The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Nick Wright Debates if the Chiefs Should Be in Colin's Top-10

Episode Date: September 16, 2025

Colin ranks the top 10 teams in the NFL after week 2 and defends leaving the Chiefs off the Herd Hierarchy.Nick Wright from First Things First joins the show to discuss the Chiefs 0-2 start and why the Eagles should be concerned about wide receiver AJ Brown.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Find your local station for The Herd at Fox SportsRadio.com, or stream us live every day on the IHeart radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. Welcome in our number two. Nick Wright's going to be joining us in a couple of minutes. So we're two weeks down. We headed into week three.

Thursday night Buffalo is going to hammer Miami. That's probably going to be a very fluid situation in Miami. If you watch Mike McDaniel at the podium through the first couple of weeks, like he looks unnerved. He has lost his fastball. Like the whole organization now is just swimming in uncertainty. And so I think that will be decided. I wouldn't, if they get blown out, somebody may lose a job. That's what it feels like in Miami.

All right, J. Mack, it is the herd hierarchy. Just a heads up. The chiefs are not in it. I'll explain that in a second, and here we go. The third hierarchy. Time is now, let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college, number 10. I think the Indianapolis cults have a much better roster than people want to admit.

They've already got a star in Tyler Warren, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Pierce, offensive line, controlled the NFL leading team in Sacks, Denver. Denver could not get the Daniel Jones. First team in NFL history that went 10 for 10, first 10 possession. I've been on this for two years. I think they have an excellent roster. They've drafted incredibly well. I like their players. If Jones plays at this B2B plus level,

they're going to win this division. Colts at 10. Number nine. Commanders now played Packers Thursday. They're going to be fine. Because Terry McLauran held out, Jaden Daniels, and they're one of six teams without a giveaway this season,

like last year, they're very efficient. They don't give a, away. They just haven't been able to get the offense right because McLaren was a holdout. Well, now off the Packer lost, they get extra time. Devo and McLaren. They play the Raiders, who just lost at home. I think Washington, I'm a buyer here, is going to this week look like the Washington of last year. I like them. They're the oldest team in the league. They've got better in leadership. I like Washington at nine. Number eight. I got to get a

give the 49ers credit. They're not even healthy. Top 10 in total offense, top 10 in total defense, two and oh, both wins on the road. That accounts for something. They've been great on third down. One of the two teams picking up first downs at over a 50% rate. And again, Brandon Ayukes hurt, George Kittle, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL and touches right now. So I'm always impressed when you can deal with injuries, go on the road and win. I don't don't care who you play, Niners at eight. Number seven. Tampa Bay, again, they haven't played great football, but they've won two road games.

And dating back to last season, they've won eight of their last nine regular season games. Baker Mayfield, since he arrived, leads the NFL in touchdown passes, second and passing yards since 2023. And last night was classic. They got a punt block. Their special teams were a mess. And they go on the road and win. And so, and they haven't had Tristan Worf's.

haven't had Chris Godwin. So just like Washington, just like some of these teams in front, when you can win and you don't have some of your best players like San Francisco and Tampa, you're making the herd hierarchy. Number six. Maybe I have them too low. I'd put the Chargers. I do wonder if Hampton and Najee Harris, when they're going to pop, Joe Alt's been great moving over to left tackle, but let's be honest about the Chargers right now.

Yeah. Their offense hasn't played well, and they've beaten the Chiefs, and they've gone on the road and beaten the Raiders. Justin Herbert under Jim Harbaugh, 30 touchdowns and three picks. They don't have a lot of sizzle, but Quentin Johnson emerging is a non-bust, and actually a legitimate deep threat, matters a lot. Number five. The Ravens, I worry about the back end of their defense, but Lamar Jackson, seven touchdowns, no picks, and a pass rating of 136. them last hour to those great Atlanta brave teams that won a world series you can just pencil them in to win their division the GM the coach the owner all great across the board now their

past defense is going to bite them in the you know what at some point this year but through two weeks best offense in the league number four the bills I worry about the back end of their defense which actually looks slow but they're averaging 35 and a half points a game number one total offense in the league. They actually run the football more than people give them credit for. James Cook is really good. And their schedule is tomato cans. Dolphins, Saints, Patriots coming up. Like Brady in this division, they're going to win it as long as Josh Allen's in his prime. But I again worry about the back end of this defense because in the AFC there's too many good quarterbacks. The Chiefs are going to get healthy. These games are going to be close.

