The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 1 – Packers' Offensive Issues, Micah Parsons Trade, and Evaluating the Bears' Offense
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (with J. Mac)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Episode Overview
This hour of The Herd features Colin Cowherd analyzing the Green Bay Packers’ continuing struggles on offense, giving a nuanced take on the Micah Parsons trade, and comparing the surging Chicago Bears offense to its NFC North counterparts. The discussion covers quarterback ceilings, the value of elite pass rushers, and the shifting fortunes within the division, backed up by stats and memorable commentary in Colin’s trademark direct, analytical style.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Problems Plaguing the Packers’ Offense
[06:00 – 17:30]
- Colin opens by dissecting Green Bay’s loss and overall offensive regression:
- “Is Green Bay’s problem a Jordan Love issue, a Matt LaFleur issue, injuries to wide receivers and tight end issue? Well, whatever. They’ve regressed in almost every offensive category three straight weeks.” (06:45)
- Stats underline the malaise: Jordan Love had only 39 passing yards and 6 completions in the first half.
- Raises doubts about Matt LaFleur's confidence in Love: “I don’t feel like Matt LaFleur has a ton of trust for Jordan Love.” (07:10)
- Compares Love’s toolset favorably (“If he came out today, he’d be the number one pick. Big kid with a big time arm.”), but notes a lack of tangible growth when compared to quick improvements from other young QB-coach tandems.
- Scripted offense woes: “They haven’t scored an opening drive touchdown since Week 4 against Dallas. They can’t even get the scripted stuff right.”
- Broader NFL context: Only a handful of QBs (Herbert, Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Burrow) thrive with subpar run games and support—Love and Hurts aren’t quite in that group.
- “There’s about five quarterbacks on the planet. Herbert’s one of them. Mahomes, Lamar, Josh, they don’t need a run game [...] That’s not what these guys are.” (09:45)
Notable Quote
“They are good quarterbacks and good guys and good leaders. They’re not top five guys in the league, and top five guys don’t need as much… can get to Super Bowls with completely flawed teams.” — Colin Cowherd (10:30)
- Concludes that the Packers are “lost right now” and need to figure out the offense fast, especially as their schedule gets tougher and division rivals improve.
2. The Micah Parsons Trade: Not as One-Sided as Claimed
[17:31 – 29:50]
- Revisits the controversial Micah Parsons trade between the Packers and Cowboys:
- “Remember when the Cowboys traded him? The reaction was completely over the top… this is a heist for the Packers.”
- Colin pushes back on the narrative, presenting statistical context:
- With Micah, Packers are 5-3-1 this season vs 6-3 last year at this point.
- Dallas hasn’t significantly declined after the trade.
- Critique of Parsons’ limitations:
- “He is a splash player. A remarkable, athletic splash player. He’s not good against the run right now. Edge rushers—he’s 28th in the league against the run.”
- NFL GM anecdote supports Colin’s view:
- “He’s more the heat-seeking missile... see the quarterback, get him, see the ball, get it. There’s nothing wrong with that.” (21:40)
- Parsons’ fit is conditional: great if the Packers are leading late, but not as impactful when the offense struggles.
- Praises the Cowboys’ haul in the trade (two firsts and Kenny Clark):
- “Jerry Jones... after the Micah trade that was panned by everybody... Kenny Clark and two firsts. I get it. That’s pretty good.”
- Projecting forward: Dallas’ roster flexibility and future draft capital are assets; not necessarily a loss for the Cowboys.
Notable Quote
“I can think two things: love Micah, great fit for the Packers. But the reaction was so overwrought that Dallas got nothing from it. Two firsts and Kenny Clark. That’s pretty good.” — Colin (27:10)
- J. Mac counters, believing the Packers still “won that deal handily.”
3. Chicago Bears Offensive Resurgence and NFC North Shifts
[34:00 – 40:00]
- Chicago’s offense is now outperforming Green Bay’s across the board:
- “For the first time in forever, Chicago’s offense is better than Green Bay’s offense. Everything. Big plays, run game, offensive line.” (34:40)
- Bears’ O-line ranks 7th via PFF; big plays: Bears 78 vs Packers 57; run game and playmakers (DJ Moore & Rome Odunze) all surpass Green Bay.
- Bears are thriving in close-game situations; Packers are not.
- Caleb Williams effect:
- “Whatever that clutch gene is, Caleb has it.”
- Contrasts QB ceilings:
- “Jordan Love’s peak—was it 2023 against the Cowboys? What’s Caleb Williams’ peak? Sunday?”
