Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: What’s Wright - Best Of - Jalen Hurts DISRESPECTED in QB Rankings, Nick ALL IN on Raiders to NFL Playoffs, Chiefs BIG CHANGES?
Date: August 23, 2025
Host: Nick Wright (A) with Damanze (D)

Brief Overview

This “Best Of” episode of “What’s Wright with Nick Wright” dives deep into the latest quarterback rankings controversy—specifically, Jalen Hurts being ranked just ninth—followed by Nick’s case for the Las Vegas Raiders as a playoff sleeper, and an in-depth look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ evolving offense and Patrick Mahomes’ push to revive their deep passing attack. The episode is packed with strong, data-driven opinions, story-rich anecdotes, and candid football analysis.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jalen Hurts: Disrespected in the QB Rankings (02:14–17:50)

• Summary: The episode opens with Nick reacting to the annual QB rankings, spotlighting the disrespect faced by Jalen Hurts, who lands only at ninth despite elite playoff performances.
  • Storytime: Nick shares an awkward but illuminating encounter with Jalen Hurts' mother before the Super Bowl, where she confronted him about criticism of Hurts as the “weak link” of the Eagles’ offense.
    • “She was like, why do you talk so bad about Jalen Hurts?” (04:31, Nick)
  • Nick explains that while he'd previously doubted Hurts’ ability as a passer in a top-heavy offense, Hurts’ big-stage performances during two deep playoff runs forced an honest rethink.
    • "His consistent ability to play his best in the biggest spots, which is the most valuable trait a quarterback can have, made me reevaluate." (06:53, Nick)
• Evolving Rankings: Nick advocates for analysts to update opinions as new evidence emerges and praises Colin Cowherd for exemplifying this.
  • “People far too often get tied and married to their prior opinions. Cowherd’s the best at not doing this…change my mind.” (07:02, Nick)
• Current Hierarchy: Nick’s contemporary QB rankings:
  • 1. Patrick Mahomes
  • 2. Josh Allen
  • 3. Lamar Jackson
  • 4. Joe Burrow or possibly Jalen Hurts
  • 5. Matthew Stafford
  • 6. Jalen Hurts (with reservations), followed by Jaden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, and others.
• Fairness in Evaluation: Nick maintains it’s fair to critique Hurts’ passing consistency, but that shouldn’t overshadow his clutch playoff moments.
  • "I don't think people at this point are fairly evaluating Jalen Hurts based on his ability to play his best in the biggest spots." (09:25, Nick)

2. Nick’s NFL Playoff Sleeper: The Case for the Raiders (22:04–28:39)

• Summary: Nick makes a passionate, numbers-based pitch for the Las Vegas Raiders as his favorite longshot playoff pick.
  • Key Factors:
    • New head coach Pete Carroll brings experience and competence.
    • Vast improvement at quarterback (now Geno Smith), addition of Brock Bowers and Ashton Gentry.
    • Favorable “last place” schedule.
  • Schedule Analysis: Nick runs through the Raiders’ schedule, arguing they have only three “monster games” (Chiefs, Eagles), five simple ones, and nine toss-ups—enough runway for a nine- or ten-win season.
    • “That team absolutely can get to nine or ten wins and sneak into the playoffs.” (27:34, Nick)
• Odds Watch: Recommends betting Raiders +330 to make the playoffs before odds shorten.
  • “The sixth longest odds of any team to make the playoffs…those odds are going to drop.” (24:50, Nick)

3. Detroit Lions: Can They Break Through? (28:39–34:33)

• Summary: Discussing hype around the Lions, Nick expresses caution despite their talent, focusing on structural and psychological hurdles:
  • Loss of both coordinators.
  • Deterioration of a previously elite offensive line, with key retirements and free-agent departures.
  • Tough early schedule with no “let-up” games.
  • Psychological toll of repeated playoff heartbreaks, especially after last year’s stinging loss as the number one seed.
  • Cites history: Of four teams in the last decade to lose their first home playoff game as a #1 seed, three missed the playoffs the next season.
  • “Could I see the Lions going from 15–2 and the one-seed to 10–7 and a wild card? Absolutely.” (33:44, Nick)
• Jared Goff Limitation: Nick and Damanze stress that Goff’s struggles against pressure and off-script play could cap Detroit’s postseason ceiling.

