The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1

Air Date: February 2, 2026
Main Theme: Why the Patriots Are Underrated in the Super Bowl & The Lakers’ Roster Problem

Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd returns for Super Bowl week in Los Angeles, challenging the prevailing narrative around the big game: while Seattle is widely considered the superior team, he believes New England is being unfairly dismissed. The episode breaks down why the Patriots deserve more respect, examines trends in Super Bowl scheduling, and pivots to an in-depth critique of the Lakers’ flawed roster construction—especially compared to the surging Knicks. Additional discussion addresses recent NFL coaching moves, general manager philosophy, and the NBA’s ongoing struggle with entertainment value and rule changes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Super Bowl Preview: Patriots Are Being Overlooked

• Colin’s Opening Take ([02:36]):

  • He repeatedly answers, "Seattle’s the better team, but I think I like New England," when asked for his Super Bowl pick.
  • New England: #2 in scoring, #4 in defense, excellent point differential—second only to Seattle.
  • The mainstream is treating the matchup as a potential blowout solely in Seattle’s favor.
  • Patriots’ rough September (losses to Steelers, Raiders) led to national disinterest, but since October they have been nearly unstoppable.
  • Team transformation: 15 new starters; needed time to gel. From late September on, dominated weaker competition.

• Strength of Schedule Debate ([05:13]):

  • “When you look at New England's schedule, it's almost worthy of a laugh. It's hard to find the good games.” (Colin)
  • New England played 11 games against teams who subsequently fired their coach: “Outrageously anemic.”
  • But historically, seven of last ten Super Bowl champs had top-10 easiest schedules—this is not a college football situation.
  • Key stat: “They’ve won 16 of 17 games.” (Colin, [07:45])
  • Only loss: Close, high-scoring game vs. Buffalo.

• Uniform Superstitions & Mindset ([10:46]):

  • Coach Mike Vrabel picks all-white uniforms: “Five and 0 with the white uniform, so there we go. Hope the tooth fairy comes tonight too. We’ll be real excited.” (Vrabel, paraphrased by Colin)

2. Lakers vs. Knicks: Roster Construction & Defensive Flaws

• Lakers-Knicks Comparison ([11:30]):

  • Knicks: on a 6-game win streak, 31–18, not far from true contention.
  • The Knicks have tradeable assets and a new coach (Mike Brown), though still finding full cohesion.

• Lakers’ Issues ([12:36]):

  • Lakers also winning, but LeBron (41) and Luka are two of the slowest defenders in the entire league—stat: Lakers are -70 with LeBron and Luka on the court.
  • Colin: “Do not be fooled by the Lakers… What you’re watching with LeBron… the three slowest defensive players in the league: Harden, LeBron, Luka.”
  • “The Lakers should have watched what Dallas did with Luka… surround him with tough defenders—a wall of athletic defenders around your star.” (Colin, [12:55])
  • Instead, Lakers doubled down on mediocre defenders: Austin Reaves (not athletic, not a defender), LeBron (slow, aging), suggestions to add Deandre Ayton (below average on defense).
  • “That is the opposite of the answer.” (Colin)

• LeBron's Perspective on Retirement & MSG ([14:00]):

  • Quote: “At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. So, no matter what it is… This one will always have, like, a special place in the journey, because it is Madison Square Garden.” (LeBron James, [14:00])

3. Super Bowl Picks & Banter

• Fired Coach Stat Reaction ([13:07]):

  • Guest blows up at the Patriots’ stat: “There's no way they have that many opponents that fired… 11. That's insane, Colin. I've never heard anything like that.”
  • Guest picks Seattle by double digits, referencing Sam Darnold’s MVP potential.

• Colin’s Loyalty:

  • “Well, yeah, I mean, I. I think it's well established. That's my guy.” (referring to Sam Darnold, [13:32])

4. NFL GM Talk: Vikings’ Firing, Quarterback Decisions

• Vikings Fire GM Despite Extension ([17:12]):

  • Colin describes how missing on the QB pick can outweigh all other virtues.
  • “He got fired because he let Sam Darnold walk. Folks, if you get the quarterback right, your owner forgets about a lot. And if you don’t, they have long memories.” (Colin, [17:12])
  • Brings up Bills’ GM who saved his job by drafting Josh Allen despite other organizational weaknesses.

• Vikings’ QB Carousel:

  • Had Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones pass through, interest from Aaron Rodgers—let all go, stuck with J.J. McCarthy.
  • “If you watch Darnold play and you watch JJ McCarthy and you choose JJ McCarthy, you got to figure out the thing. That’s the thing.”

• General Manager Longevity:

  • “This guy went to Princeton. He went to Stanford. He was on Wall Street… He doesn’t understand quarterback play.” (Colin)
  • “You can be a really average general manager… But if you don’t get the quarterback right, you’re out.” ([22:17])

5. NFL Coaching Carousel & Team-Building

• Raiders Hire Clint Kubiak ([23:59])

  • Colin: “For the first time since I can remember, I, I think they have the GM, the coach, and by late April, the quarterback.”
  • Discusses positive trajectory with cap space, plans for free agency and draft, and the importance of stacking the OL and skill positions.

• Arizona Cardinals Hire Mike LaFleur ([26:39]):

  • “Offensively they’ve got some really high skill position players, way more, way better skill than the Raiders.” (Guest Analyst)
  • Previous Jets OC experience with Zach Wilson was underwhelming, but optimism remains due to McVay’s coaching tree.

