# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/41 "2026-01-04T18:56:59Z")
Am I right in deducing that the fate of Carolina and Tampa Bay lie in the result of a dead rubber between Atlanta and New Orleans? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/42 "2026-01-04T18:57:44Z")
I am started to see the Browns ahead. ---
**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, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/43 "2026-01-04T19:00:55Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Am I right in deducing that the fate of Carolina and Tampa Bay lie in the result of a dead rubber between Atlanta and New Orleans? As was discussed a few posts upthread, yes, you are correct. But is FOX showing us that game? No, instead we’re seeing the barnburner between the Cowboys and Giants. ---
**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 4, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/44 "2026-01-04T19:20:29Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I am started to see the Browns ahead. Two defensive scores. Finally taking the reins on both sides of the ball.😃 ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/45 "2026-01-04T19:48:22Z")
I meant startled. ---
**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 4, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/46 "2026-01-04T20:01:19Z")
Actually, both are correct. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/47 "2026-01-04T20:05:28Z")
Hat tip to the Giants for playing hard in a game where winning is going to bump them down several spots in the draft order, from #2 to #7 if I heard correctly. ---
**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, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/48 "2026-01-04T20:12:33Z")
I think you have people playing for their jobs in that 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 4, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/49 "2026-01-04T20:26:16Z")
Myles Garrett just set a new sack record–23 on the season. Good for him. ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/50 "2026-01-04T20:33:06Z")
Mark Gastineau will be happy about that! He always harbored feelings to Brett Farve handing a free sack to Mike Strahan! ---
**Author:** ![JoePockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/51 "2026-01-04T20:34:40Z")
They did the same thing last year and miss out on Cam Ward!….Worked great because Dart is the real deal! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/52 "2026-01-04T20:44:10Z")
No doubt that’s part of it ---
**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 4, 2026, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/53 "2026-01-04T20:50:28Z")
If I were the Pack I would have kicked a field goal, just to end in a nonzero score. Brian ---
**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, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/54 "2026-01-04T20:53:40Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > If I were the Pack I would have kicked a field goal, just to end in a nonzero score Which they did. Final score was 16-3. ---
**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 4, 2026, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/55 "2026-01-04T21:02:42Z")
My mistake, I thought they went for it on 4th down (To be honest, was not watching the game closely, was flipping channels) Brian ---
**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, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/56 "2026-01-04T21:14:01Z")
The Panthers win the NFC South, thanks to the Falcons 19-17 victory over the Saints. Carolina will host either the Niners or Rams. Jags win the AFC South. Texans will be a wild-card as the #5 seed. Houston will play at either Pittsburgh or Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/57 "2026-01-04T21:50:44Z")
I understand it must elevate the tension and excitement in the stadium, but does every stadium need to play the intro to _Hell’s Bells_ for each and every 3rd/4th-and-short? I think it’s the only song available at Ford Field, for example. For those of us at home watching a couple games in a row, it gets tedious, then comical, and can lead to a fun drinking game (especially if the game is at Ford Field). ---
**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 4, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/58 "2026-01-04T21:51:13Z")
A few games ago it looked like Myles Garrett was going to blast through the sack record, like by 3+, but between having a bit of a slump and more importantly having several teams design their whole game plan around him, his sack rate slowed dramatically the last few games and he only barely beat out the record during the 17th game of the season. I really wanted him to beat it cleanly in 16. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/59 "2026-01-04T21:52:56Z")
But he did, be happy! ---
**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 4, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/60 "2026-01-04T21:56:51Z")
Cam Little now owns the two longest FGs in NFL history. I told my party with :09 left in the first half that I was leaving to get a head start on halftime munchies. As I was walking to the ramps I heard the announcer say that the Jags just got the ball back on downs, and instantly knew Little would have a shot at another missile, so rushed back out just in time to see him launch it thru the uprights. On a kickoff several minutes earlier he had one hit the crossbar and flip up and over, from 75 yards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=4)