The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - The Dallas Cowboys are Must-See TV on Thanksgiving

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

Colin Cowherd breaks down why, for the first time in years, the Dallas Cowboys are must-watch for their on-field play instead of their usual off-field drama. Colin dives into Caleb Williams' accuracy ...issues this season. Plus, is the committee still wrong by ranking Miami below Notre Dame?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 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.
Starting point is 00:00:12 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.
Starting point is 00:00:30 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.
Starting point is 00:01:04 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.
Starting point is 00:01:34 And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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.
Starting point is 00:02:02 Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets,
Starting point is 00:02:23 a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you're. you know is somebody coming after me. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud 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 on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Starting point is 00:02:57 You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it is Wednesday. It is Thanksgiving Eve, Joel Klatte, Greg Kosell, Blazing Five. Yeah, Thanksgiving, Blazing Five in one hour. We are live. A little chilly the day in Chicago. Perfect winter football weather. It is the herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening.
Starting point is 00:03:29 So tomorrow, Lions host of Packers, that'll make the Blazing Five. Kansas City at Dallas may get 45 million viewers. That's at 4.30 Eastern. And I was thinking about this this morning. Actually, it's the first time in a long time that I'd rather talk about the Cowboys' on-field product. It's actually underrated.
Starting point is 00:03:57 in previous years we talked about Mike McCarthy's job security, Micah Parsons podcast, Dax contract, no, Cowboys' Offense number one in the NFL. The on-field product, it's good. Devonte Williams, top 10 running back, DAC, PFF's number two quarterback, two-star receivers, one of the top third-down offenses. The offensive line is young getting better, has surrendered the fourth few as sacks. one of the better three and out teams, fifth fewest in the league. You think about that.
Starting point is 00:04:31 And with a new kickoff rule, and the field goal range of Brandon Aubrey, they're like two 12-yard plays from points. They're scoring on almost half of their drives. Add this. They're the best two-minute offense in the league. Add this. You know the best quarterback in the league against the Blitz? It's not Matt Stafford.
Starting point is 00:04:54 It's not Josh Allen. It's not Patrick Mahomes. It's not Jared Gough. It's not Lamar Jackson. It's Dak Prescott. Great against the Blitz. Top three in pressures. Running the ball.
Starting point is 00:05:09 Two-star receivers. Best field goal kicker in the sport. Made aggressive trades to solve their defense. Their defense was the second worst in the league. Then they made those Kenny Clark, Quinn and William. deals. You know the last two weeks? It's the seventh best defense. And go ask Philadelphia. You can't run on them. For years, I was a cowboy critic. And there's a lot of people in my business that, you know, they'll hammer Dallas because they know it gets clicks. I hammered Dallas
Starting point is 00:05:39 because I thought they were poorly run. But you can't hammer them now. And they may not beat Kansas City tomorrow. But two first round picks, aggressive trades, number one offense in the NFL, Well, best two-minute drill, best against the blitz, top 10 run game. Offensive line, not great in pass protection, but emerging is a much better run offensive line. I know. I didn't think shot number is going to work. I thought it was a week, week higher. It's the best I've seen DAC in a long time.
Starting point is 00:06:14 So Kansas City, probably the better team. Home teams do very well on Thanksgiving. Either way, I think Dallas against Kansas City tomorrow, it's a real game. And I would not have said that a year ago, right? Last five years, how many times Kansas City, Dallas, and you think, you know, Dallas could win this thing? Well, Dallas's offense right now is a lot better than Kansas City's, and it's not particularly close. Here's Dak on facing the Chiefs. We've got to win every game at this point.
Starting point is 00:06:47 And the Philly game doesn't mean anything right now. Nothing that's happened up to this point really means anything other than it's put us in the position to be must-win games. We've got the guys, we've got the plan, we've got the process intact, and we're going to give it our best, and feel very confident in us. So speaking of quarterback, the Bears, toughest game of the year at Philadelphia, Eagles off a loss, will be in a surly mood. This is something I've given a lot of thought, and I talked about it for about a minute, 90 seconds yesterday. at the end of the show. There's a lot of criticism from people on the internet that don't like the fact
Starting point is 00:07:26 that, like, Caleb Williams is completing like 59.5% of his throws. And I've always said, like, the line is 62.5 minimum. So this year, you can look at some of these stats on a passer rating. Its completion
Starting point is 00:07:42 percentage is very low. Here's some other numbers. Four in November. Eight touchdowns, no picks. And the Bears are the only team in the NFL to average 30 points a game and 400 total yards in November. I like those numbers. But here's the thing, what's happening. And this is why I give this so much thought.
