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Colin Cowherd
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do you mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A little escape? No. Delicious bowl of grapes? Yeah. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. How about the clear skies? Can't deliver that. But French fries?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Get almost, almost anything delivered with UberEats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Remember when people were nice? When we could occasionally stop fighting and come together? Well, here's some good news. The Ripple Effect is here. Hosted by comedian Jenna Kim Jones, it's a show about how powerful it is when we reach out to one another. It's the perfect weekly proof that goodness isn't gone. The Ripple Effect is more than a podcast. It's a reminder that you can start a ripple that changes everything. Listen to the ripple effect on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors are made to go the distance with blazing fast performance, next level efficiency and multi day battery life. Snapdragon processors are built to tackle it all, from highlight reel editing to intense player research so you can be at the top of your game wherever the day takes you. 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See CapitalOne.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. Hour two and a Tuesday. Patriots hammer the Giants last night, 30 points in the first half. Jim Harbaugh next hour. Nick Wright, five minute. Well, we do it every Tuesday. We ranked the teams top 10. They are not the standings. But there are teams that today are better. Maybe because they got healthier. Houston, they gotta trade the Cowboys. So right now, all things considered, here are my top 10 teams. Herd hierarchy time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams according to college. Number 10. Listen, I don't like their red zone offense, but Houston Texans, four game winning streak, best defense, excellent head coach. They shut people down. Opposing quarterbacks this year have a passer rating of 74. That's a bad backup quarterback. So they're. What does that mean? They're in every game? They're in absolutely every game. I'm telling you, they play Kansas City this week. Kansas City has to win. I would not want to play them. They play at a different speed defensively. Nine times this year teams have scored fewer than 20 points in an offensive league that's never had better offensive coaching. Houston at 10, number nine, Philadelphia. I'm tired of saying I love their general manager. They lead the NFL in three and outs. They're near the top in punts. I mean, saquon Barkley is 39th in the league in yards per carry. And I don't think this staff, this coaching staff can fix it in season like Matt Lafle fix the packers broken offense in season. I mean they have a 22nd ranked rushing offense with Jalen Hurt, Saquon Barkley in a good old line. I don't even know where to put him. Maybe I'm being complimentary. Putting Philadelphia at nine, number eight and Dallas just beat him. I'm sorry. Since they got Quinn and Williams and Logan Wilson, they're 3, 0. Their quarterback pressure rate was top three and it's improved 35% since they got Quinn and Williams and Kenny Clark and now Demarvian Overshone is healthy. Just trust your eyes. They are getting to the quarterback. They're doing a better job of protecting theirs. And CD Lamb and George Pickens, they're both number ones and now they run the ball. So I mean, I, I say what you want. Right now, the Dallas Cowboys are a top 10 team in the NFL and I'm going to take them to beat Detroit Thursday. Number eight, Number seven well, the Bears lead the NFL in takeaways. They're running the heck out of the ball. Caleb Williams inaccuracy is an issue. Should be noted though. He's actually been very good on third down. His passer ratings over 100 on third down and they're listen, Ben Johnson's got a Shanahan feel to him. He's gonna run the ball 47 times. He doesn't care. So they have an identity. They take the ball away. Caleb Williams is good on third down and in the fourth quarter second. Still have some work to do, but I like any team that is a physical team in December and January and the Bears are number six Buffalo. Now they're the turnovers have increased. Multiple giveaways in four straight games is a problem and they can't defend the run, which will be their undoing in January. But Josh Allen right now is the best quarterback in the league despite not having a dominant receiving core. They're number two in big plays and they're running the football. So again their ability to run the football tells me they'll win a playoff game and maybe two. Number five Seattle. Turn the sound down. They just look different. I mean they've outgained every opponent in 11 games. They are fast, they are physical. One of five teams without back to back losses. I mean Sam Darnold did not play well this week and they shut out a team 26 nothing. He threw four picks and they almost beat the Rams in LA. They got a lot of talent defense back to back games with four sacks. Young defensive coach who is current who has pivoted multiple times. I like Seattle got him at five number four Denver. I moved him down nine game winning streak but it's a lot of one score games and they could have lost to Washington. They have trailed in all 12 games this season. I mean if you told me a high seed lost in the first round of the playoffs I think we'd all go. Denver I just don't think their offense is even enough. There are times like this week when Washington moved the ball up and down the field. That's troubling. You hope it's just a one off. The Rams played their defense stunk this weekend. I have Denver at 4. Number three I may have Green Bay low I have him at 3.3game winning streak all by a touchdown or more Jordan Love Folks we gotta stop wondering if Jordan loves good. The answer is yes. Big tall arm doesn't throw picks and now they get Jaden Reed back. Now they got Micah. So they have their closer when they have a lead. Now they're getting Matthew golden back. Green Bay is a Super bowl team and they were broken offensively three weeks ago. But these young, smart offensive coaches like Matt leflore can fix problems in season. Defensive coaches. I mean, how many years Mike Tomlin gonna struggle to fix the O line in the run game in Pittsburgh? Green Bay at three. Number two Rams had a bad week. Points allowed, giveaways. They were a mess. But they are the least penalized team in the NFL. Highest graded overall team, offense and defense. They only allow 17 a game. They had a stinker, they went out east. They didn't play well. But you can throw the ball on them if your offensive line can hold up. Mac Jones did. I mean, Bryce Young did. So I have him at two. Number one. I'm gonna put New England one. Listen, I watched them go to Buffalo and win. I watched them go to Tampa and win. Fifth time they've scored 30 plus points. They're incredibly sound. Great on special teams. I said it earlier, it's very reminiscent of the Belichick Brady stuff with a more mobile quarterback and a player friendly coach. What don't they do really well? They don't run the football particularly well. Well, the Chiefs have won Super Bowls in years, but they don't run it well again. They lead the NFL in big plays. You don't get any cheap touchdowns. They tackle well. Special teams are great. Fifth game this year, they've held an opponent to 15 points or fewer. So I. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with them. You. You keep telling me. Well, listen, what am I supposed to do with Denver? They keep winning. What am I supposed to do? Last night they got 30 in the first half with a backup left tackle. They can't run the ball. A backup left guard. I got New England 1. Nick Wright, first things first, is joining us. I don't know why I'm so incredulous. I don't know what to do with New England. I thought about putting Green Bay one or the Rams one.
