Covid and the Playoffs

[EDGECRUSHER]

All things considered, I think the NFL did a very good job with the Covid restrictions this season. The problem now becomes what happens if you have a Covid outbreak or contact tracing during the playoffs? What if Patrick Mahomes was in contact with someone who had Covid but has tested negative? Are they really going to make Mahomes sit during the playoffs and all but eliminate the best team in the NFL?

I am sure that all teams in the playoffs will basically be on lockdown like a prison, but things happen. Worse case scenario, what happens if Mahomes or Josh Allen have to miss the Superbowl just due to contact tracing? Would any of us consider the other team to be legitimate champions?

[Sunstroke]

^^^ Yes, as long as both teams were playing by the same rules... I am not big on asterisks.

[Pappy13]

All things considered, I think the NFL did a very good job with the Covid restrictions this season. The problem now becomes what happens if you have a Covid outbreak or contact tracing during the playoffs? What if Patrick Mahomes was in contact with someone who had Covid but has tested negative? Are they really going to make Mahomes sit during the playoffs...

Yes

...and all but eliminate the best team in the NFL? to be legitimate champions?

No.

As usual you are overvalueing Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs success. They are not as good, but can they still win? Absolutely.

[EDGECRUSHER]

^^^ Yes, as long as both teams were playing by the same rules... I am not big on asterisks.

I wouldn't like it either but I also can't pretend that if the Bills are missing Josh Allen, Diggs and 3 starters on defense against a fresh Packers team, that Green Bay won it fair and square. Since there is no attendance, maybe they can actually push back the Superbowl if something like this occured.

[EDGECRUSHER]

YesNo.

As usual you are overvaluing Patrick Mahomes to the Chiefs success. They are not as good, but can they still win? Absolutely.

I mean, he is going to be the MVP or runner up this year. Hard to overinflate his value if that happens.

[Pappy13]

I mean, he is going to be the MVP or runner up this year. Hard to overinflate his value if that happens.

And yet you did it.

[masterfins]

If the Bills were to finally win a Super bowl due to opposing teams lacking key players due to Covid rules, would it be legitimate???

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Unavailability due to Covid isn’t really any different than unavailability due to torn ACL, missing finger from a fireworks incident or a broken thumb. 

No special dispensation was given when Tom Brady or Peyton Manning was out.

[fyo]

I wouldn't like it either but I also can't pretend that if the Bills are missing Josh Allen, Diggs and 3 starters on defense against a fresh Packers team, that Green Bay won it fair and square. Since there is no attendance, maybe they can actually push back the Superbowl if something like this occured.

There are two weeks between the Conference Championship games and the Super Bowl.

ISOLATE.

Reaching the Super Bowl is the crowning achievement of an NFL career. If you can't isolate the team and coaches completely for 14 days, I have very little sympathy.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Unavailability due to Covid isn’t really any different than unavailability due to torn ACL, missing finger from a fireworks incident or a broken thumb. 

No special dispensation was given when Tom Brady or Peyton Manning was out.

I have to disagree because Torn ACLs and the like are injuries suffered in the act of playing football. You can get Covid out of nowhere. Worse, you can just be near someone who has Covid and be forced to sit out because you saw him a few days ago. Just the idea of a perfectly healthy NFL player being forced to sit out a playoff game because he MIGHT have a virus just seems dumb and open to lots of second guessing and illegitimacy claims.

[Phishfan]

I wouldn't like it either but I also can't pretend that if the Bills are missing Josh Allen, Diggs and 3 starters on defense against a fresh Packers team, that Green Bay won it fair and square. Since there is no attendance, maybe they can actually push back the Superbowl if something like this occured.

Where did you hear there is no attendance? Fans will be in the stands.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Where did you hear there is no attendance? Fans will be in the stands.

Governor DeSantis said its OK for the stadium to be packed

[EDGECRUSHER]

Where did you hear there is no attendance? Fans will be in the stands.

Oh, I thought it was no fans. Just realized it was in Florida, so that's cool.

[Sunstroke]

I wouldn't like it either but I also can't pretend that if the Bills are missing Josh Allen, Diggs and 3 starters on defense against a fresh Packers team, that Green Bay won it fair and square.

I'm not sure we share the same definition for "fair and square."

What if it wasn't COVID? What if Josh Allen just accidentally cut his finger really bad making a scrumptious casserole? Still not fair?

If both teams follow the same rules, then whether both teams are at optimum strength is academic. This is why God created 2nd and 3rd string players...and why He rested on Sundays, so He could watch the games and see how the teams handle adversity.

[Tenshot13]

I'm not sure we share the same definition for "fair and square."

What if it wasn't COVID? What if Josh Allen just accidentally cut his finger really bad making a scrumptious casserole? Still not fair?

If both teams follow the same rules, then whether both teams are at optimum strength is academic. This is why God created 2nd and 3rd string players...and why He rested on Sundays, so He could watch the games and see how the teams handle adversity.

What if your starting QB was holding a piece of wood and his brother was hitting it with an axe, but accidentally injured your starting QB so he couldn't play?