THE HERD - Hour 1 - The Super Bowl is set, thoughts on the AFC/NFC Championship games

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: The Super Bowl is set, thoughts on the AFC/NFC Championship games
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)

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Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd breaks down an astonishing NFL Championship weekend that features headline-grabbing stories out of the NFC and AFC: Sam Darnold's remarkable journey to the Super Bowl with Seattle, New England’s gritty rise under Mike Vrabel, and a pair of competitive, defensively-built teams that mirror each other. The conversation features analysis, storytelling, and pointed opinions on key games, coaching moves, and player narratives—all delivered in trademark Herd style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Sam Darnold Redemption: Seahawks into the Super Bowl

• Darnold’s “Unbelievable Journey” ([01:00])

  • Colin marvels at Sam Darnold’s rise: “Slinging Sammy D in a Super Bowl. Say that 10 times, say it a hundred times. Sam Darnold proved two things. Number one, everybody takes a different path. Some kids get great parents, some kids get the New York Jets. It just takes longer for a lot of people. And the second thing, if you believe in yourself, don’t listen to the noise, don’t listen to the doubters.” ([01:20])
  • Darnold praised for toughness (playing hurt), athleticism, and risk-taking.
  • On the biggest downs (3rd down), Darnold was “brilliant,” with a 142 passer rating, 6-for-9 conversions, and no turnovers for the 3rd straight game.
  • “Maybe he’s not surgical. He was on third down, and Stafford was 0 for 6.” ([02:29])
  • General manager John Schneider told Colin: “‘God, I love Sam. Why do people just bash him so much?’ It’s so much easier to pile on…[but] much harder to support people who had a bumpy first few years.” ([03:30])
  • Darnold’s performance: 346 yards, 25 of 36, 128 rating—“For the third straight game, no interceptions. No turnovers.”

• Seahawks’ Overcoming Adversity

  • Missing a key running back (Charbonnet), inferior O-line vs Rams’ front—Darnold carried the offense.
  • Darnold “had the best game of his career against the one team that had his number and the one defensive coordinator.” ([04:50])
  • Quote from Seahawks Head Coach: “Can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. I mean, he just shut a lot of people up tonight. So I’m really happy for him.” ([05:21])

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2. The Patriots’ Toughness & Road to Super Bowl

• Patriots Survive in Blizzard, Coaching Impresses ([07:00])

  • New England wins tough blizzard game in Denver—no turnovers, just one penalty, excellent on third down.
  • “These teams, Seattle and New England, are actually very similar...both unbelievably good on the road.” ([08:21])
  • Robert Kraft’s bold ownership moves: firing Belichick, then Mayo, to get Vrabel (“That’s rough. You have to admit you’re wrong.”)
  • Mike Vrabel on Drake May: “Leadership is every day, not just today.” May threw for 80 yards but limited mistakes.
  • Vrabel Postgame Quote: “I can’t tell you how proud I am to be associated with these guys and this organization...I’m a lucky head coach.” ([11:30])

• Historical Context & Super Bowl Matchup

  • “What is that, the 11th Super Bowl for Robert Kraft?” ([12:09])
  • Colin hammers the point: New England “way better than everybody thinks,” thanks to free agency, rookies, and coaching.
  • “Coaching travels. So does toughness and defense.”
  • The two best road teams in the NFL—Seattle and New England—made the Super Bowl.

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3. Mirrored Teams: Seahawks vs Patriots

• Both teams feature:
  • Young, athletic, downfield-attacking QBs (Darnold, Drake May)
  • Defensive coaches, great secondaries, pass rush abilities
  • Offensive lines considered the main “weakness,” but no gaping holes elsewhere
  • “Mirror image of each other...these rosters, the Rams have holes like—Seattle doesn’t have a hole.” ([13:07])

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4. The Rams’ Painful Loss & Sean McVay’s Reflections

• Rams’ Special Teams/Cornerback Weakness Was Costly

  • “In the NFL, the coaching so good, you don’t have to be great everywhere, but you can’t be bad anywhere.” ([19:08])
  • Rams’ high end talent (Stafford, Adams, Puka, etc.)—but special teams and corners lost them the game.
  • Matt Stafford’s historic line: “First quarterback to throw for 350 yards, 3 touchdowns, have no turnovers and lose a playoff start.”

• Sean McVay’s Postgame Quote ([21:56])

  • “I love our group...It’s a couple of critical errors that ended up costing us. But love this team. It’s one of my all time favorites. I’m pretty numb...thought we’d be on the podium, and we weren’t.”

• Play Call Critique

  • McVay: “They kind of lucked into having two guys peel on Kyron right there...a fortuitous bust by them.” ([31:32])
  • Colin on McVay’s honesty: “You can’t ask questions to competitors...and expect these plastic synthetic answers. They’re raw. These guys are raw. They’re beaten.” ([31:49])

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5. Broncos’ Missed Opportunity & Sean Payton’s Gamble

• Broncos went for it on fourth down early—backup Jarrett Stidham rolled out, failed.
  • Jason: “Colin, under no circumstances should they have gone for that. You take the points, you go up 10-nothing.” ([23:46])
  • Sean Payton: “Felt like, man, we had momentum to get up 14...Let’s be aggressive. There’s always regrets.” ([24:26], [48:44])
  • Colin: “If you can go up 10-nothing and my defense...10-nothing felt like 20-nothing.” ([25:57])
  • Weather became a huge factor—Denver couldn’t move the ball after the blizzard started.

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6. Super Bowl Storylines & The Underdog Effect

• Seattle is a 5-point favorite; Colin expects a close game, but underscores New England's psychological edge:
  • “Patriots are going to hear for two weeks they're going to get rolled by the Seahawks. Huge advantage.”
  • “When you take young people and tell them ‘no, you're going to get embarrassed,’ stuff kicks in. Vrabel is going to play media clips over and over.” ([33:31])
  • “Patriot dynasty started as a 14 point underdog to the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’...Same damn story. This is only a five-point underdog.”
• Christian Gonzalez on Being Underdogs: ([37:42])
  • “We get that chip on our shoulder. I mean, it’s cool. It’s great if you want to count us out, because, you know, we’re just going to go out there and show what we can do.”