Nick Wright
Yeah, that makes more sense.
Colin Cowherd
The Rams. Okay. All right.
Nick Wright
I mean, I mean this is. Here, listen, far be it for me to critique, but I will, just for a moment, whenever your rationale. You do this about twice a year. You put a team number one and then your rationale is, I don't know what to do with them. Well, I don't know. Then put them like four. Like if you don't Know what to do with them, maybe don't give them the top spot. I am really impressed by New England and I also think big picture New England is a case study for fan bases out there whose owners or front offices make excuses about how long a rebuild takes. If you have, if you ace the quarterback and the coach, the rebuild's done. Now you're in build. The Patriots were a train wreck for four straight years. They got the right quarterback, took him a year, you know, his rookie season. They got the right coach and now they are a legitimate contender. The only, my only pushback would be, I think if the Patriots were to make the super bowl and play the Rams, packers or Seahawks, you'd pick the Rams, packers or Seahawks. And if they play the Bills in the playoffs, you might pick the Bills. And so that's. The record is great. And I don't care so much about the soft schedule. I think they've been very impressive. I think they're closer to right now the fifth best team than the best team, but other than that. Colin, listen, I'm in a bad way. This is a herd hierarchy without the Chiefs and I can't even argue it. Like, I can't even get mad. I mean the only, the Chiefs only got mentioned during the hierarchy when you're like, hey, they won Super Bowls when they couldn't run the ball. That's the only time they were even alluded to. It's sad times. Not dead yet in this wide open. AFC got a rally. But it would be, it would be nice if they could get a stop on third and long, which they haven't all year.
Colin Cowherd
Okay, so that's interesting because they're not getting blown out, they're in games. And I was talking to a friend about this. I said, listen, it's, there's, there's not a lot of great. I mean, even Philadelphia wins the super bowl. We don't love the coach.
Nick Wright
Right?
Colin Cowherd
Like, we don't love Jalen in the pocket, you know, like, so there's no. The last great team. I mean, Kansas City a couple years ago was pretty damn great. The Seahawks had a two year run where you're like, yikes. They embarrassed Peyton Manning. Why? If I had a point in one thing and say this is why Kansas City's not the same team.
Nick Wright
What would be defense can't get off the field. I mean, the defense can't get. So the. During the last three years, the Chiefs had, you know, when they made three straight Super Bowls.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Nick Wright
They were number three in the NFL in third and Long, third and seven plus defense, I'm not talking about Mahomes, I'm talking about Spags. Dials up a blitz, gets off the field. This year they are the fourth worst in the league at third. And long defense, they have the fourth fewest turnovers forced in the league. They have the sixth fewest sacks in the league. So they just are unable to get an extra possession or, or to get off the field. And that's what you saw in Dallas. The Chiefs defense over this last four years, last three and a half years since they traded Tyreek, what it had been known for is it's going to let you move the ball and then there's. You're going to have a first and 10 where they stuff you for zero yards on a run. Then all of a sudden force an incompletion, you're in third and 10 and spags get you off the field. They did that to the Cowboys six times. Had the Cowboys in third and eight or worse and the Cowboys just every single time picked it up. Yeah, and so that's what has to change now. This weekend is a whole different set of issues, which is left tackle, Josh Simmons got his wrist broken by a teammate, like on a fluke play. Someone was trying to chip, block and hit him in the wrist. So he's going to be out. The right tackle, Juwan Taylor could be out. And you're up against the one team in the league you would least like to not have your tackles with that ferocious pass rush in Tennessee with the Texans. With that said, Colin and I think they're in for a fight for their lives on Sunday night. If they win that game, they then, in my opinion, will go into a game against the Chargers where the winner of that game is going to end up with the final playoff spot in the afc. Because if the, like the Chargers play the Philly on Monday night and then the Chiefs. The Chiefs get one of the teams ahead of them on Sunday and then another one ahead of them the following week. So they're alive, but their margin of error has absolutely collapsed. And they, if they go undefeated, then they will make the playoffs. If they go 4 and 1, then they probably miss unless Indy totally collapses, which it could. So they're in a bad spot and they've done this to themselves. That Jacksonville game, they had no business losing. If they win that game, the season's totally different. But they didn't with all that. So all that's legit. It's not bad luck, it's not bad officiating. It's just they haven't been good enough. With that said, if they get in in this AFC field, they're as scary as ever. But they got to get there. And right now they're an underdog to get there.
