The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Herd Hierarchy, Bo Nix being compared to Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs dynasty is not ever, Nick Wright

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

Colin unveils his latest Herd Hierarchy ranking the top 10 teams in the NFL with Josh Allen and the Bills not making the cut He talks to First Things First host Nick Wright about his Herd Hierarchy, the Broncos epic comeback against the Giants, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes turning their season around, and moreSee 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's

telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The HARD podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedio.com

or stream us live every day on the IHart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go. It's hour two. It is great to have you back. I'm not in the greatest mood. The Seattle Mariners, for most of my life, have been knocking on the door of history in sports,

and a lot of times nobody lets them in. And last night, I was just defending majoring managers. Like, they get eaten alive. Dave Roberts is always getting criticized. but we've muted the power of Major League managers, right? The analytics guys upstairs make a lot of the calls. They don't get as much money as they used to. I mean, think about, like, when I grew up with, like, Whitey Herzog,

and, you know, these guys had Billy Martin, had big personalities, Earl Weaver. It was like they were the most important guy in the entire organization. That's not the way it is anymore. So I tend to defend Major League managers, but I did think Dan Wilson, I mean, listen, he pitched to George Springer. I would have put him on base,

but Vlad Guerrero was coming up in a couple of, of batters, it wasn't ideal. I would have gone with Munoz because to me that George Springer at bat, that inning was the biggest inning in Mariner history. That was the biggest inning in Mariner history. If you can get out of that one and you can get past Springer and you can get

past Vlad, easier part of the lineup coming, Munoz is your guy, so, you know, whatever. You can second guess managers all the time. I tend to defend Major League managers because they don't have the pull and the leverage they used to, but that was dicey.

But again, Dan Wilson, a former catcher, super smart guy, knows it better than anybody else. But that was something else. All right, here we go. It is Tuesday. Here's the herd hierarchy. Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go.

The top 10 NFL teams, according to college, number 10. I put them in this morning. I bounced the Seahawks out because after those four giveaways, I just can't trust Seattle. Seattle's 11. I put New England in at 10. They don't beat themselves. Four straight wins. Top 10 offense, top five scoring defense.

Mike Vrable, this was our prediction, the team that would double their win total. We said it before the season. We had them as a playoff team. Their remaining schedule is the easiest in the league. Six straight games with 100 plus passer rating. I like Drake May. I didn't think he would be this good, this quick. They feel like a one-and-done playoff team that's winning a lot on energy and focus and enthusiasm in youth.

but I put them at 10 and bounce Seattle out. Number nine. The Niners. I think Kyle Shanahan's in the running for coach of the year. No Brock Purdy, Brandon Ayuk, Ricky Pirsall, George Kittle, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, but Robert Saul has been a monster as a defensive coordinator. They have the number seven scoring defense. They are very Christian McCaffrey dependent.

30 touches or 31 touches. Don't love that, but they're kind of trapped. six of their next seven games against very weak opponents. They should be favored in most of them. But I think Mack Jones and Brock Purdy feels a little bit like a wash to me. One's expensive, one's kind of free. But I think you've got to put them in the list. Nobody's been as resourceful as Kyle Shanahan and the Niners.

I put him at nine. Number eight. Green Bay, they keep leaving me wanting more. but they are undefeited when scoring more than 10 points this season. I just feel like I want more, but they've been a little banged up at wide receiver. Josh Jacobs, three straight games with multiple touchdowns. Jordan Love this year. And nobody likes Jordan Love.

And he's completing 69% of his throws and 100 ain't passer rating. And you can't find anybody that likes it. Their run defense is excellent. Micah is the perfect closer for a team that often leads in the 4th. I have Green Bay 8. I think they will get better. They're still really young. Number 7.

I still like the Bucks a lot. I mean, they were playing, you know, living dangerously coming from behind. And that was a buzzsaw they ran into last night for their five wins, one score games. But their defense, multiple games with takeaways. I just think they got playmakers. And again, like the Niners, they've been incredibly resourceful. I've always thought Todd Bowles is underrated because he doesn't really have a profile. while, probably the best blitzing coach in the NFL, Baker, Igbuka.

