The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 2 – Colin’s New Herd Hierarchy, the Chiefs Dynasty Might Be Over, Nick Wright
Date: November 18, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode centers on Colin Cowherd’s latest “Herd Hierarchy” NFL power rankings and an in-depth discussion with Nick Wright about the closely-bunched 2025 playoff contenders, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs’ fading dynasty. The conversation ranges from team rankings and playoff races to issues with the Cowboys, Bears’ identity, coaching candidates for the Giants, and a detour into NBA team-building philosophy. The tone is lively, opinionated, and full of sports banter, with memorable self-deprecation, debate, and bold predictions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Colin’s 2025 Herd Hierarchy: Tightest Top 10 Ever
Timestamp: 03:59 – 12:31
-
Colin notes this season features the smallest talent gap from teams ranked #1 to #10 he’s ever witnessed:
“I think the 10th best team could beat the number one team… the difference between Seattle and the number one team is about four points.” (04:43, 07:59)
-
Top 10 Rundown (with select rationale):
- Rams – Cleanest, most disciplined team. Excel at avoiding penalties and turnovers; “They don’t make any mistakes…You can’t get to 27 points on them.” (10:31)
- Denver – Consistently clutch in close games; “great in close games…comes down to an elite play designer and a good late-game quarterback.” (10:31)
- Philadelphia Eagles – Dominant in one-score games; best interior D-line; “Dynamite in one-score games...You can’t get fourth-and-one on them.” (09:53)
- New England Patriots – Only undefeated road team; efficient, physical, with strong identity.
- Baltimore Ravens – Averaging 29 pts with Lamar; “Their defense is now healthy and playing better.” (09:01)
- Colts – Scoring on over 50% of drives (“Only team in the league doing that”), fewest punts, Indy praised for roster depth.
- Buffalo Bills – Lead the NFL in offensive TDs and are 2nd in yards/play; “They drive me crazy, but…” (07:29)
- San Francisco 49ers – Praised as “coaching staff of the year,” surviving injuries and “doing it with smoke and mirrors.”
- Kansas City Chiefs – No longer “intimidating”, struggling on the road, Chris Jones regressing, Mahomes not at MVP level.
- Seattle Seahawks – “Most athletic,” but turnover-prone.
-
General Take: The league has achieved parity—the “smushed” middle that Adam Silver wants for the NBA, where 8+ teams are legitimate threats.
2. Chiefs Dynasty: Is It Over? Nick Wright’s Perspective
Timestamp: 12:32 – 15:22, 25:40 – 27:43
-
Nick Wright calls out Colin’s vacillating Chiefs takes:
“You’ve declared this dynasty dead twice in the last three months. And in the middle of that, you declared them far and away the best team in the league.” (12:32)
-
Nick expresses personal anguish as a Chiefs fan—rocking a ponytail “in disarray” due to their slide down the standings:
“They have put me in such a crisis… I’m rocking a ponytail on your show because I’m in disarray with my team being the nine seed.” (12:44)
-
On Kansas City’s playoff hopes: Both agree this year’s NFL is wide open, with as many as 12 teams capable of winning the Super Bowl:
“You can credibly make a case for maybe 12 teams… Your entire hierarchy could win.” (14:19, Nick Wright)
-
Memorable moment:
“High highs, low lows. I don’t do emotional hedges. I do the opposite. And I understand the Chiefs dynasty is dead in the water and Patrick Mahomes is looking up at Bo Nix. Lot of season left…” (27:27, Nick Wright)
3. Cowboys’ Current State & Future Potential
Timestamp: 15:22 – 18:54
-
Colin asserts that Dallas is better positioned for next season, due to draft capital and a young core, emphasizing their ability to maneuver in an overdrafted quarterback market:
“Dallas is one of the only teams…that has two first round picks and doesn’t have to draft the quarterback. Dallas could manipulate the heck out of this draft.” (17:02)
-
Nick agrees:
“If you’re talking about for next season…they’re an interesting team… But this season, the NFC is too good in the middle for them to claw out of four or five and one.” (17:04)
-
Potential caveat: Drama anticipated with contract negotiations for George Pickens, who is seen as talented but a bit volatile.
4. Bears’ Offensive Identity and NFC North Outlook
Timestamp: 18:54 – 22:34
-
Colin praises Bears’ clear offensive identity:
“Second in the NFL in rush attempts, second in rushing…They know exactly what they are…A big play offense…They have a real offensive identity. Packers don’t. Eagles don’t. Steelers don’t. Cleveland doesn’t.” (19:18)
-
Suggests Bears could win the division given the muddled state of rivals. Nick is surprised by that take, noting the unconvincing nature of recent Bears victories but questions whether Detroit and Green Bay can get it together.
5. Giants’ Coaching Search – Avoid Another Coordinator?
Timestamp: 38:32 – 41:23
-
Jay Glazer mentions Rams DC Chris Shula as a surprise candidate for Giants HC, saying McVay has endorsed him more than any other assistant.
