The Bill Simmons Podcast The Voodoo Steelers, NFC South Comedy, an Eagles Theory, Guess the Lines Round 1, and Jaylen’s Crazy Year With Cousin Sal
234 snips
Jan 5, 2026 
Cousin Sal, a comedian and regular on the show, joins to dive into NFL chaos right after a thrilling Ravens-Steelers clash. They dissect the Eagles' puzzling playoff strategies and debate MVP candidates, focusing on stats from Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford. Sal shares a hilarious tale from his son's birthday at Bass Pro Shop, while the duo discusses odds for upcoming playoff matchups. They wrap up by guessing game lines and trading betting anecdotes, proving that sports and comedy make the perfect team.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Voodoo Steelers Keep Sneaking In
- The Steelers keep finding ways to win messy, late-game contests that feel improbable.
- Bill calls them the 'Voodoo Steelers' because luck, penalties, and wild swings produced a playoff berth.
Lamar's Rollercoaster Night
- Bill recounts Lamar's cold-game meltdown then sudden fourth-quarter revival and how a missed Ravens kick flipped everything.
- The sequence included safeties colliding, huge fourth-quarter plays, and Tyler Bass's missed kick ending Baltimore's season.
January Games Reshape QB Narratives
- Week 18 revealed teams that manage January football differently, changing valuation of quarterbacks like Lamar.
- A one-game cold-weather test can flip perceptions about a player's value and future with a franchise.