The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Dak Overcame Mistakes And Won

Episode Date: December 26, 2022

In this hour of The Herd, Nick Wright (in for Colin) loved the resolve displayed by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and his Cowboy teammates in their wild Saturday win over the feisty Philadelphia Eagles.  Nick believes this is Dallas' best chance to make a deep playoff run. See 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.

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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me.

84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And 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. It 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. 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 Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. Fox Sports Radio. Welcome in. This is The Heard.

Colin Coward, along with seemingly a third of America, caught in some weather-related travel delays. So I'll be with you throughout the afternoon. Massive show for us today. J-Mack's still here. J-Mack, well, here, you know, in spirit in New York, actually in Los Angeles. He was smart. He didn't travel over the holidays, so he is here with us. J-Mack, good to see you, as always, my friend.

Yes, I had the people come to me, Nick. It was a smart move. Have them come to me. I don't go skiing like Cowherd. I don't know what the guy's doing. But he promises me via text, Nick, he will be wearing the hat backwards tomorrow. Miami Dolphins hat on the show. Oh, well, that as he should.

He also, I think, should have to wear a Baker Mayfield jersey. But we will discuss Baker annihilating Collins' beloved Russell Wilson in what had to be just the worst-case scenario for him. We'll get into that. Also, I know the Packers won yesterday, J-Mack. I think they actually lost. And we can explain why we will get into that and a lot to do. MVP race is done. We will touch on a bit of the NBA Christmas Day, even though the NFL has absolutely

taken that corner from them. And, of course, Tua pour one out for our friends on Speak because this last month is not gone exactly great for the Tua fans out there. Most notably, my dear friends, Joy Taylor and Emmanuel Ocho. But we are going to start, of course, with the game of the weekend. Probably had 25 million people watching it, if not more. Cowboys Eagles. And the single best play of Dak Prescott's career,

I think it beats the overtime touchdown pass against the Patriots last year where he actually heard his cap on that play, kind of running touchdown pass. It beats what had some unbelievable throws in the playoff game, his rookie season against Green Bay, which I believe is the greatest game Dax ever played, even though it was a loss. The single best play of Dax's career and maybe the,

signature win of Dax's career, 40 to 34 over the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only locking up the playoffs, of course, because the Cowboys were locked for the playoffs before this game even started. Keeping the slim, slim NFC's hopes alive, but more

importantly, a statement for Dack Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys that, all right, round one, you got us, but we didn't have Dack. Round two, we got you, but you didn't have Jalen. If we see each other in round three, we are ready. We can get sacked a half dozen times as DAC did yesterday.

We can have a crushing turnover as DAC did yesterday. And we can still go hang 40 points. This game could have gone sideways so many times. And where I want to give DAC credit and where if you're a Cowboys fan, you have to have an odd sense of optimism, surrounding this team right now is after throwing that pick six when two weeks ago he damn near gave away the Texans game with terrible interceptions last week he did give away the jags game with terrible interceptions and then a couple days ago with the whole country watching on

Christmas Eve in the game of the week he starts it off with a terrible interception to respond to that by completing 14 straight passes, to respond to that by throwing for over 300 yards, getting his legs involved once again looking like a young DAC, and completing that third and 30 to ultimately beat the Philadelphia Eagles gives you the real reason for optimism if you're a Cowboys fan, which is, hold on. Have you seen the NFC quarterback roster?

Hell, look at the Pro Bowl roster, which was Jalen, deserve it, but injured right now. And then Gino Smith and Kirk Cousins. And you look at the potential playoff quarterbacks. Those three guys, throw in a Daniel Jones, potentially Taylor Heineckee or Carson Wentz, depending on who they're going to go to there. You've got obviously Tom Brady, who will discuss later in the show, but is for the first time in his, career looking his age. And then you have Dak Prescott. Oh yeah, and Brock Purdy, a rookie seventh rounder for the most talented roster in the league, but a rookie seventh rounder. And then you have Dak Prescott, 29 years old, coming off a season when they had the highest scoring

offense in football, this year with the offensive line finally getting healthy, with a defense that while has been somewhat exposed over the last month, we know when it plays its A game has top five in the league potential and has a guy in Micah Parsons who's going to finish, I believe, second in defensive player of the year voting. I think Joey Bost, Nikki Bosa, pardon me, might have locked it up yesterday, and if he didn't lock it up yesterday, you probably should have.

