The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2

Date: December 16, 2025
Episode: New Herd Hierarchy, the state of the Kansas City Chiefs, Nick Wright

Overview

This episode of "The Herd" is a classic Colin Cowherd mix of bold NFL analysis and debate, focused on the unveiling of the latest "Herd Hierarchy"—Colin's rankings of the top 10 NFL teams—and in-depth discussions with frequent guest Nick Wright. They dissect the state of teams on the playoff bubble, the evolving future of the Kansas City Chiefs (especially post-Mahomes injury), the trajectory of young quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Bo Nix, and close with quick hits on the Cowboys' struggles, Cooper Flag's NBA breakout, and an intriguing College Football Playoff teaser.

Herd Hierarchy: Top 10 NFL Teams (05:11 – 10:37)

Key Rankings and Rationale

• #10 Philadelphia Eagles:

  • Seven of nine wins are one-score games
  • Struggling offense, strong defense
  • “I don't trust Jalen Hurts or Nick Sirianni in big spots again... this offense feels like it's been broken since week one.” – Cowherd (05:33)

• #9 Jacksonville Jaguars:

  • Elite against the run, Trevor Lawrence revived
  • Still doubt in big moments

• #8 Buffalo Bills:

  • Heavy reliance on Josh Allen
  • “Don't trust anybody with a ball in their hands. Other than Josh Allen.” – Cowherd (06:37)

• #7 San Francisco 49ers:

  • Outstanding coaching, Purdy healthy
  • Moving the chains on third down

• #6 Seattle Seahawks:

  • Dominant defense and big-play offense
  • “They can play conservatively and win because they can run the ball well. Coach, play defense.” – Cowherd (07:32)

• #5 New England Patriots:

  • Youthful upside, weak in red zone, ahead of schedule
  • “Their issue is they're not very good in the red zone on either side of the ball.” (08:00)

• #4 Chicago Bears:

  • Weatherproof, dynamic, top rushing offense
  • “Tell me what they don't do... They're built for January.” (08:25)

• #3 Houston Texans:

  • #1 scoring defense in NFL
  • “I really like Houston. I think they're gonna make the AFC championship.” (08:57)

• #2 Denver Broncos:

  • Bo Nix compared to Steve Young
  • “They beat you and they beat you up.” (09:30)

• #1 LA Rams:

  • Most complete roster, emerging talent at RB and TE
  • Weakness at corner and with young pass rush
  • “I have the Rams at number one.” (10:09)

Notably, Green Bay Packers dropped out of the top ten due to injuries.

Nick Wright Joins: Challenging the Hierarchy & AFC Debate (10:37 – 14:01)

• Praises Niners' Resilience: “I feel like the Niners have flown under the radar... despite all the injuries. I think it's Shanahan's best coaching job to date.” – Nick Wright (10:41)
• Questions Patriots over Bills Ranking:
  • “Why are the Patriots ahead of the Bills?” – Wright (11:14)
  • Cowherd responds, citing New England’s head-to-head and situational strengths, but Wright counters with Buffalo’s offensive upside and trust factors after recent matchups.
• Eagles Skepticism:
  • “Did Philly fix things or did Philly face the Raiders? I'm not sure.” – Wright (12:36)
  • Suggests Green Bay might deserve a spot over Philly.

Emerging Quarterbacks: Caleb Williams & Bo Nix (13:58 – 19:42)

Caleb Williams

• Genius vs. Imperfection:
  • Cowherd likens elite QBs (Josh Allen, Mahomes, Caleb) to Beethoven-level talent balanced with erratic moments:
    • “I'm going to live with Josh Allen, Mahomes and Caleb throwing some picks... They're Beethoven at 9 years old.” (13:12)
  • Williams’ “lowlights are going to be really grisly,” but his best throws are “special.” – Wright (14:16)
  • Both agree Caleb’s development is about keeping the spectacular while improving on the basics.
  • “I am fully confident that Caleb Williams is going to be a very good quarterback in this league.” – Wright (15:51)

Bo Nix

• Shifting Opinions:
  • Cowherd calls Nix a “right-handed Steve Young,” emphasizing newfound athleticism. (16:31)
  • Wright highlights three consecutive best career games, but still skeptical—cautiously leaving the door open on whether Nix’s surge is real.
  • “My gut still tells me quarterback is their weak link... But he has an opportunity... to prove all the doubters wrong.” – Wright (19:32)

The State of the Kansas City Chiefs & Mahomes’ Future (19:48 – 24:38, revisit at 32:04 – 35:02)

Discussion Points

• Colin’s Take:

