September 16, 2025 • 38 mins
Colin believes Baker Mayfield has found his perfect with the Buccaneers after another game winning drive to start the season 2-0 and why things fell apart for the former #1 overall pick with the Browns. He ranks the top 10 teams in the NFL after week 2 and defends leaving the Chiefs off the Herd Hierarchy. Plus, 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.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio and noon to three Eastern nine am to
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Here we go. It is a Tuesday, A lot to
talk about Herd. Hire a her key. Will the chiefs
be in it? The dynasty? Do they make it in?
It's the Herd? Wherever you may be and however you
may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your
team ten too and OHO Teams ten OHO and two teams.
By using the chiefs of the oh and two teams,
(00:49):
we'll be fine. They'll get healthy. Not great, very good.
J Mac. You know, Baker Mayfield and I are friendies.
And I told you I offered him a podcast I'm
a little company couple years ago. He said, no, that's okay,
but I do I don't hold grudges. Thankfully, Baker doesn't
hold grudges. I would love to get him on the show,
(01:09):
but was that fun to watch last night or what
not if you were.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Holding a Houston Texans ticket and expecting to win.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
But that's two weeks in a row. Bakers come through
in Niklutch cons We've talked about this with the Bears.
Fit coach, quarterback and Baker Mayfield is a great illustration
of what fit means. So think about Baker Mayfield gets drafted,
goes to Cleveland, chip on his shoulder, out of Oklahoma,
a little bit of an attitude, and then he deals
with Hugh Jackson and his ego, and Greg Williams and
(01:37):
his ego, and he's got John Dorsey, the former player
of the GM his ego, and the impulsive owner boy.
It was a tender box and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland
was the spark. Even the media in Cleveland has a
chip on their shoulder for years and years of losing.
Then it wasn't until Kevin Stefanski showed up in Cleveland.
(01:59):
Ivy Lee cerebral, understated. Baker goes eleven and five, gets
into the playoffs, wins a game, but everything just didn't
feel right. There. Too many fires started by Baker and
those guys, just Andrew Berry, Stefanski said, we're gonna start over.
Easy to say now, but then at the time it
was just it was just too much sparks and he
(02:21):
felt like it needed a fire extinguisher every fifteen minutes
for a press conference in Cleveland with Baker, then he
grows up, he bounces around. He ends up in Tampa.
No ego with that coach Todd Bowles, even Keel gm
great one, Jason Light the owners stay out of the
business the media. In Tampa, they've got Super Bowls. They're
(02:41):
not bitter, they're supportive, and there's no pressure. And in
sleepy Tampa, Baker mayfield the last two weeks. First of all,
he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns since he got
to Tampa, game winning drives last two weeks, he's been great.
He didn't have to battle the media. He didn't have
to battle Hugh Jackson or Greg Williams to win the room.
He doesn't have to remake an organization. Tampa's always had players.
(03:05):
They just could never get the quarterback right, even as
top receiver Mike Evans. Mecca Buca, no ego, easy going guys,
remember Obj In Cleveland, the dad gets involved. They're releasing
stuff to the media, it's just didn't work. So Tampa
is a perfect fit for Baker. It's always been a
(03:25):
little sleepy. I've worked there years ago. Ebar City, fun town,
but you know, Miami gets all the glare down south
and Atlanta up north and Tampa just sits there. And
you know, it's got an older fan base and very
loyal and they kind of under the radar and they've
been dominating this division. They've always had talent, but they
could never get the quarterback right. And they go Brady
(03:47):
to Baker and it's a perfect fit. You know. It's again,
nobody in Tampa's got a chip on their shoulder. In Cleveland,
the GM, the owner, the interim coach, the media, everybody
had a chip on their shoulder. So it does as
a matter if it's sports or business or relationships, it's
all about fit. And since he arrived in Tampa, he's
(04:08):
got the most passing touchdowns. He's top five or six
in everything else. That inner turmoil it's gone. He's got
a certain quiet resolve and confidence and peace about him.
It is perfect. Remember when he signed there, it was
a one year, proven deal. That feels like a decade ago.
This is his team, his town, his city, his locker room,
(04:31):
his division. It feels perfect. And this is what we
say about Chicago to the coach and the quarterback personality
scheme fit in Tampa, Todd Bowles quiet, understated, no ego,
he lets he's got a couple of different coordinators, they're
all working. The GM is one of the best in
the sport. The personnel is good, the owners stay away,
(04:51):
the media supportive. They didn't even play that well the
first two weeks and they're two and zero. Here's Baker.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
It's good to see that we haven't even played close
to our best ball in all three phases, and we're
still finding ways to win on the road. And that's
really important, is to not lose sight of that we're finding.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Ways to win.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
But also we do need to get things fixed in
some of these games. Can make it easier on ourselves
and try and put teams away earlier. But this is
a good team that we played, so let's we expected
art fought battle. But yeah, it's nice to be on
the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
By the way, look at him, handsome, he's happy, he's
in great shape. If you can go on the road
in the NFL, get a punt blocked, give up a
huge return, not play particularly well, but you have a
goal line stand. You get Baker the ball with a
couple of minutes left. They're going to win this division again.
(05:45):
And Baker's the reason why Baker Mayfield finally found the
perfect fit. Even when he got hurt here, when he
got banged up his ankle, that didn't stay down too long.
You wanted to get out and get That's Baker and
I'm here for it now, at least in Tampa. I
am okay. How about the Chargers beating the Raiders so
(06:08):
twenty games ago, It's hard to believe. Twenty games ago
the Chargers were mess. They have the thirty second ranked
defense in the NFL. Here comes Harbaugh and defensive coordinator
Jesse Mincher. Twenty games later, a few tweaks. It is
the stickiest secondary in the league. It's the number one
(06:29):
rated defense in the league. And once again, all Harbaugh
teams look the same, big, strong, physical, I mean, Geno
Smith isn't great, but zero for ten on balls downfield
and three picks. Gino's better than that. In two weeks
against the Chiefs and the Raiders, opposing quarterbacks have a
sixty one passer rating, best in the league. I don't
(06:50):
know if they'll be able to keep Jesse Mint or
the defensive coordinator. Justin Herbert feels like a perfect fit.
