The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Colin's NFL predictions, issues with the Cowboys and Dak Prescott, Greg Cosell

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

Colin shares his final NFL predictions with 3 new teams breaking onto the scene in 2025. Plus, Greg Cosell from NFL Films joins the show to tell Colin a disturbing trend he’s noticed with Cowboys quarterback Dak PrescottSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an 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 ice. Heart 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 Garris. She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame.

And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any service. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHart 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 businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last?

Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Heard at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It's our two. It's a Thursday NFL season opens tonight, baby. We are live. It is the Hurd.

J. Jack CoSell will be joining us in less than five minutes. So, J. Mack, I make my final predictions on the opening Thursday. I've got one change in new division winner, and I'll explain why. But over the course of the offseason, I make a prediction after coaching hires in, agency, then after the draft, then I get one kind of in the middle of preseason, and then here this one. Are you ready to go? Fire away. Okay, we start. Here's my predictions for this year. We start in the AFC, an easier conference to predict because the top quarterbacks are so good. In the AFC East, I'm going Josh Allen and the Bills. Patriots most improved team, get in as a wild card team. Maybe not good enough to win a playoff game, but coach and roster is much better. Dolphins third.

I'm going with that just because of Tua and an offensive coach. I think the Jets roster's good. I don't know what Aaron Glenn is. They just lost their best or second best offensive linemen. I'm staying put with that one. AFC North, again, I think it's fairly predictable. Raven's arguably best operation in the sport with Lamar. I'll go with the quarterback in Joe Burrow next.

Although like J-Mack, I worry about how they start in their offensive line. Aaron and the Steelers will be around 500 or a game above. or below. And the Browns are in a rebuild. I love their coach and GM. I like Joe Flacco. Miles Garrett's amazing, but they're fourth. AFC South, I'm just going to go with what I know. Domeco Ryan's hell of a coach and I like C.J. Stroud. Rebuilding the O-line worries me. C.J. Stroud's a gamer. Step back a little last year, but it wasn't his fault. He couldn't keep wide receivers healthy. Jaguar's second. I'm like J. Mack. I like him, but I never love them. Titans third. Colts don't know what quarterback they're going to use. That's scary. They're

fourth. Well, they do know what quarterback, and it's not a great one. AFC West, I think it's very difficult. I think you have four really good teams. I think the Broncos have the best roster. Kansas City, Reed and the Holmes. Once again, I don't know. A rookie left tackle, Joe Tunney's gone worries me. Also, wide receiving core, no Rishi Rice, Travis Kelsey getting old. I think the Broncos will look very clearly early in the season like a Super Bowl contender. Chargers losing Rishon Slater, the left tackle, me greatly. Joe Alt moves over, but now they've got a right tackle issue, and the Raiders will be the best fourth place team in the division. So Bill's Ravens, Texans, Broncos are the division

winners. Patriots, Bengals, Chiefs are wildcard teams. New England Bengals are both new playoff teams. NFC. Again, I think it's pretty static. Eagles, commanders, Giants, Cowboys, I actually have said this. If the Giants get B to B plus quarterback play. They're going to shock some people. They're going to go toe to toe to with Washington, but I don't know if Jackson Darts ready if Russell Wilson falters. But I do like the Giants roster. I love Abdul Carter in their defensive front.

It's nothing but dogs up front. I think in the NFC North, again, I'm just going to kind of roll with the quietest offseason, the Green Bay Packers. Young still, but I like their first pick. another wide receiver for Jordan Love. Lions have two new coordinators, but I love almost everything else about the organization. Bears Vikings all know a lot more after Monday night, third and fourth, respectively. NFC South is not a very good division.

The Saints will stink. I'm not sure the bucks are as good as a lot of the NFL execs and better stink, but I trust Baker, I trust the GM, I trust the roster. Atlanta's weird. I've spent more money on the Falcons losing bets. I don't know what Atlanta is. I'll just wait until Thanksgiving. Panthers are better than people think I'll put them third, saints.

Fourth, NFC West, here's my big change. Rams, I'm going to have them winning the division again. Bottom line is they won the division last year, despite starting one and four. They still won their division. No team played more rookies last year, and their defense, the last month of the season, was second best. With all those rookies, it was second best scoring defense in the NFL last month. it'll be better. It's had a great camp.