Starting point is 00:07:59 And this is my favorite part about sports. The constant changes. I talked about this the other day that college basketball was unwatchable for 20 years. And then about three years ago, the NIL and a lot of players staying for one more year that would be second round picks and all that NIL money buying Europe's, some of their best 20 players, college basketball the last two years, excellent. The draft this year, the top three or four players are all-stars, all of them. And here's the thing what's happening with the NFL is that mobility is no longer a luxury.
Starting point is 00:08:37 It's a requirement. Because right now the young offensive coaches are using motion double what they did 10 years ago. there's just more smart, clever offensive coaches. And I'm not saying you can run your way to a Super Bowl at quarterback. Lamar Jackson's just struggle to win games in the playoffs. But it's like how I view college. I would recommend sending your kids to college. But the only thing in 2025 guaranteed about sending your kids to college,
Starting point is 00:09:07 they'll come out of it with massive college debt. AI, the phone, Google. There is so much information out there now that you don't have. have to sit through a college lecture and pay $74,000 a year to attain. I still think it's the place to go, but it's not the be-all end-all. And that's how I look about Caleb's completion percentage. Yeah, I'd like him right now. He's like 59.5.
Starting point is 00:09:34 I'd like him to get up to 61.5. But do you know the last three quarterbacks to lead the NFL in completion percentage, Last three years, zero. Playoff wins. The days of Drew Brees, no, throw it down field, a lot of motion, get out of the pocket. C.J. Stroud, below average, completion percentage. Last two years, he's won playoff games.
Starting point is 00:10:01 So I know it matters. I understand that it matters to some degree. But we were talking about this this morning as a staff, is that I remember when I was younger, high school and college, memorization was a really cool thing. thing. I'd memorize the back of baseball cards. I'd memorize sports stats. And then Google happened. Sorry, it'd take me 30 seconds. I'll find the answer. So John Elway, he was ahead of the curve. He won two Super Bowls. In both playoff runs, he completed 55% of his throves. So
Starting point is 00:10:35 RG3 talked about this the other day. I would like Caleb to get a little better, like 61%. But I'd be good there. I don't need 65%. Here's RG3. Accuracy is a myth. Accuracy to me is always dependent upon where the defense is and what you're trying to get the receiver to do. So where I think his 61% completion percentage comes from is more so the fact that he is willing to take more chances
Starting point is 00:11:03 to have big plays occur, which drives down his completion percentage. Do you want a guy that's going to be a checkdown, Charlie? Do you want a guy that is not going to take those risks deep down the field because he's afraid to make mistakes? I don't think that's who Caleb Williams is. Yeah, I don't think he is. Listen, it's great that Drake make and run and complete 71% of his throws. At this point, Drake makes better than Caleb Williams, and nobody's disagreeing with that.
Starting point is 00:11:31 But again, mobility is not a luxury. It is a requirement. I mean, Jared Goff, that is old school now. And he's still in the prime of his career. That's old school. He doesn't move. I mean, Stafford's really old school. All right, Jamek, we got a lot of stuff today.
Starting point is 00:11:48 College football playoffs out. BYU's not happy. Miami's really mad. Belichick rumors. They're interesting Belichick. I do not, but I do not buy the Belichick stuff at all at all, and I'll explain why. But you went to the Lakers Clippers last night. How was Luca?
Starting point is 00:12:04 Luca was phenomenal. You know, I think he had 24 points in the first quarter. He really hates the clippers. does not like them dating back to his days in Dallas, was talking trash to them a lot. I noticed Kauai Leonard, I don't know if anybody caught this. He like didn't play the final like six minutes, you know? Weird, close game.
Starting point is 00:12:21 Afterward, he's talking about, well, we need more talent. We got to get the right rotations in. Clippers seem to be falling apart at the seams. Couldn't happen to a nicer group of guys of the clippers. Now, I do know some guys on the coaching staff. I don't want them to lose their jobs. But, yeah, Kauai, James Hardin, feels like it's over. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:12:39 Be sure to catch live a day. of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
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Starting point is 00:13:21 Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.
Starting point is 00:13:37 But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a new? name Hey Jonas, guys. I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. We were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.
Starting point is 00:13:58 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, 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. We don't care where you hear it.
Starting point is 00:14:20 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?
Starting point is 00:14:40 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so. wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're
Starting point is 00:15:16 still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person join me Keer games is we have real conversation about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are
Starting point is 00:15:56 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.