Colin Cowherd
So I was talking about Dallas earlier today. I said we're getting to a point that Dak is going to lead the NFL and offense with a third head coach. And we haven't liked any of them. At some point, it's like he's probably, you know, the Culkin brothers. Macaulay Culkin was the child star. The other brother took a while to develop. He wins an Oscar later. Like some people, Samuel L. Jackson starts in his 70s, doesn't hit till the 90s. Some people take longer to bake. I was always with you. His deck is good, but he's B plus. I gotta be honest, it's the best I've ever seen him. He's in year 10. He's off another surgery. Do we need to start having a different conversation? To be fair? I mean, Darnold developed later, Baker, but Dak, I look at Dak today and I'm like, did I miss this badly? Was this guy an A plus? And I had him as a B to a B plus. I mean, where are you with Dak?
Nick Wright
And no, I don't think you missed it. I think he is steadily improved and I think maybe, you know, that we were a touch harsh on him a couple years ago. But I think, I don't think you or I have ever been like, Dak is the problem. Dak is bad. It's that. Is Dak going to be, you know, play at this level, which this level is. He is doing what Joe Burrow did last year, which said, okay, we're going to have to win games just with our offense. Obviously, the defense gotten better over as opposed to the Quinn and Williams trade. And he has delivered I to me, I think Stafford may after those two guys, Dak has as strong of an argument to be on an MVP ballot as anybody else. So I think. I think that is legitimate. I also think that the other reason there have been questions about Dak is the same reason there are questions with every quarterback that we think is good and we're trying to figure out if their grade is. We would like to see them produce at least the same level they produce in the regular season, in the postseason. And we haven't seen that yet from Dak. But this year he's playing the position as well as he ever has and he's played it at a very high level. At various times in the past I think he's been great. I think the Cowboys are terrifying to play.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Nick Wright
And they are going to miss the playoffs despite it. Like I just think, I think they might have dug themselves too big of a hole. But on any given like they right now, if you see them on on the schedule it's like seeing a 9 and 3 team on your schedule. That's the level they're playing. I just don't know if in the jam packed NFC unless Philly full on collapses which is on the board it might be too little too late for Dallas.
Colin Cowherd
So you know the Mike Tomlin thing has been. I made a comment last week and I thought it was a decent one where I said this whole thing about well we don't have a losing season. In the last 21 years you've had 60 teams miss the playoffs who were 500 or better. It's an arbitrary stat. Well, we didn't have a losing season. It doesn't matter. It doesn't, doesn't guarantee anything. We've got, you know, you've got, if you get to 10 it feels pretty good. 11 year in 9 means nothing and But I think my bigger problem with Tomlin, when I see something that keeps happening over and over with anybody in any business, they struggle late. His high motivation, rah rah speeches cancel out. They can't run the ball again this year they go, they work their way through coordinators, left tackles, running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks. It to me it's a broken franchise, it feels outdated, it's not current in an offensive league. I think it's time and he'll get hired again like Miami. Probably hire him tomorrow. Be smart. But I think it's kind of time with Tomlin. I'm seeing too many patterns over the last six years. It's the same team every year.
Nick Wright
So I think there's a lot there. I think first of all you can be a great coach and it be time to move on. Listen, Mike Tomlin isn't Andy Reid but for Philadelphia he's a great coach though. But Philadelphia was not wrong for moving off Andy Reid. And the fact that Andy has had this success in Kansas City doesn't mean that Philadelphia should have stuck with him. Like it felt like Andy and Philadelphia, right or wrong, had run its course. They wanted to turn the page and it's not because they thought well this guy's a bum. They just thought they needed something fresh. That feels a lot like what we're staring at With Pittsburgh, where I would and I have mass respect for Mike Tomlin, but I also don't know that Mike Tomlinson can pick a quarterback or that you want Mike to like. I think if I were a team that I feel very confident has a quarterback in place, like I'll give you a for instance. If Cincinnati were to decide, you know what, three straight years, missing the playoffs, back to back years where the defense can't get right. I know Burrow has been injured, but we want a fresh start from Zach Taylor. I'd hire. If Mike Tomlin's available, I'd hire him in a heartbeat.
