The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - New Herd Hierarchy, Lamar Jackson problems with the Chiefs, Nick Wright

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

The highly anticipated Herd Hierarchy — Colin ranks his Top 10 NFL teams after Week 4, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ return to dominance. Later, Colin is joined by Nick Wright from First Things First on FS1, to analyze Lamar Jackson’s struggles in big games, especially after another high-profile showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 Sports Radio.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. Here we go. It's our show. It's a Tuesday. We are live. Baseball playoffs start tonight. Big, big, big Cubs.

San Diego Padres lead it off this afternoon. That's the big headline game. And then tonight, Dodgers Reds, Yankees Red Sox. J. Mack heard hierarchy. I'm very excited for it. I do think it's hard to fool people. There are some exceptions right now. Minnesota and the Chargers' offensive lines are a mess.

So I think those teams are both better than what you saw this weekend. I think Baltimore, Kansas City's in Lamar's head, but I think the defense is actually better than what you're seeing. So we have three teams that have major injury, cluster injury problems, Baltimore Vikings Chargers. And they're better than what you've seen in those units. But I've got to tell you, I kind of feel like I know what I know, and I see what I see at this point, and there's a lot of truth.

Colin, I just counted during the break. There's five teams with a winning record in the AFC and seven in the NFC. So essentially, there's only 12 really good teams in the league. This is going to be the easiest herd hierarchy you've ever done, right? Well, here we go. On a Tuesday, let's roll it. The hierarchy. Time is now.

Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college, number 10. The Colts, I love their offensive line and their skill offensively. They had the game and lost it against the Rams. They have the most efficient offense in the league, and they don't make mistakes. You can't get the Daniel Jones. Do I think he's great? No, but he's playing like a beat quarterback with, you know, decent arm, moves well.

Again, Jonathan Taylor, this offensive line, I mean, the Denver Broncos pass rush, struggled to get to Daniel Jones. If you have an offensive line this good, and Jonathan Taylor, you're going to make great quarterback sit and watch for long stretches. I have the Colts at 10. Number nine. Denver. Sean Payton has a career 500 record in September. Even with Drew Brees and Bo Nix, it's ugly early. This roster is really good. They're going to lead the NFL in sacks again. Two good running backs. Excellent O line. Hard to get to Bo Nex, who throws the ball down the field. They take big swing. They got a lot of guys who can run in catch. A lot. Dobbins and Harvey and Mims and Franklin and Cortland Sutton. This is a lot. a really deep offensive team that also leaves the league in sacks, Denver 9. Number 8. Detroit. Take out game one against Green Bay with the new coordinators.

Jared Goff's completing 74% of his throws this year. Road graders up front. Excellent backfield. I mean, Jared Goff hasn't been sacked in three games. So he may be better at home. He may need protection to be great. Well, he's getting it with a great run game. Defensively, I don't think they're great,

but they get after the quarterback. Only Denver gets to the quarterback more. I have the lion today. Number seven. It's hard to figure out what Tampa is. I mean, they're three and one. They're in every game. But the problem is they're in every game late.

They don't put anybody away. And, you know, Baker can be reckless. He is very good throwing the ball down the field. In fact, he leads the NFL right now. Five TDs, no interceptions on throws, 20 plus. He's a risk-take. Ameca, Abuka is a star. They got a lot of injuries to deal with, but I just, I like their spirit, and I'm going to put Tampa

at number seven. Number six. This was my team that I thought was underrated. I think they're going to be a playoff team, Seattle. Second best point differential in the league. They're a great road team. They've won eight straight road games. I think that speaks to their character and their talent.

Sam Darnold, again, leads the NFL in game-winning drives and big pass plays. over the last two years and second in wins. Sam's always been elite in high school, at USC, at Minnesota and Seattle. Who wins with the Jets in Carolina? This team may be too young to get to a Super Bowl, but opposing quarterbacks this year have a 76 passer rating against them. They're legit. Number five.