Take out the playoff game in the regular season, the
nineteen games he's played with hardball three picks. So they're
a little bit like Philadelphia. They've got their star quarterback,
they've got their offensive coach, Joe Alt has not surrendered
(07:11):
a sack or even a pressure. They're just a big, massive,
physical team, kind of the opposite of Miami. Miami hired
an offensive coach. It's all flash, no steak. This is
all substance, tough and physical. I mean Keenan Allen thirty
three years old, still delivering on third down. So they
(07:32):
just squeeze you. Herbert doesn't make any big mistakes. He'll
make one or two huge throws. They are the opposite
of the team that Jim Harbaugh took over. Powerful, predictable, physical,
and it's why Justin hurt by the way, smalltown Oregon kid.
You don't get any ego. He just wants to win.
He lives in la and hides. We don't see him anywhere.
(07:55):
He's super quiet and it's just perfect for Hardball. He
would struggle with a quarterback that needed constant attention or
needed validation. Herbert's very secure in who he is. And
listen the offense, it's still it feels like they're probably
a receiver shy Lad mcconkey's their one, Quinton Johnson's their
(08:17):
big play receiver. It feels like Keenan Allen's been the
most valuable. Could they use another receiver, We don't know,
if a Mario Hampton, Nase Harris. It's good. It hasn't
been spectacular, but as Hardball said after the win over
the Raiders, it is all about this defense.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Defense Guardians of victory today. I mean, they had our
back or front or side, and it was a just
a tremendous defensive performance. The turnovers, three interceptions, the fourth
down stops, I man, a incredible stop on the twenty
play drive. You know, over eleven minutes. We had a
(08:57):
ball once in the third quarter. They had it once
in the third quarter, and you know, just stopping to
three points there and just guys just playing like uh,
I mean, it's just meant everything to him.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
And that's the thing with Harball, It's not just the
offensive stuff. Obviously he's cleaned up Herbert, but this team
is the opposite from the one he took over. And
for years and years, the Chargers just didn't spend money
on the head coach, right they had, They had some
good coaches, but you always felt like, man, could they
just go out and spend the big boy money. Well
they have and this is what you get. This is
(09:33):
what you get if you're going to hire Urban Meyer
to run your college football team, or Nick Saban to
run your college football team, or you hire you know,
you hire Jim Harbaugh to coach your NFL team, or
Andy Reid to coach your NFL team. It's not just
about changing the plays, it's changing the culture. And I
for personnel, I don't know. They were missing a defensive
back last night. And again we all know Gino Smith
(09:55):
broy the fifteenth best quarterback in the league. Zero for
ten throwing balls downfield. I mean that defense was everywhere.
There's just no space, no blown coverages. Khalil Max banged up.
He'll be back before the end of the season. But
Jay mcka had to be impressed. I thought it was
going to be a closer game. But it is interesting
a couple In his first draft, Harball went and spent
(10:17):
you know, two fifth round picks. He went and got
a couple of cornerbacks obviously that he had recruited or
played against in Michigan. They both hit. So it's just
I look at him. How good is their personnel? It's good.
But when you lead the NFL the last twenty games
in defense, a lot of that is culture and coaching.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I totally agree that Jesse Minter stuff. You know, he's
going to be a hot commodity that defense. They got
a lot of no name dudes out there, and Khalil
Mack went down. I was like, oh, wow, Raiders are
gonna have a shot here. They couldn't do anything. Just
a quick note on Harball Colin. Remember last week I
was bemoaning the Chiefs. They looked like the same team
the last few years. They haven't changed or reinvented themselves.
(10:56):
I'm watching Chargers. Last year they were doing heavy sets,
a lot of two tight ends. They were throwing the
guys like Will Disley's.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Stone smart, you know, random tight ends.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
This year wide receivers and it's Keenan Allen who looked
so good by the way he was available on the
market for like two months.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Anybody could have gone and got Keenan Allen. Well and
the Chargers pick him up. We talk about fit. He
was in Chicago, didn't do anything. Yeah, he comes back
to the Chargers with Justin Herbert and he's fantastic. So
he's a guy that's thirty three multiple surgeries. He remains
I would say Mike Evans in the NFC, Keenan Allen
and the AFC have been these all time great third down,
(11:34):
big play, red zone wide receiver. He's a tough matchup.
He doesn't run particularly well and not as well as
he used to. But again, with this offense they got.
They got the twitchy guy and Ladd mconkey. They've got
the over the top guy in Quinton Johnson, and then
they've got the dependable third down guy in Keenan Allen.
So everybody on their receiving corps has a role. It's
(11:55):
not about it. It's not the fastest or the deepest,
but everybody's got a third down guy, a quick slot guy,
and over the top big guy, and Herbert delivers to
all of them.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I know we're gonna do the Herd hierarchy in forty
five minutes. But Colin, I, you look at the AFC,
it kind of sort of feels like Baltimore and Buffalo
at the top, and the Chargers are right there.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I don't know who's better than them in the.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
AFC right now. Well, here's the thing. They have a
much better defense than Buffalo and Baltimore kill right now.
They don't have the explosiveness on offense of those two teams,
but I would say they have arguably the best coach
of it and the best defense that you can't dispute.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 7 (12:41):
Hey it's me Rock Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast,
Inside the Parker for twenty two minutes of pipeing, hop,
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Whether you believe in analytics or the I test, We've
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(13:02):
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Speaker 5 (13:14):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Welcome in our number two. Sorry God, Nick Wright, it's
gonna be joining us in a couple of minutes. So
we're two weeks down. We headed in a week three
Thursday Night, Buffalo is gonna hammer Miami. They're gonna have
That's probably gonna be a very fluid situation in Miami.
