The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 12/14/2020 - HOUR 1 - Steelers, Hurts, Bucs, Browns

Episode Date: December 14, 2020

The Bills exposed the Steelers last nightLet's calm down on the Jalen Hurts hypeThe Bucs looked inconsistent off a bye weekThe Browns are not Baker Mayfield's teamGuest: Peter Schrager Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

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I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation. with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for The Heard at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the i heart radio app by searching herd you're listening to fox sports radio ah here we go live in los angeles this is the herd wherever you may be in however you may be listening fox sports radio i heart

radio f s one it is a glorious monday one hour from now where colin was right where colin was wrong and there is, as always, plenty of both. Joy Taylor-Nater Pittsburgh-Gonian is joining me this morning. Pittsburgh Native, Yinser. Yinser. This was not a good weekend for me. Cains got destroyed by North Carolina. I didn't hate the Dolphins loss.

It was like a good loss. I'll give it a little moral victory, not too bad. But, yeah, that's Steelers game last night was a rough one. So I feel like I've got to be a little bit of Frazier Crane this morning, a little bit of a therapist for Pittsburgh. They've decided to turn on me all these years of supporting a great organization. And as a therapist, I occasionally give you the truth. And you yell and scream at me across the therapist room. Let's all take a deep breath.

Last week, I compared the 11-1 Steelers to a team I love, the Patriots. to last year's eight, no Patriots. And I said, we were giving the Patriots last year and the Steelers this year respect and elevating them based on their history and our respect and their coach and their quarterback who's going to be a Hall of Famer and their brand. And they had earned our respect. But my job as a therapist is to be honest, go deeper, tell you things maybe you don't want to hear.

And I said last year's Patriots and this year's Steelers, you start looking at those wins. boy, it's a bunch of cruddy teams and very hollow. And when last year did we finally realize New England was a fraud? I remember that session. It was Sunday night football. Baltimore came to town with an energetic, dynamic quarterback, and thumped the Patriots 3720. And New England looked old and slow and heavy-footed and offensively outdated.

It's like the calendar wasn't their friend. And last night, the Steelers were finally unveiled to all of you as this young upstart team with a dynamic quarterback Josh Allen. Made the Steelers look old and slow and outdated. I'm sorry, look at these numbers. Listen to them. 14 first downs, 47 rushing young. yards, one for 10 on third down, 24 minutes time of possession, Big Ben, pass a rating of 65. This is not to say as your therapist, there aren't qualities I admire about you.

T.J. Watt is virtually unblockable. And this is a great front office, and their problems are almost immediately solved in the following draft. But deep down, my client, they know the truth. Steelers. This is not a Super Bowl team. Three straight weeks, under 20 points. You don't scare anybody. You don't even really believe in your running game yourself. And oh, by the way, New England last year did win more games after that thumping on Sunday night to Lamar Jackson.

And the Steelers do play the Bengals next week and they will flex and look strong. But you know the truth. The Steelers cannot beat quality. teams. And we also know this. Life evolves. We evolve. Teams evolved. Steelers good early. Steelers unveiled late. Patriots last year good

early. Patriots unveiled late. And the Patriot diehards. I mean, this is very common. They made excuses. And the Steelers this morning, what about our injuries? Outside of the Rams, the whole damn leagues banged up. It's December. It's football.

Everybody hurts getting out of bed this morning. And actually, the Steelers' defense is fine. It really is. But this offense, this is not a Super Bowl team, third down embarrassing, run game non-existent, drop passes once again. Identity, you have none. Big Ben is 31st in the NFL in yards per attempt. That is the opposite of the Steelers, who have always physically pushed you around and then had the courage at any time, anywhere to go deep and burn you. This is a BB gun offense. It's outdated. It's slow.

And by the way, New England and Pittsburgh. New England last year, Pittsburgh this year. You know, win games. Nobody's saying Tomlin, Big Ben, don't get to the Hall of Fame. Nobody's saying Bella check and Brady don't get to the Hall of Fame. Nobody's saying you'll never win a game. Nobody's saying we're all laughing at you. But this is why you go to a therapist or somebody to tell you the truth.