Seattle, the reason I moved them from first to second, they have the cheapest offense in the NFL. They don't have a number one receiver. Gray Zabel is a potential impact offensive linemen, but their O-line last year stunk. So I don't think they have the firepower. Again, I think Seahawks could win nine games. I think the Niners could win nine,

and Seahawks win the tiebreaker. I don't think there's a big gap in this division between the Rams, Seahawks, Niners, and Cardinals. I don't. If the Cardinals won eight and the Rams 110, that could be the difference. I only have one new team making the playoffs in the NFC. It's the Seahawks. I only have three new playoff teams. The NFL average is closer to five, but I have argued that number's been going down in recent years. Why? Because it's becoming a more quarterback dependent league. And if you've got a great quarterback or a very good one, you are more predictably a playoff team. So it used to be there were six new playoff teams, then five new playoff team.

It's getting down to four. And I think this year it's three. So as the quarterback becomes more important and offensive coaches have a better relationship with that quarterback, the league is getting at least not on a week-to-week basis, but on a macro level, a little easier to predict. And with that, Greg Kossel, 46 years NFL films. All right, let's start tonight's the big one. Philadelphia and Dallas. Sure. Okay, Brian Schottenheimer's offense, you've seen a lot of it in your 46 years, especially the last 15 years.

Does it match with Dak Prescott's skill set? Well, I think they're going to have to have some kind of meaningful, viable, sustaining run game. You know, I spent earlier this week watching literally all of Dak Prescott's throws from last year before he got hurt. And I was kind of disappointed. There's something wrong with his lower body, Colin. You know, and this was before he got hurt. He was very tight-hipped. He was very heavy-footed. He threw the ball much better to his left than to his right.

He really, he was lifting his feet off the ground, making a lot of throws. He did not look very good last year. Now, with Pickens there, they have a true boundary X receiver, that single receiver to the short side of the field, which allows C.D. Lamb, who's a terrific player, to be what he's best at, which is kind of a movement motion receiver that can line up in multiple positions. But, you know, I don't know. I think their defense has some significant questions versus this Eagles offense, which is really, really efficient.

It would not surprise me at all tonight if you saw the Eagles come out, no huddle, tempo, and throw the football. Because there's a lot of changes on that Cowboys defense, including the decoordinator. So I want to ask you about Philly last year, Eagles 30, six plus carries per game. After the buy, they ran more and threw less. You said you think they'll run.

I think their personnel, I think they could do anything. I mean, I like their tight ends. I like everything. Does their personnel, when you watch Jalen Hertz, they as a staff on the buy week said, we're going to run more, throw less. You probably agree with that decision? I mean, I think it fits who they are and what they are.

They've got the best O line in the league. They have basically the same offense back. The only true change is at right guard where Steen played meaningful snaps last year anyway. So they've got the same group back. They are a run-first football team. I think the fact that they are so good on fourth down and they go for it on fourth down, literally when they get to the 50-yard line, they go for it if it's fourth and fourth or less. I think that impacts what they do on third down, which is run the ball more than any team in the league on third down between

four and eight yards that really impacts the way defenses have to play them. And I think that within the context of how they play offense, Jalen Hertz is highly efficient. You know, they do not turn the football over. And Hertz, the running element that Hertz brings both by design within the context of their run game and as a scrambler is, you cannot overlook that. That is so much a part of their offense and who they are. They're very, very difficult to defend. So I want to to go to another game this weekend. It may be the marquee game, Baltimore and Buffalo. I think Baltimore's got the second best roster in the league. That's just what my eyes tell me after Philadelphia. And we always think of Baltimore. Well, they're run heavy. It's Derek Henry, it's Lamar. But I think

we would both admit, Lamar's gotten better in the pocket. But do you think, especially when they go on, you know, when they play Buffalo and these big teams, they've gotten a little, they've gotten a little tight at times with Kansas City. Do you think the essence of the Ravens, is like the Eagles, they are a run team first. Or do you feel differently about, because really if you took Baltimore and Philadelphia, have a lot in common. But do you see a lot of things in common? You know, it's funny.

I watched a lot of Lamar this summer, and I thought that their offense, he threw the ball well. I thought Manken did a really good job with their route concepts and combinations to present really clean throws for Lamar. You know, they played in the divisional playoffs last year, these two teams, and it was a very odd game, as you may remember. Josh Allen threw for less than 130 yards, and in that game, the bills dominated on the ground.