Number three. The Rams. Their pass rush is. insane. Highest graded offense, highest-gretted passer in Matt Stafford. Again, this team least penalized in the NFL last year and their defense was the youngest. Eight sacks from six different players. I couldn't even tell you the last time they missed on a defensive draft pick. So, I mean, they're 0-2 against the Eagles, 9-0 against everybody else in their last 11 games. I have the Rams at three. Number two. Philadelphia, their passing games, they're passing games. worries me. I mean, they're the first team to go two and oh to start a season without a passing touchdown in 25 years. So Jalen Hertz, I mean, A.J. Brown has six catches for about 35 yards.

So I don't know how that's going to work out. And, you know, it almost feels like now more often than not, they're reliant on the tush push. But they're not playing offensively with a lot of tempo and they don't, they don't create fear. They just sort of squire. They just sort of squire. Wish you for three and a half hours, I have them at two. Number one. Listen, I don't think Green Bay has a flaw. I think the cake was really good, and then you added the icing and Micah Parsons. Coach, quarterback, run game, nobody in the league.

Drafts, tight ends, and wide receivers better than Green Bay. They're stacked, and they're not paying any of them. So I think Green Bay is by far and away right now the best team in the league. I have Kansas City at 11. I have Denver troubling. They've been sloppy at 12. Again, I think the Chiefs will start winning games now. Xavier Worthy comes back.

But I couldn't say the last time the Chiefs were not in our herd hierarchy. And with that, my friend Nick Wright, joining us live. He probably doesn't like that Colts pick. Because it's bad? You mean? I mean, you're right, Colin. I don't like when you do bad things. I have so much respect for you that, yeah, you're right.

I saw that. You know what it reminded me of? And you talking about their roster and Daniel Jones. Heard hierarchy, 2024, week three. Have you seen the Saints and Derek cars start? 2-0. Alvin Kamara looks like young Alvin Kamara. Soft division.

Look out for New Orleans. I don't know if they've won a game since then. I'm not saying that's what's going to happen to the cults, but it feels very saints have the best open to a season and franchise history-ish. I do want, and listen, the Chiefs right now don't deserve, if it's based purely on this season, leave them out of the top 10.

That's fine. And I think it's what you're, right. And I think what you're saying is correct, which is if this were a teams most likely to win the Super Bowl ranking, they would be firmly in the top 10, but it's where they are right now, so I'm fine with that. I would like, if I may, to spend a moment on the Niners. Yeah.

Because for you and I, it's really been a fun last 15 months watching the Niners. Because you, you know, folks like you and I were like, hey, Jimmy Garoppolo's fine, probably not the bus driver there and folks are like, look at his winning percentage. And then he leaves there and he's a career backup. And then Brock Purdy comes in and we're like, yeah, Brock Purdy's fine but he's not really the lead actor of the movie.

Folks are like, he left the Super Bowl field with a lead. What do you give the man in respect? He deserves his 50 million. And then you and I are like, well, maybe if he didn't have all his weapons, he wouldn't be quite as good. And then last year he doesn't and they win five games.

and then this year, it's like, what if you replace Brock Purdy with a guy, everyone agrees, can't play? How would that guy look? And that guy is the best game he's played in three years. And now those same people are staring down the barrel of, am I going to have to make the argument that Mack Jones actually is great? Or am I going to have to fold my hand? And you know what they are looking at? Mac Jones, rookie year, Pro Bowl, or 10 wins?

maybe it's just a you know it took a while to ripen so i think the niners shanahan deserves a lot of credit for what he's done thus far this season um i do it can i ask you one charger question and then i'll give you your show back yeah i am the thing i've liked the least about the chiefs start to their year is how much patrick is running he saves that for the playoffs he gets and now he's getting i don't love that he feels like he has to man i feel like they are putting Herbert in jeopardy early and often. And I don't love that. And late last night, when the game is wrapped up,

they call a quarterback-designed run. Like, I think he is playing the best ball of his life without question. I don't love them spending a first-round pick on a running back and Justin Herbert's leading him in rushing. I don't love that. No, and I think they felt a receiver shy for three, four, four, five years. And Keenan Allen has. been, but you know, Kenan's not going to play 17 weeks. He won't. He'll get banged up.

