The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Bill Simmons Podcast

Oct 26, 2026 · 1h 39m

NFL chaos reshapes the playoff race

A Giants Revival, Browns Believers, a Jets Crash, J-Dub’s Brutal Injury, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

The episode tests which contenders remain trustworthy as surprising results, quarterback questions, and betting lines expose an unusually unsettled season.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1The hosts find no clear Super Bowl favorite as the AFC playoff race grows crowded and unpredictable.
  2. 2The Giants emerge as a genuine NFC East factor while the Jets become the clearest team to eliminate from contention.
  3. 3Early NBA injuries and impressions prompt caution, but Houston and Golden State receive sharply different long-term readings.

Don't miss

The hosts officially cross the Jets off their playoff list after another loss to Miami, then elevate the Giants as a surprising NFC East threat.

The brief

Seattle’s upset of Kansas City starts a wider argument about an NFL season without a settled hierarchy, as injuries and strange records complicate every contender’s case.

The Giants’ win and J.J. McCarthy’s strong debut push New York into the playoff conversation, while the hosts officially cross the Jets off after another Miami loss.

Detroit’s aggressive fourth-down choices, Atlanta’s upset of San Francisco, and Tampa Bay’s dominance over Carolina add more evidence that weekly results resist easy conclusions.

Guess the Lines turns that uncertainty into wagers, with teaser debates and quarterback questions spanning Packers-Panthers, Chiefs-Broncos, Ravens-Bills, and other Week 8 matchups.

The NBA discussion shifts from major injuries to early overreactions, while Parent Corner closes with a pre-dawn Steelers-bar bike ride and a birthday disaster involving Murph.

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