November 18, 2025 • 34 mins
Colin Cowherd breaks down why the Dallas Cowboys might be better than people think - even after trading away superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons. Colin unveils his Week 12 Herd Hierarchy, ranking the Top 10 NFL teams and answering the big question: Do the struggling Kansas City Chiefs still belong in the elite tier after dropping to 5–5?
Plus, Nick Wright of First Things First stops by to debate whether the Chiefs dynasty is officially on the brink, what’s really going on with Patrick Mahomes, and why he’s intrigued by Caleb Williams leading the 7–3 Chicago Bears into unexpected NFC contention
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
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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 on
the agenda, Herd higher our key today. There's a lot
of teams, s'morsh right in the middle of the NFL.
What do we do with the Kansas City Chiefs? So
they had top ten team, What do we do with Seattle?
It's the Herd in Chicago, wherever you may be, however
(00:47):
you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of
your day. So okay, okay, you can say it was
just the Raiders. I understand that, but it should be
noted Dallas, the Quinn Williams down. They got that linebacker
back that that second round pick is healthy. So Quentin
(01:10):
Williams last night season high in sacks, one and a half,
career high end quarterback hits, another escape from New York
success story. Two things are absolutely true. Every player that
leaves the toxic New York Jets gets better instantly. And
Dallas is probably not as far off as everybody thinks.
Dallas has a top ten to twelve quarterback, run games,
(01:33):
good interior d line, Kenny Clark, Quinn Williams, the weapons
on the perimeter they stole George Pickens. That's a lot
of playoff boxes. Now. The offensive line is young, They're
inconsistent on pass protection, but the Cowboys are after the
Packers and Seahawks, the youngest offense in the league. So
they are an ascending offense. And remember I've been on this.
(01:56):
They don't need a quarterback. Seven teams in the league
are deathperate for it. So those two first round picks.
Quarterback is going to be overdrafted like it is every year,
and this year Dallas is going to be able to
manipulate that first round, those two picks. So Quinn Williams,
now you want he was an All Pro with Robert Sala.
(02:17):
That's what you saw last night. That was the Quinn
Williams that was an all Pro. Expect that going forward,
by the way, Kenny Clark interior alignment, so not all,
not all struggling teams are equal. Dallas is young, they're ascending.
They got a top ten to twelve quarterback. The Jets don't,
the Browns don't, the Raiders don't, the Saints don't, the
(02:39):
Titans don't. Dallas has the same number of wins as
the Miami Dolphins. And I would take Dallas ten out
of ten times because a DAK. I would take Dallas
ten out of ten times over Miami. So we can
all clown on Jerry Jones, and I you know, is
he the GM. Whatever he is, he's certainly not the
worst GM in the league. But I would say this
the offense, this is elite. They stole George Pickens, they
(03:02):
don't need weapons, running game feel solid. The O line
has to get better in pass pro. But they're all young.
The offense is young, and the two defensive issues they
have they can solve in the draft because they have
two first round picks. So I think Dallas going to
win six or seven games and they're going to get
an elite pass rusher in the draft. But last night,
(03:22):
we got to be fair about this. Donovan Azaraku, their
second round pick, played last night. Oh yeah, he's good.
He's a good player. And they got back Demarvin over
shown the linebacker. They got him back. Well, he's an athlete.
So you started seeing some of those young guys behind
(03:42):
Quinn Williams, and I know it's the Raiders. I get it,
I understand it. But again, turn the sound down. Watch
their athleticism last night. Quinn Williams a career high in
quarterback hits and one and a half sacks, a season high.
Escape from New York. So we can all say we
want to do but and I said this, when they
(04:03):
got Quinn Williams, they did not give up a first
round pick next year. That was very smart by Dallas
because six to seven teams are desperate for a quarterback,
and there's a bunch of quarterbacks that are probably mid second,
high second, late first round picks. They're all going to
be overdrafted. They're all going to be overdrafted. Mendoza is
(04:26):
going to go one or two. Everybody else probably gets overdrafted.
You need a quarterback, and the following year doesn't appear
to be as good at quarterback as this year. There's
not seven or eight guys that could go in the
first couple of rounds, so last night they were finally healthy.
On defense, Jerry Jones said after they went over the Raiders,
(04:46):
he could hardly contain himself.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You could say the mpag of the actually the players,
not just the non just your guys there in the
front was Quentin those guys.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
We also had other.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Players out there and that we'll head and heaven.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So I really was pleased.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
With the way the defense, and that's us restraining myself
from feeling jumping up and down here.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Again, not all bad teams are equal. The Raiders don't
have anything right, from the culture to the run game,
head coach, there's a lot of stuff. Dallas has the
offense right, A sending, young, old line that run blocks
pretty well. Uh, excellent weapons, stole George Pickens, Ceedee Lamb's
a one. Javonte Williams looks like the Bronco kid. I
(05:37):
mean that offense. I think it's number two in the
NFL right now. That's fine, Okay, look at all the
bad teams. I'd feel a lot better today about Dallas
with those two first round picks. Maybe go get Caleb Downs,
Ohio State, go get a neg rusher. Problem solved. Young
athletic all right, so you get to the point of this.
(06:00):
I always think this is funny. In the NFL season,
fans lowis do this. I'll say, well I like this team,
and they're like, well, I haven't beaten anybody. Well, who's great.
I mean Philadelphia has won like twenty two of their
last what twenty five games, and they look ugly every week.
I mean Denver, none of you like Denver. Well are
they nine and two? At some point do you win
(06:24):
games or not? So the big question with the Bears
is the Bears are seven to three and in first place,
and everybody's saying, oh, yeah, but this schedule woo o oh.
I mean it's Joe Montana and the Niners coming up next.
I actually think they're going to remain in first place.
And here's why. What the next five games the Bears
(06:45):
play all have in common? Steelers, Eagles, Green Bay, Cleveland,
Green Bay? What are they all have in common? Every
one of those teams not the Bears. Every one of
those teams is struggling to find their offensive identity. Chicago
didn't have that problem. Chicago's inconsistent. But Chicago runs the
(07:06):
ball a lot and runs the ball well. And for
the record, still leaves the NFL in big plays. Yeah,
the Bears may be inconsistent, a little start stop, right,
but they have an identity. They are gonna run the
ball a lot, and they're gonna run it well. So
that's an identity the Bears. You know, it's a little
(07:27):
like a Quentin Tarantino movie. Strong plot, excellent character development,
seems a little out of order. We're gonna have to
wait to the end of the movie. So it all
sort of wraps in together and you'll be like, that
was really good. But there are times the operational part,
the penalties, three and out, Caleb misses an easy one,
(07:49):
you're like, hey, again, it's a little out of order.
They have bad quarters, weird halves, they're good late. So,
and I say this all the time, you do not
have to be perfect to get to a super Bowl.
You just have to have an identity. The Philadelphia Eagles
got to a Super Bowl last year. They were the
(08:10):
fourth worst passing team in a passing league, but the
Eagles knew what they were. That's why this year Philadelphia
is reready struggling because they're not a power run team.
