my guess for the week 18 sch

lexrageorge

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I think the biggest challenge now is that there are a lot of imperfect options to weigh, each of them having their own challenges. But I think a couple of options can be ruled out now. One is forcing the 2 teams to either play this week or forfeit; that is one PR battle that Goodell and the NFL would lose and lose badly. If there is no feasible way to reschedule the game, they will find a way to call it a tie.

Shuffling the schedule so that the conference championship games get moved into the bye is probably the least challenging and fairest option. Nobody today knows where those games will be played anyway; same is true for nearly all of the rest of the playoff games. It's really "just" getting the stadiums lined up for the 19th regular season week (with just doing a lot of work).
 

joe dokes

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My guess is if they both agreed to forfeit, they would both be assigned a loss. I would imagine it would likely be the Bills deciding to forfeit if they felt they couldn’t play this week and the NFL mandates they play.
Makes sense. I would like to think that the Bengals would agree to take a loss as well, (a joint forfeit or somesuch), but I'm not in anyone's shoes here.
 

YTF

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There's more involved beyond stadium usage. Team accommodations, for instance. Then there's the issue of fans who planned to travel with their teams and might have to eat the cost on those game and travel expenses. And likely other considerations that don't immediately come to mind.
All of this could be done, but it's not easy.

Then again, none of this really matters in the scope of things, but it goes beyond just if the stadium is available
Team accommodations would get worked out. The NFL should be able to absorb ticket refund costs. Fan expenses would likely be the most difficult part/painful of the equation, especially when you factor in the uncertainty of air travel these days.
 

GB5

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If Goddell announces for instance that the teams are resuming this Thursday night, then the game will go on. Goddell doesn’t like to look bad so he is not going to schedule a game and then have one or both of the teams forfeit. If he comes out and announces a date and time then I can almost guarantee that he has consulted with the teams before doing so.

This Is certainly a unique situations. I think it’s ok to mess around with the regular season schedule, and have teams play on 3-4 days rest if the situation calls for it…however the playoffs should be conducted fairly to all extents possible. Nobody should have more than 1 day rest than their opponent absent the no.1 seeded teams in their first games.
 

johnmd20

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The Bills and the Bengals will not forfeit this game.

No matter how this schedule works out, and man is this one tough, the odds of that are 0%.
 

Ed Hillel

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Week 18 proceeding as normal and Bills/Bengals no definite plan in place yet, per NFL statement.
 

cshea

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Chiefs lose (13-4), Bills win (13-3 with tiebreaker), Bengals lose (11-5) I think is the only way it doesn't matter

That locks up the 1 but then there's the Ravens..
 

Ferm Sheller

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Week 18 proceeding as normal and Bills/Bengals no definite plan in place yet, per NFL statement.

That tweet says that no changes have (as of right now) been made to the week 18 schedule, but it doesn't make it clear that none will be (i.e., movement of the Pats/Bills game).
 

wilked

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Is there a scenario in which it wouldn’t matter? I’m having trouble finding a permutation of the other Week 18 results that would render the game irrelevant for seeding purposes.
Same here. There's very little in the way of scenarios where either the #1 seed (and the bye) or the division winner isn't affected
 

Cellar-Door

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yeah, after looking at the scenarios, they'll still play this one at some point is my guess. How they do that... not sure yet, but it is going to matter in some way, plus there is the pressure from the gambling partners.
 

Jungleland

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Chiefs win, Bills loss, and Bengals win would mean it only decides the 2 and 3 seed - given the circumstances it would be hard to fault the Bills if they don't view a week 19 matchup as worth the difference between having to play a theoretical AFC championship in Cincinnati.
 

DeadlySplitter

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This seems to be kicking the can on future scheduling, probably to see how Hamlin is doing later in the week, while acknowledging they can']t possibly make up the game this week either. Seems OK to me for now.

And while it is very unlikely, yeah, waiting on week 18 to see how meaningless the game becomes could be an underlying reason.
 

Mystic Merlin

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yeah, after looking at the scenarios, they'll still play this one at some point is my guess. How they do that... not sure yet, but it is going to matter in some way, plus there is the pressure from the gambling partners.
They may figure that it’s easier to push the playoffs back one week and make up one game (CIN-BUF) the weekend of 1/14-15 rather than play CIN/BUF this weekend and make up the 16 Week 18 games the weekend of 1/14-15.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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If nothing else, playing week 18 as normal will at least narrow down the teams and fans that have a stake in a possible resumption of the game to a knowable quantity who can be consulted.
 

