With no bye, Buffalo could rest guys too.If they were to go to 8 teams, the Pats would still need help with a loss - they'd need either Pittsburgh or Miami to lose @BaseballJones
With no bye, Buffalo could rest guys too.If they were to go to 8 teams, the Pats would still need help with a loss - they'd need either Pittsburgh or Miami to lose @BaseballJones
I know. But there's a better chance that ONE of Pit or Miami will lose than that BOTH of them will. Hence the "sneak in" comment.If they were to go to 8 teams, the Pats would still need help with a loss - they'd need either Pittsburgh or Miami to lose @BaseballJones
With no bye, Buffalo could rest guys too.
True, and true.I know. But there's a better chance that ONE of Pit or Miami will lose than that BOTH of them will. Hence the "sneak in" comment.
Yeah, I think it makes sense. Athough it's unclear if the 8th playoff team would apply to the NFC.I really think expanding to 8 teams in both conferences makes a ton of sense and actually really like the idea. Solves a lot of the issues at hand if you declare the the Bills - Bengals game a no contest, which I think is happening either way.
I only mention the NFC because Florio mentioned going to 8 in the NFC as well, which makes sense because only 1 team in the entire playoffs would have a bye if they didn’t.Yeah, I think it makes sense. Athough it's unclear if the 8th playoff team would apply to the NFC.
- The Chiefs gain the #1 seed in all liklihood but don't get the full benefit of the bye. Buffalo gets hosed in this sense but at least it's not as impactful as cedeing homefiled + the bye to a rival. It just means if they meet KC in the playoffs it'll be in Arrowhead
I was thinking they would add a timeslot at 1:00pm on Saturday of WC weekend if they only add 1 extra game (via the 8th seed/no bye in the AFC). ESPN would get an extra game that weekend but there might have to be some concessions and trading around of who gets what that weekend since ESPN already has two games that week (IIRC, a Saturday game and the MNF game).How would an 8-game slate work logistically in terms of timing and broadcast? Who airs the two extra games, and when are they played? The NFL and/or broadcast partners are gonna run away from overlapping games.
I guess you could add 1PM and 4:30P games on MLK Monday, but that still doesn’t address who gets the benefit of the two extra games between/among FOX, NBC, ESPN, and CBS. Maybe ESPN gets one of them to make up for the lost MNF game between CIN/BUF.
Considering the Bengals are a TD favorite over the Ravens and had about a 60% win expectancy when the game was stopped Monday, the Ravens only had about a 10% chance to win the division. And while this gives the Bengals the division, it really narrows their chance for the 2-seed (which they would've been in the driver's seat with a win Monday) and eliminates any chance of a 1-seed. Even though the 2 doesn't get a bye anymore, I think it's pretty significant this year when the 3 has to play a healthy Chargers team or potentially the Ravens with Lamar and then obviously still has to go on the road to the 2 in the divisional.Yeah, I think it makes sense. Athough it's unclear if the 8th playoff team would apply to the NFC.
- The Chiefs gain the #1 seed in all liklihood but don't get the full benefit of the bye. Buffalo gets hosed in this sense but at least it's not as impactful as cedeing homefiled + the bye to a rival. It just means if they meet KC in the playoffs it'll be in Arrowhead unless the league puts some stipulation in that Buffalo has home field or it'll be neutral if those two teams meet.
- If Buffalo rests players on Sunday, the Dolphins, Steelers, Jaguars get appeased by also having the 8th spot available. Pats also benefit too by opening more ways in.
- Ravens get hosed and lose their chance at the AFC South, but lol fuck Harbaugh
- From a networks / money perspective, the extra AFC playoff game essentially makes up what was lost by the Bills/Bengals game without totally fucking up the schedule for the rest of the league.
The gambling piece (futures, props) impacted by not playing Bills/Bengals is unclear but maybe they figured the money lost on that is less than what it'd cost to move the entire playoff structure around.
