my guess for the week 18 sch

AB in DC

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Means the Bills can’t earn the one seed if KC wins despite beating KC this year just because they played one fewer game. It’s the NFL choosing the seeding.

Edit: it also penalizes the Bengals because it denies them a shot at the 2 seed
Good thing there's absolutely no precedent for a team to finish a half-game out of a division title because they played one fewer game.
 

Justthetippett

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Let's be honest: there is absolutely NO good way out of this. There may be less worse options, but every single possible path has enormous problems for someone. So the NFL is going to have to decide (hopefully not unilaterally) who they feel will be hurt the least, and which teams deserve to be hurt the least. Or something like that.

Or I could be cynical and say the NFL will, in the end, do what's best for the NFL - as in, $$$$$. But I'm trying not to be cynical here and believe that even people like Goodell have a shred of humanity here.
There isn’t a perfect solution. You’re right. Least weird/unprecedented thing is to shelf this game, play week 18, and then figure it out, which it seems is what’s happening. That at least gives them a chance of avoiding the scheduling problem altogether. If the Raiders could just win their game…the Cincy seeding is less relevant.
 

Harry Hooper

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Good thing there's absolutely no precedent for a team to finish a half-game out of a division title because they played one fewer game.
Too soon?


Another (probably unworkable idea): Bengals-Bills game declared no result, all games played this weekend. NFL goes back to 2 byes/conference and adds another wild card team. Networks would love it.

Out of left field option, Bengals and Bills somehow fit in an untimed minigame {borrowing from college overtime}: each team getting three {four?} possessions starting from their own 25-yard line. The minigame starts with the inherited 7-3 score on the scoreboard.
 
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BusRaker

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Especially when there is an option where the NFL can fairly painlessly move the two Conference Championship games into the existing bye week prior to the Super Bowl.

Seems like the most sense is to play the Week 18 schedule this weekend and then see what's at stake in the AFC after those games.
This is what I think will happen. Play week 18 as is and let Cincy and Buffalo decide if they want to finish the game afterwards. If so push things back a week (easier to push back the playoffs than a full week 18 slate a few days away)
I don't know but personally it's going to be tough to watch football for a bit after that. Maybe a hopeful Hamlin recovery would change that but there were a lot of people watching that game that might need a break as well.
As much as I dislike Goodell I'm not envious of his situation both win the scheduling and the violence of the game (yeah I know this was an unlikely injury) coming to a head
 

Cellar-Door

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Honestly I think the most obvious answer is to push back everything a week and let them play Week 19, it probably disadvantages the least stakeholders (just the Bills and Bengals really) and has the least financial impact. Not sure that will be what they settle on, but it's what I would assume is their preference.
 

AB in DC

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I wonder if they're considering pushing only the AFC playoff bracket back a week, and letting 1/14-15 be Buff-Cincy and the three NFC first-round matchups.

Would at least avoid having a weekend with just one football gane on.
 

DJnVa

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It's fun to speculate, but they're not going to change the playoff structure. They're not going to award one team a win and the other a tie. It'll be declared no contest and sorry if some team gets boned on that, but they're not going to raise a stink, or they'll play it a week after the season and everything will get pushed back.

Another idea: Play Buff-Cincy on Thursday 1/12, then the three AFC playoff games on MLK Monday.
So one, maybe both of those teams, will play a game on 3 days rest? I can't see that.
 

Ed Hillel

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I know what you're getting at, but the next time the Bills take the field they will be playing for their brother-in-arms ... regardless of the playoff implications. I expect them to be highly motivated
Nah, I think they’d rest up for a week then do it to us a week later when it mattered.
 

RedOctober3829

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It increasingly looks like that Week 18 is going to go on as scheduled. If we haven't heard concrete rumors about cancelling by now, it's not coming. Today is the start of practice for the Sunday games and if it was coming down it already would have.
 

cornwalls@6

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It increasingly looks like that Week 18 is going to go on as scheduled. If we haven't heard concrete rumors about cancelling by now, it's not coming. Today is the start of practice for the Sunday games and if it was coming down it already would have.
Agree. And it increasingly feels to me like they will find some way to resolve the Monday night game, without replaying it. And that the playoffs will start and proceed , as scheduled.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Pats-Bills being pushed to Monday it seems. I expect the Bengals game to simply be cancelled at this point.
Where are you seeing this reported? Mike Reiss tweeted a few minutes ago that the NFL allowed the Pats and Bills to push media availability back a day, but I don’t see anything about the game itself being impacted.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Where are you seeing this reported? Mike Reiss tweeted a few minutes ago that the NFL allowed the Pats and Bills to push media availability back a day, but I don’t see anything about the game itself being impacted.
I edited my post. My feed was misleading and insinuated that the game was pushed back. Apologies.
 