Saquan's not as dominant as last year, so Philly doesn't
quite know what they are. Plus they have wide receiver drama.
Last year they had a little wide receiver drama, but
it was Saquon turn hand off and watch them run
(08:30):
for somewhere between seven and twenty seven yards. So that's
the thing about the Bears. You start looking at all
these games they play. Packers don't know what they are.
They're a passing team. The coach doesn't know it. Philadelphia, No,
Lane Johnson doesn't quite know what they are. Pittsburgh now
using a backup quarterback, Shadure Sanders now starting for Cleveland.
(08:51):
I think Chicago's fine. Again. Every game, every scene may
not feel like it kind of fits, but when the
movie's over, when the game's over, you look up and
you're like, yeah, that works. Yeah, that's what they do.
Still people out there, Matt Hasselback not quite sure about
(09:11):
the quarterback though.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Caleb is a young player learning on the fly, and
as he's learning, they're winning. He's morphing into Ben Johnson's
kind of quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Is he there?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
No? I don't think he is. He's really not. But
they seem to find ways to win. That's what happens
with DNA culture center type coaches. You set a standard
and then an expectation for the details and the discipline
that are going to happen in your organization every single day.
Do I think this is their year without after I
say all that, No, they haven't really beat anybody, but
(09:44):
the schedule's getting tougher here we'll find out who they
really are.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Well, we know who Caleb Williams is. Today is this
twenty fourth birthday. Happy birthday to Caleb, Happy birthday to
first Place, Happy birthday to facing fives right games with
teams with no offensive identity. I like Chicago, not even
gonna say I'm a good luck charm. I didn't have
(10:08):
anything to do with it. But they are in first
and it's coming together. J Mac, you know, it's nice
to be in a city. It's nice to be in
a city with winners. That's all I'm gonna say. Yeah, Yeah,
for sure, definitely. You know tomorrow's DeAndre Swift's birthday. Let's
make sure we get in the shout out. I'm just kidding, boy,
you love you some bears. Huh Okay, what's what's a
(10:30):
point differential? I haven't seen the standings this morning. I
don't get caught up into those numbers. Yeah, that kind
of data is irrelevance. I see the seven and the
first place. Those are the two numbers I see.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 5 (10:51):
Hey, we're Cavino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But here's the thing. We never have enough time to
get to everything we want to get.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
To, and that's why we have a brand new podcast
called over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun
in our two hour show. We never get to everything, honestly,
because this guy is over promising things we never have
time for. Yeah, you blubber list lame in me.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Well, you know what it's called over promise. You should
be good at it because you've been over promising women
for years.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show, and we
want you to be a part of it. We're gonna
be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk
life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing
about something or we didn't have enough time, it will
continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if
you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you
check out Over Promised and also Uncensored, by the way,
so maybe we'll go at it even.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
A little harder. It's gonna be the best after show
podcast of all time.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
There you go, over Promising and remember you could see
it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen Over Promised
with Covino and Rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Heard Hierarchy time. If no, let's go the top ten
NFL teams according to College number ten.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I think arguably the most talented athletic team in the
league is Seattle, and I'll put them at ten because
they have the most giveaways in the league. But they
were going for a game winning kick against the Rams
in LA and they had four picks. They have the
best point differential in the NFC. They don't have a
real gap in their team other than the giveaways. JSN
is the highest gradded receiver according to PFF. They've allowed
(12:25):
the fewest sacks on offense. They got playmakers everywhere on
both sides of the ball. They can run it with power,
so if they get a lead, they can close out
the clock. They make too many mistakes, but they are
a great number ten team that was going for a
winning kick against the Rams on a day on the road.
They had four picks. Number ten Seattle, number nine again,
(12:46):
Kansas City. I like them. They have the second most
efficient scoring offense behind the Colts in pro football. They're
not good on the road. They have struggled on the
road because they're just not talented enough. Now that Chris
Jones is not playing in an elite level, the defense
isn't as intimidating. They're really good and they've got a
good coach. I don't think Mahomes right now is playing
(13:07):
like Josh Allen. But again, I like their weapons. I
like their team. If they beat Indy, I think they're
a playoff team. I think this weekend's a big deal.
I'm a little surprised they're a three point favorite. I
guess the game's at home, but I have Kansas City
at nine. Number eight. My coaching staff of the year
in the NFL is San Francisco. I don't know how
Robert sala is doing it. By the way, they're seven
(13:30):
to zero when they hold their opponents under twenty five.
But Rock Purty, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Jennings, here comes
Ricky pearsall the bands back together, and the old line
has been better than I've given it credit for. Again,
they're a little Christian McCaffrey dependent. Leads in yards, leads
in Cherry's, leads in catches, but they're now healthy. They're dangerous,
(13:54):
and I think their coaching staff has been doing it
with smoking mirrors and now they've got like elite number
seven Buffalo. Yeah, they drive me crazy, but I will
say this. They lead the NFL in offensive touchdowns and
they average six point three yards of play, which is
second in the NFL, and I think that matters a lot.
Josh Allen is playing at another level. Again, like San Francisco.
(14:18):
They can be one player dominant on offense. Don't trust
their defense. But I really believe in all the years
I've been new and hurt hierarchy, the difference between Seattle
and the number one team is about four points. I'll
put them at seven, number six. I think the Colts
would beat him if they played, probably in Indy, maybe
not in Buffalo. But again, it's the number one scoring offense.
(14:42):
Only team in the league scoring on over fifty percent
of their drives. They have the fewest punts in the NFL.
They're off a by I think Kansas City's going to
have their hands full. I'd buy them now. Do I
think Daniel Jones presents a ceiling. Absolutely, We're not in
January today. Right now, that's a top six roster in
the NFL. And I said it last year, and I've
(15:04):
said this about Cleveland. If you gave Cleveland a really
good coach, go look at Cleveland's roster. They got dudes.
They got a lot of dudes. Indies. Roster is the elite,
and now they're getting competent plus quarterback play. Number five
the Ravens when Lamar plays their average in twenty nine
a game four game winning streak since the week seven.
(15:24):
By listen, their defense now is healthy and playing better.
They have playmakers on both sides. Again, this heard hierarchy.
We're doing it. It's November, it's not January. Do I
trust them? Then? Know their next three games Jets, Bengals, Steelers,
So the winning streak is going to continue. Don't take
too much out of a close game against Cleveland. Number one,
Cleveland's defense at home is outrageous, and it was a
(15:47):
third straight road game. I like this team a lot
Baltimore five, number four, but I think in a neutral field,
I take the Patriots, the only undefeated team on the road,
three and one against winning teams, an incredibly efficient team.
Their defense in nine straight games has held people to
twenty three points are under Vrabel deserves credit. He went
and spent almost three hundred million dollars in free agency,
(16:09):
but he's spent it on character guys, defense, tough guys
in physicality. They have an identity. They're a tough, physical
team where a quarterback that's completing seventy two percent of
his throw efficiency wins post Thanksgiving New England four number three.
