Titans-Steelers game postponed til later in the season...Titans now effectively have a bye week to prepare for Bills

[YoloinOhio]

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

40 minutes ago, CIrvine said:

And I don’t want their guys in our facility.

That’s kind of silly. Not sure you are being serious or not but I think it would be a lot easier to control what happens in your facility than traveling to one. It would also be easier to monitor cleaning after as well. 

[iinii]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

Vikes opened their facility today 

Interesting - I don’t think that was a the coach who was in the meeting. That coach didn’t test positive until Monday 

Another article I read said that the Titans didn’t even bother to mention those little details prior to the game. I guess Vrabel learned something in NE.

[billsfan89]

44 minutes ago, Johnnycage46 said:

If this ends up being the Steelers and Titans bye week, I guess they can be thankful its week 4 and not week 1 like a few years ago when Tampa's game was moved to their original bye week due to a hurricane.  They basically got their bye, week 1 lol.

 

There was also the time when the NFL had 31 teams between the Texans expansion so there was 1 team that had to have a bye each week. So a team had a bye each week so a team had a bye week week 1 and week 17. I think that the NFL should have baked in 2 league wide bye weeks (push the start of the playoffs back 2 weeks) and any of these games that had to be rescheduled due to Covid could have been played during a league wide bye.

[iinii]

4 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

There was also the time when the NFL had 31 teams between the Texans expansion so there was 1 team that had to have a bye each week. So a team had a bye each week so a team had a bye week week 1 and week 17. I think that the NFL should have baked in 2 league wide bye weeks (push the start of the playoffs back 2 weeks) and any of these games that had to be rescheduled due to Covid could have been played during a league wide bye.

That may still happen. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/nfl-says-steelers-titans-game-delayed-until-later-in-season/2432543/?amp

 

The Titans are scheduled to host Buffalo (3-0) on Oct. 11 depending on the results of daily testing.

 

With the two new cases, the Titans’ total is now 12: five players and seven other organization members since last Saturday. Vrabel said he's very confident the Titans have followed the contact tracing protocol to identify anyone at risk from being close together.

[billsfan89]

18 minutes ago, iinii said:

That may still happen. 

 

It should already be in place. At least two league wide byes for rescheduled games would have given a lot of buffer for these types of outbreaks. Now the league and these teams have to scramble. It's a bad look on the NFL's part.

[wjag]

26 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/nfl-says-steelers-titans-game-delayed-until-later-in-season/2432543/?amp

 

The Titans are scheduled to host Buffalo (3-0) on Oct. 11 depending on the results of daily testing.

 

With the two new cases, the Titans’ total is now 12: five players and seven other organization members since last Saturday. Vrabel said he's very confident the Titans have followed the contact tracing protocol to identify anyone at risk from being close together.

Number keeps creeping up.  

[machine gun kelly]

Doc, I don’t think there is enough free weeks to postpone unless an absolute necessity and then they have to forfeit the game.  I wouldn’t be surprised at the 11th hour a forfeit.  I expected it, as the NFL has done a ton to manage this positive testing issues, but there are only so many variables you can account, and manage.

[SWATeam]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

Doc, I don’t think there is enough free weeks to postpone unless an absolute necessity and then they have to forfeit the game.  I wouldn’t be surprised at the 11th hour a forfeit.  I expected it, as the NFL has done a ton to manage this positive testing issues, but there are only so many variables you can account, and manage.

Nah, they’ll extend out the season if necessary 

[iinii]

45 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

It should already be in place. At least two league wide byes for rescheduled games would have given a lot of buffer for these types of outbreaks. Now the league and these teams have to scramble. It's a bad look on the NFL's part.

Agreed. I was just trying to suggest they may have to “adopt” some sort of strategy akin to what you have suggested.

[Chandler#81]

7 hours ago, nucci said:

a major advantage? Players are sick and the facility is closed? Where's the advantage?

😳

7 hours ago, nucci said:

it's possible more players are sick, they can't practice and just had a game postponed.....how is this a big plus?

 

6 hours ago, Your Brown Eye said:

Does it really though?

 

The Titans coaches spent all week gaming planning and watching film for the Steelers, now they have to scrap all that an do it all over again for the Bills. Not to mention the whole team is not allowed at the facility, so they cannot even practice what the coaches implement until they are cleared to go back and that might not even be till mid-week next week. Sounds more to me like a cluster-you know what than a strategic advantage. If it's an advantage, it's minimal in my opinion. 

😲

i think it’s clearly obvious. If I’m coaching, I immediately accept the decision and completely change gameplan to focus on Buffalo. Zoom each position group and send all video on the Bills including their intended scheme. As a player, I’d expect this, frankly. There’s nothing anyone can do to Change a League rule, but you can jump immediately into ‘what’s next?’

I’d be surprised if the Titans players aren’t force fed Buffalo data by tomorrow.

[eball]

I. Just. Don’t. Care.

 

This is the best Bills team in 20 years and I don’t care if every opponent has a bye week.  Worrying about this crap is about the least productive thing a person can do.

