The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3

Air date: September 22, 2025
Main Theme:
A cutting-edge, opinionated look at the biggest NFL stories, from devastating injuries (Nick Bosa’s torn ACL) and struggling contenders (Chiefs, Cowboys, 49ers), to trade speculation and the rapid evolution of teams like the Rams and Colts. Colin and Albert Breer (of Monday Morning Quarterback) analyze which teams must make moves, which are unraveling, and what’s real versus overreaction, all with trademark candor and layered football insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CD Lamb’s Injury and the Dallas Cowboys’ Challenges

[02:45–03:15]

• Colin opens by stressing how vital CeeDee Lamb is to Dallas’ offense:

  “It was pretty obvious yesterday. Dak wanted to throw the ball down the field... They need CeeDee Lamb to score.” ([02:50])

• Albert Breer provides an update:

  “I don't know that it's going to be the full four to six weeks you've seen out there... it looks very iffy, it being a high ankle sprain for this week against the Packers.” ([03:15])

• Analysis: The Cowboys face defensive issues, but missing Lamb saps their already inconsistent offense ahead of a pivotal matchup with a “ticked off” Packers squad.

2. Daniel Jones' Surprising Revival with the Indianapolis Colts

[03:49–05:56]

• Colin marvels at Daniel Jones’ resurgence:

  “It's amazing to watch Daniel Jones and Mac Jones resurrect their careers. But I think Daniel looks different… These are big throws... He's throwing the ball down the field.” ([03:49])

• Albert Breer explains internal optimism in Indy:

  “There was a real belief internally that the talent there was better than the rest of the NFL thought. And I think that's showing up.” ([05:35])

  • He notes that the Colts managed 8 wins last year despite being 29th in total defense and 30th in giveaways. With Lou Anarumo’s new aggressive defense and a young, improving O-line, “the difference is showing up.”

3. Should the Rams Make a Move? O-line and the Trade Deadline

[05:56–07:43]

• Colin sees L.A. as a deadline buyer:

  “The Rams look like a team to me that may make a move at the trade deadline. Am I crazy?” ([05:56])

• Albert weighs in:

  “I think there's definitely a possibility... Corner becomes a little more interesting.” ([06:24])

  • The Rams have focused spending elsewhere and haven’t used a top-100 pick at corner in over five years, believing “that position in today’s NFL is more of a speed bump than a stop sign.”
  • However, against elite receivers (e.g., A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith), this strategy showed its limitations.

4. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix & Sean Payton’s Offense

[08:08–09:30]

• Colin wonders about Bo Nix’s ceiling and Sean Payton’s possible frustration.
• Albert notes the shifted expectations:

  “These are different types of games than the Broncos were winning last year... The big picture question: Can they still build that way with Bo Nix, or do they have to do a little bit more to put weapons around him?” ([08:30])

  • The Broncos have moved from defense-driven wins to needing higher point totals, and Bo Nix is being asked to keep up in shootouts.

5. Chiefs’ Super Bowl Hopes & ‘Losing Their Fastball’

[09:30–12:16, 37:14–38:24]

• Colin compares the Chiefs to an “old baseball pitcher who’s lost about five miles an hour off his fastball.” ([09:30])

  • They lack a run game, their O-line is average, and missing Rice and Worthy has hurt.

• Albert on possible trade-deadline action:

  “Tyreek Hill, maybe if he becomes available. I think they do want to see what it looks like when they get their guys back... To me, that's the real litmus test.” ([10:06])

  • He likens the Chiefs to the 2010s Patriots, who figured out their identity midseason and peaked late.

• Inside the Locker Room:

  “At halftime yesterday... the coaches sat down with the players and said, 'We need to stop trying to do too much. Play by play.'”

  “We did see a calmer Patrick Mahomes, a more level offense the rest of the way.” ([11:48], [37:54])

  • Stat focus: Mahomes’ rushing attempts are down, signaling improvement, but overall, KC is “struggling.”

