The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Colin's new Blazing 5 picks for week 15, Caleb Williams' development so far, the Chiefs are on the brink, Carson Palmer

Episode Date: December 12, 2025

Colin drops his Blazing 5 NFL Picks for Week 15, featuring marquee matchups with massive playoff implications: Ravens at Bengals Lions at Rams Panthers at Saints Packers at Broncos Colts at Seahawks Then, 3-time Pro Bowl QB Carson Palmer joins the show to deliver expert insight on: Caleb Williams’ Year 2 development and contention in the NFC. The Kansas City Chiefs on the verge of playoff elimination — what’s real, what’s fixable, and what it means for Patrick Mahomes’ dynasty window Colin is slowly becoming more impressed with Browns QB Shedeur SandersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's great to have you in. Blazing 5. We've had a very good year. I always felt if I could get the 55%. I was in good space. We're a little higher than that this year. You know, it's funny about the NFL season as you start looking right now

at who is winning their divisions. It is often offensive coach or top coach with a really excellent quarterback. So on an annual basis, I do not think it's that difficult to predict, you know, divisions, and winning teams. That part's not as difficult. On a week-to-week

basis against the spread, it's not easy, but we introduce our Blazing Five. Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins, Blazing Five. Ravens and Bengals. Folks, Joe Burroughs won eight of his last nine starts. I like the Bengals as a dog

at home getting points. They've played the fourth hardest schedule. And they've gone toe to toe. They should have eaten Buffalo last week. They've scored 30 plus points in the three straight games with Burrow. The defense now is not great, but seven takeaways in three games. They're playing with a lot of energy. They're playing with a lot of pride.

And Joe Burrow, folks, last year he was arguably when healthy, the best quarterback in the league in Lamar Jackson struggling, Ravens 0 and 4 against the spread in the last month. They're averaging in the last month, 20 points a game. I think the Bengals at home as a dog is a sharp bet. 27, 24, Cincinnati beats the stumbling Ravens. Lions and Rams. Rams minus 5 and a half is to play. My favorite bet, clinches playoff spot with a win, so it matters a lot for the Rams,

and they've won seven of eight games many comfortably. They have the fewest offensive mistakes in the league. They don't get penalized. They don't get sacked. they don't give the ball away, and now they're at home against the Lions team searching for an offensive identity. The Lions averaging 13 points a game in their three road losses. This is two teams that feel like one's totally in rhythm, one is out of rhythm. Right now, Jared Doff is facing a 38% pressure rate. They can't pick up first downs on third or fourth.

Matt Stafford at home this year has been unbelievable. he's got time to throw. I think the Rams win, and the Rams cover final score 33-26. Panthers at Saints. I like the Panthers minus two and a half as a road favorite. They come off extra rest with an offensive coach, and I think they're just a better team than the Saints. They're five and one when they score at least 20 points this year.

Again, they beat the Rams. This team's got a pretty high ceiling. Most improved defense, Thanks to good drafting in the NFL this year. They were erect defensively. Last year, averaging 31 a game defensively, they gave up 30 points down to 22. Saints are in a letdown spot. They come off a big win feeling themselves against Tampa.

But Bryce Young's last three games, I like them. By the way, the Saints had held under 20 points in seven of eight games. This is an easy one. Big quarterback, coach advantage. Right now, the defense play. well, I'm going to take the Panthers to win and to cover 3023. Packers at Broncos. I like Green Bay minus 2 and a half.

They're on a four-game winning streak. They finally got those wide receivers healthy. They've been the second best offense in the league, have the Packers on the road, they're 4-1-1-on-one-on-one on the road, Christian Watson, five touchdowns, last four games. They are really in-sink offensively. The Broncos are a bit overvalued because they've had the second easiest schedule in the league. They have trailed has Denver in 12 to 13 games, and Denver plays close. Five straight one score games.

Jordan Love on the road this year, I like him in this spot. Denver may have the better defense, but I'm not even sure about that. I'm going to take Green Bay minus the points to win and cover 2824. Colts said Seahawks. Take the under 42 and a half. Two run heavy teams. It will be a fast game. Seattle, big game coming up.