They controlled the game running the football, which you would not expect against the Ravens defense, which is very, very good. And actually, what we saw a lot in that game was the bills be very aggressive with pressure against the Ravens offense. Usually games don't work out exactly the same way when teams meet so close together like that.

But the Ravens, I mean, they're a really good football team. You know, people get wrapped up in who makes the Super Bowl, and obviously they haven't, and they haven't won an AFC championship game, obviously. But it's not a team with many weaknesses at all. You know, last year, Josh Allen only completed about 63% of his throws, which was 24th in the league. I don't, it doesn't, I've always said the line's like 62%. He also adds a dynamic physically, so I don't worry a ton about it. and now he has James Cook.

But let me ask you, when you look at that number for all his talent, was it mechanics, footwork, or was it just lack of dependable receiving targets? Well, I think the one thing they were lacking last year, which they're hoping they rectified this year with the development of Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer now being there coming over from the Chargers, is they really didn't have one-on-one winners last year. And I think that that impacts a quarterback, obviously, because when you get man coverage, you know, I remember having this conversation years ago with Troy Aikman,

and he said when it's one-on-one on the outside, your receivers have to win. And they did not really have that guy. Shakir is an excellent slot receiver. That's who he is. He's very good at it. But he can't really be your number one weapon over the course of his season. They just didn't really have receivers on the edge who could win one-on-one, and that absolutely impacts your quarterback. So I don't think that completion percentage number is really indicative of anything truly important about Josh Allen. Let's talk Green Bay Detroit. So I think I certainly felt this way. I loved all their young receivers and tight ends. But then they go in the first round and they go after a wide receiver, a kid from Texas, I like it.

So my take was, oh, what is that telling me? They may not like their receiving core as much. And maybe I overvalued all their young guys. Christian Watson can't stay healthy, but I like their tight ends. I really like their running back. What did it tell you when they drafted a wide receiver? Am I overvaluing all their young receiving talent? You know what, Colin? It could be that they had Golden rated as a top 10 player on their board. And when he was there at whatever number they drafted, they said, we have to stick to our board. See, that's the stuff we don't know. We start reading into all this. I personally

really liked Matthew Golden's tape coming out of Texas. I thought he was an ascending play. as the year progressed in college. When I did him for the draft, I really, really liked him. The other player in that offense that I think really is a player to watch this year is the tight-end craft. Craft is a really good player. He's pretty athletic. I mean, we don't necessarily mention him when we talk about the highly athletic tight ends in the league, but he's pretty close to that.

They're a pretty good offensive team. Love is, I watched a lot of love as well this summer. You know, I still think at times his lower body mechanics and causes him some problems, but there's no question this kid can play off his back foot and drive the ball both in the middle of the field and outside the numbers. I like the fact that he's an aggressive thrower. They'll be really interesting because of their defense as well. Now, we know they have Micah Parsons. Last year, they had one of the highest stunt percentages with their defensive line of any team in the league.

And now that they have Micah Parsons and another year with linebacker, Edgeers, Cooper, another player to watch. He was a great pass rusher as a blitzer at Texas A&M, and he sort had to get his feet wet last year as a rookie. This could be a really intriguing defense as well. Okay, so the Lions go out and replace both coordinators. Philadelphia did that a few years ago, and by week 10 or 11, they were a mess. I am not a huge fan of replacing a star coordinator with somebody in the building. I think you have to make a global search, right? Go everywhere. where they didn't. They were comfortable in the building.

No. When you watched Ben Johnson's wizardry last year, was it more about personnel or his play calling? Because it felt like to me, in big spots, he was really top of the class. Yeah, I find play calling to be something that's very difficult to talk about because I always feel like you'd have to be in the building

all week to understand how they go about putting a game plan together. To me, when I watched that offense and Ben Johnson, To me, what stands out is just the spacing of the route concepts, how it really beautifully defines the reeds for the quarterback because the spacing is so good. I mean, football is still a game because we don't think of it, unlike, let's say, basketball or hockey, where you can see the whole field, basically, or all the ice, you can't see the entire football field, but it's still a game that's played and can find space.

