Help me understand - Cincinnati-Buffalo

[UKUGA]

Can someone please explain to me why there has been little (no?) discussion about how the cancellation of that game may have cost Cincy the 2-seed and by extension, home field against Buffalo next weekend?

Articles discussed Cincinnati being upset about the modified playoff format, but those articles seemed to focus solely on the potential coin-flip deciding home field this weekend - and not losing home field in the divisional round.

“If the Bengals had beaten the Bills on Monday night in a game that was ultimately canceled after the cardiac arrest of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, Cincinnati might not have had anything to play for Sunday and could have opted to rest some players.”

How would the Bengals not have had anything to play for in week 18 had they beaten the Bills in week 17?

Wouldn’t they have been playing to secure the 2 seed?

It almost feels as if the NFL and media are trying to memory hole what happened to the Bengals when that game was canceled.

Now, watch, Bills will defeats Bengals next weekend and then will go play AFC championship in a dome.

 

[drbubba]

I agree. But I'm not a Bengal's fan. I think the neutral field is a cop out and cheats fans. Buffalo already list 1 home game.

 

[CB3UK]

I just don't think many of us were outraged at the final decision. Ultimately you've got to play good teams to get to the Super Bowl. We play the Ravens instead of the Dolphins. What happened was unprecedented. I'm not gonna get irate over seeding considering what we all saw happen on that field. I'm just not.

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

They hosed the bengals almost as bad as 3rd and goal in the Super Bowl.

 

[catben]

You are exactly right!! Since what happened to Damar, no one is brave enough to address it. The Bengals actually had a shot at the #1 seed had the Raiders beaten the Chiefs and the Bengals would have held on to beat the Bills and Ravens.

The NFL uses these situations to propel certain teams, this year it will be the Bills.

 

[bthaunert]

For me, knowing it was going to be impossible to finish the Bengals-Bills game makes me accept it for what it is.. You can’t move the Super Bowl back a week, so how were you going to fit that game in between Tuesday, January 2 and Saturday January 15 knowing you were already playing on Sunday, January 8 and the Bills were in no shape to play that game on that Tuesday.

Being a Bengals fan, it sucks, but I’m not upset because there was not another option that was feasible.

 

[Glenn's take]

The only way to play that game would have been to eliminate the bye week before the Super Bowl and push everything back a week. That would have been even more of a logistical nightmare.

It's at least better than the time the Reds had the best record in baseball and didn't even make the playoffs.

 

[UKUGA]

Even in this thread, many people seem to be ignoring the point:

They ARE moving the AFC championship game to a neutral site, which helps the Bills, who did not beat Cincinnati, but they are NOT moving the divisional round game to a neutral site, which again helps the Bills, who did not beat Cincinnati.

The fact that many people won’t discuss this is strange to me.

You can discuss that without discussing the resumption of the game. This is NOT about the resumption of the game.

 

[JDHoss]

For me, knowing it was going to be impossible to finish the Bengals-Bills game makes me accept it for what it is.. You can’t move the Super Bowl back a week, so how were you going to fit that game in between Tuesday, January 2 and Saturday January 15 knowing you were already playing on Sunday, January 8 and the Bills were in no shape to play that game on that Tuesday.

Being a Bengals fan, it sucks, but I’m not upset because there was not another option that was feasible.

Absolutely. There's been little to no discussion because there was never a realistic solution to play the game. When it was canceled, I wondered when they would make it up. Then after about two minutes of thought, I realized there was no scenario where that was going to happen. It's just how life goes sometimes.

 

[vhcat70]

Absolutely. There's been little to no discussion because there was never a realistic solution to play the game.

I'm not worked up about it, but the realistic solution was to reduce the gap between the conference championships & the SB was to one week vs. two.

 

[UKUGA]

You are exactly right!! Since what happened to Damar, no one is brave enough to address it. The Bengals actually had a shot at the #1 seed had the Raiders beaten the Chiefs and the Bengals would have held on to beat the Bills and Ravens.

The NFL uses these situations to propel certain teams, this year it will be the Bills.

Sure seems that way. ❤️3❤️

 

[UKUGA]

I

Absolutely. There's been little to no discussion because there was never a realistic solution to play the game. When it was canceled, I wondered when they would make it up. Then after about two minutes of thought, I realized there was no scenario where that was going to happen. It's just how life goes sometimes.

It is not about making up that game.

