The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Richard Sherman Podcast - 49ers–Bears REACTION: Purdy outduels Caleb Williams in SNF thriller | Week 17 | Richard Sherman NFL

Episode Date: December 30, 2025

Richard Sherman reacts to the 49ers’ thrilling Sunday Night Football win over the Chicago Bears. Brock Purdy bounces back from an early pick-six to deliver a surgical performance, outdueling Caleb Williams in a wild shootout as San Francisco stays in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed. Sherm breaks down Kyle Shanahan’s game plan, Purdy’s growth, and the defensive issues the 49ers must clean up heading into a pivotal NFC West showdown. Sherman also reacts to Eagles vs. Bills, breaking down Philadelphia’s second-half struggles, Buffalo’s missed opportunity, and what the loss means for both teams heading into the playoffs as pressure continues to build in the AFC and NFC. All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. Jen should win.

She's an outsider to win the French friend. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lernerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcasts on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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 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. Welcome back to the Richard Sherman podcast, and what a game for the San Francisco 49ers.

In the Bears, for that matter. It might have been game in the year. Obviously, nobody's defense decided to show up this week, but Brock Purdy. I got to see if him and Calhatt Shanahan went to medical school because it should be Brock Purdy, MD, surgical throughout the entire game, started off as rough as it could, a pick six. But it didn't affect him at all throughout the game. Ended up with five total touchdowns in the game, 24 of 33, 303, 303 yards, three touchdowns, three touchdowns, two Russian touchdowns, and a partridge and a pear tree.

for those still enjoying the holiday season. But that's not all. It was Persol. It was Tungis. It was CMC and CMC and CMC some more. This was an incredible all-around game for the 49ers offense. And this was without George Kittle, without Trent Williams. Trent Williams goes out after the first play of the game,

after the pick six with a hamstring injury. And then Persoe was in and out of the lineup. But if you think about this 49ers offense and how prolific they've been over the last two weeks and who they have in there. They have Kendrick-born in and out of the lineup. They have Ricky Persaw in and out of lineup. George Kitter was in. He was out. It's not a ton of high-level all-pro-bowl players.

But Brock Purdy is elevating this offense to a new level. Give the offensive line a lot of credit. We have been very tough on them this season. No question about it. They played fantastic football. They kept people off Brock Purdy, gave him time. to operate, even if the pockets were getting kind of tight. Brock was doing a great job navigating within the pocket and executing.

I don't want to take anything away from the Chicago Bears because that's a well-coached, incredible football team. Caleb Williams was 25 and 42 for 3.30 and two touchdowns. They ran the ball well. Luther Burden played the game of his life, had eight catches for 138 yards in a touchdown. Loveland played really well. They were executing. And that goes to the defensive side.

A lot of concerns on the defensive side continue. Who are you going to play at nickel? Upton Stout gets injured with a concussion goes out. Lucas comes in and he struggles mightily. They were running the same play. Motion Luther Burt and over, option out. Motion Luther burden over, option out. I'm not going to lie.

If you do that to me multiple times, I'm booking it. You're going to have to show me something different. But Robert Sala was switching it up and changing things up, bringing pressure, the skies pressure, showing pressure and then backing out, nothing was seeming to work. And again, this goes back to just a young defense and not being as, as veteran in the moment. A veteran defense takes a deep breath, sees what's going on, understands it's simple football,

understands the down and distance, the situational football, have situational awareness. Hey, they're going to, they're going to, if we're bringing pressure, they're throwing hot. There's no reason to chase things deep. They're hot to this side, to the blitzer side. If I'm that corner, I'm keeping eyes open. I'm guarding my man, but I'm keeping eyes for zone eyes and letting him know, hey, as soon as he breaks, I'm breaking. And that's the things, those are the things that I'm concerned about for this 49ers defense going down a stretch.

Offense is playing outstanding football. They're 12 and 4 with everything coming down to the wire. Everything coming down to next week in Levi Stadium in San Francisco, well, Santa Clara, I'm sorry, for everything, for the division, for the one seed, And who would have thunk it? Who would have thuck it? Not faithful. I know you guys are faithful.

I know you guys are diligent. I know you guys are loyal. But if you're telling me, after Fred Warner went down, after Bosa went down, Brock was out, you still believe this team would have a chance at the one seat? Don't lie to me. Don't lie to me. Don't lie to you. You can lie to yourself.