4. Chiefs BIG CHANGES? Mahomes and the Deep Passing Game (38:44–50:02)

• Summary: The hosts address Patrick Mahomes’ public desire to revive the deep-ball threat in Kansas City’s offense.
  • Mahomes’ Statement:
    “In order for our offense to be great, you have to be able to complete those [deep] passes…It opens up everything else.” (38:50, Mahomes clip)
  • Nick’s Chiefs Timeline:
    • Pre-2021: Known for prolific deep passing with Tyreek Hill.
    • Post-Hill: Offense shifts to more short-game, but remains productive.
    • 2023: Issues with injuries, OL struggles, and lack of consistent WR play reduce deep threats. Nonetheless, Mahomes elevates his game in the playoffs.
  • “It was a perfect storm of a boring offense for a 15-and-1 team.” (43:43, Nick)
• Looking Forward: Nick is optimistic—new OL investment, a healthy Hollywood Brown, and Rashid Rice’s return should reignite the big-play threat. Warns that ongoing struggles might signal a coordinator issue, but doubts Mahomes is declining.
  • Accountability Pie: (49:04–50:02)
    • Primary blame for last year’s deep-game woes: Offensive tackles.
    • Secondary: WR injuries.
    • Third: Mahomes’ own inconsistency early in the year.
    • Fourth: The pressure of pursuing a three-peat.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• About Evolving Takes:
  “People far too often get tied and married to their prior opinions. Cowherd’s the best at not doing this…change my mind.” (07:02, Nick)

• On Hurts’ Clutch Performance:
  "You can't point to a single game on those two deep playoff runs where Hurts wasn't good enough for them to win.” (09:10, Nick)

• Humorous Anecdote:
  “May I ask you a question?...Are you Jalen’s mother? And she said yes. And I was like, oh boy, we’re in a trickier spot than I had thought.” (05:37, Nick)

• On Mahomes’ Resilience:
  “He is just tactical with when he chooses to run…not as fast as Lamar, not as bruising as Josh, but tactical.” (16:48, Nick)

• On Shifting Quarterback Rankings:
  “What is the knock on Lamar? At this point, there’s only one left: he does not play his best in the postseason.” (11:22, Nick)

• Regarding Chiefs’ Offense:
  “If the offense is mediocre and boring again, then, yeah, I’d probably sound the alarm...Probably the coordinator.” (46:32, Nick)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:14 – Jalen Hurts in QB Rankings, "weak link" story
• 07:16 – Importance of updating sports opinions
• 09:30 – Hurts’ playoff performance and quarterback values
• 11:10 – Nick’s updated QB hierarchy
• 16:48 – How Mahomes compares as a rushing threat
• 22:04 – Raiders as Nick’s top sleeper playoff pick
• 27:42 – Raiders schedule breakdown and rationale
• 28:39 – Detroit Lions: strengths, concerns, and schedule analysis
• 38:44 – Mahomes wants to revive the Chiefs’ deep passing game
• 43:43 – Chiefs’ recent offensive shifts and playoff performance
• 49:04 – Accountability for Chiefs’ deep-passing struggles

Tone & Style

The podcast is brimming with Nick Wright's signature mix of well-reasoned analysis, light-hearted self-deprecation, and direct, sports-bar conversational tone. He oscillates seamlessly between deep football nerdery and pop culture allusions, making complex team and player evaluations both digestible and compelling.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode offers:

• Fresh context for this preseason’s hot debates
• Updated, nuanced quarterback pecking order
• A compelling case for the Raiders as an AFC sleeper
• Real talk about Detroit’s playoff obstacles
• Deep insight into Mahomes’ legacy and the Chiefs’ strategic shifts