my guess for the week 18 sch

[j-man]

Sat
NYG @ PHILLY
DAL @ was or rams @ sea
i feel firm in these 2 games but i just throuht about herbie has to be in LA Mon night
so it might be this
sun noon
hou @ indy
chi @ minn
Cle @ pitt
TB @ ATL
Car @ NO
dal @ wash

SUN 3 25
NE @ BUFF
NYJ @ MIA
BAIT @ CINY
KC @ LV
LAC @ DEN
DET @ GB
RAMS @ SEA
ZONA @ SF

SUN NIGHT TENN @ JAX or Det @ GB

 

[BaseballJones]

Here's how I think next week will play out after Bal over Pit this week, and Cin beats Buf tomorrow.

Key games in the AFC...
Buf over NE
KC over LV
NYJ over Mia
Pit over Cle
Jax over Ten
Cin over Bal
LAC over Den

That would put everyone like this:

1. Buf 14-3
2. KC 14-3
3. Cin 13-4
4. Jax 9-8
5. LAC 11-6
6. Bal 10-7
7. NE 8-9 - gets tiebreakers over NYJ, Pit, and Mia on tiebreakers

That would be wild.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Here's how I think next week will play out after Bal over Pit this week, and Cin beats Buf tomorrow.

Key games in the AFC...
Buf over NE
KC over LV
NYJ over Mia
Pit over Cle
Jax over Ten
Cin over Bal
LAC over Den

That would put everyone like this:

1. Buf 14-3
2. KC 14-3
3. Cin 13-4
4. Jax 9-8
5. LAC 11-6
6. Bal 10-7
7. NE 8-9 - gets tiebreakers over NYJ, Pit, and Mia on tiebreakers

That would be wild.

For Buffalo to finish 14-3, it would have to win its final 2 games ... which would mean Cincinnati could not finish 13-4

 

[BaseballJones]

For Buffalo to finish 14-3, it would have to win its final 2 games ... which would mean Cincinnati could not finish 13-4

Good catch.

 

[BigJimEd]

Cinci v Balt game could be for the division so that's a possibility for night game as well.

 

[j-man]

Cinci v Balt game could be for the division so that's a possibility for night game as well.

they the NFL wants win and in only 2 games fits that tenn @ jax and maybe det @ gb

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Sunday night has to be Lions at Packers.

 

[luckiestman]

Lions/Packers @ Lambeau is what the people want to see

Almighty Ayahuasca Aaron vs Crazy Caffeine Campbell

 

[Rudy's Curve]

Lions-Packers would be an odd choice since the Lions are likely to have been eliminated before they take the field. Then again, they did that to the Steelers this week (who were even more likely). Also, if they have to set the schedule before Bills-Bengals tomorrow, that likely takes Ravens-Bengals out of the running since the AFCN may be over. Assuming the Bills don't have the 1 locked up by Sunday (which would require a win over the Bengals tomorrow and a Chiefs loss Saturday), the only remaining game you can say tomorrow afternoon where both teams are very likely to be playing for something significant is Pats-Bills.

 

[luckiestman]

Lions-Packers would be an odd choice since the Lions are likely to have been eliminated before they take the field. Then again, they did that to the Steelers this week (who were even more likely). Also, if they have to set the schedule before Bills-Bengals tomorrow, that likely takes Ravens-Bengals out of the running since the AFCN may be over. Assuming the Bills don't have the 1 locked up by Sunday (which would require a win over the Bengals tomorrow and a Chiefs loss Saturday), the only remaining game you can say tomorrow afternoon where both teams are very likely to be playing for something significant is Pats-Bills.

McVay could beat Seattle. The Jets no showed today and Seattle kept trying to give them chances

 

[Rudy's Curve]

McVay could beat Seattle. The Jets no showed today and Seattle kept trying to give them chances

Of course he could - I’m only saying it’s unlikely and the Rams just don’t have any horses right now. Also, I was wrong about the Bills - it’s kind of tough to put them on Sunday night because if they lose tomorrow and the Chiefs/Bengals win next week (hardly impossible), they’re locked into the 3 and would have no incentive to play. The picture becomes a lot clearer tomorrow night, but I’m not sure if they’re able to wait until after the game. The AFCS is the only game with guaranteed implications for both teams - I guess the markets were just too poisonous for SNF though.

 

[BigJimEd]

Lions-Packers would be an odd choice since the Lions are likely to have been eliminated before they take the field.

The NFL went to this flexible week 18 to try to avoid those situations happening. But one alternative is off the board.

Titans - Jags on Saturday. Guess they wanted to avoid late game tie situation.