Just don't lie to me. They're doing it. But this is going to be a tough game. The San Francisco 49ers versus the Seattle Seahawks, I'm going to love that game. I'm going to let you know something. I'm going to enjoy it either way. It's going to be fantastic football, high-level football from both of these coaches, Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDonald.

I can't wait for that. But the 49ers have a lot of things they need to get figured out, especially on that back-in. I think the D-line played solid football. Obviously, last in the league in sacks, they're going to have to correct that, but I thought they played solid against the team that runs the ball really well, got their hands up. Alfred Collins knocked the football down in a critical moment. Calia Davis made a tackle on a critical play on a screen late in the game. They made plays.

And I think in a secondary, that's what it's going to have to come down to. In a playoff, somebody's going to have to make a play. And I thought the 49ers should have went after Assante Samuel Jr. When he was a free agent and he was clear, and they didn't. And I thought that was the issue. And I still think they're going to have to do something. I don't, at this point, shoot, I don't know who's out there. I wouldn't mind him calling KK.

back. I don't know if KK's out there, if he on his couch somewhere, like stretch out, warm your legs up. Let's see if you can still do it. Because right now that nickel spot is an issue. And if it continues to be an issue, that's going to be the demise of this team. But all that said, a winning

football team this Sunday night, it's all going to come down to who can execute for the division. The Rams are going to be, it's pretty much seated for them. They can't win the division because it's coming down to the 49ers and the Seahawks.

I can't wait to see that game. Honestly, I wish they could flex it to Sunday night football so I can sit here on my couch and eat popcorn because in 19, it came down to something like this. Last play, Dre Greenlaw at the goal line with everything. Oh, man, I remember that game like it was yesterday. This is another cardiac season. And I know everybody still got their adrenaline rushing

and going to go to work tomorrow feeling great. I'm looking forward to hearing what Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy have to say. George Kiddle will be coming back and can Frederico get back at some point during his playoffs? Let me walk you through a little scenario I was thinking about because they're going to have to open his window for the playoffs during the playoffs, I would imagine, for him to have a chance to play. I don't think they can open his window up the same week that he's expected to play and expect him to have success. And there's a lot of, Fred is a special individual, but that's asking a lot for him to practice and expect to play for the first. time that week. I think they work him in, try to work him in the scout team, just get him lightly,

you know, slowly but surely work him in. Maybe if they get the buy week during the buy week, then maybe allow them to practice some scout team and run around and see how his foot feels on scout team during the, during a divisional practice week. And if he can make it through that without too much soreness and feeling okay and the team gets a win that week, I wouldn't be surprised if they played them. And that's what my timeline would be. If they don't activate him by the first week, first divisional week, then I think it's going to be a long shot for him to play. But that could be cool. That would be a huge boost for this defense, for morale, for everything in the building. But again, masterful job by Kyle Shanahan. I know that Ben Johnson's done a great job

with the Bears. I know that Brable has done a great job with the Patriots. I know Mike McDonnell with the Seahawks. But this is incredible. This is incredible. And I remember Kyle not getting coached a year in 2019 when we were coming off of four-win season, and we start the season eight and no undefeated. And we go off to get the number one seed for the NFC, and he still didn't get the coach of the year. And I forget their excuses. But whatever it was, he deserved coached the year that year.

And now they're saying, oh, well, we got all these first year coaches that deserve it because, hey, it's their first year and they turn these programs around. So now it matters. Now turning a team from worse to first matters for coach the year because you didn't give it to him when he did it. Now you're not going to give it to him when he has a stacked team. You're not going to give it to him when his team isn't stacked and everybody's injured and he coaches him for a chance at the one seat.

I don't know how he's ever going to get it. But this was a great game. And I love the chess match from Kyle Shanahan and the way Brock Purdy was just executing. That play in the red zone where he scrambled out to the left, he juked out the defender, looked like he was going to run, pulled up two more Bears defenders and didn't hit. I think it was juice in the corner for a touchdown. I mean, those are the plays you see Mahomes and Josh Allen make,

and they play it on ESPN for days and days, and they say, this is why these guys are the best quarterbacks in the league, and this is what, that's why, hey, Niners fans, that's why Brock's getting paid the big bucks. This game right here, the last game against the Colts, that's why he's getting paid the big bucks. And you know he's going to play this way in the playoffs. I think that's the big difference between him and some of these other young quarterbacks that are playing at a high level that just have no playoff experience yet is he's shown it in the playoffs. He's played like this in the playoffs in the playoffs in the playoffs. When the team's down, played well in the Super Bowl, I think he's going to play well in the playoffs this year.

