The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3

Guest: Greg Olsen, Fox Sports NFL Analyst
Date: November 11, 2025
Episode Theme:
Colin Cowherd and Greg Olsen break down key NFL storylines, including the recent Bears–Giants matchup, quarterback performances across the league, strategic trends such as fourth down decision-making, the youth movement in Seattle, and potential coaching changes. The episode is rich in tactical insights, honest assessments of player maturation, and open speculation about the future of several franchises.

Main Topics & Insights

1. Bears–Giants Recap & Brian Dable’s Departure

Key Points

• Colin initiates discussion on the Giants’ firing of Brian Dable after repeated late-game collapses, notably the conservative field goal decision versus Chicago.
• Greg Olsen attributes Dable’s exit to broad “overall management of games,” not his skills as a quarterback developer or playcaller.
  • "Our game management, our processes towards the end are just obviously not where they need to be." (Greg Olsen, [05:10])
• Olsen is critical of the field goal call in goal-to-go situations: “I would never kick a field goal goal-to-go unless it was to literally win the game.”
• Both hosts agree kicking field goals instead of going for it represents an outdated mindset, and they link that strategic conservatism to the Giants’ recent struggles.

Notable Quote:

“I really just think it was the totality of the entire situation over the last couple years—they felt that there was more wins that should've happened.”
— Greg Olsen [06:45]

2. Quarterback Developments: Caleb Williams, JJ McCarthy, and Jordan Love

Caleb Williams

• Colin and Greg praise Caleb’s late-game heroics; Greg calls his recent game “by far the best Caleb Williams performance in his young career.”
• Discussion acknowledges Caleb’s off-script brilliance but warns against relying exclusively on improvisation:

  "His ability to drive the ball accurately in scramble drill downfield...it had no impact on his ability to drive the ball, be on time."
  — Greg Olsen [07:32]

• Greg highlights Ben Johnson's role in fostering better on-time rhythm to complement Williams' creativity.

JJ McCarthy

• Framed as “good on script, bad off it,” illustrating the scarcity of QBs who can transcend play design.

Jordan Love & Run Game Value

• Colin notes both Philadelphia and Green Bay struggle when their rushing attacks falter, implying neither QB (Love or Hurts) can yet transcend a poor ground game.
• Olsen dives deeply on run game vs pass game value, advocating for aggressive early-down passing:

  “The more I fear your passing game, the more favorable situations...my passing game leads to my run game getting better.”
  — Greg Olsen [12:20]

3. Seahawks–Rams Preview: Youth vs Experience

Seattle’s Young Core

• Greg lauds Seattle’s young roster, framing their “ignorance is bliss” attitude as a major strength:

  “There is a kind of ignorance-is-bliss to youth...they almost don’t even realize how hard what they're doing is.”
  — Greg Olsen [15:00]

• Applauds head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak for bold schematic changes, particularly moving toward play-action and under-center concepts.
• Declares Seahawks–Rams “the best matchup of the year,” arguing both teams are among the league’s top three.

4. The Career and Value of Matthew Stafford

• Colin reflects on how Stafford was overlooked during his Detroit years due to team failures.
• Olsen explains the QB “credit/blame trap”:

  "We assume quarterbacks on bad teams are bad and assume quarterbacks on good teams are good..."
  — Greg Olsen [23:09]

• Credits Stafford’s journey—chaos and losing in Detroit prepared him for quickly finding success in LA.
• Greg argues Stafford is currently “probably the MVP of the league...and pretty remarkable journey for a guy whose talent, leadership—every teammate and coach loves him.” ([24:43])

5. Ravens, Bengals, and AFC North Storylines (with Nick Wright)

Baltimore Ravens

• Colin and Nick acknowledge Baltimore’s positive momentum but flag the offense’s inconsistency and limited explosiveness.

  “Not a lot of great rosters in the league. When [Baltimore’s] healthy, this is one of them.”
  — Colin Cowherd [27:15]

• They consider the impact of the Steelers loss and looming games against strong defenses.

Joe Burrow’s Return

• Discussion around Joe Burrow’s return window from IR; skepticism regarding Cincinnati’s playoff chances due to scheduling and defensive concerns.

6. NBA Ratings Boom & Viewer Habits

• Nick Wright highlights a reported 92% jump in NBA national TV viewership.
• Colin opines this is due to platform expansion (more games on NBC/network TV, not just cable), not strictly increased interest in individual teams or players.

  "If anything goes up 92%, it's a platform issue. It's when are the broadcasts on air. It's not player related."
  — Colin Cowherd [33:12]

7. Coaching Carousel: Dable, McDermott, and the Giant’s Future

• Colin and Greg discuss whether Buffalo’s Sean McDermott has entered “Chuck Knox/Marty Schottenheimer territory”—a stabilizer who can’t win the big one.
• Olsen floats the scenario:

  "Who loves Brian Dable? Josh Allen, who some people feel like, you know, misses Brian Dable."
  — Greg Olsen [41:13]

• Debate over whether Dable might resurface in Buffalo or if the Giants job is truly elite, given division and personnel questions.
• Colin: “A job is as great as your quarterback and coach.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (by Timestamp)

• On Dable’s Firing and Game Management:
  “I think if their management was better, they’d have maybe four more wins. At least two or three.”
  — Greg Olsen [06:44]

• On Fourth Down Strategy:
  “I would never kick a field goal goal-to-go unless it was to literally win the game.”
  — Greg Olsen [06:06]

• On Seattle’s Youngsters:
  “They almost don’t even realize how hard what they're doing is. All they know is success, all they know is winning.”
  — Greg Olsen [15:00]

• On Stafford’s Career Arc:
  “We assume quarterbacks on bad teams are bad...But this dude can flat out play.”
  — Greg Olsen [23:09]

• On Platform vs. Player Driving NBA Ratings:
  “If anything goes up 92%, it’s a platform issue…It’s not player related.”
  — Colin Cowherd [33:12]

Key Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-------------------------------------------|:-----------:| | Bears–Giants, Field Goals & Dable | 03:50–07:11 | | Caleb Williams, JJ McCarthy | 07:11–09:33 | | Jordan Love, Run Game & Offense Metrics | 09:33–13:50 | | Seahawks–Rams/Seattle’s Youth | 13:50–17:20 | | Stafford’s Career, QB Value | 22:30–25:49 | | Ravens/Bengals/NBA Ratings (Nick Wright) | 25:59–34:31 | | Coaching Rumors – Dable, McDermott, Giants| 39:43–45:47 |

Tone and Style

• Analytical, candid, and occasionally playful; Colin presses for big-picture narratives, while Greg Olsen supplies detailed X’s-and-O’s analysis and player perspective.

Summary Takeaway:
This episode spotlights changing NFL strategic norms—moving away from conservative field goals, evolving quarterback play, and the impact of youth on team success—while exploring team-building philosophies and the unpredictable future of high-profile coaches and franchises. Greg Olsen’s insight pairs with Cowherd’s narrative skill to provide deep, digestible football commentary for fans at any level.