Youngest team in the league Green Bay, I like them. They scored on all five drives in the second half in overtime against the Cowboys. They're young. Unlike Kansas City or Philadelphia, they don't know yet how to put away inferior teams. But Jordan Love this year, eight tutties, one pick, and 113 passer rating. He's fine. They're great on third down. It's just they're young.

Third straight season, youngest roster. And that's the value of the playoffs for the great teams. They know to win games. They don't play well. Green Bay doesn't yet. Number four. Kansas City. I kept saying all week.

Xavier Worthy matters. He not only stretches the field, he gives them some volume at wide receiver. Now you're going to have Rishi Rice in three weeks, worthy. Juju Smith-Schuster's a three. Somebody else will be a four, Travis Kelsey. No, they're not going to be a great run team unless they make a move of the trade deadline, and that worries me. But over the last three weeks, they have the number two scoring defense,

and they don't give the ball away. That's why Buffalo is so dangerous. And Philadelphia can be dangerous. And Kansas, they don't give you the ball. So I get a big time defense, a great coach and quarterback, and they don't give you the short field, Kansas City 4. Number three. But I think the Rams, I'm not sure they're weakness. Everything's good.

I mean, their offensive line isn't dominant, but Matt Stafford, highest-gritted passer in the league. Pooka Nakuwa, right now he's the best wide receiver in the league. I can read you nine stats he leagues. Top ten in scoring defense. I mean, what's amazing is how good their defense is and they don't pay any of them. They've hit on so many draft picks. They remind me at Kansas City's defense two years ago. It was great.

And they weren't paying anybody but Chris Jones. So coach, quarterback, defense, a lot of wisdom. I have them at three. Number two. Bills, the defense worries me and could be their shortcoming. But like Kansas City, they don't give the ball away. James Cook has taken off the heavy lifting for Josh Allen. There are games.

He doesn't have to carry it. Highest rushing grade in the league is James. Cook, one giveaway and nine games, including the playoffs. They actually lead the NFL right now in rushing. And that's what we said for years. You can't ask Josh to be Superman every week. He no longer is, Buffalo at two. Number one.

Listen, I mean, they even do a good job blocking kicks. They're uneven. I do think they have too many really bad halves. First half against the Rams, second half against the bucks. But the roster is stacked, and every time I doubt Jalen hurts, he turns it on. So I think there's something about his kind of personality and his toughness and his resilience. They're the best two-yard team in league history. They block kicks.

It's just not a lot. They're very good situationally. So for now, best roster that does a lot of things well, number one. Yes, Kansas City made a big leap as our next guest will point to. I'm probably right on that. I regretted doing it. I wanted to sneak him at seven and eight. But Nick Wright joins us live.

and I want to start with this. I generally don't take 11 to 4. Oh, sorry, Paul. This is nice to see the Chiefs back on the herd hierarchy. I was celebrating. Sorry, yeah, go ahead. You were saying 11 to 4? I'm sorry.

I don't do it, but the truth is, you've got to be honest about this, is they just needed one legitimate big-time perimeter threat they did, and suddenly everybody else looks good and all the underneath stuff. Wow. But the bigger story, is that I never buy into this.

I've always said this. You can go into slumps with golf, so much down time gets in your head, or baseball, sitting around. But in hockey, basketball, football, you've got to play. You don't have time to get into a slump. Stuff doesn't get into your head. And then I watch Lamar against Kansas City. And I am convinced they are in his head, right?

Well, to a degree, yes. but so there's a lot to unpack here, Colin. So let me take some time because you are, I even saw your tweets saying I tried to tell J. Mack about when Xavier Worthy came back. And listen, I'm all for you giving J. Mack a hard time for his chief skepticism. But I watched the Super Bowl bubble on Friday's episode. You know who wasn't even in the bubble for the bubble?

The Chiefs. Yeah, exactly. And you knew Xavier Worthy was coming back. So you didn't even make it to October before you had to admit your chief's pessimism was unfounded. And by the way, where is the greatest coach quarterback combo in Southern California history? The Los Angeles Chargers, oh no, they're dealing with an injury. Now they're all of a sudden not a top 10 team. But to the Ravens, which is I know where you wanted to go.

