2022 NFL regular season through Super Bowl LVII

[FiddySicks]

7 hours ago, rams80 said:

Personally I think we're doing a lot of concern trolling and bellyaching over 2 teams that honestly may be making early playoff exits because let's be real, this is very much a mental game and I think both Bills and Bengals are going to be too far inside their heads over everything in order for either of them to make the championship game round; they're gonna need an offseason and maybe a few (OK, more than a few) therapists to get everything back together.

I think this is probably true for the Bills, unfortunately (they really do have the worst luck). But I don’t feel the same way about the Bengals. I think they had just enough separation from it all to avoid it really messing with their heads. 

[Sport]

6 minutes ago, FiddySicks said:

I think this is probably true for the Bills, unfortunately (they really do have the worst luck). But I don’t feel the same way about the Bengals. I think they had just enough separation from it all to avoid it really messing with their heads. 

 

I'm not worried about the mental state of either team, especially now that Hamlin's pulled through and has spoken to his teammates and a few of the Bengals visited him in the hospital. I could see palpable relief in interviews when it was announced that Hamlin was going to be alright. I think the Bills are going to be motivated to "win for Damar" and will blow out the Pats (also because I don't think very highly of this Patriots team) and I think the Bengals are now pissed off by the royal shaft the NFL stuck them with and this group seems to play well when they have an extra chip on their shoulders. 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Just trying to put it together:

 

1. The Chiefs are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

2. The Bills are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

3. The Bengals are upset because they don't have the opportunity to host an AFC CG should the Bills and Chiefs have both lost out?

 

Assuming Cincinnati beats Baltimore, aren't they in the same place they would have been? Or could they have made it as far as the 1 seed had they beat Buffalo and Buffalo lost to NE?

[Sport]

30 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Just trying to put it together:

 

1. The Chiefs are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

2. The Bills are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

3. The Bengals are upset because they don't have the opportunity to host an AFC CG should the Bills and Chiefs have both lost out?

 

Assuming Cincinnati beats Baltimore, aren't they in the same place they would have been? Or could they have made it as far as the 1 seed had they beat Buffalo and Buffalo lost to NE?

 

I don't know what the Bills and Chiefs gripes are, but my gripe with the Bengals is the actual rules state this game with the Ravens on Sunday shouldn't matter for the division and the league's concocted this home field coin toss scenario should the Ravens win, which means the Bengals actually have to go all out in the game, something they could've avoided by beating Buffalo on Monday. Through no fault of their own they were robbed of the chance to clinch home field in the wildcard, robbed of controlling their destiny for the two seed, AND Baltimore was given this extra credit. That'd be fine if we got the same treatment extending up the standings in regards to a potential meeting with the Chiefs and Bills. If that's how it played out we would have the exact same relationship in that scenario as the Bengals-Ravens do now, but if we all win and then go to Buffalo and KC in the second round they said "LOL tough sh** No coin toss. Go to Buffalo. We hate you." That inconsistent logic manages to the Bengals going up and going down. It's the inconsistency that pisses me off the most.  

[Dilbert]

26 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Just trying to put it together:

 

1. The Chiefs are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

2. The Bills are upset because they won't be able to host an AFC CG

3. The Bengals are upset because they don't have the opportunity to host an AFC CG should the Bills and Chiefs have both lost out?

 

Assuming Cincinnati beats Baltimore, aren't they in the same place they would have been? Or could they have made it as far as the 1 seed had they beat Buffalo and Buffalo lost to NE?

The Bengals are also upset over potentially losing a home playoff game to a coin flip, despite winning the division.

 

Had the game continued with a Bengals win they would have won the division (without it being handed to them), they would have tied Buffalo for the two seed (Cincinnati holding the tiebreaker based on head to head). If the Chiefs lost both week 17 and 18 and the Bengals won both 17 and 18 they would have been tied for the number 1 seed with Cincinnati holding the tiebreaker based on head to head. (a longshot, but possible outcome)

[DG_ThenNowForever]

The Chiefs' only gripe is they can't host an AFC CG, but that's ridiculous, considering they're nearly gifted the 1 seed and a bye.

 

The Bills' gripe is they controlled their destiny for the 1 seed, and now they're very unlikely to get it, so they won't get a bye or host the AFC CG. They end up a two time loser. And, frankly, I feel like controlling your destiny for the 1 vs the 2 is a far bigger deal; I'm less sympathetic to the Bengals losing a shot at the 2 vs the Bills at the 1 (though, clearly I'm biased).

 

However, the Calvinball affecting the Bengals thereafter does feel unfair. If Cincinnati beats Baltimore on Sunday, they'd both be 3-3 in division (which feels like the best "tie"breaker), but the Bengals would have a better conference record, which feels like as good a tiebreaker as anything.

 

Had Buffalo and Cincinnati both ended up 12-4, who would have been the 2? Bengals, based on the tiebreaker?

