Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1 - The Ravens may not be contenders, Shedeur Sanders turned off some teams, Justin Herbert
Date: September 23, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

In this packed Tuesday hour, Colin Cowherd and co-host Jason McIntyre break down the NFL's biggest stories. They focus on glaring concerns with the Baltimore Ravens' defense and what it means for their Super Bowl chances, examine the fallout from Shedeur Sanders’ draft-day slide, discuss surges by teams like the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers, and check in with special guest Justin Herbert. The episode also explores how salary structures in the AFC and NFC have shifted the balance of power in the NFL.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Are the Ravens True Contenders? (02:57 – 13:00)

• Detroit’s Domination Exposes Baltimore

  • Detroit beat Baltimore by dominating time of possession, aggressive fourth downs, and red zone efficiency.
  • Baltimore’s defense, despite heavy investment, showed up as “just as soft as the Dallas Cowboys defense.”
  • The Ravens rank last or near last in total defense; their issues are not just injuries, but a lack of physical identity.

• Fast-Scoring Offense Hurting the Defense

  • Lamar Jackson’s quick drives put the weak defense back on the field too quickly, disrupting complementary football.
  • “They score…then that crappy defense goes right back on the field. They don’t get any rest.” (Colin, 04:25)

• Super Bowl Outlook

  • History shows teams with glaring defensive weaknesses don’t win Super Bowls, with Colin referencing the Falcons’ blown SB lead.
  • “No, that team can’t win a Super Bowl at their current state, at their current roster.” (Colin, 12:46)

• Coach John Harbaugh Admits the Problem

  • Colin shares Harbaugh’s postgame comments on the run defense:

    “That’s disappointing. That’s bad run defense and that’s not who we are. It cannot be who we are…It’s not going to be acceptable and it’s got to be better.” (05:55)

2. The Rise and Identity of the Detroit Lions (07:30 – 13:01)

• Dan Campbell’s Philosophy

  • Initially perceived as stubborn for 4th-down aggressiveness, Campbell is now celebrated for his unwavering, authentic self-belief.
  • Detroit’s identity is “hyper aggressive”—they lead the league in fourth down conversions despite not having a “tush push.”
  • Colin praises Campbell:

    “There’s a fine line between stubborn guy and hey, I believe in what we are. And Dan Campbell…has never wavered.” (08:31)

• Strong Identity as Key to Success

  • The best NFL teams have a clear identity, and Detroit is now one of them.
  • “You never ask with Dan Campbell, like, what are they? They’re hyper aggressive.” (10:50)

3. AFC vs NFC: Balance of Power Shift (13:01 – 15:12)

• Rising NFC, Stagnant AFC

  • Colin’s take: The NFC now has deeper, better rosters because their quarterbacks are on friendlier contracts, while AFC teams like Baltimore and Kansas City have to pay superstar QBs, thinning the rest of the roster.
  • “I believe the NFC has caught up and surpassed the AFC.” (Colin, 13:22)
  • “The quarterback elite talent, now very expensive, is better in the AFC. The rosters now are better in the NFC.” (14:49)

• Jason McIntyre Responds

  • “That’s a hot awesome take. That’s good stuff from you.” (JMac, 14:54)

4. Shedeur Sanders' Draft Fall & The Value of Humility (20:30 – 24:36)

• Sanders’ Attitude Turns Teams Off

  • Deion Sanders allegedly coached Shedeur to avoid teams that wanted him to sit, leading to him falling to the Browns.
  • “Who learned sitting on the bench? Oh, I don’t know. Aaron Rodgers, Brady, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Mahomes…Most are really, really good.” (Colin, 20:53)
  • Colin criticizes Deion’s mentality as projecting his own exceptional path onto his son:

    “This isn’t about you, Prime Time. Your son doesn’t have Prime Time talent.” (21:18)

• Missing Out on Great Mentoring

  • Colin stresses the rare opportunity of learning under organizations like the Ravens and Eagles:

    “If the Eagles and Ravens call at any position, just say yes.” (24:30)

5. Packers’ Youthful Boasting and Reality Check (24:39 – 27:02)

• Coach Matt LaFleur’s Response to Undefeated Talk

  • LaFleur is displeased with premature “undefeated” talk from players, emphasizing weekly focus, not big-picture hype.
  • “The goal is to go 1-0 every week…pump the brakes on everything. Just trying to win one game at a time.” (LaFleur via Colin, 25:10)

• Cowboys Defense—Overrated?

  • Discussion of how Green Bay matches up well against Dallas’s “cream puff defense,” referencing recent big games by Russell Wilson and Caleb Williams against Dallas (26:03).