I need to get that off my chest. All right. Listen, the chiefs are in Lamar's head, and he doesn't perform well in big spots. It's just, I don't need, we do this same exact dance. We in the media, every year with this player, he is transcendent through a regular season. People say he's taking his game to a new level. He wins or comes close to winning an MVP. He's the highest rated passer ever.

all of this, then in a big spot, he plays his worst game of the year. Everyone for a moment is like, hmm, kind of reminds me a bit of a guy who used to play shooting guard in Houston that we all thought was an all-time great, but tightened up in big spots and couldn't get it done, and then we forget, and it goes all over again. In the last 30 games, Colin, Lamar has two, I'm sorry, three multi-turnover games. In his last 30, the AFC title game against the Chiefs, the Divisional Round playoff game against Buffalo and Sunday against the Chiefs. He is the highest passer rating in NFL history and the third highest winning percentage in NFL history. Yet against Patrick, he has an 80 passer rating and is one in six.

People don't want for some reason to admit that Lamar is afflicted by something that has afflicted great athletes across all of sports history. He gets a little tight and big spots. He doesn't play his best in the biggest moments. I don't, we have, we have no problem. The baseball playoffs are about to start. Everybody acknowledges. Aaron Judge is one of the greatest players of all time,

yet he comes up up to this point in his career, consistently short in the postseason, plays his worst ball in the biggest moments, you wonder if he'll get over it. We did it with James Harden. I don't understand why it is so hard for people to acknowledge. That is the case with Lamar. And by the way, you saw it in this game.

He's instantly throwing his helmet. He's instantly on tilt. Like, it just is what it is. Maybe he'll get over it. But it's a big sample size at this point. So, you know, it's interesting with Caleb Williams. is that one of the things I've always bragged about Steph Curry and Patrick Mahomes is they're spectacular, but they never missed the layups.

The stuff in the flat, I mean, they don't miss the layups. I've been a lot of guys. Cam Newton was spectacular. He missed a lot of layups. His mechanics were bad. Caleb Williams makes big-time throws. Justin Fields is talented. Never does.

Dink and Dunk. Caleb makes big throws down the field. And I do honestly believe he's running less than he could. You can tell he's taking to coaching. But I am worried a little bit that they had three picks off Gino and needed a block kick because the operations, the layup stuff, Nick, it's hard to watch. False starts on fourth down. Like, I'm kind of, I'm like, this stuff didn't seem hard for Mahomes or Steph.

No. It's just, it's not pretty, right? No, so that, listen, I think that's totally fair where I was. would, and I don't know if you and I agree or disagree on this, but if I am trying to, if I am getting a quarterback who could be my franchise quarterback, and you're like, listen, he's not a perfect prospect, would you rather prospect A or B? A guy who, you know, makes all the layups, has all the process stuff down, but has a pretty hard ceiling on what the upside is, or a guy like Caleb, whose ceiling is, he's, he,

He could be MVP of the league can make the fantastic, amazing plays. But what's the layups, as you put it, is a work in progress. I would go option B because I feel like that stuff can get better over time. But I don't think it's going to be overnight. I do think it's going to be overtime. I do. And listen, I was wrong about that, obviously. I thought it was going to be overnight.

I picked them to go to the Super Bowl last year. He is not as far along. from his in the fundamentals the building blocks as i thought he would be but i listen he's a very different player and i'm not i'm only comping it in this one way as far as being far away on the fundamentals that's what josh allen was as a young player josh had these wow plays but couldn't you know was very inaccurate couldn't complete his passes and then got better at that stuff And so I like betting on the upside, but I agree with you in this regard. Right now, the Bears are a team who can look absolutely amazing for a quarter,

and then the very next quarter look like the worst offense in the league. And I think that's going to be a process over the course of the year. I think that Josh Allen comp is, I mean, it's very accurate. Like Josh's first year and a half, he was jumping over linebackers and sailing ball. on screen passes. Yes. So it was interesting. You and I have been very critical of Cowboys.

