The NFL seemingly has made a final decision regarding the Week 17 game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals.
Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press reported Thursday afternoon that “two people familiar with the decision” who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed or completed. The NFL has yet to announce that call because it and the NFL Players Association must come to an agreement on how to determine playoff seedings and the tournament’s schedule.
Monday’s prime-time encounter between the Bills and Bengals was suspended and later postponed after Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during the first quarter. On Thursday, doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center offered an encouraging update on Hamlin’s status.
The 12-3 Bills head into Week 18 trailing the 13-3 Kansas City Chiefs in the battle for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. Meanwhile, the 11-4 Bengals lead the 10-6 Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North division standings.
Winning percentages could be used to name the Bengals the AFC North champions and allow the Chiefs to claim the top spot in the overall conference standings via a victory at the 6-10 Las Vegas Raiders this Saturday. Baltimore is scheduled to play at Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier on Thursday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that No. 8 seeds could be added to both the AFC and NFC brackets. The NFL and NFLPA could also agree to move the AFC Championship Game to a neutral site if the Bills, Chiefs, and/or Bengals qualify for the contest.
Maaddi wrote that the NFL is expected to reveal its plans for the playoffs no later than Friday.
