The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What’s Wright: Best Of"

Episode Date: September 28, 2025
Host: Nick Wright
Special Guest/Contributor: Damanse

Episode Overview

This "Best Of" episode brings together Nick Wright’s sharpest takes from the week, focusing on top NFL stories: the sudden end of Russell Wilson’s career and his Hall of Fame case (or lack thereof), major concerns about the Baltimore Ravens ahead of their clash with the Kansas City Chiefs, and in-depth analysis of pivotal AFC teams’ trajectories. The tone is direct, analytical, occasionally witty, and full of Nick’s signature candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russell Wilson: Is He a Hall of Famer? (02:23–08:28)

• Giants Move on from Wilson: New York Giants bench Russell for Jackson Dart; Nick gives the Giants "a bigger chance than I should" (02:36).
  • Wright questions the hype around Dart, calling him “a little bit of a frat bro,” but acknowledges the excitement in New York (03:14).
  • Notable off-field anecdote: Dart’s lucky necklace actually belongs to his sister.
• Wilson’s Sudden Decline:
  • "It is stunning how quickly this ended for him. It doesn’t feel stunning because it feels like he’s been bad for years now, which he has been." – Nick Wright (04:23)
  • Nick argues Wilson forced his Seattle exit, was awful in Denver, and quickly flamed out with the Giants.
  • Despite accolades (10 Pro Bowls), Nick says Wilson was rarely even a consensus top-5 QB, let alone top-3.
  • “He had nine good to excellent years, and that’s it. And for a quarterback, you need more.” (06:57)
  • The infamous Malcolm Butler interception changed Wilson’s legacy: “If Malcolm Butler doesn’t pick that ball off...he has the greatest start to a career in the history of the league. But Malcolm Butler did pick that ball off.” (07:33)
• Conclusions on Wilson’s Career:
  • “He was on a Hall of Fame trajectory...but I just don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer.” (07:53)
  • Nick doubts any team (even as a starter) will take a shot on Wilson after three teams gave up on him rapidly.

Memorable Quote

“He was on great teams that he was the caretaker of. And I just don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer. ... It’s a pretty crummy ending.”
— Nick Wright (08:11)

2. Ravens’ Concerns Heading Into Kansas City Matchup (14:40–32:00+)

• Baltimore's Losses and Defensive Struggles:
  • After another last-minute loss, Damanse asks: “Should I be worried about my Ravens with how everything's going at the moment?” (14:49)
  • Nick compares media panic over slow Chiefs starts to the more lenient treatment of Baltimore, highlighting that the Ravens haven’t “earned” the benefit of the doubt:

    “The benefit of doubt that they have earned is being to zero consecutive Super Bowls, zero in the last decade, one conference championship game appearance.” (16:20)

  • Highlights the Ravens' defense as the chief concern:

    “A Baltimore Ravens defense that ... has been downright awful.” (17:25)
    “The two 95+-yard drives of Detroit just running it down their throat to me was a flashing red light of concern.” (18:27)

• Lamar Jackson’s Performance and Demeanor:
  • Nick critiques Lamar for not throwing the ball away, hesitating to run, and taking 7 sacks: “His refusal to throw the ball away...those sacks were drive killers time and time again.” (21:25)
  • Body language: Nick and Damanse both comment on Lamar seeming “wound tight,” like in playoff games where “he is anxious about this spot.” (24:07–24:16)
  • Lamar’s NFC dominance highlighted, but this performance stood out as flat.
• State of the AFC:
  • Even with both at 1–2 or 1–3, Nick says it’s hard to find seven playoff teams excluding Chiefs and Ravens due to AFC parity.
  • “No matter who is 1–3...it will be hard to find seven AFC playoff teams without including both the Chiefs and the Ravens.” (27:05)
• Comparison to the Chiefs:
  • “One of the reasons I have this confidence about the Chiefs is...every single year they play their best ball in the postseason. ... The Ravens are the opposite.” (28:34)

Memorable Quote

“For a nearly a decade now, every single year [the Chiefs] play their best ball in the postseason...The Ravens are the opposite.”
— Nick Wright (28:34)

3. Chiefs vs. Ravens: Who Has More on the Line? (36:02–51:00)

• High Stakes for the Ravens:
  • Nick: “It is, to me, unquestionably Baltimore that has more on the line. ... Maybe by winning this game you won’t have to go through Kansas City in the playoffs. ... There is a massive psychological edge the Chiefs have over the Ravens.” (36:13)
  • Details Lamar’s 1–5 record against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs:

