The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - The Chiefs are better this year

Episode Date: September 6, 2024

Colin can't believe the Chiefs managed to get better after winning back-to-back Super Bowls following their thrilling win over the Ravens to start the season We shouldn't be criticizing Lamar Jackson for losing to Patrick MahomesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. I decided I caved. I'm going to do a blazing five in one hour. You know, I've already wrote down on the ledger at home, O and five. I know I'm not going to win any of these. But I will say, I love my picks.

I just caved. I finally said, you know what, it's football season, who cares? I mean, a lot of good teams. I mean, the Ravens were a good team. They lost their opener. It's okay. You can survive. I'm going to be okay.

I do appreciate that. Go Eagles. Yeah, Packers Eagles play the night in Brazil, which is kind of a weird place for the NFL's second game of the year. But let's start with this, Kansas City, 27, Baltimore 20. I said this last year. and I've said it this year. Last year's chief's team, that may have been the team to beat because they had a water pistol offense.

I mean, they couldn't move the ball. They had no deep threat. It was dink and dunk as much as Mahomes can do that. And he had a chance to beat him, and the league couldn't. Because that's not what they are anymore. Now Noah Grant, they got another tight-in, Noah Gray and Travis Kelsey. You got two tight-ins.

Now you got Xavier Worthy. A little bit of a gadget guy, but speed merchant over the top. They have lacked that for several years. Rishie Rice looks like a number one, an absolute number one. Hollywood Brown, who's dangerous, will return. And Juju Smith-Schuster, who they just reacquired, it's going to take him a while to get up to speed, but he knows the offense. He'll be like your number three or your number four.

Outside of right tackle, and they weren't good at right tackle last year. This is a better team. than last year. Much, much faster offensively, much deeper at wide receiver, much more functional at wide receiver. And here's the thing. Great companies in any business give you these little brief moments to make up ground. And last year was the year to make up ground because they couldn't score. They were so vulnerable, they had to go on the road in the playoffs to Baltimore. They had to go on the road to Buffalo. And they still won. Last year was the year to get them. and nobody got him.

They're not perfect. Mahomes had a terrible pick last night, almost two. They were dominated in time of possession, and their defense looked absolutely gassed at the end of the football game. They're not perfect. But they're so good in these close games, number two in the NFL last year in close games. They are so confident in these games with the best coach and the best quarterback.

You've got to wrap them up early, and Baltimore didn't. Now, Xavier Worthy is fascinating. I said when he got drafted, he's a 165-pound track guy. He's not going to dominate the league. He's a gadget guy. He's not going to be a 9, 10, 12 target guy. That's going to be Rishi Rice. A lot of guys in the league like that.

Devonthe Adams is that guy. Jamar Chase, when he gets back. He's that guy. Pooka Nakuwa for the Rams is going to be that guy. But they needed a gadget guy. They needed an over-to-the-top guy. And yes, he's small. And yes, he's, I don't know how durable he is.

He was hurt a lot in college. But nobody in the NFL is going to draw plays better for Xavier Worthy than one Andy Reeves. read and nobody will deliver the ball on those drawn-up plays better than Patrick Mahomes. So he really is something they need. And last night, Mahomes averaged 10 yards per attempt. That was more than any game last year. And that was, a lot of that's Xavier Worthy.

He's allowing other stuff to flourish. And so I watched him last night and I'm thinking, man, you guys all had a chance in this league. You got, you got him on the road in the playoffs last year. And now you got Kansas City. he had to go on the road last year. They didn't have any over-the-top element last year. They were okay in the offensive line. They were insanely thin.

I mean, Rishi Rice was their best receiver last year, and he looked like a three. Well, now he looks like a one. And so my take is this is a much more explosive version of the team that won the last two Super Bowls, and here's Mahomes after. Just having him out there, it just opens up stuff. I mean, you saw when he's out there, they're playing shell coverages. It's getting guys like Trav, and it's getting guys like Rash. open underneath. And that's what's so great about this offense is we're able to do all of that.

And that's when we're at our best. And so like I said, we get Hollywood out there too. It's going to be tough for defense to decide who they want to cover. So, you know, Lamar Jackson is somebody. I've spent a better part of the last five years defending. Last night, 25 first downs more than Kansas City. Rushing first downs, three times as many as Kansas City. Third down efficiency, much better than Kansas City. Interceptions, none. Kansas City had one. Time of possession. They dominated. Even against a great young, twitchy defense, the top defensive coordinator, arguably in the NFL, Steve Spagnola was at Wits' end.

What do you do against this guy? Now, Lamar doesn't throw the ball downfield, in my opinion, well enough. He doesn't throw it downfield like a Josh, a Stafford, and Aaron Rogers of Mahomes. First half, he averaged 1.1 air yards per attempt. Got better in the second half, but he doesn't do that, like the top four or five guys in the league. and there's no way he can play like he played last night the rest of the season. He took a beating. 16 carries.

