The Herd with Colin Cowherd – What's Wright: NFL Week 18 Reaction

Host: Nick Wright (with Damanze Byrd)
Date: January 7, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode dives deep into the fallout from NFL Week 18, focusing on the Baltimore Ravens' heart-breaking loss to the Steelers, what’s next for Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh, the legitimacy of the Steelers’ playoff run, major coaching changes, and end-of-season league awards. The show is marked by Nick’s characteristic blend of data-driven insight and relatable sports fan empathy, with Damanze joining mid-show for reactions from a Ravens fan’s perspective.

Main Topics Overview

• The Ravens’ decade-long pattern of postseason heartbreak and what it means for Lamar Jackson’s future and John Harbaugh’s status
• Detailed review of the Steelers’ win and their realistic Super Bowl potential
• Lightning round through Week 18 games and implications
• NFL Black Monday — head coach firings and the attractiveness of available jobs
• Who deserves NFL MVP? Breaking down the Stafford vs. Drake May arguments
• Historic significance of Miles Garrett’s sack record

1. The Ravens’ Heartbreak: A Decade of Bad Endings

Discussion from 05:00–16:00, 26:38–30:58

• Historical Gut Punches: Nick opens with empathy for Ravens fans, listing their last 10 years of "utter heartbreak." From blown division leads and last-second losses to injuries and squandered playoff expectations, Nick narrates a saga of pain:

  • 2016: Antonio Brown’s last-second TD, missing the postseason
  • 2017: 4th-and-12 Andy Dalton miracle for Bengals
  • Multiple playoff flameouts as #1 seed with MVP Lamar
  • Repeated “winning scenarios” ending in disaster

  “Nine out of 10 years of utter heartbreak. … That is torture. And I got real empathy for Ravens fans, honestly.” (Nick, 14:05)

• Lamar’s Role and Evaluation: The hosts dissect Lamar’s latest performance—a “bizarre” game where he was “invisible for three quarters” but "brilliant" in the fourth—yet can’t fully exonerate or indict him for the loss.

  "It'd be ridiculous to pin the loss on Lamar, but it would also be ridiculous to give him credit for coming through in a game that they lost." (Nick, 16:10)

• Harbaugh’s Status — Coaching/Player Rift:

  • The relationship between Lamar and Harbaugh is “frayed.”
  • Lamar’s non-committal post-game response ("I can’t focus on that right now. We just lost.") is read as telling.
  • Nick argues keeping Harbaugh is a bigger story than firing him: “If they do…it puts Lamar’s future with the team in question.” (Nick, 30:50)

  “There are certain elements to this story that I am not able to divulge publicly, but that corroborate all … circumstantial evidence that there is a real problem with that relationship.” (Nick, 29:37)

2. Steelers’ Playoff Hopes: Contenders or Pretenders?

Discussion from 31:37–34:41

• Nick makes a case that the Steelers "are a real playoff threat"—not Super Bowl favorites, but “they can beat the Texans.”
  • Steelers’ recent form, getting key players back (DK Metcalf), and “excellent” defensive play cited.
  • Damanze disagrees, seeing Houston as “the stop.”
• Nick speculates on Aaron Rodgers’ playoff “mindset switch” (taking more risks): “I think there’s an element [in the playoffs] of he might be willing to hang in there a little bit more.” (Nick, 33:57)

3. NFC Playoff Picture and Super Bowl Favorites

Discussion from 35:12–38:22

• Seahawks’ #1 Seed: With Sam Darnold at QB, the Seahawks secure back-to-back 14-win seasons—"remarkable" but “Darnold did not play well down the stretch” (117 QB rating first half, only 83 since Rams game).
• Nick notes the team’s strength but lists Rams as “his pick” to beat them if they meet.
• Sheds light on playoff seeding confusion and possible matchups, e.g. “the six seed cannot play the two seed in round two.”

4. NFL MVP Race: Stafford vs. Drake May

Discussion from 41:31–49:18

• Nick critiques sportsbook’s “snap line movement” after Week 17, calls voting unpredictable.

• He lays out Stafford’s case:

  • 4,700 yards, 46 TD, 8 INTs, “best division in football…tough schedule.”
  • May: 4,400 yards, 31 TD, 8 INT, higher Y/A and rushing yards, but "Stafford has 11 more TDs even adding in May’s runs."
  • Damanze chimes in that third for MVP is “pretty sick.”

