Playoff Solutions Assuming they don’t replay the Bengals game.

[RandomBengalFan]

Bengals fan here.

First of all just praying for Danar Hamlin and hoping he will be OK.  Praying he won't have any brain damage and can live a normal life, and live his dreams however he sees fit.

Most solutions here involve the Bills maintaining their #2 seed.  Forcing the Bengals to accept a draw?  Or canceling, or winning percentage?  The game was 7-3 Cincinnati, and very likely to become 14-3. 

Bengals offense looked to be on fire. And unstoppable.  Sure momentum swings happen, events happen, turnovers, etc, no way to know what truly would have happened, but this was looking like a Cincinnati win.

 

Which would have leap frogged the Bills and clinched the afc north.

Either have to finish the game where it was, or Bill's forfeit.  The game was 7-3. Not a tie and it didn't look close.

If the situation were reversed, you wouldn't want your team punished for something out of its control.

 

No way they could have played that.  Would of been dangerous to the players, especially the Bills who were very distraught. They did the right thing by stopping it. But to say the Bills are still 2 seed just not fair to the Bengals.  How was your confidence level prior to that injury?

 

Godspeed Damar Hamlin, praying for you, and wishing you a full recovery. 

[chongli]

Someone on another forum said just cancel the season. This is a good idea. MLB did it before with the player's stike.

[Warriorspikes51]

1 minute ago, chongli said:

Someone on another forum said just cancel the season. This is a good idea. MLB did it before with the player's stike.

Not to diminish what Hamlin is going through.....but that's not fair to Millions of people 

[seattlebillsfan]

I still gravitate toward the simple solution of deciding the Bills-Bengals game by coin toss. Eliminates any need for rescheduling or format shifts, and doesn’t automatically hand KC the 1 seed due to a tragic event (though they would have the inside track if Bengals win the toss, just as they would have if the Bengals had won last night). I would think the teams could agree to this on Tuesday, and let the league know this is how they would like to handle it. Imperfect to be sure but it has the virtue of providing quick clarity, starting with the players and coaches, who still have the Herculean task of getting ready to play on Sunday while (in the case of the Bills, particularly) praying for a comrade in critical condition. 

[boyst]

10 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Not to the NFL. It’s all about the money!  And it matters to all those teams as well.. 

Oh I know. And you likely realize I'm ribbing you. 

 

The nflpla and players wont let this issue go easily by. I don't see the players letting the game happen this week. 

[Billsfan1972]

Who cares, as long as they don't make them play the game.  No way should Buffalo & Cincy play (or try and make up the game).

 

Playoffs already are going to be a mess for the Bills regardless.

[Royale with Cheese]

4 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’m not referring to Vegas odds. I’m referring to the reality of what was occurring on the field.

 

I do understand this “neutral” outcome is the preference here because it prevents the Bills from getting beat.

Geezus shut up.

[teef]

1 minute ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Geezus shut up.

you knew there were going to have a handful of posters who were going to take this angle.  pretty predictable.

[chongli]

3 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Not to diminish what Hamlin is going through.....but that's not fair to Millions of people 

 

Someone's life vs. the feelings of millions of people. Hmmmm...

[ToGoGo]

Just now, chongli said:

 

Someone's life vs. the feelings of millions of people. Hmmmm...

 

Hamlin is still alive. What are you even saying? 

[Lothar]

Here's one solution:

 

1. Cancel this game.

2. For fairness to all teams, if all of BUF, KC, CIN win next week, the solution might be to give KC the top seed but if KC and BUF as 1,2 meet for the championship game, they play at a neutral site like Indy with fans of both teams given an opportunity to buy half the tickets. Similarly, if BUF and CIN meet as 2 vs 3, they play at a neutral site. Should any team lose next week, we go strictly to winning percentage.

 

 

[Warriorspikes51]

1 minute ago, chongli said:

 

Someone's life vs. the feelings of millions of people. Hmmmm...

That's NOT what I said.  

[BarleyNY]

The NFL isn’t going to cancel a game. My best guess is that it resumes on Wednesday.

 

As for other options, IMO Cincinnati should not be penalized for doing the right thing in that situation. It was very early, but it is worth noting that it was a game they were winning. 

[Nineforty]

play the game tomorrow. 

[LabattBlue]

10 minutes ago, chongli said:

Someone on another forum said just cancel the season. This is a good idea. MLB did it before with the player's stike.

Not a good idea, and is never going to happen. 

[SoCal Deek]

1 minute ago, Nineforty said:

play the game tomorrow. 

