# NFL 2023: Week 18, the Final Chapter **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 3, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563 "2024-01-03T21:42:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/61 "2024-01-07T20:06:21Z")
I am not watching, but checking the scores on my phone. Its amazing how poorly the Browns are doing. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/62 "2024-01-07T20:20:23Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > With a Bengals win today all teams in the AFC North will have a winning record which apparently has not happened since the 30s. Not trying to be a dick here but the AFC North didn’t exist until 1970 only one of the teams existed in the 1930s. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/63 "2024-01-07T20:27:00Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I am not watching, but checking the scores on my phone. Its amazing how poorly the Browns are doing. They’re resting their starters. And many of their backups. Its a completely meaningless game to them. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/64 "2024-01-07T20:56:47Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > And, if the Titans continue to lead the Jags and win the game, 3 teams from that division will make the playoffs. Jags were 1st and goal to tie the game up (assuming they got the 2 pointer) mid 4th-quarter, then 3rd and goal at the one, but one incomplete pass and one failed QB sneak and that was that, an abortive 4 and out drive at the 2 minute warning aside. From 8-3 to 9-8. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/65 "2024-01-07T20:57:08Z")
It’s official - the Chiefs are sitting Kelce today. I wonder if he and his brother will both retire this off-season. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/66 "2024-01-07T20:57:35Z")
Am I counting right? Six morning games and seven afternoon? Never seen a bigger late slate before. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/67 "2024-01-07T20:59:52Z")
He meant it’s the first time _any_ division has had all teams finish with a winning record since 1935. > **[AFC North to become first NFL division in nearly 90 years to achieve this...](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/afc-north-to-become-first-nfl-division-in-nearly-90-years-to-achieve-this-feat-if-bengals-beat-browns-week-18/)** > > History is on the line this weekend ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/68 "2024-01-07T21:00:16Z")
But the Bucs have salvaged Florida’s honor, pending the Miami game tonight… Steelers in after the Jags loss. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/69 "2024-01-07T21:01:04Z")
Browns will play at Houston. I think that’s the only playoff matchup determined at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/70 "2024-01-07T21:01:41Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Never seen a bigger late slate before. I suspect that the NFL suspended the usual “doubleheader” rules (i.e., on any given regular-season Sunday, only one of the two main networks – Fox and CBS – can televise both an early and a late game in any given market) for this final weekend. Fox has four games starting at 4:25pm ET (the usual “doubleheader game” time), and CBS has three. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/71 "2024-01-07T21:02:03Z")
And Belichick’s career in New England comes to an end in the most ignominous way possible. A 2 TD loss to the Jets at home. (I know, its really a 2 FG and a TD with 2 point conversion loss) ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/72 "2024-01-07T21:13:23Z")
With the Jacksonville loss, it appears that Buffalo is now assured of making the playoffs win or lose tonight. Still a ton to play for with the division and at least one home playoff game on the line, though. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/73 "2024-01-07T21:13:26Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > He meant it’s the first time _any_ division has had all teams finish with a winning record since 1935. Ah. That makes sense. It’s a very surprising statistic. Maybe it’s a slight cheat with that 17th game but it’s still pretty crazy. It was only a 12 game season in 1935. I bet we’ve had plenty of times where this has been the case through 12 games. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/74 "2024-01-07T21:32:32Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Not trying to be a dick here but the AFC North didn’t exist until 1970 only one of the teams existed in the 1930s. I don’t think that’s right. The divisions used to be East, Central, and West. There wasn’t an AFC North until 2002. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/75 "2024-01-07T21:35:20Z")
According to Wikipedia, the AFC Central started in 1970 and was renamed AFC North in 2002 ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/76 "2024-01-07T22:09:37Z")
It’s the first time, since 1935, that every team in a division has finished with a better than .500 record. In 1935, the NFL Western Division final standings were: Lions 7-3-2 Packers 8-4 Bears 6-4-2 Cardinals 6-4-2 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/77 "2024-01-07T22:35:01Z")
Packers go to halftime with a one point lead. Not quite the first half I wanted. Missed field goal. Injuries. And two inaccurate passes and poor clock management to end the half. They really need to stop shooting themselves in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/78 "2024-01-07T22:40:09Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > poor clock management to end the half. When you have no timeouts, and the ball is at the 22, and there are 11 seconds on the clock, you must throw the ball into the endzone. Instead, they throw a 3-yard pass, the receiver is tackled inbounds, and the clock runs out. Incredibly poor play-calling. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/79 "2024-01-07T22:42:31Z")
So far, Eagles looking even worse than expected. Commandos looking somewhat better than expected. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/80 "2024-01-07T22:43:58Z")
The Smeagles will have a negative point differential for the season if the score holds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563.md?page=5)