 

[DanoooME]

My guess (with Chiefs/Raiders and Titans/Jags on Saturday already announced):
Sunday 1 PM
Jets/Dolphins
Patriots/Bills
Browns/Steelers (these three games for the last spot in the AFC)
Bucs/Falcons
Panthers/Saints
Texans/Colts (three filler games)
Vikings/Bears
Eagles/Giants
Cowboys/Commanders (NFC seeding implications)

Sunday 4 PM
Seahawks/Rams
Packers/Lions (these two games for the last spot in the NFC)
Cardinals/49ers
Chargers/Broncos (two filler games)

Sunday 8 PM
Ravens/Bengals (best matchup with the least playoff impacts, since other than the Jags/Titans game, there's no game that has a win and in aspect to it for both teams)

 

[Rudy's Curve]

My guess (with Chiefs/Raiders and Titans/Jags on Saturday already announced):
Sunday 1 PM
Jets/Dolphins
Patriots/Bills
Browns/Steelers (these three games for the last spot in the AFC)
Bucs/Falcons
Panthers/Saints
Texans/Colts (three filler games)
Vikings/Bears
Eagles/Giants
Cowboys/Commanders (NFC seeding implications)

Sunday 4 PM
Seahawks/Rams
Packers/Lions (these two games for the last spot in the NFC)
Cardinals/49ers
Chargers/Broncos (two filler games)

Sunday 8 PM
Ravens/Bengals (best matchup with the least playoff impacts, since other than the Jags/Titans game, there's no game that has a win and in aspect to it for both teams)

That's a pretty good guess. I'd probably move Vikings-Bears to 4 since they're battling the Niners for the 2 - if the Eagles win and Vikings lose at 1, the Niners would have nothing to play for. I was under the assumption the schedule has to be made by 4 ET today, but if they can wait until after MNF there would be a lot more clarity.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

(per Schefter)

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Seahawks getting absolutely fucked. The Lions game should be at the same time, like soccer does.

 

[Cellar-Door]

So Seahawks and Jags getting the most hosed, Titans and Packers most advantaged,

 

[E5 Yaz]

I need someone to explain why the Seahawks are getting screwed. They have to win, regardless of the Lions-Packers game.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I need someone to explain why the Seahawks are getting screwed. They have to win, regardless of the Lions-Packers game.

They need the Lions to win, but if the Seahawks win the Lions are eliminated and have little incentive in their game. Usually you play games like that at the same time, so all teams are alive at time of start.

 

[E5 Yaz]

They need the Lions to win, but if the Seahawks win the Lions are eliminated and have little incentive in their game. Usually you play games like that at the same time, so all teams are alive at time of start.

Got it .... thanks

 

[JOBU]

Not sure how much the lions will lay down even if they are eliminated. Winning would keep your divisional rival (packers) out right?

 

[rodderick]

Not sure how much the lions will lay down even if they are eliminated. Winning would keep your divisional rival (packers) out right?

Sure, but it isn't anywhere near the same level of motivation. This is criminal scheduling.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Not sure how much the lions will lay down even if they are eliminated. Winning would keep your divisional rival (packers) out right?

Yeah, but it's really not the same, and it also will go to things like who plays. A player is a bit dinged up and you can make the playoffs you play them, if you're eliminated, probably not. So for example, Frank Ragnow, he's been hurt for weeks but playing through it, if they get eliminated he probably gets week 18 off. DeShon Elliott might be back this week, but if they are eliminated they probably make him inactive.

 

[OurF'ingCity]

Sure, but it isn't anywhere near the same level of motivation. This is criminal scheduling.

But someone has to play on Sunday night. What game is the better option?

 

[BaseballJones]

But someone has to play on Sunday night. What game is the better option?

Cincy vs. Baltimore, IMO. If Buffalo beats Cincy tonight, then that one would be for the AFCN title, and no other games would really impact it.

 

[Helmet Head]

Could they have flexed Tennessee - Jacksonville from Saturday to Sunday night? That is probably the most logical choice for Sunday night football as J-man pointed out in his initial post. Likely a quasi playoff game. You got to have packers - lions playing simultaneously with Seattle given the ramifications of the Seattle game to the Lions. Knowing they are eliminated right before they walk on to the field will be a complete let down. Not a great job by the NFL.

 

[BusRaker]

So a Bills win tonight and Raiders win over KC would mean not much Josh Allen on Sunday

 

[cshea]

FWIW, a Bills loss tonight + a Chiefs win on Saturday would eliminate the Bills from the 1 seed race. Probably doesn’t matter because 2 is a lot more valuable than 3 but maybe they’d be a bit more conservative if they knew they had a game the next week (less Allen runs, more conservative with injuries, etc.)

