NFL 2025-26 Season

[Moranis]

I have no idea how the Bears are division leaders.  Inconsistent QB play, but worse, more than half their defense is hurt.

Caleb may be inconsistent but he doesn't turn it over and he greatly reduced his sacks this year.  That is how you win close games even when inconsistent. Last year they lost a ton of close games because of poorly timed sacks (his sack rate last year was more than double this year) and coaching errors with clock management.  Just playing cleaner was all they needed to do.

[Roy H.]

I have no idea how the Bears are division leaders.  Inconsistent QB play, but worse, more than half their defense is hurt.

Caleb may be inconsistent but he doesn't turn it over and he greatly reduced his sacks this year.  That is how you win close games even when inconsistent. Last year they lost a ton of close games because of poorly timed sacks (his sack rate last year was more than double this year) and coaching errors with clock management.  Just playing cleaner was all they needed to do.

He's definitely improved, but his accuracy is still way off.  Weirdly, he seems to up his play in the clutch.  And yes, having an NFL-level coach has helped the team tremendously.

[Goldstar88]

Rough game for Purdy. 3INT?s..

[SparzWizard]

Got some big games for Thanksgiving and some playoff implications:

Green Bay @ Detroit (-3) - Both teams are decent. Trying to fight to stay atop on their division. I'll give the edge to Detroit at home and they should cover but it'll be like a 27-22 game

Kansas City @ Dallas (+3) - Jerryworld? Both teams fighting for their playoff lives? America's Team vs America's Hated Team? I think Mahomes and Chiefs will continue to lack firepower in this game as they have been all season long. Cowboys are jelling, surprisingly, and should win this one outright 27-19

Cincinnati @ Baltimore (-7.5) - Joe Burrow is back in the lineup heading into M&T Bank Stadium. But the Ravens have looked hot and won 5 straight, and Jackson showing no signs of slowing down. As much as I like Joe Cool, a healthy Jackson has looked dominant. 33-16 Ravens.

[SparzWizard]

Cowboys came to play today. They've beaten two teams who represented the Superbowl from last season in b2b weeks. Are they for reals? Guess they didn't miss Micah Parsons after all.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, are one step closer to missing the playoffs. They're no longer unbeatable. Pats should have no trouble at all if this is the 2 vs 7 matchup in the playoffs

[Phantom255x]

I think that's the dagger in the Chiefs season. They literally need to win out AND get some help to even have a chance at this point, and it doesn't help that BUF, JAX have the tiebreaker over them and even LAC does too. KC also plays Houston next. Good luck with that ferocious pass rush that lit up Josh Allen and will feast on KC's O-Line too. KC still has DEN + LAC as well on their schedule

[SparzWizard]

I think that's the dagger in the Chiefs season. They literally need to win out AND get some help to even have a chance at this point, and it doesn't help that BUF, JAX have the tiebreaker over them and even LAC does too. KC also plays Houston next. Good luck with that ferocious pass rush that lit up Josh Allen and will feast on KC's O-Line too. KC still has DEN + LAC as well on their schedule

Even the dynasty Patriots teams had rare seasons of suffering, like the 2002 season. That's it for KC

[Neurotic Guy]

Anyone feeling a little better about the unimpressive victory in Cincinnati last week?  Midway through the third, Jackson and the Ravens not doing much v the Bengals D. 

Yes, Burrow and Chase are back but it?s the same defense.  Bengals lead 19-7 after great one-handed TD catch.

KC looks out.  Ravens still the most likely to come out of the AFC North, but in danger of losing their 6th.  Still early though.

[Neurotic Guy]

Anyone feeling a little better about the unimpressive victory in Cincinnati last week?  Midway through the third, Jackson and the Ravens not doing much v the Bengals D. 

Yes, Burrow and Chase are back but it?s the same defense.  Bengals lead 19-7 after great one-handed TD catch.

KC looks out.  Ravens still the most likely to come out of the AFC North, but in danger of losing their 6th.  Still early though.

There?s a jinx for you.  Ravens walking over Bengal D since this post.

And there?s the reverse jinx. Bengal INT.

[smicker16]

Yeah Lamar must not be healthy. At least have to hope that is the case with him but he just has not seemed right since coming back from injury.  I think the Ravens will win that division by default but tough to see them making any news in the playoffs.

[SparzWizard]

Fun to see the Bengals eating turkey in Baltimore tonight.

Like 5 turnovers for the Ravens tonight at home. They look demoralized.

