# 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:** 25
**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 26, 2026, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/481 "2026-01-26T01:59:34Z")
Welp, that was likely the STUPIDEST thing I’ve seen an NFL player do during a dead ball (except maybe that guy who took off his helmet thinking the play was over). So much so it just utterly ruined the game experience for me, and I turned the TV off. That said idiot was then toasted on the very next play just made it even more pathetic. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/482 "2026-01-26T02:02:00Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Welp, that was likely the STUPIDEST thing I’ve seen an NFL player do during a dead ball (except maybe that guy who took off his helmet thinking the play was over). I’m a lifetime Seahawk fan and I was so mad at Woolen I was glad he got slapped the next play by giving up the TD to the same guy he was making the taunt about. Now, I hope Seattle responds by getting another score and getting that 11 point lead back… ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/483 "2026-01-26T02:03:20Z")
“Instant Karma’s gonna get you, gonna hit you right in the face.” ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/484 "2026-01-26T02:04:38Z")
Seahawks were just about ready to take control of the game, and then that stupid penalty, AFTER the ref told him to shut up and go back to his bench. Should the Rams come back and win this game, that penalty will certainly be remembered. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/485 "2026-01-26T02:09:34Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Should the Rams come back and win this game, that penalty will certainly be remembered. I hope Seattle wins and that boneheaded play is largely forgotten. Otherwise I’m sure you’re right. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/486 "2026-01-26T02:12:13Z")
My head (see the Super Bowl prediction thread) wants Seattle but my heart wants LAR. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/487 "2026-01-26T02:13:53Z")
> **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://old.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1qn30kw/highlight_kam_kinchens_comes_in_untouched_for_the/)** That was the fastest sack I’ve ever seen in terms of the speed of the defending player ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/488 "2026-01-26T02:15:09Z")
Clean sack, nothing to draw a penalty, but I’m still a bit surprised that Sam wasn’t hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/489 "2026-01-26T02:29:26Z")
Two of the L.A. Rams players have helmet covers. What’s up with those? I’ve never seen them before. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/490 "2026-01-26T02:36:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Two of the L.A. Rams players have helmet covers. What’s up with those? They’re special helmet covers to prevent concussions and CTE. They’ve been around for a couple of years. > **[Guardian Cap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_Cap)** > > Guardian Cap is a line of soft-shell pads that attach to and cover the outside of a gridiron football or ice hockey helmet. They have been used in football practices since 2015, with the National Football League (NFL) first mandating their use for some position groups since 2022. After expanding this mandate to further position groups in the following years, the NFL officially allowed for their use in live games in 2024 as an optional piece of equipment. The equipment has also been used in the Ca... ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/491 "2026-01-26T02:52:50Z")
Seattle-New England in the Super Bowl. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/492 "2026-01-26T02:54:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > They’re special helmet covers to prevent concussions and CTE. They’ve been around for a couple of years. As of a year or two ago, the league started requiring a lot of players (mostly linemen) to wear them during practice. They allow, but don’t require, players to wear them in games, but only a handful do — Packers WR Romeo Doubs wore one this year. ---
**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 26, 2026, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/493 "2026-01-26T02:57:17Z")
My prediction is that everyone will be wearing them eventually. Or something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/494 "2026-01-26T02:59:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Seattle-New England in the Super Bowl. As a Washingtonian who doesn’t really care about football, the next two weeks are gonna be absolutely insufferable around here. And it’s going to be balls-to-the-wall insanely busy at my work (grocery store) weekend after next. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/495 "2026-01-26T03:03:57Z")
Our office was in Belltown when the Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014. It was pretty insane. We were a block away from the parade route, so we got to ‘go home early’ to go up into a parking structure to watch the festivities. ---
**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 26, 2026, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/496 "2026-01-26T03:11:11Z")
Yes to both. It will be a bad time to be a non-fan for a couple of weeks. I’m glad I’m a fan. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/497 "2026-01-26T03:14:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It will be a bad time to be a non-fan for a couple of weeks. This is from 2006, but it still works; [![](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p1@2x.jpg) ](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p1@2x.jpg) [![](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p2@2x.jpg) ](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p2@2x.jpg) [![](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p3@2x.jpg) ](https://assets.penny-arcade.com/comics/panels/20060208-rGCA0cMT-p3@2x.jpg) ---
**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 26, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/498 "2026-01-26T03:17:40Z")
My best friend can’t stand sports (he’s a gaming nerd like me but that’s where we differ). Gabe above might as well be him. (I love Penny Arcade.) ---
**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 26, 2026, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/499 "2026-01-26T03:41:35Z")
Not a single one of my cow-orkers are into sports of any kind. I’m a fan, but not fanatical - I didn’t even know the Patriots were doing so well this season until like the 14th week. I love playing the meat-head for them. I’ll burst into the break room and exclaim, “Nobody tell me the score of the game,” knowing full well they don’t care one way or another. We laugh. ---
**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 26, 2026, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/500 "2026-01-26T04:50:18Z")
And from the illustrious draft class of 2018 with Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield … Sam Darnold is the first to reach the Super Bowl. Improbably he’s going to be the first USC quarterback to start that game, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=26)