The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hosted by Jason McIntyre & Rachel Nichols)

Hour 1 – Sam Darnold’s Pressure, Super Bowl or Bust for Josh Allen, and Packers-Bears Rivalry
Date: January 16, 2026

Overview

In this episode of The Herd, Jason McIntyre (filling in for Colin Cowherd) is joined by Rachel Nichols to discuss the top NFL playoff storylines. The hour centers on the immense pressure facing Sam Darnold as he seeks his first playoff win, the “Super Bowl or bust” expectations on Josh Allen as the Bills’ window narrows, and the brewing rivalry drama between the Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson and the Green Bay Packers' coaching “clan.” Additional segments include reactions to major MLB and NFL news, and lively debate about coaching stability in Philly.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Sam Darnold: Under the Playoff Microscope

(01:35–07:57)

• First Impressions & The Darnold Narrative:
  Jason opens with a personal story about first impressions, then relates it to Sam Darnold’s turbulent NFL journey — from a disastrous first pass (a pick-six) with the Jets to his current opportunity to prove himself with Seattle.

  • “My Jets, Monday Night Football. And there’s all these USC fans watching the game, and it was pure laughter. Oh, here we go again with the Jets.” – Jason (03:08)

• Career Resilience & Playoff Stakes:
  Darnold boasts regular season wins but, crucially, zero playoff victories. Jason believes Darnold’s perception won’t change until he has a signature postseason moment:

  • “All I've heard Colin say all week is that you know who has the most wins in the last two years in the NFL? Not Mahomes. Not Josh Allen. Not Matt Stafford. It’s Sam Darnold. And these regular season wins, what do they really mean? Nothing.” – Jason (04:21)
  • “Sam Darnold is under more pressure than Josh Allen this weekend… The reality is, unless he wins the Super Bowl…that’s not going to cut it. Sam Darnold needs to get the ball. Fourth quarter, trailing…Go down the field and get the win.” – Jason (06:29)

• Brock Purdy Contrast:
  Purdy, in contrast, is lauded for his spotless "first impression," while Darnold’s journey is framed by past missteps.

  • “First impressions matter… that’s why I’ve been blown away by Brock Purdy.” – Jason (05:45)

• X’s and O’s, Margin for Error:
  A “Brady” soundbite stresses minimizing mistakes and staying sharp under playoff pressure.

  • “When you get to these big moments… the margin of error when you play good teams is just very small…you have the least margin of error. It's a tall order for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks.” – (07:25)

2. Josh Allen: Is This Buffalo’s Last Shot?

(07:57–13:27)

• All Eyes on Allen:
  Jason ranks the upcoming Buffalo-Denver matchup as “Super Bowl or bust” for the Bills, citing Allen’s age (turns 30 soon), costly cap hits, and a fragile window for success.

  • “Josh Allen has established himself as an MVP and a superstar…But these big quarterbacks who take a pounding, they're not meant to be 15-year franchise quarterbacks.” – Jason (09:48)
  • “If Buffalo doesn’t break through…we could be looking at them being the next team to pull back in the AFC. Similar to Kansas City, Baltimore, Cincinnati.” – Jason (10:53)

• Allen’s Lebron Parallel & Supporting Cast:
  Jason compares Allen to early-career LeBron, likening his supporting cast to “Ilgauskas and Mo Williams,” suggesting Buffalo’s roster is not built for deep contention.

  • “That’s what Josh Allen is working with…not a really well-rounded football team, and Buffalo’s in trouble.” – Jason (12:15)

• Rachel’s Take:
  Rachel still has faith in Allen’s talent to lift Buffalo:

  • “He’s the most talented player on the field.” – Rachel (13:02)
  • “When it feels like a wash…you go with the most talented guy on the field.” – Rachel (13:13)

3. Packers-Bears Rivalry & The “Shanahan Clan”

(16:10–23:19)

• The Drama Heats Up:
  Jason explores a simmering beef between Bears coach Ben Johnson and Packers coach Matt LaFleur, stoked by Johnson’s anti-Packers rhetoric and cold postgame handshakes.

  • “Ben Johnson initiated it…You are getting smashed against the Packers twice and needed to get bailed out with some heroic fourth quarter stuff from Caleb Williams.” – Jason (16:31)

• NFL Rivalries & Pettiness:
  Rachel likens the tension to NBA-style “pettiness” and notes its increasing presence in the NFL.

• The Shanahan Coaching Tree:
  Jason likens LaFleur, McVay, McDaniel & Shanahan to the “PayPal mafia,” dominating the league from their Washington Commanders roots.

  • “There is like a Shanahan clan thing now. That’s becoming a thing. These guys are a crew…Well, Ben Johnson's probably a little sick and tired of hearing about this Shanahan posey.” – Jason (20:23)
  • “Ben Johnson’s probably a little sick and tired of hearing about this Shanahan Posey. Like, I’ve done a lot. Why do I keep having to hear about LaFleur and Shanahan and McDaniel and McVay? Screw those guys.” – Jason (20:58)

• Johnson the Outlaw:
  Jason suggests Johnson is “alienating himself” and risks isolation in a league dominated by deep coaching relationships.

