A Rams Blame Game, Indy in Purgatory, the Pack’s Back, OJ’s Helper, Aikman Vs. Buck, the Slapper, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · October 19, 2026 · 1 h 59 min

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal recap NFL Week 6, guess Week 7 lines, discuss the MLB playoffs, O.J. Simpson news and UCLA football, and trade parenting stories.

Summary

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal recapped Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season, beginning with the Green Bay Packers' rout of Sal's Dallas Cowboys, which left the NFC East historically winless. They debated which team to add to their running "cross-off" list, with Sal favoring the New York Jets and Simmons arguing for the Indianapolis Colts after a home loss to Tennessee, criticizing general manager Chris Ballard's tenure. Simmons was sharply critical of Sean McVay's late-game decisions in the Rams' upset loss to Arizona and questioned whether Matthew Stafford was declining.

The pair also covered the Jets–Patriots, Bills–Raiders, Texans–Jaguars London game, the winless Chargers, and several other games, and joked about Jim Nantz breaking his hand on air and Jason Garrett's new nickname, "the Slapper." Simmons reacted to a report about O.J. Simpson having help on the night of the 1994 murders, saying he had always believed Simpson had an accomplice, and argued that only one side of the Troy Aikman–Joe Buck broadcasting split had been told.

In Guess the Lines, they predicted point spreads for Week 7 games, including games in Paris and a Monday night Cowboys–Eagles matchup. They then discussed the Milwaukee Brewers' sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the WNBA Finals scheduling, and Sal's NBA futures picks. In Parent Corner, Sal described his son being accused of shoplifting, Simmons recounted his father's devotion to network procedurals such as the Chicago and NCIS franchises, and they closed by praising UCLA football coach Bob Chesney's undefeated start.