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7. Other Noteworthy Moments

• Stefon Diggs’ First Super Bowl Trip: Emotional interview post-game ([28:28])
  • “We got a hell of a team, bro. We fought long and hard...No apologies for our success, no excuses for our failures.”
• Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy:
  • “To me, he’s the offensive version of Mike Tomlin...They’ll win a bunch of games...but you always kind of feel like the other guys get better on the details, a little more buttoned up.” ([43:33])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Soundbites

- Colin on Darnold’s Path ([01:20])

“Some kids get great parents, some kids get the New York Jets. It just takes longer for a lot of people.”

- Seahawks Head Coach on Darnold ([05:21])

“He just shut a lot of people up tonight. So I’m really happy for him. Every time they went and scored again, he came back, made some big time throws...The guy barely practiced all week, you know, just really happy for him. He deserves it.”

- Mike Vrabel after AFC win ([11:30])

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be associated with these guys and this organization. I want to thank Robert and Jonathan. Love our quarterback. I love our football team. I love our staff. I’m a lucky head coach.”

- Sean McVay postgame ([21:56])

“Love this team. It’s one of my all time favorites. I’m pretty numb...thought we’d be on the podium, and we weren’t.”

- McVay on pivotal play ([31:32])

“They kind of lucked into having two guys peel on Kyron right there. I know that that can’t be part of their design. So it’s a fortuitous bust by them.”

- Christian Gonzalez, Patriots CB ([37:42])

“We get that chip on our shoulder. It’s cool. It’s great if you want to count us out, because, you know, we’re just going to go out there and show what we can do.”

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Sam Darnold’s story, Seahawks-Rams analysis: 01:00–08:00
• Patriots’ blizzard win, Vrabel’s leadership: 08:00–13:00
• Darnold vs Patriots’ draft class, Super Bowl outlook: 13:00–15:00
• Rams’ loss, McVay postgame reflections: 19:08–22:29
• Broncos’ botched 4th down, Payton/Colin analysis: 23:46–28:15
• Christian Gonzalez on underdog mindset: 37:42
• Steelers/McCarthy coaching move commentary: 43:33–48:44

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Episode Summary

Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre deliver sharp analysis on NFC and AFC Championship Games, celebrate Sam Darnold’s remarkable persistence, and highlight the Patriots’ dogged, defense-first resurgence under Mike Vrabel. The hosts emphasize the “no-weakness” builds of both Super Bowl teams, dissect coaching decisions (McVay's gutsy play calls, Payton’s risk in a blizzard), and point to psychological warfare (underdog effect) as a real Super Bowl factor. The discussion is rich with memorable quotes, strategic breakdowns, and context for the upcoming Seahawks-Patriots clash.