And this morning, Pittsburgh, the team you lost to is a legit Super Bowl threat. They really are Buffalo. They got all the ingredients. All of them. And we all saw them last night. And you're not a Super Bowl team. Take a deep breath. It's okay.

But at this point, this is just the honest, harsh truth. And painful today, solve potentially later, but, Big Ben knows it. Tomlin knows it. You know it. Good team, not special. Wait till next year. Here's Big Ben. We didn't look in the mirror and it starts with me. I need to play better football because the ball is in my hands every single play. And so when it's in my hands, I need to make the best decision. And right now, I'm not playing good enough football for us to win. If I don't play good enough football, then I need to hang it up. But, you know, I still feel like I can do enough things to help this. team win football games and I'm going to do everything I can to give us back on track. All right.

Enough with being a therapist. Now let's talk about Jalen Hertz and Philadelphia. A lot of Pennsylvania stories today. So Jalen Hertz got to start, ran around, and won the game. So it's time for another edition of let's massively overreact American sports media to a quarterback who runs better than he throws. and it's Monday and he's going to change the NFL. Tim Tebow didn't, Kaepernick didn't, Taysam Hill's not, and Jalen Hertz is not.

And Lamar Jackson's not. Unique, as we say, multiple times a year. It always works. Always. The Wildcat worked. It just rarely lasts. And last night the Saints were on their heels. They didn't know what to expect. They kind of sat back and said, all right, here's a bunch of plays we've never seen.

And unique works. and Jalen Hertz, yes, was fun. He gave them an identity. The play calling, it was kind of synthesized down to the very core of what he does. Doug Peterson's like, this kid can move. Let's move him. And it's fun. And actually, Philadelphia's defense seemed to respond.

They played great. But can the media stop constantly overreacting to unique in the NFL? Jalen is unique. He was the runner more than a thrower. but certainly like Taysam Hill, capable of throwing. But in the NFL, you watched that game last night, the Saints sat back, let's be honest. Philadelphia didn't really know how their offense would work last night.

They didn't know. So the Saints didn't know. And as I said last week, even if Jalen Hertz wins, it doesn't solve the bigger issue. You backed up a Brinks truck for Carson Wentz, and you owe him a hundred million plus. Last night doesn't solve that. Maybe you can move him, maybe you can't.

And here's the thing, though, with all young quarterbacks, and especially the quarterbacks that appear to be very fond and very special at the art of running. It's a series, it's a progression. It's a series of boxes. So last night, Jalen Hertz, check the first. Can you win games? Check. He can win a game.

the next box, can you win several games? It looks like you could. Can you win playoff games? So last night, the first box is checked. He can win a game. Now it's several and playoff games. Since the 1970s, something has always been true in the NFL. He got to sit in the pocket and throw to win.

To win big. I mean big. Conference championships, second round, Super Bowls. And that's just the way it is. is unique can work briefly, but you got to sit and throw the football. Last night, Jalen Hertz averaged about five yards, a pass attempt, and completed like 57% of his throws. Again, it's the first game. The timing could not have been great. This is the first time he's practice as a starter all week. But congrats to Jalen Hertz. It made the, it was funny. You're

watching Taseham Hill and Jailen Hertz. You kind of watched a mirror image of each other. We're not sure if they're going to be franchise game. I thought the game was wildly entertaining. and Jalen added energy. I do believe Philadelphia feels like last night anyway yesterday. It's a little bit of an identity. It's a little bit of an identity. And I'm happy for the kid. But there are still many boxes to check.

Here's Doug Peterson. Is Jalen your starter next week? And if so, what will the challenge be now that more tape is out on him? You know, I'm going to enjoy this one. I'm going to go home and relax and be with my family tonight and enjoy this win and get ready for the week. All right. Let's just give the coach a break. Go home, hang out with family, watch the film.

Congrats to Jalen. And for that matter, taste some help. But let's not go crazy. Our job is to add a little bit of context to this. Of course, the Saints were a little lost. I'd never seen it. They didn't know what was coming. They were on their heels.

