The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - HOUR 2 - Where Colin was right and wrong, We're not sending the best 12 teams to the college football playoffs

Episode Date: December 22, 2025

Colin breaks down what he had right and wrong about the NFL after the weekend of action. Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck stops by to discuss how the Pittsburgh Steelers have been able to get games done this year, plus the surprising rise of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Colin argues about how the college football playoffs aren't in the business of sending the best teams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's hour two. Loaded. Good one tonight, too, the 49ers. Still a little. Still a little long. lost a blazing five pick yet. 3-0 and 1.

Jay Mack and I have both had good weekends. Matt Hasselbeck's around the corner. So, um, yeah, all weekend long, people are complaining about the college football playoff. I can't believe this team got in and that team got in.

Go to March Madness. You keep telling me that's the greatest sporting event in the world. They're like 25 teams that get into that thing. Unwatchable. Bottom line, do you get the top 16, college basketball teams in. Do you get the top 16 in, the rest of it's filler?

That's how I feel about this thing. Do you get the top eight teams in? And you got four teams that, you know, we know Texas probably better than James Madison. I think we could agree Notre Dame is better than Tulane, but they had their opportunity. Notre Dame played Texas and Miami. Couldn't win either. I mean, the regular season's got to mean something. So I think the college football playoff.

I can't wait to watch the next seven games. Here we go. Colin right, Colin wrong. Where Colin was right? New England was my surprise playoff pick. Fourth year in a row, my surprise playoff team has made it. 12 and 3 tripled their win total. Could still land the number one seed.

You know, it's amazing what they've done offensively from 31st to 6th. Kyle Williams' great play. We talked about him as he was a tremendously gifted college player. Stefan Diggs, Hunter Henry. It's a big playoffence. And last year, there was a great playoffice. None of that juice, so we got that one right. Where Colin was wrong.

Mike Tomlin once again secures a winning season. They could actually win 11 games in Pittsburgh. Now, the game got a little squirly in the end, but make no doubt about it. Pittsburgh was absolutely the better team holding Detroit to 15 rushing yards. Listen, are they good enough to win a playoff game? I don't know. but they ran the ball. They haven't done that consistently in years.

Aaron has been tremendous. He gets him out of trouble. No negative plays. In the end, I was wrong. Where Colin was right? Slinging Sammy D. He leads his division. Seattle leads the NFL in point differential.

What's interesting with Sam, he's completing 67% of his throws. That's a career high. But he's also near the top in yards per attention. So it's no dink and dunk. He's throwing the ball down the field, 24 total touchdowns. The last two years, he has more passing touchdowns than Josh Allen. So first quarterback ever, back-to-back seasons, two different teams to win 12 games right on Sammy.

Where Colin was wrong. I loved Trevor Lawrence for years, but all the turnovers I surrendered, they were five and four after losing the Texans. I'm like, I'm done. and then they got in a heater. Liam Cohen deserves a ton of credit. I didn't even have him in my herd hierarchy until last week, but they've just got a lot of good players. You know what I mean?

It's like Parker Washington, where'd he come from? They could end up 13 and 4. Trevor Lawrence has kind of gotten out of being lured into bad interceptions. They deserve all the credit in the world. Just the minute I gave up on Trevor Lawrence, he pivoted. Where Colin was right? New York Jet, no, excuse me, New York Giant fans, Colin, you're crazy thinking we should draft Fernando Mendoza. Yeah, Jackson Dart had one completion in the first half.

His coaching staff was terrified to let him throw the ball. I got nothing against Jackson Dart. But if you notice, the more we see of him last couple of starts, it's got a 68 passer rating. Well, they don't have this, they don't have that. Oh, boy. I mean, I think Jackson Dart been a pleasant surprise. I like him. But the fact that you wouldn't consider

Mendoza with the number one pick wouldn't consider it. You're the New York Giants. You've been unwatchable for a decade. You've got to consider everything. Where Colin was wrong. The Carolina Panthers, started the season one and three.

I'm like, come on. This is a Bush League operation. But Dan Morgan, former player GM, nice draft. Dave Canales, steadied the ship. You know, I mean, Bryce Young, fifth-year extension, he moves, he's got his star receiver, 102 pass-er rating, a couple of tuddies, no picks.