I think Dax plan out of his mind, and Schottinheimer deserves credit. But I thought the overreaction to the Micah Trade was over the top. I think you have to be great at three things to be a great team. Head coach, quarterback, and left tackle. The only times Mahomes has ever gotten blown out, it's a left tackle issue. It's not a defense. He's won a Super Bowl with a bad defense. He's won a Super Bowl with no great receivers.

Bad left tackle? Blown out twice. The Rams, worst year, is Andrew Whitworth retires. They were good when Aaron Donald left. They were good when the Cooper Cup left. They're good when Vaughn Miller left. Andrew Whitworth retires. They're bad.

And I look at Micah, and I'm like, the Packers are going to lead games late with their offense. They need a closer. Dallas is fine. I mean, I look back at it, and I'm like, I think Jerry Jones were so, unwilling to give him credit. I watched that game Sunday.

I'm like, I get four first round picks in Dallas. What did Micah do? Where are you on that deal? Okay. Well, first of all, I think you've let Jerry mind-meld you a bit because the four first-round picks, they got two. They already had two. So like the two first-round picks.

And I think it is, it would be unfair, Colin, for me to judge the trade fully from the Dallas end until we see the picks, right? They traded for Kenny Clark and picks that they haven't used yet. So obviously in the short term, it's going to look better for Green Bay, and then we have to take a long view of it for Dallas. But I have actually, I watched Dallas play, Colin, and I think I come to the opposite opinion of you, because I've been so impressed by DAC,

because I have been pleasantly surprised. Shout out to, you know, FS1's Eric Mangini, who really believed in Brian Schottenheimer when not, I don't think anybody really thought that was a great hire. I think he's done an awesome job early on. But that has made me like this trade worse, Colin, because I watched the Cowboys, and I'm like, my God, if they just could be average on defense, they could be really interesting. They just put 40 on Green Bay without CD Lamb. They damn near beat the Packers. You know, their offense has been so good that I watched the Cowboys. I'm like, man, you know what they could use?

An elite pass rusher, which they used to have. Like, I almost would feel better about this trade for Dallas if Dak were having a bad year. Because to me, then it would be like, okay, they weren't that close. They weren't going to compete for anything this year, so let's retool it. But it feels to me like this team would be three and one had they just kept Micah and be an actual dangerous team. So that, for me, makes it harder to deal with if I were a Cowboys fan. So Jay Mack and I had a disagreement on this. I said you, an accountant, a judge, a novelist, an actor in most careers, you got about 25 years of prime and you can work

your 70s. You can't as a pro football player. And so A.J. Brown, and I do think winning matters, but he's already got a trophy, I do think if you went to Kobe and said, listen, you get six shots a game. Kobe would have been like, peace out, I'm going to go somewhere else.

A.J. Brown gets fewer yards than the third Buffalo Bills' tight end. He's got money, and he's got a trophy. His legacy is on the line. He's

not necessary. They try to target him. Nine target seven yards. Most of the time, he's just not, and I think if I was A.J. Brown, this sounds selfish. But I think pro athletes get cornered into, well, it's about winning games. Well, that's part of it. And it's transformational money, and there's legacies involved. It might take is if I was A.J. Brown, I'd go to Philadelphia, and I'd say quietly, I'm not going to screw the market up. I'm not going to do a mellow with the nuggets to the Knicks, where I make it public. And the Knicks, the NICS, the Nuggetter trap. I would go and just say, hey, L. Sender did this a year before he got traded. I don't want to be here. Make a deal. I think A.J. Brown has a right to leave. I am defending him, not staying with a

better organization. Am I wrong? No, I mean, I totally agree with you. I think that it is, I think it would be hypocritical for me to be mad at A.J. Brown for acting, I'm pretty sure, exactly how I would act in his position. Like, I'd be like, if I'm A.J. Brown, I'm like, I'm awesome. I've always been awesome. I get drafted by a team that has Ryan Tannahill and Derek Henry. And they throw to me as like a last resort. I think it traded to Philadelphia. Right when I get there, they throw the ball to me a bunch. I make all these all pros. The team's really good. And now, over the last 20 games,