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
Nick Wright
If the. If the Giants feel like Jackson Dart is the guy and they're. You're not going to have to find the quarterback. To me, Tomlin's a good option. Miami, I'd be squeamish about it because I would feel like, man, are we going to be in the same position that Pittsburgh found themselves in, which is he is a floor raiser, which then means we're not going to have a top pick to draft a quarterback and we're going to be on this carousel. That would be my concern. But it does. It feels to me, Colin, like there are a lot of super bowl champion coaches that could be kind of coaching for their jobs the final month. If I understand he is the defending super bowl champion if Philly collapses again, I would not put it past Howie Roseman to make a change. If they were to go from eight and two to out of the playoffs, Yes, I think Howie, Howie Roseman has fired better coaches than Nick Sirianni. If Baltimore misses the playoffs or even if they make it because the AFC north is bad but they go one and done in the playoffs, I think Harbaugh's got to be quite nervous. And if Pittsburgh isn't able to take advantage of the Ravens starting one and four and Joe Burrow missing three months and they missed the playoffs, I think Tomlin would have to be a little anxious. So that's three super bowl champion head coaches who have a lot on the line. The final five weeks of the season into the playoffs.
Colin Cowherd
Finally you've acknowledged you. You don't love college football like I do, but you've always got interesting perspectives. Hey, My thing with Mrs. Ole Miss, I said, listen, if when you hired Kevin years ago, if I would have said to you, he'll bring you your best year ever, you'll be number one in the sport by a mile in offense, you'll be fascinating and talked about your greatest year ever, he will leave you at the altar and burn you. You would have said, yeah, okay, I'll take it.
Nick Wright
Absolutely.
Colin Cowherd
I tell my wife this anytime she complains about or the kids or something. Oh my. I'm like, honey, would you have signed up for your life when we met 20 years ago? I would have. You know, like, sometimes you have to just say, well, the worst case scenario is we have 11 wins and we're going to the playoff. I think Ole Miss's reaction is typical and predictable. But LSU is a better job, is it not?
Nick Wright
No, listen, LSU is a better job. I don't know that I. If I were in today's version of college football, it's not as much of a better job than it once was. And because you can level the playing field a bit with nil. And if I were Lane Kiffin, I might prefer the security of Ole Miss. So I don't know that he'll enjoy it more. But that's for his decision. It certainly has higher upside is more prestigious. Here is my. I have two major takeaways from this whole saga and the way it's been covered. The first one is this. Everyone understands the college football calendar is messed up. We all get that. But that does that being used by some folks. I'm not talking about you because I think you feel like it was just an obvious choice. But folks that want to shield Kiffin from what is whatever accountability there is for leaving these kids in the playoffs being like, it's not Lane Kiffin, adult millionaire human being's fault. It's this inanimate object known as the calendar's fault. Like, what could the man do with this calendar? Like, that part I don't buy. And the other one, and this is. You mentioned your wife and kids. I'm going to give a parenting anecdote of my own. My youngest daughter has an amazing a tendency almost that if she is presented with two really good options, not like go to bed or do your homework, it's like go. You know, two things she wants to do, but. And she gets to pick which one. She ends up being very sad because even though she is picking the one she wants, she can't stop but thinking about the things she didn't pick, right? And that's understandable for a child. What I don't like at all is the crocodile tears from Kiffin. Like, man, this was so hard and I'm gonna miss out. Buddy, you made a choice. You had two amazing options, both of which were ten plus million dollars a year. Try to get a statue built of you compete for national champions. Objectively speaking, you chose the one that you thought would make you happier. So don't then tell me about how sad it made you. Like, that is a child thing, not an adult thing. So I don't blame him for it. But I also don't have a lot of sympathy for. He's an adult who made a choice that he thought was best for him. He's allowed to do it. And I think it'll probably work in the short term. But I don't think Lane Kiffin is someone anybody should get in the business world, get married to. And I think he's shown that. But see if they can peel a national championship.
Colin Cowherd
Nick Wright. First things first. Good to have you back. A little somber, but the Chiefs again. Listen, it's tough. It is. You haven't been here.
Nick Wright
Listen, here's the deal, Colin. Here's the deal. And then I'll go, this is the most down bad I've ever been about the Chiefs or since I've been on TV and they could miss the playoffs. But I'm here to tell you, if they win Sunday night, I'm going to be on the air Monday saying they beat the Chargers, they're going back to the super bowl. And you might agree two wins away from being back, one loss away from the season being over, but two wins away from being all the way back. So we'll see. They got to win, but you beat the Texans, beat the Chargers. The Titans aren't even a football team these days. Well, just two wins away.
Colin Cowherd
It's almost like when the Oscars have five or six, you know, like directors or actors, and they're all in that box and they're going to announce the winner and you're either the most famous person in the world for about six days or you go on to independent films and you get lost at the Bermuda Triangle and nobody ever remembers you. That's what Chiefs are. It's here we come again or here.
Nick Wright
We come or on the next season. Exactly right. I'll see you, buddy.
Colin Cowherd
All right. Good stuff. We are live in Chicago. It's the Herd. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on FOX Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now, let's get this party started. You're listening to FOX Sports Sports Radio. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live.
Rob Parker
Weeknights from 7 to 10pm Eastern on.
