The Herd with Colin Cowherd – What’s Wright: Best Of
Episode Date: November 1, 2025
Main Theme:
A deep-dive NFL discussion with Nick Wright, dissecting the Chiefs-Bills game, Mahomes vs. Allen, the Ravens/Lamar injury saga, Bears/QB struggles, and Nick’s top five NFL Week 9 bets.
Chiefs vs. Bills: Who Will We Learn More About?
[02:44 – 07:50]
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Buffalo vs. Kansas City: Major Regular Season Showdown
- Buffalo faces injuries (notably Ed Oliver out), while KC is missing their starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, but returns Trey Smith.
- Main questions:
- For Buffalo: Can the Bills defense slow down the league’s most prolific offense (the Chiefs)?
- For KC: Is the much-lauded Chiefs defense truly elite, or was it just that they played lesser QBs recently?
- It's more about each defense than Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen directly.
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The Josh Allen Hype – A Rethink Coming?
- Wright calls out familiar sports media voices who recently anointed Allen the best in the league.
- Notable quote:
"Any of a dozen people who in September or August definitively declared that the best quarterback in football is Josh Allen… I'd be a little nervous this week because... I think they're going to watch Patrick put on an absolute masterclass." – Nick Wright [06:23]
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Bills' Signature Win?
- Their only big win (vs. the Ravens) hasn't aged well, as Baltimore struggled early in the season.
Is Mahomes vs. Allen Really a Rivalry?
[07:50 – 11:15]
- A Different Kind of Rivalry
- Wright: It's a rivalry, but completely unlike Brady vs. Peyton Manning.
- Despite regular-season competitiveness, the postseason remains lopsided in KC’s favor—Allen hasn't vanquished Mahomes in big moments.
- Notable quote:
"People so badly want it to be Brady-Peyton, and it has just been nothing like Brady-Peyton. And it's maddening to me." – Nick Wright [09:38]
- More accurately compared to Jordan vs. Ewing or LeBron vs. Toronto than Bird-Magic or Peyton-Brady.
The MVP Conversation
[13:01 – 16:34]
- Does This Matchup Decide MVP?
- Both QBs have "good, not great" records right now.
- Josh Allen’s numbers: 20th in passing yards, tied for 14th in touchdowns, 9th in passer rating.
- His rushing has been an asset, but Wright says Allen has not played like an MVP post-week three.
- Notable quote:
"Since those three games, those opening three weeks, [Allen's] been mediocre." – Nick Wright [14:20]
- At this point, other candidates are more deserving: Drake Maye, Jonathan Taylor, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts.
The Stakes: Regular Season or Playoff Primer?
[17:39 – 19:45]
- High Importance but Unusual Setup
- For the first time, neither KC nor Buffalo leads its division entering this matchup.
- Both teams are fighting just to make the playoffs as division champs, not wild cards.
- KC is a rare road favorite in Buffalo—remarkable given prior narratives around both squads.
The Ravens, Lamar, and Injury Report Drama
[25:18 – 37:04]
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Did Baltimore Manipulate the Injury Report to Pressure Lamar?
- Wright speculates the Ravens' misleading injury reports are about pressuring Lamar Jackson to play, not gaining competitive advantage.
- Context: Lamar is self-represented, with no agent leaking his perspective to media.
- Pattern established:
- 2021: Lamar injured week 14, said to be day-to-day – missed five games.
- 2022: Similar story – missed more games than publicly implied.
- 2025: Again Harbaugh says "full practice," but Lamar doesn't play.
- Notable quote:
“I believe the Ravens lied on the injury report... as a way to pressure Lamar Jackson into play. And this demand follows a pattern.”
– Nick Wright [25:48] - There’s a clear disconnect between coach/medical staff and Lamar over readiness to return.
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Playoff Implications
- Despite drama, Baltimore is favored to win the division due to a soft remaining schedule.
- Quirk: It's possible the AFC’s best wild card (with a great record) will have to play at an 8-9 division winner.
- Notable scenario:
“The worst division winner, no matter the record, will host the best wild card. And the best wild card in the AFC this year is going to have a great record…” – Nick Wright [39:28]
Bears: Caleb Williams’ Struggles & Chicago's Commitment
[40:48 – 42:27]
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Bears’ Defensive Resurgence
- Baltimore’s defense finally steps up, exposing rookie QB Caleb Williams of Chicago.
- Williams’ error-prone, mediocre performance is a “huge disappointment.”
- Despite issues, the Bears remain just outside the playoff picture, but Williams must sharply improve.
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Is Chicago Committed to Caleb & Coach Ben Johnson?
- Both are intertwined: Johnson took the Bears coaching job to work with Williams.
- "He wants to make this work, but Caleb's got to play better. There's no sugarcoating that." – Nick Wright [42:31]
Nick’s 5 Best Bets – NFL Week 9
[47:07 – 52:27]
- Detroit -8.5 vs. Minnesota
- Lions' dominance over mediocre QBs highlighted.
- Pittsburgh +3 vs. Indianapolis
- Tomlin's terrific record as an underdog, especially after a loss.
- San Francisco -2.5 vs. New York Giants
- Giants' season is in freefall; Niners favored regardless of QB.
- Kansas City -1.5 at Buffalo
- “Chiefs are the best team in the league… I think the Chiefs win by at least a field goal.” – Nick Wright [50:52]
- Seattle -3 at Washington
- Seahawks underrated, with data backing up good east-coast performance.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Mahomes vs. Allen as a rivalry:
"It's far closer to Jordan-Ewing or LeBron-Toronto than it is Bird-Magic or Peyton-Brady." – Nick Wright [10:45]
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On the MVP race:
“At this moment, Drake Maye has… you could argue has been the MVP.” – Nick Wright [15:40]
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On the Ravens' approach to Lamar Jackson's injuries:
“There is a clear disconnect between coach, medical staff and player.” – Nick Wright [35:58]
Timestamps of Key Segments
- [02:44] – Chiefs vs. Bills preview begins
- [07:50] – Mahomes vs. Allen rivalry analysis
- [13:01] – MVP race discussion
- [17:39] – The road to the playoffs, bigger than just this game
- [25:18] – Ravens-Lamar Jackson injury report controversy
- [40:48] – Bears QB concerns
- [47:07] – Nick’s five NFL Week 9 bets
Summary Tone:
Insightful and opinionated, with Wright’s signature assertive analysis and willingness to challenge prevailing sports narratives.
For listeners who missed the episode:
The bulk of this week’s “Best Of” features Nick Wright’s strong takes on the Kansas City-Buffalo rivalry, skepticism over Josh Allen’s recent hype, a revealing perspective on Baltimore’s handling of Lamar Jackson, and a rigorous assessment of the NFL MVP field. Rounded out with actionable picks for Week 9, the episode is a punchy, candid assessment of mid-season NFL storylines.