Starting point is 00:16:20 From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaders to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the iHeartRadio app,
Starting point is 00:16:36 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, Follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand 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.
Starting point is 00:17:01 Jen should win. I mean, she went down in three to Rovachina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French, me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubber-Arkina 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.
Starting point is 00:17:22 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. College football's newest playoff picture came out last night. People get worked up. Miami doesn't like it that they beat Notre Dame early in the year. And now they trail Notre Dame. I do think Notre Dame today would beat Miami. But I've said this, and we're putting it on the screen for our television audience.
Starting point is 00:18:00 Notre Dame's at 9. Miami is at 12. Again, it's very close. Miami should probably beat Pitt this weekend, which Notre Dame just hammered by a couple touchdowns. I could see Miami losing to pit, so before they squawk too much. But here is a memo to college football fans. You got to stop holding on in 1988.
Starting point is 00:18:22 College football is now about 40% NFL. Players get paid, millions. There's free agency. It's called the portal. And head-to-head's important, but not as important. College football, the last three years, has morphed into about, up 40% NFL. It's a little like OZempic that was created for type 2 diabetes, and it's still good for that, but it really now is a weight loss drug, or propitia, which was for a prostate
Starting point is 00:18:55 treatment. It still works for that, but it's now a vanity drug for hair retention. College football is, you know, mostly still college football, but not entirely. Yes, head-to-head matters in the NFL. It's a tiebreaker. Nobody's saying it doesn't matter, but it's not that big of a deal, and you don't need it very often. And yes, Miami's nine and two, and Notre Dame's nine and two, and Miami beat them in August, which, by the way, in August, Arch Manning was the number one player in college football. In August, James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions were worth a first or second. In August, J.J. McCarthy was still good. August in Miami comes down to the end. C.J. Carr's
Starting point is 00:19:37 first start, and Miami at home, and home matters a lot more in college than pro, they narrowly win. But Miami's also got two really ugly losses, one of them to unrank Louisville. And you know this, and I know this, ugly losses,
Starting point is 00:19:55 highly punitive in college football rankings. They leave a stain. Everybody loses to good teams. Notre Dame lost to a couple good teams. Nobody holds it against you, your Notre Dame losing to like, you know, A&M or Miami. In fact, people will say, I appreciate them scheduling those games, right?
Starting point is 00:20:15 The A&M Notre Dame game. You get credit for scheduling Ohio State out of conference or Texas A&M. But where you get dinged is you lost to unranked Louisville. You lost to SMU. So again, I think it's close. I think Miami should worry about beating Pitt. I think Pete's got a chance to beat him. I think Notre Dame today is better.
Starting point is 00:20:38 But, I mean, my take on all this stuff is college football has the oldest audience. I think it now is as old as baseball's audience. And there's a lot of traditionalists. People are outraged when I suggest USC and Notre Dame, what if they play every other year, every third year? That's outrageous. Not really. It's like baseball people get all fired up with a pitch clock and defensive shift and get rid of this and pitchers don't hit.
Starting point is 00:21:06 It's not outrageous. It doesn't rise to that. I think Notre Dame is better than Miami. I think it's really close. I think Miami won in August at home in the first start for Notre Dame's quarterback. I just think what we have to realize is head-to-head
Starting point is 00:21:22 doesn't, it's not the be-all end-all. Two ugly losses. I mean, think about last year. Alabama was really good at the end of the year. Didn't get into the playoff. Why? That ugly lost of Vandy. You were watching it, I was watching it. You're like, Alabama's losing badly to Vandy.
Starting point is 00:21:38 You couldn't unsee it. It's one thing to lose to Oklahoma, which they did. It's another to lose to Vandy, regardless of how good you think the Vandy coach is. Here's Urban Meyer on Notre Dame since their two losses. I think there's certainly a better team. I've watched them a bunch. I love their coach.
Starting point is 00:21:56 I watch them for a lot of reasons. Chris Ash worked for me on defense. They didn't look very good at the beginning. They look great. So does competition, yeah, they played, and we called that. I mean, the members of our Big Noon, and I think you might have called it. After week two, said they're going to be in the playoffs and won the rest of when you looked at their schedule. They're better than everybody they played.
Starting point is 00:22:16 So for the Miami fans who say, hey, we beat them in August. Here was college football's AP top rankings after week one in September. Penn State was number two. They fired their coach. LSU was number three. They fired their coach. Miami was number five. They've lost to Louisville and SMU.