Oil Can Dan

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Do I have it right that if NE beats Buffalo this weekend, and KC beat LV, and Cincy beats Balt, then KC is the #1 seed, Cincy wins the AFCN, and the only impact the Buff/Cincy game would have would be for the 2 or 3 seed between Cincy & Buf?

If so then that's the best possible outcome for the league as I suspect that Buffalo may value not playing that game more than a hope to secure the 2 over the 3. In fact if I were Buffalo I may prefer to forfeit the Pats game, take the extra time to get the team as mentally right as possible, then accept the 3 seed.
 

cornwalls@6

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Do I have it right that if NE beats Buffalo this weekend, and KC beat LV, and Cincy beats Balt, then KC is the #1 seed, Cincy wins the AFCN, and the only impact the Buff/Cincy game would have would be for the 2 or 3 seed between Cincy & Buf?

If so then that's the best possible outcome for the league as I suspect that Buffalo may value not playing that game more than a hope to secure the 2 over the 3. In fact if I were Buffalo I may prefer to forfeit the Pats game, take the extra time to get the team as mentally right as possible, then accept the 3 seed.
I strongly doubt they would allow a team(Patriots) to qualify for the playoffs based on a forfeit.
 

cshea

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I strongly doubt they would allow a team(Patriots) to qualify for the playoffs based on a forfeit.
I think he's suggesting forfeit for the Bills/Bengals, not Bills/Patriots.

If it all goes down to where the Bills/Bengals game only detrmines 2/3 as opposed to anything else, they can agree on some solution without playing that game.
 

Curt S Loew

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I strongly doubt they would allow a team(Patriots) to qualify for the playoffs based on a forfeit.
I was hoping his suggestion wasn't serious. They may prefer it, but you can't forfeit a game. Especially when other teams have the chance at a playoff spot based on the outcome.
 

cornwalls@6

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I think he's suggesting forfeit for the Bills/Bengals, not Bills/Patriots.

If it all goes down to where the Bills/Bengals game only detrmines 2/3 as opposed to anything else, they can agree on some solution without playing that game.
No, he wrote specifically that if he were the Bills, he may prefer to forfeit the Pats game, in order for the team to have more time to recover mentally from what they witnessed Monday night. A forfeit(which I believe counts as a win for the Pats) puts them in the playoffs.
 

Shelterdog

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I was hoping his suggestion wasn't serious. They may prefer it, but you can't forfeit a game. Especially when other teams have the chance at a playoff spot based on the outcome.
Sure you can forfeit a game; it's in the NFL rulebook and it goes in the books as a 2-0 victory for the other team. It's never happened before though and I think it's unlikely to happen here.
 

DJnVa

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Sure you can forfeit a game; it's in the NFL rulebook and it goes in the books as a 2-0 victory for the other team. It's never happened before though and I think it's unlikely to happen here.
They'd more likely rest as many of the main players as they could as opposed to forfeit.
 

Harry Hooper

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Sure you can forfeit a game; it's in the NFL rulebook and it goes in the books as a 2-0 victory for the other team. It's never happened before though and I think it's unlikely to happen here.


Curious about the 2-0 stipulation, I found this article:
According to the official NFL rulebook, a forfeit occurs: “... when a game is not played because of the failure or refusal of one team to participate. In that event, the other team, if ready and willing to play, is the winner by a score of 2-0” (the points earned in a safety). Why a two-point safety? Because those points are the league’s only scores that are not credited to any one player.
This little-discussed rule is even less frequently applied, since dating back to 1920 there has been just one forfeit. Specifically, December 4, 1921, when the Rochester Jeffersons lost by forfeit to the Washington Pros/Senators. Since the league was just a year old and this rule was not yet established, the referee scored the game 1-0. No word on whose stats got padded with the point.

The NFL rulebook notes [boldface added]:
If a team forfeits a game, the opponent will be declared the winner by a score of 2-0, but the points will not be added to the winning team’s record for purposes of offensive production or tie-breakers.
I highly doubt there are any forfeits this weekend, but might the NFL expand the number of practice squad elevations allowed to fill in for players who aren't mentally ready to play?
 