They want to get out of this thing healthy. They're not going to put Darnold in harm's way. They're going to run the ball. And that's all the Colts can do with 44-year-old Philip Rivers as a likely starting quarterback. Back-to-back games, the Seahawks have held people under 10 points. Offensively, they have the high. highest rushing percentage. The Colts offense, the last three games, has disappeared. So they don't

want Philip Rivers throwing that thing 30 times. The Colts are going to run it. The Seahawks want to keep Darnold healthy for the last stretch of the season in the playoffs. Seattle knows they're going to win it. Over under is 42 and a half. I think the Seahawks blow them out 30 to 6. But I think Seattle wants to get out of this game. It's been a weird, wild weather week. flooding all over Seattle. They want to get in, run the ball, stay healthy, get ready for the big games coming up against the Rams.

So there's my blazing five. J. Mack, any thoughts on it? Absolutely terrifying how much I love these. I've already bet three, actually four. I bet the under in Seahawks Colts, so I'm with you on that. I just can't get there with the Bengals. It looks like T. Higgins today.

They're saying no practice, concussion. That was clear in the Buffalo game. I don't think he's going to play, but it may not matter. Baltimore seems broken at this point. You see Lamar getting a little surprised to hear. He only has one carry of over 20 yards since the first week. Yeah. We've been saying.

Really? Yeah, Lamar. Carson Palmer. By the way, the coach at Santa Maria Margarita High School here in Southern California, one last week, dominant win, will now play juggernaut, Dala Sal for the state title. So former quarterback, Carson Palmer, is now fledgling superstar coach Carson Palmer, and he's joining us live here. Coaching's hard, so congratulations to you.

I'll circle back on that. So part of being quarterback is being, and this is a weird thing to say, but kind of being obsessed. Like Brady was kind of obsessed by it. Like, it is your life, training in the offseason, working with people. Maybe it's not that healthy, but that's just part of the job. So I want to play a brief bite from Joe Burrell this week and just your interpretation of what he's going through. Here's the sound. You know, if I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it.

You know, I've been through a lot. And if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? Eight of his last nine starts, which I always thought was fun. How does that land for you, Carson? He just looks frustrated. You know, it's been an up and down progression to get to this point for him playing for the Bengals. A lot of injuries, a lot of surgeries, a lot of frustrations. There's been some peaks, but there's definitely been some valleys.

And so I just think you see a guy that he's wearing his frustration on his sleeve. Right now it's obviously been a frustrating year for him to get hurt early and now come back and they have to basically, for the most part, went out or have an incredible run here to get into the play. off. So I just think you're seeing a guy that's just frustrated. Unfortunately, you know, he did that on that stage in front of all those cameras and people and now we're all talking about it. But I think that's what we're all seeing right now. Yeah, you can only go through rehab so many times. It beats you down a little bit mentally. Philip Rivers 44. Now, he knows, he knows this group. He knows Shane Steichen. That was his quarterback coach with the Chargers.

So he's a, he's a Stuyken guy. And he played for the Colts. 44 years old my first reaction was well he's a big thick guy so if he gets hit he can handle it but it's like it's a little terrifying um i mean you tell me at 44 could you have just decided i want to go play what do you make of this i can't wait to watch it you know i'm i'm us old guys we're always pulling for the old guys old guys rule right so i i hope it goes great i can't imagine uh it will just because there is rust no matter matter how incredible of a quarterback he's been throughout his playing days, which he's been phenomenal. And I've always been a huge fan of his. You know, when you take five years off and

you're coaching high school ball and you come back into it, whether you're throwing every day with the youngsters or not, there's a different pace. There's a different speed. Those windows closed really, really quickly. But I'm pulling for him. And the good news is he's got a great defense, a phenomenal running game, a really good offensive line. So the, you know, the things he needs around him are there, but at the end of the day, when you're 44, it just feels a little bit different when you're peeling yourself up off that turf. So Caleb Williams is interesting. I've been saying, if you like Caleb, you've got to like Bo Necks. They're both uneven. They're both very good in the fourth quarter. They have great offensive coaches, excellent O lines, nice weapons,

and defenses that are playmaking defenses. People seem to like Caleb more than Bo, whatever. Does it bother you, I talked to Brady about this yesterday, does it bother you that Caleb's at 58% completion percentage? I wouldn't want my backup to be there. And then I think to myself, well, he's so dynamic, I get so much more with him, I can probably live with it for a while. How, is it, does it bother you? Is that a concern that, like, that's, I always thought 61% that was the line. You had to get above that. That was kind of arbitrary. What do you make of his struggles accurately? Accuracy-wise? It doesn't bother me. I mean, his youth is why it doesn't bother me.

