The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2 (February 11, 2026)

Main Theme:

Colin Cowherd and co-hosts dive into a post-Super Bowl NFL landscape, unveiling an early 2026 top-10 teams ranking, examining NFL draft prospects, and engaging with Greg Cosell (NFL Films) for deep analysis of Super Bowl performances and evolving league trends.

Early 2026 NFL Top-10 Teams (00:00–09:55)

Colin’s Approach to Team Improvement (02:36):

• NFL franchises improve via three avenues:
  • Coaching/staff hires (most important, “worth about 70%”)
  • Free agency (~15%)
  • The draft (~15%)
• “Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel are proof the coaching is about 70%. … The coach making 18 million a year has a lot of say in even the draft and free agency.” (Colin Cowherd, 03:21)

Colin’s Early Top-10 Teams:

• 10. Kansas City Chiefs
  • Three picks in the top 75, needs at pass rush, offensive tackle, running back.
  • “If they get that Notre Dame running back in the first round ... absolute home run. I have them at 10.”
• 9. Buffalo Bills
  • Tough schedule, uncertain defensive stars, questions about coach Joe Brady’s upgrade over McDermott.
• 8. New England Patriots
  • O-line overhaul needed (Drake May sacked 68 times), toughest upcoming schedule, high on potential but not a conference favorite.
• 7. Detroit Lions
  • Impressed by OC hire, star players secured at key positions (pass rusher, tackle, weapon, QB).
• 6. Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Liam Cohen’s turnaround, first-year coach with historic win increase, expect continued growth.
• 5. Los Angeles Chargers
  • Upgraded OC, tackles returning, cap space to build around Justin Herbert, expect major offensive leap.
• 4. Chicago Bears
  • Overcame close losses, defensive draft focus, seen as a rising power.
• 3. Denver Broncos
  • Injuries derailed Super Bowl run, led league in sack differential, strong head coach, QB, and roster.
• 2. Los Angeles Rams
  • Outgained opponents in all five losses, top-graded O/D (PFF), survived the hardest schedule, only concern is Stafford’s age.
• 1. Seattle Seahawks
  • Praises Mike Macdonald, GM John Schneider's “drafting record,” young stars on rookie deals, defensively dynamic.
  • “Seattle just doesn't miss. … Their top two picks, … I mean stars the last four years in the draft.” (Colin Cowherd, 07:53)

Notable Absences & Reactions:

• Absence of Eagles, Joe Burrow (Bengals), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), and Texans called out by Nick Wright and J. Mac (09:07–09:35).
  • “So no Eagles anywhere to be found? No Joe Burrow? No Lamar Jackson?” (Nick Wright, 09:07)
• Discussion notes on why certain teams like the Ravens (cap constraints) and Texans (QB regression) are left out.

Greg Cosell: Deep Super Bowl & Player Analysis (09:56–23:44)

Sam Darnold's Super Bowl Performance (10:09–12:15)

• Cosell on Darnold’s Play:
  • “He played that game the way it was demanded to be played, given the way their defense played.” (Greg Cosell, 10:47)
  • Managed the game efficiently; missed a few throws that could have blown out the Pats had he connected.
  • Endorses the idea of 'game commander' instead of the outdated 'game manager'.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Tom Brady talks about this all the time. You play the game the way the game demands that you play it.” (Greg Cosell, 11:38)

Kenneth Walker’s Unique Style (12:15–13:51)

• Lauded for breaking tackles and his “calculated patience,” with Cosell comparing his patience to Le’Veon Bell.
• Walker’s edge runs and ability to manipulate defenders highlighted as keys to his effectiveness against a tough Pats defense.

Patriots’ Defensive Game Plan (13:51–14:46)

• Cosell credits New England’s defense for keeping Seattle at bay for much of the game, highlighting rookie safety Woodson.
• Points out “if Darnold hits two throws, this is a rout” but Pats hung tough.

On Drake May & Pats’ Offensive Struggles (15:09–16:46)

• Seattle came out blitzing, then shifted to clever alignment and front manipulation (using five/six-man fronts to dictate protection).
• May “started playing fast” mentally and physically, leading to mistakes.

