# 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:** 17
**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, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/321 "2026-01-18T22:14:27Z")
At least for quarterbacks. ---
**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, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/322 "2026-01-18T22:25:24Z")
A little bit of Googling later… If we’re only including the modern games, the record is 8 (several times) by one team, and 10 combined. Right now Texans have five and Patriots three. If we include the pre-merger era, we’re nowhere near. The single team record is 12 (several times) and the combined record is 17. ---
**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, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/323 "2026-01-18T22:42:54Z")
Given the weather and the stakes that is one of the greatest catches of all time ---
**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, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/324 "2026-01-18T22:48:41Z")
I was astonished he came down with that. ---
**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, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/325 "2026-01-18T23:02:45Z")
I have to say, while intellectually I’m in favor of extra head protection, Jalen Pitre looks like a Spaceball. ---
**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, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/326 "2026-01-18T23:09:02Z")
Com’on Pats, a couple of 1st downs. Texans already burned 2 timeouts. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/327 "2026-01-18T23:21:12Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > If we’re only including the modern games, the record is 8 (several times) by one team, and 10 combined. Right now Texans have five and Patriots three. Search likely didn’t include the postseason. Super Bowl V infamously had 11 combined. ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/328 "2026-01-18T23:25:42Z")
Great game for the Pats defense, finally at full strength. Stuffed the run game, hurried and intercepted Stroud, bailed out the offense on some short fields. Maye needs to hold onto the ball. Did just enough against a tough defense. ---
**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 18, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/329 "2026-01-18T23:47:12Z")
So why did they just not just take the early three on the board? ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/330 "2026-01-19T00:03:59Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/GSjSXtG.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/GSjSXtG.jpeg) Damn, that was the most fun. ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/331 "2026-01-19T00:05:07Z")
Are any of our Dopers at the frozen tundra game in Soldier Field now? Glad to say I’m wearing a King Crimson concert tee, jeans and my EAGLES hat in CA. 😁 Anyone in Chicago is wearing everything they own. (Used to live there. That ball will be a rock. ) ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/332 "2026-01-19T00:05:55Z")
I’m so glad for you. Are you going to Denver next week? ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/333 "2026-01-19T00:15:36Z")
Thanks! No, I got these tickets because Gillette takes some returned tickets and sells them at the last minute to townies, and I was lucky enough to be online both times the emails went out. We’re done for a while. ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/334 "2026-01-19T00:16:04Z")
I’m pulling for ya, buddy. ---
**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 19, 2026, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/335 "2026-01-19T00:45:00Z")
I have a question. When the Texans were on offense, there was a guy on their sideline who would hold up big yellow placards with black text: NICKEL, or GOAL LINE, or etc. I guess that was because it was so loud they didn’t want to call those in on the headset, and the purpose was to say what package the Pats had in? When the Pats were on offense, I saw an XO21, but otherwise didn’t notice them. I hadn’t seen that before, but maybe it’s common. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/336 "2026-01-19T00:55:01Z")
The Bears are playing with competence so far. For the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/337 "2026-01-19T02:08:14Z")
Kudos to the Bears for making this a helluva game when I expected a less competitive game. I do not understand (besides the hubris of their head coach) why the Rams are so deadset on using the passing game and neglecting the run game. The Rams are averaging 4.6 ypc, yet have run the ball only 15 times to passing it 35. Stupid. ---
**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 19, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/338 "2026-01-19T02:24:35Z")
I don’t know if it’s my service or what, but I’m trying to watch the game on Peacock and it’s horrible. The video keeps freezing every four or five seconds for about a second, and then catches up double time. Normal - Frozen - Double time … every five seconds. It’s maddening. The audio is fine, but … holy shit, it’s about to send me into seizures. ---
**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 19, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/339 "2026-01-19T02:32:43Z")
Bears are 8-16 in 3rd down and 1-4 in 4th down. Yet with 1:45 left they have a chance. OK, I’m not quite believing that touchdown play. ---
**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 19, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/340 "2026-01-19T02:37:31Z")
Tied! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=18)