Mango

The Bengals/Ravens thing is so weird. It feels odd for CIN to possibly win the division with the same number of wins and lose both head to heads. I don’t like changing the rules for them mid season. But ultimately they had 16 games to handle business, and they didn’t. I feel the same about the 1 seed and the Bills. As a Bills fan it feels like our boss gave us all the time we need to handle a family emergency, but we’re not getting paid for the days we don’t show up. Luckily we are still firmly in the running for presidents club.

I am in a group text where one person has spent the last 3 days relentlessly ranting about how the Bills got screwed. I don’t think I can be their friend anymore. (I’m being serious. He’s been ranting since the day after the Hamlin deal about how the league better not screw us by not playing the game) But one thing I keep coming back to for Buffalo and the 1 seed is that we had 15 other games to handle business. I think Tomlin said the same thing. With the Bengals, you never had control of the one seed. It was win out and other stuff. So that part doesn’t bother me. The Ravens thing is wild. Such an odd scenario to have the same number of wins and lose both head to heads but win the tie breaker. Ultimately, I would be shocked if that happened. You’ll win the division.

I hope we lose. I’m all in on all things #3. inject it right into my veins!

Can we release Rhodes twice?

So this is true. Tomlin said the same thing in his presser. His team has had 16 opportunities to win football games. It is part of why I am OK with possibly losing the one seed. As long as the staff and players at OBD were OK with any decision I am OK with it. I firmly believe that the team had no interest in replaying that game and that is a huge reason why the game isn't being replayed.

Like the Bills, there are 15 other games to secure your spot as the top pick. The Bills have gained and lost the first seed in the division and the conference at points this season. It happens. I get why the Bengals are upset about the Ravens game. But ultimately emergencies happen and solutions are always clean. I would be shocked if there is a single person at OBD who cares about the current solution.

I don't set the quota

I was just trying to think of something for week 18. I feel kinda crappy about thinking about this from a PR perspective, but it would be good for the team to be able to build their emotion about this as the team builds through the playoffs.

To put things back in football perspective with Damar looking to be an absolute miracle. Maybe we build DH into the pregame week after week? Week 18 - silence and an announcement. Wild Card- The training staff lead the charge. Divisional - Recorded Video in the stadium Conference - With any luck he can lead us out of the tunnel!

Any tie between just BUF and CIN for a single games home field should go to CIN. They lost their opportunity for the one home game, without a loss to the Ravens, Buffalo should have to play in their house.

The league can figure that out now. The Midwest is easy for everybody. College stadium with 100k. Why putz around with Cleveland or Detroit when you could get 2x the attendance then normal from 3 big fan bases.

If they pick a neutral site I hope it’s something like UM, Penn State, or OSU. Something with over 100k seats. Also, I’m in favor of the 3 seed….kinda. If we’re gonna ride with Damar, let’s ride with Damar!

I say tank the Pats game for the 3 seed. Let’s ride this wave baby!

No. There isn’t any scandal. A guy died. 2 teams played one less game. There might be some slight movement between the top 3 teams that have the same record heading into week 18. The Bills aren’t owed home field, and the Chiefs/Bengals would also be deserving.

I wouldn’t be shocked if they hold off for their home playoff game. Having McD lead the charge might be a good one this week.

I think all the talk of the one seed was more us the fans than the team. There have been complaints on the board all season of McD being "too cautious" with injuries. And the response was consistently "It is better to play an extra game healthy than to get home field banged up". And here we are. The Bills had a decision to make. Fight for homefield emotionally (and physically) banged up, or enter the playoffs the healthiest version of yourself. I don't necessarily feel bad for Pittsburgh or Baltimore in this scenario. The Ravens lost their control over the division with a lost to Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh was never in control. KC seems to get a small benefit and BUF/CIN doesn't feel like a big deal to either team.

I am wondering if there is something symbolic or some internal significance to keeping a roster spot open for a guy who is fighting for his life in the hospital. (Total speculation) St Joe’s used to put out a spare chair for the old wrestling coach who took his own life forever ago. Not a wrestler so I don’t know the whole background. But I do know the current wrestling coach removed it because suicide is a cardinal sin and shouldn’t be remembered. (It seems incredibly poopy to go out of your way to be such an butt hole)

Unsure if you heard. The Bills lost their back up free safety who has been starting all season for an injured Micah Hyde. They need depth. They need somebody to fill in behind (likely) Marlowe and they need that person to get up to speed quickly in the event of an emergency. Marden has been here before so he’s ahead of the learning curve.

I think there is some give and take here. If the Bills were all hyped up to replay the game I think the league would make it happen. But I don’t think they are. Something has to give. I don’t think this is a huge deal. I think the Bills are OK with it.

There was some speculation here that AFC win % could be used. In that case, the one seed is on the table with a win.

My better half is supposed to be going. She feels uneasy about it in general. Her friend works in the PICU and sees all sorts of terrible stuff all the time so she’s going to get rowdy. But my partner is thinking about staying home. That’s not her “vibe” at the moment when it comes to the Bills.

The Bills need to play because of the economic impact on Erie county. That’s the hill you’re gonna die on? If it gets you to stop rambling about how when men were men, and athletes should be prepared for death, I fully support this conversation.

So if they don’t play, but Pegula pays them for the game, we cool here? Or was this really not about the people working at the stadium for you?

So I can speak to this a little bit. I had a teammate almost die at practice. He had a heart attack rowing, his boat flipped when it happened, he was alone and under water. Another teammate jumped out and swam to him. We had some selection to do for the World Cup season. We pushed it off. A few weeks. That didn’t bother Aaron. Of course he, and I am sure Damar, would be upset if they forfeited the season. But we’re talking a game that in the grand scheme of things isn’t all that meaningful since they stopped the KC game. If only a guy on the USNT knew what it was like to be on a competitive team. Edit: I have 6 national championships. I don’t have any issue giving the Bills the space and freedom that they need to make the best decision for themselves.