He's still young. He still has years. He is so good outside the pocket and so dynamic, as good as anybody I feel like I've seen outside the pocket. The problem is at some point, he's going to have a hamstring, especially in these games in December and into January, you're going to have, you know, an ankle and knee, a hip flexor, something that limits you outside the pocket. And at the end of the day, this game and the playoffs is one, being able to stand in the pocket,

throw the ball accurately, decisively downfield while you're getting hit in the face. And he just hasn't quite, you know, found that rhythm yet. I love the head coach there, being offensive-minded guy, you know, having that around him, you expect to see him these next couple of years get better, but he's got to get better inside the pocket. There's no doubt about it. It doesn't bother me because he is so young and he's so dynamic outside the pocket. but there's going to be that point in the year where he's got a win inside the pocket and he's got to be accurate with it and I don't know that he's there yet but I'm not

definitely wouldn't give up on him I just want to see some improvement we all want to see that inside the pocket accuracy wise so I was saying this when you pay a quarterback what buffalo's paying Josh Allen or Kansas City's paying Mahomes the Rams got a very team friendly deal on Stafford so they can go out and get a Devonte Adams but I always think it's tough because especially in a sport where you get tackled. I don't want to take money off the table if I was Josh Allen. Like, you've earned it. You're great.

You're the one thing I love about the team. But there is no question, Carson. If you take a little less and you can go get an elite slot corner and a really, really nice right tackle, you're a better football team. And so I look at Mahomes, who's now making probably 50 to 100 million a year in endorsements. How do you feel about that position about, you know, taking, less absolutely benefits the roster. Brady and Breeze at the end of their career could have made more money. But you are a pro athlete. The billionaire's not taking a pay cut. You know, GM's not

taking it. The coach isn't taking it. How does it land for you as a former pro athlete when we know it's discussed? Well, we'd be way better with a team-friendly deal. I think at the end of the day, you can take less and take some money off the table if you trust the organization to use that money wisely. I mean, it's great to get all the money you can get as a player. If you don't trust the people upstairs that are pulling all the strings behind the, you know, behind everything that's going on with salary cap and free agency and drafting the right guys, if you trust those guys around you, then you don't have to factor in the size of your market. Because if you're in the market of L.A. or Dallas or New York, there's plenty of

money to be made outside of your contract from the organization. If you're at Kansas City, or a Buffalo, you really need to trust what's going on and how that money is being used and know and be confident that that money is being used wisely. The money that you're not accepting as a player and assuming that the team's going to use and spend wisely, if you believe in them and you trust them and they have a great track record and they've done that around you, then I think it's a no-brainer. But if you don't have complete trust and faith in the organization that they're going to do right with a salary cap around you, then you know, I'm not surprised when I see guys take, you know, as much money as possible in their next contracts.

So USC, your alma mater, had the number one recruiting class. It's an NIL world. Payers get paid. Players get paid. There's free agency, the transfer portal. I think it's made. Indiana now is a powerhouse because they have a couple of rich boosters. Vanderbilt, which is a very heady school, is now going out and getting five-star quarterbacks. USC, I think is a little trap in the NIL.