(13:39):
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,
(14:01):
j Mac 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.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Heard hierarchy. Now go the top ten NFL teams according
to College number ten.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I think the Indianapolis Colts 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 ten for ten first ten possession. I've been
(14:40):
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 B to B plus level,
they're gonna win this division. Colts at ten, number nine
Commanders now played Packers Thursday. They're gonna be fine because
(15:01):
Terry McLaurin 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 it away. They just
haven't been able to get the offense right because McLaurin
was a holdout. Well, now off the Packer loss, they
get extra time Deebo and McLaurin. They play the Raiders
(15:22):
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 veteran leadership. I like
Washington at nine, number eight. I got to give the
forty nine Ers credit. They're not even healthy. Top ten
(15:44):
in total offense, top ten in total defense two to zero,
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 fifty percent rate.
And again Brandon Nyuk's hurt, George Kittle brought pretty. Christian
McCaffrey leads the NFL in touches right now. So I'm
(16:04):
always impressed when you can deal with injuries, go on
the road and win, I 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,
(16:26):
leads the NFL in touchdown passes, second in passing yard
since twenty twenty three. 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 Wirfs, they 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
(16:47):
some of your best players like San Francisco and Tampa.
You're making the hurt hierarchy. Number six, maybe I have
them too low. I'd put the Chargers. I do wonder
if Hampton and Najie 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
(17:08):
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 thirty touchdowns and three picks. They
don't have a lot of sizzle. But Quinton Johnson emerging
is a non bust and actually a legitimate deep threat.
Matters a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Number five.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
The Ravens. I worry about the back end of their defense.
But Lamar Jackson seven touchdowns, no picks in a passer
rating of one hundred and thirty six. I compared him
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 pass defense is going
(17:50):
to bite them in that 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 thirty five 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 Cams, Dolphins, Saints,
(18:14):
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
(18:34):
rush is insane, highest graded offense, highest gradded 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 zero to two against the Eagles, nine
(18:56):
to zero against everybody else in their last eleven game.
I have the Rams at three number two Philadelphia. Their
passing game worries me. I mean, they're the first team
to go to and zero to start a season without
a passing touchdown in twenty five years, so Jalen hurts.
I mean AJ Brown has six catches for about thirty
(19:17):
five yards, So I don't know how that's gonna work out.
And you know, it almost feels like now more often
than not. They're reliant on the toush 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 squish
you for three and a half hours. I have them
(19:37):
at two number one. Listen. I don't think green Bay
as 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
(19:59):
Bay is by far and away right now the best
team in the league. I have Kansas City at eleven.
I have Denver troubling, they've been sloppy at twelve. 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 heard Hierarchy.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
And with that, my friend Nick Wright joining us live.
He by didn't like that Colt's pick. Well, Fred, it's bad.
You mean you know, I mean you're right, Colin.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I don't like.
Speaker 8 (20:40):
I don't like when you do bad things. I have
so much respect for you that yeah, you're right.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I saw that. You know what it reminded me of?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
And you John Anouther Roster and Daniel Jones Herd Hierarchy
twenty twenty four, Week three. Have you seen the Saints
and Derek our start two?
Speaker 5 (21:01):
It oho?
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Alvin Kamar looks like young Alvi 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 gonna
happen to the Colts, but it feels very Saints have
the best open to a season and franchise history.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Ish I do want.
Speaker 8 (21:23):
But and listen, the Chiefs right now don't deserve If
it's based purely on this season, lean out of the
top ten, that's fine, and I think it's what you're right,
and I think what you're saying is correct, which is
they if this were a team's most likely to win
the Super Bowl ranking, they would be firmly in the
(21:45):
top ten. 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, because for you
and I, it's really been a fun last fifteen months
watching than Niners, because you, you know, folks like you
and I were like, hey, Jimmy Garoppolo's fine, probably not
(22:07):
the bus driver there, and folks are like, look at
his winning percentage. And then he leaves there and he's
a career back up. And then rock Perty comes in
and we're like, yeah, Brockberty's fine, but he's not really
the lead.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Actor of the movie.
Speaker 8 (22:22):
Books like, hey, he left the Super Bowl field with
a lead what do you give.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
The manage respect? He deserves his.
Speaker 8 (22:27):
Fifty million, And then you and I were like, well,
maybe if he didn't have all his weapons wouling me
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 rock Perty with a guy everyone
agrees can't play?
Speaker 5 (22:43):
How would that guy look?
Speaker 8 (22:45):
And that guy who's the best game he's played in
three years? And now those same people are staring down
the barrel of am I gonna have to make the
argument that Mac Jones actually is great?
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Or am I gonna have to fold my hand? And
you know what?
Speaker 8 (23:00):
They are looking at Mac Jones rookie year Pro bowl
er ten wins. Maybe it's just you know, it took
a while to ripen. So I think the Niners Shanahan
deserves a lot of bready for what he's done thus
far this season, I do it. Can I ask you
one charger question and then I'll give you a showback?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (23:19):
I am.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
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.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I don't love that he feels like he has to. Man.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
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
(23:54):
and Justin Herbert's leading them in rushing.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
I don't love that.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
No, And I think they've felt ash Reiver shy for three,
four or five years and Keenan Allen has been But
you know, Keenan's not going to play seventeen weeks. He won't.
He'll get banged up. So I just said this before
in Last Hour. I don't know what Nause, Harris and
Hampton become, but it's got to be better than this.
If you want to in the AFC, it's got to
be better than this. I would say this. I started
(24:20):
my show saying this. It's years ago. A couple of
years ago. I offered Baker to podcast at the volume
and he said no. But Colin and I are frenemies.
Were 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
(24:41):
Cleveland media. And he goes to sleepy Tampa, and right
now there is no argument he's a top seven, eight
nine quarterback in the league. And I think Tampa is
a It's the perfect marriage, right like it just that
no pressure. The media is helpful. They're not bitter. What
do you make of what you're watching?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
All right? So a few things.
Speaker 8 (25:03):
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 Iron frenemies, we're just actual friends.
I'd even be maybe if you wanting to do an
extra pod a week if Bake Show's doing it with me,
so we should talk about that. As far as your
top seven or eight right over the last two years, Colin, well,
(25:24):
a year and two weeks since the beginning of last season,
he is top three or four in the NFL in
everything in yards, in touchdowns, and rating and completion percentage.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
Right now, Colin, if you were to.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
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 Bays divisions are so much
(26:02):
tougher than what Baker's going to be dealing with.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
I think they could have an.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
Extraordinary season and starting the year two games on the road,
two games trailing late, two games game winning drives.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
That's pretty special.
