The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Colin's Blazing 5 picks for week 16, Caleb Williams is making a name for himself, Robert Mays

Episode Date: December 19, 2025

Colin reveals his Blazing 5 NFL picks for Week 16, breaking down the biggest matchups against the spread: Packers vs. Bears Vikings vs. Giants Bengals vs. Dolphins Patriots vs. Ravens 49ers vs. Colts Later, Robert Mays of The Athletic joins the show for an in-depth NFL conversation, including why Caleb Williams is rapidly establishing himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league and what separates him from the rest of the next generation of NFL starsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What a spectacular showcase of talent last night. We're live. We're in Chicago. It's the herd. Robert Mays, super sharp from the athletic. He'll be joining us. Great football show. Yeah, so many superlatives for last night.

I'll say it again with Sam Darnold. He became the first quarterback in NFL history. to win 12 games back-to-back ears for different teams. And sometimes like Andrew Luck, Wycompton, I said he was a less talented Andrew Luck. It can be choppy. It can be ugly. Sometimes you scratch your head at the picks. But one of my favorite qualities of quarterbacks is a short memory.

And the Rams have absolutely had Darnold's number. I remember Brady used to struggle with the New York Giants in that pass rush. There are coaches that give certain quarterbacks issues. Darnold, in his last 39 starts with four different teams, because he did start a game for the Niners, is 30 and nine. Four different coaching staffs. He won in Carolina, big in Minnesota, now in Seattle. You know, last night was choppy early, but he came back and we'll talk more about that. So we've had a pretty good year on Blazing 5, 57%.

Let's roll. That's a hot one. Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins blazing fuck. Packers at Bears. I like the Bears at home minus one and a half. They're eight and two over their last 10 games,

and those losses are only road losses. Caleb Williams has one or fewer giveaways in all 14 starts, so they won't give the game away. And the defense, like most defenses, is better at home. It's number six in the league. I like the roster, and they're much healthier than Green Bay. By the way, teams that play the Broncos, which the Packers just did,

are 3 and 10 the week after playing Denver. They're beat up, missing several stars, not just starters. Run game for the Packers feels dead. Run game for the Bears, been on fire all season. I like the Bears to win and cover 27 to 23. Vikings and Giants. Upset. I like New York here.

Four of their last five losses by one. score. They are running the ball. Last six straight games, 100 plus rushing yards without Scataboo. So they're pounding the rock. Jackson Dart, I was wrong. I didn't think he'd be this good as a rookie. His last five games, he's got a 95 passer rating. And he doesn't have a number one star back or a number one wide receiver. And the Vikings, they've lost four of their last six. Their wins are over two atrocious defenses. Commanders and Cowboys, J.J. McCarthy, I'm going to take the better quarterback at home. I trust him more.

Let's keep him out of the blue tent. I'll take the points. Giants win 28, 27. Bengals and Dolphins. Maybe my favorite pick of the week, I'll take Cincinnati minus four and a half. They've scored 30 points in two of their last three games, and Burroughs in a bad mood because he mailed it in.

The team did against the Ravens. Joe Burrow, this is weird. Not only is he won eight of his last 10 starts, He is unbelievable late in the season. In week 16 and 18 in his career, he's 7 and 0. Miami, five of the Dolphins, six wins this year, have come against the Jets twice, the Saints, the Falcons, the commanders. And now they're starting Quinn Ewers.

I have no idea what I'm getting from Quinn Ewers, but I know this. He's not Joe Burrell. I'm going to take Burrell in Cincinnati to win 30 to 20 in cover. Patriots and Ravens. I don't get this line. I'm going to take the Patriots in the field goal. Six and O in the road.

Outgain their opponents in nine straight games. Coming off a loss so they'll be salty. And Drake May's completion percentage is still 70. They'll move the chains consistently. And they dominated Buffalo in the first half. The Ravens are three and five at home. The last five games, their passing game is toast. And they're not very good on the back end.

