Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2 (December 5, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd dives into Colin Cowherd's latest Blazing 5 NFL picks, discusses why offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is exactly what the Chicago Bears need, and features a detailed conversation with former Bears and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt. The hosts also break down the fallout from recent NFL games, dig into problems and solutions for teams like Dallas and Kansas City, and wrap up with lively debates about college football playoff scenarios.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Colin Cowherd’s Blazing 5 NFL Picks

[04:16–09:36]

• Theme: An unusually underdog-heavy week, reflecting unpredictable late-season dynamics and winter weather.
• Cowherd recounts his season performance: “At one point I was up to 62%. Last couple of weeks I've been one under .500. So at 58%, which I would keep, I would sign off on today if I could get 58 and a half percent. This is the strangest blazing five ever.” (04:16)
• Picks:
  • Bengals +6 vs. Bills
    • Cites Burrow’s streak and Buffalo's persistent turnovers. “The Bills have not been good. McDermott's one for four against the Bengals. Multiple giveaways in four straight games.” (04:48)
    • Prediction: Bengals win outright, 30–28.
  • Jaguars +1.5 vs. Colts
    • Historical dominance and rushing advantage at home.
    • “They’ve won 10 straight games against the Colts in Jayville.” (06:07)
  • Jets +2.5 vs. Dolphins
    • Leans into Jets defense and Tua’s cold-weather performance: “No touchdowns for Tua in three of his last four games, leaves the NFL with 14 interceptions. Tua. Something’s off. It’s getting cold.” (07:06)
    • Jets to win and cover.
  • Texans +3.5 vs. Chiefs
    • Houston’s D-line vs. KC’s banged up O-line: “Five of their six road games this season have been one score games... three of five [KC] O-line injured.” (07:49)
    • “I don’t know who wins, but I’m taking the points and the hook.” (08:36)
  • Eagles -2.5 vs. Chargers
    • Eagles as sole favorite pick. “Jalen Hurts for some reason is often a better road quarterback... I think the best O-line and unquestionably the worst O-line.” (08:43)
    • Eagles to win 24–20.
• Cowherd comments on betting against his preferences: “I don't like to bet games like the Jags, Colts, which I find hard to watch. But I'm taking the underdog Bengals. I get the Jaguars. I'm taking the Jets.” (09:36)

2. NFL Headlines: Cowboys, Standalone Games, and George Pickens

[10:12–14:00]

• Cowherd notes the tendency to overreact after prime-time games: “Everybody tends to overreact... Standalone games get a lot of discussion. Beating the Chiefs...did not mean the Cowboys were a Super Bowl threat.” (10:15)
• On the Cowboys’ defeat and George Pickens’ effort:
  • “They also held Detroit under their average running. I honestly think Dallas going forward, maybe not this year, has got a lot of things working in their favor.” (10:54)
  • On Pickens: “That’s the Pickens in Pittsburgh. That’s why they moved off him... whenever there’s a great player traded...you can see why.” (11:13)
  • Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer comments on Pickens’ performance/attitude, concerns about “effort” (11:57–12:33)
• Dallas draft priorities: right tackle and edge rusher.
• “I thought you saw a shootout. And I think the better overall roster today is Detroit.” (13:24)

3. Coaching & Team Philosophy: Ben Johnson and the Bears

[18:06–20:52]

• Dave Wannstedt praises Bears OC Ben Johnson’s play calling: “Ben is mirroring the run with a pass and motion and shifting. The guy’s doing a phenomenal job... And let’s give this offensive line some credit.” (18:39)
• On the Bears’ O-line: “Four of the five starters on the Bears offensive line are new starters from a year ago... These guys have just gotten better every week.”
• Colin wonders about the reason for the Packers' historic edge: “I had six starting different quarterbacks. Six. Good luck... the consistency at quarterback has been the difference.” (20:02)

4. League Trends: Coaching Longevity and the Offensive Pivot

[20:52–23:24]

• Cowherd: “You can be a really good coach, but the league has pivoted offense. I mean...it’s overwhelmingly offensive coaches.” (20:52)
• Wannstedt shares Al Davis’ insight: “Ten years would be the maximum that [he] felt a coach could be in one position...before it gets old.” (21:38)
  • Notes Tomlin’s deep ties in Pittsburgh but questions how long he’ll tolerate current pressures.
• Discussion of the Steelers’ future: “Where are they going next year? You tell me where they going to be picking. They’re going to be in the middle of the pack and they’re right back to the quarterback scenario.”

