Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD – Hour 2, December 11, 2025
Main Theme:
A deep dive into the current state of top NFL contenders, with focus on team talent, quarterback situations, and organizational dynamics. Greg Cosell (NFL Films) joins Colin Cowherd to provide film-driven analysis, with particular scrutiny on the Eagles’ championship outlook, the Bills’ supporting cast around Josh Allen, Joe Burrow’s mental state in Cincinnati, and trending NFL teams and players.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eagles’ Locker Room Vibe and Championship Prospects

• Positivity Rabbit Controversy: The segment opens playfully, with Colin mocking the Eagles’ attempt to boost locker-room morale using an “Easter bunny” ("positivity rabbit")—weeks before Christmas.

  • Colin: "Nick Sirianni, Mr. He totally gets the vibe of the locker room, with a big swing and a miss on the old positivity rabbit... this whole thing feels cringy and a reach." (04:15)
  • Saquon Barkley's reaction to the rabbit is described as uncomfortable and telling about the locker room mood.

• Undercurrent: Colin shifts to questioning whether the Eagles look like a genuine champion at this point in the season, using the locker room episode as a small window into larger team culture questions.

2. Are the Buffalo Bills Talented Enough to Win?

• Colin questions the Bills' roster: "Buffalo feels like that defense is not good enough. They don’t have a downfield consistent receiver. Is it time for a reality check?" (05:38)

• Greg Cosell’s Analysis:

  • Lack of Impact Players: "They are not one of the more talented teams in the league. You’d be hard-pressed to name an impact player... on the defensive side of the ball. They certainly don't have a receiving core." (06:23)
  • On Receiver Depth: "If we look at Shakir and say he’s their best receiver, he’s clearly a number three type."
  • Offensive Strain: "They have to scheme up everything on offense and then hope that Josh Allen... makes Josh Allen plays. It’s very hard to live in that world every single week." (06:58)

• Colin’s Synthesis: The Bills have become too dependent on Allen’s improvisation, lacking enough blue-chip talent to consistently threaten top teams.

3. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar’s Inconsistencies and Scheme Observations

• Colin on Ravens: "Roster is good. I like their coach. Lamar doesn’t feel 100%." (07:34)
• Greg on Lamar's struggles:
  • "He’s missing throws that he normally makes. I don’t know if there’s a physical reason... but he just... to me, his movement now... I don't get that same feeling that positive things are going to happen." (07:59)
  • Questions about Lamar’s comfort and confidence, with Greg hesitant to speculate but pointing to clear regression in execution.

4. Quarterback Trends and Emerging Talent

Green Bay Packers & Jordan Love

• Old School Foundation, New School Growth
  • Greg: "They clearly want to run the football... so the run game is sustaining more than explosive." (09:36)
  • Passing Trends: "One thing that stands out: Love is more controlled in the throws that he makes now... there was a reckless nature to him at times before, but now he's much more calculated... allowing the offense to work." (10:03)
  • Takeaway: Packers’ offense appears streaky but is developing into something elite, with Love maturing as a decision-maker.

Bears & Caleb Williams’ Accuracy Issues

• Greg: "He misses too many... layups. And those are throws you have to make... He’s obviously got a ridiculous arm... then just miss with really scattershot throws." (11:00)
  • Silver lining: Not getting sacked as much is a sign of progress ("That improvement is big because sacks just take you out of drives." (11:50))

Shadour Sanders Weekly Update

• Comparative readiness and upside:
  • Colin: "Dylan Gabriel got the start because he had so many college starts… but Shadour’s talent is better." (12:11)
  • Greg: "He was poised, calm... He made really good throws... had a sense of where to go with the football." (12:29)

5. Rams’ Offensive Resurgence

• Major mid-season schematic change:
  • Greg: "Starting Week 7… they started playing with three tight ends as a true foundation. McVay obviously saw something... and made a change you don’t see that dramatic." (13:57)
  • Impact: Puka Nacua now drawing targets from unique personnel packages, enhancing both run and pass effectiveness.

6. Kansas City Chiefs: Mahomes or Bust?

• Colin: "If I say name their 10 best players today... then ask you to name Seahawks, Rams, Packers, Lions, Eagles... I think they need more of a rebuild than people think." (15:16)
• Greg:
  • "At times I feel as if their whole offense has become Mahomes making outside-of-structure plays. They don’t have a consistent run game... or a true pocket pass game." (16:08)
  • Lack of vertical threat: "There's no vertical element with Xavier Worthy in their offense and that's very surprising to me." (17:18)

7. Houston Texans & Defensive Innovation

• Colin on Houston: "Are they clever with schemes as well as just talent?" (18:04)
• Greg:
  • "Demeco Ryans is really good at selective pressure... they're really good at all three levels."
  • "Their interior D-linemen... are very, very good and pose problems..."
  • High praise: "Kalen Bullock this year has been the best post Safety in the NFL." (19:21)

8. Seahawks’ (Colts) Defensive and Offensive Identity

• Defense: Emerging as one of the best at "big nickel" (three safeties) as a base.
• Offense: Play action and under-center concepts are fueling chunk plays; Darnold doesn’t have to be reckless. (19:43-23:02)

9. Joe Burrow's Frustration in Cincinnati

• Colin’s Theory: Burrow may be “tired” of Cincy, like Palmer before him: tiny front office, cheap owner, perpetually bad offensive lines.

