Official: (Bengals) Game will not be resumed this week UPDATE: OFFICIALLY CANCELLED

[Aussie Joe]

6 minutes ago, nbbillsfan said:

would game start over, or resume right were it left off?

Resume 

[Boatdrinks]

59 minutes ago, Cheektowaga Chad said:

Heavy dislike if this is what happens

 

So buffalo gets to play for a chance at a bye mean while every other team has a bye 

 

Just give me the 3rd seed at that point and we will go scorched earth in the playoffs 

Likewise. This scenario seems the worst all the way around for Buffalo, so it’s probably what the league will choose. I thought they wouldn’t resume the game but now I’m leaning the other way. 

[Punch]

5 minutes ago, BillsFanSD said:

I don't think it's worth it when you factor in having to play an additional game.  The loser of a hypothetical Bills-Bengals restart is going to be made much worse off than if the league had simply assigned them a loss.  The winner will be happy, but my guess is that both teams would reject this offer if they were given a reasonable alternative, such as a coin flip.  

 

If it were up to me as a fan, I would rather settle for the #3 seed with certainty and skip the Bengals game than replay that game while our potential next-week opponent gets a bye.  

Ultimately I do agree, I don't like the proposal. They're still only playing 17 games with automatic advancement on the line but I understand what you're saying.

[Draconator]

I have no opinion on what will happen. Just offering what our former GM says

 

 

[Motor26]

I really wish they would just end any talk of this game being played. Make the Bills forfeit, call it a no-contest, whatever, but they have to move past this game. 

[Goin Breakdown]

1 hour ago, LeGOATski said:

I don't know why that went in 3 times lol. Sorry about that

[MasterStrategist]

14 minutes ago, Goin Breakdown said:

I don't know why that went in 3 times lol. Sorry about that

Three times for Damar 😉

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 hour ago, nbbillsfan said:

would game start over, or resume right were it left off?

I think it's fair to resume the game. 

 

The Bengals earned that score. 

 

 

[Kiva]

Just now, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think it's fair to resume the game. 

 

The Bengals earned that score. 

 

 

Inactives would have to stay consistent. Hubbard. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

43 minutes ago, Draconator said:

I have no opinion on what will happen. Just offering what our former GM says

 

 

Thoughts are it's a little late for that now, it's Wednesday night with no announcement made. 

 

Teams are already preparing for this week. 

 

The train is leaving the station here soon. 

Just now, Kiva said:

Inactives would have to stay consistent. Hubbard. 

Agree. 

 

Bengals don't get Hubbard. 

 

Bills can not suddenly call up Benford. 

[zow2]

40 minutes ago, Motor26 said:

I really wish they would just end any talk of this game being played. Make the Bills forfeit, call it a no-contest, whatever, but they have to move past this game. 

 

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.

[darkman]

The Hamlin situation is unfortunate. But it's a fact of life. We as humans deal with it or will at some point in our lives. At this stage, I wouldn't be upset if the Bills decided to drop the remaining games and playoffs and let the next teams advance in their place. The playoffs will have an asterisk next to them anyway as will the Superbowl. It's an inescapable cloud now, a controversial situation if you will. But the reality is, the living and able move forward.

 

Lets face facts. Hamlin won't be playing in the NFL again. You either play to honor him at this point, or you take the time to grieve for him. Both are acceptable to me. But the world does not stop around people who are dying, in comas or in the hospital.

 

The NFL is a business and they have handled this poorly in my opinion. Both teams have handled it professionally. I don't know that you can go back to the Bengals stadium so soon and play the game again. You certainly can't just pickup where it left off. That leaves an asterisk anyway in the game. Nobody knows what the outcome would have been originally.

 

Obviously this is a first in the "modern NFL", but not the first. However nobody remembered the player who died in 1971, but they will remember this because of it's implications for the season.

 

Hamlin's prognosis is low, but his odds improved because of the true spirit of the teams and the fans, and medicine. But it teaches everyone that life is fragile.

 

Ultimately, I accept whatever the Bills decide to do. But the team needs to be all in on the decision and the NFL needs to adjust accordingly.

 

I don't think you can or should replay the game, personally. But I am a fan and I will watch it regardless and root for the Bills, win or loss. But if the players aren't going to go out and actually play, then don't bother, don't phone it in.

[Goin Breakdown]

13 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Three times for Damar 😉

There ya go. Go Bills. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

3 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

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.

Because the NFL doesn't miss games.

 

They set that precedent in the lockout that resulted in only the HOF Game cancelled.

 

And they found a way to get all of the 2020 season in. 

 

So, I get why the other teams want an official result on the field, not some math determination. 

[Mango]

4 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

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.