our team has become unbeatable and I've become unusable. Like what the hell has happened here? Right. And so I, this is like I tried to give grace to, you know, athletes, if I can think of a, you know, a comp for me and what I would do. Like if somebody, if Fox came to me and they're like, hey, Nick, we want you to do a 60 second essay during the superiors. There's going to be a hundred million, 120 million people watching. Now, in order to do it,

the whole week leading up to the Super Bowl, you can't do your show. But we'll have more people seeing you there. It's a bigger thing. I'd probably in my head be like, yeah, I kind of want to do my show. Like, I kind of like the, and so like the,

I think there is, if you feel like you're great at something and you feel like you're not, not able to show it, and it's not because your skills have declined, it can be frustrating. And so I think this is a simmering, simmering pot, Colin, that the old, they are very, and I give the Eagles, I think it's fair to have the number one hierarchy, because I respect the fact that they win so many different ways. They blocked the field goal two weeks ago to win the game. They blocked a punt this week to set the game up to win. But there have been, I did this this morning.

There have been two hundred and fifty-six halves of football played so far this year. The worst and second worst passing performance by half for the whole league this season was the first half for Philadelphia two weeks ago and the second half for Philadelphia this past week. That should never happen when you have a really good quarterback, a great wide receiver, another really good receiver, a good receiving back and a good tight end. Something is off right now about their offense, but they're winning anyway. If they're not going to change that,

then I would not begrudge. If A.J. Brown were like, hey, you know a team that wants to throw the ball that needs a star receiver that my former head coach is the head coach of in New England, why don't you see if you can work something out? And if you're Philly, he might be worth more to you.

in draft capital as your roster gets more expensive than he is on the team because they're not effectively using him. You and I agree on that. And I think it's very easy in the media to always say, oh, the player's not about winning. It'd be one thing if he didn't have a ring, but once you get the trophy and you've got the money, legacy matters. It absolutely- He's trying to make the Hall of Fame.

The guy's trying to make the Hall of Fame. And he put, and I referenced this, last time we talked about this, I'm just going to reference it again, he told the world three days after the Super Bowl, he put on Instagram, I wondered how long winning a Super Bowl would make me feel good. The answer is about two days. And then he said, I play this game to see the demoralized defensive back who realizes they can't do anything with me. He's been very honest. He wants to be a dominant individual player and he feels correctly that will help his team. It's not like that's going to hurt his team.

And if I were him, I'd be frustrated too. Good stuff, Nick, right? Chargers are 11. It should be noted. The Chiefs were 11 last week. Oh, yeah, who knows? Chargers could do it. Listen, not everybody, Colin,

not every AFC West team can go to the Meadowlands and get a win. Mine can. I don't know about you guys, but mine can do it. See you later, buddy. All right. 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, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, news, 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.

A pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers 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 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. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well. with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier.

We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you. To hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Orsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial

issues. I like the boogey style of Housewise show, I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this.

At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Baseball playoff, Riter Cup wasn't great for us. College football was nuts. Rams, Niners. I don't like the two Monday Night Football Games.

I think it's bad quality. I don't get it. I think any time you shorten a week for a team, so now the dolphins and the Jeds and the Bengals in Denver. the coach and the quarterback and the depth of roster to handle it. But then that hurts teams going into next week when they are one day shy. I mean, like New York's got to fly back and Cincinnati's got to fly back is I think the more times you ask teams to play on different days, then you get less prepared teams.

Also, athletes tend to get injured when there's muscle fatigue, so you're asking players to play on shorter weeks. Listen, if you want to do all these international games, I get it. I am not a fan of, I mean, I'm nothing. against Thursday night. I've defended it, but I don't think you get the best football, and you never get the best football when you've got these multiple Monday night games. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

All right, Colin, some not great news to report on Tyreek Hill. It's official. His season is over. He has a dislocated knee. Adam Schefter reported that he tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL. just a gruesome injury. And unfortunately, people are already saying, like, is this the end for Tyreek Hill? Like, not just the season, column, but career. This is a guy who's obviously his entire career predicated on speed. He's 31, turns 32 in March. I'm sure, I don't know if you know this.

