The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 (September 15, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Colin Cowherd and guest Rob Parker dive into the biggest narratives from the NFL’s second week. The core of the show wrestles with the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty, the ongoing struggles with new Bears QB Caleb Williams and coach Ben Johnson, and the performances and futures of several young quarterbacks, including Dak Prescott’s renaissance, the Bengals’ crisis, and J.J. McCarthy’s rocky start. The hour is dense with candid sports analysis, sharp critiques, and signature Cowherd candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are the Chiefs’ Dynasty Days Over?

[03:38-07:45]

• State of the Chiefs: Colin asserts that after watching the Philadelphia Eagles defeat Kansas City, it's clear the Chiefs’ dynasty is likely done. Philadelphia, while not always pretty on offense, dominates physically and leans into their strengths, something the Chiefs lack.

  • “The dynasty days of Kansas City, they're over. ... The 12 best players, nine are probably Eagles.” – Colin Cowherd [03:38]

• Chiefs’ Weaknesses: Offense runs solely through Patrick Mahomes, who continues to be their leading rusher due to lack of run game and diminished weaponry.

  • “Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs offense is like the Apple store at the local mall. It's the only thing keeping the lights on.” – Colin [04:33]
  • Travis Kelce isn’t performing up to his usual standard, and other playmakers have been injured or underwhelming.

• Eagles’ Identity: Philadelphia may not be aesthetically pleasing, but their dominance in short-yardage situations and physicality set them apart.

  • “I've never seen a team in my entire life in the NFL that's better at getting a yard or two or three or four. Sometimes it's bad TV, it's ugly, but it's just who they are.” – Colin [03:55]

• Summary: Chiefs are well-coached but lack a true offensive identity or firepower outside of Mahomes, making Philadelphia the stronger contender.

2. Troubles in Chicago: Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson

[08:38-12:25]

• Mismatched Philosophies: Colin points out a fundamental mismatch between Caleb Williams’ improvisational style and head coach Ben Johnson’s preference for structure and timing.

  • “I don't think it works. The coach is a timing coach who loves structure and Caleb likes to ad lib.” – Colin [08:47]

• Performance Splits: When Williams operates within the scripted opening drives, he excels (131 passer rating), but once off-script, his efficiency drops dramatically (76 passer rating).

  • “The further this quarterback gets away from from the play script, the worse he is. He's like a a studio musician having to go live or a standup comedian who's totally reliant on joke writers.” – Colin [09:20]

• Concerns About Composure and Fit: Colin questions Williams’ anticipation, accuracy, and composure, comparing him unfavorably to other top QBs, suggesting a poor long-term fit with Johnson’s system.

  • “I don't think this marriage is going to work. I think Caleb may work somewhere, but this head coach did not draft this quarterback, so how loyal is he going to be?” – Colin [10:09]

• Bears Organizational Issues: Colin criticizes the Bears’ front office track record and hints at possible short leashes and future quarterback changes.

• Ben Johnson’s Perspective:

  • “We have a lot of prideful guys. We're two games into the season, and so I think they're just as disappointed as the coaching staff is. ... the good teams I've been on, they find a way to respond.” – Ben Johnson [11:55]

3. Dak Prescott's Renaissance and Dallas Cowboys Analysis

[18:01-23:37]

• Dak’s Remarkable Form: Dak Prescott is rejuvenated post-surgery, showing improved movement, energy, and velocity.

  • “I don't know who Dak Prescott surgeon was. The guy rejuvenated Dak Prescott. He has looked unbelievable.” – Colin [18:25]
  • Beat the Giants (again), marking 14 straight victories over New York.

• Stability Despite Chaos: Praise for Dak’s poise amid Dallas’s “noisy” environment, contrasting with former distractions around the team.

  • “Dak just shows up and works.” – Colin [18:45]

• Cowboys’ Outlook: Dallas could use their two first-round picks to rebuild their defense, considering their current offensive strength and need to match up with the Eagles.

• Dak’s Own Words:

  • “Last year, not running, I think that just took a toll ... this whole off season recovery process, it was about getting back to who I am, my game.” – Dak Prescott [20:08]

4. Rapid-Fire News Breakdown with Rob Parker (“Herdline News”)

[24:00-31:51]

Bengals Lose Burrow, Jake Browning Steps In

• Burrow Out: Joe Burrow is out for three months due to a toe injury.
  • “Cincy did get the win yesterday because backup Jake Browning ... looked solid ... but this is just devastating.” – Rob Parker [24:34]
• Offensive Line Woes: Jokes about the team's inability to protect their QB: “There's 100 million obese people in the country and the Bengals can't find five of them to block and save Joe Burrow.” – Rob [24:52]

Aaron Rodgers Criticized for Blaming Teammates

• Rodgers, now with Pittsburgh, calls out WR Calvin Austin after an end-zone pick.
  • “This is on brand for Aaron Rodgers.” – Rob [25:27]
  • “This is Pittsburgh has struggled with their run game for seven years ... Even the post game pressers are already sounding like the Jets.” – Colin [26:11]