Seattle’s Defensive “Secret Sauce” (17:27–18:35)

• Ability to stop the run with a two-high safety look thanks to dominant tackles Leonard Williams, Murphy, Reed.
• “They’re able to stop the run without having to allocate a safety ... they can keep them in a too deep shell.” (Greg Cosell, 17:27)

New England Offense: Line and Personnel Issues (19:04–20:03)

• Seattle induced one-on-one protection, exposing the Patriots’ inferior O-line, especially at left tackle.
• Football is often “matchup football”—Seattle just had superior athletes up front.

Great Defensive Coaching (21:16–23:44)

• Mike Macdonald’s design dissected:
  • Example: on 3rd & 15, clever front alignment and unaccounted blitzing (Witherspoon) cause havoc.
  • Emphasizes that this early pressure “got Drake May just playing fast throughout the game.”
• “This is just beautiful design … when you’re a quarterback, you feel this, you see it … everything just happens too fast.” (Greg Cosell, 22:04)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Coaching value in NFL Success:
  “It’s mostly the coach.” (Colin Cowherd, 03:07)

• Sam Darnold’s Maturation:
  “He played efficient football ... not about putting up big stats, he played that game the right way.” (Greg Cosell, 11:43)

• On Blitz Manipulation:
  “They did such a good job of that ... lined up with a lot of five-man fronts, six-man fronts that dictates how you have to pass protect.” (Greg Cosell, 15:42)

• Walker Compared to Le'Veon Bell:
  “There were times watching the tape where I thought of Le’Veon Bell with how patient he was.” (Greg Cosell, 13:33)

• On Defensive Coaches' Complexity:
  “Eye candy … for someone like myself watching tape, this is just unbelievably good.” (Greg Cosell on Mike Macdonald, 21:21)

Discussion of Coaching Hires, OC Openings, and the Chargers (32:01–50:26)

• Seattle OC Vacancy:
  • Concerns over promoting from within (Andrew Ginoco or Jake Peets) after Clint Kubiak departure.
  • “With very few exceptions, I don’t like promoting from within. ... When you lose a legend, go broad with your search.” (Colin Cowherd, 33:06)
• Kansas City Chiefs Outlook:
  • Chiefs have weak O-line, secondary, lack cap room. Must “nail these picks” in the draft to retain contention (35:58).
  • “There’s just no room for error … there’s nowhere you can start the Chiefs other than third place in the division right now.” (Nick Wright, 36:00)
• Chargers Ascending:
  • Optimism with OC hire and cap space: “They will feel to me in September we’ll all be saying, ‘Oh, that’s a Super Bowl team.’” (Colin Cowherd, 50:23)

NBA Quick Hits – Jason Tatum/ Celtics (37:24–41:55)

• Caution over Jason Tatum’s Achilles return: pace of the modern NBA raises risk of re-injury.
  • “Boston’s very well run. They have a solid roster. They’ve got six more years with this group. There is no rush.” (Colin Cowherd, 39:38)

Fun: Darnold Works Studios – Coaching Carousel Movie Parodies (46:04–50:14)

• Colin introduces “Darnold Works Studios,” poking fun at NFL coaching changes via movie parody pitches:
  • “Once Upon a Time in Solid Wood” (defense gets top billing)
  • “Being John Harbaugh-vich” (inside a championship coach’s mind)
  • “Halfley Baked” (Miami’s new regime)
  • “Steeler Magnolia” (AFC North relationships)
  • “Monken Impossible” (fixing QBs in the AFC North)
  • “Smart and Smarter” (Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel collaboration)

Key Timestamps

• Colin’s Top-10 Teams: 02:36–09:55
• Cosell on Darnold and the Super Bowl: 10:09–12:15
• Kenneth Walker Analysis: 12:15–13:51
• Patriots Defense & Super Bowl Breakdown: 13:51–14:46
• Seattle’s Gameplan vs. Drake May: 15:35–16:46
• Secret Sauce: Seattle Run Defense: 17:27–18:35
• Mike Macdonald’s Defensive Masterclass: 21:16–23:44
• Seattle OC Discussion: 32:01–33:11
• Chiefs' Roster/Draft Needs: 35:01–36:45
• Chargers Optimism: 50:26

Overall Tone

The episode is a dynamic blend of analysis and banter, with Colin setting the table for big-picture NFL debates, analytical deep-dives with Greg Cosell, and playful segments lampooning the NFL’s annual coaching shuffle. The panel is sharp, opinionated, and unafraid to challenge each other’s takes.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking the analysis, top team insights, and key takeaways from The Herd – Hour 2, Feb. 11, 2026.