So I think Drake May could have some success down. the field. I don't really get the line here. The Patriots are a good road team. Excellent coach, coordinator. I'm going to take the points. I think the Patriots win outright. 28, 27. 49ers hit Colts. Maybe you haven't listened to J-Mac, but I like the Niners here, minus five and a half. Four-game winning streak, all four wins by double digits. Their third down offense has been great with Brock Purdy. They're not, only the Rams are penalized less, pretty healthy offensively, and the Colts on the back end, uh-oh. Also, everybody loved Phillip Rivers last week. It was a great, memorable game and touching story. His passer rating

was 73. He averaged 4.4 yards throwing the ball down the field. This offense, I mean, again, Philip Rivers is a great story. He wasn't a great quarterback in the next. And the Niners have a ton to play for, especially after Seattle comes back to beat the Rams. You're going to get a inspired effort by the 49ers.

They can do a lot more with Brock Purdy move in the pocket than the Colts can. I like the Niners to win and cover 34 to 24. Three favorites. A couple of underdogs on our Blazing five picks. J-Mack, quick thoughts. I hate to break it

to you, but I'm against you. on one, two games. I do love the Bears and Niners. I like those baldplay. All right. And with that, he's a writer for the Athletic. But now you know him as the Athletic Football Podcast Show host. His name is Robert Mays, joining our show again.

You know, I said this about Sam Darnold. It's kind of a funny stat. It's remarkable. And his last 39 starts, he's 30 and 9, and that's four different teams because he started a game with the Niners. First quarterback ever to win 12 games back to back, two different teams, not Brady, not Monta, Hannah. I know the interceptions are ugly. He may not win a Super Bowl. I loved Andrew Luck.

But there is something Robert about, he has a short memory. His body language does, I mean, there's something to be said. It's always been my knock on Aaron Rogers. I can tell how he's playing by his demeanor on the sideline. I kind of loved what Darnold did last night. What was your takeaway? If you think about the mental toughness, even over the course of his career, some of the things he's come back from and now playing at this level. I think there's a real maturity to the way that he's approached the last few years and you can see it and stuff like last night where he comes back from those early interceptions. I'm kind of with you.

I just think this is the Sam Donald experience. There are going to be a couple moments every game where it's like, oh man, Sam, you've got to get rid of the ball. Or like, I cannot believe he threw that. But then you watch what he did on those final couple drives. That throw to Cooper Cup on that corner route, that's truly as good as it gets. Yeah.

I mean, he has elite moments as a passer. And if you're going to ride the highs, you've got to endure the lows. And I kind of just think that's what the Sam Darnold experience is right now. You know, I told my staff this morning, I would give Josh Allen the MVP over Stafford. And here's why. You saw it last night. Josh is great in the second half. And that's not scripted.

There are times where the ability to just say, guys, I'm taking off. I've seen Mahomes do this in Super Bowls. The Rams offense, Robert, can get stuck. and last night, I think they had four punts in the fourth quarter, and you're like, guys, boy, did they need a Herbert experience? They needed Caleb Williams. So I, and this is not a knock on Stafford, it's a reality. He may be the last great pure pocket passer. But when you watch the Rams fourth quarter offense and it stalls, how do you view that?

What's the issue to you? I think it's a reminder that their run game is incredibly important as like the engine of, of their offense overall. If you look at the numbers, the Rams are dominant on early downs. And part of the reason for that is on early downs, you have the threat of the run and you have the threat of play action pass. When you put them in third and defined pass and they're a dropback team, they're just not quite as dynamic.

And I think that's what you saw last night. They ran the ball at will in the first half. And then when they couldn't do it in the second half, the offense starts to feel a little bit more inconsistent and a little bit more herky-jurkey. And so the Seahawks are a ton of credit for really bowing up against the run because if you can do that, you feel a different version of the Rams offense. So listen, I have made my case that I like Caleb and Bo Nix. And I think, you know, Caleb's the greater athlete, the higher ceiling. I think Bo Nix is more accurate, 10 yards and under the bubble stuff, the flat stuff.

He's really good. Let's talk Caleb. Where have you seen, I mean, you dive deep on this stuff. go to week one to now. Give me a couple of things where it's very clear, either analytically on film, he's a better quarterback now than week one. I just think he looks so much more comfortable within the offense. And if you look at the timing he's playing with,

I thought that the first half of that game against the Browns and even the performance overall against the Browns is probably the best game I've seen him play as a pro. And you see the spectacular stuff like that touchdown of DJ Moore. But to me it's about consistent ball placement. I don't think there was a single throw. over that entire first half and maybe even the game where I'm like, he kind of wants that one back.