Odell Beckham's not even in the league anymore. Obviously, Tyreek had an exceptional career. I don't know about Hall of Famer, but he was a first team all pro five times, which is bolstering his case. He's not a Hall of Famer, but he's an exceptional athlete. And, you know, I mean, we had talked about this. I would have moved him last year. He publicly criticized his coach and his quarterback.

I don't think with a weak-armed quarterback, you can win in the AFC when you have to go to Baltimore and Kansas City and Cincinnati. And now New England's going to be good again. Like all the good teams in the AFC, got some domes out. You know, in the NFC, you got Detroit's really good. There's a dome, and L.A. is really good.

you're playing indoors and a lot of outdoor weather with Tua, very limiting, and he's a deep threat, and those kind of evaporate in the postseason. So I would have moved him, but now there's no market. If you want to zoom out for a moment on the Dolphins, they seem to be at a breaking point. What do they do? I mean, do you ride with Tua? Like Jalen Waddle now gets elevated? He's not a one.

Jaylon is a good receiver. This is a great quarterback draft class. I would go and find my next quarterback, and I would move Tua, and he, absolutely has a market. If you put two in a dome team or a warm weather team, you could go, if Carolina is like, yeah, the Bryce Young thing doesn't work. Or I think Tua's got a market. I don't think it's a huge market, but he's got something. But I don't think in the AFC, I mean, look at your best teams now. So New England's going to be a real deal, and Buffalo's real deal, and Baltimore. And this year, Pittsburgh could win their division in Cincinnati when Joe Burrell

gets back and you start looking around. I mean, I guess, I guess the Colts and the southern divisions have warmer weather, but I start looking around Denver's now good. Kansas City's good. I just don't think Tua and the AFC is the answer in January. He's an interesting discussion because, Colin, I'm going to just throw one at you randomly. Who do you think has had a better career? Kyler Marie or Tua Tungavello? Well, I think Kyler is an elite athlete. I don't think Tula is. So Kyler gives me something, a trait that's elite. Well, doesn't Tua's elite trait qualify as like the Drew Breeze quick release stuff. Read and React instant first read quickly.

Like that's what he was coming out of college. We've seen it. He got to the playoffs. He had them online for the playoffs and got hurt. They made the playoffs. So like... I would take Kyler over to him. I think he's a special athlete.

I think both are small. Both have been dinged up. But if you're asking me my choice, I would take Kyler. So you say Tua has a market. Let's say the Saints end up with like the fourth pick overall. They're not going to get a quarterback. Do you say, you know what? Let's go get Tua.

and quickly rebuild this thing. We got Olave. You know, we got some pieces. Maybe in a crap division, we've got a shot to do something. I think two is worth a third and a fifth. Not a first. Well, with that contract, I mean, he got paid. I got a pay him.

I'll give you one good pick or a couple average ones. I'll give you two fours. I got to pay him. So I think that there's a market, but it's not a great one. Okay. Bummer about Tyree Kill. Let's move on to the Kansas City Chiefs, Colin. they have won back-to-back games.

I mean, so impressive beating the G-Men with Russell Wilson. Nick just felt like not mentioning it was Russell Wilson, not Jackson Dart. And then beating a beat-up Ravens team. Hooray. But what's interesting here is Travis Kelsey. Colin, our staff has dug into this. And they are officially load managing Travis Kelsey. His offensive snap percentage, week one, 83%.

Week 2, 76, then down to 73, week four against the Ravens. Now, it was a blowout. 65%. They should. He's doing nothing. His numbers, I mean, like, I know you play fantasy football heavily. He's like probably a waiver wire tight end at this point. I'm not even kidding.

He's not a top 10 tight end in the league. His numbers prove that. And now he's not barely playing. He's a first ballot hall of famer. This is his last year. And I think Kansas City smartly is saying, Listen, it's just like in baseball. You know, the Dodgers had a lot of pitching injuries.

