2025-26 PLAYOFF CHATTER

[OldSchool101]

Exactly my sentiment. Williams did get a first down on that Ram drive. But in getting the first down he was bumped out of bounds. If he could have stayed in bounds the Bears would have used another timeout and had none on the last drive. I thought with 2:07 left the Rams might throw since the 2 minute warning would hit. A first down and it is over. MLF chose not to play it safe in Detroit and the pass connected and won the game.
Had the Rams lost it would have been a long winter for them.

I agree. The way the Rams played it, Chicago was getting the ball back with a ton of time if they didn’t convert a PAIR of 1st Downs. They did convert ONE 1st Down before going turtle Mode. By my calculation, another 1st Down was as good as scoring points because Chicago only had 1 Timeout and LA could’ve Run it under :30 sec AND made Chicago burn another Timeout.

What I’m trying to say is regardless if Chicago has 3:30 or 1:45 with timeouts that’s an eternity to run a 2-min Offense, particularly past the 35 yardline. Teams (LA) get premature on eating clock. You’ve got to get the opponent UNDER :30 sec after the punt. The statistical chances of going 60-80 yards with :<:29 seconds left is very, very low.

1 Timeout and under 1:59 warning
(Leaves under :30 seconds when punting)

Or

2 Timeouts and under the 1:15 area
(Leaves under :30 seconds when punting)

THAT formula should memorized by every OC in the league and it’s approx. I’m feeling very good being in the lead by 7 points and punting the ball and you’re out of timeouts starting from your 35 yardline needing 65 yards. You’ve got at very best 5 or 6 plays to run and everything must be at sideline (at under 10 yards) Meaning every play MUST gain 11-12 yards or it’s increasing probability of a Loss and that’s the philosophy is to force an opponent to try for that quick 8 yard chunk 3 times. Theres :20 sec just to pass midfield. Leaving 2 plays.

 

[JoePack]

Which QB you picking to get the RING?
Darnold - especially since the vikings let him go.

 

[milani]

Hey Magooch, I cannot argue your points. You're spot on. I also believe the refs are "shading" calls to keep games tight. I think the league knows we see it, but will supply "analysts" to tell us we didn't see what we CLEARLY saw, or tell us our understanding of the rules is not sophisticated enough to grasp the situation. I don't think they care if we're distressed, as long as we're watching and discussing their officiating garbage.

One other quick point, as I said, I was a Div 1 collegiate ref, and a high school ref in 2 sports. I ALWAYS hated that "swallow their whistle" crap! If it's a foul in the first 2 minutes, it's a foul in the last 2 minutes. The argument is, don't determine the outcome, but by permitting fouls, YOU'RE INFLUENCING THE OUTCOME!

I do not bet on games but I go and watch a number of games each year on the giant screen at the sports betting venue. All season the same dude comes up to me and says that the NFL is rigged. I blew him off until the last 2 weeks. I am starting to believe him.

 

[scooter_1954]

Hafley, new HC for the Dolphins!

 

[Team Ronny]

If this game was in L.A. the Rams win by a lot, the weather definitely helped shitcago stay in the game!

 

[OldSchool101]

If this game was in L.A. the Rams win by a lot, the weather definitely helped shitcago stay in the game!

I agree. Although that Rams front 7 was pretty Stout. Can’t count how many times they stuffed Ben when he needed a yard. Ben thought he was still playing Green Bay! NOT

GB needs to spend an early selection on a big boy at iDT if someone is available. Would love Christian Miller, but he’s likely gone Top 40

 

[ExpatPacker]

linear progress in the NFL is the exception, not the rule. With FA almost no team can keep a solid core of players from year to year.

I agree. Although that Rams front 7 was pretty Stout. Can’t count how many times they stuffed Ben when he needed a yard. Ben thought he was still playing Green Bay! NOT

GB needs to spend an early selection on a big boy at iDT if someone is available. Would love Christian Miller, but he’s likely gone Top 40

That was the difference. The Rams defense stuffed the Bears on key downs. That's the major reason why they won. For the better part of the last 5 games the Packer defense couldn't make the stop when they had to.