But you have top flight defenders at every single level. You are oddly right now one of the. healthier teams in the conference, and you are the team that has been the conference juggernaut throughout the regular season, you've stared in the eye and hung 40 on them. And that is, so for the Dallas Cowboys, this is their moment. We know they're going to be the five-seat. We know they're going on the road in week one, because I don't think they're going two and O and Philly's going O and two down the stretch, and all of a sudden they steal the division.

Just give them the five-seat. They're on the road in week. week one of the playoffs, either facing Sam Darnold or facing what's left of the Tampa Bay Bucks. A good opportunity, by the way, for revenge against the Bucks that week won 19 to 3 embarrassing defeat. And then in all likelihood, the following round, you are either going to Minnesota, a team you beat 40 to 3 or round 3 against Philadelphia. and I don't know how anyone who's being fair and honest about the Cowboys can't say this is their best chance to go on a deep playoff run the best chance they've had since Dax's rookie season when they got snake bit by what was at the time still a prime Aaron Rogers in an all-time game.

This is a team. It's well documented, but it's not done. been forget a Super Bowl to a conference championship game in more than a quarter century. The only teams in the conference with a longer conference championship game drought are the sad sack lions and the embarrassing Washington commanders, you know, but previously not that team. Not that team name, Washington football team. This is get rid of the Odell stuff. Get rid of all the nonsense surrounding Jerry Jones.

and just the actual football team. It's got a healthier now, very good offensive line. Two good running backs. C.D. Lamb's not a superstar receiver, but a legitimate one and a receiving court that the rest of the guys from Brown, obviously Gallup, all of a sudden, dear God, that's T.Y. Hilton's music on the 3rd and 30. A defense that can, even though it hasn't much the last month,

get after the passer, and a path in the NFC where you should have the quarterbacking edge in every game in the playoffs, except for against Philadelphia, and we'll see. Because Jalen Hertz's injury is to his throwing shoulder. And Jalen Hurts doesn't play defense and you scored 40 on.

So listen, I am not the Cowboys super fan and the Cowboys Super Hater Corners of SportsVee, media are well taken. I am neither. And that's probably, honestly, not great for the old brand. Yeah, you want, Cowboys got a lot of fans, and it's pretty smart business to either crush the Cowboys regularly or to pick them to go to the Super Bowl every year. I've done neither.

I went in this year pretty neutral on the Cowboys. But I actually think a team that for the majority of the last quarter century has been overrated because of the brand. has somehow become sneakily underrated. And they're going to go into the playoffs with the most experienced quarterback in the conference, aside from the 45-year-old, with a roster that is it the Eagles roster? No, but they just hung 40 on them.

And in a position where I think they've got to feel about as good about their chances this year as they have any time in the last, like I said, 25 years. Now to Philadelphia. Lane Johnson, it's being reported today, is out at least the rest of the regular season, and that seems optimistic. The Schefter said tendon in his stomach is torn, so he's out at least the next couple weeks. We'll see. That would obviously be a devastating loss for them.

And when you look at the top of the conference, which to me there's clearly, I think San Francisco is the best roster in the league. I think San Francisco right now is good claim. They are the best team in the league. They are certainly the hottest team in the league, but they have a rookie seventh rounder at quarterback. So you've got to have a yeah, but with them. I think they're the favorites.