That’s going to be up to the players (mostly Buffalo). I’m betting they choose to forfeit. 

[DrPJax]

4 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Forfeit should be a non-starter.  This team has worked too hard to be essentially punished for a circumstance beyond anyone's control

If the Titans weren't forced to forfeit a game or multiple games a few years ago....and instead a handful of teams were negatively impacted

How can the league possibly justify a forfeit here

Very good points. I’m just not sure how you do what’s right for these young men emotionally. I didn’t sleep all night and I have 40 years in medicine and unfortunately as part of the career ,I have been there to see people pass. Was with my father who passed from non Hogkins lymphoma way too young at 72. It is always traumatizing. You never “get used to it”, that’s the truth. I hope they don’t have to face him passing , but they are facing his loss at least for this season.  I’m just not sure how they go right back to playing without distraction. NFL has smart people, they surely can figure this out while remembering these are young men being affected. 

[SCBills]

15 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’m not referring to Vegas odds. I’m referring to the reality of what was occurring on the field.

 

I do understand this “neutral” outcome is the preference here because it prevents the Bills from getting beat.

My goodness, will you stop…

 

“Neutral” is not the preference so we can avoid what you believe was going to be a “throttling”.  
 

1) It gives us zero shot at the one seed should KC win. 
 

2) If we were going to lose that game, I’d much rather play, lose it, and then force the Bengals to beat us twice in a month if we meet again in Cinci in a few weeks.  
 

All a neutral outcome gives us is a potential Cinci game at home.  I think most would rather take the chance at a 1 if Hamlin is ok and we have the opportunity to resume down 7-3 midway through the 1st quarter. 

This all said .. we’re not going to have what we hope is good news on Hamlin for a couple days, based on almost anyone familiar with what happened. 

The Bills may have to prepare for NE all week with their teammate, and our Buffalo Bills brother in a medically induced coma fighting for his life.   
 

Posters are commenting about potential decisions knowing this reality. 
 

Edited January 3, 2023 by SCBills

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

The NFL isn’t going to cancel a game. My best guess is that it resumes on Wednesday.

 

As for other options, IMO Cincinnati should not be penalized for doing the right thing in that situation. It was very early, but it is worth noting that it was a game they were winning. 

 

They are not playing the game with Damar in a coma. 

[Cheektowaga Chad]

12 minutes ago, eee1776 said:

Cancel the kc  Raider game. Bills play New England Cinncy plays Ravens everyone ends with same Games played except Wild card teams?

"Canceling" or simply not counting the chiefs raiders game is an easy way to even the playing field for bills chiefs but doesn't do much for Bengals ravens who the division is still potentially up for grabs 

[bobobonators]

13 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’m not referring to Vegas odds. I’m referring to the reality of what was occurring on the field.

 

I do understand this “neutral” outcome is the preference here because it prevents the Bills from getting beat.

Dude our offense moved the ball quite easily on the Bengals. For you to imply that halfway through the 1st quarter we were going to lose is kinda ridiculous. Bengals got the ball first too. 
 

 

[Warriorspikes51]

The Chiefs lost to both the Bills and Bengals.  If the game isn't played....

One Suggestion is: 

in tie breaking scenarios where KC is 13-4 and Bengals are 12-4,  Bengals are given the leg up
if KC is 14-3 and Bills are 13-3, Bills are given the leg up 

Edited January 3, 2023 by Warriorspikes51

[zow2]

They aren't playing this game on Wednesday and then Bills/Bengals play again on Sunday.  I just don't see them putting either team in that position.  You have competitive ramifications for New England, KC, Pittsburgh, Miami, Ravens, etc based on the outcomes.

 

What's the issue with declaring the game a tie? whatever they can do to not be unfair to Cinci or KC is probably the most fair scenario.  And keep the competitive balance for Sunday's games by giving both teams the full 6 days to mentally and physically prepare to play again.

[PromoTheRobot]

7 hours ago, Locomark said:

I just don’t see how they play the Bengals game with Hamlin’s true status not being known for days or maybe a full week or more.
 

A. I prefer they give both KC and the Bills a Bye and kill the #7 seed in the AFC. 
I know the NFL will never do this because it’s 1 less playoff game. 
 

B. If the Bills and Chiefs both win next weekend, we are 13-3, Chiefs 14-3, Bengals 12-4.  they could rank Bills and KC 1 and 2 based on conference %. Though this really screws the Bengals because they didn’t get their shot at us. (Chiefs would 9-3, Bills better at 9-2, FYI Bengals are 8-3) 
 

C. They can select by plain win % then KC gets the 1 seed (assuming they win Saturday) and we get the 2 seed. Now we get stuck with an extra game and no bye through no fault of our own, which makes me push back to my option A because why should we be punished for an act of god? 
 

