The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 1 – Bills are a great job, Seahawks are the best team in the NFL
Date: January 19, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd and co-host Jason McIntyre dive deep into the NFL playoff landscape following major coaching shakeups and dramatic postseason games. The main themes include the Buffalo Bills’ firing of Sean McDermott, why the Bills’ head coach opening is so attractive, the rise of the Chicago Bears and LA Rams, and an emphatic breakdown of why the Seattle Seahawks are the best remaining team. The hosts also offer analysis on controversial officiating, quarterback performances, and forthcoming matchups.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sean McDermott Out; The Buffalo Bills Job is Prime

• Buffalo Moves On (03:00):
  • Sean McDermott, a respected coach with 8 playoff wins (most ever by a non–Super Bowl participant), is dismissed.
  • Colin notes, “When you have Josh Allen, it’s okay to demand greatness,” comparing Allen’s situation to historic elite QBs needing elite coaching (Walsh/Elway, Belichick/Brady).
  • The Bills’ chronic inability to finish big games is cited: “The Bills kept finding ways to lose—the ‘13 second loss’ to Kansas City, Saturday’s five turnovers, blowing repeated fourth quarter leads” (04:20).
• Supporting Cast Struggles (04:50):
  • General manager Brandon Beane called “more of a cap guy than a personnel guy.”
  • Weaknesses: anemic receiver corps, no Pro Bowl defenders, and critical mistakes (“Even James Cook…leads all running backs in fumbles”).

"Saturday wasn’t a loss—it was a reckoning. It felt different. The locker room was 55 broken men."
– Colin Cowherd (05:20)

• Replacement Options:
  • Colin rules out “more of the same” with defensive coaches, signals that Brian Daboll (ex-Bills OC, current Giants HC) would be the top choice to “squeeze every ounce out of this star quarterback” (07:00).
  • He praises McDermott’s quality, suggesting other teams (“I’d hire him in one second in Las Vegas”) should snap him up.

2. Buffalo Loss & Josh Allen’s Accountability

• Allen’s Emotional Reaction (06:40):
  • Jason (impersonating Josh Allen):

    “I hate how it ended…and that’s gonna stick with me for a long time. Can’t win with five turnovers. I fumbled twice, threw two picks. When you shoot yourself in the foot like that, you don’t deserve to win football games.” (06:52)

3. Rams’ Overcoming the Bears – Execution Trumps Spectacle

• LA Rams Outlast Chicago in Harsh Conditions (08:00):
  • The Rams win despite “windy” and “snowy” conditions, having no penalties, no turnovers, and no dropped passes.
  • Chicago outgained LA and “won time of possession,” but Rams’ “clean play” proved key.
• Caleb Williams’ Heroic Drive:
  • “Caleb Williams, in my opinion, had the throw of the decade, playoffs or regular season” (09:30).
  • However, Williams took a “too big of a bite” in OT, going for a touchdown instead of playing for field position.
  • The Bears are “almost there” but the Rams “feel like they are there again.”

"So much in football is about not losing games. The team that lost the turnover battle this weekend went 0-for-4."
– Colin Cowherd (11:45)

• Sean McVay Praises Resilience:
  (12:40) Sean McVay’s post-game (“I can’t say enough about what you guys did—snap in, snap out defensively…”) underscores LA’s discipline and focus.

• Psychological Edges:

  • McIntyre notes how “many of their skill players did not wear sleeves. A lot of it’s psychological,” with Colin adding that efficiency and clean play matter most.

4. Caleb Williams’ Ascendance

• Top 10 QB Already?
  • Colin:

    “Caleb Williams looks without a doubt like a top 10 quarterback in the league... He’s ascending at a pace I don’t think anybody anticipated this fast.” (15:26)

  • McIntyre pushes back on interception critique, emphasizing Williams' durability, mobility, and strength.

5. Seattle Seahawks: The NFL’s Best Remaining Team

• Dominance on Both Sides (18:00):
  • “Seahawks are indisputably the best team left.” Backed by stats:
    • #1 scoring defense
    • Shut out high-powered SF offense twice recently
    • Well-coached, balanced roster “with no holes—not even special teams.”
  • Only the Rams’ “smart, clean, efficient style” might pose a real test in the NFC Championship.
  • Statistical oddity: Rams vs. Seahawks over two games—Rams 58 points, Seahawks 57; Rams 830 yards, Seahawks 829.