It sounds like the Bills are in the drivers seat, or are at least a serious part of the conversation on what to do. I think if the Bills want to play. Make it happen. If they don’t, nobody owes anybody anything.

 

I think it’s telling that Burrow said guys are split on playing this week. That’s the temperature of the players, which is sobering. 

[zow2]

3 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Because the NFL doesn't miss games.

 

They set that precedent in the lockout that resulted in only the HOF Game cancelled.

 

And they found a way to get all of the 2020 season in. 

 

So, I get why the other teams want an official result on the field, not some math determination. 

 

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.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Mango said:

It sounds like the Bills are in the drivers seat, or are at least a serious part of the conversation on what to do. I think if the Bills want to play. Make it happen. If they don’t, nobody owes anybody anything.

 

I think it’s telling that Burrow said guys are split on playing this week. That’s the temperature of the players, which is sobering. 

 

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.

[SoCal Deek]

12 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

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.

We’ve been over this. There isn’t a mass upheaval to anyone. None of the playoff games have been scheduled. In fact, neither conference even has a locked in #1 seed yet. 

[Captain Hindsight]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

I have no opinion on what will happen. Just offering what our former GM says

 

 

The teams playing out the string wouldnt want this. They want to fire coaches and get to interviewing people. 

 

With all due respect to Whaley, this is a non starter and a good reminder of why hes not in the NFL anymore

[UKBillFan]

One thing I’d say about playing the game - if we do so, let it be a Thursday night game rather than a Sunday night. Give another couple of days to recover before the Wildcard round.

 

The big question is is the week’s gap between the Conference Championships and Super Bowl needed? The neatest thing would be to remove it.

[The Red King]

I'm of the opinion that if the NFL requires the Bills to resume this game in Cincy, the Bills will forfeit.  I won't even hazard a guess as to Cincy's reaction as they still do have traumatized players as well.

[Buffalo03]

3 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

The teams playing out the string wouldnt want this. They want to fire coaches and get to interviewing people. 

 

With all due respect to Whaley, this is a non starter and a good reminder of why hes not in the NFL anymore

So, moving a game back a week will prevent a team from firing a head coach?

[Mango]

3 minutes ago, The Red King said:

I'm of the opinion that if the NFL requires the Bills to resume this game in Cincy, the Bills will forfeit.  I won't even hazard a guess as to Cincy's reaction as they still do have traumatized players as well.

I get the sense from Burrows interview today that they’ll side with the Bills. Per Burrow they have guys in the locker room that don’t want to play this week vs. the Ravens.
 

They may be in lock step where the Bills don’t have to forfeit and they tell the league, “we’re not playing, find another way.”

 

Both coaches already did this to the league on Monday.. 

[boyst]

2 hours ago, Punch said:

The playoff bye isn't about rest (although it's a nice bonus). It's about an automatic advancement to the next week. Playing out the Bills-Bengals game to assure that bye plus homefield advantage is worth it.

For the fan it's about rest.  The players talk every year of the bonus of two weeks at home to chill, recover, be home. 

[zow2]

5 minutes ago, Mango said:

I get the sense from Burrows interview today that they’ll side with the Bills. Per Burrow they have guys in the locker room that don’t want to play this week vs. the Ravens.
 

They may be in lock step where the Bills don’t have to forfeit and they tell the league, “we’re not playing, find another way.”

 

Both coaches already did this to the league on Monday.. 

 

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. 

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, zow2 said:

 

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. 

The only issue is how does the NFL respond to a no contest? I presume winning percentages to decide the seeding order. As long as the Bengals beat the Ravens on Sunday this won’t affect any other team - if the Chiefs beat the Raiders they’ll have the better winning percentage; if they lose and the Bills beat the Pats then the Bills will have the better winning percentage.
 

The problem would be if the Ravens beat the Bengals. By winning percentage, the Bengals would still hold the three seed over the Ravens.

[Captain Hindsight]

21 minutes ago, Buffalo03 said:

So, moving a game back a week will prevent a team from firing a head coach?

No, but teams just want to end the year. Players want to go on vacation. Teams have been game planning for this week (including the Bills). There is no reason to disrupt the entire league for one game. It will be a no contest or played next week 

[Buffalo03]

3 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

No, but teams just want to end the year. Players want to go on vacation. Teams have been game planning for this week (including the Bills). There is no reason to disrupt the entire league for one game. It will be a no contest or played next week 

And they can still fire their coach with the Bills and Bengals playing next week 

[boyst]

2 hours ago, Punch said:

The playoff bye isn't about rest (although it's a nice bonus). It's about an automatic advancement to the next week. Playing out the Bills-Bengals game to assure that bye plus homefield advantage is worth it.