It is about the advantages they have handed to the Bills since that game, while disadvantaging Cincinnati.

 

[UKUGA]

I just don't think many of us were outraged at the final decision. Ultimately you've got to play good teams to get to the Super Bowl. We play the Ravens instead of the Dolphins. What happened was unprecedented. I'm not gonna get irate over seeding considering what we all saw happen on that field. I'm just not.

I would at least like to see an honest media assessment of why the AFC championship moves and the Divisional round does not.

You could have an intellectual, unemotional conversation about that topic.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Im not a huge Bengals Fan but the NFL had to screw someone and weren’t going to do it to Buffalo so they did it to the team they played. It’s unfair as the Bengals may be the best team in the AFC and had a chance at the 1 but definitely the 2.

 

[UKUGA]

Im not a huge Bengals Fan but the NFL had to screw someone and weren’t going to do it to Buffalo so they did it to the team they played. It’s unfair as the Bengals may be the best team in the AFC and had a chance at the 1 but definitely the 2.

Yep.

Although I would say they chose to mess over Cincy when they could have scheduled a neutral site game next week.

Cincy is being punished for handling the Damar Hamlin situation with class.

 

[catben]

Yep.

Although I would say they chose to mess over Cincy when they could have scheduled a neutral site game next week.

Cincy is being punished for handling the Damar Hamlin situation with class.

EXACTLY!!

The NFL was in NO WAY going to take a home game away from Buffalo after what happened. The Bengals team, staff, fans and the city of Cincinnati all lost in this scary situation. I hate to sound petty, but it is the truth.

 

[UKUGA]

I agree. But I'm not a Bengal's fan. I think the neutral field is a cop out and cheats fans. Buffalo already list 1 home game.

I don’t think Buffalo has lost anything.

Thus far, other than losing a DB, they seem to have come out the best of all 3 teams potentially impacted.

 

[drbubba]

I don’t think Buffalo has lost anything.

Thus far, other than losing a DB, they seem to have come out the best of all 3 teams potentially impacted.

Well, they lost the home field when they played in Detroit. Granted snow forced them to move, so they lost some home support.

 

[SaltyCat22]

Mad Dog thinks the they didn’t eliminate the bye week before the Super Bowl because of CBS and the Grammys. Hey dumbasses, how about play the AFC Championship on Saturday and the NFC Championship on Sunday at 3:00 PM on FOX. It’s not rocket science. They should have finished the Buffalo/Cincinnati game. NFL kowtowing to an even smaller market than Cincinnati.

 

[UKUGA]

Well, they lost the home field when they played in Detroit. Granted snow forced them to move, so they lost some home support.

Ok. I forgot about that one.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

The bengals for screwed for sure.

The game should have been replayed on Tuesday night. The NFL and its players are a bunch of overpaid, spoiled pansies.

Us normal people don't get to not work when a coworker passes away or goes to the hospital.

 

[barbourfor3]

It does seemed to have put a chip on the teams shoulder, they’ll need it today. If they make it to Buffalo next week it will be discussed a lot and everyone who hasn’t been playing close attention might understand how the bengals got shafted - I don’t understand how you can say your a bengals fan and not be pissed about this ruling. Having compassion for what happened and expecting a fair and equitable outcome are not at odds

 

[UKandBaconLover]

The bengals for screwed for sure.

The game should have been replayed on Tuesday night. The NFL and its players are a bunch of overpaid, spoiled pansies.

Us normal people don't get to not work when a coworker passes away or goes to the hospital.

I wanna know where u work that you’re seeing people drop dead in front of u and they immediately make u go back to work? I work at ups and we had a plane going from Louisville to Birmingham that crashed. The company absolutely made grief counseling available and would’ve allowed any of the workers who worked on that plane time off. What a cold hearted ridiculous take that lacks any kind of human compassion or empathy by you.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I wanna know where u work that you’re seeing people drop dead in front of u and they immediately make u go back to work? I work at ups and we had a plane going from Louisville to Birmingham that crashed. The company absolutely made grief counseling available and would’ve allowed any of the workers who worked on that plane time off. What a cold hearted ridiculous take that lacks any kind of human compassion or empathy by you.

Never said in front of me. Guy died overnight on a week Night and we found out the next day and kept working. I never said we weren't allowed considerations but we didn't stop working.