You can overpay for people. I think USC's kind of got the right GM now. When you look at college football and the world you lived in and what's happening now with NIL, the playoff, the transfer portal, are you comfortable with it? How does it work for you now? I think we're all kind of lost and waiting on the next set of rules or guidelines on how this thing's shaking.

out. But I'm excited to see we've got three Santa Margarita kids. Samote Catawanga, Jaden Crowder, Trent Mosley all going to SC next year and you know, most likely I expect those guys to have impacts on that program. By the way, they're incredible players. But they really focused on California. Being in a huge market, having the tradition, having the success that SC has had for generations, I think that is a big piece of a pie. And I love that they're attacking Southern California and really going after California. I think this is the mecca of high school football. So they've really zeroed in on recruiting these kids. And they've got the boosters. They've got the big money guys to be able to land the

number one class because they combine that rich tradition and history of the school and the program with the right amount of NIL packages for these young men. So I'm really happy and excited to see at SC success on the recruiting trail this year. They've done a phenomenal job, Chad Bowden. The general manager you mentioned has done a tremendous job, really focusing on Southern California. Like I said, we've got three kids going there, and I wouldn't be surprised if we have more in the future.

So I want to close with this. We have seen three teams. The Eagles, the Lions, and the Buccaneers were great offensively. They lost excellent coordinators, the head coaching jobs. all those coaches are crushing. And instead of a big global search, they just hired guys in-house because it was comfortable. And I said to me, this year feels like the year identifying coordinator value. We always look at the head coach and the quarterback.

It's like, no, no coordinators are really important in this league. Philadelphia's roster, Detroit's roster, Tampa Bay. Those are good rosters. Those are great quarterbacks. And they've fallen off a cliff. and you as an offensive guy have your team in the state final, and I've said the rules now benefit so greatly offense that even if you get a great defensive head coach in the NFL,

he's going to keep losing coordinators. He has to hit on coordinator after coordinator, because if you're hot, you leave. Todd Bowles hit on the first two may not have hit on the third. Tell me as a former quarterback, the advantages you have, perhaps over a defensive-minded coach on the O line. on the quarterback relationship. Because it does feel like to me

these offensive coaches, Sean Payton now, is on fire and Andy Reid has run the league. Belichick felt a little outdated in the end. Do you believe in your career and your world and your history, the value of the offensive coach with the

rule changes, it is now a touchdown a game advantage to guys like you who just know that side better? Well, there's no doubt the NFL. the way they've protected the quarterback and protected defenseless receivers, they are focused on high-scoring games. At the end of the day, the fan base, the highlight reels, all the social media,

it's a lot of the time about explosive plays, big plays, spectacular plays, Sequan Barkley, hurtling a guy and doing a 360 in the air. I mean, that is what the NFL has pushed. Again, they've really protected the quarterback position and now the receiver position. So at the end of the day, if you've got a coordinator that can align the run game with the play action game and the deep shot game, also get the ball out quick, also run the ball, especially down in the red zone, that's, you know, that's a recipe for success. The hard thing to do is to find coordinators like you're saying. There's a lot of really good coordinators that really understand past protection of the run game and have somebody to help supplement the past game stuff and vice versa. some guys that really understand the back end of the defense and how to attack them in the passing game,

but don't really quite understand how to align their run game with their play action game. And finding somebody that is the complete package and total package is a challenge. I think you just mentioned, you're seeing it all over the place. Like quarterbacks, those kinds of coordinators are really hard to find. Congratulations, Santa Margarita playing Dala Salle for the state championship. First year as a coach, what will be your take? takeaway beyond winning. Just how hard it is.

It doesn't matter if it's high school, junior pop Warner, peewee, college, NFL, it is a challenge. It's incredible. It's been an incredible run for us. We've got a phenomenal staff ourselves. We've got great kids. We've got the support from the school. So this has been the complete package.

But it's hard. It's hard if you've got good players. It's hard if you've got good coaches trying to mix it all together and find those right recipes. is a challenge, but it's a blast, and I'm really excited. We're playing, like you said, against an incredible program in De La Salle.

