While the only real concern for the NFL right now is the health of Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin after the horrifying incident that saw him needing CPR on the field during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the reality is that the league now has to figure out what to do with this high-profile game initially postponing the crucial AFC matchup and eventually deciding that will not continue this week. And it looks like the NFL is leaning toward quite an unpopular option.
According to a report from Pro Football Talk, the league is moving towards declaring Monday night’s game a “no-contest” and awarding the playoff seeding based on win percentages after Week 18.
“Momentum is currently pointing toward Bills-Bengals not being resumed, with AFC playoff seeding based on winning percentage following the outcome of the Week 18 games,” Pro Football Talk reported on Wednesday night.
Obviously, this would put the Kansas City Chiefs in full control, as the Chiefs would lock up the first-round bye and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. It also would eliminate the Bengals from the possibility of earning the No. 1 seed altogether.
The NFL world did not seem too fond of this plan, though many understood this was an unprecedented situation.
Unfair for many teams, but I get it. I'd rather win on the field, but this is the situation. https://t.co/jLGaEgEK5N
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) January 5, 2023
“Unfair for many teams, but I get it. I’d rather win on the field, but this is the situation,” Bengals media member Joe Goodberry said on Twitter.
Seeing a lot of Bills fans who were saying, "who cares about the 1 seed. Cancel the game" on Monday, now complaining that this isn't fair.
It isn't, but let's not all lose the perspective we had Monday night. Focus on the positive that Damar is progressing. It's still about him. https://t.co/evlNs2U09b
— Alex Dutkiewicz (@AlexDutkiewicz) January 5, 2023
“Seeing a lot of Bills fans who were saying, ‘who cares about the 1 seed. Cancel the game’ on Monday, now complaining that this isn’t fair. It isn’t, but let’s not all lose the perspective we had Monday night. Focus on the positive that Damar is progressing. It’s still about him,” one Bills fan said on Twitter.
Barring a Raiders upset over the Chiefs and wild-card round craziness, the Bills and Bengals will see each other in the divisional round. https://t.co/7TRG2FicHO
— Robert Harding (@RobertHarding) January 5, 2023
“Barring a Raiders upset over the Chiefs and wild-card round craziness, the Bills and Bengals will see each other in the divisional round,” Robert Harding said in a Tweet.
This is essentially what former NFL star quarterback Carson Palmer suggested would happen on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said that the Bengals want to do whatever Buffalo wants to do.
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