# 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:** 3
### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/41 "2025-12-19T03:07:24Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> The Cardinals aren’t starting Kendon Slovis “to see what he has”. The Commanders aren’t starting Sam Hartman “to see what he has”. They’re starting the QB who likely gives them the best chance to win, despite having young QBs on their roster.
Slovis gives the Cardinals the best chance to win over Brissett?!
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/42 "2025-12-19T03:10:29Z")
No, Brisset clearly does. He’s been pretty good statistically this year. And may have unlocked Michael Wilson.
The Cards **aren’t** doing what the Dolphins are, tanking and playing a young, likely ill-prepared QB “to see what he has”.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/43 "2025-12-19T03:29:45Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> The Cards **aren’t** doing what the Dolphins are, tanking and playing a young, likely ill-prepared QB “to see what he has”.
I misread what you said, sorry.
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### Author:  [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/44 "2025-12-19T03:48:50Z")
NP. I could have been much clearer.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/45 "2025-12-19T04:06:20Z")
Well, this game turned around quickly. Rams had the ball and a 16 point lead with about 8 minutes to play. Now it’s tied 30-30 with just under 5 minutes to play and Seattle has the ball.
Seahawks defense has forced 3 straight 3-and-outs.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/46 "2025-12-19T04:53:56Z")
I’m still not sure I didn’t dream that ending.
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### Author:  [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/47 "2025-12-19T05:42:34Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> he is the QB who gives the Dolphins the best chance to win
Then why risk his brain for three meaningless games? What do they gain from those last three _meaningless_ victories? Is it worth the future of their best quarterback?
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### Author:  [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/48 "2025-12-19T05:49:47Z")
I was compelled to “root” for a Seahawks win because that opened the door to a 49ers #1 seed. Come the 4th quarter, I _really_ wanted them to beat the effing Rams.
What an incredible game.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/49 "2025-12-19T06:22:47Z")
> [@garygnu](#):
>
> I was compelled to “root” for a Seahawks win because that opened the door to a 49ers #1 seed.
The Niners are going to destroy the Colts.
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### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/50 "2025-12-19T07:14:46Z")
There’s almost zero chance Miami is benching Tua to “see what they have” in a 7th rounder. They’re benching Tua for some other purpose, to protect his trade value, to keep him from getting an injury settlement when they cut him if he gets another concussion, improving their draft slot, whatever. And then, by default, a 7th rounder starts. “Seeing what they have” might be a valid reason to try the 7th rounder over the journeyman veteran (if they even have one), but not to sit Tua. Especially if they don’t care about winning at this point. But there is almost no chance that a team’s primary reason for benching their high paid quarterback is _primarily_ about seeing what a 7th round pick has to offer.
Citing Tom Brady as some driving factor in why NFL teams might bench their highly paid QBs to start their 7th rounder is just silly. I mean, I guess it’s on the very edge of plausibility of the kid has been absolutely lights out greatest 7th rounder of all time in practice, but I have my doubts.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/51 "2025-12-19T08:20:25Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> They’re benching Tua for some other purpose, to protect his trade value, to keep him from getting an injury settlement when they cut him if he gets another concussion, improving their draft slot, whatever.
Undoubtedly that is true.
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> "Seeing what they have” might be a valid reason to try the 7th rounder over the journeyman veteran (if they even have one), but not to sit Tua. Especially if they don’t care about winning at this point.
Also there is no question, that if they were fighting to make the playoffs they would still have Tua starting.
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> But there is almost no chance that a team’s primary reason for benching their high paid quarterback is _primarily_ about seeing what a 7th round pick has to offer.
I don’t believe anyone has suggested that it’s the primary reason, but only that this might be a contributing factor in starting him.
> [@SenorBeef](#):
>
> Citing Tom Brady as some driving factor in why NFL teams might bench their highly paid QBs to start their 7th rounder is just silly.
Again, that’s nothing that has been said, but rather it was a counter to the silly idea that **was** expressed that you would never base a franchise’s future around a late round QB.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/52 "2025-12-19T08:54:18Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> it was a counter to the silly idea that **was** expressed that you would never base a franchise’s future around a late round QB.
I don’t recall that being said. Can you quote it?
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/53 "2025-12-19T09:36:00Z")
As for the counter examples, not one of them was started “to see what they have.” All three were pressed into service because they represented the best chance for the team to win. And that was the _only_ reason all three got those starts. All three then took those opportunities to crush their opponents before them and hear the lamentations of their women.
Kurt Warner
In 1999 Trent Green went down in the preseason, forcing Warner into the starting job for that season. In his first start he beat up on the Ravens 27-10. He then went 13-3 for the season and led the Rams to the franchise’s first ever Superbowl win.
Tom Brady
In 2001, Bledsoe went down so Brady was pressed into service. Brady crushed Peyton Manning’s Colts in his first start the following week 44-13. He proceeded to go 11-3 in the regular season and led the Patriots to the franchise’s first ever Superbowl win.