And therefore, spacing and balance. You hear floor balance in basketball all the time, but that's critical. for the passing game, particularly against zone coverage. And that's where I thought Ben Johnson was an absolute master. Now, I would imagine, conceptually, they're not going to change very much at all. Gough understands that offense exceptionally well, and there may be no quarterback better in football at throwing between the numbers at the intermediate level. So now it comes down to how the new coordinator calls a game, and that's impossible to know until we see it. And even then we might not know because we're not there.

I want to ask you a question. So Kansas City and the Chargers play overseas. And we all know how great Andy Reid is and Patrick Mahomes is. And we know how good Joe Tooney was. And this team averaged 22 points the last two seasons. That's what they average with Andy Reid and Mahomes. And that leads me to believe this personnel is being elevated and it's not very good. Now, I would say they have drafted the defensive side brilliantly.

They have missed like every team in the league. They've missed on wide receivers. But if you would have told me Reed and Mahomes and Travis Kelsey, Joe, Tuny averaged 22 points the last two years, I'd be like, what is wrong? My take is the left tackle and the receiving core. It feels like they're bailing water. What does the film say about the chief's personnel? Well, they were very condensed as a past game.

We know Mahomes can make special plays at any point in the game. He's just a special player with maybe the best sense of spatial awareness of any quarterback we've ever seen. But their left tackle position, which is now a rookie, Josh Simmons from Ohio State, their left guard is Sue and Matea, who's not really played left guard. He was a tackle in college. And the Chargers last year caused some problems for them with their defense. I watched both of those games. The first game, they played a ton of zone because they did not have Derwin James and they caused problems. The second game, they had Derwin James and played far more man because James can match up to Travis Kelsey.

But I would expect in this matchup, they will test the left tackle and the left guard. There'll be a lot of stunt concepts. They'll put Khalil Mack on the left tackle. I mean, this is an interesting matchup as far as the pass rush versus this offensive line. All right, Drake, Maine. New England, I think, is going to be a wild card team. I think coaching upgrade, $300 million in free agency. And I just think Brable's better with personnel than Belichick was in his last six or seven years.

I think they've upgraded virtually everything. What did you see? Give me something about Drake May that you really found promising Greg on film and then something that he absolutely has to work on. I would say two things that I really noticed on film and studying him this summer was just innate toughness in the power. and I don't think you can teach that. I think the guys that are willing to stand and deliver when there's people around them and they know they're going to get hit, I'm not sure you can teach that. He's got that.

The other thing I'm not sure that you can teach players is just a natural willingness to throw the ball into tight windows. They see those throws as viable throws, and Drake may seize those throws as viable throws. The one thing I'd love to see him get a little better at is just I thought his ball placement was at times, a little erratic. I wouldn't call him scattershot,

but I thought that there were a few too many layups that he missed, that he cannot miss at this level. Yeah. Yeah, it's such a, you know, the NFL is so funny, you can do so many things wrong. But if you find a good young quarterback, it erases a lot of trouble. You know, it's like if Drake May can play like,

well, you and I think he can, they don't need to have a great receiving core. I mean, it's just, I mean, it's just, it's so interesting in this league, I was talking about my predictions. The league has become such a quarterback-dependent league, but I also, I was watching the other day, there was a list of the top

offensive minds. I think the offensive coaching, in my opinion, throughout the league, I think there are more smart, young offensive coaches that I've ever seen. Does the film belie that? Does your film think, your concepts are better and smarter? Well, here's how I'd answer that.

I think that they're really good, there's very few quarterbacks, even the ones we think are great, because I talk to coaches that have no flaws in their game at all. There's very few guys like that. So I think what really good offensive coaches do, besides being able to scheme well-designed plays, is understand the strengths of their quarterback and how to minimize the limitations or flaws. And I think that's absolutely critical for coaches, because, as I said, if you speak to coaches, no coach will tell you, oh, this guy's perfect.

he's got no flaws in his game. No coach talks like that. And I think that's the absolute key to getting the most not only out of your quarterback, Colin, but out of your team. I think the Eagles are maybe the best example of that. I mean, I watched their tape this summer, and I thought the way they ran their offense, allowing Jalen Hertz to do what he does absolutely really well and play to high-level efficiency was a phenomenal coaching job playing to the strengths of the quarterback

and the overall offense. overall team and i think that's one reason they're so good yeah well i hope you're as fired up as we are and i know you are 46 years NFL films yeah can't wait for tonight gregg is always great seeing you thanks colin appreciate it yeah it's uh i just football is just different i have a smile on my face perpetually from like labor day until february 20th well maybe that's because i'm working with you oh wow wow Wow. Oh, my goodness. That's a nice comment. I know. Listen, this is the optimistic nice calling.

