The Herd with Colin Cowherd: What's Wright – Best Of – August 31, 2025

Episode: Shedeur Sanders BLEW IT, NFL Playoff Predictions, Bengals will MISS PLAYOFFS & FIRE COACH

Overview

This special "Best Of" episode of "What's Wright with Nick Wright" highlights the hottest sports takes of the week with a particular focus on recent NFL preseason drama and bold season predictions. The main themes include a deep dive into Shedeur Sanders' disappointing preseason, media-driven sports conspiracies, and Nick's confident forecasts for the AFC North and the broader NFL playoff landscape. The tone is frank, occasionally humorous, and laden with Nick Wright's trademark mix of skepticism, logic, and sharp opinion.

Shedeur Sanders’ Preseason Debacle & The Manufactured Conspiracy

[02:51 – 17:15]

The Situation

• Shedeur Sanders had a disastrous final preseason game (14 passing yards, 5 sacks).
• He was a late-round rookie for the Browns, started as 4th string, and after a QB was traded, moved up to 3rd. There was notable public outcry blaming coaches and team management for his failings.
• Key Issue: Fan-driven conspiracy theories blamed coaching for Sanders’ poor showing, claiming he was “set up to fail.”

Nick Wright’s Take

• “Shidora could not afford the type of performance he had in the third preseason game. … He had a bad game flatly. And the reason it is extra concerning is those of us that were skeptical that he was ever truly a first round talent. We were worried that his bad games would look a lot like that…” [03:17]
• “It was not the coach's fault. It was not the offensive line's fault. It was ... He had a bad game, flatly.” [03:31]
• Nick tracks the depth chart and notes Gabriel (another rookie) deserved to win the backup battle after his own improvement. “That is life in the NFL as a late round draft pick. That is what happened here.” [04:58]
• Fans pushing “bad O-line” or “anti-Shedeur” conspiracies are factually off. Nick explains there’s “no such thing as a fifth string offensive line” in the NFL. [05:53]
• He acknowledges some partial truths—ownership influencing the draft and coach/owner QB preferences—but insists these don’t justify claims of sabotage:

  “Does any of that mean Shedor was put, set up to fail, couldn't succeed? Nah man, throw the ball away. Don't retreat back 25 yards...” [08:22]

• Prognosis: Both rookie QBs may get chances this year because Browns’ owner wants to see them, but ultimately, “next year the Browns use the pick they got from the Jags and their own pick to draft their actual quarterback.” [10:48]

Broader Commentary on Sports Discourse

• Nick sees the Sanders debate as a microcosm of online “outrage mill” tactics.

  “Either totally uninformed actors or outright bad actors churning the outrage mill to create engagement and controversy that then the current actual media feels obligated to treat seriously because, well, it's what people are talking about. And then it becomes a valid real story.” [06:23]

• He draws a parallel to Flat Earth conspiracies and modern inability to accept inconvenient facts (with a humorous aside):

  “Have you ever watched the Flat Earth documentary? … They do the test, it proves the earth is round, and the immediate reaction is: ‘Wow, the conspiracy's even bigger than we thought.’ There is an element of that with some of the Shador stuff...” [13:16–15:06]

• Final thought from Nick & Damanza:

  “Of course. Guys who want to keep their jobs want their quarterback, want to put the best quarterback on the field.” – Nick Wright [17:15] “Most conspiracies ... fall apart at the first or second question.” – Nick Wright [17:22]

AFC North Deep Dive: Win Totals & Season Predictions

[22:39 – 33:01]

Ravens

• Line: 11.5 wins (slightly juiced to over)
• Nick won’t take the bet, but leans “over” based on Ravens' regular season dominance with Lamar Jackson.
• Minor concern: Derrick Henry’s potential decline.
• “They win 75% of their games in the regular season with Lamar.” [26:00]
• “Best team in the NFL,” says Damanza. Nick: “Top two or three.” [25:15-25:24]
• Schedule is “not terrible” but tough—mostly divisional and NFC North games.

