# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/121 "2026-01-11T17:27:01Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Is it simply that Johnson (and by extension the team) is _very_ good at… I dunno. I mean, you look at the first three quarters of this most recent game and the Bears sucked. Then…they didn’t. Is that what Johnson wants? I would not think so but maybe he is playing 3D-Chess that I can’t comprehend (quite possible since there is a reason he has that job and I do not). ---
**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 11, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/122 "2026-01-11T17:57:12Z")
Line has moved 3 points towards the Jags in 6 days (+1.5 to -1.5). ---
**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 11, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/123 "2026-01-11T19:30:26Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Matthew Golden being notable for being a WR drafted in the first round but not catching a touchdown pass all season Kadarius Toney was indeed drafted in the first round in 2021 and did not catch a TD pass all season. The next season, 2022, Skyy Moore, now with the 49ers, was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round. He also did not catch a TD pass all season…until the Super Bowl, where he caught his first career TD pass. The next season he caught his second. He hasn’t caught one since, although now he’s primarily the kick returner for the Niners and doing a good job. The TD catch by Golden was a helluva play on his part, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/124 "2026-01-11T20:31:37Z")
There’s a seeding “shuffle” after the wild card week. The #1 seed plays the lowest seed available, the other two teams play each other. Better seed plays at home. ---
**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 11, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/125 "2026-01-11T20:46:33Z")
4:03 left in the Bills-Jags game! So many exciting finishes so far… ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/126 "2026-01-11T21:01:16Z")
That play just killed the Tush Push as I am 100% certain now that the Competition Committee will recommend to abolish it. As noted in past threads it used to be illegal years ago, but that was just ridiculous to have 4 of his guys just basically carry him (almost) 10 f. yards into the end zone. And if Trevor Lawrence was the beneficiary I’d be just as annoyed, note. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/127 "2026-01-11T21:05:02Z")
Mistake by Buffalo I think to score on first down there. Could’ve taken the clock down to 20 seconds and still had 3 shots from the one. ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/128 "2026-01-11T21:05:27Z")
Doesn’t matter. Interception will win it for the Bills. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/129 "2026-01-11T21:05:40Z")
Or not, what do I know 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/130 "2026-01-11T21:07:08Z")
Go Bills! What a game! Happy household here with one Bears fan and one Bills fan. 🙂 ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/131 "2026-01-11T21:07:43Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > That play just killed the Tush Push I hope you’re right. I hate that play. ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/132 "2026-01-11T21:08:27Z")
3/3 on great playoff games so far ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/133 "2026-01-11T21:09:42Z")
Hoping for another dramatic last minute nail-biting finish. INT! KNEEL DOWNS. Well, I was getting spoiled. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/134 "2026-01-11T21:18:51Z")
I can’t watch the 49ers / Eagles due to having cut the cord, but as a Cowboys fan, this is the “I hope they both lose” bowl anyway 🤪 ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/135 "2026-01-11T21:32:12Z")
I thought it was on broadcast TV. The game is streaming only? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/136 "2026-01-11T21:41:48Z")
To me this is the clinch play in the Packers vs Bears game last night. To be sure, there were many pucker moments in that game but this outdoes all the rest. 4th and 8, Williams rolling to the left, feet not planted and in the process of being sacked nails a perfect pass for 28(?) yards: > **[Reddit - The heart of the internet](https://old.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1q9syrj/highlight_caleb_williams_converts_on_4th_and_8_to/)** ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/137 "2026-01-11T21:44:10Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I thought it was on broadcast TV. The game is streaming only? Right. It is on broadcast TV, but it isn’t streaming (none of the FOX games are, I also missed the Rams vs. Panthers). That’s what I meant. I can only watch games that are streaming since I no longer have cable. ---
**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 11, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/138 "2026-01-11T21:49:00Z")
Pow pow. Niners jump ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/139 "2026-01-11T22:01:40Z")
I missed the edit window (again…I am managing to do that a lot lately). Here is another, better link (I think) to the play that saved the Bears last night. To be fair, there were many plays where if it didn’t work out the Packers would have won but this one stands above: 30 seconds: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QH9q4Sez6CE/maxresdefault.jpg "Caleb Williams Makes One of the Best Throws EVER to SAVE Bears Season") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH9q4Sez6CE) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372/140 "2026-01-11T22:11:58Z")
All of my football I watch (except last night where I watched some on twitch) is via over-the-air TV. Fox comes in well enough that I can get it on an indoor antenna - for CBS I have to use an external one. With all the x.y (eg. 19.3) channels I get ~20 channels over the air (ok, some are shopping channels I never watch) Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-playoff-thread-2026/1026372.md?page=8)