NFL 2022 Season

[Roy H.]

Bizarre idea I just read that the NFL is considering:

Step 1:  Treat the Bills-Bengals game as a no contest. 

Step 2:  If the Bills and Chiefs both have 3 losses at the end of the season, use a random number generator to determine a game that "doesn't count" for Kansas City's seeding purposes.  Assuming it's one of KC's wins that is stricken, both teams finish 13-3, tied for the best record, and traditional tiebreakers would be considered (meaning the Bills would get the #1 seed based upon H2H).  If it's a KC loss that is stricken, then the Chiefs advance.  I guess basically this would mean there's about a 81% chance of Buffalo advancing?

That is weird. And it seems unfair, IMO.

That said, I don't know what the best solution is.

It's kind of cold, but I think the Bills should just take a loss for the Cincy game if they're not going to finish it.  It was their guy who went down.  Call it a TKO and move on.

I wouldn't call it a loss (and therefore a win for Cincy), because as far as we know the Bills were ready and willing to play on.  I think the "no contest" thing is fine, though, meaning it doesn't count for either team.

Basing seeding upon an uneven number of games seems wrong, but there are no great answers here.

A friend suggest:

January 7 - 8:  Week 18 as scheduled

January 14 - 15:  Bills vs. Bengals; AFC playoffs on Bye; NFC playoffs go forward as scheduled

January 21 - 22: AFC playoffs Week One; NFC playoffs round 2

January 28 - 29:  AFC playoffs Week Two; NFC Championship

Feb. 5: AFC Championship; NFC bye

February 12:  Super Bowl

[Moranis]

Bizarre idea I just read that the NFL is considering:

Step 1:  Treat the Bills-Bengals game as a no contest. 

Step 2:  If the Bills and Chiefs both have 3 losses at the end of the season, use a random number generator to determine a game that "doesn't count" for Kansas City's seeding purposes.  Assuming it's one of KC's wins that is stricken, both teams finish 13-3, tied for the best record, and traditional tiebreakers would be considered (meaning the Bills would get the #1 seed based upon H2H).  If it's a KC loss that is stricken, then the Chiefs advance.  I guess basically this would mean there's about a 81% chance of Buffalo advancing?

That is weird. And it seems unfair, IMO.

That said, I don't know what the best solution is.

It's kind of cold, but I think the Bills should just take a loss for the Cincy game if they're not going to finish it.  It was their guy who went down.  Call it a TKO and move on.

I wouldn't call it a loss (and therefore a win for Cincy), because as far as we know the Bills were ready and willing to play on.  I think the "no contest" thing is fine, though, meaning it doesn't count for either team.

Basing seeding upon an uneven number of games seems wrong, but there are no great answers here.

A friend suggest:

January 7 - 8:  Week 18 as scheduled

January 14 - 15:  Bills vs. Bengals; AFC playoffs on Bye; NFC playoffs go forward as scheduled

January 21 - 22: AFC playoffs Week One; NFC playoffs round 2

January 28 - 29:  AFC playoffs Week Two; NFC Championship

Feb. 5: AFC Championship; NFC bye

February 12:  Super Bowl

What do you do if the Ravens beat the Bengals though?  They'd have swept them, but because the Bengals didn't play (and potentially lose) to Buffalo, the Bengals would be 11-5, while the Ravens would be 11-6.  Seems really unfair to the Ravens that they lose the division because Cincinnati didn't play one of their hardest games, a team the Ravens played and lost a close game to.  And in that scenario Baltimore would be 4-2 in the division while Cincinnati would be 2-4.

That is why that game affects so much.  Lots of seeding potentially at issue.  The AFC North though is a non-issue if Cincinnati beats Baltimore this weekend, which is why on some level it makes sense to wait until after this weekend to make a determination on that game.

[Donoghus]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

[Moranis]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

likely means the Ravens get screwed.

[Phantom255x]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

likely means the Ravens get screwed.

If they are going to do this then what's stopping certain teams from just forfeiting? I mean correct me if I'm wrong but aren't BAL already locked into a seed? If the division isn't in play then BAL could just decide to forfeit and rest guys for a week

[SparzWizard]

Bizarre idea I just read that the NFL is considering:

Step 1:  Treat the Bills-Bengals game as a no contest. 

Step 2:  If the Bills and Chiefs both have 3 losses at the end of the season, use a random number generator to determine a game that "doesn't count" for Kansas City's seeding purposes.  Assuming it's one of KC's wins that is stricken, both teams finish 13-3, tied for the best record, and traditional tiebreakers would be considered (meaning the Bills would get the #1 seed based upon H2H).  If it's a KC loss that is stricken, then the Chiefs advance.  I guess basically this would mean there's about a 81% chance of Buffalo advancing?

I would imagine KC fanbase and organization would have a meltdown over this so that's a hard no coming from them already. And I agree with KC, why are they being victimized for another team's problems? One of those "don't project your anxieties onto me" typa things. Now Buffalo and Cincinnati beating KC is very possible but that's another story.

Option 1 makes most sense...consider it no contest and move on.

[SparzWizard]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

likely means the Ravens get screwed.

If they are going to do this then what's stopping certain teams from just forfeiting? I mean correct me if I'm wrong but aren't BAL already locked into a seed? If the division isn't in play then BAL could just decide to forfeit and rest guys for a week

Baltimore wants to host a home-playoff game in the Wild Card Round, by overtaking Cincinnati. And they play Cincinnati this Sunday. And Baltimore holds the tiebreaker over them.

Not that it matters, I think Baltimore will go one and done the way they've been slumping but I can see them fighting for that #3 seed.