Bengals

• Bet: Under 9.5 wins (-115). Nick’s first AFC North bet.
• Questions defense improvement and offensive line.
• “The Bengals have a carbon copy year of last year. They win nine games, they miss the playoffs and they fire their head coach. That is my major Cincinnati Bengals prediction: this is Zach Taylor’s last year there.” [27:06]
• Schedule: Soft early but Bengals “start every year so terribly.”
• “I think Miles Garrett could wreak some havoc in week one against them.” [27:39]

Browns

• Total: 4.5 wins.
  Nick: “Stay away,” but leans over—barely.
• Schedule: Very tough out of the gate; unlucky last-place schedule brings 49ers and late-season Titans.
• “Four and a half wins when you get 17 games now… I will go over four and a half, but it's not a bet for me.” [28:57]

Steelers

• Total: 8.5 wins
• Nick fades the Steelers again: “I am an under for Pittsburgh, but it is not a bet.” [29:45]
• Predicts Mike Tomlin’s first losing season.
• “I just, I. I think they will have a good but not overwhelmingly dominant defense. I don't think the Rodgers DK Metcalf fit is a smart one.” [30:37]

NFL Playoff Bets: Who’s In, Who’s Out

[35:05 – 44:36]

Playoff Bets: Teams to Make Playoffs

• Jaguars: +180. “Biggest year of Trevor’s career. I think he comes through.” [36:59]
• Chiefs: -380. Nick is extremely confident:

  “You can say you’re gonna lay... Yeah, I am. I’m gonna lay -380. … If Patrick (Mahomes) gets hurt, I got bigger problems than a damn Chiefs make the playoffs bet.” [37:28]

• Raiders: +340 (half unit). Value play.
• Giants: +500 (quarter unit). Shock team pick:

  “There has to be the shock playoff team. I’ve cast my lot with it being the Raiders.” [38:59]

• Buccaneers: -170.

  “They’re going to win 10 games. 10 games will get them in the playoffs.” [40:02]

Miss the Playoffs Bets

• Steelers: -140. Revenge pick for last season.
• Colts: -260. “I just don’t see any scenario where the Colts find their way into the playoffs with Daniel Jones in the AFC.” [41:21]
• Broncos: +130. Fade the hype.
• Cowboys: -210. “Drama with the best player on their roster … terrible offseason. I’ll take them to miss.” [42:41]
• Vikings: +100 (two units). Doubles down:

  “It would be shocking to me if the Vikings somehow find a way into the playoffs … I'm going to fade the Vikings.” [43:04]

• Cardinals: -140.

Playoff Parlay

• Parlay (-135): Saints, Jets, Browns, Colts all to miss the playoffs.

  “New Orleans, the Jets and the Browns to miss the playoffs feels … impossible to lose. … That is, that's the extent of my real concern there.” [44:31] “I think these are four last place teams. Four teams that I would be very surprised if they didn’t finish in last place in their division.” [44:48]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Shadur Sanders, fandom, and conspiracies:

  “This entire conversation and media maelstrom is one of the reasons he fell in the draft because he's not a stud player... No other team is having to answer questions about their deep end quarterback competition.” – Nick Wright [09:38]

• On why conspiracies gain traction:

  “Most conspiracies... fall apart at the first or second question.” – Nick Wright [17:22]

• NFL reality for young players:

  “That is life in the NFL as a late round draft pick. That is what happened here.” [04:58]

• Bold Bengals Prediction:

  “The Bengals have a carbon copy year of last year. They win nine games, they miss the playoffs and they fire their head coach.” – Nick Wright [27:06]

Episode Flow and Structure

• 00:00-02:51: Sponsor messages and episode intro.
• 02:51-17:22: Deep dive on the Shedeur Sanders saga—analysis, debunking conspiracy theories, and media commentary.
• 22:39-33:01: AFC North predictions—detailed breakdown on Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, and related win total thoughts.
• 35:05-44:36: Extensive NFL playoff predictions—Nick’s “make” and “miss” the playoffs bets, value picks, and a big parlay.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Shedeur Sanders’ struggles are not unique or unfair—late-round rookies get narrow chances, and media noise shouldn’t be confused with actual NFL reality.
• Nick is highly skeptical of fan/media-driven conspiracies—urges critical thinking and not to let “outrage mill” dictate perception.
• In the AFC North:
  • Ravens should excel, but schedule has traps.
  • Bengals are set up to miss playoffs; Zach Taylor likely out.
  • Browns: Tough year ahead; rookie QBs may get tryouts.
  • Steelers: First losing season likely.
• For the broader NFL:
  • Nick’s playoff bets: Bold on Giants, conservative but heavy on Chiefs.
  • Miss-the-playoffs faves: Steelers, Colts, Broncos, Cowboys, Vikings.
  • Major parlay fading last-place teams (Saints, Jets, Browns, Colts).

Summary:
Nick Wright brings both sharp analysis and media critique, notably on how unfounded conspiracies distract from real football discussions. He delivers logical, transparent NFL predictions, offering listeners both clarity and hot takes, especially for sports bettors and fans of NFL drama.