I think they're going to be fine when they get cleaned up and healthier, but I wouldn't drop them too far. I have Tampa at seven. Number six. I love Denver's roster. I don't think their defense has been as good as I thought, but they lead the NFL in Sack differential. They have the number one third down defense and the number one red zone defense,

and yet I feel like they should be better. Bonix, when trailing this season, a very Mahomes-like stancho. that. 11 touchdowns, no pick, and a 102 passer rating, and obviously a great head coach, Denver at 6. Number 5. Detroit. Detroit's run game jumps off the TV set. They're 5 and 1 over their last six games, and they got rocked by the best team easily in the league, Kansas City. Their defense takes the ball away, gets to the quarterback. What I like about Detroit is they get leads, and then they get sacks. And that's the way to win in the postseason.

They're much better, obviously, at home. But I have Detroit. Thumped Tampa last night at 5. Number four. Colts. I've been into the Colts for a month. They should have beaten the Rams. Best outright record in the league at 6 and 1. They're only lost in the Rams and they outplayed them.

Great offensive line. Playmakers at running back. Tide-in. Wide receiver. Excellent head coach. Most efficient offense in the NFL. most tied for the most touchdowns. I mean, Daniel Jones, I mean, it's like DAC. We can say, well, he's not elite while I'm watching.

And it looks elite to me. They've scored on 63% of their drives. And I think they're absolutely for real. I've always said my final four teams are teams I think that can get to a Super Bowl and I have the Colts at four. Number three. Rams, it's not really just Stafford and McVeigh. That defense is suffocating.

Now, it may not be suffocating if they faced him a Holmes or, you know, again, it may not be suffocating against the great quarterbacks. But, man, Trevor Lawrence, good luck. They leave the NFL in big plays. No puka, no problem. Number two scoring defense. Number two in sacks. And remember, their defense is young. These guys, a lot of them haven't even hit their prime.

Rams at three. Number two. I don't even know if I liked Philadelphia. you. Honestly, they can't run the ball anymore. They don't get to the quarterback, but they have, I mean, let's be honest. Jalen Hertz wins a lot. Devonte Smith and A.J. Brown, when they can't run, can take the top off. They're a hard team to defend, and they're a hard team to figure out. They don't get to the quarterback. They've been outgained in every game. There's a French term for beautiful yet ugly.

I think whatever that term is, that's the Eagles, but I love their roster, and I keep just saying, they'll figure it out, but I have them at two. Number one. And I think they'd get smoked if they played Kansas City. I said it a month ago. This is as good as Kansas City's been.

Hollywood Brown, Ju-Joo, worthy, Rice, Travis Kelsey. I mean, keep your eye on, Brashard Smith. The offensive line hasn't been totally healthy. I think Mahomes is playing at an absurd level. I think this is as good. I'm serious here. I think this team, I do wonder at the trade deadline if they would go find like a situational pass rusher maybe.

And they're not a great run team. They are so deep. Now at wide receiver, here you go, my top 10, Seattle 11. I had them in last night when I, texted Kyle on our staff. And this morning I'm like, no, I'm disgusted. That was awful. Take him out.

Seahawks 11, Bills 12. Nick Wright, joining me live. I got something for you, Colin. Hold on. I was listening. I don't speak French, but let's see if I can do this in real time. Jolet lad. Is pretty yet ugly.

That's what you were looking for. I Googled it for you. There you go, pal. pretty yet ugly it sounds like your Broncos take did you compare bow nicks to patrick mohomes yeah did that happen i mean who else could take a 19-0 deficit greatest quarter for a quarterback ever i stand i die on that hill okay and that was okay so all right a few things that listen it is remarkable what they've done and what he's done in the fourth quarter of that against Philly and the Giants.

I am taking nothing away from him there. But I was too busy Googling Jolie Ladd to fact. You said he has 11 touchdowns when trailing, but he also has 11 touchdowns total. So that would mean they've all come when he's trailing, at least 11 passing touchdowns total. That part's not great. And the last, the Broncos are really weird

because their last three games, Philly, the Jets, and the Giants. I know. They have 13 points in the first three quarters combined of those games. And then they've been elite in the fourth quarter of two of them and they held on against the Jets. I still don't trust them. I think the defense is great.

