CincyBillsFan

This thread is amazing. The amount of fear of facing the Finns is absurd. The only reason that the last game was close was that the Bills offense took a quarter to overcome losing Morse at center with Bates out of the game. Going into this game the Bills O-line is healthy. They will score at will. As far as whether Tua plays or not it would be a sin if he plays. Three concussions in a couple of months off of 3 modest hits is a real problem that will have to be sorted out in the off season. And I suspect that this will not be a decision that only the Dolphins get to make. The league is going to be looking over their shoulder every step of the way. And if Tua plays? Miami was not exactly lighting the world on fire when he was out there.

We'll have to agree to disagree. On a practical level it is one game at a time and if the Bills forget that they will be out of the playoffs regardless of the seedings. But on a strategic level the path to the SB is much harder as a #3 seed then as a #2 seed. As for resting players we don't know that one week would be enough. There are no guarantees that Allen's ankle, which didn't prevent him from practicing, would measurably improve in a week. Ditto for any other players nagging injures. What we do know for a fact is that if we win today we will get two home playoff games and a neutral site Championship game. I don't think it's even logical considering that resting our starters would likley lead directly to our dropping from the 2nd seed to the 3rd seed.

Oh yes we've had more then our fair share of unqualified coordinators and position group coaches through the 18 year drought.

I'm not being a jerk here. I'm truly astounded that a Bills fan would advocate resting players tomorrow and risk falling to a three seed. I see NO advantage to this at all. The path to the Super Bowl as a 3 seed is much more difficult then as a 2 seed. IMO the week of rest doesn't come close to compensating for falling to the 3rd seed.

The road to the Super Bowl is a lot tougher if it's through first Cincinnati and then KC. A win tomorrow and we avoid both scenarios.

We are healthier now then we've been since the early part of the season. And you're dreaming if you think Baltimore will beat Cincy tomorrow. Serious question - are you a Bills fan? I'm asking because there is nothing to gain if you rest players and we lose to NE. And I don't see us beating NE if we rest Allen and other key players. Given what we stand to lose (a 2nd round home playoff game & a neutral site Championship game) it's insane to advocate that the Bills rest players tomorrow.

If the Bills lose they go to Cincy in round 2 and then go to KC in round 3. It's utter insanity to rest players and not go all out to win this game. IMO a win is more critical for Buffalo then NE as the Bills have genuine Super Bowl aspirations. All NE is trying to do is squeak into the playoffs where they are likely to go one and out.

A win tomorrow and Buffalo's path to the Super Bowl will be two home playoff games and either a home or neutral site championship game. A loss and the Bills will have only one home playoff game and then likely go to Cincinnati & then KC. There is no way resting Allen and others is more valuable then playing them and beating NE to secure a much more favorable road to the Super Bowl. I can't imagine why any Bills fan would advocate resting players and potentially not beating NE. I can see why NE fans would advocate this approach.

Agreed. If the Bills players/coaches don't understand how important having at least two home playoff games and a neutral field for the championship game is they aren't serious Super Bowl contenders. Fortunately I believe the Bills know exactly how important a #2 seeding is.

Last season Allen was embarked on one of if not the greatest runs by a QB in NFL playoff history. His clutch performance against KC, leading TWO late 4th quarter TD drives clearly shows he is not a "puppy".

But NE has a much better defense from both a coaching and player consideration. In a mid January playoff game in Buffalo that will be a much more important fact.

Why would the Bills not want to play Miami? Do you think Tua will be back next week and effective?

This is so true - just look at the Bills season! Bills & Titans were tied at 7 - 7 late in the 1st quarter and the Bills go on and win 41 - 7. The Bills were up on the Jets late in the 2nd quarter 14 - 3 and go on to lose the game. The Bills were down 10 - 3 to Cleveland in the 2nd quarter then go on a 25 - 0 run on the way to victory. The Bills were up 27 - 10 on the Vikings late in the 3rd quarter only to lose the game. And the Bears led the Bills 10 - 6 at halftime before Buffalo woke up and beat them 29 - 3 in the 2nd half. You have to be a football illiterate to think that a late first quarter score has anything to do with the final score.

If a baseball game gets called after one inning the final score is not the score at the end of the inning. Under no circumstances should the score late in the 1st period of a football game EVER be used as a final score.

Yes it would be an advantage for KC but IMO it would be smaller advantage then any alternative approach. It's one thing for the Bills to collect themselves and play next Sunday against NE it would be another for the season to be extended and the Bills play Cincinnati next Sunday. Resuming the game at the exact spot on the field and stadium where Damar Hamlin went down would place the Bills at a competitive disadvantage.

I posted this last night but feel even stronger this morning that it's a workable solution: * There is no way you can play last nights game so you call it a non-contest. The Bengals & Bills will only play 16 games. The idea that sometime in the next week you would place the ball at the exact spot in the same stadium that Damar Hamlin went down and then resume play is not right. * Use win percent to determine seeding. * Assuming KC wins and both the Bills & Bengals win Sunday then they would be seeded #2 & #3 respectfully. And even if the Bills lose or don't play (forfeit) and the Bengals lose the two teams will still be the 2& 3 seed. * The Bills and Bengals would have 1st round home playoff games. * Should they both win they will play each other. This game would be played at a neutral site with each fan base getting half the tickets. The other issue would be for Bills & Bengals players who have performance incentives losing a game. The teams could simply prorate and adjust the numbers to reflect losing one game. IMO the sooner the NFL can bring clarity to what it will do moving forward the better for all involved.

They can have it.

The thought that in the next week they would place the ball at the exact spot in the same stadium where this occurred and continue the game is unthinkable. This game will never happen. They need to figure out the least damaging way to move forward which IMO is to call this a non contest and use win percentage to establish seedings. Should the Bills & Bengals meet in the playoffs the game would be played on a neutral field (Indy?) with tickets distributed evenly between the two fan bases.

From what I can tell the money is pouring in from all over the country. Other fan bases are joining in. It's quite remarkable.

The money will do good in a way that Damar Hamlin wanted. I can't think of a more rational act.

If it's true that the NFL wanted to resume play after a 5 minute break then McDermitt & Taylor having balked at that may have saved the NFL. IMO the only path froward is to call it a non contest and the Bills/Bengals would only play 16 games. They would use winning percentage to figure out playoff seedings. KC would get the #1 seed with a win next week while the Bills/Bengals would get the #2 & #3 seeds respectively if they win out. The Bengals would still win their division by beating Baltimore. I see no other solution and while it potentially hurts the Bills & Bengals a bit it pales in comparison to what happened tonight. Should the Bills/Bengals play each other in the playoffs the game would be played on a neutral field.

I've lived down here for 36 years but am still a diehard Bills fan. Mount Adams is a fantastic inner city neighborhood in Cincinnati. The views out over the river and the downtown core are spectacular. Lots of good eating there including a great Thai restaurant.

Cincinnati is an awesome food town. the Jeff Ruby steak houses are superb. Great dining downtown.