So I just said this before in last hour. I don't know what Nogie Harris and Hampton become, but it's got to be better than this. If you want to win the AFC, it's got to be better than this. I would say this. I started my show saying this. It's years ago, a couple years ago, I offered Baker to podcast at the volume. And he said, no, but Colin and I are frenemies, we're all good. And so much of what I see with Ben Johnson and Caleb, which is two talented people that don't fit. Baker is perfect in Tampa because Cleveland was all Hugh Jackson and Greg Williams and the bitter Cleveland media.

And he goes to Sleepy Tampa. And right now, there is no argument. He's a top 7-8-9 quarterback in the league. And I think Tampa is a, it's the perfect marriage, right? Like it just, no pressure. The media is helpful. They're not bitter. What do you make of what you're watching?

All right. So a few things. One is maybe take another run at Baker with the pod now that I'm part of the volume team. Unlike you guys, Baker and I aren't for enemies. We're just actual friends. I'd even maybe be willing to do an extra pot a week if bake shows doing it with me. So we should talk about that. As far as your top seven or eight, over the last two years, Colin, well, a year and two weeks.

Since the beginning of last season, he is top three or four in the NFL in every. everything in yards, in touchdowns, in rating, and completion percentage. Right now, Colin, if you were to do an MVP list, he, Justin Herbert and Lamar, in some order or another, probably the top three. And I think Tampa has a real shot at, and listen, I picked Tampa to go to the Super Bowl in large part because I thought they could have the number one seed. I think Philly and Green Bay's divisions are so much tough. than what Baker's going to be dealing with.

I think they could have an extraordinary season. And starting the year, two games on the road, two games trailing late, two games game-winning drives, that's pretty special. Now, to your point about Cleveland, I think Cleveland could have been perfect for him. And the fact like Cleveland, his ruggedness and trash talking and all of it should have fit Cleveland. but the Browns, in their infinite wisdom, saw a player. They drafted number one overall. When a playoff game for the Cleveland Browns in year three,

then almost upset the Chiefs in Arrowhead to go to the AMC title game. And a year later, because Odell's dad put out a mixtape of missed throws, they were like, we can do better. It's one of the biggest missteps, any of the biggest missteps, any team has made in the most important position in decades. You drafted the kid number one overall. He sets the rookie record for touchdown passes after you had gone one and 31, the two years before he got there. Year three, he's winning a playoff game against Pittsburgh and you're done with him.

It was bananas what happened. And I'm so glad he is now establishing himself and now staring at this coming off season, one of those $55 million a year contracts because at the moment, he's one of the two best bargains in the whole sport. Yeah, and I was saying this morning, there's 10-2-0 teams and 10-0-2 teams, and most of the 0-2 teams are the teams that every April lead the draft, take the chiefs out, they'll make the playoffs.

They're going to be fine. I think they're fine. And I also think Houston's okay. They just can't run block and C.J. Stroud's running for his life, so Colts look better, blah, blah, blah. But I do think there's a truth about the NFL with a hard cap that ownership matters, GMs matter. And I look at the Chicago Bears, and I said this yesterday, wonderful people get divorced and

find their perfect mate. It doesn't mean they're bad people. But fit is important. And Ben Johnson is a timing structure coach. And Caleb is terrific in opening drives. and then he starts freelancing, and it doesn't look like it fits. It doesn't mean Caleb couldn't work with Andy Reid. But I watch this Chicago thing, and I'm like, guys, it's not the coaching, because on script,

the two opening drives have been remarkable. But Caleb is just too talented. There's too much horsepower, you know, to put him in a box. Nick, I don't think it works. I don't think Ben and Caleb works. So I, here is my pushback on that. One is even, and I saw you're really great, and I say that sincerely, really great spot with Tom Brady last week, when you mentioned that your new kind of line of demarcation is Thanksgiving year two,

and that you've sped it up from where you were previously. Even by that kind of expedited process, we're not there yet with Caleb. We're certainly not there yet with Caleb and Ben who have two games together. My other pushback to it would be Ben Johnson picked the bears because of Caleb. So he must think that, I mean, he obviously watched Caleb, knew who he was as a player and said, yes, that's where I want to go. So I think you are being a little hasty in that regard that this won't work. I do think work in progress is correct.