Chapters

0:06
Intro and announcements
Simmons announces live shows in Seattle and Portland and offers thanks and farewells before the recap.
3:14
Packers rout the Cowboys
Sal laments Dallas's loss to Green Bay as the hosts discuss the NFC East's historic futility and the strength of the NFC North.
10:35
Cross-off debate and the Colts' turmoil
The hosts argue whether the Jets or Colts belong on the cross-off list, with Simmons criticizing GM Chris Ballard after Indy's loss to Tennessee.
19:22
Jets–Patriots and the MVP race
They review New England's win over the Jets, A.J. Brown's drops, and the current MVP odds.
25:39
Bills–Raiders, Jim Nantz and O.J. Simpson
After discussing Buffalo's win and Nantz's injured hand, Simmons gives his theory that O.J. Simpson had help in the murders.
36:55
Rams loss and McVay criticism
Simmons and Sal fault Sean McVay's clock management in the upset loss to Arizona and debate Matthew Stafford's decline.
43:12
Aikman, Buck and broadcasting
Simmons questions the narrative around the Troy Aikman–Joe Buck split and suggests changes to ESPN's ManningCast.
46:59
Texans–Jaguars and AFC playoff picture
The hosts praise C.J. Stroud after the London game and forecast AFC playoff teams, dismissing Bo Nix and the Broncos.
Linked moment · 54:49Skip to 54:49 using a listen link in the info box.
54:49
Chargers, Steelers, Browns and more
They review the winless Chargers, Pittsburgh's comeback in Tampa, Deshaun Watson's late rally, and other Week 6 games.
1:13:32
Pregame shows and the stew saga
Simmons dismisses concerns about early international games hurting pregame shows and reads an email about Anthony Dabbundo refusing David Chang's stew.
1:17:52
Guess the Lines Week 7
The hosts guess point spreads for every Week 7 game, from Thursday's Bears game to Monday's Cowboys–Eagles.
1:34:04
MLB playoffs, WNBA and NBA futures
They discuss the Brewers sweeping the Dodgers, WNBA Finals scheduling, and Sal's NBA season bets.
1:40:31
Parent Corner
Sal recounts his son being accused of shoplifting and Simmons describes his father's love of network procedurals and his dog Murph confronting a coyote.
1:49:58
UCLA football and sign-off
Sal plugs his show and both hosts celebrate UCLA's 6-0 start under coach Bob Chesney before closing plugs.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Bill Simmons
Simmons argues that four of the six best teams in the NFC could come from the NFC North.
“if you're saying, like, who are the six best teams in the NFC, I think you could make a case for four in the NFC North, right?”
Listen from 9:49 · 2026 NFL season
Cousin Sal Prediction · due Jan 2027
Sal argues the Jets should be crossed off, while noting he still feels good about his futures bet on them finishing third in the AFC East.
“my biggest futures bet was the Jets to come in third place in the AFC East. And I still feel good about that”
Listen from 12:39 · New York Jets
Bill Simmons
Simmons argues the Colts, not the Jets, should be crossed off because they are awful and face a tough upcoming schedule.
“I think it's Indianapolis. I think they're awful. They play at Minnesota at Jacksonville”
Listen from 13:10 · Indianapolis Colts
Bill Simmons
Simmons contends that Colts GM Chris Ballard has accomplished little despite years of flattering press coverage.
“The guy's done jack shit. He's been their GM since 2017. How many playoff appearances for the Colts in that stretch?”
Listen from 18:06 · Indianapolis Colts
Bill Simmons
Simmons says he has long believed O.J. Simpson was high on drugs on the night of the murders and was accompanied by someone who supplied them.
“I think he was high as a kite that night and probably didn't even remember he did it and was definitely with somebody who gave him drugs”
Listen from 32:00 · Murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman
Bill Simmons
Simmons argues the Cardinals outplayed the Rams and that McVay's poor play-calling cost Los Angeles the game.
“I actually thought the Cardinals outplayed them and deserved to win the game”
Listen from 37:22 · Los Angeles Rams
Cousin Sal
Sal argues the Rams should have run the ball rather than scoring quickly late in the game against Arizona.
“47 seconds left. Second and three at the six. The opposing team has no timeouts. That is a run”
Listen from 38:49 · Los Angeles Rams
Bill Simmons
Simmons estimates Matthew Stafford is closer to being washed up than to his MVP form of the prior year.
“I think it's like 57-43 on the wash side”
Listen from 40:38 · Los Angeles Rams
Bill Simmons
Simmons suggests ESPN should drop the ManningCast format and have Peyton and Eli Manning each call eight games.
“if I was ESPN, I would dump the Manning cast. I would have Eli and Peyton do eight games each”
Listen from 43:57 · Troy Aikman and Joe Buck broadcasting split
Bill Simmons
Simmons says he distrusts the public narrative of the Aikman–Buck split because only one side has been heard.
“whatever the first narrative that comes out becomes the narrative. And in this case, I don't believe it”
Listen from 44:44 · Troy Aikman and Joe Buck broadcasting split
Bill Simmons Prediction · due Jan 2027
Simmons predicts the 2-4 Texans remain a playoff team and one of the seven best in the AFC.
“I still think it's a playoff team. I still think it's one of the seven best AFC teams”
Listen from 50:51 · Houston Texans
Bill Simmons Prediction · due Jan 2027
Simmons predicts the Kansas City Chiefs will be the only AFC West team to make the playoffs.
“I think we get nobody from the West other than the Chiefs”
Listen from 51:41 · 2026 NFL season
Bill Simmons Prediction · due Oct 2026
Simmons predicts the Chargers will fire offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel the next day as the fall guy for their winless start.
“getting fired tomorrow and it's probably McDaniel. I don't think he got, he didn't really get a vote of confidence from grandpa Harbaugh”
Listen from 58:26 · Los Angeles Chargers
Bill Simmons Prediction · due Jan 2027
Simmons predicts the 2-4 Eagles will not go the 7-4 he believes they need to reach the playoffs.
“So this team needs seven more wins, I think. So they, there's 11 games. They have to go seven and four, I think to make the playoffs. I don't see it”
Listen from 1:13:13 · 2026 NFL season
Bill Simmons
Simmons is unbothered by reports that early-morning international games could kill traditional NFL pregame shows.
“When the NFL expands to 60 international games, the morning window could kill them. I can't say I'm shedding a lot of tears for this one”
Listen from 1:13:47 · 2026 NFL season
Bill Simmons
Simmons regrets picking Seattle to reach the Super Bowl, citing weaknesses at running back, offensive line and quarterback.
“They stink at running back. They can't block like they did last year. And Darnold is a mess”
Listen from 1:32:21 · 2026 NFL season
Bill Simmons
Simmons rejects a theory that the Dodgers tanked their series, attributing the sweep to Ohtani's slump and the Brewers' strong play.
“Otani just was not a playable baseball player for the last month. They lost their mojo, and the Brewers were really good”
Listen from 1:36:01 · 2026 Major League Baseball postseason
Cousin Sal Prediction · due Nov 2026
Sal sticks with his 10-to-1 futures bet on the Brewers beating the Rays in the World Series.
“I got Brewers over Rays 10-1. Please let me win something”
Listen from 1:36:59 · 2026 Major League Baseball postseason
Cousin Sal Prediction · due Jun 2027
Sal predicts Victor Wembanyama will become widely disliked by April and that Caleb Wilson will win NBA Rookie of the Year.
“I think Wemby's going to be one of the most hated players by April. Caleb Wilson, who everyone will call Caleb Williams, is going to win Rookie of the Year”
Listen from 1:39:09 · Sports betting
Bill Simmons Prediction · due Apr 2027
Simmons argues the Rockets' and Celtics' win totals are set too low.
“I think the Rockets and the Celtics, the over under is still too low for both those teams”
Listen from 1:39:49 · Sports betting
Cousin Sal
Sal recounts telling his son that his conspicuous outfit and empty-handed visit made it reasonable for a store manager to suspect shoplifting.
“I feel like you look like a curious case, like someone who might walk off with something”
Listen from 1:40:35
Bill Simmons
Simmons argues UCLA must give coach Bob Chesney a contract extension given the team's undefeated start.
“The UCLA thing has gotten to the point that they got to give Chesney an extension now”
Listen from 1:50:48 · UCLA Bruins football