• OC Rumors: Giants’ Pursuit of Kingsbury ([29:03]):

  • “My take is, is it really a great place for him to go to New York with the loudest media… you don’t need that.” (Colin)
  • Kingsbury’s style may not fit “northeast, heavily scrutinized, loud media.”
  • Adds comment about the CEO role in the modern NFL: “It’s not about hiring a guy that’s good with schemes. It’s hiring a CEO that builds a culture.”

6. NBA’s Problem with Star Power & Entertainment

• Face of the League Discussion ([32:15]):

  • NBA lacks a new “face of the league”—attributes this to the league ignoring college basketball as a marketing engine in favor of the G League.
  • “The NBA over the last 15 years treated college basketball like an enemy. And college basketball is a free marketing platform.” (Colin)
  • Praises impact of stars like Cooper Flagg coming up through college; compares this to Bird, MJ, etc.

• G League Critique:

  • “The G League’s always been overplayed. The face of the leagues have mostly been guys we fell in love with… at Duke, at Carolina… Magic, MJ.”
  • “You couldn’t get me to watch a G League game. If my car broke down and it was right next to the gas station, I wouldn’t watch the game. And I like basketball.” ([37:50])

7. NBA’s Need for Rule Changes

• Praise for NFL & MLB Tweaks ([42:13]):

  • NFL constantly adjusts to improve viewer experience (example: kickoffs, catch rule).
  • “They’re never arrogant.” (on the NFL)
  • Praises MLB’s modernization (e.g., pitch clock), asserts it’s become far more watchable than the NBA.

• NBA’s Repetitiveness & Three-Point Problem:

  • NBA has become repetitive with excessive three-point shooting, especially corner threes.
  • “You’re taking the most athletic league and you’re making it unathletic. Anybody can come up the court, catch and shoot a three.” (Colin, [49:31])
  • Suggests eliminating the corner three to force more mid-range play, increase collisions and athleticism, and bring centers back into the paint.

• Playoff Physicality:

  • Regular season is soft and foul-heavy; playoffs become more physical, and ratings go up.
  • “Men win in the postseason. Young men win a lot in the regular season because men in the postseason, they swallow the whistle.” (Colin, [49:52])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Patriots’ Perception

  “Seattle’s the better team, but I think I like New England… People are talking about it like it’s going to be a blowout… They’ve won 16 of 17 games… That’s all I know.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [02:36–08:30]

• On the Patriots Playing Weak Teams

  “I will admit New England has played 11 games against teams that fired their coach, which is outrageously anemic.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [05:52]

• On Lakers Roster Flaws

  “The Lakers should have watched what Dallas did with Luka. When you have a star player who’s a poor defender… you surround him with willing defenders, tough guys, bouncers at the bar to cover for your star.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [12:55]

  “LeBron, 41, slow, can’t defend… that is the opposite of the answer.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [13:12]

• LeBron on Potential Last Game at MSG
  [14:00]

  “At the end of day, everything has to come to an end at some point… This one will always have, like, a special place in the journey, because it is Madison Square Garden.”

• Patriots’ Schedule Oddity

  “There’s no way they have that many opponents that fired… 11. That’s insane, Colin. I’ve never heard anything like that.”
  — Guest Analyst, [13:07]

• On GMs and QBs

  “If you get the quarterback right, your owner forgets about a lot. And if you don’t, they have long memories.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [17:12]

• On NBA’s Star Problem & G League

  “The G League’s always been overplayed. The face of the leagues have mostly been guys we fell in love with… at Duke, at Carolina… Magic, MJ.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [34:00]

  “You couldn’t get me to watch a G League game. If my car broke down and it was right next to the gas station, I wouldn’t watch the game.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [37:50]

• NBA’s Need to Tweak the Three-Point Shot

  “You’re taking the most athletic league and you’re making it unathletic. Anybody can come up the court, catch and shoot a three.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [49:31]

• On NFL & MLB Adjustments

  “The NFL does such a great job of tweaking their product… They’re never arrogant.”
  — Colin Cowherd, [42:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:36] – Colin’s Super Bowl initial take, Patriots being overlooked
• [05:13] – Patriots’ schedule quality and the easy-schedule Super Bowl champs trend
• [11:30] – Knicks vs. Lakers, analysis of team-building
• [13:07] – Reaction to Patriots’ 11-games-vs-fired-coaches stat, Super Bowl picks
• [14:00] – LeBron on legacy and playing at Madison Square Garden
• [17:12] – Vikings GM firing, importance of the quarterback in team-building
• [23:59] – Raiders hire Kubiak; positive direction for franchise
• [26:39] – Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur; discussion of skill positions and coaching trees
• [29:03] – Cliff Kingsbury, CEO vs. scheme coach debate
• [32:15] – NBA “face of the league” discussion, college basketball’s marketing value
• [37:50] – G League criticism, college basketball scouting
• [42:13] – NFL/MLB tweaks praised, NBA’s repetitive problems identified
• [49:31] – Three-point shot critique, suggestion to eliminate the corner three

Summary

This hour of The Herd sets the table for Super Bowl week with Colin's contrarian support of the Patriots, given their overlooked dominance and schedule quirks. He moves seamlessly from football trends into an impassioned critique of NBA roster construction and league-wide entertainment values. Colin challenges institutional inertia in both sports—whether in the NFL's coaching decisions, the Lakers’ roster missteps, or the NBA’s hesitancy to adjust its product as successfully as the NFL or MLB. Ultimately, his analysis encourages fans to look past surface narratives and appreciate how real on-field and off-court decisions shape teams, stars, and the way we watch sports.