Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The final regular season game of the 2025 season, in historic, Rich Stadium.

It has to be bittersweet for Josh Allen playing potentially, his final game at Orchard Park. Due to a bad foot, he will probably only play a few snaps but he probably wishes he could play more for the fans. Where would he rather be than right there, right then?

I used to hate watching postseason games in this stadium because we all knew that it was the best home advantage any team could have, and the Bills would dominate. Now, I will miss this place alot. I might even collect more of the Bills wins, that I couldnt stand back in the day, like "The Comeback" ... I am still angry with the Oilers DB, Steven Jackson ... The Divisional playoff between the Bills and Raiders from 1993/94. I thought the Raiders had that game, but Jim Kelly played one of his best games. I hated seeing Joe Montana get knocked out of a championship game and Dan Marino losing a playoff shootout from 1990/91.

One of the best games was a defensive slugfest between Buffalo and Denver from 1991/92. I was pulling for Gary Kubiak to win it for Denver, off the bench. I was full of glee when the Jaguars finally won in this stadium in 1996/97. With Josh Allen in 2023/24* was pulling for the team this time against KC, but the team loses a great divisional game 27-24.

Can the Bills find a way to get one more postseason game in this stadium?

*Edited for January postseason games

Two games for the big enchiladas. TB has to beat the Panthers, then hope the Saints upset the Falcons. A big task. Mayfield is playing through injuries but has the weapons to succeed. Panthers could have their first winning season since 2017.

Sam Darnold also gets to face Deja 'Vu all over again trying to win the division and get the home-field advantage for the Seahawks.
The Niners would love to get the bye and a three game road to the SB at home ... can they do it, or will Darnold get it done like the Rams game? I think the Seahawks find a way tonight. Rams will play to win against the Cardinals regardless.

Big win for Seattle ... good running and defense. Excellent gameplan. Darnold gets the bye week that eluded him last season with the Vikings. Would have helped if the 49ers ran the ball themselves but only 10 carries for the backs ... Ditch those uniforms, SF.

Bucs have to hope the Saints can win with their rookie QB tomarrow.

Such a bummer that Carolina lost. I guess the Bucs really did have more 'bite' than the Panthers and deserved the win but neither a playoff team to me (no, I'm not going to go on another rant about wishing there were still three divisions per conference, just 5 or 6 teams getting in, etc). Whoever does 'win' that division, I just simply want them knocked out the way next week and let the real players then play in the divisional round!

Seahawks finish 14-3! Best regular season W/L mark in franchise history! Of course in order for they to be '05 or '14, they'd have to actually make it to a Super Bowl. And if they actually do WIN the Super Bowl...I doubt they'll be seen as 2013.

Haha ... was Burrow's laydown sack to Myles Garrett today any different than Favre's give-up to Strahan? A great record to be sure on a terrible year, but when TJ Watt had tied the record, he did it in only 15 games ...

DE Len Ford -- 21 sacks in 12 games 1951?
DE Al Baker -- 23 sacks in 16 games 1978
DE Harvey Martin -- 20 sacks in 14 games 1977

And in the division that NO ONE wants to win, the Panthers back into the division title. I will admit though, happy to see Cousins end the Falcons season on a winning streak. Could he possibly be back next season?

What Darnold did last night was unheard of, leading teams to 14 win regular seasons two seasons in a row on seperate teams.

Leonard for Indy was game as the Texans take them for granted but squeeze out a victory. The hot Jags take the South, however.

These late Sunday games going on today is a perfect example as to why it should be 6 teams getting in per conference instead of 7.

Now last night's Sea@SF would have still been exciting due to the winner getting top-seed and loser settling for the WC. But the late games that the Eagles & Bears have to play along with the games that NE & Denver are playing with the Jags winning their early game...they'd all be playing for a 1ST-RD BYE!

Yes, I yearn for the 5-teams per getting in (Wild Card Sunday, '78-thru-'89), and I agree enough with most of you that the '70-thru-'77 four-playoff-teams format being even better, but the 6-teams-per was great as well! I miss, say, Big D & San Fran in the '90s eyeing each other as the other four in the conference duke it out; and the same with Tom & Peyton eyeing each during the 1st-Rd bye as well.

