Top NFL Talking Points for Super Wild Card Weekend
Well guys, we did it. The 2025 NFL regular season came to a thrilling conclusion last Sunday night after 18 adrenaline filled weekends, in what was truly one of the most frenetic and unhinged editions to date. But the fun has not quite concluded just yet, because now it’s time for the playoffs! Ahead of the aptly titled Super Wildcard Weekend, let’s take a look at some of the most significant stories from around the league and how they factor into the upcoming action!
A New Post Season Era Dawns
No Joe Burrow, no Lamar Jackson and no Patrick Mahomes. These perennial playoff heavyweights are officially out of the running to lift the Lombardi, and instead have passed the torch to young guns like Caleb Williams, Bo Nix and Drake Maye. For Mahomes and Kansas City, it’s the first time they have missed the post season since 2014. In fact, the Chiefs have gone to the playoffs every year since Mahomes was drafted back in 2017. This marks a significant power shift in the NFL. A changing of the guard is in motion, and a new generation of Quarterbacks are at the helm as top dogs competing for Super Bowl rings!
Panthers Make First Playoff Appearance in Almost A Decade
It’s not often a team with a losing record reaches the NFL post season. In fact, since 2010, only 5 teams have made the NFL playoffs with a losing record. All of them either played against an NFC side or were from the NFC. And this year, that division has done it again. The Carolina Panthers are slated to host the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night in the Wild Card round, having sealed playoff football by virtue of winning the NFC South. They had to rely on the Falcons to get this far however, and will be distinct underdogs against a resurgent Rams team led by MVP candidate Matt Stafford. And while they’ve had the beating of Los Angeles earlier in the year, this will be a very different story.
Head Coaching Carousel Goes Into Overdrive
“Black Monday” typically refers to the day after the NFL regular season concludes, when teams make coaching and personnel changes based on their performance from the season just gone. In effect, it’s when coaches get the boot. This year was one of the bloodiest in recent memory with the likes of John Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel, Pete Carrol, Jonathan Gannon and Kevin Stefansky all being axed. Add in Brian Daboll and Brian Callahan who were fired mid season from the Giants and Titans respectively, and there are numerous high profile Head Coaching roles up for grabs in 2026. It’s going to be fascinating to see who ends up where, and with the possible exception of Pete Carrol, each of the candidates will be highly coveted. We might even get the return of one Bill Belichick from college football exile! Now wouldn’t that be something!
Dan Whelan Among Top NFL Punters
There was a brief period during the season when Pro Bowl voting opened, where we really believed our own Dan Whelan could become the first ever Irish man to be selected. Alas, it wasn’t to be. But it’s definitely coming. The Wicklow native is set to make his second straight playoff appearance with the Green Packers, coming off what has been a stellar year of punting. Ranked second overall according to NFL.com Whelan has been performing at an incredibly high level all season long, impressing both at home and across the pond. Whether he can channel this fine form into a deep playoff run still remains to be seen, but regardless of that Dan continues to raise the profile of Ireland in the NFL – doing us all proud in the process.
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