And you see his ability to drive the ball. That's what he does best. Intermediate, over the middle, off-play action, I'm going to rip it into this window. But what I really liked in the Browns game is that you saw him shaping some touch throws accurately. And if he can start to harness every single club in his bag, that's where a guy with his talent level

becomes like truly scary. And I think we're trending in that direction. Yesterday, Todd McShay said when he talked to GMs last year before the draft, very few had Bo Nix as a first round talent. And I called my three or four guys I trust. They were totally split on him. So there are people that believe this is really about Sean Payton. What do the analytics say?

He has been uneven. He can struggle down the field. But what do the numbers say? What's your take on Bo? Over the first 14 weeks of the season, if you look at the Broncos offense, they were not an ambitious passing game. They did not want to push the ball downfield. I believe they ranked 28th in the NFL

in the percentage of their throws that were short of the sticks. It was a lot of yak. It was a lot of underneath stuff. Think even back to the Raiders game two weeks ago. That's how they approached it. And so I think the question with Bo Nix was, all right, if he's got to make four or five throws down the field against a really good opponent,

and you're not just squeaking by against the Jets and the Raiders, is he capable of doing that? And that's why last week I think is so encouraging if you're a Broncos fan. That's exactly what happened. I mean, he's just putting dots on guys on 35, 40-yard throws down the field against one of the best defenses they're going to play this year. And so if he's going to have that level of ambition as a passer, and he's still going to bring some of the creation stuff that he has,

the fact that he's a good athlete, the fact that he's accurate, his ability to attack all areas of the field to me. That was the last thing I wanted to see. And so him being able to do that last week, that's a box checked in my opinion. You know, Buffalo's interesting. I've said I'd give Allen the MVP over Stafford because I think Stafford's got a much better roster.

I call it Noah's Ark, two of everything, backs, tight ends, receivers, guards, like the Rams have a surplus of talent. I think three different tight ends had multiple catches last night. That's what they are. But the AFC is weird. No homes, no borough, maybe no Lamar Jackson. Justin Herbert's beat up with an atrocious old line. Where are you soup to nuts on the bills right now going into the playoffs if things continue on?

I don't know how you've experienced this or worked through this this year. It's been kind of this cognitive dissonance where I have a way I've always processed the sport over the last like 10 years. And it's quarterback-centric. So the teams with the best quarterbacks are the teams that I'm going to trust late into the season. Well, I rode the chiefs into the gutter because of that. And I think the Ravens are kind of in a similar place where we believe in the quarterback, but they're not a good or dangerous team right now. And so I wonder if that's happening with Josh Allen,

where I want to say he's the guy I would believe in in the AFC playoffs, but is that the type of year that we're discussing? Overall, I think that what they were in the second half against the Patriots is exactly why they're so scary. They do have a really good run game. That is the foundation of the offense. They can run the ball downhill at you. Their offensive line is really good.

Josh Allen is a force of nature. He's going to make three or four plays over the course of the game, whereas a defensive coach, you're just going to sit there and shake your head because there's nothing you can do about it. And then the defense, it's not a great group down to down. They're undersized. They struggle against the run.

But I think that the staff is creative enough where they can throw a curve ball at you, whether it's for two quarters, whether it's for a game, and they can catch you flush the way that they did with Drake May in that half the way they did to Patrick Mahomes earlier in the year. So if you have creativity and

sort of unpredictability on defense combined with what Josh Allen can give you, that's why I still think that the bills are probably the scariest team in that conference. So things can, I think the team in the league, I had said this probably eight weeks ago, I said the coaching staff

of the year is San Francisco. You had Mack Jones, except for Kettle, everybody was beat up. The defense lost in the office He's in Hufungi and Greenlaw, and then Bosa and Warner, I'm like, this division has great coaching. What's happening? Nothing makes sense. The fact that they could win this division is insane to me.