He was like a running back, and he's lost weight so he's thinner. He cannot play that way. But I kind of understand why last night he played that way, because it's Kansas City. It's his nemesis. It's his arch rival. It's the team he's trying to get over. It's the tiger for Mickelson. It's the MJ for Berkeley.

I get it. And so that effort is not a sustainable effort. your quarterback cannot take that beating. And I don't think he will. I think he'll slide. He'll run out of bounds. He'll have seven, carries not 16. He was so fired up last night.

He talked John Harbaugh, one of the better situational coaches in football, to go for it at midfield. And, you know, the chiefs carved it up, sniffed it out. So I do think it was a unique night where Lamar just said, I want to do it. But I'll tell you this. He is on a short list of quarterbacks in this league, and it may be one or two max, that can get the ball at the normal. Noisiest NFL Stadium against the great defense, the league's best defensive coordinator, there's one timeout in a minute 50 left, and he gets them to within an inch, the end of a cleat,

from potentially tying or winning the game. The dude is one of one. He is so unique and so great. People say, well, he didn't play that great. Mahomes had a terrible pick and almost two. But Mahomes is a legend. I talked about this the other day. We spend so much time on shows like this, not just mine, others, criticizing great players

who can't beat legends. You know what? Who's beating Mahomes? And I thought Lamar last night on that last drive, I compared it last night on my podcast. I said he's like, if you watch the high school football game and there was only one division one player and it was a quarterback,

and he was just running around making people miss. I mean, Lamar makes other great players for Kansas City defensively totally flummoxed. And they're just kind of hoping he tires out. So the only thing I saw between these two teams that I think is trouble, especially for Baltimore, is offensive line play. These are not great offensive lines. These are not the Lions offensive lines.

Baltimore's, I think, will get better. I think Kansas City is what it is. It's not going to be great at right tackle. But I got to tell you, I'm going to defend Lamar Jackson forever. Minute 50, one time out, Spaggs, Kansas City Arrowhead, gets down to the 13-yard line. The kid is just absolutely unreal. Only Mahomes. That's the last hurdle he can't get over.

Just Mahalms, and nobody else can either. Here was Lamar after. You called Kansas City your kryptonite in the past. It ain't my cryptonite. It's not my kryptonite. It's not my kryptonite. I believe our offense got a lot of, we got no additions, and we just getting adjusted, you know. I don't want to say preseason is the reason because it wasn't because we battle.

You know, you can see it, we put points on the board. And you just got to do what we've got to do it. We've got to win those games. Simple. Listen. Kansas City's offense averaged 7.1 yards of play. Baltimore's offense averaged 6.1 yards of play. And that yard is because of a broken coverage that let Xavier Worthy get a touchdown.

You take that broken coverage out. They both average about 6 yards of play. That's a heavyweight fight. I grew up as a kid. It was Ollie Frazier fought three times. Ollie won two, Frazier won one. And I'm just waiting for that one big win for Lamar and the Ravens. But that was great football, great teams, great coaching, great franchises.

because Lamar's getting past everybody. Just not that guy. And that last drive, I'm sitting there on my couch thinking, who can do this? You find me the – I don't think there is anybody. I mean, you find me a quarterback in this league. Spags, that defense, Chris Jones, that pass rush, Arrowhead Stadium, one timeout minute 50. You tell me who can do that drive. I don't know.

I don't see a lot of guys. That's something else. And there's where we are after our first game. Tonight – Thank you, James Jones. Tonight, it's Green Bay in Philadelphia. I like Green Bay. You like Philadelphia.

That's a stayaway game for me. I'm going to do the Blazing Five. That's not one of my picks. You know, I say sometimes I just want to watch the game. I want to watch the game. I don't know what to make of it. I like Green Bay, but Brazil throws everything off. So I don't feel like a game in Mexico City or Europe.

Even the London games or the European games have been a little quirky. You know, like you go over there and you're like, it's just a different feel. Brazil's other side of the earth, so I don't know what I'm getting, but I thought last night was spectacular. I would largely agree on a spectacular night, but I totally disagree with your Lamar Jackson take. I mean, you're like, how many guys can do that? What did he do? Miss receivers open in the end zone? Well, that was a, that was, he did miss one receiver. He was one for five on deep ball throws. I mean, that was, he was off all right. But it should be noted. The Mahomes had maybe one of his worst picks at midfield and almost had a second.

Lamar didn't. Lamar missed somebody in the end zone. You forgot to Lamar fumble, you know. Well, I mean, he did. And what's taking all these hits, Colin? Who does he think he is? I was stunned. That's not sustainable.

