The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 1 (Nov 3, 2025)

Episode Theme:
A high-energy Monday rundown of the NFL's biggest stories—how the Chiefs lost to the Bills, why the Bears are incrementally improving, the Rams’ NFC dominance, and the Dodgers’ World Series triumph. Colin and co-hosts dissect top games and trends, spotlight quarterback performances, and question team identities.

Chiefs Fall to the Bills: The Mahomes Conundrum

[03:51–09:40]

Key Points:

• Chiefs’ Trend in Close Games:
  • Last year, Kansas City was 11–0 in one-score games; this year, they're 0–4. Colin flags this as more than luck—a trend rooted in offensive line play and quarterback discomfort.
• Buffalo’s Defensive Pressure:
  • Mahomes was "hit 15 times" ([03:51]) and “never comfortable for three and a half hours.” When Mahomes gets hit seven or more times this year, the Chiefs are 1–3.
• Josh Allen's Night:
  • Allen was "nearly perfect" (23 of 26) and the Bills dominated in every statistical category, but the game stayed close till the end.
• Both Teams’ Flaws:
  • Despite the win, Buffalo needs to “go out and upgrade” before the trade deadline, especially at wide receiver. Kansas City’s offensive line remains their Achilles’ heel.
• Conference Power Dynamics:
  • Colin observes: “The NFC's got the better teams. The AFC’s got the better quarterbacks.” ([08:10])
• Notable Quote:
  • Patrick Mahomes:
    “We’ve kind of been in a lot of these tight close games in our history, but they’re not going our way now. So how can we deal with that adversity? … You only learn from so many losses, you gotta learn from it fast.” ([09:14])

Bears’ Incremental Improvement: Ugly Wins, Real Progress

[09:45–14:37]

Key Points:

• Philosophy of Getting "Slightly Better":
  • Colin likens the Bears’ progress to life lessons: “You don’t have to take big swings. … Just get a little better.” ([09:48])
• Caleb Williams’ Impact:
  • The Bears have matched last year’s five win total already; four of the five wins “have been ugly. Who cares? They’re winning.” ([10:15])
  • Chicago has improved in close games (3-1 this year vs. 3-7 last).
• Offensive Growth:
  • Ben Johnson, OC, is showing “more confidence in the base operation”—more tricks, more motion, and a real run game (over 280 rushing yards last game).
  • The offense is 4th in the NFL; sacks halved compared to last season.
• Defensive Concerns:
  • “Major holes … not a Super Bowl team yet.” ([11:14])
• Notable Moments:
  • Caleb Williams to Colston Loveland—Walk-off TD:
    “Caleb throws middle of the field. Loveland catch breaks away the 30. Loveland 20. Loveland 10 Loveland end zone Touchdown Bears.” ([11:23])
  • Caleb Williams Postgame:
    “It doesn’t matter that they put up how many ever points they put up. We’re all excited for this win. This is a big moment…” ([12:41])
• Colin’s Praise for Caleb:
  • “He is a thick, strong kid, so he doesn’t get hurt and he doesn’t throw a lot of picks. … He plays with a ton of confidence.” ([13:02])

The Importance of Team Identity: Rams, Bears, Bills, Packers

[14:34–15:24, 44:47–52:46]

Key Points:

• Winning with a Clear Identity:
  • Colin: “The Rams have an identity. The Bears are starting to find an identity. The Bills … have an identity. Packers don’t.” ([14:47])
• Teams Struggling:
  • Green Bay is adrift—no clear gameplan or offensive identity despite plenty of talent. “What are the Packers? … I don’t know what Green Bay is right now.” ([49:26, 50:45])

Around the League: Rapid-Fire Observations

[15:24–29:17]

Noteworthy Highlights:

• Packers’ Loss to Panthers:
  • Discussed as a “trap game.”
  • Tucker Kraft injury is “brutal.” Two- and three-tight end sets matter in today’s NFL.
• Young QBs Watch:
  • J.J. McCarthy: Good on script, but Colin’s not convinced yet—"felt like I was watching Michigan’s JJ McCarthy." ([21:00])
  • Bo Nix: “On a six-game winning streak … statistically the best fourth quarter quarterback in the league … you all keep telling me he stinks.” ([21:34])
  • Michael Penix: “Huge third down … thinks he got them to jump … no flag, intentional grounding.” ([31:27])
• Seattle Seahawks' Dominance:
  • Colin and Rob amazed by their speed and youth. “It felt like a Power 4 team in college playing an out-of-conference game.” ([25:30])
  • JSN praised as possibly “the best receiver in the league.” ([26:09])
  • John Schneider (GM) lauded for back-to-back great drafts.
• Quarterback Health Concerns:
  • Jaden Daniels’ injuries: “When your college issue becomes your pro issue … he is thin and we’re seeing him now … he’s clearly a great talent.” ([28:39])
• Rams as NFC's Best Team:
  • “The most dominating performance of the year by a team.” ([31:01])
  • Colin flags kicker issues—a rare Rams weakness.