• Notable quote:

  • “When you're eight and one in your last nine starts and you’re not having fun…” (31:35)
  • "Some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright... Ohtani with the Angels, Saquon with the Giants, LeBron in Cleveland, Shaq in Orlando, maybe KG in Minnesota, Carson Palmer and Joe Burrow." (31:54)
  • “He’s sitting, watching all these guys, and he can’t make the playoffs. Cheapest owner, tiny front office, never aggressive, making trades. I do not blame Joe Burrow or any employee. If you feel trapped, you’re watching less talented rivals... because they have better bosses and better management." (34:09)

• Discussion (33:22–35:40):

  • Should Burrow force a trade? Is his candid frustration a plea for change or a sign he wants out?
  • Guest/Co-host: "This is clearly a plea to ownership. Freaking do something, guys!" (35:39)

10. Lions, Rams, and NFC Playoff Picture

• Jameer Gibbs highlighted as the most explosive running back this season (1500+ yards, 16 TDs).
  • Colin: "Every single time he touches it, you’re like, oh my gosh, he might score. He is a special, special player." (40:16)
• Rams’ Defense and Offense: O-line depth praised, possibility of using high draft capital for a new corner or potentially a quarterback if Stafford retires.
  • Draft Supply/Demand implications: "The current draft order... Rams would like, in their first three picks, to get a quarterback somewhere." (42:09)

11. Rapid Fire: Other Notable Segments & Quotes

• Justin Herbert’s Hand Injury: "Everything was clean [on the X-rays]." -- Herbert (36:36)
• Denver Broncos as Underdogs: "We’ve got four tough opponents... three of the four of them are at home. We’re counting on our crowd this week." -- Sean Payton (38:19)
• Bo Nix vs. Dallas Defense: Discussion on whether Nix can create “off-schedule” plays like Caleb Williams. (39:29)
• College Coaching Carousel—Michigan’s Search:
  • "Michigan football is a global search job." (52:49)
  • "The bigger the legend you replace, the wider the search has to be." (52:59)
  • "Kalyn DeBoer to Alabama to me was a great hire, but an interesting fit. He’s a Midwest guy. I would strongly consider leaving Alabama for Michigan." (54:12)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “They’re a hard team. They have to scheme up everything on offense and then hope that Josh Allen... makes Josh Allen plays. And it’s very hard to live in that world every single week.” — Greg Cosell on the Bills (06:58)
• “He’s missing throws he normally makes... His movement now, to me... I don’t get that same feeling that positive things are going to happen.” — Greg Cosell on Lamar Jackson (07:59)
• “There was a reckless nature to [Jordan Love] at times before, but now he’s much more calculated in dumping the ball down, taking a check down.” — Greg Cosell (10:03)
• “Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.” — Colin Cowherd on Joe Burrow (31:54)
• “This is clearly a plea to ownership. Freaking do something, guys! Since the Super Bowl, have they done anything, Colin, like, roster-wise to get better?” — Guest/Co-host (35:39)
• “I think the Lions defense, without Branch, I think they’re going to struggle and make stops. I really do.” — Colin Cowherd (40:34)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• Eagles positivity rabbit discussion: 03:42–05:11
• Bills talent & Josh Allen dependency: 05:11–07:34
• Ravens’ offense and Lamar’s comfort: 07:34–09:07
• Jordan Love/Packers film breakdown: 09:07–10:47
• Bears/Caleb Williams accuracy: 10:47–12:11
• Shadour Sanders QB Watch: 12:11–13:23
• Rams offensive evolution: 13:23–15:16
• Chiefs offensive limitations/Mahomes: 15:16–17:24
• Texans defense and scheming: 17:24–19:21
• Seahawks offense/defense breakdown: 19:21–23:02
• Joe Burrow’s dissatisfaction with Bengals: 30:54–35:40
• Lions, Rams, NFC contenders analysis: 39:50–42:04
• College coaching landscape, Michigan search: 52:21–55:45

Memorable Moments and Takeaways

• Greg Cosell’s bluntness on team talent: Clear that not all “contenders” have the personnel needed, especially Buffalo and Kansas City.
• Colin’s "Birds Aren’t Meant to Be Caged" monologue: Insightful and evocative analogy for athletic talent outgrowing small-market or poorly managed franchises.
• Discussion of evolving NFL offensive trends: Several segments highlight the adaptability of teams like the Rams and Seahawks, with detailed breakdowns by Cosell.
• College Football Insight: Nuanced take on Michigan’s coaching vacancy, drawing parallels to how organizations can escape stagnation—or fail—based on their willingness to broaden their vision.

Tone and Language

• Colin Cowherd: Irreverent, witty, sometimes sarcastic, always probing for larger organizational themes.
• Greg Cosell: Measured, deeply informed, unbiased, film-driven in all takes.
• Overall: A mix of humor, sharp analysis, and candid, sometimes poignant, reflection on sports culture, management, and athlete trajectories.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This hour provides a candid, film-driven look at why certain teams are trending up or down (and not just because of their quarterbacks), why organization and management matters as much as roster talent, and why certain NFL and college football players may soon reach their breaking point with their current situations. Great listening for fans who value honest, unsentimental football talk, and who want to understand the deeper structural forces shaping today’s NFL.