I don't know what to do with Philly. They're not
good with Lane Johnson's out, but they are twenty four
(16:31):
and three in their last twenty seven games and they're
just dynamite in one score games. What are you gonna say.
Here's the thing that I like about them. They have
the best interior D line in the league, and it
made a huge difference again this weekend against Detroit. You
can't get fourth and one on them. They bat down
passes constantly, opposing quarterbacks in the NFL complete fifty six
(16:53):
percent of their throws against Philadelphia, and it's because they
got good corners, active linebackers, and two studs on the
interior D line. Number two Denver. And again, what's the
difference between Seattle and Denver if they played tomorrow a
point and a half. That's how close this thing is. Listen,
(17:13):
six of their seven games have been decided like the
Kansas City game on a drive. Their offense has been
held the one touchdown in back to back games. But
I do believe, and I said it last year with
Kansas City, there is there are teams that are good
in close games. Kansas City last year was great and
close game. Denver this year is great and close games.
I don't think it's like fumbles that it's random. It
(17:34):
usually comes down to an elite play designer and play
caller and a quarterback who's good late in games on
final drive. That was Mahomes last year, that's Bonix this year.
But they are a heavily penalized team, so they beat themselves.
They've got almost, you know, nine hundred penalty yards and
they've trailed in all eleven games. But you are what
your record is They're two number on. The Rams are
(17:58):
the cleanest team in the league, second year in a row,
fewest penalties, they don't make any mistakes. They're Seattle without
the mistakes. They're Denver without the penalties. So I'm really
rewarding them. I don't think they're the most dynamic offense,
although I will say Devonte Adams is on a heater.
He is on a heater. He has become the touchdown guy,
(18:18):
not Puka. So I do think there is value in
the Rams not being as flashy or as a dynamic
as other teams. They don't get penalized, they don't turn
it over. You can't get the twenty seven points on them,
you can't get the twenty four points on him. That's
my top ten, and I think the difference between one
(18:38):
and eight, nine and ten is about four points, and
that's about it. I think it's really I got green
Bay at eleven. I mean it's I think green Bay
struggling with our identity. I have the Bears at twelve,
green Bay at eleven. Coin flip that they play tomorrow
home team would win.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays
and Nowie st nine a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Nick Right is joining us. First things first, Johnny and I.
You could say I'm selling the chief stock. I'm not.
You sold it in the offseason.
Speaker 6 (19:14):
You've declared this dynasty dead twice in the last three months,
and in the middle of that you declared them far
and away the best team in the league. So I
gotta tell you I'm not listen. I am not here
today to crow about the Chiefs. They have put me
in such a crisis that I'm rocking a ponytail on
your show because I'm in disarray with my team being
(19:37):
the nine seed and I'm looking at tiebreakers against the
Jags like a true poverty franchise when I'm used to
looking up paths to the one seed.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
So I'm not in a good spot.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
And I was dead wrong about the game last week.
But you have been a fickle beast when it comes
to this Chiefs team this.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Year and.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
The team you have number two, who again outplayed Kansas City,
deserved to win, they were better, but you have them
as the number two team in the league. Last week,
weren't you trading their quarterback?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Like? Like, are you that down on.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Bow Nicks a week ago that he was maybe on
his way out, and now he's the number They're the
number two team in the league.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
I think this is what Adam Silver's NBA is, which
is there's about eight teams that could all if they're
healthy and got a call in a game six of
a series. This is what the NFL truly wants. They
don't want Kansas City and Belichick dominant Lee. It's all
smushed in the middle. And I feel this way with
college football outside of Ohio State. And I mean, I
(20:47):
think the Rams are the cleanest good team in the league.
But I wouldn't be shocked if they if they lost
to Philly, Detroit, Seattle if they played them again in
the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
So this is where I will agree with you more
so this year than any year honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Of mahomes whole career.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
This you know, post Brady NFL and post Brady Patriots era.
I think Colin, you can credibly make a case for
maybe twelve teams could win the Super Bowl. So because
the entirety of your hierarchy I think could win, you
can make a case they can win the Super Bowl.
(21:27):
You certainly can include the Packers as a team that
can win the Super Bowl. And I know, I listen,
I know there's a team that's not even snipping your
top ten, that has seven wins and according to some
as the greatest coach quarterback combo maybe in NFL history,
and the Chargers, so they obviously have got you know,
just Joe Alt comes back, the most important player in
(21:49):
the history of pro football. Now they'd have to be
on there as well. But I agree with you. I
think a third of the league, like feels this morning
they can win the championship.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
I agree with that. So you know, it's interesting with
the Cowboys. I said last night, in the last four years,
I've had a good year betting football. But it's hard
week to week. You don't know. But the one thing
I really feel good about is every year I go
out and I give you two teams are going to
be better than everybody thinks. So this year it was
New England and it was Seattle. Last year it was
(22:21):
Denver in Washington. The year before it was I think
I picked the Rams as everybody thought, rebuild, and I'm like, no, McVeigh, Stafford,
they don't rebuild. I have said this if you're honest
about Dallas. So last night's a prime example where their
second round pick, who's really good, came back. Another kid
(22:44):
came back. They had all the kids playing in Quentinn Williams. Like,
anybody that leaves the Jets looked like great. Again, That's
what happens with everybody that leaves the Jets, including coaches.
They look competent. And I said, here's why I bought
the Cowboys talk. They stole George Pickens. Let's give Jerry
that was a great move. He is a great Okay,
I got a quarterback, a running back, and ascending O
(23:06):
line full of kids. Weapons are fine. Don't love the coach.
But in a sport where seven teams are desperate for
a quarterback going into the offseason, quarterback is always overdrafted
this year, no exception. Dallas is one of the only
teams the Rams the other that has two first round
picks and doesn't have to draft the quarterback. Dallas could
(23:28):
manipulate the heck out of this draft. Move down, move down,
moved down. My take is Dallas is not the Titans,
the Jets, the Raiders. They're no. I am not that
they're closer, though I totally agree with you.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Okay, Oh listen, I think that they are if you're
talking about for next season. Yes, I think next season
they're an interesting team. I think this season, the NFC
is too good in the middle for them to be
able to claw their way out of four or five
and one, just because you as far as making the
playoffs this year, I believe that ship has sailed and
(24:05):
you don't get the Raiders every week. But I agree
with you entirely that this could be a very intriguing
team next season in what seems like it's going to
perpetually be an underachieving NFC East. Like I don't think
that next year the Giants are all of a sudden
going to be really good, and I don't It doesn't
(24:26):
feel to me like the Commanders are nearly as close
as people thought. Obviously, Philly will be excellent. We would assume,
you know, they have the bones to be excellent every
single year because of what they've built there. The one
caveat I would have is the Jerry. It's feels inevitable
(24:46):
that the drama dejoure of this offseason for Jerry will
be the George Pickens negotiation, and as talented as he is,
I would have a little bit of anxiety about giving
that player real long term guaranteed money because of his
let's call it colorful history on being able to, you know,
(25:09):
stay within the dotted lines. But no, I agree with
you that I think the Cowboys are probably closer for
next season than people give them credit. But I just
I think because of what the Bears and Niners are
doing as a fight for that final playoff spot, that
they don't have any real hope of getting back into
it this season.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Like, I just think that's too far behind. You know,
It's interesting about the Bears now that I spend a
lot of time in Chicago there, there's almost there's almost fear, like, oh,
the schedule, Oh it gets really tough. And I showed people,
I said, their next five games, they play five teams
that don't know what they are offensively, Packers twice, Eagles, Cleveland.
