The Bill Simmons Podcast Darnold Does It, Snow Game II: Mile High, Pats-Seahawks, and the Wild Taipei Climb With Cousin Sal
189 snips
Jan 26, 2026 
Cousin Sal, comedian and regular sports-betting commentator, joins to recap the conference championship games. They break down Darnold vs Stafford and key receiver matchups. They relive the Patriots’ blizzard win in Denver and debate officiating and replay controversies. They finish by guessing Super Bowl lines, answering mailbag questions, and swapping wild parenting and stunt stories.
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Take The Points In Bad Weather
- In extreme weather, take guaranteed points earlier rather than gamble for touchdowns.
- Bill says coaches should favor field goals in blizzard-like conditions to preserve win probability.
Manage Backup QBs With Conservative Plans
- Jared Stidham's brief spurts created hope but his inexperience exposed risk in key moments.
- Bill and Sal say conservative game management and limiting Stidham's risky throws preserved the Patriots' lead.
Defense And Game Management Win Snow Games
- The Patriots' defense carried them through low-offense games, showing defense-first paths to titles persist.
- Bill compares Vrabel's situational coaching to classic Belichick-style game management.