 

[adambr2]

Man, good for Patriot fans, so happy for them, they deserve this after the dark ages of 2022-2024. Some of them have toddlers that have never even seen their team play in a Super Bowl before.

 

[ExpatPacker]

Big difference in the NFC game? Rams special teams let them down often during the season and big time in the championship game. Sound familiar?

 

[rmontro]

Funny how the NFCCG had two quarterbacks cast off by NFC North teams.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Big difference in the NFC game? Rams special teams let them down often during the season and big time in the championship game. Sound familiar?

No way should you put a guy back at KR after he fumbles the first time. Just a massive coaching blunder. Rams are going to be watching the Super Bowl, not because they have less talent, they were out coached.

 

[adambr2]

Funny how the NFCCG had two quarterbacks cast off by NFC North teams.

I wouldn’t really say that the Lions cast off Stafford. They got a good deal for him that I think ending up working out pretty well for both sides. But Darnold — definitely cast off! Always felt that was a mistake by Minnesota.

 

[oompatailgate]

When the "stupid bomb" drop on NFL coaches? Fire MLF (that line seems to be getting bigger) how about the ones that really feced-ed the bed?

Rams coach (Mr Mc-choke a doodle) -did we have a senior moment? Throw the red flag! HELLLLLU! Cost the team 2 time-outs.

Sean Payton - pass pass pass...yikes!

 

[Firethorn1001]

But Darnold — definitely cast off! Always felt that was a mistake by Minnesota.

With the defense the Vikings were playing this year there is a decent chance they are playing 1 more game.

Oops...

 

[milani]

Big difference in the NFC game? Rams special teams let them down often during the season and big time in the championship game. Sound familiar?

Very, very well.

 

[milani]

With the defense the Vikings were playing this year there is a decent chance they are playing 1 more game.

Oops...

Only a half game behind us just like Detroit.

 

[adambr2]

Big difference in the NFC game? Rams special teams let them down often during the season and big time in the championship game. Sound familiar?

Well, get ready for another season of it in 2026, haven’t heard a word about moving on from Bisaccia.

 

[milani]

Well, get ready for another season of it in 2026, haven’t heard a word about moving on from Bisaccia.

The questions in regard to ST may be greater than offense and defense over this offseason. The only certainty is Whelan. Will Melton be back? Who will be our kicker? And of course we will not know until August 31 who might we use for kickoff returns and fair catches.

 

[OldSchool101]

The questions in regard to ST may be greater than offense and defense over this offseason. The only certainty is Whelan. Will Melton be back? Who will be our kicker? And of course we will not know until August 31 who might we use for kickoff returns and fair catches.

Yes and I’m not sure what’s going on with our Placekicker? I still have a hard time believing a guy can move into a top 3 NFL kicker across an entire season and suddenly become a bottom 3 Kicker (not actual ranking but likely close).

If I were gambling I’d put odds at 75% that Brandon finished in 2026 over 85% FGA and over 97% XPM. Highly likely he bounces back just my gut instinct. We watched Mason go through an even longer drought and he bounced right back. We’ve likely seen Brandon’s worst season as a Packer and 50% of that mid season slump degradation was result of injury.

 

[pacmaniac]

After 1998, and I am using 1998 since that is the last time the Packers had an elite head coach, the Packers have only 1 Super Bowl appearance. There are 14 other teams that have at least 2 Super Bowl appearances during that time. People like to say it's tough to win in this league, but almost half the league has done better getting to the Super Bowl than the Packers the last 27 years.

 

[OldSchool101]

After 1998, and I am using 1998 since that is the last time the Packers had an elite head coach, the Packers have only 1 Super Bowl appearance. There are 14 other teams that have at least 2 Super Bowl appearances during that time. People like to say it's tough to win in this league, but almost half the league has done better getting to the Super Bowl than the Packers the last 27 years.

