The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1 - Buccs have lost 5 of their last 6, Bills are taking Josh Allen for granted
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the struggles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after another tough loss under head coach Todd Bowles, highlighting the decline of their offense and the pitfalls of “in-house” coaching hires. Colin examines the Buffalo Bills’ disappointing roster construction and laments how the organization is possibly wasting Josh Allen’s prime. The episode features broader reflections on quarterback salaries, team-building challenges, and key matchups for the upcoming NFL weekend—including insight on the Cowboys, Lions, Rams, and quarterback Joe Burrow’s situation in Cincinnati.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Decline and Coaching Issues

Timestamp: 04:02–08:54

• Losing Streak: The Bucs have lost five out of their last six games (04:02).
• Todd Bowles’ Candid Criticism: Bowles called out his players for a lack of accountability and energy following the loss to the Falcons, who had 19 penalties yet still beat Tampa Bay (08:02).
• Coordinator Carousel: Colin emphasizes how hiring “the guy down the hall” as a replacement for departed offensive coordinators rarely works, as seen with the Bucs, Eagles, Lions, and even Michigan football (07:30).
  • “The NFL is too big of a business to hire proximity. Sometimes it works. But if you lose Ben Johnson… the guy down the hallway is not the best candidate 99% of the times.” – Colin (07:40)
• Baker Mayfield’s Limitations: Mayfield excels with strong coordinators but struggles when the support staff is lacking. He’s streaky and 1-9 in prime-time games. The Bucs’ offensive metrics have fallen dramatically (06:13).
  • “Baker’s not a great quarterback. He gets hot, he’s a streaky quarterback, but he is very reliant on a sharp young coordinator.” – Colin (07:12)

Notable Quote:

“You can't lose a game when the other team has 19 penalties… Sometimes it’s the players’ fault.” – Colin (04:18)

2. Buffalo Bills: Wasting Josh Allen’s Prime?

Timestamp: 08:57–15:55

• GM & Coach on the Hot Seat: If Buffalo loses to New England (coached by Mike Vrabel), especially with a rookie QB, it could spell the end for GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott (09:23).
• Receiving Corps Woes: Buffalo is criticized as having the “worst receiving room in the league” (10:22).
  • “Last week, Josh Allen completed 22 passes. Fifteen were to tight ends and running backs. It’s the weakest wide receiver room in the league.” – Colin (10:52)
• Roster Construction Critique: Colin argues the Bills should have been more aggressive at the trade deadline (Jacoby Myers, Davante Adams were available).
• Brandon Beane’s Defensive Stance: Beane lashed out at local media about WR criticism instead of addressing the issue.
• Comparisons: Mark Schlereth and Greg Cosell (football analysts) are cited to highlight that Buffalo is a one-man show – there’s Allen, but little elite talent elsewhere.
• Quarterback Salary Cap Dilemma: As with Dallas (Dak) and KC (Mahomes), high QB salaries make it harder to build a strong roster.
  • “You can’t have the best quarterback in the league and be awful at receiver.” – Colin (14:49)

3. On Quarterback Value and Team Construction

Timestamp: 15:16–16:34, 44:16–46:22

• QB Salaries and Roster Challenges: Jason and Colin discuss the difficulties roster-building with a large QB cap hit.
• Draft and Scouting Is Hard: Football talent is harder to identify than in basketball due to position complexity and intangibles.
  • "It's really hard to draft. Especially positions like wide receiver. You're asking young people to come into a sport, travel cross country, different total offenses. It's hard." – Colin (44:24)
• Chiefs vs. Rams: Chiefs’ lack of depth versus the Rams’ strong roster despite both paying QBs large sums is contrasted.
• Brady’s Team-Friendly Deals: Historically, Tom Brady made life easier for the Pats through favorable contracts, setting a high bar.

