Best of The Herd

Colin Cowherd delivers a deep dive into the NFL's 2026 schedule release, praising the league's intentional and strategic approach to holiday, international, and primetime games. He highlights the star-studded matchups on Thanksgiving and Christmas, noting how the NFL has finally mastered creating high-impact, must-watch games across all major dates. Cowherd breaks down team-specific schedules, arguing that the league strategically rewards or punishes franchises based on brand value, performance, and even perceived internal dynamics—like the tough early slate for Denver, which he suspects may be a response to Sean Payton’s outspoken nature. He also examines the physical toll of schedules on older teams like the 49ers, whose late-season stretch features multiple road games against physical opponents. Guest Matt Hasselbeck adds player-level perspective, emphasizing how rest, bye weeks, and practice intensity affect performance more than raw strength of schedule. The episode concludes with a discussion on the psychological and logistical challenges of international games and the importance of rest and preparation for young quarterbacks like Fernando Mendoza.