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Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human I'm Colin Coward from the Herd. Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you'll definitely want to check out season four of Mind the Business small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks. In the latest season, hosts Austin Hanquitz and Jenise Torres are talking to self starters about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and how QuickBooks helps you to get more done in less time. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Mind the Business Small business Success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember when people were nice? When we could occasionally stop fighting and come together? Well, here's some good news. The Ripple Effect is here. Hosted by comedian Jenna Kim Jones, it's a show about how powerful it is when we reach out to one another. It's the perfect weekly proof that goodness isn't gone. 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Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now T mobile is in US cellular stores. Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits, plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits. Credits stop if you cancel any lines. Qualifying credit required. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. The super bowl is set. What a broadcast. What a game. What an unbelievable journey for Sam Darnold. We are live in Chicago. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, thanks for making us a lot of choices out there. Part of our day. Well, you know, I'm happy slinging Sammy D in a Super bowl. Say that 10 times, say it a hundred times. Sam Darnold proved two things. Number one, everybody takes a different path. Some kids get great parents, some kids get the New York Jets. It just takes longer for a lot of people. And the second thing, if you believe in yourself, don't listen to the noise, don't listen to the doubters. Darnold never stopped believing in himself. And until that game officially ended, 90% of people in this country, sports fans, still didn't think Sam Darnold super bowl sounded right. But he's a perfect fit for this franchise. He's young, he's athletic, he takes swings, he. He's a risk taker. He's tough playing with an oblique where it hurt on every throw. Sam Darnold is the Seahawks a little bit at times. Reckless, super talented, athletic. Tom Brady had a great way of describing Darnold. He's more explosive than surgical. And that's what I would say about the Seahawks. Two exceptional teams yesterday and two exceptional quarterbacks. But maybe most impressive on the biggest down in football. Third down, got about 15 of those a game. And Matt Stafford was unbelievable yesterday. But on third, it wasn't close. Darnold had 142 passer rating 6 for 9. Brilliant. Maybe he's not surgical. He was on third down and Stafford was over 6. Most impressive though, to me, and everybody knew this in the locker room in Seattle, they were missing Zach Sarbo, Charbonnet, a good running back. And the Rams defensive front is a lot more talented than the Seahawks offensive line. So Darnold was going to have to carry the Seahawks yesterday. And that's exactly what he did. Beyond third down against a strong pass rush against and Chris Shula, considered one of the smart defensive coordinators in football. Talent everywhere. Sam threw for 346 yards, had 128, passer rating was 25 of 36. And for the third straight game, no interceptions, no turnovers. Sam isn't too reckless. Sam at times is more explosive and dynamic than surgical. His journey has a little Christopher Columbus to it. Five teams, five coaches, five, six, seven coordinators, a bunch of different parts of the country. And he's still only 28 years old. The general manager that decided to go get him was John Snyder. A couple of weeks ago, I was texting John Snyder, the Seahawks gm. He said, God, I love Sam. Why do people just bash him so much? And the answer, of course, is it's so much easier to pile on. That's what the Internet is, right? It's just so much easier to join the avalanche and pile on people and quit on people. It's much harder to grab a shovel and support people who had a bumpy first few years in any business. And that was Darnold. Too reckless became. Three straight games with no turnovers. But until it was over, nobody believed it was possible. And how poetic is it that he did it? He had the best game of his career against the one team that had his number and the one defensive coordinator. Again, say it 10 times, say it a hundred times. Slinging Sam Darnold is going to a Super bowl and will be a favorite in the Super Bowl. Here's his head coach after can't talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. I mean, he just shut a lot of people up tonight. So I'm really happy for him. Every time they went and scored again, he came back, made some big time throws. On third down, two minute drive, four minute drive. The guy barely practiced all week, you know, just really happy for him. He deserves it. I'm happy to be a part of this team, man, this group and this coaching staff is just, you know, I'm really happy to be here, happy to be in this position. I'm just going to continue to do the best that I can to put this team in position, in positions to win football games. For the record, let's go back to the draft class that Sam Darnold was involved in. It include Baker Mayfield as the number one pick. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. Sam Darnold from this point forward, at least on our show 2018 will be known not as the Josh Allen draft class, as the Sam Darnold draft class. The first guy to get to a Super Bowl. When you look at his salary, when you look at his gm, when you look at this young roster, he's not going anywhere for a long time. Now let's go to the JV game. I've always been a fan of moms more than Mother Nature. But despite the unplayable blizzard in the second half in Denver, New England was the better team and they have been really all year. They never lost a road game and that's because coaching travels. So does toughness and defense. They didn't lose a road game. Mike Vrabel's teams yesterday in a blizzard, one penalty, didn't have a turnover. Excellent on third down in key spots in absolutely ridiculous weather. These teams, Seattle and New England, are actually very similar quarterbacks in Drake May and Sam Darnold that move well and love to attack downfield. No dink and dunk guys here. Two excellent defensive head coaches. Top five defenses, both unbelievably good on the road, but also so much of the NFL is ownership. Robert Kraft had to make two really tough decisions. He had to fire Bill Belichick, considered the greatest football coach of his era. He had to fire him. And then he had to fire Gerard Mayo after one year. That's rough. You have to admit you're wrong. And he did. And if he doesn't do that, he doesn't get Mike Vrabel. Vrabel talked about Drake May as quarterback in August camp. Came on our show about a month ago. He kept telling Drake May in August. Leadership is every day, not just today. Drake May against excellent defenses. It's the Chargers, it's the Texans, it's the Broncos. And now he'll face another in Seattle, but at least there'll be no blizzard and it'll be on a neutral field. New England was the better team. I don't want to hear about whether they were the better football team. No turnovers, one penalty. Good tackling. Here's Mike Vrabel after. I can't tell you how proud I am to be associated with these guys and this organization. I want to thank Robert and Jonathan. Love our quarterback. I love our football team. I love our staff. I'm a lucky head coach. Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees both stopped by today. I don't want this to get lost on everybody. What is that, the 11th Super bowl for Robert Kraft? There are four teams that have never, four franchises never made the Super Bowl. Like, it's really hard to do that. Fire Bill Belichick. Looks easy now, but the line in New England for years was in Bill we trust. And they had to move off him. And then he hired Gerard Mayo and you had to move off him. And Mike Vrabel took a year off coaching, sort of waiting and waiting. Had multiple suitors, but he smartly chose the place he knew and the place he trusted. That is New England. I think it's a great super bowl. And I think the two teams for the record, the two best road teams in the NFL. The New England Patriots won the Seattle Seahawks. Two athletic, young, aggressive quarterbacks who move and were great yesterday. One in a blizzard, one at home in crucial situations. Excellent defenses, defensive coaches, finally get back to making the Super Bowl. I can't wait. I think it's really good. There's one advantage, and I'll get to this later. There is one big advantage New England has in this super bowl, and it is a major advantage. And we'll talk about that after the break. J. Mac, listen, the playoffs have been wild for as much as we talk about offense, so many of these teams that advance did it on defense. I was watching that game yesterday for the Rams, and once Bo Nicks got hurt, I just didn't consider them a Super bowl team. In fact, I was like, I don't want that to get to the Super Bowl. I'm going to go with New England. I think New England's the play. I think it's a better story. They're still. I would argue about a draft away also between Seattle and New England. I mean, it's amazing how similar they are. If you looked at both teams, it said, what's the weakness? You'd say offensive line for both, but neither has a hole. Both have great secondaries, both get a good pass rush. Young quarterbacks who love to attack downfield. Defensive coaches, this is a little mirror image of each other. People don't see that one coast and the other coast, but these, these rosters. The Rams have holes like, like Seattle doesn't have a hole. Their O line's not great. But I did think it held up pretty well yesterday in crucial passing downs when you had to get like JSN down the field because they were attacking down the field. I thought the Seahawko line, considering the Rams pass rush, held up pretty well.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, no, they. Excellent job by Seattle. I thought the Rams kind of gave him the game. I thought the Rams were the better team yesterday, especially offensively. Stafford was a machine. Didn't love the McVeigh call on 4th and 4 with 5 minutes left. I mean, you could have kicked to cut it to one. Then you just need the field goal to win. And Seattle did a great job taking away that. The running back coming out of the backfield. But Colin, this New England Patriots team, come on. Did you see all the historic records they broke for futility offensively in the playoffs? Well, that's like, this is the weakest offense. Well, postseason run.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's contextualize it. It's also the hardest run against best defenses, certainly. So Houston was not great defense almost always makes offense look uneven. So let's, let's be honest, the Patriots offense looked very good against mid average and bad defenses. Well, when you face the Chargers and Jesse Minter and then the Houston Texans, you know, guided by Demico Ryan's and then you play in a blizzard again. And for the record, Denver's D line in the first half totally dominated New England's O line. So I, I, I, I, I would be careful about saying it's a bad offense. I think the AFC this year had excellent defenses, but I think the NFC was the better conference. And I think what we're going to see is, I mean there's a reason Seattle should be favored in my opinion, by about three and a half to four and a half points.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's, I think it's up to five already in some spots. Yeah, I think Seattle kind of kills him. Drake May threw for like 80 yards in the AFC Championship game. Yeah, I mean Jarrett Sarah did them, had more than that. Like, I don't know. I was just befuddled by this Patriots offense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Be sure to catch live editions of.