But I look at it and I think, man, do they have anybody defensively that you would trust in a big spot? Sometimes it's just great coaching in this league. I mean, we see Kevin O'Connell takes Josh Dobbs without a practice and wins a game. It's like, that is really good coaching and good for Josh Jobs. Where are you on the Niners? I think their offense is always going to be scary as long as they have like 60% of the guys they need and Kyle Shanahan. And that's exactly what's happened this year. The defense is where I just have my concerns.

Like you look at even a team like the Titans last week. The Titans were able to push them around on the ground. That's the Titans. What are they going to look like against the Rams, the Packers, teams in the NFC playoffs that, all of them have pretty dynamic offenses. And so I don't like moral victories. I understand if you're a Niners fan and the fact that you can get the one seat, you have designs on like doing stuff and making noise in the playoffs.

I just think that right now they're just too banged up on the defensive side of the ball to be a real player in this thing. And that's okay. This was supposed to be like a transitionary year for the Niners. And so I think for the most part, they've been everything that you have wanted and more as they turn the page to what, but should be a better version of this thing in 2026. And maybe it's the Niners of the AFC Pittsburgh.

I think, and I've been a critic, I think Aaron's been one of the most consistent, redeemable parts. This is a, this offense has been tone deaf. How in the world can you go seven years without a run game? The O line, they've spent draft capital, still don't love it. They're big. I mean, even D.K. Metcalf, after him, I don't trust a lot of their receipts. Are they the Niners of the AFC that they should just, we should all just go,

they made it in, Aaron's 42, salute the achievement, or do you have them with a higher ceiling? I think I have them with a lower ceiling because I think in any given stretch of two or three games, the offenses are usually the teams that I'm going to believe in because I think that offenses for the most part dictate your ceiling. So the back that the Niners in any given game, I think can score third. points against most defenses in the NFL. I think that makes them a little bit scarier. The Steelers, I still feel like the offense is limited.

That game they played against the Ravens, where he had four or five shots down the field. It was like jarred watching that version of their offense because of how conservative they've been for the most part throughout this year. And so I think they're right now when you watch them, he still does not really want to hang in the pocket, does not really want to push the ball down the field. And while there have been some moments where he's kind of stepped outside of that,

I still think that overall, the offense is a little bit too limited for them to really give anybody any problems as they get into the playoffs. Let's go back. Robert Mays. One more question, Seahawks Rams. J. Mack and I believe that when you really look of depth and experience and coaching, the Rams are better than the Seahawks. That's my take this morning, despite what happened. Where are you on that? I don't know if there are certain elements of the Rams that I, just worried about.

I think that the right. Exactly. And that's those are the margins we're talking about when you want to win championships. Those little things end up mattering. And so I think there are two different things about the Seahawks that give them a slight edge over the ramps. Top to bottom, I still think the Seahawks defense is better. I think the personnel is better. I think they have fewer weaknesses.

And so that's a unit, even if the Rams have been good, I still think that a couple cornerback issues and a couple weak points on the Rams defense. I'm still a little bit more worried about than Seattle. And special teams is a real thing. The Seahawks have been one of the best special teams units in the NFL. This is kicking, returns, and we saw it last night.

And this continues to be a significant problem for the Rams. This is like a multi-year thing that they've had to work through. And I love the fact that we're getting this version of Shaw McVeigh, who's going for it three different times on fourth down in the first quarter. I think you can make an argument that he's not being aggressive

enough considering the current state of their kicking game. And so how he ends up sorting through that, I think that's going to be the biggest question that the Rams have to answer. And it's just not a question the Seahawks have to worry about. Yeah, the Niners game, they missed a field goal and an extra point. The Eagles game, they had a kick blocked. And then last night, three of their losses are special teams. And what a circus and what a great game.

Robert Mays, the Athletic Football Show podcast is outstanding. Robert Mays. Love having you on the show. Your insight, your intellect. Thank you so much. Have a great weekend. Anytime, Colin. Thanks a lot. He does terrific work. Robert Mays. Yeah, it is. You know, it's crazy that if the Rams got to the Super Bowl and lost and it was special teams blunders, usually special, you're not good enough to get to a Super Bowl. If you have bad special teams, here's the other thing to think about. So, John Snyder looks at the two teams. And at the trade deadline, he's like, where are the Rams weakest? And the Seattle GM probably says they're special teams.

