Success

The game will not be meaningless. Our game has huge implications for 4 cities hoping to get the 7 seed.

The thing w/ the Chiefs is - we BEAT them. At their place. Fans there seem to be overlooking that when they imply that KC deserves the 1 seed now. But I'm more than cool to see the Bills beat them in KC again, if that's what they want.

To me, these fanbases are at opposite ends of the NFL spectrum. I absolutely love Bengals fans. I did before yesterday, and for years. They're really a lot like us, and make their team easy to root for. Chiefs fans always make me scratch my head. Their board is so far beyond toxic; I can't even go to that main board anymore. It's wretched. And not to get into politics, but the "virtue signaling" and "participation trophy" stuff is a bit of a giveaway.

It feels like this has been such a season of turmoil, with injuries, the snowstorms, the ups & downs, and now Hamlin's health. I'm where the OP is at. I'm ready for whatever comes, and I'm okay w/ it. Whatever happens the rest of the way, this will probably be the defining moment for it. The team could kind of fade away at this point, where the setbacks have hit critical mass, and it might be hard if not impossible for them to play the kind of inspired football needed for the next month+. Or, it could be that kind of rallying moment that leads to a big run. At this point, the season is a success for me if Hamlin recovers and gets back to good health. Anything else will be gravy.

What happened yesterday was the choice of both teams and coaches, from what I understand. I don't think Cincy's players could have gone through w/ the game either. Just because it was a Bills player doesn't mean the Bills have 100% ownership of the situation. I think whatever happens should be equitable at least between the 2 teams.

I always think of "Finding Nemo," and the whole idea that you can protect your kids too much, and prevent them from experiencing some really important things in life. There is always a balance there. Of course there are situations where the risk outweighs the experience they could get. But as others have stated, a lot of sports they play carry some risk. My kid played lacrosse & got a concussion, which made me 2nd guess everything. But it was such a rewarding experience on so many levels for him to play that game. For me, it's worse to think of what he would have missed by not playing it.

Nothing is going to be perfect, or even that close to it. These are unusual and extraordinary circumstances. Any team that was going to make the playoffs anyway - they're still going to make the playoffs. Maybe a team that should have had a week off won't get that now, and maybe another team will have to play one more game on the road than they might have otherwise. But everyone is still going to get their shot in the playoffs, and the teams battling for the 7 seed will still get to stake their claim on the field. Some fans will complain, but there just isn't an ideal solution here. As a Bills fan, I just want to see them get their shot in the playoffs, even if it's not as the 1 seed that they were close to earning.

I'm still getting teary about Hamlin - I haven't been this deeply affected by something in a long time. But, I'm also thinking about what happens now from a football perspective. There is room in my head for both.

We'll get the 2 seed, and then the Cincy/Bills rematch can be in the AFCCG (since Cincy always beats KC). It'll all work out.

Yeah - I don't fear going to KC like I have in previous years, and we may not even have to. By the time we get to the AFCCG, it may still be in Buffalo. Losing the rest week would hurt w/ this banged up team, but it can't be perfect.

I'd rather get the 2 seed than have the only game a week from Sunday, giving every other playoff team a bye. Sure, we could still get a bye at that point - but we might not, and that's really a worst-case scenario in terms of rest & health. The Bills can win on the road, and who knows - maybe someone beats KC before we play them so we get the AFCCG at home.

It's the right call. Life goes on, and business goes on - but w/ the way the players were reacting last night, it's hard to imagine them even practicing this week, much less trying to play a game in one of the next couple of nights. A positive update about Hamlin will shift the energy a bit. Here's hoping.

Totally agree w/ this. I don't want to see this Cincy/Bills game played at this point. Either an L, or a tie, or whatever - but just play the final week and figure out how to seed based on percentages or something. I'd much rather the Bills not have a bye than try to squeeze in 2 regular season games now....

The latest they could reschedule the game for is tomorrow. No way they're having a game Thursday, and then Sunday. And there is no way they push the Pats game to Monday, shortening rest right before the playoffs begin. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

I think the impact is going to be more in the future. Thousands of parents probably decided last night not to let their kids play football.

I was surprised Bease didn't corral that pass. It was overthrown, but he has always been able to pull those in. Really should have been 7-7 the way we were driving. Great to see Cook continue to find holes and get big gains. Tre is a step slow right now. I don't know much about ACL injuries, but I have heard people say it takes time.

That's a reasonable position also. If we're forgetting what happened and are strictly talking about what would be better for both teams - a double forfeit might be the best outcome. I don't like the idea of packing games into a tight window this close to the playoffs.

When I see what's happening w/ his charity, it really gives me renewed faith in humanity. Yesterday was terrible, but the universal reaction has been so uplifting. I've seen fans of bitter rivals hope Buffalo beats their team & goes all the way now. Everyone is sending up prayers, the charity is getting incredible sums of money. It's really amazing. Buffalo deserves a little pat on the back for that. Everything Bills fans have done involving charity really brings out the best in everyone. It's easy to get cynical about the future if you watch the news and see all of the division and strife, but what's happening right now w/ the support for Hamlin is really the best of who we are. If we can tap into that on a larger scale, the future might be alright after all.

I don't think they should forfeit Sunday's game. Life has to go on at a point. But I'm starting to think they should just take the L on the Cincy game.

Everyone has been amazing - but watching the reaction of Cincy's coaches, players & fans, and seeing how they're immediately posting the link to the charity, and just all of it. It's really beautiful. Nothing but love for that city right now.

I kind of feel the same way. Those guys always put the dollar first, so they're easy to criticize. But I had my own denial about the situation tonight, for awhile. I kept thinking he'd pop back up, and then I thought we'd see one of those "thumbs up" signs if he was carted off or something. It really took me awhile to grasp how bad this is, even after seeing some of the players looking pretty shaken up.

I've always liked Ryan Clark - but this has been his best moment. Just straight from the heart. I'm still kind of crying & feeling devastated, and it's comforting.

Commentators have really been great tonight - Booger & Suzy, Aikman & Buck. Ryan Clark is talking from the heart right now.

According to one of the Cincy boards, they have one of the best cardio hospitals in the world, near the stadium. That can't be a bad thing. Please let him be okay.

Grateful for the Bengals coaches & fans. I feel so sick right now.