Colin Cowherd
Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show. That's right, you can now watch the Odd couple live on YouTube every day. All you got to do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube again YouTube just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe.
Rob Parker
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Colin Cowherd
Night Football is on and it's only on Prime Video this week the Dallas Cowboys take on the Detroit Lions in a new rivalry with lots of heat. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with Football's Best Party TNF tonight presented by Verizon. Not a Prime member? Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial.
Nick Wright
It's the Cowboys and the lions Thursday.
Colin Cowherd
At 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details. PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors are made to go the distance with blazing fast performance, next level efficiency and multi day battery life. Snapdragon processors are built to tackle it all, from highlight reel editing to intense player research so you can be at the top of your game wherever the day takes you. Learn more@snapdragon.com laptops Snapdragon the heart of your PC. Battery life varies significantly based on device settings, usage and other factors. I've always respected the grit, the discipline, the sacrifice. It's the stuff that makes great teams and great people. That's why I'm proud to talk about Green River Whiskey and their salute to service program. Earlier this year, Green river became the official bourbon of the U.S. army's 250th anniversary. And now they're honoring veterans and service members in a powerful way. Go to greenriverwhiskey.com Army Enter the name of somebody you want to honor. Green river will send a free custom label to put on your bottle of their army 250th bourbon. It's personal and it's meaningful. A great way to say thank you with a bottle that tells a story. So this Veterans Day and holiday season, celebrate with Green river to raise a glass to those who risk their life to serve this country. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Please drink responsibly. Get almost anything you need delivered with UberEats. What do you mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? Very much a yes. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. All right. Delivery is on its way. I use it regularly. How about the clear skies? Can't deliver that. But French fries?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
A little escape? No. Delicious bowl of grapes?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
How about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But barbecued prawns? Order it now. Get almost. Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. C app for details, Jim Harbaugh, Next hour. Lakers got roasted last night. Let's see if J. Mac gives us a little update. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.
Kelvin Washington
Nope, no update. But we will start with someone that got roasted. The Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Colin. Oh my gosh. I don't know if you heard this stat. The Buffalo bills rushed for 249 yards against the Steelers. That was the most allowed by Pittsburgh at home in 50 years. Yes. James Cook cooked. Colin. The last running back to run for this many yards was O.J. simpson way back in the day against the Steelers. I mean, that was what, two or three stadiums ago? T.J. watt was embarrassed he got to the podium. I think we touched on that yesterday. Yeah, I don't know what you do. Listen, we've been on this for a couple of years. You got to move off TJ Watt. Stop building around the defense. I do think the fire Tomlin stuff is a bridge too far. But what do you do if they miss the playoffs? Does he, does he bolt for the Penn State job or something crazy like that.
Colin Cowherd
I don't think he wants. I don't think he's a college football guy in terms of interest. I think he'd be great. I don't think he wants to play that. I think he's a pro, you know, I think he's a pro guy. Again, it's just we moved off Belichick and Andy Reid. Like, I, I just don't. I don't. Look at that. I mean, Mike Vrabel got fired. Look at Mike Vrabel right now. I don't think Mike McCarthy's got a ring. Got fired, then he walked away.
Kelvin Washington
The Vrabel stuff, if memory serves, was. Was about the GM and him were butting heads. The GM traded AJ Brown without consulting him.
Colin Cowherd
There's a lot of discussion in Pittsburgh that there is tension.
Nick Wright
Oh.
Colin Cowherd
Between ownership and Mike. Because they're hearing it from their fans. I mean, if you turn on sports radio in Pittsburgh, oh, yeah, they're not banging on TJ Watt or Aaron Rodgers. They're banging on Mike Tomlin again this year. So last year you could just say, well, Russell Wilson. No, it's, it's. How many years are they not going to be able to get the O line in the running game? Right. We're like on year seven or eight. Yeah.
Kelvin Washington
Interesting, Colin. Well, when are you going to start turning the show over to the listeners? Because, hey, they're just like fans. They're unhappy with what's going on. Maybe you should listen to them instead of, you know, when I text you ideas and you're. Oh, I love that. You should listen to these jabronis online.
Colin Cowherd
Who are like, coward.
Kelvin Washington
Why do you talk about this so much? Well, that's what the Steelers would do. Move off Tomlin.
Rob Parker
Are you.
Kelvin Washington
That would be insane.
Colin Cowherd
Well, again, they haven't won a playoff game in eight years.
Kelvin Washington
Do you think that's totally his fault?
Colin Cowherd
I think he's the coach. I mean, you can. You can. If the CEO has the bonuses, when the stock goes up, who are you going to blame when Starbucks goes sideways and earnings are down, it's the guy running it. It's not the founder, it's the CEO.
Kelvin Washington
So that's interesting. He's, I think, the longest tenured coach in the league with the same team by. By like a mile.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Kelvin Washington
So you're going to keep this gm? Why can't the GM just go to him and be like, mike, we're moving off this defense first strategy. Are you cool with that? And if Tomlin's like, no, then I think you got a case.
Nick Wright
But moving.
Colin Cowherd
If you're moving off defense and you're going to be an offensive organization, you trust Tomlin to run it.