Well, it's not, but you have to remember. Sometimes certain opponents are different. Right? Like, there are certain opponents in your life. They're your rival games. I think Mahomes, I think Josh Allen is going to, he's going to take more hits against Mahomes. I think if Josh Allen is playing Miami and Tua,

he's going to step out of bounds. He's not going to take the hit. But I think if you go to Manning or Big Ben and Brady in those games, you're going to put yourself out there more. And I think both Mahomes, I mean, look at Mahomes and Super Bowls. He's been hobbling on the field in the fourth quarters of games. Super Bowl versus game one. But I mean, this is not a difficult one.

This isn't a big lift. There are moments in sports when you're playing a rival, Duke and Carolina, Michigan, Ohio State. you're just going to put your body at risk that you probably wouldn't other times. I mean, John Harbaugh is going forward at midfield. There are other situations he wouldn't go for. It's not smart to do at Arrowhead Stadium with Patrick Mahomes on the other side. But you kind of look at Lamar and you're thinking,

this kid has earned this moment. Yeah. So you just, I think when you face rivals, it's like you don't play the Masters like you like you play the Buick Open. Like there are moments where you've got to be dialed in. You've got to be rested. You've got to have the best caddy. There are certain clubs you're not going to use.

Like, it's just last night is as good as the NFL gets. And Lamar's like, hey, I'm leaving it all out here tonight. I don't think he's going to have 16 carries against the Steelers in week nine when there may be three and six. I would hope not, but I just wonder, does Lamar have that sense? Hey, man, we lost the AFC championship game because I didn't get to be me. I'm going to do me this season and I'm going to carry us on our back. he's just not built for that. He's too slight.

Colin, those hits he was taking, he wasn't even getting out of bounds. No, no, no. I don't think he slid once in the entire game. What are you doing? Well, I think we've seen this in college where C.J. Stroud did not run. Remember, the entire year?

And then they faced Georgia, and it's like, okay, this is different. Okay. Justin Herbert Rose Bowl didn't run all year. They played Wisconsin. Last game. This is different. This is obviously the first game,

not the last game. But I think Kansas City, Baltimore, I think for Baltimore, this game is different. You're just going to do stuff. Guys are going to play hurt. Guys are going to play longer. NFL, I can say it a thousand times.

This league, this product, there's a reason it's lapping the field. This product is so good. 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.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

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Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. All right, everybody's excited. We're excited. Sunday early window, Caleb Williams, Bears hosting the Tennessee Titans. And it is possible, believe it or not, despite what the interweb says. Two things can be simultaneously true. Number one, I think Caleb Williams is going to be fun and exciting and productive. And I think he's the franchise quarterback that Bears haven't had forever.

Number two, the hype is way. over the top. He completed 50% of his throws in the preseason and he had a 79 passer rating. Even in college, his accuracy was erratic. And I say that as somebody that thinks he's a very unique all-time talent.

But three games for USC last year, in the PAC 12, he completed under 58% of his throws. He went in the preseason, he was 10 for 20 and a passer rating under 80. This is going to be bumpy. The Titans for the last 6

months have heard how great Caleb Williams is. I mean, they're an anonymous franchise. If you ask 50 NFL fans who the coach of the Titans is, six would have an answer. If you didn't count Nashville, maybe it's three. Like, nobody knows. All they've heard for six months is, oh, this guy's unbelievable. You should be very, you're going to get blown out. You do get the margins.

This is not college football. It's pro football. I mean, one of the upset bets of the week, frankly, if you ask the sharps of the wise guys, is Tennessee. And Tennessee has no pressure, no expectations. They've got a mayonnaise out of a jar-eaten quarterback who a lot of people think is a bust already. That guy's got something to prove. They got a new coach.

They've got all new weapons, an offensive, clever, creative guy that's for years now been leading Joe Burrow. Like, we don't know what Tennessee is going to look like, but it could be really interesting. So this whole thing about Caleb Williams, I like him. I think he I've predicted for the bears let's just put it out there third place I've predicted they'll win

seven or eight games I've predicted Caleb is the quarterback of the future and I've also predicted and I'll do it again today it's going to be bumpy they're not nearly as good roster-wise as Detroit or Green Bay Green Bay's I know you

I know you don't think Green Bay Green Bay's organization top to bottom is here and the bears are 50,000 you know feet below to see. It's not close. And that matters in this league. Number one quarterback picks.

The number one picket quarterback in week one all time is 4.15 and 1. 4.15 and 1. The last number one picket quarterback to win week one, David Carr 22 years ago.

