Patriots Pregame Thread Pre Game Thread - Pats @ Bills

[mike_usagisan]

If the Pats are moved to Monday and somehow the Steelers/Phins/Titans lose and KC wins then you could be looking at a scenario where our game is canceled because it means nothing anyway.

Well, if it's not played, they probably have to refund tickets, which I don't think they want to do.

 

[jdlboot14]

Of course the life and health of Hamlin is primary here, but the NFL has to think business too.
I just don't see how they can start moving everyone around (or idea of adding days/week to the season).
It seems both Taylor and McDermott accepted the potential of a forfeit when they left the field. And, it's worthy and the right thing to do.
Just wild and unprecedented event. (we've had 9-11, and Covid outbreak - Broncos game scenario) But this is unique.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

If the Pats are moved to Monday and somehow the Steelers/Phins/Titans lose and KC wins then you could be looking at a scenario where our game is canceled because it means nothing anyway.

it would affect draft positioning though…

 

[venecol]

She then followed that up with a tweet that Roger could also move the game to the week after the Bills-Pats.

I think this makes the most sense.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Of course the life and health of Hamlin is primary here, but the NFL has to think business too.
I just don't see how they can start moving everyone around (or idea of adding days/week to the season).
It seems both Taylor and McDermott accepted the potential of a forfeit when they left the field. And, it's worthy and the right thing to do.
Just wild and unprecedented event. (we've had 9-11, and Covid outbreak - Broncos game scenario) But this is unique.

Right, but if the NFL rules it a forfeit (by both? so, a tie?), the media blasts the league for not being flexible with an extreme incident. That's a black eye the league doesn't want.

 

[venecol]

I think the solution is obvious, if they don't play tonight then the winner shall be whoever was winning the game when it was suspended.

About as fair as you can do it.

You're not taking into account that they actually played, so some recovery time is needed. That doesn't even take into account the emotional recovery time. How is that fair, given they didn't even play a quarter? Had they played 3 quarters, maybe.

 

[ashley]

 

[VectorPrime]

The College Football National Championship is on Monday, don't know if they would put both games on the same night.

They legally can not.

 

[venecol]

If the Pats are moved to Monday and somehow the Steelers/Phins/Titans lose and KC wins then you could be looking at a scenario where our game is canceled because it means nothing anyway.

The 2nd seed would still be up in the air.

 

[sb1]

There's nothing in the NFL rulebook that says teams can agree to a tie. It's either a forfeit (and the Bills will probably take the L) or play on. That would realistically end their shot at the #1 seed since I don't see KC losing to the Raiders.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

interesting, the ESPN playoff machine is treating the Bengals-Bills game as if it got cancelled. it simply disappeared from week 17. i wonder if ESPN already knows Goodell’s decision…

ESPN.com's 2025 NFL Playoff Machine - Playoff Matchup Predictor

Use the NFL Playoff Machine from ESPN to predict the NFL Playoff matchups by generating the various matchup scenarios based on your selections.

www.espn.com

 

[VectorPrime]

interesting, the ESPN playoff machine is treating the Bengals-Bills game as if it got cancelled. it simply disappeared from week 17. i wonder if ESPN already knows Goodell’s decision…

ESPN.com's 2025 NFL Playoff Machine - Playoff Matchup Predictor

Use the NFL Playoff Machine from ESPN to predict the NFL Playoff matchups by generating the various matchup scenarios based on your selections.

www.espn.com

There is no decision.

 

[venecol]

There's nothing in the NFL rulebook that says teams can agree to a tie. It's either a forfeit (and the Bills will probably take the L) or play on. That would realistically end their shot at the #1 seed since I don't see KC losing to the Raiders.

If the NFL decides to forfeit the Bills while their teammate is intubated in ICU, they'll never survive the onslaught of hate they would deservedly receive.

 

[jdlboot14]

What a horrible scenario for the NFL and the Bills and all the players involved to be in.
What would change everything is if some good news comes out today about Hamlin being awake with regular heartbeat.
I could see all the game scenarios being worked out quickly if/when that happens.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

There is no decision.

You don't know that. There could be a decision that hasn't been announced yet...perhaps ESPN found out from the league office already that the game is cancelled. I just thought it was interesting that the game was removed from the playoff machine completely. Honestly, I hope they find a way to play the game.

 

[sb1]

If the NFL decides to forfeit the Bills while their teammate is intubated in ICU, they'll never survive the onslaught of hate they would deservedly receive.

Yup. It's a tough situation. I think by rule the team would have to agree to the forfeit, the commissioner can't just do that unilaterally except in an emergency situation like a team refusing to take the field or blatantly cheating somehow. I'd think the Bills would be the team most impacted and unable to play- and they were losing anyway so it would probably be them.

There can't be a tie and there's no such thing as a double forfeit by rule. They'll probably just cancel it outright or play on.

 

[VectorPrime]

You don't know that. There could be a decision that hasn't been announced yet...perhaps ESPN found out from the league office already that the game is cancelled. I just thought it was interesting that the game was removed from the playoff machine completely. Honestly, I hope they find a way to play the game.

There is no decision.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It's a tough situation. I think by rule the team would have to agree to the forfeit, the commissioner can't just do that unilaterally except in an emergency situation like a team refusing to take the field or blatantly cheating somehow. I'd think the Bills would be the team most impacted and unable to play- and they were losing anyway so it would probably be them.

There can't be a tie and there's no such thing as a double forfeit by rule. They'll probably just cancel it outright or play on.

Roger doesn't care about the rules.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

There is no decision.

Is that what Goodell told you when you texted him?

 

[slash83]

Hoping they move the game to Sunday night, I hate MNF.