And when you look at how San Francisco and Philly would match up, if that were to be the NFC championship game, if Philly were to get there. I'm very confident San Francisco is going to get there. Can Philly harass the passer the way that they have made their money all year against San Francisco? I don't know if they can. I don't know with Trent Williams, that offensive line, and most importantly, a diverse running attack that is going to try to keep you off balance the entire game

and neutralize that pass rushers. I would be very nervous this morning if I were Philadelphia. I'd be very nervous that we're facing a potential round three against Dallas that I do not know if that bodes well for them. I'd be very nervous that Jalen Hertz, who had been playing obvious, excellent football up until his injury, how is he going to respond to coming off a throwing shoulder injury? And I'd be very nervous that the guy who over the last five years has been the best player on our team, which is an odd position to have your best player, but he was your best player,

superstar right tackle Lane Johnson, that he's now done, at least for the regular season, if not longer. And I understand they had a backup quarterback in, and you're not going to kill him for losing that football game. But they were in a position where had they been able to hold on to that double-digit second-half lead, they'd have everything locked up with two weeks to go.

and you can, if you want to get creative with it, you could have rested people this coming week in week 17 and then played your guys in week 18. That way you still got to remove one game of potential injury off the schedule, but you're not going to have the super long rest where you rest guys in week 18 and then you have the buy. Now you're not in that position. Now if you want to be able to rest anybody,

you've got to win this week, and then you ask yourself the real question. Do we want Jalen? to have not played in four weeks before the playoffs, and in the playoffs, who are we going to be facing in our first playoff game? Dallas for a round three, that doesn't seem that attractive. If Tampa were to upset Dallas, listen, Tampa has a million of flaws, but they are also the team that embarrassed this very Eagles team in the postseason last year. And if Tampa were to be playing you in round two, you know what that means?

That somehow they've gotten something right, and it ultimately is Tom, Brady. Philadelphia right now to me. And I'm not trying to overreact to one game when they didn't have their quarterback. But they feel to me more likely to lose their first playoff game coming off the by than they are to be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl. I think San Francisco would beat them and I think Dallas has proven they absolutely can beat them. And Dallas is going to carry itself with that confidence. And if Tampa were to somehow be there, it feels weird because Philadelphia has been excellent all year and Tampa even yesterday and the wind looked terrible.

I don't know if Philly would be so thrilled with facing Tom Brady and that Bucks team that made them look like the NFL playoffs expanded too far last year and letting in a seven seed. One last thing on the Eagles and the alleged MVP race. So yesterday, when you saw Philadelphia's offense for the most part, handle itself quite well. Now, Gardner, the three turnovers sounds awful when you watched them. One of them was a very tough luck

pick. Another one of them was a missed handoff exchange. I thought Gardner played fine, and those receivers are excellent. And there's a lot of ways Philadelphia can scheme guys open and can make potentially limited passers.

That guy looks awesome. Did anybody who was arguing the last few weeks that Jalen Hertz is the MVP feel at least a little foolish? As we have seen throughout this season, all year long, there has been one

constant in the MVP race and then a rotating cast of, what about him? Going into the year, it was Mahomes, but Josh Allen's the favorite, and then Josh Allen continues a two-month-long slump,

so he's out of it. Then briefly, was, is two of the MVP? As silly as that sounds right now? Well, they haven't lost a single game. He started and finished. Look at his numbers. Look at his passer rating. And then that went away, obviously. And then it was Jalen. And it was not only that Jalen is he the MVP. He was the betting favorite, the betting favorite, even though everyone acknowledged. Well, Philadelphia versus Kansas City, Philly's got the better offensive line. They have the better receivers. They have the better running game. They have better defensive line. They have the better secondary. They have the

better roster. So do they have the better quarterback? No, of course not. And now we're at a spot where I'm telling you this much. If Joe Burrow had continued the half he had in the first half into the second half, this morning the conversation would be if Burrow beats the bills, why isn't he the MVP? And the answer is that we can show you the numbers because this guy's the MVP all year, and it's not even close. He leads the league in yards. He leads the league in touchdowns. He leads the league in QBR.

He's second in passer rating, and the person he's second to by four tenths of a point is Tua. And listen, call me a hater. I'm going to go ahead and say Tua's not showing up on any ballots. But we're not done, by the way. Here's a fun prediction before we take a quick break. We're not done with the rotating cast. of why isn't he the MVP?

