Monday Night Football: Last MNF game of 2022 Season, Bills @ Bengals, Jan. 2, 8:30 PM ET

[Cincyfan78]

Bills game is Sunday at 1pm. Screwed is an awful aggressive term for potentially losing one game of home field. Have we already forgotten what happened Monday night?

There are rules for weather interruptions; the games are completed either that day or soon thereafter. No prior game has been postponed due to injury. Covid rescheduled games that hadn't started, but that's different. Games have always been completed, but that was before a game was suspended for injury for the first time Monday night.

Sure - screwed. Bengals win MNF - they control their own destiny. Having that option taken away from them, in a game they were winning. In a game they were driving - maybe they don't end up winning the game, we'll never know - but to have that chance taken from them - yes, it does screw them.

And for any sports team/league to not have contingencies in place for an event where a game cannot be played to conclusion is poor planning. End of story. It doesn't have to have happened before to then put the rule in place - that's the entire point of contingency: to plan for something that MIGHT occur. That way you are already protected (in a way) so that if it does happen, the rule is already in place, free of emotion and free from knee jerk reaction. Instead - here we are.

 

[eaglesnut]

It's not the smartest outcome. 9 minutes is not a completed game.

Oh I really really thought 9=60. Man thanks for clearing that up.

You are such a tap dancing jack ass there is no reason to discuss with you.

 

[shopson67]

Oh I really really thought 9=60. Man thanks for clearing that up.

You are such a tap dancing jack ass there is no reason to discuss with you.

Yeah, calling a 9 minute game a reasonable final outcome is clearly the balanced opinion.

 

[wilwhite]

Unless both teams request the same thing - either annul the game or accept 7-3 as the final result - the game will probably be made up.

Also in the mix: resumption of that game will make money.

 

[shopson67]

Sure - screwed. Bengals win MNF - they control their own destiny. Having that option taken away from them, in a game they were winning. In a game they were driving - maybe they don't end up winning the game, we'll never know - but to have that chance taken from them - yes, it does screw them.

And for any sports team/league to not have contingencies in place for an event where a game cannot be played to conclusion is poor planning. End of story. It doesn't have to have happened before to then put the rule in place - that's the entire point of contingency: to plan for something that MIGHT occur. That way you are already protected (in a way) so that if it does happen, the rule is already in place, free of emotion and free from knee jerk reaction. Instead - here we are.

It sucks that there isn't a rule in place, and it seems like something they should have anticipated. That said, they had made it 17K+ games without such an occurrence. No set of rules is going to account for 99.995% of possible outcomes.

KC is the only team that potentially gains from this, and they were tied for the 1 seed anyway. Bills are screwed, Bengals screwed, Ravens screwed. Jags, Chargers, Pats unaffected so far.

 

[shopson67]

Unless both teams request the same thing - either annul the game or accept 7-3 as the final result - the game will probably be made up.

Also in the mix: resumption of that game will make money.

Worrying about money for a game canceled due to the near death of a player is a pretty cold position to hold...

 

[PDay8810]

Worrying about money for a game canceled due to the near death of a player is a pretty cold position to hold...

Yep....it's certainly that way these days.
I blame Jerry, how else did he get a gold jacket

 

[Cincyfan78]

It sucks that there isn't a rule in place, and it seems like something they should have anticipated. That said, they had made it 17K+ games without such an occurrence. No set of rules is going to account for 99.995% of possible outcomes.

KC is the only team that potentially gains from this, and they were tied for the 1 seed anyway. Bills are screwed, Bengals screwed, Ravens screwed. Jags, Chargers, Pats unaffected so far.

Agreed.

And I accept that a portion of the no-contest impacts the Bengals negatively. I think this is still the best way forward. Everyone will have a complaint in this issue (Except KC) but I think it's the cleanest way forward, and allows everyone to put this behind them.

If this were the rule already in place - it wouldn't be such a big deal. Tensions are still high, so the knee-jerk is clearly going to be "NFL LOVES KC" or "NFL HATES BMORE" - but, in the end - in a case like this where the game isn't likely to be made up due to the timing of the NFL season - and a large enough portion of the game wasn't completed - I whole heartedly feel this is the best way forward.

I think this will be the outcome, but the NFL isn't going to make this call until after this weekend. If the NFL doesn't make a ruling before Saturday - you can 100% guarantee this will be the outcome. They're not waiting till the week of to make teams play a game, or push back the playoffs. If that were the case, those things would be in motion already - and likely already be leaked out into the media in some form.