I think Bo. The other weird thing about Bo is nothing gives you more confidence if you're rooting against the Broncos than when Bo Nix early and early. the game takes a deep shot. It's like, well, that's going to hit a ball boy. They're just spraying out of bounds, but then late in the game, he has been good. So there is something there. You also, I want to talk to about the bills and the Seahawks, but can I just ask you one question about the Chiefs? Sure. Just one? Yeah. Can we revisit a bit that the dynasty phase is

over? Are we maybe still in the dynasty phase of my team? I had to deal with a lot of slings and arrows from you, my dear friend and professional idol and mentor all summer, that this was, you know, they'll still be good, but they're just not dynastic anymore, whatever it is. And now I think you feel like the gap between them and whoever is second is about as big as Philly and the, as two in ten, correct? Yeah, yeah. Okay, I just wanted to hear it. That's all.

Why are the bills not in there? Okay, first of all, they can't defend the run, which is the worst thing to be when you have a great quarterback. You can have a bad secondary. You've got to defend the run. Otherwise, you watch the game. Like last night, Baker watched a lot of the game, right? Like you just get out of rhythm.

So, you know, Kansas City has generally, and I don't have the stats in front of me, but you get Mahomes a lot of drives and a lot of opportunities, and he extends them. I don't like when I have a great quarterback, I think they have to go out. Now, they're getting some people back that will help them. But right now, they're not, in my opinion, right now today, they're not a top 10 team. And Seattle makes too many mistakes.

Last night was a mess. It was a mess. So Seattle's interesting because last night was ugly. Oh. But that defense was since they could, the Seattle offense kept saying to Houston, please make this a game. It's one in the morning on the East Coast. This is outrageously late game, at least make it interesting. And the Seattle Devens wouldn't let Houston do it.

And so I give you credit as the Sam Darnold guy for not, you know, overlooking a poor performance. But I think you actually at this point might be underrating Seattle because Mike McDonald has been awesome. And he gets extra credit to me because we've seen what's happened to Baltimore's defense since he left. So that's more conference. of how good his scheme is.

And I didn't see, Colin, you watch more college football than me, so I'll defer to you on this. I did not see this coming from Jackson, Smith, and Jigba. This is a revelation. He might be the best receiver in football. Yeah. I am, it's unbelievable. And so I think Seattle is right now because of the injuries better than the Niners. I'm impressed by the Niners, I think Seattle's better.

Okay, that's fair. So I was saying this about Caleb Williams. body language matters. It's why I turned on Jay Cotler early in his career. I'm like, ugh, I don't like his body language. Kyler Murray, who I've defended forever, don't always love his body language.

It's better this year. In fairness, Kyler's better this year. He's more engaged with the team. But it does matter. Chicago's run game is excellent. They spend a lot of money in the interior old line. It's excellent. The defense has taken them all the way.

Watching Ben Johnson's face and body language, when Caleb throws an incompletion is borderline discouragement bordering on disgust like i i these guys i watch ben johnson you can't tell me he's happy with caleb right now right yeah i think that's fair and i don't listen i i think everybody has to we all what we all the audience is no matter what we want to happen or what we said we thought would happen is evaluate things as they do happen. And I'm, you know, a big Caleb guy. I've, I've cooled a bit, you know, over the last nine months. I no longer, you know, I did pick him to go to the Super Bowl as a rookie,

so I guess I've cooled somewhat. And I'd love to sit here and say, they're on a four-game winning streak, they're four-and-two, they're in the thick of the playoff picture. And that's all true. But in some ways, the last few games, that's kind of been despite their quarterback play. Their running games been great, post by their run defense has been much better, and Caleb is just kind of scuttling along. Now,

the glass half full version of it is we have seen the wow moments and drives and even wow quarters and one wow game against Dallas that I guess everybody lights up. If Caleb can string together some more consistency, I do

think the Bears could be a legitimate playoff team. But much like when another quarterback that I have historically loved, but he has really disappointed, when the Jags were 3 and 1 or whatever record they had, if you watched the games, that was not because of Trevor. That was despite Trevor, and now it's catching up to him a bit. It feels like something similar right now is happening with Caleb. Again, I think it's far too early to say this is who he's going to be all year, but I do think he's frustrated and I do think Ben Johnson's frustrated that it's not a little further along because that's Saints defense, Colin, everyone threw the ball well on them except for Caleb, it seems.