So, again, do we wish he was bigger and had a bigger arm? Probably, but when I watch Carolina, I'm like, I just watched Bryce Young outplay Baker-Mayfield. That's impressive. Where Colin was right? Kalin DeBore, don't listen to the trolls. He is a top five head coach. To go into Norman, fall behind 17-0, and then, take the game over. He's not going to be Sabin. First of all, the SEC now has Texas schools. It's

deeper. The Big Ten's better. And the money runs everything now. You can't stack rosters like Nick Saban could do. Even Kirby Smart. Georgia has last two years doesn't look like Georgia. They're just a really good team. So don't listen to anybody. Kalin DeBore off a Nick Sabin. That's as good as you can do as an athletic director. That's as, that's as good as you can do. where Colin was right? Miami Hurricanes kept saying, folks, watch this defense. All year long, I said, I don't buy in Texas A&M. I said all week, Miami's going to go in there.

I don't want to hear that Mario Cristobal, you don't trust him. Miami is going to control this football game. Their defense is fast and physical and Mario Cristobal and their NIL money. they got dudes. I mean, you just, you watch that defense. They got dudes. Now, can they beat Ohio State?

I'm not sure if anybody can. But that defense will keep them in every game they play. So for all the Miami Hurricane Doubters, sorry, they're legit. That defense is good as anything, maybe even Ohio State's defense. Colin Wright-Rong on a Monday, and here's Matt Hasselbeck, 18 years in the NFL joining us live. you know, it's a lot of teams feel like, okay, they're a regular season story. I'm not sure if it translates. When you watch New England, I don't think I'd be shocked if they were one and done, but do you think what they do translates to January and the postseason?

Yeah, 100%. They just got to stay healthy. Listen, this is a team that no one even expected to be in the playoffs this year. I think maybe you're the only guy, actually. You called it. But not even Mike Vrable, the way they talked about it, they traded away all their captains. Like, they were just saying, we're building something for success down the road. So the success of Drake May and this offense has been incredible. They used free agency mostly to fix the defense. And the defense really hasn't been what it's been because Milton Williams has been out, Spillane's been out. But no, I think what the big question mark was, can we protect Drake May, can Drake May, can Drake May, and he's been that, you know, even without his left tackle

out, without his left tackle in there? And, um, on the third string tackle yesterday. So, no, this team is, I think, built for it. I think they're one of the best teams in the AFC. And I do believe that coaching matters. And Mike Grable and Josh McDaniels and those guys are proven it. One of my favorite, and I said, I'm really impressed with Aaron. And you could say, well, what about Green Bay?

Well, Farvone in Green Bay, Jordan, Love one. Malik Willis looked great. Aaron, like Green Bay does quarterback right. Like, you know, it's no chaos. They always have good old lines. Obviously, he's a great Hall of Fame talent. But Pittsburgh was offensive quicksand. And one of my favorite stats is Aaron is letting go the ball faster than any quarterback in the league.

Like, you know, like I don't blame him. But with this offense, it kind of works. It's a size offense. It's not twitchy. It's not quick. It's just gigantic men. I mean, I watch Aaron, I'm like, this is exactly what this offense should have. They're not good enough to overcome negative plays.

They don't run it consistently. I'm kind of blown away by what, Aaron's done because this offense for seven years, Matt, they couldn't get anything right. I mean, what do you make of what he's done? Well, they haven't been very consistent this year either. You know, they've been like, oh, we're going to be an empty team and then we're going to try to run it. We can.

But yesterday, I thought, was the start of what they hoped to be. And you hear Mike Tomlin talk about December football, what you got to do to win at this time of year. You've got to be able to run the ball and you got to be able to stop the run. They ran for almost 200 yards yesterday against Detroit. And then they shut Detroit's run game. down completely shut it down. So I think this is exactly what I've been sort of begging for from Aaron Rogers and the Steelers, Arthur Smith. Aaron Rogers sees it all. He's a historian of the

game. There's nothing a defense can do. Let him be the maestro, be the conductor of the orchestra, the point guard. He doesn't need to be Michael Jordan. He can just get us into the perfect play, give us explosive runs, throw a perfect back shoulder throw to a guy like DK. The question is now, and maybe this actually helps them in a way. If D.K. is suspended, are they going to lean in more to that run game and to Aaron Rogers getting us into audibles in the perfect run looks with 13 personnel, three tight ends, all that kind of stuff? That's what I think they need to do anyway, and then they'll get D.K. back,

and then you leave them one-on-one. We got Aaron Rogers, the Hall of Fame thrower. You know, there used to be, it's called there's a tournament baseball, a bad ball hitter. I think it was Vlad Guerrero, was known. Vlad Guerrero would hit pitches. You shouldn't even swing at. With no batting gloves, too, which is hard to do, Colin. I watched Caleb.