So the last three years, there has been a big, big, major upset week one in the NFL. You ask all the wise guys, they think it's here. nine straight winless number one pick quarterbacks in week one nine straight winless

so it's like this is going to be bumpy defensive coach in the hot seat Tennessee's been told for five months you're going to get blown out this kid's amazing I think Will Levis is going to be focused you think this Tennessee team's going to be focused everybody everybody all the fans are bet in Chicago

everybody's in on the hype and he's better than Justin Fields but he can be an erratic thrower of the football. That's the knock all my GM buddies say on this. They all say the same thing. I love him, but he's got to, he has got to be, he's got to refine that. He's got to sandpaper his accuracy. Go look at USC last year. Three games in college under 58% completion percentage.

That's not great. He's great, but that's not great. Stuff to work on. And here's Tom Brady earlier this week, stopped by our show, talking about when he knows, what does he see when he knows young quarterbacks are going to be successful? For me, I think the sustainable part about quarterbacking is really what's up here, is what's in the brain. Are you snapping the ball and running good plays consistently against the defenses that you're out there watching as you're reading the defenses?

So much of it to me is the coach giving the quarterback, because he's going to see it every day in practice, the coach and the players, are they giving the quarterback the freedom to make the plays and the decisions that he needs to make to get the team? to win. Yeah, it's not going to be defeat. It's going to be upstairs that's going to win games. See the defense, read the defense, let her rip, and deliver it accurately. I think Caleb can do the first three easily. The last one's going to take work. He is not an inconsistent basis, a hyper-accurate quarterback. Bow-Nix is. Bo-Nicks can't run like him. Bo-Nex not as big as him, right? But Bo-Nix can do that. So, just a lot of turbulence on this flight. It's going to be a bumpy flight. J-Mac with the news.

lose. This is the herd line news. All right, the Jets. Finally, Colin, have Aaron Rogers back Monday for their prime time matchup against the Niners. Rogers has faced many questions about whether he can return to playing at a high level. He was asked if there's a chip on his shoulder

heading into week one. I mean, I've always kind of played with something on my shoulder. You've got to, you know, manufacture things from time and time. But, yeah, I mean, it kind of goes back to the prove it. Who would I need to prove to? Just myself at this point. But I have a lot of pride in my performance. So when I take the field, I expect greatness. And because I've done it before. And so that's the kind of standard to hold myself too. This is one of the best opening Monday night

football games of all time. I cannot wait for this. I think the Jets, I think it's going to be a very close game. Very close game. Cross your fingers. Jets O-line. Let's cross our fingers. They've got absolutely upgraded talent on the O-line. That's not disputable. Can it mesh? Because in this pre-season, now nobody plays old guys in the pre-season. So how long before that O-line can mesh? But in terms of quality of players,

they attack their number one liability, the O-line. Well, it's funny you say O-line. Last night, you see how bad the Ravens' offensive line was? It was a mess. Well, the Jets stole two of their guys. And Ravens' offensive line was collapsing. You have to assume the Jets' offensive line with three new dudes is going to be pretty damn.

good against this dinners. Well, is it going to be good week one? On the road, Abosa. That's the question. That's not really a concern of mine. Oh, okay. I mean, listen. You don't have any concern. Well, I think the big one, you know, we'll talk about it next hour, is this McCaffrey injury situation. It's calf slash Achilles now. It's Trent Williams. I'm going to reserve judgment until Monday, but listen, Monday, Monday show is going to be hyped, obviously, and then Tuesday, you know, if the Jets pull off the dub. Soxy. Basically, you know, this show's going to be connected to the Jets all season.

Well, let's let's know. They go one and four. They'll be... They're not going one and four. This will become a giant show. Oh, please. No shot of that. Oh, my gosh.

I don't think we're talking about the giants at all this season. They're going to be so bad. Let's move to the Buffalo Bills. Also in the AFC Eastern. Your pick to win the division. Well, they lost Stefan Diggs and Gabe Davis, obviously, in the off season.

But they picked up Keon Coleman. Mouthey Kid out of FSU. Very talented. Alan spoke to the impact he expects Coleman to have. What's fair to expect is he's going to an exciting player for us, and I think he's going to help us win football games. He's got a different skill set than maybe what I'm used to.

I don't know if I've had the type of skill set that he brings the table as an option before. It's not going to be perfect right away. We're going to have bumps and bruises, but we're going to keep working, and he loves football, which makes me love him even more. Yeah. Yeah, Keown Coleman, starting on the outside. You got this kid, Mac Hollins, on the opposite. side and then Shakir in the slot. Those are your receivers. Well, it's more of a tight end

offense now. Is that the weakest receiver group? I mean, that's got to be, it's like Patriots, bills. Well, so it's a very interesting year for Josh Allen because Patrick Mahomes had a dreadfully weak receiving core and won a Super Bowl. So this is not a great receiving core for Josh Allen. Now, he's got Cook, who's the best back he's had, and he's got two really good tight ends. But we saw Mahomes without a great receiving core hoisted trophy. I don't want to hear about Stefan Diggs left. The great. great quarterback. Randy Moss left and Brady stacked trophies. I don't want to hear about it. Well, wait a minute. Hold on. Hold on. The tier one quarterbacks are Mahomes, Josh Allen,

and Burrough, according to the athletic. So Alan's still in that tier. Are you considering bumping him down? No, no, no. I'm saying is if I don't want to hear any excuses, two things can be true. He's great. I don't want to hear excuses because I just watched Mahomes the last two years. Last year he had nothing to work with. I mean, literally, Rishi Rice and a Cedarius Tony's, you know, Sky Moore. Sky Moore buried on the depth chart. And Hollywood Brown hasn't even showed up. No, Kansas City gave everybody in the league a year to catch up to him, and they couldn't. I don't want to hear that Stefan Diggs is the difference.