And Philadelphia played with a purpose and identity and real defense. Good for the Eagles. Good day for the Eagles. All right. Coming up next. You know, we talk about this. Great losses and bad wins. I got to tell you, I thought the worst win yesterday,

and there's an unsolvable problem with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I would wake up this morning. and feel about as bad as you could with a win. That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and

conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't

know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Discovery Plus, starting next year, US only, new streaming service, exclusive originals

at Discovery Plus and stuff like the food now. work, HGTV. So Tampa won, yippee, but I think at this point Tom Brady's standards are above winning games. That game against Minnesota looks a lot different if Minnesota had a good field goal kicker. It would look a lot different, totally different. Off of by, Tampa Bay had 17 first rounds, 20 minutes time of possession, and Tom Brady completed 15. throws off a buy against an average Minnesota defense that average quarterbacks have run up and down the field on. Listen, what I'm about to say is a reality. It's not a criticism. It may be viewed as both. Everybody loves Bruce Ariens. He's a great guy. I mean, they asked Freddie Kitchens,

remember the Cleveland coach when he got the job. He worked with Ariens. What do you remember about him? And he honestly said, he makes the best cocktail. I mean, it's funny, I don't want to hear that. So Bruce Ariens retired once. Why? He was tired of the long hours. He went to CBS to be a broadcaster. He did a good job, but he never really fully committed, and it showed. And then he goes to Tampa, and he has built the biggest staff in the league to limit the grind. It's starting to show. If you look in the NFL every other weekend, you're facing a Kyle Shanahan, a Sean McVeigh, a young Matt LaFleur, a Cliff Kingsbury, a Joe Judge, a Brian Flores, young, energy, relentless, 18 hours a day, living it, breathing it, consumed by it, consumed by it, and the energy to handle it.

If you're not putting in 18 hours a day, you don't get to see your kids recitals. It's Zoom meetings. You're going to get exposed really fast in tech and even fast. in the NFL. Tampa Bay has one impressive win all year. They've plateaued. They're fine. They're not bad. But they're not cleaning up their stuff. They're not cleaning it up. This is why they're inconsistent. I know Tom Brady's obsessed, but I also know Bruce Ariens has retired once, has the biggest staff. I saw the broadcasting thing. Doesn't mean he can't coach. but this league, there are just certain positions that are built for young guys.

Too many hours. He's got five, six assistants on the offensive side, and he's an offensive guy. He's got layers of different offensive coaches. I watched yesterday, they still don't have an identity. All Tampa is is a collection of talented players. They got a country club feel. And the Buffalo Bills are guys that are planning a public course that want to get to the country club,

that are hungry to get to the country club, that are putting in the hours to get to the country club, that are sacrificing to get to the country club. But the bills are on that public course, and those teams on that public course, they are just putting in hours, chasing and chasing. Mike Evans started his career.

His first six years in his career, he had six straight thousand-yard seasons with Josh McCown, with Mike Glennon, with Ryan Fitzpatrick, But James Winston, he's not close there with Tommy. Come on now. You see this.

Like, it's not a shot at anybody. It's a reality of what they are, off a by. It's a lot of talk. It's a lot of chatter. It's a lot of country club stuff. It just, I just don't see the edge here at all. I thought it was an unbelievably startling win. If the Vikings just have a.

a veal goal kicker. This game looks completely different. Here's Ariens after. I think games dictate how much you run it. What's the score at the end of the third quarter? And we were leading, so it leads to more runs. And Rojo ran really, really well, especially at last drive. And we wanted to set up some play action. Didn't hit it as many as we hoped. But, you know, when I asked early this week about our identity. I think we just showed her it. We can do any damn thing we want to do. Then why don't you? Off a buy. I've seen Andy Reed's teams

off a buy. If they got issues, they cinch them all up. I've seen Sean Payton's teams with chaos and backup quarterback and off a buy and they cinch that stuff off. I've seen Sean McVeigh's team off a buy and they clean stuff up. This should be easier.

You got Brady. The most obsessed football player of all time. and off a buy. You lose that game. If the Vikings have a field goal kicker. You do. Joy with the news. No.