 

[cincygrad]

If it impacted a team's participation in the playoffs, I think the league would reschedule the game. But given that it only impacts seeding, I think they'll come to the conclusion that they just can't find a way to reschedule without impacting team's preparation for the playoffs. All of the wild scenarios out there - Starting the NFC playoffs the week before AFC, cancelling this week, postponing the first week of the playoffs - will ultimately just cause confusion for fans and negatively impact television ratings.

I don't like that the Bengals can only get a 3 seed - I think they've been playing better than anyone in the AFC since the beginning of November. But ultimately, I don't think it swings the competitive balance so far out of whack that it will prevent a legitimate winner in the AFC. If the Bengals are the best team, they'll win it at home or on the road. Same for Buffalo.

 

[cincygrad]

Funny that the two Bengals fans arguing the most here are both okay with the Bengals getting the short end of the stick.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Funny that the two Bengals fans arguing the most here are both okay with the Bengals getting the short end of the stick.

Yep. I get it. There is no perfect answer - and I'm also sure that even if the league pushed back everything a week, then the #1 seed - whoever it is - would complain that it's "too" much time off....they'll be rusty - and if they lose that 1st game - you can bet the farm that will be the #1 excuse and that the NFL "screwed" them.

Not playing the game isn't some NFL vendetta against any team, or favoriting any team - it's just a reality of the situation. There's not enough time left in the season to move things around and make the schedules work, and we are already so close to playoff time that times/schedules/venues have already started their preparation - not to mention the thousands of fans, making travel plans - flights - hotels - work coverage, etc....

In the end - I think just about everyone gets the short end of the stick in some way (except KC) - and that's likely showing that's the best option forward - nearly everyone should be a little upset - but also realize that this is a, to date, once in a generation/life/ever set of circumstances - and in the end - there won't be a perfect answer to fix everything.

 

[cincygrad]

I think it's also worth noting that there have been competitive disadvantages at play the last two seasons and the league didn't fall apart over them. Specifically, there were teams that had no chance to win games due to COVID outbreaks on the roster.... Baltimore in Cincinnati last year comes to mind specifically. But there were a handful of other games that were also impacted by COVID and these games certainly had some impact on seeding for playoffs.

 

[cincygrad]

The one outcome that would bug me the most is to make everyone play this week without informing teams that there are still plans for a make-up. Having the Ravens and Bengals duke it out in a game that might be meaningless but also might be for the AFC-N and then having to face the idea that they might have to run it right back a week later is really unfair to both teams.

 

[Cincyfan78]

The one outcome that would bug me the most is to make everyone play this week without informing teams that there are still plans for a make-up. Having the Ravens and Bengals duke it out in a game that might be meaningless but also might be for the AFC-N and then having to face the idea that they might have to run it right back a week later is really unfair to both teams.

I think if you go into this weekend without news - the game is getting no-contested.

 

[wilwhite]

Worrying about money for a game canceled due to the near death of a player is a pretty cold position to hold...

But it will be a consideration, especially given that the answer isn't otherwise obvious.

But I think Goodell will give lots of deference to the Bills' wishes on this. They were the most affected and have the most to lose. Especially if the Bengals concur.

 

[Southieinnc]

Agree. I see 3 possibilities

1. A tie.
2. No contest.
3. Bills forfeit.

I cannot see the game being played after week 18, unless the push all playoff games back a week.

4. Burrow and Allen get into the ring
5. flip a coin
6. let fans vote
7. let teams vote
8. Goodell sit around with you finger up your ass and keep checking the wind direction.....

 

[Cincyfan78]

4. Burrow and Allen get into the ring
5. flip a coin
6. let fans vote
7. let teams vote
8. Goodell sit around with you finger up your ass and keep checking the wind direction.....

Settled by a skyline eating contest - since the game is a 'home' game for Cincinnati...

Line up your 2 biggest eaters - winner wins the game...

or drinking games....

 

[Wazmankg]

I'm not. It's the smartest outcome. Doesn't mean they'll choose it. I've already said in another thread what is typically done in these situations.

No it isn't. It's ridiculous, which is why it is not even being considered or proposed by anyone aside from anonymous knuckleheads on the internet.

 

[shopson67]

I think it's also worth noting that there have been competitive disadvantages at play the last two seasons and the league didn't fall apart over them. Specifically, there were teams that had no chance to win games due to COVID outbreaks on the roster.... Baltimore in Cincinnati last year comes to mind specifically. But there were a handful of other games that were also impacted by COVID and these games certainly had some impact on seeding for playoffs.

Hell, Buffalo gave up a home game earlier this season due to weather. I wouldn't expect them to worry if they lose another in the playoffs.

 

[ducky]

Settled by a skyline eating contest - since the game is a 'home' game for Cincinnati...

Line up your 2 biggest eaters - winner wins the game...

or drinking games....

No way anyone is out drinking Joe Sheisty.