Starting point is 00:22:34 So just like the NFL, nobody gets too worked up about Labor Day. First three weeks of the year. Belichick was never a great September coach. Sean Payton's a 500 coach in September. College football going forward, we're just not going to take September that seriously. With the NIL and all the transfer portal, these teams are brand new. You got nine different starters on offense and defense. I just can't take, I don't, I mean, Texas, Ohio State, I said as long as it's close and it was,
Starting point is 00:23:09 I don't really care who wins and loses. It doesn't matter. Ohio State last year lost to Oregon early and Michigan late and they won the national championship. So September in the NFL is fun. It doesn't really matter. September in college football. It matters a little more, but it doesn't matter as much as it used to. J. Mack with the news.
Starting point is 00:23:31 No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, the Thanksgiving slate is exciting, and Joe Burrow is back of the nightcap. Bengals at the Ravens, very fired up for it. Bengals released some goofy video on social media getting all hype. Burrow said sitting is not really an option.
Starting point is 00:23:53 If he's healthy, he wants to play. And here he is talking about how big a game it is to play on Thanksgiving Day. You grow up? Going through Thanksgiving, you have your meals with your family, and then you go and stay on the couch, and typically there's not a lot on, except football. Back in the day, it was lions and somebody. You go watch Matthew Stafford throw for 300, 400 some yards with Calvin Johnson and probably lose the game. What? Is Joe Burrough that young? Wow. You see the Ravens are seven-point favorites at home in this one? I don't know, man. I know. I got some crazy numbers on big favorites on Thanksgiving. They dominate. I don't think the Ravens dominate here. I don't know if they can dominate.
Starting point is 00:24:44 I mean, there's some numbers saying this is Lamar Jackson's worst three-game stretch of his career since that first year that he took over a starter. So I don't know. I'm excited to see Burrow. He does not have T. Higgins out with a concussion, but he has Jamar Chase. and Chase historically has owned the Ravens. So this should be a good one, Colin. All right. Okay, let's move on to Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold was very, very bad a couple of weeks ago, four interceptions, right? Well, how about this one?
Starting point is 00:25:15 He's now facing the Vikings. Oh, boy, this is a huge revenge spot for Darnold, 11.5 point favorites. And Vikings, D.C., Brian Flores, knows D.C. well and uh you know he has some plans on how to defend him he did a lot of great things he's here and and clearly those things are continuing to show up uh for him uh out there in seattle he's doing a great job i'm happy for him uh but we will blitz him this week that's for sure yeah the line is moved i thought it was one of the i thought it was the best line in the board when it was nine and a half ten i still think at eleven and a half seattle's the side um i
Starting point is 00:25:57 I think C. Right now they're going to start maybe a rookie for Minnesota. It's going to be ugly. Seattle, by the way, you know they're going to play well because they had that game against Jacksonville. They dominate the first half. And then the defense doesn't really show up in the second half. So it's Sean Pate Noah says the best weeks of practice are when you win ugly because you can really coach your team hard. So I like Seattle comfortably in this one.
Starting point is 00:26:24 Yeah. So you mentioned they're starting the rookie. His name is Max. Brosmer. If you look up a picture of this guy, he's got the facial hair of like a mid-century French artist. He can't grow like a real goatee. It could be like a Bond villain. I don't think he has any chance going into Seattle. I know Kevin O'Connell, we like him a lot. But there is a second layer to the story, Colin. Let's say Donald says, I want revenge on the Vikings for not wanting. They're not taking the foot off the gas. Exactly. What if this is a 48 to 10 bloodbath?
Starting point is 00:26:54 Darnold throws for 300 and five touchdowns. Listen, I'm a Kevin O'Connell defender, but at some point is their finger pointing in the organization, how did we screw this up this badly? J.J. McCarthy's concussed, he's injured, and he stinks, and Sam Darnold, like, maybe in the Super Bowl? What is the lesson learned from what they did? So we can point fingers and rip people,
Starting point is 00:27:18 but in the end, in any industry, you have to go, Okay, what did we learn? What you learn is, if you have a quarterback who is in the MVP race, don't let him leave the building if he's in his athletic prime. I mean, that's the moral to the story is you say, well, the Rams did with Jared Gop. No, they brought Matt Stafford in. But if you have a pro bowl level quarterback who is in his prime, and Sam was, and you could have gotten a deal that was below market rate,
Starting point is 00:27:50 you don't let him leave. I mean, this is a quarterback league more now than it. Well, it's easy to say. It's very easy. You do not let an athletic quarterback in his prime out of the building. If you do not know, remember, they didn't give up six ones for McCarthy. They give them a four and a five. They gave up nothing.
