zow2

Yes, IF the Bengals won they could have leapfrogged the Bills. No doubt about it, that is a negative. But there is a reasonable chance had the Hamlin situation had not occurred, the Bills could have won. We see it all the time where one team comes out hot and eventually the other team comes back (especially a very good team like Buffalo). So the positive for the Bengals is that they are given the AFC North in the scenario discussed. Baltimore is not given the chance to win that division so Cincinnati could change their in game strategy if they so choose, depending on how the KC game unfolded and how the Bills game is going.

The likeliest outcome, that many of us thought from Tuesday morning is that the game will not be made up. If this happened in weeks 1-14 they may have found a way, but they are up against the end of season. It sucks but the Bills are probably going to be the team that has to take a negative outcome on top of already dealing with Damar's awful situation. But that's life and we all know everything is not always fair. 1) KC will get the #1 seed if they beat the Raiders (I still think LV is going to ball out and have a chance here). 2) Buf will get the #2 seed if they beat NE, and could get #1 seed if they win and KC loses. 3) Cinci - The Ravens have no shot at the AFC North now. Bengals get the Division title. Cinci can still move up the seeding if KC and/or Buf loses.

That was one of the options on the table but never agreed to. There could have been 20 options and that one may have been last. Ultimately the Bills will have the main input in how this will be determined...and the Bengals said they will be fine with whatever Buffalo wants to do.

I'm glad to hear this. Yesterday there seemed to be momemtum from National media and fans to play the game for the "integrity of the league". Right from the beginning there did not seem to be any reasonable way to flex in the Cincinnati game and it doesn't seem like the right thing to do anyway. It's another unprecedented situation (like the Covid year), and will have to be an unprecedented response ( no makeup). It sucks that the Chiefs may end up with the #1 seed when it was Buffalo who had control of the seeding but that's life. As i mentioned in other threads, I don't think either Buffalo or Cincinnati would be intimidated to play at Arrowhead.

I think the big differences are that the Bills players actually watched their teammate and friend heart stop in person, right there during their jobs. and it was very traumatic, definitely extremely traumatic for some of the guys. We know how we all felt just sitting on our couches not knowing any of those guys. Plus you have the event happen in a stand alone prime time game for the world to see. And we now live in a social media world where a big event like this is magnified times a billion…and mental health is more important and more publicized than ever.

As one NFL player said today from another team… “Unfortunately we don’t get any PTO” I think it will obviously be a huge lift if the team gets any inside info that Damar is improving, not out of the woods, but improving. I think the team will ultimately play this weekend. It won’t be easy, but that’s what these guys do, they play football.. and frankly i don’t think they will play all that well. Just think about the physicality New England will bring here with their playoffs on the line. I just hope everyone is mentally ready if they do play so no one gets hurt badly out there.

I was listening to Booger on TV, and he was saying that if he was a current teammate, he would not suit up for an NFL football game again until there was 100% assurance that Damar was going to be fine. He said it’s too much emotion in a game and he would not be in the mindset to play now. So if we assume even a fraction of the current Bills feel like this, they legitimately could decide not to play. And Troy Vincent i believe indicated that McDermott was having a very difficult time too.

I agree with you but they’d probably give it to Daboll or Doug Pederson.

If the league mandates that the Bills go back to Cincinnati and resume this game, say next Thursday or Sunday… do we even know if Damar would be out of the hospital? Of course the answer is we don’t know. He could be there for a few more days if improving, a week or a few weeks. I mean there’s just no way the league would send the Bills back to that stadium with our guy still in the hospital a few miles away. Maybe that’s too dramatic of me, i don’t know. As others have said, i think the Bills will have the loudest voice in the room on how they best feel this should be resolved.

Yep, the outpouring from other NFL players is what gets me. Not only the Bengals… Just so much love and generosity from every corner of the league. Sauce Garder put out a tweet earlier. He’s asking anyone to hook him up with a Hamlin jersey, he wants to wear it during warm ups this Sunday at his game. I mean, as a Jets player i really didn’t like that guy and now i have no choice but to think he’s a really great dude. I didn’t expect that. Lots of examples like that.

I mean let’s face it. That game left a deep scar. and both Buffalo and Cincinnati probably don’t really want to bash each others heads in, during a stand-alone regular season game after week 18. I’m sure if Buffalo respectfully asks for a no contest, even if it means a lower seed, i agree, Cincinnati would likely support it. I really don’t think either club is all that worried about playing at Arrowhead if that’s what ultimately happens for one of them.

And i think they would have 100% found a way to fit this game in, if the event didn’t happen in week 17. They just can’t flex this game into a time slot with massive upheaval of the entire playoff schedule..and all the behind the scenes logistical aspects of it. I heard some report (can’t remember where) that the Bills are not fond of going back to the Jungle to play this specific game. Call it bad mojo, or just too soon emotionally, but that could be the deciding factor to not playing the game. If the playoff path leads them back to Cincinnati then so be it.

The pressure from the NFL talk shows (and general fans) really ramped up today. Like 99% of what i listened to and watched said they HAVE to play this game… even if it means massive inconvenience for the overall playoff dates. There does not seem to be any national support to make it a no-contest or whatever. I’m surprised. I really thought we could put this game in the rear view mirror and move on. it’s a sport not such a serious thing to HAVE to make up the game.

The fairest thing to do is give Kansas City the week off and let the Raiders go into their off-season. Then if Cincinnati wins and Buffalo loses, use strength of victory to seed the teams 🙂

I felt early on that this game will never be made up and still believe that. But i will say this… there has been a significant groundswell today of national media and fans saying this game must be played no matter what the inconvenience is for the NFL. I do think the NFL is taking the temperature of the room so to speak, and this could tilt the scales to replaying it.

Agreed. You just can’t have the Bills/Bengals playing a week 19 game while one of them maybe both have to play week 20, while the opponent is sitting with their feet up chillin, studying film and healing up. I’d rather the Bills be awarded the 3 seed now and be able to play the New England game as they see fit.

It's just bizarre to go into an NFL week 18 where all the AFC teams don't know exactly what the stakes are, because we aren't 100% sure Buffalo and Cincinnati will play a 17th game. and also, other teams are affected by everything.. not just KC/Cin/Buf.

I just don't think the Cincinnati game will ever be made up. I don't see it.

That's why i said yesterday that the Bills (by today)should go all in 100% with game prep for NE. Not doing this could leave them open to being unprepared mentally and physically to play....which could lead to more injuries and not just a beating. The wishy washy stuff won't fly here. It's dangerous. They should either be 100% in, or the NE game should have been called off by today.

The Bengals were definitely giving extra physicality on their tackles...and then of course the dirty shot on Taron and the barrel roll nonsense on Allen. The Bills already lost Taron and Hamlin nearly lost his life in a freak accident. We will never know but this game being postponed in the most horrible of circumstances could have saved the Bills from even more injuries.

It's interesting, the vast majority of national "takes" that I've heard are very pro Bills. If both KC and Buffalo win this weekend, the neutral fans and media want the Bills to have the 1 seed. I think it's a combination of feeling bad for the Bills situation plus people just don't want KC getting to play important games in Arrowhead this year. They want something different.

Through tonight the players have not talked about playing Sunday. Dawkins even spoke of it. Their focus and energy is on Damar and his family. nothing else. That will likely change. That’s why i said what i said.

If they are planning to play, i hope they confirm it tomorrow. Then go all in on game prep. i’m actually worried if it gets stretched out longer that these guys may not be prepared well mentally or physically and that could lead to injuries on game day.

Reminds me of when the Sabres didn't help out Millsy in Boston after he was roughed up. They were a bunch of P*ssies.