Speaker 8 (26:16):
Now to your point about Cleveland, I think Cleveland could
have been perfect for him, and the fact like Cleveland was,
his ruggedness and trash talking and all of it should
have fit Cleveland. But the Browns, in their infinite wisdom,
saw a player.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
They drafted number one overall.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Win a playoff game for the Cleveland Browns in year three,
then almost upset the Chiefs in Arrowhead to go to
the AFC title game.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Yeah, and a year later.
Speaker 8 (26:50):
Because Odell's dad put out a mixtape of misthrows, they
were like, we can do better. It's one of the
biggest missteps any Tam. Tam has made it in the
most important position in decades.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
You drafted the kid number one overall.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
He sets the rookie record for touchdown passes after you
had gone one and thirty one 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
(27:28):
of those fifty five million dollars a year contracts, because
at the moment he's one of the two best bargains.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
And olds in the whole sport.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, and I was saying this morning, there's ten two
and oh teams and ten oh to two teams, and
most of the oh and two 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 CJ. Strouds running for his life,
so they Colts look better. Blah blah blah. But I
(27:57):
do think there's a true it's 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
(28:22):
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 watched 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,
(28:45):
to put him in a box. Nick, I don't think
it works. I don't think Ben and Caleb works.
Speaker 8 (28:51):
So I here is my pushback on that one is
even and I saw your 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
(29:12):
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 what would be
Ben Johnson picked the Bears because of Caleb, so he
must think that. I mean, he obviously watched Caleb, knew
(29:36):
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
(29:57):
Caleb Williams when right above his on the bar it
says the Bears allowed.
Speaker 5 (30:02):
Fifty two points to the Lions.
Speaker 8 (30:05):
I do think that probably was the bigger problem on
Sunday than Caleb freelancing a little bit.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
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.
(30:33):
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 aj 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
(30:54):
that can't get any shots. But yet in the NFL,
which is all about the shield and unity and follow
the it's like a guy can't ask for a trade.
I would totally support AJ Brown if he just said, guys,
I love you. I got five catches for thirty yards.
This is a terrible fit. Go throw to Devonte Am
I wrong on this.
Speaker 8 (31:15):
No, and I so a couple things. One is and
you should. I'll email it to him if you want,
because if you this, I hadn't heard you make this point.
AJ 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
(31:37):
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 what demoralizing a defensive back is showing
my excellence.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
He told us that's who he.
Speaker 8 (31:56):
Is, and that's part of the reason he's become so
great that while winning is fun, what he plays for
is you know, dominating his matchup. And I happen to
think that if Ceedee Lamb catches a ball and if
Travis Kelce catches a ball, and the Eagles, instead of
(32:16):
being two to zero, are either zero to two or
even one and one. 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. AJ Brown after the
Carolina game said we need to improve on passing. That
(32:39):
then led to you know, the Jalen's big game against
the Steelers, aj Reidan on the sideline, all of it, the.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Whole thing they were.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
In the midst of.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
They hadn't lost in months. He was frustrated. Now he's
getting less targets, less opportunity at any point in his
career because they haven't lost. I think it is at
a simmer. It will absolutely be at a full boil
if they play this style on Sunday and the Rams
(33:10):
beat them. And what I do think is noteworthy is
unlike last year when Saquon was in route to two
thousand 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
(33:34):
play has been Jalen hurd scrambles and the Tush push
where the entire team lines up off sides and the
guards false start. But the NFL allows it like they
have not been prolific right now. And I don't wouldn't frustrate.
I wouldn't mind I AJ or blame AJ if you
were frustrated.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah, finally, I said this yesterday. Joe Burrow, it gets
hurt a lot, and you can blame the ownership in
the old line, 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 man six five sixty. I
watched them age overnight why they took shots. And I
(34:15):
watched Joe Burrow. It's like, Joe, you're you've got a
normal frame. It's a six two and a half ish
two twenty five man. I'm just saying it is also
in coming. I watched Eli Manning literally drop throw it
away pre snamp reads get out of hits is correct.
Speaker 5 (34:35):
This is Burrow.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Yeah, so this is tricky because listen, it's primarily on
the Bengals. That offensive line's been bad for five years.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
It's there's the but.
Speaker 8 (34:49):
Burrow is so I'm 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, he's like, Okay, I guess it's going
to be bang bang bang out, dank and dunk, and
(35:11):
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
(35:32):
wasn't like immediate pressure. It was he could have checked
it down, he could have thrown away. He's trying to
hunt the big play, which you know he had five
thousand yards unbelievable year last year. You know, got mvpvospite
missing the playoffs, so he was rewarded for it. But
it wasn't shocking to me. He got hurt.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
It was sad.
Speaker 8 (35:53):
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 gonna
shake you off. But Big Ben was called big Ben
(36:15):
because he was six five and a half, huge and
impossible to bring down.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Burrow playing this.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Style is just risky, and it's it again.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
It feels almost like victim.
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Blame me, but your point is correct some your 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.
(36:49):
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 times Comeback Player of the
Year winner.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
And you don't want that.
Speaker 8 (37:07):
And it's a shame for Joe because he's such a
great player.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
Yeah, he's like a ten million dollar 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 ten,
ten and a half. But there is something to be
(37:30):
said about And again it's I'm not saying maybe it's
eighty twenty on the Bengals, but when guys there's something hurt,
there's something Yeah.
Speaker 8 (37:40):
And I'm going to give your producers one other job
real quick. You just said ten million dollars chandelier. There's
a great meme that describes that it's a Lamborghini parked
in front of a traphouse. 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 it. Everything else as
(38:02):
you know, leaky faucets and cracked foundations.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It's no good. Good to see you, brother, all right, Nick,
Great great stuff.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio and noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. Find your local station for the Herd at
Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio
or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Here we go. It is a Tuesday, A lot to
talk about Herd. Hire a her key. Will the chiefs
be in it? The dynasty? Do they make it in?
It's the Herd? Wherever you may be and however you
may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your
team ten too and OHO Teams ten OHO and two teams.