Kelvin Washington
Well, wait a minute. You trusted Arthur Smith and Aaron Rodgers when things were all awesome and they.
Colin Cowherd
Were 5 and 1. I didn't think this was going to be a good. I said I didn't think it was a playoff. I said Aaron Rodgers should go to the Vikings or retire. I never liked.
Kelvin Washington
Well, yeah, not you. I meant, like, they. They thought that Aaron Rodgers and Arthur Smith would work. And for a minute, it did.
Colin Cowherd
Wow.
Kelvin Washington
Moving off time, That's a huge story. Does he get a job instantly, by the way, if Pittsburgh kicks into the curb.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Network tv in a heartbeat.
Kelvin Washington
Wait, whoa, whoa, hold on. What about my New York Jets? I would move off Aaron Glenn in a, In a New York minute. If Mike Tomlin's like, yeah, I'll come.
Colin Cowherd
Coach the Jets, I have no problem with Tomlin getting another job somewhere. No problem. Oh, man.
Kelvin Washington
All right, let's go to the Chicago Bears. Colin, now, this is. Listen, this is going to be a tough one. I know they're. Let's start with the positive, okay? They're nine and three, number one seed in the nfc. They're in your backyard. You and Ben Johnson are probably going out for. For, you know, meals this, this time of week, but maybe you'll be shirtless like Ben. However, Caleb Williams, his goal was to complete 70% of his passes. He's not anywhere close to that. Ben Johnson said the streak happened in spite of the offense. Here we go.
Nick Wright
Everybody's got a role to play to.
Colin Cowherd
Get this pass game cleaned up.
Rob Parker
It's not where it needs to be.
Colin Cowherd
We're winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it. And none of us are pleased with that right now.
Kelvin Washington
Now, this is a stat that's going around the interwebs today according to quarterbacks who have started more than seven games this year.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Kelvin Washington
Caleb Williams is dead last in the NFL in completion percentage. Yeah, dead last, 58%. That's below Cam Ward.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Kelvin Washington
That's below Dylan Gabriel.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. It's clearly an issue. Like, nobody let. You have to acknowledge the good stuff. But he is not accurate enough. I mean, it's. I mean, listen, he's got much better weapons and I would argue a better O line and a run game than Drake May. Drake May is completing 71%. Patriots can't run it. O Line had two starters missing left side. Don't have a number one. Diggs is more a number two now and he's completing the highest rate in the league. I'm not asking you to be that. You got to get the 62 or 63%. You got to get up. 58 is a backup quarterback and not a great backup.
Kelvin Washington
I'm looking at some of like Bo Nix is at 61.
Rob Parker
Right.
Kelvin Washington
I would totally agree. So here's my question. Can, can Caleb make the leap? Remember Josh Allen the first couple years in Buffalo? Everybody uses this example. I think he's like 57.
Colin Cowherd
I think he can get better. But I the knock I heard from the GMs who liked him. He's erratic throwing the ball. He's like a streak shooter in basketball. Those from the people that liked him, the ones that didn't like him said little moody, a little bit of an ego, don't like his accuracy. The ones that liked him noted his lack of consistent accuracy.
Kelvin Washington
What's the ceiling for a team where the quarterback is dead last in the league in completion percentage?
Colin Cowherd
You can make the playoffs, especially when you run like they do, but you're not going to, you know, remember, eventually he'll get paid and when you pay him that you're going to have to get rid of multi. Joe Tooney's not going to be on the team or a DJ more if you have to ever pay guys.
Kelvin Washington
So you love to be forward thinking. Colin, what do the Bears do? At what point do you say, you know what, he's not going to be a 65 completion guy.
Colin Cowherd
Let's, let's, let's let the season play out. Let's just, you win a couple playoff games, life will be really good because.
Kelvin Washington
It'S fun spitballing who Ben Johnson could work with as a quarterback in Chicago. A couple guys out there, you know, there's a certain fella in Texas who does not love Houston, but let's, let's move on. Sorry to the Houston Texans fans. Final story. Colin, not really great news out of Indy. Sauce Gardner went down and they're calling it not an Achilles, but a calf injury. Calf injuries are very nettlesome. They can turn into Achilles injuries. It sounds like they're going to be very cautious with Sauce Gardner and he's unlikely to go against the Jags this week. I mentioned this earlier in the show. Colin talked about it on my podcast. There's a world where the Colts miss the playoffs. Okay, that division's tough. The schedule for Indy is really brutal. And all of a sudden, remember that Sauce Gardner deal was like, oh, jets will get pick late in the first round. If Indy misses that pick becomes like 18 or 19. This is, this is not good for Sauce Gardner and the Colts.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean they rolled the dice. Daniel Jones was playing better. They were going into a stretch, five game stretch of facing a lot of teams with really good number one receivers. I understood it and I also thought Daniel Jones had kind of reached a point where you could be a consistent playoff team. He has regressed. So I mean it, it's Chris Ballard took a swing. I always back that. But right now look good for a week or two. Doesn't look good today. Let's let it play out.