This is very NFL. Ok, we had a major injury in a game where someone almost literally died on the field and our schedule is messed up. Any suggestions? LET'S ADD ANOTHER GAME, NO TWO GAMES!!!!!!Florio says Bengals/Bills likely won't happen and the league is trying to figure out the AFC playoff structure. He floats adding an 8th AFC team and eliminating the bye week across the board in the AFC.
View: https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/status/1611057795461222402?s=20&t=NK63Wn2OYc84mHJhGjCQtQ
Even if not rested, maybe they only play a few series?True, and true.
Edit: would Buffalo really rest guys though? It would mean back to back weeks of not really playing heading into the playoffs
Edit: Never mind. I had incorrect information.I was thinking they would add a timeslot at 1:00pm on Saturday of WC weekend if they only add 1 extra game (via the 8th seed/no bye in the AFC). ESPN would get an extra game that weekend but there might have to be some concessions and trading around of who gets what that weekend since ESPN already has two games that week (IIRC, a Saturday game and the MNF game).
Untrue, there are 2 Saturday, 3 Sunday, and 1 MNFWith 7 playoff teams, there are already 3 games both Saturday and Sunday. They could throw a west coast game on late but I'd guess they go to Monday.
They changed it last year. 2 Saturday (4 and 8), 3 Sunday (1,4,8) and a Monday Night game.With 7 playoff teams, there are already 3 games both Saturday and Sunday. They could throw a west coast game on late but I'd guess they go to Monday.
OK. Thank you. That makes sense. Google was showing 3 games on Saturday but do see some other places with Monday. Plenty of spots to add 1 or two games.Untrue, there are 2 Saturday, 3 Sunday, and 1 MNF
They have to let teams know ASAP. There are teams that might currently be out of it and maybe playing youngsters or whatever that are now suddenly alive.
I guess the AFC is still only Dolphins, Steelers, or Pats for 1 or 2 spots. Anyone have NFC scenarios if an 8th team is in?
I completely spaced, I forgot there isn’t a 1PM game on that Saturday.I was thinking they would add a timeslot at 1:00pm on Saturday of WC weekend if they only add 1 extra game (via the 8th seed/no bye in the AFC). ESPN would get an extra game that weekend but there might have to be some concessions and trading around of who gets what that weekend since ESPN already has two games that week (IIRC, a Saturday game and the MNF game).
Not sure what they would do if they also added an extra NFC game. It would have to be Monday afternoon and offer it up for bid?
Best move for whom? It changes the schedule for every city, every hotel, all of the people working those games, attending those games, etc on what, 2-4 days notice? It gives everyone a bye except the Bills/Bengals. It removes NFL from MLK weekend when they'd get a meaningful viewing boost. You're changing schedules for millions of people. Or... we just add an extra game next week for teams that are already planning on potentially being in the playoffs. I love it.Would it have been logistically impossible to just finish this game Sunday or Monday afternoon and push everything back a week into the SB bye week? Because that definitely seems like the best move in hindsight.
It's the best move for competitive fairness, but I acknowledge what you list may have made it impossible. There still would be games on MLK Weekend - it just would've been the last week of the regular season instead of the first round of the playoffs.Best move for whom? It changes the schedule for every city, every hotel, all of the people working those games, attending those games, etc on what, 2-4 days notice? It gives everyone a bye except the Bills/Bengals. It removes NFL from MLK weekend when they'd get a meaningful viewing boost. You're changing schedules for millions of people. Or... we just add an extra game next week for teams that are already planning on potentially being in the playoffs. I love it.
Probably not impossible but I bet it is easier and cheaper to add 1 or 2 games to WC weekend if they expand the playoff field than it is to move 29 games (Bills/Bengals, 16 week 18 games, 12 playoff games).Would it have been logistically impossible to just finish this game Sunday or Monday afternoon and push everything back a week into the SB bye week? Because that definitely seems like the best move in hindsight.
I don't know enough about the tiebreakers, but if the Eagles, 49ers and Vikings all finish 13-4, who gets the top seed?I hate the 8 teams idea. Eagles fans should riot. You've had the bye almost locked up and were expecting an extra week to rest your QB and your best offensive lineman and now you have to play an extra game against a surging Lions team?