The layups I'm not sure about. But some of the plays he makes, I'm like, what? It's just different. It's hard for me to find a prototype. You tell me what you see. Listen, the last two weeks have been great. You know, he out-duld Shador Sanders against Cleveland, against Malik Willis. he clearly was the guy at the moment of truth, when the game is on the line, when your best is

required, he delivered. Absolutely. He makes the hard things look easy. He makes the easy things look hard, which is great. If you're a coach, you say, hey, I can coach you into the easy stuff. You just got to trust me. And you got to do all the little things that you probably don't think matter, but I'm telling you because I'm a coach and I'm older and wiser, they matter. And that's what your job is as a coach, because he has this stuff that you can't coach. And, you know, some of the other stuff, I think will come with experience, the stuff at the podium. When there's an interception, don't say we through an interception. And when there's a great play, don't say, oh, I've played in a lot of big games. I've brought us back and come back. Like, those are

little things that maybe people don't think matter, but in the long haul they do. And that's why I think it does show up on the field. But to me, he put this team on his back in critical moments. It was a struggle bus of a game, a very windy situation, rivalry game. And he had two incredible plays. again, whether it's special teams or offensive explosive plays or defense, onside kick. This is a guy that has his team, has the whole city, believe in. And they believe they, I think a lot of people believe that they've got their quarterback. And for sure, he is quieting a lot of the doubters. You know, it's interesting.

And I remember Andy Reid came on this show one time and talked about this. I said, it's like being a great director when you have a talented quarterback. You want to let them do their thing in ad lib, but you have to have an identity. this is what the movie is. Okay, here's the movie. I'm going to let you do your thing. And I kind of feel like that with Ben Johnson. Like, it's like, hey, listen, man, I'm not going to overcoach you.

I don't know. I just, I kind of think in a weird way, it's a little tougher than coaching, sometimes a limited quarterback, obviously a capable guy. But Caleb can do stuff. Like, you can't get in the way of it, right? Yeah, no. I mean, I think it's exciting for a guy like Ben Johnson, because he was coaching Jared Goff, who does everything right,

but doesn't have the mobility and escapeability to make a bad play call look great. And I think that's one thing Caleb can do. You mentioned Andy Reid. Andy Reid was my quarterback coached my first year. He coached Brett Farv. It was almost harder because if you turned on Brett Farv's mistake reel, it would look very similar to his touchdown real. So, like, how do you coach through that?

And it's a little bit like being the trainer of an elite racehorse. there's not just one way to do it. You kind of got to get to know the horse and you got to kind of like, you know, understand the greatness in that player and you don't want to steal the great plays. And I think like what I saw, you know, in my time in Green Bay,

I saw Mike Holmgren was sort of the bad cop, like, hey, no more, cut it out, or we're going to put your backup in. And then Andy Reid was kind of like, okay, I'm the good cop. Here's how we're going to do it. And he came up with parameters for success.

And it made the quarterback in that situation feel like he was still cutting it loose playing free and yet at the same time accomplishing the goal of the team, which was consistent play, never, ever, ever missing an open guy, never being the reason that a play wasn't successful. Maybe letting the offense work for you, some of those things. If you can put all that together, you can have an MVP quarterback. You know, I was saying about the Lions before the season, I said, when you lose Ben Johnson, like we all know head coaches matter. I don't think we understand how much coordinators matter.

Like Detroit doesn't look like the same team. Go back to your career. And I think, you know, we always think it's just play calling. And I'm like, it can't just be play calling. It's got to be play design, play calling, timing. Like I watch Detroit, they don't feel the same. Now, some of it's offensive line regression on the interior, but they got a lot of talent.

And it doesn't even, it doesn't smell, look, they're a bad third down team. In your career, what does a great OC provide? Then a solid one doesn't. Identity. I mean, he doesn't even need to be in the room. You could ask a question, and everybody in the room would say, here's the answer. We all know.

We know exactly how our coach would answer this situation. So when you get new people, just like in any workplace, you get a new supervisor boss, like you're not really sure what that person's all about. And they're learning you too. They're learning their leadership style and what they can trust you with. And so some of those things, you know, if you look back on Detroit season, it could be, hey, what do we want to do on fourth down? I mean, really, all you got to look at is Dan Campbell took over play calling halfway through

the year and said, okay, no, no, this is what I'm looking for. And then you look at the success that Ben Johnson is having in Chicago and you can't say like, oh, they can't miss that guy. The dude is special. Like he is legitimate as a head coach. So you take him out of the organization. There's going to be some growing pains. I do think this is going to be a year, though,

where the Detroit Lions have to look in the mirror and kind of reevaluate all that they want to be, whether it's what they want to be a play caller, how often they want to go for it on fourth down, because they're right there of being in the playoffs. But unfortunately, it looks like they're not going to be in the playoffs this year because they didn't get it right this year. You know, we were talking about this.