And I'm looking forward to it. Um, but what? Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, oh, we were thinking, I'm, originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. Don't care where you hear it. 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying,

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis.

And I know first. because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jench and won. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me.

And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Games, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What a game. What a game. What a, what a matchup. It sets up next week. But another game that was pivotal to the playoff race, especially in the AFC, was the Eagles versus the bill. and the Eagles were able to pull this game out 13 to 12.

Not often do you see a game in 13 to 12. The Eagles started off fast in the first half with some turnovers and moving the ball, but in the second half really got stagnant. And that's that second half of that game was a microcosm of what this season, was a microcosm of what this season has been for the Philadelphia Eagles. Everybody wants to believe in them because they're the reigning Super Bowl champions. but then when your offense disappears for entire halves of a football game, it's hard to believe. And it came down to a two-point conversion that Buffalo wasn't able to convert, but it's hard to believe in the Philadelphia Eagles right now.

And it's also hard to believe in the Buffalo Bills. You know, these teams just look like shells of themselves, shells of the teams that they've been in the past years. But you've got to also respect championship pedigree in the playoffs. These guys have been there. They're not going to be scared at a moment. They're going to play some teams that haven't been as deep in the playoffs, whether it's the Seahawks or the Rams in the first round. And it's going to be a dogfight.

And I look forward to that. It's going to be some really great matchups, especially on the NFC side. And on the AFC side, this Buffalo Bills lost gives the Patriots the AFC East for the first time. And I want to say five or six years, it's got to be six years, because the Buffalo Bills have been dominating it. But for the Eagles to have no passing yards in the second half, again, you're going to have a hard time quieting those whispers and murmurs about Kevin Petulow in this offense.

You're going to have a hard time quieting those, especially if they struggle in the playoffs and go home early. If they lose in the first round of the playoffs, I mean, I would expect some things to happen, some changes to happen, whether it's staff, whether it's roster, I would expect changes to happen in a big way. And not just them. I expect that to happen for the bills as well.

Because this is about as good of a year in the playoffs as the bills could ask for. As good of a field and the inexperienced field full of young teams with not a lot of playoff experience. There's no Patrick Mahones. There's no Joe Burrell. There's a potential no Lamar Jackson if they lose to Pittsburgh Steelers next week. So it's going to be a real big conversation. and not to say Josh has played fantastic in the playoffs. Josh has played phenomenal.

Let's not take anything away from Josh Allen. But if he does not win it this year or take his team to a Super Bowl, that's going to be a tough conversation. And I'm sure Buffalo Bills fans are saying the same thing about McDurman and this staff. Like, if not now, then win. If not now, then win. And this Buffalo Bills team isn't as good as the Buffalo Bills teams they've had in the past, but they will have to find a way.

So the Bills right now are the seventh seed. the ASC. And I mean, if you're the bills fans, like, are you that confident? You can play the New England Patriots to two-seed. It's the division opponent. You're familiar with each other. It's been a dog fight every time. Would you feel comfortable with them? Maybe, you know, Drake Mays play it at a high level. You would feel like you could win that game. But what happens if they lose? What happens if the Buffalo bills go home? They go to Gillette lose. There's going to have to be changes. And if they go to Gillette and win, cool, that's a great, That's a big time win.

And then you have the Denver Broncos. And you got to go through a tough path. And I'm not sure this Buffalo Bills team, how they're currently constructed, can do that. Maybe they can, and I'll be surprised. But they haven't shown that this season. But Buffalo Bills fans, you could get in the comments and tell me if I'm wrong, if I'm seeing something different. But it just hasn't seemed as sharp of a Buffalo Bills team as I've seen in a past going into these playoffs.

It was heavy rain in this game. There was elements, but there's elements on both. sides and Buffalo that they say that's their advantage. It's playing outdoors and elephants. They don't ever want to play in the dome. Well, this is what you get now. So I don't know, I don't know, but it's been a fantastic week of football. Things are starting to tighten down. Things are starting to be decided. The seedings are starting to get figured out and I mean you couldn't have scripted it any better if you're the national football league. Division game for the one seat. One seat still up for grabs on the other side.

What a game. Don't you love this game? As always, I appreciate you joining me. You could be anywhere in the world, but you're here with me, and I surely do appreciate it. Hit that sub button if you knew. Have you a happy holidays and a happy New Year's all love and respect. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers.

I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it out.

We have first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people. questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 Acapella 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline.

And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless.

And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garros. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lennar Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed human.