Josh Allen's played himself out of it. Burrow needed to finish super strong and they almost blew that game. Jalen is hurt. Tua is playing terribly. So who's left? Mark, write it in stone. You're going to be scrolling Twitter

or scrolling channels sometime over the next 96 hours. And this is going to be what's on the bottom line. Such and such says, If Justin Jefferson gets to 2,000 yards, why isn't he the MVP? And the answer is because the most talented player in the league is also having the best season and his team also has the second most wins. And he's doing it with a hodgepodge receiving court.

That's even more hodgepodge right now than at any point all year. Nobody seems to care. But did you guys know the chief starting running back has been on an IR? the last month and the Chief's number one receiver has been on IR the last month. Miss six weeks each, I think. No, nobody cares. Because it doesn't matter who's out there with him. It doesn't matter the circumstances. What we know is that guy is going to produce each and every week and his team's winning,

and he's doing it in what was supposed to be the hardest division ever, and he's doing it for the first time in his career, kind of as an underdog. Real trendy pick to pick the Broncos or the Chargers or somebody to win this. division. Instead, the Chiefs had it wrapped up right around Thanksgiving. He's the league MVP, and if we're being fair, it probably should be unanimous up top. 50 voters, 50 first place votes should go to the best player in football, his first league MVP, since his first year as a starter. Why the Bucks still should scare you a bit. We'll do that next, and eventually we'll get to why I think the Packers made a big, big mistake over the last few weeks and what's

happening with two of it. It's all next. Nick Wright in for Colin on the heart. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper 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 where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a gas, galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two.

Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back in, Nick right in for Colin on the herd. We'll get to J-Mac in the news in just a moment. Also, by the way, even though I'm hosting this show, still going to be on first things first, but later this afternoon, 3 p.m. Eastern is when that starts. and we'll talk a little LeBron at some point today as he continues a record-setting streak

that nobody cares about because the Lakers are that terrible. However, speaking of other goats, Tom Brady and the Bucks, I have been amazed that we are oddly in a place where I am one of the only people in the media that seems to still be afraid of Tampa. Now, maybe it's because I'm,

I wrote Tom Brady off for dead. Was it five years ago? I don't know. He's won a couple Super Bowls since I said he was cooked. And so maybe I end one of those Super Bowls was at the expense of my very hometown team in a dominating performance of first year with Tampa. So maybe I am, you know, 11 times bitten twice shy, maybe.

However, and Tampa looked terrible yesterday. And Tom looked bad. The whole game. and yet I can't be the only person who was watching that game and saw Tampa down 10 in the fourth and still was like, yeah, they'll probably win. They're not down three scores.

And if they're not down three scores, the other team is going to be mind-melded by this guy, going to make just enough mistakes, and Tampa's going to do just enough to squeak by, and that's, of course, what happened. And I know I get it. Brady, for the first time in his career, looks old. And last line, notwithstanding, they don't run the ball well.

And they have a lot of names without a lot of production. And the offensive line is banged up. I understand all of that. But honest question here, as we know Dallas is probably going to be the five-seat. If you let Dallas choose, you can go to Tampa, who's going to be 9 and 8 at best, maybe 8 and 9 win that division, or two Minnesota, which might finish 14 and 3. Honestly, who do you think Dallas is choosing? Minnesota's, as I mentioned, they won another crazy game this weekend,

and they're 12 and 3. Right now this moment, if I were to tell you, one of these two teams is in the NFC title game, Bucks or Vikings? Are you really picking the Vikings? Tampa has some obvious solves to make the offense functional, and the defense is still quite good. Solve number one is continue to get healthier, which they are, and that's on both sides of the ball. Vita Vaya should be back.

Well, the offensive line is getting healthier as we speak should be healthier for the playoffs. Solve number two, stop treating Leonard Fournett like he's your number one running back. Rashad White has been better. every time he's had a chance to touch the ball. I know Brady loves Fournette. Seems like balls and left which like Fournette. I don't know why. Go with Rashad White.