For years, I loved. I saw him in high school. I loved him in college, Trevor Lawrence. And then again, you get to another coach. And then they're five and four. They lose to the Texans. And I'm like, it's just not going to work. He gets lured into bad picks.

And by the way, he's totally chill. And Liam Cohen is wildly intense. And you're like, this is combustible. This is it. But yet I'm watching Ben and Caleb work. And I'm watching intense Liam Cohen and chill, Southern guy, Trevor Lawrence work, and I wonder if that's why it works, is that they're really different people. What do you make of this last two months for Trevor Lawrence? Yeah, it's been incredible,

and I'm 100% in agreement in terms of the different personality from play caller to head coach. I mean, I think they worked together that way. Trevor's a guy that was taking a lot of heat and a lot of hate and gave up a big lead. I think it was against Houston, and everyone's like, oh, this is, you know, same old Jags. Some people left them off there. Super Bowl bubble list. I'm not going to name names, but you know, this is a team that's playing really good football. And to think that this team, without guys like Travis Hunter went from sunny, humid, you know, down in Jacksonville, down in Florida, all the way up to loud, cold, Denver on the road, and made it look like they said, hey, we just belong here. They didn't just win

this game. They had Denver waving the white flag. I mean, they literally waved the white flag and said, you know, it's a two-score game. We've got a short week. We're looking forward to our next opponent. game was still going on. Like no one thought that Liam Cohen and his Duval, they were going to come in and do that fix Trevor Lawrence. And that's exactly what they've done. When I look at Trevor Lawrence, I see him directing the past protection up front with such confidence, getting the right hat on the right hat, which is giving him good protection. And he's kind of walking into and living into his potential that everyone's kind of been waiting for. This is a dangerous team. And I know they're not a big market team. We've talked about that. But this is a team to look out for. They are,

they're one of the best teams in the IFC. I said one of the stories of the year is that the chargers, I think, lead the NFL in time of possession. They're unbelievable on third down. And they have backups everywhere in the O line. And they were on a third string running back. If they were last in time of possession, you'd be like, well, I totally understand it. There's that. And yet they're at the top. I don't know how. to explain it. I didn't even like the receiving core in camp. And now I love it. Is it the Harbaugh effect? The Herbert effect? Because they should not be 11 and 4. When I look at all their injuries, like that should not be an 11 and 14. Yeah, you nailed it Harbaugh Herbert. Like that's it.

The grittiness, the toughness. Your quarterback has literally this year has surgery, comes back and plays in the game. He's got like one hand. He's going to the ground. Can't even break his fall. And he just plays gritty. He's bloody. He doesn't want to even do an post-game interview. He wants to talk to his teammates. Like, he's just a football guy. And I think for a long time, people thought of the Chargers is kind of like,

oh, they're a finesse team. They've got the cute uniforms. Like, no, this is a physical football team. And Harbaugh has bought that to the group. And I also think, like, doing it with this offensive line, like you mentioned, I was watching it play in this last game. Literally, the offensive linemen whiffed so bad, the D-Lineman stopped. And he thought that was such a bad block.

I think this is a screen. And he stopped and looked around like, oh, shoot, no, that was your best effort trying to block me. And here's Herbert, like, eyes down field, just like throws a great crossing route. It was like, that's how bad it is right now for them. So to win on time of possession, to have your quarterback healthy enough to play and play gritty the way he is in the playoffs with the group that they have. I mean, get the coach right, quarterback right, you got a chance. Yep.

Matt Hasselbeck on a Monday. It is a, you know, it's funny. I was saying the depth of quarterback. We're not going to have Mahomes, Burrow, and maybe Lamar Jackson. And yet, the quality of quarterback play, I get Purdy and Darnold and Stafford and Allen and Herbert and Stroud and Knicks. And, I mean, maybe it's the seven-on-seven camps, but the fact that we can have three legends not being in the playoff,

and I'm like, if I get this Trevor Lawrence, this Brock Purdy, this Sam Darnold, I mean, you know, you know the Seahawks better than anybody. the fact that Donald is going to win, he's won 12 games with a different team. When you watched him Thursday night, and you know Seattle as well as any analyst out there, I love the fact that after the game, Mike McDonald's like, yeah, you guys worry about that stuff.

This is what he does. We're aggressive. We take big swings. We don't care about the stuff you guys care about. I love that. Hey, in game, in game, everybody jumped off the Sam Donald bandwagon during the game. And then by the end of the game, they were all back on.