It depends on the night. Tonight I am home, bed early, breaking down tape. This is a big night. That's a beauty of being out here in California. You could be to bed at like 9 o'clock. And watch the entire game. There you go. That's nice.

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 live. like. Hey, it's Ben, host of the fifth hour with Ben Mallor. It would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world when we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben

Mather on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call.

And 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 Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an Acapella band with their Between Songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I,

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Jen she went. I mean, she went down in three to Rovachina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French, me.

And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We've got a lot of things going on today. Week 1 NFL begins after a dynamic college football. weekend in which Texas and Ohio State, highest rated week one game, was it ever? 17 million people topped at 18 and a half million. That's like a national championship

rating from a couple years ago. That is, that is, big boy TV ratings. J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. You know, we touched on this game earlier. Bengals Browns, there's some sharp money

coming in on Cleveland, Colin. I kind of like him getting points at home. and as we talked about, the Bengals have started each of the last three seasons, O and two. Joe Burrow and Zach Taylor have really struggled the first couple weeks, the last few seasons. Burroughs are aware of that, and he's ready for some fireworks in Cleveland. The narrative surrounding our team has shifted.

I'm not sure. I would say most to prove, I would say that we certainly are trying to go out and win as much as we can. We're putting in a lot of work for it. It's not a narrative, Joe. Like, you're not winning in the first couple games. Like, look at the numbers. Well, it does.

I mean, there's a couple of things in Cincinnati that don't make sense. Most of the time, great quarterbacks with great offensive coaches, and we can't label Zach Taylor that. Thank you. But great quarterbacks with competent offensive coaches, he did get to a Super Bowl, start well. They don't always end well, but they're a little ahead of schedule. Burrough, I mean, Mahomes and Alan and Lamar and Stafford and Gough and C.J. Stroud, like, we tend to think Jalen Hurts start quickly.

Why does Joe Burrow? I think some of it is he's never had a fully healthy camp, maybe once in four years. I think some of it's health, and I don't think you like Zach Taylor. I think Zach Taylor's more than competent. I don't categorize him as special. I will always defend Zach Taylor and Joe Burrow because this is the smallest, or second smallest scouting department in the league, and Cincinnati is an antiquated business in a great league. So, Colin, if you came out for the opening rant tomorrow, and you're fumbling your words and getting stuff wrong, and it was just choppy for 10 minutes, you didn't prepare well, right?

That's safe to say. You were ill-prepared. So how would you describe the Bengals the last three years the first two weeks of the season? They came out, couldn't block. Nobody was connecting. The defense is getting shredded. You noted.

They lost the Patriots. last year. Yeah. Gerard Mayo got fired. The Patriots were awful. Like, it's lack of preparation. I don't know that I trust Zach Taylor to draw up fantasy football plays for my daughter's flag football league.

Honestly, I just, I have not seen it. I know he went to a Super Bowl and we got a big Bengals fan on staff, but show me the proof that Zach Taylor's... I don't know. I think some of this is we overvalue Cincinnati because we love three of their players and they're all high profile. Pass Rush, quarterback, Jamer. quarterback, Jamar Chase.

And so we just think, you know, they're really good. I don't think they have very good old line. I don't think they have the back end of their defense has been weak. I just don't think their roster is very good. And I think that's the scouting department. They don't make big moves. They're the opposite of the Eagles. They do not take risk.

They do not draft consistently well. But when you have a star quarterback, a star receiver, and a star edge rusher, there's a sense that, man, they got good players. They have three great players, but the drop-off from those three to the next eight to ten best players, I think is greater than anybody else in the league's drop off from their top three players to their next seven or eight. So they did fire their defensive coordinator. He's out, and now Al Golden's the guy. By the way, they love that DC two years ago. Now they don't like him. Maybe it's the personnel. It could be. We'll see, listen, Joe Flacco, we know he's immobile in the pocket. We know the Steelers and the ravers are going to get after.

Are the Bengals? Can they get to them? I don't know. We have to see something different because whatever they've done the last few years, not working early in the season come. And I don't mean to be harsh to the Bengals. I know they're going to come after me. But next up, let's go the Patriots.