6. Chargers’ Surge and Justin Herbert’s MVP-Level Play (27:02 – 29:36)

• Herbert’s Clutch Performance Despite Pressure

  • Herbert is playing at an MVP level, thriving despite being hit 14 times in the last game.
  • “He gets hit constantly…he doesn’t even wince, he doesn’t show it.” (Colin, 27:57)

• Empowering Receivers

  • The acquisition of Keenan Allen and developing Quentin Johnston have boosted the Chargers’ offense.
  • “Quentin Johnston…is absolutely a huge part. He is their downfield passing attack.” (Colin, 29:11)

7. Eagles Comeback & Jalen Hurts Discussion (29:36 – 32:24)

• Play Calling Confusion, Hurts Steps Up

  • Clarification that Jalen Hurts wasn’t calling plays, but his field awareness and leadership are lauded.
  • “Jalen sees the field really, really well. He can come back and tell you what happened without even looking at a picture.” (Colin, 30:43)

• A.J. Brown as X-Factor

  • Rams’ inability to contain A.J. Brown shows their need for a cornerback; not many defenses can handle Philadelphia’s weapons.

Interview Highlight: Justin Herbert (41:49 – 51:40)

• On Taking Hits and Staying Tough

  • Jim Harbaugh says Herbert doesn’t show pain, and Herbert admits:

    “There were a couple times in the game where I was maybe a little slow to get up…But as long as Coach Harbaugh thinks that, then, you know, that’s great for me.” (Justin Herbert, 42:43)

• On Fourth-Down Aggression and Game Prep

  • “There are multiple ways to win a football game…as long as we’re limiting turnovers, scoring in the red zone and converting on third downs, I’m happy to throw the ball as much as I can.” (Herbert, 47:03)

• On Relationship With Keenan Allen

  • “It’s basically like having another quarterback out there.” (Herbert, 47:49)
  • Discussing trust and chemistry: “That play, no, I break out of the pocket and I know that he’s the first to react. He sees what I’m doing and takes off.” (Herbert, 48:39)

• On Jim Harbaugh’s Personality

  • “I would say this guy loves football. I’ve never met anyone that loves football more than he does…He’s going to find your weaknesses, he’s going to watch film on you, he’s going to ask questions, and he loves the game.” (Herbert, 50:38)
  • On tough coaching moments: “There have definitely been times he’s mad at me, whether I’m throwing the ball downfield irresponsibly late over the middle…” (Herbert, 51:14)

Additional Notable Moments

• Sam Darnold’s Revival and the 2017 QB Draft Class (32:26 – 37:52)

  • Darnold now highest-graded QB in the NFL; Colin reflects on how structure and team fit can revive careers.
  • Matt Hasselbeck calls Seattle’s run scheme ideal for Darnold:

    “When offensive linemen get to fire out and play run action at least half the time, it helps everything.” (37:23)

• General Praise for Current NFL QBs

  • Colin closes with appreciation for the next generation of quarterbacks, noting their off-field maturity and leadership:

    “We are lucky that all the star quarterbacks in this league…They’re all good dudes.” (Colin, 51:42)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Colin Cowherd: “The Ravens defense is just as soft as the Dallas Cowboys defense. Baltimore's last in total defense…they're soft.” (03:45)
• John Harbaugh (via Colin): “That’s disappointing. That’s bad run defense and that’s not who we are. It cannot be who we are…” (06:40)
• Colin Cowherd: “With Dan Campbell…you never ask: what are they? They are hyper aggressive.” (09:25)
• Colin Cowherd: “Who learns something sitting on a bench? I…can give you like 19 Hall of Famers who did…” (21:00)
• Matt LaFleur (via Colin): “Pump the brakes on everything. We're just trying to win one game at a time.” (25:02)
• Justin Herbert: “As long as Coach Harbaugh thinks that, then, you know, that's great for me.” (42:43)
• Justin Herbert: “He (Jim Harbaugh) loves football…He thinks about football when he wakes up and when he goes to bed and he wants to win.” (50:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:57 – Lions dominate Ravens: exposing Baltimore’s non-contender status
• 05:55 – John Harbaugh on the Ravens’ defensive failures
• 09:25 – Dan Campbell’s influence and Detroit’s clear identity
• 13:22 – AFC vs NFC: roster building and QB contracts
• 20:30 – Shedeur Sanders’ draft saga and generational mentorship
• 25:02 – Matt LaFleur on Packers focusing week-to-week
• 27:57 – Justin Herbert’s MVP form and building LA's offense
• 41:49 – Justin Herbert joins the show: durability, Harbaugh, and leadership
• 47:49 – Herbert on Keenan Allen and offensive chemistry

Episode Tone & Style

• Colin’s style is opinionated, analytical, and peppered with dry humor and cultural references.
• Jason “JMac” McIntyre serves as the devil’s advocate and enthusiastic responder, keeping the pace lively.
• Notable for: candid assessments, behind-the-scenes stories, and nuanced takes on player development, team-building, and leadership.

This episode is a must-listen for NFL fans curious about team philosophies, draft saga dramatics, and insights from one of the league’s top quarterbacks.