Podcast Summary: THE HERD - Hour 2

Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests: Nick Wright, Jason McIntyre
Air Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd (Hour 2) centers on Colin Cowherd’s new NFL “Herd Hierarchy” rankings, detailed NFL and college football analysis ahead of Thanksgiving week, a deep-dive conversation with Nick Wright on QBs and team-building philosophies, discussions on wide receiver value, Mahomes’ comeback prowess, college football’s shifting landscape, and NBA injury issues.

The hour is packed with rapid-fire sports takes, pivotal stats, and sharp debates—flowing with the signature opinionated, witty tone that defines The Herd.

1. Colin’s Herd Hierarchy: NFL Top 10 (03:55–10:36)

Main Takeaways:

• Colin declares he “kind of know[s] what everybody is and... what they're not” now as the NFL season crystallizes (03:47).
• He presents his latest top 10 NFL teams, noting defense, locker room unity, close-game success, and roster construction.

Top 10 Teams (with commentary):

1. Rams – “Number one in everything... blowing people out... What an offseason of acquisitions for very reasonable prices.”
2. Denver – “Stats you can't ignore: plus-36 sack differential, best O-line, 4.4 yards per play... could win multiple playoff games... Hall of Fame level head coach.”
3. Patriots – “No fundamental flaw... If they score 20, they’re 10-0... Josh McDaniels quietly the wizard of Oz behind the curtain.”
4. Seattle – “The one team I would not want to play in the playoffs... young, confident, aggressive... highest rush percentage in the league.”
5. Philadelphia – “Have a culture... Trust them in big spots, but offense is ‘broken’... Nine of eleven games decided by one score.”
6. Chiefs – “Top 10 in all four major categories... Well coached, smartly QB’ed... Not great on the road, good at home.”
7. Lions – “Home run hitter in the backfield... Defense gives up a lot of chunk plays... Not as good as last year.”
8. Green Bay – “Boring for Green Bay standards—defensive team now... best home D in league... offense doesn’t give it away.”
9. Ravens – “I just respect the culture... Not pretty, out of rhythm, broken offensively... Lamar not healthy.”
10. Bears – “Win close games, great at takeaways... Not a finished product but keep finding ways.”

Notable Quote:

“Teams that win close games are tight locker rooms.” – Colin Cowherd (04:50)

2. Colin & Nick Wright Debate: Hierarchy, QBs, Trades (10:38–22:40)

On Colin’s Hierarchy & QB Play (10:38–14:22)

• Nick Wright pushes back on the inclusion of the Ravens, feeling the Bills should be in over them, and questions Brock Purdy as a top-tier QB.

  • “The Ravens have not played a 60-minute football game where they're good on both sides of the ball once all year.” (10:57)
  • Raises Lamar Jackson’s ongoing injuries as a red flag.
  • Unimpressed with Jordan Love for GB; asks why no Niners.

• Colin explains why the Niners didn’t make it:

  • “Brock Purdy is not a good cold weather quarterback... I’ve never thought—let’s be honest—if I don’t trust your quarterback, I can’t have you in.” (11:51)

• Both hosts agree on Purdy’s limitations:

  • Nick: “When Purdy was content being a game manager he was just fine. Purdy trying to show everybody what he can do is a disaster waiting to happen.” (13:50)

On Jerry Jones & Dallas Trades (14:22–17:14)

• Colin wonders if Jerry Jones deserves credit for roster moves:

  • “Do we owe Jerry an apology? They stole George Pickens... got incredible value for Micah [Parsons].”

• Nick Wright resists the apology:

  • “Had Jerry’s ego...not cost them Micah Parsons, they wouldn’t be 10% to make the playoffs despite having Dak... playing the best football of his life.” (15:32)
  • “If the net-net of the trade is you traded away Micah and got Quinnen Williams and a first, I think that's a loss for Dallas.”

On Shador Sanders vs. Dylan Gabriel (17:14–20:00)

• Colin frames Shador as “fun, a little loose,” not always his preference but credits his ability to take chances and win over teammates.

• Nick makes a sharp call:

  • “I just don’t know if [Shador] is starting-caliber, but there’s a chance. There’s zero chance Dylan Gabriel is a longtime NFL starter... Cleveland needs to see if Shador’s the diamond in the rough.” (18:55)

3. NFL Betting & Perceptions: Chicago, Philly, Vegas (20:00–22:40)

• Colin is amazed Chicago (8-3, streaking) is a 7-point underdog at Philly, reading it as “the desert just doesn’t buy Chicago.” (20:00)
• Nick agrees: “I think... maybe Vegas overvalues Philly’s offense... but I like Bears plus seven and I think Philly is in a precarious spot.” (22:11)
• Both see value in improvements from young QBs like Caleb Williams.