They've been great for decades. So it's a tremendous matchup for us and a great opportunity for our players to shine on the biggest stage. Carson Palmer, as always good to see you. Thanks. Thanks, Colin. You bet. Yeah, it is. I watched Baker Mayfield last night,

and my take is they hit on back-to-back great coordinators. Doesn't mean the current guy doesn't know what he's doing, but man, when you lose Liam Cohen and Jacksonville and Dave Canales and Ben Johnson, these guys are elite. They are A-plus guys. I've always said

this. If you lose Jim Harbaugh, don't go down the hallway. You've got to get on the phone with Jimmy Sexton. You've got to go hire the best coach in the country available. I'll defend Alabama, Greg Byrne. You lose Nick Saban. You can't do better. They didn't go down the hallway. They went all the way to Seattle,

3,000 miles away to get Kalin DeBoer. And you say, well, he struggled. You don't even understand how good Kalin-Dabor is. Bama is not what they were six-year. By the way, Nick's last year, Nick Sabin, they didn't look the same. Remember when Nick Sabin started kind of complaining about the NIL? Why? Because he faced Sark and Texas twice, and Texas had the better players,

because Texas money is much bigger than Alabama money. So Kalin-N-A-Bor is not going to become Nick Sabin. Can you win a Natty every fourth year? That's the reality of the NIL. You're seeing it right now. Indiana just beat Ohio State. This idea of running the table and winning every year, that is a total outlier now.

When it comes to this Tampa stuff, losing these coaches, Colin, this is why you hire an offensive head coach. Yeah. Because you get the defensive guy. If he has a good offensive mind, he's stolen to be a head coach soon. So next month, we're going to do this cycle

because I see Diana Rusini and Breer, everybody talking about, oh, all these coaches who are going to get interviews, and it's a lot of defensive guys. I know that's one of your big things. Like, you don't hire a defensive head coach. Jesse Minter's great. But if you hire him and he gets a good offensive mind, that guy's gone in a year. Well, think about this. Caleb Williams got a defensive coach.

Disaster. Jaden Daniels got one. We all loved it. Year two. What are they? Yeah. Bo Nix just keeps getting better. Yeah, you hire.

And I don't, the problem is I don't know who. Michael Pennix and Rahim Morris, defensive. coach looks like a myth. By the way, is Rahim Morris, Todd Bolter? Are they head coaches next year? I don't, that's why all these Browns fans who want to runoff Sifansky? Be very careful. Be careful.

The grass isn't always greener, as I like to say. What if, I mean, I'm telling you, Caleb against Shadour, I like the Bears. This whole Shudor Sanders thing. I know it's only three starts. He got nothing to work with. It was the Titans. It was the Titans. He went toe to toe with Cam Ward and was way more productive.

Yeah, Cam Ward's on like an interim coach. Mike McCoy. I'm not pooping Shadour. He had a really good game. He looked as good as he has all season. Yeah. I mean, I just, it's fascinating that the NFL trying to send a message let Shedur Sanders drop to the fifth round.

Cleveland may have found themselves a gem. I'm going to zip it, lock it, put it right in my pocket. As I told like my five-year-old back in the day. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week. within the IHeart Radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

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We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. 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, 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. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. 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 podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast. network on TikTok.

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 still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough, Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hard Way 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. Genshin win. I mean, she went down in three to Rovachina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French, mate. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennar 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. Already gave you the blazing five J-Max picks next hour. Cam Newton's upset that the Colts didn't call him, but first J-Mack with the. the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. You just slide that in there. I love it. Oh, boy, that guy's a character. All right, let's start with the bears. Your bears, Colin, I'm calling that. They are coming off that tough loss to the Packers. Great game.

I really like that football game. That was a fun one. Now they match up with a three-win Browns team this week. It is a classic sandwich spot, and Ben Johnson wants to make sure the team's urgency remains. This week, You know, you go from an emotional rivalry game like we just played. This week is equally important. We need this win.

We desperately need this win. Yeah, I think they get a little bit of a break. Minnesota is not a playoff team, and the Lions, I believe, lose to the Rams. And the Packers have a tough one, so I don't think it's as desperate as that. But I will say, you need. at this point, if you're the Bears, to win the games, you should win, and you're a home seven-point favorite against rookie Shador Sanders. So this is a game they should win, and they've got the much, much deeper,

better offensive line and receiving court. Yeah, just the only caution here is late in the season. Dogs are kind of barking as the favorite teams. They just want to win. You're right. They don't know, no style points. We don't care about that. Let's get out of here.

No injuries. That's Seattle this weekend. I totally agree. But with this Bears, they got Packers next week. humongous game. I think they catch a break with this. Have you seen the Brown's injury report? It's almost like everybody's like, hey, I've got an elbow injury.

