DiscoverThe Bill Simmons PodcastAre Baltimore and Cincy Screwed? Plus, Underdog Weekend, the 0-2 Curse, a Bryce Benching, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal
Are Baltimore and Cincy Screwed? Plus, Underdog Weekend, the 0-2 Curse, a Bryce Benching, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

Are Baltimore and Cincy Screwed? Plus, Underdog Weekend, the 0-2 Curse, a Bryce Benching, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

Update: 2024-09-165
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The podcast begins with a recap of Week 2 NFL games, highlighting surprising outcomes and overreactions. The hosts discuss the AFC's wide-open nature and the struggles of several teams, including the Bengals, Ravens, and Jaguars. They analyze the Bengals' close loss to the Chiefs, the Ravens' inability to close out games, and the Jaguars' disappointing start. The hosts also discuss the Chiefs' potential weaknesses, the Rams' injury woes, and the Colts' defensive collapse. Moving on to Week 3 predictions, the hosts discuss their picks for various games, including the Jets vs. Patriots, Cowboys vs. Ravens, and Steelers vs. Chargers. They also play a game of "Guess the Lines," where they predict the point spreads for upcoming games. The podcast concludes with a "Parent Corner" segment, where Bill Simmons shares humorous stories about his experience with his son's travel baseball team and his daughter's use of his apps. He also discusses the recent Emmy Awards, focusing on the controversy surrounding John Oliver's loss to John Stewart.

Outlines

00:00:00
Week 2 Recap and NFL Predictions

The podcast begins with a recap of Week 2 NFL games, focusing on surprising outcomes and overreactions. The hosts discuss the AFC's wide-open nature and the struggles of several teams, including the Bengals, Ravens, and Jaguars.

00:05:26
Analyzing 0-2 Teams

The hosts delve into the performance of 0-2 teams, starting with the Bengals, who lost a close game to the Chiefs despite a strong performance from Burrow. They also discuss the Ravens' struggles to close out games and the Jaguars' disappointing start.

00:23:35
Colts' Defensive Collapse and Anthony Richardson's Debut

The hosts discuss the Colts' defensive collapse, highlighting their struggles against the run and their inability to stop Malik Willis. They also discuss Anthony Richardson's performance, highlighting his raw talent but also his tendency to make poor throws.

00:38:00
NFC South Predictions and Saints' Upset Win

The hosts discuss their predictions for the NFC South, highlighting the Buccaneers' potential for a turnaround and the Saints' surprising start. They also discuss the Saints' upset win over the Cowboys, highlighting their offensive explosion and their ability to run the ball effectively.

01:00:02
Week 3 Predictions and Guess the Lines

The hosts discuss their predictions for Week 3 NFL games, including the Jets vs. Patriots, Cowboys vs. Ravens, and Steelers vs. Chargers. They also play a game of "Guess the Lines," where they predict the point spreads for upcoming games.

01:13:01
NFL Week 3 Picks and Predictions

Bill Simmons and his guest discuss their picks and predictions for NFL Week 3 games, including the Colts vs. Cardinals, Seahawks vs. Dolphins, 49ers vs. Rams, and more. They also discuss their thoughts on the performance of various players and teams.

01:24:56
Parent Corner: Travel Baseball and Denny's

Bill Simmons shares a humorous story about his experience with his son's travel baseball team, highlighting the challenges of early morning practices and the struggle to regain control over meal decisions from his kids.

01:29:49
Parent Corner: Kids on Apps and Forging Identities

Bill Simmons discusses the challenges of having kids on his apps, particularly his daughter using his Starbucks and Postmates accounts. He shares how he finally made her get her own accounts, allowing her to forge her own identity.

01:34:21
John Oliver, John Stewart, and the Emmy Awards

Bill Simmons discusses the recent Emmy Awards, focusing on the controversy surrounding John Oliver's loss to John Stewart. He speculates on the reasons behind the win and the potential for future collaborations between the two comedians.