The Chief's going 17 and 0, is that happening? No, they're going to go 13, 12, 13, and 4, something like that. That's not great. If they got home field advantage in the playoffs, they're going to the Super Bowl. That's right. Only one guy taking him down. Well, two guys. One guy left in the league, Burrow and Brady.

Those are the only guys to beat him at Arrowhead in the playoffs. I know. C.J. Stroud, keep your eye on him. Aaron Rogers, keep your eye on him. Final story is, oh, let's stay with Stefan Diggs, who's excited for his debut with C.J. Stroud and the Texans against Indy this weekend. Diggs seems to have already built a great relationship with his new quarterback.

You know, I look at him as family. I mean, not just my quarterback. You know, I'm rocking with him through thick and thin. I always say, I'm with you when you're right, and I'm always with you when you're wrong. I feel like as a quarterback, he makes it real easy on him. Not only is, he's a hell of a quarterback. Obviously, you seem at practice, he can throw any ball. But as far as, like, the mental part of it.

He's at the end of the day, you're saying, do what you got to do. I want to see you get open. Be where you're supposed to be at the right time. You know, I got you. Kind of a shot at Josh Allen. Is that how you perceive that? Well, he's a C.J. Strout's family. He's known him 45 minutes.

He hung out for years with Josh Allen. It's like, now, this guy's family, you're just a passer by. in my life. I'm real curious how teams defend the Texans. You put your number one corner on Diggs, right? Well, I think you play zone. I think you zone the Texans. Cross your fingers, get a pass Russian zone. 90% of the coverage is in the NFL

now are zone anyway. So that's why the speedy wide receiver has value, but everybody's playing zone. That's just the way to league is. That's why Pooka Naku is not a speedster can walk in and have so many catches. He's great at beating the zone. I just wonder how Diggs is going to handle it if in the opener, you know, it's like

four targets, three catches, 25 yards. Like, is he going to be thrilled? Because they got some dudes on that, in that offense. A lot of mouths to feed in Houston. No, and they added Joe Mixin, so they're going to run the football. The power run game will improve. Take Dell's back, Dalton Shultz,

Nico Collins. Nico Collins is getting a lot of buzz. Now, you're going to call me crazy on this, but there is something about, you go to Buffalo, the weather stinks, there's nothing really to do. It's a small market. And I kind of felt like Stefan Diggs felt like, okay, I go from Minnesota to Buffalo.

I'm here, and I'm going to elevate you guys and then once he didn't elevate him he got very frustrated i think stephan diggs looks at houston as his final spot well he elevated buffalo no he did they were great with him well they were they were winning games too without him they were winning games without him they were to the a viz championship with diggs i still remember him staying in the field after watching the celebration ticked off they weren't losing games they were one in 12 or i mean they were a good team without him but it's like when you go to buffalo you want the payoff because you've sacrificed the weather and things to do as a pro athlete, like Green Bay.

And nothing to do here. The weather's not great. Not much of a social life. You got to win and you want a trophy. That's why you'll go there. Free agents have all these choices. You ever notice free agents when they have the opportunities go to certain cities and certain weathers?

So it's like, I think he just got frustrated with the whole Buffalo thing. So you were a free agent back in the day and came out here. How was the weather? How was lifestyle in Connecticut? Weather. I was tired of Connecticut winners. Absolutely. Everything matters.

When you're moving to a new place. Some people worry about taxes. I'm not as much worried about that. I'm more worried about what's the weather, what's the opportunity. At the time, was it good for my kids and schools. But when you're an athlete, you're a pro athlete, and you're 27. Yeah, you don't care. And you're single.

Okay. We're the ladies. Well, I mean, what's the life like? Can my family and friends come and see me? Do I have my guys I can hang out with? Is the team good? Am I going to get paid? And I think Buffalo for Stefan always felt like, I'm not going to end my life here.

Can I win a trophy here? And I think Houston feels like, hey, I'm going to stay here for five years and my career here. That's what it feels like to me. Nothing wrong with Buffalo. I'm not attacking them. I kind of felt like that. Houston is an interesting one. If they come out here and blow out the Colts in week one, anything's in play.

