The Bill Simmons PodcastA Rams Blame Game, Indy in Purgatory, the Pack’s Back, OJ’s Helper, Aikman Vs. Buck, the Slapper, and Guess the Lines
Standings
How each person’s takes from this episode have turned out. Click a column to sort.
 Cousin Sal | 1 | 1 | 14 | .500 | 6.6 | +91 |
 Bill Simmons | 1 | 3 | 16 | .250 | 5.6 | +17 |
- The NFC East is a crapshoot, and the Commanders at +440 are as good a bet as any.
Reading NFC East odds after Dallas lost; he calls the division a crapshoot between all four teams.
“You might as well take the Commanders at plus 440.”
- At least three NFC North teams make the playoffs.
On an over/under of 2.5 NFC North playoff teams.
“I think that I would go over immediately.”
- The Packers are good and could win the NFC North.
Restating his preseason pick.
“I picked them to win the division early on.”
- The Jets finish third in the AFC East.
Restating his biggest futures bet.
“my biggest futures bet was the Jets to come in third place in the AFC East, and I still feel good about that.”
- The Jets are done as a playoff contender.
Picking the weekly cross-off, the team written off from playoff contention.
“I think it's the Jets, man.”
- The Colts are done as a playoff contender.
His counter-pick for the weekly cross-off.
“I think it's Indianapolis.”
- The Colts lose their next two games, at Minnesota and at Jacksonville, to fall to 2–6.
He had just said the Colts play at Minnesota and at Jacksonville next.
“They're going to be two and six in two weeks.”
- 1MIN to win
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MIN16· Final✅ - 2JAX to winIND@
JAX· 11/1 - 1:00 PM ESTpending
- 1MIN to win
- The Colts might clean house, with the coach and GM at risk.
The Colts owner said she would look at everything, the coach and the GM.
“So it feels like they're going to clean house.”
- The Jets probably beat the Dolphins next week.
“next week the Jets will probably beat the Dolphins”
Lost by 3
- Troy Aikman goes to Amazon, or to CBS if not Amazon.
On Troy Aikman's split with ESPN and Joe Buck.
“Listen, he's just going to go to Amazon.”
- Brian Thomas Jr. maybe gets traded by the Jaguars.
Brian Thomas Jr. played 15 snaps and was benched in the second half.
“I guess his Jaguars career, maybe he's the next disgruntled or underachieving receiver to get traded.”
- C.J. Stroud doesn't win MVP.
"You can't be the MVP if your team's two and four."
“He's not going to be.”
- The Texans make the playoffs.
“I still think it's a playoff team”
- Two AFC East teams make the playoffs, including the Patriots.
His AFC playoff field by division; he then names the Bills and Patriots as the two.
“two AFC East”
- Two AFC North teams make the playoffs.
Correcting himself in his AFC playoff breakdown.
“Oh, two AFC North.”
- The Chiefs are the only AFC West team to make the playoffs.
“And I think we get nobody from the West other than the Chiefs.”
- Someone on the Chargers is fired tomorrow, probably Mike McDaniel.
After the Chargers fell to 0–6.
“Somebody's getting fired tomorrow, and it's probably McDaniel.”
McDaniel was still at practice Tuesday Oct 20 and was still the OC as of Oct 22, with only buzz about a move during the bye week. I found no report of any other Chargers firing that day.
- Source: Yardbarker ↗ Why Chargers' stadium situation could lead to them firing Jim Harbaugh · Oct 22, 2026
- The Steelers make the playoffs.
Restating a preseason pick.
“I had them as a playoff team.”
- Deshaun Watson gets a contract extension from the Browns.
“That motherfucker is going to get extended.”
- The Eagles miss the playoffs.
Bill: the Eagles have to go 7–4 to make the playoffs.
“I don't see it.”
- The Raiders are a good teaser leg against the Rams.
Guess the Lines: Rams −5.5 at Las Vegas; the Raiders were floated as a teaser leg.
“I like the Raiders.”
Lost by 14
- The Broncos miss the playoffs.
Says the same of the Cardinals (already crossed off).
“They're just two non -playoff teams.”
- The Brewers beat the Rays in the World Series.
Restated from two weeks earlier, at 10-to-1.
“Two weeks ago, I gave you Brewers over Rays at 10 to 1.”
Milwaukee beat Tampa Bay 4-1 in the 2026 World Series, clinching with a 4-1 Game 5 win on Oct. 28, 2026, for the franchise's first title.
- Source: CBS Sports ↗ 2026 MLB playoff bracket: Schedule, scores as Guardians force Game 5 vs. White Sox in ALDS
- Cleveland isn't out of the ALCS against the Rays yet.
Cleveland trailed Tampa in the ALCS, with Game 6 the next day.
“but I still feel like Cleveland I wouldn't count them out yet”
Rays beat Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 on Oct 19, 2026, winning the ALCS 4-2 and advancing to the World Series vs. Milwaukee. Cleveland was eliminated, though the quote was hedged.
- Source: Yahoo Sports ↗ Freddy Peralta, big bats deliver Rays past Guardians in ALCS Game 6 to secure World Series date with Brewers · Oct 19, 2026
- The Jazz go under their season win total.
Agreeing with Bill's win-total pick from his NBA preview.
“Jazz under, you got that right.”
- The Raptors go over their season win total.
Agreeing with Bill's win-total pick from his NBA preview.
“Toronto over, you got that right.”
- The Magic go under their season win total.
“Orlando I have under, 22 -7 against tank teams last year.”
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins MVP (a bet at +400).
“SGA plus 400.”
- Caleb Wilson wins Rookie of the Year.
“Caleb Wilson, who everyone will call Caleb Williams, is going to win rookie of the year.”
- Edwards leads the NBA in points per game (a 15-to-1 long shot).
“Edwards points per game… 15 to 1 if you like a long shot”
- Sabonis leads the NBA in rebounds (+650).
“Sabonis rebounds, plus 650 if you like a longer shot.”
- Kahn leads the NBA in threes per game (a 20-to-1 long shot).
One of Sal's long-shot futures, with Edwards scoring and Sabonis rebounds.
“And Kahn, 20 to 1 for most threes per game.”
- The Celtics go over their season win total.
His four-star lock from his NBA preview.
“I think the Rockets and the Celtics, the over -under is still too low for both those teams.”
- Chesney might leave UCLA within about a year.
“now he's going to leave in like a year”
- UCLA beats Michigan State to go 7–0.
“They're not losing to Michigan State.”
Won by 18
Commanders
Packers
Jets
MIA
Texans
Bills
Patriots
Chiefs
Broncos
Raiders
Chargers
Steelers
Browns
Eagles
LAR
Brewers
Rays
Guardians
Jazz
Raptors
Magic
Celtics
UCLA
MSU
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