Overview of THE HERD — Hour 1
This hour of The Herd (iHeartPodcasts / The Volume) covers the big NFL takeaways from Thursday night (Lions’ offensive resurgence, Cowboys’ offensive-line problems and George Pickens’ sideline behavior), why “trending” athletes can be harmful, plus quick hits on LeBron, Bo Nix/Denver, Penn State coaching rumors, Jalen Hurts/Eagles, playoff implications, and the host’s betting notes (Blazing Five / Super 6).
Key topics discussed
Detroit Lions
- Thursday night: explosive offense reappeared — mix of long quick-strike drives and time-consuming drives; looked like the Ben Johnson-era attack.
- Roster praise: dual backfield (David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs), receivers (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams), solid OL push and Jared Goff playing well.
- Stats/highlights: Lions averaging roughly 6.8–7.2 yards per play; last seven drives in the game had no punts.
- Outlook: Viewed as a legitimate playoff team with a high ceiling if they sustain this offensive form.
Dallas Cowboys
- Two main problems from the loss to Detroit:
- Offensive line/pass protection: Tyler Guyton out; Dak Prescott heavily pressured — Dak is the 3rd-most pressured QB this year, was hit/sacked/knocked down 11 times in this game. Aidan Hutchinson recorded ~10 pressures (7 in the fourth).
- George Pickens behavior: Pickens (5 catches) appeared disengaged late, drawing strong criticism (Richard Sherman quoted). Dallas’ chemistry/contract culture under Jerry Jones was discussed — “circumstance superstars” won’t be tolerated.
- Dak context: In his 6 wins this year he’s been sacked 7 times; in his 6 losses sacked 14 times — protection is a clear driver of Dallas’ results.
- Draft/roster implication: Need offensive tackle and edge rusher help; big decisions coming for next offseason.
Trending athletes & Shedeur Sanders (corrected name)
- Host critique: “Trending” attention = noise, not quality. Google’s top trending athlete (Shedeur Sanders) highlighted as an example of why viral attention can be a liability for NFL prospects.
- Point: GMs prefer low-visibility, team-first backups/rookies; trending can hurt draft stock and distract a locker room. Shedeur reportedly fell to Day 3 in the draft partly because of noise.
LeBron James / Lakers
- LeBron’s consecutive double-digit scoring streak ended, but host emphasizes LeBron’s long-term value as a playmaker and team enhancer — not merely a volume scorer.
- Observation: Lakers shoot a better 3-point percentage when LeBron plays; his leadership and basketball IQ make teammates better.
Bo Nix & Denver Broncos
- Broncos are 10–2 (8–2 in one-score games). Bo Nix praised but described as inconsistent early in games — high ceiling but uneven performance.
- Cautionary note: One-score win record needs context; Broncos could be vulnerable in playoffs against physical/pass-rush teams.
Penn State coaching rumor
- Matt Campbell (Iowa State) reportedly the leading candidate — host calls it a “massive home run” hire if true; Campbell has built Iowa State into a perennial overachiever.
Philadelphia Eagles / Jalen Hurts
- Hurts’ rushing usage down: 84 carries, 329 yards, 8 TDs through 12 games — his lowest rushing totals since becoming full-time starter.
- Take: Eagles’ issues may be OL/run-game related; Hurts is most dangerous when the run game is functioning.
Playoff picture, betting notes & picks
- AFC discussion: Chiefs-Texans game framed as pivotal; Texans defense dangerous; Chiefs’ OL/run game issues noted.
- NFC notes: Detroit rising; San Francisco’s age vs Detroit’s ascending offensive talent discussed.
- Betting mentions:
- Super 6 pick: Joe Burrow vs Bills.
- Host’s Blazing Five strategy: betting on games he doesn’t want to watch, removed Vikings vs Washington pick after report Jaeden Daniels will play; added Chargers vs Eagles.
- General betting tone: cautious around teams with QBs under heavy pressure or trending drama.
Notable quotes & soundbites
- “Trending is the dumbest trend of my life.” — on why trending attention ≠ quality.
- Richard Sherman’s idea cited: superstars must show up “regardless of circumstance.”
- “Don’t let a bad day become a bad week.” — resilience theme for teams/players.
- On Detroit: “When we get that explosion and speed, that feels like a playoff team.”
Main takeaways
- Detroit’s offense looked elite again — if sustained, they’re a serious playoff contender.
- Dallas’ offensive-line/pass-protection failures exposed Dak; George Pickens’ sideline demeanor is a major red flag for team culture/contracting in Dallas.
- Viral/trending athletes can be liabilities: teams value professionalism, consistency, and low distraction over social-media attention.
- Several key NFL games this weekend (Texans-Chiefs, Bears-Packers, Eagles-Chargers) have playoff and roster-implication consequences; handle bets with situational context (injuries, pressure rates, run-game health).
Action items / what to watch this weekend
- Watch Lions’ next few games to see if offensive surge continues (schedule includes road tests that matter).
- Monitor Cowboys’ OL situation and offseason draft/FA moves for tackles/edge.
- Track George Pickens’ narrative and any contract/disciplinary fallout.
- Chiefs vs Texans — toss-up with big postseason implications; Chiefs’ tackle issues are a concern.
- Eagles vs Chargers (Monday night) — check Hurts’ mobility and Philly run-game effectiveness before betting.
- Keep perspective when a player is “trending”; separate noise from on-field performance and professionalism.