Other ideas? 

They give top 3 by % a bye. KC, BUF, CIN. That also eliminates a playoff game but it doesn't penalize the Bills and Bengals for not playing a game.

8 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

The NFL isn’t going to cancel a game. My best guess is that it resumes on Wednesday.

 

As for other options, IMO Cincinnati should not be penalized for doing the right thing in that situation. It was very early, but it is worth noting that it was a game they were winning. 

 

Both teams had a possession and scored. It would be more fair than NFL OT.

[Warriorspikes51]

1 minute ago, zow2 said:

They aren't playing this game on Wednesday and then Bills/Bengals play again on Sunday.  I just don't see them putting either team in that position.  You have competitive ramifications for New England, KC, Pittsburgh, Miami, Ravens, etc based on the outcomes.

 

What's the issue with declaring the game a tie? whatever they can do to not be unfair to Cinci or KC is probably the most fair scenario.  And keep the competitive balance for Sunday's games by giving both teams the full 6 days to mentally and physically prepare to play again.

 

Declaring the game a Tie is basically an L for the Bills and is also unfair to the Ravens

[HappyDays]

3 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

The NFL isn’t going to cancel a game. My best guess is that it resumes on Wednesday.

 

As for other options, IMO Cincinnati should not be penalized for doing the right thing in that situation. It was very early, but it is worth noting that it was a game they were winning. 

 

We need to leave behind this mindset that someone is going to be penalized in this scenario. The players and coaches don't feel that way. I know on here the #1 seed is considered life or death but it isn't. I just don't understand how anyone could even care about the #1 seed anymore. If it were about forfeiting the Super Bowl I would understand more.

 

The NFL is going to go with the simplest solution which offers the least disruption to the season as a whole and gives the Bills and Bengals players enough time to process what they just experienced. The only solution that makes sense in that context is a cancelled game that counts as a tie or one less game on the record.

[Steptide]

Nfl isn't gonna cancel the rest of the season, and honestly I think that'd be ridiculous if they did. Yes, they have to figure out the bills/Bengals game and what will happen, but they arnt canceling the season. 

[Greg S]

Couldn't the league just push everything back a week or two. Maybe no week 18 games at all this weekend. What is the slowest time of the year in sports? After the Super Bowl. Baseball doesn't start April and football already plays while regular season basketball/hockey goes on. If the Super Bowl is played in late Feb/early March would that be the end of the world. Considering what happen last night pushing games back is probably the right thing to do. I don't see how the Bills could resume play with the Bengals or even prepare for the Pats right now.

[boyst]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

They give top 3 by % a bye. KC, BUF, CIN. That also eliminates a playoff game but it doesn't penalize the Bills and Bengals for not playing a game.

 

Both teams had a possession and scored. It would be more fair than NFL OT.

They'd never do that because a game on TV is revenue. They don't care if a team gets screwed as long as the games are played. 

[Warriorspikes51]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

They give top 3 by % a bye. KC, BUF, CIN. That also eliminates a playoff game but it doesn't penalize the Bills and Bengals for not playing a game.

While this is a fair idea, league won't due to $$$$ 

[HappyDays]

20 minutes ago, Airseven said:

I’m not referring to Vegas odds. I’m referring to the reality of what was occurring on the field.

 

I do understand this “neutral” outcome is the preference here because it prevents the Bills from getting beat.

 

I'm begging you to leave the board and go troll another team. You had your fun. Please read the mood of the community and take it elsewhere.

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Dude our offense moved the ball quite easily on the Bengals. For you to imply that halfway through the 1st quarter we were going to lose is kinda ridiculous. Bengals got the ball first too. 
 

 

Bills were an Allen/Beasley timing hiccup away from this being 7-7.   We moved the ball at will on our first drive.  
 

As frustrating as it is, we’re all very familiar with our defenses slow starts.  
 

To act like anyone knows how this game was going to go, even if the Bengals go up 14-3 on their current drive, is being ridiculous and completely disrespectful to the grit and heart this team has shown this year.  
 

I say this as someone who was ready to throw my tv watching our defense in those first 1.5 drives.   ….I also know we have a seasons worth of data to rely on as to the good & bad tendencies of this defense all year long. 

[Nineforty]

9 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

That’s going to be up to the players (mostly Buffalo). I’m betting they choose to forfeit. 