(25:53):
I mean, these are good teams and pitch Steelers, they don't.
Chicago's flawed, but Nick second in the NFL in rush attempts,
second in rushing. They know exactly what they are. They're
a big playoffense, Number one big play and they run
the heck out of the ball, So they're flawed. They
have too many penalties. They're stop and start. But the
(26:14):
Bears don't. They have a real offensive identity. Packers don't,
Eagles don't, Steelers don't, Cleveland doesn't. I think they have
a chance to win the division. That's what I see.
What do you use? How Wow?
Speaker 6 (26:26):
So that's a that's a part commentary on the Bears,
but that's also a part indictment on the Lions and
the Packers. To me, like it is saying that they
can win the division. So I let me respond, I
didn't expect that because I thought, to me, Bears fans
right now are just saying, can we please make the playoffs,
(26:49):
even though they're in first in the division. And I
do have to say I thought their win this Sunday
was one of the most I don't want to say
depressing wins, but needing a final drive magic to pull
one out of the fire against JJ McCarthy led Vikings
(27:09):
offense that could do nothing all game and almost losing
to them in the same fashion as you did in
Week one would.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Have been devastating. But they listen, Caleb has.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
Been clutch late and so and even though he wasn't
very good over the course of that game and seven
and three. To your point is seven and three. I've
got to think, Colin, that the Lions will get it
together and that they won't look like they did against
the Eagles against many other teams. Now, I don't really
(27:41):
believe in the Packers, and I think the Packers game
against the Giants it felt like, man if Jackson Dart
were healthy, would the Packers have lost that game? So
I do think that in the NFC, Philly and Tampa
and the Rams are obviously going to the playoffs. I
(28:02):
believe Seattle is also, I know they just lost this
game is pretty obviously going to the playoffs. It is
really interesting to me how the NFC North plus the
Niners is gonna shakeout, because it feels to me, with
respect to the Panthers, like there are three spots available
for Lions, Packers, Bears and San Francisco. And San Francisco
(28:27):
just seems like it's already dealt with its injuries and
they're still right in the thick of it.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
So which, Oh, I think we lost Nick right, Uh,
we'll try to get him back. Yeah, I okay, go
finish it up. Nick. I don't know what happened. I'm
just sorry.
Speaker 6 (28:50):
I was just saying I don't which of the NFC
North teams is going to be left without a chair
right now, given how they've played. I think Green Bed
is where my money would be, which would be so
disappointing to trade two first rounders for Micah and then
to win Week one the way they did if they
(29:10):
missed the playoffs, that's devastating.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
I want to end with an NBA thought. So, the
Lakers have new owners, and these new owners that took
over the Dodgers have moved off Manny Machado, Trade Turner,
Cody Bellinger, Corey Seger. These are great players. I mean
Seeger is the best Texas ranger. Trade Turner won the
National League Batting Crown. They moved off Zat Grinky at
(29:35):
some point. Luca jj Reddick are the future, the coach
and the star. And Austin Reeves is Rob Polinka's find
So that you know GMS they want to validate their
choices and Austin's played his butt off. How do you
exit the Lebron business without offending Rich Paul Lebron James
his legacy. Because these new owners have proven with the Dodgers,
(29:59):
they'll move off batting champs. Elite players at key positions.
It is about a handful of Bets Freeman Hotep stars
in their prime. They don't want old stars, they don't
want people off injuries. How do you exit the Lebron
Laker situation with dignity.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
For both Well, listen, I think you are accelerating a
process that's going to come to.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
A natural conclusion.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
So here is so I just, you know, fundamentally disagree
with the idea. I'm not saying necessarily your idea, but
the idea that adding Lebron James to any team in
the league somehow could be bad, Like that Lebron, who
last year was somewhere from the sixth to the ninth
(30:50):
best player in the whole sport, that dropping him on
a team will screw things up when he's been one
of the most malleable superstars in league history, and we
saw him last year as soon as Luca got there,
he played off the ball more and was excellent. So
I think this year this fit will work. Now, are
(31:12):
they good enough to beat the thunder? Probably not? Is
anybody probably not? And then after this season, Colin, if
he wants to play another year, I think it's very
on the board. That he does it, you know, maybe
a final stop in Cleveland. Maybe he looks out east
(31:33):
if he wants to do a.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
True farewell tour.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
But Lebron James is going to be a Laker this season.
I think that is pretty clear, and I think the
Lakers want him to be a Laker this season. As
good as they've been these first fourteen games, that team
we saw these fourteen games is not.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Good enough to win the championship.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
I don't know that adding Lebron makes them good enough.
It probably doesn't, but it gives them a chance. And
without him, that team can't win three rounds in the
West to get to the finals. We'll see if they
can with him. But I don't think it's going to
be a messy exit. I think Lebron's gonna play out
his contract as he has with every contract he's ever had,
(32:15):
and then survey.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
The landscape for the record. Just thirty seconds left, circling
back when the Chiefs lose to drop to five and five?
What's it like to be around Nick right in your
house in New York.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
It's not great, Colin, It's I mean, it was Listen.
I'm not a I'm not liking anger I don't like
yell at people or you know, like you like take
you know, hit the dog or something crazy. But my
wife and daughter see the life drain from.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
My eyes a bit.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
My wife, you know it's you know, I think is
maybe the next day more than she normally us checking
our you know, joint banking account and like, oh, it's
a lot less than there was in there before. And
you know that I occasionally, yeah, I shouldn't, but you know,
(33:16):
indulge in a loose cigarette or two. I you know,
so I'll tell you exactly what happened, and then I'll go.
When they picked up that second and six to get
it to the twenty yard line, I still to this
moment have not seen the field goal. When they picked
up that play, that last first down, I said.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
The Chiefs just lost. I'll be back.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
I grabbed my dog, I grabbed seventy five cents out
of our little change thing. I walked down to the bodega.
I bought a lucy cigarette and I smoked it and
was very very and then I thought about all the
people I had to contact to tell them how I'm
going to make payment.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
That's what I thought. That's what I thought about so
that was it. But you know what high highs low lows.
I don't do emotional hedges.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
I do the opposite, And I understand that the Chiefs
dynasty is dead in the water and Patrick Mahomes is
looking up at bow Nicks. A lot of season left.
A lot of season left, is all I'm gonna say.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Great to see you, Colin Nick. Right, yeah, those listen.