I also must tell you, I feel personally, a little silly dissecting Caleb Williams when right above his name on the bar, it says the Bears allowed 52 points to the Lions. I do think that probably was the bigger problem on Sunday than Caleb freelancing a little bit. I said this, is that if I used an example of a young attorney, goes to a law firm. In your hometown of Kansas City. He's Ivy League, he's sharp. But it's an old law firm with established partners. And after about three years, he's like, guys, I'm not getting any cases. I'm going to go to another law firm.

Everybody in the law firm would be like, totally get it. Even the partners, totally get it. When Jalen Brunson leaves the Mavericks, he likes, I need the ball in my hands, guys. I need shots. Everybody's like, yeah, of course he does. Luke is the better player. But A.J. Brown plays Tennessee, the most run-centric team. Philadelphia, even more run-centric.

He's a top three receiver, arguably. He's an NBA player that can't get any shots. But yet in the NFL, which is all about the shield and unity and follow the coach, it's like a guy can't ask for a trait. I would totally support A.J. Brown. If he just said, guys, I love you. I got five catches for 30 yards. This is a terrible fit.

Go throw to Devante. Am I wrong on this? No. And I, so a couple things. and you should, I'll email it to, if you want, because I hadn't heard you make this point. A.J. Brown told us as much days after the Super Bowl. He posted an Instagram photo talking about how,

and then he wrote in the caption, and I'm paraphrasing, but about how the satisfaction of the Super Bowl lasted two days. And then he said, and again, I'm paraphrasing, but it's almost a direct quote, where I get my love for the game is demoralizing a defensive back, is showing my excellence. He told us that's who he is, and that's part of the reason he's become so great, that while winning is fun, what he plays for is dominating his matchup.

And I happen to think that if C.D. Lamb catches a ball, and if Travis Kelsey catches a ball, and the Eagles and the Eagles and the team, instead of being 2 and 0 or either 0 and 2 or even 1 and 1, this is already a huge story in Philadelphia. Because the fact of the matter is their passing game, which remember last year when they were already on a nine game winning streak, A.J. Brown, after the Carolina game, said, we need to improve on passing.

That then led to, you know, Jaylan's big game against the Steelers, AJ reading on the sideline, all of it, the whole thing. They were in the midst of they hadn't lost in months. He was frustrated. Now he's getting less a target, less opportunity at any point in his career. Because they haven't lost, I think it is at, you know, a simmer. It will absolutely be at a full boil if they play this style on Sunday and the Rams beat them. And what I do think is noteworthy is, unlike last year, when Sequin was in route to 2,000 yards and they were blowing people out, the Eagles deserve credit for getting those wins.

But it's not as if if AJ said, hey, we can be better on offense, he would be wrong. Their offense had, their best offensive play has been Jalen Hurd scrambles and the tush push where the entire team lines up offside. and the guards false start, but the NFL allows it. Like, they have not been prolific right now, and I wouldn't mind if AJ or blame AJ if you were frustrated. Yeah, finally, I said this yesterday. Joe Burrell gets hurt a lot, and you can blame the ownership in the online, but Justin Fields gets hurt a lot,

and Justin Fields puts himself in harm way. Now, Josh Allen can get away with it, but I watched Big Ben and Cam Newton, huge men, 6-5-260. I watched them age overnight. Why? They took shots. And I watched Joe Burrow. It's like, Joe, you've got a normal frame.

It's a six, two and a half-ish, 225. Man. I'm just saying it is also incoming. I watched Eli Manning. Literally drop, throw it away, pre-snap reads, get out of hits. This is 100% correct. It should be in Zubon-Burrow. Yeah.

So this is tricky. because, listen, it's primarily on the Bengals. That offensive line's been bad for five years. Forever. But Burrow is so, it's so interesting you said Big Ben, because I evoked him in this same discussion yesterday for a slightly different reason. Last year, right, take the Chiefs with Patrick.