For the fan it's about rest.  The players talk every year of the bonus of two weeks at home to chill, recover, be home. 

 

 

 

All that mainly matters is ***** the chiefs. 

[LeGOATski]

2 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

The league cares and tries to avoid it with times etc They might not care in this case though by making Bills / Bengals after week 18. The Bills will have to play NE game like it matters to them

Right, the league tries to keep the schedule competitive all the way to the end. But that's not what I responded to, so the point is irrelevant.

 

The poster I responded to said it would "piss a lot of people off" that a team forfeited while Damar Hamlin was in the hospital and rested their starters in the final week. That is completely false.

[zow2]

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.

[Scott7975]

Whether they play the game or not some team or multiple teams are going to get the short end of the stick.  There is no perfect way to deal with this that is fair to everyone.  People just need to accept that.  I am fine with whatever happens.

[Rochesterfan]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

For the fan it's about rest.  The players talk every year of the bonus of two weeks at home to chill, recover, be home. 

 

I don’t know - I was listening to one of the national radio shows this morning talking to some former Super Bowl Champ linemen and one of the questions was would you prefer home field or getting a bye week as part of a suggested KC gets #1 seed and the bye, but would have to go to Buffalo and both players said they would take the bye.

 

The rest and pass to the next round was better and allowed more of the team to be healthy and playing one less game to get to the Super Bowl was a huge advantage in their mind.

 

Although they did concede that they got byes and home games which ultimately is what got them the win, but they both felt rest and recouping was key to a 3 game streak.

 

I am sure that other would like home field also - resting in your bed etc.

 

 

[Just Jack]

2 hours ago, zow2 said:

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.

 

Best scenario, the game is played, in Cincy.  Right before the game resumes, the stadium announcer says, "Please turn your attention to the jumbotron for a special message".  Screen cuts to Damar, awake and speaking to the camera "Thanks for all the love and support, etc..."    A huge roar is heard all over America.  Lots of onions being cut.  

[Paul Costa]

I didn’t read the 28 pages to find out my Question. Is there protocol of a game be suspended because of a stoppage in play and what to do? Start game over or pick up where they left off? 

[BLeonard]

12 minutes ago, Paul Costa said:

I didn’t read the 28 pages to find out my Question. Is there protocol of a game be suspended because of a stoppage in play and what to do? Start game over or pick up where they left off? 

In most cases, like weather delays, they pick up where they left off.

 

However, we're in uncharted territory here.  I'm not aware of a game that was postponed and NOT completed that same day.  I recall reading somewhere that the game is to be resumed within two days of it's stoppage.  Well, we're past that point now.

 

I would GUESS that, if the game is played, it would start from the point they left off, but that is only my guess.
 

Questions also arise from the gameday rosters.  What if a guy on the gameday roster is hurt or released when the game resumes?  Can the team name a replacement, or do they essentially play shorthanded?  Or, vice versa, if a guy was hurt or not on the team on gameday, but is healthy on the resume date, can he play?

 

Long story short, there really isn't an answer, at least that I'm aware of, that covers this particular situation.

Edited January 5, 2023 by BLeonard

[WotAGuy]

22 minutes ago, BLeonard said:

In most cases, like weather delays, they pick up where they left off.

 

However, we're in uncharted territory here.  I'm not aware of a game that was postponed and NOT completed that same day.  I recall reading somewhere that the game is to be resumed within two days of it's stoppage.  Well, we're past that point now.

 

I would GUESS that, if the game is played, it would start from the point they left off, but that is only my guess.
 

Questions also arise from the gameday rosters.  What if a guy on the gameday roster is hurt or released when the game resumes?  Can the team name a replacement, or do they essentially play shorthanded?  Or, vice versa, if a guy was hurt or not on the team on gameday, but is healthy on the resume date, can he play?

 

Long story short, there really isn't an answer, at least that I'm aware of, that covers this particular situation.

NFL is definitely in the “make it up as we go” response plan. Fortunately, they had the foresight to set up a first class medical emergency response plan. It saved a life. 

[Big Blitz]

 

[BLeonard]

Just now, Big Blitz said:

 

Really sucks that the Chiefs would benefit here, especially since they lost to both the Bills and Bengals, but it's also most likely the easiest solution.

[Just Jack]

4 minutes ago, BLeonard said:

Really sucks that the Chiefs would benefit here, especially since they lost to both the Bills and Bengals, but it's also most likely the easiest solution.

 

Well the Chiefs can do the right thing and if they play either team in the playoffs, just let them win. 

[NickelCity]

I just don't understand how a coin flip isn't the obvious solution here. I mean, hell, it was a pick em to begin with.