 

[BigSoxFan]

Sure, but it isn't anywhere near the same level of motivation. This is criminal scheduling.

It is but this is the NFL where almost everyone is fighting and scrapping for their next meal ticket. The guys in the game will be giving it everything they’ve got.

 

[OurF'ingCity]

Could they have flexed Tennessee - Jacksonville from Saturday to Sunday night? That is probably the most logical choice for Sunday night football as J-man pointed out in his initial post. Likely a quasi playoff game. You got to have packers - lions playing simultaneously with Seattle given the ramifications of the Seattle game to the Lions. Knowing they are eliminated right before they walk on to the field will be a complete let down. Not a great job by the NFL.

I assume ESPN wants a good game so they probably have high priority when it comes to getting a game with some meaning.

 

[AB in DC]

Cincy vs. Baltimore, IMO. If Buffalo beats Cincy tonight, then that one would be for the AFCN title, and no other games would really impact it.

Probably moot now, but Balt-Cincy was likely to be the 3-6 matchup in two weeks anyway, so all they'd have been playing for would be home field advantage. seems unlikely that the teams would have gone all out when they'd be playing the week later.

Obviously we're in a different place now but wanted to pretend for a moment that we were in a normal universe.

 

[jablo1312]

I'm not trying to be insensitive, but am curious how everyone thinks the NFL will proceed with the BUF-CIN re-scheudule...

 

[E5 Yaz]

I'm not trying to be insensitive, but am curious how everyone thinks the NFL will proceed with the BUF-CIN re-scheudule...

It's such an unusual circumstance that there's no sense guessing.

 

[Humphrey]

"No game" or a tie allows KC to wrap it up Saturday night. How Buffalo would approach Sunday given this tragedy is anyone's guess.

 

[Justthetippett]

Maybe both teams get a .5 win (and no .5 loss) so that allows Buffalo to maintain its position vis a vis KC and Cincy vis a vis Balt. But IDK. I can also imagine next week both teams will want to get back on the field because that’s how they’ll deal with their fear/grief, but I can also imagine it being very difficult to find any joy in the competition, particularly if Hamlin’s prognosis is not optimistic.

 

[JFK35]

My guess *assuming Hamlin is ok**

They’ll spread out Week 18 over 2 weeks to keep the networks happy (as sick as that is to even say). So they’ll be games this weekend AND next weekend.

Buffalo/Cincinatti will be played next Monday.
This will move Pats/Bills to the 14th or 15th.

Playoffs pushed back a week. Super Bowl BYE week eliminated

 

[wilked]

Maybe both teams get a .5 win (and no .5 loss) so that allows Buffalo to maintain its position vis a vis KC and Cincy vis a vis Balt. But IDK. I can also imagine next week both teams will want to get back on the field because that’s how they’ll deal with their fear/grief, but I can also imagine it being very difficult to find any joy in the competition, particularly if Hamlin’s prognosis is not optimistic.

This feels like the best solution. KC / BAL won’t be able to complain even if they truly feel they’ve been done wrong, allows everyone to move forward collectively while not penalizing the teams last night

 

[axx]

See I think in normal cases, they would resume tomorrow and move their final games to Monday... but you can't really do that.

 

[cshea]

This feels like the best solution. KC / BAL won’t be able to complain even if they truly feel they’ve been done wrong, allows everyone to move forward collectively while not penalizing the teams last night

It is essentially the same thing as a tie but that penalizes the Bills. They would fall behind KC and cede control of the #1 seed. It would give the Bengals the AFC North title but also take away their shot at the #1 seed.

I'm not sure how they figure this out. The ESPN games on Saturday will complicate things, but considering every week 18 game is divisional, I wonder if it's possible to scrap the AFC week 18 games this week and push them to next week. The NFC plays week 18 as scheduled. If, god willing, Hamlin's outlook is positive they could play Bengals/Bills in the ESPN Saturday Night slot. Then they play the AFC week 18 the following week (currently the WC weekend) and shove the playoffs back aweek and scrap the Super Bowl bye. That is probably fairest for everyone. The AFC teams get a bye now and there's no competitive advantages based on results. The NFC teams all get a bye prior to the playoffs, the #1 seed gets two.

 

[BaseballJones]

This is such a bizarre (and terrible, obviously) situation. We are all focused on Hamlin’s well being and rightfully so. But the league DOES have to figure out this other stuff too, in a way that’s most equitable for everyone involved. Personally, I haven’t the foggiest idea what the right thing to do is here. If the players are just like NFW are we playing til we know Hamlin is fine (which is something they may not ever learn as he may not actually end up being fine), what is the league supposed to do? How are they supposed to finish the game or assign “wins” and/or “losses” in this one? Can’t push the entire schedule back a week because they can’t move the super bowl. No way. But forcing this also seems terrible.

