# 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:** 13
**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 14, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/241 "2026-01-14T05:25:48Z")
Regarding the sack record specifically, shout out to Reggie White’s 1987 effort: 21 sacks in just 12 games! (Strike year with one game canceled and three games played with scabs.) ---
**Author:** ![Pheoinix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@Pheoinix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pheoinix)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/242 "2026-01-14T08:50:43Z")
I’d prefer 3 Wild Card games on a Saturday, when I can stay up late to watch them without having to worry about work the next day. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/243 "2026-01-14T14:14:27Z")
I suppose one fairer way would be stat per game average. ---
**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 14, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/244 "2026-01-14T15:06:09Z")
Then you’d have people who played in only one game and did extremely well get the record. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/245 "2026-01-14T15:15:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Then you’d have people who played in only one game … For per game, per-at-bat and similar types of stats, it’s common to specify some minimum number for the divisor. ---
**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 14, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/246 "2026-01-14T15:31:49Z")
Sure for average per game stats like batting average and yards per catch average. We already have that. This proposal was to replace cumulative stats. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/247 "2026-01-14T15:51:24Z")
This thread is spinning wildly off-topic. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/248 "2026-01-14T16:15:05Z")
We have several days without any games, what are we supposed to talk about? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/249 "2026-01-14T16:16:54Z")
The fact that I’m currently #144 in line to snag Pats tickets. Who knows what dregs will be available when it gets to me, but it’s available because I’m a Revs season ticket holder. There’s finally a benefit for supporting that team! ---
**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 14, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/250 "2026-01-14T16:21:09Z")
Do you mean in an electronic queue or actually out in the cold? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/251 "2026-01-14T16:24:33Z")
Electronic queue. There were about 20 tickets left, $264 up in the end zone, $205 in the nosebleeds. I am choosing to spend Sunday in my warm, cozy living room. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/252 "2026-01-14T16:25:35Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > There were about 20 tickets left, $264 up in the end zone, $205 in the nosebleeds. Go PATS! But I think you made the right choice. Squish the Fish! (Nope, not that one.) Berry the Bears! (Nope, that didn’t work out well for us.) Beat LA (Been there, done that.) Flexin’ on Texans! (That’s all I can come up with) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/253 "2026-01-14T16:27:32Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Go PATS! But I think you made the right choice. I believe in a kind of incrementalism to ticket purchasing - if I’m already going to the stadium, I’ll shell out an extra $100/seat to get down closer, since I’m already spending all that. But all those were sold out, so it wasn’t an option. I might get another swing at them later in the week, so we’ll see. How much (and this is to everyone) would you pay for a bottom section seat, say between the 30 yard lines, 20th row? ---
**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 14, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/254 "2026-01-14T16:29:36Z")
At least it should be sunny this time, though not precisely warm with forecast temperatures in the 30s during the game ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/255 "2026-01-14T16:31:12Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > How much (and this is to everyone) would you pay for a bottom section seat, say between the 30 yard lines, 20th row? For an AFC Championship Game at home against the Bills? That would be top dollar. The closest for me was spending $800 for 4 bleacher seats to game 6 of the ALCS at Fenway. When I bought them I didn’t even know if they’d make it to Game 6, turned out the be the clinching game on the way to a World Series win, worth every penny. ---
**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 14, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/256 "2026-01-14T18:44:10Z")
A co-worker asked me if I was going to the 49ers Seahawks game. (I’m a Niner fan but live just a ferry ride away from Lumen Field.) I hadn’t even bothered checking prices. Lowest I found was in the standing-room-only section at over $500 each. I’ll be staying home. Or maybe go to the Irish pub/sports bar that the Seattle Niner Faithful meets at in Bremerton. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/257 "2026-01-14T23:57:38Z")
Surprised someone is willing to lose their Season ticket rights for just $500 > ---
**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 15, 2026, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/258 "2026-01-15T00:22:48Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > Or maybe go to the Irish pub/sports bar that the Seattle Niner Faithful meets at in Bremerton. As a native of Bremerton I’m horrified that such a thing exists! (Not really; there’s plenty to be ashamed about in my home town but a Niners bar just sounds like a refreshing piece of diversity.) ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/259 "2026-01-16T16:29:21Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I believe in a kind of incrementalism to ticket purchasing - if I’m already going to the stadium, I’ll shell out an extra $100/seat to get down closer, since I’m already spending all that. But all those were sold out, so it wasn’t an option. Jesus, I just got the email, we’re doing this again. A small batch of tickets was released, and I grabbed two in the bottom section, 20-yard-line. I caught a cold right about then (maybe all us strangers yelling in each other’s faces) and have barely recovered. Let’s go Pats!! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/260 "2026-01-16T16:55:57Z")
So anyone willing to predict the biggest surprises of this round? Both 49ers and Bears are considered significant underdogs. But one or the other winning wouldn’t be _huge_ shocks. Any games expected to be close that will turn out to be blow outs? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=14)