The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 2 (Sept 4, 2025) Key Themes: 2025 NFL Season Predictions, Cowboys & Dak Prescott Analysis, Greg Cosell on Opening Matchups and League Trends

Episode Overview

In this engaging NFL kickoff episode, Colin Cowherd delivers his final 2025 season predictions, debates NFC and AFC changes, and delves deep into the Cowboys’ issues—especially Dak Prescott’s performance and fit in Schottenheimer’s offense. Senior NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell joins to break down critical opening games, discuss trends in offensive coaching, and give sharp film-driven analysis of stars like Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and rookies such as Drake Maye. The hour is packed with tactical insights and accessible yet rigorous breakdowns, making it essential listening for NFL fans anticipating the new season.

Key Sections & Timestamps

1. Colin’s Final 2025 NFL Season Predictions

[02:00-08:40]

• AFC

  • East: Bills win the division (“Josh Allen and the Bills”), Patriots snatch a wild card as most improved, Dolphins 3rd, Jets 4th.
  • North: Ravens as the best operation, then Bengals, Steelers around .500, Browns rebuilding.
  • South: Texans win (praise for DeMeco Ryans & C.J. Stroud); Jags, Titans, Colts follow.
  • West: Broncos win division (“best roster”), Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders round out.
  • Wild Cards: Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs.

• NFC

  • East: Eagles on top; Commanders, Giants, Cowboys chase (Giants a possible dark horse).
  • North: Packers (“quietest off-season”), Lions (“love almost everything”), Bears, Vikings.
  • South: Bucs (“I trust Baker”), Falcons, Panthers, Saints predicted at the bottom.
  • West: Key change—Rams take the division over Seattle (citing last year’s finish, rookie defense improvement). Seahawks as the only new NFC playoff team.

• NFL Trend

  • Fewer new playoff teams each year (“average used to be six, now trending toward three”) because of increasing quarterback centrality.

Notable Quote

"It used to be there were six new playoff teams, then five. It's getting down to four—and this year, it's three. As the quarterback becomes more important and offensive coaches have a better relationship with that quarterback, the league is getting... a little easier to predict." —Colin Cowherd (07:09)

2. The Cowboys: Dak Prescott & Schottenheimer’s Offense

[08:43-10:08]

• Colin asks Greg Cosell if Brian Schottenheimer’s offense “matches” Dak.
• Cosell, after watching every Dak throw pre-injury last year:
  • “There’s something wrong with his lower body… He was very tight-hipped, heavy-footed... He did not look very good last year.”
  • Dak throws better to his left than right, struggles with footwork.
  • The addition of Pickens at boundary X could help CD Lamb slide into his best role.
• Cosell questions Cowboys’ defense, predicting Eagles may exploit changes with tempo/no-huddle.

Notable Quote

"There's something wrong with his lower body, Colin... He did not look very good last year."
—Greg Cosell (08:56)

3. Eagles Offensive Identity & Philosophy

[10:09-11:41]

• Discussion on Eagles’ run-first shift post-bye in 2024—best O-line, run on 3rd down, 4th-down aggressiveness.
• Jalen Hurts’ efficiency and the danger he poses by design and as a scrambler.

Notable Quote

"The fact that they are so good on fourth down... impacts what they do on third down, which is [why] they run the ball more than any team... Jalen Hurts is highly efficient... They're very, very difficult to defend."
—Greg Cosell (10:37)

4. Baltimore vs. Buffalo: Identity, Lamar’s Growth & Playoff Comparison

[11:42-13:27]

• Both teams have strong similarities to the Eagles (run-based, physically imposing).
• Cosell: Lamar improved as a pocket passer; Monken’s schemes help with clean throws.
• Odd playoff game last year cited; Buffalo controlled via run game, not Allen’s passing.
• Both rosters are “without many weaknesses,” but Super Bowl remains elusive.

