The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 Summary

Episode Title: Jaxson Dart is a franchise QB, the issues with the Eagles, Dodgers moving onto the NLDS
Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests/Other Voices: J. Mac (co-host/commentator), excerpts from Brian Daboll (Giants HC), Dave Roberts (Dodgers MGR), Lane Johnson (Eagles OL)

Overview

In this hour, Colin Cowherd delivers signature takes on a packed night of sports, headlined by the New York Giants’ emerging identity behind rookie QB Jaxson Dart and RB Cam Skattebø, the Philadelphia Eagles' increasingly troubling flaws, and the Dodgers’ gritty series win to advance in the MLB playoffs. The episode intertwines NFL, MLB, and college football observations, highlighting stories of team identity, pressure, and unlocking young talent.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. New York Giants: A New Identity with Jaxson Dart & Cam Skattebø

• Giants' Win Not About the Eagles’ Failures:
  Colin emphasizes that the story is not the Eagles’ collapse, but the Giants’ emergence (“Last night was not about the Eagles...that's not what last night was about. Last night was about the New York Giants. They have found their franchise quarterback.” [03:22])
• Jaxson Dart’s Franchise Potential:
  Dart, given control of the offense alongside Cam Skattebø, has provided the Giants with a clear, physical football identity—something the franchise has lacked for a decade.
• The Northeast Football Blueprint:
  Citing past dynasties, Cowherd stresses that teams built on physicality rather than flash thrive in cold-weather January football (“January football is not decided by the fastest guys”). The Giants’ commitment to toughness over sizzle is both sustainable and culturally resonant for the region.
• Brian Daboll’s Perspective:
  Giants' head coach emphasizes resilience and belief in their young core (“You go through some tough times. Sometimes you can get stronger from it or sometimes you can fold…” [07:31])

Notable Quote

“It is steak over sizzle. There’s nothing wrong with a little sizzle—you just can’t build around it.” – Colin Cowherd [06:05]

2. Dodgers Eliminate Phillies: Grit, Pressure, and Depth

• Dodgers Advance on Chaos:
  The Dodgers, without big bats producing, win by pressuring opposing teams into mistakes (“They get in your head…It's constant pressure.” [09:55]). Winning the series with production from the bottom of the lineup illustrates the organization’s depth and culture.
• Young Stars Stepping Up:
  Roki Sasaki, a rookie turned bullpen ace, delivers an untouchable performance to close out the game.
• No Dependence on Stars:
  Ohtani and Freeman struggled, but the team found ways to win—a hallmark of elite organizations.
• Dave Roberts' Take:
  On the Phillies’ disastrous final play: “Just, right there, he was so focused…just sort of forgot the outs and the situation.” [12:10]

Notable Quote

“I think the Dodgers are the best-run sports organization in North America. Drafting, developing, free agency—they just don’t miss very often.” – Colin Cowherd [13:26]

3. Jaxson Dart: Legitimate Franchise QB or New York Fad?

• Debating Dart’s Ceiling:
  J. Mac compares Dart’s New York moment to “Jeremy Lin-sanity,” calling him “a brush fire that everybody’s excited about” [13:51]. Colin pushes back, arguing Dart is more than a fleeting story due to his pedigree—three years at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin in the SEC.
• Experience Counts:
  Colin believes with such experience, especially against NFL-level defenses, Dart need not “sit and learn”—he’s ready to play, and his growth will be bumpy but revealing.