  • “Kansas City missing the playoffs [would be] a good thing... cold water to the face.” (19:48)
  • Suggests it's time for substantial rebuild, not mere tweaks:
    • “I think they got to take the boat back to port and rebuild it. I don't think it's a tweak.” (19:55)

• Nick Wright Pushes Back:

  • “Where do they rank in Super Bowls in the league in the last three years?” (20:43)
  • Acknowledges this year is a failure, expects next few games to illuminate how much Mahomes masked flaws.
  • “I don't think it is a complete overhaul... They're about to have the 10th, 11th... pick of the draft and a third place schedule and Patrick is going to come back with a vengeance.” (22:44)
  • This run is ending but expects a next chapter: “It is as good of a seven year run as any team in NFL history.” (23:41)

• On Mahomes' injury and Chiefs' cap/roster issues

  • Mahomes’ future uncertain; nine-month best-case recovery, KC cap concerns, thin at receiver and O-line (32:04–34:08)
  • “Mahomes has spent some of his career limping. Now his first major surgery... You get to the end of your prime real quick.” – Cowherd (33:08)

NFL Notes: Cowboys’ Season, Bears’ Asset Advantage, and More (29:36 – 31:29, 34:47–35:21)

• Dallas Cowboys’ Playoff Hopes:

  • Dak: “Definitely surprised... hurt, pissed off, frustrated. But all I can do is get better tomorrow.” (29:59)
  • Cowherd & J. Mac see talent, but home vulnerability and likely playoff elimination after Vikings loss.

• Roster Quality Observations:

  • Bears have “better players” than Chiefs in key spots and more flexibility to address needs.
  • “The Bears have elite center, elite right guard, elite right tackle.” – Cowherd (34:55)

NBA Quick Hit: Cooper Flag’s Breakout (35:21 – 37:59)

• Record-breaking Start:
  • The 18-year-old scores 42, breaking LeBron’s rookie record.
• Cowherd on Flag:
  • “He is a more aggressive Jayson Tatum... You're looking at the best domestic rookie probably since LeBron.” (36:50)
• J. Mac’s Advice:
  • “Buy all Cooper Flag stock if you sold it. I'm sorry, that's like selling Tesla in the early days. You made a mistake, Colin. This kid is special.” (37:51)

College Football Playoff Teaser & Draft Nuggets (43:01 – 50:52)

• NFL Draft Commentary:

  • Patriots and Houston Texans praised for recent drafts post-Belichick influence.
  • “Anybody else notice how well New England's now drafting offensively since Belichick left?... Houston has crushed drafting.” (43:41)

• CFP Sneak Peek:

  • Cowherd likes Miami as a value pick, praises Alabama, but says Ohio State and Indiana have been the best teams seen all season.
  • “If Indiana wins the natty... three straight years, three different teams from the Big Ten winning the national championship.” (49:45)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On trusting young QBs:

  • “I'm going to live with Josh Allen, Mahomes and Caleb throwing some picks... They're Beethoven at 9 years old.” – Cowherd (13:12)

• Patriots vs. Bills logic:

  • “Head to head isn't the be all end all... In six of the eight quarters they played, New England was significantly better.” – Cowherd (11:18)

• Chiefs' dynasty status:

  • “It is as good of a seven year run as any team in NFL history... This is now a new chapter.” – Wright (23:41–23:57)

• On Cooper Flag’s NBA emergence:

  • “He is a more aggressive Jayson Tatum... You're looking at the best domestic rookie probably since LeBron.” – Cowherd (36:50)

Episode Highlights & Tone

• Spirited, opinionated debate between Cowherd and Wright
• Cowherd’s rankings spark disagreement and detailed, statistical talk
• Smart analogies ("Beethoven at 9 years old", "take the boat back to port and rebuild it")
• Contextualizes NFL drama in broader historic patterns (Chiefs’ run vs. Patriots/Steelers)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Herd Hierarchy (NFL Top 10): 03:10 – 10:37
• Nick Wright on Rankings: 10:37 – 12:48
• Young Quarterback Talk (Williams/Nix): 13:58 – 19:42
• Chiefs’ State of the Franchise: 19:48 – 24:38; Revisiting at 32:04 – 35:21
• Cowboys’ Season & Quick NFL Notes: 29:36 – 35:21
• Cooper Flag NBA Segment: 35:21 – 37:59
• College Football Playoff/Draft Segment: 43:01 – 50:52

Summary:
This hour delivers classic “Herd” content: bold rankings, candid debates, emerging star/quarterback analysis, and a healthy dose of skepticism about NFL “dynasties” continuing uninterrupted. The chemistry and banter with Nick Wright elevate the show, with plenty of context for sports fans seeking insight on where the power lies as the football season enters its high stakes weeks.