It was it was close, like last two years, all
the Chiefs games, it's close. They were just winning them
last year and not this year. Live in Chicago for
her
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noone 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 on
the agenda, Herd higher our key today. There's a lot
of teams, s'morsh right in the middle of the NFL.
What do we do with the Kansas City Chiefs? So
they had top ten team, What do we do with Seattle?
It's the Herd in Chicago, wherever you may be, however
(00:47):
you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of
your day. So okay, okay, you can say it was
just the Raiders. I understand that, but it should be
noted Dallas, the Quinn Williams down. They got that linebacker
back that that second round pick is healthy. So Quentin
(01:10):
Williams last night season high in sacks, one and a half,
career high end quarterback hits, another escape from New York
success story. Two things are absolutely true. Every player that
leaves the toxic New York Jets gets better instantly. And
Dallas is probably not as far off as everybody thinks.
Dallas has a top ten to twelve quarterback, run games,
(01:33):
good interior d line, Kenny Clark, Quinn Williams, the weapons
on the perimeter they stole George Pickens. That's a lot
of playoff boxes. Now. The offensive line is young, They're
inconsistent on pass protection, but the Cowboys are after the
Packers and Seahawks, the youngest offense in the league. So
they are an ascending offense. And remember I've been on this.
(01:56):
They don't need a quarterback. Seven teams in the league
are deathperate for it. So those two first round picks.
Quarterback is going to be overdrafted like it is every year,
and this year Dallas is going to be able to
manipulate that first round, those two picks. So Quinn Williams,
now you want he was an All Pro with Robert Sala.
(02:17):
That's what you saw last night. That was the Quinn
Williams that was an all Pro. Expect that going forward,
by the way, Kenny Clark interior alignment, so not all,
not all struggling teams are equal. Dallas is young, they're ascending.
They got a top ten to twelve quarterback. The Jets don't,
the Browns don't, the Raiders don't, the Saints don't, the
(02:39):
Titans don't. Dallas has the same number of wins as
the Miami Dolphins. And I would take Dallas ten out
of ten times because a DAK. I would take Dallas
ten out of ten times over Miami. So we can
all clown on Jerry Jones, and I you know, is
he the GM. Whatever he is, he's certainly not the
worst GM in the league. But I would say this
the offense, this is elite. They stole George Pickens, they
(03:02):
don't need weapons, running game feel solid. The O line
has to get better in pass pro. But they're all young.
The offense is young, and the two defensive issues they
have they can solve in the draft because they have
two first round picks. So I think Dallas going to
win six or seven games and they're going to get
an elite pass rusher in the draft. But last night,
(03:22):
we got to be fair about this. Donovan Azaraku, their
second round pick, played last night. Oh yeah, he's good.
He's a good player. And they got back Demarvin over
shown the linebacker. They got him back. Well, he's an athlete.
So you started seeing some of those young guys behind
(03:42):
Quinn Williams, and I know it's the Raiders. I get it,
I understand it. But again, turn the sound down. Watch
their athleticism last night. Quinn Williams a career high in
quarterback hits and one and a half sacks, a season high.
Escape from New York. So we can all say we
want to do but and I said this, when they
(04:03):
got Quinn Williams, they did not give up a first
round pick next year. That was very smart by Dallas
because six to seven teams are desperate for a quarterback,
and there's a bunch of quarterbacks that are probably mid second,
high second, late first round picks. They're all going to
be overdrafted. They're all going to be overdrafted. Mendoza is
(04:26):
going to go one or two. Everybody else probably gets overdrafted.
You need a quarterback, and the following year doesn't appear
to be as good at quarterback as this year. There's
not seven or eight guys that could go in the
first couple of rounds, so last night they were finally healthy.
On defense, Jerry Jones said after they went over the Raiders,
(04:46):
he could hardly contain himself.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You could say the mpag of the actually the players,
not just the non just your guys there in the
front was Quentin those guys.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
We also had other.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Players out there and that we'll head and heaven.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
So I really was pleased.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
With the way the defense, and that's us restraining myself
from feeling jumping up and down here.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Again, not all bad teams are equal. The Raiders don't
have anything right, from the culture to the run game,
head coach, there's a lot of stuff. Dallas has the
offense right, A sending, young, old line that run blocks
pretty well. Uh, excellent weapons, stole George Pickens, Ceedee Lamb's
a one. Javonte Williams looks like the Bronco kid. I
(05:37):
mean that offense. I think it's number two in the
NFL right now. That's fine, Okay, look at all the
bad teams. I'd feel a lot better today about Dallas
with those two first round picks. Maybe go get Caleb Downs,
Ohio State, go get a neg rusher. Problem solved. Young
athletic all right, so you get to the point of this.
(06:00):
I always think this is funny. In the NFL season,
fans lowis do this. I'll say, well I like this team,
and they're like, well, I haven't beaten anybody. Well, who's great.
I mean Philadelphia has won like twenty two of their
last what twenty five games, and they look ugly every week.
I mean Denver, none of you like Denver. Well are
they nine and two? At some point do you win
(06:24):
games or not? So the big question with the Bears
is the Bears are seven to three and in first place,
and everybody's saying, oh, yeah, but this schedule woo o oh.
I mean it's Joe Montana and the Niners coming up next.
I actually think they're going to remain in first place.
And here's why. What the next five games the Bears
(06:45):
play all have in common? Steelers, Eagles, Green Bay, Cleveland,
Green Bay? What are they all have in common? Every
one of those teams not the Bears. Every one of
those teams is struggling to find their offensive identity. Chicago
didn't have that problem. Chicago's inconsistent. But Chicago runs the
(07:06):
ball a lot and runs the ball well. And for
the record, still leaves the NFL in big plays. Yeah,
the Bears may be inconsistent, a little start stop, right,
but they have an identity. They are gonna run the
ball a lot, and they're gonna run it well. So
that's an identity the Bears. You know, it's a little
(07:27):
like a Quentin Tarantino movie. Strong plot, excellent character development,
seems a little out of order. We're gonna have to
wait to the end of the movie. So it all
sort of wraps in together and you'll be like, that
was really good. But there are times the operational part,
the penalties, three and out, Caleb misses an easy one,
(07:49):
you're like, hey, again, it's a little out of order.
They have bad quarters, weird halves, they're good late. So,
and I say this all the time, you do not
have to be perfect to get to a super Bowl.
You just have to have an identity. The Philadelphia Eagles
got to a Super Bowl last year. They were the
(08:10):
fourth worst passing team in a passing league, but the
Eagles knew what they were. That's why this year Philadelphia
is reready struggling because they're not a power run team.
Saquan's not as dominant as last year, so Philly doesn't
quite know what they are. Plus they have wide receiver drama.
Last year they had a little wide receiver drama, but
it was Saquon turn hand off and watch them run
(08:30):
for somewhere between seven and twenty seven yards. So that's
the thing about the Bears. You start looking at all
these games they play. Packers don't know what they are.
