# NFL Week 16
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** football-nfl
**Created:** [December 16, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752 "2025-12-16T14:21:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 10
### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/181 "2025-12-22T11:20:36Z")
Youre correct. I missed TB because they’re listed below Minnesota in the standings and the Vikings have already been eliminated.
> **[NFL Standings - 2025 Regular Season Playoff Standings - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/standings/_/view/playoff)**
>
> Visit ESPN for the complete 2025 NFL season Playoff standings. Includes winning percentage, home and away record, and current streak.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/182 "2025-12-22T15:20:29Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> Sometimes players gotta beat the fans up a little bit to keep the fan experience exciting
Were the peanut vendors standing up to him?
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/183 "2025-12-22T15:24:08Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#):
>
> The Buccs are also in the fight (not sure if they can get a WC spot but can certainly win the NFCS)
They cannot get a WC, and neither can the Panthers. One of those two will win the NFCS and the other will miss the playoffs.
Panthers play the Seahawks at home and the Bucs on the road.
Bucs play Miami on the road and the Panthers at home.
It is quite possible that they will both be 8-8 when they play the regular season finale.
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### Author:  [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/184 "2025-12-22T15:24:22Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> Sometimes players gotta beat the fans up a little bit to keep the fan experience exciting
It’s always important to punch the correct fan however.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBcTBf4IxJk)
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### Author:  [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/185 "2025-12-22T15:25:10Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Nice comeback win for the Pats, clinching a playoff spot. Some great 4th quarter heroics.
Thrilling win for the Pats - I will admit that I did not expect them to come back, since for a while it looked like 1. They couldn’t stop the run and 2. They kept making stupid mistakes like fumbling a handoff. But they got lucky that Lamar had to exit the game and though Huntley played well, the Pats got their act together and Maye started slinging it very well in the 4th. Lots of clutch catches and it was great to see Diggs making an impact again.
The Pats racked up a lot of injuries, including to stellar rookie TreVeyon Henderson, but that’s a problem for next week. This week proved that Pats will be dangerous in the playoffs, and if they can get healthy, they can compete with pretty much anyone.
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### Author:  [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/186 "2025-12-22T17:49:12Z")
Drake Maye was throwing bullets out there and the Ravens secondary was not up to the task in crunch time. Young Mr. Maye appears to be the real deal.
It does not seem right that the Pats have rebounded so quickly. It feels like they should be paying a longer period of contrition and suffering for their soul-selling success of the Brady-Belichick era. I don’t think there’s a team in the conference that they can’t beat.
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### Author:  [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/187 "2025-12-22T17:52:38Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#):
>
> Drake Maye was throwing bullets out there and the Ravens secondary was not up to the task in crunch time. Young Mr. Maye appears to be the real deal.
It certainly seems like it. Even his nickname (at least the one I usually see) suggests that. I’ve been seeing him referred to as Drake “Drake Maye” Maye.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/188 "2025-12-22T20:06:44Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> They cannot get a WC, and neither can the Panthers. One of those two will win the NFCS and the other will miss the playoffs.
Only one team (the Eagles) have clinched their division, it seems pretty wild that all the other 7 divisions are in play. The AFC South (JAX, HOU, IND) has three teams still in contention, the NFC West (SEA, LAR, SF) has three teams that have earned their way, the NFC North (CHI, GB, DET) has three teams also fighting for spots. I’m guessing there’s no scenario where the AFC South or NFC North can send all three teams to the playoffs.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/189 "2025-12-22T20:27:09Z")
> [@Xocomil](#):
>
> Complete garbage person, that fan. I wish him ill.
Apparently the fan is someone who follows DK and harasses him. They have a history. He had previously asked the Seattle security folks about keeping him out of games when he was still a Seahawk. The guy shouted derogatory remarks about DK’s mom and called him the N word.
He didn’t punch the fan, but grabbed his shirt, talked to him (probably not in a nice way) then shoved him away.
> **[Report: DK Metcalf previously reported same Lions fan to Seahawks security in...](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-dk-metcalf-previously-reported-same-fan-lions-to-seahawks-security-in-2024)**
>
> The confrontation between Steelers receiver DK Metcalf and a Lions fan during Sunday's game was apparently not the first interaction between the two individuals.
> **[Alternate angle of DK Metcalf fan swipe video shows moments before](https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2025/12/22/dk-metcalf-fan-punch-video-alternative-angle-steelers-lions/87880629007/)**
>
> Here's a video showing the moments leading up to DK Metcalf's altercation with a Lions fan.
I still don’t think DK should have put a hand on him, that was stupid and he should be disciplined regardless.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/190 "2025-12-22T20:38:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> NFC North can send all three teams to the playoffs.
No, they can’t, as the NFC West already has 3 teams that have clinched (1 divisional champion, 2 Wild Cards.) That only leaves 1 wild-card team, which will be either the Packers or the Lions.
Don’t know about the AFC South.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/191 "2025-12-22T20:45:24Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> Don’t know about the AFC South.
At most two of the teams. The Colts play the Jags and the Texans to close out the season, so there’s no way to work the remaining games where all three can make the playoffs.
That said, if the Colts win out (including tonight’s game) and the other two teams lose out, they’d win the division. Didn’t realize that was still possible. Still a long shot, though.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/192 "2025-12-22T21:44:13Z")
After a years-long tug of war between the two states, the Kansas City Chiefs announced they will move across the border to Kansas to become the Other Kansas City Chiefs.
[https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313887284.html](https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313887284.html)
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### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/193 "2025-12-22T22:43:42Z")
>
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/194 "2025-12-22T23:02:20Z")
Two game suspension seems right.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/195 "2025-12-22T23:14:27Z")
Would’ve been better to not let him finish the game last night too.
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/196 "2025-12-22T23:54:00Z")
Now that I’m aware that this fan is a Metcalf stalker, and that they have crossed paths before, Metcalf should never have approached the seats.
But fuck that fan.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/197 "2025-12-22T23:58:57Z")
The Patriots created some late fireworks last night and won their game at M&T Stadium in Baltimore.
But there were some on field fireworks before the game as well.
> **[Wild video shows stray firework hitting field before Ravens-Patriots game](https://www.thebanner.com/sports/ravens-nfl/ravens-patriots-firework-field-RF2RUHJLS5DORFBAVWOANFFWFM/)**
>
> A Ravens spokesperson said nobody was hurt and the team is trying to figure out why it misfired.
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/198 "2025-12-23T02:06:00Z")
Anybody who took the over for MNF has to be happy.
TIL 5/5 with 2 TDs makes for a perfect passer rating.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/199 "2025-12-23T02:46:34Z")
> [@garygnu](#):
>
> Anybody who took the over for MNF has to be happy.
Looks like the O/U was 65.5, so we’re not there yet. Score at halftime is 24 to 17 = 41, pretty good start.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/200 "2025-12-23T02:56:02Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Looks like the O/U was 65.5, so we’re not there yet.
That’s the current O/U. The opening over/under was 46.5. [Source](https://www.actionnetwork.com/nfl/49ers-vs-colts-picks-props-odds-predictions-monday-night-football-dec-22)
Opening over/under points are rarely higher than low to mid 50s. For instance, the highest O/U for next week is 53.5, Bengals vs Cardinals.
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