The Voodoo Steelers, NFC South Comedy, an Eagles Theory, Guess the Lines Round 1, and Jaylen’s Crazy Year With Cousin Sal

January 5, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: This casual host banter dissects NFL Week 18's chaotic finale and playoff chaos, blending sharp analysis with irreverent humor on upsets, betting mishaps, and league absurdities in a fast-paced, reflective tone laced with disbelief.
The Format: Casual chat between two longtime hosts riffing on football madness.
The Key Players:
- Bill Simmons: Ringer Podcast Network founder and diehard Pats fan, driving the playoff optimism and MVP rants with insider stats.
- Cousin Sal: Simmons' comedic foil, delivering deadpan takes on voodoo teams like the Steelers and NFC South clownery, fueling non-stop banter chemistry through shared betting agony and family asides.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Cousin Sal**
2 (03:03) **Steelers-Ravens: Voodoo Steelers Steal Playoff Spot**
3 (09:53) **AFC North Chaos & Texans Concerns**
4 (13:39) **NFC South Absurdity: Falcons Win, Fire Everyone**
5 (20:38) **Nobody Wants NFC #2 Seed**
6 (26:55) **Playoff Matchups & Lack of Confidence**
7 (33:21) **MVP Battle: Stafford vs. Drake May**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal right after the Ravens miss the game-winning field goal against the Steelers to recap Week 18 (2:26). Then, they guess the lines for Round 1 before ending with Parent Corner (01:02:42).

Host: Bill Simmons

Guest: Cousin Sal

Producers: Chia Hao Tat and Eduardo Ocampo

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