The Herd with Colin Cowherd — What's Wright with Nick Wright

Episode: "QB Interventions: Joe Burrow TRADE? Hurts & Lamar STRUGGLING, Lakers KNOCKED OUT"

Date: December 12, 2025
Guests: Nick Wright (host), Damon Amendolara

Episode Overview

This episode of "What's Wright" with Nick Wright, a segment of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," dives into the latest drama and dilemmas surrounding NFL quarterbacks (especially Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson), examines NFC and AFC playoff scenarios, and closes with debate on the state of the Lakers amid NBA Cup action. Nick applies his trademark candor, skepticism, and big-picture storytelling to explore not just player performance but team trajectories, trade hypotheticals, and organizational crossroads.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chiefs vs. Chargers: Season-Defining Matchup

Timestamps: 05:39–16:51

• The Stakes:
  The Chiefs are “almost facing elimination,” with the Chargers game described as a must-win for both teams if either wants to control its playoff fate.
• Chiefs Perspective:
  Nick confesses he’s still emotionally open to believing in the Chiefs’ playoff push if they win, despite their month-long slump:

  "Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in Godfather 3 style." (06:15, Nick Wright)

• Chargers Urgency:
  Nick argues this is the most open the AFC may ever be, and with Justin Herbert in his prime, the Chargers have to seize the opportunity—meaning, they "must" knock out a weakened KC.
• Playoff Calculus:
  He runs through the tiebreakers, schedules, and potential Week 18 showdowns, emphasizing if the Chargers lose, they risk missing the postseason entirely yet again.

  "If they lose to the Chiefs, and then lose just one of Cowboys, Texans, then Week 18 in Denver could be win and you go to the playoffs, lose and the Chiefs take your playoff spot again." (12:23, Nick Wright)

• Chargers Organizational DNA:
  Nick is skeptical of L.A.’s ability to win high-pressure games, citing Herbert's struggles in big moments:

  "In the three biggest...games that he's played in, [Herbert] has not played anything close to his best ball." (14:23, Nick Wright)
  Nick lists Herbert’s lackluster stats in recent elimination or playoff games (15:00).

2. NFL Quarterback Interventions: Mayfield, Hurts, Lamar

Timestamps: 24:09–34:02

• Baker Mayfield:
  Nick is “least concerned” about Baker’s current struggles, chalking it up to his streaky history and shoulder injury:

  "He's had these little peaks and valleys in his career ... I think Baker will bounce back at least enough to where they stabilize." (24:33, Nick Wright)

• Jalen Hurts:
  Hurts isn’t in trouble, but Nick insists fans and media must accept his “obvious limitations,” especially visible when the Eagles can't dominate at the line of scrimmage. “If Jalen is not willing to activate the quarterback-driven runs and scrambles, that Eagles offense is going to be very, very laborious.” (26:00, Nick Wright) Nick questions the Eagles' hold on the division if Dallas gets hot, warning that Week 18 could be a win-and-in scenario.
• Lamar Jackson & Baltimore:
  Lamar’s in his “worst stretch of football” ever, and Nick speculates about emotional exhaustion or a broken relationship with John Harbaugh:

  "This trend of Lamar missing one of the practices in the week leading up to a game ... sure appears to impact his play. ... It just feels to me like it's more than that... at play here." (29:41—32:08, Nick Wright)
  He floats a bleak theory: Lamar is “resigned” and ready for the next chapter, hinting at a possibly fractured dynamic between QB and coach.
  The only “glass one-tenth full” scenario Nick offers for Ravens fans: sneak into the playoffs as a regular-season underachiever, then reverse their historic trend of playoff flameouts (32:50).

3. Joe Burrow’s Future: Frustration and Trade Speculation

Timestamps: 34:02–44:01

• Burrow’s Alarming Presser:
  Burrow hints at disillusionment:

  "If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it ... if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?" (34:10, Joe Burrow)
  Nick’s take: “If I’m a Bengals fan, that’s a five alarm fire.” (34:29, Nick Wright)

• Andrew Luck & Carson Palmer Vibes:
  Nick compares Burrow’s state to Luck’s abrupt retirement and Carson Palmer’s breakup with the Bengals, recounting Palmer’s ultimatum after years of frustration (41:00+).
• Trade Hypotheticals:
  Nick proposes a package for a Burrow trade ("three first and three second rounders") but insists:

  “Being in a position where you have to trade prime Joe Burrow is a fold the franchise moment. There is no getting around it." (38:15, Nick Wright)