By using the chiefs of the oh and two teams,
(00:49):
we'll be fine. They'll get healthy. Not great, very good.
J Mac. You know, Baker Mayfield and I are friendies.
And I told you I offered him a podcast I'm
a little company couple years ago. He said, no, that's okay,
but I do I don't hold grudges. Thankfully, Baker doesn't
hold grudges. I would love to get him on the show,
(01:09):
but was that fun to watch last night or what
not if you were.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Holding a Houston Texans ticket and expecting to win.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
But that's two weeks in a row. Bakers come through
in Niklutch cons We've talked about this with the Bears.
Fit coach, quarterback and Baker Mayfield is a great illustration
of what fit means. So think about Baker Mayfield gets drafted,
goes to Cleveland, chip on his shoulder, out of Oklahoma,
a little bit of an attitude, and then he deals
with Hugh Jackson and his ego, and Greg Williams and
(01:37):
his ego, and he's got John Dorsey, the former player
of the GM his ego, and the impulsive owner boy.
It was a tender box and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland
was the spark. Even the media in Cleveland has a
chip on their shoulder for years and years of losing.
Then it wasn't until Kevin Stefanski showed up in Cleveland.
(01:59):
Ivy Lee cerebral, understated. Baker goes eleven and five, gets
into the playoffs, wins a game, but everything just didn't
feel right. There. Too many fires started by Baker and
those guys, just Andrew Berry, Stefanski said, we're gonna start over.
Easy to say now, but then at the time it
was just it was just too much sparks and he
(02:21):
felt like it needed a fire extinguisher every fifteen minutes
for a press conference in Cleveland with Baker, then he
grows up, he bounces around. He ends up in Tampa.
No ego with that coach Todd Bowles, even Keel gm
great one, Jason Light the owners stay out of the
business the media. In Tampa, they've got Super Bowls. They're
(02:41):
not bitter, they're supportive, and there's no pressure. And in
sleepy Tampa, Baker mayfield the last two weeks. First of all,
he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns since he got
to Tampa, game winning drives last two weeks, he's been great.
He didn't have to battle the media. He didn't have
to battle Hugh Jackson or Greg Williams to win the room.
He doesn't have to remake an organization. Tampa's always had players.
(03:05):
They just could never get the quarterback right, even as
top receiver Mike Evans. Mecca Buca, no ego, easy going guys,
remember Obj In Cleveland, the dad gets involved. They're releasing
stuff to the media, it's just didn't work. So Tampa
is a perfect fit for Baker. It's always been a
(03:25):
little sleepy. I've worked there years ago. Ebar City, fun town,
but you know, Miami gets all the glare down south
and Atlanta up north and Tampa just sits there. And
you know, it's got an older fan base and very
loyal and they kind of under the radar and they've
been dominating this division. They've always had talent, but they
could never get the quarterback right. And they go Brady
(03:47):
to Baker and it's a perfect fit. You know. It's again,
nobody in Tampa's got a chip on their shoulder. In Cleveland,
the GM, the owner, the interim coach, the media, everybody
had a chip on their shoulder. So it does as
a matter if it's sports or business or relationships, it's
all about fit. And since he arrived in Tampa, he's
(04:08):
got the most passing touchdowns. He's top five or six
in everything else. That inner turmoil it's gone. He's got
a certain quiet resolve and confidence and peace about him.
It is perfect. Remember when he signed there, it was
a one year, proven deal. That feels like a decade ago.
This is his team, his town, his city, his locker room,
(04:31):
his division. It feels perfect. And this is what we
say about Chicago to the coach and the quarterback personality
scheme fit in Tampa, Todd Bowles quiet, understated, no ego,
he lets he's got a couple of different coordinators, they're
all working. The GM is one of the best in
the sport. The personnel is good, the owners stay away,
(04:51):
the media supportive. They didn't even play that well the
first two weeks and they're two and zero. Here's Baker.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
It's good to see that we haven't even played close
to our best ball in all three phases, and we're
still finding ways to win on the road. And that's
really important, is to not lose sight of that we're finding.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Ways to win.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
But also we do need to get things fixed in
some of these games. Can make it easier on ourselves
and try and put teams away earlier. But this is
a good team that we played, so let's we expected
art fought battle. But yeah, it's nice to be on
the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
By the way, look at him, handsome, he's happy, he's
in great shape. If you can go on the road
in the NFL, get a punt blocked, give up a
huge return, not play particularly well, but you have a
goal line stand. You get Baker the ball with a
couple of minutes left. They're going to win this division again.
(05:45):
And Baker's the reason why Baker Mayfield finally found the
perfect fit. Even when he got hurt here, when he
got banged up his ankle, that didn't stay down too long.
You wanted to get out and get That's Baker and
I'm here for it now, at least in Tampa. I
am okay. How about the Chargers beating the Raiders so
(06:08):
twenty games ago, It's hard to believe. Twenty games ago
the Chargers were mess. They have the thirty second ranked
defense in the NFL. Here comes Harbaugh and defensive coordinator
Jesse Mincher. Twenty games later, a few tweaks. It is
the stickiest secondary in the league. It's the number one
(06:29):
rated defense in the league. And once again, all Harbaugh
teams look the same, big, strong, physical, I mean, Geno
Smith isn't great, but zero for ten on balls downfield
and three picks. Gino's better than that. In two weeks
against the Chiefs and the Raiders, opposing quarterbacks have a
sixty one passer rating, best in the league. I don't
(06:50):
know if they'll be able to keep Jesse Mint or
the defensive coordinator. Justin Herbert feels like a perfect fit.
Take out the playoff game in the regular season, the
nineteen games he's played with hardball three picks. So they're
a little bit like Philadelphia. They've got their star quarterback,
they've got their offensive coach, Joe Alt has not surrendered
(07:11):
a sack or even a pressure. They're just a big, massive,
physical team, kind of the opposite of Miami. Miami hired
an offensive coach. It's all flash, no steak. This is
all substance, tough and physical. I mean Keenan Allen thirty
three years old, still delivering on third down. So they
(07:32):
just squeeze you. Herbert doesn't make any big mistakes. He'll
make one or two huge throws. They are the opposite
of the team that Jim Harbaugh took over. Powerful, predictable, physical,
and it's why Justin hurt by the way, smalltown Oregon kid.