So, J. Mack, he makes a move at the deadline to empower his Seattle special teams because he knows it's the Seahawks weakness. I don't know if he did that, but I can see Snyder, who's very strategic going, okay, we don't think the Niners are going to be a threat, big picture. the Rams may be one of two teams we struggle to get through. They're bad special teams. We're going to double down, give up mid-round picks to get Rashid Seit, and it paid off last night. Because they didn't need a number one receiver.

But, you know, he's a deep threat, first of all. But he is a special team's nightmare, especially against the Rams. Yeah, and the other team in the division, the 49ers, remember, their kicking situation was brutal in week one. Shanahan was pulling his hair out. Yeah. They solved it with Piniero, I think, is his name. or whatever it is, but he's an unbelievable kicker. So the Niners also got Sky Moore returning kicks.

He's doing well. Of those three teams, the Rams very clearly have the worst special teams, and it's not close, Colin. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, is Kavino and Rift from Fox Sports Radio.

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Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away. Hey, it's us to 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 did 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 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. We don't care where you hear it. The story I've told myself about love or relationships 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

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Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice. into man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the MyCultura podcast network available on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking. talking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time.

You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How Hard Can It Be with the Adamania Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own.

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Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents Soccer Moms. So I'm Leanne. This is my best friend Janet. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast.

We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard sell? else or instead of beer. Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got them. Do you want a white color or something here?

Just hit it. Oh, what are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake.

That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. I'm not a killer. I love this team, and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh.

Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Lazing five picks are in. Chris Peterson on the college football playoff. I'll take Oklahoma close and ugly tonight at home with a better defense, a little bit of a run game, a little bit. J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Well, the bears are good, so we're going to keep talking about them, Colin. and they are 10 and 4. Ben Johnson is cooking. Caleb Williams is kind of mid, but he's winning games. That's all that matters. You remember Mike March, the offensive mastermind of those greatest show on turf teams. He believes Chicago has found themselves a gem in Ben Johnson. First of all, I think he's a once-in-a-generation coach.

I think he's a very unique to hear a home run with him. I think he'll be there for a very long time. He'll be extremely successful. and he's the one guy that can take care of him and help him make that transition to become not just a good quarterback but great quarterback. So the Bears, first of all, got it right here. You know, they got that duo that should be together for quite some time and have a lot of success. Yeah, he's special. And, you know, it's still one of the poorest, weirdest ownership groups.

I don't know where I stand on Robert Ryan Poles. He's done some good stuff. This roster's pretty good. Got to give him credit. but I think the glue that holds all of it together is Ben Johnson. He pulls it all together. Yeah. Ben Johnson's been spectacular.

We got some numbers here, Colin. And it was evident in like the first month of the season that this is now a run-first team. That's what Ben did with the Detroit team. The run sets up all the passing schemes. Look at this rushing improvement year-over-year. Biggest in the NFL. They got Swift and Monongai, who's come out of nowhere to be pretty damn good. And so when you have that run, the threat of it, the defenses have to come up and respect it.

And then all of a sudden you got the wide open stuff downfield, DJ Moore, cooking. We'll see Luther Burden emerges. Roma Dunzee, that injury concerns me a little bit. I'm with you. I like the Bears here this weekend against the Packers. I do like Ben Johnson a lot. I'm just wondering, Coach of the year, is he? I mean, there's some really, really good candidates.

Obviously, Sean Payton. But, you know, Shanahan, Sean Payton, but Sean Payton's got now the richest owners in the sport and their hands off. Well, I don't want that to hold that against you. Well, no, I consider everything. It's like Josh Allen's my MVP over Matt Stafford because he can run. I get bonuses. So, I mean, that's bottom line is Matt's a pocket guys, you know, and I think in big games, I want a guy that can pick up first downs with his feet. When I look at a coach, what are you overcoming?

it's much easier to have Stan Cronkey as a head coach than the McCaskys. It's much easier. So the Denver, I mean, I think, again, Sean Payton made the playoffs last year. I think what Ben is overcoming the history, he had to rebuild the culture, Caleb. I think Ben's got, you know, Vrable's going to be way up there too. Because I still, I think Chicago's roster is better than New England's. but no, he's tied for the fourth best odds this morning. The fact that Ben Johnson has the Bears in this position

when of the seven playoff teams in the NFC, I mean, I'm sorry, the Bears have the weakest quarterback of those seven. I'm sorry, Baker Mayfield right now is a better quarterback than Caleb. Not much, but you've got the worst quarterback of the seven and you're doing that well? I don't know. Ben's been tremendous. I think he's probably maybe my pick for Coach of the Year. All right, let's go to the Dallas Cowboys, Colin.

