The Herd with Colin Cowherd — "What's Wright": Ravens-Chiefs MUST WIN, Mahomes vs. Lamar, Micah’s REVENGE vs. Cowboys | Nick Wright NFL

Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Nick Wright (with Damanze)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively conversation with Nick Wright and Damanze as they break down Week 4’s most important NFL matchups, with deep dives into Ravens-Chiefs ("must win" angles and the Mahomes/Lamar debate), Micah Parsons’ emotional return to Dallas against the Cowboys, and big-picture MVP and Hall of Fame discussions. The hosts analyze storylines, team psychology, and player narratives while mixing in sharp betting talk and listener questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ravens vs. Chiefs — The Real Must Win: Is Everything on the Line for Baltimore?

[08:15 - 21:56]

• Who has more at stake?

  • Nick boldly disagrees with prevailing media narratives:

    "I think people have this flatly wrong. It is to me unquestionably Baltimore that has more on the line." — Nick Wright [08:26]

  • Main reasons:
    • Psychology: Baltimore has lost 5 of 6 to the Chiefs (Lamar just 1-5 vs. Mahomes), eroding confidence.
    • Playoff implications: Win could give Baltimore home field or at least the belief they can beat KC.
    • Ravens’ urgent need: If they lose, a 1-3 record puts pressure on a team already looking “tight and anxious” (esp. after a tough Detroit game).

• Kansas City’s resilience:

  • Even if KC loses, Nick argues, few doubt their ability to make noise in postseason given recent history (see: their 11-6 Super Bowl season).
  • Offensive “midness” isn’t as dire as Baltimore’s defensive struggles:

    "Kansas City's offense has been its biggest concern. They're struggling to the tune of being average... Baltimore's defense has been its problem and they're awful in everything." — Nick Wright [12:52]

• Game Style Preview:

  • Don’t expect a shootout:

    “I think this is far more likely to be a slugfest... every yard is going to be, you know, hard to get." — Nick Wright [19:24]

  • Nick goes deeper on how the “personality” of the Chiefs has affected recent games—turning even high-scoring opponents into grind-it-out contests.

• Player matchups & X-factors:

  • Travis Kelce: Wright thinks he needs a big day — "He's got five or six great games left in him. This would be a good time for one." [21:02]
  • Return of rookie WR Xavier Worthy for KC seen as big, but not likely to be 'super featured' due to recent injury.
  • Nick is betting KC + points.

2. Cowboys vs. Packers — Micah Parsons’ Emotional Return

[28:19 - 36:18]

• Micah Parsons’ Motivation:

  • “He said it’s going to be very difficult to sack Dak Prescott… not hard to do [physically], emotionally difficult, yes.” — [28:30]
  • No tribute from Jerry Jones; Nick speculates it’s about not wanting to see Cowboys' fans give Parsons a standing ovation.

• Who needs to make a statement?

  • On Jordan Love vs. Micah Parsons, both agree: Jordan Love’s offense must prove more.
  • Nick emphasizes Love must avoid catastrophic mistakes:

    "He does not have to be great. He has to be steady. In a weird way, even though they’re incredibly different players... Jordan Love to me is in the same boat as Jared Goff... Make the plays that are there, don’t make big mistakes." [28:51]

  • Nick’s “teaser coaching”: He’d build every 6-point teaser around Green Bay this week.

3. Eagles vs. Buccaneers — Can Baker Mayfield Strike Again?

[36:18 - 41:34]

• Injury context:

  • Tampa is "crazy" banged up, especially on the offensive line and missing Mike Evans.
  • Nick calls it “a really concerning injury spot for Tampa.”

• Philly’s offensive identity in question:

  • Philly needs to open up the playbook for Jalen Hurts:

    “There just isn’t a big argument in my opinion to not have an aggressive downfield passing game plan to just see how it works ... because if they show that early in games, I believe it will lead to Saquon [Barkley] popping again.” — [39:50]

  • Nick: Philly can play with some margin for error due to Tampa’s injuries; this is a key game for playoff seeding.