There is 0 reason the game couldn't have been played Tuesday or perhaps Wednesday (being compassionate here) and just pushed their last games to Monday.

 

[Usmcincy]

I wanna know where u work that you’re seeing people drop dead in front of u and they immediately make u go back to work? I work at ups and we had a plane going from Louisville to Birmingham that crashed. The company absolutely made grief counseling available and would’ve allowed any of the workers who worked on that plane time off. What a cold hearted ridiculous take that lacks any kind of human compassion or empathy by you.

In the military when somebody would die or off themselves we were at work the next day. 3 different times in 5 years.

And people didn’t pay hundreds to watch me perform aircraft maintenance.

 

[UKandBaconLover]

Never said in front of me. Guy died overnight on a week Night and we found out the next day and kept working. I never said we weren't allowed considerations but we didn't stop working.

There is 0 reason the game couldn't have been played Tuesday or perhaps Wednesday (being compassionate here) and just pushed their last games to Monday.

Knowing someone that dies and watching an early 20’s world class athlete die in front of u and need to be resuscitated are way way different things.

 

[UKandBaconLover]

In the military when somebody would die or off themselves we were at work the next day. 3 different times in 5 years.

And people didn’t pay hundreds to watch me perform aircraft maintenance.

Thank u for your service. All due respect tho, he said “us normal people”. U go into the military knowing you’re putting your life on the line. Not supposed to be that way at most “normal people” jobs.

 

[Usmcincy]

Thank u for your service. All due respect tho, he said “us normal people”. U go into the military knowing you’re putting your life on the line. Not supposed to be that way at most “normal people” jobs.

The NFL isn’t a “normal people” job. These athletes grew up watching highlight reals from the 90s and knew damn well what they were getting themselves into.

 

[UKandBaconLover]

The NFL isn’t a “normal people” job. These athletes grew up watching highlight reals from the 90s and knew damn well what they were getting themselves into.

I would argue that literally no one has ever died playing in the NFL so I accept they know they’re putting their health at risk but no one thinks they’re going to die in a football game. It doesn’t really matter as to the point anyway. No one said the NFL is a normal people job. The one fella said normal people wouldn’t be allowed time off for having to witness something like those players witnessed and I whole heartedly disagree and I think it’s a little cold to just say, eh play tomorrow when they still don’t know if this kid will wake up at all and IF he does, is he neurologically intact?

 

[deep3]

You are exactly right!! Since what happened to Damar, no one is brave enough to address it. The Bengals actually had a shot at the #1 seed had the Raiders beaten the Chiefs and the Bengals would have held on to beat the Bills and Ravens.

The NFL uses these situations to propel certain teams, this year it will be the Bills.

Nailed it. BILLS will win it all, great story, just like last year LA was destined to win last year, ie 3rd and goal phantom pass interference.

 

[catben]

Nailed it. BILLS will win it all, great story, just like last year LA was destined to win last year, ie 3rd and goal phantom pass interference.

New Orleans after Katrina.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

The NFL isn’t a “normal people” job. These athletes grew up watching highlight reals from the 90s and knew damn well what they were getting themselves into.

I didn't want to point this out but glad you did. Thank you for your service.

 

[UKUGA]

It does seemed to have put a chip on the teams shoulder, they’ll need it today. If they make it to Buffalo next week it will be discussed a lot and everyone who hasn’t been playing close attention might understand how the bengals got shafted - I don’t understand how you can say your a bengals fan and not be pissed about this ruling. Having compassion for what happened and expecting a fair and equitable outcome are not at odds

Exactly.

 

[TucsonCat]

Think of it as two different concerns

Buffalo played one less game than kansas city. That's a mathematical obstacle to getting home field advantage. That's why Buffalo will get some reprieve and they may go neutral site if they play Kansas city. Cincinnati wasn't playing for home field advantage.

Cincinnati and Buffalo are a separate scenario. They played the same amount of games. Eh, yes you could argue one got one more home game. Some teams have to play in London or Berlin. And buffalo lost one home game to play in detroit. Close enough. Doesn't warrant modifying playoffs. Buffalo wins this scenario b÷tween the two teams for playoff seed.

 

[UKUGA]

Think of it as two different concerns

Buffalo played one less game than kansas city. That's a mathematical obstacle to getting home field advantage. That's why Buffalo will get some reprieve and they may go neutral site if they play Kansas city. Cincinnati wasn't playing for home field advantage.