No. No. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, it was looking like an upset there for the first five minutes. Boy, I tell you what. There is Miami's first five, six minutes, almost every game I've seen this year, they give quarterbacks fits. I mean, Russell Wilson. just every guy. At first five minutes,

first seven, eight minutes, Mahomes was, I mean, he was struggling. No, they're going to come out ready to go. They overcame a 10-point early deficit of the Chiefs and four turnovers to beat the Dolphins 33, 27. Three of those four turnovers were interceptions thrown by Patrick Mahomes, who had his first multi-interception game in the regular season since 2018. So, I mean, I think that that stat alone is very reflective of what this Dolphins defense is.

Yes. Like they do cause turnovers. over's and Patrick Mahomes is not someone that throws interceptions. He does not turn the ball over. He also took a 30-yard sack, which is the longest sack since 2015. It was so bizarre. I was like, I had to watch it again. I was like, what, what is he doing?

Because that's not, this is not what Patrick Mahomes does. Like, he doesn't make, he doesn't make mental errors. It was so weird. Isn't it amazing what great defensive coaching does to even star quarterbacks? You go back, Belichick against Peyton Manning. I mean, Mahomes is a wizard. Those first two or three series, he was making mistakes. He has not made in a year against anybody.

And that's like, I mean, we lean so much into offense. Like, that's all we talk about. So we focus on the offensive numbers. Like, if you have a great defense, so let me mention it in passing. But you can really see, I mean, the dolphins are not as good of a team as the Chiefs. And they were also missing their top three running backs in Kyle Van Nuoy. When the story came out right before the game that all three running backs were out, I literally tweeted this.

It's like, okay, I'm 0-1 and Blazing 5. Like, that's not a game you can win. A rebuilding team missing a key component to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field. They're all out. And I'm like, the fact that it was that close, in Miami today, I'm like, I feel unbelievable about my football team. No, I do because I'm not a huge moral victory person. But I do think that the process and development is very important,

especially in a young team. So that's why I didn't think that it was the right choice. to keep Fitzpatrick in even if it meant that they were going to win games because that doesn't serve you in the long run and you're not ready to win a Super Bowl right now. So if you were every other position on the field and everything that was going on was positioned, you could win a Super Bowl, you just have to have a quarterback that can win you some games. Okay, then maybe not see what Tua has this year. But that's not the situation the Dolphins are in.

I thought they played a game against the Chiefs that was respectable and the defense was unbelievable. Like he gave him fits and you never say that about Patrick. Mohams. They had three sacks, seven quarterback hits and four first turnovers, including that. I'm so excited for Miami's future. The NFL is better. When the Bears are good, the Niners are good, and Miami's good. They really are. I love it. So Washington jumped in the first place in the NFC East with a 2315 win over the 49ers. They didn't score an offensive touchdown and lost Alex Smith to injury in the first half. But the defense picked up the slack, scoring two touchdowns in their sixth win of the season. Now they've now won 14. straight and they control their destiny in the division. So they are at top of the NFC East at six and seven.

Giants obviously lost yesterday, so they are five and eight. Eagles four, eight and one, and the Cowboys are four and nine. The rest of their schedule is not easy. They have the Seahawks next week, then the Panthers, and at the Eagles. So the Giants remaining schedule is not any easier. They have the Browns at the Ravens and then against the Cowboys. Well, here's the good news. We know Miami found the right coach.

It looks like the Giants did in Washington. did. Ron Rivera is a good fit. He's had an unbelievable season. He's battling cancer, the quarterback chaos, and they're going to win this division. And by the way, they could end up going 500. If you look at their schedule,

it's realistic to think they're going to be an 8 and 18. That's remarkable. That exactly. That is, I mean, coach of the year, you could say Kevin Stefansky. Ron Rivera's got to be on your ballot. He's got to be somewhere on your ballot. And they have a star in Chase Young. So you didn't get your, you didn't get your quarterback this year.