I'm out. I'm not playing. They're offensive lines and mess. I think the Bears do enough to win here, but I have no action on this game. I skipped it too. I would say under 25 passes. It's going to be cold. I'm sure you'll be in the crowd for this. Well, I think, no, I won't.

Five degrees, they're talking. It's not going to be cold where I'm watching it. All right, let's move on. Let's get back to the Eagles, and they're inflatable, positive. positivity bunny in the locker room. It lasted a week. It was laughable. And then they lost to the Chargers and then they popped the balloon or whatever that positivity bunny is.

Sequin Barkley wasn't a huge fan and neither was Eagles legend Jason Kelsey. If I'm being very brutally honest, I thought it was a surprise to see the rabbit because I'm like, it's a sign of just like too much like joking around with something that I think is like actually like you should be really pissed off at the way you're playing. and it's okay to be positive, but like, this is something you do when everything's rolling and you're freaking performing well.

You don't do antics like this when you've got the bed for the last couple weeks. I love this. I totally agree with this. There's a time and a place for everything. If the Rams did this as a joke going into the holidays,

they did a Santa bubble. We're playing well. We want to give thanks for, we're healthy. You do it for a day. That's funny. when you're struggling, this looks desperate and cringy. It is.

J. Mac, there are different times through different things. We all know that in life. There's a time to be tough on your kids. There's a time to lighten up a little dad. This felt like, oh, we're struggling. Like this somehow would produce a different result. It's like, that's so, so weird to me. And they got rid of it after three days.

I do wonder, like, Let's say Jalen Hertz doesn't throw a pick on the final drive. It gets a touchdown because they were going toward a touchdown. And they get the win. Is the whole narrative like, hey, positivity, buddy, we got the win. And they keep it. And because they lost, they get rid of it. I don't, I mean, it just seems goofy and unnecessary.

If you're struggling as a professional sports team, there are times it's understandable. Injuries. There's times maybe our schedule got really difficult. but Philadelphia's roster should never, for any extended period of time, struggle. It is like the Rams. The Rams are literally too good to have a four-game losing streak. So, again, I understand struggling. Like you lose your left tackle and you have an immobile quarterback golf.

You're like, okay, we can't pass protect. I mean, Kansas City this year, you know, they're defensively. They cannot get people off the field. Chris Jones has aged quickly. Philadelphia should not go on losing streaks. You can lose games. You can't go on losing streaks in Philadelphia. You know what I want? I want somebody to put some stick them in

AJ Brown's locker so he catches passes when it matters. Colin, those drops were bad. You can't complain about not getting looks and then make drops. Inexcusable. Final story, let's go to another one right in your wheelhouse. Sammy D. Sam D., Sam D. Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks. Interesting little subplot here, Colin.

So obviously they're 10 and 3 and they're going for the number one seed. They should smoke the Colts this weekend. I don't know if Philip River starts or not. We'll see. But Sam Darnold is talking to the media this week. He's talking about the offense and it clicking. Take a listen to this. Obviously coming off last week, just, you know,

the emphasis, I guess, this week would just be, you know, continuing to be efficient and be ourselves as an offense throughout the entire game. And that really starts in practice with our prep. But again, just looking at these guys, you know, a really good team, really good defense, you know, really good scheme. team and their players like I always kind of say but especially this week you know they kind of make it come to life with the scheme that they have and you know we're excited about the challenge yeah this is um there are two teams in the league that we're not talking about aren't getting a lot of play among the I call national media the Houston Texans and the Seattle Seahawks and when you watch both it's really obvious they have drafted extremely well they are fast and violent and aggressive and physical and intimidating

you start looking at Seattle. Seattle's had six games this year, J-MAC, where they've won by 14 or more. That's kind of what Super Bowl champs do. If you go back and look after, like, Philadelphia last season or Super Bowl teams, you'll go back and go, man, forget how many times they carve people up. That's why the Ravens have been so disappointing in the last several years.

