A Round 2 Roller-Coaster Ride, Denver’s QB Plight, and Josh’s Lost Weekend With Cousin Sal

What It Covers

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal analyze NFL Divisional Round results, focusing on Josh Allen's playoff struggles, CJ Stroud's four-interception performance, Caleb Williams' fourth-quarter heroics, and the Patriots' unexpected path to the AFC Championship against Denver's backup quarterback Jared Stidham.

Key Questions Answered

• •Josh Allen's playoff pattern: Allen is now 0-6 in divisional round games and 0-5 in overtime playoff situations where he possessed the ball, scoring just three points total. He missed critical throws to Knox and Hardman that would have won the Buffalo-Denver game, continuing a pattern of failing to close winnable playoff games despite superior talent.
• •Weather impact undervalued: Indoor teams playing outdoors show measurable disadvantages in playoff performance. The Rams' receivers struggled with footing in Chicago, and their average top speed of 12.81 mph ranked sixth-slowest in the NFL. Teams should weight weather conditions more heavily when evaluating matchups, particularly for dome-based offenses facing outdoor elimination games.
• •Young quarterback volatility: Caleb Williams and Drake May demonstrate extreme game-to-game inconsistency typical of rookie playoff quarterbacks. Williams excels on fourth down with nearly a dozen miraculous conversions but throws critical interceptions in overtime. Teams with first-year starters should expect 45-minute adjustment periods before quarterbacks find rhythm, particularly in hostile road environments.
• •Backup quarterback Super Bowl path: Jared Stidham has one career win and hasn't thrown a meaningful pass in 2.5 years, yet faces the easiest conference championship path in modern NFL history. The 2019 Chiefs won with similar weak opposition (Texans, Titans, Jimmy Garoppolo), proving championship legitimacy isn't determined by opponent strength during a single playoff run.
• •Defensive line impact on playoffs: The Patriots' run defense allowed just 30 carries for 61 yards combined against the Chargers and Texans when Christian Barmore played. Teams with elite defensive line play force 22 negative plays per half in playoff games, neutralizing opponent offensive advantages and creating short-field opportunities regardless of offensive line quality.