Alex Smith, you know, it's a calf soreness or something in his injured leg. You know you're not going to move forward with Wayne Haskins, even though he played a nice game yesterday. You get the quarterback in your set. You have to feel great if you're Washington. And I wasn't sure what this team was going to be this year. He's definitely got to be in the coach of the year conversation. So Kevin Durant returned to the court for the first time since June of 2019 this weekend. Internet freaked out.

They did. I don't know why because, I mean, he's clearly coming back this season. But he shot five or 12 from the field, 15 points three rebounds and three assists in his net's debut. And after the game, he said it felt good to get back out there. I was anxious, nervous. You know, I visualized this moment for so long, you know, nine, ten months of just thinking about how it will be this, you know, next phase in my career. You know what I'm saying? So I felt like I was just chomping at the bit.

I was going through it. So to go through this felt solid. I'm really happy for Kevin Durant. I got to be honest with you. I think we underestimate as media and fans. You come off an injury. You can do all the practice you want, but you can't tell me.

I don't know if I think how hard it would be. I mean, if you've ever had an injury. Yeah. I remember Tom Brady off his injury, the entire year, you could tell. No,

he didn't want. It's terrified. He didn't want anybody near his legs. I don't play professional sports. I tore my ACL. It took me three years to really, like, feel comfortable just running again. It's a huge mental hurdle to get over.

I mean, it's like you need, I would imagine that Kevin Durant would employ like a therapist occasionally to talk about not thinking about screwing your leg. I don't know how you don't because physically you know you're ready. Like you've gone through the therapy. You've gone through the training. You've been out there practicing. You know you're physically ready. But it's terrifying, especially if you're, I mean, think about, think about Clay. Like, he just got back from an injury and now he's injured again.

Like that is an exhausting process to go through to trust your body again. and then you're away from what you do for a living. Like if we, if we, you know, tear our Achilles or ACL, we can hobble in here and do what we do. Kevin Dr. They can't do that. Scores so easily. I'm so happy to have him back in the league.

It's going to be such a fun season. Carrie Irving also hadn't played since February, had 18 points and was 7 and 9 from the field on 4 assists, and he did not speak to reporters after the game. So we'll see how long that goes for. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

Heard line news. Peter Schrager, Fox Sports, great reporter for the NFL. Good morning football, too, opposite of us some days. Joining us now, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. Jensers are all mad at me. Pittsburgh's furious with me, and I've said before, there's many components. I respect the heck out of the Steelers.

But they do remind me of the Patriot Shraggs a little last year, where they played Baltimore on a Sunday night game against Lamar. And boy, new. England looks slow-footed. And I watched Josh Allen and the bills last night with Pittsburgh. I'm like, okay, that Lamar and Josh Allen guy, I think the Steelers look good but not special. Is it fair? It's more than fair.

Look, T.J. Watt was amazing last night. I was watching him and Darrell Williams go out of. T.J. Watt is the real deal. He's fantastic. Minka Fitzpatrick's great. They've had a lot of injuries. Bud DePri is a really good player. Devin Bush is a really good player.

or High Smith left last night. Then you look at the running game. It's non-existent. They couldn't get it going. And, hey, you want to do those short passes and then hope that those short pass wide receiver screens are going to work? You might want to catch the ball. And it's, you know, Pittsburgh fans are so sensitive because I get a two column because I said,

I told Kim Hayward on a different show that I thought the bills were going to win and bills were going to win by an easy margin. And that led to, you know, everyone in hysterics in Pittsburgh. Sorry. Like this team does not look like a team that's going to compete with. the chiefs or the bills or the Colts in the coming weeks unless they get healthy, unless their receivers can catch the ball. I'm watching Deonté Johnson here.

He's got the most drops in the league for pro football focus. Eric Ebron could not catch a ball in the last two weeks. Sorry, when your team is not playing well and looks sloppy in December, that's not a good thing. It doesn't usually just click and start working again. It's fair to be off on the Steelers right now. They don't look good and they certainly don't look like they're going to win any games against any worthy competitors late in the season.

I said the Buffalo Bills, the Buccaneers feel like a country club team, and the bills feel like the public course guy that wants to be a member of the country club. I think they're totally legit. And I'll say this. It may be the best coach team in football. What they have done with Josh Allen in the last 18 months, I mean, Joy and I were talking about this this morning. 18 months ago, I'm like, this guy, I would never let him throw.