Solve number three is the most interesting one, which is Tom Brady no longer holds onto the ball in the pocket in the face of pressure and delivers balls downfield. Is that something he is doing because he's 45 years old and must be healthy for the playoffs. And in the playoffs, is he going to stand in and take punishment? If he is, that offense instantly changes. And the fourth thing, and this is easier said than done,

is just keep the games close. I think Dallas could go to the Super Bowl. Dallas should, in that playoff game, blow the bucks out. But even the biggest buck skeptic this year, I feel like has to admit to themselves. If that is an eight-point game or less in the fourth quarter, who do you think that favors? With Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott on one side and Tom Brady

and his 20 years of not only fourth-quarter comebacks, but other teams just doing some of the dumbest things you can possibly imagine against, you know, when he's on the sideline, their offense running out of bounds, whether it's Mark Ingram or the various things we've seen all year. So I am not going to step on this Tom Brady Rake again. It's easy to write them off right now. It's easy to write the bucks off right now.

But folks have been trying to convince me all year. They might not win that division. Oh, Carolina is not dangerous. And Tampa, as bad as they've been, is going to go into the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. They won last night in ugly fashion. They're going to beat Carolina this coming week, and then they'll beat Atlanta with what Atlanta's doing with Desmond Ritter in week 18. And all of a sudden, they will be, what would they be in round one?

Six and a half point home dogs to the Dallas Cowboys? Scary game. I guarantee you Dallas would rather be going to Minnesota and playing a 13-win Vikings team than going to Tampa and playing an eight or nine-win Tom Brady-Bucks team. Here's Jason with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Nick, so we got three big stories, but this is breaking.

I'm going off script literally in the last 30 seconds, Nick. Mike White has been cleared to play for the Jets in Seattle this week. Let's go. I'm trying to contain the excitement. Jets in Seattle. All right, let's get to the stories. No, no, no, real quick. Hold on.

This is important for your life. Fine, fine. Do you want to fire something on it? Go ahead. Just real quick, I just want to give you the floor. Mike White in Seattle against Gino Smith. Yeah, okay, well that's exciting. I didn't even think about the Gino Smith part of it.

Oh, yeah. But you guys are all of a sudden alive. All of a sudden, we are definitely alive. We just got to win out. You're alive. And we need Miami to beat New England this week. But two is the quarterback still. So not feeling great about that way.

All right, let's get to the first story here, Nick. Congrats to you. Go ahead. Thank you, buddy. We'll go with the Green Bay Packers. Yeah. Man, down 20 to 10 at halftime. And then they basically watched.

Tua vomit all over himself in the fourth quarter, three interceptions. You know, it was Christmas, Nick, so I didn't go off on Tua. I felt a little bad for a Miami Dolphins fans have been in my mentions for like six months because I've been just saying Tua's not an NFL starter. He's not very good. Listen, I don't want to make this about Tua. Again, it's Christmas week. We're in a good spirit.

We're feeling happy. So let's make it about Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers is happy to be back in the playoff mix. I'd like to be, you know, 10 and 5. seven and four. But considering where we were a few weeks ago, a lot has happened in our favor. All the games that need to go a certain way win a certain way. Now, there's obviously much, much left. But again, we're going to be, we played meaningful games in December. We won all three of those. Now we're playing meaningful games in January. We got to win those.

So, listen, I don't want to make too much of this, but this felt like a layup, Nick. If you've watched any NFL, you know Tua is not a very good quarterback, totally shut down in the second half. This loss for Miami essentially opens up, do they make a run at Lamar Jackson, who is from Florida and really wants to be there? Do they make a run of Jimmy G., who pairs with LaFleur? I'm sorry, not LaFleur, McDaniel quite well. Like, listen, I'm sorry, Tua just doesn't look like the guy. Ask for the Packers. Nick, real quick, Christian Watson hip injury. We don't know his status going forward. No, I know Rogers completed passes to 10 different receivers. They've got some talent, but Watson is clearly their number one.