[Jason McIntyre]

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app hey, it's Ben, host of the Fifth Hour with Ben Maller. Would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking, what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spin off of the Ben Ma Show, a cold hit overnights on fsr. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world where we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week. Explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Colin Coward from the Herd. Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you'll definitely want to check out season four of Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories for My Heart Media's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks. Mind the business is part entertainment, part instruction manual, part inspiration. Each episode features practical tips and success stories that will resonate with entrepreneurs in any industry. In their latest season, hosts Austin Henkwitz and Janie Torres are covering topics on the forefront of running a small business. They're talking to self starters about everything from how AI helps them work smarter to weathering market uncertainties and enjoying the benefits of being your own boss. And using Inuit QuickBooks to help you get more done in less time, you won't want to miss it. Listen to Mind the Business Small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt and Joel (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

New Year, new goals and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mind Games Host]

What if mind control is real?

[Colin Cowherd]

If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

[Mind Games Host]

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

When you look at your car, you're.

[Colin Cowherd]

Gonna become overwhelmed with such good feelings.

[Mind Games Host]

Can you help hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?

[Colin Cowherd]

I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.

[Mind Games Host]

Can you get someone to join your cult?

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

NLP was used on me to access my subconscious.

[Mind Games Host]

Nlp, AKA Neuro Linguistic programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology. Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's about engineering consciousness.

[Mind Games Host]

Mind Games is the story of nlp, its crazy cast of disciples, and the fake doctor who invented it at a New Age commune and sold it to guys in suits. He stood trial for murder and got acquitted. The biggest mind game of all, nlp, might actually work. This is wild. Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

As we head into 2026, it's safe to say that 2025 was a year like no other. So much news, so much disruption, and, yes, so much division. That's why we're wrapping up this season of Next Question with a look back at everything that's happened. Things are coming at us with such a velocity. We thought it was important to take a moment, connect the dots and explore what it all means. We're summing up the first year of Trump's second term with David Graham on Project 2025 and how many of the goals have been implemented. Richard Haass on foreign policy and the changing world. Jessica Valenti on reproductive rights and the terrifying consequences of abortion bans. Tina Brown on the year scandals here and across the pond. The President has upended everything from pardons to the press. So we're covering it all. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, in the NFL, the coaching so good, you don't have to be great everywhere, but you can't be bad anywhere. Okay? You're as. You're as strong as your weakest link. And all season long on this show, we talked about the liability that is the Rams special teams and their corners. Carolina almost beat Seattle. Excuse me? Carolina almost beat the Rams twice because they have big receivers and attacked the smaller ram corners. The Rams high end, head coach, quarterback, tight end, skill players, D line depth I think is better than Seattle. Tight ends, both running backs, wide receivers. It's star studded. But if you got a leak in the engine, the car breaks down in. Seattle doesn't have a special team issue. In fact, it's a strength. Seattle doesn't have a cornerback issue. That's a strength, too. Seattle is a little bit like New England. The O line is okay, but there's nothing they're really bad at. I saw this line yesterday. I feel so bad for Matt Stafford. He's the first quarterback to throw for 350 yards, three touchdowns, have no turnovers and lose a playoff start outside of third down. Stafford was magnificent. He even ran for a first down. He didn't do that all regular season. The Rams last two games against Seattle, they had more yards than the Seahawks and go oh and two. And it's because of the hole, the corners, the special teams. This had an Ali Frazier feel to it. Yes. It felt like we were watching the Super Bowl. It was just in Seattle. I watched it and I kept thinking at the very end, Sean McVay is never going to have a quarterback again in his career that has 52 touchdowns and nine picks. He's never going to have an offense this perfect. Devonte Adams and Puka, Blake Corum, Kyron Williams, three tight ends, four tight ends, unbelievable interior, O line. I don't think Sean McVay's ever going to have an offense this talented. He's never going to have a quarterback that plays like this in a single season and yet 02 out gaining him. It's just. It's just one of those things. He's going to be watching the super bowl at home like everybody else. So I do feel bad for people who are committed. This organization is great. They've got a stacked roster, but you saw it, you talked about it. We addressed it multiple times. The special teams felt like they would lose them a big game eventually and they did. Here's Sean after.

[Sean McVay]

You know, I love our group, really. I think the finality of all of it didn't ever really expect this. We came here with the expectations to win. We had our chances. You know, they made their plays and it was a great back and forth game by, by two great teams, but it's a couple of critical errors that ended up costing us. But love this team. It's one of my all time favorites. I'm pretty numb, you know, I don't think, I think the finality of all of it, you know, when you don't allow yourself to even think about anything other than just advancing, you know, I felt like we were going to be the team on that podium and. And we weren't.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm telling you, that is one of the best, most competitive games I've ever watched. I thought the Rams played really well and I feel bad for the kid that dropped the punt. You know, everybody chirps about officiating. These teams are so fast and these offenses are so dynamic. It happens. And McVeigh addressed it during the season. He fired the special teams coach. He pulled that kid. After he dropped the punt, he went and gave it to Kyron Williams. Just go catch the thing, please. So, you know, it's just again, you don't have to be great everywhere in this league. The Seahawks and the Patriots are going to meet in the Super Bowl. Both offensive lines are mid, but they're not bad. And neither the Patriots or the Seahawks have something. Both have great secondaries that you can pick on over and over and over. You don't have to have the biggest sack leader, but you have to create pressure. The Rams did it, the Seahawks did it. Actually, Denver did it. So if you look at the totality, the holistic picture of the final four teams, they all had very good defenses. They all had excellent coaching. Mike McDaniel, Mike McDonald, Sean McVay, Mike Rabel, Sean Payton. Just really good. And just a blizzard got in the way. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, turn on the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is the Herd line news. Let's start with that Blizzard game because in the first half, Colin, it was sunny, it was beautiful, as everybody expected. And the Broncos had a 7 nothing lead and made a horrific decision with your backup quarterback. Sean Payton said, oh, we're gonna go for it. Not only did he go for it, he had the backup quarterback rolling out on just an embarrassing play decision. Colin, under no circumstances should they have gone for that. You take the points, you go up 10 nothing. Now, if they knew that there was a blizzard coming, I mean, that's even more reason to go for it. You saw what kicking was like in the second half afterward. Here's Peyton talking about his poor decision.