And the Minnesota Vikings and their fans, they probably never jumped off it. But no, it's been impressive. That whole division, Darnold, Stafford, and I would even put the 49ers in that group, those three teams right there, they've gotten great quarterback play all season long, and they could stand up to anybody. And that's why all three of those teams are still in play for the one seed in the NFC. And in this new age, that's the only buy week. And, you know, it's not like two.

you just get one one team gets a bye week now so uh that'll be a great one to uh to watch at the end matt great seeing you on a monday as always see you again all right yeah you know it's funny about the football's so strange like if i was seattle and i was that young i would not want to buy week bow nicks i would not want to buy week like there are there are teams that i look at like Pittsburgh, that would be a great team to get a by week. You've got a 42-year-old quarterback. You've got some long-in-the-tooth defenders. Pittsburgh, they're not going to get it, but if Pittsburgh could get a buy week, that would be great for Pittsburgh. San Francisco, by the way, Kyle Shanahan gets an extra week with all those offensive weapons. They're a little,

they always feel like they're close to being beat up. I would love that. Philadelphia has had O-line injuries. Philadelphia could use a buy week. But a lot of of these teams like I'm Jacksonville. I don't want to buy week. I want to play. I'm Jacksonville. This room, this organization is literally coming flying downhill. I don't want to buy a week. Seattle. Young team plays with a lot of juice. I don't want any buy week for them. Rams are a little hit mess. Give Stafford a little time. Feel a little better. Devonte, the hamstring. But it's a lot of times you look at buys as a huge advantage, that's a coin flip to me.

I don't think it's that big of advantage in football, unless you're a really old team. 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. Pauly Fuscoe here with Tony Fuscoe. Yo, as everybody knows, we're the host of the award-winning Pauley and Tony Fuscoe show. Yeah. But instead of us telling you how great we are,

here's how Dan Patrick described us when he came on our show. quick, knowledgeable, and funny, opinionated. What are you doing? You're interrupting our promo. Yeah. He wasn't talking about you. You took those clips totally out of context. Oh yeah, well, after this promo, I'm going to take you out and beat you.

Let me put this into context. Shut up. Yeah, anyway, just listen to the Folly and Tony Fusco show on I-Hart Radio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Yeah. 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 it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.

But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down?

Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas,

and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy,

Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered.

suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy, but I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you're. you get your podcasts.

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job.

I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. you get your podcasts.

If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King,

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This is the Heard Line News. All right, Conn, let's start with that Sunday night football thriller. I had the Ravens. I was feeling good up 11 with about 11 minutes left and an absolute choke job. Lamar Jackson is the big story this morning. He took a knee in the back and it looks like after a toter all shot, you're supposed to be able to go back in. He couldn't even play after getting the shot.

He said it to the media last night. He took the shot, still couldn't go back in. I don't know what his status is for next week. Here's Lamar talking about. has despondent he was after the loss. It's BS, bro. I can't control that, dude. I'm on the ground.

I'm down. I gave myself as I got knee to the back. But yeah, for the most far, you can say that because getting injured and then we're fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. I can't finish the game with my guys. So it's BS. He didn't love to say, man, that guy cares. He really does.

But this hits been one of those years, like a J.J. McCarthy, where he's just had several injuries. They showed it last night in the broadcast. He can't stay healthy. And the sport is, it's for the young. The league's never been younger. And he's taken over the core. I remember when he broke into the league the first two years,

you're like, dude, you've got to learn to slide. You're taking too many shots. This stuff is punitive. It adds up unless you're as big as like Cam or Josh Allen. Like it, it, it, I remember Justin Herbert's first two years. You're like, dude, do not put your shoulder down with a linebacker. Get out of bounds fast. he's just, it feels like he's just falling apart.

I don't think you're wrong, Colin, early in the show, remember I said, I think it's over for this Ravens run that they've had. The Chiefs, same deal. The coach and the quarterback have been together forever. It's been great. It's over. You look at this roster,

other than Kyle Hamilton. You tell me who on that defense does anything. Well, I like Jay Flowers. They've got in pockets all night. I thought Drake May was good with pressure. I always trust Baltimore to get it right. I, listen, it's a tall order. Listen, Ozzy Newsom and that they had a great run.

Colin, let's be real. This John Harbaugh situation is percolating. I know some Ravens fans. They are passionate. They go to all the games. They're with the, not the boosters, whatever you want to call them. These people are upset with Harbaugh. They want him out.

