Overview of An Absolutely Horrific Patriots Loss, the Rams-49ers Travel Bowl, and Hottest Takes With Craig Horlbeck, Danny Heifetz, and Danny Kelly
Bill Simmons is joined by Craig Horlbeck, Danny Heifetz, and Danny Kelly to break down a chaotic Week 1 NFL slate, headlined by the Patriots’ collapse against the Seahawks, Sam Darnold’s early injury, and the fantasy football fallout from a wild opening weekend. The group also previews the Rams-49ers “travel bowl” in Australia, debates quarterback and coaching outlooks, and revisits the return of the podcast’s “hottest takes” segment with a mix of sports, media, and offbeat opinions.
Patriots’ Collapse vs. Seahawks
What went wrong for New England
- The Patriots looked too conservative for most of the game, especially on third downs and near the end of the first half.
- Drake May’s late-game mistakes proved decisive:
- multiple underthrown deep balls
- three turnovers overall
- a final interception that effectively sealed the loss
- The panel felt May played nervous and “scared,” especially compared to how well he had looked on deep throws last season.
Seahawks defense and coaching stood out
- Seattle’s defense was the story of the night:
- constant pressure
- timely turnovers
- strong late-game pass rush from players like Byron Murphy, Leonard Williams, and Derek Hall
- Mike McDonald drew major praise for disguising pressure, forcing timeouts, and making the Patriots uncomfortable all game.
- The Seahawks secondary also made several unexpected plays from backup-level defenders, which the group credited to coaching and scheme.
Sam Darnold Injury and Seattle Backup Outlook
Injury update
- Sam Darnold left early with a hip injury, and the group spent time reacting to Adam Schefter’s report that:
- initial scans were encouraging but inconclusive
- an MRI was still pending
- The general read was that the injury might not be season-ending, though uncertainty remained.
Drew Lock discussion
- Drew Lock was described as a volatile but capable backup:
- strong arm
- plays well when forced into improvisation
- not ideal for controlling a lead
- The group thought Seattle’s defense and overall roster could keep them afloat if Lock has to start for a stretch.
Rams-49ers Travel Bowl Preview
Consensus leaning toward San Francisco
- The panel liked the 49ers plus the points, mainly because:
- the Rams traveled internationally
- the 49ers were viewed as a better long-term team
- the line felt generous in a neutral-ish setting
- Still, there was some nervousness because everybody seemed to be landing on the same side.
Travel and jet lag concerns
- They debated whether the Rams’ short-trip approach or the 49ers’ early arrival would be better.
- The crew generally agreed that long-haul travel can affect performance, but also noted that there’s no perfect sample for how teams handle these situations.
Fantasy Football Fallout
Massive Week 1 damage
- The episode repeatedly returned to how brutal Week 1 was for fantasy managers:
- Darnold injury
- A.J. Brown injury/boot concern
- Brock Bowers’ surprising meniscus issue
- multiple other early-season injuries and disappointments
- The group joked that fantasy football sometimes feels like “survive and advance” rather than a skill game.
Player-specific reactions
- A.J. Brown: huge upside, but also a reminder that elite fantasy picks can vanish fast.
- Brock Bowers: the late injury news was framed as one of the most frustrating fantasy developments in recent memory.
- Rookie back Price: got strong praise for explosiveness, zone-running fit, and early relevance.
- They also discussed the fragility of building a team around high-profile stars who can disappear in Week 1.
Mike Tomlin, Collinsworth, and NFL Media Talk
Tomlin’s NBC debut
- The group thought Mike Tomlin was entertaining but felt NBC overproduced him a bit.
- They wanted more of his natural intensity and less “TV character” energy.
Collinsworth’s broadcast
- Chris Collinsworth got strong praise for calling plays before they happened and reading formations/situations well.
- The panel felt he still “throws his fastball” and adds real value as a color commentator.
Hottest Takes: The Best Ones From the Segment
Most memorable takes
- Magicians should be the most famous people in the world
- The group strongly supported the idea that magicians are underrated as live performers.
- They referenced David Blaine’s celebrity trick specials as proof that magic can be genuinely compelling.
- No dogs in hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, or planes
- This was one of the most animated debates of the episode.
- The argument: dogs belong in places where messes are expected, not around food or on flights.
- Facial recognition for entertainment venues
- Mixed reaction, but some liked the convenience for stadiums and arenas.
- More options than “let’s get a beer”
- A more social-life/modern-life take: men need more varied hangout defaults than just grabbing beers.
The recurring “hot takes” gimmick
- They joked about the segment’s history and how certain takes may have “cursed” it.
- Craig’s infamous “altruistic cannibalism” take came up as a reason the bit once got put on ice.
Main Takeaways
- The Patriots’ loss was viewed as self-inflicted: conservative coaching, poor late-game execution, and Drake May’s turnovers.
- Seattle’s defense and coaching were the biggest positives of the night.
- Sam Darnold’s injury could reshape the Seahawks’ early season, but the roster and coaching staff give them a chance to survive.
- Fantasy managers were already in panic mode after a disastrous Week 1.
- The “hottest takes” segment remains a mix of genuine opinions, weird bits, and memorable debate fuel.