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

Felt like, man, we had momentum to get up 14. It felt like we had a good call. I think the feeling was, man, let's, let's be aggressive. There's always regrets. You know, I felt like, you know, here we are fourth and one. We felt close enough that. And it's. And it's also a call you make based on the team you're playing and how, what you're watching on the other side of the ball. So, yeah, they'll always be second thoughts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I don't think that's why they lost. I think the truth is, as Jarrett Stidham, I thought made a huge mistake in the game. I don't think it was going to be his last if the weather got sunny. But I do think in that instance, if you take a 10 nothing lead at home in a playoff game, your chances of winning, I think are over 85%. But again, you're talking about very aggressive. Sean McVay went for it on fourth and fourth. Why? Because Sean McVay trusts his offense and Sean McVay's an aggressive offensive coach. So sometimes your great strength in life becomes your burden. Sean Payton, we can get a yard. I don't care. Now, I think if I had Bo Nix, I would understand it. With Jarrett Stidham, I don't think I would do that. So, I mean, I think I tend to not be somebody that thinks because Sean McVay is aggressive all the time and he got to within a play or two of getting to the super bowl again for the third time in his young career. And Sean Payton's a great coach.

[Matt and Joel (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

I.

[Colin Cowherd]

My takeaway on this is if you can go up 10 nothing and I don't know if they knew the weather report, but if I can go up 10 nothing at home and my defense, remember Denver's defense in that first half, J. Mac was excellent. 10 nothing felt like 20 nothing. I mean, Drake May New England's O line was getting bullied in the first few series. So I, I think it's a mistake. But I also think offensive coaches, just by Nate defensive coaches by nature, kick the field goal. Offensive coaches, Dan Campbell's made a brand out of it. Go for it. So I don't love it, but I don't think that's the reason they lost.

[Jason McIntyre]

Compounding matters. So they got to the red zone, obviously on the big bomb to Mims.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Then they get to the red zone on this drive. At some point you got to be a realist. Sean Payton. Look in the mirror, man. I got, I got my backup steady, by the way. City's a terrible nickname. He was not good throughout the day. They didn't get back to the red zone after that. Colin. They didn't have a drive long.

[Colin Cowherd]

You gotta remember, take a deep breath. The blizzard ended the game. I mean, at halftime nobody could do and you couldn't. My tb, I didn't know where the yards were, so I almost looked like it was a half a game. And then the weather won the second half. I don't think at that point, Basically New England decided at that point at halftime, I mean, how many times did they just run the ball? Nance and Romo, they'd be like, okay, it's third down and four. They're like, no, they're gonna, they're gonna run the ball. They survived.

[Jason McIntyre]

That's what you do with 10. Nothing leads well, it's what you do.

[Colin Cowherd]

In a blizzard in the second half. I mean I, again, I just. The second half is an unplayable conditions. And so I think basically, you know, whoever let it half, whoever had the advantage once halftime hit, you can't do anything. It's all about who has the wind at their back.

[Jason McIntyre]

I know that. Obviously the weather, you don't expect 80 yard drives. Colin, they didn't have a drive over 20 yards the rest of the game after failing on fourth down. Rest of the game couldn't move 20 yards, couldn't get a flag, couldn't get a breakout run, anything. I mean, it was kind of sad. I don't. We'll see what happens with the Broncos next year. I mean, this team, let's just be real, they were not a great football team. They were good. And Lamar went down and Jojo Burrow went down and Mahomes went down. Everything broke right for them. I don't, I don't know. You think this is a team that could get back to the super bowl again in the next like three years?

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't know. If you get back to the super bowl, they're going to win. They're going to be a really good double digit win team. As long as Bo Nix is on that rookie deal and Peyton's the coach, they have a very good roster. I don't think Denver's going anywhere.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right. We haven't talked about the Patriots, but Stefon Diggs is going to his first Super Bowl. He's very excited, obviously. Remember that he was with the Buffalo Bills and wouldn't leave the field where they lost to the Chiefs. Here he was talking to Christina Pink about the unbelievable run that the Patriots have had.

[Colin Cowherd]

We got a hell of a team, bro. We fought long and hard, man. We never made any excuses. No apologies for our success, no excuses for our failures, man. We made it this far. I'm just so thankful to be a part of this team, be a small puzzle piece. We got a hell of an injured in the wide receiver room, guys that make plays, man. We got stars on his team. I hope that we earn the respect to everybody else. But we didn't do it for them. We did it for us. Good for him. It's interesting. So, J. Mac, my two teams that you disagreed with, I think I know you disagree with one. My two surprise teams in the NFL this year were Seattle, which I called a playoff team over the Niners. I said that Seattle is going to be really good and I said New England is going to double their win total and make the playoffs. I don't know if I. I don't think I picked the Seattle, New England super bowl. No, but I think people are looking at Seattle and going what a great team. And people are looking at New England and going well. New England's coaching is elite. Their coordinating is elite. By the way, their wide receiving group made big plays all year. Drake May is excellent run game, fortified by drafting Travion Henderson, Hunter Henry, a good tight end. They get a pass rush, great secondary. Like I think New England's talent is way better than everybody think. You don't get to Super Bowls by luck. I think New England, they spent 250/plus million dollars on free agency. They plugged all. I mean their defensive line is excellent now. And by the way, remember when the season started I said don't judge New England in September because they had so many new people. They've got six rookies playing. Five or six rookies. 250 New England. To me, just they had one really awful half this year against Buffalo. Remember they beat him in Buffalo. They came home, they had a really bad second half and they also had a bad half, if I recall, against the Steelers way back early in the season.

