Success

Stay away from the rest of the internet right now. We're quickly becoming the villains in this - the "league darlings" who ruined it for every other team. I think most fans forgot that they were outraged on Monday night at even the hint that the NFL was going to force the game to continue. Now, it's basically "it was the Bills choice to stop playing - they should have forfeited."

The Pats have a top 5 defense, the GOAT coach, and they have played pretty much every team tough this year. Take away 2 bad plays (Raiders & Cincy), and a bad call (Minnesota), and they could easily be 11-5 right now. The Bills secondary is also pretty banged up. This game isn't a foregone conclusion.

I don't really get it. That game had barely started. I'm repeating myself on this thread, but we drove down the field as easily as they did. The sentiments I'm seeing online now are "clearly, the Bengals were going to win that game - they were locked in." I guess, for people who just started watching the NFL this past week. And there is a LOT of chatter online about how the Bills should have to forfeit the game, because it was our players that couldn't continue. Pretty sure I've heard multiple comments that both teams didn't want to play after that. And the league was universally reviled for the idea that the game should continue at that point. It's gonna get to me - because it's only going to get worse. People are turning on the Bills for some reason. It's getting ugly out there.

So, if we beat the Pats on Sunday (I'm fairly sure we will, but who knows w/ the circumstances)....is there a chance we'd face them again right away in the 1st round of the playoffs? Could we end up w/ the 2 seed, and the Pats end up w/ the 7 seed if both Miami & Pitt lose?

It's interesting that fans on both sides think Cincy was going to win that game based on how things were looking. We see multiple games every week where a team dominates in the early going, and then ends up losing. And the Bengals weren't even dominating. Their 1st drive was definitely of the hot knife through butter variety, but ours wasn't much different, and only ended because Josh sailed a pass, not because their D was stout. Both teams would have made adjustments. My own guess is that it would have been a pretty close affair at the end.

It's ridiculous. I should stay away from the general boards for awhile. A lot of the good will we got this week is turning to anger for some fans, given the proposals that are being floated out there. It's funny how there was universal anger at the league on Monday for even suggesting the teams should continue playing - and now many fans are saying one or both teams should forfeit, and that it's a "Bills" problem and no one elses.

The Chiefs don't have a leg to stand on. They lost to BOTH Cincy and Buffalo. That's not how seedings are decided - but they can hardly claim that they're being denied what is rightfully theirs. Gotta say - the attitude around the internet & w/ the other fanbases has really shifted over the past day. I'm seeing a lot more of "it was the Bills decision to quit - they should forfeit!" I mean, I don't have to tell fans here, but I don't think either team was ready to go back and play the rest of that game. And as a result, this whole thing is an NFL problem - not a Bills or Bengals problem. I've even seen a sentiment that the Bills shouldn't be allowed in the playoffs now - more than a few times.

There is no such thing as an asterisk when you win the SB - even for the Patriots. No one gives the '82 champ an asterisk because there was a strike.

It was on PFT. They're voting on how to proceed w/ the seedings & playoffs.

Comp. committee had a vote at 6:00, right? Any news?

We have to be. These are pretty extraordinary circumstances - no solution will be perfect. We're better than KC. We can beat them at their place, if it comes to that.

I've got a better idea - let's beat them by at least 4 touchdowns.

I still love the city & the fans, and MOST of the team & coaches. The guy who rolled up on Allen - that one is hard to explain away. It genuinely looked like he launched himself at Josh's knee.

What does our secondary look like now? Is there any word on Johnson, and who starts at safety?

I've accepted that it's likely KC will back into the 1 seed. It's cool. I really like our chances no matter what happens. I have a feeling this team is going to play w/ real inspiration the rest of the way.

This is so amazing to hear.

Alright. I don't want to cry anymore this week. Uncle! What a heartfelt statement, and so true. I'm thinking about it, and I'm sure we're going to have quite a few battles w/ the Bengals in the years ahead - we'll likely win some, and likely lose some, and they'll probably always be pretty crucial games. But I'm fairly sure I will never have any negative feelings about that team or fanbase or city. There is just a bond between these cities now.

What a great post. Agree 100%. I've said that I can accept whatever happens from here on out, as others have. If this is too much for the team to overcome, how can I judge that? But I also think of what Buffalo has been through this year. A very reasoned argument could be made that they have had a tougher year than any other American city. And what a boost it could be for the city to have a team go on an inspired run right now. So, I'll accept anything, with gratitude. But I'm hoping more for the run.

Because there are more of them. The big headlines that players & coaches get (when it's not related to a game) are usually the bad behavior, and we see quite a bit of that. But it's very true that the media prefers to cover the worst. I knew very little about Hamlin, aside from his being a Bill, and his play on the field. What a great person, with a great attitude. Feeling so grateful for his opportunity, and wanting to make the most of it not just for himself, but to help his community and give back. And there are tons of these guys throughout the NFL and all of sports. Just quietly helping others - not grabbing headlines with it, but improving lives. And then guys like Higgins & Taylor & the rest of the Bengals, putting everything THEY have worked for aside in a second, because they put someone's welfare above that. And we've seen nothing but support and caring throughout the NFL. Probably a sappy thread - but there is really way more good in the league than bad. It deserves some recognition & praise.

It's been such an emotional week. I've found that I have just started getting teary eyed once in awhile, without even thinking about anything. I wasn't sure if I'd even care about football anymore. But, today, I find that I still can't stand the Patriots. And want the Bills to win this game, big.

It's not really fair or probably how we should be as a human race - but life & work go on, and they should definitely play the game on Sunday (imo).

Ah - I read it wrong. Oops. They'd just have the NFC take their bye the following week, so by the time the SB rolled around, both champs would get the extra week. Not terrible, now that I understand it. I suppose at least we'd get a shot at the 1 seed.

So, if we didn't get the win against Cincy - we'd have no week off at any point, even if we made the SB. If I'm reading that right.

There is truth there, and - as is often said - EVERY fanbase has a toxic element. I do think it's more prevalent in that fanbase, at least online. Their board is nothing like any other board - it's not even close. It is an ugly place.

It would hand the Patriots the 7 seed. I really don't think that would sit well w/ Miami, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, et al. I just doubt they go that way. They'll try to make things as uncontroversial as possible. I could see the Cincy game being a forfeit, but not Sunday's game.