Notable Exchange

“If you think he's your franchise quarterback, you got another thing coming. All right, he's a nice story, Colin.”
“Let's be real. Come on. I think he's a little better than that.”
— J. Mac & Colin Cowherd [13:51–14:05]

4. Eagles’ Problems: Not Talent, But Coaching

• Drip, Drip, Drip — Crisis in Philly:
  Cowherd hammers the Eagles’ second-half collapses and three-and-outs, declaring the issue is coaching, not roster quality (“This is a coaching crisis. It's not a player crisis.” [22:09])
• Eroding Defensive Identity:
  Last year, their defense was #1; it’s now 20th. Talent isn’t the issue—the plan and execution are.
• Lane Johnson’s Comments:
  The veteran lineman hints at stagnation: “It's about consistency… we have spurts but nothing consistent.” [23:59]

Notable Quote

“After four ugly tush pushes, [the Eagles] got outscored 21-0... It's not a talent issue. It is a coaching issue.” – Colin Cowherd [22:09]

5. Around the League: 49ers, Belichick, Cubs-Brewers

• 49ers Quarterback Situation:
  No controversy in San Francisco—Brock Purdy remains the starter.
• Belichick’s Patriots Leak:
  The Patriots are dealing with internal leaks; Colin asserts, “Well-run businesses where people are happy don't leak a lot.” [27:59]
• Cubs Dominate Brewers:
  The Cubs’ resurgence under pressure; Brewers “shrinking in real time.”
• Sports and Pressure:
  Colin notes, “Isn't it amazing what pressure does?” as both baseball and football teams either wilt or rise.

6. Cam Skattebø: Outlier Star

• Rookie Sensation:
  Skattebø’s athletic profile is unique (“39.5 inch vertical—okay, that's an NBA vertical” [33:51]), and his energy has changed the Giants’ culture.
• Draft Evaluation Flaws:
  Colin details how NFL GMs struggled to find a comp for Skattebø, but sometimes “not everybody has a comp”—his value only became apparent once he landed with the right team.
• Comparisons to Past Draft Surprises:
  Similar stories: George Kittle (5th round), Brock Purdy (7th), Puka Nacua, etc.

Notable Quote

“He is 100% raw energy and it just works for an organization that was looking for exactly that.” – Colin Cowherd [34:15]

7. Brian Daboll & Sideline Emotion

• Defending Coaches:
  Colin supports Daboll’s emotional urgency to get Dart back on the field, arguing media are too harsh on in-game decisions: “These games are fluid and they're fast and they're live. There's a lot of pressure.”
• NFL Investigating Giants’ Protocol:
  The league is reviewing concussion protocols surrounding Daboll’s sideline behavior.

Notable Quote

“Jobs are on the line. They're seven-figure jobs. I'm going to support emotion as long as it's not terribly disruptive emotion.” – Colin Cowherd [47:21]

Memorable Quotes & Segment Timestamps

• On Giants’ New Identity:
  "It's physical over flash. It is steak over sizzle." – Colin Cowherd ([06:05])
• On Dodger DNA:
  "The Dodgers are reliant on no single player… It's constant pressure." – Colin Cowherd ([09:55])
• On Eagles’ Issues:
  "This is a coaching crisis. It's not a player crisis." – Colin Cowherd ([22:09])
• On Sports Pressure:
  "Isn't it amazing what pressure does?" – Colin Cowherd ([28:52])
• On Cam Skattebø:
  "He's 100% raw energy and it just works for an organization that was looking for exactly that." – Colin Cowherd ([34:15])
• On Coaching Emotions:
  "I'm going to support emotion as long as it's not terribly disruptive emotion." – Colin Cowherd ([47:21])

Important Timestamps

• Giants’ identity, Dart’s emergence: [03:22]–[09:44]
• Dodgers vs Phillies analysis: [09:44]–[13:51]
• Dart debate (“Linsanity in New York”): [13:51]–[16:18]
• Eagles’ crisis: [21:07]–[24:44]
• Cam Skattebø draft/debut assessment: [32:56]–[36:00]
• Brian Daboll and coaching emotion: [46:52]–[49:52]

Summary Takeaway

This hour of The Herd paints a picture of chaos and opportunity in sports, from the Giants’ bold leap toward a new identity, to established contenders like the Dodgers and Eagles facing high-stakes truth. Colin Cowherd’s blend of historical context, talent evaluation, and relentless focus on organizational culture offers a roadmap for listeners to understand why some teams rise—and others unravel—in moments that matter most.