"Turn the sound down and watch [Seattle] play. They don’t look like any other team…it’s Texans defense with a more dynamic offense."
– Colin Cowherd (19:35)

6. Bo Nix Injury Fallout & AFC Picture

• Denver’s Odds Take a Hit (22:45):
  • Bo Nix suffers a broken ankle; Jarrett Stidham named AFC Championship starter.
  • Sean Payton’s offense will be challenged, as Stidham “doesn’t have the movement skills” of Nix—dramatic schematic change.
  • Patriots (“favored by about four and a half on the road”) now have an advantage.
• Bo Nix’s Progress:
  • Impressive deep throws vs. Buffalo (“4 of 6 for 106 yards and two touchdowns on throws 20+ yards,” 25:55).

7. Steelers & Raiders Coaching Carousel

• Pittsburgh’s Search (26:55):
  • Mike McCarthy rumored to interview; job not very appealing due to QB uncertainty.
  • Sean McDermott likely to land another job quickly—possible fits cited (Raiders, Cardinals, Steelers).

8. Chicago’s Roster & Ben Johnson’s Decision

• Future is Bright in Chicago (28:51):

  • Play of the game: Caleb Williams’ fourth-and-four bomb to Cole Kmet.
  • HC Ben Johnson explains opting for overtime rather than a two-point attempt:

    “Probably what played a little bit of a factor was, you know, our goal-to-go, situations hadn’t gone very clean…” (28:51)

• Draft Strategy:

  • Chicago needs only defense in upcoming draft—they’ve got “not a single need on offense.”
  • Potential to become a “top five team” in the NFL next year.

9. Officiating Controversy in Bills-Broncos

• “Rigging” Debate Debunked (32:19):
  • Colin scrutinizes the controversial replay:

    “Slow mo makes you think [Cook] has possession more than he actually does... The rule is very clear. When I watched in real speed, real time, I know all you guys on Twitter… but this is not how football is played.” (33:44)

  • Agrees replays and review felt “rushed” but dismisses conspiracy theories.
  • Sean McDermott’s response:

    “But I’m doing… I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us... that is not how it should go down in my estimation.” (35:40)

10. Patriots: New England’s Old Identity, New Blood

• Drake May Era & Team Profile (39:00):
  • “Very much like the old Patriots: resilient, smart, efficient, not flashy.”
  • Vrabel praised as “a more player-friendly, current Belichick” (41:46).
  • Patriots have “no holes,” sticky corners, improved receiving core; only question is O-line depth.

“I still think offensive line for the Patriots is probably a draft away from being elite. But this reminds me a lot of the old Patriots.”
– Colin Cowherd (41:30)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Each loss hurt more, each loss mounted… And it feels like Josh Allen so often is pressing to put on a cape, get in a phone booth, come out and make a play…”
  (Colin Cowherd, 05:10)
• “So much in football is about not losing games.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 11:45)
• “Caleb Williams, in my opinion, had the throw of the decade, playoffs or regular season.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 09:30)
• “Turn the sound down and watch [Seattle] play. They don’t look like any other team.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 19:35)
• “Analytics hadn't watched the earlier fourth downs. They had struggled in their fourth and short packages all night long... The chances of coming out after that and getting a two-point conversion against a very, very good defensive front. I think it’s the right call.”
  (Jason McIntyre, 29:01)
• “I don’t see the hole. I think [the Patriots are] really, really good. Seattle, Rams, Denver, Patriots. Wow. Every weekend gets better.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 43:00)

Notable Timestamps

• 03:00: McDermott firing, Buffalo’s playoff failures dissected
• 06:40: Josh Allen/Jason as Allen on Bills’ loss
• 08:00: Rams-Bears deep dive; LA’s discipline in harsh conditions
• 12:40: Sean McVay praises Rams’ defense after win
• 15:26: Debate: Is Caleb Williams already a top 10 QB?
• 18:00: Seahawks dominance explained; why they’re the best team left
• 22:45: Bo Nix injury update, Jarrett Stidham to start for Denver
• 26:55: Coaching carousel: Steelers, McCarthy, McDermott’s options
• 28:51: Bears’ offense, Ben Johnson’s overtime decision, future draft plans
• 32:19: Officiating controversy, replay philosophy
• 35:40: Sean McDermott stands up for Buffalo after loss
• 39:00: Patriots analysis: comparison to old New England
• 41:46: Drake May, Patriots’ postseason formula

Tone & Delivery

As always, Colin delivers incisive, narrative-driven monologues with emphatic opinions, mixing football analytics with history and psychology. Jason McIntyre offers sharp, occasionally contrarian counterpoints, and supports debates with tactical and personnel analysis. The tone is brisk, insightful, occasionally fiery but always anchored by keen football intelligence.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This hour delivers a thorough look at coaching changes, playoff execution vs. splash, why certain jobs are more valuable, and how January football punishes mental errors. The big message: In the modern NFL, great quarterbacks need great coaches; the Seahawks are the team to beat; Chicago is on the precipice; and New England’s new identity may again bring championships to Foxborough.