PMT DB
PMT DB
NFL Week 18: Playoff Bracket Set, Lions Clinch 1 Seed, and Patriots Fire Mayo
Week 18 is officially in the books, and the playoff bracket is finally set. While the Fastest 2 Minutes brought the usual energy, the real meat of the show was the fallout from a Sunday that saw the Lions secure the top seed in the NFC and the AFC playoff picture solidify after the Broncos dismantled a resting Chiefs squad.
The AFC Pressure Cooker
With the bracket locked in, Big Cat isn't wasting any time looking at the Wild Card matchups. He’s already eyeing the Bills as they host Denver, thinking the line might be way too low for a Buffalo team that looks like a juggernaut right now.
Big CatThe Bills will demolish the Broncos in the Wild Card round
I think the Bills are going to fucking demolish the Broncos. [I] might, by the way, I think I saw the line open at seven and a half. If it, if it's seven or even six and a half, I might Game of the year. The bills.
The Chiefs might have been shut out on Sunday, but nobody is panicking in Kansas City. With a bye week and Patrick Mahomes returning to the lineup, Big Cat is already penciling them into the AFC Championship.
Big CatThe Chiefs will win their first playoff game in the divisional round
But this also is set up The Chiefs, you, you know, they're, they're set up for the playoffs. I know they're gonna have whatever, 25 days off or whatever it might be... they'll win their first game in the, in the divisional round.
Meanwhile, the Steelers managed to sneak into the dance again, but PFT Commenter isn't convinced this year will be any different from the standard Pittsburgh formula of hanging around just long enough to lose in the first round.
PFT CommenterThe Steelers are stuck in a cycle of 'good-ish' seasons followed by first-round exits.
you're going to see the, the exact same Steelers season repeat itself over and over again in the future... You're good-ish and you're always gonna be good-ish. You're gonna play teams hard, but you're probably not gonna do anything in the playoffs.
To break the cycle of mediocrity in the Steel City, PFT has a specific veteran in mind to come in and shake up the offense next season.
PFT CommenterJameis Winston should be the bridge quarterback for the Steelers
If you're the Steelers and you're getting your bridge quarterback and you want a guy that's going to take chances and if it, it goes well, it's gonna be electric... and that's Jameis Winston. You get Jameis in there... It is like is the antidote to everything that you've been in the last four seasons.
Everything in the AFC ultimately runs through Baltimore, though. Despite the 1 Seed belong to KC, the Ravens look like the most complete team in football. Big Cat points out that this puts an immense amount of weight on the shoulders of the presumptive MVP and his new legendary running back.
Big CatLamar Jackson has more pressure than anyone else in the 2025 playoffs
I think the Ravens have the most pressure because Derrick Henry's also not going getting younger. And Lamar again, Lamar is the, is the best player in the NFL right now playing the best football. He's gonna win an MVP most likely... if they don't at least get to the Super Bowl... there's gonna be a lot of questions.
Coaching Carousel and the New England Shakeup
The biggest news of the day came shortly after the final whistle in Foxborough: Jerod Mayo is out after just one season. Hank is surprisingly upbeat about the firing, mostly because he’s convinced a certain former Patriot linebacker is waiting in the wings to take over.
HankMike Vrabel will be the next head coach of the Patriots
I do think it was a smart decision [to fire Jerod Mayo]. I also think that they wouldn't have done it as quickly as they did if they didn't know that they are getting the coach that they want. Which I believe is Mike Vrabel... I am of the belief that the answer to that question is yes.
Big Cat thinks the whole Mike Vrabel to the Jets rumor mill was nothing more than a tactical play to force the Patriots' hand.
Big CatMike Vrabel used his interest in the Jets as a smokescreen to pressure the Patriots into making a coaching change.
Mike Vrabel's interest in the Jets was just a smokescreen to pressure the Patriots to make a move at Head Coach... [It] was put pressure on the Patriots to make a move with a young, incredibly promising QB who improved every weekend.
While the Patriots look for a new leader, the Jets are sticking with what they have. Memes is still holding onto the dream that Aaron Rodgers has one more run in him if they can just replicate a specific historical blueprint.
MemesThe Jets still have a Super Bowl window with Aaron Rodgers if they build an elite defense around him.
if you take Aaron Rogers with his stats right now [top 15]... You load up on defense... you have a chance to do it. If you load up paid Manning Super Bowl year... he had a horrible year and he, he was a game manager and he got him to the Super Bowl.
NFC North Supremacy and the Bears' Moral Victory
The Lions are the kings of the NFC after a dominant win over the Vikings on Sunday night. While Detroit looks like a Super Bowl favorite, Max and Big Cat spent a significant amount of time debating Dan Campbell’s aggressiveness and whether Nick Sirianni gets a fair shake in comparison.
In Chicago, the Bears actually beat the Packers. For the first time in years, Big Cat gets to enjoy a victory over Green Bay to end the season. However, the optimism for the future is tempered by rumors of who might be stalking the sidelines at Soldier Field next year.
Big CatThe Bears will hire Brian Flores and won't even interview Ben Johnson
The organization is not in a good place... Everything that I've read and heard, the Bears are going to hire Brian Flores. They're probably not even gonna interview Ben Johnson... Ryan Poles is gonna keep his job and that's gonna be an awkward [situation].
PFT Commenter is already looking ahead to the draft for the teams that didn't make it. Between scouting the top quarterbacks and finding a perfect fit for a certain Heisman-caliber running back in Dallas, the offseason talk is already heating up.
Big CatThe Cowboys will draft Ashton Jeanty.
Ashton Jeanty for sure is gonna be a cowboy. That is the most Cowboys pick ever. Oh my God. He's gonna run for like 1500 yards and they're gonna go to the playoffs like everything's fixed.
We wrapped up with a very testy Who’s Back of the Week and the final results of the season-long picks competition, which means Max is officially heading to a bachelorette party.
See you on Super Wild Card Weekend.