5. Roster Management, Player Attitude & Free Agency Risks

[23:24–26:36]

• On George Pickens:
  • Cowherd references Jerry Jones’ willingness to move on from talented but unfocused players. “Jerry has shown if you’re not committed or focused, DEZ Bryant, he’ll move off you. Zeke, he got tired of him. Micah, the podcast, the celebrity. Dak is always football first.” (23:49)
• Wannstedt cautions on acquiring talent other teams give up: “There’s a lesson to be learned here. Those guys are out there for a reason...Mike Tomlin, if he’s going to be as patient with a player as anybody...free agency can be a little bit of a used car lot.” (24:33, 25:11)
• Importance of players rising above the season’s ups and downs and the pitfalls of chasing talent over temperament.

6. NFL & College Football Quick Hits

[26:36–35:27]

• Eagles at Chargers:
  • Both hosts note Jalen Hurts’s superior road record and Saquon Barkley's strange decline: “Saquon Barkley looked like next to Barry Sanders...the best running back I’d ever seen. And this year, nothing. Did he just lose his fastball?” (27:02)
• Penn State’s reported hire of Matt Campbell; lauded as a “good hire” for the school. (33:31)
• Nostalgia: Wannstedt recounts his last Bears playoff win, how they beat Warren Moon’s Vikings with “field goals rather than touchdowns in the red zone.” (34:37)

7. College Football Playoff Debate: Miami vs. Notre Dame

[31:26–33:31, 39:29–41:25]

• Cowherd and Wannstedt argue that Miami deserves a playoff spot over Notre Dame with better defense, more NFL talent, and a head-to-head win. “Miami’s got great receivers. What Notre Dame has is a terrific coach, so does Miami. And I love the running back.” (32:31)
• J. Mac joins later, pushing back, “Notre Dame team. Marcus Freeman could take them to the national championship this year...you can’t score on this team.” (40:54)
• Colin: “I don’t care about prospect. I care about today...I mean, it can’t be about the spread.” (40:34)

8. NFL News Roundup: Injuries, Quarterbacks, and Chiefs Troubles

[41:31–49:47]

• Chargers weighing risk of playing Justin Herbert injured with big KC matchup looming.
  • J. Mac: “The season’s over if Herbert goes down and can’t play for the next couple games. So that’s why I would sit him.” (42:43)
• Minnesota’s QB struggles affecting star WR Justin Jefferson; discussion of possible future QB fits (Kyler Murray, Mac Jones): “I think Mac Jones is the play. I really do.” (45:06)
• Chiefs’ struggles in close games, aging stars, and O-line woes:
  • Cowherd: “They have got to attack it in the off season. It feels like the last three years, once they moved off Joe Tuney...look what it’s done to their interior O line.” (48:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colin on Blazing 5 unpredictability: “I'm taking games I don't want to watch necessarily. And I'm also taking underdogs. I've been heavy favorites this year because the market called for it.” (04:22)
• Wannstedt on player risk: “Free agency can be a little bit of a used car lot. The owner knows what the Odometer is you got to buy on.” (25:32)
• Colin on Dallas’ future: “I honestly think Dallas going forward, maybe not this year has got a lot of things working in their favor.” (10:54)
• On standalone games: “Standalone games, they just get talked about differently and with more vigor and enthusiasm and excitement.” (13:03)
• On Chiefs’ dynasty: “If you look at the history of dynasties, the windows close pretty quick.” (47:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Blazing 5 Picks: 04:16–09:36
• Cowboys, Standalone Games, Pickens: 10:12–14:00
• Ben Johnson & Bears: 18:06–20:52
• Coaching Longevity, Tomlin: 20:52–23:24
• Player Attitude & Free Agency: 23:24–26:36
• Eagles, Chargers, Barkley: 26:36–28:48
• College Football Playoff Debate: 31:26–33:31; 39:29–41:25
• NFL Quarterback Carousel & Chiefs’ Issues: 41:31–49:47

Flow & Tone

• The episode carries Cowherd’s signature blend of data-backed opinion, storytelling, and lighthearted banter with guests and co-hosts.
• Wannstedt’s segments offer grounded, old-school coaching perspective, while J. Mac brings lively, occasionally contrarian energy—typical of a Friday “Blazing 5” show.
• College football debates are especially spirited, with both sides citing stats, eye tests, and “who would you pick today?” scenarios.

This summary covers the essential discussions, arguments, and memorable moments of The Herd’s second hour, delivering a comprehensive snapshot for anyone who missed the original broadcast.