[Neurotic Guy]

I still like the idea of a Buffalo forfeit - if this is allowed.  I think it puts closure on the game for the Bills, allowing them to carve out the rest of their destiny by winning games. It concedes one if not 2 home field advantages but, again, puts the nightmare night in the rear view mirror, taking it on the chin in the interest of moving on.

[Phantom255x]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

likely means the Ravens get screwed.

If they are going to do this then what's stopping certain teams from just forfeiting? I mean correct me if I'm wrong but aren't BAL already locked into a seed? If the division isn't in play then BAL could just decide to forfeit and rest guys for a week

Baltimore wants to host a home-playoff game in the Wild Card Round, by overtaking Cincinnati. And they play Cincinnati this Sunday. And Baltimore holds the tiebreaker over them.

Not that it matters, I think Baltimore will go one and done the way they've been slumping but I can see them fighting for that #3 seed.

That's literally our point though.

In the scenario outlined above, the Bengals will have already clinched the AFC North because they have just 4 losses, Baltimore has 6, so even if BAL wins Week 18 they wouldn't win the division and are locked into the 6 seed anyways. That game literally becomes meaningless for BAL

[Moranis]

Okay, then.

Mike Petraglia
@Trags
·
13s
Bengals and Ravens are OFFICIALLY set for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Paycor.

likely means the Ravens get screwed.

If they are going to do this then what's stopping certain teams from just forfeiting? I mean correct me if I'm wrong but aren't BAL already locked into a seed? If the division isn't in play then BAL could just decide to forfeit and rest guys for a week

Baltimore wants to host a home-playoff game in the Wild Card Round, by overtaking Cincinnati. And they play Cincinnati this Sunday. And Baltimore holds the tiebreaker over them.

Not that it matters, I think Baltimore will go one and done the way they've been slumping but I can see them fighting for that #3 seed.

That's literally our point though.

In the scenario outlined above, the Bengals will have already clinched the AFC North because they have just 4 losses, Baltimore has 6, so even if BAL wins Week 18 they wouldn't win the division and are locked into the 6 seed anyways. That game literally becomes meaningless for BAL

well technically they could still be the 5th seed, so it wouldn't be entirely meaningless, but I don't think it is a great look that a team that dominates another team, has a much better in division record, ends up getting shafted because another team didn't have to play a game against what was the best team in the conference that also beat the more dominate team by just 3 points.  Maybe they just shouldn't count the Ravens loss to the Bills against the Ravens in that scenario.  Take the game away from both teams.  Of course that isn't fair to the Bengals either.

I really do think they need to play the Bengals/Bills game if the Ravens beat the Bengals.  If the Bengals beat the Ravens that clears up things somewhat so maybe in that scenario they can cancel the Bengals/Bills game though that game would still alter the 1, 2, and 3 seed.  It really is a mess and it is why so many were wondering what they were going to do about the game.  It really was/is one of the most important games in the entire season given the timing and just how much is at stake with it.

[Moranis]

Thinking about it some.  May be there is a 3rd solution if the Ravens beat the Bengals.  Since they would most likely be the 3rd and 6th seeds and would play each other, maybe they just play the playoff game at a neutral field.  Bengals are the 3rd seed and the Ravens are the 6th seed (assuming the Chargers win), but instead of rewarding Cincinnati for playing 1 less game, they play the game in Atlanta or Detroit (or some place like that). 

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

In the end, does it really matter if the Ravens, or Pats, or Dolphins get screwed by how this unfolds? There are three teams that matter: KC, Buff, and Cincy. Every other AFC team is a pretender. Healthy Lamar Jackson isn’t winning much with this year’s squad.

[Moranis]

In the end, does it really matter if the Ravens, or Pats, or Dolphins get screwed by how this unfolds? There are three teams that matter: KC, Buff, and Cincy. Every other AFC team is a pretender. Healthy Lamar Jackson isn’t winning much with this year’s squad.

Right because we've never seen 4 seeds or lower in the Super Bowl.  Oh wait, you mean both 4 seeds made the Super Bowl last year and a 5th seed won the Super Bowl the year before last.

All of this matters.  There are no guarantees. 

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

In the end, does it really matter if the Ravens, or Pats, or Dolphins get screwed by how this unfolds? There are three teams that matter: KC, Buff, and Cincy. Every other AFC team is a pretender. Healthy Lamar Jackson isn’t winning much with this year’s squad.

Right because we've never seen 4 seeds or lower in the Super Bowl.  Oh wait, you mean both 4 seeds made the Super Bowl last year and a 5th seed won the Super Bowl the year before last.

All of this matters.  There are no guarantees.

TP. Good point. You’re right. I just don’t think it will matter, but we have no idea how things will play out. I wouldn’t compare this year’s crop to the Bengals, Rams, or Bucs, but we can be shocked. Maybe Skylar is the real deal.

[Moranis]

In the end, does it really matter if the Ravens, or Pats, or Dolphins get screwed by how this unfolds? There are three teams that matter: KC, Buff, and Cincy. Every other AFC team is a pretender. Healthy Lamar Jackson isn’t winning much with this year’s squad.

Right because we've never seen 4 seeds or lower in the Super Bowl.  Oh wait, you mean both 4 seeds made the Super Bowl last year and a 5th seed won the Super Bowl the year before last.

All of this matters.  There are no guarantees.

TP. Good point. You’re right. I just don’t think it will matter, but we have no idea how things will play out. I wouldn’t compare this year’s crop to the Bengals, Rams, or Bucs, but we can be shocked. Maybe Skylar is the real deal.

And what I was saying is only an issue if Baltimore beats Cincinnati this weekend.  If Cincinnati wins there isn't any controversy about the AFC North, but if Baltimore wins they get shafted by having had to play Buffalo while Cincinnati got the advantage of not having to play Buffalo.