Playoff Solutions Assuming they don’t replay the Bengals game.

[SoCal Deek]

1 minute ago, DCofNC said:

This is exactly why they can’t just pretend the game never happened, it becomes a 17 vs 16 game schedule.  They either have to play the game or the Bills have to forfeit.   Otherwise it screws too many things up.  I think it’s going to end up in a forfeit and that’s all they can do.  The Bills will be locked to the 3 seed, assuming KC beats the Raiders, they can forfeit the NE game if they want, at very least the starters aren’t playing.

I hadn’t thought of that. The Bills could actually forfeit both of the last two games and still have the 3 seed. I’m not saying that’s what they should do but it’s an interesting position to be in. What does that do to the Patriots? Does it give them an automatic berth?

[chongli]

4 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

This is exactly why they can’t just pretend the game never happened, it becomes a 17 vs 16 game schedule.  They either have to play the game or the Bills have to forfeit.   Otherwise it screws too many things up.  I think it’s going to end up in a forfeit and that’s all they can do.  The Bills will be locked to the 3 seed, assuming KC beats the Raiders, they can forfeit the NE game if they want, at very least the starters aren’t playing.

 

Or the NFL could discount this last week's games, and make it a 16-game season, like it used to be recently.

 

Everyone is off this Sunday, and playoffs begin on schedule. Or even one week later, with no off-week before the SB.

Edited January 3, 2023 by chongli

[UKBillFan]

Just now, SoCal Deek said:

I hadn’t thought of that. The Bills could actually forfeit both of the last two games and still have the 3 seed. I’m not saying that’s what they should do but it’s an interesting position to be in. What does that do to the Patriots? Does it give them an automatic berth?

Yes. For the Patriots it’s a case of win and in. 

[boyst]

4 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Even if our game is never replayed and we beat the Pats?

Yep. They have 1 more win than us. 

[SoCal Deek]

Just now, UKBillFan said:

Yes. For the Patriots it’s a case of win and in. 

What a mess. So many teams impacted. 

[stlbills13]

It sounds insensitive but gambling, fantasy football, etc are a big moneymaker for the NFL in terms of interest which leads to ad revenue, viewers, etc. I think those things will be factored into their decision whether that's right or not.

[Greg S]

Just now, SoCal Deek said:

I hadn’t thought of that. The Bills could actually forfeit both of the last two games and still have the 3 seed. I’m not saying that’s what they should do but it’s an interesting position to be in. What does that do to the Patriots? Does it give them an automatic berth?

 

If the Bills forfeit and take the loss, then that gifts a win to the Pats. The Steelers and Dolphins will be extremely pissed off about it.

[bobobonators]

3 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

Yeah, run the math.

We would have the same amount of wins and one less loss if the Bengals/Bills game is not played and we win next week + Chiefs loss. 

[TheWei44]

First, prayers for Damar, his family and friends, and everyone else impacted by the horrific game last night.  So awful!

 

Re this thread, are teams allowed to unilaterally forfeit multiple games?  I could see the Bills contemplating doing so, but is it against the rules?

Edited January 3, 2023 by TheWei44

[bobobonators]

Just now, boyst said:

Yep. They have 1 more win than us. 

I was saying if we beat the Pats and Raiders beat the Chiefs after Week 18. 

[CincyBillsFan]

1 minute ago, dma0034 said:

 

 

 

Absolutely cannot happen. It is a competitive advantage for the Chiefs. The game will 100% be scheduled to play. Too many implications with Fantasy Football/ Gambling/ Seedings/ Tickets for it not to be played (not to mention the agreement)

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.

 

 

 

 

[chongli]

22 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

There is ZERO chance the Bills are playing 2 games in 5 days then possibly a playoff game 6 days after any Monday night game. 
 

I said this last night I’ll say it again.  If the updates on Damar are still critical, there will not be any games this weekend.  

 

There may not be games anyway if no teams are practicing. The Bills certainly won't be.

[SoCal Deek]

Just now, Greg S said:

 

If the Bills forfeit and take the loss, then that gifts a win to the Pats. The Steelers and Dolphins will be extremely pissed off about it.

Thanks. What a mess! You can imagine what the fans in those Cities are thinking.

[What a Tuel]

1 minute ago, boyst said:

Yep. They have 1 more win than us. 

 

Maybe I am misunderstanding your conversation but there is still a path to #1 seed even with a loss to Cinci.

 

Bills lose against Cinci then:

Week 18:

Bills win, KC loss, Cinci loss, Bills clinch 1st seed

Bills win, KC wins, Cinci loss, Bills clinch 2nd seed

Bills win, KC loss, Cinci wins, Bills clinch 2nd seed

Bills win, KC wins, Cinci wins, Bills clinch 3rd seed

Bills loss, KC loss, Cinci loss, Bills clinch 3rd seed

Bills loss, KC wins, Cinci wins, Bills clinch 3rd seed

Bills loss, KC loss, Cinci wins, Bills clinch 3rd seed

Bills loss, KC win, Cinci loss, Bills clinch 3rd seed

[BillsFanSD]

4 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

IMHO, I think the best option is to postpone all games this next weekend until the following weekend and only play the Bills vs Bengals game this weekend.  Then the following week, all week 18 games would be played as normal.  
 

And the playoffs start one week later.  

This completely screws up the logistics of 16 games.  We don't even know if stadiums are available the following week. 

[TFBillsfan]

1 minute ago, Greg S said:

 

If the Bills forfeit and take the loss, then that gifts a win to the Pats. The Steelers and Dolphins will be extremely pissed off about it.

Is that really any different than not playing your starters though which the Bills could elect to do? The Bills don’t owe Pitt or MIA anything. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 minute ago, CincyBillsFan said:

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.

 

 

 

 

There’s no way they play the cincy game after the week 18 games imo.  It’s either gonna be in the next few days or not at all 

I’m assuming whatever they do they’re going to leave the final decision of whether to play up to both teams 

[dma0034]

Just now, CincyBillsFan said:

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's against the CBA... you can't create a competitive advantage. Also; you have to realize how much money is lost in terminating the game. Tickets, Gambling, Fantasy Football.... the NFL would get sued.... the NFL isn't going to allow that and they'll hide behind the CBA

[Mr Info]

18 minutes ago, Locomark said:

Who booked flights when the games and team haven’t been determined yet? 

I booked my flights for the 14th and 21st weekends. If I waited longer, flights would be quite a bit more expensive. If Bills get a bye/don’t play, just get a credit and use for some future flight.

[BLeonard]

7 minutes ago, boyst said:

The chiefs can lose and still be #1 seed. 

How?  KC would be 13-4 (.765) while the Bills, if they beat NE would be 13-3 (.813).

 

Bills would even have the tiebreaker in the event that the Cincy game would count as a loss.