Colin, how does Derek Henry have a touchdown run to put you up 11 and never touch the ball again in the fourth quarter? He didn't get a touch. Why does Derek Henry keep fumbling in big spots? Well, he's getting old. And Lamar Jackson, I just looked it up to his 29 and about, what, two, weeks here. Listen, man, this is going to be a big rebuild. The offensive line ain't great. Ronnie Stanley's just always hurt. Cullen, everybody has a good run, and they paid Lamar. I don't see a path. What would you say the odds are right now that John Harbaugh is the Michigan

coach next year versus staying in Baltimore? Zero. He will be the coach of the Raven next year. I would say likely, but I don't think zero. Colin, I'm just telling you, man. Why would you go from the best owner maybe in sports to Michigan, which is, I like their basketball team. What if it's not his call? They don't fire people like that. They don't.

This is a really smart. Mutual parting of the ways. What did Gwyneth Paltrow call it an unconscious uncoupling? I mean, listen, there is some, these Ravens fans are not happy. Colin, this season has gone sideways. They're fans. They're fans.

Aaron Rogers is a 57-year-old fossil, and he's going to be leading the Steelers. to the playoffs. If the Steelers win, it's over. Ravens, no playoffs. Well, I mean, it's not like they were terrible. The quarterback got hurt. Baltimore, to me, is not desperate. Wait, wait, how come Joe Burroughs, Glass Joe and Lamar is? Well, he got hurt. I mean, I'd like to see, maybe for tomorrow we'll get you some numbers.

How many games have been missed by the star quarterbacks, Lamar versus Burrow? Because it's probably close. I think Burroughs got it by a few, but, yeah. I mean, we were on this for years. Like, Lamar took some shots, and he's not a thick guy, so I didn't love that part. My take is he'll have an offseason. Lamar's going to come back fast and healthy. They're going to hit on three or four draft picks.

They'll be fun. I love the optimism you got. Well, I mean, they've got. Somebody needs to be positive. I mean, they've been a great organization. If I have trusted your owner, your GM, your coach, your quarterback, to me, they've got A's across the board. You have dips like Kansas City.

They'll rebuild. it's more of a rebuild than a retool, but Kansas City will be good next year. They may not be great, but they'll get it around. I just, I trust smart people who have a history of fixing stuff to once again fix stuff. Double-digit wins next year, more likely. Ravens or Chiefs? Ravens. Weaker division.

Weaker division. Spicy, yes, good call. All right, next story, another quarterback injury, Colin. This one stinks. Josh Allen, I'm sure you saw this play in real time. He's trying to avoid Miles Garrett and Mason Graham. He's like, uh-oh, what's going on? and he turns his ankle, goes down, something happened.

It was clear when he got up. Josh Allen was not 100%. They took x-rays at halftime. He finished the game, but he did not look good at all. Nope. A lot of people, oh, Josh, I can't win the MVP now. And how about the offense when he came back? Second half, they did nothing.

Now, James Cook went nuclear first half. Thank you to my fantasy team. But he did nothing second half. They held on in that game. Colin, Josh Allen, 12 of 19 for a buck 30. Here's McDermott. on the status of his quarterback. Josh isn't one to lead on if he is.

He's so tough, so competitive. So, you know, it's hard to tell what's really going on inside of that heartbeat of his. You know, he just loves being out there with his teammates. So it looked like he threw the ball, you know, well. But outside of that, I don't have a great feel for where he's at right now. They've been very good, Brandon Beans, very much a cap guy. They've been very good with a cap. They need to hit on some draft picks.

I mean, I'm watching that game. When Josh Allen's not 100 percent, Cleveland's going toe to toe. Keon Coleman, another healthy scratch, the kid out of Michigan State. We knew he was a question mark coming into the season. Florida State. Yeah, it might have started Michigan State. I don't know. He was a hooper, but he looks like a failure. Colin, here's the thing. Listen, I love football. I cannot deal with these star quarterbacks going down. It's just concerned. me. I mean, Christmas Day, we got three third stringers. I don't want to see a ludicons or whatever's name is on the Chiefs in the playoffs. We mean Josh Allen healthy, man.

