The Annual NFC Over/Unders With Cousin Sal
Digest
This podcast dives into the upcoming NFL season, focusing on the NFC. The hosts, Bill and Sal, engage in lively discussions about their over/under predictions for each team, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. They start with the Dallas Cowboys, debating whether they will exceed or fall short of 9.5 wins. The conversation then moves to the Philadelphia Eagles, with Bill taking the under and Sal the over, highlighting the Eagles' offensive prowess but acknowledging defensive concerns. The Detroit Lions are predicted to go over 10.5 wins by both hosts, emphasizing their strong offense and potential for success in the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers, with their young quarterback Jordan Love, are also predicted to exceed 9.5 wins, sparking debate about their strengths and weaknesses. The Chicago Bears, on the other hand, are expected to fall short of 8.5 wins due to their lackluster offense and overall weaknesses. The Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants are both predicted to go under their respective over/under win totals, with concerns about their offensive lines and quarterbacks. The podcast then shifts to the NFC South, which the hosts believe is the weakest division in the NFL. They discuss the lack of strong teams and the possibility of multiple teams finishing with under .500 records. The Atlanta Falcons are analyzed, with differing opinions on their potential for success. The Carolina Panthers are considered a historically bad team with a weak quarterback and a hostile home crowd. The hosts predict they will fall short of 5.5 wins and potentially have the worst record in the league. The discussion then moves to the NFC West, a division considered strong with multiple teams capable of winning. The San Francisco 49ers are favored to win the division but are considered a risky bet due to their Super Bowl hangover and injuries. The LA Rams are predicted to improve upon their previous season, with significant additions to their defense and offensive line. The Seattle Seahawks are expected to make a significant leap forward under their new coach, with a strong receiving corps and a favorable schedule. Finally, the Arizona Cardinals are predicted to improve but face a very difficult schedule, making their playoff chances uncertain.
Outlines
NFC Over/Under Predictions and NFC South Analysis
The podcast begins with a brief introduction and then dives into over/under predictions for NFC teams, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. The hosts also discuss their predictions for the NFC South, which they believe is the weakest division in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys Over/Under Predictions
The hosts discuss their over/under predictions for the Dallas Cowboys, with Bill taking the under and Sal taking the over. They debate the Cowboys' strengths and weaknesses, including their offensive line, running backs, and quarterback Dak Prescott.
Philadelphia Eagles Over/Under Predictions
The hosts move on to the Philadelphia Eagles, with Bill taking the under and Sal taking the over. They discuss the Eagles' strengths, including their offensive line, receivers, and quarterback Jalen Hurts, but also acknowledge their recent struggles and concerns about their defense.
Detroit Lions Over/Under Predictions
The hosts discuss their over/under predictions for the Detroit Lions, with both Bill and Sal taking the over. They highlight the Lions' strengths, including their offense, offensive line, and quarterback Jared Goff, and believe they are a strong contender in the NFC North.
Green Bay Packers Over/Under Predictions
The hosts discuss their over/under predictions for the Green Bay Packers, with Bill taking the over and Sal taking the over. They debate the Packers' strengths and weaknesses, including their young quarterback Jordan Love, their receiving corps, and their defense.
Chicago Bears Over/Under Predictions
The hosts discuss their over/under predictions for the Chicago Bears, with both Bill and Sal taking the under. They highlight the Bears' weaknesses, including their running backs, offensive line, and quarterback Justin Fields, and believe they are unlikely to make the playoffs.
Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants Over/Under Predictions
The hosts discuss their over/under predictions for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, with both Bill and Sal taking the under for both teams. They debate the Vikings' and Giants' strengths and weaknesses, including their running backs, defense, and quarterbacks.
NFC South Predictions
The hosts discuss their predictions for the NFC South, which they believe is the weakest division in the NFL. They highlight the lack of strong teams and the potential for multiple teams to finish with under .500 records.
Atlanta Falcons Predictions
The hosts discuss their predictions for the Atlanta Falcons, with Bill taking the under and Sal taking the over. They debate the Falcons' strengths and weaknesses, including their new quarterback, their defense, and their schedule.
Carolina Panthers Predictions
The hosts discuss their predictions for the Carolina Panthers, highlighting their struggles with quarterback Derek Carr and coach Dennis Allen. They consider the Panthers a strong candidate for the worst record in the division, with oddsmakers setting their over/under at 5.5 wins.
