The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: The Dallas Cowboys are Must-See TV on Thanksgiving
Date: November 26, 2025

Overview

In this Thanksgiving Eve episode, Colin Cowherd dives into why the Dallas Cowboys–Kansas City Chiefs game is must-see television, examining the Cowboys' transformation from a perennial tabloid team to a legitimate on-field juggernaut. Colin also explores NFL quarterback trends, evaluates controversial college football rankings, and debates coaching philosophies and aging in the NFL. Jason McIntyre joins for sharp banter and lively predictions, while NBA and Thanksgiving football storylines round out the hour.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dallas Cowboys: From Clickbait to Contender (04:00–10:45)

• Cowboys No Longer Just a Headline Team

  • Colin argues that, for the first time in years, the Cowboys deserve recognition for their impressive on-field performance:
    • Best offense in the NFL
    • Rising young offensive line; fourth fewest sacks given up
    • Two star receivers; top 10 run game
    • “They’re scoring on almost half of their drives... The best 2-minute offense in the league.” (Colin, 06:15)
    • Best field-goal kicker; Brandon Aubrey’s range changes their scoring threat calculus

• Defensive Transformation

  • Aggressive midseason trades (mentioning Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams) have taken Dallas’s defense from “second worst” to “seventh best” over two weeks.
  • “Go ask Philadelphia, you can’t run on them now.” (Colin, 07:21)

• Quarterback Excellence

  • Dak Prescott: Pro Football Focus No. 2 QB, league’s best against the blitz
    • “It’s not Matt Stafford, it’s not Mahomes... it’s Dak Prescott.” (Colin, 07:58)
  • Dak’s own words on facing the Chiefs: “We’ve got the guys, we’ve got the plan, we’ve got the process intact... must-win games.” (Dak, via clip, 10:40)

• Prediction & Perspective

  • Colin, a self-admitted former Cowboys skeptic, says “You can’t hammer them now,” and notes the matchup with Kansas City finally feels evenly matched–especially since Dallas’s offense is better than KC’s “and it’s not particularly close.” (Colin, 10:45)

2. Changing NFL Quarterback Evaluation: Mobility Versus Completion Percentage (10:50–12:55)

• Caleb Williams, Critiques, and Changing Metrics

  • Colin addresses criticism of college phenom Caleb Williams’ sub-60% completion rate, arguing:
    • Mobility is now “a requirement,” not a luxury, as offenses favor motion and improvisation
    • Recent league leaders in completion rate have zero playoff wins: “The days of Drew Brees–no, throw it downfield, lot of motion, get out of the pocket...” (Colin, 11:45)
    • C.J. Stroud as an example: Lower completion percentage but effective playoff performance

• Quoting RG3: Risks and Rewards

  • “Accuracy is a myth... it’s always dependent upon where the defense is and what you’re trying to get the receiver to do.” (RG3, quoted by Colin, 12:10)
  • Colin: “I’d like Caleb to get a little better, like 61%, but I’d be good there. I don’t need 65%.” (12:35)

3. College Football Playoff Rankings & Evolving Traditions (16:50–23:40)

• Notre Dame vs. Miami Ranking Controversy

  • Miami is outraged at being ranked behind Notre Dame, who they beat, but Colin explains the playoff committee’s reasoning:
    • College football now “40% NFL”: players move in the portal, get NIL money, and ugly losses (like Miami’s to Louisville and SMU) are “highly punitive.”
    • “Ugly losses, highly punitive in college football rankings. They leave a stain.” (Colin, 18:42)
    • September (early games) matter far less in the new landscape: “September in college football, it matters a little more, but it doesn’t matter as much as it used to.” (Colin, 22:46)
    • Urban Meyer clip: “Since their two losses, I think [Notre Dame’s] certainly a better team. I’ve watched them a bunch... They didn’t look very good at the beginning. They look great now.” (Urban Meyer, 21:14)

• Call for Tradition Reset

  • Colin points out the traditionalist streak in college football fans, comparing their resistance to change to MLB purists on the pitch clock or defensive shifts.

4. Thanksgiving NFL Slate & Key Matchups (23:40–32:10)

• Thanksgiving as Must-See TV

  • Jason McIntyre previews Thursday’s Bengals-Ravens game; strong focus on Joe Burrow’s competitiveness (“Burrow said sitting is not really an option.”).
    • “You grow up... you go and sit on the couch, and typically there’s not a lot on except football...” (Burrow, via clip, 24:07)

• Seattle/Minnesota, Darnold Revenge?

  • Discussion of Sam Darnold’s “revenge game” versus Minnesota; expectation that Seattle will dominate, especially with a rookie at QB for the Vikings.

