# NFL 2023: Wildcard Weekend **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 10, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866 "2024-01-10T02:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**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 16, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/321 "2024-01-16T22:51:57Z")
Brandon Staley was famous for going for it on 4th down, no matter the situation. He just got fired. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/322 "2024-01-17T05:20:59Z")
Uh, hi. 🙂 Just something that came to mind as I was following UrinatingTree’s coverage that I didn’t think was worth its own thread. As you may know, with the Lions’ win, the Dolphins are now the franchise that has gone the longest without a playoff win. However, given the structure of the NFL playoffs, I think there needs to be a distinction between winning in the wild card round and winning in the divisional round. In the NHL, all the playoff teams are in it in the first round, and until very recently the NBA and MLB were like that as well. However, the NFL has byes in the first round, 2 up until 2000, now 1. That means that the best teams don’t play in the opening round, making upsets more likely. When the #8 Denver Nuggets beat the #1 Seattle Supersonics, it sent _shockwaves_ through the NBA, whereas a #6 beating a #3 in the NFL was uncommon but hardly stunning. (Two words: Tim Tebow.) So while winning in the wild card is definitely an achievement in its own right, the real benchmark _should_ start with the divisional round, so the rightful free pass-ees aren’t “penalized” for being better in the regular season. And maybe we should refer to the wild card run as the “playoff-offs” (don’t worry, I not going to scream for the networks to change their title cards or anything) to properly categorize their distaff status. I’m thinking we should do the same with those newfangled play-ins in basketball and baseball as well. Just my thoughts. On a related note, anyone know where I can look up which team has the longest divisional win drought? I suddenly care about this for some weird reason. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/323 "2024-01-17T06:05:11Z")
The only way I know is to go to Pro Football Reference and check each year. There’s probably an easier way. I do know, however, that the Jets have never won the AFC East, so that’s probably the answer. they were still in the AFL when they won the Super Bowl. ---
**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 17, 2024, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/324 "2024-01-17T10:56:39Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > the Jets have never won the AFC East, so that’s probably the answer The Jets were in consecutive AFC Championships in 2010 and 2011 - so they definitely won the divisional round of the playoffs. ---
**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 17, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/325 "2024-01-17T12:57:18Z")
The Jets have also won the AFC East division crown, but surprisingly they have only done so twice: 1968 and 2002. At least according to Google. > [@DKW](#): > > That means that the best teams don’t play in the opening round, making upsets more likely. That goes both ways, though. Even having the easier time of just needing to win a Wildcard game when the best teams aren’t playing, the Lions _still_ hadn’t won a playoff game for decades. Fun fact: The last time the Lions won a playoff game before this past weekend _was_ a divisional round win. They had a bye in the playoffs for the 1991 season, then beat Dallas in the divisional round and lost to the Redskins in the conference Championship. In terms of trying to figure out who’s gone the longest without a divisional round win, anyone who wins the divisional round game goes to the conference championship. So just focus on conference championships to get a list of who has won a divisional round game. ---
**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 17, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/326 "2024-01-17T13:33:18Z")
Thanks to the internet, I’ve found someone who’s done the work for us: > **[Longest NFL Conference Championship Droughts, Active and All-Time](https://champsorchumps.us/drought/longest-nfl-conference-championship-drought)** > > Full list of the longest streaks a team has gone without making the conference championship, both of currently active teams and all time in league history. The Cleveland Browns have gone 33 (34?) years without making it to the AFC Championship game. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/327 "2024-01-17T13:36:29Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Brett Favre really, really should not be lecturing anyone on dishonest “money grabs”. You know that quote was originally from a parody site, right? Favre is a moron but he’s not that much a moron ---
**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 17, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/328 "2024-01-17T13:43:23Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > As you may know, with the Lions’ win, the Dolphins are now the franchise that has gone the longest without a playoff win. Unsurprisingly, the Fins also have the longest current playoff losing streak, having lost their last six playoff games. Somewhat surprisingly, the Steelers currently are tied for having the second-longest playoff losing streak, having lost their last five playoff games. Those losses have all come since 2017. The team from Washington has also lost its last five playoff games, dating back to 2006. [All Time Longest NFL Playoff Game Losing Streaks (champsorchumps.us)](https://champsorchumps.us/records/longest-nfl-losing-streaks-of-playoff-games#:~:text=The%20Detroit%20Lions%20have%20the%20longest%20active%20losing,to%20the%20Seattle%20Seahawks%20on%20Jan%207%2C%202017.) ---
**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 17, 2024, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/329 "2024-01-17T14:09:52Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > And maybe we should refer to the wild card run as the “playoff-offs” (don’t worry, I not going to scream for the networks to change their title cards or anything) to properly categorize their **distaff** status. (my bolding) You either used that word incorrectly or offensively. Did you mean to imply that the wild card round, which you’re currently belittling, is more feminine than the following playoff rounds? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/330 "2024-01-17T14:17:19Z")
Maybe just the units were a mistake. Fourth coldest game. Brrr. Stilll, that much chill with winds so still? I.e. 4MPH _At the end of the [game](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/16/sport/jason-kelce-retire-eagles-nfl-spt-intl/index.html), the temperature was -9 degrees and felt like -28 degrees, according to the Peacock broadcast._ [https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/sport/chiefs-dolphins-nfl-cold-injuries-spt-intl/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/17/sport/chiefs-dolphins-nfl-cold-injuries-spt-intl/index.html) ---
**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 17, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/331 "2024-01-17T14:27:02Z")
When are the next games? ---
**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 17, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/332 "2024-01-17T14:31:02Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Stilll, that much chill with winds so still? According to [this chart](https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_windchill), if the temperature is -9F, the wind would need to be blowing at 10 mph to make the wind chill -28. Which is probably what happened. ---
**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 17, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/333 "2024-01-17T14:31:35Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > When are the next games? Saturday and Sunday. I’ll have a new thread up within a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/334 "2024-01-17T14:32:35Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Maybe just the units were a mistake. Fourth coldest game. Brrr. Stilll, that much chill with winds so still? I.e. 4MPH 4 MPH winds aren’t still at all. It’s just enough to move weather vanes, which would certainly be noticeable on skin. In subzero temperatures, it would probably be incredibly uncomfortable ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/335 "2024-01-17T14:35:28Z")
There’s no link in the post, so I did not know that. Maybe it’s a sign of our times that I accepted that someone would say something like that out loud. ---
**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 17, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/336 "2024-01-17T14:36:05Z")
Divisional Round thread. [NFL 2023-2024: Divisional Round - The Game Room - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-2024-divisional-round/996226) ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/337 "2024-01-17T14:38:46Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Maybe it’s a sign of our times that I accepted that someone would say something like that out loud. Not really your fault. It’s one of the landmines of social media that somebody sees something cute, maybe tweets it out, somebody else trusts them but doesn’t realize it’s a parody thing, then others who trust that person share or retweet, and it goes viral soon after. Just takes one failure in the chain Add in Poe’s Law where it’s possible it wasn’t a joke, and it’s a big bloody mess ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/338 "2024-01-17T15:05:12Z")
My mother is constantly sending me stories that she believes happened to her friend’s son, nephew, grandchild, etc. I can sometimes show her that I’ve received the same story from an aunt who is convinced it happened to a different person’s son, nephew, grandchild, etc. This never makes her more skeptical about the next one. It just makes her mad at me for being “too cynical” ---
**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 17, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/339 "2024-01-17T16:43:36Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > This never makes her more skeptical about the next one. It just makes her mad at me for being “too cynical” My mom is the same way. 😞 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866/340 "2024-01-17T17:45:10Z")
Eagles: “the wildest in-season unravelling in NFL history.” This guy does not have good things to say about the coaching. > In short, they had big problems. And when it came time to fix them, the coaching staff had no clue what to do. Once that became clear to the players, it was over. > … > The house of cards came crashing down in early December when they hosted San Francisco in an eagerly anticipated rematch of last year’s NFC title game…Like the champion prize-fighter who’s never the same after that first knockout loss, the Eagles lost something that afternoon they’d never get back. San Francisco laid down a blueprint, but the coaching staff’s lack of response made it far too easy for future opponents to follow. > **[The NFL has never seen anything quite like the Eagles’ warp-speed collapse](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/jan/17/philadelphia-eagles-downfall-super-bowl-nick-sirianni)** > > Two months ago, the defending NFC champions were the toast of football with inside track on a repeat Super Bowl appearance. Then came the wildest in-season unravelling in NFL history [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866.md?page=18)