So I've said if the average NFL quarterback career is 15 years and it's a 15 chapter book, I usually by the middle of the second chapter, I think I have a pretty good track record. I have a beat on a quarterback. I never quit on Darnold. Even when I was critical of Baker, I always said, oh, he's a franchise quarterback. I'm not sure I want him. He's too cocky, but he's a franchise quarterback. I feel very good through the years. I love Drake May.

I said, Jaden Daniels going to look like Lamar Jackson. I think I like Caleb more than apparently many people did. But the point being is I feel pretty good about it. And then there's Dak Prescott. And I'm like, okay, what chapter are we in 11? And the entire time, I've been glib. And I've said, he's Kirk Cousins with a star in his helmet. Kirk Cousins never carried this.

And what's fascinating, you and I were both always sort of rolled our eyes at all the hype, that George Pickens, Mike Tomlin, who has been more than willing to deal with dramas, like, get Pickens out of here. Yeah. He goes to Dak and, like, doesn't want to disappoint him. And it's drama-free. He may be the best number two receiver in the league. And I'm watching Dak here, and I'm like, they didn't have C.D. Lamb.

It's Brian Chottonheimer. It's high-maintenham. Des, Zeke, Amari, Tyron Smith, Zach, Marr, they all leave. And Dak puts up huge numbers. I feel like it's the ultimate Colin was wrong. And you, similar, do you have any of that feeling watching this year? Yeah. Well, so listen, I think once they traded Micah, the Cowboys Path was clearly,

they were going to try to be a better version of last year's Bengals, which is throw, you know, trust our quarterback to go score 35 a game, see if the defense can hang on for dear life. Most people, myself included, looked at that and said, well, the problem is DAC isn't Burrough and George Pickens isn't T. Higgins. And through seven weeks, DAC is Burrough, and George Pickens is better than T. Higgins. I didn't see any of that coming. And so I have been super skeptical of Pickens.

And that dates back to a college career where he was more than a handful. But he's been excellent. The Cowboys' offense performing the way it did when CD was hurt was stunning. And Dak just being one of the most entertaining, high-octane quarterbacks in the league has been a pleasure to watch this year. It also does feel to me that, and I don't know the butterfly effect, how things would have changed. But watching this offense, Colin, doesn't it feel to you like, man, oh man, had they not traded Micah Parsons, we'd be talking about this team as a real, a real contender-ish team. Like in an NFL where it seems like other than Kansas City, nobody is, and maybe Detroit, nobody is really good.

And that it's wide open for spots four through 10 in this league. If Dallas just had the 19th best defense, they would be right there. And instead, it all goes on Dak's shoulder. And thus far, he's playing the best ball of his life. I give him a ton of credit. I want to end with a basketball topic because the NBA season begins tonight. There's a new book out written by a young man who says he chronicles LeBron's L.A. Laker career. And in it, Westbrook, who runs hot, who's highly emotional.

but whether you like Westbrook or not, he's about as real and authentic as anybody's going to get. He just, you know, he runs hot. I have defended LeBron through the years saying, like Tiger or MJ or Otani, he's at brand protection legacy stage now. So sometimes he's a bit calculated, polished. You know, he's protecting his empire.

That's what CEOs do, and LeBron is the league CEO. But the knock, there is this rub, is that, and I've heard this through the years, that LeBron, who's LeBron? What is LeBron? You know, he and the Lake Kobe weren't close. He and LeBron, it's a weird thing. Sure. I mean, are the criticisms of LeBron that he's a bit too calculated, a bit too measured, is it fair? I mean, this is a lot to unpack here, so let me try to give it its just due.