I bet the majority would vote to play. just guessing. but I agree it should be up to them. 

[CSBill]

There is no way this game is completed. If this happened before Dec 1, something probably could have been worked out. But not at this point in the season. If all teams were affected, then yes, something would be done. But that is not the case. .... In the end, the only fair thing they can do for all NFL teams is go by winning % for the play-off seeding. Maybe I lack faith, but I do not see any other fair solution with all the ancillary issues: player safety and metal health, schedules, TV money, competitive fairness, etc.

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Nineforty said:

I bet the majority would vote to play. just guessing. but I agree it should be up to them. 

I think the player vote would directly depend on how Hamlin is. 

[Long Suffering Fan]

13 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Forfeit should be a non-starter.  This team has worked too hard to be essentially punished for a circumstance beyond anyone's control

If the Titans weren't forced to forfeit a game or multiple games a few years ago....and instead a handful of teams were negatively impacted

How can the league possibly justify a forfeit here

 

10 minutes ago, chongli said:

Someone on another forum said just cancel the season. This is a good idea. MLB did it before with the player's stike.

 

I agree with Warriorspikes51.  Forfeiting or cancelling the season just doesn't make any sense and I am NOT speaking from the standpoint of a fan.  Many of us have put ourselves in the shoes of the players on the field and correctly came to the decision that the game had to be suspended last night.  Their brother was getting CPR.  If I keep myself in those same shoes, while I am still reeling today, eventually I am going to care.  Meaning the players will begin to care about playoffs at some point.

 

For us football is a distraction/entertainment.  For them, football is their life.  They work their entire lives to get to the point where they are in the NFL.  They often work 12 months of the year training and getting ready.  They shoot for personal and team goals.  They dream.  The Superbowl matters to them.  It defines careers and impacts contracts and they only have a very short window.  

 

I can't imagine putting in the work that they do and not caring.  Today, yes, Damar is all the matters - praying.  Eventually, the players will also care about the thing they have devoted their life to, while still caring about their brother.  Forget the fan.  Forfeiting or canceling the season?  That is not fair to them.

[DasNootz]

I cant imagine they play this week.  I think the best answer so far is to move forward and play next week's games.  After the last game is done - flip a coin for the Bills/Bengals.... or flip two coins.  The first decides if it's a tie.  The second decides who wins.

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by DasNootz

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

they're 100% more likely to skip the game then play it today or tomorrow. they'll go to the playoffs off win percentage. to rearrange a game and drag these players back on the field is difficult and unfair. it's unfair to just give both teams a W. it's ridiculous to just skip the game to hand the chiefs #1 seed after both teams beat them but the Chiefs are the new Patriots* so the NFL doesn't care.

 

i don't even know how they will be ready to be successful against the Patriots. And with McCorkle and Judon being cheap shot artists and the Bills knowing it - i imagine they'll be nervous to play them. McDermott and this team would have forfeited the season if he passed away, i 100% believe this. if they play the patriots - the patriots will win and the classless trash of boston will beat their chest.

 

Boston:

You say it's ridiculous to hand the Chiefs the #1 seed and yet you advocate for just that by suggesting they'll use win percentage to determine seeding.

[bobobonators]

1 minute ago, Long Suffering Fan said:

 

 

I agree with Warriorspikes51.  Forfeiting or cancelling the season just doesn't make any sense and I am NOT speaking from the standpoint of a fan.  Many of us have put ourselves in the shoes of the players on the field and correctly came to the decision that the game had to be suspended last night.  Their brother was getting CPR.  If I keep myself in those same shoes, while I am still reeling today, eventually I am going to care.  Meaning the players will begin to care about playoffs at some point.

 

For us football is a distraction/entertainment.  For them, football is their life.  They work their entire lives to get to the point where they are in the NFL.  They often work 12 months of the year training and getting ready.  They shoot for personal and team goals.  They dream.  The Superbowl matters to them.  It defines careers and impacts contracts and they only have a very short window.  

 

I can't imagine putting in the work that they do and not caring.  Today, yes, Damar is all the matters - praying.  Eventually, the players will also care about the thing they have devoted their life to, while still caring about their brother.  Forget the fan.  Forfeiting or canceling the season?  That is not fair to them.

Thank you for this. Advocating to cancel the season is absolutely bonkers. Its a game to us - its a career/life to them. 

[BarleyNY]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They are not playing the game with Damar in a coma. 

Then it’ll be a forfeit. I fully support the Bills if that is their choice. But I am certain that the league is going to try to make the teams complete the game.