Kelvin Washington
And I'll add the Colts. I wonder if they made this move because Stingley is so good with the Texans. Did you see that? He was only targeted. I think he was on like he was on the field a lot. He was targeted once by the Colts. That's it. Once, one target. He's that good. Sauce could have been that guy for Indy, but I, I don't even know if he's going to return this season. They're saying no IR for now, which is potential goodness.
Colin Cowherd
J Mac for the News well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd LIE news. Lane Kiffin already making news in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
Rob Parker
You're thoughtful about where your money goes. You've got your core holdings, some recurring crypto buys, maybe even a few strategic options plays on the side. The point is, you're engaged with your investments and Public gets that. That's why they built an investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can put together a multi asset portfolio for the long haul. Stocks, bonds, options, crypto. It's all there plus an industry leading 3.6% APY high yield cash account. Switch to the platform built for those who take investing seriously. Go to public.com and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com paid for by Public Investing. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for U.S. listed registered securities options and bonds and a stock self directed account are offered by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Crypto trading provided by ZeroHash Complete disclosures.
Colin Cowherd
Available@Public.Com Disclosures Thursday Night Football is on and it's only on Prime Video. This week the Dallas Cowboys take on the Detroit Lions in a new rivalry with lots of Heat coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with football's best party TNF Tonight presented by Verizon. Not a Prime member, Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial.
Nick Wright
It's the Cowboys and the lions Thursday.
Colin Cowherd
At 7pm Eastern only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details. PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors are made to go the distance with blazing fast performance, next level efficiency and multi day battery life. Snapdragon processors are built to tackle it all, from highlight reel editing to intense player research so you can be at the top of your game wherever the day takes you. Learn more@snapdragon.com laptops snapdragon the heart of your PC battery life varies significantly based on device settings, usage and other factors. I've always respected the grit, the discipline, the sacrifice. It's the stuff that makes great teams and great people. That's why I'm proud to talk about Green River Whiskey and their Salute to Service program. Earlier this year, Green river became the official bourbon of the U.S. army's 250th anniversary, and now they're honoring veterans and service members in a powerful way. Go to greenriverwhiskey.com Army Enter the name of somebody you want to honor. Green river will send a free custom label to put on your bottle of their army 250th bourbon. It's personal and it's meaningful. It's a great way to say thank you with a bottle that tells a story. So this Veterans Day and holiday season, celebrate with Green river to raise a glass to those who risk their life to serve this country. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Please drink responsibly. Get almost anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. What do you mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? Very much a yes. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. All right, delivery is on its way. I use it regularly. How about the clear skies? Can't deliver that, but French fries?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
A little escape? No. Delicious bowl of grapes?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
How about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there, but barbecued prawns? Order it now. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region.
Kelvin Washington
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's really interesting about Lane Kiffin. So I've always said this. Not every relationship I get involved with is long term. Not all of them end well. But I made the choice. I knowingly made the choice with any relationship I'm in. I vet everybody. So Ole Miss is either dumb or naive if they thought hiring Lane Kiffin couldn't end this way. You knew his track record. Saban's like, get out of here. USC fired him on a tarmac Tennessee. He bolts after a year. So you're either totally naive or childish. Run into airports screaming. I mean, I get it. They're kids. Couple hot toddies in. But you got to give me a break here. It's a better job. Lane Kiffin is a coach for hire. Have resume, have film, have recruiting talent, and that's what he does. So I don't have a lot of sympathy. You knowingly either didn't do your homework on him. And I, I, I know Lane, I like him, but I, I don't think he's for everybody. And you know, right now, I think LSU is paying three different coaches. Do your homework. They did. LSU is comfortable with it. LSU saying, we know we, we got some paperwork here if, if we fire him. LSU is kind of desperate. Lane Kiffin, I think, actually wanted to go to Florida. His, I mean, I really do. I, I think his wife is from there. But Florida's athletic director, who, by the way, I recommended for the USC job five years ago, I think he was in Northwestern. Florida's AD doesn't really like Kiffin. So Florida could have had Kiffin and Florida could have had Kiffin and a better resume than who they hired. But Florida said we're not comfortable with Lane. LSU said we are comfortable with Lane. Ole Miss said we are comfortable with Lane. Don't tell me you don't know what you're getting. Florida's ad, who's probably the best first or second guy at Bama's? Great. First or second best AD in the sec. So is the guy Texas. Okay. It's a good AD conference. Florida can have Kiffin. Kiffin, I think, would have preferred Florida. They're like, yeah, he's not our. We don't want that drama. Ole Ms. And LSU signed up for it. No sympathy. Lane Kiffin yesterday on if money was a factor going to lsu. I'm never going to make a decision.
Nick Wright
On money and I'm telling you right.
Colin Cowherd
Now, I don't know what my contract is here. That's not very financially responsible. Okay? I'm sure it's really good. Okay. I don't know what it is. Nor did I know at the other.
Nick Wright
Places what the numbers were. Because I said in the beginning, I.