You don't get any ego. He just wants to win.
He lives in la and hides. We don't see him anywhere.
(07:55):
He's super quiet and it's just perfect for Hardball. He
would struggle with a quarterback that needed constant attention or
needed validation. Herbert's very secure in who he is. And
listen the offense, it's still it feels like they're probably
a receiver shy Lad mcconkey's their one, Quinton Johnson's their
(08:17):
big play receiver. It feels like Keenan Allen's been the
most valuable. Could they use another receiver, We don't know,
if a Mario Hampton, Nase Harris. It's good. It hasn't
been spectacular, but as Hardball said after the win over
the Raiders, it is all about this defense.
Speaker 6 (08:34):
Defense Guardians of victory today. I mean, they had our
back or front or side, and it was a just
a tremendous defensive performance. The turnovers, three interceptions, the fourth
down stops, I man, a incredible stop on the twenty
play drive. You know, over eleven minutes. We had a
(08:57):
ball once in the third quarter. They had it once
in the third quarter, and you know, just stopping to
three points there and just guys just playing like uh,
I mean, it's just meant everything to him.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
And that's the thing with Harball, It's not just the
offensive stuff. Obviously he's cleaned up Herbert, but this team
is the opposite from the one he took over. And
for years and years, the Chargers just didn't spend money
on the head coach, right they had, They had some
good coaches, but you always felt like, man, could they
just go out and spend the big boy money. Well
they have and this is what you get. This is
(09:33):
what you get if you're going to hire Urban Meyer
to run your college football team, or Nick Saban to
run your college football team, or you hire you know,
you hire Jim Harbaugh to coach your NFL team, or
Andy Reid to coach your NFL team. It's not just
about changing the plays, it's changing the culture. And I
for personnel, I don't know. They were missing a defensive
back last night. And again we all know Gino Smith
(09:55):
broy the fifteenth best quarterback in the league. Zero for
ten throwing balls downfield. I mean that defense was everywhere.
There's just no space, no blown coverages. Khalil Max banged up.
He'll be back before the end of the season. But
Jay mcka had to be impressed. I thought it was
going to be a closer game. But it is interesting
a couple In his first draft, Harball went and spent
(10:17):
you know, two fifth round picks. He went and got
a couple of cornerbacks obviously that he had recruited or
played against in Michigan. They both hit. So it's just
I look at him. How good is their personnel? It's good.
But when you lead the NFL the last twenty games
in defense, a lot of that is culture and coaching.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I totally agree that Jesse Minter stuff. You know, he's
going to be a hot commodity that defense. They got
a lot of no name dudes out there, and Khalil
Mack went down. I was like, oh, wow, Raiders are
gonna have a shot here. They couldn't do anything. Just
a quick note on Harball Colin. Remember last week I
was bemoaning the Chiefs. They looked like the same team
the last few years. They haven't changed or reinvented themselves.
(10:56):
I'm watching Chargers. Last year they were doing heavy sets,
a lot of two tight ends. They were throwing the
guys like Will Disley's.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Stone smart, you know, random tight ends.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
This year wide receivers and it's Keenan Allen who looked
so good by the way he was available on the
market for like two months.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Anybody could have gone and got Keenan Allen. Well and
the Chargers pick him up. We talk about fit. He
was in Chicago, didn't do anything. Yeah, he comes back
to the Chargers with Justin Herbert and he's fantastic. So
he's a guy that's thirty three multiple surgeries. He remains
I would say Mike Evans in the NFC, Keenan Allen
and the AFC have been these all time great third down,
(11:34):
big play, red zone wide receiver. He's a tough matchup.
He doesn't run particularly well and not as well as
he used to. But again, with this offense they got.
They got the twitchy guy and Ladd mconkey. They've got
the over the top guy in Quinton Johnson, and then
they've got the dependable third down guy in Keenan Allen.
So everybody on their receiving corps has a role. It's
(11:55):
not about it. It's not the fastest or the deepest,
but everybody's got a third down guy, a quick slot guy,
and over the top big guy, and Herbert delivers to
all of them.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I know we're gonna do the Herd hierarchy in forty
five minutes. But Colin, I, you look at the AFC,
it kind of sort of feels like Baltimore and Buffalo
at the top, and the Chargers are right there.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I don't know who's better than them in the.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
AFC right now. Well, here's the thing. They have a
much better defense than Buffalo and Baltimore kill right now.
They don't have the explosiveness on offense of those two teams,
but I would say they have arguably the best coach
of it and the best defense that you can't dispute.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neonon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (12:41):
Hey it's me Rock Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast,
Inside the Parker for twenty two minutes of pipeing, hop,
baseball talk, featuring the biggest names the newsmakers in the sport.
Whether you believe in analytics or the I test, We've
got all the bases cover. New episodes drop every Thursday,
(13:02):
So do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the
Parker with Rob Parker on the iHeartRadio app or wherever
you get your podcast.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
Welcome in our number two. Sorry God, Nick Wright, it's
gonna be joining us in a couple of minutes. So
we're two weeks down. We headed in a week three
Thursday Night, Buffalo is gonna hammer Miami. They're gonna have
That's probably gonna be a very fluid situation in Miami.
(13:39):
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,
(14:01):
j Mac 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.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Heard hierarchy. Now go the top ten NFL teams according
to College number ten.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
I think the Indianapolis Colts 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 ten for ten first ten possession. I've been
(14:40):
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 B to B plus level,
they're gonna win this division. Colts at ten, number nine
Commanders now played Packers Thursday. They're gonna be fine because
(15:01):
Terry McLaurin 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 it away. They just
haven't been able to get the offense right because McLaurin
was a holdout. Well, now off the Packer loss, they
get extra time Deebo and McLaurin. They play the Raiders
(15:22):
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 veteran leadership. I like
Washington at nine, number eight. I got to give the
forty nine Ers credit. They're not even healthy. Top ten
(15:44):
in total offense, top ten in total defense two to zero,
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 fifty percent rate.