The Mike Vrabel era kicks off against the Raiders. This is a spicy game. What do you make of it? Ashton Gentie, I cannot wait to watch him. Well, Vrable's a good coach, but are he overvaluing him? So one of his big hires was bringing back Josh McDaniels as his OC, and former Patriot Brian Hoyer, now podcasting, will have a huge impact on Drake May's development.

Josh is going to give you as much information as he can. Hey, remember on this play, we're thinking if it's man, we're here, if it's zone, we're here. Or, hey, remember, if the front changes, we got an alert out of this. He's giving constant information. And the amount of benefit that Drake will have before the ball is snapped on every single play because of not only the game plan going into it, but the information that's being repeated to him

before the ball is snapped will do a lot for him and taking that ownership to that next level. Yeah. I got him at 10 wins. I kind of want to take the Raiders here in the opener. I'm looking for the absolute latest update. Nine minutes ago, Christian Gonzalez, the star quarterback, number of him?

He is here and doesn't look like he's taking the field today. He's got a hamstring. So he may not play. That's the kid out of Oregon who got banged up. He's a star. Now maybe it's an injury issue because remember last year or two years ago he was hurt? He's very, very good. Yeah.

He's your league quarterback. You know, you take him off the field. Can the Raiders, Gino Smith, have some success? I'm a buy on Chip Kelly. I know you guys are obviously friendly. Yeah. I like Chip Kelly a lot. I'm going to stay away from this game.

I think it's. Raiders are passed for me. If I can get three and a half, I don't want to say I'll put a year's salary. I would very much like the Raiders. Listen, that half point is what I'm waiting for tonight and tomorrow morning for my picks. Because there's two or three games. I'm telling you, if I get the Texans and three and a half, I'm taking Houston. What about the over-under?

Can you believe that's it? I think it should be an under. Yeah. I don't know how people aren't hitting that. What am I missing? The Rams defense to end last season was elite. What's going to be different? What's the over-under?

Forty-four. Wow. This morning, I was like, wow, that seems a little high. I think that's going to be a great game. Final story, Colin, is to Denver. Where your Broncos, I can say that. They agreed to a deal with Nick Benito, star linebacker for a year, $120 million, $70 million guaranteed for the young linebacker. He's making 26.5 mil per year.

10th highest paid player in the league. That surprised me right behind Derek Stingley. But Benito, oh, he was phenomenal last year. Third in the NFL in Sacks and the Denver defense. He was like spearheading it. It's funny. Every time I've watched him, I always think he's undersized, yet he is so athletic and so physical.

He is one. I mean, like, you look at Miles Garrett, he doesn't look, and TJ Watt, they don't look like normal human beings. Joey Bosa or Nick Bosa. I'm just, there's something about the ability. Like, Michael Parsons, to me, is a little undersized. Same with, same with Benito. Like, I always think he's a little slender.

Dude gets after it. You look at that chart on the screen, highest paid defenders. Mama, let your kids grow up to be. Eddrusters. They are getting paid. Seven of the top ten are Eddros. As the quarterback becomes more centric to pro football, who makes

the quarterback uncomfortable. Which makes it crazy that the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons. I can't get over. Now, if you want to trade them a year ago, we don't need to rehash it, but Nick Benito got paid in Denver. Good luck to Cam Ward this weekend in

altitude. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News. Can't wait for Urban Meyer at the top of next hour is, you know, Urban's had a lot of success with quarterbacks in his coaching career.

Go all the way back to Alex Smith. He's had a lot of success. I'm interested in his take on Arch Manning because it was hard. You know how something they old saying is I can't unhear that or I can't unsee that? And that's kind of where I'm at with Arch Manning. I can't unsee that. That was not good. That was jarringly bad.

So we'll see Urban Myers coming up top of the hour. Julian Edelman, former Patriot Great, is stopping by two. Live in L.A., it's The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news.

We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special.

So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. 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 head writer Streeter Seidel

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis,

and I know firsthand, because I think, 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. Jenschen win. I mean, she went down to 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all. embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Saturday on Baseball Night in America, Jose Al Thuvae in the Astros. Fight for the ALS crown against the Rangers or the Giants take on the Cardinals or it's Twins Royals. Check local listings for the game in your area. 70s turn on Fox. There's so many things we don't know about week one.