They're a passing team. The coach doesn't know it. Philadelphia, No,
Lane Johnson doesn't quite know what they are. Pittsburgh now
using a backup quarterback, Shadure Sanders now starting for Cleveland.
(08:51):
I think Chicago's fine. Again. Every game, every scene may
not feel like it kind of fits, but when the
movie's over, when the game's over, you look up and
you're like, yeah, that works. Yeah, that's what they do.
Still people out there, Matt Hasselback not quite sure about
(09:11):
the quarterback though.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Caleb is a young player learning on the fly, and
as he's learning, they're winning. He's morphing into Ben Johnson's
kind of quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Is he there?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
No? I don't think he is. He's really not. But
they seem to find ways to win. That's what happens
with DNA culture center type coaches. You set a standard
and then an expectation for the details and the discipline
that are going to happen in your organization every single day.
Do I think this is their year without after I
say all that, No, they haven't really beat anybody, but
(09:44):
the schedule's getting tougher here we'll find out who they
really are.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Well, we know who Caleb Williams is. Today is this
twenty fourth birthday. Happy birthday to Caleb, Happy birthday to
first Place, Happy birthday to facing fives right games with
teams with no offensive identity. I like Chicago, not even
gonna say I'm a good luck charm. I didn't have
(10:08):
anything to do with it. But they are in first
and it's coming together. J Mac, you know, it's nice
to be in a city. It's nice to be in
a city with winners. That's all I'm gonna say. Yeah, Yeah,
for sure, definitely. You know tomorrow's DeAndre Swift's birthday. Let's
make sure we get in the shout out. I'm just kidding, boy,
you love you some bears. Huh Okay, what's what's a
(10:30):
point differential? I haven't seen the standings this morning. I
don't get caught up into those numbers. Yeah, that kind
of data is irrelevance. I see the seven and the
first place. Those are the two numbers I see.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Hey, we're Cavino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
But here's the thing. We never have enough time to
get to everything we want to get.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
To, and that's why we have a brand new podcast
called over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun
in our two hour show. We never get to everything, honestly,
because this guy is over promising things we never have
time for. Yeah, you blubber list lame in me.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Well, you know what it's called over promise. You should
be good at it because you've been over promising women
for years.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show, and we
want you to be a part of it. We're gonna
be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk
life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing
about something or we didn't have enough time, it will
continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if
you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you
check out Over Promised and also Uncensored, by the way,
so maybe we'll go at it even.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
A little harder. It's gonna be the best after show
podcast of all time.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
There you go, over Promising and remember you could see
it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen Over Promised
with Covino and Rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Heard Hierarchy time. If no, let's go the top ten
NFL teams according to College number ten.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I think arguably the most talented athletic team in the
league is Seattle, and I'll put them at ten because
they have the most giveaways in the league. But they
were going for a game winning kick against the Rams
in LA and they had four picks. They have the
best point differential in the NFC. They don't have a
real gap in their team other than the giveaways. JSN
is the highest gradded receiver according to PFF. They've allowed
(12:25):
the fewest sacks on offense. They got playmakers everywhere on
both sides of the ball. They can run it with power,
so if they get a lead, they can close out
the clock. They make too many mistakes, but they are
a great number ten team that was going for a
winning kick against the Rams on a day on the road.
They had four picks. Number ten Seattle, number nine again,
(12:46):
Kansas City. I like them. They have the second most
efficient scoring offense behind the Colts in pro football. They're
not good on the road. They have struggled on the
road because they're just not talented enough. Now that Chris
Jones is not playing in an elite level, the defense
isn't as intimidating. They're really good and they've got a
good coach. I don't think Mahomes right now is playing
(13:07):
like Josh Allen. But again, I like their weapons. I
like their team. If they beat Indy, I think they're
a playoff team. I think this weekend's a big deal.
I'm a little surprised they're a three point favorite. I
guess the game's at home, but I have Kansas City
at nine. Number eight. My coaching staff of the year
in the NFL is San Francisco. I don't know how
Robert sala is doing it. By the way, they're seven
(13:30):
to zero when they hold their opponents under twenty five.
But Rock Purty, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Jennings, here comes
Ricky pearsall the bands back together, and the old line
has been better than I've given it credit for. Again,
they're a little Christian McCaffrey dependent. Leads in yards, leads
in Cherry's, leads in catches, but they're now healthy. They're dangerous,
(13:54):
and I think their coaching staff has been doing it
with smoking mirrors and now they've got like elite number
seven Buffalo. Yeah, they drive me crazy, but I will
say this. They lead the NFL in offensive touchdowns and
they average six point three yards of play, which is
second in the NFL, and I think that matters a lot.
Josh Allen is playing at another level. Again, like San Francisco.
(14:18):
They can be one player dominant on offense. Don't trust
their defense. But I really believe in all the years
I've been new and hurt hierarchy, the difference between Seattle
and the number one team is about four points. I'll
put them at seven, number six. I think the Colts
would beat him if they played, probably in Indy, maybe
not in Buffalo. But again, it's the number one scoring offense.
(14:42):
Only team in the league scoring on over fifty percent
of their drives. They have the fewest punts in the NFL.
They're off a by I think Kansas City's going to
have their hands full. I'd buy them now. Do I
think Daniel Jones presents a ceiling. Absolutely, We're not in
January today. Right now, that's a top six roster in
the NFL. And I said it last year, and I've
(15:04):
said this about Cleveland. If you gave Cleveland a really
good coach, go look at Cleveland's roster. They got dudes.
They got a lot of dudes. Indies. Roster is the elite,
and now they're getting competent plus quarterback play. Number five
the Ravens when Lamar plays their average in twenty nine
a game four game winning streak since the week seven.
(15:24):
By listen, their defense now is healthy and playing better.
They have playmakers on both sides. Again, this heard hierarchy.
We're doing it. It's November, it's not January. Do I
trust them? Then? Know their next three games Jets, Bengals, Steelers,
So the winning streak is going to continue. Don't take
too much out of a close game against Cleveland. Number one,
Cleveland's defense at home is outrageous, and it was a
(15:47):
third straight road game. I like this team a lot
Baltimore five, number four, but I think in a neutral field,
I take the Patriots, the only undefeated team on the road,
three and one against winning teams, an incredibly efficient team.
Their defense in nine straight games has held people to
twenty three points are under Vrabel deserves credit. He went
and spent almost three hundred million dollars in free agency,
(16:09):
but he's spent it on character guys, defense, tough guys
in physicality. They have an identity. They're a tough, physical
team where a quarterback that's completing seventy two percent of
his throw efficiency wins post Thanksgiving New England four number three.
I don't know what to do with Philly. They're not
good with Lane Johnson's out, but they are twenty four
(16:31):
and three in their last twenty seven games and they're
just dynamite in one score games. What are you gonna say.