And again Brandon Nyuk's hurt, George Kittle brought pretty. Christian
McCaffrey leads the NFL in touches right now. So I'm
(16:04):
always impressed when you can deal with injuries, go on
the road and win, I 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,
(16:26):
leads the NFL in touchdown passes, second in passing yard
since twenty twenty three. 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 Wirfs, they 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
(16:47):
some of your best players like San Francisco and Tampa.
You're making the hurt hierarchy. Number six, maybe I have
them too low. I'd put the Chargers. I do wonder
if Hampton and Najie 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
(17:08):
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 thirty touchdowns and three picks. They
don't have a lot of sizzle. But Quinton Johnson emerging
is a non bust and actually a legitimate deep threat.
Matters a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Number five.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
The Ravens. I worry about the back end of their defense.
But Lamar Jackson seven touchdowns, no picks in a passer
rating of one hundred and thirty six. I compared him
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 pass defense is going
(17:50):
to bite them in that 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 thirty five 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 Cams, Dolphins, Saints,
(18:14):
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
(18:34):
rush is insane, highest graded offense, highest gradded 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 zero to two against the Eagles, nine
(18:56):
to zero against everybody else in their last eleven game.
I have the Rams at three number two Philadelphia. Their
passing game worries me. I mean, they're the first team
to go to and zero to start a season without
a passing touchdown in twenty five years, so Jalen hurts.
I mean AJ Brown has six catches for about thirty
(19:17):
five yards, So I don't know how that's gonna work out.
And you know, it almost feels like now more often
than not. They're reliant on the toush 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 squish
you for three and a half hours. I have them
(19:37):
at two number one. Listen. I don't think green Bay
as 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
(19:59):
Bay is by far and away right now the best
team in the league. I have Kansas City at eleven.
I have Denver troubling, they've been sloppy at twelve. 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 heard Hierarchy.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
And with that, my friend Nick Wright joining us live.
He by didn't like that Colt's pick. Well, Fred, it's bad.
You mean you know, I mean you're right, Colin.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
I don't like.
Speaker 8 (20:40):
I don't like when you do bad things. I have
so much respect for you that yeah, you're right.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I saw that. You know what it reminded me of?
Speaker 8 (20:48):
And you John Anouther Roster and Daniel Jones Herd Hierarchy
twenty twenty four, Week three. Have you seen the Saints
and Derek our start two?
Speaker 5 (21:01):
It oho?
Speaker 8 (21:03):
Alvin Kamar looks like young Alvi 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 gonna
happen to the Colts, but it feels very Saints have
the best open to a season and franchise history.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Ish I do want.
Speaker 8 (21:23):
But and listen, the Chiefs right now don't deserve If
it's based purely on this season, lean out of the
top ten, that's fine, and I think it's what you're right,
and I think what you're saying is correct, which is
they if this were a team's most likely to win
the Super Bowl ranking, they would be firmly in the
(21:45):
top ten. 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, because for you
and I, it's really been a fun last fifteen months
watching than Niners, because you, you know, folks like you
and I were like, hey, Jimmy Garoppolo's fine, probably not
(22:07):
the bus driver there, and folks are like, look at
his winning percentage. And then he leaves there and he's
a career back up. And then rock Perty comes in
and we're like, yeah, Brockberty's fine, but he's not really
the lead.
Speaker 5 (22:20):
Actor of the movie.
Speaker 8 (22:22):
Books like, hey, he left the Super Bowl field with
a lead what do you give.
Speaker 5 (22:25):
The manage respect? He deserves his.
Speaker 8 (22:27):
Fifty million, And then you and I were like, well,
maybe if he didn't have all his weapons wouling me
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 rock Perty with a guy everyone
agrees can't play?
Speaker 5 (22:43):
How would that guy look?
Speaker 8 (22:45):
And that guy who's the best game he's played in
three years? And now those same people are staring down
the barrel of am I gonna have to make the
argument that Mac Jones actually is great?
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Or am I gonna have to fold my hand? And
you know what?
Speaker 8 (23:00):
They are looking at Mac Jones rookie year Pro bowl
er ten wins. Maybe it's just you know, it took
a while to ripen. So I think the Niners Shanahan
deserves a lot of bready for what he's done thus
far this season, I do it. Can I ask you
one charger question and then I'll give you a showback?
Speaker 1 (23:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (23:19):
I am.
Speaker 8 (23:20):
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.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I don't love that he feels like he has to. Man.
Speaker 8 (23:33):
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
(23:54):
and Justin Herbert's leading them in rushing.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
I don't love that.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
No, And I think they've felt ash Reiver shy for three,
four or five years and Keenan Allen has been But
you know, Keenan's not going to play seventeen weeks. He won't.
He'll get banged up. So I just said this before
in Last Hour. I don't know what Nause, Harris and
Hampton become, but it's got to be better than this.
If you want to in the AFC, it's got to
be better than this. I would say this. I started
(24:20):
my show saying this. It's years ago. A couple of
years ago. I offered Baker to podcast at the volume
and he said no. But Colin and I are frenemies.
Were 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
(24:41):
Cleveland media. And he goes to sleepy Tampa, and right
now there is no argument he's a top seven, eight
nine quarterback in the league. And I think Tampa is
a It's the perfect marriage, right like it just that
no pressure. The media is helpful. They're not bitter. What
do you make of what you're watching?
Speaker 5 (25:01):
All right? So a few things.
Speaker 8 (25:03):
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 Iron frenemies, we're just actual friends.
I'd even be maybe if you wanting to do an
extra pod a week if Bake Show's doing it with me,
so we should talk about that. As far as your
top seven or eight right over the last two years, Colin, well,
(25:24):
a year and two weeks since the beginning of last season,
he is top three or four in the NFL in
everything in yards, in touchdowns, and rating and completion percentage.
Speaker 5 (25:37):
Right now, Colin, if you were to.
Speaker 8 (25:40):
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 Bays divisions are so much
(26:02):
tougher than what Baker's going to be dealing with.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
I think they could have an.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
Extraordinary season and starting the year two games on the road,
two games trailing late, two games game winning drives.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
That's pretty special.