We know they've got about a 1% chance at the postseason. Some might say, hey, Dallas, you just shut it down if they lose this one, but Dak Prescott, no way. He is not sitting out. No tanking for Dak. Being a professional, this is my job. This is what I love to do. You know, sitting out last year and the times before,

you don't take getting to play this game for granted. You play every game to win, you play every game to win. You get a chance to go to playoffs and playing the Super Bowl. unfortunately that's not always the case and if that's not the case when we take the field or whatever it may be, I'm thankful for the opportunity to play this game and I'm not going to ever pass it up. Yeah, you know what's interesting about Dallas? If you start looking at divisions and you start looking at the coaches that are going to win divisions, Mike Frable, Sean Payton, perhaps Liam Cohen, who's been a home run,

and just, you know, Shanahan or McVeigh or Mike. Mike McDonald, Tomlin's a legend, and Jerry still goes discount double check on head coach. The whole thing with the Cowboys is they've done a lot right. But start looking right now this morning who's winning these divisions. Ben Johnson, Mike Brable, Sean Pay, and then even Wildcard coaches. Could be John Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh, Kyle Shanahan. Folks, I'm not saying quarterback is less important than coach, but certainly in the Chicago situation or the Jacksonville situation,

you have to overcome years of poor culture. And yet Dallas goes cheap on coaches. It's just, it's like one of those things, it's a blind spot for a really smart guy and Jerry Jones. Yeah, Colin, if I said to you, how many playoff games will Dak Prescott win in the next three years? Okay. Now, there's a lot that goes into a draft.

free agency. But that's probably all that Jerry's going to be around instrumental with the team, right, given his age. Will Dak win one playoff game in the next three years? Yes. Seriously? Yeah, one. If you're not going to spend money on a coach. You've got to get to the playoffs and win a playoff game.

They ain't getting there this year. They got a lot of work to do in this offseason and the NFC, as you talked about, is greatly elevated. NFC is better than the AFC this year. I don't know what the NFC versus AFC games are, but eyes. roster. The better rosters right now are

absolutely on Fox, NFC games. They just, like that game last night, there's no AFC matchup that would look like the Ram Seahawks. There is no... Bill's Ravens. Bill's Ravens. Oh, Bill's roster's not close to that. Not close

to that good. So the problem with Dallas is Jaden Daniels is going to be healthy next year, okay? And Jared Goff and the Lions are going to find an offensive coordinator. Those two teams are going to be better than Dallas next year. So, I mean, is probably starting this offseason like 10th in the NFC, Colin, if we're being real. Is that fair?

Do you know how big of an uphill climb that is to get to the playoffs, much less than the game? Also, Jackson Darts played well. He probably be better in year two, probably. Assuming he beats out Mendoza. But anyway, anyways, I'm just, I like Dak, by the way, this holiday season, I'm thankful for Dak Prescott giving us great sound bites every week. I don't know if any quarterback this year has been better giving us just good soundbites. He sounds awesome.

Final story, Colin, Drake May of the New England Patriots. Man, he's had a great season. He was in the MVP mix, and all of a sudden that loss of the bills kind of dropped him down a peg. And then Stafford went off last night. Here's Drake May talking about his perspective of the MVP award. You know, the MVP is, it's obviously one of the big accolades for this league. And it's, you know, something that's, you know, it's an honor as a player to, you know, earn their award and I respect all the past MVP's,

but I think at the end of the day, you know, winning the Super Bowl is the biggest thing. And I think it's what kind of makes this league go is winning the big one. And that's what you work towards. And that's what this game's about. If you, how about this, if you could win one Super Bowl but never win an MVP,

or you win four MVP. Now, we know Super Bowl's the ultimate prize. But do you think Aaron Rogers would give us, three of his MVP's for another Super Bowl. Well, as someone who plays in many men's basketball leagues, I would trade every MVP for championships. That's undeniable. I think LeBron, any of the superstars,

would rather be champions than win MVP awards. You're the best in the sport. You would take that in a heartbeat, Con. At least that's my perspective. Are you thinking otherwise? No, I mean, like Eli Manning, I take his career over errands because I got two Super Bowl wins.

