# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/301 "2026-01-18T06:54:41Z")
So a Pyrrhic victory for the Broncos. They should have good guys and just let the Bills win. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/302 "2026-01-18T09:07:53Z")
Funny, I was thinking the Pats just got a nod for the Super Bowl. The Texans defence is great but I think the Pats are the more complete team. Guess we will find out tonight. Whoever wins they will be big favorites for the Championship 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 18, 2026, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/303 "2026-01-18T12:10:08Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > How can possession be established once they are on the ground? By securing the ball, which didn’t occur until the Denver defender pulled it away. A receiver can catch the ball while sitting on the ground draped by a defender - being “down by contact” doesn’t mean you can catch a ball. You’re not “down” until you have possession to be down. ---
**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 18, 2026, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/304 "2026-01-18T13:58:45Z")
Today isn’t just going to be cold, it will be snowing the whole day. Hopefully the Patriots have the plow ready for field goals. Getting to the stadium will be a bit of an adventure as well, my wife is not excited about dropping us off. Go Pats! ---
**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 18, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/305 "2026-01-18T14:23:42Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > being “down by contact” doesn’t mean you can catch a ball. Sorry, that should be “can’t”. I’ve seen a few frames this morning from the interception - it’s a lot closer than it appeared to me last night. It really should have gone through a full review. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/306 "2026-01-18T15:04:14Z")
So much for my Bills/49er’s Super Bowl prediction. It all went belly up in one night. Oh well. At least the bar I was watching the game in had the best brisket sandwich I’ve had in a long time. Almost makes up for Frisco getting absolutely spanked! ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/307 "2026-01-18T16:25:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I’ve seen a few frames this morning from the interception - it’s a lot closer than it appeared to me last night. It really should have gone through a full review. I’ve watched it a few times and I don’t see how they could have reached any conclusion other than INT. Both players had hands on the ball when they hit the ground. The ball never hit the ground. The DEN player came up with the ball. Can’t be incomplete (never hit the ground) and can’t be BUF completion (Cooks didn’t complete the catch). It’s not a simultaneous catch (both players didn’t retain the ball). The simultaneous catch rule is here: [Completing a Catch | NFL Football Operations](https://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/nfl-video-rulebook/completing-a-catch/) > [@](#): > > If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. On “completing the catch” from the same page: > [@](#): > > 1. If a player, who satisfied (a) [secures control of the ball prior to hitting the ground] and (b) [touches the ground inbounds], but has not satisfied (c) [completes a “football move”], contacts the ground and loses control of the ball, it is an incomplete pass if the ball hits the ground before he regains control, or if he regains control out of bounds. Cooks didn’t complete the catch; McMillan did. Interception. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/308 "2026-01-18T16:49:21Z")
Would there be any discussion if the ball had simply ended up on the ground? That would have been an incompletion, it wasn’t a catch by Cooks. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/309 "2026-01-18T18:07:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > So, I’m thinking it’s going to be the Patriots or Texans in the Super Bowl. Obviously with Jarrett Stidham at QB, it will be a big lift for the Broncos, but as they are the #1 seed they get to play at home, and they get an extra day than their opponent to prepare. The Broncos defense is still legit. So I wouldn’t be anointing anyone quite yet… ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/310 "2026-01-18T18:15:07Z")
I haven’t been paying attention too much. I can sense that losing Nix is a hard blow, but can the rest of the team pick up the slack? Seattle, for instance, played their best game this season with a starting quarterback still recovering from an injury that would realistically affect their passing game, but the other phases stepped up big. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/311 "2026-01-18T18:21:36Z")
I remember no one gave the Eagles a chance when Wentz was injured in the 2017 season but Foles played at least as well as Wentz and led them to Super Bowl LII winning the MVP to boot. ---
**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 18, 2026, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/312 "2026-01-18T18:22:42Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > At least the bar I was watching the game in had the best brisket sandwich I’ve had in a long time. I love brisket. Congratulations. That makes you a winner in my book. > [@gnoitall](#): > > I haven’t been paying attention too much. I can sense that losing Nix is a hard blow, but can the rest of the team pick up the slack? They have a great defense, probably the 3rd best after the Texans and Seahawks (and flip a coin which of those two teams has the best). I’m not sure how much their offense has without Bo Nix though. > [@Jegpeg](#): > > I remember no one gave the Eagles a chance when Wentz was injured in the 2017 season but Foles played at least as well as Wentz and led them to Super Bowl LII winning the MVP to boot. Yes, but Nick Foles had been a starting QB before. Before the 2017 season he had 36 starts by my count over the previous 5 years. Stidham has a total of 4 starts in the past 6 years. Stidham isn’t a former starting QB with a lot of experience going back into the role of a starter, he’s a lifelong backup that nobody has ever expected to count on. And Stidham has a total of one winning NFL game in his career, with a completion percentage under 60%, and is 8/8 for TDs/interceptions. This is a much bigger downgrade than what Philly went through with Foles. ---
**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 18, 2026, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/313 "2026-01-18T20:48:57Z")
Both QBs are turnover machines. Maye has two fumbles already (one lost). Stroud hasn’t coughed it up but has thrown an interception. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/314 "2026-01-18T21:09:37Z")
Man, CJ needs to still learn when to throw it away! ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/315 "2026-01-18T21:13:58Z")
In addition to the three(!) picks, New England has had like four other almost interceptions. Now if only Maye could do something on offense. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/316 "2026-01-18T21:24:47Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Now if only Maye could do something on offense. Well, ok then. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/317 "2026-01-18T21:33:26Z")
Today I learned that the Texans are the only current NFL team never to make a conference championship game. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/318 "2026-01-18T21:42:52Z")
They’re also the shortest-tenured NFL franchise. The Texans entered the league in 2002, six years after the establishment of the Ravens\*, and seven years after the Jaguars and Panthers entered the league. \*- The Ravens were, of course, the transplanted Browns, but as part of a settlement with the city of Cleveland over the move, Art Modell gave up the Browns’ name and history, and so, the Ravens are considered to have been a “new” team when they started play in Baltimore. ---
**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 18, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/319 "2026-01-18T21:50:32Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I was looking forward to an AFC championship game with him vs either Stroud or Maye, that would have been something. So disappointed. I’m now less intrigued about what might have been a Stroud/Nix contest. ---
**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 18, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/320 "2026-01-18T22:13:20Z")
Is this game going to set a record for turnovers? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=17)