What should the NFL do about Week 18? Move it back one week?

[Boo]

Just talking football here but both teams also have very physical games in Week 18 coming up, Bengals/Ravens and Bills/Pats.

[SupermanBrandon]

They have to play Wed or Thursday. Then their week 18 games on Monday. They will not and should not move entire weeks, playoffs. Taking all of the tragedy out of it…the NFL is still a business. Anything that effects the entire league is not acceptable when talking about billions of dollars in advertising, games, players, marketing, etc. If both teams want to call it tie and refuse to play, then that’s a different story.


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[mnvikingstwins]

Originally Posted by captionwanker

I believe every NFL stadium is not allowed to book events during the NFL playoff weekends.

Browns have an exception to that

[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by mnvikingstwins

Browns have an exception to that

To be fair, most of their games are not “NFL events” either.

[MyckKabongo]

They have to get this game in tomorrow. Its the least bad option. Make things as tidy as possible for competitive integrity, gambling, fantasy, etc. Rejiggering the entire league schedule would be an absolute mess for untold numbers of ancillary businesses.

NFL needs to accept that they will take criticism no as being uncaring, insensitive, etc. no matter what. Get the game in ASAP. Any other approach results in major negative effects for teams like the Chiefs and Ravens, ardent fans that have money on the line and ancillary businesses. Is it really that different asking the teams to play on Weds vs. asking them to play this weekend. It will always be too soon in the minds of some.

[kerg]

Glad I'm not making this call because whatever call is made is going to unleash a torrential crapstorm on social media because ultimately, the incredibly cold truth is going to rear it's head up and games will go on unless the NFLPA steps in and strikes/sits out.

[MyckKabongo]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

They have to play Wed or Thursday. Then their week 18 games on Monday. They will not and should not move entire weeks, playoffs. Taking all of the tragedy out of it…the NFL is still a business. Anything that effects the entire league is not acceptable when talking about billions of dollars in advertising, games, players, marketing, etc. If both teams want to call it tie and refuse to play, then that’s a different story.


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Even if the Bills consent, calling the game a tie adversely affects the Ravens.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by MyckKabongo

Even if the Bills consent, calling the game a tie adversely affects the Ravens.

A tie will never be on the table.

[Boo]

Originally Posted by kerg

Glad I'm not making this call because whatever call is made is going to unleash a torrential crapstorm on social media because ultimately, the incredibly cold truth is going to rear it's head up and games will go on unless the NFLPA steps in and strikes/sits out.

Of course people will complain and call the NFL heartless, etc. Most of those that complain will have another issue to jump on in the next week or two and will forget about this whole situation.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by MyckKabongo

Even if the Bills consent, calling the game a tie adversely affects the Ravens.

To use the logic of some here, it sounds like they should have won more games this season and not left their fate in the hands of other teams.

/s

[dkcardman]

It's frightening that we haven't heard the words '..but stable condition'. I may be wrong, but this seems to be SOP terminology to add to 'critical...but stable conditon' once they feel the situation may be at a status quo. Freaks me out that we haven't heard that yet.
I dont see the point in the NFL trying to schedule this game at all or force play until that happens.
They should not play this game at all if he is not stable. Just let the Bills take the L and move forward. How is this team supposed to pick up a game on the play after a teammate possibly lost his life?
Unless the collective players and coaches WANT to play the game by tomorrow night, NFL...figure out an off-field solution. Or maybe donate all proceeds of this game to his family/foundation as a way to make playing this game be something worth doing.

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by JeremyNick

To be fair, most of their games are not “NFL events” either.

burn

[Fenway55]

The unfortunate reality is that the 2 remaining Buffalo games are both very important regarding the AFC playoff race and seeding. As fans, it is possible to both (A) care about the well being of Damar Hamlin and (B) want to know how the League is going to proceed.

