# NFL Playoff Thread 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [January 5, 2026, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372 "2026-01-05T16:53:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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 13, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/221 "2026-01-13T16:38:59Z")
Dumb NFL chatter on scheduling. > **[Is Seahawks vs. 49ers Saturday schedule unfair to the 49ers?](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/seahawks-vs-49ers-saturday-schedule-215222869.html)** > > About that schedule: Macdonald and Shanahan simply could not have more opposite philosophies. Tony Dungy complaining that NFL scheduling isn’t fair because the lowest seeds have to play a shorter week against the rested top seeds which gives those top seeds an advantage. > In case people can’t read it: > This late in the season recovery time is crucial and it is not given equally. Rams & Bears played Saturday games. They will face each other on Sunday with an extra day of rest. 49ers played on Sunday and will face Seattle on Saturday-short week of recovery. Why? > In the AFC the Bills will have to travel to Denver on a short week. Why? Because they are the lowest seeds and seeding is supposed to give a competitive disadvantage. You capture that first seed, you benefit. You get the low seed, you suffer. That’s the point. The league has been doing this every year for years. It’s fair because all teams have a chance to earn it in the postseason by being good in the regular season. > **[NFL ignores 49ers' playoff scheduling request for divisional round](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-ignores-49ers-nfl-playoff-scheduling-request/)** > > San Francisco will be playing on short rest against Seahawks > Since the NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2020, the top seed in the NFC has gotten to play on a Saturday in the divisional round in each season since then. The last time the NFC’s top seed didn’t play on a Saturday in the division round came in 2018 when the Saints were given a Sunday game, but that was back when the top two seeds in each conference were both given a bye, so the set up was different. Shanahan was asking for an exception for his team, but to his credit he’s not throwing a tantrum over it. > Following the win over the Eagles, Shanahan was asked ‘how strongly’ he would prefer to play on Sunday in the divisional round and he didn’t hesitate with his answer. > > “Very strongly,” Shanahan said. “I’m expecting it to be Saturday, but hopefully, if the NFL is cool and understanding, they’ll make it Sunday.” It’s worth noting that the 49ers were the 1 seed just two years ago and enjoyed that same advantage. ---
**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 13, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/222 "2026-01-13T17:15:35Z")
I think it’s a valid complaint. I’d rather have the games arranged for fairness (teams that played last Sunday don’t get a Saturday game) than optimal TV ratings. It’s not a low seed vs high seed issue if some low seeds are getting favorable schedues and some aren’t. That means some high seeds are getting advantages that other high seeds from the other conference don’t. ---
**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 13, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/223 "2026-01-13T17:47:14Z")
But the team that won on Monday absolutely must get a Sunday game. So this year, somebody who won on Sunday has to play on Saturday. But not two of them. ---
**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 13, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/224 "2026-01-13T17:50:16Z")
I could go either way on that, but the 800 pound gorilla is keeping all the various TV and streaming partners happy. Hence a Monday night game on wild card weekend (plus all the ridiculous off-Sunday and streaming-only) games. And that ship sailed a long time ago. There’s going to always be at least 2 and more likely 3 teams playing on short weeks for the divisional weeekend games. Any sort of “purity” of the game or idea of fairness went out with schedule and playoff expansion, anyway. At least everybody plays under the same restrictions, so try extra hard to win the #1 seed or at least your division. ---
**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 13, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/225 "2026-01-13T19:42:40Z")
I also think it’s a valid complaint, and I hate the fact that there is a playoff game on a Monday night for that exact reason. ---
**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 13, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/226 "2026-01-13T19:50:37Z")
I don’t think lower seeds should get any extra favors. If one team needs to be screwed, it should be the lowest seed. But the Niners’ scheduling goes beyond that. Switching the NFC games wouldn’t screw anyone – all teams except the top seed get 6 days rest. Giving two of them 7 days and the other 5 days does seem a little unfair, beyond just “well, they’re the lower seed.” While I agree that the Monday game means someone definitely gets screwed, that’s not going to change. If anything, it gets worse when the playoffs are inevitably expanded again. ---
**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 13, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/227 "2026-01-13T20:12:13Z")
And Tomlin steps down. ---
**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 13, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/228 "2026-01-13T20:18:15Z")
Is he the longest-tenured NFL head coach to have never had a losing season? ---
**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 13, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/229 "2026-01-13T21:17:08Z")
Who was a coach for the longest? ---
**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 13, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/230 "2026-01-13T21:27:06Z")
Only Tomlin at 19. Tom Landry (so far) had more consecutive non-losing seasons at 21 and Belichick also had 19. But both those had losing seasons, notably their first seasons when Landry when winless his first season (and didn’t get to .500 for five years). Belichick did not have a winning season until his 4th with the Browns and didn’t start his consecutive streak until his 2nd year with the Patriots. There aren’t many NFL coaches who coaches more than a few years who have never had a losing season. George Allen managed 12 non-losing seasons. Vince Lombardi managed 10 (9 with GB and 1 with Washington) with no non-losing seasons. There might be a one or two more 10+ year coaches with that distinction. Among current coaches and excluding first year coaches, Sirianni is at 5, Jim Harbaugh at 7, and DeMeco Ryans at 3. None of those have yet to have a losing season. ---
