No NFL game has been canceled since the 1987 season, when a players’ strike led to a 15-game campaign, and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes no game has started and not been completed in league history. The league rescheduled its Week 2 games in 2001, after the September 11 attacks led to their postponement, and put Tuesdays and Wednesdays in play for COVID-19-affected contests in 2020 and ’21. Three days after the Bills-Bengals game’s postponement, the league has not announced a plan.
NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said everything is being considered, while fellow EVP Jeff Miller noted the league did not begin discussions on how to proceed with the game until recently (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo). Miller said, however, a decision should emerge this week, via the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin (on Twitter).
Some among the Bills are skeptical the game will be resumed, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes (video link). Logistical reasons are behind the doubt, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes momentum is building toward the league canceling the game and dealing with the consequences. An announcement along these lines should be expected Thursday, Florio tweets.
As the NFL found its footing in the 1920s and ’30s, league schedules regularly featured teams ending seasons with disparate game counts. Since 1936, however, every team has finished a season playing the same number of games. This week’s situation threatens that streak.
Had the Bills (12-3) won in Cincinnati and then defeated the Patriots, they would have clinched their first No. 1 seed since 1993. Had the Bengals (11-4) won, they would have clinched the AFC North title and had a path to their first home-field advantage perch since 1988. As it stands now, the Chiefs (13-3) — based on win percentage — would be in position to capture the top seed by beating the Raiders on Saturday. While Kansas City grabbing the top seed would come with an asterisk, Florio adds the prospect of playing the AFC championship game on a neutral field is not on the table. Monday’s game being declared a no-contest would also wrap the 10-6 Ravens’ chances of winning the AFC North.
Other options exist here, and an NFL source informed Fowler the league moving the schedule back — via eliminating the bye week ahead of Super Bowl LVII — should be a possibility. The NFL did this during the 2001 season, though Jones adds NFL sources view a no-contest scenario as the cleanest as of Thursday morning. Rescheduling the Super Bowl is also not in play, per Jones.
Moving the Bills-Bengals tilt to next week — creating a de facto Week 19 — would also put the two playoff-bound teams at a bit of a disadvantage, with the rest of the postseason qualifiers being given an unusual bye week. Albert Breer of SI.com offers a scenario in which Goodell determines the Chiefs and Bills’ records through 16 games, thus putting Buffalo — which beat Kansas City in October — back on track to earn the No. 1 seed with a win over New England. Although such a plan would create a strange precedent, this week has effectively moved the league into uncharted territory.
It’s the right thing to do. A kid temporarily died on the field in an extremely high profile game and it heavily impacted the entire league, let alone his teammates and the Bengals.
Unprecedented situation, and to cancel the game would be to provide it with the respect it deserves
One piece without question. But adding this game into playoff preparation also puts these teams at a physical disadvantage. Unlike other sports the physical demands require recovery time. Cancelation has been the logical choice the minute they walked off the field.
we keep hearing about they need to make it up, they need to cancel it.
ultimately the two teams this impacts the most playoff wise are the two teams in question (Buffalo/Cinci).
if the Bills are willing to cancel or declare a no contest knowing the outcome may mean a #2 seed, and same with Cinci as #3 then all should be good
As much as it might not be the “fairest” thing to do for all parties, at this point it is certainly the easiest one.
They could just declare Cincy the winner of the game since they were leading when the game was postponed. That seems to be the cleanest way. The Bills wont like it but this is uncharted territory nothing will be 100% fair
Both Cincinnati and Buffalo both agree to postpone this game together. The coaches decided this out come. If Kansas City wins this week they should be the #1 seed. It’s only right outcome for the seedings. Everything on a schedule to postpone the playoffs. People have bought tickets to fly,rooms and for the game. Would Buffalo and Cincinnati getting extra time to rest Would be fair tothe rest of the league? This happens in other leagues and they play on. The NFL has to accept this and move on with the rest of the teams.
The Pro Bowl is not needed. Move it and push it all back one week. It can be done without consequences. This is the fairest choice unless KC wins and Buffalo & Baltimore both lose. Then it’s down to Buffalo and Cincy being tied for the #2 seed and they can make the choice together to either play or go by a tiebreaker.
There is no Pro Bowl game any longer.
yes there is….it’s flag football with skills competition. Its not needed.
Cancelling game would be significantly unfair to Ravens if they beat Bengals
I wouldn’t be surprised if both the Bengals and Bills LOSE this weekend given their on-field shock, which would make the whole discussion about whether to resume/replay their game a moot point.
Except for the fact that Baltimore would get screwed out of the division and the Bengals would loose the opportunity to nab the 2 seed from the Bills. This game would impact the playoff picturen in some way, no matter the outcome or any future outcomes
I realize anything could happen but the Ravens still need to beat the Bengals this week in Cinci for this to mean anything and they could only beat them by 2 with Lamar in October at home.
Then why even bother playing any games if we’ve already determined their outcome?
Additionally, if the Bengals were to win, they would be in the running for the one seed. Either way, this matchup would have important postseason implications
sure. it’s why I started with anything can happen.
no doubt their are implications but I don’t think anyone outside of Ravens fans are crying about Baltimore possibly losing a chance at #.1
I mean, yes, strictly fans of the given team that is getting screwed over would be concerned. The point is more to ensure that nobody is getting screwed over (or at least to as minute of a degree as possible)
With Hamlin no longer on a breathing machine and talking on his own, the players should have a huge sigh of relief and be able to move on.