He's terrifying. I think they're, after Kansas City, I'm not even going to say after Kansas City. Kansas City. I think they're completely legit. Your thoughts. I know. I think the chiefs would like to see any other team but the Buffalo Bills right now. They're humming. They are humming. And it's not just a one week deal. I mean, you go back. If they don't have the Hail Murray happen, they're winners of six straight games. And last night, they were not good in the first half on offense. And you start to feel the ghosts of years past with Josh Chowney through a bad pick. And you're like, and they come out in the third quarter. And he goes, digs, digs, digs, digs, Beasley, Gabriel Davis, Dawson Knox. He completes

11 passes in a row in wintry weather. Like it was sleeting out there and he's throwing darts. I tell you, this Josh Allen, he has had his moments where you wonder, all right, can I trust this guy in the last month or so? I'm done questioning it. He is as good as any other quarterback under 30 outside of Mahomes. I might take Josh Allen, you know, forget might. This is what we're doing.

We're on the herd. I would take Josh Allen over to Sean Watson. I would take Josh Allen over Kyler Murray. I would take Josh Allen over Joe Burrow right now. if I'm building a team. He is that dialed in, and he's had the experiences of two years, ups and downs where you feel like he's fully blossoming. I love watching this kid throw the ball, and I love watching him lead his team.

They really believe in him. Colin, the chiefs are the best team in the AFC and the NFL right now. The bills might be a close second. Yeah. You know, it's, I look at Jalen Hertz, and I, you know, my feeling is it was fun. They had an identity. They're watchable. You know, I think it was kind of the same team playing each other.

obviously the Saints are better, but it's this kind of unique quarterback that can do things. The person they replace can't. I don't know what it looks like in a month. Maybe Tassam Hill does solve the Bree's retiring issue. Jalen Hertz, if his good, still doesn't solve the we have a ton of money to pay Carson Wentz issue. Wrap a bow on what you saw with Philadelphia, what your sources say, what it means this morning. Yeah, I speak to a lot of folks in Philly, both in the week leading up to the game and then last night, after the win, which they were all ecstatic for.

What Jalen Hertz was able to do yesterday was not only lift the team and give a new energy, he was able to kickstart the running game, which has always been a strength for Philadelphia and just wasn't working with Carson Wend. So Hertz goes for 100 yards rushing, only the second rookie to ever do that in his debut since Lamar Jackson, or the only other one is Lamar Jackson. And then Miles Sanders showed up for the first time all season. We were wondering where Miles Sanders is because the offense can run the ball now. It's mobile.

Is he the long-term answer? I don't know. But for the short term and for the near future, I sure think Jalen Hertz, Philly was watchable. They were watchable and they were up in this one, and Jalen Hertz brought a different juice. This kid's played in big games before. We know his college career.

It's very decorated in the Heisman finalists and all that. But Carson Wentz was leading a flat Eagles team that had zero running game. Jalen Hertz led an inspired Eagles team that suddenly had 200-yard rushers against the number one defense in the league. Got to think Jailen Hertz is the quarterback for at least the next couple weeks. and most likely the remainder of the season. Off season, we'll deal with that then. But like you said, Carson wins, do $25 million, no matter what, by the Eagles next year,

and a $60 million cap hit for the Eagles on their salary cap. We never want to overreact on Monday. The Saints lost to the Eagles. Last week, the Giants shocked the Seahawks. We've seen the Raiders beat Kansas City. I say this about parenting. The days are long, but the years fly by. And in the NFL, Sundays are crazy.

And then the season's kind of predictable when it's older. So let's not overreact. But I will say this, that tonight feels substantial with the Cleveland Browns. So to me, it feels substantial. So we had two teams last week, Shregs. The Giants upset Seattle, young coach, young team. They laid an egg yesterday. The Bills had a huge win last week.

