The Herd with Colin Cowherd THE HERD - Hour 3 - Robert Mays from The Athletic stops by The Herd
Oct 14, 2025
Robert Mays, a Chicago-based football reporter for The Athletic, shares insights on the rapid turnaround of the Chicago Bears under HC Ben Johnson. He discusses the strategic improvements driving this transformation and dives into the challenges facing Josh Allen and the Bills, emphasizing defensive issues as a major hurdle. Mays also evaluates Bo Nix's fit with Sean Payton and explores the necessity for effective coaching ecosystems for star players to thrive. Lastly, he highlights emerging talents like Drake Maye while critiquing the Jets' coaching weaknesses.
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Bears Found Simplicity And Purpose
- Robert Mays says the Bears fixed role clarity and run-game structure under Ben Johnson after chaos under Shane Waldron.
- That intention and simpler use of personnel produced more fundamentally sound football early in the season.
Intensity Can Drive Quarterback Growth
- Mays describes the Caleb and Ben Johnson relationship as intense but productive, giving needed structure after a rough rookie year.
- That push-and-growth dynamic appears to be yielding visible returns for Caleb.
Bills' Defense Lags Behind Offensive Evolution
- Mays argues the Bills' defensive identity hasn't evolved while the offense has become more flexible and physical.
- He contends that defensive limitations and personnel choices are holding Buffalo back despite offensive growth.