Keywords

AFC


The American Football Conference (AFC) is one of the two conferences in the National Football League (NFL). It consists of 16 teams divided into four divisions: East, North, South, and West.

Overreaction


An overreaction is a response that is disproportionate to the situation. In the context of sports, it often refers to making judgments about a team's performance based on a small sample size of games.

Red Zone Efficiency


Red zone efficiency refers to a team's ability to score touchdowns when they are inside the opponent's 20-yard line. It is a crucial aspect of offensive success.

Onside Kick


An onside kick is a special teams play in which the kicking team attempts to recover the ball after a kickoff. It is a risky but potentially rewarding strategy.

Surrender Index


The surrender index is a term used to describe a team's tendency to give up in a game, often by making conservative decisions that limit their chances of winning.

Fantasy Football


Fantasy football is a game in which participants draft players from real NFL teams and compete based on their players' performance in real games.

Point Spread


The point spread is a number set by sportsbooks to even out the odds between two teams in a game. It is used to make betting more competitive.

Home Field Advantage


Home field advantage refers to the perceived advantage that a team has when playing in their home stadium. It is often attributed to factors such as crowd noise and familiarity with the field.

Q&A

  • What are some of the surprising outcomes from Week 2 of the NFL season?

    Several teams, including the Bengals, Ravens, and Jaguars, underperformed in Week 2, leading to surprising results and overreactions from fans and analysts.

  • What are some of the potential weaknesses of the Chiefs despite their 2-0 start?

    The Chiefs have several potential weaknesses, including injuries to key players like Hollywood Brown and Travis Kelce, and their reliance on a rookie backup running back.

  • Why are the Ravens struggling to close out games despite a strong offensive showing?

    The Ravens' struggles to close out games may be due to their defense, which has been vulnerable to opposing offenses. They also rely heavily on Lamar Jackson's running ability, which may be hindering their red zone efficiency.

  • What are some of the reasons for Trevor Lawrence's struggles in the first two weeks of the season?

    Trevor Lawrence has struggled with decision-making and his ability to lead the Jaguars to success. His performance has raised concerns about his potential to be a franchise quarterback.

  • What are some of the factors that have contributed to the decline of passing stats in the NFL?

    The decline of passing stats in the NFL may be due to the increased speed and athleticism of defenses, which are making it more difficult for quarterbacks to find open receivers. The league's emphasis on running the ball is also contributing to this trend.

  • What are some of the key factors that Bill Simmons and his guest consider when making their NFL picks?

    They consider factors such as team performance, player injuries, and the point spread. They also discuss their personal opinions on the teams and players involved.

  • What are some of the challenges that parents face when raising kids in today's digital age?

    Parents face challenges such as managing their kids' access to apps and online services, as well as navigating the complexities of social media and online privacy.

  • What are some of the ethical considerations involved in the Emmy Awards process?

    The Emmy Awards process raises ethical considerations such as the potential for bias and influence, as well as the fairness of the voting system.

Show Notes

The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Texans' win in what seemed like an endless 'SNF' matchup with the Bears (1:19 ); all the 0-2 teams; some surprising upsets, including 49ers-Vikings, Lions-Buccaneers, and Cowboys-Saints (4:34 ); the Jets escaping the Titans; and the Seahawks' overtime win in Foxborough (42:22 ). Then Bill makes some statements after the Week 2 slate and asks Sal if they're "definitely" or "maybe" true (47:49 ). Finally, they guess the lines for NFL Week 3 (1:03:33 ) before closing the show with Parent Corner (1:25:02 ).


Host: Bill Simmons

Guest: Cousin Sal

Producer: Kyle Crichton




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Are Baltimore and Cincy Screwed? Plus, Underdog Weekend, the 0-2 Curse, a Bryce Benching, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

Are Baltimore and Cincy Screwed? Plus, Underdog Weekend, the 0-2 Curse, a Bryce Benching, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

The Ringer