• Quarterback Movement & Team Building Lessons

  • Colin’s takeaway on team-building after possible Sam Darnold blowout:
    • “The lesson is... if you have a quarterback who is in the MVP race, don’t let him leave the building. If he’s in his athletic prime...” (Colin, 27:19)

• Buffalo Bills WR Issues

  • With no WR on pace for 1,000 yards: “Josh Allen, at some point, can go in and be like, guys, you gotta get me dudes.” (Jason, 30:31)

5. NFL Coaching Trends: The New Age Divide (32:10–37:55)

• Defensive vs. Offensive Coaches and Aging
  • Colin rails against the idea of hiring aging, defensive-minded head coaches (e.g., Belichick, Pete Carroll, Ron Rivera, Lovie Smith), arguing offensive coaches innovate and age better:
    • “Offensive coaches are creators and innovators. They’re more curious. Go look at any study: Curious people age better.” (Colin, 33:31)
    • “Those people [authoritarian, defensive types] don’t age as well in any industry. They don’t.” (Colin, 34:45)
    • If hiring defense, “go young, go current.”
    • On why Brady left New England: “There was a certain rigidity and he was just worn out from him.” (Colin, 36:23)

6. NBA Quick Hits: Lakers, Clippers, and LA Stars (41:47–44:52)

• Kawhi Leonard & LA: A Personality Mismatch
  • Colin’s take: The Kawhi Leonard experiment is a disaster, particularly in an LA sports scene “all about personality.”
    • “If you want to be a quiet superstar, go play in San Antonio... Kauai in LA feels like wearing a cowboy hat in Manhattan.” (Colin, 42:17)
  • The Lakers, despite roster flaws, are entertaining: “The Lakers are fun, but this team has to make a move at the trade deadline.” (Colin, 43:10)

7. Packers and Lions: A Thanksgiving Tradition Reconsidered (44:52–52:23)

• Green Bay’s Identity Shift

  • The Packers are winning differently; defense-led, bold moves:
    • “It’s just a different version of the Packers for the last 30 years.” (Colin, 47:02)
    • Jordan Love is playing “more like Favre than [Aaron] Rodgers.”
    • Pointing to defensive stats—best in a generation—and a rare first-round WR pick
  • Dan Campbell on Micah Parsons: “He’s a dynamic rusher. This guy plays hard, quick first step, powerful, quick. You have to stop this guy and he’ll just keep coming.” (Campbell, quoted, 48:45)

• Packers-Lions Game Preview

  • The Lions are favored, but Jason wonders if the Packers’ defense can shut down Detroit’s run game (“They ain’t sniffing [that yardage] against this Packers defense”). (Jason, 51:24)
  • Colin urges caution: The Lions may have been “looking ahead” and remain a top-10 defense at home (Colin, 51:25–52:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Cowboys' Emergence
  “For years I was a Cowboy critic... but you can’t hammer them now.” (Colin, 07:36)

• On Changing QB Requirements
  “Mobility is no longer a luxury, it’s a requirement.” (Colin, 11:12)

• RG3 on Accuracy
  “Accuracy is a myth. It's always dependent on where the defense is and what you're trying to get the receiver to do.” (RG3, quoted, 12:10)

• On College Football Modernization
  “College football is now about 40% NFL. It's a little like Ozempic... originally for diabetes, now it's a weight loss drug.” (Colin, 17:35)

• On Coaching & Aging
  “Curious, innovative people age better. That's why the old offensive coaches are having great success.” (Colin, 33:41)

• On LA Sports Personality
  “LA is a personality town... Kauai in LA feels like wearing a cowboy hat in Manhattan.” (Colin, 42:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:00–10:45 — Cowboys’ transformation; why Dallas-KC is a real game this year
• 10:50–12:55 — Caleb Williams, changing QB standards, and the myth of accuracy (RG3 quote)
• 16:50–23:40 — College football playoff controversy, Miami vs. Notre Dame, and modern realities
• 23:40–32:10 — Thanksgiving NFL matchups, QB movement, team-building philosophy
• 32:10–37:55 — Coaching trends: why aging defensive coaches falter and offensive minds thrive
• 41:47–44:52 — NBA: Lakers, Clippers, and why personality matters in LA sports
• 44:52–52:23 — Packers-Lions: New Green Bay identity, matchup preview, and defensive stats

Tone & Style

Colin brings his signature blend of analytical depth, strong opinions, and cultural analogies (“It’s like wearing a cowboy hat in Manhattan”), while Jason McIntyre provides sharp, informed banter. The episode is fast-paced, engaging, and heavy on recent stats, league trends, and personality-driven insights—a digestible yet nuanced listen for sports fans.