Yes that’s true. Yet there’s really no elements of these teams left since around 2019. Then we do have a pretty major change in 2023 after moving away from Rodgers.
As much as I was disgusted with our Bears game (we had opportunity to erase several losses) there is no denying we have been competitive every season except 2022.

One thing I’ve noticed is we had more player regression in 2025 than player ascension. Which of these players more effective in 2025? McKinney? Williams? Cooper? Nixon? Valentine? Bullard? Quay? Wyatt? Van Ness? Enagbare? Brooks? Wooden? McManus? Musgrave?

How many of the players you pick from above notably increased ineffectiveness AND played at or near an entire season??

You could really do this exercise Offense or entire Teams just the same. I still can’t fathom Jacobs finishing at 4.0 per carry in today’s game. What an absolute waste of a Top 5 RB. If he’s on any other playoff team he’s a 5.0+ RB.

Our best play improvement came from Tucker Kraft, Devonte Wyatt, Daniel Whelan, Jordan Love, Zach Tom, Micah Parsons and Lukas and only 2 or 3 of those finished 14 games.

 

[OldSchool101]

To match what I saw Rams Vs Seahawks there’s zero chance of being better unless
1. They regress heavily
or
2. We get multiple players on the rise AND less impact injuries.

I’m perplexed at Cooper and Jacobs. Both had substantial regression and both a capable of a Probowl type season IF they are used effectively.

1. We MUST achieve better run blocking at OL, even if it requires a $10Mil FA addition or Day2 Draft selection or BOTH. I’d do whatever we need to push guys like Monk or Jennings right off the depth chart cliff. Until we upgrade our OL quality we will not compete with the Elite teams.

2. We MUST achieve better interior Run Defense. Personally I’d draft another DT using #52 or #84 at latest. That or get a Vet (like Gannon’s Calais Campbell) that firms up the middle to a point where Wyatt is just a bonus add later in season.
I’m giving Gannon 1 substantial Chess piece for his scheme from FA. Another using #52 of #84, such as a CB

 

[oompatailgate]

The questions in regard to ST may be greater than offense and defense over this offseason. The only certainty is Whelan. Will Melton be back? Who will be our kicker? And of course we will not know until August 31 who might we use for kickoff returns and fair catches.

our kicker will be an upgrade

Jan Stenerud

 

[shockerx]

To match what I saw Rams Vs Seahawks there’s zero chance of being better unless
1. They regress heavily
or
2. We get multiple players on the rise AND less impact injuries.

I’m perplexed at Cooper and Jacobs. Both had substantial regression and both a capable of a Probowl type season IF they are used effectively.

1. We MUST achieve better run blocking at OL, even if it requires a $10Mil FA addition or Day2 Draft selection or BOTH. I’d do whatever we need to push guys like Monk or Jennings right off the depth chart cliff. Until we upgrade our OL quality we will not compete with the Elite teams.

2. We MUST achieve better interior Run Defense. Personally I’d draft another DT using #52 or #84 at latest. That or get s Vet (like Gannon’s Calais Canpbell) that firms up the middle to a point where Wyatt is just a bonus add.

What you said in a nutshell...You have to be able to run the football...You have to be able to stop the other guy from running the football. To get to the next level laser focus on those two things.

 

[adambr2]

Yes and I’m not sure what’s going on with our Placekicker? I still have a hard time believing a guy can move into a top 3 NFL kicker across an entire season and suddenly become a bottom 3 Kicker (not actual ranking but likely close).

If I were gambling I’d put odds at 75% that Brandon finished in 2026 over 85% FGA and over 97% XPM. Highly likely he bounces back just my gut instinct. We watched Mason go through an even longer drought and he bounced right back. We’ve likely seen Brandon’s worst season as a Packer and 50% of that mid season slump degradation was result of injury.

McManus was excellent for us in 2024 at 95%.

However, his career average, over 12 seasons, is 82%. In 2025, he was at 80%. He never hit 86% in his entire career except in 2024.

If I had to bet on which season was the aberration it sure doesn’t sound like the 80%.