E5 Yaz

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They may figure that it’s easier to push the playoffs back one week and make up one game (CIN-BUF) the weekend of 1/14-15 rather than play CIN/BUF this weekend and make up the 16 Week 18 games the weekend of 1/14-15.
This seems entirely logical
 

axx

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They may figure that it’s easier to push the playoffs back one week and make up one game (CIN-BUF) the weekend of 1/14-15 rather than play CIN/BUF this weekend and make up the 16 Week 18 games the weekend of 1/14-15.
Even that seems a bit much. To me it sounds like Goodell was getting pushback on declaring a tie and just punted for the time being.
 

Helmet Head

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Week 18 pretty much becomes a must win game for the Bills
Don’t really see it as a must win. If KC wins on Saturday, which is likely, the Bills are locked into the 2 or 3 seed. And maybe it won’t even matter because they know they have 0 intention of even making up the cincy game.

However, if KC loses, that will really throw this whole thing upside down and I don’t know what the heck will happen.
 

trekfan55

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Even that seems a bit much. To me it sounds like Goodell was getting pushback on declaring a tie and just punted for the time being.
This is the likely scenario. Maybe it is indeed a logistical nightmare to move all 16 games to the following week (along with pushing the playoffs)
 

wilked

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Don’t really see it as a must win. If KC wins on Saturday, which is likely, the Bills are locked into the 2 or 3 seed. And maybe it won’t even matter because they know they have 0 intention of even making up the cincy game.

However, if KC loses, that will really throw this whole thing upside down and I don’t know what the heck will happen.
Bills are not locked into 2/3 with a Chiefs win. Bills have tiebreaker. Chiefs only get top seed if Bills lose one of their final two games
 

cshea

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Goodell's Memo to Teams:

View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1610345661999742976?s=20&t=FaWu3UPYQx8nCpNPRiGuOA


First off, glad they first part of the memo includes making additional mental health resources available to teams if they need it.

On the schedule, If we want to parse words, he doesn't say week 18 is on as scheduled, he says they are not announcing any schedule changes to week 18 at this time and that they will advise clubs as soon as those decisions are made.

Maybe some teams play but I highly doubt the Bills or Bengals play football this weekend.
 

mcpickl

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They may figure that it’s easier to push the playoffs back one week and make up one game (CIN-BUF) the weekend of 1/14-15 rather than play CIN/BUF this weekend and make up the 16 Week 18 games the weekend of 1/14-15.
This is tricky too because at least one of Cin/Buf, and possibly both, would then play a first round game against a lower seeded opponent who just got a bye week.

If the teams are ready to play this week, I think I'd have Cin/Buf play this weekend, and maybe let the games between already eliminated teams play this week as well, and the rest of the games pushed back a week and the Super Bowl bye week disappears.

It's too bad they couldn't just move the Super Bowl back a week as well(obviously $$$ won't allow that), so it would fall on a holiday weekend so many folks would have Monday off to allow the chicken wings to digest.
 

sodenj5

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Goodell's Memo to Teams:

View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1610345661999742976?s=20&t=FaWu3UPYQx8nCpNPRiGuOA


First off, glad they first part of the memo includes making additional mental health resources available to teams if they need it.

On the schedule, If we want to parse words, he doesn't say week 18 is on as scheduled, he says they are not announcing any schedule changes to week 18 at this time and that they will advise clubs as soon as those decisions are made.

Maybe some teams play but I highly doubt the Bills or Bengals play football this weekend.
I don’t know how they can have both of those teams fall behind by two weeks.

I think they might keep Buffalo and Cincy suspended, play the games as scheduled for this weekend, and determine if Buffalo and Cincy is needed to determine seeding at that point.
 

wilked

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I would be extremely suprised if CIN or BUF did not play this weekend. Those games will go on. They will reschedule the CIN/BUF game for the following week and back up playoffs a week, lose the bye week. It's the only real scenario that makes sense at this point IMO
 

axx

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I don't think they will do this, but what they COULD do is proceed with Week 18 as usual and play the NFC playoffs as originally intended alongside resuming Buffalo/Cincy. This would give the NFC Champion a huge advantage in the SB since the AFC CG would be played during the bye week.

I think they might keep Buffalo and Cincy suspended, play the games as scheduled for this weekend, and determine if Buffalo and Cincy is needed to determine seeding at that point.
It's almost definitely going to be.
 

cshea

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I don’t know how they can have both of those teams fall behind by two weeks.

I think they might keep Buffalo and Cincy suspended, play the games as scheduled for this weekend, and determine if Buffalo and Cincy is needed to determine seeding at that point.
I don't think the players will agree to play unless there's some sort of positive prognosis for Hamlin.
 

Ed Hillel

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If the NFL declared this game a no contest, they'd have to flex KC-Raiders to Sunday, or Buffalo would have nothing to play for if KC wins Saturday. Their best option is probably to just say nothing on whether the game will be played and see what happens.
 