People

In the conversation

Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Cousin SalSal Iacono, American comedian, Jimmy Kimmel Live writer and Ringer betting podcaster; Dallas Cowboys fan

Discussed

Dak PrescottDallas Cowboys quarterback
Jerry JonesDallas Cowboys owner
Chris BallardIndianapolis Colts general manager
Aaron GlennHead coach of the New York Jets
Drake MayeNew England Patriots quarterback
A.J. BrownNFL wide receiver traded from the Eagles to the Patriots
Sean McVayHead coach of the Los Angeles Rams, absent from the coaches photo
Matthew StaffordLos Angeles Rams quarterback
Troy AikmanFormer Cowboys quarterback and NFL broadcaster
Joe BuckNFL play-by-play broadcaster
Jim NantzCBS sports broadcaster and Jonas family friend
O. J. SimpsonFormer NFL player whose 1994 freeway chase was televised
Jason GarrettFormer Cowboys coach and current NFL broadcaster
C.J. StroudHouston Texans quarterback
Justin HerbertLos Angeles Chargers quarterback
Mike McDanielFormer Miami Dolphins head coach now with the Los Angeles Chargers
Bo NixDenver Broncos quarterback
Deshaun WatsonCleveland Browns quarterback
David ChangAmerican chef and founder of Momofuku
Anthony DabbundoRinger sports-betting and soccer analyst, co-host of The Ringer Gambling Show
Bob ChesneyUCLA head football coach

Topics

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From the publisher

HED: A Rams Blame Game, Indy in Purgatory, the Pack’s Back, OJ’s Helper, Aikman Vs. Buck, the Slapper, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal DEK: The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Packers-Cowboys before recapping the rest of the Week 6 games. Then, they guess the lines for Week 7 before ending with Parent Corner. (0:00) Intro (3:14) Cowboys-Packers (13:30) Titans-Colts (19:41) Jets-Patriots (24:52) Bills-Raiders (36:55) Cardinals-Rams (47:00) Texans-Jaguars (54:49) Chargers-Chiefs (01:00:18) Steelers-Buccaneers (01:04:39) Ravens-Browns (01:07:24) Saints-Giants (01:09:22) Bears-Falcons (01:10:27) Panthers-Eagles (01:17:52) Guess the Lines Week 7 (01:34:07) MLB playoffs (01:40:02) Parent Corner Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Cousin Sal Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers #ULTRACourtside could get you closer to the game! https://michelobultra.com/courtside MICHELOB ULTRA® COURTSIDE ’26 to ’27. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+ Begins on 10/1/26 and ends on 6/30/27. Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://michelobultra.com/courtside for free entry, entry deadlines, prizes, and details. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on October 20, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Football·Baseball·Sports News