That will hurt going forward. Green Bay has Minnesota and Detroit to close out. So they're kind of live in a terrible NFC. Listen, I believe Green Bay is fools gold. I think they have made a massive mistake, not acknowledging that this season isn't going anywhere and using it as a way to let Jordan Love play. And we can discuss that more later in the show.

But you clearly want to crush Tua. And you know what, J-Mack? I'm here for it. Listen, I'm here for it, buddy. I'm with you. Here's the deal. I said before the year that I didn't think Tuel would be the starting quarterback for the Dolphins week one of 2023. I no longer think that.

I do think that he has played well enough prior to the last month to where they are not going to make a drastic move at the quarterback position, but I think they should. And I think it is categorically insane the number of otherwise smart media members that were tricking themselves into thinking, oh, it's not just that he's a starter. He's great. Look at what he does to defenses with his eyes. You had these Tuanon folks that were acting like he was reinventing the quarterback position. And I give you credit. I give Cowherd credit. and if I may say so myself, I give myself credit for not wavering.

Because it became very trendy for folks to be like, oh, this guy who kept getting bent for Ryan Fitzpatrick, whose team wanted Deshawn Watson, and then they wanted Tom Brady. Actually, he's great. Turns out he's awesome. He's not undersized and a little under athletic with a little bit of a weak arm. And those picks, Jason, one of the reasons I can't. can't buy into the Packers. I didn't think the Packers played great yesterday.

It's not like, oh, that's vintage Aaron Rogers, through for three-fit. No, Miami handed them that game. I thought Miami actually, Miami impressed me with how they ran the ball against Buffalo. And I do think, sorry for your Jets, I do think Miami's going to get that seventh playoff spot. I don't think they're going to full-on collapse. But eight and three to this is a disaster, and it does make you question two and moving forward. It has to. You know, Pua is an easy story to root for. You know, like an undersized guy, you know, where he's from, going to Alabama, coming in in the national championship game.

Like, I like Tua. He looks like a nice human. If he were my neighbor, we'd be boys. I'd probably pick up his mail when he was out of town. I wouldn't do that for a quarterback like Daniel Jones, but I digress. I'm just saying, I like Tua. He's a really nice kid. I'm rooting for him. But as a Jets fan, like I can't get behind him and I don't think he's great. He looked like a choke artist out there yesterday. Just fourth quarter game on the line. He had a great first half. It just went sour for him quickly. I do believe the Jets in Week 18 beat Miami, obviously, get in the playoffs. And then I'm going to be insufferable here on the show, if I'm not already. Let's move on to the next story.

Oh, here we go. This was a Christmas miracle. The Raiders, 201 yards of total offense in a 1310 loss to the Steelers. I gave out the Steelers on my podcast as my best bet of the week. It hit late, thanks to Mr. Pickett. Josh Jacobs, though, for the Raiders. worst game of the season, 50 scrimmage yards, and here's what Josh Jacobs,

not happy after the loss. And it's on us, you know, everybody wanted, you know, talk about the defense. They made their stops when they were supposed to. We got to help them out. And, you know, I'm tired of saying we got to help them out. It's just frustrating. So I'm tired of dealing with this.

Like, every day I come here and bust my ass, I see the guys, you know, bust the ass and you know and the result is not there and you know for me the last four years the result hasn't been there and um quite frankly i don't know what else to do hey nick if we're going to crush tua if we're going to crush zach wilson for thursday night and he should be crushed Derek Carr another guy easy to root for boy what a Christmas nightmare he was awful in pittsburg now it was cold and he did not perform well in the game and historically has been terrible and cold weather games, but Derek Carr was an abomination. You can see that Josh McDaniel's marriage

with him ending. Contractually, they can get out of Carr's deal. I think for sure he's gone. If you look at Tom Brady in Tampa, that doesn't look like a good marriage with Byron Lefich. I've said to here, Tom Brady to Vegas, Derek Carr, I don't know where he lands. If the Jets could be in the mix, but I don't know that I want him. He's been that bad this year. So I think that's surprised people. The league leader in interceptions, Derek Carr is at 14. Handful of guys at 13, including everyone's fake MVP, Josh Allen. But Derek Carr is the league leader at 14.

