# NFL Week 18 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [December 30, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169 "2025-12-30T14:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 31, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/21 "2025-12-31T22:28:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > As this weekend’s game is meaningless, as far as playoff position – the Packers are locked into the #7 seed in the NFC – it seems likely to me that they’ll rest Love and Willis, as well as some other banged-up starters, such as Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson. Agreed. The Packers absolutely should rest critical players, they can make this a pseudo bye week ahead of the wild card round. I’m not a Green Bay fan but if I were, I’d be totally in favor of this because I’d want them to get as far as possible in the postseason. And who knows, they could catch fire and make it all the way if things go right and enough folks are healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/22 "2025-12-31T22:31:06Z")
If Chicago wins, they’re the second seed and host Green Bay for a third game this season. Inject that straight into my veins. ETA: The Packers have claimed Trevon Diggs off waivers. Maybe a dead cat bounce to his career? ---
**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 1, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/23 "2026-01-01T22:09:24Z")
Regarding injured quarterbacks and this week’s games: Lamar Jackson was a full participant at yesterday’s Ravens practice, and in a press briefing today, said that he’s expecting to play on Sunday night, in a must-win game against the Steelers (“I’m going to be out there”), and that he “absolutely” wants to continue to play for Baltimore. > **[Lamar: I'm playing, have never quit on Ravens](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47474596/ravens-jackson-says-playing-win-game-vs-steelers)** > > Lamar Jackson says he's expecting to play when the Ravens take on the Steelers in Pittsburgh for the AFC North title Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Packers’ Jordan Love has been cleared from the concussion protocol, but (as expected) will be held out of Sunday’s game against Minnesota. Green Bay is currently planning to start Clayton Tune at QB against the Vikings, with either Malik Willis or newly-signed Desmond Ritter serving as Tune’s backup. > **[Love clears protocol but will sit out until playoffs](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47472533/jordan-love-clears-protocol-packers-sit-qb-playoffs)** > > Jordan Love has cleared the concussion protocol, but the Green Bay Packers do not intend to play him until the playoffs. > [@Chisquirrel](#): > > The Packers have claimed Trevon Diggs off waivers. Maybe a dead cat bounce to his career? Here’s hoping; it doesn’t look like he’s been particularly effective for at least this past season. Apparently, he and Micah Parsons are good friends. ---
**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 2, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/24 "2026-01-02T00:13:10Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Here’s hoping; it doesn’t look like he’s been particularly effective for at least this past season. Apparently, he and Micah Parsons are good friends. You never know, sometimes a change of venue brings life into a player. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/25 "2026-01-03T13:02:07Z")
Phillip Rivers, father of ten, gets five more years of NFL health insurance as a result of his stint > **[The NFL comeback for Colts quarterback and dad of 10 Philip Rivers extended...](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nfl-comeback-colts-quarterback-dad-213653484.html)** > > Returning to the Colts didn't just mean another hefty paycheck for Philip Rivers. It meant access to a strong health plan for another five years. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/26 "2026-01-03T16:27:18Z")
Good for him. Pro players should get free health insurance for life after putting their bodies on the line. ---
**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 3, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/27 "2026-01-03T19:09:22Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Pro players should get free health insurance for life after putting their bodies on the line. I have mixed feelings about this. You may be right that they should get free insurance for life. On the other hand, Rivers earned $244 million over the course of his NFL career. One would think that he should be able to afford a decent health insurance policy for a while. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/28 "2026-01-03T20:02:30Z")
True, the stars don’t really need it. It’s more the grunt players who would benefit. ---
**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 3, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/29 "2026-01-03T20:11:27Z")
And there’s a lot more of those grunt players than players who break 9 figures. As long as Rivers isn’t getting more of a benefit than those guys, I don’t have an issue with it. This also seems to be issue whenever CBA talks come up lately. The wealthy vets push for changes that would benefit the younger guys more (higher minimum salaries, reduced requirements for the pension plan, etc), but those younger guys need/want money now, not later, so they push to settle earlier even if costs them in the long term. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/30 "2026-01-03T23:21:32Z")
Very slippery game in Tampa. So if Tampa wins and Atlanta loses tomorrow, Tampa is in?? Fun ending to fun season anyway. ---
**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 4, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/31 "2026-01-04T00:51:34Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > So if Tampa wins and Atlanta loses tomorrow, Tampa is in? Correct. Tampa Bay won today and now must hope that Atlanta loses to the Saints tomorrow. Either the Bucs or the Panthers will be in the playoffs with an 8-9 record, and will host a team from the NFC West. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/32 "2026-01-04T01:00:54Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Either the Bucs or the Panthers will be in the playoffs with an 8-9 record, and will host a team from the NFC West. A team that will have won at least 12 games and possibly 13. Situations like this make you think that the NFL has to change the playoff formatting in some respect. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/33 "2026-01-04T01:03:20Z")
An easy fix - retain the playoff positions of division winners and wild cards, but seed separately, based on record and other tiebreakers. So a bad division winner is probably the lowest seed. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/34 "2026-01-04T01:08:34Z")
Relegations! 😎 ---
**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 4, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/35 "2026-01-04T01:10:24Z")
There have been four teams with losing records that have made the playoffs (not considering a strike-shortened season). 2010 Seahawks (7-9): won wild-card game; lost divisional round 2014 Carolina Panthers (7-8-1): won wild-card game; lost divisional round 2020 Washington Football Team (7-9): lost wild-card game 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): lost wild-card game ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/36 "2026-01-04T01:12:41Z")
Can’t wait for tomorrow to end it all up with standings. But tonight’s game will be awesome. ---
**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 4, 2026, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/37 "2026-01-04T01:19:04Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > Situations like this make you think that the NFL has to change the playoff formatting in some respect. The typical counter argument to that has been that some divisions are full of cupcakes (the AFC East for many years) and some have many contenders. So winning a difficult division may result in a strong team with a relatively poor record. ---
**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 4, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/38 "2026-01-04T01:22:34Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > Situations like this make you think that the NFL has to change the playoff formatting in some respect. The league has always stressed the importance of winning your division – and, of course, prior to 1970, winning your division was the only way to make the playoffs. The owners are, AFAICT, still very much of a mind that you should get a home playoff game if you win your division. This same topic comes up every time we have a sub-.500 division winner, and/or two high-win teams from the same division (of which only one can get the division title and a home game). Divisions with 4 teams (which is what we have now) are probably a bit more likely to yield a division winner at .500 or lower than a 5-team division (which the NFL largely had from 1976-2001). ---
**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 4, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/39 "2026-01-04T01:29:01Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Divisions with 4 teams (which is what we have now) are probably a bit more likely to yield a division winner at .500 or lower Correct. The NFL went to 4-team divisions in 2002, and the four sub-.500 teams I noted above were all, of course, after that season. ---
**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 4, 2026, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/40 "2026-01-04T03:47:08Z")
Seattle dominated San Francisco from beginning to end, even winning the turnover battle somehow, and have clinched the #1 seed and a bye. It should have been 19-3 but Jason Myers missed two FGs (including a chip shot) with the wind like it was. Myers previously made 18 FGs in a row. Holy crap though, Brock Purdy is tough. His thumb on his throwing hand looked like it was hit with a hammer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=3)