[Jason McIntyre]

I mean, they lost to the Raiders.

[Colin Cowherd]

They've been a very consistent team for the last 10 weeks. You kind of know what you're getting. Great coaching, stud quarterback, big play down the sideline. Throws and a good, a good tough defense.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's just tough to look at like this Patriots team and think of recent super bowl teams we've seen that are utterly dominant and beastly and dynastic. And like this Patriots team is none of that. Now they're going to, like you said, they're going to win double digit games like the Broncos and be frisky because they got May on the rookie deal. But you used the word lucky. Colin. Let's use that to pivot to our third story because Sean McVeigh used the word lucky to describe the Seahawks defense on that fourth and four play. They indeed got lucky. If you're watching it on FS1, you see them double Kyron Williams out of the backfield. And it wasn't by design, according to McVeigh. Here he is breaking down.

[Sean McVay]

That was a situation where we just kind of came up short. They kind of lucked into having two guys peel on Kyron right there. I know that that can't be part of their design. So it's a fortuitous bust by them. You know, they're an excellent team and you don't take away anything. You know, they, they, they earn the win and you know, they're NFC champs for a reason.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, people are upset with that. But he, what he's saying is basically they would not peel off two guys to guard him. They kind of had a guy miss an assignment and it just so happened that was the target the Rams wanted. I don't buy into this sore loser stuff, but folks, it's like when you compete at the level these guys do and then you get asked questions. Do you want a politically correct answer? No. So the media's got to lighten up. Sean McVay was brutally honest. They kind of lucked into a bus. They literally had two guys covering a position they shouldn't have had. And it worked out because they're great. And you know, I mean, listen, they did a very good job against Stafford on these third and fourth downs. That's the reality of it. But you just, you can't ask questions to competitors and athletes and coaches and expect these plastic synthetic answers. They're, they're raw. These, you know, these guys are raw. They're beaten. They're. I mean, these coaches talk about not seeing their families for four months during the season. This stuff is tough.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, I'm with you. I think this sore loser nonsense, I haven't seen that. Personally. I stayed off social media. Obviously, I had the Rams in this one and that stung. But they did get lucky. I mean Kyron Williams is open on that probably 80% of the time. Look at the matchup he's against a linebacker. I mean Kyron Williams had a really good game. I mean the Rams, Colin, against this mighty Seahawks defense averaged 8.3 yards per play. 8.3. So I don't want to hear it like that. The Seahawks unbeatable defense. I mean I do, I already did pull out some money on a home equity line of credit and bet on the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl. I mean I feel confident in that one. But yeah, it's a tough one for the Rams.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by.

[Colin Cowherd]

The herd lies. Okay, so I'm going to give you one and I, I am. I mean this is a hill I'm going to die on. There is one advantage New England has and when you're Talking about young 23, 25, 28 year old athletes, this plays New England is going to hear now for the next two weeks they're going to get rolled by the Seahawks. Huge advantage. Patriots, remember on the national championship game, Miami hurt for a week. Nobody's going to beat Indiana. Do you remember what that first quarter was like? Miami, the Hurricanes were playing with their hair on fire. They bloodied Fernando Mendoza's lip. They were angry. When you take young people and you tell them no, you're going to get embarrassed stuff kicks in New England is going to hear because Seattle is so athletic and the NFC is better and they beat the Rams and the Darnold story, I'm already hearing it. Oh, New England, they're lucky to be here. Mike Vrabel used that against the Houston Texans. Remember when the Patriot players came out of that game and said all we heard all week was what do we do? We're going to get, we're going to get beat by the Texans. Vrabel is taking media clips for the next week. He is going to play that over and over. It's don't forget how the New England Patriot dynasty started in a snow game. The tuck rule got to a Super bowl and we're a 14 point dog to the team. The media loved. Fastest show on turf, The Rams a 14 point and everybody loved, I mean they gave Brady and Belichick no chance. It's the same damn story and this is only a five point underdog. So it's so easy to focus your players during super bowl week when they're told they're going to get run and it's funny I lived in a New England region for a decade. It's a great place to live. It's a great place. There is something about the New England region. You know, they always say fences make great neighbors. People keep to themselves. They're not as rich or as sexy or as flashy as New York, but look at all the New York teams. The Celtics are smarter than the Knicks. The Patriots are always smarter than the jets and the Giants. New England, there's something about the character. They kind of like being an underdog. They kind of like being doubted. They kind of like being told they don't have a chance and they'll just keep their head down. And Vrabel, who is so good, situationally, I mean, one penalty in a blizzard, no turnovers in a blizzard against a really good team. But I'm just telling you, you're giving me five points in New England. I'm taking it. I don't know how it's going to do. I think Seattle's better. Yeah, but they're very similar teams. Both of them need about another draft to solve their offensive line issues. Defense, they're both good coaching, defensive guys, excellent quarterback, still young, athletic, love to throw the ball down the field. JSN is the best receiver in the game, and Walker is a handful. I think Seattle is better. That's why they're a five point favorite. But for the record, Darnold, in his career against the Patriots is.04 with a 41 passer rating. Now, it's a. It's a different Sam Darnold, but I don't buy that this is a mismatch at all. I think that's complete, absolute nonsense. I think this is a field goal game. Either way. I think Seattle, Seattle should be favored. But all Vrabel, the messaging for two weeks is, by the way, New England doesn't have to go on the road. Neutral field and no blizzard. That's all I'm saying. Christian Gonzalez of the Patriots, a great corner out of Oregon. His thoughts on being an underdog in a Super Bowl.

