The Colts Machine, a Giant Disaster, Hock Tua, Baby Doll’s Luck Corner, and Guess the Lines With Cousin Sal

What It Covers

Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal analyze Week 7 NFL games, focusing on Denver's 33-point fourth quarter comeback against the Giants, Miami's collapse in Cleveland, the Patriots' four-game winning streak, and Indianapolis emerging as legitimate playoff contenders.

Key Questions Answered

• •Denver Broncos Comeback Pattern: Bo Nix has now orchestrated three games where he appears ineffective for two hours before rallying late, becoming the first player with two passing and two rushing touchdowns in a single fourth quarter. This Jekyll-Hyde pattern raises questions about his viability as a playoff quarterback despite Denver's five-two record.
• •Indianapolis Offensive Dominance: The Colts have scored two touchdowns in nine separate quarters this season and rarely punt, with Daniel Jones executing perfectly on deep balls and timing throws. Their offense outscored the Chargers despite LA's defense being helpless on third downs, suggesting Indianapolis is a legitimate playoff threat at six-one.
• •Patriots Playoff Trajectory: New England's four-game winning streak combined with the league's easiest remaining schedule makes twelve-five conceivable. Drake May ranks fourth in MVP odds at seven-to-one, throwing the best deep balls in the league with receivers catching passes in stride. Their defense can rush the passer and stop the run effectively.
• •Miami Dolphins Crisis: Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions with two additional dropped picks in Cleveland's weather, completing just twelve of twenty-three passes for one hundred yards. Mike McDaniel's sideline demeanor and postgame press conference suggest organizational unraveling, with both coach and quarterback unlikely to return next season given their two-five record.
• •Betting Line Movements: The Ravens open as six-and-a-half point favorites over Chicago despite being one-five, representing a historic spread for such records. FanDuel now offers buyout options on futures bets at eighty to ninety-seven percent of potential winnings, allowing bettors to exit positions early based on projected outcomes.