  “He’s got 46 touchdowns, eight picks...I think it’s Stafford. If it’s May, so be it. It’s not a travesty, but I think it’s Stafford.” (Nick, 46:52)

5. Coaches Fired: Black Monday & Job Rankings

Discussion from 49:18–54:42

• Teams: Raiders, Falcons, Browns, Cardinals, Giants, Titans
• Nick calls these “some of the worst jobs in football,” explaining shortcomings for each.
• Giants: Prestige, “quick trigger”—Joe Shane stays.
• Browns: "If Shador becomes a very high-quality backup, that’s a huge success…as a fifth round pick." (Nick, 51:19)
• Ranking jobs: Giants, Falcons, Titans, Cardinals, Raiders, Browns.

6. Historic Moments: Miles Garrett’s Sack Record

Discussion from 54:42–58:07

• Nick: “Best pure pass rushing season in 30 years.”

• Context—Reggie White’s 21 sacks in 12 games in ’87 unmatched.

• Criticizes Bengals for “whining” about Browns stopping the game for Garrett’s milestone.

  “Whiny baby Bengals and Jamar Chase...Jamar, I absolutely promise you, if you ever break Calvin Johnson’s single season yardage record, they will stop the game.” (Nick, 57:38)

7. Quick Hits: Week 18 Games & End-of-Year Notes

Discussion from 61:22–72:57 (various timestamps)

• Bucs, Falcons, Raiders:

  • Bucs season: “Shameful end of season swoon” (Nick, 61:26).
  • Falcons coach fired after tying for division lead is “curious.”
  • Raiders defeat Chiefs: Nick says, “I don’t want to talk about the Kelsey thing…” but lauds Mahomes, “my fifth most valuable player…just instantly became the worst team…” without him. (64:52)

• Other Notables:

  • Jaguars on a heater, Nick boldly calls Bills-Jags winner as his Super Bowl pick.
  • Question from Felix: Why isn’t Drake May credited more for Patriots’ turnaround? Nick: “Saying someone is not the league MVP is not denying them credit…drake got a lot better, no doubt.” (71:35)
  • What’s the NFL’s ideal Super Bowl? Bills-Rams or Bills-Eagles; least sexy matchup: Seahawks-Jags.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “That is nine out of 10 years of utter heartbreak. … That is torture. And I got real empathy for Ravens fans, honestly.” (Nick, 14:05)
• “I think the Ravens keeping Harbaugh puts Lamar’s future in question.” (Nick, 30:50)
• “I think Matt Stafford is the rightful MVP. … If it’s May, so be it. It’s not a travesty, but I think it’s Stafford.” (Nick, 46:52)
• “My fifth most valuable player in the league would have been Patrick Mahomes because…just instantly…without him, the Chiefs became the worst offense in the NFL.” (Nick, 64:52)
• “If Shador becomes what’s a good Jacoby Brissett’s career—that’s amazing value as a fifth-round pick!” (Nick, 51:19)
• “Whiny baby Bengals…and Jamar Chase, shut up…if you ever break Calvin Johnson’s single season record, I promise you they’ll stop the game.” (Nick, 57:38)

Useful Timestamps

• 05:00–16:00: Ravens’ heartbreak history and Lamar analysis
• 26:38–30:58: Ravens fan Damanze on losing, Lamar/Harbaugh dynamic
• 31:37–34:41: Steelers’ playoff legitimacy, Rodgers speculation
• 35:12–38:22: NFC seeding, Seahawks, Rams, Darnold’s decline
• 41:31–49:18: MVP discussion, Stafford vs. Drake May
• 49:18–54:42: Coaching carousel and best/worst available jobs
• 54:42–58:07: Miles Garrett’s sack record
• 61:22–72:57: Rapid-fire on Week 18 games, fan queries, NFL ideal Super Bowl

Tone and Style

Nick is empathetic and candid, mixing statistical breakdowns, colorful storytelling, and personal asides (Ravens’ pain, “my fifth MVP is Patrick Mahomes!”). Damanze brings a measured, fan’s perspective. The show is fast-paced, occasionally irreverent, opinionated, highly analytical, and occasionally deeply fan-oriented (“I got real empathy for Ravens fans, honestly.”).

Overall:
A comprehensive, candid post-Week 18 breakdown. Listeners get deep context on the Ravens’ pain, informed speculation about coaching and player futures, and pointed, stats-driven takes on the playoff field. The MVP discussion is a highlight, with Nick’s signature blend of stats, history, and storytelling making the episode both informative and entertaining.