Overview of BEST OF THE HERD
This NFL-heavy Best of The Herd episode features Colin Cowherd making early-season win total bets, unveiling his top 10 NFL quarterbacks, and laying out his 2025 playoff and Super Bowl predictions. Rachel Nichols joins for debate on the QB rankings and betting logic, and later Eric Mangini reacts to the biggest calls, including Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, Jalen Hurts, and the Dallas Cowboys.
NFL Win Total Bets
Overs
-
Detroit Lions over 10.5 wins
- Colin is bullish on Detroit largely because of the schedule.
- He believes the offense remains strong with Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
- His concern is the defense, but he still sees them as a likely 11-win team.
-
Philadelphia Eagles over 10.5 wins
- He trusts Jalen Hurts and the roster around him, especially Saquon Barkley and the defense.
- He believes the Eagles’ defensive front and overall depth keep them among the NFC’s best.
- He expects them to win the NFC East.
-
Jacksonville Jaguars over 8.5 wins
- Colin likes Trevor Lawrence and believes Jacksonville can build on a strong late-season run.
- He sees Liam Coen as an important coaching upgrade.
- He views the Jags as undervalued relative to public perception.
Unders
-
New England Patriots under 10.5 wins
- Colin thinks the Patriots are solid, but not elite.
- He points to a much tougher schedule and believes they’re more likely an 8- or 9-win team.
- He noted that Drake Maye may be good enough to keep them competitive, but not enough to make the over a safe bet.
-
Denver Broncos under 9.5 wins
- Despite last season’s jump, Colin thinks the Broncos are a regression candidate.
- He highlighted a brutal early schedule and overall skepticism about repeating a big leap.
- He also flagged internal coaching/offensive dynamics as worth watching.
-
New Orleans Saints under 7.5 wins
- This was framed as a fade-the-public pick.
- Colin is not sold on the defense and doesn’t love the schedule.
- He thinks the NFC South remains highly unpredictable.
Colin Cowherd’s Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks
Colin said this is a “right now” ranking, not a career résumé list. He also resisted overreacting to one-year breakout seasons.
Honorable mentions
- Trevor Lawrence
- Drake Maye
- Caleb Williams
- Dak Prescott
Top 10
| Rank | Quarterback | Colin’s reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Jared Goff | Consistency, accuracy, strong fit in the system, but limited mobility keeps him lower. |
| 9 | Brock Purdy | Elite processing and efficiency; Colin pushed back on the idea that he’s just a dink-and-dunk QB. |
| 8 | Jordan Love | Big-arm talent and strong late-season production; Colin is very high on Green Bay. |
| 7 | Jalen Hurts | Proven winner, dual-threat value, and huge Super Bowl performance. |
| 6 | Justin Herbert | Colin sees elite talent held back by prior coaching and team context. |
| 5 | Matthew Stafford | Veteran elite passer; still one of the best pure throwers in football. |
| 4 | Joe Burrow | Complete quarterback when healthy; Colin called him a true superstar. |
| 3 | Patrick Mahomes | Still a magician, but Colin placed him behind the top two partly because of health and a slight recent dip. |
| 2 | Lamar Jackson | Two-time MVP with extraordinary impact; Colin thinks narrative often overrates playoff criticism. |
| 1 | Josh Allen | Colin’s top QB for size, arm strength, toughness, and overall value; he just wants the Super Bowl breakthrough. |
Playoff Predictions and Super Bowl Pick
AFC division winners
- Bills win the AFC East
- Ravens win the AFC North
- Texans win the AFC South
- Chargers win the AFC West
AFC wild cards
- Chiefs
- Bengals
- Jaguars
NFC division winners
- Eagles win the NFC East
- Lions win the NFC North
- Buccaneers win the NFC South
- Rams win the NFC West
NFC wild cards
- Vikings
- Packers
- Seahawks
Super Bowl prediction
- Rams over Texans
- Colin picked Matthew Stafford and the Rams to win it all.
- He framed it as a championship-caliber roster if Stafford stays healthy.
Key Takeaways
- Colin expects several non-playoff teams from last year to rebound, citing the NFL’s yearly turnover and the likelihood of new playoff entrants.
- He is especially bullish on the Rams, Eagles, Lions, Texans, Chargers, and Bills.
- The biggest individual QB debate centered on Justin Herbert, with Colin defending his talent and Rachel Nichols and Eric Mangini both pushing for more proof before ranking him too high.
- Jalen Hurts’ “100% alignment and zero entitlement” comment sparked discussion, with Mangini interpreting it as strong leadership and possibly a subtle shot at locker-room friction.
- Mangini was most skeptical of CJ Stroud’s playoff regression, while also saying the Cowboys may be being underrated if their defense improves.
Notable Expert Reaction from Eric Mangini
- Josh Allen vs. Mahomes: Mangini was less willing than Colin to put Allen clearly over Mahomes, especially after Allen’s playoff turnovers.
- Justin Herbert: He praised Herbert’s tools and the coaching support around him, but said the league is still waiting for him to fully “materialize” as a true superstar.
- Caleb Williams: Mangini cautioned that year-two regression is real when schedules get harder and teams get more tape.
- Cowboys: He viewed Dallas as potentially slept on, especially if the defense improves and the roster stays more stable.
- Baker Mayfield / Buccaneers: He said the contract tension could motivate Baker and make him play even better.