Niners, they did not lay an egg. I feel like Cleveland is going to be the tiebreaker. Huge franchise win last week. What do we have? expect from the Browns tonight. I'm not kissing your butt when I say this. No one's better at doing this. You set the stage so well because you're right.

You have those two teams and you have the pro and the con. You've got the bills and you've got the Giants where you're like, the Browns to me, it's not just this week, Colin. They're on prime time next week on Sunday night. So you now have a two week span here, six days where you've got Monday night against the Ravens and then a Sunday night game that NBC flexed into for week 15. You know what that means? That means you are a marquee team.

Do not lay an egg. Please don't lay an egg. Don't be the same old Browns. And yet the Ravens, the Ravens ran all over them week one. The Ravens looked a little better last week against Dallas. The Ravens had a bad strain of COVID that they're now finally getting out of the haze of that. I don't know what to expect.

I'm not making a prediction as far as win losses. I just think that this is the biggest Browns game in maybe 20 years. Yes. And Colin, you set the stage perfectly. And if they lose, everyone's going to fly from the bandwagon. They're on Sunday night. And if they lose twice to the Ravens and the Giants, well, then we are in the same old Browns territory.

And we're talking about whether or not they're even making the playoffs. A huge game tonight, especially against a division rival that's just beating up on them over the last few years. I know, it's getting cold and it's all these Northeast games and these Clevelands and Baltimore. The sport just keeps giving and giving and giving to us. Peter Schrager, he's also going to New York Times bestseller out of the blue. He's on our Fox NFL kickoff, a rising star. We absolutely love having you on the show, buddy. Thanks. You're the best, Colin.

Thanks for having me on a Monday. You bet. I'll give you my prediction on the Browns tonight and what I expect. Plus, Colin right, Colin wrong. And also, are we sure the chiefs are the best team in this league? Something happened yesterday, and I'm not sure. I'm not sure we're paying attention to it. That's coming up.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw,

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Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we, are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross,

because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Holiday season is here. It felt like the holiday season last night at my house. Can you be addicted to oatmeal raisin cookies?

I'm going to ask somebody on that because I, the thing is, I don't eat cookies unless you make them from me. And then if you put them in front of me, I'm mostly a disciplined person. there was something about the combination of oatmeal and raisins. I can't stop. I've had two this morning. I can't stop. You had two this morning?

Big, huge, gigantic, not healthy, not even interested. Oh, my God. I can't stop it. I could have four more. It's just, it's a problem. Okay, so, you know, we say this. There are bad wins. I thought Tampa's win is concerning off a by, and there are concerning,

and then there are losses that you kind of feel good about. Like, okay, we're getting there. So Kansas City, I got very lucky. I won this in Blazing Five in the best. backdoor cover, got very lucky. But in the last five days, Kansas City is not dialed in. This is concerning. In their last five games, now this is a gambling thing, but it does translate to real football. They're 0 and five against the spread. What does that mean? That if you look at the numbers, the people who do this, the Foxbat, the professionals who do this, they're underachieving.

They're not playing up to who they are. And five straight one possession wins over not a lot of great teams. Yesterday is a prime example. Miami was missing their three best running backs. They had three rookies playing on the offensive line. They're scout team guys. Their wide receivers were Mack Hollins and Lidin Bowden and Jeline Grant. They got 370 yards. They got more first downs than Kansas City. They won time of possession against Kansas City. You're talking about Tua, hadn't played football for a year and a half has a handful of starts, was benched they bring him back. Three rookies on the offensive line. Your fourth or fifth best running back.

Devante Parker's your best receiver. I don't think he played in the second half. This should have been over. This is one of the, this is the Jags yesterday. That's what it should have been. And the last time the Chiefs beat somebody by more than a touchdown was the Jets. Like, like, and you saw the Jets yesterday. the second series the game was over.

So I look at that yesterday. I don't know how it was that close. I do not believe this morning, Kansas City is the best football team in America. I do not. They should be. They could be. They maybe be. They're not.