- Highlights Caleb’s coachability and impact on team fortunes:
- “The thing that’s most impressive, last year Caleb sacked 68 times. This year, 14. So listen, he’s getting the messaging. He’s coachable, and that’s a big thing.”
- Compares Caleb/Drake May effect to previous QB ‘erasers’ like LeBron in basketball.
- Concludes with a sense of tides turning in the division:
- “Green Bay feels stuck. Chicago feels like it’s ascending.”
Notable Quote
“A great quarterback is a launch pad, the rocket booster for success. And you look at those numbers, Bears and Packers. It’s not just the big plays—Caleb was a better prospect. Caleb’s got a bigger arm. Green Bay feels stuck; Chicago feels like it’s ascending.” — Colin (39:00)
4. Snapshot Comments on Other NFL & NBA Headlines
[40:01 – 54:27]
- NBA – Dallas Mavericks GM Firing (41:00)
- “Nico Harrison, the embattled GM... fired. Dallas is off to a brutal start this season.”
- Colin and J. Mac discuss failed trades, injury misfortune, and player development mismatches.
- Chargers’ O-Line Issues & Herbert’s Brilliance
- “Justin Herbert, man, I’m worried about him. Sacked five times, was hit nine times... Any concern?”
- Emphasizes how truly elite QBs can rise above bad supporting casts, using Herbert and Burrow as modern examples.
- “The difference between Herberts and he’s a top five or six guy and the good quarterbacks we just watched last night: take away the run game from Hurts and Jordan Love and they shrink.”
- Buffalo Bills & Brian Daboll Speculation
- Briefly speculates if Bills might try bringing ex-OC Brian Daboll back after a sluggish offensive stretch.
- “Would there be any consideration to reaching out to him to see if he had any interest in joining the staff?” “That’s not under any type of consideration.” (Sean McDermott, 52:35)
- Colin suspects some shakeup possible if Bills continue to struggle.
5. Noteworthy Quote Worth Repeating
“There are a lot of people listening or watching the show right now—you are excellent at what you do. Your boss stinks and your company stinks. If I put you in a better company with a better boss, you’d flourish...” — Colin, discussing the impact of Howie Roseman’s environment-building in Philadelphia (58:30)
6. Brief On: Howie Roseman, Jalen Phillips, and Roster Philosophy
[56:00 – 1:01:00]
- Discussion of Eagles GM Howie Roseman as one of the league’s most important figures:
- Praises the Jalen Phillips trade: “Why is it always Howie Roseman?”
- Contrasts proactive vs. passive GMs: “The gap in this league between how the Bengals operate and how the Eagles operate is the gap between the Pirates and the Dodgers.”
- Highlights how environment transforms player impact, using Jalen Phillips and the Eagles as prime examples.
Timestamps: Important Segments
- 06:00 – Colin breaks down the Packers' offensive regression
- 09:45 – Difference between elite and simply “good” QBs; context on Love and Hurts
- 17:31 – In-depth analysis of the Micah Parsons trade
- 21:40 – NFL GM’s perspective on Parsons’ fit and skillset
- 27:10 – Colin’s verdict: Both teams "won" the deal
- 34:00 – Bears offensive resurgence and comparison to Packers
- 39:00 – Extended quote on the value of A+ QBs like Caleb Williams
- 41:00 – Dallas Mavericks GM firing, NBA context
- 44:15 – Chargers’ offensive line woes, Herbert’s resilience
- 52:35 – Bills’ offensive struggles, Brian Daboll speculation
- 56:00 – Impact of Howie Roseman and Jalen Phillips trade
Memorable Moments & Quotes
- “They are good quarterbacks and good guys and good leaders. They’re not top five guys in the league, and top five guys don’t need as much.” (10:30)
- “Micah is a great athlete and a heat-seeking missile. He is great to have in Green Bay when they lead games in the 4th quarter, but when they don’t and the offense dries up, he’s not very good against the run.” (21:55)
- “A great quarterback is a launch pad, the rocket booster for success.” (39:00)
- “Why is it always Howie Roseman?” (57:00)
- “If I put you in a better company with a better boss, you’d flourish...” (58:30)
Summary for the Non-Listener
This episode offers a pointed critique of the Packers’ offensive struggles and a reality check on the limits of both Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts without elite supporting casts. Colin pushes back against the “one-sided” narrative on the Micah Parsons trade, arguing that both the Packers and Cowboys actually came out with valuable assets. The Bears’ sudden offensive ascendancy is held up as evidence of quarterback-driven transformation, with Caleb Williams already delivering results previously unseen in Chicago. Quick-hitting analysis of NBA and NFL news is woven throughout, maintaining Colin’s blend of stats, analogies, and sports-business logic.
End of Summary