Colin Cowherd Podcast - Eagles Survive Bills Rally, Steelers Are In BIG Trouble, Don’t Sleep On The Pats, Pete Carroll One & Done?

Game just ended, Philadelphia edged Buffalo 13 to 12, and I loved the two-point try at home with Josh Allen rolling and the second-half momentum. Philly’s roster advantage showed early, but they went conservative, stopped feeding A.J. Brown, and the offense stalled after a sharp first half from Jalen Hurts.

Going for two was right, but Buffalo’s in that spot because the kick unit couldn’t cash an extra point. Philly’s run game and line aren’t the battering ram they were last season, yet the defense has real juice and still got Allen down a bunch even with him hobbling; hard to see Buffalo stringing three playoff wins like this.

Buffalo felt lucky to be in it late, living off a trick play and a couple deep shots; Allen’s pressing because he doesn’t trust that receiver room and the line leaks. I could see them one and done against teams like Denver or Jacksonville.

Allen’s ankle limits the QB run threat, and when the line gets overwhelmed, everything shrinks. Against better fronts, the Bills’ protection and pass catchers get exposed, which is a brutal way to live in January.

Cleveland beat Pittsburgh 13 to 6, and it was classic Tomlin as a favorite against a bad team: flat, mistake-prone, and thin at receiver without DK. Forcing a 42-year-old quarterback to drop back nearly forty times with Myles Garrett hunting is a blueprint for six points.

They scored six in a game with the division on the line while ignoring a productive run, then kept throwing at Denzel Ward like that was a mismatch. With injuries stacking, I’m out on them next week regardless of who Baltimore starts.

Seattle 27, Carolina 10 felt like the Seahawks doing what they always do: no glaring hole, steady everywhere, and then the talent shows up after halftime. Darnold’s got that short memory, and his timing with JSN on those corner routes is already high level.

They’d win that matchup almost every time; the gap widened as it went. Mike Macdonald’s defense travels, their DBs are chess pieces, and with Schneider stocking veterans around the kids, they look like a smart, fast roster.

New England drilling the Jets 42 to 10 was a reminder that Vrabel, Drake May, and an upgraded receiver room can pop. That was 35 to 3 at half on the road, and I think they’re undervalued compared to Buffalo and even Denver, though Jacksonville’s a tougher pull.

They’ve got real speed with Henderson and the wideouts, and Josh McDaniels has May playing to his traits, which put him in the MVP chatter for stretches. The rub is the wild card draw—Texans, Chargers, or Bills are all hardened, high-functioning playoff operations.

On Saturday, Baltimore outlasted Green Bay despite Malik Willis being nearly perfect on limited snaps; he’s the best backup in the league and made chunk plays on cue. I like the Ravens to beat Pittsburgh even if they need Tyler Huntley again.

Both teams are volatile, but Willis and Derrick Henry were the two best players on that field and still couldn’t paper over a leaky defense. Willis is about to get paid, and with his legs the Packers might be feistier than with a static pocket game.

Houston over the Chargers 20 to 16 was my favorite bet because the Chargers’ line collapses against elite rush, and Demeco’s group brings heat. Nick Caserio’s flipped the receiver narrative with Tank Dell and those Iowa State kids, and this defense is suffocating anywhere they play.

Terrible matchup for L.A. with both tackles out, while Houston’s front and deep-shot element make them explosive. Caserio nailed the Stroud–Will Anderson swing and replenished picks, and Demeco was built to be a top-tier head coach; they started 0 and 3 and now look like a twelve-win team.

Quick media note: week 17 required Netflix, Amazon, Peacock, the NFL Network, cable, and the broadcast nets, which is a big ask for fans. As the league stretches the calendar, streaming fragmentation is going to test how many paywalls people will cross for late-season backups.

Peacock’s a staple in my house for other shows, but you can feel legacy TV fading while streamers chase live sports. The third or fourth app for a mid-December game is a real friction point for casuals.

Draft picture after the Giants blasted the Raiders: Vegas sits in line for Fernando Mendoza, and they need to pick the right coach profile, not just a famous name. I’d clean house, get a modern offensive mind, and entertain a Maxx Crosby trade haul to accelerate the rebuild.

Pete Carroll looks done, and the Raiders should stop chasing legacy fixes and find the next great developer. Mark Davis takes big swings, but this one needs a young builder and a full reset, even if it means moving a beloved star for multiple firsts.

College quick hit: Michigan hiring 66-year-old Kyle Whittingham works because NIL and the portal make it more about structure and roster management. He’s a cultural fit who builds lines, tight ends, and special teams, and he’ll harden that place fast.

It’s a lifestyle shift for him, but he’s a pro factory who’ll make them look like the physical Harbaugh outfits. He’ll purge the fluff and field an NFL-looking defense at every level.

Hard Rock Bet pick: I’m on the Rams minus seven and a half; their efficiency should overwhelm Atlanta, and Sean knows Raheem’s tendencies. Expect points and a cover.

I’ll take the Falcons with the hook at home; they’re a bad team that plays like a good bad team, and the familiarity cuts both ways. Seven and a half is a big number.

Great stuff, John. Go watch the Niners—see you.