And I mean, Josh Jacobs didn't have a good game. He went into that game, Jason, with almost 1,500 rushing yards. This is what is so wild if you're a Raiders fan. Jacobs having a career year. Devante's been really good. It's not like, oh, we got Devante Adams and he's been a bum. He hasn't gotten as many opportunities maybe as people. it hopes. But when he's gotten him, he's been good, but they have a clear hard ceiling at the

quarterback spot in a conference where you can't have that. So listen, you know I watched the show and you've been big on that the Raiders might move on from Derek Carr. I think you're on to something there. I personally don't think Josh McDaniel's an NFL head coach, but that's neither they're not going to move on from him because evidently the owner doesn't have the cash on hand to be paying out all these coaches. Seems like an odd spot to be on an NFL team. You can't pay out the coach. But yeah, listen, the Raiders were a trendy pick of, oh, they added Chandler Jones, they added Devante Adams, they made the playoffs last year. No, they're just going to finish last or second last in the AFC West as they do most years. And this is another year like that.

We got one more story? Yeah, one more. Minnesota Vikings, 2724 victory over the Giants. I didn't watch too much of this game because the Giants are borderline unwatchable. Justin Jefferson was phenomenal and they won it, the Vikings did, on a 61-yarder by Greg Joseph. And if you've watched any Vikings games this year, you know Greg Joseph is not a very good kicker. For him to make that from 61, that's a Christmas gift to himself. Vikings now, just a staggering 11-0 in one-score games. I'm giving out free gambling advice. One-score games usually flip year to year. Go look at the teams from last year, Tennessee Titans. So next year, Vikings, probably a six-win team.

Just putting that out there, Nick. Listen, the six wins feels a little harsh, but you're absolutely right. 11-0 in one-score games is impossible. As is being 12 and 3 and having a point differential of five. They're plus five in point differential. They have one win less than Philly,

in the NFC, obviously. Philly's plus 137. Minnesota is plus five. Ben Baldwin, I think it is, tweets out the list. Every 12 and 3 team in NFL history and what their point differential was. Nobody else has been less than plus 50. They're plus 5. They are, to me, a team.

Everyone in the NFC is going to, the difference between drawing San Francisco or Minnesota in round one is so drastic. where I think you're going to, if you have a team that has a wild card spot locked up, and Minnesota is the two, they're going to want to lose their final regular season game. They might not be in this position where they have the ability to do this, just so they can get the seven seed. Because I think Minnesota is right for the picking. I totally agree with you on that. And looking like Packers or Lions in the wildcard game at, or maybe Washington.

I guess Washington's in the mix. Washington. Washington, Seattle. You're righting off Seattle, because. because they play your jets. No, no, they're done. Seattle's to. You're saying Seattle's done

because they play the Jets. There's Jason with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Oh, my goodness gracious. Colin Coward's worst case scenario. Baker Mayfield crushes Russell Wilson.

That and the dirtiest player in football is a quarterback. We'll discuss all that next. Nick right in for Colin on the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day.

Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason Macon. 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 IHard 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, filtered 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 where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back in, Nick Wright in for Colin on the herd. A lot still to get to, including the dirtiest player in the league, somehow being a quarterback. But first, the NFL network is reported a bit ago. Nathaniel Hackett, out. It's the Denver Broncos head coach. that should fix nothing. So listen, Hackett was in over his head. You saw that in week one, and then you saw it again in week two,

and then he actually did, I think, the savvy thing, which is recognized he's in over his head and bring in a guy to help him, you know, do the head coaching part of decision-making. So that's fine. But the reason Nathaniel Hackett is getting fired is not because he didn't understand clock management and situational coaching. The reason that Daniel Hackett is getting fired is he is the first of what will be many casualties of the worst trade in NFL history. A couple first, couple seconds, four players for a quarterback who yesterday was clearly far and away,

the inferior quarterback in a matchup against Baker Mayfield. And listen, Colin, it's not nice. talk bad about people. Certainly not nice. Talk bad about people who aren't here to defend themselves. So I'm not here to take shots at my dear friend, mentor, and the man whose name is on this show, Colin Cowherd. But if I were to

tell him at the beginning of the year that on Christmas Day, Baker Mayfield, on the Rams, because he got cut from the Panthers because he was so bad, was going to complete almost 90% of his passes. The team was going to score