Curt S Loew

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Sure you can forfeit a game; it's in the NFL rulebook and it goes in the books as a 2-0 victory for the other team. It's never happened before though and I think it's unlikely to happen here.
The league would never allow that to happen, that's my point. Miami and Pittsburgh may as well forfeit too, then. It's ridiculous to think it would even happen.
 

cshea

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No, he wrote specifically that if he were the Bills, he may prefer to forfeit the Pats game, in order for the team to have more time to recover mentally from what they witnessed Monday night. A forfeit(which I believe counts as a win for the Pats) puts them in the playoffs.
Sorry, I see that wrong. I initially read it wrong.

They won't forfeit Sunday but they could foreit (or coin flip- not sure if that's in the rules) the suspended game against Cincy if all that is on the line is the 2/3 seed. They may value staying on a normal schedule over playing an oddly scheduled week 19 game followed by a WC game on a potentially condensed timeline.
 

cornwalls@6

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Sorry, I see that wrong. I initially read it wrong.

They won't forfeit Sunday but they could foreit (or coin flip- not sure if that's in the rules) the suspended game against Cincy if all that is on the line is the 2/3 seed. They may value staying on a normal schedule over playing an oddly scheduled week 19 game followed by a WC game on a potentially condensed timeline.
Absolutely. And I increasingly think Mondays game will be resolved in one of those two ways( or tie being declared).
 

trekfan55

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Sorry, I see that wrong. I initially read it wrong.

They won't forfeit Sunday but they could foreit (or coin flip- not sure if that's in the rules) the suspended game against Cincy if all that is on the line is the 2/3 seed. They may value staying on a normal schedule over playing an oddly scheduled week 19 game followed by a WC game on a potentially condensed timeline.
Hell, they could do a gentleman's agreement and "play the game" with no fans. Each team sits on their collective asses for an hour. Game done.

Only half kidding.
 

Rudy's Curve

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Ravens-Bengals has officially been announced for 1 Sunday - it would’ve been 4:25 had the Bengals lost Monday putting the division title in the balance. This makes it more likely Bills-Bengals will be no contest since that would clinch the division for the Bengals and make Ravens-Bengals only about seeding.
 
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Oil Can Dan

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My main point above was that Buffalo may place more value on not having to revisit Cincy and the scene of the incident than being the #3 seed instead of the #2. That's if KC beats LV.

My secondary comment about Buffalo perhaps even valuing the time away from the field more than #2 vs #3 as well, and thus the hypothetical forfeit vs NE.

I realize there's never been a forfeit and I realize that the league would very much frown on something like that. But given the unprecedented nature of this situation I could see it happening if that's what Buffalo determines is in the best interest of their players. The league tells them to play, they say no, and then what? What's the league going to do about it? And how many teams are going to lash out at them for it? Are they going to say "look I know one of your brothers is battling for his life but suck it up and get onto the field assholes"?

If I'm the coach and I think sending my players onto the field when they're not ready/incapable of playing the game is going to put them in harms way I'm not doing it. And I think 90% of the population would understand.
 

Mystic Merlin

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My main point above was that Buffalo may place more value on not having to revisit Cincy and the scene of the incident than being the #3 seed instead of the #2. That's if KC beats LV.

My secondary comment about Buffalo perhaps even valuing the time away from the field more than #2 vs #3 as well, and thus the hypothetical forfeit vs NE.

I realize there's never been a forfeit and I realize that the league would very much frown on something like that. But given the unprecedented nature of this situation I could see it happening if that's what Buffalo determines is in the best interest of their players. The league tells them to play, they say no, and then what? What's the league going to do about it? And how many teams are going to lash out at them for it? Are they going to say "look I know one of your brothers is battling for his life but suck it up and get onto the field assholes"?

If I'm the coach and I think sending my players onto the field when they're not ready/incapable of playing the game is going to put them in harms way I'm not doing it. And I think 90% of the population would understand.
The league office couldn’t compel them to play, they could assign them a forfeit and, while they could take other actions like fines/docked draft picks, I think they’d leave it at that.
 

Harry Hooper

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Maybe not a forfeit, but the Bills tell NFL HQ that they accept the 7-3 result {akin to a rain-shortened MLB game}.
 

Oil Can Dan

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I just realized that the Bills would be alive for the #1 seed going in to that NE game so the math gets cloudier. Not sure they'd value time away vs NE + not revisiting Cincy as greater than potentially having the 1 seed. If it were simply 2 v 3 I could see it.

What a messy situation.
 

cornwalls@6

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I just realized that the Bills would be alive for the #1 seed going in to that NE game so the math gets cloudier. Not sure they'd value time away vs NE + not revisiting Cincy as greater than potentially having the 1 seed. If it were simply 2 v 3 I could see it.