Cincinnati and Buffalo are a separate scenario. They played the same amount of games. Eh, yes you could argue one got one more home game. Some teams have to play in London or Berlin. And buffalo lost one home game to play in detroit. Close enough. Doesn't warrant modifying playoffs. Buffalo wins this scenario b÷tween the two teams for playoff seed.

Because they didn’t get the head2head match-up, then you default to best record. To be fair, I get that.


But had you told Cincinnati, in advance of the game suspension that this would be the league’s decision, I suspect they would have handled the MNF situation differently.

 

[TucsonCat]

Because they didn’t get the head2head match-up, then you default to best record. To be fair, I get that.


But had you told Cincinnati, in advance of the game suspension that this would be the league’s decision, I suspect they would have handled the MNF situation differently.

I


It is not about making up that game.

It is about the advantages they have handed to the Bills since that game, while disadvantaging Cincinnati.

Ok, so it is about making up the game?

 

[UKUGA]

Ok, so it is about making up the game?

If you HAVE to finish the game to address the issue, then yes.


But that isn’t what people were saying. They were ignoring that aspect.

Personally, I don’t think you have to finish the game to tell the Bills that they have to play a neutral site game next weekend against Cincinnati.


Everyone knows that game was on the schedule and the Bengals were focused on it for their chances at the #2 seed.

What is Buffalo’s argument going to be? We refused to finish the game?

Cincinnati got messed over in this situation.

You don’t have to finish the game to do the right thing and play at a neutral site next week.

 

[TucsonCat]

If you HAVE to finish the game to address the issue, then yes.


But that isn’t what people were saying. They were ignoring that aspect.

Personally, I don’t think you have to finish the game to tell the Bills that they have to play a neutral site game next weekend against Cincinnati.


Everyone knows that game was on the schedule and the Bengals were focused on it for their chances at the #2 seed.

What is Buffalo’s argument going to be? We refused to finish the game?

Cincinnati got messed over in this situation.

You don’t have to finish the game to do the right thing and play at a neutral site next week.

But you don't really HAVE to finish the game to address the issue fairly.
Both teams played the same amount of games.
Both played the same amount of division and conference games.
Buffalos argument is they won the playoff tie breaker as decided at the beginning of the season to win the better seed between those two teams.
Buffalo was focused on that game for their chances to play 1 less playoff game and have home field advantage throughout.
They are not going to get that because the kc chiefs got to play one more game.
They got messed over way more.

 

[Blue63Madison]

Can someone please explain to me why there has been little (no?) discussion about how the cancellation of that game may have cost Cincy the 2-seed and by extension, home field against Buffalo next weekend?

Articles discussed Cincinnati being upset about the modified playoff format, but those articles seemed to focus solely on the potential coin-flip deciding home field this weekend - and not losing home field in the divisional round.

“If the Bengals had beaten the Bills on Monday night in a game that was ultimately canceled after the cardiac arrest of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, Cincinnati might not have had anything to play for Sunday and could have opted to rest some players.”

How would the Bengals not have had anything to play for in week 18 had they beaten the Bills in week 17?

Wouldn’t they have been playing to secure the 2 seed?

It almost feels as if the NFL and media are trying to memory hole what happened to the Bengals when that game was canceled.

Now, watch, Bills will defeats Bengals next weekend and then will go play AFC championship in a dome.

Little/no discussion?

It’s been talked about pretty much 24/7 since it was announced.

 

[UKUGA]

But you don't really HAVE to finish the game to address the issue fairly.
Both teams played the same amount of games.
Both played the same amount of division and conference games.
Buffalos argument is they won the playoff tie breaker as decided at the beginning of the season to win the better seed between those two teams.
Buffalo was focused on that game for their chances to play 1 less playoff game and have home field advantage throughout.
They are not going to get that because the kc chiefs got to play one more game.
They got messed over way more.

Meh.

“Fair” is debatable.

Bengals had a home game that they were in good position to win.

The game was taken off the schedule, taking away their chance at the win and eliminating Buffalo’s chance at a loss.

The idea that all that matters is the #1 seed is pretty limited, and frankly naive.

So now Buffalo says, “hey, look at us, we have a better record than the Bengals, we deserve home field in Rd 2 AND a neutral site championship game.”


They begged and they chose.


It’s intellectually dishonest to say that the Bills were hurt more than the Bengals in this situation.