Divisional Roundup
Jan. 19th, 2026 06:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mayhapWe're running perilously short of football. Soon we will be entirely out.
(1) Denver Broncos defeated (6) Buffalo Bills, 33-30 — Truly, it is possible for both teams to lose! I know that I didn't wish this into existence because, aside from that not being possible, Tony Romo didn't catch any strays, but still. I have nothing against Bo Nix and I'm sorry that he broke his ankle, but I'd be lying if I said I was sad for Broncos fans, and I'm downright delighted for anything bad to happen to Sean "Bountygate Saints" Payton. They weren't shedding any tears when Pat got hurt and plenty of them were actively rooting for it to happen in comments sections for years now. Quite frankly if I can't have an uninjured quarterback I don't see why anyone else should either.
I did think that the Broncos were going to be the ones to lose this and it would have served them right as such fraudulent one seeds but the Bills simply would not let them. People like to complain about all the entities they believe are failing Josh Allen, but Josh Allen certainly added himself to that list in this game. It was a mess. It was so bad that the Pegulas finally did something and fired head coach Sean McDermott. I was disappointed to see this news, as I have enjoyed McDermott's work and was hoping he would go on to coach them to playoff losses for many years to come. Never forget: when Sean McDermott wanted to inspire his players to work together as a team, he pointed them to the hijackers on 9/11.
(1) Seattle Seahawks defeated (6) San Francisco 49ers, 41-6 — I bailed on this game in the third quarter and still probably watched it too long. The 49ers were much too injured to even make a game of it. So far, the secret to not having Sam Darnold melt down under pressure at the end of the season/in the playoffs seems to be to simply not require very much from him to win a game, and I believe that if the Seahawks can keep that up, they will very easily win the Super Bowl. It wouldn't have made a lot of sense for Vikings to resign him, because they didn't have that level of team around him last year (hence the meltdown) and an expensive free agent quarterback contract would have hampered their ability to build a team around him even more. Their actual mistake was drafting J.J. "Nine" McCarthy, who seems like he may never be healthy and/or good, but having already done that, they boxed themselves in and there they are for the time being.
(2) New England Patriots defeated (5) Houston Texans, 28-16 — It's honestly incredible how hapless C.J. Stroud looks out there. If you told me that there was a bodyswap incident and the regular person trapped inside his body hasn't been able to figure out how to swap back, I'd at least hear you out. I'm surprised his defense hasn't snapped and forcibly taken him out of the game, because they keep giving the Texans a chance to win and Stroud keeps giving it right back. It must be infuriating. Much like the fact that the Patriots have a glide path to the Super Bowl after winning this game and getting to face the Nixless Broncos in the AFCCG.
(5) Los Angeles Rams defeated (2) Chicago Bears, 20-17 — The NFL saved the best for last and oh boy, did it deliver! I know that Caleb Williams just hates it when people compare him to Patrick Mahomes, so it's a good thing he didn't make it any further in the playoffs, or someone might have drawn some more comparisons between them. (You can either look at their respective second years in the league and Pat made it to the championship game and lost, or look at their respective second years starting and Pat won the Super Bowl, take your pick.) He even got to lose to one of the only two quarterbacks that he believes are top QBs in the league, which must have been a great consolation to him!
Caleb Williams giveth and Caleb Williams taketh away, or rather Caleb Williams taketh incredible shots down the field but Caleb Williams also giveth the ball away, which was his eventual undoing. Tirico and Collinsworth called this game like they were co-presidents of the Caleb Williams fan club, which would have radicalized me further against him, were that even possible. So yeah, I enjoyed the outcome of this game quite a bit.
Patriots at Broncos — I hate both of these teams and this game is likely to contain terrible quarterback play. Not a lot to look forward to here.
Rams at Seahawks — Yet another NFC West division rivalry matchup! Good storyline, definitely rooting for whichever team comes out of this one to win it all.
(1) Denver Broncos defeated (6) Buffalo Bills, 33-30 — Truly, it is possible for both teams to lose! I know that I didn't wish this into existence because, aside from that not being possible, Tony Romo didn't catch any strays, but still. I have nothing against Bo Nix and I'm sorry that he broke his ankle, but I'd be lying if I said I was sad for Broncos fans, and I'm downright delighted for anything bad to happen to Sean "Bountygate Saints" Payton. They weren't shedding any tears when Pat got hurt and plenty of them were actively rooting for it to happen in comments sections for years now. Quite frankly if I can't have an uninjured quarterback I don't see why anyone else should either.
I did think that the Broncos were going to be the ones to lose this and it would have served them right as such fraudulent one seeds but the Bills simply would not let them. People like to complain about all the entities they believe are failing Josh Allen, but Josh Allen certainly added himself to that list in this game. It was a mess. It was so bad that the Pegulas finally did something and fired head coach Sean McDermott. I was disappointed to see this news, as I have enjoyed McDermott's work and was hoping he would go on to coach them to playoff losses for many years to come. Never forget: when Sean McDermott wanted to inspire his players to work together as a team, he pointed them to the hijackers on 9/11.
(1) Seattle Seahawks defeated (6) San Francisco 49ers, 41-6 — I bailed on this game in the third quarter and still probably watched it too long. The 49ers were much too injured to even make a game of it. So far, the secret to not having Sam Darnold melt down under pressure at the end of the season/in the playoffs seems to be to simply not require very much from him to win a game, and I believe that if the Seahawks can keep that up, they will very easily win the Super Bowl. It wouldn't have made a lot of sense for Vikings to resign him, because they didn't have that level of team around him last year (hence the meltdown) and an expensive free agent quarterback contract would have hampered their ability to build a team around him even more. Their actual mistake was drafting J.J. "Nine" McCarthy, who seems like he may never be healthy and/or good, but having already done that, they boxed themselves in and there they are for the time being.
(2) New England Patriots defeated (5) Houston Texans, 28-16 — It's honestly incredible how hapless C.J. Stroud looks out there. If you told me that there was a bodyswap incident and the regular person trapped inside his body hasn't been able to figure out how to swap back, I'd at least hear you out. I'm surprised his defense hasn't snapped and forcibly taken him out of the game, because they keep giving the Texans a chance to win and Stroud keeps giving it right back. It must be infuriating. Much like the fact that the Patriots have a glide path to the Super Bowl after winning this game and getting to face the Nixless Broncos in the AFCCG.
(5) Los Angeles Rams defeated (2) Chicago Bears, 20-17 — The NFL saved the best for last and oh boy, did it deliver! I know that Caleb Williams just hates it when people compare him to Patrick Mahomes, so it's a good thing he didn't make it any further in the playoffs, or someone might have drawn some more comparisons between them. (You can either look at their respective second years in the league and Pat made it to the championship game and lost, or look at their respective second years starting and Pat won the Super Bowl, take your pick.) He even got to lose to one of the only two quarterbacks that he believes are top QBs in the league, which must have been a great consolation to him!
Caleb Williams giveth and Caleb Williams taketh away, or rather Caleb Williams taketh incredible shots down the field but Caleb Williams also giveth the ball away, which was his eventual undoing. Tirico and Collinsworth called this game like they were co-presidents of the Caleb Williams fan club, which would have radicalized me further against him, were that even possible. So yeah, I enjoyed the outcome of this game quite a bit.
Patriots at Broncos — I hate both of these teams and this game is likely to contain terrible quarterback play. Not a lot to look forward to here.
Rams at Seahawks — Yet another NFC West division rivalry matchup! Good storyline, definitely rooting for whichever team comes out of this one to win it all.