4. Shadur Sanders and Quarterback Draft Assessment

Timestamp: 19:47–27:37

• Sanders’ Overachievement: Despite being drafted late (fifth round), he’s performed as the best rookie quarterback given a terrible supporting cast (“worst WR room, third-worst O-line” per PFF). (20:30)
  • “Since becoming a starter, Shadur is the best rookie quarterback in the league… and it’s not like he has much around him.” – Colin (21:18)
• NFL ‘Message’ Drafting: Colin theorizes teams deliberately drafted Sanders late to “send a message” about his attitude, even though he possesses elite attributes (accuracy, playmaking).
• NFL Teams May Regret It: With college QBs staying longer due to NIL, passing on a “talented as Shadur” type looks increasingly risky.

5. Other Noteworthy Topics and Memorable Moments

Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes and Dak Prescott’s Maturity

Timestamp: 27:37–29:38

• Dallas has only an 11% chance at the playoffs—must win out (27:42).
• The effect of big contracts and the future draft strategies.
  • “You gotta give Dak credit. It's a noisy operation... This is not the easiest place to be an NFL quarterback.” – Colin (29:09)

Lions-Rams Trade Success

Timestamp: 30:42–33:42

• Both teams benefited: Rams got experience, Lions gained picks and a young core.
  • “It’s the best trade for both teams in the NFL in a long time. Everybody won with that deal.” – Colin (31:19)
• Detroit’s woes on third/fourth down linked to coordinator loss, not Goff.

Joe Burrow’s Challenges and Franchise Limitations

Timestamp: 34:06–38:34

• Burrow’s career hampered by injuries and poor offensive line protection.
• Suggestion that top college talent often goes to dysfunctional organizations.
  • “Joe Burrow got a Carson Palmer… Burrow got a bad break. Goff got a good one.” – Colin (36:59)
• NBA/NFL parallels on franchise control over star players.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On coaching hires:

  “The guy down the hallway is not the best candidate 99% of the time.”
  — Colin Cowherd (07:40)

• On Buffalo’s roster:

  “22 completions, 15 tight ends and running backs. The local radio guys probably right.”
  — Colin Cowherd (12:41)

• On QB salaries:

  “It's onerous—how do you build a team?”
  — Jason McIntyre (15:21)

• On Shadur Sanders:

  “He’s the most accurate college quarterback in the sport’s history… not much around him.”
  — Colin Cowherd (21:02)

• On Dak:

  “He seems so with it at the podium. I… he just seems like a grown up, very relaxed. I like him.”
  — Jason McIntyre (28:28)

• On Lions-Rams trade:

  “It’s the best trade for both teams… Everybody won with that deal.”
  — Colin Cowherd (31:19)

• On Burrow & draft system:

  “The better you are as an athlete in college, generally you’ll get picked by the worst organization.”
  — Colin Cowherd (36:59)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Buccaneers and coaching hires: 04:02 – 08:54
• Bills' roster analysis & Allen’s predicament: 08:57 – 15:49
• QB salary/roster build discussions: 15:16 – 16:34, 44:16 – 46:22
• Shadur Sanders debate: 19:47 – 27:37
• Cowboys, contracts, and draft: 27:37 – 29:38
• Lions/Rams, coordinator value: 30:42 – 33:42
• Joe Burrow as cautionary tale: 34:06 – 38:34

Tone and Style

Colin Cowherd’s tone is direct, analytical, and occasionally exasperated about teams repeating the same mistakes. He values sharp, systemic thinking (e.g., coaching hires, roster construction), dislikes excuses, and zeroes in on management accountability. Jason McIntyre provides quick stats, challenges, and adds context. Both balance insight with friendly banter.

Summary and Takeaways

• The episode is a critique of NFL management and coaching—especially the pitfalls of comfort-based hiring (“the guy down the hall”) and the challenges in maximizing generational quarterback talent under roster constraints.
• Standout segments: Tampa Bay’s decline; Buffalo’s GM and coach under scrutiny for letting Allen down; discussion on the value of QB contracts vs. roster-building.
• Listeners come away with a deeper understanding of how NFL success is not just about star quarterbacks, but the full organizational effort—including offensive coordinators, ownership decisiveness, and aggressive roster moves.