I'm not saying, I'm not saying, that's a different discussion. Yeah, I'm not saying he's better. Yeah. I'm saying I, given the choice of the two, Eli Manning, two and O in Super Bowls,

beat Brady and Belichick in both. Two of the most iconic throws, Mario Manningham, David Tyree, maybe the two most iconic throws, certainly in the class. Like, to me, I'm about winning.

The award stuff's nice. Legacy, but the winning thing, I know I'm in the minority here. People would take like a bunch of MVP's in one Super Bowl. Why do you think you're in the minority? Because I think people like awards. I'm not an awards guy. Who likes awards?

I mean, we're not talking about an Oscar. By the way, who was the MVP? Who was MVP of the league 10 years ago? Nobody knows. You start talking who won the Super Bowl, you know? People remember Super Bowls. I don't think they remember MVPs in the NFL, the way they matter and like...

I could not tell you off the top of my head, How many Tom Brady has? Four, three. I don't even know how many Mahomes has. Several. But we know he's a Super Bowl winner. Yeah, I think that's a no-brainer. By the way, I don't think Josh Allen's totally done with the MVP.

I think he's in the mix. They play the Eagles next week. How about this? I looked at the schedule. There's only two games at 4 o'clock next week. One of them is Giants Raiders. The other on Fox is Bill's hosting the Eagles. And if Josh plays great.

He's in the mix. But remember who votes for this stuff? and you know they like old guys. Stafford just had a really good game. They didn't lose last night because of Stafford, right? Stafford was tremendous. No, the special teams were brutal. Now to now, they did settle for field goals.

No Devante, but yes, yes. Yeah, I mean, that's part of it. But you've got to give Seattle defense credit, too. It's hard to score in congested areas. Wait a minute. They gave up 500-some odd yards. I can't get that. Yeah, but they were good.

They were, who cares? They gave up. field goals more than touchdowns. You've got to give Seattle to defense credit. Ben, but don't break. In the red zone, they forced four field goal attempts. That's a win, to me. Okay.

Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping back. The Hurd-Lie News. I think most fans would disagree with me. I think they take Aaron's career over Eli's, and I would just want the other Super Bowl. I don't know.

It'd be an easier decision if Eli had one MVP. Then it'd be an easy one. I'll take one MVP and two Super Bowls over no MVP's in two Super Bowls. And that's not to diminish what Aaron's done, but it is when you think of Eli Manning, like he beat the goat twice in Super Bowls. That's a whole different legacy. That is Belichick and Brady for 20 years sort of define the league.

Who beat him? Eli Manning twice in Super Bowls. That's all-time stuff to me. 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. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, 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 podcast. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. starting a trend. But this one's extra special.

So how did 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. Oh, 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 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. We don't care where you hear it. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian.

I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream and chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura podcast network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships 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 and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land,

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. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman

walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a paramedapausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva? where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood

as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45, how can it be getting naked at 50 with a new guy.

That one's kind of hard, you know? Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, How Hard Can It Be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva

as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, Ms. Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about Define the Arts. 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 Reed. 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 Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get to fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah.

You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We got a big East, big 10 battle on Fox College Hoops Friday. As Villanova takes on Wisconsin, it all tips off tonight at 8 Eastern on Fox. You know, it's, I think one of the things I love, and perhaps this is what I love about sports as a whole more than anything, I like when it changes.

I'm not a traditionalist. Like, I don't watch Bulls anymore, and I'm a huge college football fan. There was one on TV today. It was 27-0. and I'm like, nobody's going to the games. Like I just get over stuff pretty fast that way. I'm not a traditionalist person. Didn't go to church much as a kid.

Whatever. I think what's interesting about football, and I brought this up before, how valuable is completion percentage anymore? So when it used to be more valuable, do you know what Tom Brady's all time is? 64%. And in his first six years, it was much lower.