• MVP Watch:

  • Damanze asks if Baker is MVP material if he beats Philly:

    “I think he's got a legitimate MVP case right now. The media is focused far more heavily on Herbert and Josh and that's fine. But the three last second victories by Baker have put him in the mix.” — Nick Wright [41:34]

4. Giants QB Change: It’s Jackson Dart Time, Not Russ Cook

[48:26 - 54:29]

• QB change:
  • Russ benched, Jackson Dart starts vs. Chargers, Nick expects a short-term “shot in the arm.”
  • Nick is not a believer in Dart’s long-term upside, but acknowledges NY fans are excited.
  • On Russell Wilson’s legacy:

    “My answer to those questions are yes, his career's over and no, he's not a Hall of Famer. And it is stunning how quickly this ended for him." — [50:00]

  • Argues Russ was a caretaker on great Seahawks teams, not a true Hall of Famer.

5. Colts & Rams: Reckoning Coming

[58:25 - 59:34]

• Nick owns his preseason whiff on the Colts — expected them to be one of the worst teams, but they’re now 3-0.
• Believes the next few weeks will show whether the Colts are truly for real.

6. College Football Slate and Listener Questions

[59:34 - 63:40]

• College football bets:

  • “Love Oregon getting three and a half at Penn State.”
  • Likes Georgia as well; floats a three-way parlay with Oregon, Georgia, Chiefs Moneylines.

• Listener Q&A Highlights:

  • If Dallas beats Green Bay, does that mean Jordan Love is bad? Nick: “I don’t think he’s bad…the question is can he be great?” [63:05]
  • Mariners fan: Will Cal Raleigh win AL MVP? Nick: “I think he’s going to get it…and he has a chance of beating Aaron Judge’s AL home run record.” [63:40]
  • Ryder Cup bet? Nick reveals he has money on Europe, despite being at the U.S. event:

    “I’m kind of rooting for America by rooting for myself.” [64:16]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ravens’ urgency vs. Chiefs:

  "If the Chiefs win, how can Baltimore credibly think that the Chiefs don't simply have their number?" — Nick Wright [09:56]

• On game flow personalities:

  “Sometimes games take on a personality... the butterfly effect of one team's offense hitting deep shots leading to another team's offense hitting deep shots.” — Nick Wright [15:35]

• On Travis Kelce’s importance:

  "He's got five or six great games left in him. This would be a good time for one." — Nick Wright [21:02]

• On the end of Russell Wilson’s career:

  “His career’s over and no, he’s not a Hall of Famer.” — Nick Wright [50:00]

• On betting against the home crowd at the Ryder Cup:

  “I’m kind of rooting for America by rooting for myself.” — Nick Wright [64:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [08:15] Ravens vs. Chiefs "must-win" stakes and psychology
• [12:52] Chiefs’ offensive struggles vs. Ravens’ defensive concerns
• [19:24] Game style expectations, KC’s influence on opponents' play
• [21:02] Travis Kelce as key difference maker
• [28:19] Micah Parsons returns to Dallas; emotional stakes and statement players
• [36:18] Eagles-Bucs: Injury rundown and Philly’s need to open up the offense
• [41:34] Baker Mayfield’s sneaky MVP case
• [48:26] Giants switch to Jackson Dart; Russell Wilson’s Hall of Fame debate
• [58:25] Colts exceed expectations; Rams as test
• [59:34] College football picks and parlay talk
• [62:57] Listener Q&A: Dallas/Green Bay, Mariners’ MVP, Ryder Cup bet

Overall Tone and Style

Nick Wright brings his signature blend of statistically-informed takes, sharp humor, and unapologetic contrarianism. The exchange with Damanze is brisk, playful, and occasionally irreverent, but always locked onto the major “angles” football fans debate all week—psychology, legacy, and big-game consequences.

In summary:
This episode is a must-listen for anyone following the top NFL storylines in Week 4: it’s loaded with strategic analysis of the weekend’s biggest matchups (especially Ravens-Chiefs), controversial legacy takes, and genuine fan banter. If you want to understand not just the stats, but the stakes and narratives in play, Nick and Damanze deliver.