The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Dodgers win in 18 innings, Chiefs find ways to win, Steelers don't do offense well
Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Rich Eisen and J. Mac)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd dives into three main stories from the sports world: the Dodgers' epic 18-inning victory over the Blue Jays in the World Series, the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance and adaptability despite roster changes, and the ongoing offensive struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colin also explores notable NFL narratives including quarterback evaluations and trade deadline implications, while touching briefly on NBA prospects and college football.

1. Dodgers’ Marathon Win & World Series Takeaways

Main Theme:
A detailed, emotional retelling of the Dodgers’ 18-inning World Series win, highlighting not just the stars but the often-overlooked role players and pitching depth.

Key Discussion Points:

• Epic Game Recap:

  • Dodgers beat Blue Jays in 18 innings, stranding 18 runners. Jays left 19 on base.
  • “Any World Series game that goes 18 innings can be won and lost several times… more like an eight part Netflix special. Six hours, 600 pitches plus.” (Colin Cowherd, 03:19)
  • Not a high-glamor showcase but a testament to teams’ perseverance and character.

• Dodgers’ Unsung Heroes:

  • Will Klein, a AAA pitcher who “couldn’t get people out” earlier in his career, threw four scoreless innings: “Every iconic Dodger moment… there’s always a Will Klein.” (Colin, 04:45)
  • Tommy Edman’s defense and Clayton Kershaw’s crucial out.

• Shohei Ohtani’s Greatness:

  • “Ohtani hasn’t made an out at Dodger Stadium in close to two weeks. Seven for seven with six walks in roughly two weeks. All extra base hits.” (Colin, 05:25)
  • First player since Yogi Berra to have multiple walks and home runs in the same World Series game; starting pitcher less than 24 hours later.

• Freddie Freeman’s Walk-off:

  • “Freeman sends a fly ball to center field... Barney Freeman has ended it. It’s a repeat hero with the last word…” (Colin, 06:30)
  • Emotional capstone that “gives goosebumps.”

• Manager & Clubhouse Reaction:

  • Dave Roberts: “It took everybody on the active roster to win one baseball game. And it’s something special.” (08:53)

Notable Quotes:

• “Shohei Ohtani is Patrick Mahomes and Myles Garrett in one person.” (Colin, 06:10)
• “You put Will Klein in... and everybody rises to the moment.” (Colin, 09:11)

Timestamps:

• [03:19] – Marathon game narrative
• [04:45] – Will Klein’s impact
• [05:25] – Ohtani’s streak
• [06:30] – Freeman’s walk-off
• [08:53] – Dave Roberts on the team effort

2. Kansas City Chiefs’ Versatility and Dominance

Main Theme:
Breakdown of the Chiefs’ ability to win games even when not playing at their best and how depth, coaching, and new offensive weapons set them apart.

Key Discussion Points:

• Recent Victory and Offensive Evolution:

  • Chiefs beat Commanders handily despite early turnovers: “B minus, C plus performance and they still crush the Commanders.” (Colin, 13:30)
  • Depth in receivers: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster.

• Defense and Team Completeness:

  • No punts in three straight first halves; defense is No. 2 in the league.
  • “I think Kansas City is a touchdown better than the second best team in the league.” (Colin, 12:55)

• Patrick Mahomes on Team Growth:

  • “I think we’re getting better and better... That’s all we have to do is push forward.” (Patrick Mahomes, 13:15)

• Coaching as a Differentiator:

  • “This is what great coaching does… close up the weaknesses, build slowly on the strengths.” (Colin, 12:43)

Notable Quotes:

• “They haven’t had this kind of offense, these kinds of weapons, this kind of depth since 2022.” (Colin, 12:37)

Timestamps:

• [12:55] – Chiefs vs. Commanders analysis
• [13:10] – Patrick Mahomes’ reflection

3. Steelers’ Ongoing Offensive Struggles & Fan Disenchantment

Main Theme:
Colin critiques the Steelers’ long-term lack of offensive innovation and urgency at quarterback, paralleling fan malaise with a sense of obligation rather than passion.

Key Discussion Points:

• Fan Frustration & Ticket Sales:

  • Noting high numbers of Packer fans in best seats at a Steelers home game.
  • “Do you really love it? … Steeler fans have every right to be frustrated...” (Colin, 19:29)

• Failure to Evolve Offensively:

  • Seven straight seasons as a second- or third-tier offense.
  • Continued lack of urgency post-Big Ben at QB: Kenny Pickett considered a “bottom third round prospect” by one GM.

