Overview of Darnold Does It, Snow Game II: Mile High, Pats‑Seahawks, and the Wild Taipei Climb With Cousin Sal
Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal recap the NFL conference championship games, react to big storylines (Sam Darnold’s run, the Patriots’ snowy win in Denver, and the Seahawks knocking off the Rams), debate officiating and coaching moves, and veer into pop-culture/sports tangents — David Blaine’s Taipei building climb, UFC, parenting anecdotes, and betting lines ahead of the Super Bowl. The episode mixes play-by-play takes, hot takes on personnel and coaches, plus listener mail and lighter segments from Sal.
Key topics covered
- Seahawks 31–?? (close win) over the Rams: Rams dominated yards but lost; Seahawks’ balanced attack led by Sam Darnold’s performance (and elite WRs JSN & Puka).
- Patriots 10–7 win over the Broncos in a blizzard: heavy weather game, conservative game management, Jared/Stidham sub story, and Vrabel’s situational coaching.
- Sam Darnold’s redemption arc — MVP and “underdog” framing for the Patriots’ postseason run.
- Controversial taunting penalty on Tariq Woolen and broader pushback on taunting rules.
- Special teams as a season-long Achilles’ heel for the Rams (muffed punt major factor).
- Betting lines and props for Super Bowl LX (Seahawks favored by 4, O/U 46.5; Darnold, Drake May, JSN futures).
- Tangents: David Blaine/Taipei building climb, UFC (Gaethje fight), parenting stories, and a bar‑fries brawl anecdote from Sal.
Game summaries and notable on-field moments
Seahawks vs. Rams (NFC title)
- Game characteristics: high-scoring, clean field; felt like a different sport than the snow game.
- QBs: Sam Darnold (Seahawks) and Matthew Stafford (Rams) both had strong games; Darnold got big praise for poise and a few excellent throws.
- WRs: Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (JSN) had massive receiving games (Puka: 9–165; JSN: 10–153 + TD) and are viewed as the best WR duo in the league right now.
- Key swing: Rams’ taunting penalty (Tariq Woolen) that shifted momentum; a critical 4th-and-4 defensive stop by Seattle.
- Special teams: Rams’ special teams miscues (muffed punt) were decisive — called out as a season-long problem for McVay’s club.
- Overall: Rams gained more yards but lost. Discussion about whether Rams or Seahawks are better long-term and how Stafford/Puka age affects the Rams’ ceiling.
Patriots vs. Broncos (AFC title) — “Snow Game II”
- Conditions: Blizzard / heavy snow dominated play and shaped coaching/playcalling.
- Final: Patriots won 10–7; the Patriots’ defense gave up zero points in the last 55 minutes.
- Coaching controversy: Peyton’s (Broncos) decision not to take a field goal on a short 4th-and-1 before the blizzard intensified — Simmons and Sal debate that as the pivotal mistake.
- QB storyline: Jared/Jared Stidham (Broncos backup per transcript) had rough stretches, including a backward pass/muffed turnover sequence; Vrabel’s game management and conservative second-half approach for the Patriots was praised.
- Patriots strengths: defensive performance, run defense, situational execution; special teams and some opportunistic plays (blocked/tipped field goal) mattered.
- Broader takeaway: The Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl is painted as unlikely/generational nobody‑believes‑in‑us type story, built on defense and clutch situational play.
Players, coaching and narrative takes
- Sam Darnold: framed as a classic redemption/underdog story (comps to Plunkett). Strong playoff QB play, no turnovers in the big game.
- JSN and Puka: leapfrogged many WR conversations; Simmons raves about their route-running, sideline play, and “unguardable” ability in space.
- Matthew Stafford: veteran reliability; praised for improvisation and big-play capability.
- McVay/Rams: top coaching reputation but recurring special teams problems questioned — why hasn’t it been fixed?
- Vrabel/Patriots: credited for situational coaching, conservative but effective management in a weather-impacted game.
- Officiating: strong criticism of taunting enforcement — why taunting penalties can swing playoff games and feel inconsistent.
Controversies and officiating
- Taunting penalty (Woolen): Simmons calls the enforcement inconsistent and inappropriate to swing games; he argues taunting shouldn’t be a game-changing call and questions the logic behind different celebrations being treated differently.
- Replay/Review complaints: discussion about whether certain backward/forward pass/muffed plays should have been reviewable or handled differently by replay officials.
Betting, odds & props discussed
- Super Bowl lines mentioned (Vegas): Seahawks −4 (Simmons had them at −4), over/under 46.5.
- Futures mentioned: Sam Darnold MVP +130; Drake May +230; JSN Super Bowl MVP 5–1 noted.
- Simmons and Sal debate how those market numbers reflect matchups and public narratives (Patriots the “villains” vs. Seahawks as favorite).
Other segments (short summaries)
- David Blaine Taipei climb: both hosts blown away; Simmons describes it as one of the craziest live stunts he’s seen — discussion of fear of heights, whether Blaine should have safety gear, and comparisons to other spectacles.
- UFC: Justin Gaethje slugfest (knockout); worry about fighter health and willingness to watch them fight for years despite damage.
- Parenting stories: Sal’s son involvement in a bar fight (took a French fry, threw ginger ale); Simmons on reliving classic movies with his son as a joyful parenting moment.
- Misc: Mailbag, coach hires (Mike McCarthy to Steelers — viewed as solid/stable hire relative to alternatives), cultural reactions (Seahawks fans, Patriots villains).
Notable quotes / lines
- “This is one of the great underdog stories in the history of the NFL” — on Sam Darnold’s run.
- “Taunting shouldn’t change a game.” — criticism of penalty enforcement affecting playoff outcomes.
- “They poisoned him and he learned to swim again.” — friend’s take on how the Jets mishandled Darnold then watched him succeed.
- “The snow was coming… winter’s coming.” — Simmons’ running joke tying the Patriots blizzard game to Game of Thrones imagery.
Main takeaways & predictions
- Seahawks vs. Patriots is likely to be an intriguing Super Bowl: Seahawks favored in Vegas, but Patriots’ defense and Darnold’s story make it unpredictable.
- Rams’ durable concerns: special teams and depth, plus aging skill-position core, could keep them from sustained late success.
- Weather matters — in a bad-weather Super Bowl, the Patriots’ situational, conservative approach could neutralize big-weapon offenses.
- Sam Darnold’s postseason play boosts his stock; if the Patriots win the Super Bowl, it becomes a historic redemption arc.
Recommendations / action items mentioned
- For listeners interested in betting: note the Seahawks −4, O/U 46.5; futures and player props (Kenneth Walker rushing props; JSN MVP pricing).
- Watch the David Blaine Taipei climb if you want a non-sports spectacle recommendation.
- Shows/podcasts to follow: Simmons’ upcoming live Super Bowl props show Sunday, Rewatchables release, and other Ringer content mentioned.
Closing / logistics
- Bill and Sal will run a live Super Bowl props stream Sunday (time discussed).
- Sponsors and promos were read during the episode (FanDuel, Uber Eats, TaxAct, movie Shelter, etc.).
- Next episode and related Ringer content teased (Rewatchables, more mailbag).