Overview of THE HERD — Hour 1
In this hour, Colin Cowherd focuses on two major NFL storylines — the Giants’ injury-prone young core and Green Bay’s alarming offensive collapse — while also touching on several other Week 3 matchups, Arch Manning criticism, Sean Payton/Mike Macdonald’s awkward interview moment, and his broader case for expanding the college football playoff. The throughline: teams and players that rely on “if everything goes right” are dangerous bets, and the league’s best organizations build for durability, not hope.
The Giants: talented, but too dependent on “if”
Cowherd argues the Giants’ future is being clouded by the same issue as their present: too many cornerstone players are already injury risks.
His core argument
- Jaxson Dart is exciting, but his game is tied to playing on the edge — and that style may be hard to sustain.
- Cam Skattebo is a violent, collision-heavy runner Cowherd likes a lot, but he questions whether that style can last long term.
- Malik Nabers is a true star, but injuries have already limited his availability.
- Andrew Thomas is viewed as elite, but he has also been banged up again.
Main takeaway
Cowherd’s point is that the Giants cannot build their future around a group that may not stay on the field. He recommends:
- adding another offensive tackle,
- drafting more depth at running back and receiver,
- and preparing for sustainable backups who could eventually become starters.
Packers vs. Falcons: Green Bay needs a convincing win
Cowherd says tonight’s Packers-Falcons game is more than just a win/loss spot — it’s a test of whether Green Bay’s offense is actually fixable.
Why he’s concerned about Green Bay
He rattles off a brutal stat profile:
- bottom of the league in completion percentage,
- rushing yards,
- third-down offense,
- penalties,
- fumbles,
- drops,
- and offensive line performance.
His bigger concern
- Cowherd thinks this is not just an offensive line problem.
- He believes Matt LaFleur may be losing control of the offense and possibly the locker room.
- He says Green Bay has regressed over the last two seasons and needs to show real progress, not just scrape by against a bad Atlanta team.
What he wants to see
- A convincing home win
- Sustained drives
- First downs
- Evidence the offense can function against real opponents
Other NFL Week 3 storylines
Chiefs vs. Dolphins
- Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City has stayed hungry and cannot get complacent after a strong start.
- Cowherd thinks Miami may be in genuine trouble and could be headed for a major rebuilding collapse if the losses keep piling up.
- He notes the Dolphins may be unusually short on actual talent, even compared to other struggling teams.
Cowboys vs. Ravens in Brazil
- George Pickens’ slow start is part of the discussion.
- Cowherd thinks Baltimore could be a strong blowout candidate if key players are available.
- He points to Dallas’ defensive issues and says the Ravens’ run game could overwhelm them.
Seahawks quarterback situation
- Sam Darnold is limited in practice, but Drew Lock has filled in well.
- Cowherd says Seattle is smart to keep a competent backup in place, especially in a physical division where quarterback hits are inevitable.
- He views Lock as a trustworthy, reasonably priced backup who fits the system.
Chargers and Bills
- Cowherd sees the Chargers as a live underdog, but also says Buffalo could easily blow them out.
- The implication: the Chargers are talented enough to matter, but still unstable enough to get routed.
Arch Manning and the pressure of expectations
Cowherd spends time on the discourse around Arch Manning, saying the criticism has been mostly fair.
His view
- Arch has been “okay at best,” not dominant.
- The Manning name creates constant attention, but that doesn’t erase the fact that performance matters.
- Cowherd says Arch has leaned into the celebrity side through endorsements, which makes him more fair game for criticism.
On the criticism itself
- He thinks many critics have actually held back because they respect the Manning family.
- He frames Arch’s Tennessee game as a meaningful test, calling it a referendum-type matchup.
College football playoff expansion: more chaos is good
Cowherd strongly argues in favor of a bigger college football playoff, pushing back on the idea that expansion will ruin the regular season.
His argument
- More playoff games means more meaningful football, not less.
- College football’s appeal is not just quality — it’s:
- pageantry,
- tribalism,
- regional pride,
- band culture,
- and wild, unpredictable storylines.
His analogy
He compares critics of expansion to people who only see failure in something that is actually relatable and compelling — like his example of The Biggest Loser being more inspirational and emotional than it first appeared.
Bottom line
Cowherd believes:
- the regular season will still matter,
- the best rivalries won’t lose value,
- and the expanded playoff will simply give more fans access to the sport’s biggest passions.
Sean Payton, Mike Macdonald, and the “nothing burger” interview drama
Cowherd briefly addresses the controversy over an interview in which Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald referenced Sean Payton in a conversation that was apparently believed to be off the record.
Cowherd’s take
- He says it’s overblown and mostly an internet-fed controversy.
- He gives Macdonald credit for handling it like an adult:
- apologized,
- didn’t grandstand,
- didn’t turn it into a public feud.
Broader point
Cowherd argues that internet outrage often has little connection to real life and that people should stop pretending every minor issue is a massive scandal.
Key takeaways
- The Giants’ core is exciting but fragile — Cowherd does not trust “if” teams built around health assumptions.
- Green Bay’s offense is under real pressure — tonight’s game vs. Atlanta needs to show real progress.
- Arch Manning is not above criticism — and his endorsement-driven fame makes him even more visible.
- Expansion is good for college football — more playoff games means more relevance, more passion, and more money.
- Internet outrage is usually overblown — especially in the Sean Payton/Macdonald story.
Notable perspective
Cowherd’s recurring theme in this hour is that successful teams don’t live on hope. Whether it’s the Giants, Packers, Chargers, or college football’s traditionalists, his message is the same: build for sustainability, not wishful thinking.