The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1
Date: December 19, 2025
Main Topics: Thoughts on the Seahawks’ win over the Rams, Sam Darnold’s performance and underrated value, NFC West dynamics, special teams impact, and playoff implications.

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd delves into the Seattle Seahawks' dramatic victory over the Los Angeles Rams, with a particular focus on Sam Darnold’s historic and headline-grabbing performance. Colin makes the case that Darnold is one of the NFL's most underrated quarterbacks, dissecting his stats, intangibles, and unique record-breaking night. The episode also breaks down the NFC West playoff picture, analyzes the stubborn weaknesses plaguing the Rams (especially on special teams), and touches on the larger impact of roster management, coaching, and football’s ever-evolving rulebook. Additionally, the conversation briefly pivots to NBA headlines and college football playoff predictions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sam Darnold: “Slingin’ Sammy D.” Makes NFL History

• Darnold’s Journey and Performance
  • Colin opens by highlighting Sam Darnold’s remarkable record:
    “The last four teams Sam Darnold has played for, his last 39 starts, he's 30 and 9.” (03:28)
  • Darnold became the first QB in NFL history to win 12+ games in back-to-back seasons on different teams—a feat neither Tom Brady, Joe Montana, nor Brett Favre achieved.
• Resilience and Playing Style
  • Despite some bad interceptions and early Rams dominance, Darnold remained poised:
    “He’s relentless, doesn’t pout, doesn’t sulk, has a short memory.” (04:16)
• Fourth-Quarter Superiority
  • Broke another record: first QB on a winning team to convert three different 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter and overtime.
  • “Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter and overtime... 105 passer rating, big play after big play.” (05:24)
  • Darnold’s only real Achilles’ heel has been the Rams defense under Chris Shula.
    • “Last four years, Darnold’s 1–3 against the Rams. He’s 29–6 against everybody else.” (06:15)
• Coach’s Testimony
  • Darnold’s coach praises his consistency and leadership:
    “He's the same guy every day, no matter the circumstance. He's an ultimate competitor, a phenomenal leader, keeps fighting.” (07:00)

Notable Quote:

“To deny his talent is being stubborn. Sam Darnold... they’re not always pretty, but this is what he’s been doing for years.”
—Colin Cowherd (06:43)

2. The Rams’ Shortcomings: Special Teams and Secondary

• No Perfect Teams in the Modern NFL
  • “Salary caps mean there are no perfect teams... you try to hide the holes.” (08:04)
• Special Teams as a Repeated Weak Point
  • Special teams miscues have cost the Rams three out of their four losses this season, highlighted by allowing a key punt return touchdown to Rasheed Shahid that swung momentum.
  • “Their special teams unit and that secondary has been costing them games all year.” (09:04)
• Rams Still Super Bowl Favorites (in Colin’s Mind)
  • “The Rams are still my pick to win the Super Bowl... but Stafford’s not mobile, and that can catch up in the second half.” (10:27)

Notable Moment:

“Rasheed Shahid comes back, takes the punt return in, and I’m like, oh, it’s the special teams. Here we go.”
—Colin Cowherd (11:42)

3. Comparing the Rams and Seahawks: Who’s Stronger Entering Playoffs?

• J Mac poses the big question:
  “Who do you feel is the better team going into the playoffs, Rams or Seahawks?” (14:17)
• Colin’s Breakdown:
  • Rams have advantages at coach, quarterback, O-line, receiving targets, and defensive front.
  • “The Rams outplayed them for three quarters, but their hole with special teams is glaring.” (14:31)
• On Remarkable Offensive Production:
  • “Puka Stafford combination last night’s crazy because that Seahawks secondary is super talented.” (15:00)

4. Key Game-Changing Plays & Decisions

• Wild Two-Point Conversion Ruling (Rams-Seahawks)
  • Confusion over a fumble/backwards pass on a two-point try; McVay was baffled by the ruling. (25:06)
  • “I’ve never quite seen anything like what happened on the two-point conversion. Didn’t get a clear explanation... They were trying to be able to do that.” —Sean McVay (as played by Colin) (25:06)
• Officials’ Calls and Replay:
  • Colin: “This is why you have replay. Give Charbonnet credit for... I don’t even — it’s not like he was being alert, he was just going to pick the ball up.” (25:36)

Notable Debate:

J Mac: “What do you think they do with this rule in the offseason? What if the ball had kept rolling out of the end zone?”
Colin: “NFL tweaks all the time... They have a point of emphasis in the preseason and they'll like overcall something, you know, to stimulate conversation.”
(27:16–27:41)

5. NFC West Playoff Dynamics

• Seahawks Surging
  • “Seahawks are now number one in the division... keep an eye on the 49ers.” (28:00)
  • If Niners beat Colts and Bears, Week 18 vs. Seahawks could be for the NFC’s #1 seed—even though they’ve lost several star defensive players.
  • “It’s been an incredible coaching performance by Shanahan and Salah.” (28:30)
• A Loaded Division
  • “You could argue the three best teams in the NFC are all from the NFC West… Sorry, Bears.” (29:27)