Colin Cowherd
Told Jimmy Sexton, don't tell me the numbers, okay? I want to make a decision that has nothing to do with money. Now tell me the numbers in the plan for what the money is for the players, because that's everything in that area to me. Yeah, he's right, by the way. He's saying all the right stuff. But, you know, don't marry the rock star and then be upset when he goes, yeah, honey, I gotta go on the road for a tour for six months. You knew what you were marrying. So did Ole Miss, so does LSU and Florida could have had Kiffin. And their AD who's really sharp's like, I don't want the drama because you do get drama with him. I think he's going to succeed. I think it's going to be a home run. I can't wait. I love college football. It won't take long. In fact, he'll do it quicker than Brian Kelly did at Notre Dame and quicker than Harbaugh did at Michigan. Not because he's a better coach, because LSU is just in this geographical footprint. Louisiana, Bama, Georgia, Florida, they're going to sign. I mean, there is so much unbelievable high school football talent in that area. And, and, and the other thing Kiffin said, he goes, it's the best job in college football. I will tell you, a lot of people think that. I have talked to multiple coaches. Brian Kelly knew he didn't want to go down to Baton Rouge. That's not where he's from. Brian Kelly knew he wanted to golf and not recruit. Brian Kelly went down there because he thought he could put in 45 hour weeks and win a natty and you can't. You just can't. But Brian Kelly knew it wasn't a great fit. Brian Kelly's like, it's a lot of money. Lane Kiffin's a great recruiter. Brian Kelly at this point isn't. Lane Kiffin, I think is a better offensive coach than Brian Kelly. I think he's going to crush and I, I like, he's fun to be around. He's got great stories, good sense of humor. I know his wife, don't know his kids. He's smart enough to say all the right stuff and he is right. It's all about what kind of roster can you build. But I don't have a lot of sympathy for people who marry people with a very clear track record. I mean, one thing, you know, you marry the pastor and it goes sideways. You know, I mean, you know, you marry, you marry somebody that has a track record of just, you know, oh, this is the nicest guy in the neighborhood. And then, you know, he's out floundering around. You know, some of these coaches, we all know the game. We all know the game. I love Saban. Saban said, I don't know how many times I have to tell you, I'm not taking the Alabama job. That was his quote. All right, Jim Harbaugh's around the corner. That's always fun. PCs powered by Snapdragon X Elite processors are made to go the distance with blazing fast performance, next level efficiency and multi day battery life. Snapdragon processors are built to tackle it all, from highlight reel editing to intense player research so you can be at the top of your game wherever the day takes you. Learn more@snapdragon.com laptops Snapdragon the heart of your PC. Battery life varies significantly based on device settings, usage and other factors.
Rob Parker
You're thoughtful about where your money goes. You've got your core holdings, some recurring crypto buys, maybe even a few strategic options plays on the side. The point is, you're engaged with your investments and Public gets that. That's why they built an investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can put together a multi asset portfolio for the long haul. Stocks, bonds, options, crypto. It's all there plus an industry leading 3.6% APY high yield cash account. Switch to the platform built for those who take investing seriously. Go to public.com and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com paid for by Public Investing. All investing involves the risk of loss including loss of principal. Brokerage services for U.S. listed registered securities options and bonds and a self directed account are offered by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Crypto trading provided by 0/ complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures people talk a.
Colin Cowherd
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Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. How about the clear skies? Can't deliver that. But French fries?
Nick Wright
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. CIAPP for details. Okay, only 10 more presents to wrap. You're almost at the finish line. But first, There the last one. Enjoy a Coca Cola for a pause that refreshes. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Episode: THE HERD – Hour 2 – New Herd Hierarchy, Patriots Win Streak, Nick Wright
Date: December 2, 2025
This episode of The Herd focuses on Colin Cowherd’s mid-season “Herd Hierarchy” for the NFL, deep analysis and debate over current contenders, and special guest Nick Wright’s takes on team performances—most notably the Patriots’ surprising surge, struggles of the Chiefs, and coaching legacies. The hour covers quarterback narratives, playoff outlooks, and a spirited discussion about college football’s Lane Kiffin to LSU saga.
[02:20 – 10:42]
Colin unveils his weekly ranking of the top 10 NFL teams, explaining his reasons and what he sees in each contender this December.
New England Patriots:
Los Angeles Rams:
Green Bay Packers:
Denver Broncos:
Seattle Seahawks:
Buffalo Bills:
Chicago Bears:
Dallas Cowboys:
Philadelphia Eagles:
Houston Texans:
[10:44 – 12:42]
[12:42 – 16:16]
[16:16 – 19:06]
[19:06 – 23:13]
[23:13 – 26:59]
[27:08 – 28:10]
Nick’s heartbreak over the Chiefs’ playoff jeopardy:
[33:05 – 41:26]
[45:46 – 52:11]
Hour 2 of The Herd delivers classic Cowherd: bold rankings, in-depth NFL debate, and candid crossfire with Nick Wright on team legitimacy, changing coaching eras, QB scrutiny, and college football’s soap operas. Essential listening for anyone wanting current, passionate sports talk with sharp opinions and ample context.