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Okay, I see.

 

Yeah, Bills are getting a boost for controlling their destiny, while the Bengals aren't getting anything. That would bother me too.

 

I actually am becoming more convinced that there should have been an 8 seed so there's an inconvenience to everyone. And I'd be in favor of a neutral site for any combo of KC/Buffalo/Cincinnati. Clearly, there wasn't enough evidence in the season on who was the best among the three.

[Sport]

It would've cost nothing extra to apply the coin toss scenario consistently throughout. That's my biggest problem. It's almost like they thought simply giving the Bengals the division championship title would appease them. I don't give a honk about the division championship if it doesn't mean a home playoff game. 

 

If the Bengals had beaten the Bills and they finished with the same record the Bengals would've had the two seed. That there's no consideration for that because they're using the logic of "the Bills have more wins in the same number of games" and ignoring that they had a game scheduled. That's how it comes across on paper, but in reality we all know there was supposed to be a football game between those two (and I feel like the Bengals were going to win. That doesn't matter and we'll never know, but I feel like throwing that in). The way they've decided this essentially hands the Bills the W and the Bengals the L for the Monday Night non game. 

 

And it came out this morning that the Bengals abstained from the vote to be good sports while the Ravens voted yes for the proposal. You fools! Punished a second time this week for doing the right thing. 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

There is a world where Buffalo should have just forfeited and made this easy for everyone. They actually controlled that particular destiny and are forcing 31 other owners to come up with a new plan.

[infrared41]

 

 

27 minutes ago, Sport said:

 

I don't know what the Bills and Chiefs gripes are, but my gripe with the Bengals is the actual rules state this game with the Ravens on Sunday shouldn't matter for the division and the league's concocted this home field coin toss scenario should the Ravens win, which means the Bengals actually have to go all out in the game, something they could've avoided by beating Buffalo on Monday. Through no fault of their own they were robbed of the chance to clinch home field in the wildcard, robbed of controlling their destiny for the two seed, AND Baltimore was given this extra credit. That'd be fine if we got the same treatment extending up the standings in regards to a potential meeting with the Chiefs and Bills. If that's how it played out we would have the exact same relationship in that scenario as the Bengals-Ravens do now, but if we all win and then go to Buffalo and KC in the second round they said "LOL tough sh** No coin toss. Go to Buffalo. We hate you." That inconsistent logic manages to the Bengals going up and going down. It's the inconsistency that pisses me off the most.  

 

This is whole thing is a complete cluster.  You know it's bad when Browns fans are saying "Wow, the Bengals really got screwed in this deal."

[BBTV]

I don't think it's that unfair to the Bengals (noting that it's a little unfair to everybody... including Baltimore.)

 

1: @Sport Your point about calling the game a tie or draw is valid.  I'm not arguing that.  That's what should have happened.  However, given the total havoc that would have created and that they chose to not do it, we are where we are.  The rules allow for on-the-fly rule changes as long as there's a vote, so while they didn't follow their rule, they followed their rule to create a solution to the problem.

 

2.  The NFL is basically saying that you can't assume a win or a loss from the suspended game.  But you can design scenarios for what the situation would have been in either case.  I think that's how they came up with the neutral-site idea so as to account for unknown home-field situations.

 

Given that's the stance that the league took:

 

If the Bengals had won:

-Tomorrow's game is meaningless and they're resting starters.

-Guaranteed home field in WC round

-outside chance at 1 seed, but extremely unlikely.

 

If the Bengals had lost:

-Ravens have a shot to win the division by sweeping the series.

-If Cincinnati wins tomorrow, division record and H2H would be even.  Not sure what the "common game" situation is, but it's not guaranteed that the Bengals win the division.

 

So, the Ravens were potentially screwed out of a chance to win their division, and Baltimore is collateral damage to the suspension.

 

While admitting that it's unfair to everybody, I don't think it's as unfair to Cincinnati as it's being made out to be.  Calling it a draw would probably have been more unfair to more teams, however changing the rule on the fly is also kinda sketchy (although, the rules allow for on-the-fly rule changes with a vote, so even that wasn't that unfair.)

 

 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I'm mad at KC.

 

They had an easy schedule, played mostly home games on prime time, got that bull:censored: mulligan win over Tennessee, barely eeked out a win over Houston, and they lost to Indianapolis, which should be disqualifying. 

 

The Raiders need to get it together this weekend. They're at home. They almost beat the 49ers. They have nothing but pride to play for. Let's see a miracle.

[BBTV]

1 minute ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

I'm mad at KC.

 

They had an easy schedule, played mostly home games on prime time, got that bull:censored: mulligan win over Tennessee, barely eeked out a win over Houston, and they lost to Indianapolis, which should be disqualifying. 

 

The Raiders need to get it together this weekend. They're at home. They almost beat the 49ers. They have nothing but pride to play for. Let's see a miracle.