I don't know what's got. You know, but the history tells you, division underdogs in week one, two, three, bet them. And division home dogs. Yeah, division home underdog. I should have made it one of my picks. I didn't because I love Houston. but one of the smartest plays of the weekend probably is the Colts. Division home dogs, even if they're not good and we think Indy is, is the bat.

I was going to save it for headlines. 17 and 4 in the last decade in week 1, home divisional dogs. There's three of them this weekend. Two at home, one is not, Raiders are not at home. Yeah. You can be firing a lot this weekend? Aren't you excited? Yeah.

Just spraying the board. It's very crazy. exciting. Very exciting. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping back. The Heard Lye News.

I was thinking about this because the Packers and the Eagles play tonight in Brazil. It's the rare, super rare Friday NFL early season game, right? Like, I don't even know if we've ever had one. So I was thinking about Philadelphia, because Nick Seriani, the head coach is on the hot seat. The Eagles do something that mostly only bad franchises do in the NFL. They fire really talented people all the time. That's what bad organizations do. I mean, Chip Kelly, three years, wins 10 games.

His first two years with average quarterbacks, they fire him. I mean, Carson Wentz, huge deal year later. Get out of here. Doug Peterson, out duels Belichick and a Super Bowl. One of the most cleverly coached Super Bowl's ever. Get out of here. I mean, it's like they invented the phrase, what have you done for me lately?

but it works for them. They were right on Chip Kelly. He's a better college coach. They were right on Carson Wentz. They saw it before it happened. He just didn't connect with players. He got hurt too often. Philadelphia's got this super progressive owner and a top aggressive GM.

They always hire offensive coaches. And they always feel very current. If the league's moving in a direction, Philadelphia will move off talented people to get into that direction. And there is a difference, and a lot of men struggle with this, there's a difference between confidence and arrogance. Tom Brady's confident. He wasn't arrogant. Peyton Manning was confident.

He's not arrogant. I know both. They're not arrogant. They're confident. There's a big difference. Okay. Aaron Rogers sometimes crosses that threshold. And there is a difference between impulsive and decisive.

Jim Ursay is impulsive. David Tepper and Carolina is impulsive. Jeffrey Lurie is decisive. He sees something. He reacts quickly to something. I mean, they saw very quickly. Mobile quarterbacks. Hurtz gets along with people.

Everybody loves him. Carson Wentz gets hurt. Carson Wentz doesn't connect in the locker room. And they just moved off him. So they were right on Wentz and right on Chip Kelly. And, you know, probably right on Doug Peterson. So I think Nick Seriani needs to win. and he needs to win now because we've seen moments where he's immature.

There are stories this year he couldn't get along with Jalen Hertz. Here's Jason Kelsey on the New Heights podcast this week on Jalen Hertz taking over the leadership reins this year. I think him taking on this as a responsibility is going to accelerate his game across the board. And I think he's ready for it, one, from a knowledge base, two, I think he's ready for it just by being a more experienced player. And he's going to be more of a leader. leader. He needs to be more of a leader and have more of this responsibility on him.

So I'm excited to see how this goes for him this year. Okay. Now, don't overreact to the Ravens losing to the chiefs in week one. But not all week one losses are the same. Coming up next, three things to watch for in week one. Three losses, three situations that could be noteworthy. You don't want to overreact, but you always... also get signs very quickly on trouble. That's next. Live in L.A., it's The Herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. He's Mike Harmon. I'm Dan Byer, and we have a fantasy football podcast called I Want Your Flex. That's right, Dan. Every week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup. It starts. Fantasy football players' rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition. Listen to I Want Your Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Beyer, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, and 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 IHart Radio, app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast's point game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves,

I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, I say, you figure it out.

real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the bomb. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If a baby is giggling in the back seat, they're probably happy. If a baby is crying in the back seat, they're probably hungry. But if a baby is sleeping in the back seat, will you remember they're even there? When you're distracted, stressed, or not usually the one who drives them, the chances of

forgetting them in the back seat are much higher. It can happen to anyone. Parked cars get hot fast and can be deadly. So get in the habit of checking the back seat when you leave. The message from NHTSA and the ad council. Now everybody over here? Oh, it's one of my other favorite places. The Twilight Gazebo.

Sunset Gardens. Twilight Gazebo. What's next? Dead man's grove? Mom, could you please try to be a little bit positive about this? From Kenya Barris, the visionary creation. of Blackish, comes Big Age, an audible original about finding your way in life's next chapter. This audio comedy series follows a retired couple's reluctant relocation to Sunset Gardens,

a Floridian senior community that is anything but relaxing. Starring Comedy Legends Jennifer Lewis, Cedric the Entertainer, and Nisi Nashvettes. Through its blend of outrageous comedy, key party anyone? And touching revelations, Big Age explores what it means to grow older without growing old at heart. go to audible.com slash big age series to start listening today. What would you eat if you had to start over? Real simple, poor man's, poor woman's food. Black beans, chicken, rice, plantains.