You try to save the guys for October. You try to save them for a big series, a leverage game in late September. I think this is exactly what you do. You see this in baseball all the time. Like we've got an aging star. We need him for a key playoff start. And I think that's what you do. I just want to make sure the audience heard you correctly.

You're pro-load management now. in the last year of a legendary player who could make big plays in big games, yes. Okay, so when we talk to LeBron, load managing with the Lakers, I want this same energy. Yes, LeBron, load manage, right? I've said for years. I said LeBron should be playing 68 games, not 82. I've been on that for years. I'm a load management guy.

Now, I also believe it for guys who were a little younger than last year in the league. Like if all of a sudden you told me, Christian McCaffrey was going to start load managing, I'm pro that. Are you with a Christian McCaffrey load? I even say this with young centers like Chet Hongren. I'm like he should play 60 or 55 games for two years. Wembe. I'm like, I don't want him playing that body type. I want 53, 63, 73, and that's all he's ever going to play.

I love it. So I am not anti-load management. Kauai calls the organization driving in it four, I'm not going to make it. He's never available in my opinion. But I don't, like if Christian McCaffrey, I would, and I'm a big believer in this, I would have a 14 to 16 touch limit. Oh, well, then the Niners are losing a lot of games. I think Sequin, Sequin Berkeley coming off last season for 482 touches last season for Berkeley. That's insane.

He doesn't have the same juice that he had last year. No. Are you watching? Yes. They got arrested. Final story, Colin. Let's go to Tampa Bay. They were lucky in late game scenarios for the 3-0 start.

Then it came up short against the Eagles. Todd Bulls' big game this week. Bucks at Seahawks. Ooh, that's good. Todd Bowles knows his team cannot continue to play from behind. The fight, we're going to have that every week, but you can't fight and get behind the eight ball against good teams and expect to win.

So we're always going to have a fight, and we just got to clean up mistakes now. It's getting to that point where we've got to cut them down. Yes. I think everybody knows what Tampa is. A good team, not a great one. And that's fine. you can't

they're dangerous in the playoffs once they get everybody back remember no Mike Evans right but this Seattle team hey I gotta give I'm loath to give you credit right because you know you're calling whatever Seattle is younger

Seattle's got when you watch Seattle play young fast mostly inexpensive like Seattle has been put together very well they're really really I mean they're a bungled

bumble from being undefeated. And they, remember, they went to Petsburg and hammered a Steeler team that keeps winning games. Both game late in the second half. But yes. So Seattle, Tampa, I'm seeing three. I don't think that sticks. I think we're going to see a three and a half.

I am curious. If you had a question about this quarterback situation, Sam Darnold versus Baker Mayfield, who right now is the better quarterback going into this game? Well, they're both, I mean, Sam is more athletic. He's a bigger, stronger athlete. And Baker, I think, just from the pocket. When he plants his foot, probably throws a prettier, quicker release ball.

They're both excellent. They're both team-friendly deals. I can like them both. I've always said Sam's bigger. I think Sam is a better athlete. Sam can be reckless, but Baker can be reckless. I want both of them throwing about 28 times a game. All right, fine.

Let me adjust the question. Two minutes left, tie game. Who do you trust more with the ball, Baker or Darnel? Well, history tells you Baker. But now, here's my thing. Most games don't come down to that. If I get a series, a big series in the third quarter, first quarter, second quarter, and I need playmaking, which you often do, I would take Sam.

J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie 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 I-Hard Radio. Oh, wow. 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 a podcast.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, 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 story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional, well-being and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Joe Rodano.

You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian.

I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the MyCultura podcast network

available on the I-HartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And the Cowboys taking on the Jets or other regional action. Then in America's Game of the Week, Justin Herbert and the Chargers, take on the commanders or Lions Bengals. Check local listings for the games in your area only on Fox. It doesn't take a long time for excellence to surface. So we're a month into the season. It goes 17 games.

