# 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:** 6
**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 5, 2026, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/101 "2026-01-05T16:56:59Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t remember ever hearing Glenn’s name before, and if so it was in passing. I mostly recognize his name from [his playing days](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GlenAa00.htm); he was a pretty good cornerback, especially in the first half of his career, when he played for…the Jets. 😃 ---
**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 5, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/102 "2026-01-05T16:57:53Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s sad that I have no idea who their QBs were, who their HC was. I knew nothing about them. They fell off the radar. What I remember, aside from Aaron Glenn, is wondering if Woody Johnson’s college-aged sons are still making personnel decisions for him (vs his front office) based on playing Madden. I don’t think anybody can conclusively rule that out ---
**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 5, 2026, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/103 "2026-01-05T16:58:24Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > What I remember, aside from Aaron Glenn, is wondering if Woody Johnson’s college-aged sons are still making personnel decisions for him (vs his front office) based on playing Madden. LOL, _that_ I remember. 😆 That speculation has been going on for a while now. ---
**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 5, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/104 "2026-01-05T17:08:42Z")
This is the time of year where I feel sorry for fans of perpetually woebegone teams, which are in eternal rebuild mode. - The Jets are now 15 years removed from their last playoff appearance – it’s now hard to believe that they made it to the AFC Championship Game in consecutive seasons (2009 and 2010). - The once-proud Raiders continue to be a front-office shitshow. They’re now 23 years removed from their last Super Bowl appearance, and have made only two playoff appearances since then (losing wild card games each time). They were in decline during Al Davis’s final few years, and have been completely clueless under Mark Davis. - The Browns, too, are just a continuing disaster. Since their return to the NFL, they’ve only made the playoffs three times, and will be getting their ninth coach since 2010. The horrible choices they’ve made with Deshaun Watson will continue to bite them in the ass for years to come. ---
**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 5, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/105 "2026-01-05T19:03:40Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The Jets are now 15 years removed from their last playoff appearance There’s hope. The Chiefs won the SB in 1970, and then lost in the playoffs the next year to the Dolphins, in the longest NFL game every played. They didn’t make the playoffs again until 1986, and didn’t win another playoff game until 1991. Then, after losing in the conference championship game in 1993, they didn’t win another playoff game until 2015. This season notwithstanding, they’ve done okay since then. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/106 "2026-01-05T19:17:16Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > There’s hope. Hope that they’ll be good again in 45 years? That doesn’t sound particularly hopeful to me, but it does sound accurate! 🤣 ---
**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 5, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/107 "2026-01-05T19:19:14Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Hope that they’ll be good again in 45 years? Well, the Jets have already gone through the first 15 years of that… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/108 "2026-01-05T19:27:52Z")
In opposite of the Jets news, the Patriots tied the NFL record for biggest season turnaround, from 4-13 last year to 14-3 this year. They tied they 1999 Colts (3-13 to 13-3) and 2008 Dolphins (1-15 to 11-5). I’m sure the rest of the league is thrilled about this. ---
**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 5, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/109 "2026-01-05T19:28:58Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I’m sure the rest of the league is thrilled about this. “You didn’t suck for _nearly_ long enough!!!” ---
**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 5, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/110 "2026-01-05T19:45:19Z")
The hammer falls in Arizona, as well: head coach Jonathan Gannon has been fired by the Cardinals. He had a 15-36 record in three seasons; the Cards had looked promising in 2024, and were in first place as late as Week 11, but then went 2-5 the rest of the way to fall out of the playoffs. They were awful this year (3-14), though injuries - especially to Kyler Murray – played a big role in that; they wound up with 25 players on IR. > **[Cards fire Gannon after 15-36 mark in 3 seasons](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47512424/sources-cardinals-fire-jonathan-gannon-15-36-record)** > > The Cardinals fired third-year head coach Jonathan Gannon on Monday, the day after a 37-20 loss to the Rams concluded their worst season of the modern era. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/111 "2026-01-05T20:30:24Z")
A weird year for us Commanders fans. There’s a sense we’ll regroup when Daniels comes back, but the defense is still one of the worst in the NFL. What a long year this was. ---
**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 5, 2026, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/112 "2026-01-05T21:54:24Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > I’m sure the rest of the league is thrilled about this. I’m far from a fan of the Patriots in general, but I think seeing a team turn things around with a young QB is pretty cool. It’s like you might be witnessing the next big thing being born, as we did with the Chiefs and Mahomes. Same with the Broncos this year. (Then again, I thought Jayden Daniels and the Commanders would be that team, and that hasn’t quite worked out. Yet.) ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/113 "2026-01-05T22:36:03Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > A weird year for us Commanders fans. Of which I am one. Did the Eagles only play their scrubs yesterday? ---
**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 5, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/114 "2026-01-05T22:42:03Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Did the Eagles only play their scrubs yesterday? Tanner McKee started at quarterback, Tank Bigsby started at running back…at least _some_ scrubs. ---
**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 5, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/115 "2026-01-05T23:28:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Tank Bigsby started at running back Best football name ever. ---
**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 5, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/116 "2026-01-05T23:28:55Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > Did the Eagles only play their scrubs yesterday? Please somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that the Bears played their starters, in their home loss to the Lions. ---
**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 5, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/117 "2026-01-05T23:32:47Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Please somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that the Bears played their starters, in their home loss to the Lions. It seems like it to me. > **[Bears' game-day roster for Week 18 vs. Lions](https://bearswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bears/2026/01/04/bears-lions-week-18-roster-2025/88007667007/)** > > Here's a look at the Chicago Bears' game-day roster and heading into their Week 18 game vs. Detroit Lions. In retrospect, they lost the game anyway, and with the Eagles resting their starters it seems like it would have made more sense for the Bears to keep their best folks fresh for next week, as they kept the 2 seed even with the loss to the Lions. But you know how they say hindsight is 20/20. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/118 "2026-01-06T03:07:31Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Best football name ever. Bronko Nagurski. ---
**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 6, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/119 "2026-01-06T03:16:52Z")
For active players, Kenneth Gainwell is a pretty good one for a RB. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169/120 "2026-01-07T04:53:40Z")
Question re. the sack record: Are we going to keep separate single-season records for 14- and 16-game seasons, or has everyone collectively decided to pretend that it doesn’t matter, much like how breaking 80 on a par-72 course is exactly the same as breaking 80 on a par-70 course (and presumably a par-54 course 🙄)? Or maybe just avoid the issue entirely because It’s Not That Important? I mean, it’s _awesome_ that I haven’t heard the word “asterisk” once, but I’d appreciate some clarification on this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-18/1026169.md?page=7)