The offensive line is a mess. And Patrick begrudgingly is like, okay, I guess it's going to be bang, bang, bang out. dink and dunk and, you know, I'm going to get rid of the ball. Burrow is so intent and so excellent at what I called yesterday big game hunting that he is in week one and in week two before the injury. He was getting the snot kicked out of him, Colin, and it wasn't like immediate pressure. It was he could have checked it down.

He could have thrown it away. He's trying to hunt the big play, which, you know, he had 5,000 yards unbelievable year last year, you know, got MVP votes despite missing the playoffs. So he was rewarded for it. But it wasn't shocking to me. He got hurt. It was sad. It makes you worried about him. But sometimes you have to protect yourself in different ways.

And I, the reason I mentioned Big Ben is in the pocket, Colin, he plays a lot like Ben did, which is there might be people at my feet. I'm staying there. I'm going to shake you off. But Big Ben was called Big Ben. Because he was six, five and a half, huge and impossible to bring down. Burrow playing this style is just risky. And it's, again, it feels almost like victim blamie,

but your point is correct. If you're Joe Burrow, you know, if I, get hurt, the team is absolutely ruined. If we don't hit this third and eight, we can recover from it. And it's a shame that he now, this is where I'll leave it, Colin. He is likely going to hold a record that no one else will ever come close to and that no one else wants, which is next year he likely becomes the NFL's first ever three-time comeback player of the year, winner. And you don't want that. And it's a shame for Joe because he's such a great player. Yeah, he's like a $10 million chandelier in an empty mansion. They have no run game.

So he's always throwing on third and long. They don't protect him. They got, they don't spend money on defense. So he's only able to win shootouts. You know, Mahomes can win low scoring games. I mean, they're tied with the Eagles 10-10th half. But there is something to be said about. And again, it's, I'm not saying maybe it's 80, 20 on the Bengals, but when guys, Because there's something. There's something. Yeah. And I'm going to give your producers one other job real quick.

You just said $10 million chandelier. There's a great meme that describes that. It's a Lamborghini parked in front of a trap house. Throw that on the screen for Colin at some point. He'll like it because that's what the Bengals built. Burrow Chase Higgins is as nice of a trio as you get. Everything else has, you know, leaky faucets and cracked foundations. It's no good.

Good to see you, brother. All right. Nick Wright, great stuff. Also last hour, Danny Parkins, on the misery of being a Bears fan and Julian Edelman as well. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's 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 IHeart Radio 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, 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.

First people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band.

Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast. could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

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Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sean McFay is so intense as a coach, J. Mack. He got injured during the Tennessee game. He tore his plantar fasciitis, whatever that is. I've heard of it. A foot injury, yeah.

Yeah, McFey is so painful, apparently. Yeah, I mean, we, you know, there are, It just used to feel like years ago, there's a lot of defensive coaches. And there were a couple of hot shot offensive coaches. You know, it could be, you know, a Bill Walsh or an Andy Reid or a Don Correel. And there were a handful of really good offensive coaches. But it felt like there used to be more defensive coaches. I mean, Sean McVeigh's coaching tree, Andy Reid, there are so, Shanahan.

There are so many good offensive coaches right now. I did a list last night. I was at home. And I did a list of quarterbacks. I think are capable of getting to the playoffs. And I came up with 21. And then I didn't count Mac Jones, Russell Wilson, or Daniel Jones,

who all had great weekends. Nor did I count Pennix or Drake May or Cam Ward who look really good, but I don't annoy it them. We're getting to a saturation point. If Cam Ward can play, and I think we both think he can, I'm a big believer in Michael Pennix. I think Drake May is going to get there. I don't know what with Caleb or J.J. McCarthy.

but, I mean, the fact that Russ, Mack Jones and Daniel Jones tore the league up, tore it up Sunday, tells you our offensive coaching right now. I mean, I always felt in the NFL there were about 10 teams that needed a quarterback. I mean, is there like six?