• Comparisons to Other Franchises:

  • Contrasts Rams, Niners, Chiefs moving off quarterbacks who were actually good – “Upgraded” mentality Steelers lack.
  • “Mike Tomlinson… There was just no urgency. That’s not how offensive coaches act.” (Colin, 21:54)

• Coaching Response:

  • Mike Tomlin: “We all have to own it… these problems are somewhat repetitive and we’re not getting better fast enough.” (21:39)

Notable Quotes:

• “It doesn’t feel like love anymore. It feels like a responsibility.” (Colin, 21:16)

Timestamps:

• [19:29] – Steelers fan frustration
• [21:39] – Mike Tomlin’s comments

4. Around the NFL & Bonus Segments

San Francisco 49ers Injury & Quarterback Situation

• Brock Purdy’s health is up in the air; Mac Jones considered a strong backup.
• “Why risk Purdy? What’s the point?” (Colin, 24:14)

Detroit Lions Watch

• Dan Campbell says they still haven’t played their best football (26:27).
• Debate on whether Detroit is a legitimate NFC top-three team or the record is misleading.
• “Detroit’s pretty good... if you’re in the top three, you’re in a good space.” (Colin, 28:35)

Caleb Williams Evaluation

• Critique of former No. 1 pick’s lack of progress in timing-and-rhythm offense.
• “Fine is not the standard when … you hired the hottest offensive coach … spent 100 million to upgrade…” (Colin, 32:59)
• Carson Palmer: “I just have yet to watch a game where I’ve seen him excel in the pocket…” (33:30)

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It was more than Freeman, more than Ohtani. It was the out by Kershaw, the great defensive plays by Tommy Edman... Triple-A pitcher in Tacoma, couldn’t get people out there… four scoreless innings, biggest moment of his life.” (Colin, 07:21)

• Dave Roberts: “It took everybody on the active roster to win one baseball game. And it’s something special.” (08:53)

• “You put these single-A guys… around Freeman and Betts and Ohtani… everybody rises to the moment.” (Colin, 09:11)

6. Additional Topics & Timestamps

• MLB World Series Analysis (Jays future, Ohtani strategy):
  [40:02] – Emotional impact of Dodgers’ win
  [41:05] – Blue Jays manager on pitching around Ohtani
  [42:49] – Dave Roberts on Ohtani's October impact

• NFL Trade Deadline Analysis:
  Discussion of Cowboys’ position for trades and reasons to be patient. (43:22+)

• Quick Hits:

  • NFL: Tyler Shough named Saints starter vs. Rams, betting line impact (48:39)
  • NBA: Cooper Flagg’s injury update and rookie struggles (29:18)

7. Overall Tone and Style

Colin’s approach is energetic, opinionated, firmly rooted in data and analogies, and peppered with the kind of sharp, memorable quips that spark debate. As always, he blends big-picture narrative (“What makes the Dodgers great isn’t just the money…”) with deep-cut analysis (“If you win Game 3 of the World Series, numbers tell you about a 70% chance to win the series…”).

Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Main Point | Notable Quote/Timestamp | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Dodgers World Series | Dodgers' marathon win; Ohtani, Freeman’s heroics | “Shohei Ohtani… Patrick Mahomes and Myles Garrett in one person.” (06:10) | | Chiefs Dominance | KC’s offense and depth, defensive top-two ranking | “Touchdown better than the 2nd best team…” (12:55) | | Steelers Offense | Seven-year malaise, lack of offensive urgency | “It doesn’t feel like love anymore. It feels like a responsibility.” (21:16) | | QB Evaluations | Cautious on Caleb Williams; love for Jaden Daniels | Carson Palmer: “I just have yet to watch … excel in the pocket…” (33:30) | | NFL Trade Talk | Cowboys’ patience recommended; trade targets | “Dallas is in a really good spot, just not today.” (44:10) |

Closing Thoughts

This hour exemplifies The Herd’s mix of passionate storytelling, hard-nosed critique, and reverence for big moments—delivered with Colin’s signature directness and flair for analogies. Whether you missed the 18-inning epic, want a Chiefs reality check, or need to commiserate with Steelers fans, it’s a brisk survey of the current sports landscape.