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

I mean, it's been two weeks in a row. It was always, you know, whoever. The Texans. You know, they talked about the Texans defense, and then this week it was.

[Colin Cowherd]

All about the Broncos defense.

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

And I mean, like Milt said, I think it's.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's showing.

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

We have a.

[Colin Cowherd]

We get that chip on our shoulder. I mean, it's, it's cool. It's great if you want to count us out because, you know, we're just going to go out there and show we can do. I mean, think about that. The dynasty started as a 14 point underdog to the greatest show on turf. We just watched the national championship where nobody gave Miami a shot to win and they came out and we're so ticked off. And Miami was hitting late on Indiana and one of the reasons, because Mario Cristobal sold that all week, you're the dog. Nobody trusts you. That is so effective with young athletes. All year long all I keep hearing is, you know New England. Tell me where they're bad. Tell me where you don't like New England. Tell me the weakness. Am I here? Drake Mays the weakness? I don't know. That's the greatest weakness of all time. Coaching, coordinating, toughness. They're great on the road. I mean, to me, their road record tells you all you need to know. Coaching travels. Toughness travels, smart travels, flashy offenses don't travel. That's what doesn't travel. A flashy air attack in bad weather doesn't try. All of New England's assets all travel well. The two best teams in the NFL this year on the road, they're playing in the Super Bowl. I think you're getting a mirror image of each other. I think the Seahawk roster is a little deeper and more complete. It just takes one bad fumble at your own eight. I mean, just that evens the whole game up. One block punt, we're even. I'm taking the points in what I think will be a great Super Bowl. It's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of.

[Jason McIntyre]

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm Colin Coward from the Herd. Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you'll definitely want to check out Season four of Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories for My Heart Media's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks. Mind the business is part entertainment, part instruction manual, part inspiration. Each episode features practical tips and success stories that will resonate with entrepreneurs in any industry. In their latest season, hosts Austin Henkewicz and Janiez Torres are covering topics on the forefront of running a small business. They're talking to self starters about everything from how AI helps them work smarter to weathering market uncertainties and enjoying the benefits of being your own boss and using Inuit QuickBooks to help you get more done in less time. You won't want to miss it. Listen to Mind the Business Small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Matt and Joel (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

New Year, New goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the how to Money podcast. And every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there. If you want 2026 to be the year, you finally feel in control of your money and we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mind Games Host]

What if mind control is real?

[Colin Cowherd]

If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

[Mind Games Host]

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

When you look at your car, you're.

[Colin Cowherd]

Gonna become overwhelmed with such good feelings.

[Mind Games Host]

Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?

[Colin Cowherd]

I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused.

[Mind Games Host]

Can you get someone to join your cult?

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

NLP was used on me to access my subconscious.

[Mind Games Host]

Nlp, AKA Neuro linguistic programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology. Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's about engineering consciousness.

[Mind Games Host]

Mind Games is the story of nlp, its crazy cast of disciples, and the fake doctor who invented it at a new age commune and sold it to guys in suits. He stood trial for murder and got acquitted. The biggest mind game of all, nlp, might actually work. This is wild. Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

As we head into 2026, it's safe to say that 2025 was a year like no other. So much news, so much disruption, and, yes, so much division. That's why we're wrapping up this season of Next Question with a look back at everything that's happened. Things are coming at us with such a velocity, we thought it was important to take a moment, connect the dots and explore what it all means. We're summing up the first year of Trump's second term with David Graham on Project 2025 and how many of the goals have been implemented. Richard Haass on foreign policy and the changing world. Jessica Valenti on reproductive rights and the terrifying consequences of abortion bans. Tina Brown on the year scandals here and across the pond. The President has upended everything from pardons to the press, so we're covering it all. Listen to next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

The great American race returns with back to back champion William Byron. Looking for a historic three peat. It doesn't get any bigger than this. The 68th running of the Daytona 500, February 15th, only on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