  • “No man is an island. You cannot win that way long term. When you're winning and running hot, they love you. You're a genius. You've built culture. And right now, Ben Johnson’s got all of that. But…word has gotten around the Shanahan crew that ‘hey, this Ben Johnson guy, he’s kind of…’” – Jason (21:54)

4. Baseball, Mahomes’ Injury & Chargers OC Firing

(23:28–33:50)

• Dodgers Spending Spree:
  Rachel shares her glee about the Dodgers landing Kyle Tucker. Jason supports “no salary cap, spend whatever you want,” while both marvel at the Dodgers’ willingness to reinvest Ohtani windfalls into building a dynasty.

  • “These are the rules…Go get everybody. And the Dodgers are doing that.” – Jason (24:09)
  • “My take is the same as yours, right? It's in the rules. Obviously, I'm a little biased.” – Rachel (24:49)

• Mahomes ACL Recovery:
  Mahomes aims for a week 1 return; both are skeptical he’ll be ready.

  • “He’s excited for the process …but…No shot.” – Jason (28:09, 28:29)
  • “Nine months is sort of the ballpark for an ACL…He got injured on December 14th…So, that’s September 14th. If you’re going for the nine months…It is roughly the nine month mark.” – Rachel (28:37)

• Chiefs’ Uncertain Future:
  Jason points to a weaker supporting cast and a loaded AFC, casting doubt on KC’s 2026 playoff chances.

  • “I don’t know if the Chiefs are getting back to the playoffs next year, seriously.” – Jason (30:33)

• Chargers OC Firing:
  Harbaugh fires Greg Roman – a longtime confidant – after continued playoff flops. Rachel and Jason discuss the appeal of the now-vacant job, with Justin Herbert as a lure.

5. Eagles’ Locker Room: Coaching or Star Player Problem?

(36:37–47:24)

• Philly Drama:
  After a sideline spat between A.J. Brown and Nick Sirianni, speculation swirls about locker room toxicity.

  • “This is a toxic relationship… A.J. Brown practically getting in his face. That’s not good.” – Jason (36:55)

• Offensive Coordinator Carousel:
  Jason highlights Philly’s instability: five OCs in six years, with only a few working out. He recommends trading A.J. Brown and (if that fails) eventually moving on from Sirianni.

  • “You cannot win consistently when you’re changing your offensive playbook every year.” – Jason (39:12)
  • “I think the Eagles have an A.J. Brown problem and a Sirianni problem. Free solution: You trade A.J. Brown, you get whatever the hell you can.” – Jason (41:58)

• Rachel’s Counterpoint:
  Rachel advocates for coaching continuity and warns about the perils of the NFL’s “revolving door.”

  • “What’s wrong with professional sports right now: we are getting rid of coaches like they are Kleenex… If you don’t have that stability…you are going to have problems.” – Rachel (43:25)
  • “It makes the guys like Mike Tomlin…more rare and special because they were able to be there for so long.” – Rachel (44:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Darnold’s Pressure:
  “The reality is, unless he wins the super bowl, and I don’t mean, hey, he’s a…game manager like Trent Dilfer in a 33-10 victory, that’s not going to cut it. Sam Darnold needs to get the ball. Fourth quarter trailing…go down the field and get the win.” – Jason (06:29)

• On Josh Allen’s Crossroads:
  “I do believe if they don’t get through to the Super Bowl this year, that window’s closed. And I know that’s going to hurt Buffalo fans.” – Jason (11:47)

• On NFL Coaching Cliques:
  “There is like a Shanahan clan thing now. That’s becoming a thing. These guys are a crew…Well, Ben Johnson’s probably a little sick and tired of hearing about this Shanahan posey.” – Jason (20:23)

• On Dodgers Spending:
  “My take is the same as yours, right? It’s in the rules… I gotta take it where I can get it.” – Rachel, on being a happy Dodgers fan (24:49, 27:21)

• On Coaching Stability:
  “If you don’t have that stability in the building and that voice over and over again, you are going to have problems. And you establish a culture where everyone’s in and out the door…players don’t know who they can trust.” – Rachel (43:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 01:35 | Show open – Darnold’s first impression, NFL journey | | 06:29 | What Darnold must do to change perception | | 07:25 | Brady on QB accuracy and pressure in big moments | | 09:48 | Josh Allen’s durability, Bills’ closing window | | 13:02 | Rachel: Bills’ edge is Allen’s talent | | 16:10 | Packers-Bears rivalry, Ben Johnson's antagonism | | 20:23 | Shanahan coaching “Mafia”, NFL coaching cliques | | 24:33 | Dodgers free agency, MLB spending philosophy | | 28:09 | Mahomes’ injury: realistic timetable | | 36:37 | Eagles sideline drama: Brown vs Sirianni | | 39:12 | Philly's OC carousel, locker room speculation | | 43:25 | Rachel: The case for coaching stability in NFL |

Summary

The hour is stacked with sharp insight and friendly conflict. Jason McIntyre frames narratives with a mix of personal storytelling (his “first impression” theme), statistical context, and pointed opinion. Rachel Nichols brings counterweight—reminding listeners of stability’s value, long-term team building, and the cyclical nature of sports narratives. Together, they offer NFL fans both the “sky is falling” urgency of the playoffs and big-picture perspective.

This episode is essential for listeners tracking quarterback legacies, the evolving dynamics of NFL coaching power, and the high-stakes drama of the postseason.