Brock Purdy
In 2022, Trey Lance went down for the season forcing Jimmy Garoppolo to take over. Eventually Garoppolo also went down for the season, leaving Purdy as their best chance to win. In his first start, Purdy beat up on Tom Brady’s Buccaneers 35-7, and went a perfect 5-0 to end the regular season, leading the 49ers to the conference championship where they got crushed by the Eagles. Rolling the dice that he would be the next Tom Brady, he got to keep the job the following season where he went 12-4 and led his team to overtime in the Superbowl.
Sitting your starter just to see what you have in your 6th or 7th rounder is simply not what happened in any of those examples, and it is disingenuous to point to them when trying to explain this decision by the Dolphins. They all represented the team’s best chance to win, and then took those opportunities to set the world on fire.
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### Author:  [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/54 "2025-12-19T11:32:58Z")
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> Or to the players and coaches playing for contracts. Or to the Panthers or Lions or any team in the playoff hunt whose chances will be hurt by a team not trying to win.
Yes but they are not making the decisions who to play at QB (I would imagine the GM would be making the call rather than the HC).
From a players point of view fielding back-ups means it is different players playing for contracts. Any Miami second stringer is being given a chance to show they are better than the first team and that they deserve a new contract / not be cut.
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/55 "2025-12-19T12:44:10Z")
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, what a game!!! 💯👍
When Seattle fumbled with seconds left in the first half, I was convinced they were going to lose. When they trailed by 16, I certainly didn’t change my mind.
What an amazing comeback, though, to send it to overtime. If all of that wasn’t exciting enough, they AGAIN trailed by a touchdown with one chance to save themselves. Under the old rules, they would have already lost but, not only did they score the needed TD, they went for two and made it!
It was a huge game that lived up to its billing. I’m happy for Darnold. He proved he can win a big game.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/56 "2025-12-19T13:09:55Z")
Step 1 of the scenario to create a 3-way tie atop the NFC West is complete.
Regardless of the final standings, two of those teams will have to go on the road in the wild-card round, and probably play a team with a worse record.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/57 "2025-12-19T14:08:55Z")
> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> I don’t recall that being said. Can you quote it?
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> A QB picked in the 7th round isn’t one that you “need to see what they have”. That’s for the first couple rounds, where the QB is the potential future of the franchise. Not for some 7th round nobody.
There you go.
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### Author:  [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/58 "2025-12-19T14:28:27Z")
Helluva game! Kudos to the Seahawks for sticking it out after it looked like they were toast. It appeared as if the Rams D had Darnold’s number, but he turned it around just enough in the 4th quarter and OT (with a HUGE assist from Kenneth Walker and special teams). One has to say that that was one of the most unlikely comebacks in recent memory due to that insane 2-pt “luck-version.”
Though my favorite moment was probably when the Seahawks were at 3rd and 15 (if memory serves) deep in their own territory and handed if off to Kenneth Walker, causing the crowd to rain down the boos… until Walker powered through for a first down, turning the boos into cheers. Oops. Maybe give your team a little more grace, Seattle fans.
In other news, it appears I am the person who started this minor kerfluffle about Miami. As a reminder, here’s what I said (and I stick by it):
> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> They have nothing to play for, so time to see if the rookie has any value and protect Tua from taking more hits to the head. And if they lose more games, then they get a better draft pick (though they would never say that part out loud).
I added this later, and also stick by it:
> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> Or maybe he shows some flashes and you can trade him to another team for some draft capital, like the Patriots did last year with Joe Milton
These and other comments have somehow been twisted into an argument about starting a 7th round rookie to see if he is the “future of the franchise,” which I never said. The decision to start him over Tua is multi-faceted, and seeing if the kid has “any value” is just one piece of it. Protecting Tua - a QB with a significant concussion history - is another. Probably losing some games to better your draft position (without looking like you’re completely tanking, wink wink) is another. It’s a rational, common-sense decision to me.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/59 "2025-12-19T14:53:58Z")
This statement…
> [@Hamlet](#):
>
> A QB picked in the 7th round isn’t one that you “need to see what they have”. That’s for the first couple rounds, where the QB is the potential future of the franchise. Not for some 7th round nobody.
…does not remotely resemble this…
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> you would never base a franchise’s future around a late round QB.
That’s an interpretation you have inferred, but it is absolutely not in the text and was clearly not implied.
And nobody has yet given a single example of a 6th or 7th round QB that was started so that a franchise could see what they have. The only examples we have so far are from 6th and 7th round picks _forced to start due to injury_ and then winning the job on the field. They were not given a regular season “tryout.”
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/60 "2025-12-19T15:00:03Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> The decision to start him over Tua is multi-faceted, and seeing if the kid has “any value” is just one piece of it. Protecting Tua - a QB with a significant concussion history - is another. Probably losing some games to better your draft position (without looking like you’re completely tanking, wink wink) is another. It’s a rational, common-sense decision to me.
I agree it’s to protect Tua and tank this season. But I don’t think they are genuinely giving this kid a meaningful tryout. They are throwing him out to the wolves.
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