First of all, I have massive respect for Russell Westbrook's career, Russell Westbrook, the man, and the player. I also think there is a lack of self-awareness with Russ since he stopped being an MVP-calibre player that has significantly damaged every single team he's been on. And it's, and for Russ, and certainly for Russ's fans, it's never Russ's fault. It's always, you know, people didn't let Russ be Russ when the reality is, for the last six years, letting Russ be Russ means empty calorie non-winning basketball. Like that's the first ballot hallfamer. He's one of the 50 greatest players ever. It's just been a rough last half decade. So there's that piece of it. Do I think that probably Russ and LeBron's personalities are very different? Sure. Do I also think that as we are now in year

23 of LeBron James being in the spotlight, that a guy who has the biggest scandal he was ever a part of was the decision which then raised a couple million dollars for charity, that people have been trying to, more than any athlete of my lifetime, find some some cardinal sin or grievous error that he made to the point to where a couple weeks ago when he was clearly going to do some type of ad with the decision too, folks pretended that they thought he was going to announce his retirement at noon on a Tuesday and they acted all offended by it. That now what people have come down to is, you know what?

I don't like the cut of his jib. and I think he lies about reading books he hasn't read. That's my problem with LeBron. Like, give me a break. The guy has been the spokesman, the face, the ambassador of this league for a quarter century. Almost more than 20% of the time the NBA has existed. LeBron James has been at the epicenter of it and does not have a substantial misstep to his name and not a scandal on or off the court.

So I understand he's an easy guy to go after in this regard. And yes, of course, he is calculated. And yes, of course, anything he says or does is going to be dissected. So he has to be very careful with it. But I think that he has handled that spotlight better than quite literally any other athlete of our lives. Nick Wright, I agree. First things first. I'll leave you with this.

This doesn't mean anything. Oh, please. This doesn't mean anything. I just want to throw it out there because I'm very data-driven. Bo Nix's college-winning percentage was 70% and Patrick's was 44. Well, another way. You know what? That means a lot because that's another piece of data that shows Bo Nix is nothing like Patrick Mahomes.

And I agree with that. Talk to you later, buddy. All right. Great Nick Wright. Appreciate that. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's Chris Rock had a line. years ago, a man is as loyal as his options. And similar to that, you know, everybody's, I can't believe you took the money from them and you did that. You don't have any options. People

with options take advantage of options. The other thing is whenever I hear, well, this guy is calculated. This guy is protecting his brand. Yeah, he's got one. That's what happens when you're worth a billion dollars. Tiger would have been better to protect his brand. Right? There's a lot of guys who have had a brand and and butchered it. So, listen, I do think there are times LeBron on the internet and on the Instagram is pretty, it's pretty calculated, you know, I think that's fair to say, but he's, he's got a lot to protect. Here's another number.

I wish I had Nick. Fourth quarter passer rating this year. Bo Nix 101. Mahomes am measly 98. The data's coming out. It's pretty clear. Pretty, pretty clear. around the corner as well in Chicago.

It's the hood. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of pipe and hot baseball talk

featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport, whether you believe in analytics or the I-Test, We've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday. So do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new?

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

special. So how did we actually come up with the 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 notebook. had 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 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 Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of them.

most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app.

podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Jay McNeugh, coffee drinker. It's funny you asked that. For the first time in months, I had Starbucks yesterday. It was delicious. I just don't get a healthy drink there, so I know that I can't have it regularly. But I'll have a small coffee here at work, but it's a tiny. Why are you?

I'm on my fourth cup. But there's never been an instance where somebody was on their deathbed. and said, I just drank too much coffee. That's never happened in the history of the world. It's less about that. I'm worried about the right now. I don't care about my deathbed.

Are you handling four cups okay? I mean, some of these takes are a little unhinged right now. Maybe that explains the four cups of coffee. Jay back with the news. No, no, no,

turn on the news. This is the herd line news. That's what I got to do. I got to blame the caffeine. That's a good one. Pete's coffee is to blame for all these takes. Yeah, yeah. All right, let's start with your Chicago Bears. Four stray wins. Pretty impressive run. They got the Ravens this week. We'll see what happens with Lamar. I mean, I'd like to see a Lamar Caleb Williams Showdown. Caleb Williams has not been particularly crisp during this four-game stretch, but he knows there's still a lot to work on. There are things that I can be better at. There are things that I'm going to be better at. There are things that, you know, that weren't hitting the day.

