Whereas the soccer group targeted on the well being, well-being and restoration of Payments security Damar Hamlin, the NFL was given the unenviable activity of attempting to make up for the canceled sport by way of the playoff image.
The league initially postponed the Payments-Bengals tilt after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the sector earlier than canceling it later within the week. As a result of Monday evening’s sport had important playoff implications, the league needed to take steps to handle the way to deal with the canceled sport’s impact on the standings and residential subject benefit within the playoffs.
NFL homeowners on Friday handed a decision to vary the AFC playoff guidelines after the no contest. One of many eventualities that was handed as a part of the decision immediately impacts the Bengals, and Cincinnati is not comfortable, in response to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
If the Ravens beat the Bengals on Sunday and the 2 groups are set to satisfy within the playoffs, the location of the sport shall be decided by a coin flip. The Bengals, even with out a win within the “no contest” sport in opposition to the Payments, are thought of the AFC North champions. Nevertheless, since a Buffalo win on Monday evening would have given Baltimore an opportunity to win the division, the league felt it was solely truthful to offer the Ravens the chance to host a playoff sport.
This state of affairs has made many within the Bengals group “dwell” because the franchise feels penalized by the league’s decision. In line with the report, the league responded by telling Cincinnati they need to be comfortable to be named AFC North champions.
If the Bengals lose to the Ravens on Sunday after which different outcomes across the league in the end pit the 2 franchises in opposition to one another within the wild-card spherical subsequent week, historical past might be made. If home-field benefit within the contest flips to a coin toss within the Ravens’ favor, the Bengals would change into the primary group in NFL historical past to win the division and open the wild-card spherical on the highway.
In a memo obtained by ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Bengals government vp Katie Blackburn urged groups to vote in opposition to the NFL’s proposed decision.
“The correct course of for a rule change is within the offseason,” Blackburn wrote. “It’s not acceptable to place groups able to vote on one thing that will introduce bias, favor one group over one other, or have an effect on their very own state of affairs when the vote takes place instantly earlier than the playoffs.”
Blackburn sits on the league’s competitors committee, however the NFL’s proposed eventualities immediately have an effect on the Bengals, prompting direct opposition from the group this week.
No matter how the Bengals really feel, the dreaded coin flip state of affairs might be prevented completely with a house win on Sunday in opposition to the Ravens.