[{::'KayCeeS::}]

13 minutes ago, eball said:

I. Just. Don’t. Care.

 

This is the best Bills team in 20 years and I don’t care if every opponent has a bye week.  Worrying about this crap is about the least productive thing a person can do.

 

yeah, this is kind of how I feel.  It's hardcore BBFS otherwise.  Do you think the Chiefs give two ***** about things like this?  I doubt it.  If we're as good as I think we are, I doubt our team does either.

[whatdrought]

Complaining about playing the Titans off a bye seems to pale in comparison to the Steelers bye switching from week 8 to week 4 and now having to play their division rival after they come off a bye after having just played another very physical team. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

4 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

😳

 

😲

i think it’s clearly obvious. If I’m coaching, I immediately accept the decision and completely change gameplan to focus on Buffalo. Zoom each position group and send all video on the Bills including their intended scheme. As a player, I’d expect this, frankly. There’s nothing anyone can do to Change a League rule, but you can jump immediately into ‘what’s next?’

I’d be surprised if the Titans players aren’t force fed Buffalo data by tomorrow.

 

Assuming the plan is to juggle teams bye weeks to get Tenn and Pitt to line up, both will now be playing 13 straight weeks assuming no other interruptions.  How's that different than every other team when they have a bye week?  The Bills will have 14 days to prepare for the Chargers game.  Tenn has already lost days this week, plus no players in the facility to believe I read Saturday.  Yes it sucks for the Bills themselves to be the team Tenn gets extra time to prepare for, but in no way do I see this giving Tenn and advantage season wise. 

 

Every week there are teams that get an extra week of prep  time coming of their bye, this is one of the few years up until now the Bills didn't have to face one of those teams.  Bills are just unlucky in this case.

 

The other option (and if this happens once a team already had their bye) would be to play the game at the end of the season.  Both Tenn and Pitt have a good chance of making the playoffs.  That would really suck for them if basically they move the start of the playoffs back one week so now week 18 Tenn is playing Pitt while all the remaining playoff teams get a week rest.  Not everyone gains something but would be a huge advantage for whomever plays those two in the playoffs.  So do think the idea of moving makeup games to the end of the season would be very unfair.  Maybe they play make ups week 15 and 16 as needed so all teams still play the last two weeks.

[Augie]

At the beginning of every season I enjoy looking for how many teams we get right after a bye week. It seemed we always led the league in getting screwed there.  At least this is novel.  🤷‍♂️

 

I still wish we could all meet up in Nashville again. 

[YoloinOhio]

33 minutes ago, Augie said:

At the beginning of every season I enjoy looking for how many teams we get right after a bye week. It seemed we always led the league in getting screwed there.  At least this is novel.  🤷‍♂️

 

I still wish we could all meet up in Nashville again. 

2020, man...

[Turk71]

The Raiders are being tested daily after their *****up I hope. If you test positive after breaking the rules I don't think you deserve the same considerations as these teams.

[dma0034]

NFL should have done two bye weeks for every team. Half the teams should have had a bye the 7th week and the other half the 8th week. They should have done the same for week 14 and 15. That would have put the Superbowl the day before President's Day. Also would have made changes quicker

[Seasons1992]

UPDATE: Two more Titans have tested positive for COVID as of this morning, per Schefter.

[CapeBreton]

 

There's no way they could allow the Titans to miss two straight weeks right? They really should either have to field a team or forfeit.

[SCBills]

8 hours ago, dma0034 said:

NFL should have done two bye weeks for every team. Half the teams should have had a bye the 7th week and the other half the 8th week. They should have done the same for week 14 and 15. That would have put the Superbowl the day before President's Day. Also would have made changes quicker

I heard somewhere that there are contingency plans for a “Week 18” if games need to be postponed after the bye weeks. 

[Penfield45]

No way our game stands

 

this is a health risk now. Postpone our game also and suspend the league for 2 full weeks 

 

NFL knew what they were getting into. No control over players. 
 

in England football clubs wouldn’t even let players eat food outside their team picked meal plan 

[JimBob2232]

Sounds like our offensive line just needs to keep the raiders and titans 6 feet away from. Josh Allen.  #challangeaccepted

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, CapeBreton said:

 

There's no way they could allow the Titans to miss two straight weeks right? They really should either have to field a team or forfeit.

Agreed.  
 

Postponed Steelers game is their mulligan.   If they have a full blown outbreak, they need to deal with it.  Can’t destroy the whole season because of one team.  
 

....and maybe this was all out of their control and the Titans did nothing wrong, but all I know is (so far) two teams have had COVID exposure.   One team (Falcons) followed the protocols and it was a non-issue.   The other team (Titans) are now a dumpster fire.  

[dollars 2 donuts]

6 minutes ago, Penfield45 said:

No way our game stands

 

this is a health risk now. Postpone our game also and suspend the league for 2 full weeks 

 

NFL knew what they were getting into. No control over players. 
 

in England football clubs wouldn’t even let players eat food outside their team picked meal plan 

 

Very respectfully, I don’t think you shut down the league for two weeks based upon the outbreak with one single team. If they get it under control and exclude those people it’s not really a risk factor. However, I do agree with analyzing the remaining schedule and based upon what could happen possibly putting in a spare open week or two for everybody somewhere over the course of the season. I suggested it in one of the threads earlier, pick a random middle week and then a random later week to just leave things open for teams. Also, obviously just adjust the games accordingly.