Starting point is 00:28:08 They gave him two average picks. So if this were a court case, you would be booted off the jury because you're too close to the story. Like, you liked Arnold a lot. I get it. But Colin, he was good last year. And then at the end of the season, he faceplanted. And everybody knows what have you done for me lately? They looked at Donald.
Starting point is 00:28:27 Have we hit our ceiling? We're not going to win 14 games. It was a little lucky. And I kind of understand moving on. They loved McCarthy. No, no, no. They didn't love McCarthy. My source told me they had concerns with McCarthy the minute he arrived.
Starting point is 00:28:43 Well, but that's after drafting him, like, right? Right. But that you still had time. I mean, he's been in the bill. two years. They knew what they had with J.J. McCarthy. They knew there were confidence issues, physical issues. There was, throws nothing but a fastball issue. It's not like J.J. McCarthy got drafted just an hour ago. J.J. McCarthy's been around. He just had, he has potentially 28, 29 starts. He started like six, seven games. But taking him top 12s, they saw something they
Starting point is 00:29:12 liked clearly, right? I mean, to replace a guy who led you to a 14 and 3 mark, like they had to have some confidence in it. Well, I reportedly, I was told they tried to move up for somebody else, but it got too rich. And that's the problem. It was, you know, as you know, moving up for any player is dangerous. I mean, we both like Drake May a lot. I didn't think he'd be this good this fast. You don't know a lot of this stuff.
Starting point is 00:29:39 Yeah, it's risky. Final story, Colin, is the Buffalo Bills. They're on pace to have no receiver reach 1,000 yards. for the second straight season. Guess what? They went out and added Brandon Cooks to the wide receiver room. Colin, I mean,
Starting point is 00:29:54 how much do we talk about this in the off season? They did not get better on the outside. They could have done it in free agency. They could have done it in the draft. Then they had a third chance at the deadline this year.
Starting point is 00:30:04 They did nothing. And the GM's all combative about it. Well, guess what? They have now added Brandon Cooks. They're grasping at Gabe Davis. I mean, come on. Give me a break. This is embarrassing.
Starting point is 00:30:15 Remember, Dalton, first aid, continues to be hurt, their great tight end. I don't know what they're going to do. Josh Allen at some point can go in there and be like, guys, you got to get me dudes. This does not make my blazing five and a half hour. It was the last game I dropped. Now, last week I dropped the Dallas plus three and a half.
Starting point is 00:30:34 That was a way better pick than the ones I went with. But I had Pittsburgh covering here. I think it's tough. Pittsburgh played very poorly, did not play good defense. They're going to play really well. It's going to be cold weather. And I think Buffalo has shown its hand more than once. This Buffalo team is good.
Starting point is 00:30:55 They're not very good. They're not great. They're good. Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson just went up and down the field on the Steelers. Why won't the Buffalo Bills do that with Josh Allen and James Cook? Because the Chicago Bears have a better offensive line and a better run game and a better quarterback. Wait. Take that back. Come on.
Starting point is 00:31:18 They do not have a better quarterback than the Buffalo Bills. No, no, no. I'm saying that the bears went up and down the field. The bears are better than the Steelers. Oh, yeah, yeah, that's clear. Yeah, yeah. But what I'm saying is Pittsburgh, and we said it's a month ago, it's the hardest team to figure out in the league. Week to week, you get a totally different team.
Starting point is 00:31:38 I mean, honestly, great, terrible, beat the Colts, hammer the Seahawks, and then they can be awful. So when they play poorly or lose, they almost always, especially at home as an underdog, play really, really well. Pittsburgh may lose. I take the hook all day long. Interesting. Jay Mc, on the news. Well, that's the news.
Starting point is 00:31:59 And thanks for stopping by. The Hurdline News. So there is a headline, a story that NFL teams are eyeing Bill Belichick. Okay. I would not hire Belichick. go look at his Carolina staff, friends and family, go look at his last New England staff, retreads. I would not hire Belichick.
Starting point is 00:32:22 But there's a bigger thing at play here. Pete Carroll, defensive coach, gets hired at 74. Raiders, biggest mess in the league. Belichick's Patriots, when he got to 70 years old, embarrassing. We're staff in the league. Older Ron Rivera, Washington, nearly 60 high. Hired by Washington, MESS. Lovie Smith, defensive coach,
Starting point is 00:32:50 hired in his 60s, lasted one year in Houston. But yet old offensive coaches, Sean Payton, 61, Andy Reed, 67, Bruce Ariens won a Super Bowl at 68, Harbaugh's in his 60s. Why is that? Why do old defensive coaches, Pete Carroll and Bell, and Ron Rivera and Lovie Smith. It's awful. And yet the league right now is being run by offensive coaches.
