2025 NFL Playoffs Thread

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

NFC North sends 3 team and 2 of them get handles easily.

The Packers game is a lot different if the refs don't botch the call on the opening kickoff. I'm not suggesting the outcome would have been different, but it's a stretch to put that game in the "handles easily" category.

[Sainters7]

1st round was straight trash, outside of Tampa vs Washington.

But so was round 1 of CFB Playoffs, and it's been great ever since. Fingers crossed for next weekend.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I wonder how much money Darnold has lost himself over the last two games.

I’m not so sure there were ever a bunch of GM’s waiting to hand him $100 million. Every single GM has scouted Darnold over the years and exactly zero offered him a starting job last offseason. I’m not so sure that one year in an optimal situation is enough to say with certainty that he’s a franchise QB. I don’t want to discredit Darnold as he put together a very good season but there’s zero doubt that this was his career season and there would be regression next season no matter where he starts. If he hits free agency he will get offers but probably the deals will have two years or less guaranteed money.

I think the Vikings should offer him a two year deal with maybe $35-40 million guaranteed just because they don’t really know what McCarthy is and when he will be ready. they could also sign Jones but he’s even more pedestrian.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Plot twist: Kevin O’Connell ripped off his mask and revealed that he was Mike McCarthy all along.

[Dion]

A couple of bad games by Darnold to end the season and playoffs. Have to wonder if that seriously damages his chances of resigning with the Vikings.

[SuperMatt18]

I don't think he was ever getting a long term contract anyways.

I think the outcome was always they franchise him for one season, see now next season goes with both him and JJ around, and then make the long term decision then.

Would have been kind of crazy to throw big money at him on a long term deal for the Vikings IMO.

[Senator Clay Davis]

But after that finish to the season it's fair to wonder if they will even tag him now. It wasn't like he went out there like Favre and just threw a bunch of terrible picks but was still chucking it around with confidence, he looked overwhelmed out there. Thats much more worrying than just a bad game or two. I guess it really will depend on McCarthy's recovery, but if he's good to go then I would guess they'd rather allocate some resources to OL than pay a potential backup QB $40 million.

[transplant99]

Yeah its hard to see him staying in Minny, and he will get attention elsewhere (Cleveland?) but he cost himself a decent amount of dough.

That being said, the Vikes were completely out coached along the trenches, particularly on the Oline. Prime Tom Brady would not have faired much better with that protection scheme.

Darnold held the ball too long several times as well, but thats usually just a guy trying to make a play.

9 sacks against though? No one is over coming that.

[Erick Estrada]

I have to give McVay his dues as the guy can flat out coach. Donald retires and he still manages to drag the NFL's 2nd youngest team into the Divisional round of the playoffs. As said above he completely outmaneuvered O'Connell and Flores.

[Sainters7]

Yeah Darnold had a rough couple games for sure. That said, that was a miserable performance by the Vikings OL. You'd think prime Aaron Donald was out there, Darnold was clearly seeing ghosts due to it. He couldn't even execute a dump-off pass the leaky OL play had him so jumpy. Just a complete collapse for Minny across the board last night.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah last night I have more on the line than I do Darnold,

Tough for any QB when they are under as much pressure as he was last night.

[KelVarnsen]

Darnold also holds the ball to long. He always has.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'd also put a lot of it on O'Connell. Their line was terrible from the jump, Darnold was pretty much rattled after the first pick, but O'Connell didn't seem to make any adjustments to help out his QB or line. I also thought the play that basically ended it, the sack on 4th and 2, was poor management by O'Connell too. Should have called a timeout and gotten their best play and/or protection package, instead they ran a quick play that had no chance.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah some of them be held on too long for sure, but the line was just getting ran right over.

The pocket was almost immediately collapsing so even when he held on too long he was pressured immediately and couldn't go through the progressions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comment..._vs/?rdt=57897

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by ajr4013

https://twitter.com/user/status/1878858544994537555

He is banned from attending any games...classy move by the Eagles

https://twitter.com/user/status/1879014305041142090

[CroFlames]

Ravens/Bills is an incredible QB matchup. Really hope the game lives up to the hype.

Both QBs have something to prove in the playoffs.

[Sainters7]

Was trying to include this pic as an edit to my last post, but am struggling doing it on the mobile app, so I'll just put it here. I feel like it sums up last night's game perfectly.

(Spoiler tags for possible large pic)

Spoiler!

[Paulie Walnuts]

Diontae Johnson cut by the Texans 4th team to move on from him this season.

[Strange Brew]

And Texans badly needed the receiver depth. Huge playoff win for the team and the guy is sulking at his locker because he didn't get enough PT.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The Packers game is a lot different if the refs don't botch the call on the opening kickoff. I'm not suggesting the outcome would have been different, but it's a stretch to put that game in the "handles easily" category.

Nothing wrong with the opening kickoff call. There was no clear recovery to overturn any call. All the pictures had arms all over the place.

Plus there was 55 minutes after that and nothing. NFC North teams feasted on easy schedules all year