The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1 - Wild Card Weekend was amazing, issues with the Eagles, never doubt Josh Allen
Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

In this energetic Monday episode, Colin Cowherd recaps a wild NFL Wild Card weekend, highlighting key storylines such as the Philadelphia Eagles' struggles, the Niners' coaching wizardry, the emergence of Caleb Williams and his Steph Curry-like impact for the Bears, and why doubts about Josh Allen should be put to rest for good. The show also touches on standout college football performances and the ongoing debates surrounding coaches like Matt LaFleur and NFL newcomers. Cowherd's unique blend of analysis, colorful metaphors, and candid opinions drives the conversation, making this episode a must-listen for NFL and college football fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Eagles’ Playoff Exit and Coaching Woes

[02:03 – 06:34]

• Colin celebrates the Eagles' elimination:
  "I'm so glad Philly lost that their tushes got pushed out of the playoffs because the NFL playoffs are about the best coaches and the best quarterbacks and Philly has neither." (04:10)

• Comparison of coaching styles:

  • Praises Kyle Shanahan's resourcefulness and compares Nick Sirianni unfavorably.
  • "Shanahan is using coupons and buying a month full of groceries for 48 bucks. And I feel like Sirianni hit the lottery and he's broke. Two years later." (04:27)

• Eagles’ second-half struggles:

  • Lack of creativity and in-game adjustments.
  • "Philly, like a poorly coached team, is getting worse over time." (04:56)

• Vic Fangio gets credit for Eagles' defensive strength:

  • "Everything I liked about the Eagles was Vic Fangio." (05:24)

• On Brock Purdy:

  • Overcame adversity, poor throws, absence of star tight end George Kittle, and delivered a clutch final drive.

• On Jalen Hurts:

  • Often ineffective in the pocket; small stature leads to rollouts.
  • Echoed by Greg Cosell and Tom Brady on the broadcast.

• Notable Quote:

  • "That was a coaching mismatch. One coach was chatgpt and the other was crayons." (05:56)

• Big Picture:

  • Coaching and high-level quarterback play are paramount in playoff success.

2. San Francisco’s Ingenuity and Overcoming Adversity

[06:34 – 08:30]

• Overcoming injuries:

  • "San Francisco's six highest paid players missed 60% of the snaps. How are they 13 and 5? Shanahan put on a clinic." (05:32, 06:16)

• On coaching value:

  • Debunks the idea that coaching is overrated.
  • "Exhibit A of why it's not. Coaching mismatch."

• Shanahan’s postgame comments (paraphrased by Colin):

  • Pride in team overcoming adversity with backup linebackers and no Kittle.

3. Praise and Caution for Bears’ Caleb Williams

[08:30 – 14:41]

• On Caleb Williams' inconsistency and brilliance:

  • Compares to Steph Curry: "Rules for him. I feel like with Caleb. Look at this throw. It's just different rules." (09:28)

  • Accepts flaws: "Yeah, I'll be honest with you. Caleb misses too many layups. Man, that ball sails on him. Yeah, but it's what you do. What do you produce to mitigate or overcome your flaw?" (11:46)

• Unique personality and leadership:

  • Dismisses minor concerns—"the fingernails painting is a little emotional. Not the end of the world." (09:52)

  • "If you're from Chicago, the Bears finally have real leadership. Monday through Friday, it's Ben Johnson, and Sunday it's Caleb and Pope Leo." (12:41)

• Caleb’s emotional response postgame:

  • "He's been monumental in my life so far." (13:25, attributed to Caleb Williams)
  • Colin: "How do you not get emotional? I'm watching it on television. I'm emotional." (13:33)

• Highlight Reel Throw:

  • "That throw he made with five minutes left up the sideline, three packers around him. I've never seen anything like that. ...That throw looks like AI." (13:58)

4. Reliability and Ascendancy of Josh Allen

[20:25 – 25:37]

• Allen’s playoff heroics:

  • "He is, in my lifetime, and I really believe this, the most impressive football player I've ever seen." (20:33)
  • "80% completion percentage on the road against a good defense to nine different receivers, and this is not a very good receiving room." (20:53)

• Allen’s toughness:

  • Played through concussion protocol, hand, and knee injuries.
  • "The guy got 10 yards on a tush push." (20:49)

• On never doubting Allen again:

  • "I'm not doubting him ever again." (21:25)

• Legacy parallel:

  • Compares to athletes who “must get a trophy” (Jordan, Elway, Messi).