That's not the best football team in America. Giving up 370 yards to three rookie offensive linemen, running backs that probably should play in another league like XFL, CFL, or something FL. And it was in the end of that game. Once again, it got kind of uncomfortable. So it's not a knockoff. on him. It's just a reality of, I don't think Kansas City is buttoned up. Now, we do have a history of certain teams flipping a switch, but a lot of times, like the LA Clippers, you can't, right? Like,

most of the time, electric teams can flip a switch. Not all the time. A couple years ago, the Golden State Warriors, in my opinion, were down three, two, would have lost on the rockets if Chris Ball doesn't get hurt. They could not flip the switch. They just got comfortable with winning. Offense was too easy. They got into a series with an energized team that matched up well, the Rockets. And if Chris Ball didn't get hurt, Houston's winning that series.

The other thing is, I want to talk about the Cleveland Browns because they play tonight. And again, so the Giants came off a huge win with a young coach and a young quarterback laid an egg yesterday. And then Buffalo, young coach, young quarterback, played great last week.

They had a big game yesterday and looked terrific, at least in the second half. So here's Cleveland. Cleveland last week, went to Nashville, beat the Titans. To me, it felt like the biggest win for Cleveland in 10 years. I mean, I don't have it in front of me, but it felt like a big win. So now tonight, how do you react? This goes about the Trent Dilfer always told me this. Everybody reacts to losses the same way. The NFL, how do you react to wins? Some guys, it's just too much. And then let me start with this. I won the Baker Mayfield argument. He's not a number one pick. The reason I love

I like Cleveland tonight, and I do like them, close, is because they're Kevin Stefanski's team. And how do I know that? They don't talk. They're mature. They're cerebral. They're grown up. And Cleveland, I predicted last year they'd be kind of a mess they were. I didn't buy into Freddie Kitchens or the GM John Dorsey.

This year I predicted they're a playoff team, and it looks like they're going to win nine, ten games. I like Cleveland tonight. And the reason I like them, they're not. not Baker Mayfield's team. They are Kevin Stofansky's team. And what's interesting about tonight is that when you play divisional games, it really shows you who you are. Because they know your personnel and you know theirs. And nobody's fooling anybody. Everybody knows the other guy's playbook. This is going to come down to intelligence, emotional discipline. These are all the things we've worried about, Cleveland. We've never worried about Cleveland's talent. That is not the issue.

Tonight, divisional games come down to emotional maturity, emotional discipline, intelligence, guile, all the little stuff that wins games. And Baltimore historically has been really good at all the little glue stuff. So a divisional game really either unravels or exposes you. a win tonight by Baltimore. I don't care if a win tonight by Cleveland. I don't care if it's in triple overtime. Says a lot more than a win over. Even a team equal to Baltimore out of division.

To play a division rival and to beat them tells me this isn't, everybody knows everybody's players here. Nobody's fooling anybody. BAM ALSU, you all recruited the same players. USC, UCLA, you're recruiting the same players. You've seen all the tape. You know all the plays. You play every year.

It's different. This is not SEC versus PAC 12 or Big Ten. against Big 12 or, you know, Patriots coming out West, taking on charge. No, no surprises here. All the little glue stuff is going to matter. And that's what we always doubt about Cleveland. I don't tonight because I think it's Kevin Stefansky's team. And I think he's on a short list of coaches of the year.

So I can't wait. This is a great Monday night football game. And I'll tell you, the weather apparently I read this morning is just a bunch of nonsense everywhere. It's just mostly terrible. I'm sitting there last night, and I'm watching that game. It felt so NFL. Tonight is going to feel so NFL.

There are games. I mean, yesterday, Atlanta and the Chargers is just a bunch of chaos and interceptions late, and you're like, this is a circus. Tonight's going to feel so true to the NFL brand. It is just going to be tough and physical and running. And the game, you better watch it because it's going to be over

in about 90 minutes. It's the top two rushing teams. They're going to eat the clock up. I think both teams will mostly take the ball to the quarterback's hands, run downhill, quick game. First quarter will be done in 20 minutes, and I'll take the Browns to win by a field goal or less. But Cleveland, as always, I got your back. All right, two and a Monday, Colin right, calling wrong.

In L.A., it's the hurt. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk, David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's, experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit

are armored. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. Eighty-four is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.