That's always, that's poor people's food, man. But being Nigerian, that's, come on, a go-to. On the podcast eating while broke, I sit down with celebrities, entrepreneurs, and creators as they revisit the meals they once relied on in the moments that shaped their journey, named Best Food Podcast at the 2006 IHeart Podcast Awards.

This show is all about real conversations on money, growth, and what it really takes to make it. It was times where me and Lex were, like, definitely get into it. Because we're not making any money. Like, I need to start making money. Like, why are we doing this? But I don't know.

I think we just always knew that we had something really good. And eventually people were going to catch on. And so we just thugged it out. The full season is available to binge. Right now. Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. On big noon Saturday as third-ranked Michigan takes on 10th, sorry, third-ranked Texas takes on 10th rank Michigan. Then at 3.30 Baylor Battles, Utah.

At 10, it's Texas Tech Washington State. It's a huge day of college football tomorrow on Fox. All right, do not overreact to the Ravens launch. The Ravens have a great coach, a great coach. quarterback a great team that and it's Kansas City it was in Kansas City they came within an inch of winning that don't overreact to that so that's the one thing to don't overreact and don't overreact and everybody will in the media because that's what they do they'll overreact to rookie quarterback struggling in week one bo necks is going to struggle jaden daniels may struggle

Caleb's going to struggle like take a deep breath rookie quarterbacks in week one are nervous they're not going to play well okay none of them are going to play perfect they're going to throw bad picks and be lost and be anxious and nervous. So don't overreact to last night and don't overreact to rookie quarterback's first game. There are three things I would keep my eye on because just because you don't have to overreact,

that doesn't mean you don't see signs of trouble. Number one, Russell Wilson with the Steelers. Russell Wilson's 35, he got injured during a conditioning test for the Pittsburgh Steelers. And he hasn't been healthy since.

So he was hyperathletic at his best. He's not that. He's banged up. You've got Justin Fields very popular in that locker room. This is a bad old line missing a starter who's out for a while. There's a way Pittsburgh could lose and it would be fine. But if they can't move the chains, that thing could get ugly really fast. The second thing to watch out for, the Jets offensive line, Aaron Rogers does not want pressure near his knees or his feet.

if you go to Aaron's last year in Green Bay when he was under pressure he was awful he had a passer rating of 52 old quarterbacks Eli Brady Manning they don't want to get hit they got 250 or more million in the bank they want to win but they'll live for another day

so if Aaron is letting that puppy go early he is not patient he's not sitting in the pocket Aaron Rogers under pressure his last year in Green Bay. He wasn't there for it. He wasn't going to handle it. He got to throw it away and start over. Keep your eye on that. The Jets O line is improved. The personnel is improved,

but it's all new. And cohesion on the O lines is a rough sled in 2024. They don't play in the preseason. Number three, if DAC is sitting back there, the Brown's rollover coverage, and C.D. Lam is doubled, and

there's just nothing else there. I I know y'all love Jake Ferguson, but he is not Shannon Sharp. He is not Tony Gonzalez. Let's slow down here. If you look at Dax numbers, when he targets C.D. Lamb, he has 120 passer rating. When he doesn't, he's an 88 passer rating. So there is a way to play back. Double C.D. Lamb.

Make him go somewhere else. And if Cleveland does that effectively, you are giving a roadmap to everybody that Dallas plays. So Dallas loses. CD Lamb gets frustrated. You're just showing every team, this is the way to beat him because they got a nice tied end, not a great one, a weak running back room, and no real dominant number two receiver. So keep your eye on Russell and the Steelers. Keep your eye on Aaron Rogers' feet. He gets happy feet and starts throwing it away. That's telling you he doesn't trust that online at all. And he's going to get real frustrated, real quick, with Nat Hackett and Robert Sala.

He's not going to take the heat. He's going to point fingers. Here's the other thing. I've got so many things going on right now. In fact, you know, I'm going to save that one. Hold on. I'm going to save that note. I want to talk about this. So I want Deion Sanders to succeed because I think big personalities are good for college football, and I love college football.

But this weekend, they face Nebraska. and very rarely am I focused on a college football game with two unranked teams that have no chance to play for a national championship. But this game fascinates me. I like Nebraska in this one. There's some things here that we should now start to admit. Dion Sanders last six games against like power conference teams, he's 0.6. The transfer portal, once again, they signed the largest transfer portal class over 40 players. in the country. It's starting to feel a little bit at Colorado like a timeshare presentation,

lots of bells and whistles, champagne to anybody that signs. And then two years later, you're hiring an attorney and trying to get out of it. I'm sorry, but Nebraska is the opposite of Colorado. They play real defense. They recruit high school kids. They're very good at the details. They just had to get better at quarterback. Actually, Colorado's great at quarterback. They'll have the two best players in this game. But special teams, details, O-line, D-line. Let's be honest with Colorado.

