# 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:** 5
**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, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/81 "2024-01-07T22:53:49Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > The Smeagles will have a negative point differential for the season if the score holds That’s a rather amazing stat for an 11-6 team. ---
**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, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/82 "2024-01-07T23:17:18Z")
And the Packers keep killing themselves. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/83 "2024-01-07T23:42:22Z")
What a choke by Jacksonville, they had so many chances at the playoffs this season. Pittsburgh going to the playoffs is some lucky bullshit. Gotta be one of the worst wildcard teams ever. ---
**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, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/84 "2024-01-07T23:43:34Z")
Jesus. The Packers are doing their damndest to give this game to the Bears. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/85 "2024-01-07T23:48:56Z")
Them and the Seahawks seem determined to give the Saints a play-off spot ---
**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, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/86 "2024-01-07T23:52:46Z")
Packers are close to putting the game away. Not sure why you guys are complaining about them. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/87 "2024-01-07T23:59:56Z")
Officials in Arizona screw over Seattle by allowing an illegal touchdown. Arizona puts in a last second substitution which by rule means they need to allow Seattle to substitute but instead they snap and get a TD when the Hawks aren’t ready. The rule exists for the purpose of preventing this kind of crap. Such a joke. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/88 "2024-01-08T00:05:30Z")
Well, if these last few games were a test to see if Fields is staying or going for the Bears, I look forward to the new Bears quarterback playing for yet another team that is utterly incapable of beating the Packers. It’s baffling, it’s crazy, but the Bears just can’t beat the Packers. ---
**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 8, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/89 "2024-01-08T00:07:05Z")
Whew. Thank God it was the Bears. Jordan Love has seriously impressed me these last 5 games. LaFleur doesn’t have to dumb down his offense, and Love seems to know how to run it. He’s still got issues (inaccuracy being the main one), but I love (pun intended) that he’s succeeding with such a young team. No one’s making the “he has no playmakers and his offensive line sucks” excuses. Plus, he’s yet another example that maybe a year or two (or three in his case) on the bench can really help a young QB. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/90 "2024-01-08T00:10:19Z")
A few years on the bench learning from the best, sure. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/91 "2024-01-08T00:15:29Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Jordan Love has seriously impressed me these last 5 games. I’ve watched him in a few games this season and he seems like a legit starting QB. He might never be a Favre or Rodgers but I don’t think Green Bay needs to look for another guy. You could build success around him. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/92 "2024-01-08T00:26:43Z")
Seahawks somehow eke out a win, helped by an uncharacteristic miss by Matt Prater on a 51 yard FG attempt in the last second of the game. They were already eliminated from the playoffs but they at least ended with a winning season. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/93 "2024-01-08T00:29:30Z")
Impression from a casual fan. Early in the season Love seemed to be all over the place. It was hard to tell if he was improving or not or if success was just due to a bad day for the opposing team. Recently I’d say there ae signs of improvement. Not perfect (the fumble for example), but improvement. I don’t expect the Pack to go far in the playoffs, but that is OK. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/94 "2024-01-08T00:32:18Z")
Holy fuck-a-luck-a-duck. My Eagles have simply given up. They suck. Siriani too, Patricia, and Brian Jonson… Giants got their plays from a playbook, BJ ONLY gets his from Madden Football, Nintendo 64 version. 🙄 Cowboys well-deserve the division win. Can’t be mad at them for playing decent football last five weeks. Howie’s calling Belichick right after next week’s 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 8, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/95 "2024-01-08T00:54:58Z")
So almost everything is set for the playoffs. In the NFC: Packers @ Cowboys Rams @ Lions (Goff vs Stafford, against their former teams!) Eagles @ Bucs In the AFC: Browns @ Texans If Bills beat the Dolphins tonight: Steelers @ Bills Dolphins @ Chiefs If the Dolphins beat the Bills tonight Bills @ Dolphins Steelers @ Chiefs ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/96 "2024-01-08T02:03:08Z")
Just as Rodgers spent time on the bench while Favre was starting ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/97 "2024-01-08T02:39:48Z")
Because I can’t decide - is the Bears offensive line that bad or did the Packers front seven come to play today? ---
**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 8, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/98 "2024-01-08T04:30:29Z")
Wild-cards are set: All times are Central (I think) Browns @ Texans, Saturday 3:30, NBC Dolphins @ Chiefs, Saturday 7:00, Paramount + Steelers @ Bills, Sunday 12:00, CBS Packers @ Cowboys, Sunday 3:30, FOX Rams @ Lions, Sunday 7:00, NBC Eagles @ Buccaneers, Monday 7:15, ESPN ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/99 "2024-01-08T04:46:41Z")
All three Lake Erie Bros made it ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563/100 "2024-01-08T05:35:49Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > No one’s making the “he has no playmakers and his offensive line sucks” excuses. I haven’t been watching Packers games. Does his offensive line suck? I thought they were good. Note that I’m asking as a New York fan, where if you took the best offensive lineman from both NY teams you’d still end up with a shitty line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-week-18-the-final-chapter/995563.md?page=6)