6. Nick Bosa’s Season-Ending Injury and 49ers' Outlook

[17:06–18:33, 25:35–28:39]

• Breaking News:

  “So this is awful. Nick Bosa, season ending, torn ACL.” (Colin, [17:06])
  “That’s awful.” (Albert, [17:16])

• Long-Term View:

  • 49ers are the fourth-oldest team in the league; repeated major injuries (to stars like Bosa, Kittle, McCaffrey) threaten their staying power.
  • Albert: “There’s belief they’ll get better over the year... but losing Nick Bosa is a massive, massive blow.” ([17:33])
  • Colin: “He’s the kind of guy, an offensive coordinator... spends the whole week saying we’ve got to block him.” ([26:49])

• Possible Response:

  “Do you call the Raiders and say, ‘We’ll give you a first for Maxx Crosby?’... Do you make a move at the deadline?” (Colin, [27:42])

  • They debate Bay Area options (Miles Garrett, Jeffrey Simmons, Maxx Crosby), but agree Bosa’s loss probably knocks the 49ers from the top NFC tier.

7. Chicago Bears: Growing into Harmony with Caleb Williams

[18:33–21:08, 39:59–40:35]

• Colin: “It looked like a real offense, a layered NFL offense.” ([19:20])

• Albert: “Each week it feels like Caleb is playing on time a little bit more... it shows a little bit more trust from the coaches to the players...” ([19:20])

• Matt Hasselbeck (guest):

  “This was easily Caleb Williams’ best game as a pro... it was an impressive, impressive win for Chicago and equally as embarrassing for Dallas.” ([39:59])

8. Packers, Browns, and NFL Parity

[21:08–22:45]

• Colin: “This isn’t college football... You’re just going to bake in an upset. That’s how I look at it.” ([21:08])
• Albert: “That’s a damn good Cleveland defense... Long seasons, these things can happen.” ([21:40])

9. USC’s Football Resurgence: Game Control through the Run Game

[28:43–31:49]

• Colin praises Lincoln Riley’s transfer portal work:

  “They are running the ball as well as they have run it since Bush and LenDale White... Now…they can power run it which they could not do [before].” ([29:06])

• USC can “milk the clock, eat the clock,” which was their undoing last year—a critical development for success in the Big Ten.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Chiefs:

“They remind me of a pitcher... that's lost about five miles an hour off his fastball.”
— Colin Cowherd ([09:30])

On 49ers’ Injury Woes:

“Has any organization suffered more injuries than San Fran? I don't even know how to explain it...”
— Colin Cowherd ([17:19])

On the Rams’ Personnel Philosophy:

“Their belief is that [corner] in today’s NFL is more of a speed bump than a stop sign.”
— Albert Breer ([07:43])

On Bears QB Caleb Williams:

“Each week it feels like Caleb is playing on time a little bit more...”
— Albert Breer ([19:20])

On Daniel Jones and the Colts:

“There was a real belief internally that the talent there was better than the rest of the NFL thought.”
— Albert Breer ([05:35])

On an Aging Niners Core:

“I love the organization, but I think they're an old team...17 game schedule and their best players, you know, Trent and Bosa and McCaffrey and Kittle…”
— Colin Cowherd ([26:19])

Important Segment Timestamps

• CD Lamb injury/Cowboys offense: [02:45]–[03:15]
• Daniel Jones Colts surprise: [03:49]–[05:56]
• Rams trade deadline/construction: [05:56]–[07:43]
• Broncos & Bo Nix: [08:08]–[09:30]
• Chiefs ‘lost their fastball’: [09:30]–[12:16], [37:14]–[38:24]
• Nick Bosa injury/49ers survival: [17:06]–[18:33], [25:35]–[28:39]
• Bears’ Offense w/ Caleb Williams: [18:33]–[21:08], [39:59]–[40:35]
• Packers, Browns, NFL volatility: [21:08]–[22:45]
• USC football/transfer portal: [28:43]–[31:49]

Tone and Style

• Colin Cowherd: Bold, candid, sometimes acerbic, always quick with a contextual comp (“old pitcher,” “speed bump not stop sign”) and vivid narrative.
• Albert Breer: Analytical, plugged-in, with inside info and a knack for translating leaguewide whispers into actionable takes.

Summary Takeaway

In this episode, Cowherd and Breer dissect the chaos swirling around the NFL’s biggest brands—injuries reshaping the 49ers, the Cowboys and Chiefs showing cracks, the Rams and Colts challenging perceptions, and a league where every week brings shocks and new storylines. The show is a must-listen for nuanced NFL fans, blending inside intel, lively speculation on trade moves, and sharp observations about team philosophy and football reality.