The Bills announced Tuesday afternoon Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin going into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of Monday night’s game has brought other NFL matters to a halt.
The NFL addressed the on-field procedures and decision to postpone the Bills-Bengals game early Tuesday morning, but as of this afternoon, its schedule is unchanged. Roger Goodell said Monday’s game will not be resumed this week. Week 18 remains slated to begin Saturday. While this invites logistical questions, Hamlin’s status continues to be the league’s focus.
“The NFL continues to be in regular contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, and also the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association. After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week,” the NFL said in a statement.
“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule.”
Bills players traveled back to Buffalo on Tuesday morning. The team is next scheduled to play against the Patriots on Sunday. The Bengals are set to host the Ravens in Week 18. Monday’s game being ruled a no-contest would obviously produce a historic ripple effect. The Bengals would win the AFC North title by default, while the Bills would go from controlling their own destiny for the AFC’s No. 1 seed to seeing the Chiefs have that control.
Postponing the playoffs in order to complete one game would be a drastic step for the league, though there is precedent for altering the schedule. Following a lengthy players’ strike, the 1982 season featured a 16-team playoff bracket that did not begin until Jan. 8, 1983. The September 11 attacks prompted the NFL to postpone Week 2 games in 2001, leading to a pushed-back playoff schedule. The COVID-19 pandemic also required forced flexibility from the league, which rescheduled several games during the 2020 and ’21 seasons.
They really can not expect to play this game next thursday for example … here is why… you can not delay the start of the playoffs because of this… So if you decide Oh we must play this game to decide the 1 seed or the winner of a conference well these two teams have to play again, and chances are they won’t get the bye. Also what if one of the two teams have nothing to gain by forcing this game as a result of week 18 games… there are many more reasons this game can not be played but I will stop here… pick something fair and do it now NFL…
Push the playoffs back a week it’s the cleanest solution for this horrible situation.
That would push the Super Bowl to February 19, the weekend of the Daytona 500 and the NBA All-Star game. Fox is broadcasting this year’s Super Bowl as well as the Daytona 500.
The Superbowl doesn’t need to be pushed. Just eliminate the off week where the Pro Bowl used to be played.
Eliminate the flag football game? Insanity!
This isn’t hard. There’s an open week between the Conference Championship games and the Superbowl. Eliminate that off week and slide each playoff weekend a week to the right. Bills-Bengals play on what would have been wildcard weekend.
The only issues would be TV rights and getting the networks onboard and rosters. The networks shouldn’t be an issue since no one will want that PR nightmare. The roster issues can be handled between the NFL and NFLPA.
The NFL has found itself in a twilight zone. Resume the Bills-Bengals game next week, it may be meaningless depending on the results of Week 18. Cancel the Bills-Bengals game, it might piss off the Baltimore Ravens who still have a chance to win the AFC North. And contrary to what this article states, the NFL has not declared Bills-Bengals “no contest”.
On top of that the NFL has yet to set a start time for the Ravens-Bengals game on Sunday. CBS needs to know right away so it can assign telecasts to local affiliates.
It is literally the twilight zone dude
They ain’t resuming this game. Call it a tie and move on.
Coin flip. Or get the field goal kickers decide via something of a shoot out. Whoever kicks the farthest distance field goal wins
Yes. It’s sarcasm
In all honesty college overtime rules wouldn’t be the worst idea. Start at opponents 40 or start mid field. Score until someone doesn’t match. Would be quick way, hopefully, to decide the game.
You know a Lions player had a heart attack and died on the field in Detroit in 1971.
They played the game.
People too sensitive today…..
There was a minute and change left in the game and it probably wasn’t televised.
I think that the Bills Bengals game should play this Sunday.
Also…. make this game at a nuetral site like Detriot or INDY. Better yet— to Miami so Bills players can clear their heads.
Then Move the Bills / Patriots game this week to next Saturday and the Ravens / Bengals game to next Sunday. Start Wild Card week the following week and drop the week off between the Super Bowl
Another thought…. add a Play in game for the NFC between the 8 and 9 Seeds … donate the money to Hamlin’s family for expenses and Salary. Winner plays # 1 seed, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6 and 4 plays 5. Can’t do this in the AFC because of the extra games week 19 mentioned in the above scenario.
I agree with those that say they have to play the game, if you do continue to play games and dont see any way it is decided they play no more games. Its not like its a game 2 college football game with weather issues that can be written off. Its Week 17 with maybe the 2 best teams in the AFC or in the NFL playing and playoff spots and seeding all hanging on it. The league cant just say we decided this with a big advantage on one side instead of letting teams earn it.
Oh by the way, Baltimore, you cant win the division now. We decided that. That is a look you cant have. Cincy, we decided if you play again in the playoffs which feels very likely, you will go to Buffalo. Because we said so. We picked. You may have been driving down the field up 7-3 and were more likely than not to have earned Home Field in a rematch. But not that, we decided you wont. You will deal with Bills mafia. Buffalo, we postponed this game and you cant play it and maintain the 1 seed. We will gift that to KC. That is what we picked. These are not small things.
Something else and I get some find this laughable but every Fantasy football season hangs in the balance that involves a Cincy or Buffalo player in the Final game. You can say not important but does Yahoo refund every entry in those leagues? NFL may say that is not important but will they stroke Yahoo a check to pay everyone back? Its very complicated unless you play the game. Then its a lot easier.
Like it or not, this game has to be played NFL. Yes, his health is Priority #1, but the game needs to be played regardless. You aren’t going to call it a tie
It most certainly does not need to be played. Both teams CAN end the season with one less game. These circumstances are unprecedented.
OBJ and Ram fans: “Let’s just reboot the whole damn season”.
The Chiefs just need to lose Sunday and problem solved!
The Chiefs play Saturday afternoon at Las Vegas — announced by the NFL on Sunday night.
But why would you not play it? It benefits noone to not play it. Its not as if it benefits Damar not to play the game. What he needs is medical care and he is receiving it from the right people. You dont play it and you penalize him and his team and take away the 1 seed and HFA and a bye in week 1 of the playoffs that they fought to earn. Yes the Bills could not play last night and you could not ask them to. But if you say to them now, would you like to concede the 1 seed to KC that you worked so hard to earn or would you like to try to play a game to retain it, I would bet the majority say we play. We fight to keep what this team, including Damar, earned. No, we will absolutely not give it away and won’t let the NFL and Roger give it away on our behalf.
Your point is well taken and truthfully, is there really any other recourse other than pushing the playoffs back a week and eliminating the needless extra week of hype that precedes the Super Bowl?
No other scenario makes sense when seeding makes such a big difference
If they push the playoffs back a week, would it only be the AFC or would the NFC push back also?
It would make more sense to call the game over and declare the Bengals the winner than to call it no contest. Plus, you would not need to push back the playoffs
The Bills’ curse continues. Now they lose the home game in the AFC Championship that they need to beat KC.
Looks like Goodell will have to develop another 15 tie breakers to cover unexpected situations such as this.
Gotta play this game. We need it for Fantasy playoffs