6. Matt Stafford: Last of the Great Pure Pocket Passers

• Highlighting Stafford’s Skills and Limitations
  • “Stafford is the last great pure pocket passer in the NFL... He is not just... he is athletically the opposite of Josh Allen.” (31:27, 33:42)
  • “He’s got to make hay from the pocket.” (33:50)
• O-line & Draft Brilliance
  • Rams’ offense features late-round picks and undrafted players who step up:
    “Puka is a fifth rounder... most of the tight ends are mid-round guys... they're not doing it with these glossy, you know, [players].” (34:11)
• Disadvantage Without Mobility
  • “Everybody knows where [Stafford] is going to be one second after the snap. The whole league knows.” (33:55)
  • Stats: “Matt Stafford has zero rushing first downs this season.” (34:56)

Notable Quote:

“God reached down at some point and he blessed Nolan Ryan, Justin Verlander, and Matt Stafford’s arm.”
—Colin Cowherd (34:33)

7. Roster Depth, Front Offices, and Trade Deadline Savvy

• Rasheed Shahid Acquisition
  • “That punt return last night by Rasheed Shahid, that changed the momentum of the game. This is what a Cincinnati doesn’t do. A clever, savvy trade deadline move.” (49:22)
• Front Office Impact
  • Colin lauds Seattle and the Rams’ GMs vs. more passive teams like the Bears or Bengals.
  • “Front offices and general managers matter a lot.” (52:38)
• Contrast with Lower-Resource Franchises
  • Bears stadium news: “The Bears owners are barely billionaires, a bunch of kids, McCaskeys, you know, bad timing, just so clumsy… That announcement yesterday was so weak.” (52:58)

8. Brief Coverage: NBA & College Football Playoff

• NBA Moment:
  • Luka Doncic’s 45-point triple-double against Utah receives a brief praise segment:
    “He’s the world’s best offensive basketball player. No question.” (30:32)
• College Football Playoff Preamble
  • Colin lays out his upcoming picks, calling the Alabama-Oklahoma game the hardest to call and highlighting which teams he expects to advance.
  • J Mac and Colin reflect on NIL’s (Name, Image, Likeness) impact on college football parity and the increasing financial might of Big Ten teams relative to the SEC. (46:54–49:13)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Darnold’s Grit:

  “He threw four picks against the Rams last time in LA... He just doesn’t get down, he doesn’t pout, he doesn’t shrug his shoulders. His body language isn’t terrible. He is a Fox Hole guy.”
  —Colin Cowherd (07:18)

• On NFC West’s Craziness:

  “The NFC west is crazy town. Seattle now leads 12 and 3. The Rams are 11 and 4. San Francisco’s 10 and 4. Watch out for the Niners.”
  —Colin Cowherd (07:43)

• On NFL’s Reality:

  “The NFL has always been about attrition, right?... There’s too many elite players [injured]. That’s just the reality of who the Packers are.”
  —Colin Cowherd (22:12–23:45)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:28: Darnold’s win record and historic feat
• 06:15: Darnold’s struggles against the Rams under Chris Shula
• 07:00: Darnold’s coach on his leadership
• 08:04–09:33: Rams’ special teams and losses
• 11:42: Shahid’s punt return as momentum swing
• 14:17–15:07: Rams vs. Seahawks playoff comparison
• 25:06–27:16: Wild two-point ruling and McVay’s confusion
• 28:00–29:27: NFC West playoff scenarios and coaching kudos
• 31:27–34:56: Matt Stafford as the last pocket passer; arm talent discussion
• 49:22–52:38: Front office trades and their impact; Bears’ off-field troubles

Tone & Style

As always, Colin’s analysis is direct, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, full of long-view historical context, and unapologetically opinionated. The banter with J Mac adds a lighter, conversational note, especially in reactions to dramatic on-field moments, perplexing rules, and the never-ending NFL playoff shuffle.

Summary Takeaways

• Sam Darnold is making NFL history with unique records and underrated resilience, even as critics focus on his missteps.
• The Rams, despite star power, have glaring special teams problems that could derail a Super Bowl run.
• The NFC West is the most competitive division in the league, with every team showing both high ceilings and nagging errors.
• Matt Stafford remains an anomaly in today’s NFL as a pure pocket passer with unmatched arm talent but limited mobility, raising questions about long-term success for traditional QBs.
• The best teams make smart, under-the-radar moves at the trade deadline; their front offices are often as important as their star players.
• Rules and officiating can still flip games in ways that leave even veteran coaches baffled, and the NFL will keep adjusting.
• College football and the NBA each get driven, insightful nods, further framing football’s position in the changing sports landscape.

This recap provides a thorough and engaging snapshot of the episode, preserving the hosts' spirited analysis and offering the essential takeaways for fans and NFL observers alike.