**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 13, 2026, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/231 "2026-01-13T22:05:22Z")
Mike Macdonald has 2 winning seasons, his only seasons as a head coach. That’s not much but he’s not a first year coach. ---
**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 13, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/232 "2026-01-13T23:30:07Z")
If I might revive a topic from the Week 18 thread, there was some discussion about single-season records, and whether adding more games to a season should be part of how such records are kept. (Yes, the dreaded asterisk.) The consensus seemed to be that no such special tracking need take place, a record is a record no matter how many games are played. With that in mind, why limit such records to just the regular season? If your team makes it to the playoffs, and all the way to the Superb Owl, and you get a few more sacks (or yards, or receptions), why shouldn’t those count? You got them all in one season, so why shouldn’t that be the “single season” record? ---
**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 13, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/233 "2026-01-13T23:46:59Z")
Because not all players that season are on an even playing field. Yes, it’s a bit of an arbitrary line, but I think it makes sense. Otherwise, the player who gets the record might not even be the best player that season, let alone all time. ---
**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 13, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/234 "2026-01-13T23:48:39Z")
On the other hand, in college sports they do count Bowl games in football and the Tourney in basketball, etc. ---
**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 13, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/235 "2026-01-13T23:55:42Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Because not all players that season are on an even playing field. Sure, but sporting records aren’t just competing against players from your era, but from all eras. “You played at a time when the regular season had more games than in the past? Congratulations on the best season, ever!” “You played on a team that made the playoffs and had more games than some other teams? Those don’t count.” ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/236 "2026-01-14T00:12:04Z")
The reason is that this would be unfair to good athletes who are stuck on bad non-playoff teams. A good athlete on such a team would get only 17 games to set records. Another good athlete, on a good team, might get 21 games. ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/237 "2026-01-14T00:12:39Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Sure, but sporting records aren’t just competing against players from your era, but from all eras. Like I say, it’s a little artificial. But more games between seasons is only one change. Should we have separate FG and punt records for the pre- and post- K-ball? Maybe! Should we also have separate receiving records for each time they’ve made a change to what constitutes a catch, or what constitutes pass interference? Separate sack records for each year they made a change to protect the QB more? There are a lot of rule changes that had much more profound impacts on records than adding one game, and we’re not going to have separate records for every change. But the one thing we can keep consistent is, how did this player do against all the other players in his position who were playing with the same rules? Despite what we might want, sporting records aren’t a measure of one player against players from all eras. That’s just an impossible goal. This is the next best attempt, even if there is some fiction we all agree to. ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/238 "2026-01-14T00:32:18Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > The reason is that this would be unfair to good athletes who are stuck on bad non-playoff teams. Is it also unfair to good athletes who are stuck playing at a time when there are 17 games in the regular season, compared to those in the future when there will be 21 games? ---
**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 14, 2026, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/239 "2026-01-14T00:48:40Z")
I think “in the regular season” is a simple metric that applies to all eras and avoid asterisks. That’s why that has been the standard. That, and we usually start records at the start of what you’d call modern football, in the combined NFL, so you’ll hear “in the Super Bowl era”. And before anyone asks, where do the qualifiers stop, the answer is there. That’s where the qualifiers stop. Regular season in the Super Bowl era. Pretty simple. That’s not my personal opinion, that’s just what statmakers use when producing stats. I’m just pointing out what I see. ---
**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 14, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/240 "2026-01-14T02:12:59Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think “in the regular season” is a simple metric that applies to all eras and avoid asterisks. That’s why that has been the standard. > > That, and we usually start records at the start of what you’d call modern football, in the combined NFL, so you’ll hear “in the Super Bowl era”. Agreed with the former, but AFAIK, the NFL record books don’t have a “pre-Super Bowl” and “Super Bowl era” formal division to them, nor do they treat pre-1966 statistics and records as less relevant. The records are the records, and they go back to 1920. That said, I’m sure it’s fairly trivial for a statistician or reporter to limit the numbers that they are looking at to “1966 and later” for purposes of a certain story. (And, yes, this is a pet peeve of mine. The “in the Super Bowl era” ignores the first 46 seasons of the league, and the players and teams who helped to shape the game.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=13)