Bills/ Bengals [cancelled - process in OP]

[cmh6476]

In case anyone needs it spelled out, we would play at a neutral site if the AFCCG ends up being Chiefs vs. Bills. All other scenarios abide by the usual rules (so any other game the Chiefs play will be at home).

Old posts:

Spoiler!

The NFL will consider a neutral site for the AFC Championship Game. Full details: pic.twitter.com/oi3fItUWIj

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 6, 2023

Breaking News: Of course the game is secondary to #DamarHamlin’s health, but #Bills insider @viccarucci just reported on @wgrz Daybreak that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will make the call on rescheduling the Bills/Bengals game and it would have to be played within 2 days.

— Melissa Holmes (@2MelissaHolmes) January 3, 2023

There is another option according to @viccarucci - the league can add a 19th week so the Bills/Bengals can get in all their games. @wgrz https://t.co/1X1hCHVN8c

— Melissa Holmes (@2MelissaHolmes) January 3, 2023

I assume we'll hear something soon

After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week.

The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 3, 2023

[suzzer99]

I guarantee Cincy doesn't want to play the divisional round at Buffalo if they can help it. 2 vs. 3 seed will mean a lot to them.

Also the 2 seed gets to play the super crappy 7 seed. While the 3 seed will probably have to play the Ravens.

[Imon Yourside]

Originally Posted by Dante84

The best possible outcome this weekend is that KC wins and Buffalo loses, making the Bills/Bengals decision much less impactful since the 1 seed isn’t in play.

I doubt they wait until next Monday to make that decision, though.

Doubt the Bills will be ready to play this weekend, they might need an entire offseason.

[BossChief]

If I’m Hamlin and I wake up after dying twice only to find out my team forfeited the game, essentially…I’d be kind of pissed. My team has busted their ass all year to earn the bye and my health situation is the reason they didn’t get it?

I’d be honored at the gesture but my competitive side would be very disappointed in the result.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by BossChief

If I’m Hamlin and I wake up after dying twice only to find out my team forfeited the game, essentially…I’d be kind of pissed. My team has busted their ass all year to earn the bye and my health situation is the reason they didn’t get it?

I’d be honored at the gesture but my competitive side would be very disappointed in the result.

I wouldn't be upset at all if I was him. It's not his fault. Just a freak accident.

They could have played if they really wanted to but they chose not to.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by BossChief

If I’m Hamlin and I wake up after dying twice only to find out my team forfeited the game, essentially…I’d be kind of pissed. My team has busted their ass all year to earn the bye and my health situation is the reason they didn’t get it?

I’d be honored at the gesture but my competitive side would be very disappointed in the result.

Call me crazy, but if I woke up after dying twice, I don't think I would care one bit about football.

[Wilson8]

I went back several pages and did not see these 4 options posted -

1. Cancel the Bills-Bengals game and proceed with Week 18.

This would avoid any adjustment to the remaining schedule. The Bills-Bengals game would be declared a no contest. The practical impact would be that the Bills and Bengals would have one fewer game. Seeding for the postseason would be determined based on winning percentage.

Under the scenario, the Chiefs would capture the No. 1 seed by beating the Raiders. The Bengals would win the AFC North, regardless of the outcome of Cincinnati’s Week 18 game against the Ravens.

2. Play Bills-Bengals this weekend, and delay Week 18 by a week.

This would ensure that every team plays 17 games. But it would compel the Bills and Bengals to play fairly soon, at a time when no one else is playing. It also would eliminate the bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl.

Yes, the NFL did that when rearranging the schedule in 2001 following 9/11. In those days, the Pro Bowl happened after the Super Bowl. This approach would necessitate cancellation of the reimagined approach to Pro Bowl weekend. (That definitely shouldn’t be viewed as an impediment.)

This approach also would delay by a week the conclusion of the season for teams that have no chance to make the playoffs. The teams that are already eliminated surely don’t want their seasons to linger by another week.

To remedy that approach, Week 18 could be played this weekend, with only Bills-Bengals played the following weekend and the playoffs starting the week after that.

3. Cancel Bills-Bengals and delay Week 18.

This becomes a potentially attractive option, if players throughout the league are struggling to get themselves in the proper frame of mind to play this weekend.