[gordong]

Let's just pray that the dumb ass raiders don't start testing positive early next week, after we kick their ass Sunday. 

Edited October 2, 2020 by gordong

[dma0034]

If that Titans game gets postponed the Bills have a bye before the Thursday night game with the Chiefs. That's huge.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30023819/pittsburgh-steelers-tennessee-titans-game-rescheduled-oct-25
 

 

October 25 th rescheduled date 

[RiotAct]

4 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30023819/pittsburgh-steelers-tennessee-titans-game-rescheduled-oct-25
 

 

October 25 th rescheduled date 

“The Steelers at Baltimore Ravens game will move from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET.”

 

Did they both have a bye that week originally?

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Instead of moving teams/games around to accomodate the Titans the NFL needed to take a stance. Somehow the other teams in the league have managed to stay "clean" or close to it. With 15 people testing positive it's not as simple as someone contracting it by going home to child/spouse. They had to have either violated protocols of been cavalier somehow. Take a stance, set a precedent, and make teams/players realize that there are consequences. Instead they do the usual and treat them as victims and accomodate them. This isn't draconian, its simple common sense. How did the other teams manage it so far without problem?

[nucci]

7 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

Instead of moving teams/games around to accomodate the Titans the NFL needed to take a stance. Somehow the other teams in the league have managed to stay "clean" or close to it. With 15 people testing positive it's not as simple as someone contracting it by going home to child/spouse. They had to have either violated protocols of been cavalier somehow. Take a stance, set a precedent, and make teams/players realize that there are consequences. Instead they do the usual and treat them as victims and accomodate them. This isn't draconian, its simple common sense. How did the other teams manage it so far without problem?

what do you suggest?

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

28 minutes ago, nucci said:

what do you suggest?

How about forfeiture of the Steelers game? you?

[LeGOATski]

2 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

How about forfeiture of the Steelers game? you?

If the Bills get hit, I'd much rather them reschedule the game. It doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

3 hours ago, CapeBreton said:

 

There's no way they could allow the Titans to miss two straight weeks right? They really should either have to field a team or forfeit.

Rescheduling a couple games seems doable. One bye week and an extra week or two at the end of the season. 

 

If you need more than that, then yeah, just field your best team. Sorry.

[nucci]

11 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

How about forfeiture of the Steelers game? you?

I'm ok with the rescheduling

[wjag]

One other salient point about the Steelers and Titans was they have been effectively robbed of their bye weeks.  In a bye week, you get the week off.  Since they went most of the week not knowing, they have been in team activities preparing to play Sunday.  Let's hope this doesn't happen to other teams.

 

I'm also curious how players are supposed to get treatment.  If you're rehabbing, or icing or doing whatever treatments you get throughout the week to feel better, heal or play, what happens now to the Titans?  Are players on their own for getting treatments for what ails them?

Edited October 2, 2020 by wjag
adding more

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

4 hours ago, SCBills said:

I heard somewhere that there are contingency plans for a “Week 18” if games need to be postponed after the bye weeks. 

 

How do you handle a week 18?  Lets assume the Bills Tenn game gets canceled next.  Both those teams likely could be int he playoffs or at a minimum in the mix for a spot at the end of the season.  So do the Bills and Tenn play week 18 while the remaining playoff teams basically get a weeks rest.  If that happened to me and I was the GM/owner of the team,  and I was already in the playoff, this game would just affect seeding I'd just announce OK, we're forfeiting the game.  I prefer a lower seed than playing against a team that just got a weeks rest when I had to play a game.

 

The only somewhat fair way to do it would have makeups maybe between weeks 15 and 16. So in my example above Tenn would play the Bills that week while everyone else is off.  But then everyone plays the next two weeks.  If any games need to be canceled the last two weeks, sorry but then it is a forfeit.  If it's involving non playoff teams, they could still play week 18 just for revenue purposes.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

1 hour ago, RiotAct said:

“The Steelers at Baltimore Ravens game will move from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET.”

 

Did they both have a bye that week originally?

yea Baltimore had a bye that week [edit]

Hold on. 
Sunday, October 25. 
Baltimore Bye 

The schedule has been updated so unless we can see the original one it’s a ?

 

 

Edited October 2, 2020 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[zow2]

Not surprising that with more positive tests out of Nashville, the Bills game next weekend is in trouble.  I thought that on Monday when the news broke.  Bottom line- the NFL had 6 months to map out every possible scenario and I'm sure they did.  There are no hard and fast rules in the Covid era of sports. They can move games around, add games on at the end of the season.  What if instead of having the Super Bowl on Feb. 7th they just move it to Feb. 28th or mid-March?  What's stopping them?  There's no real rush. The NFL could tell the players that OTA's and preseason games in spring/summer 2021 would be curtailed as a concession.  Make it right and fair for everyone and all teams.