2026 NFL Playoffs Thread

[ajr4013]

I was 100% good with the Bills getting it second in OT and if that Cooks catch was ruled correctly they win the game.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by ajr4013

I was 100% good with the Bills getting it second in OT and if that Cooks catch was ruled correctly they win the game.

Even the play before that if the throw is one more yard Hardman catches that, can fall down, get up and easily get to the 25. Buffalo made the right call on the toss and the game was there for them.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by devo22

Bills, 49ers, Texans, Bears. Please and thank you.

lol. Every god damn year, man.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I understand the other ones to a degree (maybe even tricking yourself into taking the Bears due to black magic bull****), but picking the 49ers... I didn't want to jinx it but when I saw those picks, I was like... yeah OK, take the 7 points, but to win outright? You just saw this movie two weeks ago. You should know better.

Totally reasonable to take the Rams next weekend though.

[ResAlien]

Denver's apparently bringing Dobbins back from the dead to hopefully play next week. I'm sure they'll be great. They're in the conference title game and going into the offseason their two biggest holes are the same as they were last year, RB and TE. maybe they'll finally decide to address that instead of going to the retread bin

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I understand the other ones to a degree (maybe even tricking yourself into taking the Bears due to black magic bull****), but picking the 49ers... I didn't want to jinx it but when I saw those picks, I was like... yeah OK, take the 7 points, but to win outright? You just saw this movie two weeks ago. You should know better.

Totally reasonable to take the Rams next weekend though.

Tricking yourself?
Bears were the better team yesterday, but failed to finish.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by ajr4013

I was 100% good with the Bills getting it second in OT and if that Cooks catch was ruled correctly they win the game.

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Even the play before that if the throw is one more yard Hardman catches that, can fall down, get up and easily get to the 25. Buffalo made the right call on the toss and the game was there for them.

Im surely in the minority here.
It would have been funny if they had called holding in the endzone.

People aren't considering field position. You receive the kickoff first, you're getting it at worse at your own 25. You get the ball 2nd, it could be a kickoff after a score 3 or 7, or they could punt it inside your own 10.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I understand the other ones to a degree (maybe even tricking yourself into taking the Bears due to black magic bull****), but picking the 49ers... I didn't want to jinx it but when I saw those picks, I was like... yeah OK, take the 7 points, but to win outright? You just saw this movie two weeks ago. You should know better.

Totally reasonable to take the Rams next weekend though.

I just listed the teams I wanted to win. That's it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Im surely in the minority here.
It would have been funny if they had called holding in the endzone.

People aren't considering field position. You receive the kickoff first, you're getting it at worse at your own 25. You get the ball 2nd, it could be a kickoff after a score 3 or 7, or they could punt it inside your own 10.

Of course field position is a consideration. But the current format, barring a ballsy risk to go for two by the team who gets the ball first, allows the team who gets the ball second crucial advantages like using the full set of downs and the ability to win with 8 points. Those are just too important to ignore IMO.

[MegaErtz]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I understand the other ones to a degree (maybe even tricking yourself into taking the Bears due to black magic bull****), but picking the 49ers... I didn't want to jinx it but when I saw those picks, I was like... yeah OK, take the 7 points, but to win outright? You just saw this movie two weeks ago. You should know better.

Totally reasonable to take the Rams next weekend though.

Dobbins was a great RB this season up until his injury. Single handedly kept me in the playoff hunt in fantasy. If he’s healthy, they have a shot.

[Senator Clay Davis]

They have a shot cause the Patriots are a bang average team and the Broncos have an excellent home field advantage. And not that you ever want an injury to your starting QB, but having it happen with a full week to prepare beats say what happened to the Niners with Purdy a few years back. Payton should be able to get a solid enough game plan together to give them a chance.

[transplant99]

Dolphins hire Jeff Hafley as HC.....big loss for the Packers.

[FireGilbert]

Despite all the changes NFL OT is still dumb. Should go with the college rules or could do something like a full 2x8 minute halves to be fair and not give an advantage to the coin toss.

Have to think the NFC champion will be the SB favourite. Want to pick the Hawks but the Rams are one of the few teams that can put up points on Seattle’s defence. Should be a good one!

[Sylvanfan]

I think Payton can get the Bronco's prepared to cover 5.5 at home. I think New England wins, but I think it will be a close game. I think the Broncos defence shows up and plays their arses off.

[Cheese]

Hawks beat the Rams
Pats beat the Broncos

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I think Payton can get the Bronco's prepared to cover 5.5 at home. I think New England wins, but I think it will be a close game. I think the Broncos defence shows up and plays their arses off.

I think it's a big difference preparing all week to start backup than having starter hurt on 2nd play of game, so I'm sure you are right.

[Red Slinger]

I think Stidham is a good backup but he hasn't faced live action all year and certainly not under the spotlight and pressure that comes with the conference championship against a pretty good Pats defense. I think the Broncos only chance is to have another game where they force 5 turnovers, but I'm sure Vrabel is drilling that all week. It was a fun year for the Broncos but I think the ride is over.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I think it's a big difference preparing all week to start backup than having starter hurt on 2nd play of game, so I'm sure you are right.

Yeah since they knew almost right away the entire game plan will be made for Stidham, and he will get all the reps this week. So that's even a big difference from a guy getting injured in practice on Thursday or as you note in game. Payton has a pretty good track record of getting his backups able to execute a game plan.

That said as much as Maye had some struggles on Sunday, he did throw 3 TD passes against a very ferocious defence, and with Spillane and Milton back it does change the look of New England's defence. The Patriots have covered games by margin pretty frequently this year.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

That said as much as Maye had some struggles on Sunday, he did throw 3 TD passes against a very ferocious defence, and with Spillane and Milton back it does change the look of New England's defence. The Patriots have covered games by margin pretty frequently this year.

Yup, the Chargers game was the initial test, this was the prove-it game - can you score against a truly excellent defense. Turns out they can, and now all the talk about them playing a historically easy schedule (easiest since the 99 Rams) is just talk. They're actually this good.

... They are also about to get a hilariously easy path to the Super Bowl, though. They have an MVP calibre QB and the two guys they just played turned into the pumpkinest pumpkins ever, and now they get Jared Stidham. It would be fitting to go through and play Seattle and have Darnold choose to save his meltdown for the Super Bowl and just hand it to them.

[Senator Clay Davis]

They're not this good lol. If you just remove the Stroud pick-6 the Texans would have been winning going in the fourth despite having four turnovers. They're basically the rich man's Steelers. But yeah their comically easy route reminds me that while the Broncos and Bears are flirted with the Prince of Darkness this year, the Patriots have been in league with him for over 20 years. Fully expect the Seahawks to win 59-0 and Darnold and Lock to both get hurt so they get another gift in the Super Bowl.