Speaker 8 (26:16):
Now to your point about Cleveland, I think Cleveland could
have been perfect for him, and the fact like Cleveland was,
his ruggedness and trash talking and all of it should
have fit Cleveland. But the Browns, in their infinite wisdom,
saw a player.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
They drafted number one overall.
Speaker 8 (26:38):
Win a playoff game for the Cleveland Browns in year three,
then almost upset the Chiefs in Arrowhead to go to
the AFC title game.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Yeah, and a year later.
Speaker 8 (26:50):
Because Odell's dad put out a mixtape of misthrows, they
were like, we can do better. It's one of the
biggest missteps any Tam. Tam has made it in the
most important position in decades.
Speaker 5 (27:03):
You drafted the kid number one overall.
Speaker 8 (27:05):
He sets the rookie record for touchdown passes after you
had gone one and thirty one 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
(27:28):
of those fifty five million dollars a year contracts, because
at the moment he's one of the two best bargains.
Speaker 5 (27:35):
And olds in the whole sport.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Yeah, and I was saying this morning, there's ten two
and oh teams and ten oh to two teams, and
most of the oh and two 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 CJ. Strouds running for his life,
so they Colts look better. Blah blah blah. But I
(27:57):
do think there's a true it's 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
(28:22):
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 watched 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,
(28:45):
to put him in a box. Nick, I don't think
it works. I don't think Ben and Caleb works.
Speaker 8 (28:51):
So I here is my pushback on that one is
even and I saw your 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
(29:12):
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 what would be
Ben Johnson picked the Bears because of Caleb, so he
must think that. I mean, he obviously watched Caleb, knew
(29:36):
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
(29:57):
Caleb Williams when right above his on the bar it
says the Bears allowed.
Speaker 5 (30:02):
Fifty two points to the Lions.
Speaker 8 (30:05):
I do think that probably was the bigger problem on
Sunday than Caleb freelancing a little bit.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
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.
(30:33):
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 aj 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
(30:54):
that can't get any shots. But yet in the NFL,
which is all about the shield and unity and follow
the it's like a guy can't ask for a trade.
I would totally support AJ Brown if he just said, guys,
I love you. I got five catches for thirty yards.
This is a terrible fit. Go throw to Devonte Am
I wrong on this.
Speaker 8 (31:15):
No, and I so a couple things. One is and
you should. I'll email it to him if you want,
because if you this, I hadn't heard you make this point.
AJ 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
(31:37):
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 what demoralizing a defensive back is showing
my excellence.
Speaker 5 (31:54):
He told us that's who he.
Speaker 8 (31:56):
Is, and that's part of the reason he's become so
great that while winning is fun, what he plays for
is you know, dominating his matchup. And I happen to
think that if Ceedee Lamb catches a ball and if
Travis Kelce catches a ball, and the Eagles, instead of
(32:16):
being two to zero, are either zero to two or
even one and one. 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. AJ Brown after the
Carolina game said we need to improve on passing. That
(32:39):
then led to you know, the Jalen's big game against
the Steelers, aj Reidan on the sideline, all of it, the.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Whole thing they were.
Speaker 5 (32:47):
In the midst of.
Speaker 8 (32:48):
They hadn't lost in months. He was frustrated. Now he's
getting less targets, less opportunity at any point in his
career because they haven't lost. I think it is at
a simmer. It will absolutely be at a full boil
if they play this style on Sunday and the Rams
(33:10):
beat them. And what I do think is noteworthy is
unlike last year when Saquon was in route to two
thousand 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
(33:34):
play has been Jalen hurd scrambles and the Tush push
where the entire team lines up off sides and the
guards false start. But the NFL allows it like they
have not been prolific right now. And I don't wouldn't frustrate.
I wouldn't mind I AJ or blame AJ if you
were frustrated.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah, finally, I said this yesterday. Joe Burrow, it gets
hurt a lot, and you can blame the ownership in
the old line, 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 man six five sixty. I
watched them age overnight why they took shots. And I
(34:15):
watched Joe Burrow. It's like, Joe, you're you've got a
normal frame. It's a six two and a half ish
two twenty five man. I'm just saying it is also
in coming. I watched Eli Manning literally drop throw it
away pre snamp reads get out of hits is correct.
Speaker 5 (34:35):
This is Burrow.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Yeah, so this is tricky because listen, it's primarily on
the Bengals. That offensive line's been bad for five years.
Speaker 1 (34:45):
It's there's the but.
Speaker 8 (34:49):
Burrow is so I'm 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, he's like, Okay, I guess it's going
to be bang bang bang out, dank and dunk, and
(35:11):
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
(35:32):
wasn't like immediate pressure. It was he could have checked
it down, he could have thrown away. He's trying to
hunt the big play, which you know he had five
thousand yards unbelievable year last year. You know, got mvpvospite
missing the playoffs, so he was rewarded for it. But
it wasn't shocking to me. He got hurt.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
It was sad.
Speaker 8 (35:53):
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 gonna
shake you off. But Big Ben was called big Ben
(36:15):
because he was six five and a half, huge and
impossible to bring down.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
Burrow playing this.
Speaker 8 (36:21):
Style is just risky, and it's it again.
Speaker 5 (36:26):
It feels almost like victim.
Speaker 8 (36:28):
Blame me, but your point is correct some your 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.
(36:49):
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 times Comeback Player of the
Year winner.
Speaker 5 (37:06):
And you don't want that.
Speaker 8 (37:07):
And it's a shame for Joe because he's such a
great player.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
Yeah, he's like a ten million dollar 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 ten,
ten and a half. But there is something to be
(37:30):
said about And again it's I'm not saying maybe it's
eighty twenty on the Bengals, but when guys there's something hurt,
there's something Yeah.
Speaker 8 (37:40):
And I'm going to give your producers one other job
real quick. You just said ten million dollars chandelier. There's
a great meme that describes that it's a Lamborghini parked
in front of a traphouse. 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 it. Everything else as
(38:02):
you know, leaky faucets and cracked foundations.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
It's no good. Good to see you, brother, all right, Nick,
Great great stuff.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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