No, Josh will be fine. But, you know, we, remember, just think of the quarterbacks that are making it. We're going to get potentially a Bryce Young and Aaron Rogers, a Darnold. We have redemption stories. We're going to have Old Stafford. We're going to have Young Bo Nicks. I think the quarterback, all the quarterbacks I want to watch, almost all of them there. Joe Burrough, we've said it for years. He's having to carry a less than ideal ownership situation. And Mahomes had a rare down year. I think it shows and illustrates the depth of quarterback talent in this league. I mean, I want to watch Purdy in the playoffs. I want to watch Donald in the playoffs. I want to watch Jordan Love in the playoffs. I can't wait to watch

Drake May and Caleb in the playoffs. Stop. Did you say Brock Purdy? You want to watch him in the playoffs? Yeah, of course. Hey, look at that. He likes Purdy. I would quite This is a good discussion because Colin This is how bad the quarterback depth is The Colts needed somebody so they called Philip Rivers Philip Rivers who's been on a sofa for five years And it was great television

Okay so who are the chiefs going to call Because I don't want to see this Aluticcan guy On Christmas Day on my TV throwing at Travis Kelsey Well that needs Christmas wrap some presents and don't watch Can we get Ben Ruffisberger? Is he taping a podcast that day? I don't know I mean I need to see I need stars and I Josh Allen,

please stay healthy. Plenty of stars. All right. Final story con. Let's go to the Niners. They got a big one tonight against the Colts. I think this is for,

who do you have in this for Blaz and Five? I have the Niners because it's indoors and there won't be any clouds. So I like him. No rain, yes, for Brock Purdy. Here he is,

Purdy, QB1, talking about all the things going on in tonight's game against the Colts. Obviously it's nice, but I mean, we really do have to take it one day at a time

because if we don't obviously take care of business this week, then none of that matters. So for us, it's how can we continue to get better, just even this week of practice, handle business on Monday, and they make that everything right now. So that's where we have to be. Maybe the best coaching job of Shanahan, his career, Sala, a lot of smoke and mirrors defensively. But the offense, I will say this, that offense is humming. And when Purdy's moving, I thought last week was the first week all. year that Brock moved like Brock can move.

Christian McCaffer. Trent Williams, by the way, still very good at left tackle, still elite. So when Brock gets time and he's healthy, it's a fun offense. Jennings and they don't need Brandon Ayuk. They don't need Debo. Listen, if you go look at Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac Jones, Brock Purdy, if they're healthy and Shanahan's coaching them, it's fun to watch. Over under one and a half duggies tonight.

for Brock Purdy and the Niners. Under. So call it. Can I, let me just turn back the clock. Before we were working together or I really knew you, you had one of the great takes of all time. Yeah. About John Wall doing the Dougie before his first NBA game.

Do you remember that? Yeah, but the difference is John Wall had never played an NBA game. Brock Purdy has earned the right to have fun. Yeah, he's dancing on the sidelines. Listen, the team loves Purdy. They love him. And the truth is, Brock has delivered a lot of big wins for the organization. He's not a veteran in the NFL.

But, I mean, he's substantial. He has a real resume, and he has earned the right to have some fun. That doesn't bother. A couple injury notes. DeForest Buckner back. It's a huge get-back for the Colts on the defensive line. However, no sauce gardener, no Charverius Ward. Their back ends trouble.

Oh, yeah. Could be a big Juan Jennings game, Colin. You and I both on the Niners tonight. Yep. Jay Mack with a news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news.

I mean, the AFC, the AFC quarterback, Nix, May, Lawrence, Rogers, Herbert, Alan Stroud. That's Star Power. NFC, Darnold, Caleb, Hertz, Bryce Young, Stafford, Purdy, and Love. So that show, and we're missing some stars, but there's plenty of leading men for these movies. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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, Jones. Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special.

So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and 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. Keith Giamonka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he'd be able to be. became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy.

But I felt so desperate that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No. I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family. has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be a... complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the civil war. To get to school,

I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes. In Rebel Spirit, season two goes deep on both of those things. fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit season two on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about,

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 need 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. Tonight on FS1, it's... the latest chapter in the Braggenright series as Missouri takes on 18th ranked Illinois in downtown

St. Louis. It all tips off at 8 p.m. Eastern right here on FS1. Yeah, I noticed, you know, I noticed all weekend long people were complaining about Tulane and James Madison in the playoffs. So I just looked this up. Y'all tell me how you love March Madness. You love March Madness. Let me give you an example of teams that make it into March Madness. Not one or two. Mount St. Mary's, S.I.U. Edwardsville, Grand Canyon, Lipscomb, Norfolk State, Bryant, and High Point. They sound like a combination of craft beers and national parks. What are those schools? They all got boat raced. I mean, you've got a couple of college football teams. You're not really happy they're in.

folks only four of the 32 four of the 32 first round games in March Madness were decided by fewer than seven points it's nothing but blowouts well there are 68 teams and 25 blowouts you can't live with two really you can't live with a couple of lopsided football games then you can't tell me you like college football because there's 30 a weekend

I mean go look at I mean some of these schools like Alabama of play Panera bread twice a year. I mean, give me a break. You know, so whenever I hear college football fans, all I know is the eight best teams in the country starting this week, their plan. When do the games start, by the way? They get this long layoff, too long,

but the eight teams and the final seven games are going to be great. Who cares if there's a couple of choppy games? March Madness has been living off this Oh my God, Cinderella never wins. You can sell certain things to people, and they keep buying it. Cinderella doesn't win. And by the way, you don't need nine protein bars a day.

