THE HERD - Hour 3 - NFL playoff picture, HC Sean Payton is doing the unthinkable for the Broncos

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is reacting LIVE immediately following the Week 15 Monday Night Football matchup between Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins vs. Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers. John kicks off talking about Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's inability to play in cold weather games & why the Dolphins may need to get rid of Tua. John then talks about the Pittsburgh Steelers playoff picture after Dolphins win gives them a one game lead on the Baltimore Ravens leading the AFC North with 3 games to go. John talks about how 49ers will probably not go to the Super Bowl but why it could be Kyle Shanahan's best coaching year of his career with the absurd amount of injuries to his star players. John also talks about how the Packers look moving forward without star edge rusher Micah Parsons ahead of a high stakes NFC North road battle against the NFC first place Chicago Bears this upcoming Saturday night, and what this could mean for head coach Matt LaFleur's future with the team. Lastly, John dives into his DMs and discusses the trend of older quarterbacks starting in the NFL & why teams pull the trigger to start guys like Joe Flacco & Philip Rivers than players they don't trust like Anthony Richardson. 05:01 - Dolphins-Steelers 24:09 - 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan 26:15 - Green Bay Packers 31:44 - Why are there so many old QBs starting in the NFL? 45:00- Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Use promo code “3ANDOUT20” on https://nicokick.com/zone for 20% off at checkout! Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fat Joe and Jadakiss were ACTIVE at DJ Khaled's We The Best Classic charity golf event. Joe and Jada took the pod on the road and sat down with a range of guests: they discuss Ludacris' private island, Jada's Verzuz with The Lox against Dipset, and hip hop stars setting an example for the youth with 'Fast & Furious' star Tyrese; Joe gets sage advice from former Hot 97 icon and current 'Angie IRL' host Angie Martinez, who jokingly accuses Joe of taking shots at 'Drink Champs' host N.O.R.E.; Steve Lobel, who's managed hip hop legends like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Jam Master Jay, sparks an amazing story from Fat Joe about Big Pun; and rising young athletes Taylor Townsend (pro tennis player and former No. 1 ranked doubles player in the world) and Malachi Toney (Miami Hurricanes receiver and ACC Rookie of the Year) shed light on their respective careers. 2:30 - Tyrese 13:30 - Angie Martinez 22:30 - Steve Lobel 35:00 - Taylor Townsend 46:15 - Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua predictions 50:00 - Malachi Toney Watch Jake Paul versus Anthony Joshua - Friday December 19th at 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific standard time. Live on Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/title/82122635 [Timestamps may vary due to advertisements.] Joe and Jada now on Patreon All lines provided by Hard Rock BetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason reacts to the Los Angeles Lakers getting a win over the Phoenix Suns that included yet another chapter in the odd beef between Dillon Brooks and LeBron James. He discusses Luka Doncic's slight dip in play since his return and how the defensive minded lineup was successful while Austin Reaves was out with an injury. Then he discusses Joel Embiid and Paul George looking better for the Philadelphia 76ers in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Victor Wembanyama's defensive masterclass for the San Antonio Spurs against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday, and gives his new NBA power rankings. All lines presented by Hard Rock Bet.  #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Cowherd gives Broncos QB Bo Nix respect for his performance against the Packers and wants to know when people will finally admit Nix is an elite QB leading the way for 12-2 Denver It's safe to say with Patrick Mahomes now out with a torn acl, it's time for a Chiefs rebuildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin shares this week’s edition of Colin Right, Colin Wrong – why he was correct about the Chiefs downfall but missed on Pete Carroll and the Raiders.  Plus, NFL reporter Albert Breer joins the show to tell Colin why Bears QB Caleb Williams is finally starting to turn the corner in Chicago as they prepare for a playoff runSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin talks about the most likely NFL playoff picture  With the injuries to Packers; are the Lions the better team? More thoughts on the Broncos clinching a playoff spot under Sean Payton   Guest: Mike DeFabo   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Cowherd gives Broncos QB Bo Nix respect for his performance against the Packers and wants to know when people will finally admit Nix is an elite QB leading the way for 12-2 Denver. He shares this week’s edition of Colin Right, Colin Wrong – why he was correct about the Chiefs downfall but missed on Pete Carroll and the Raiders. Plus, NFL reporter Albert Breer joins the show to tell Colin why Bears QB Caleb Williams is finally starting to turn the corner in Chicago as they prepare for a playoff runSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff is reacting LIVE immediately following the Week 15 Sunday Night Football matchup between J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings vs. Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. John kicks off by reacting to J.J. McCarthy's big game in a win vs. the Cowboys on SNF. John explains why it is good for McCarthy to continue to play well so that he can develop his relationship with his head coach Kevin O'Connell and his star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. John then questions what is going wrong with the Cowboys and George Pickens as the reciever seems disinterested for the second time in two weeks. John then reacts to the major NFL injuries sustained in Week 15, including ACL injuries to Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons, hamstring injury to Los Angeles Rams' Devante Adams, and a PCL injury to San Francisco 49ers' Rickey Pearsall. John then admits he was wrong about the Chicago Bears and that they look like a team that could potentially capture the top seed in the NFC. Next, John reacts to Josh Allen's spectacular comeback vs. divisional rival Patriots led by Drake Maye. John then reacts to Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix playing the game of his life vs. the Packers as well as Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson bouncing back vs. Joe Burrow and the CIncinatti Bengals. John then talks about Cleveland Browns QB Shedeur Sanders' struggles vs. the Bears and he can fend off the organization drafting another QB in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft.John wraps up by debating if Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Caroll should've stayed retired and applauds Indiapolis Colts QB Phillip Rivers for coming out of retirement. John closes out with his Hard Rock Bet Monday Night Football picks: Miami Dolphins (+3) at Pittsburgh Steelers De'Von Achane 2 TDs (+500)  02:04 - Vikings-Cowboys SNF Reaction 04:42 - J.J. McCarthy 13:55 - What is going on with George Pickens? 19:22 - Patrick Mahomes ACL injury 24:37 - Micah Parsons ACL injury 31:31 - GameTime 32:48 - Chicago Bears  34:07 - Lions-Rams 36:15 - Titans-49ers  38:53 - Bills-Patriots 43:32 - Packers-Broncos 47:07 - Ravens-Bengals 49:35 - Browns QB Shedeur Sanders 52:46 - Raiders head coach Pete Carroll 55:02 - Colts QB Phillip Rivers 58:36 - Hard Rock Bet MNF Picks Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Use promo code “3ANDOUT20” on https://nicokick.com/zone for 20% off at checkout! Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week 15 shook the NFL to its core, and Richard Sherman breaks down everything you need to know. From Brock Purdy’s strong performance in the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Tennessee Titans to ongoing defensive concerns, Sherm explains where the Niners really stand heading into the playoff push. The Seattle Seahawks pull off one of the strangest wins of the season without scoring a touchdown, while the Los Angeles Rams stun the Detroit Lions and tighten the NFC West race. This episode also covers massive, season-changing injury news, including Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL and the Kansas City Chiefs officially missing the playoffs. Richard reacts to what this means for Mahomes, the Chiefs’ future, and a wide-open AFC. Plus, Micah Parsons suffers a torn ACL, dealing a devastating blow to the Green Bay Packers and their postseason hopes. From Drake May vs. Josh Allen, Bo Nix’s breakout for the Denver Broncos, and the Chicago Bears surging behind Caleb Williams, to dark-horse contenders emerging across the league, this Week 15 breakdown explains why this NFL season has become completely unpredictable. All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin’s joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out” to break down all the week 14 NFL action. They start with the Broncos winning a heavyweight fight with the Packers and agree it was the best game of Bo Nix’s career and that the Broncos stepped up big time in a “prove it” game (3:15). After key injuries to Christian Watson and Micah Parsons, they call it a “crippling game” for the Packers (9:45).  They move to the Seahawks win over the Colts in the return of 44 year old Philip Rivers. Colin argues that older, immobile quarterbacks that know the offense like Rivers and Cousins can be effective and wasn’t surprised at the close result (11:30). They recap the Chargers win over Kansas City that eliminated Mahomes from the postseason. They agree that Justin Herbert has been better than Mahomes all season and laud the coaching of Jim Harbaugh for finding ways to win (23:45). They also explain why the Chiefs are headed for a 1-2 year retool/rebuild in a division with two other elite teams (29:00). They also react to the update of Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL and discuss what that means for the future of the Chiefs franchise and why they need to be careful bringing Mahomes back too quickly (30:30).  They move to the Bills comeback win over the Pats & argue that the Bills have to win in shootouts due to a lackluster defense and highlight an incredible second half by Josh Allen… who they agree is the best player in the NFL (35:00).  They recap the Bears beatdown of the Browns and Colin explains why the Bears look and feel like a playoff team on both sides of the ball and argues Ben Johnson might be the best coaching hire since Sean McVay (43:00). They move to the Rams playoff clinching win over the Lions and highlight the weakness of both teams’ secondaries, but point to a nearly unstoppable Rams offense that should carry them to a division title (56:30). Staying in the NFC West, they recap the 49ers win over the Titans and they explain why the Niners are a team that nobody will want to see in the postseason (1:02:15).  Finally, they survey the standings and make their picks for teams that can win a playoff game versus teams that can win it all (1:06:30).  (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.