# 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:** 9
### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/161 "2025-12-22T01:01:33Z")
Ain’t that a kick in the shnuts.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/162 "2025-12-22T01:04:45Z")
The Lions are technically not eliminated yet, but they’d need to win out and the Packers would have to lose out. So it’s a slim chance.
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### Author:  [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/163 "2025-12-22T01:05:31Z")
> [@Railer13](#):
>
> It’s being reported as a torn ACL. Chiefs might be holding open auditions for quarterback this week. Colin Kaepernick, perhaps?
Alex Smith is 3 years younger than Rivers and “retired” in the same year.
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### Author:  [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/164 "2025-12-22T01:47:02Z")
It seems like there have been an exceptional number of touchdowns nullified by penalties this season. The Steelers have benefited two of their last three games.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/165 "2025-12-22T01:50:53Z")
Yeah the Giants benefited from one earlier today. And by “benefited” I mean they had one of their own touchdowns called back to help ensure the loss to maintain the #1 overall pick.
You know how they talk about throwing to a receiver early to get them in rhythm and into the game plan? That’s also a true thing for quarterbacks, especially young ones. Pro tip: When you’re going into halftime, your rookie quarterback really should have thrown more than one single pass to try and get him into rhythm.
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### Author:  [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/166 "2025-12-22T02:47:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> The Lions are technically not eliminated yet, but they’d need to win out and the Packers would have to lose out. So it’s a slim chance
Last night’s loss convinces me the Packers are not a playoff caliber team. I’m a Cheesehead rooting for them but I am not impressed with this seasons performances.
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### Author:  [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/167 "2025-12-22T03:07:59Z")
Supposedly Metcalf was triggered because the fan in question called him DeKaylin Zecharius, which is his given name.
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### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/168 "2025-12-22T03:10:13Z")
Isn’t he known for shoving players?
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### Author:  [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/169 "2025-12-22T03:18:41Z")
No ejections?
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### Author:  [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/170 "2025-12-22T03:21:37Z")
The NFL referees tend to lose the flags when Pittsburgh can make the postseason! Especially in Big Ben’s era!
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/171 "2025-12-22T03:22:12Z")
> [@pkbites](#):
>
> Last night’s loss convinces me the Packers are not a playoff caliber team.
Certainly if Love is out they’re not. (Even Willis!)
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### Author:  [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/172 "2025-12-22T04:03:42Z")
Assaulting fans is a no-no and Metcalf should face some sanction. That being said, he didn’t swing at the fan, he grabbed his collar told him something and shoved him back up.
[Here’s a quote from the blue moron](https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/12/21/dk-metcalf-punch-pittsburgh-steelers-detroit-lions-ford-field/87875725007/):
> “What, my full name isn’t is DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf," Kennedy said. “He doesn’t like his government name. I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked. Like everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby.”
Complete garbage person, that fan. I wish him ill. 😉
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### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/173 "2025-12-22T04:07:27Z")
Sometimes players gotta beat the fans up a little bit to keep the fan experience exciting
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/174 "2025-12-22T04:50:21Z")
Nice comeback win for the Pats, clinching a playoff spot. Some great 4th quarter heroics.
As of tonight in the AFC there are only two teams guaranteed playoff spots (Pats and Broncos) with 7 remaining teams (Jaguars, Steelers, Chargers, Bills, Texans, Colts, and Ravens) fighting for the 5 open spots.
On the NFC side, 5 teams are through leaving 3 teams (Lions, Packers, and Panthers) fighting for the remaining 2 open spots.
The Monday night game (SF vs Indy) has playoff implications especially for Indy. Can the 49ers still win their division?
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/175 "2025-12-22T04:55:05Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> As of tonight in the AFC there are only two teams guaranteed playoff spots (Pats and Broncos) with 7 remaining teams (Jaguars, Steelers, Chargers, Bills, Texans, Colts, and Ravens) fighting for the 5 open spots.
And with the exception of the Bills, each of those teams have at least one game (Houston has 2) against one of those other teams, and most of those are division games. And that’s not including games those teams have against other teams that already have playoff spots. Going to be an interesting final two weeks of the season for the AFC
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/176 "2025-12-22T04:56:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#):
>
> Certainly if Love is out they’re not. (Even Willis!)
Agreed. Malik Willis is a good quarterback, probably in the top half of NFL backups…but he’s not a starter for a reason.
They’re certainly a lesser team without Love (just as most teams would be without their starting QB), but to also be missing Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft, and with Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson beat up, they’re not close to the same team that they could be.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/177 "2025-12-22T04:59:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Can the 49ers still win their division?
Yes. They need to win their last 3 games, which includes a game against the Seahawks. That would give them the division title by virtue of their two wins over Seattle. If the Ram win their last two games and force a 3-way tie, the Niners also win that tiebreaker.
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### Author:  [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/178 "2025-12-22T05:03:44Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#):
>
> Going to be an interesting final two weeks of the season for the AFC
To say the least. It looks to me that any one of these teams could still win the #1 seed: Broncos, Chargers, Patriots, Bills, or Jaguars.
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### Author:  [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/179 "2025-12-22T05:07:57Z")
Yeah, pretty wild. Each of the AFC divisions except the north will have two teams in the playoffs as things stand, and either team in each of those could still win its respective division.
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### Author:  [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2025, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-16/1025752/180 "2025-12-22T11:03:50Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> On the NFC side, 5 teams are through leaving 3 teams (Lions, Packers, and Panthers) fighting for the remaining 2 open spots.
The Buccs are also in the fight (not sure if they can get a WC spot but can certainly win the NFCS)
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