Matt Stafford, 63. and a half percent. Brett Farb, 62%. Andrew Luck, who I loved, 61%. Now, much better offensive coaches, mobility is much more important.

People are like, Caleb Williams, 58.5%. So I just want to read you this. Caleb has improved, he has a better passer rating this year, more passing yards per game, more passing touchdowns,

more rushing touchdowns, more big plays, 20 plus. All improvements. More importantly, way fewer sacks. 23, this year, 58 at this time last year. So massive improvement. The Bears' offense has also jumped to top five in the league. It was 32nd last year.

Caleb now is second in game-winning drives and tied for the most fourth quarter quarter. wins, tied for the most fourth quarter comebacks, excuse me. So he's much better late in games. He wins more. Every stat, team stat, personal stat. Up, up, up.

Also on third down this year when trailing, that's a big separator, halves and have-nots. Seven passing touchdowns. Third down when trailing. Best in the league, including Stafford and everybody. his passer rating in the league when trailing 144 best in the league his TD interception ratio on third down when trailing best in the league his complete shirt percentage when trailing is second best but he's not real accurate he's 58%

so my take is I've been on this for like two months how much does it matter he's actually accurate what he needs to be. I used to be a sports anchor. We used to have a joke. When the red light comes on, can you read? When the camera's on, can you get through it and not stumble? Nobody cares about rehearsal. Same with Saturday Night Live and Broadway.

When they're in their seats, go time. Are you magic? He is great. On third down, he's great TD Interception. when it matters. So, you know, I watched him last week. I thought he was great. Robert Mays earlier on Caleb's accuracy.

To me, it's about consistent ball placement. I don't think there was a single throw over that entire first half and maybe even the game where I'm like, ah, he kind of wants that one back. And you see his ability to drive the ball. That's what he does best. Intermediate, over the middle, off-play action, I'm going to rip it into this window.

But what I really liked in the Browns game is that you saw him shaping some touch throws accurately. And if he can start to harness every single club in his bag, that's where a guy with his talent level becomes like truly scary. And I think we're trending in that direction. So think about this. Matt Stafford is going to make the Hall of Fame. You get no mobility.

He completes 63%. Tom Brady, the goat. No mobility. In the pocket. Sure, out of the pocket. No. 64%. So, like, if those guys are legends without the mobility, I always say, like, I kind of think the line for Caleb is 61.5%. That kind of feels like where he kind of needs to be.

But I go look at the numbers, team numbers, fourth quarter numbers, when trailing numbers, they're unbelievable. He's just, you know, in basketball, we wouldn't even argue this. If you were a great fourth quarter player in basketball, we would not. care for a second about your first half numbers. Right? Because in the NBA, it's like, well, nobody really hustles until the final five minutes. That's not true. But we wouldn't even argue about it. Same in baseball.

If you did not get a hit in your first two at-bats all season, but you hit 360 on your third at bat and 390 on your fourth at bat, people would be like, clutch. But we lose a lot of sleep on, you know, some of the early scripted stuff, first half. You know, it's just, it's not pretty, I don't know, like I what we said in the off season, and I think you

thought this too, this wasn't like us coming up with it, the number one thing was dude, you got to cut down on the sacks. For your own health, and because it's negative plays. You just got to get out of sacks. Like the other night we watched two against the Steelers. It's like, brutal! Forget the incompletions. These awful

sacks. Belichick, talking about Brady. What's the best thing about him? It didn't take sacks. No negative plays. Played in front of the sticks. That was my number one thing. I said before the season, I don't care about wins. Get to seven.

I'm good. Cut the sacks in half. He's done that. And all the other components. Up, up, up, up. I think when you look at Caleb Williams' numbers when trailing, that to me has always been the have-and-have-not line of demarcation. Everybody's good with a lead.

Sam Donald last night, that's impressive. That's impressive Well, Sam's always impressive My bad All right Final hour It's a good one next 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

It's 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. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Non-stop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your heart is hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free.

Have a great day. I heart radio. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the

the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was part of it. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.

Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate. You soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey With all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They had a bogo. Well, then you got it.

Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.