Week 18: Pats at Bills, Sunday 1/8 1pm

[fergie's ire]

22 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Nope the bye weeks eliminate the extra week before the SB.

 

 

 

 

The conference championships are scheduled for Jan. 29th.  The Super Bowl is Feb. 12th.  That's two weeks.  The only thing scheduled for Feb. 5th is the Pro Bowl Skills competition in Vegas.

Edited January 4, 2023 by fergie's ire

[transplantbillsfan]

28 minutes ago, WickedGame said:

I hate that phrase “trap game,” but this suddenly feels like a trap game.
 

Either the Cheatriots take advantage of an emotionally drained Bills team and get the W, or the Bills go Beast Mode for Hamlin and hang 50 on them. 
 

Let’s hope for the latter, but my gut says we come out fairly flat. 

 

I don't even view this in that light.

 

This game is either going to be a game where the Bills come out emotionally charged and dominate largely in honor of their fallen comrade 

 

OR

 

they're going to be emotionally flat and lose.

 

Neither would surprise me.  And honestly, I don't think I really care if they lose unless the league comes out with a plan regarding the game not played and the Bills still have a pathway to the #1 seed.  Let's be honest, the Chiefs are going to be the #1 seed unless the Bills and Bengals game is made up or they're both given Ws (not gonna happen).

 

Hope Buffalo forfeits and just rests everyone.  If we're locked into the #2 or #3 seed who really cares?

[UKBillFan]

7 minutes ago, Steptide said:

Just looked up the the game maps for this week and they're delayed due to the bills/Bengals game situation. It'll be interesting if they show the bills/Pats for most of the country. I think the country probably wants to see the bills this week

There’s more on Bengals-Ravens that Patriots-Bills, though obviously there’s an emotional connection for many to the latter.

[transplantbillsfan]

55 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

Well this would likely be the worst case scenario in terms of scheduling. 

 

 

 

Okay.  I think that's a pretty decent proposal.  I think they should play on a neutral field, though.

[Billznut]

13 minutes ago, ngbills said:

So basically take this week off and we are on the next week in a lose and season over game? That does not sound appealing to me. I like the idea of meaningful games vs ne and cin to make sure our heads are right going into the playoffs. Two practice games means more to me than the rest. 

The way the Bills lose players to injury every game, I think playing two “practice” games would be the last thing any sane Bills fan would be for. Far better chance we lose additional players to injury in those two games than gaining anything mentally heading into the playoffs. 

[Ta111]

2 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I don't even view this in that light.

 

This game is either going to be a game where the Bills come out emotionally charged and dominate largely in honor of their fallen comrade 

 

OR

 

they're going to be emotionally flat and lose.

 

Neither would surprise me.  And honestly, I don't think I really care if they lose unless the league comes out with a plan regarding the game not played and the Bills still have a pathway to the #1 seed.  Let's be honest, the Chiefs are going to be the #1 seed unless the Bills and Bengals game is made up or they're both given Ws (not gonna happen).

 

Hope Buffalo forfeits and just rests everyone.  If we're locked into the #2 or #3 seed who really cares?

2 seed gets you a home game in divisional round, 3 seed you're on the road.

[transplantbillsfan]

1 minute ago, Ta111 said:

2 seed gets you a home game in divisional round, 3 seed you're on the road.

 

I get that.  Is that worth more than the extra week you could take to emotionally and physically recover?  

[ngbills]

8 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

What ? The week 19 vs CIN is not a lose and season over game. The Bills are in the playoffs and week 19 is AFC playoff bye. Bills vs Bengals is for seeding. 

I was talking about the idea of not playing that game at all. If there is an option of playing week 18 & 19 as scrimmages to rest for the playoffs that would be a better option than no week 19. I still think you don’t just fold it in if you have a shot at the 1 seed. But you do have flexibility to rest certain players while still looking for a w. 

[SCBills]

Week 19

Bengals/Bills

AFC Playoff Bye Week

 

…what am I missing?

 

Who’s getting a bye?  What are we playing the Bengals for then?

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Week 19

Bengals/Bills

AFC Playoff Bye Week

 

…what am I missing?