We're not even a quarter of the way into the season. And right now, if you look at the AFC and NFC playoff teams today, I think this is mostly what it's going to look like. In the AFC, you have Buffalo Chargers, Indy and Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. I don't think Jacksonville and Cincinnati will maintain their playoff spot. I would pick Denver and New England. So I think five of the seven will remain. I think in the NFC, it goes Philadelphia, Niners,

Detroit, Tampa, Seattle, Rams, Green Bay. Washington, I think, if Jaden Daniels gets healthy, will make it. I don't buy into San Francisco. I don't think they have the roster or the quarterback of Seattle. I don't think they have the roster or the quarterback of the Rams. I think San Francisco, as predicted, will finish third. But a lot of this stuff, we're a month in. I mean, Cincinnati obviously is not going to be a playoff team.

They were, you know, but it does not take long for, you know, You know, it's hard to pick games when you add lines. Like, I know the Colts are going to beat the Raiders. Are they going to beat them by six and a half? I think they are. You add lines, you make picks. I had a winning week. Don't always.

That's tough. Picking divisions, I said this five years ago. I bang on it every year. The more reliant the league is with quarterbacks, the easier it is. It's becoming the NBA. A month in, you know who can play. Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker says, Lamar Jackson probably misses Sunday's game with a Texan's hamstring injury.

All right, here's the schedule for week five. I've already got my two favorite games. I have a game, an upset game to keep your eye on. If I could bet the Rams at home against San Francisco and the Blazing Five, I would. I think L.A. wins. Keep your eye on the Saints at home in the New York Giants as a possible upset. My lock is the Rams. I also love the Colts at home against the Raiders minus six and a half.

I think the Saints are a very tasty upset potential. And keep your eyes, New England at Buffalo. A little upset alert. That game will be close. J-Mack, what jumps out? Do you have a lock and an upset? A lot of stuff. Number one, the Saints are favored over the Giants.

Oh, they are now. That is a shocker. I would pick them. Now I see minus one. I'm looking at Monday night, Colin. So remember last week at this time, we're like, oh, my gosh, how good are the Chargers? They're loaded. They go and kind of sort of lay an egg, okay?

Everybody's gassing up the Chiefs. They got Xavier Worthy back. This is a new team. They just smashed the Ravens. They're in the herd hierarchy. Jags at home Monday night getting a field goal. Yeah. Can I interest you in Jacksonville?

No, because- Saxonville. I watched Jacksonville. against San Francisco. They are so mistake-prone. They're so weird culturally is that Kansas City does one thing well, really well.

They don't turn them all over. If you beat them, you beat them. I do think it'll be interesting because I think Jacksonville's got real talent. ATN, that running back, I mean, they got playmakers. I mean, Travis Hunter. You know what's funny about that game?

Jacksonville's not interesting to most people, but Travis Hunter, he's not dominating as a receiver or a corner. Pick a lane. We said that before the draft. Pick a lane. he's just a really good athletes the NFL everybody's a good athlete i mean the whole league's for great athletes um i think so my Atlanta falcons are not on the board i don't have to bet them

this week thankfully uh Arizona favored by like eight nine 10 it's going up against the titans I love them I really like them can I can I say this what happens if Darnold beats Baker nothing hey I'm just saying for for you know my stance on this Now, I do think Baker's really good. I've always said I thought Darnold was the more natural talent. What if old? Yeah. Sammy Darnold.

I know. You love Sam. So, Colin, the gambling is a great equalizer. I'm here looking at futures for the win the division, okay? NFC West. Rams are the favorite, followed by the 49ers. Nope. And the Seahawks are plus 370 at, I don't know if I should say it,

but they're plus 370 to win the division. Are you, you want to put 100,000, whatever you want to put? Seattle, your guy darn. Watch Seattle play and watch San Francisco play. What is the younger, more athletic, more dynamic roster? And I don't think it's close. It's a marathon, not a sprint, though. Remember.

I know. My Seahawks are going to be healthy. Younger guys get healthier, faster after injury. Yeah. 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. 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, unhumored 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. and I'm Kunky, his best friend, and business manager.

And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope From a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions.

Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.