And, you know, you just have those days sometime. And it's nice that we have a defense, we have a special teams, a punter or whatever you want to say, kicker that can put us ahead, that can help us win games, a run game that can, you know, control the game. And so, you know, we get this figured out on my side. We'll be putting up a lot of points to be very dangerous. He's good at the podium. He says the right thing. He doesn't get defensive. He doesn't get prickly.

He's very good at the podium. easy to say the right thing when you won four straight. I mean, shucks, with our ratings cooking, it's easy for me to come up here and you're like, hey, it's me. You go four and one back-to-back weeks. You just roll up giving out picks left and right. I don't think it's that easy.

I think being good at the podium's a skill. I think he's really good at it. So here's my thing. And I wish I had gone in deeper on this, but I had looked at the schedule and said, you know, the bears could get hot. I don't know if you remember that. We say a lot of stuff.

Their schedule is their four Ws. Well, I'm just saying if Lamar don't play this weekend, I think they can win that one. And then it's Joe Flacco, Jackson, Dart, and J.J. McCarthy. And I don't think Pittsburgh's very good. All of a sudden, Bears become a spicy wildcard team, Colin. Like, they're on the cusp. I still need to see more because I don't want to poo-poo the four-game winning streak,

but at home against Dallas. I will say this. Come on. The teams that are running the football consistently, Detroit, Seattle, Chicago. It's a, it's a, here comes the craps. Happy weather. Here comes the bad weather. Colts.

Yeah, the Colts. You start looking at all the team. You know, we've always been a passing league. Now it gets cold. Now you have to have a run game. And by the way, Cleveland beat Miami this weekend. Oh, Cleveland's rookie running back from Ohio State looked pretty dominant. Did you notice the chargers have struggled, Omerian Hampton, down?

I know Vidal had a good game, but it's like, come on. Vidal, you can't count on him. No. It's run to set up the pass first now. The league is shifting because of the two high safety. They're just not giving up big plays. Did you see Houston last night? How many times were they just chucking it 20 yards down the field with like zero success?

I mean, Baker Mayfield threw 50 passes last night. Colin, they had one touchdown on offense. Like, you've got to be able to run the football. No Bucky Irving last night. Tampa could do nothing on the ground. So I would focus on that and this swift, and I'm not, I don't know, how do you pronounce the new running backs name? Monogamy, I don't even know what it is.

I've got him on my fantasy team. He's got some pop. If you can now get those two cooking in Chicago, this Baltimore game gets spicy, especially if Lamar does not play. All right, Con, let's move on to the New York Giants. The G-Men. How about that collapse? Up 19-0 and below it, conceding 33 in the fourth.

Brian Daibble, who appeared very rattled by the loss, says he's not planning any staff or play-calling changes ahead of the matchup with Philly. No, I'm not considering that. But we all got to do a better job. Starts with me. And there's plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to, and we didn't get the job done. Yeah, I think the best thing that's happened to Brian Daibol

is the emergence of Dart, because I think it would be really hard right now to separate those two. And I look at Jackson Dart, and I said this before the season. I said this about the Colts, and I said it about the Giants. I like the rosters. Colts more than the Giants, they needed a quarterback. And the Colts are not a mirage. I mean, go look at the Colts offense.

O-line, tied-end, wide receiver, running back. It stars. And you look at the New York Giants without neighbors. Scataboo, Dart, left tackle. We know their defensive fronts, excellent. I don't think the win over, I don't think the near win over Denver or the win over. over Philly is a mirage.

I said it going into the season. I like their roster. As long as their left tackle, who's hit and miss on health is healthy, I like the Giants. So let me drill down on this because you've been saying for a few days now, you think the Giants have found their guy. Absolutely. Jackson Dart. I'm just going to play. Is he a franchise quarterback or not?

