Oct 5, 2026 · 2h 6m

NFL contenders stumble as the playoff picture widens

Texas Toast, Fantasy Murderers, Drake Maybe Back, Guess the Lines and MLB Playoffs With Cousin Sal

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal use Week 4’s failures, breakouts, and betting lines to test which NFL teams remain credible contenders.

3 key takeaways

1The NFC West looks deep, while Minnesota’s unbeaten record faces scrutiny because its offense and schedule remain unconvincing.
2New England’s win over Buffalo revived belief in Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye, despite Maye’s uneven performance.
3Philadelphia, the Chargers, Arizona, and the Jets all lose credibility as Jacksonville and other rising teams strengthen their cases.

Don't miss

The Patriots’ win over Buffalo sparks a sharp reassessment of New England, Mike Vrabel’s impact, and Drake Maye’s developing confidence.

The brief

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal sort the NFC playoff field, questioning whether Minnesota’s 4-0 start is real while the NFC West begins to look unusually deep.

The hosts cross off Arizona and debate eliminating the Chargers, then build a “Fantasy Murderer” list around injured or underperforming stars such as Justin Herbert and Saquon Barkley.

New England’s win over Buffalo becomes the episode’s biggest reversal: Mike Vrabel restores energy, while Drake Maye shows enough promise to keep the rebuild moving.

Philadelphia’s ugly loss to the Rams, Kansas City’s escape against Las Vegas, and Jacksonville’s balanced win over Cincinnati reshape the contenders conversation.

The Week 5 “Guess the Lines” segment tests those judgments against injuries, schedules, and betting spreads before the discussion turns to family stories and playoff baseball.

Featuring

Mentioned

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