Starting point is 00:33:24 Some young, but even the old offensive coaches, are having great success. Why would that be? Because offensive coaches are creators and they're innovators. They're more curious. Go look at any study. Curious people age better. offensive coaches spend an offseason, innovating, creating. Andy Reid will send me plays on the phone.
Starting point is 00:33:50 Won't tell me when he's used them. Who against? But that's what offensive coaches do. That's why so many of them are not all, but so many are good in September. Or offensive coaches are exceptional off-a-bye, new tricks to show off. Offensive coaches age better, curious, innovative people age better. So if you're going to hire a defensive coach, Chris Shula, Rams, Jesse Minner, Chargers,
Starting point is 00:34:20 D'Amico Ryan's, Mike McDonald, Jeff Hathley, the Green Bay guy, go young. You see it time and time again. Older defensive coaches. Because what do defensive coaches teach? Brute force and aggression. Offensive coaches, creativity. ingenuity, innovation.
Starting point is 00:34:46 That not only ages people better, it ages coaches better. Carolina, their offense last in the ACC. By all means, let's bring them to pro football. So Mike Tomlin has not won a playoff game in his 50s. A lot of these defensive guys, it's about brute force and aggression and rigidity. they're authoritarian. Those people don't age as well in any industry. They don't.
Starting point is 00:35:18 The offensive guys are creators and innovators, and they're curious. Andy Reed, aging well. Bill Walsh, good. Later in life. Sean Payton, still money. Bruce Ariens at 68. Like, I,
Starting point is 00:35:33 apparently the Giants do not have any interest in Belichick because they don't want Jordan Hudson and Belichick on the back page the New York tabloids. Eric Mangini talked about that last week. Bill Belichick had sat out a year, another year, and been available. I think this would have been a really interesting story, and it could have gone full circle, and that's not a great fit either because of his age and some of the personal issues he's had.
Starting point is 00:36:06 Yeah, I have been on this for a long time that I would hire offensive coaches over defensive coaches for a lot of reasons. One of them is the rules now all lean offense. And the truth is, quarterback has become more valuable in the league. So get the guys that have better relationships with quarterbacks, right? The reason Brady left New England was because of Belichick. He couldn't draft players. He couldn't get offensive guys for him. And, you know, there was a certain rigidity and he was just worn out from him. Remember his wife in the documentary? He doesn't get respect, just at least give him respect. But hiring an old defensive coach in the NFL, Lovie Smith and Pete Carroll and old Bill Belichick and Ron Rivera.
Starting point is 00:36:44 It's always the same. If you're going to go D, go young, go current. Blazing five, top of next hour. Actually, I don't do blazing five is usually on Thanksgiving because it's a weird, wonky week. But there's a lot of good numbers. I like the numbers. Live in Chicago, it's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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.
Starting point is 00:37:23 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. We're starting a trend. 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.
Starting point is 00:37:41 And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. 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, 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
Starting point is 00:38:11 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 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
Starting point is 00:38:50 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 athletes 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. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your
Starting point is 00:39:31 podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it.
Starting point is 00:40:03 And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.
Starting point is 00:40:19 Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app.
Starting point is 00:40:35 Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand 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. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted.
Starting point is 00:41:01 She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerner Rabakina 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. The greatest rivalry in sports is here. Top-ranked defending national champion, Ohio State.
Starting point is 00:41:34 heads to the big house looking to snap michigan's five game one streak in the game it all starts at nine a m with a special three hour big noon kickoff live from ann arbor then it's michigan ohio state at noon only on five all right so early NBA basketball we addressed this yesterday the pace of play in the NBA the game is so much better so much more athletic so much more skilled so much faster than years ago So NBA stars and NBA players don't play any defense early. Last night, the Lakers shot 58%, the Clippers shot 52%. It was a defensive atrocity. But there were two takeaways and two takeaways Laker Clippers.
Starting point is 00:42:17 Number one, the Kauai Leonard experiment has been a disaster. I mean, forget the fact that L.A. loves stars and personality and Riz. He's got none. I mean, he's, I mean, O'Hawnee, McVe, Freddie Freeman, LeBron and Luca. Look at the stars in L.A. And then there's Kauai Leonard. If you want to be a quiet superstar, go play in San Antonio.