Yes. And we'll go Jackson Dart. You say yes. Yes. Okay. Kyler Murray. Well, he's been a franchise quarterback. I think he is.

but I think after all these years, I think there's a clear ceiling. I think size is crucial at the position, and I would probably start over in Arizona. You would start, so he's not a franchise quarterback. No, he's a franchise quarterback, but every, I mean, when you get it away from the top five quarterbacks in the league, people run their course in franchises. So Caleb Williams. I think he's a franchise quarterback. Bo Nix? Absolutely a franchise quarterback.

Okay, interesting. So you like the younger guys more. You know, we've seen Kyler for five, six years now, and it's not really happening. One more young guy, J.J. McCarthy. No, I've never thought it was a franchise. I've never ever bought into that. No, I said this before the draft. I didn't think he, my take was he didn't have the traits I was looking for.

And I never been a fan of this. He's a winner. It means nothing. Danny Whirful was a winner in college. Tebow was a winner in college. That doesn't mean anything. Why, he's a winner? Well, if you plan or hardball, you're a winner always.

Andrew Luck was. was a winner, but he had the trades. Yeah. How's this? If Dart can beat the Eagles again and sweep him, I'll give it to you. He's a franchise quarterback. I see there's no way he's winning this, but he has made me look foolish, Chargers, Broncos, so I don't know if I'm going to go against him again. Final story, Colin, this is just breaking here in the last hour.

There are reports. Now, I'll just leave it on social media that the Cowboys are making a move on Max Crosby of the Raiders. Now, Crosby was injured against the Chiefs. They held him out of the second half. It wouldn't have mattered. The Cowboys obviously traded Micah Parsons at, you know, right before the season started. And now it's just a report. I'm not going to.

Why would the Raiders give up their best player and the soul of the franchise? Well, I don't know. Maybe because Jerry Jones does stupid deals all the time. He lost this deal. The Micah Parsons trade. He did that wide receiver from Carolina was horrible. Troy Lance deal was horrible. I mean, if you could get.

Jerry, to give you a first round pick for Crosby, I think you got to take that and run, don't you? I don't like giving up. I didn't feel Micah was the soul of the Cowboys. I thought it was Dak. And so I don't like giving up the soul of a franchise. And I don't, Max Crosby is the Raiders. Michael was not the Cowboys.

Dax the Cowboys. Jerry's the Cowboys. I just don't get that. I don't get it for either team. I don't get it for you. If you're going to sign. Max, what was the point of? Right. It doesn't really

make sense. That being said, if the Raiders are able to get a first for Crosby, I mean, that's elder abuse. They're just taking advantage of Jerry Jones. Because there's no way. I know Crosby's awesome. You cannot give up a first for Crosby after trading away Micah. I mean, Micah Parsons is, he's rated as the number one

edge rusher in the league. First of all, he just had three sacks. He's unstoppable. Dallas is a great story. They're not a Super Bowl team. Right. Anybody making a big swing that's not a Super Bowl team at the trade deadline. You should be selling. You know, get another pick. You know, I just...

That would be weird. Okay, what if the Niners made a move for president? Oh, that's different. Yes, okay. We're on the same page, yeah. I agree. That's different. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Line News. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news.

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

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what should be. We should call it. 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 competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay.

Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, the Blue Jays clinched their first pennant in 30. two years after an incredible game seven of the ALCS. Now they'll host a Dodgers team looking for back-to-back World Series titles. Coverage of Game One of the 2025 World Series begins Friday at 7 p.m. Eastern, 4 p.m. Pacific on Fox. I think if you win as much as the Dodgers have 13 straight playoff appearances and you can win back-to-back, that's a dynasty, there was always this sense you had to win three straight. That feels very NBA because it was always a star-dress. You know, in league. Now, nobody can win back-to-back

in the NBA because of Adam Silver's new CBA and the aprons and the cost of ownership. So, I mean, I think if you're great for 13 years and you win back-to-back championship, again, when I was a kid, Cincinnati Reds won back-to-back. I think it was like 74, 75,

or I think it was those years, and they had a lot of success. But that was considered a dynasty. The Big Red Machine. It's still revered in baseball history. So I think the Dodgers are going for history. It's interesting, A month ago, September 21st, the Chiefs were 0-2, the offense leaped old, creaky pedestrian and kind of lost. And a month ago, the Dodgers were getting ready for the playoffs.