What a messy situation.
It's a situation with no real optimal outcomes, just, maybe, slightly less shitty ones. Unfortunately, the reality may very well be that the Bills have to go back to work before there's any firm word on Hamlin's long term prognosis. Which really sucks, but may not be avoidable. I don't mean this at all to be morbid, but I wonder the if league hasn't announced anything yet, due to the possibly of him passing away, and then funeral services, which obviously every player and coach would need to attend, would take precedence over anything else. Thankfully, things seem to be progressing away from that scenario today.
 

cshea

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I just realized that the Bills would be alive for the #1 seed going in to that NE game so the math gets cloudier. Not sure they'd value time away vs NE + not revisiting Cincy as greater than potentially having the 1 seed. If it were simply 2 v 3 I could see it.

What a messy situation.
The #1 seed is likely going to be determined by whatever happens to the suspended game.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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If seeding is an issue between the Bengals and Bills should they meet in the playoffs, could they just play on a neutral field like Detroit or Cleveland?
 

mcpickl

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OK, but now to get that bye, they might effectively have to play an extra road game against the Bengals while everyone else rests. And they're already down 7-3. And the Bengals have the ball. And maybe they would have to play with 52 men? Is that less brutal? Would the Bills even want that?
That's less brutal, yes.

And they wouldn't play shorthanded since every player on the roster isn't active every game.
 

rsmith7

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DK has refunded entries, simple solution to whatever complication could arise from continuing a suspended game.
 

BigJimEd

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Seems like it. Vincent said they'd take their lead from the Bills but no discussion yet. We'll see how the Bills are mentally after a practice or two. Obviously will depend on any updates to Hamlin's health.

Vincent seems to be the main guy from the league office on this probably due to being a former player. It does seem to be hitting him hard as he was breaking down when talking about Hamlin.

EVP of Communications Miller has also made some appearances and comments. Very little from Goodell though.
 

gmogmo

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My main point above was that Buffalo may place more value on not having to revisit Cincy and the scene of the incident than being the #3 seed instead of the #2. That's if KC beats LV.

My secondary comment about Buffalo perhaps even valuing the time away from the field more than #2 vs #3 as well, and thus the hypothetical forfeit vs NE.

I realize there's never been a forfeit and I realize that the league would very much frown on something like that. But given the unprecedented nature of this situation I could see it happening if that's what Buffalo determines is in the best interest of their players. The league tells them to play, they say no, and then what? What's the league going to do about it? And how many teams are going to lash out at them for it? Are they going to say "look I know one of your brothers is battling for his life but suck it up and get onto the field assholes"?

If I'm the coach and I think sending my players onto the field when they're not ready/incapable of playing the game is going to put them in harms way I'm not doing it. And I think 90% of the population would understand.
If Cinci is the 2 and Buffalo the 3, very likely Buffalo will be playing @ Cinci in the conference semi's
 

Humphrey

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Seems like it. Vincent said they'd take their lead from the Bills but no discussion yet. We'll see how the Bills are mentally after a practice or two. Obviously will depend on any updates to Hamlin's health.

Vincent seems to be the main guy from the league office on this probably due to being a former player. It does seem to be hitting him hard as he was breaking down when talking about Hamlin.

EVP of Communications Miller has also made some appearances and comments. Very little from Goodell though.
So if Buffalo can't play (or won't play) it comes down to whether the Patriots' game counts as a forfeit or a tie or a no game?
 

BigJimEd

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So if Buffalo can't play (or won't play) it comes down to whether the Patriots' game counts as a forfeit or a tie or a no game?
Or potentially postponed. I don't think anything is completely off the table at this point.
 

cshea

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It think the week 18 game gets played as scheduled. The news seems to be positive on Hamlin and the Bills have been in meetings and holding walkthroughs in preparation of playing. I guess it's possible after 2 days of practice/walkthrough the players push back and say they aren't ready to play but at this point I'd be pretty surprised if the game doesn't go off as scheduled.

The only decision to be made by the league is what to do about the suspended game.
 

JokersWildJIMED

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Schefty mentioned one proposal being tossed around is that if both KC and Buffalo win, then one would get the bye and the other would get homefield throughout the playoffs (decided somehow).
 

BaseballJones

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There's no question that for the good of the league, some team is just going to have to take a hit here. Maybe more than one. This is obviously an extreme circumstance that hopefully everyone understand requires the entire league to pull together and be willing to sacrifice in order to find the best (or least worst) solution.

Hope for the 8th team, so if/when the Pats lose, they sneak in, and then pull off an improbable run that will get everyone upset at the outcome.
 

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