# NFL 2024-25: Week 18 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 31, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397 "2024-12-31T15:20:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/41 "2025-01-05T21:20:49Z")
Why were they playing Marcus Mariota? I hope it’s not because Jayden Daniels is injured? ---
**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 5, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/42 "2025-01-05T21:34:18Z")
I’m not seeing anything about Daniels being injured. He did not have a good first half though, and Mariota came out after halftime. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/43 "2025-01-05T21:40:36Z")
The Eagles are now 30-7 against the Giants since the middle of the 2008 season. ---
**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 5, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/44 "2025-01-05T21:52:59Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Why were they playing Marcus Mariota? I hope it’s not because Jayden Daniels is injured? They were locked into the 6 seed. The result of the game itself did not matter. Buffalo and Houston did something similar since their playoff seeds are locked in - Josh Allen did not even play and CJ Stroud only played a single series (for a TD). I imagine Washington might have pulled Daniels earlier had he played better. You just want them in for a few reps to keep them in game shape but not so much as to risk injury going into the playoffs next week. And even that is less important for multi-year vets. I doubt anybody thinks Josh Allen will be less sharp for not playing 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 5, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/45 "2025-01-05T22:09:51Z")
Bucs got the ball back with 36 seconds to play, up 27-19, and Saints out of timeouts. Take a knee and run out the clock, right? Nope, they throw a short pass to Mike Evans who gains 9 yards on the play. Why? Because that gave Evans 11 straight seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving, which ties Jerry Rice. Oh, and Evans also earned a 3 million dollar bonus with that milestone. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/46 "2025-01-05T22:29:53Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > similar since their playoff seeds are locked in - Josh Allen did not even play and CJ Stroud only played a single series (for a TD) Josh Allen did start. One play, a handoff to Cook to keep starting streak alive. A nothing burgher nut still a play. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/47 "2025-01-05T22:33:39Z")
I was wondering if the Saints let them do that. From a Buccs point of view sure they need to pay Evans but t is the sort of move that keeps a player happy and want to stay with the team. There is also some value to the team of him getting the record, both in bragging rights and revenue from things like shirt sales. On the other hand, there was only one thing the Buccs would attempt on that play, the Saints didn’t need to worry about the run or a pass to anyone except Evans, the chances of an interception leading to a pick 6 should have been very high but all the Saints would get from that is a lot of hate for being spoil sports and a lower draft pick. ---
**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 5, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/48 "2025-01-05T22:38:14Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > all the Saints would get from that is a lot of hate for being spoil sports and a lower draft pick. Except a pick six, plus the 2-point conversion, would have tied the game. Had the Saints then won in OT, the Bucs could have been knocked out of the playoffs. (Falcons eventually lost in OT, so the Bucs would have backed in, but the Falcons game wasn’t over at that point.) Here is that last reception by Evans: [Buccaneers’ Mike Evans surpasses 1000 receiving yards for the 11th consecutive season, tying NFL record | NFL Highlights | FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/watch/fmc-tj0czsuerbij1c9g) ---
**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 5, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/49 "2025-01-05T22:41:46Z")
And the Chiefs have decided they don’t want the Bengals to scare them in a couple weeks, so they’re throwing the game against Denver. 🙄 Actually, NOT throwing, since Wentz started. 😁 ---
**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 5, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/50 "2025-01-05T22:54:17Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Josh Allen did start. One play, a handoff to Cook to keep starting streak alive. I stand corrected. I’m sure it was a magnificent handoff ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/51 "2025-01-05T22:57:45Z")
And…Mayo is gone. 4-13 didn’t cut it. ---
**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 5, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/52 "2025-01-05T23:02:53Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > And the Chiefs have decided they don’t want the Bengals to scare them in a couple weeks, so they’re throwing the game against Denver. KC announced days ago that a number of starters would be sitting this one out. And it is a big FU to the Bengals fans, who talk trash to the Chiefs fans every chance they get. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/53 "2025-01-05T23:46:54Z")
I know the game is meaningless from a playoff standpoint, but I am just curious to see how bad a beating the Broncos are going to finish putting on the Chiefs. The biggest margin-of-victory loss in Chiefs history is 45 points. Right now the Broncos are up 38-0. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/54 "2025-01-05T23:50:22Z")
Does Wentz still have Reid’s full confidence? 😆 ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/55 "2025-01-05T23:51:41Z")
The Chiefs have a point differential of +97, so they’re going to end up at somewhere closer to 50. Going 15-2 with such a low differential is amazing in its own way. ---
**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 6, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/56 "2025-01-06T00:25:46Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The biggest margin-of-victory loss in Chiefs history is 45 points. 1984 against Seattle. The Seahawks returned four interceptions for touchdowns; the only time that’s ever happened in the NFL. ---
**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 6, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/57 "2025-01-06T01:07:26Z")
First time the Chiefs have been shutout under Reid. Chiefs point differential finished at +59. Third-best in their division; tenth-best in the league. Interestingly (to me, anyway), the Houston Texans, who finished 10-7 and won the AFC South, finished with a point differential of 0. 372 points scored, 372 points allowed. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/58 "2025-01-06T02:28:31Z")
I don’t quite understand Tyreek Hill’s rant against the Dolphins > **[Tyreek Hill indicates he wants out from Dolphins after missing playoffs: 'It...](https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/tyreek-hill-indicates-he-wants-out-from-dolphins-after-missing-playoffs-it-was-great-playing-here-013149790.html)** > > Tyreek Hill is already talking about his Dolphins tenure in the past tense. If he wants to get back to the playoffs, then the Dolphins and the AFC East seems like an ideal place. I already think the 2025 Patriots and Jets will suck and the Bills will win the division easily. But, seems like a reasonable path to a wild card and, hey, maybe Buffalo slips up and the Fins can challenge for the AFC East ---
**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 6, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/59 "2025-01-06T02:59:30Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I don’t quite understand Tyreek Hill’s rant against the Dolphins I understand why he left the Chiefs for the Dolphins: the money. But if he wanted to always be in the playoffs, he should have stayed in Kansas City. He would have two more Super Bowl rings in his collection. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397/60 "2025-01-06T03:07:11Z")
That Chiefs-Broncos game showed just what happens when you have a high-level sporting event where only one team actually wants to win. It was boring, pointless, and dangerous. The only good thing about that game was imagining Bengals fans seething at the Chiefs rolling over and knocking them out of the playoffs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397.md?page=4)