• Organizational Dysfunction:
  The segment underscores the Bengals’ tragic NFL history and players' struggles to tolerate it:

  "[With] all of the physical real weird injuries he's dealt with...and contract disputes every year—it’s a tragic organization." (38:13, Damon Amendolara / Nick Wright)

4. NBA Cup & Lakers Reality Check

Timestamps: 48:46–56:46

• Lakers Knocked Out:
  The Lakers, missing a matchup against the Thunder, lose to a “Wemby-less Spurs.” Nick responds to Rich Paul’s controversial comment:

  "Does anyone actually disagree with Rich's message that right now the Lakers are not a championship caliber team? … I don't think the message is totally incorrect." (49:09–51:30, Nick Wright)

• Thunder’s Ascension:
  Oklahoma City’s Cup blowout wins and regular-season dominance make them the clear favorites:

  "The Thunder in their current form, right now look head and shoulders better than absolutely everyone, and it's not close." (54:09, Nick Wright)
  Nick boosts his own earlier call to bet on the Thunder to break the Warriors’ win record.

• Lakers’ Path:
  Still, Nick says with the “right draw” and health, the Lakers could be a conference finals team—but only if they avoid the Thunder.
• NBA Landscape:
  Nick muses on the Thunder’s depth and the lack of “super villain” playoff closers on teams like Houston that might challenge OKC.

5. Additional Quick Hits

Timestamps: 56:46–63:18

• Bills vs. Patriots (AFC East Pivot):
  Nick thinks the Bills should be favored and must assert AFC East supremacy before New England “elbow[s] them off their corner.” If the Pats sweep the Bills and have a deeper playoff run, Buffalo could become a non-factor.
• Drake Maye vs. Josh Allen Future Rivalry:
  Nick cheekily dubs it “Drake & Josh” and proclaims this could be one of the NFL’s best divisional rivalries for years:

  "Drake May [quarterback] could be a perennial MVP candidate and not necessarily better than Josh Allen, but ... I think Drake May is already a top five quarterback." (59:26, Nick Wright)

• Rams vs. Lions, NFC Importance:
  Nick predicts the Rams will win and solidify their top seed, but a Lions victory would tighten up Detroit’s playoff hopes. A loss would continue Detroit's win-loss rollercoaster, making postseason advancement shaky.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Chiefs & Emotional Fandom:

  "Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in Godfather 3 style like that." (06:15, Nick Wright)

• On Joe Burrow’s Future:

  "If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it... if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?" (34:10, Joe Burrow)
  “If I’m a Bengals fan, that’s a five alarm fire.” (34:29, Nick Wright)

• On Lamar Jackson & the Ravens:

  "Lamar is in the midst of the worst stretch of football he's ever played.... I think Lamar is over Harbaugh, and I think Lamar is ready for the next chapter in Baltimore." (29:41–30:36, Nick Wright)

• On the Lakers & Rich Paul’s Critique:

  "Does anyone actually disagree with Rich's message that right now the Lakers are not a championship caliber team?" (51:21, Nick Wright)

• On the Oklahoma City Thunder:

  "Oklahoma City looks like one of the greatest teams ever. There is no way around that." (54:09, Nick Wright)

• On AFC East QB’s Future:

  "I think Drake and Josh is going to be an awesome divisional quarterback rivalry." (59:26, Nick Wright)

Segment Timestamps

• Chiefs vs. Chargers Playoff Stakes: 05:39–16:51
• Quarterback Intervention: Mayfield, Hurts, Lamar: 24:09–34:02
• Joe Burrow Dilemma/Trade Hypothetical: 34:02–44:01
• Lakers Out, NBA Cup & Thunder Talk: 48:46–56:46
• AFC East, Bills vs. Patriots, Drake Maye/Josh Allen: 56:46–60:36
• Lions vs. Rams, NFC Lines: 60:36–63:18

Tone & Style

Nick Wright brings a blend of deeply informed stat breakdown, sports history analogies, and irreverent wit. He oscillates between fan-level agony (regarding his Chiefs), ruthless analyst (calling out Hurts' and Lamar’s “limitations”), and big-picture historian (invoking Luck, Palmer, NBA superteams, and the business side of sports). Damon serves as both a sounding board and straight man, teeing up Nick’s digressions and keep-the-plot-on-track interjections.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a must for fans invested in NFL QB storylines and NBA power dynamics. Nick’s blend of analysis and storytelling makes high-stakes sports drama accessible and engaging—even if you haven’t watched a game all week.