If they play Wednesday, then the rest period from Wednesday to Sunday is the same as the rest period from Sunday to Thursday. (3 full days off between games) That seems to me to be the least bad of all options.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

This is going to be SO tricky for the NFL. As was mentioned above, this game needs to be played this week, probably on Wed or Thurs, then move their Sunday games to Monday night. It's the only way. As bad as Hamlin's situation is, there is precedent to continue playing games in the face of tragedy. Now, if they approach both teams and the Bills decline to play the game, that's their choice. I just don't see them willingly giving up the #1 seed. We shall see.

This game either gets played Thursday or not at all.

-Bills plane already flew back to Buffalo. Tuesday or Wednesday or probably off the table.

-Canceling this week for 30 teams and just letting the Bills/Bengals play doesn't make sense either. To say that it's not okay for the other 30 teams to play, but the Bills/Bengals should be ready to play is gross.

-Anything else would be to uncompetitive (i.e. pushing 2 week 18 games until Tuesday, then playoffs on Sunday).


My guess is either it goes down as essentially a tie, or Bills take the L

[Selanne00008]

Originally Posted by tjforce

This game either gets played Thursday or not at all.

-Bills plane already flew back to Buffalo. Tuesday or Wednesday or probably off the table.

-Canceling this week for 30 teams and just letting the Bills/Bengals play doesn't make sense either. To say that it's not okay for the other 30 teams to play, but the Bills/Bengals should be ready to play is gross.

-Anything else would be to uncompetitive (i.e. pushing 2 week 18 games until Tuesday, then playoffs on Sunday).


My guess is either it goes down as essentially a tie, or Bills take the L

They wouldn’t cancel this week. All week 18 games would happen. Then, since nobody knows who is playing wild card weekend anyways, have bills/bengals finish the game out in week 19, push wild card weekend back a week. Then no break between championship game week and the SB… Not ideal but it could work..

I don’t think the Bills take an L or a tie. Those two options seem the least realistic to me.


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[TSonn]

Originally Posted by tjforce

This game either gets played Thursday or not at all.

-Bills plane already flew back to Buffalo. Tuesday or Wednesday or probably off the table.

-Canceling this week for 30 teams and just letting the Bills/Bengals play doesn't make sense either. To say that it's not okay for the other 30 teams to play, but the Bills/Bengals should be ready to play is gross.

-Anything else would be to uncompetitive (i.e. pushing 2 week 18 games until Tuesday, then playoffs on Sunday).


My guess is either it goes down as essentially a tie, or Bills take the L

It's only an hour flight, right? We're not talking Buffalo to San Francisco.

My guess is Goodell gives the teams the option to play Wednesday or Thursday. If either team says no, they get an L. If they both say no, it's a tie.

Super crappy situation and I hope Hamlin makes a quick a full recovery, but none of this should impact the rest of the league. It's a physical and competitive sport. The terrible unfortunate circumstance of one player and one team due to the physicality shouldn't impact the competitiveness of the rest of the league.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by tjforce

This game either gets played Thursday or not at all.

-Bills plane already flew back to Buffalo. Tuesday or Wednesday or probably off the table.

-Canceling this week for 30 teams and just letting the Bills/Bengals play doesn't make sense either. To say that it's not okay for the other 30 teams to play, but the Bills/Bengals should be ready to play is gross.

-Anything else would be to uncompetitive (i.e. pushing 2 week 18 games until Tuesday, then playoffs on Sunday).


My guess is either it goes down as essentially a tie, or Bills take the L

When I heard that last night, I couldn't believe it. I can't see them turning around in a day, getting back on a plane, and playing again. I actually think they take the L and move on to next week. Crazy to think they'd willingly give up the #1 seed, but if they say they can't go, it is what it is.

[NeedChapmans]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

When I heard that last night, I couldn't believe it. I can't see them turning around in a day, getting back on a plane, and playing again. I actually think they take the L and move on to next week. Crazy to think they'd willingly give up the #1 seed, but if they say they can't go, it is what it is.