BaseballJones

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I don't think the players will agree to play unless there's some sort of positive prognosis for Hamlin.
Not just the Bills' players either. I'm sure that the Bengals players are just as traumatized (though they might not, obviously, be as close personally to Hamlin as the Bills players are - still, this is a fraternity and they ALL have to be very, very shaken).
 

DJnVa

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Not just the Bills' players either. I'm sure that the Bengals players are just as traumatized (though they might not, obviously, be as close personally to Hamlin as the Bills players are - still, this is a fraternity and they ALL have to be very, very shaken).
Yes, and you don't have to have been at the field for this to have an effect. Kenny Pickett went to college with him and is apparently good friends with him.
 

Justthetippett

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I don’t know how they can have both of those teams fall behind by two weeks.

I think they might keep Buffalo and Cincy suspended, play the games as scheduled for this weekend, and determine if Buffalo and Cincy is needed to determine seeding at that point.
This would be the best option, I think. Either team would also have the option to forfeit after this weekend.
 

sodenj5

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I don't think the players will agree to play unless there's some sort of positive prognosis for Hamlin.
I think that we all want Hamlin to make a quick recovery and are hoping for positive news, but it may not come in a few days. It may not come in a week.

This is clearly uncharted waters, but I don’t think the Bills can just refuse to play for a week or two weeks without facing forfeiting their games.

Obviously Hamlin’s injury is extremely scary and serious, but the Steelers didn’t stop their season when Ryan Shazier was paralyzed.
 

PedroKsBambino

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From the 'crazy ideas' department: the NFL is all about more product. Is there a realistic scenario where you deal with the missed game by adding 1-2 playoff teams and games to manage this? I suspect not, because a bye is in play and cannot be replaced. But several of you are more knowledgeable about playoff scenarios than I am this year, so take the idea of "add a 'playoff game'" the possible options list
 

cshea

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I think that we all want Hamlin to make a quick recovery and are hoping for positive news, but it may not come in a few days. It may not come in a week.

This is clearly uncharted waters, but I don’t think the Bills can just refuse to play for a week or two weeks without facing forfeiting their games.

Obviously Hamlin’s injury is extremely scary and serious, but the Steelers didn’t stop their season when Ryan Shazier was paralyzed.
My guess is the NFLPA and all the players in the league would stand with the Bills players if the league put the Bills in a play or forfeit position. The league won't go down that road.
 

E5 Yaz

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From the 'crazy ideas' department: the NFL is all about more product. Is there a realistic scenario where you deal with the missed game by adding 1-2 playoff teams and games to manage this? I suspect not, because a bye is in play and cannot be replaced.
I think the last thing the NFL wants to be seen as doing is taking advantage of the situation in the name of "more product."
 

Mystic Merlin

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I don’t know how they can have both of those teams fall behind by two weeks.

I think they might keep Buffalo and Cincy suspended, play the games as scheduled for this weekend, and determine if Buffalo and Cincy is needed to determine seeding at that point.
The game will be needed to determine seeding, so waiting merely determines which teams care about the outcome and how the Bills and Bengals approach the game.

EDIT - Actually, there is one very unlikely scenario: CIN-BAL tie and either of (1) KC loses/ties and BUF wins this weekend or (2) BUF loses and KC wins/ties.
 
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Awesome Fossum

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From the 'crazy ideas' department: the NFL is all about more product. Is there a realistic scenario where you deal with the missed game by adding 1-2 playoff teams and games to manage this? I suspect not, because a bye is in play and cannot be replaced. But several of you are more knowledgeable about playoff scenarios than I am this year, so take the idea of "add a 'playoff game'" the possible options list
The NFLPA would need to agree to a change in playoff format, and I can't imagine they'd entertain this.
 

MuppetAsteriskTalk

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My guess is the NFLPA and all the players in the league would stand with the Bills players if the league put the Bills in a play or forfeit position. The league won't go down that road.
Well I guess this will be the first time the season was indefinitely suspended because a player was seriously injured.
 

sodenj5

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My guess is the NFLPA and all the players in the league would stand with the Bills players if the league put the Bills in a play or forfeit position. The league won't go down that road.
I think you might be overestimating the strength of the NFL’s union and brotherhood.

It isn’t MLB level. Not even close.
 

PedroKsBambino

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The NFLPA would need to agree to a change in playoff format, and I can't imagine they'd entertain this.
I would be surprised if they opposed more playoff money for more players in this unique context, but it is certainly possible (this would not be a 'change the CBA going forward' thing) And I'm not sure it works becasue I'm not sure it solves the problem they have---which I believe is primarily about seeding.