 

Who’s getting a bye?  What are we playing the Bengals for then?

Actually the proposal I saw is week 19 Bills/Bengals, and nfc wild card round. Next week would be the afc wild card round.  So if they win week 18 and 19 Bills would be off that week. It adds a week to  the playoffs, eliminating the off week between the CC games and SB. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by YoloinOhio

[UKBillFan]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Week 19

Bengals/Bills

AFC Playoff Bye Week

 

…what am I missing?

 

Who’s getting a bye?  What are we playing the Bengals for then?

We’re playing the Bengals to round off the regular season. The remaining AFC teams in the play offs get a bye.

[SCBills]

4 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

We’re playing the Bengals to round off the regular season. The remaining AFC teams in the play offs get a bye.

Gross. 
 

So if KC wins, Cinci knows they are only playing for seeding and have to play a team coming off a bye the following week.  
 

Buffalo has to play knowing if they go all out and lose, they then also play a team coming off a bye the following week.

 

Both teams operating off the knowledge that this game that already puts them at a disadvantage, is against a team they may see again in two weeks. 
 

Edited January 4, 2023 by SCBills

[BillsFanSD]

22 minutes ago, Steptide said:

Just looked up the the game maps for this week and they're delayed due to the bills/Bengals game situation. It'll be interesting if they show the bills/Pats for most of the country. I think the country probably wants to see the bills this week

I agree.  I'd be shocked if this isn't a national broadcast.  Because of the whole situation with the Bills of course, but also it's a big game for New England and Miami.

[UKBillFan]

Just now, SCBills said:

Gross. 
 

So if KC wins, Cinci knows they are only playing for seeding and have to play a team coming off a bye the following week.  
 

Buffalo has to play knowing if they go all out and lose, they then also play a team coming off a bye the following week. 

Though it’s only a rumour at this stage. If the Chiefs beat the Raiders and Bengals beat the Ravens I’d be tempted to said the back ups to Cincinnati at forget about the number one seed.

[BillsFanSD]

12 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I get that.  Is that worth more than the extra week you could take to emotionally and physically recover?  

Obviously this is a very different situation considering the state of the team, but we did go all-out for the #2 seed in 2020, didn't we?  

[The Wiz]

6 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Actually the proposal I saw is week 19 Bills/Bengals, and nfc wild card round. Next week would be the afc wild card round.  So if they win week 18 and 19 Bills would be off that week. It adds a week to  the playoffs, eliminating the off week between the CC games and SB. 

right but the bills and bengals are preparing for an extra week of play while the rest of the AFC has an off week.  I know they only played for less that a qtr on Monday but they still traveled and prepped all week like a normal week and now they get to do it again while everyone else is resting. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by The Wiz

[stevewin]

4 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

Thank you, @YoloinOhio for trying to get us back on track.

I'll try

 

Mac Jones is a crappy QB and a dirty POS

[YoloinOhio]

5 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

right but the bills and bengals are preparing for an extra week of play while the rest of the AFC has an off week.  I know they only played for less that a qtr on Monday but they still traveled and prepped all week like a normal week and now they get to do it again while everyone else is resting. 

Yes, it’s not ideal but if they are going to try to play the game, there is no perfect solution. Another factor is that the bengals will already know their fate if the chiefs win this week, so may even rest starters as they can’t get the 1 seed in that situation. The 1 seed would only still be in play for the Bills, if they beat the pats. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by YoloinOhio

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Yes, it’s not ideal but if they are going to try to play the game, there is no perfect solution 

They can tell them they need to play, but if the teams push back, the NFL better tread lightly. … and even if they do play, the level of potential gamesmanship with potential scenarios in play would be off the charts … wouldn’t be surprised if they said ok, and one (or both) played backups most of the game.  
 

It’s the only way to get the game in.  It’s also a brutal situation to put these two teams in. 
 

Edited January 4, 2023 by SCBills

[Rochesterfan]

39 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Not if they win… your not playing anyone if they win.

 

Even then Cincinnati gets screwed just because they understood what we were going through and decided to postpone.

 

Would it be good for the Bills maybe, but I can not see the Bills accepting seeing the Bengals get screwed over after being so accommodating.