4. NBA Segment: Star Injuries & Pace of Play (32:37–34:37)

• Jason McIntyre: “Half of last year’s all-NBA/all-star team is injured. Star injuries are killing the NBA.” (32:37)
• Discussion on aging stars and Steve Kerr’s suggestion that the NBA’s fast pace is contributing.
• Colin: “I think you’ve got a lot of older stars... and I do think pace and space... Steve Kerr is onto it.” (34:12)

5. WR Value, Contracts & Dallas’ Quiet Success (35:13–36:58)

• Dallas’ George Pickens acquisition is praised as a “heist.”

  • Jerry Jones: “We’ve got two number one receivers... our quarterback is probably the best that he’s ever been.” (35:13)

• Jason notes: “Pickens has more yards than everyone on the Steelers last year combined.”

• Colin: “Dak deserves a lot of credit... Everything always works with Dak.”

• Jason warns: “Pickens ain’t going to be happy with a franchise tag... He wants long-term security.” (36:39)

• Colin agrees, recalling Pickens’ previous issues when unhappy.

6. Patrick Mahomes—the Comeback King (37:13–38:28)

• Chiefs highlighted for Mahomes’ winning record when trailing by double digits:
  “He is the only quarterback... in the NFL with a winning record in games that his team has trailed by double digits.” – Jason McIntyre (37:13)
• Anticipation for Chiefs/Cowboys game: “That game’s gonna get 40 to 45 million people.” – Colin (38:06)
• Jason teases: “Do you think Chiefs win this?” Colin: “Yeah.” (38:26)

7. College Football: Michigan–Ohio State and Modern NIL World (43:12–48:05)

Ohio State–Michigan Preview (43:12–46:50)

• Colin and Jason go deep on the legendary rivalry, with Jason offering stats on Ohio State’s NFL-level talent and offensive woes.
• Colin: “Michigan better fight like mad in that first quarter because if Michigan’s behind and has to throw, it’s going to get ugly.” (45:00)
• Jason: “Ohio State has way more talent. How are they coming up so empty...?” (45:14)

Lane Kiffin and Changing Dynamics (47:42–48:06)

• Lane Kiffin on coaching churn: “It’s a different generation, guys... They all can leave every year. A lot of that is financially based.”
• Colin: “Don’t be mad at Lane Kiffin. Be mad at LSU and Florida. Don’t be mad at Lane Kiffin for leaving.”

8. Judging Quarterbacks in a Changing NFL (48:06–52:25)

• Colin muses on how completion percentage was once the gold standard, but playmaking and winning matter more now as QBs become more athletic:
  • “Should we not look at QBs like Bo Nix and Caleb Williams, who are hyper-athletic, differently on completion percentage?”
  • “I want wins, athletes, playmaking. I’m not as tied up on completion percentage and passer rating as five or six years ago.” (51:56)

9. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Niners:
  Nick Wright (13:50): “Purdy trying to be like, I'm going to show everybody what I can do is a disaster waiting to happen.”
• On QB types:
  Colin (26:19): “There are franchise guys, bridge guys, and backups... Brock Purdy is somewhere between franchise and bridge.”
• On Mahomes:
  Jason (37:13): “He is the only quarterback... with a winning record in games that his team has trailed by double digits.”
• On shifting expectations:
  Colin (51:56): “I want wins, I want athletes, I want playmaking. I want the ball down the field.”

10. Timestamps of Key Segments

• 03:55–10:36: Herd Hierarchy—Colin’s NFL Top 10
• 10:38–22:40: Debate with Nick Wright (Bills vs Ravens, Niners, Jerry Jones trades, Shador)
• 22:40–26:19: Caleb Williams/Bears underdogs, QB evaluation
• 32:37–34:37: NBA injuries and league pace
• 35:13–36:58: Dallas WR room, Pickens, contract talk
• 37:13–38:28: Mahomes' comeback stat & Chiefs/Cowboys hype
• 43:12–46:50: Michigan–Ohio State preview
• 47:42–48:06: Lane Kiffin’s take on college football movement
• 48:06–52:25: Changing ways we judge QBs in 2025 NFL

Summary Takeaways

• NFL “Herd Hierarchy” reflects major midseason shifts: Defensive teams like Green Bay and Denver have replaced some of the usual offensive juggernauts; the Rams are seen as best-in-class.
• QB trust critical: Brock Purdy’s ceiling debated; Denver and Patriots praised for stable, workmanlike play.
• Team building arguments: Nick Wright challenges Colin’s praise for Jerry Jones’ trading, highlighting what Dallas lost in star power.
• Young QBs and NFL evaluation: Leeway is given to playmakers with rough edges; consensus is that “wins and playmaking” now trump raw completion percentage.
• NBA’s star health crisis and core product: The league’s frantic pace and the aging of its stars are primary factors in mounting injuries.
• Mahomes’ clutch factor and upcoming NFL showdowns keep the NFL as America’s #1 spectacle.
• College football reflects pro-level changes: Transfer freedom, NIL, and impatient fanbases change the environment for coaches and players alike.