NFC West Predictions
The discussion shifts to the NFC West, which is considered a strong division with multiple teams capable of winning. The hosts begin their analysis with the San Francisco 49ers, who are favored to win the division but are considered a risky bet due to their Super Bowl hangover and injuries.
LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals Predictions
The hosts discuss their predictions for the LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals. They highlight the Rams' potential for improvement, the Seahawks' promising new coach and strong receiving corps, and the Cardinals' high-powered offense but difficult schedule.
Keywords
Over/Under
An over/under bet is a type of wager in sports betting where you predict whether the total points scored in a game will be over or under a specific number set by the sportsbook.
NFC South
The NFC South is one of the four divisions in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL).
Super Bowl Hangover
A phenomenon where a team that has recently won the Super Bowl experiences a decline in performance the following season. This can be attributed to factors such as fatigue, complacency, and increased pressure.
Offensive Line
The group of players responsible for protecting the quarterback and creating running lanes for the running backs. A strong offensive line is crucial for a team's success, as it allows the offense to function effectively.
Receiving Corps
The group of players who catch passes from the quarterback. A strong receiving corps is essential for a team's offensive success, as it provides the quarterback with multiple targets and creates opportunities for big plays.
Quarterback
The player who throws the ball in American football. A good quarterback is essential for a team's success, as they are responsible for leading the offense and making key decisions.
Defense
The group of players responsible for stopping the opposing offense from scoring. A strong defense is essential for a team's success, as it can force turnovers and limit the opposing team's scoring opportunities.
NFC West
The NFC West is one of the four divisions in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL).
Q&A
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Dallas Cowboys?
Bill predicts the Cowboys will go under 9 1/2 wins, while Sal predicts they will go over. They debate the Cowboys' strengths and weaknesses, including their offensive line, running backs, and quarterback Dak Prescott.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles?
Bill predicts the Eagles will go under 10 1/2 wins, while Sal predicts they will go over. They discuss the Eagles' strengths, including their offensive line, receivers, and quarterback Jalen Hurts, but also acknowledge their recent struggles and concerns about their defense.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Detroit Lions?
Both Bill and Sal predict the Lions will go over 10 1/2 wins. They highlight the Lions' strengths, including their offense, offensive line, and quarterback Jared Goff, and believe they are a strong contender in the NFC North.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Green Bay Packers?
Bill predicts the Packers will go over 9 1/2 wins, while Sal also predicts they will go over. They debate the Packers' strengths and weaknesses, including their young quarterback Jordan Love, their receiving corps, and their defense.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Chicago Bears?
Both Bill and Sal predict the Bears will go under 8 1/2 wins. They highlight the Bears' weaknesses, including their running backs, offensive line, and quarterback Justin Fields, and believe they are unlikely to make the playoffs.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the Minnesota Vikings?
Bill predicts the Vikings will go under 7 1/2 wins, while Sal also predicts they will go under. They debate the Vikings' strengths and weaknesses, including their running backs, defense, and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
What are the hosts' over/under predictions for the New York Giants?
Both Bill and Sal predict the Giants will go under 6 1/2 wins. They highlight the Giants' weaknesses, including their offensive line, running backs, and quarterback Daniel Jones, and believe they are unlikely to make the playoffs.
What are the hosts' predictions for the NFC South?
The hosts believe the NFC South is the weakest division in the NFL and predict that it could be the first division in history to fail to produce a double-digit win team for three consecutive years.
What are the main reasons for the pessimistic outlook on the Carolina Panthers?
The Panthers are considered a historically bad team with a weak quarterback in Derek Carr and a coach in Dennis Allen who has a poor career record. They also have a hostile home crowd that is likely to boo Carr if he performs poorly.
What are the key factors that could lead to the Panthers having the worst record in the league?
The Panthers' recent history of poor performance, the trade for Bryce Young, and the team's lack of depth at key positions all contribute to the belief that they could have the worst record in the league.
Show Notes
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to run through the expected win totals of every NFC team and make their over/under picks.
NFC East (2:04 )
NFC North (25:52 )
NFC South (46:44 )
NFC West (1:02:54 )
Host: Bill Simmons
Guest: Cousin Sal
Producer: Kyle Crichton
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