Now What Happens?

[Spider-Dan]

If this proposed scenario happens, Buffalo gets a bye and essentially an extra bye week in Week 17. That's a huge advantage to them.

You're going way too far.  I wouldn't call one of your starting players nearly dying on the field "essentially an extra bye" or a "huge advantage."

[Dave Gray]

Joe Burrow said they would go with whatever Buffalo wants

While that's nice and all, it's not up to Joe Burrow.  There is a lot of money, contracts, etc -- that ride on the understanding of how this stuff works out.  A home playoff game is big money for lots of things.  Stadium naming rights, food vendors, parking contracts, broadcast rights, etc.  Also, the rest of the league has a vested interest in these games.  There's a lot riding on the outcome.

This is kinda what I was getting into about stopping the game to begin with.  It's fine that they did, but this isn't a willy-nilly decision.  It has huge ramifications for a bunch of industries.

[EDGECRUSHER]

You're going way too far.  I wouldn't call one of your starting players nearly dying on the field "essentially an extra bye" or a "huge advantage."

Physically speaking, it's a bye on your body. Obviously, other things to consider but it is at least 3 quarters of football late in the season you aren't playing.

[EDGECRUSHER]

While that's nice and all, it's not up to Joe Burrow.  There is a lot of money, contracts, etc -- that ride on the understanding of how this stuff works out.  A home playoff game is big money for lots of things.  Stadium naming rights, food vendors, parking contracts, broadcast rights, etc.  Also, the rest of the league has a vested interest in these games.  There's a lot riding on the outcome.

This is kinda what I was getting into about stopping the game to begin with.  It's fine that they did, but this isn't a willy-nilly decision.  It has huge ramifications for a bunch of industries.

I know. Not replaying the game is a lot of lost revenue, even more so when you imagine it will be the 2nd most watched game of the year next to the Superbowl. Week 19 with no other games to decide playoff seeding. That's a lot of money for the NFL and both teams to forfeit.

[Dave Gray]

^ Not to mention the game impacts where other games will be played in the future.  A home playoff game means hotels, parking, concessions, naming rights exposure, local licenses....there's a whole lot.

And things we haven't even mentioned like player bonuses based on performance or circumstance. 

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

What ever they decide they need to decide before Sunday, if they wait until after they know who is helped and hurt, it will be a shitshow.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The league just announced that the game won't be made up. No word on any other changes so far.

[CF DolFan]

I think that's the worst decision and seems like a cop-out. As well as affecting many other teams Cincy was ahead but now is reserved to the 3 seed.

[Pappy13]

I like giving the team with the best record the option of either home field advantage should they play again in the playoffs OR a 1st round bye. And If I'm in that position, I would take the home field advantage and give up the bye.

Here's my thinking. I'd feel pretty good about my chances against any #7 seed Pittsburgh, New England or Miami (is there anyone else) and you get a home game out of it. Should you then have to go up against the #2 seed you're at home in that game so another home game for your fans. I think that might be an even bigger advantage than having a bye in round 1.

Honestly, I think this is a pretty fair way to handle it considering that Buffalo and Cincy were the ones that agreed to cancelling the game in the first place and it sounds like the NFL made it clear to them that there was the possibility that the game would not be made up. They had the choice and they made it.

[Dave Gray]

^ I don't think that's fair at all to KC.

What if KC wants to win and have a bye and homefield, like they might have had?  It doesn't seem like it's OK for Buffalo and Cincy to agree on terms that's going to affect KC.



What you're suggesting is like making the rules up as you go along.  If you don't play a game, you don't play it, your record reflects that and you get sorted accordingly.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I think that's the worst decision and seems like a cop-out. As well as affecting many other teams Cincy was ahead but now is reserved to the 3 seed.

True, but Cincy would need to have won that game as well as have Kansas City lose to the Raiders on Sunday. I could absolutely see them winning but the Chiefs losing as well is very unlikely. They might be content with the pseudo bye week and just let it go. They certainly don't want to play 2 more games just so Buffalo and Kansas City can hash out seeding.

[Pappy13]

^ I don't think that's fair at all to KC.

What if KC wants to win and have a bye and homefield, like they might have had?  It doesn't seem like it's OK for Buffalo and Cincy to agree on terms that's going to affect KC.

Well if KC wins their last game and Buffalo loses, then there's no choice to be made. KC is the #1 seed and they get a bye and home field advantage. KC only has to choose if either Buffalo or Cincy could have tied them in the standings had they won the game that was cancelled. Don't assume that it's KC that gets the choice, if Buffalo wins their last game and KC loses then Buffalo has a better record, but they played 1 fewer game had they lost they would have been tied, so they get to choose. Same for Cincy. So the last week of the season still matters. All 3 teams have a chance at getting to choose depending upon this weekends outcomes and KC still has a chance at getting the 1st seed outright and not have to choose. If all 3 teams agree to it, what's the problem?

What you're suggesting is like making the rules up as you go along.  If you don't play a game, you don't play it, your record reflects that and you get sorted accordingly.

What do you think they are doing? Of course they are making it up as they go along. There aren't any rules for cancelling a game. Once that's been done you HAVE to make things up as you go along. There's no other choice except to make it up as you go along.

[EDGECRUSHER]

^ I don't think that's fair at all to KC.

What if KC wants to win and have a bye and homefield, like they might have had?  It doesn't seem like it's OK for Buffalo and Cincy to agree on terms that's going to affect KC.

What you're suggesting is like making the rules up as you go along.  If you don't play a game, you don't play it, your record reflects that and you get sorted accordingly.

Yeah, while we understand why they did it, the reality is that Buffalo and Cincy weren't going to play that game and the best scenario is that only affects them now. The fact that Hamlin is now communicating via writing is amazing news, but it also kinda gives the NFL some PR cover to tell the Bills that "Sorry, we can't change the playoffs for you".

In the end, I think that is what happens.

[Dave Gray]

What do you think they are doing? Of course they are making it up as they go along. There aren't any rules for cancelling a game. Once that's been done you HAVE to make things up as you go along. There's no other choice except to make it up as you go along.

I don't think this is true.  If the game isn't played, it's ruled a no contest.

We know that ranking teams is based on win percentage, not number of losses.

I think it's all pretty defined at how the rules say it should play out.

The only thing to make up as they go along is whether or not the NFL mandates that a game be scheduled, to which one or both teams could refuse to play.  But if they rule it a no contest, it's pretty clear how it would all go down.  The standings would remain exactly as they are right now.

[Pappy13]

I don't think this is true.  If the game isn't played, it's ruled a no contest.

The game WAS played. It wasn't finished. That's NOT a no contest, the game was cancelled in the middle of it. The NFL is making it up as they go along now and so are you.