Bussin' With The Boys – NFL Week 18 Picks: Who Wins AFC North & NFC South? + Delanie Walker Paints Nails Like Caleb Williams

Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton, Taylor Lewan (as “Terror Lawan”), Clay Matthews, Delanie Walker
Theme: Breaking down Week 18 NFL matchups and playoff ramifications, with plenty of locker room banter and a hilarious live “nail painting bet” payoff.

Episode Overview

This week’s episode is a classic Bussin’ With The Boys blend of sharp NFL analysis, playful trash talk, and behind-the-scenes NFL stories. With the regular season finale upon us, Will, Taylor, Clay, and Delanie tackle the biggest playoff-clinching scenarios, including the crowded NFC South and AFC North, while Delanie pays off a bet by getting his nails painted live – “Caleb Williams style.” The show features rapid-fire pick ’em opinions, a running performance incentive contract discussion, and plenty of memorable locker-room insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Week 18 Games with Playoff Implications

(Panthers vs. Buccaneers, Seahawks vs. 49ers, Lions vs. Bears, Chargers vs. Broncos, Ravens vs. Steelers, Commanders vs. Eagles)

• NFC South Decider: Panthers at Buccaneers

  • [11:00] All four agree the Bucs have lost “the juice,” citing locker room meltdowns and late-season struggles. Panthers’ defense and run game get the nod.
    • Delaney: “Panthers money line... the optimism, the life in the building, that old playoff vibe.” (14:11)
    • Will: “The Buccaneers look like they ready to go on a vacation.” (15:21)
    • Clay: “I just think there’s gonna be changes coming down there [in Tampa].” (12:13)

• NFC’s #1 Seed: Seahawks at 49ers

  • [17:01] Breakdown of explosive 49ers offense under Shanahan but with defensive injury concerns.
    • Clay: “I’m taking the coward’s pick—just go over 49.5 and hope for a good game.” (18:15)
    • Will: “It's a classic rival, but I’m taking the under.” (18:39)
    • Terror Lawan: “Seattle this year? 7-1 on the road, 5-1 ATS as away favorites. That’s enough for me to lean Seattle.” (20:45)

• Lions at Bears

  • [25:22] Discussion of Lions’ collapse and Bears’ surprising form.
    • Will: “I am getting my nails painted because the Bears are playing great football and they’re going to the playoffs.” (26:09)
    • Clay: “Lions lost to a third-string QB last week... they need to look in the mirror. Give me the Bears minus 2.5.” (27:14)
    • Terror Lawan: “Dan Campbell and the culture, Jared Goff’s the type to bounce back. I can actually see them winning this game.” (31:40)

• Commanders at Eagles

  • [33:48] Eagles expected to handle business, but second-half scoring droughts noted.
    • Clay: “Commanders have lost 10 of their last 11, playing their third QB. I still like the Eagles, talent disparity’s just too much.” (36:46)
    • Will: “Eagles second half—man, they don’t do a lot on offense. Going under.” (38:14)
    • Highlight stat: “Jalen Hurts is the first QB since 1978 to go 0-7 in the second half twice in a season.” (39:02)

• Chargers at Broncos (AFC #1 Seed in Play)

  • [45:09] Broncos are double-digit favorites as the Chargers rest key starters; consensus leans toward the under.
    • Will: “I’m taking the under. These boys ain’t playing nobody on the Chargers.” (48:09)
    • Clay: “Broncos money line, tease the under. Eleven and a half is wild.” (49:48)

• Ravens at Steelers (AFC North Title Game / True Classic Game of the Week)

  • [56:39] High stakes, winner-take-all tension – analysis delves into injuries, Derrick Henry’s monster day, and defensive fatigue.
    • Will: “Steelers losing a big piece at receiver, and I just gotta go under. I’m shook, not really focused 'cause my nails are getting done.” (57:02, 58:26)
    • Terror Lawan: “With the Steelers’ lack of power on offense, to me, this is clear Ravens -3.5.” (60:20)
    • Delaney: “If the Ravens win, they’re playing the Texans… yeah, give me the Ravens. Wait, I’ll take the Steelers.” (61:59)

2. Notable Show Moments

A. Delanie’s Painted Nails Bet – Full Caleb Williams Style

• Will and Clay surprise Delanie with a local Nashville nail artist (“Heather”) painting his nails live for the episode – complete with glitter and a “Daddy Bear” design.
  • Quote:
    • Clay: “Your word is as good as gold. That’s like the gospel… brought in a local Nashville nail tech, dare I say artist.” (07:16, 07:36)
    • Delaney: “It’s actually sick as hell though. I can bust these.” (47:04)
    • Will: “I’m not going to remove them until they start chipping.” (78:40)
    • Group reaction: Hysterical banter about how men are supposed to look at their nails (46:34), tough guy “Daddy Bear” nails, and what designs are “sus.”
• Heather’s Husband, “Friend of the Show,” makes a cameo. Delaney picks left hand first (“West Hollywood style,” jokes Taylor).

