Overview of JJ McCarthy’s Renaissance, Chiefs Worst Game With Mahomes, NFL Week 8 Preview
This episode of The Colin Cowherd Podcast features a wide-ranging NFL conversation with Eli Manning, centered on young quarterback development, coaching style, and a Week 8 betting-style preview of three marquee games. The main thread is JJ McCarthy’s recent improvement in Minnesota, with Eli explaining why confidence, comfort, and play-call fit can dramatically change a young QB’s trajectory.
JJ McCarthy’s Rise and What Helps Young Quarterbacks
Colin opens by saying JJ McCarthy looks like a completely different player than he did at Michigan or early in Minnesota. Eli agrees and says McCarthy’s recent success likely comes from a combination of:
- A change in scenery and offense
- More confidence from game reps
- A rhythm built through simplified situations
- Better understanding of which plays suit his strengths
Key point: comfort matters more than forcing “the perfect offense”
Eli says quarterbacks play faster and more confidently when coaches run the plays they like and understand best. His advice for young QBs:
- Know your favorite concepts
- Understand the timing and progression of those plays
- Build the offense around what the QB can execute cleanly
- Avoid making the quarterback feel like he has to “please the coach” with uncomfortable throws
Eli points out that McCarthy’s live-game reps helped him settle in, especially in two-minute situations where the structure is simpler and the QB can play freer.
Eli’s Own Development as a Young QB
Eli shares a personal example from his early Giants career. After a poor game against Baltimore, he told the staff he felt like he was being asked to run plays that weren’t his best fit. He suggested the concepts he felt most comfortable with, and the next week the offense leaned into those calls.
What he learned early
- Quarterbacks need to tell coaches what they see and feel comfortable with
- Confidence grows when the offense matches the QB’s strengths
- Small details matter: when to hang in the pocket, when to check down, when to wait on a route
He uses this to explain why some quarterbacks “take off” only after coaches adjust to them.
Coaching, Discipline, and Sending Messages
The conversation shifts to coaching styles, especially how some coaches use discipline as a message rather than a long-term punishment.
Tomlin, Harbaugh, and Coughlin
Colin brings up Mike Tomlin’s comment that “sometimes you need an ax to kill a mosquito,” and the discussion turns to whether coaches like John Harbaugh or Tom Coughlin use punishment to send a message.
Eli says Coughlin absolutely did:
- He was strict about rules and details
- He fined players often
- But once punishment was served, he moved on quickly
- He did not hold grudges
The bigger lesson: good coaching is firm but not personal. Players had to respect the standards and then get back to work.
What Watching vs. Playing Really Teaches a Rookie QB
The show also discusses whether a rookie quarterback can truly learn just by sitting behind a veteran.
Eli’s view:
- You can learn how a pro prepares
- You can learn how meetings and protections are handled
- But you only learn the hard stuff through live reps
He says watching helps, but it doesn’t replace real game experience. If a team is out of contention late in the year, Eli believes it can make sense to play a rookie simply to get him game footage and speed-of-play exposure for the offseason.
Player Evaluation: Film vs. Reality
Colin and Eli also talk about how some players look different live than they do on film.
Caleb Williams
Colin says Caleb Williams looked even more impressive in person than on TV:
- Bigger arm presence
- More obvious athletic tools
- Missed throws still had elite velocity and flashes
Ed Reed
Eli says Ed Reed was one of the hardest players to prepare for because:
- He read quarterbacks extremely well
- He baited throws with intelligence and instinct
- He could take advantage of a QB’s slightest mistake
- Even a decent throw could still end up intercepted
His point: some players are better in reality than the film suggests because their intelligence and anticipation don’t fully show up on tape.
Week 8 NFL Preview and Picks
The final portion of the episode turns into a game-by-game preview with Eli weighing in on the biggest matchups.
Ravens at Bills
Lean: Bills
Why Eli likes Buffalo:
- Coming off a bye
- Josh Allen remains the biggest difference-maker
- Baltimore’s availability issues around Lamar Jackson create uncertainty
- Buffalo’s offense and Allen’s late-game playmaking give them the edge
Chiefs at Broncos
Lean: Chiefs
Why Kansas City:
- Coming off an embarrassing loss
- Division stakes raise urgency
- Steve Spagnuolo can scheme well against Denver
- Denver’s offense is improving, but not fully clicking yet
Bears at Seahawks
Lean: Seahawks at home, but expect a shootout
This is the game of the week. Eli likes the matchup because:
- Caleb Williams is explosive and Chicago’s offense is humming
- Seattle’s defense can create confusion and turnovers
- Sam Darnold is aggressive and willing to take risks
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba is playing at an elite level
- Both teams can create explosive plays and big momentum swings
He expects:
- Big plays
- Interceptions
- A close, entertaining game
- A slight edge to Seattle at home
Sam Darnold’s Aggression and Turnover Risk
Colin raises the issue of quarterbacks who throw picks but still create explosive offenses. Eli says he likes Darnold’s style because:
- He stays aggressive after mistakes
- He doesn’t become afraid to throw downfield
- His coaches seem to support that aggression
- A strong run game helps keep him out of obvious passing downs
Eli’s broader philosophy: if a quarterback has the arm talent, let him be aggressive. Some interceptions are part of the deal.
Main Takeaways
- Young quarterbacks develop fastest when the offense fits them
- Confidence and comfort matter as much as talent
- Coaching discipline works best when it’s clear and not personal
- Film doesn’t always capture how great a player really is live
- The Bills, Chiefs, and Seahawks each have strong cases in their Week 8 matchups
Bottom Line
This episode is part quarterback philosophy, part NFL scouting report, and part game preview. The most valuable theme is Eli Manning’s belief that young QBs thrive when coaches simplify, trust their strengths, and let them build confidence through live reps. That framework is used to explain JJ McCarthy’s recent surge, evaluate other young quarterbacks, and preview a compelling Week 8 slate.