The bullpen was a mess. The starting pitchers like Snell and Blasnow had missed so much of the regular season. And a month later, they're like that rider at the Tour de France, who separates on the mountain stage. When he reappears, he's leading, heading downhill and pulling away. It feels like the Chiefs and the Dodgers are playing different sports. And I think one of the things they both do really well, it's hard to be good, it's harder to be great, it's hardest to keep being great, and there's some things you can't do. You can't be stubborn, you can't be overly prideful, you've got to spot your problems, address them immediately. I have watched in my life so many businesses.

and sports teams get in their own way. Dodgers never do. They never do. Chiefs never do. Everybody makes mistakes. Outside of anonymous trolls, nobody is perfect. Right. Good G. Andrew Friedman's had draft picks that don't work.

He's made deals that don't work. I could name them. Nobody's perfect. But the Dodgers, they move off their mistakes. They identify, they solve, and that's what Kansas City's done. And listen, it's not easy. managing the Dodgers. You got the analytics guys upstairs.

The expectations are ridiculous. You do have the best batting order since the 75 Reds. And Dave Roberts talked about being second guest. There's always critics. Yeah, I think that we're in a big market. We're expected to win. Our fans expect us to win. I can't speak to what revenue we're bringing in,

but our ownership puts it back into players, a big chunk of it. That's what you want. I mean, I would think that that's what sports fans want from everyone to get the best of their team. And I think we do as good a job as anyone. I think Dave Roberts really plays the long game. Again, I grew up with Earl Weaver and Billy Martin and Whitey Herzog and very feisty, Bobby Cox.

obviously with the Braves, kind of a domineering guy. Like, it's kind of stubborn. Dave Roberts, you can't be that as a major league manager. You don't have the power you used to. The analytics department has the power. And Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone. The difference with the Yankees and the Dodgers, the Yankees have all this money.

They never solve their issues. They just return the same GM and the same team and the same problems. Home run dependent, can't play small ball, don't really engineer runs, strike out too much and not great defensively. The Dodgers find problems, identify them, there's no ego, and they move off them. And it's just easy to say, well, what about the town? Look at Philadelphia right now. The Eagles are a stacked roster.

What is their offensive identity? They have none. It's hard. Shaq and Kobe, when you've got the two best finishers in their prime in the game, it is hard. I mean, the Miami Heat looked like a dynasty, we're a dynasty, then got old really fast, and it all blew up. So, I don't know. I just, I, I would never go to a restaurant where I thought the quality dipped. I like following and watching well-run businesses.

I support them. Like, when I go into places, I look around, is it well-run? Is it quick? Is it efficient? Is it, I want to cater to those businesses. And I watch the Dodgers, and I'm always, I think they're the best-run sports franchise in North America. And it's not just the money because the Yankees have it and they don't spend it smartly. And Kansas City, to their credit, a month ago, we're looking at that offense and we're like, well, it's a mess.

And all of a sudden now it's as deeper receiving corps as Andy Reid's ever had. I mean, they just make stuff work. They get to work. They solve their stuff. And I also think it's really hard to be great because the expectation, everybody's on their phone, including the athletes. The athletes are on their phone. They're reading things. The Chiefs Dynasty and the Dodgers dynasty, under Andy Reed, 72% – I mean, that is insane to win 72% of your games.

I mean, go look at Bill Parcell's winning percentage, and he's as good as coaches we've ever had. Solve the bullpen, solve the receiving core. Don't let pride and ego get in the way. Identify it, solve it. Be nimble. All right, hour three, Greggles. The great Greg Olson is around the corner. Nick Wright, heard hierarchy. 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. Nice. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We get to ask other 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 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 I-Heart Radio app, podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves,

their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice. on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife-12 in the TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.