THE HERD - Hour 2 - Ranking the top QBs in the NFL playoffs, did Dante Moore make a mistake?

Hour two on The Herd, Jason McIntyre in for Colin with Rachel Nichols, mics hot and eyes on any breaking news, and I’m kicking things off by stacking the divisional‑weekend quarterbacks.

Bottom half for me: I’ve got Bo Nix at the back for light résumé and shaky deep accuracy, Sam Darnold next because giveaways and a defense‑led one seed worry me, then C.J. Stroud after a sloppy stretch with the Texans defense bailing them out, and Caleb Williams in the five spot for pure late‑game nerve and how clean it’s looked with Ben Johnson.

Top tier: Drake Maye’s been excellent but thin on playoff pelts, Brock Purdy’s answered every second‑half test and throws deep as well as anyone, Stafford’s dealing at an MVP level, and Josh Allen sits on top because he can carry a roster even when it’s banged up.

You’re fine at the top, but Bo Nix shouldn’t be last when he’s quarterbacking a rested one seed at fourteen and three, so I’d slide him ahead of Stroud given how much Houston’s defense has scored.

With Sean Payton’s detail and this group’s reps in close games, they’re built for the moment, and Bo’s had enough late heroics to earn more respect than the floor of your list.

Allen feels like he’s doing everything for Buffalo right now, and I wonder how sustainable that is with so few healthy targets and a defense that’s had better years.

He doesn’t need sympathy or excuses, not with a top‑flight offensive line and James Cook rolling, and without Mahomes in the bracket it’s time to finish the job.

Brandon Cooks popping for the Bills has surprised a lot of people, especially this late in his career; you talked to him lately?

He’s steady, knows where to be, has great hands, and Joe Brady’s creating clean windows for Josh, so that in‑season move is paying off at the perfect time.

Sam Darnold as a one‑seed is a great story, but is that really a Super Bowl path given the turnovers?

It’s the one stat that can sink you, and that building is a bear in January, so even with his growth I see the Rams as the only team that can walk into Seattle and beat them.

I love the Purdy underdog arc; is he truly a franchise guy for you?

Yes with a sliver of hesitation, because last week was choppy and losing Kittle mattered, and if he hands Seattle a couple of short fields this weekend they’ll be going home.

Rams‑Bears has that Ben Johnson–LaFleur edge to it, and the handshake drama is real; you good with coaches leaning into the rivalry heat?

I love it, the healthy hate sharpens focus, it energizes the locker room, and players will go the extra inch for a coach who’s put his flag in the ground.

Bears are down their starting left tackle and now it’s Jared Verse off the edge; that’s a nightmare timing‑wise.

Verse is violent and relentless, so expect Chicago to throw help his way with tight ends, backs, and slides, because he can wreck Caleb’s timing if he’s singled too often.

Miami opened, and I want your unfiltered read on Mike McDaniel getting bounced, because I’ve defended the offense.

He changed how teams motion and deploy speed, made the game fun for us up front, and he’ll land on his feet; I didn’t see a locker‑room command problem, and losing always makes noise louder.

It’s still a good job because Miami attracts talent and ownership backs you, but there’s cap work and roster clarity to sort, and I think a coach gets a real window to reset it.

It’s attractive for coaches and free agents, but like every job it comes down to whether you truly know who your quarterback is.

McDaniel’s already interviewed a bunch, and the Ravens have cast a very wide net, which is wild for a team that didn’t even make the playoffs, because that place still carries real pressure.

With Lamar sitting in on interviews, it’s all about maximizing him, and while the division is rugged I’d still lean offense and then hire a great defensive coordinator.

Pick the job by the quarterback, and in Baltimore you can start with a star and then staff the defense right behind it.

Sean Payton told his room there’ll be a time to get off the ride, but not today, so where are you on Bills‑Broncos?

I played the under and lean Buffalo because the two‑minute drill confidence is night and day with Josh, and that’s the tiebreaker for me.

I’m with you that the best player on the field is Allen, and this feels like their moment.

Kyle Shanahan says nothing rattles Purdy, even after a late pick; take a listen.

Brock doesn’t flinch in noise or after mistakes, and the way he responded on the next drive tells you a lot about his makeup.

Seattle’s crowd is a jet engine, but Purdy’s been perfect on the road, so can he do it, yes; will he, we’ll see.

College note: Ty Simpson is off to the NFL, Dante Moore’s going back to school, and I think Moore should’ve gone now to lock in guaranteed money, avoid another year of nitpicking, and develop behind a vet instead of carrying next year’s hype.

He’s probably insured, and we’ve seen quarterbacks choose paths to avoid bad fits before, from Elway to Eli.

Jets‑dodged‑a‑bullet talk is everywhere and even my kids question my fandom, but we’ve got a big final hour with Bears‑Packers check‑ins and Felica’s plays, so stick and stay.