End of 2025, Chaos in the NFL, and Why the Final Week Still Matters
- Isaiah Carpenter
- Dec 30, 2025
- 4 min read
By Isaiah Carpenter, HatTrick Sports
This is the HatTrick Sports Newsletter, launching to start 2026. It will be a weekly short read covering the biggest sports stories you may have missed throughout the week across all sports. Each edition is a written version of the same conversations we have on the HatTrick Sports Podcast, just in a quicker format built for your inbox. This is the first edition, and this will be a consistent weekly release moving forward. I am Isaiah Carpenter, the creator of HatTrick Sports. I hope you enjoy the read and let us know your thoughts.
Week 17 and the Reality of the NFL
As we hit the final stretch of the NFL season, it feels like every storyline is colliding at once. Week 17 reminded me why the league stays unpredictable until the very end. My Pick’ems went 9-7, which says everything about how tight the margins are right now. Some weeks you feel locked in. Others remind you the NFL does not care how confident you are.
Seattle vs. San Francisco and the One Seed
The biggest game on the board is Seahawks versus 49ers in Week 18. It is rare to see a regular season finale decide the NFC one seed outright. If San Francisco wins, both teams finish 13-4, and the 49ers take the top spot thanks to the Week 1 tiebreaker. If Seattle wins, they jump to 14 and 3 and control the conference. That single game reshapes the entire NFC playoff picture.
The Playoff Picture and Why Seeding Matters
The playoff picture across the league is still messy. Teams are not just playing to get in. They are fighting to avoid bad matchups and road games in January. This is the time of year where coaching decisions, defensive stops, and situational football decide seasons
Myles Garrett, Records, and Rivalries
Myles Garrett’s comments after Cleveland’s 13 to 6 win over Pittsburgh stood out. Garrett said the Steelers were more focused on stopping him from breaking the sack record than winning the game. Whether you agree or not, the tension was obvious. Garrett now sits at 22 sacks, one away from breaking the record held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is now in a must win situation as they fight Baltimore for a playoff spot.
The MVP Race Is Shifting
Week 17 also shifted the MVP conversation. Matthew Stafford had a chance to separate himself but struggled against Atlanta. That opened the door for Drake Maye, who continues to build momentum late in the season. Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence remain in the conversation, but it feels like Maye has taken control heading into the final week.
Dodgers Clear Space for the Next Move
On the baseball side, the Dodgers trading Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins was not surprising. Ruiz was never going to have a consistent role in the outfield. The move opens a roster spot and creates flexibility, which is exactly where the Dodgers like to be. With free agents like Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, and Framber Valdez available, it feels like this is only the beginning.
Tyler Soderstrom and a Long Term Bet
The Athletics locking up Tyler Soderstrom to a seven year, 86 million dollar deal was one of the more interesting MLB moves. The contract can climb to $131 million and includes a possible eighth year. Soderstrom’s 2025 production made it clear the A’s view him as a core piece moving forward.
Playoff Droughts Put Everything in Perspective
Looking at the longest active playoff droughts across the NFL puts the season into perspective. The Jets have missed the playoffs for 15 straight seasons. The Falcons sit at eight, the Panthers at seven, and both the Saints and Colts at five. For those franchises, just reaching January would feel like a turning point.
Closing Out 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, I keep thinking about how far HatTrick Sports has come. There were moments where people said it would not make it to the next year. Instead, this became our biggest year of growth. More content, more consistency, more people supporting what we are building, and now a new weekly newsletter to keep you updated.
Stay Connected with HatTrick Sports
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