So the Pittsburgh Stalers. The stalers hired Mike McCarthy. Very safe, not actually shocking. There was a lot of talk about other candidates, but, you know, Mike McCarthy is not a bad coach. Mike McCarthy will win a lot of games. To me, he's the offensive version of Mike Tomlin. You know, he'll win games. He knows what he's doing. I do think he'll make it more of an offense. First franchise. They've been stuck spending a fortune on old defensive players. It is time to pivot. Does it feel edgy? Is it what the Rams would do or the Seahawks? No. Does it feel aspirational? No. But Pittsburgh isn't. That's not Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh loves Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's going to do what feels right for Pittsburgh. So this has always been a franchise that's insular, that doesn't operate like the rest of the league. You know, it just feels kind of safe. So they haven't pivoted to offense. What would make any of us think they're going to pivot to a young, clever, aspirational, edgy, risky offensive coach? I mean, they can't even get the offensive coordinator position right. They, they don't show enough urgency at quarterback. I mean, what were the AFC playoffs this year? A bunch of 20 year old quarterbacks and one team with a 40 year old quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers. So. And they just spend a fortune on defense where the rest of the league is spending it on offense. So it's kind of what they do. You know, they're, they're. When you watch the Rams Seahawks play yesterday, you're talking about GMs. That takes big swings, big risk. I mean, the Rams have had one first round pick in like nine years, Jared Verse. So there's Seattle and the Rams and the cities are very tech cities. They've got a lot of young people in the city. They're, you know, Seattle and the west coast and Los Angeles. It's just their DNA is to take swings and take risks. And that's not Pittsburgh. That is not Pittsburgh, that they're very comfortable being good. So they chose a Pittsburgh guy and you know, again, I think he's the offensive Mike Tomlin. He knows what he's doing. They'll win a bunch of games. I mean, every time Dak Prescott was healthy, they won like 12 games. But I will say this, with Mike Tomlin over the last seven or eight years and Mike McCarthy when you do get into a game with like an Andy Reid or a Belichick in his prime or a McVeigh, you don't necessarily feel like you have the best coach. You don't have a bad coach, but you always kind of feel like the other guys get better on the details, little more buttoned up. So that's where we stand today with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The other thing is people are going to beat up on Sean McVeigh for his play call. And I would have gone with a field goal. But the one thing, and there's a distinction here, I'm, I'm. Offensive coaches tend to be more aggressive on like fourth down than defensive coaches. And the entire brand of Dan Campbell is going for it. What I didn't like about the move because I don't think anybody thought there was going to be a blizzard. Maybe they did. What I didn't like about the move is even if you pick up the first down, you're at the 13 yard line, it's not like you got point. It'd be one thing if you were. It was at the one, so you go for it. And if you succeed 14, nothing that is worth the risk. But the play design was not a play design. They rolled him out. That was not a design for a touchdown. It was a design to get the first down. So even if it was successful, all right, you're at the 12 yard line, 13 yard line, so what? That doesn't guarantee anything. So I didn't think the risk was worth the reward. With a backup quarterback, again, Bo Nix, I would go for it. I would feel different about Bo Nix because Bo is so. Bo would, by the way, not have pulled up there. Bo would have beaten the edge rusher to the corner because Bo is so athletic and never takes sacks and never takes negative plays. So if you watch that play with Bo Nix, he would have moved outside of the defensive end. He's the most underrated, athletic quarterback in the league. Bo Nixon, he would have moved past the pass rush and then bought time or run for it. But that's not Stidham. Stidham's taller, less athletic. Again, just hasn't been in the spot very much. So I just didn't. What was, what was the payoff? A first down. I'll go for it because remember, if you lead by 10 in a conference championship game, at any point in the game, your chances of winning are 89%. And a lot of these analytic numbers I roll my eyes at, but I don't roll my eyes at taking a 10 point lead at home when the weather is not ideal. And I, the teams had to know that the weather was going to get worse. I don't know if they knew it was going to be that, but my guess is they knew it was going to get kind of bad. Coaches tend to be, you know, very intense on weather. They're also superstitious. They know, you know, Peyton knew the weather was turning. So here was Sean in the fourth down decision again.

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

Felt like, man, we had momentum to get up 14. It felt like we had a good call. I think the feeling was, man, let's, let's be aggressive. There's always regrets. You know, I felt like, you know, here we are 4th and 1. We felt close enough that. And it's. And it's also a call you make based on the team you're playing and what you're watching on the other side of the ball. So yeah, there'll be. They'll always be second thoughts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I try generally stay out of play calling because I think there are certain things analytics can't measure and. But in that instance, if you pick the first down up, you're still 12, 13 yards away from a touchdown. So you have. There's a likelihood, you know, the way New England's defense is very good. There's a likelihood you're going to be doing that same thing in 90 seconds or two minutes. You're going to have to make that decision again. Again, if you're at the one or two, I get it at that point. I think there is something to be said about momentum. Young athletes. You're at home, it's 14 nothing, the weather's getting bad. Then it feels, I mean there's a big difference between 14 nothing and 10 nothing when the weather's getting bad. By the way, Bo Nicks first career start in the NFL. He was the second fastest ball carrier in the entire league. That's interesting. Staff just sent that. So he's got a totally different gear than Jarrett Stidham. Totally different gear. Bo Nix. I could call that play and live with it. Jarrett Stidham. I'm going with a field goal. All right, good stuff. Colin right? Colin wrong. Top of next hour, Matt Hasselbeck stops by. Can't wait to talk to him. He was in Seattle and I have been told was partaking in some of the festivities after the game with the Seahawks. I love to hear that. What an environment, what a game to be involved in. What a day in Seattle. Wasn't the weather perfect? No one was like that in Seattle in January.

[Matt and Joel (How To Money Podcast Hosts)]

Hey, it's Joel and Matt from how to Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back prices, they're still high and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right, yeah. Each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to How To Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

What if mind control is real?

[Colin Cowherd]

If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

[Jason McIntyre]

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car?

[Sean Payton / Christian Gonzalez (multiple speakers labeled E)]

When you look at your car, you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings.

[Jason McIntyre]

Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you?

[Colin Cowherd]

I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused. Can you get someone to join your cult?

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

NLP was used on me to access my subconscious mind games.

[Jason McIntyre]

A new podcast, exploring nlp, AKA Neuro linguistic programming.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is it a self help miracle, a shady hypnosis scam?

[Jason McIntyre]

Or both? Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio.

[Colin Cowherd]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, we've got some incredible guests like Kumail Nanjiani. Let's start with your cat. How is she?

[Jason McIntyre]

She is not with us anymore.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's a great, great, great way to start. Maybe you will cry.

[Mind Games Host]

Ross Matthews, you know what kids always say to me?

[Colin Cowherd]

Are you a boy or a girl? Oh my God.

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

All the time.

[Colin Cowherd]

I know. So I try to butch it up.

[Mind Games Host]

For kids so they're not confused.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, but you're butching it up is.

[Mind Games Host]

Basically like an angry Woman.

[Colin Cowherd]

Doris Day, right?

[Mind Games Host]

No, I turn into Bea Arthur.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric / Next Question Host]

If you only listen to one thing to make sense of the news this year, make it this. The final episode of this season of Next Question pulls together the most important conversations of the year. You'll hear David Graham on Project 2025, Liz Oyer on the plethora of presidential pardons, Tina Brown on the year's biggest scandals here at home and across the pond, plus much, much more. It's a crash course in the last 12 months, how we made it through the year, and a look at what might be coming in 2026. Listen to next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.