In this episode, we break down the madness of Week 18 and ask whether the NFL should move away from division-rivalry-only games to protect competitive integrity, especially when teams rest starters and unintentionally affect playoff races or draft order. Using the Panthers–Bucs game and tiebreaker scenarios as a jumping-off point, we debate whether playoff seeding should rely more on record versus division winners, particularly with the NFC South sending a losing-record team to the playoffs. We dive into the constant end-of-season dilemma of resting starters versus playing for seeding, analyze a playoff picture that includes six teams who missed the postseason last year (Seahawks, 49ers, Panthers, Bears, Patriots, and Jaguars), all of whom lost at least 11 games last year, and give our Super Bowl predictions. The conversation also covers tanking versus winning late in the season, draft order implications, Myles Garrett breaking the sack record, the Jets making history in a bad way with zero interceptions, and which coaches may be on the chopping block, with Raheem Morris already fired.

It’s a special Christmas edition of the pod, and the NFL gave us plenty to unwrap. We break down wild finishes from this week, including key two-point decisions and OPI chaos, plus a week that gave us two more legitimate catch of the year candidates. We also talk about the Philip Rivers return, dive into how the right coach can flip a franchise overnight, and sort through a crowded Coach of the Year race. We ask whether the Chiefs dynasty is really over or just on pause with Kelce rumors swirling. From suspensions impacting contracts, ranking the 2025 rookie QBs , the Jets flirting with history in all the wrong ways, to flex scheduling, a Week 17 look-ahead, and why Giants vs Raiders somehow has “lose to win” written all over it, this episode is packed with takes, laughs, and plenty of holiday-season NFL chaos.

This week on Ari SQRD, we dive into one of the wildest NFL weeks yet, with insane catches from Treylon Burks, Puka Nacua, and Brock Bowers, plus a great debate on whether top wide receivers are starting to resemble top quarterbacks in one frustrating way: rarely living up to their lofty draft positions. We get into the chaos of injured QBs trying to carry losing teams, break down whether the Chiefs dynasty is finally cracking, ask if Jerry Jones might have actually nailed it this time, sort the true playoff contenders from the pretenders, and take a fast-paced look ahead to Week 14. If you love bold takes, football madness, and a little friendly arguing, this is your episode, don’t miss it.