    “They have lost in Baltimore. They have lost in Kansas City. ... There is a massive psychological edge...” (37:10)

• Potential Effects of a Loss:
  • Ravens’ next games are winnable, but going 1–3 raises urgency.
  • Nick is less worried for the Chiefs, who historically rebound and “are a terrifying team once the postseason begins.” (40:39)
• Offensive vs Defensive Bias:
  • “Kansas City’s offense ... average, ... and that has caused massive concern. Baltimore’s defense ... they’re awful in everything.” (41:20)
• How the Game Might Unfold:
  • Nick expects a “slug fest in Kansas City where every yard is going to be ... hard to get” (47:48), not a high-flying 31–28 shootout.
  • He’s skeptical KC can exploit Baltimore’s bad run defense, but points to RB Pacheco as the X-factor for the Chiefs.
• X-Factors:
  • Travis Kelce is Nick’s pick for the Chief who needs to step up: “He’s had a rough start to the season. He has owned this matchup. ... This would be a good time for one [great game].” (48:50)
  • Return of Worthy should help Chiefs offense, but Nick is “holding my breath” on his health impact.

Memorable Quotes

“If the Ravens win, the Chiefs are not going to ... go into that [playoff] game thinking we can’t beat this team. But if the Chiefs win, how can Baltimore credibly think that the Chiefs don’t simply have their number?”
— Nick Wright (38:10)

“The side of the ball Kansas City is struggling on ... they’re average. The side Baltimore is struggling on, they’re horrible.”
— Nick Wright (41:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wilson’s Legacy:

  “He was on great teams that he was the caretaker of. And I just don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer. ... It’s a pretty crummy ending.” (08:11)

• On Ravens’ Defensive Issues:

  “A Baltimore Ravens defense that ultimately last year was not good enough, that up to this point this year has been downright awful.” (17:25)

• On Chiefs-Ravens Stakes:

  “There is a massive psychological edge the Chiefs have over the Ravens. ... If the Chiefs win, how can Baltimore credibly think that the Chiefs don’t simply have their number?” (38:10)

• On Offensive vs. Defensive Critique:

  “Kansas City’s offense ... average ... that has caused massive concern. Baltimore’s defense ... they’re awful in everything.” (41:20)

Important Timestamps

• 02:23 – Russell Wilson’s status in NY & transition to Jackson Dart
• 04:23 – Rapid decline and “crummy ending” to Wilson's career
• 08:23 – Debate: backup/starter jobs for Wilson
• 14:40 – Ravens’ collapse vs. Lions and concerns aired by Damanse
• 16:20 – Nick’s “benefit of the doubt” monologue about Baltimore
• 18:27 – Defensive breakdowns and Detroit’s run-game dominance
• 21:25 – Lamar Jackson’s weaknesses vs. Detroit
• 24:07 – Comments on Jackson’s body language and mindset
• 28:34 – Comparison between Chiefs’ and Ravens’ postseason trends
• 36:13 – Chiefs vs. Ravens: who faces more pressure?
• 41:20 – Nick’s offensive/defensive bias point
• 47:48 – Prediction of Chiefs-Ravens as a “slug fest,” not a shootout
• 48:50 – Travis Kelce highlighted as essential for Chiefs
• 51:00 – Friendly gambling/bet discussion for Chiefs-Ravens game

Overall Tone and Takeaways

• Nick Wright is critical, thorough, and not afraid to challenge popular narratives, particularly around legacy QBs like Wilson and perennial contenders like Baltimore. He’s more bullish on Chiefs’ postseason prospects due to their proven track record.
• Damanse provides the fan’s reaction, especially for the Ravens, prompting Nick to dive deeper into systemic team issues, psychology, and playoff implications.
• The episode spotlights the razor-thin line between good and great in the NFL, the importance of psychological edges between contenders, and why both Chiefs and Ravens are measured by a different standard — one earned, one assumed.

Perfect for listeners who want:

• A no-nonsense breakdown of why Russell Wilson isn’t quite Hall of Fame material.
• Nuanced analysis of the Ravens’ troubles on defense and what it means for their Super Bowl hopes.
• Pre-game framing of the pivotal Chiefs-Ravens matchup, with clear stakes for both teams and a look into the psychology of post-season NFL football.