 

[BaseballJones]

It is essentially the same thing as a tie but that penalizes the Bills. They would fall behind KC and cede control of the #1 seed. It would give the Bengals the AFC North title but also take away their shot at the #1 seed.

I'm not sure how they figure this out. The ESPN games on Saturday will complicate things, but considering every week 18 game is divisional, I wonder if it's possible to scrap the AFC week 18 games this week and push them to next week. The NFC plays week 18 as scheduled. If, god willing, Hamlin's outlook is positive they could play Bengals/Bills in the ESPN Saturday Night slot. Then they play the AFC week 18 the following week (currently the WC weekend) and shove the playoffs back aweek and scrap the Super Bowl bye. That is probably fairest for everyone. The AFC teams get a bye now and there's no competitive advantages based on results. The NFC teams all get a bye prior to the playoffs, the #1 seed gets two.

That’s actually pretty smart thinking there. I forgot they have a week to play with before the super bowl.

 

[loshjott]

There's almost always been an extra week before the Super Bowl. One of the few times in what you could call modern SB Super Bowl history when the extra week was not scheduled, was after the 2001 season. Then 9/11 happened and the league wanted to push everything back a week. They had to negotiate with a huge car dealer conference in New Orleans to free up hotel space, etc. for the first Sunday in Feb before they could formally make that decision.

After that, the NFL mandated the extra week off every year.

That year's Super Bowl, SB36 - largely a forgettable game otherwise, I really can't recall what happened - was the first one played in February.

 

[AB in DC]

This will never happen, but I wish it would.
1) Buffalo forfeits the game against NE, gets #2 seed
2) NE (#7 seed) forfeits their playoff game against Buffalo and gives them an extra week to recover.

Frankly no one deserves the #7 seed anyway so no big loss.

 

[AB in DC]

In any case, I'm guessing the first question is whether the 14 games not involving Buff or Cin will go on as scheduled. I'm guessing that NFL locker rooms around the country are discussing this right now. We'll probably have a good feel on those by the end of the day today.

 

[axx]

View: https://twitter.com/2melissaholmes/status/1610227452852441089


Dunno how legit but a claim that it's Goodell's decision and if played the game would have to be within 2 days.

 

[Ale Xander]

Would say Buffalo Cincy on Thursday, and the Buffalo NE and the Cincy game this weekend pushed to Tuesday, and keep the rest of the schedule, make any sense?

Would Buff/Cincy be able to resume play in 2 days? Assuming Damar recovers of course.

 

[BaseballJones]

If the league forces these teams to play against their will, and I know this will sound nuts, but if that's what the league does, what if the teams just took turns taking knees all game long as a protest. Again, I know it's crazy, but this whole situation is almost beyond comprehension.

 

[sodenj5]

NFL is in a tricky spot in terms of competitive balance. Obviously, the right call was made last night to stop playing and Hamlin’s health is the number one concern. Now how do they pick up the pieces because Buffalo-Cincy is important for deciding playoff seeding, and Buffalo-NE is important for determining the 7 seed.

I would think that they might try and get Buffalo and Cincy played by Wednesday, and possibly push NE and Buffalo as well as Miami and the Jets to Monday night as a double header.

They pulled off some crazy scheduling during Covid. I think that resolution might be the “most fair” in terms of competitive balance.

Hope that we get good news on Hamlin today.

 

[Remagellan]

Would say Buffalo Cincy on Thursday, and the Buffalo NE and the Cincy game this weekend pushed to Tuesday, and keep the rest of the schedule, make any sense?

Would Buff/Cincy be able to resume play in 2 days? Assuming Damar recovers of course.

The biggest problem would be as many as four teams could be playing playoff games on short weeks (Bengals, Bills, Pats, Ravens), assuming the Pats beat the Bills and deny them the bye, and the Bengals don't pass the Chiefs for the bye. But since one of those games would be a rematch between the Pats and the Bills, and the other could be a Bengals-Ravens rematch, that might not be much of an issue.

 

[Humphrey]

View: https://twitter.com/2melissaholmes/status/1610227452852441089


Dunno how legit but a claim that it's Goodell's decision and if played the game would have to be within 2 days.

That would seem to be consistent with the minimum time off they give teams between games; that is, Sunday to Thursday equals Wednesday to Sunday. Not that I agree with that short a time between games.