5. Josh Allen’s Completion % — Supporting Cast or Mechanics?

[13:29-14:43]

• Colin notes Allen’s low completion rate (24th in league, 2024).
• Cosell: Lacking “one-on-one winners” at WR deeply hampered Allen.
• New additions Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer should help, but last year’s slot-focused attack wasn’t enough for Allen to thrive statistically.

6. Packers’ WR Room, Jordan Love, and Defensive Stars

[14:43-16:45]

• Colin questions why GB drafted Matthew Golden, hinting the team might not like their young WRs as much as fans/media.
• Cosell: Sometimes it’s best-player-available, not need; “I really, really liked him,” says Cosell about Golden.
• Tight end Kraft could emerge. Jordan Love’s “aggressive thrower” profile highlighted, with footwork flagged as the main room for improvement.
• Defense gets underrated props: “This could be a really intriguing defense as well,” especially with Parsons and Edgar Cooper stepping up ("great pass rusher as a blitzer").

7. Detroit Lions’ Coaching Changes — Impact on Offense?

[16:45-18:32]

• Colin’s skeptical on in-house coordinator promotions (“I am not a huge fan”).
• Cosell: Ben Johnson's “spacing of route concepts” is the real secret, making reads simple for Goff.
• Predicts the system remains similar, as “Goff understands that offense exceptionally well.”

8. Chiefs’ Offensive Line and WR Group Troubles

[18:32-20:21]

• Colin: K.C.’s scoring down to 22 PPG in recent years despite Mahomes/Reid—points to WRs, rookie left tackle as concern.
• Cosell: "Very condensed" pass game; focuses on protection issues, especially versus the Chargers’ pass rush.
• Expect K.C. to face heavy stunts and pressure.

9. Patriots Outlook, Drake Maye’s Film Traits

[20:21-21:32]

• Colin has Pats as a Wild Card due to upgrades in coaching and personnel.
• Cosell: Loves Drake Maye’s “innate toughness in the pocket” and willingness to “throw into tight windows.”
• Needs improvement in ball placement (“a few too many layups missed”).

10. League Trends — Coaching, Quarterback Optimization, Playoff Predictability

[21:32-23:27]

• Colin notes rise of young offensive minds; asks Cosell if film supports a “smarter” league.
• Cosell: Good coaches tailor schemes to QBs’ strengths, minimize flaws.
• Credits Eagles as “the best example of that.”

Notable Quote

"What really good offensive coaches do... is understand the strengths of their quarterback and how to minimize the limitations or flaws. That's the absolute key..."
—Greg Cosell (22:18)

11. Fast Predictions — Week 1 Picks & Rapid Takes

[49:25-53:14]

• Colin & J. Mac run through top week one games, picking winners: Eagles over Cowboys, Chiefs over Chargers, Giants-Washington split, Bengals over Browns, Jags over Panthers, Jets over Steelers, and so on.
• Banter over betting lines and keys to several under-the-radar games, highlighting interesting matchups and upset potential (e.g., Colts over Dolphins).

12. Notable Quotes & Moments

• "There's something wrong with [Dak's] lower body... He did not look very good." (Greg Cosell, 08:56)
• "It fits who they are and what they are. They've got the best O line in the league... Jalen Hurts is highly efficient...” (Cosell on Eagles, 10:37)
• "They're a pretty good offensive team. Love is... an aggressive thrower." (Cosell on Packers, 15:18)
• "Spacing and balance... that's critical for the passing game, particularly against zone coverage. And that's where I thought Ben Johnson was an absolute master." (Cosell, 17:18)
• "Mama, let your kids grow up to be edge rushers... They are getting paid." (J. Mac, 36:48)

Final Thoughts

This episode blends Colin’s big-picture predictions and league macro-trends with Greg Cosell’s acute film analysis, focused especially on quarterback play, coaching, and offensive innovation. The opening night anticipation is palpable, heightened by cautionary notes on Dak Prescott’s mechanical regression, excitement for Jalen Hurts’ fit in Philly, and uncertainty for retooling teams like Green Bay and New England. If you want to enter the new NFL season with a strong sense of who’s for real, what’s improved, and which issues loom, this is a can’t-miss hour.