[slightly biased bias fan]

I think that's the dagger in the Chiefs season. They literally need to win out AND get some help to even have a chance at this point, and it doesn't help that BUF, JAX have the tiebreaker over them and even LAC does too. KC also plays Houston next. Good luck with that ferocious pass rush that lit up Josh Allen and will feast on KC's O-Line too. KC still has DEN + LAC as well on their schedule

Even the dynasty Patriots teams had rare seasons of suffering, like the 2002 season. That's it for KC

There is a big difference between the two situations.

Mahomes is 30 and in his prime. Brady was 25 and only in his second season as a starting QB.

In 2002, Bill Belichick was 50 years old. Andy Reid is currently 67, and may not have many seasons left as a head coach.

Another thing to factor in is that Mahomes is only 6-2. He is much more reliant on his speed than Brady. It will be difficult for Mahomes to age as gracefully as Brady did and keep up that elite production.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think that's the dagger in the Chiefs season. They literally need to win out AND get some help to even have a chance at this point, and it doesn't help that BUF, JAX have the tiebreaker over them and even LAC does too. KC also plays Houston next. Good luck with that ferocious pass rush that lit up Josh Allen and will feast on KC's O-Line too. KC still has DEN + LAC as well on their schedule

Even the dynasty Patriots teams had rare seasons of suffering, like the 2002 season. That's it for KC

There is a big difference between the two situations.

Mahomes is 30 and in his prime. Brady was 25 and only in his second season as a starting QB.

In 2002, Bill Belichick was 50 years old. Andy Reid is currently 67, and may not have many seasons left as a head coach.

Another thing to factor in is that Mahomes is only 6-2. He is much more reliant on his speed than Brady. It will be difficult for Mahomes to age as gracefully as Brady did and keep up that elite production.

Probably correct as no one has ever done what Brady did.  That said, Mahomes is unusually gifted - physically and mentally.  He can transform himself as he ages and become more of a pocket passer - using his experience and intelligence and accuracy.  I doubt he can do it with anywhere near the success of Brady, but I wouldn?t rule out a successful second act.

[Phantom255x]

I think that's the dagger in the Chiefs season. They literally need to win out AND get some help to even have a chance at this point, and it doesn't help that BUF, JAX have the tiebreaker over them and even LAC does too. KC also plays Houston next. Good luck with that ferocious pass rush that lit up Josh Allen and will feast on KC's O-Line too. KC still has DEN + LAC as well on their schedule

Even the dynasty Patriots teams had rare seasons of suffering, like the 2002 season. That's it for KC

There is a big difference between the two situations.

Mahomes is 30 and in his prime. Brady was 25 and only in his second season as a starting QB.

In 2002, Bill Belichick was 50 years old. Andy Reid is currently 67, and may not have many seasons left as a head coach.

Another thing to factor in is that Mahomes is only 6-2. He is much more reliant on his speed than Brady. It will be difficult for Mahomes to age as gracefully as Brady did and keep up that elite production.

Probably correct as no one has ever done what Brady did.  That said, Mahomes is unusually gifted - physically and mentally.  He can transform himself as he ages and become more of a pocket passer - using his experience and intelligence and accuracy.  I doubt he can do it with anywhere near the success of Brady, but I wouldn?t rule out a successful second act.

Just to clarify, I definitely don't think Mahomes is done. He's absolutely the 2nd or 3rd best QB in NFL history to date behind Brady and maybe Joe Montana (or he's there now), and he definitely still has a handful of high-quality football remaining. In fact, he could still win another SB at some point before it's all said and done.

But I think this Chiefs' season, and probably the 2018-2025 dynasty is over. Like New England, there's absolutely the chance of a "second act" sort of like how NE had the 9 years in between without a SB, and the meat of their SBs was 2001-2005, and then 2014-2019. But as @slightlybiased said above, the circumstances are also a lot different between the two franchises. Idk how much longer Reid will coach (and it may not be up to him at KC, I already see fans calling for his head) and Kelce will also retire soon. They will absolutely need to find reinforcements and it won't be easy, the Pats needed some time and little adjustments too with that.

Also if the Chiefs can't fix that O-line soon, Mahomes is gonna keep taking hits back there or near the sidelines, which TB12 did a great job avoiding during the second part of the dynasty.

Whether fair or not, I do also think Mahomes missing the playoffs at age 30 in his prime with Reid + Kelce is also gonna be a slight knock on him. Brady missed the playoffs in 2002, which was only his second full season though really. The only other time they missed it was the year Brady had the ACL. The AFC is flawed as we know and full of mediocre/bad teams, yet KC may miss out entirely with 7 spots?

[Redz]

Very odd season.  Baltimore getting smoked by Cincinnati really changes the perspective on the Pats win last week too. Unlikely KC the Ravens have some wiggle room with a crappy division still.  But with KC out, Baltimore marginalized and Buffalo looking weaker than expected,  the AFC is wide open.