Why the Texans and Seahawks Stand Out in 2026
- Aug 12, 2026
- 1:07:54
- Full Episode
ABOUT THE EPISODE Which NFL teams have the strongest case to exceed expectations this season?
Aaron Schatz, Editor-in-Chief of Football Outsiders, explains why his projections are high on the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks, while examining the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, and more. He also breaks down how quarterback play, coaching changes, injuries, schedule strength, and DVOA shape an NFL forecast.
ABOUT THE PODCAST Sports is a game of numbers. Wharton experts Eric Bradlow, Shane Jensen, Cade Massey, and Adi Wyner team up to tackle the world of sports, from current events to longstanding issues such as: What sports streaks are the most impressive? How do you rank the best players? Can athletes be compared across sports? Moneyball Highlights explains how decision-makers in the game can avoid the common mistakes and embrace the data. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School.
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Brief Summary
Aaron Schatz discusses NFL analytics, team projections, and player performances for the upcoming season.
Key points
- First Football Guest of the Year. Excitement builds as the hosts welcome Aaron Schatz, the first football guest of the season.
- Quarterback Projections Explained. Aaron discusses how he models quarterback performance, emphasizing team variables.
- Seahawks vs. Rams Analysis. Aaron breaks down the Seahawks and Rams, highlighting the Seahawks' impressive last season.
- NFC South Predictions. The NFC South is unpredictable this year, with all teams having potential to win.
- Eagles' Super Bowl Chances. The Eagles are seen as division favorites but face questions about their offense.
- The Evolution of Pitching. Discussion on how modern pitchers are striking out more batters but throwing fewer innings.
Episode highlights
- First Football Guest of the YearExcitement builds as the hosts welcome Aaron Schatz, the first football guest of the season.“It's a very, very happy day in Wharton Moneyball land.”0:44Aug 12, 2026
- Quarterback Projections ExplainedAaron discusses how he models quarterback performance, emphasizing team variables.“It's not just some additive thing.”8:48Aug 12, 2026
- Seahawks vs. Rams AnalysisAaron breaks down the Seahawks and Rams, highlighting the Seahawks' impressive last season.“The Seahawks were the fourth best team I've ever measured.”16:01Aug 12, 2026
- NFC South PredictionsThe NFC South is unpredictable this year, with all teams having potential to win.“Someone has to win that putrid division.”20:37Aug 12, 2026
- Eagles' Super Bowl ChancesThe Eagles are seen as division favorites but face questions about their offense.“I think it's sort of assumed that they're the favorite in their division.”26:41Aug 12, 2026
- The Evolution of PitchingDiscussion on how modern pitchers are striking out more batters but throwing fewer innings.“So basically, the pitchers more recently have been striking out more batters per night.”40:11Aug 12, 2026
- The Future of 300-Game WinnersDebate on whether any current pitchers will reach 300 wins or 3,000 strikeouts.“Clearly, we see people getting to 500 home runs.”42:24Aug 12, 2026
- Four Outs in an InningAn unusual play in a Red Sox game leads to a discussion about timing plays.“It's amazing.”45:46Aug 12, 2026
