[Bill Simmons Podcast: Week 3 NFL Recap, Chiefs Concerns, and Chargers Rising]-[Are the Chargers for Real? Plus: the Tommy Boy Titans, a New York Swoon, Throwback Pats PTSD, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal.]

The Bill Simmons Podcast · B2 · 2025-09-22

📋 Summary

NFL Week 3: A Bizarre and Disappointing Week for Favorites

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal open this episode by dissecting a "pretty bizarre" Week 3 of the NFL. The duo reflects on a lackluster Chiefs-Giants game, with Simmons noting that the Chiefs seem to be in a position they "don't want to be in" while struggling to maintain their usual prime-time dominance. The conversation shifts to the broader landscape of the league, where the NFC is increasingly viewed as superior to the AFC. Key observations include the struggles of the winless Jets and Giants, prompting a trip down memory lane to analyze historically bad seasons, and the surprising revival of Caleb Williams following a poor defensive performance by the Cowboys.

The Chiefs and the Super Bowl Contender Conversation

Simmons and Sal debate whether the Kansas City Chiefs still belong in the top eight list of Super Bowl contenders. While Mahomes remains a focal point, there is a "shred of truth" to the concern that the Chiefs are struggling because they are "starting two waved Patriots, three third-string running backs, and a washed-up Hall of Fame tight end." Despite their struggles, they remain in the discussion, though teams like the Chargers, Eagles, and Ravens are gaining momentum. Sal remains skeptical of the current state of the AFC North, confidently stating, "The Ravens are going to win that division by four games."

Chargers: A New Super Bowl Threat?

One of the most significant takeaways from the episode is the rise of the Los Angeles Chargers. Simmons argues that the Chargers are a team to watch, noting that their victory over Denver felt like a "playoff game." He observes that Justin Herbert has "gone up a level" and is hitting key checkpoints, such as executing a game-winning drive that the "2007 to 2024 Chargers would have blown." With a favorable upcoming schedule, they appear to be a legitimate threat, provided they can manage injuries to key players like Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater.

Gambling Woes and "The Music City Miracle" Echoes

As usual, the hosts lament their poor gambling performance. Sal highlights a particularly painful "bad beat" during the Rams-Eagles game, where a blocked field goal return for a touchdown caused chaos for bettors. They compare this to the infamous "Music City Miracle," labeling it an "utter pandemonium sports book game." The discussion touches on the volatility of the early Sunday slate, noting that favorites failing to cover or getting shut out added to a frustrating week for bettors.

Coaching Concerns and Player Nicknames

The episode features several critiques of coaching, particularly in the AFC South. Sal refers to Titans coach Brian Callahan as "Dumbo" following a disastrous clock management error involving a field goal and a delay-of-game penalty. Meanwhile, the Patriots' struggles continue, leading to the coining of a harsh but memorable nickname for rookie quarterback Drake Maye: "Drake Maybe"—implying he "may be good," but prone to costly mistakes. The hosts also briefly discuss the Colts, with Sal jokingly adopting the "Indiana Jones" nickname for Daniel Jones, despite his clear disdain for it.

Looking Ahead: Week 4 Predictions

In the final segment, the hosts look ahead to Week 4, setting lines for key matchups, including the Packers-Cowboys "Micah Parsons game" and the Monday night Dolphins-Jets clash. They discuss the potential for the Dolphins' season to spiral and the ongoing drama surrounding the Cowboys' top-heavy roster. The episode concludes with a lighthearted "Parent Corner" segment and tributes to sports betting figures, maintaining the podcast's signature blend of deep-dive sports analysis and personal, conversational anecdotes.

🎯Key Sentences

I think we can safely say the bandwagon got a little overcrowded.

They're not getting a lot of love at all.

I think it's legitimate because he's playing as well as anybody.

They really did manage to bring back my childhood.

I'm just trying to come up with something.

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📝Key Phrases

on the tail of

head-to-head

on to something big

caught up

banging out

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📖 Transcript

This episode is supported by FX's The Lowdown starring Ethan Hawke.

Allow us to introduce you to Lee Rabon, a quirky journalist, slash rare bookstore owner, slash unofficial truth seeker, who is always on the tail of his latest conspiracy.

This time his most recent expose Puts him head-to-head with a powerful family that rules Tulsa.

Meaning only one thing, he must be on to something big.

FX is the Lowdown premieres September 23rd on FX.

Stream on Hulu.

He seems like he's in like some sports movie, where it's like the part where they're playing like sad music and where where, before they come back and become the hero again, like when Rod Tidwell that part Jerry Maguire, when he's just, you know he's filming the commercial and Jerry's yelling at him.

I was reading about all he's on I think most of my fantasy teams and I was reading about it this week and it's like the most polarizing topic with the Jaguar fans because most of them are like team Lawrence and a lot of them are blaming Thomas for like, he's dogging routes, he's not catching stuff.

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