AggieJ2002 said:

---

Mathguy64 said:

---

I would rather be the seed against the Steelers. They just are not good at all.

---

Not looking like they will be an option for anyone in the playoffs

---

Hopefully Baltimore will step on their own johnsons often enough to allow Pittsburgh to eke one out…but that's not the way I'd bet.

Baltimore does not scare me. That Packer team last night had 43 healthy guys, don't read much into that

If Buffalo can beat Philly, the AFC North discussion probably becomes moot. The Bills finish with the woebegone Jets and would be 13-4, putting us no better than #6 if Jacksonville takes care of the Titans.

13-0 Eagles at halftime. Allen looks gimpy. A strip-sack led to the game's only TD.
If the Bills lose, the Texans jump to 5th.

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

13-0 Eagles at halftime. Allen looks gimpy. A strip-sack led to the game's only TD.
If the Bills lose, the Texans jump to 5th.

---

Would be huge. Rather play 4 seed than jags

I hate playing starters in week 17 just for seeding as a wild card, and I feel pretty indifferent about who we would play in round 1. That said, I can see BUF going on a run with Allen, and if we did have to play them, playing in Houston would be massive and makes it worth the injury risk playing starters next week.

Bills score with 5 seconds left and go for 2, but don't convert.

Finally some scoreboard help!

Bills coach is a moron. Defensive struggle and you have all of the momentum. Thanks bud.

A tie was far better than a loss for Buffalo. Really dumb.

So the new AFC playoff picture is:

#1 Denver - bye

#7 Buffalo at #2 New England (they also play each other next week)
#6 Chargers at #3 Jaguars
#5 Texans at #4 Steelers

Steelers are 9-7, Ravens are 8-8. They play each other in Baltimore next week. The winner gets the #4 seed.


The NFC right now, ,not counting tonight's pivotal Bears/49ers game, nor tomorrow when Bijan Robinson rushes for 135 yards and the Falcons lose to the Rams by 30 anyway.

#1 Seattle - bye

#7 Packers at #2 Bears
#6 Rams at #3 Eagles
#5 49ers at #4 Panthers

The 8-8 Panthers, outscored by 67 points this year, strutting their way to a home playoff game.

Panthers vs Bucs next week for the South I thought?

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

So the new AFC playoff picture is:

#1 Denver - bye

#7 Buffalo at #2 New England (they also play each other next week)
#6 Chargers at #3 Jaguars
#5 Texans at #4 Steelers

Steelers are 9-7, Ravens are 8-8. They play each other in Baltimore next week. The winner gets the #4 seed.


The NFC right now, ,not counting tonight's pivotal Bears/49ers game, nor tomorrow when Bijan Robinson rushes for 135 yards and the Falcons lose to the Rams by 30 anyway.

#1 Seattle - bye

#7 Packers at #2 Bears
#6 Rams at #3 Eagles
#5 49ers at #4 Panthers

The 8-8 Panthers, outscored by 67 points this year, strutting their way to a home playoff game.

---

Nope, we've already played Buffalo twice. They have the Jets and we have the Dolphins.

Pahdz said:

---

Panthers vs Bucs next week for the South I thought?

---

Bucs hold the tiebreaker if they win next week and finish in a two way tie with the Panthers.

However if Atlanta wins its next two it doesn't matter if the Panthers lose to the Bucs because there would be a 3 way tie at 8-9 and Carolina would hold the tiebreaker in that scenario.

https://pantherswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/panthers/2025/12/28/panthers-buccaneers-falcons-week-18-playoff-clinching-scenarios/87937990007/#

scd88 said:

---

Steelers. Slay some old dragons:

Bubby Brister
Bubby Bristers mom
Mike Renfro's TD catch that wasn't
Donald Orr, or the ghost of if he's dead. Who's he, you might ask? He's the ump/line/back judge that called Renfro's second foot "out." Yeah, I'm not bitter...