Here's the thing that I like about them. They have
the best interior D line in the league, and it
made a huge difference again this weekend against Detroit. You
can't get fourth and one on them. They bat down
passes constantly, opposing quarterbacks in the NFL complete fifty six
(16:53):
percent of their throws against Philadelphia, and it's because they
got good corners, active linebackers, and two studs on the
interior D line. Number two Denver. And again, what's the
difference between Seattle and Denver if they played tomorrow a
point and a half. That's how close this thing is. Listen,
(17:13):
six of their seven games have been decided like the
Kansas City game on a drive. Their offense has been
held the one touchdown in back to back games. But
I do believe, and I said it last year with
Kansas City, there is there are teams that are good
in close games. Kansas City last year was great and
close game. Denver this year is great and close games.
I don't think it's like fumbles that it's random. It
(17:34):
usually comes down to an elite play designer and play
caller and a quarterback who's good late in games on
final drive. That was Mahomes last year, that's Bonix this year.
But they are a heavily penalized team, so they beat themselves.
They've got almost, you know, nine hundred penalty yards and
they've trailed in all eleven games. But you are what
your record is They're two number on. The Rams are
(17:58):
the cleanest team in the league, second year in a row,
fewest penalties, they don't make any mistakes. They're Seattle without
the mistakes. They're Denver without the penalties. So I'm really
rewarding them. I don't think they're the most dynamic offense,
although I will say Devonte Adams is on a heater.
He is on a heater. He has become the touchdown guy,
(18:18):
not Puka. So I do think there is value in
the Rams not being as flashy or as a dynamic
as other teams. They don't get penalized, they don't turn
it over. You can't get the twenty seven points on them,
you can't get the twenty four points on him. That's
my top ten, and I think the difference between one
(18:38):
and eight, nine and ten is about four points, and
that's about it. I think it's really I got green
Bay at eleven. I mean it's I think green Bay
struggling with our identity. I have the Bears at twelve,
green Bay at eleven. Coin flip that they play tomorrow
home team would win.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays
and Nowie st nine a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Nick Right is joining us. First things first, Johnny and I.
You could say I'm selling the chief stock. I'm not.
You sold it in the offseason.
Speaker 6 (19:14):
You've declared this dynasty dead twice in the last three months,
and in the middle of that you declared them far
and away the best team in the league. So I
gotta tell you I'm not listen. I am not here
today to crow about the Chiefs. They have put me
in such a crisis that I'm rocking a ponytail on
your show because I'm in disarray with my team being
(19:37):
the nine seed and I'm looking at tiebreakers against the
Jags like a true poverty franchise when I'm used to
looking up paths to the one seed.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
So I'm not in a good spot.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
And I was dead wrong about the game last week.
But you have been a fickle beast when it comes
to this Chiefs team this.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Year and.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
The team you have number two, who again outplayed Kansas City,
deserved to win, they were better, but you have them
as the number two team in the league. Last week,
weren't you trading their quarterback?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Like? Like, are you that down on.
Speaker 6 (20:15):
Bow Nicks a week ago that he was maybe on
his way out, and now he's the number They're the
number two team in the league.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
I think this is what Adam Silver's NBA is, which
is there's about eight teams that could all if they're
healthy and got a call in a game six of
a series. This is what the NFL truly wants. They
don't want Kansas City and Belichick dominant Lee. It's all
smushed in the middle. And I feel this way with
college football outside of Ohio State. And I mean, I
(20:47):
think the Rams are the cleanest good team in the league.
But I wouldn't be shocked if they if they lost
to Philly, Detroit, Seattle if they played them again in
the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
So this is where I will agree with you more
so this year than any year honestly.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Of mahomes whole career.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
This you know, post Brady NFL and post Brady Patriots era.
I think Colin, you can credibly make a case for
maybe twelve teams could win the Super Bowl. So because
the entirety of your hierarchy I think could win, you
can make a case they can win the Super Bowl.
(21:27):
You certainly can include the Packers as a team that
can win the Super Bowl. And I know, I listen,
I know there's a team that's not even snipping your
top ten, that has seven wins and according to some
as the greatest coach quarterback combo maybe in NFL history,
and the Chargers, so they obviously have got you know,
just Joe Alt comes back, the most important player in
(21:49):
the history of pro football. Now they'd have to be
on there as well. But I agree with you. I
think a third of the league, like feels this morning
they can win the championship.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
I agree with that. So you know, it's interesting with
the Cowboys. I said last night, in the last four years,
I've had a good year betting football. But it's hard
week to week. You don't know. But the one thing
I really feel good about is every year I go
out and I give you two teams are going to
be better than everybody thinks. So this year it was
New England and it was Seattle. Last year it was
(22:21):
Denver in Washington. The year before it was I think
I picked the Rams as everybody thought, rebuild, and I'm like, no, McVeigh, Stafford,
they don't rebuild. I have said this if you're honest
about Dallas. So last night's a prime example where their
second round pick, who's really good, came back. Another kid
(22:44):
came back. They had all the kids playing in Quentinn Williams. Like,
anybody that leaves the Jets looked like great. Again, That's
what happens with everybody that leaves the Jets, including coaches.
They look competent. And I said, here's why I bought
the Cowboys talk. They stole George Pickens. Let's give Jerry
that was a great move. He is a great Okay,
I got a quarterback, a running back, and ascending O
(23:06):
line full of kids. Weapons are fine. Don't love the coach.
But in a sport where seven teams are desperate for
a quarterback going into the offseason, quarterback is always overdrafted
this year, no exception. Dallas is one of the only
teams the Rams the other that has two first round
picks and doesn't have to draft the quarterback. Dallas could
(23:28):
manipulate the heck out of this draft. Move down, move down,
moved down. My take is Dallas is not the Titans,
the Jets, the Raiders. They're no. I am not that
they're closer, though I totally agree with you.
Speaker 6 (23:42):
Okay, Oh listen, I think that they are if you're
talking about for next season. Yes, I think next season
they're an interesting team. I think this season, the NFC
is too good in the middle for them to be
able to claw their way out of four or five
and one, just because you as far as making the
playoffs this year, I believe that ship has sailed and
(24:05):
you don't get the Raiders every week. But I agree
with you entirely that this could be a very intriguing
team next season in what seems like it's going to
perpetually be an underachieving NFC East. Like I don't think
that next year the Giants are all of a sudden
going to be really good, and I don't It doesn't
(24:26):
feel to me like the Commanders are nearly as close
as people thought. Obviously, Philly will be excellent. We would assume,
you know, they have the bones to be excellent every
single year because of what they've built there. The one
caveat I would have is the Jerry. It's feels inevitable
(24:46):
that the drama dejoure of this offseason for Jerry will
be the George Pickens negotiation, and as talented as he is,
I would have a little bit of anxiety about giving
that player real long term guaranteed money because of his
let's call it colorful history on being able to, you know,
(25:09):
stay within the dotted lines. But no, I agree with
you that I think the Cowboys are probably closer for
next season than people give them credit. But I just
I think because of what the Bears and Niners are
doing as a fight for that final playoff spot, that
they don't have any real hope of getting back into
it this season.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Like, I just think that's too far behind. You know,
It's interesting about the Bears now that I spend a
lot of time in Chicago there, there's almost there's almost fear, like, oh,
the schedule, Oh it gets really tough. And I showed people,
I said, their next five games, they play five teams
that don't know what they are offensively, Packers twice, Eagles, Cleveland.