And #2 seed. Ravens would be drawing dead and likely rest everyone giving the Bengals and automatic W on Sunday.

I don't know what that acommplishes for Buffalo. They'd still be playing Sunday; is the additional few days off of consequence to their mentail psyche?

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by TSonn

It's only an hour flight, right? We're not talking Buffalo to San Francisco.

My guess is Goodell gives the teams the option to play Wednesday or Thursday. If either team says no, they get an L. If they both say no, it's a tie.

Super crappy situation and I hope Hamlin makes a quick a full recovery, but none of this should impact the rest of the league. It's a physical and competitive sport. The terrible unfortunate circumstance of one player and one team due to the physicality shouldn't impact the competitiveness of the rest of the league.

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

When I heard that last night, I couldn't believe it. I can't see them turning around in a day, getting back on a plane, and playing again. I actually think they take the L and move on to next week. Crazy to think they'd willingly give up the #1 seed, but if they say they can't go, it is what it is.

It's only an hour flight, but the logistics take longer:
-Make the decision to play
-Alert everyone of the decision and be sure the team is on board
-Board the plane (players and equipment), flight and off-board
-Play the game the next day, because with all the stress of this, they aren't flying into town and playing the same day. You want to talk about risking player safety

All this with Hamlin's fate still up in the air. So it's either Thursday, or I don't think it happens.

Even in the scenario where the Bills want the game for competitive purposes, do they really want to be the only team playing in a hypothetical Week 19, while everyone else (besides the Bengals) get a week off? And how would the Bengals take that?

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by NeedChapmans

And #2 seed. Ravens would be drawing dead and likely rest everyone giving the Bengals and automatic W on Sunday.

I don't know what that acommplishes for Buffalo. They'd still be playing Sunday; is the additional few days off of consequence to their mentail psyche?

This seems to be the big question. How much time is enough time to keep the game and league going without looking insensitive/careless? Does Goodell let the Bills choose their timeline or give them a deadline?

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by TSonn

This seems to be the big question. How much time is enough time to keep the game and league going without looking insensitive/careless? Does Goodell let the Bills choose their timeline or give them a deadline?

I hate to say it, but a lot depends on the news coming out of the hospital the next few days.

God willing, things go well and now the Bills have a rallying cry. Would love to see that

[NeedChapmans]

Originally Posted by TSonn

This seems to be the big question. How much time is enough time to keep the game and league going without looking insensitive/careless? Does Goodell let the Bills choose their timeline or give them a deadline?

I think the variable of consequence is the health of Hamlin. Without that known, no decision can reasonbly be made (and accepted).

[NeedChapmans]

Originally Posted by tjforce

I hate to say it, but a lot depends on the news coming out of the hospital the next few days.

God willing, things go well and now the Bills have a rallying cry. Would love to see that

Originally Posted by NeedChapmans

I think the variable of consequence is the health of Hamlin. Without that known, no decision can reasonbly be made (and accepted).

Indeed.

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by tjforce

It's only an hour flight, but the logistics take longer:
-Make the decision to play
-Alert everyone of the decision and be sure the team is on board
-Board the plane (players and equipment), flight and off-board
-Play the game the next day, because with all the stress of this, they aren't flying into town and playing the same day. You want to talk about risking player safety

I don't see those things as being too big of a hurdle to overcome - especially with an unprecedented event like this.

I wonder who made the call for the Bills to fly home? Seems like the league would have a lot more options if they found them housing in Cincy for the night.

[TSonn]

Originally Posted by NeedChapmans

I think the variable of consequence is the health of Hamlin. Without that known, no decision can reasonbly be made (and accepted).

I agree but the league can't make a decision based on an indefinite time frame which is why someone will have to make a guess when the socially appropriate amount of time has passed to make the Bills/Cincy make a decision on the game (or make the decision for them).