It would require AFC playoff seeding to be determined by winning percentages, and it would eliminate the bye week between the conference championship and the Super Bowl. But it would give all players extra time before being expected to suit up again and play.

Again, it also would delay by a week the commencement of the offseason for the 18 teams that miss the playoffs.

4. Play Bills-Bengals during a reconfigured postseason.

This is an idea that could be getting some traction, as the league tries to come up with the best bad option.

Under this approach, Week 18 would proceed as scheduled. The following weekend, the NFC wild-card games would be played, along with Bills-Bengals. The next weekend, the AFC wild-card games would be played.

Then, the rest of the playoffs would unfold, but without the bye week between conference championships and the Super Bowl.

This would ensure that all teams play 17 games. It would give all AFC playoff teams (except the Bills and Bengals) a week off. It would give the NFC wild-card winners a week off. And the NFC No. 1 seed would go three weeks between games.

Again, there’s no perfect solution. The simplest would be to not play Bills-Bengals at all and proceed with Week 18. Whether the NFL deems that one to be the best remains to be seen.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...egular-season/

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

I went back several pages and did not see these 4 options posted -

I think that's a pretty slick solution, and it wouldn't surprise me if that's what they've ultimately settled on if this weekend's games still leave the situation in flux.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Imon Yourside

Doubt the Bills will be ready to play this weekend, they might need an entire offseason.

How many bereavement days do you get at work when a close family member dies? I get 1, 3 or 5 depending then have to go back to work dealing with sick/dying patients . Theses guys have seen plenty of close friends get seriously injured over the years without even stopping the game .

I am not saying it wasn’t traumatic for the players and some might be affected differently but I think most I think will be ok especially if his recovery is going well , if he wakes up I can’t see why they shouldn’t be able to play .

[Abba-Dabba]

Originally Posted by Monticore

How many bereavement days do you get at work when a close family member dies? I get 1, 3 or 5 depending then have to go back to work dealing with sick/dying patients . Theses guys have seen plenty of close friends get seriously injured over the years without even stopping the game .

I am not saying it wasn’t traumatic for the players and some might be affected differently but I think most I think will be ok especially if his recovery is going well , if he wakes up I can’t see why they shouldn’t be able to play .

Most companies it depends on even which family member it is. Some family members you may only get the time to go to the funeral.

[KINGPIN CHIEFS FAN]

Every team that i have ever played on would use this injury as motivation to go out there and dedicate this season to the player and it would make us play even harder. I can't believe that the Buffalo players want to give up on the season because their teammate got hurt. They want the entire league to coddle them and give them time to heal and nobody even died. If you really wanted to make a statement then go out there and dominate every game from here on out and show your teammate that he inspired you to be your best.

[Pooch]

Whatever they choose to do I wouldn’t think it would benefit the Bills. What stops teams from doing things similar going forward and where do you draw the line would be my question? Tua’s injury earlier this year was serious and when he left in the ambulance I didn’t think he was ever going to be the same again. Say something similar to that happens in the future does a team just get to say hey we can’t play and have it benefit them? Regardless this year’s winner will have an * now kinda like the nba championship won in the bubble.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by Pooch

Whatever they choose to do I wouldn’t think it would benefit the Bills. What stops teams from doing things similar going forward and where do you draw the line would be my question? Tua’s injury earlier this year was serious and when he left in the ambulance I didn’t think he was ever going to be the same again. Say something similar to that happens in the future does a team just get to say hey we can’t play and have it benefit them? Regardless this year’s winner will have an * now kinda like the nba championship won in the bubble.

I am not even sure they even stopped the game when it happened to Chris Pronger , he himself played again few days later .

[FringeNC]

I don't see how anything other than a Bills forfeit works. Cinci would have agreed to resume if not that night certainly the next day. If the top seeds win WC weekend, how can the divisional game between Cinci and Buffalo be played in Buffalo? And that allows Buffalo to forfeit to NE, too without an impact on the Bills if they so choose.

Everybody understand and respects what the Bills did. Some things ARE more important than football and the Bills should care less if they are the #1 seed or #3.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Call me crazy, but if I woke up after dying twice, I don't think I would care one bit about football.

Crazy

[chefs fan in omaha]

The one option I haven’t seen is simply game over 7-3 Bungholes. Neither team wants to finish the game. Time to move on.