Dodgers Win the World Series: Scrappiness Over Payroll

[42:42–46:38]

Key Points:

• Dodgers Don’t Just Outspend, They Outmaneuver:
  • Payroll isn’t everything: “The Mets, Phillies and Yankees are just shy of a billion dollars of payroll this year. They won a combined one playoff series.” ([42:56])
• Heroes Step Up:
  • Miguel Rojas—"zero time all star on retirement’s door"—ties Game 7 in the 9th.

    “Dave Roberts played his gut. The guy hadn’t had a hit in a month. And in the ninth inning of game seven, he set a tying home run.” ([43:39])

  • Andy Pages: “Center fielder makes the play of the night in left field … sends Game Seven to the 10th. Incredible.” ([44:20])
  • Will Smith breaks it open in extra innings.
• Manager Dave Roberts:
  • Made “all the right moves.”

  • Dave Roberts: “We’ve done something that hasn’t been done in decades. … I could go on and on about the big plays, big performances. … This whole series … one of the greatest I’ve ever been a part of.” ([46:08])

• Series Analysis:
  • Dodgers “out-pitched and out-defended” Toronto in critical moments.
  • Highlights the value of Yoshi, their top pitcher, and compares this run to Yankees’ dynasties anchored by pitching.

Steelers’ Resurgence: Aaron Rodgers’ Renaissance

[33:44–38:18]

Key Points:

• Rodgers Transforms Pittsburgh:
  • “When Aaron was in his prime … it was impressive. I’m so blown away what he’s doing in Pittsburgh.” ([34:21])
  • The Steelers’ turnaround is “all about Aaron,” not run game or defense—"This team is going to go as far as Aaron Rodgers can take them." ([35:08])
• Analytics:
  • O-line “mid,” run game “not very good,” defense “not very good.”
  • Rodgers tracking for 68% completions, 36 TDs—better than Favre's Vikings year.
• Quote – Aaron Rodgers:

  • “To not lose three in a row … to kind of get that big elephant that was starting to try and jump on the backs of the defense, made up of media and outside conversation about them. … Proud of them.” ([36:47])

• Impact of Leaving the Jets:
  • “It is amazing. You leave the New York Jets. Sam Darnold is the highest rated passer ... and Aaron looks fantastic.”

Discussion of Kicker Impact & Margins in Modern NFL

[31:03–32:19, etc.]

• Two Falcons’ games lost because of missed kicks.
• Margin for error across the league is razor thin.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Colin Cowherd on progress:
  “There’s a lot of singles and doubles out there.” ([11:08])
• On team identity:
  “When you don’t have a full roster or your backup quarterback, okay, guys, this is what we are.” ([15:00])
• On the scrappy Dodgers:
  “If you fumble, they’ll score. You air ball it, they’ll … dunk on you. ... The Dodgers don’t make many [mistakes].” ([45:15])
• Colin, on Pittsburgh’s turnaround:
  “This was a dysfunctional offense. They’re good in the red zone. ... The credit does not go to the defense or Mike Tomlin or the run game, it goes completely to Aaron Rodgers.” ([35:45])
• Colin, candid on Packers:
  “What are you? And I just, I don’t know what Green Bay is right now.” ([49:26])

Segment Timestamps

• [03:51] Main content begins (Chiefs-Bills)
• [09:45] Chicago Bears: incremental improvement
• [14:34] Rams, Bears, Bills: identity discussion
• [15:24] Around the league: Packers, Panthers, Seahawks
• [21:00] Rookie QB breakdowns (JJ McCarthy, Bo Nix)
• [25:16] Seahawks-Commanders recap
• [28:39] NFC West: Rams, injury talk; Jaden Daniels
• [31:03] Falcons-Patriots & impact of special teams
• [33:44] Steelers narrative: Rodgers’ resurgence
• [42:42] Dodgers’ World Series win recap
• [49:26] Packers’ identity crisis

Final Thoughts

The episode underscores how success in pro sports is as much about incremental improvement and clear identity as it is about top-end talent. Colin is bullish on the Rams and critical of the Packers' lack of direction. He finds lessons in the Dodgers’ resilience and the rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh, while warning not to overreact—good or bad—to any single win or loss, especially in the NFL’s parity-driven chaos.

For listeners who missed the episode:
You'll walk away with clear perspectives on the reasons for key NFL outcomes, a sense of the league’s trajectory, why team “identity” trumps individual stats, and a fresh appreciation for overlooked, clutch moments in sports—from gritty Bears wins to a Dodgers legend born in a single swing.