2026 NFL Playoffs Thread

[EldrickOnIce]

Yeah I thought, ahead of the extra point, that it was 50/50 on going for 2

[Sylvanfan]

With the new OT rules the only way I see a team going for two is if it's a brutal day for kicking conditions and it's less than 80% you can make that kick.

At least this one wasn't decided by flags in the end. Kurl made a great play to pick that pass. The Rams made some great picks in the 3rd to 6th rounds when they traded all their high picks. That's why they're the only team still around who's been to and won a Superbowl in this decade.

[browna]

Yeah going for two in regulation wouldn’t make any sense. Take the OT chances of a Rams mistake at best. Especially since the play they got the TD on, and other 4th downs in this game and short yardage plays, they didn’t do well on. Why push it?

Still can’t get over how the one (or even 2) Rams DB was so late reacting to the ball flight and where it was headed, from the throw 40+ yards away, as it was in there air for 5+ seconds.l and he just had to step back 5 feet to bat that ball down.

[Senator Clay Davis]

You go for two to win the game, same as you would regardless of what the OT rules are. OT is pretty much a coin flip, going for two pretty much a coin flip. Basically comes down to willingness to accept blame, because losing as they did no one questions Johnson, but had they lost 17-16 going for two at the end everyone blames him. But when you just had the peak of your Satanic run happen, surely you let it ride and see what the Prince of Darkness has in store for a 2PT. Caleb probably runs backwards to his own 1 yard line and launches a 105 yard pass into the end zone with a ball of fire that literally goes through every Rams player before landing comfortably in Kmet's arms. After all Satan did for them they didn't let it ride. Big mistake.

[Erick Estrada]

Maybe we have been spoiled of late but the quality of football in these playoffs has been pretty bad. Props to the Seahawks for a good offseason as this Super Bowl is theirs to lose.

[savardandjokinen]

Bills fire McDermott

[ajr4013]

I'm honestly stunned. Didn't think they would actually pull the trigger. Who do they get? Also how does Beane keep his job? It's his roster management that is dragging them down.

[DropIt]

The run screeches to a halt.

Very happy with the season as a Bears fan. Hope it continues to progress with Ben and Caleb

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

Bills fire McDermott

I guess it's not surprising but the timing isn't great as this wasn't exactly considered a great offseason for coaching candidates and 1/3 of the league was already deep into the hiring cycle. I wonder if they are just going to promote Brady.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by DropIt

The run screeches to a halt.

Very happy with the season as a Bears fan. Hope it continues to progress with Ben and Caleb

Disappointing end to the season but if I'm a Bears fan I'm extremely happy about the direction of the organization. Ben Johnson is the real deal and the organization is in good hands for the first time in a long time. They just need to improve their defensive personnel over the offseason and they should be in the mix again in 2026.

[ajr4013]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I guess it's not surprising but the timing isn't great as this wasn't exactly considered a great offseason for coaching candidates and 1/3 of the league was already deep into the hiring cycle. I wonder if they are just going to promote Brady.

Please God no. We need a new voice. Again not sure how Beane can keep his job at this point.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Worth pointing out Harbaugh still hasn't closed with the Giants, and now a significantly better job opening is available, one that you can win a Super Bowl with next year. Giants fans gotta be nervous

Edit: Guess I was asleep, he did sign with them. But there are always napkins available...

[Erick Estrada]

Have to wonder if McDermott takes a year off. A 98-50 record is impressive and I'm sure several teams will be reaching out to him.

[Sylvanfan]

It's kind of Wild that the 1-2 finishers in the MVP Race from last year are current head coach openings as of right now. That has to be pretty enticing for prospective coaches.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

But there is no guarantee of a second possession so I'd rather have control of winning the game and the maximum amount of downs to do it with. If Caleb just kept checking it down and scrambling when nothing is there they only needed 15 more yards for a solid FG attempt. Just made a bad force that wasn't really there.

There's no guarantee of not having a 2nd possession either. Sure, there's some advantage to going 2nd, you know what to do, you get 4 downs etc.. but there are dangers too. If both teams go 3 and out, you're screwed. People aren't taking into consideration field position. If the team getting the ball first has to punt, the team going 2nd starts pretty deep in their own territory where bad things can happen, such as holding in the endzone that should have been called on Buffalo.

Also Buffalo had 3rd and 5 from their own 13. If they don't convert then what. Do you go for it or punt from your own 13? Punting at best makes the other team need 20 yards.

[Senator Clay Davis]

We're essentially arguing risk tolerance, but it basically comes down to choosing to kick first and trust your offense to get 3/6/8 points to win with their chance, or receive first and trust your defense to get a stop when tied or up 3/7 with their chance. Even with QB play in the absolute gutter right now I'd still rather trust my offense. Occam's Razor and all that, but I'd rather need as few things to go my way as possible. The more variable result outcomes you need to go your way, the less your chances become. Keep it simple basically.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by ajr4013

Please God no. We need a new voice. Again not sure how Beane can keep his job at this point.

He got promoted for some reason

[ajr4013]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

He got promoted for some reason

Do not get this either. Copium is that he gets one more year and then steps down from GM if they falter again.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

We're essentially arguing risk tolerance, but it basically comes down to choosing to kick first and trust your offense to get 3/6/8 points to win with their chance, or receive first and trust your defense to get a stop when tied or up 3/7 with their chance. Even with QB play in the absolute gutter right now I'd still rather trust my offense. Occam's Razor and all that, but I'd rather need as few things to go my way as possible. The more variable result outcomes you need to go your way, the less your chances become. Keep it simple basically.

Would the Bears have gone for two in OT since they didnt in regulation. So that takes one of your main options out


I just think having the ball again in sudden death is an advantage because there's a pretty good chance the first two possessions cancel each other out. Two three and outs, two FG or two TDs. If the team having the ball first gets a TD now they can defend a TD, put tremendous pressure on the team going second. If I won the toss, I would take the ball first.

[Senator Clay Davis]

We watched the Chiefs win the Super Bowl because the Niners took the ball and let the Chiefs have control. Funny thing happened too: Chiefs ran into a 4th and 1 on their own 34. Would they have gone for it first possession with it tied, knowing a failure to convert effectively ends the game? Maybe they do, I would guess they do, but now Andy is a moron if they don't get it and hand the Super Bowl to the Niners. So the risk shifts to him entirely and we know coaches are risk averse. A punt becomes a real possibility. But with the Niners up 3? Automatic go obviously and no one cares if they fail. And they go and march down and win.

It's 2025 NFL, teams crave control in end of game more than anything. Going second offers maximum options and clear paths to victory. Going first leaves more assumptions and, unless you go for two on a TD, fewer paths to victory and the possibility you never get another chance. If the rules change and teams are forced to go for two no matter what on a TD in OT, then taking the ball first is the choice by far.