 

The world will be a better place if KC loses.  Granted, Andy Reid losing is usually the right outcome, but they're really getting such a benefit by being given the bye that I really hope they lose and at least make some of the scenarios moot.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

The Chiefs sat at home, watched a once-in-a-generation catastrophe that directly affected their two biggest rivals, and end up withby far the biggest boost.

 

Some people might say the Bills and Bengals kind of had a bye last week, but those people would be dumb for saying that.

[Sport]

14 minutes ago, BBTV said:

I don't think it's that unfair to the Bengals (noting that it's a little unfair to everybody... including Baltimore.)

 

1: @Sport Your point about calling the game a tie or draw is valid.  I'm not arguing that.  That's what should have happened.  However, given the total havoc that would have created and that they chose to not do it, we are where we are.  The rules allow for on-the-fly rule changes as long as there's a vote, so while they didn't follow their rule, they followed their rule to create a solution to the problem.

 

Which opens Pandora's box of bulls** for many other things. It's easier to explain unfavorable outcomes for rules that were already written. It's impossible to do what they did instead without inviting bias. 

 

14 minutes ago, BBTV said:

 

2.  The NFL is basically saying that you can't assume a win or a loss from the suspended game.  But you can design scenarios for what the situation would have been in either case.  I think that's how they came up with the neutral-site idea so as to account for unknown home-field situations.

 

Given that's the stance that the league took:

 

If the Bengals had won:

-Tomorrow's game is meaningless and they're resting starters.

-Guaranteed home field in WC round

-outside chance at 1 seed, but extremely unlikely.

 

Not entirely correct. They would've still needed to beat Baltimore to clinch the two seed, which is valuable for the second round home game. They controlled their own destiny and lost it through no fault of their own. They probably would've played starters, but you manage the game entirely differently under this scenario than the one they face now. 

 

14 minutes ago, BBTV said:

 

If the Bengals had lost:

-Ravens have a shot to win the division by sweeping the series.

-If Cincinnati wins tomorrow, division record and H2H would be even.  Not sure what the "common game" situation is, but it's not guaranteed that the Bengals win the division.

 

That's incorrect.  If the Bengals had lost to the Bills the Bengals would've been 11-5 and the Ravens would be 10-6 going into tomorrow so any Bengals win over the Ravens would've made them 12-5, the Ravens 10-7, which automatically clinches the division for the Bengals without needing tiebreakers. 

 

14 minutes ago, BBTV said:

 

So, the Ravens were potentially screwed out of a chance to win their division, and Baltimore is collateral damage to the suspension.

 

While admitting that it's unfair to everybody, I don't think it's as unfair to Cincinnati as it's being made out to be.  Calling it a draw would probably have been more unfair to more teams, however changing the rule on the fly is also kinda sketchy (although, the rules allow for on-the-fly rule changes with a vote, so even that wasn't that unfair.)

 

 

 

It's unfair to the Bengals because we don't get the Ravens' coin toss scenario applied to us with regards to a potential playoff matchup with the Bills or Chiefs when our relationship to those teams is the exact same as the Ravens relationship is to the Bengals. Does that make sense? 

 

12 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

I'm mad at KC.

 

They had an easy schedule, played mostly home games on prime time, got that bull:censored: mulligan win over Tennessee, barely eeked out a win over Houston, and they lost to Indianapolis, which should be disqualifying. 

 

The Raiders need to get it together this weekend. They're at home. They almost beat the 49ers. They have nothing but pride to play for. Let's see a miracle.

 

Their schedule has been so easy! Nobody is talking about this. I have a sneaky feeling the Chiefs are going to lose their divisional round game. 

[GDAWG]

If you want ultimate chaos, the QB matchup in the NFC Championship should feature two of Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins or Jared Goff/Geno Smith.  If it's Brady vs. Rodgers, the NFC Championship game is going to be boring as hell.  People are still going to watch, but it will be boring as hell.  

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Jacksonville upsetting KC at Arrowhead is a dream scenario regardless of what else happens.

[GDAWG]

2 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Jacksonville upsetting KC at Arrowhead is a dream scenario regardless of what else happens.

 

the Chiefs haven't been invincible at all this season as the pundits predicted to start the season.  They were supposed to destroy the Broncos and Texans but struggled to get past them.  

[infrared41]

3 minutes ago, GDAWG said:

 

the Chiefs haven't been invincible at all this season as the pundits predicted to start the season. 

 

You and I must have been reading stuff from different pundits because I recall a lot of them saying the Chiefs weren't even a lock to win the AFC West this season.

[GDAWG]

5 minutes ago, infrared41 said:

 

You and I must have been reading stuff from different pundits because I recall a lot of them saying the Chiefs weren't even a lock to win the AFC West this season.

 

I did.  It was namely "as long as the Chiefs have Mahomes and Kelce, they will win a lot of games and win their division."