• Playoff stats:

  • "Josh Allen's playoff career...all-time rank. Total yards first ever...Touchdown-to-interception ratio: 35 to 4. Best ever." (23:07)

• Notable Quote:

  • "Kids are going to...think it's mythology and folklore. And I'm here to tell you kids, if I'm still around, I saw him play." (21:59)

• Buffalo’s likeability:

  • "I find that Buffalo is impossible not to root for. It's like the Cubs..." (22:14)

5. Packers, Coaching, and Fan Overreactions

[41:00 – 45:00]

• Matt LaFleur's Job Security:

  • Defends LaFleur despite playoff loss, citing unique constraints of the Packers’ organization.
  • "Green Bay fans can be a little delusional. You had Favre and Aaron Rodgers for 31 years. You got to three Super Bowls and won two." (41:12)

• LaFleur outcoached Ben Johnson in first half:

  • "First half is the coach's half...Green Bay led 21-3. The second half, as Caleb Williams and Josh Allen proved, is the baller half." (42:34–42:51)

• Context for Packers’ limitations:

  • Draft-and-develop is essential due to lack of free agent attractiveness.
  • "Fewest free agent signings, youngest roster..." (41:23–41:35)

6. Rams’ Mysteries and McVay’s Magic

[45:00 – 48:19]

• On McVay and defensive coordinator myths:

  • "Everything McVay touches seems to work...we always believe McVay's assistants are brilliant, and then they leave and they're not so brilliant." (45:54)

• Matthew Stafford’s vulnerabilities:

  • "He's the only quarterback in the NFL that didn't even rush for a first down this year." (46:31)

• The Rams’ offensive limitations:

  • "If the play design doesn't work, the play's done." (46:33)

• Special teams an adventure:

  • "Special teams guy for the Rams, that's a total adventure." (47:13)

7. College Football Quick Hits: Indiana, Mendoza, Dante Moore

[25:42 – 30:49]

• Fernando Mendoza’s rise at Indiana:

  • "Now gone five games this season with more TD passes than incompletions...He has the poise in the pocket, the ball placement, the accuracy—I see a young Tom Brady." (J. Mac, [29:09])_

• Indiana’s efficiency:

  • "It's the most efficient offense, it's the best tackling defense and flawless special teams. There's no hole here." (26:47)

• Dante Moore’s struggles:

  • "You watch that and you're like NFL? Really? I mean how many fumbles did he have?" (J. Mac, [29:54])_
  • Advises Moore to stay in school and develop further.

8. NFL Wild Card & Playoff Previews, Miscellaneous Notes

[34:37 – 51:11]

• Steelers-Texans preview:

  • Predicts low-scoring, defensive battle, and resourceful play from Pittsburgh. Special teams and turnovers will likely decide the game.
  • "I think it's 17-13. Here's where Pittsburgh's very good in these games: When you think Pittsburgh...they always find a way to do something on defense." (34:57)

• On coaches and quarterbacks:

  • Reiterates theme: good coaching and QB play win playoffs.

• NFC playoff breakdown:

  • Predicts aggressive start by injury-thinned 49ers, sees close games and warns against expecting a blowout.

Notable Quotes

• "That was a coaching mismatch. One coach was chatgpt and the other was crayons." – Colin Cowherd on Niners vs. Eagles coaching battle [05:56]

• "He is, in my lifetime, and I really believe this, the most impressive football player I've ever seen." – Colin Cowherd on Josh Allen [20:33]

• "Caleb misses too many layups. Man, that ball sails on him. Yeah, but it's what you do. What do you produce to mitigate or overcome your flaw?" – Colin Cowherd [11:46]

• "How do you not get emotional? I'm watching it on television. I'm emotional." – Colin Cowherd on Caleb Williams’ emotional moment [13:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:03 – 06:34: Eagles loss, coaching mismatch, and Niners creativity
• 08:30 – 14:41: Caleb Williams, Bears leadership, and emotional win
• 20:25 – 25:37: Josh Allen’s heroics and playoff legacy
• 25:42 – 30:49: Indiana, Mendoza’s rise, Dante Moore’s struggles
• 41:00 – 45:00: Packers, Matt LaFleur job talk
• 45:54 – 48:19: Rams’ questions, McVay’s coaching touch
• 34:37 – 36:01, 48:19 – 51:11: Playoff previews, closing thoughts

Memorable Moments

• Colin weaving pop-culture analogies, comparing sports stars to legends in other fields (Steph Curry, Jimi Hendrix, AI).
• Defensive praise of polarizing figures: "If you're from Chicago, the Bears finally have real leadership. Monday through Friday, it's Ben Johnson, and Sunday it's Caleb and Pope Leo." [12:41]
• Openly calling Buffalo "impossible not to root for," rooting for Josh Allen to finally get his championship.

Tone & Language

Colin keeps his signature blend of high energy, colorful metaphors, hyperbole, and forthright assessments. The show flows conversationally but is full of sharp takes, NFL folklore, and immediate reactions to the sports weekend.

Perfect for listeners seeking:

• Weekend sports recaps
• Strong NFL and CFB opinions
• Deep-dive analysis with humor and candor
• Nuanced quarterback discussions
• Current coach and playoff debates