They've been that team that blows people out, and then in January they struggle. So you start watching Seattle, and I know this week will be an outlier because of the Philip River situation, Seattle, their last three drafts, they have hit on a lot of dudes. That's safety from South Carolina, second round guy. Oh. Is it fair to call them something of a bully, Cullen?

When they go up against bad teams, they're just going to overwhelm them. Because Zach pulled some interesting stats here. So in a win over New Orleans, they scored 38 in the first half, six in the second half. Against Washington, 31 in the first half, seven second half. But then they alternate like that Atlanta game last week, six-six at halftime. Then they explode. I don't know if inconsistent the right word. They're the number one team in point differential in the first half.

But a lot of that is against Arizona, Washington, New Orleans. And I was, here we go. We got them on the screen here. Interestingly, fourth quarter. Now, is that because they're blowing teams out and they're not trying to score? I always defend teams that have a three or four touchdown lead at half. You go in. What do you say to players?

They're not, you're not hanging 50 on them. So they have played San Francisco opener. They lost. Just take out the Sam Darnold Rams performance. because the game came down to a field goal, right? Like it was close. It was 60 yard or something like that yet. So take out Sam's game against the Rams.

The argument is that's the best team in the league. And even in that game, how good do you have to be to throw four picks and you're marching to beat what we view is now the best team in the league at their place? It was impressive. I think they could pick their score here. Like you said, 24-6. I am convinced Seattle will run it. Short passing.

Darnold goes. 18 of 23. May not, maybe ugly weather. Get in, get out, get healthy. Rams around the corner. Seattle does close with after this Colts team. By the way, Colts secondary is beat up. No Sauce Gardner again.

Rams at Carolina. That's a long cross-country trip late in the season. And then at San Fran. So those are three playoff teams to close. I want to see Seattle. This week they're going to look good. Let me see those final three before I judge them. into the playoff. Fair enough. Jay Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. Eric Mangini last hour. Cam Newton's all upset. Are you still arguing with Cam Newt? You still got that thing going on? How do I put this delicate? Some people have told me, hey, Jay Mack, stand down on Cam. Come on. Chill out. Like, don't call him out for his nonsense and his buffoonery. I mean, whatever. His podcast is pretty good.

He's a nice guy. Yeah. You know, whatever. A little distracted sometimes. I mean, it takes, I believe, belong in a circular file. You know what that is, right? The trash can. But that's just me.

All right. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard 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, Jones. 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. 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.

Well, 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. 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 headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the 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. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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 still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, is 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. 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. Jenchen went. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina 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 IHen Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Play the Fox Super 6 NFL Challenge. Download the Fox Sports app right now and enter for a free shot to win your share of $10,000 in cash prizes. I got nothing against Cam Newton, but he was a little ridiculous this week. He said it's a slap in the face.

The Colts did not call him. He's sitting out there ready to play. Instead, they called 44-year-old Philip Rivers. Well, first, Philip Rivers played for the Colts, so he knows people in the building. The Colts coach Shane Steichen was the quarterback coach with Philip Rivers with the San Diego Chargers. So there's that. May have been L.A. or San Diego transition, whatever. They know each other.

Rivers is also totally obsessed with football. He's coaching high school football, actually using the Colts playbook. So the messaging that Philip Rivers has always sent is, I am totally committed to football. The messaging that, you know, Cam has sent since he's gotten out of football as a podcast, a TV show, and fashion, which is fine. But, and the other thing is,

the last time they both played remarkably, Philip Rivers was outstanding. The last year he played in 2020, and a 97 passer rating. 68% completion percentage. Cam Newton aged really fast. He was awful. time he played one year later.

And that's interesting, and it's instructive because Cam was an athletic freak. Quarterbacks reliant on athleticism age fast. Pocket guys like Brady or Jared Goff or Matt Stafford or Philip Rivers age very, very well. So what, that he got less athletic? Brady was never hyper-athletic. Either was Goff, either was Stafford. The athletic quarterbacks, you know, like some are saying Lamar Jackson has taken a massive step back. Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson aged overnight.