Steelers’ Problems Continue

• “It doesn't matter if it's week two. By week two, you have to be good at something.” – Colin [28:28]
• Steelers’ defense is failing despite high spending, causing Parker to predict: “Steelers are not going to the playoffs. They're not. This is not a good football team. And Rodgers is going to be cooked after this year. People are going to be sick of him by Halloween.” – Rob [29:19]

Broncos’ Painful Loss

• Denver blows a late lead in a game they “had to have,” with special teams mistakes and turnovers costing them a critical early win.
  • “If I could say cuss words on this show, I would.” – Rob [29:53]
  • “They gave it away ... that was a Denver game. But Indy made one mistake and it didn't cost him. Denver made three and it cost him the game.” – Colin [30:53]

5. Quarterback Class Progress Report

[31:58-51:29]

J.J. McCarthy's Struggles

• Underwhelming Debut: McCarthy’s stats are poor: in seven of his eight quarters, he’s thrown no TDs for three INTs and seems “overwhelmed.”

  • “In seven of eight quarters, J.J. McCarthy looks utterly overwhelmed. The body language from his coach. He looks like a quarterback that never had to carry a team or play from behind. Oh, wait, that was his college resume at Michigan.” – Colin [32:00]
  • “He looks like one of those Survivor contestants by week three. The hair's disheveled, he looks tired, he hasn't slept well ...” – Colin [34:37]

• Cowherd’s QB Grades:

  • J.J McCarthy – Incomplete
  • Jaden Daniels – A
  • Bo Nix – B
  • Michael Penix – C+/B
  • Drake Maye – C
  • Caleb Williams – Plus athleticism, “but it's not working with Ben Johnson.”

Coach Kevin O’Connell’s Take

• Defensive of McCarthy, noting adversity and a need for coaching improvement but acknowledges the poor performance.
  • “It's going to be easy to try to put the microscope on JJ ... but I thought he also, when we did move it, I thought he made some throws.” – O’Connell [35:12]

Quarterback and Roster Construction Theories

• Minnesota Vikings have hedged their bets with other QBs (Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold), knowing McCarthy may not be ready.
  • “They had Daniel Jones in the building. ... Why? What you watched last night and for seven of the eight quarters is the why – he's not ready yet.” – Colin [47:23]

Cam Ward’s Tough Start

• Facing two top defenses (Denver and Rams), Ward is “psychologically” feeling the pressure; decision-making is affected but Colin is still optimistic about Ward.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Colin on Chiefs’ decline:
  “Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs offense is like the Apple store at the local mall. It's the only thing keeping the lights on.” [04:33]

• Colin on Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson:
  “He's like a news anchor and the teleprompter goes down. Oops.” [10:34]

• Dak Prescott on getting back to running:
  “It was about getting back to who I am, my game, understanding how much the legs are a part of my game.” [20:08]

• Rob Parker on Bengals’ offensive line issues:
  “There's 100 million obese people in the country and the Bengals can't find five of them to block and save Joe Burrow.” [24:52]

• Colin on McCarthy's struggles:
  “He looks like one of those Survivor contestants by week three. The hair's disheveled, he looks tired, he hasn't slept well ...” [34:37]

• Colin on NFL’s QB learning curve:
  “By the time you get into the NFL... I'm not going to give you 20 starts for me to have a definitive opinion. So I need more from JJ McCarthy.” [47:12]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Chiefs vs. Eagles Analysis – End of the Chiefs?
  [03:38–07:45]

• Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson Dynamic & Bears Woes
  [08:38–12:25]

• Dak Prescott & Dallas Cowboys Review
  [18:01–23:37]

• Rapid NFL News (Burrow Injury/Rodgers Critique/Broncos Loss)
  [24:00–31:51]

• Quarterback Class Check-In (McCarthy, Daniels, Nix, Penix, Maye, Ward)
  [31:58–51:29]

Episode Tone

Opinionated, candid, and quick-witted—Colin and Rob deliver strong stances and aren’t afraid to be blunt, while still rooting their takes in performance analysis and NFL context. The conversation is fast-paced, full of memorable analogies, and not shy about calling out organizational dysfunction.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Chiefs’ window as an NFL dynasty appears to be closing, while the Eagles increasingly lean into an ugly but effective brand of winning football.
• The Chicago Bears’ rookie/coach pairing is fundamentally at odds and sparks early doubts about Caleb Williams’ fit and future in Chicago.
• Dak Prescott looks revitalized, Cowboys may yet be contenders if the defense improves.
• Major news on quarterback injury and performance around the league, with doubts around Bengals’ prospects, Steelers’ structure, and Broncos’ blown chances.
• The class of young NFL quarterbacks faces wildly different trajectories—some encouraging (Daniels, Nix), some concerning (McCarthy, Williams’ fit).

This summary gives a comprehensive snapshot of the crucial topics and bold opinions featured in the first hour of this episode.