***** Official Bengals/Bills GDT *****

[TwistedChief]

Al Qaeda vs ISIS on display tonight!

Here’s to our Osama bin Laden - Joe Burrow!

Go Bengals!

[ThyKingdomCome15]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I think the NFL should plan for the game to be resumed on Thursday night.

That's 72 hrs to give some time for them to know what may be Hamlin's fate, which may or may not be enough but it seems like they should have a pretty good indication of his brain activity by then.

Move both of their Week 18 games to Monday night. That's as much time as playing Sunday and Thursday.

It puts a little pressure on them to prep for week 1 of the playoffs with one less day of rest, but at least it would mitigate this situation as best as is likely.

If Hamlin's fate is death, which I don't really want to think about, the league as a business still has to find a way to move on in a respectful manner. I'm not sure what that is, honestly, other than just playing the games and working as well as they can with game times to accommodate any situation that arises. I mean, it's never going to be perfect for the players and coaches regardless of how they approach the situation, but they can't just cancel everything as heartless as that may sound.

That's solid, I like it.

[kevrunner]

If they decide not to reschedule the game, it might not be fair, but I think they should give the Bengals a win, 7 - 3. Bengals scored a TD on their only full possession and the Bills were only able to get a field goal on their only possession.

[Rams Fan]

Originally Posted by ThyKingdomCome15

They're all shook up for their teammate, can't play the game. Tears, emotions, can't play. But they can go home to their sweet houses and hot wives while the teammate they're so shook up over is fighting for his life in a CIN hospital? Please, hats off the the BUF players who chose to stay with their teammate. In my opinion, they all shoulda stayed.

I’m not aware of any hospital allowing 50+ guests to visit someone at once.

I’m also fairly certain Hamlin won’t be alone when he’s in the hospital and for someone who is trying say “the game needs to be resolved”, the players going back to Buffalo is as close to normal as it could be for them.

[Danguardace]

Originally Posted by kevrunner

If they decide not to reschedule the game, it might not be fair, but I think they should give the Bengals a win, 7 - 3. Bengals scored a TD on their only full possession and the Bills were only able to get a field goal on their only possession.

This is only if they don’t reschedule the game.

Not sure if NFL has any protocol for this but in British soccer the game has to be minimum 2/3rds through for the result to stand.

I couldn't see them granting a result based on 3 drives

[Balto]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I think the NFL should plan for the game to be resumed on Thursday night.

That's 72 hrs to give some time for them to know what may be Hamlin's fate, which may or may not be enough but it seems like they should have a pretty good indication of his brain activity by then.

Move both of their Week 18 games to Monday night. That's as much time as playing Sunday and Thursday.

It puts a little pressure on them to prep for week 1 of the playoffs with one less day of rest, but at least it would mitigate this situation as best as is likely.

If Hamlin's fate is death, which I don't really want to think about, the league as a business still has to find a way to move on in a respectful manner. I'm not sure what that is, honestly, other than just playing the games and working as well as they can with game times to accommodate any situation that arises. I mean, it's never going to be perfect for the players and coaches regardless of how they approach the situation, but they can't just cancel everything as heartless as that may sound.

The problem with this is that if either or both Pats and Ravens make the playoffs they are now going to bitch about having to turn around and play a wild card game with 1 or 2 days of less prep and why are they getting penalized. They won’t want that

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

From a competitive standpoint, I’d love it if it were called a tie and they added another playoff team to the mix and no one had a bye.

There’s nothing fulfilling about the Chiefs potentially gaining literally any advantage from this outcome.

Just a really difficult situation outside the obvious.

I threw this out there yesterday as a possibilty, but I just read the following and I really do think this might be the outcome:

The owners and players agreed earlier this year to expand the playoff field to 14 teams. Under that format, the top seed of each conference would receive a first-round bye.

However, if COVID-19 cases force the league to alter plans and pursue the 16-team field, no teams would have a bye week.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ms/6233925002/

[CupidStunt]

Originally Posted by kevrunner

If they decide not to reschedule the game, it might not be fair, but I think they should give the Bengals a win, 7 - 3. Bengals scored a TD on their only full possession and the Bills were only able to get a field goal on their only possession.

Of all the things they could do, that won't and shouldn't be one of them.

Pretty much anything else -- while NOT a good option -- would at least be fairer. Calling it a tie, playing today, or in some make-up week.

Actually, the more I think about it, the only thing I can see is them altering the schedule to have this game played. The implications are just so huge for the entire conference of contenders.

It's crazy how every single permutation has a significant consequence. There's not a single scenario I can think of where someone doesn't lose. I was thinking, maybe they make BUF-CIN in a few days or something, if CIN wins (and KC does), well, arguably neither BUF-CIN needs to play again - and maybe even BAL doesn't? I think they're locked at 6 if LAC wins (which is likely)? - but then you have NE. Holy cluster. It's crazy how there isn't one game with a contender against someone like the Texans, where they could reasonably just say F it, let's cancel it.

I keep thinking about TNF though. Teams play Sunday and then again Thursday. Granted, then they get extra rest before their next Sunday. But I think they'll find a way to make it where BUF-CIN plays Weds-Thurs, then again maybe Monday or Tues, and then the following Sunday or Monday. There'll be complaints but those couple extra days don't seem like the absolute worst thing in the world.

Holy rambling. What a situation.

[crayzkirk]

Terrible thing to happen to a young man. I think we all forget how violent and dangerous football can be.

Why not go back to the 12 team playoff format? Cancel the off week for the 1/2 seeds, cancel this week for all teams and play Buf-Cin next Monday?

If his condition worsens, then just cancel the rest of the season. I don't like it however you have to show some respect for the people.

[DTVietnam]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

Terrible thing to happen to a young man. I think we all forget how violent and dangerous football can be.

Why not go back to the 12 team playoff format? Cancel the off week for the 1/2 seeds, cancel this week for all teams and play Buf-Cin next Monday?

If his condition worsens, then just cancel the rest of the season. I don't like it however you have to show some respect for the people.

dumbest thing i read all day...and I just came from twitter

[loochy]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

Terrible thing to happen to a young man. I think we all forget how violent and dangerous football can be.

Why not go back to the 12 team playoff format? Cancel the off week for the 1/2 seeds, cancel this week for all teams and play Buf-Cin next Monday?

If his condition worsens, then just cancel the rest of the season. I don't like it however you have to show some respect for the people.

Wtf? How does that help anything? Canceling the season doesn't make him better. He's already hurt. The delay is only to allow the Bills' players to get their heads right. The worst thing they could do is expand this fiasco to involve all 32 teams. This has to stay between Buf and Cin.

[Shields68]

Originally Posted by Danguardace

Not sure if NFL has any protocol for this but in British soccer the game has to be minimum 2/3rds through for the result to stand.

I couldn't see them granting a result based on 3 drives

Don't see this happening. Also at this point do not see the game being played. The big question is what to do about the playoff seeding. The Chiefs will have one more win if they beat the Raiders, can not see giving the Bill's the tie breaker when they are not tied....

[Rainbarrel]

I assume the game will resume where it left off(eventually). Instead of starting new

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Rainbarrel

I assume the game will resume where it left off(eventually). Instead of starting new

Yes, that would be the fair thing to do.

[notorious]

They aren’t going to cancel any additional games. Way too much money involved.

They either need to make this game up today or tomorrow, or call it a “DNP”.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Shields68

Don't see this happening. Also at this point do not see the game being played. The big question is what to do about the playoff seeding. The Chiefs will have one more win if they beat the Raiders, can not see giving the Bill's the tie breaker when they are not tied....

Very true. But if KC loses to the Raiders, problem solved...