B. Locker Room Contract Stories & NFL Incentives

• The crew gets into the weeds about NFL player incentives, performance bonuses, and contract quirks.
  • Clay: “Did you guys ever lose any incentives… did you have any in your contract you didn’t make?” (63:27)
  • Will (about Pro Bowl): “If you’re an alternate and a guy drops out… you go in, you’re a Pro Bowler!” (65:07)
  • Delaney: “My agent would be like, ‘What you think?’ I’d say, ‘70 catches.’ He’s like, ‘You get that every year, go higher!’” (70:16)
  • *Clay’s tale of losing $250k in L.A. over a disputed sack with Aaron Donald (73:08).
  • Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Keenan Allen, and others’ Week 18 incentive targets highlighted (77:13).

C. Classic Quotes & Banter

• On the Panthers/Bucs playoff “juice”:
  • Terror Lawan: “When you’ve lost and things haven’t gone your way for four, five weeks, that’s when you kind of crumble. We’re gonna make the playoffs—but at what cost?” (14:28)
• On the Bears/Lions:
  • Will: “I am getting my nails painted because the Bears are playing great football and they’re going to the playoffs. Bears, Bears, Bears.” (26:09)
  • Clay: “Those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it.” (27:14)
• On the live nail painting:
  • Delaney: “I’m so uncomfortable right now.” (10:41)
  • Will: “It don’t even look like my hand, it look like a girl’s hand… Put lotion on it, brother.” (33:32)
• On incentives:
  • Terror Lawan: “It must be so fun and so much anxiety for them—‘I need to get this’.” (69:17)
  • Clay (about his missing sack): “Aaron Donald reported the sack we shared… they gave it all to him and I lost $250k.” (73:08)
• On performance bonuses and roster politics:
  • Will: “Cats used to live for those player bonuses. When I first got [in the league]… guys would have incentives, I was jealous. Never had one in my contract.” (68:36, 69:17)

3. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Panthers vs. Buccaneers, NFC South: [11:00 – 15:30]
• Seahawks vs. 49ers, NFC #1 Seed: [17:01 – 22:23]
• Bears vs. Lions, playoff hopes: [25:09 – 33:17]
• Commanders vs. Eagles, seeding storylines: [33:48 – 42:26]
• Chargers vs. Broncos, AFC #1 Seed: [45:09 – 53:28]
• Ravens vs. Steelers, AFC North decider & incentives talk: [56:39 – 77:13]
• Live nail-painting bit, start to finish: [07:16, 47:04, 78:40, 79:04]
• NFL incentive talk and contract stories: [63:27 – 77:13]

4. Tone and Style

The episode delivers classic Bussin’ With The Boys energy – comedic, slightly irreverent, and unfiltered, but always informed and filled with authentic insight. There’s constant self-deprecation, lively debate, and stories only NFL veterans can tell. The camaraderie is unmistakable, especially during the nail-bet payoff and bonus-contract confessions.

5. Summary Table: Hosts’ Main Picks

| Game | Will Compton | Taylor Lewan | Clay Matthews | Delanie Walker | |-----------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------| | Panthers at Buccaneers| Under | Panthers (+3) | Panthers (ML) | Panthers (ML) | | Seahawks at 49ers | Under | Seattle (+1.5) | Over 49.5 | Under | | Lions at Bears | Bears (Under) | Lions | Bears (-2.5) | Bears (-2.5) | | Commanders at Eagles | Under | Eagles (ML) | Eagles (-6.5) | Under | | Chargers at Broncos | Under | Chargers (+11.5) | Broncos (ML, tease under) | Under | | Ravens at Steelers | Under | Ravens (-3.5) | Ravens (-3.5) | Steelers |

6. For the Listeners

If you missed this episode, you’ll feel like you were right in the studio, cackling as the boys needle each other over bets, relive Pro Bowl snubs, and give betting leans for every playoff-deciding NFL matchup. The mix of strategic insight and personality means even casual football fans will eat this one up—especially for the stories only ex-NFLers can tell and the sight of Delanie flexing his “Daddy Bear” glitter nails.

Final Word:
Week 18, wild scenarios, locker room memories, painted nails—a classic Bussin’ ride. As always: Big hugs, tiny kisses. See you in the Playoffs.