# 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:** 18
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/341 "2026-01-19T02:37:58Z")
Holy hannah! What a pass! What a catch! ---
**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, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/342 "2026-01-19T02:38:23Z")
Well damn! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/343 "2026-01-19T02:38:25Z")
Unbelievable throw. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/344 "2026-01-19T02:39:26Z")
That was epic. On to OT ---
**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 19, 2026, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/345 "2026-01-19T02:41:17Z")
I don’t know what that DB #14 was trying to do-he was right in front in contact with the TE who caught it, then when the ball was thrown stumbled forward and then didn’t seem to make any effort to get back into the play. He just lamely complained to the refs that he got pushed off, to no avail. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/346 "2026-01-19T02:42:02Z")
For the record, Peacock is fine for me. ---
**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, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/347 "2026-01-19T02:54:29Z")
Wow. What a terrible interception. ---
**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, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/348 "2026-01-19T02:54:40Z")
It seems to have fixed itself, but it was right after that amazing play to tie it. I didn’t catch it live, nor on replay without the hinkety-hink. ---
**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, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/349 "2026-01-19T02:56:21Z")
All the Bears needed was first downs and a field goal… At least they made a game of it. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/350 "2026-01-19T03:05:15Z")
Fun game. ---
**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 19, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/351 "2026-01-19T03:07:03Z")
Sorry Bears lost but damn that was fun. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/352 "2026-01-19T03:07:13Z")
No joy in Mudville tonight. Bears are out. Boo hiss. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/353 "2026-01-19T03:08:09Z")
Great game, really fun to watch. ---
**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, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/354 "2026-01-19T03:13:12Z")
Great season for the Bears. I hate to see Stan Kroenke and, to a lesser amount, Sean McVay, advance in the playoffs, though. Go Seahawks!!! ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/355 "2026-01-19T03:22:06Z")
Well, that was disappointing. This started out as such a great playoffs, but at this point I don’t care at all about any of the four remaining teams… Well, we’ll always have the Packers win. Bear Down! ---
**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 19, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/356 "2026-01-19T04:25:33Z")
I hate second guessing strategic decisions after they occur because it’s so easy to fall victim to hindsight bias, but I think Chicago should’ve gone for two. The defense was gassed, pulling off that 4th down touchdown was a huge shocker and a demoralizing, they probably should’ve struck while they could. ---
**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 19, 2026, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/357 "2026-01-19T05:53:13Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I hate second guessing strategic decisions after they occur because it’s so easy to fall victim to hindsight bias, but I think Chicago should’ve gone for two. I was actually expecting it. Was a bit surprised they didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/358 "2026-01-19T05:56:10Z")
Disagree because of the problems they’d been having all night in short yardage situations. A fourth-and-2 didn’t seem appealing after repeated failures on third-and-short and fourth-and-short. Of course they wouldn’t have hammered the line on a two-point conversion, but LA would have _known_ that they weren’t going to hammer the line, and that would have made everything else more difficult. And after all they did get a defensive stop in OT. In the end the veteran future Hall of Fame QB prevailed over the second-year QB. Hard to watch but still it left me feeling a lot less hollow than the last three (widely spaced) Bears post-seasons: the listless 2020 pandemic loss to New Orleans, the 2018 double-doink, and the 2010 Jay Cutler/Todd Collins/Caleb Hanie fiasco against the Packers. It was an exciting season and we’ll hope for more to come. ---
**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 19, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/359 "2026-01-19T06:42:24Z")
Well it looks like barring a miracle in Denver, we’re going to get a Patriots Superbowl rematch with either the Seahawks or the Rams. ---
**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 19, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/360 "2026-01-19T06:54:48Z")
Not sure a miracle is required. Denver has home field and altitude. Defense is solid. Maye gave up a few short fields that the Texans didn’t take full advantage of. A pick six, a fumble scoop and score, Stidham doesn’t have to do too much. Broncos will be psyched to win one for the ‘gimper’ (Nix’s ankle). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=19)