FEATURED AFC Bills-vs-Bengals Game Reschedule Speculation (no conspiracies)

[Flamma]

That’s what I’m referring to. The ripple effect.

Right. If they cancel the game, Baltimore would have no chance at winning the division. Pitt needs the Patriots and Dolphins to lose. Under normal circumstances this has a decent chance at happening since Tua isn't playing. But will Buffalo just sleep walk through this game?

 

[Diehardblues]

Right. If they cancel the game, Baltimore would have no chance at winning the division. Pitt needs the Patriots and Dolphins to lose. Under normal circumstances this has a decent chance at happening since Tua isn't playing. But will Buffalo just sleep walk through this game?

Yep

The #1 seed is also in play. Bills currently held it. If they don’t finish the game could gift wrap it for KC.

 

[Jake]

I like this idea better than others I've seen. All of the games get played so teams end up seeded fairly.

It also could work for the Cowboys, assuming they don't have a bye and can win their first playoff game (then get a bye). They could end up getting the Eagles off a double-bye, which is a long time to not play a game. The birds could be a bit flat to start that one.

 

[Jake]

Only problem is there is currently 2 playoff games scheduled for Sat 14th, 3 on Sun 15th and 1 Mon 16th.

Are the networks going to be willing to only have 4 playoff games that weekend instead of 6. Which network will give up the revenue ?

Bills-Bengals could be the Week 19 MNF game, since ESPN had that game in the first place. As for the other two networks the same amount of games would ultimately be played, so they aren't losing anything.

 

[Diehardblues]

Bills-Bengals could be the Week 19 MNF game, since ESPN had that game in the first place. As for the other two networks the same amount of games would ultimately be played, so they aren't losing anything.

No, there was going to be a total of 6 playoff games being played the first weekend.

 

[Jake]

No, there was going to be a total of 6 playoff games being played the first weekend.

They're still going to play all of the playoff games, under that scenario. They'll just be played at different dates/times.

They're not proposing eliminating playoff games, just moving them.

 

[Diehardblues]

They're still going to play all of the playoff games, under that scenario. They'll just be played at different dates/times.

They're not proposing eliminating playoff games, just moving them.

Yes

 

[Diehardblues]

Bob Costas on CNN just said he doesn’t believe the game will be played.

That the Bills and Bengals will only play 16 games.

The playoff seeding will be determined by winning percentage not wins and losses.

And the NFL will begin the playoffs on schedule as previously scheduled. We shall see.
https://www.mediaite.com/sports/bob...innati-and-resume-game-after-hamlin-collapse/

 

[Jake]

Bob Costas on CNN just said he doesn’t believe the game will be played.

That the Bills and Bengals will only play 16 games.

The playoff seeding will be determined by winning percentage not wins and losses.

And the NFL will begin the playoffs on schedule as previously scheduled. We shall see.
https://www.mediaite.com/sports/bob...innati-and-resume-game-after-hamlin-collapse/

Definitely the simplest solution. KC can't complain because it was their fault they need help for the one seed - they lost to the Bills. The Bengals needed to beat the Bills because they were behind them - again, their own fault. There are still Week 18 games that could change things, too. I'd prefer they do that and just get on with it with as little schedule disruption as possible.

But it's the NFL. They may want every game played and use it as an opportunity for an extra weekend of football.

 

[Flamma]

Does anyone else find it a little odd that this is just speculation? That they haven't said how this will proceed as of yet? We have gambling sites that don't even have lines for the Bills or Bengals games in week 18. This leads me to believe they haven't a clue.

 

[Diehardblues]

Definitely the simplest solution. KC can't complain because it was their fault they need help for the one seed - they lost to the Bills. The Bengals needed to beat the Bills because they were behind them - again, their own fault. There are still Week 18 games that could change things, too. I'd prefer they do that and just get on with it with as little schedule disruption as possible.

But it's the NFL. They may want every game played and use it as an opportunity for an extra weekend of football.

It does appears the easiest solution . And probably most logical. . One I can live with . And one which doesn’t shake up the TV playoff schedules.

 

[Jake]

Does anyone else find it a little odd that this is just speculation? That they haven't said how this will proceed as of yet? We have gambling sites that don't even have lines for the Bills or Bengals games in week 18. This leads me to believe they haven't a clue.

Not sure there's any precedent for it. Had it occurred earlier in the season it would've been easier to squeeze in a make up game. That it happened a week before the playoffs created a unique situation. Hopefully, they'll take the simplest solution - just forget that game and seed by win percentage - and keep everything else intact.

But that probably isn't the best financial decision, so they'll probably doing something else. Seems like they need to make a decision soon, though.

 

[terra]

Probably have a bean counter trying to figure out just how much revenue they can get from each possibility; once they have that then they pick the one that will get then the most green, whatever it is

 

[jsb357]

WBAP just said the game will NOT be completed...

 

[Jake]

This feels like they're overthinking it now.

 

[Flamma]

This feels like they're overthinking it now.

They're trying to fix everything broken by not playing the game.

Seeding. No one gets a bye, or everyone does. Neutral site for the AFCCG

Playoff implications. Adding an extra team because Pittsburgh, Miami, or both, might get screwed out of a playoff spot. So they add an extra team. They just can't keep it simple.

 

[MarcusRock]

This feels like they're overthinking it now.

The wacky thing about adding an 8th playoff team is that it would put Washington back in contention which would be kinda cool for our game.

 

[lurkercowboy]

Let’s have a Super Bowl tournament like in 1982, drop the divisions and just seed according to WL record.

 

[Robbieac]

This feels like they're overthinking it now.

And this, folks, is the kind of fallout and problems that can happen when you make a decision based on emotions and social pressures instead of logic and good rationale.

They should have restarted the game or played it the next day or 2 (at the worst).

Instead, we allowed emotions to compound and worsen the situation.

 

[JJHLH1]

Agree completely.

The NFL is making this way more complicated than it needs to be, impacting fans as well as players if they decide to change the system this late in the season.

Decide the game by a coin flip and carry on as usual.