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

[BillsFanSD]

13 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. 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. 

I hadn't thought about this angle.  Why wouldn't the Bengals just forfeit such a game?  They can't actually rest all their starters -- nobody can.  I would think they would object to a meaningless (for them) makeup game under the strongest possible terms.  Imagine losing an OL in such a game.

[Boatdrinks]

25 minutes ago, ngbills said:

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. 

Well the proposal floated ( or at least being considered by the NFL)  involved resuming the game. So If KC wins Saturday - Bills can play to win both games vs NE, CIN with a chance to be # 1 or fall to 3 with no rest. OR rest starters both games and go in as #3 
if KC loses - can play to win Vs NE and secure #2 overall seed with a chance at #1 week 19 

So if I’m correct here I think I’d opt for the guaranteed rest and go in as 3  IF the Chiefs win vs LAR on Saturday

 

[The Wiz]

5 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

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.

 

 

The only way the game between Bengals/Bills matters is if KC loses to LV.  In that event, the Bengals/Bills game would be for the 1 seed of both of those teams win this weekend.  My guess is that is really going to determine whether the game is played or not.

 

Even then, cincy can't get the 1 seed so they have no reason to play starters unless they really want the 2 seed but then they would be skipping a free bye week just to have a potential extra home game.  I would think they would take the rest and play back ups while we were trying to secure the 1 seed over KC.

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

18 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. 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. 

 

 The 2 seed would still be in play though. They would rather play Buffalo in Cincy than on the road here.

 

 

 

[Rochesterfan]

34 minutes ago, fergie's ire said:

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.

 

That does not work out though.  
 

Week 19 1/15 Bills Bengals and NFC wild card (AFC Bye)

 

Week 20 1/22 AFC wild card and NFC Bye

 

Week 21 1/29 AFC and NFC divisional rounds

 

Week 22 2/5 AFC/NFC championship games (Maybe ProBowl also)

 

Week 23 2/12 SuperBowl

 

So the bye week is eliminated before the SB and the Bengals/Bills (one or maybe both) are the only teams to not get a bye.  Rest of the AFC gets a bye while we play - NFC gets a bye elsewhere. And based upon the original question which was would there still be a week before the SuperBowl- that is gone which is what I am referring to.

 

Additionally potentially KC ends up with 2 straight weeks off if the Bills lose, but it really screws the Bills and the Bengals as they get no break at all and are both emotionally invested and will be forced to talk about the Hamlin play a ton leading up to the game.

 

 

 

 

[ngbills]

23 minutes ago, 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.

 

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. 
 

 

16 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. 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. 

 

1 minute ago, BillsFanSD said:

I hadn't thought about this angle.  Why wouldn't the Bengals just forfeit such a game?  They can't actually rest all their starters -- nobody can.  I would think they would object to a meaningless (for them) makeup game under the strongest possible terms.  Imagine losing an OL in such a game.

CIN playing for 2 or 3 seed and giving up chance for rest and prep for playoffs. They will know who they are playing. 

Bills playing for 1 seed. 
 

Another point is if you’re CIN do you want to play KC or BUF first in the playoffs? Yes the Bills game would be at home but they have beat KC multiple times now. 
 

Bottom line in this scenario bills have more to play for and could see cin resting guys. 

[RyanC883]

14 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

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.

 

 

 

how do the Bengals get screwed?

[VaMilBill]

3 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

The only way the game between Bengals/Bills matters is if KC loses to LV.  In that event, the Bengals/Bills game would be for the 1 seed of both of those teams win this weekend.  My guess is that is really going to determine whether the game is played or not.

 

Even then, cincy can't get the 1 seed so they have no reason to play starters unless they really want the 2 seed but then they would be skipping a free bye week just to have a potential extra home game.  I would think they would take the rest and play back ups while we were trying to secure the 1 seed over KC.

Only way the Bills Bengals game doesn’t matter is if we lose to NE. If we beat NE, we still control our destiny for the one seed if we get to resume play against Cincinnati 

[Rochesterfan]

Just now, RyanC883 said:

 

how do the Bengals get screwed?

Because if they can not get the #1 seed (and the Bills win) they would be the only playoff team that did not get a bye. 
 

All of the other teams they are playing would get a bye and if the Bills won and got the #1 seed we would get a bye, but Cincinnati the team that was looking out for us - would be forced to play the extra game and would miss the bye hence risking injury and not getting the rest like heir opponents.

 

 

[The Wiz]

4 minutes ago, VaMilBill said:

Only way the Bills Bengals game doesn’t matter is if we lose to NE. If we beat NE, we still control our destiny for the one seed if we get to resume play against Cincinnati 

Same if Bengals lose to Balt. 

 

Which is why it only matter if KC loses to LV.  Otherwise, neither team can catch them.  That's likely why it is being played a day earlier than the other two games to figure out how important it is.  

[Lost]

39 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. 

 

I dunno,  is other teams having an extra week off really a detriment to the Bills?   Look how we came out playing after our bye week this year.   

[The Wiz]

6 minutes ago, Lost said:

 

I dunno,  is other teams having an extra week off really a detriment to the Bills?   Look how we came out playing after our bye week this year.   

I've already stated in another thread that I don't care if the bills FF the Cincy game or the NE game and just took the 3rd seed and made sure they got everyone the help they needed to comprehend what is going on and time to process it.

[HalftimeAdjustment]

7 hours ago, wolfpack78 said:

I ran the ESPN playoff simulator for this scenario and the Bengals hold the tie breaker over us and would be the #2.  Not sure what the tie breaker is that puts it in their favor because we would have same overall/conference/divisions records in this scenario.  Maybe winning % against common opponents?

 

Yes that is the one. I believe it is 8-3 for them and 7-3 for us.

[Scott7975]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

So Taron is in concussion protocol I assume?  Wasn’t sure if you can practice limited in protocol.

 

He could be in that stage with no contact practice.  Then contact practice.  Then evaluation.  Its possible that he clears before this game and plays.

[Success]

It's been such an emotional week.  I've found that I have just started getting teary eyed once in awhile, without even thinking about anything.  I wasn't sure if I'd even care about football anymore.

 

But, today, I find that I still can't stand the Patriots. And want the Bills to win this game, big.

 

 

[stevewin]

3 hours ago, Process said:

Taron being limited is a good sign, though it was just a walk through

 

 

Was good (but surprising) to see Josh with nothing on his elbow Mon.  Seems like it will probably continue to be listed on the injury report for a while even as it seems to be improving

[section122]

Here is an idea

 

Play this week as normal.  

 

If kc beats vegas they get a bye. Bills get the 2 and bengals the 3 seed for 1st round opponents.  If both teams win the divisional game is played in cincy as a quasi make up game. If the Bills make the afc championship game they host if not kc hosts

 

If kc loses to vegas bills bengals gets played for the 1 seed loser goes home. 7 seed plays the 8th seed that just missed and the bye is removed.

 

Nfl gets an extra playoff game, most issues get resolved with minimal disruption.

 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by section122
Premature post

[section122]

Also i think the nfl has figured out but won't release anything until we have more info and hopefully good news about damar.

[finn]

1 hour 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. 

Right, but any solution is going to be unfair to someone, and this one seems mild compared to the others we've heard. 

 

Wouldn't it be ironic if they earned the top seed after this long, long season but didn't receive what they most need, a week of rest? 

[buffaloboyinATL]

6 minutes ago, section122 said:

Also i think the nfl has figured out but won't release anything until we have more info and hopefully good news about damar.

I think it is that, combined with waiting to see if the game even “needs” to be played, based on this weeks results. (Ie, if we win and the Chiefs and Bengals happen to lose).