The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Sharp or Square

Conference Championships Reaction & Super Bowl LX Preview: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts: Chad Millman & Simon Hunter | Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

In this high-energy episode of Sharp or Square, Chad Millman and professional bettor Simon Hunter recap a dramatic NFL Conference Championship Sunday—highlighted by wild weather and wild finishes. They break down the showdown games (New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos & Seattle Seahawks vs. LA Rams), analyze betting results, call out key moments, and give early thoughts on the upcoming Super Bowl LX rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Conference Championships—Snowpocalypse & Tense Finishes

A. “Snowpocalypse” in Denver: Patriots at Broncos

• Opening mood: Both hosts revel in the chaos, with Chad setting the tone:

  “What a freaking day of football and weather… I cannot emphasize enough how much I love, love, love snowy football with nothing but one-yard plays. It’s my favorite.” (02:00)

• Game summary:
  • Extreme weather, especially in the 2nd half, dictated play.
  • The field was so snowy offense was only possible in one direction, with Chad laughing at the “blizzard at the exact time they needed a blizzard” (10:30).
  • Both QBs—Drake May (Patriots) and Jarrett Stidham (Broncos)—struggled in treacherous conditions.
  • Denver defense dominated early; key decisions by both coaches (Sean Payton & Mike Vrabel) dissected at length.
• Critical coaching call:
  • Sean Payton opts to go for 4th-and-1 instead of taking the field goal before the snow worsened—a move both hosts blast as a game-loser.

    Chad: “Give me the 10 points, especially when your defense is so freaking good. I thought it was a terrible, terrible call by Sean Payton.” (06:00)

• Drake May’s performance:
  • “Drake May was 10 of 21 for 86 yards. I mean, they should have stolen that game. They should have stolen that game." – Chad (11:44)
  • Simon notes Drake May’s running was key:

    “Drake May, his over… his rushing total was 15. They get 23. Drake may crushed his. He had almost as many rushing yards as he had passing yards.” (16:11)

B. Seahawks vs. Rams: Special Teams & Sam Darnold’s Rise

• Special teams decide outcome:
  • Chad: “You talked about special teams and what a difference that could make in this game…The Rams special teams was so bad… The Seahawks special teams had been ranked near the top all season long. And this game was going back and forth and the Rams…fumble a freaking punt after the first drive in the second half. That’s really what gave the Seahawks the cushion they needed.” (19:44)
• Sam Darnold’s breakout:
  • Simon: “Other than the fact that Sam Darnold played out of his mind…346 yards, three touchdowns, no turnovers…Never would I ever seen this coming…He was a journeyman…Now, Sam Darnold took the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl in his first season. Crazy.” (20:05, 28:36)
• Stafford’s playoff performance:
  • Both hosts marvel at Matthew Stafford's resilience, despite the loss.

    Chad: “He’s a gunsling. No fear. Fuck you. I’m throwing it in your face.” (22:06)

2. Deep Dive: Betting Results & Angles

• Key bets reviewed:
  • Broncos +4.5 (win)
  • Over 42.5 (loss; the snow killed this total)
  • Jarrett Stidham to throw an interception (win on his last throw)
  • Seahawks -2.5 (win)
  • Jackson Smith-Njigba to NOT score a TD (loss; he scored)
• Live game line reaction:
  • Simon’s “victory lap” for calling Broncos +5.5 early:

    “When you bet a dog like that and they cover from the second the game kicks off to the second the game is over, it's the best.” (11:52)

• Data nugget:
  • “Home dogs, four points or more, since 1950: 100 against the spread.” – Simon
• Prop madness:
  • Discussion of Stidham’s last throw (interception), how it landed right on betting lines.

3. Coaching Decisions & Weather X-Factors

• Sean Payton’s decision-making:
  • “If I know flurries are coming, I need to get points... Drank May was bad today. Simply put, he was bad… But when you need to make plays with the legs, he made those plays.” – Simon (07:02)
• Mike Vrabel’s steady hand:
  • “We’ve been betting on Mike Vrabel as an underdog for so long…They got a blizzard at the exact time they needed…they were able to drive the ball down the field and control the clock for eight minutes to open the third quarter. The Broncos had eight yards.” – Chad (10:19)
• Critical officiating moment:
  • “That egregious penalty…You can’t make that call in a championship game. If it’s week three, fine… almost totally take the game.” – Simon (20:57)

