NFL 2022 Season

[Moranis]

Hamlin is doing well and is speaking.  His first question was "did we win?"  I don't think anyone should really be surprised by that, but that just shows the mentality of the guys that play football for a living.

To clarify one finer point: He isn't talking yet, because he still has a breathing tube; he communicated that question (and everything else) via writing.

Fair, but that was still his first question.  not what happened.  am I ok. etc.  Did we win.  That is what he most cared about.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Hamlin is doing well and is speaking.  His first question was "did we win?"  I don't think anyone should really be surprised by that, but that just shows the mentality of the guys that play football for a living.

To clarify one finer point: He isn't talking yet, because he still has a breathing tube; he communicated that question (and everything else) via writing.

Fair, but that was still his first question.  not what happened.  am I ok. etc.  Did we win.  That is what he most cared about.

Totally. Wasn't trying to detract from your point.

[Phantom255x]

I honestly have a bit of a headache since I had to wake up really early for something today, so forgive me for not analyzing much right now

But it seems the NFL has determined their plan and it’s very confusing. The major points are, Bills-Bengals will be cancelled, AFC Champ Game is very likely going to be in a neutral site, and the Bengals have won the AFC North. BUT the weird part is the Ravens can still host a playoff game against CIN if they meet as they may do a coin flip to determine the site of that game regardless of seeding. Umm…??

There was never going to be a perfect solution but I mean, this just feels really odd

[Goldstar88]

The Week 17 game between the Bengals and Bills has been canceled and will not continue, the league announced Thursday night.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

I honestly have a bit of a headache since I had to wake up really early for something today, so forgive me for not analyzing much right now

But it seems the NFL has determined their plan and it’s very confusing. The major points are, Bills-Bengals will be cancelled, AFC Champ Game is very likely going to be in a neutral site, and the Bengals have won the AFC North. BUT the weird part is the Ravens can still host a playoff game against CIN if they meet as they may do a coin flip to determine the site of that game regardless of seeding. Umm…??

There was never going to be a perfect solution but I mean, this just feels really odd

At this point, it’s going to be an imperfect solution. Teams still control their destiny by playing well, whether it is home or away.

I’m really happy to read that Hamlin is making progress. The fact that he asked about the game gives us an insight into his ability to think and communicate.

[SparzWizard]

I honestly have a bit of a headache since I had to wake up really early for something today, so forgive me for not analyzing much right now

But it seems the NFL has determined their plan and it’s very confusing. The major points are, Bills-Bengals will be cancelled, AFC Champ Game is very likely going to be in a neutral site, and the Bengals have won the AFC North. BUT the weird part is the Ravens can still host a playoff game against CIN if they meet as they may do a coin flip to determine the site of that game regardless of seeding. Umm…??

There was never going to be a perfect solution but I mean, this just feels really odd

Cincinnati getting shafted bad here. Of the Big 3 (KC, BUF, CIN), CIN gets the short end of the stick in all this.

Even if the Ravens lose this Sunday, they have a (pretty good) shot at hosting a home-playoff game. If Bills and Bengals end up with the same result this Sunday, it'll be Bengals @ Bills in the Divisional Rounds.

Bengals had momentum in that game and was about to be up 14-3 over the Bills until that unfortunate incident happened. Dang.

[Roy H.]

the league’s competition committee and commissioner Roger Goodell drew up a set of scenarios for owners to vote on Friday to smooth out advantages that could result from the cancellation.

Those scenarios:

Scenario 1: Buffalo and Kansas City both win or tie in Week 18 — a Buffalo vs. Kansas City AFC championship game would be at a neutral site.

Scenario 2: Buffalo and Kansas City both lose in Week 18 and Baltimore wins or ties — a Buffalo vs. Kansas City AFC championship game would be at a neutral site.

Scenario 3: Buffalo and Kansas City both lose and Cincinnati wins — a Buffalo or Cincinnati vs. Kansas City AFC championship game would be at a neutral site.

Furthermore, if Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18, it will have swept the divisional opponent Bengals, but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore for a 17-game schedule.

If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati and if those two clubs are scheduled to play a wild-card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss. If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the wild-card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures.

Goodell said these three scenarios were the league’s best answer to the disruption in the race for the AFC’s top seed and anything else impacted.

[Moranis]

Even though it potentially shafts my Ravens, I've come around that they should just enforce the rule they have the on the books and just do win percentage.  That is the rule.  They shouldn't change it mid-season. 

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Even though it potentially shafts my Ravens, I've come around that they should just enforce the rule they have the on the books and just do win percentage.  That is the rule.  They shouldn't change it mid-season.

Isn’t Lamar hurt? I think that has 1000x more impact on Baltimore’s fate than the NFL’s decision. You can keep bringing up that Baltimore is getting shafted, but your team isn’t good enough to win playoff games without your pro bowl QB. They probably aren’t good enough to win playoff games with him either.

If I were a Ravens fan, I would be more frustrated by the GM not signing the best player on the team. This is impacting how quickly he is returning to the field.

[Phantom255x]

Here is Phantom255x's hot take

I think they won't agree to this scenario that was presented yesterday evening, and ultimately they will have an 8-team playoffs (each conference - so 16 total teams) and zero byes or bye-teams

[SparzWizard]

Here is Phantom255x's hot take

I think they won't agree to this scenario that was presented yesterday evening, and ultimately they will have an 8-team playoffs (each conference - so 16 total teams) and zero byes or bye-teams

KC gets shafted there (and the Eagles for what you will). They fought long and hard to get first-round bye but they'll lose that incentive.

NFL is crazy so 8-seed could potentially upset the 1-seed esp if it's "win or go home" type of series.

[Phantom255x]

Here is Phantom255x's hot take

I think they won't agree to this scenario that was presented yesterday evening, and ultimately they will have an 8-team playoffs (each conference - so 16 total teams) and zero byes or bye-teams

KC gets shafted there (and the Eagles for what you will). They fought long and hard to get first-round bye but they'll lose that incentive.

NFL is crazy so 8-seed could potentially upset the 1-seed esp if it's "win or go home" type of series.

I agree, but lets be real there's no perfect solution. Unless they decide to add a Week 19 of sorts and remove the Super Bowl bye week but it doesn't sound like they want to do that

So a 16-team playoff will happen IMO. Might also lead to increased sales/revenue and all that for other teams/cities involved if neutral sites are possibly involved

[Donoghus]

16 team playoffs wouldn't be unprecedented.  It was done in the '82 season due to a player strike during mid-season that threw off things.

[Vermont Green]

I understand the arrangement they have set up but I do feel it disadvantages Buffalo.  They beat KC in the regular season so hold the tie breaker.  If they played the CIN-BUF game and Buffalo won, they would get the bye with a win vs. the Patriots.  KC is not likely to lose to the Raiders.  And if KC wins, they get the by week even if Buffalo wins.

I am not saying this isn't the right way to handle it.  I don't see a better or perfectly fair solution.  But Buffalo does have a grip.  The league said that no team would get into the playoffs or not based on outcome of the CIN-BUF game, which is true, but who gets the bye is very much impacted.

[johnnygreen]

What happened to Damar Hamlin is obviously unfortunate. However, the only thing that was unprecedented was how the rest of the Buffalo team handled the situation, and decided they couldn't continue playing.

The Buffalo Bills should concede the game and take the loss. Do not put the rest of the NFL in the current position of trying to make something up to fix this situation.

I just heard the owners approved the NFLs proposal. Whoever wins the Superbowl will have an asterisk on the championship.