It is a timeshare pitch. They've got an immaculate website. The IG is humming. Very little substance with Colorado. You remember that? Remember that when he got there? Remember that Dion was talking about he brought in that new handbag? And Nebraska's a duff.

bag. One program feels like a Gucci bag. One feels like a duffel bag. But I got to be honest, you can get more into the duffel bag. It travels well. Here was dion this week on facing Nebraska. I have a ton of respect for Matt Ruhl. He was a professional. Did a phenomenal job, maybe not the job that he aspired to do, but he has a ton of experience. And I love what he's accomplished in his college coaching career. So I look for them to be physically tough and posing, try to run the football. They were a freshman quarterback that had a pretty good day last week, but we got to do what we do.

We got to go in there and do what we're capable of doing. Remember when Deion got to Colorado? He said, when all the guys started hitting the portal, I'm bringing my own bag. It's a Louie. I know, I know, it's cool. Colorado's cooler than Nebraska. They're flashier than Nebraska. They've got a better quarterback than Nebraska. Probably the two best players in the game. But this is a really a meeting of opposites.

One team strength is defense. One team's weakness is defense. One team wants to run the ball. One team will pass the ball. One team's inexperienced at quarterback. One team's great at quarterback. One coach is all about Flash. Matt Rule has a history in college football.

He comes into a program. First thing he does is close the gap. And last year, Nebraska lost a lot of close games. They lost a lot of games by three and four points. The second year, this year, Nebraska is going to win those games close. And then next year, they'll win him by larger gaps. A three-step program, Matt Rules History.

Don't blame him for Carolina. David Tepper. That's a circus. So it's a fascinating game, different personalities. One team's very transfer portal. One team's very high school recruiting. Nebraska just had their best high school recruiting class in the history of the program. That includes Tom Osborne.

So they, now, now everybody's going to get quarterbacks in the transfer portal, so I don't even count that. That's a whole different ballgame. But this game is really fascinating. I hope Dion succeeds. I think he's good for college football. I'm into the personality. I said when he got hired, I remember thinking this is an odd fit.

No, that's going to work. Colorado needs attention. He brings it. But now we also can take a step back here after a couple of years and go, well, I'm not, is this just one of those timeshare pitches? You know, they ring the bell. They give you the champagne if you buy. A couple years later, it's like you're hiring an attorney. You're putting it in the classified ads in the newspaper.

Kind of trying to sell your timeshare. So we'll see. I like Nebraska. You don't. I like Nebraska to win this game. I think they're going to ugly it up, run the football, keep it out of Schinduhr Sanders' hands. But for two unranked teams,

this is a really interesting matchup. Probably the third most interesting game of the weekend. Texas, Michigan's won. Right. And then Iowa, Iowa State's always, you know, it's like a battle. But yeah, this Colorado team. This is a personality clash game. Two different programs, two different personalities.

So how much do you think Dion's upset that his son isn't being talked about as the number one pick, and it's all Carson Beck, Carson Beck. Well, it just depends. Yeah, well, that's what I think prompted this nonsense from him. Oh, our guys aren't disgust enough. What? Well, Chador Sanders is really talented. Yeah.

He is a more accurate, in my opinion, he's a more accurate thrower than Caleb Williams. I think Caleb's more talented, but in terms of he can throw moving left, can throw moving right. He throws moving forward. Shadurza, really, his ball placement, moving pocket is very good. He's very, very talented, and his mobility's great. You know, he's in the NIL generation. He gets into his fields, whatever, but he's good. There's no disputing it. The kid can play.

But it's, it's, I'd like to see Colorado talk a little less. I'm all for talking. You've got to start winning an occasional game against the power conference. Just one. Over your last six. That qualifies his shots fired right there. One in five, I'd give you a little. chatter. Like, Owen six. Hey, Dion, say less. Well, I mean, again,

he's part of the Colorado experiment is getting attention. I get that too. Blazing five. Or is it the Blasey five? 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, reader 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 I-Heart 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. bed it 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, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling, sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter.

Listen to How Hard Can It Be with the Anna Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Therapy is fantastic. But once again, it does not have a monopoly on healing. That's why I create the resources and that's why I create the community because I really just want you to have more access. On the podcast, Cultivating Her Space, Dr. Dom and Terry Lomax create a space where black women can show up fully and be heard. It's tough because we're suppressing our emotions and so many of us are like high achieving individuals. Listen to cultivating her space on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I told myself can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility.

of connection. This mental health awareness month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown if you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you. To hear more, listen to Deeply Well with Debbie

Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.