Starting point is 00:42:40 You and Tim Duncan were perfect. He's just, he has not sold tickets or merch. I mean, Kauai in L.A. is, honestly, God, it feels like wearing a cowboy hat in Manhattan. You can do it. I think there's a guy in Times Square in his underwear that wears a cowboy hat in Manhattan, but it feels weird. That just doesn't work.
Starting point is 00:42:59 The second thing, and this isn't a criticism, It's a reality. The Lakers are dead last in the NBA and three-point shooting and bench scoring and can't protect the rim. But they're really fun to watch. Because J.J. Reddick's an excellent offensive coach. Luke is the best offensive player in the world. Last night, Austin and Luca and LeBron. Now, it should be noted that Clippers and Jazz are terrible defensive teams.
Starting point is 00:43:23 But just remember, happiness is linked to expectations. This has no bench, not shooting threes, below average defense, and atrocious defending the rim. This team has to make a move at the trade deadline, and I'm not sure what that move will be, but the people who now own the organization are really, really smart. But the Lakers are fun, but I want you to listen. I mean, my takeaway in this whole Kauai thing is L.A. is a personality town. They like their teams to have personality. The Lakers are Showtime Lakers.
Starting point is 00:44:06 The Celtics on the other side of the country were tough and feisty. Big East basketball was tough and physical, and Pat Riley's Knicks were tough and physical, and the Detroit Pistons were the bad boys. L.A., Showtime. The fabulous forum, Staples Center, Crypto Arena. And here's who the Clippers, here's who the Clippers have as their centerpiece.
Starting point is 00:44:30 What do you think is the difference with this group where it's been such a struggle to kind of sustain some of the blows you guys have taken early? Just got to get the right lineups on the court, I guess. You know, get some more talent, play with better talent, and see what happens. You say like get more talent? Is that like internally, externally? I'm saying like playing better. Maybe all just got to play better. Make shots.
Starting point is 00:44:56 Move the ball a little bit more. Trust one another. You're better. I mean, honestly, you got the hoodie on. Just put some dark shades on. I mean, it just doesn't work. I'm sorry. It's, you know, if you live in Los Angeles, I mean, I guess the clipper tickets are cheaper.
Starting point is 00:45:19 But, I mean, there's one team right now that's fun to watch and appears to have fun and they like each other. And it's Luca, it's LeBron, it's Austin Reeves, it's Ruey. Even DeAndre Aiton, who's moody, he's happy these days. All right, so a really interesting game. Green Bay is going to play the Detroit Lions. It's a Fox tomorrow. It's the early game. So one of the things that's happened with Green Bay,
Starting point is 00:45:46 last year at this time, Green Bay was 8 and 3 and felt very good about himself. This year, it's 7, 3, and 1, and nobody likes the Packers. The cheeseheads are freaking out. And a lot of the people freaking out with Green Bay, the reason they're freaking out is Green Bay is doing the opposite of the Steelers. They've pivoted.
Starting point is 00:46:07 Number one, their defense is much better than their offense. That hasn't been the case in forever. Number two is they took a huge swing with a Micah Parsons deal. Packers don't do that. Number three, they haven't done this in 20 years. They took a wide receiver, a flashy player in the first round. So they're doing things that Green Bay doesn't do. But they were eight and three at this time last year.
Starting point is 00:46:29 They're 7, 3, and 1, and nobody likes them. And I'm like, they even hired a college football head coach to run their defense. That's been a big hit. The Micah Deal works. The wide receiver they drafted is good. Their defense is better than their offense. It's just a different version of the Packers. For the last 30 years, there's one team in professional football on the planet that always gets quarterback right.
Starting point is 00:46:57 Little Green Bay. and they still got a good quarterback. I always think Love plays more like Farr than he does Aaron Rogers, more of a let it rip. Sometimes you wince. Sometimes it's a little cringe, but he's talented. But I think everybody's getting worked up over Green Bay this year, and it's just a different Green Bay, and they've pivoted.
Starting point is 00:47:17 And you know, I think it's vital in any business, even for us personally, to be current. Stay ahead of stuff, no sum tech. Get rid of the rigidity, open up, be smart, smart, try to see around corners. Green Bay is just different. And they're doing stuff they don't normally do, and nobody knows how to react.
Starting point is 00:47:36 Now, I like Detroit tomorrow, but it's not because I don't like Green Bay. It's because the lions are excellent at home. Here's Dan Campbell on facing Micah Parsons. He's a dynamic player. He's a dynamic rusher. Scott plays hard. He's got a quick first step.