God, if I have to go see another guy with his shirt off, sell me protein bars. You don't need that much protein. You get all your vitamins and a healthy hamburger. Next round games are next Wednesday, New Year's Eve. So they're going to be great. All right. The other thing is everybody's jai can hear J-MAC during the break. Is he the worst quarterback potentially in the AFC playoffs?

First of all, there's no indignity having like an 11-game winning streak snapped to Red Hot Jacksonville. Jacksonville's been bad forever, so they've got good draft picks. They've got all sorts of players. Denver's 12 and 3 in a really good division of coaching. They still can be the number one seed. and lousy Bo Nix engineered 445 yards of offense and 6.8 yards of play. Bo Nix is fine. Now, the defense got worked, but that's okay too, because, you know, I said this last week on the air.

Jay, Mack is my witness. I said, keep your eye on Jacksonville here. It just felt like Denver had been in so many big, close, emotional games winning all of them. I'm like, you know, Jacksonville doesn't sound big. I mean, even Sean Payton's talking about the market size. So this is not college football. The Rams lost to Carolina, got worked. The Patriots lost to the Raiders.

The bills lost to Atlanta. It is really hard in this league to go on winning streaks. I mean, the Texans yesterday were struggling with the best defense in the league. They were trying to shut down Gino and the Raiders. So you don't get an equal effort. effort every Sunday. We know that in college, but it's true in pro football. Here's Bo Knicks off the loss. We got hit in the mouth today and they played a good game and, you know, we let it get a wave, but you'd rather have it hit you now than the first round of the playoffs.

And, you know, we weren't called a wake-up call because we were playing well. It's just one of those that will reset you and put you back and get you back to, you know, where you need to be. It'll put you in a good mindset if you'll let it. Yeah, they'll be fine. The other thing is, we've talked about this kind of ad nauseum on the show before, is there's never been more smart offensive coaches. And what it's creating, it's creating these second careers for Sam Darnold, who just needed the right coach or coaches,

the second career for Baker Mayfield. Well, have you noticed this year, Baker's not playing very well? He lost. He lost Liam Cohen. and Liam Cohen is now the head coach of the Jaguars. And he's really good. And that's what I'm saying is you start looking at some of these offensive coaches. I love Matt Stafford.

If Matt Stafford had a defensive coach to a defensive culture, he's not putting up 40 touchdowns five picks. I think a lot of the Trevor Lawrence story, he's always been a talented kid. He was like number one high school quarterback. It took him a long time, many, many years. But eventually if you're talented, you'll get the right boss. If you're a great actor, you'll eventually,

you know, you hear all these stories, everybody thinks Matt Damon was an overnight success. He and Ben Affleck, I mean, they worked on Goodwill Hunting for like 15 years. Like eventually, if you just keep at it, it doesn't matter what field you're in, just keep at it, keep your head down, keep working, you'll get a good boss,

you'll get a good producer, you'll get a good director, may take you 25 years. I mean, Rodney Dangerfield got poppy, he was like in his 50s. Like if you care about something, Matt Hasselbeck on this season for Trevor Lawrence. Trevor's a guy that was taking a lot of heat and a lot of hate and he, you know, gave up a big lead. I think it was against Houston.

And everyone's like, oh, this is, you know, same old Jags. Some people left them off their Super Bowl bubble list. I'm not going to name names. When I look at Trevor Lawrence, I see him directing the pass protection up front with such confidence, getting the right hat on the right hat, which is giving him. him good protection and he's kind of walking into and living into his potential that everyone's kind of been waiting for. It's a, this is a dangerous team. Yeah, and they got a chip on their shoulder a mile long and Liam Cohen is leaning into it. I, you know, I hear these stories about

22-year-olds and 23-year-olds not getting great jobs. If you love what you do, you work hard, you're pretty good at it. You'll get the opportunity. Finally, Trevor got his guy. Hey, guys, it's us and 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. 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, 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. Turn someday into right now with. Body by Jake Radio. Nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your heart is hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day.

I heart radio. 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. The story I've told myself 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 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. Listened deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.