And we're going into a huge quarterback draft? Like, they're, I'm just watching, Daniel Jones, Russell Wilson, Mac Jones, tear it up. I mean, not just play okay. Daniel Jones is 10 for his first, 10 possessions this year. There's some good quarterback play

and excellent offensive coaching. That's all I'm saying. Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's get started with the Houston Texans, those gigantic frauds who let us down

last night. Oh my gosh. CJ Stroud has been putrid. And, you know, we got a guy on staff here trying to sell me, well, the offensive line and the blocking tight end and Christian Kirk and all these injuries. Stop it. Okay, CJ Stroud is four for 18 on third down.

Colin, the Texans are 0 for three in the red zone. Their offense is a joke right now. He knows the offense has to be better. Here's Stroud at the podium. As a team, we got to just stay together. Everybody's going to talk crazy and we suck, we dis, we that. At the end of day, we got to stay together and just mesh well. And, you know, be honest, have our hard conversations.

But, you know, I think right now we need more confidence as an offense at least. just confident playing better together. I think that's a big thing. We're all. Yeah, they can't run the ball, so it's a lot of third and long. They're not great, four new starters and pass protect. So, I mean, I was thinking this last time when you watch the game, because I thought Houston would win.

Houston blocked a puns, had several big passes downfield, had a huge return, but can't pick up a yard. And the bucks, by the only team in the league, It's easier to complete a 15-yard pass than it is pick up two yards on a third and two. They can't pick up short yards. They couldn't against the Rams. They couldn't last night. It's not just the run, though.

Stroud is way off target. Colin, they're on the doorstep in the fourth quarter. And Stroud misses two throws that a top 10 quarterback makes. And listen, we need to have an honest conversation about C.J. Strout. Yes, he was great as a rookie. Bryce Young struggled and went before him in the draft. C.J. Stroud regressed last year. and CJ Stroud so far this year

against two teams who were in the playoffs last year, given that, he has looked awful. Right now, you can't convince me he's a top 15 quarterback in the league. I'm sorry, I'm not going to hear it. Well, Baker outplayed him last night. Oh, by a mile. Yeah, that's in arguable.

Baker may feel right now, now I think Baker has some advantages, a much better running back room, even without Tristan Wirth's, better protection. That matters. IMAOBuka is also going to be a star, although he had a drop last night.

It was an iffy drop. Well, the defender came over and made a great play. But I will say, Baker's got the better old line without Tristan Wurfs and Baker's got, I mean, they've got like two or three nice running back. Bucky Erving's good, good running back. Okay, let me ask you, you love this game. We do it in the off season, but I think it bears mention it. If I told you for the next two years, you could have Jared Gough or C.J. Stroud,

who are you taking? You got to think about that? I still like C.J. Stroud. Oh, my gosh. Are you out of your mind? Jared Gough has two great backs. A great tight end, a star receiver, and two legitimate Pro Bolt tackles. Well, what do you plan with?

I mean, C.J. Stroud has no run game and bad protection. Jordan Love or C.J. Stroud? Jordan Love. Easy. You said Baker for sure, right? Yeah, Baker right now over C.J. Now, listen, don't overreact. Okay. Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Stroud.

No way. Uh-uh. I'm not, I will not stand for that. I cannot wait until I play head to head. I'm just telling you, Trevor Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence is not living up to expectations, but he's not awful. C.J. Stroud has shown a lot of awful on tape this year. Kyle, look at last year. He's running into sacks,

and I know the offensive line's not great. Man, CJ Stroud let me down last night, big time. Let's move on to the next story. Listen, this stinks. Jaden Daniels got an MRI after suffering a knee injury against the Green Bay Packers, and his status for the Sunday game against the Raiders is in jeopardy.

Here's Dan Quinn on his franchise quarterback. The strength part of things, the movements, and that's step one, John. Then on the field, the change of direction, the pivoting, the moving. All of those would be the things to go. So we'll just take it as it goes through the week, but he'd have to see all of the steps, you know, along this week to hit those marks, the speed, the stopping, the change of direction, all of it. This is what we did worry about out of college. No, I've said, I think he's going to look a lot like Lamar Jackson.

Not quite as fast, but a better pocket thrower. But my concern was, I don't know if he can stay healthy, because he is spindly. He is light. So he got banged up for about two weeks last year, but played, and he's banged up again. I don't think it's not like a JJ McCarthy where he can't stay healthy at all. But I think this was the concern, which is why Debo Samuel is a great get, but make sure the offensive line gets built for the next several years because this is not a guy. I've said this.