Starting point is 00:47:53 He's powerful. He's quick. You have to stop this guy. And he'll just keep. coming. So just to give you an example of how different this Green Bay team is from the last 25, 30 years, points per game allowed is 18. 18 in the NFL, or excuse me, points per game allowed by the Packers, 18 points a game. That's their best in 15 years. Yards per game allowed. it's the best in 29 years, yards and plays allowed.
Starting point is 00:48:27 Best since 96. So usually Green Bay's top numbers are all offensive. In fact, Aaron Rogers had one really good defense, and he won a Super Bowl. Right? So I think Green Bay is fine. It's a different version of Green Bay. every data point tells you Jordan Love is good. They don't run the football nearly as well as they'd like to, but they pass it fine.
Starting point is 00:48:57 I think the Tucker Kraft injury is substantial. He is a, looks like a 10-year Pro Bowl-type tight end to me, but they've still got Musgrave. They're still fine. We had a receiving group is very good. Here's the schedule for the weekend. We are doing a blazing five at the top. I actually think it's a decent weekend for lines, and I do think the public. is smarter than it's ever been, so it's hard to get good lines.
Starting point is 00:49:22 The Seahawk line initially, better than it is now. J-Mack, I always ask you, there's an upset every weekend. Give me look at your upset. Upset being four, four-and-a-half points. I see one. I want to see if you pick it. I know. You're going to go with the Browns.
Starting point is 00:49:41 That's fine. I am. I am. Not a huge shock. Listen, it's not a bad bet. It better not be the Raiders. That's all I know. I'm heavy on the Chargers.
Starting point is 00:49:51 You know, this is interesting. This Bengals Ravens game is kind of sort of fascinating. And we'll do it in headlines later. There's a lot of stuff here that shows that the Bengals are going to be able to play with them. And I know favorites, big favorites, by the way, unbelievable number for you, Colin. On Thanksgiving, favorites of seven or more, 25 and one straight up. Like, they are dominant. However, against the spread, it gets a little more condensed.
Starting point is 00:50:15 This is a rivalry game. Is it up? Can I take the Packers? is my upset or no? I think that's one of them. I like Detroit in that game because of the history of favorites. I mean, Detroit had bad teams and often played really well on Thanksgiving. So Detroit last week, remember, they played an overtime game.
Starting point is 00:50:34 On Sunday against the Giants. How many snaps did they, you know, Jamir Gibbs? I have that number for you. The New York Giants ran 77 place. So their defense was on the field all afternoon, and they gave up 6.7 yards per play to James Winston, one Dale Robinson and whoever is that else is that motley crew on the Giants. I don't love what I'm seeing from the Lions defense.
Starting point is 00:50:55 I got some guys in the secondary banged up. Joseph's not 100%. Arnold is injured. That interior offensive line. Listen, the Packers defense, Colin. I want to save some of this for headlines, but they're right there with the Texans defense and the Broncos statistically. Like yards per play, rushing yards defense.
Starting point is 00:51:13 They're very, very good, but they don't get the acclaim. I don't think the Lions are going to be able to run the football. Like Gibbs went for 2, 14 or whatever. He ain't sniffing that against his Packers defense. You remember that season opener, the Packers bodybagged them. It was not even close. I would be very careful drawing a lot out of the New York Giants Lions game because I think Detroit was looking ahead to Green Bay.
Starting point is 00:51:37 Great point. I think you're looking at James Winston. It's hard to get the troops. I mean, last week, Detroit was so bad defensively, yet this year, they're top 10 defensively at home. They just were looking way ahead to Thanksgiving in Green Bay, because that is a big, that is one of the bigger games of the year. The loser in that game has got to look themselves in the mirror.
Starting point is 00:52:02 So I think you're taking more out of the Giants' performance against the Lions' defense than I am. I do believe you see this a lot. There are look-ahead games in college football and occasionally on the NFL. I think Detroit's a much better defense than what we saw. Yeah, they just haven't had a quality win since that Ravens win on Monday night football, remember? Unless you count Tampa, which is a flaming dumpster fire right now. All right. Blazing 5 is coming up. Plus Joel Clatt, Greg CoSell, J. Max got his picks.
Starting point is 00:52:34 Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hi to everybody watching at an airport somewhere in North America. It's the hurt. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.
Starting point is 00:52:48 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.
Starting point is 00:53:04 But, you know, 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 on Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with
Starting point is 00:53:30 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 the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.
Starting point is 00:53:51 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo's Slice Life 12. and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.
Starting point is 00:54:19 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.
Starting point is 00:54:42 Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?
Starting point is 00:55:12 Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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