(25:53):
I mean, these are good teams and pitch Steelers, they don't.
Chicago's flawed, but Nick second in the NFL in rush attempts,
second in rushing. They know exactly what they are. They're
a big playoffense, Number one big play and they run
the heck out of the ball, So they're flawed. They
have too many penalties. They're stop and start. But the
(26:14):
Bears don't. They have a real offensive identity. Packers don't,
Eagles don't, Steelers don't, Cleveland doesn't. I think they have
a chance to win the division. That's what I see.
What do you use? How Wow?
Speaker 6 (26:26):
So that's a that's a part commentary on the Bears,
but that's also a part indictment on the Lions and
the Packers. To me, like it is saying that they
can win the division. So I let me respond, I
didn't expect that because I thought, to me, Bears fans
right now are just saying, can we please make the playoffs,
(26:49):
even though they're in first in the division. And I
do have to say I thought their win this Sunday
was one of the most I don't want to say
depressing wins, but needing a final drive magic to pull
one out of the fire against JJ McCarthy led Vikings
(27:09):
offense that could do nothing all game and almost losing
to them in the same fashion as you did in
Week one would.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Have been devastating. But they listen, Caleb has.
Speaker 6 (27:21):
Been clutch late and so and even though he wasn't
very good over the course of that game and seven
and three. To your point is seven and three. I've
got to think, Colin, that the Lions will get it
together and that they won't look like they did against
the Eagles against many other teams. Now, I don't really
(27:41):
believe in the Packers, and I think the Packers game
against the Giants it felt like, man if Jackson Dart
were healthy, would the Packers have lost that game? So
I do think that in the NFC, Philly and Tampa
and the Rams are obviously going to the playoffs. I
(28:02):
believe Seattle is also, I know they just lost this
game is pretty obviously going to the playoffs. It is
really interesting to me how the NFC North plus the
Niners is gonna shakeout, because it feels to me, with
respect to the Panthers, like there are three spots available
for Lions, Packers, Bears and San Francisco. And San Francisco
(28:27):
just seems like it's already dealt with its injuries and
they're still right in the thick of it.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
So which, Oh, I think we lost Nick right, Uh,
we'll try to get him back. Yeah, I okay, go
finish it up. Nick. I don't know what happened. I'm
just sorry.
Speaker 6 (28:50):
I was just saying I don't which of the NFC
North teams is going to be left without a chair
right now, given how they've played. I think Green Bed
is where my money would be, which would be so
disappointing to trade two first rounders for Micah and then
to win Week one the way they did if they
(29:10):
missed the playoffs, that's devastating.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
I want to end with an NBA thought. So, the
Lakers have new owners, and these new owners that took
over the Dodgers have moved off Manny Machado, Trade Turner,
Cody Bellinger, Corey Seger. These are great players. I mean
Seeger is the best Texas ranger. Trade Turner won the
National League Batting Crown. They moved off Zat Grinky at
(29:35):
some point. Luca jj Reddick are the future, the coach
and the star. And Austin Reeves is Rob Polinka's find
So that you know GMS they want to validate their
choices and Austin's played his butt off. How do you
exit the Lebron business without offending Rich Paul Lebron James
his legacy. Because these new owners have proven with the Dodgers,
(29:59):
they'll move off batting champs. Elite players at key positions.
It is about a handful of Bets Freeman Hotep stars
in their prime. They don't want old stars, they don't
want people off injuries. How do you exit the Lebron
Laker situation with dignity.
Speaker 6 (30:21):
For both Well, listen, I think you are accelerating a
process that's going to come to.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
A natural conclusion.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
So here is so I just, you know, fundamentally disagree
with the idea. I'm not saying necessarily your idea, but
the idea that adding Lebron James to any team in
the league somehow could be bad, Like that Lebron, who
last year was somewhere from the sixth to the ninth
(30:50):
best player in the whole sport, that dropping him on
a team will screw things up when he's been one
of the most malleable superstars in league history, and we
saw him last year as soon as Luca got there,
he played off the ball more and was excellent. So
I think this year this fit will work. Now, are
(31:12):
they good enough to beat the thunder? Probably not? Is
anybody probably not? And then after this season, Colin, if
he wants to play another year, I think it's very
on the board. That he does it, you know, maybe
a final stop in Cleveland. Maybe he looks out east
(31:33):
if he wants to do a.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
True farewell tour.
Speaker 6 (31:35):
But Lebron James is going to be a Laker this season.
I think that is pretty clear, and I think the
Lakers want him to be a Laker this season. As
good as they've been these first fourteen games, that team
we saw these fourteen games is not.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Good enough to win the championship.
Speaker 6 (31:54):
I don't know that adding Lebron makes them good enough.
It probably doesn't, but it gives them a chance. And
without him, that team can't win three rounds in the
West to get to the finals. We'll see if they
can with him. But I don't think it's going to
be a messy exit. I think Lebron's gonna play out
his contract as he has with every contract he's ever had,
(32:15):
and then survey.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
The landscape for the record. Just thirty seconds left, circling
back when the Chiefs lose to drop to five and five?
What's it like to be around Nick right in your
house in New York.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
It's not great, Colin, It's I mean, it was Listen.
I'm not a I'm not liking anger I don't like
yell at people or you know, like you like take
you know, hit the dog or something crazy. But my
wife and daughter see the life drain from.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
My eyes a bit.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
My wife, you know it's you know, I think is
maybe the next day more than she normally us checking
our you know, joint banking account and like, oh, it's
a lot less than there was in there before. And
you know that I occasionally, yeah, I shouldn't, but you know,
(33:16):
indulge in a loose cigarette or two. I you know,
so I'll tell you exactly what happened, and then I'll go.
When they picked up that second and six to get
it to the twenty yard line, I still to this
moment have not seen the field goal. When they picked
up that play, that last first down, I said.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
The Chiefs just lost. I'll be back.
Speaker 6 (33:40):
I grabbed my dog, I grabbed seventy five cents out
of our little change thing. I walked down to the bodega.
I bought a lucy cigarette and I smoked it and
was very very and then I thought about all the
people I had to contact to tell them how I'm
going to make payment.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
That's what I thought. That's what I thought about so
that was it. But you know what high highs low lows.
I don't do emotional hedges.
Speaker 6 (34:06):
I do the opposite, And I understand that the Chiefs
dynasty is dead in the water and Patrick Mahomes is
looking up at bow Nicks. A lot of season left.
A lot of season left, is all I'm gonna say.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
Great to see you, Colin Nick. Right, yeah, those listen.
It was it was close, like last two years, all
the Chiefs games, it's close. They were just winning them
last year and not this year. Live in Chicago for
her
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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