When you have Tua, who's got a smaller frame, you've got to have a good old line. The dolphins haven't. So, like, there's certain quarterbacks in this league, Josh Allen, Herbert, they can take hits. Jaden's not one of those guys. He needs protection. So if you're playing a long game in your Washington, I think you've got to sit him out against the Raiders. It's a non-conference matchup. If you lose, it's not the end of the world.

It doesn't impact you. Next week, however, you're in Atlanta. That's a team that you could be battling for a wild card berth. I think you need him. After that, Chargers, that's going to be a very tough game. I personally would sit him, and I think the line is telling you that they probably will. It's down to Washington minus three. This was headed towards six, because obviously they're on extended rest, having played last Thursday.

Raiders just played last night and had to travel across the country. I think Mariotta can get this job done. your thoughts? Yeah, I mean, I think when you lay it out that way, it's early, I think they're going to be fine. They've already got a win over the Giants. And again, the Raiders are on a short week. You can win with a backup.

You could win with Marriota. So that's probably the play. I think Washington's going to be fine. I think this is just slowing down the Terry McLaurin-Jad and Daniels relationship, which already felt like it was behind. So I think you worry about that. I don't worry about the coach, the staff, the quarterback, the playmakers. I don't worry about that.

Yeah, so final note, Colin, so we have now five starting quarterbacks who have been injured. It's been two weeks. Okay, you and I bemoan when the NBA playoffs stars get hurt. Colin, this is bad news for the league. Joe Burroughs are star. He's out three months. Jaden Daniels is a budding star. Justin Fields, you know, whatever.

Jets are unwatchable anyway. McCarthy, that's not great. And Brock Purdy, that's terrible. Okay. These are one, so these is basically four playoff teams. But Purdy is hurt again. McCarthy's hurt again. Burroughs hurt again.

Fields is hurt again. So four of those guys get hurt regularly. That's not nothing against the league. Four of those guys are always banged up. No, no, I'm just saying it's bad for the league because now, I mean, are you watching Marcus Marriota versus Gino Smith? I mean, come on. That's not really watchable.

Jay and Daniels is playing. I'm doing it. The games of the week are going to be ranked. Rams Eagles, Bears, Cowboys, Niners, Arizona. I think the games that I want to watch are not affected by those quarterbacks. I mean, I like Jayden Daniels. I like watching him. I like Joe Burr.

He's always in fun games. It's just, I don't know how you fix this. Quarterbacks are going to get hurt. What do you want? 60 play a year. That's why a team like Chicago pays the backup. When Sean Payton got the Denver, he paid Jared Stidham like $12 million. Everybody went, why?

And it's like, well, that's what you have to do. It's a legitimate position. Final story is Arch Manning, Colin. Listen, we're not going to beat up on the kid. He was not great against U-TEP. I think you were recruited by like the likes of U-TEP back in the day. Listen, Arch knows he can be better. Here he is talking about it.

I got to play better. It's not good enough, as you all can see. I got to play better for us to maybe it slides against Utah, but it's not going to win a game at the SEC. I got to play better. Going back to basics, finishing throws, get my hips through and just focusing on it throughout the week of practice and letting it rip in game. You made it?

A little bit. I'm just frustrated. I know I'm better than this. Now they're missing receivers and running back. So right now the defense is great. They are missing receivers and backs. And it was a young offense anyway with four new starters in the offensive line. So the offense was going to be a work in progress.

To me, it's more arm angles and confidence. It just doesn't look right. and I think that's a big part of quarterback play. It either looks right. That Julian fan for Ohio State when they played, it just looked right. He looked composed. His feet were good. He didn't miss the layup.

So right now, a lot of it is aesthetics. It just looks like he's struggling. I mean, look at that throw against U-TIP. Anyways, he was 11 for 25 for 165 yards. Colin, for the season. Arch Manning is completing 55% of his passes. Two of those opponents have been absolute jokers. Yeah.

It's a thing. No, it has been underline. No, no, he's not a thing. It's over. We're not talking about Arch anymore. It's official. Producers, no more Arch. Sorry, it's done.