We don't know of J.J. McCarthy can play. We don't know what Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams is going to look like. We don't know if Trevor Lawrence is finally going to give us the season, because he's got real pieces now. Brian Thomas, Travis Hunter, Liam Cohen. Is Travis, Trevor Lawrence, going to finally deliver what we expect? We don't know, I mean, losing your star left tackle. Is Jim Harbaugh's team take a step back or do they remain a playoff team?

Is Denver as good as we think? I think just Chicago because of the brand, the bigness of it is a fascinating, you know, football team. Ben Johnson's the new coach. Caleb Williams is going in the year two. And Greg Kossel talked about what Ben Johnson does that is different on film and that could help Caleb Williams. When I watched that offense and Ben Johnson, to me, What stands out is just the spacing of the route concepts, how it really beautifully defines the reeds for the quarterback because the spacing is so good. Spacing and balance, you hear floor balance in basketball all the time, but that's critical for the passing game, particularly against zone coverage.

And that's where I thought Ben Johnson was an absolute master. That's Monday night, at home, one and a half point dogs to the Vikings. I mean, you talk about two offenses, we don't know what we're going to get. It's Bears Vikings on Monday. It's the Enigma game. It's the question mark game. We love the offensive brainpower of the coaches. We like upgrades on the offensive line for both.

We just don't know what we're going to get from the quarterback. The other thing Kossel talked about, and you know, Greg in the off season, we'll watch every snap. He really said there's something wrong with Dak Prescott. That really jumped out to me. He said there's something wrong with Dak Prescott's lower body. so he just had his second lower body surgery. So that was really alarming if you're a cowboy fan because Greg's not going to just wing it.

He said something on the film doesn't look right. Dak looks rigid and stiff. And then he talked about Jalen Hertz and the Eagles offense. It fits who they are and what they are. They've got the best O-line in the league. They have basically the same offense back. The only true change is that right guard. within the context of how they play offense, Jalen Hertz is highly efficient.

You know, they do not turn the football over. And Hertz, the running element that Hertz brings both by design within the context of their run game and as a scrambler is you cannot overlook that. Yeah, didn't it strike you when he said, listen, I watched every snap of Dak, and he didn't look the same. You go back to last year, Dak had eight picks and eight games. So one of the things we liked about DAC early, we like the intangibles, he was a leader, and we liked that he, you know, he didn't make big mistakes.

He didn't have a huge upside. Intangibles great, didn't make a lot of mistakes. Increasing, DAC is pressing, DAC is making more mistakes, and you still get that lower ceiling than other elite quarterback. So that's something to think about tonight and why most people like Philadelphia big. So I made my NFL final NFL predictions about 30 minutes ago. Let's put them up, starting with the AFC. I do have two new playoff teams in the AFC.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals, I think sneak in as a wildcard team. And I don't think that's a revelation. And I think New England spent so much money in coaching upgrades. I think the Patriots are a playoff team. I don't think they're a great team. And I don't think the Bengals are a great team because I don't think either roster has enough juice or they don't have enough elite players. But I think most of the divisions are fairly predictable in the A&A. where you're Josh Allen's,

your Lamar Jackson's, your C.J. Strouds, you know, your, your Bo Nicks or Herbert Mahomes feel like playoff teams. And the NFC, I've only got one new playoff team. I just think the NFC West is wild car. I think the Seahawks

get in. J. Mack believes the easiest bet on the board due to schedule and the greatness of Brock Purdy is San Francisco makes it. My only problem, and this is why I think this division, again, I went with Eagles, Packers, Bucks, and Rams. I went with the quarterbacks, I think, on Sunday I get big plays from.

Commanders would win most divisions. They won't beat Philly. Jared Goff, I like a lot. Seahawks, the reason the NFC West is tough, because I will acknowledge San Francisco's got the easiest schedule, and Brock Purdy is very much a B-plus quarterback, A-minus on certain games. Absolutely. But McCaffrey's coming off injuries. Trent Williams is coming off injuries.

George Kittles getting older. and they're walking in at wide receiver with fingers crossed. And it also hurts their opener. It's at a younger team in Seattle on the road. And I was talking, now who was, oh, it was interesting. This is why I like Seattle in the game. I was vacationing and I had a couple days to hang out with Steve Kime, the former Arizona GM.

And we were just randomly talking about different things. I said, what was the toughest place to play in all your years in Arizona? and he goes, Seattle is a nightmare. He said it's always windier than you think. It's wetter than you think. And he goes, the way they built that stadium, it is loud. It is a rough place to play. So for years, they call it the 12th men in Seattle.