50 plus points against his beloved Russell Wilson, who was going to start the game off with two picks on his first three pass attempts, have his worst game of the year that has had precisely zero good games, I think he would have said I'm lying to him. Instead, it happened,

and the only shocking part of yesterday was that the Broncos' defense appears to have given up, which maybe is why Hackett got fired. If the teams just quit, might as well get rid of him now. Now you can an early start on the head coaching search. But the idea that, oh, now they can make a run at Sean Payton. Listen, I don't know Sean Payton the way Colin does.

He's out in L.A. He's a colleague of ours. But because I'm in New York, I don't have a relationship with him. So I'm not speaking for Sean. But I would imagine Sean would want nothing to do with that situation in Denver. Nothing to do with it. It is an impossible contract for a terrible quarterback that also, seems to be actively disliked by

almost everyone that's worked with him. And at some point and we'll talk more TWA later, we got to start listening to the teams around these quarterbacks. When it seemed like Seattle

was okay with moving on from Russell Wilson, when it seems like Miami wanted to replace Tua, maybe they know something. And we are now in a position where I and this isn't because I'm a Baker

guy, which I am. But what I'm about to say here is not because I'm a Baker guy, it's more because of what Russ has turned into. Over the next five years in this league, Baker Mayfield will be a more relevant player than Russell Wilson.

I think Baker should probably stay in Los Angeles, back up Stafford for a year and then see what the landscape looks a year from now. Maybe he gets in some of those games next year. Stafford's got some scary health stuff going on. He's had three games with McVeigh. Two of them he's had legitimate moments. The first game was awesome at the end.

Yesterday was awesome for him throughout. Meanwhile, the Broncos are just stuck. They're a team that went from 1973, I think it was, until six years ago without back-to-back losing seasons and now over the last six years them, the Jets and the Jags have been the three worst teams in the AFC

from a record perspective, but at least the Jets and the Jags have real reason for optimism. The Broncos are headed in the wrong direction. Traded all those draft picks, made such a big deal about what that team was going to be, and it's a total disaster. And right now, this very much

moment, if the Broncos could trade straight up Russ for Baker and be done with Russ's contract and just have Baker in a walk year, they'd trade another three draft picks to do that, but there's no way to get out of that deal. Speaking of bad quarterback's Mac Jones, it is, so Eli Apple said Mac Jones that this play you're about to see was dirty. It's undeniable that it was dirty. Here is what, is shocking about this play. That it's not shocking. So watch Mack here, 10 yards away from the play.

Don't even know what the point of that is, other than I could hurt the guy. And we now have a growing catalog of Mack Jones when given the opportunity to be dirty, choosing to be dirty. He gator-rolled Brian Burns his ankle last year. This year, I think it was the Bears game, Multiple times he kicked, he attempted to kick players when he was sliding.

He did this. CBS didn't give us a replay of it, but after the Remandre Stevenson fumble, he did something that caused three separate refs to throw a flag, and then he got called for own sportsman-like conducts. I don't know that there is a more easy to dislike player in the league than a guy who's always yelling at his coaches, seemingly taking no account, for his role in the Patriots offense being terrible. And a guy who other than kicker plays the position where you have the least opportunity to be a dirty player.

Yet his usage rate on chances to be dirty and being dirty is like Russ in 2017. It's off the charts historic. It's simply unbelievable that he's doing this as a quarterback. Why I think the Packers actually lost yesterday next. 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. 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 IHard 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, 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, unfilled conversations 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 IHeart 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.