Playing for an extra home playoff game just doesn't do it for me as much as gunning for a bye!

I know, I said that I wasn't going to rant, lol.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Sun Jan 04, 2026 4:38 pm Haha ... was Burrow's laydown sack to Myles Garrett today any different than Favre's give-up to Strahan? A great record to be sure on a terrible year, but when TJ Watt had tied the record, he did it in only 15 games ...

DE Len Ford -- 21 sacks in 12 games 1951?
DE Al Baker -- 23 sacks in 16 games 1978
DE Harvey Martin -- 20 sacks in 14 games 1977

It didn't look as obvious as Favre lying down for Strahan but Burrow basically just fell down and made zero effort to avoid that sack.

Don't forget about Reggie White's 21 sacks in 12 games in 1987. That one comes with a strike season asterisk obviously.

Thanks Chris ... forgot about Reggie White and some other rushers as well.

Yep, had Tucker been with the Ravens tonight, they might have beaten the Steelers but Loop misses the FG, sending the Steelers to the playoffs. The defenses seemed gassed to end this game.
Happy for Rodgers to rally them and win a big game but I thought the Ravens--and my bet--would prevail.

On to the Second Season!

74_75_78_79_ wrote: ↑Sun Jan 04, 2026 7:13 pm These late Sunday games going on today is a perfect example as to why it should be 6 teams getting in per conference instead of 7.

Now last night's Sea@SF would have still been exciting due to the winner getting top-seed and loser settling for the WC. But the late games that the Eagles & Bears have to play along with the games that NE & Denver are playing with the Jags winning their early game...they'd all be playing for a 1ST-RD BYE!

Yes, I yearn for the 5-teams per getting in (Wild Card Sunday, '78-thru-'89), and I agree enough with most of you that the '70-thru-'77 four-playoff-teams format being even better, but the 6-teams-per was great as well! I miss, say, Big D & San Fran in the '90s eyeing each other as the other four in the conference duke it out; and the same with Tom & Peyton eyeing each during the 1st-Rd bye as well.

Playing for an extra home playoff game just doesn't do it for me as much as gunning for a bye!

I know, I said that I wasn't going to rant, lol.

I will say this though...these playoffs are still something to look forward to! Quite 1980-esque (I believe we were all saying this four years ago, '21; though I was all-in with the Bucs repeating)! No real 'true-blue' consensus in either conference to represent!

I guess Carolina gets to play 'Minnesota' here - correction, an even-worse version! Basically the 2010 Seahawks. Steelers, I guess you can say, the better version of those Vikings; I think they still have a chance though Texans will be SO tough! But with Metcalf now back, and that Aaron 'magic', you just never know (hey, I was 'sure' Steelers would lose last night).

Rams@Panthers, to me, is the perfect first game on the slate. Come on, LA! Knock them out of the way and let's enjoy the "anyone can win" 'Battle Royal' journey ahead! This will be exciting after all!

I already opined that Denver makes it to Levi. I don't want to rescind my Eagles pick. Their O just may "wake up" now that the playoffs are here. But, man, its not looking too optimistic. San Fran's suspect D a good unit for the Birds to 'get back' against but with Saleh at DC you can't automatically count them out.

Rams, I guess, got the most 'votes'. But could their special-teams be a liability (as the case with their loss at Philly earlier this year)? A great HC like McVay, you'd think he'd sore that up. Maybe he will. Let's see.

In my opinion, they shouldn't pick a season MVP until the entire season (Super Bowl) is over (the same with no Heisman until after the National Championship Game), but if they still must pick one when they do, then I think Stafford should get it!


PS - Unless I change my mind, I'm pretty sure that I'm not doing a Top-14 'Power Rankings' thread this year. If one of you want to post it before these playoffs begin, go ahead. But I'm too 'lazy' to come up with my own, lol. Yeah, a pretty tough exercise, 2025!