---

I remember when we lost to the Steelers and Bubby Brister in the '89 wild card, Craig Roberts of Channel 2 made a crack about Bubby Brister's mom looking "older and older" as the game went on. Word got back to Brister and he had to issue an on-air apology a week later.

New Texans starting safety K’Von Wallace was their 2nd highest graded defender yesterday vs LAC (@PFF)

Wallace had 4 run stops while allowing just 3 yards on 2 targets in coverage.

85.8 RDEF Grade for Wallace which led the entire defense. pic.twitter.com/V2ObOWeF4i

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) December 28, 2025

Only defensive player with a higher grade for us on Saturday was Will Anderson.

Mathguy64 said:

---

I would take a road game versus Steelers/Ravens all day long.

---

I wouldn't be worried about a road game in Pittsburgh but I'm less confident about Baltimore, even with their issues. I will say I'm happier with the 5 seed just because it means we wouldn't have to play in Buffalo in January regardless of how the other games shake out. I was watching their game with Cleveland yesterday because I was hoping Pittsburgh would pull out the win. Garrett accused the Steelers of being more worried about him overtaking Watt's sack record than winning, and I think he has a point. Rodgers in particular seemed to more concerned about being sacked by Garrett than trying to find the open WR. They were without their best 2 WRs which certainly hurt them, but it never felt like Pittsburgh was trying to win until their last drive of the game. They're still without Metcalf next week as well since he's still suspended. Rodgers has to play a much different game next week if they want to go to the playoffs.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47438289/myles-garrett-steelers-worried-more-getting-win

CharleyKerfeld said:

---

So the new AFC playoff picture is:

#1 Denver - bye

#7 Buffalo at #2 New England (they also play each other next week)
#6 Chargers at #3 Jaguars
#5 Texans at #4 Steelers

Steelers are 9-7, Ravens are 8-8. They play each other in Baltimore next week. The winner gets the #4 seed.


The NFC right now, ,not counting tonight's pivotal Bears/49ers game, nor tomorrow when Bijan Robinson rushes for 135 yards and the Falcons lose to the Rams by 30 anyway.

#1 Seattle - bye

#7 Packers at #2 Bears
#6 Rams at #3 Eagles
#5 49ers at #4 Panthers

The 8-8 Panthers, outscored by 67 points this year, strutting their way to a home playoff game.

---

Seattle, Rams and 49ers have looked like the best teams in the NFC in my opinion. Crazy that the 49ers vs Seahawks is the difference between the #1 seed and a bye vs likely being the 6th seed and playing at Philly.

AggieJ2002 said:

---

I'm assuming the NFL has already penciled us in for the early Saturday playoff slot?

---

We r not nearly as big a market as Jacksonville or Carolina

AggieJ2002 said:

---

I'm assuming the NFL has already penciled us in for the early Saturday playoff slot?

---

That was locked in the second we clinched......

IrishAg said:

---

AggieJ2002 said:

---

I'm assuming the NFL has already penciled us in for the early Saturday playoff slot?

---

When else would we play, Sunday? That's just crazy talk

---

Pendergast thinks it may be Monday night.

Likely scenario is 5-seed TEXANS vs 4-seed RAVENS/STEELERS, important note:

Since ’21 (expanding to 14 p/o teams), MNF wild card game has ALWAYS been a 4 vs 5 game – I think TEXANS v AFCN winner has more sizzle than shitty NFCS champ getting their ass kicked by 12-win NFCW Team pic.twitter.com/bqzEMcPYTf

— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) December 29, 2025

JCA1 said:

---

IrishAg said:

---

AggieJ2002 said:

---

I'm assuming the NFL has already penciled us in for the early Saturday playoff slot?

---

When else would we play, Sunday? That's just crazy talk

---

Pendergast thinks it may be Monday night.

---

Are we sure that wouldn't break the 9th seal of the apocalypse?