They're not, he's not good. There's other quarterbacks we can talk about. There's no question. There's no question. Keebclub Nick has struggled. I'll tell you, Jaden Mayov at USC. Oh, come. I'm telling you, leaves the country right now.

Oh, okay. Listen, I just looked up the line for you. 17 and a half against Sparty. I mean, does Sparty even field a team at this point? What's going on here? I would watch USC's quarterback. I may have to go to a game. Maybe I'll get the executives to take me to one.

No, I'm not joking when I say this. If you don't think Lincoln Riley can coach, go look at that quarterback last year and this year. He is a draftable quarterback now. He is an NFL draftable quarterback. Where I don't know. He's totally draftable. Jay Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Julian Edelman, Danny Parkins, the misery of being a Bears fan. That'll show up in the last hour of the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers.

And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, 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... First people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.

But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers 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. but we 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, NL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 at 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Start your Saturday, Utah and Texas Tech battling for the top of the Big 12. It all kicks off at 10 Eastern with Big Noon kickoff live from Salt Lake City. Then it's Texas Tech, Utah only on Fox.

Yeah, Texas Tech's that program with a billionaire who spent all that money. Yeah. Low key, this is a huge game. I like Texas Tech to go to the... playoff, Colin. Obviously, Utah's great at home. It's a big-time game. It's kind of under the radar, but I think there's a fantastic matchup. Utah's the most underrated college football program for 20 years. Yeah, but Texas Tech. They got teams. And two in their last 18 bowl games or something, like Utah is so well coached.

They are, yeah, I mean, I'll take Utah. In big games at home, I'll take Utah. By the way, here's the herd hierarchy. I kept Kansas City out of it. It is not standings, but it's closer to standings than it is projecting who's going to be in the Super Bowl. But I have Packers, Eagles, Rams, Bills, Ravens, Chargers, Bucks, Niners. I still believe in the commanders with Jaden Daniels. I think they just, I think extra rest. If Jaden Daniels played with extra, you know, they played on Thursday night, I think they'll start smoking here pretty quick.

I think the Colts are right now, I think you have to be honest about it. Tyler Warren's a star at Tide End. They have a lot of weapons that, you know, I was talking to, and Chris Ballard in the offseason. They had joint practices with the Ravens and the Packers, and all I'm going to say is he left those joint practices thinking, we got some players. I think the Colts roster, I went on this for two years.

I think the Colts roster is good. If Daniel Jones is going to be B to a B plus, that team's going to win the division. They have the best roster in that division. If Daniel Jones is this, they are winning that division. Absolutely. I know they'll never let us do it, but if you really think they have the best roster in the division,

we could set 10. best players, Colts versus Jags, and the Jags got him. And the Texans probably out. Did you watch Denver's defensive line, the best pass rush in the league, the last two years, could not get to Daniel Jones. I think they got him three times. But anyways, nevertheless, let me just quickly point out, everything is coming up Indianapolis. Since Indiana fever got Caitlin Clark, you got the Pacers making all these runs, you got Caitlin Clark, and now the Colts are two and oh, all of a sudden the Midwest, you move to the Midwest, like there's some kind of gravitational pull that Indiana is like becoming a machine.

Well, the organizations have drafted well, the Pacers, the Colts, and the fever. But in the end, we spend so much time, I mean, worrying about quarterbacks. But when you're surrounded with Pittman and Taylor and Warren and you have an excellent offensive line, Daniel Jones with Shane Steichen, remember, Kevin O'Connell liked him. We've always said this about quarterbacks. what coaches like you, Shanahan liked Darnold, Kevin O'Connell like Darnold. They liked Darnold. So the bottom line here is Shane Steichen liked Daniel Jones.

Kevin O'Connell liked him. I don't think he's great. I think he's kind of a poor man to Alex Smith. But here's Nick Wright on the Chiefs not being in. Right now, don't deserve. If it's based purely on this season, leave him out of the top 10. If this were a teams most likely to win the Super Bowl ranking, they would be firmly in the top 10, but it's where they are right now, so I'm fine with that.

I've always said the top four teams in Herd Hierarchy, those are teams capable of winning the Super Bowl. Five on, no. 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. People to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen.

We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mike. Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some

retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman.

Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. In 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 SportsSlice 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. This is an IHart podcast, guaranteed human.