-
Colin is skeptical:
“New York is not… let’s give another coordinator a shot. It’s too loud, too much pressure. They don’t have a good enough team right now to win on the margins.” (39:19)
-
Argues for a proven, battle-tested head coach like Mike McCarthy:
“Your hit rate on Vrabel, Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh was going to be 100. Nobody doubted they’d be good. Week one, your hit rate on Mike McCarthy will be 100.” (40:31)
6. Controversy Around Young Quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Shadour Sanders)
Timestamp: 35:02 – 38:32, 49:38 – 55:35
-
Concerns voiced about Caleb Williams’ fit with Ben Johnson’s offensive structure in Chicago:
“An opposing defensive coach believes Caleb’s style of play does not work well with Ben Johnson’s offensive style… he’s uncontrollable.” (35:02, via The Athletic)
-
Colin says this “push and pull” between creative QBs and schematic coaches is common—compares to other current NFL/college duos.
-
Nick and Colin both note body language and chemistry between player and coach can matter as much as stats or records.
-
Colin discusses Shadour Sanders’ flaws and the odd loyalty in NFL quarterback debates:
“When your college problem becomes your NFL problem, it’s just who you are... Shadour in college ran backwards. Shadour in the NFL, watching him, runs backwards.” (51:55) “He’s got a judgment issue. It’s not a size issue. It’s not an arm strength issue… Series of bad judgment.” (53:16)
-
Emphasizes that NFL coaches aren’t “conspiring” against quarterbacks for ulterior motives—a jab at conspiracy-leaning fans.
7. Other Notable Sports News
-
NBA Talk: How to gracefully end the LeBron era with the Lakers, referencing new ownership’s approach with Dodger stars:
“How do you exit the LeBron business without offending Rich Paul, LeBron James, his legacy?” (22:34)
- Nick thinks LeBron will finish this contract and his exit will be natural, not messy.
-
College Football:
- Virginia Tech hires James Franklin (formerly Penn State): “He’s a great recruiter. You’ll see NFL players out of Tech, guaranteed playoff within three years.” (41:46 – 43:38)
- Colin and J. Mac see this as a major hire, predicting quick success.
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
Colin Cowherd:
“In all the years I’ve been doing Herd Hierarchy, this is the smallest gap from the best team in the league to number 10…that’s what the NFL truly wants.” (04:43)
-
Nick Wright on Chiefs’ slide:
“They have put me in such a crisis… I’m rocking a ponytail on your show because I’m in disarray with my team being the nine seed…” (12:44)
-
On Dallas’ future:
“Dallas could manipulate the heck out of this draft.” (17:02, Colin Cowherd)
-
On Bears’ offense:
“They have a real offensive identity. Packers don’t. Eagles don’t. Steelers don’t. Cleveland doesn’t. I think they have a chance to win the division.” (19:18, Colin Cowherd)
-
On Giants hiring a coordinator:
“New York is not… let’s give another coordinator a shot. It’s too loud, too much pressure.” (39:19, Colin Cowherd)
-
On conspiracy against young QBs:
“Coaches are not trying to pick the quarterback that will be less successful for them… That’s not the way it works.” (54:20, Colin Cowherd)
-
Nick on NFL parity:
“I think… you can credibly make a case for maybe 12 teams could win the Super Bowl…” (14:19)
-
Nick, on his Chiefs fandom lows:
“When they picked up that play, that last first down, I said the Chiefs just lost... I grabbed my dog, I grabbed 75 cents… I bought a Lucy cigarette and smoked it and thought about all the people I had to contact… That’s what I thought about.” (26:39–27:27)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Colin’s Opening Thoughts/Herd Hierarchy: 03:59–12:31
- Chiefs Dynasty Discussion w/ Nick Wright: 12:32–15:22, 25:40–27:43
- Cowboys' State of the Union: 15:22–18:54
- Bears/NFC North Debate: 18:54–22:34
- NBA LeBron/Lakers Exit: 22:34–25:40
- QB/Coach Fit (Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson): 35:02–38:32
- Giants Coaching Search – Shula?, McCarthy?: 38:32–41:23
- James Franklin Hired by Virginia Tech: 41:46–43:38
- Judgment issues w/ Shadour Sanders: 49:38–55:35
Summary
This episode of The Herd provides a fast-paced, candid look at the tightly packed NFL playoff race in 2025 through Colin’s weekly top 10, widely regarded as the most competitive and unpredictable in years. The Chiefs’ fate draws particular scrutiny, with Nick Wright delivering both critique and cathartic lamentations. Lively as always, Cowherd and guests analyze major franchises (Cowboys, Bears), debate coaching fits for faltering programs, and scrutinize young quarterbacks’ challenges in meeting coach expectations. Sports fans get equal doses of detailed assessment, bold predictions, and memorable storytelling.