotta give the kid his credit...he's like a 40-year-old second-year player…” | | 10:30 | Middelkoff | “By the end of the game, the referees were getting very trigger-happy with the yellow flag.” | | 16:30 | Middelkoff | “This is why you make $15, 18, $20 million—or whatever the hell the Broncos paid him.” | | 18:55 | Middelkoff | “You got no timeouts…just kneel it and get out of there. Instead…running it up the middle, carrying it like a loaf of bread.” | | 24:20 | Middelkoff | “I think there's probably above a 50% chance he [Sean McDermott] gets fired.” | | 27:15 | Middelkoff | “…If Sean McDermott goes, the GM has to go. It’s gotta be a package deal.” | | 34:18 | Joel/Middelkoff | “They won 41 to 6. Their starting quarterback completed 12 passes for 120 yards. Think about that.” | | 35:10 | Middelkoff | “Their team speed, the violence...they can win the Super Bowl. I really do.” | | 41:55 | Middelkoff | “If he was an offensive head coach, we would speak about him like a GOAT…defense is really, really confusing.” | | 46:28 | Middelkoff | “He called them an iconic franchise. Didn’t know the Falcons were an iconic franchise.” |

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 01:55–14:00: Denver vs Buffalo Postgame Breakdown & Bo Nix Injury
• 16:15–34:00: Coaching Pressure on Sean Payton/Sean McDermott; Buffalo’s Franchise Problems
• 34:16–39:30: Seahawks obliterate 49ers, NFC picture
• 39:30–46:00: John Schneider’s Seattle rebuild; Mike Macdonald’s defensive wizardry
• 46:00–58:09: Kevin Stefanski to Atlanta; broader coaching/GM commentary; closing thoughts

Tone and Style

Middelkoff’s commentary is sharp, fast-paced, and blends football-nerd breakdowns (“robber coverage,” injury management) with salty humor and tough-love for teams and execs (“Didn’t know the Falcons were an iconic franchise…”).

He always gives credit where due (both critical and positive) and keeps the tone conversational, often referencing his own past in the NFL (scouting), his new fatherhood, and what it’s like watching games in real life.

Summary Takeaways

• Broncos' hopes hinge precariously on their backup QB after Bo Nix’s freak injury—even as they move within a game of the Super Bowl.
• The Bills may have hit the end of their current era, with a potential GM/head coach house-cleaning likely.
• Seattle’s speed, defense, and physicality are now the league’s gold standard; they’re clear NFC Super Bowl favorites.
• San Francisco’s ongoing injury epidemic is not sustainable—Middelkoff calls for answers on weird ‘substation’ rumors.
• Kevin Stefanski’s move to Atlanta highlights the endless NFL coaching carousel and the perpetual, existential search for a franchise quarterback.

This summary captures the episode’s key themes, memorable quotes, and the distinct, incisive style John Middelkoff brought as guest host.