4. Player & Team Futures Talk

Patriots

• Resurgence analysis:
  • “You nailed the quarterback. You nailed the coach.” – Simon (10:19)
  • “This is probably the first time you felt this way since that Brady vs. the Rams Super Bowl run after the tuck rule…All the little miracles went your guys’ way… a chance to win it, and we all just hate you.” – Simon (10:19)

Seahawks

• Sam Darnold’s contract value:
  • “Good for Sam Darnold. Good for the Seahawks to sign Sam Darnold, get rid of Lockett, get rid of DK Metcalf, let Jackson Smith-Njigba be the number one receiver and create some and rebuild their offensive line in the offseason. What a great turnaround. Great story." – Chad (29:52)

Rams

• What happens with Stafford?
  • Simon: “Just got to tag him, right? Even if he throws a hiss, you gotta tag him.” (31:08)
  • Chad: “Maybe give him, maybe negotiate a two year deal, overpay him for two years. But you can't give him the long term deal. But you cannot let him walk away because he's so good…” (31:21)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Football under adverse conditions:

  “A pox on the house of every cold weather team that is building a dome. It is so freaking glorious.” – Chad (03:43)

• Drake May’s running style:

  “Tony Romo said there’s no one better in the league running the ball up the middle than Drake May, as if that’s even something quantifiable…Tony, what are we doing?” – Simon (16:17)

• Simon’s message to bettors who complain mid-game:

  “Don’t watch the games if you can’t handle it… go complain after the game.” (13:12)

• On Sam Darnold’s career turn:

  “Never would I ever seen this coming. The man was a journeyman on a bunch of different teams…now taking Seattle to the Super Bowl in his first season. Crazy.” – Simon (28:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic / Segment | |:---|:---| | 02:00 | Opening reactions to “Snowpocalypse” Conference Championship Sunday | | 04:38 | Patriots at Broncos: weather, coaching decisions, and breakdown | | 10:19 | Patriots resurgence, miracle season; Vrabel’s impact | | 13:12 | Simon’s “victory lap” on Broncos bet, betting philosophy | | 16:03 | Prop bet talk; crazy end of game for Stidham props | | 19:44 | Seahawks-Rams: Special teams, Sam Darnold, and game-turning plays | | 21:59 | Stafford’s gunslinger mentality, game dynamics | | 28:36 | Sam Darnold’s redemption arc and career implications | | 31:08 | Matthew Stafford’s future with the Rams | | 35:05 | “Shame” segment; critical mistakes that could have cost games |

Tone & Style

• Casual, irreverent, deeply passionate about football and sports betting.
• Relentlessly opinionated (“A pox on the house of every cold weather team that is building a dome!”).
• Combines sharp analysis with banter and personal “victory laps.”
• Appeals to both hardcore bettors and football fans wondering “how did that just happen?”

Takeaways

• The Super Bowl is set: A Patriots-Seahawks matchup invokes recent classic history and fascinating storylines on both sides.
• Weather’s wild role: The snowstorm in Denver turned the AFC title game into a battle of attrition and strategy.
• Sam Darnold’s redemption—a season-defining shocker: His breakout performance and cap-friendly deal may reset how front offices view reclamation QBs.
• Betting wisdom: Respond to lines, not public narratives. Watch for “ugly dogs,” don’t get distracted by mid-game feelings, and always know coaching X-factors—especially in wild weather.
• Preview ahead: The next episode will dig deeper into Super Bowl LX strategies, lines, and prop angles.

Noteworthy Quotes for Quick Reference

• Chad (on snow-football): “It is truly my favorite. It’s like, to me, it’s like 0-0 playoff baseball.” (02:30)
• Simon (on Darnold): “I can’t believe it. Sam Darnold took the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl in his first season. Crazy.” (29:00)
• Chad (on Patriots’ good fortune): “They kind of did get an act of God in this game, right? Because they got a blizzard at the exact time they needed...” (10:19)

Next Episode

The hosts will return Tuesday for their signature in-depth Super Bowl LX betting preview: Patriots vs. Seahawks. Expect sharp analysis, prop breakdowns, and plenty of bold calls.

This summary captures all major content and energy of the episode, with key timestamps, speaker insights, and memorable moments for fans and those catching up ahead of the Big Game.