So he said the fans, you know, they like their craft beer in Seattle. They are liquored up, ready to go, and it's loud. So I guess that's the one game that you and I are on opposite sides. I like Seattle to hold serve at home and beat San Francisco. Francisco, and you like the Niners to win comfortably. I know Kyle Shanahan has historically owned Seattle, so they did lose last year, 20 to 17. Before that, Shanahan had won six straight against the Seahawks.

Now, I know there's been, you know, obviously a lot of upheaval there, but he usually dominates these guys. I love Shanahan. Heel scheme up stuff, even with Pierceall and Jennings as his top two receivers. They would have been three, four last year in week one, because I Yucan Divo would have been there. I don't have a lot of concern for Sam Fran in the spot. Okay, I forget the lines for a second. I'll give you the teams and just pop the winner. Don't get out of the line space. Dallas at Philly. Eagles.

Casey Chargers overseas. I would go Casey. Giants at Washington. So the hesitation. I mean, you got you played in the seats with giants. I'll say Washington wins a close one. They won, I think both games are less than seven last year. Both were close. And the Giants, we would argue, are better. Carter, Russell Wilson's an upgrade, right? They're better than they were last year. Yeah.

So you're saying Washington. I'll say Washington and a close one. That's a tough one. Tampa and Atlanta. Atlanta. I'm pot committed to Atlanta. Sincere at Cleveland. Again, the hesitation.

I mean, it's tough for me to envision Joe Flacco beating Burrow. I think too many people are mentioning Burrough's early season struggles. So I'll go Bengals 1917 or some crazy score like that. Okay, 79% of the fans think the bet of the week is Jacksonville. So Carolina at Jacksonville. Yeah, I got Jags. I think comfortably. I think Liam Cohen is going to surprise you.

I know you won't ever talk Jacksonville early in the show, but I think Monday you're going to be like, take a look at Trevor Lawrence and Travis Hunter. I like Jags. Steelers at the Jets. Jets. By the way, if for no other reason, I have one of my rules of betting is,

in a low-scoring game, take points. This thing has like 17, 13, 27. See the over-under on this thing? Yeah. I think it's, what is the over-under on this thing? How many? I think it's 38 or 39. Yeah.

So tonight, Dak and Jalen Hertz combined preseason snap zero. I'm surprised for Dak coming off last year. But Aaron Rogers hasn't sniffed the field and all of a sudden Aaron Glenn blitz happy. Look at his Detroit numbers. Blitzed a ton. If he does that's with the Jets,

I think Roger is going to be in real trouble. Yeah, I like the Jets. Miami at the Colts. 4,140 shootout, flip a coin on who wins it. You know, we haven't mentioned this. Let's just stop here. Shane's style. I like the Colts roster.

We don't like quarterback. Is it shocking if the Colts at home hold you? I never trust. Now, Miami, I don't trust in cold weather. It's a dome. Would you be shocked? You know, they're going to honor perhaps Jim Ursay. It'll be very, very emotional.

Shane Stike and a great offensive coach offseason. Noisy offseason. Tyreek Hill's not a captain. How about this for an upset? I don't know what the points where it is now. Bultz are favored. The culture favored now. This feels like the kind of game where the narrative will be,

hey man, how did you lose this game? He's on the hot seat. McDaniel, they're going to look to fire him. I never looked at this game. I don't know what I'm getting with either. I didn't even, this is a game that I... You got your team set up. Certain games I just take up.

I'm not betting them. I don't know enough. That's interesting. Okay. One more. I'm telling you, Houston at the Rams. So who do you like sidewise in that one? I think it's an under.

I generally take the offensive coach in the opener. But I got real questions about Stafford and the left tackle. If it goes to three and a half, I'm taking Texans. It gets your Super Bowl winner. I'll tell you, one of my favorite bets. is Texans Rams under. Under, yeah. I think it's a 23-20 game, low-scoring game.

Texans O-Line has three or four new starters. Rams defensive front is nasty, and I don't trust the Rams left tackle. He's good. Blood clots, hasn't practiced much. Great. 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. First people to do podcasts.

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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. 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 break of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments set to find Roland Garris.

Jen, she's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennarabakina 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 IHeart 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 businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud.

But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human.