It was inexplicable. So being better in the pocket has many benefits. One of them you will age well. Tom Brady yesterday on the show talked about that when you're older, you have to, you know, be a little more intentional. So you don't waste any time being inefficient. in the offseason with your training or in training camp you don't waste throws you don't waste workouts everything is like with the real intention to it so i was very fortunate 23 seasons i mean i still think i could play now but it's just the thought of doing it in the commitment that it takes

when you get older and you've got the uh a life full of responsibilities it gets just a little bit more challenged it's it's you see this for the record you see this in the NBA and basketball basketball in general. If you're hyper athletic and not a great shooter, Steph Curry should be able to play for a long time. He's a great shooter. If you're really, really athletic,

Russell Westbrook, for instance, you may not age as well. There'll be a pretty quick drop-off. So, Philip Rivers never relied on athleticism if he knows the playbook. I don't

think he's going to be great, but have a pretty good offensive line. What if he went out and went, I mean, honestly, underneath throws went 20 or 29. Would you be shocked by it? I mean, you think it's crazy, but you know they're not going to ask him to sit in the pocket with this defense. They're not going to ask him to do that. They're going to draw up a game plan, which is a lot of 12 and under throws.

He knows the playbook. He was never, and you know he's been throwing every day because he's at practice. So it's just fascinating. You think, oh, it's going to be a disaster, almost always as a rule. in our business. We talk about this all the time when we talk about sports gambling. If everybody is on one side, bet the other side, just out of principle. This is a guy that was never dependent on athleticism.

He was a sit in the pocket, know the playbook, 15 yards and under. I mean, not all those chargers teams were great downfield. They weren't rolling the pocket for this guy. So, I mean, Tom Brady has said this. I think he said it publicly to me. he could play tomorrow. Cam Newton aged overnight. I mean, Cam retired early.

Once he lost his athletic fastball, he was okay from the pocket. He was very, very inconsistent. So, I mean, I think Caleb Williams is a remarkable talent, but Caleb's never going to be a guy completing 68% of his throws. I mean, you guys watch Kirk Cousins. There's a prime example. I mean, everybody sold all their stock in Kirk Cousins. Kirk Cousins never ran around.

Kirk Cousins will have nights. You know, he'll have Sundays and Mondays. He had a Thursday game with it last year. He just tore the league up. Because Kirk Cousins is a pure 100% pocket quarterback. A guy that I think is going to age really well is Jared Gough. I mean, Matt Stafford's 37. His back, he didn't even go to camp.

Matt Stafford's been the most accurate quarterback in the league this year. Why? They give him protection. good weapons. He gets rid of it quick. All right, here's the NFL schedule for the weekend. I've asked J. Mack to give me an upset. He can't find one. I will say he said Minnesota, Dallas, you talk me off this game. It's interesting.

And it's interesting for a lot of reasons. One, I don't think, I think they have to play great defense to win. And they did show signs of life against a terrible Washington defense. But I think we're going to have a pretty reasonably close game. I'm just curious what Dallas does defensively, because You can't match up man against Justin Jefferson with who you got in the Dallas second. And the secondary for the Cowboys is shaky. Very shaky.

And you can't run on Dallas, so they will throw. Yeah, and an indoor game, not outdoor. We know McCarthy really struggled outdoors against the Bears for three quarters famously. I don't know if they're going to win out right, but I think they're in the mix. And I like that Dolphins game Monday night. Now, someone on the staff told me that the temperatures are going to be very cold, maybe snow. What if Miami? That changes the calculus.

We have the Miami schedule. well, let me throw out a thought balloon. So Miami has played very well since they fired the GM. Yeah. Like very well. If you'll, I, they manhandled the Jets last weekend. In cold weather, they looked sharp. They came

out with a point of view. You start looking at these games. They can certainly beat the Steelers. They host of Bengals and Bucks. New England could rest starters in week 18. And let me ask you, what if Mike McDaniel wins seven of his last eight games?

You know he's a brilliant offensive coach. Do you run him out of the building with a new GM? What do you do? That's tough. The new GM's going to want his guy. Well, but my point is, offensive coach. Yeah. He's pretty sharp.

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 at. Ask questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an acapella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless.

And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players,

and the moments that define Roland Garrison. Jen she's an outsider to win the French name. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stub's tennis podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on.

A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian business. man. 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? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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