I believe SF has the tiebreaker over Philly but Philly has it over MN. More importantly, Dallas wins the division if they win and Philly loses. Eagles then become 5th seed.I don't know enough about the tiebreakers, but if the Eagles, 49ers and Vikings all finish 13-4, who gets the top seed?
I could see the argument that it is possible the NFC winner only has to play 3 games and the AFC winner will definitely have to play 4, but that's a risk every single year.I think 49ers but I am assuming the Eagles would dispatch the Giants this weekend who are fading fast. Regardless I don't know why we would punish whoever wins the NFC by taking away their bye, or give 2 extra teams a playoff entry, for a game that had nothing to do with them. Just call it a tie and you're only harming the two teams involved in the actual game.
Nobody is being ‘punished’ in any of these scenarios. The league is in a tough position in that SOMEONE will be harmed because of a horrible event, so they’re tasked with finding the least bad option. Buffalo losing a bye because a game didn’t finish due to a player almost dying on the field would suck, too.I think 49ers but I am assuming the Eagles would dispatch the Giants this weekend who are fading fast. Regardless I don't know why we would punish whoever wins the NFC by taking away their bye, or give 2 extra teams a playoff entry, for a game that had nothing to do with them. Just call it a tie and you're only harming the two teams involved in the actual game.
That is why I think it makes more sense to only do the 8th seed in the AFC and leave the NFC as is since there is zero impact to that side of the bracket.I hate the 8 teams idea. Eagles fans should riot. You've had the bye almost locked up and were expecting an extra week to rest your QB and your best offensive lineman and now you have to play an extra game against a surging Lions team?
OK someone has to be the loser here (Unless the Bills and Bengals just did a 7 on 7 like I suggested) but that's a huge punishment.
The fading fast Giants who have won two of their last three, and lost the other to a last second 60 yard field goal? I mean, the Eagles should win, but the Giants have rebounded from their rough stretchI think 49ers but I am assuming the Eagles would dispatch the Giants this weekend who are fading fast.
They should toss the coin 10 times and the Bills need to win 8 to winI’m now in the camp of coin toss decides Monday’s game, and play this weekend as scheduled. Not perfect, but least disruptive, IMO.
I like that actually. Better than one winner take all flip.They should toss the coin 10 times and the Bills need to win 8 to win
If 7-3 Bills, sudden death 11th toss
I wish it was that much. The Bengals were about 57-60% depending on which model you use - they had way more to gain than lose by playing the game to begin with, so it's a real bummer from that perspective it couldn't finish. Obviously I understand though, and it's impossible to please everyone (although of course the Chiefs benefit the most because why wouldn't they?).They should toss the coin 10 times and the Bills need to win 8 to win
If 7-3 Bills, sudden death 11th toss
The AP has already reported that the suspended game won’t be made up, according to 98.5.Shouldn't] we hear something very soon? The week kicks off in under 48 hours.
Yeah, I'm not sure about about "fading fast," but the Giants may well rest people - they are locked into the 6th seed so there's nothing to play for.The fading fast Giants who have won two of their last three, and lost the other to a last second 60 yard field goal? I mean, the Eagles should win, but the Giants have rebounded from their rough stretch
Ok, so put 10 balls in the barrel, 3 with Bills logo and 7 with the Bengals logo. Draw one ball to declare the winner of the suspended game.I like that actually. Better than one winner take all flip.
I feel like if they end up doing a neutral site this year, and it becomes a success, neutral sites may be used going forward.. (like the runner on 2B in MLB)Looking like the game for Buffalo will be irrelevant if Chiefs win Saturday…
Likely scenario is Buffalo or Cincy in AFC CG against a higher seed would be played on a neutral field.
Edit - Nm, Buffalo needs to win for that to apply:
View: https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1611183767829336071?s=46&t=ZABXZMsh5v8NYeYeHyTtOQ
I don’t see it. SB is a way worse product than AFC/NFC Championship game.I feel like if they end up doing a neutral site this year, and it becomes a success, neutral sites may be used going forward.. (like the runner on 2B in MLB)