The NFL introduced Wednesday that discussions are ongoing about whether or not to renew the Week 17 Buffalo-Cincinnati recreation, which was postponed after Payments security Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in the course of the first quarter.
If the league declares the Monday evening recreation a no-contest – or says it is canceled and won’t resume – the announcement would clinch the AFC North title for the Bengals.
The Bengals are 11-4, and the Ravens are 10-6. So even when Baltimore wins at Cincinnati in Week 18, the Ravens would end 11-6, 1/2 recreation behind the 11-5 Bengals within the AFC North standings.
The NFL has mentioned the Payments-Bengals recreation will not be resumed this week. The league additionally introduced that Baltimore and Cincinnati will play Sunday at 1 pm
The NFL had introduced earlier this week that if the Bengals defeated the Payments, Cincinnati and Baltimore would play at 1 pm Sunday on CBS. If the Payments had received Monday evening, Cincinnati and Baltimore would have met at 4:25 pm on CBS.
NFL Govt VP of Soccer Operations Troy Vincent instructed reporters Wednesday that the league hasn’t dominated out a postponement of the Buffalo-Cincinnati recreation. The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway reported Wednesday that many components are concerned, and it is sophisticated. ESPN’s Adam Schefter spoke throughout “NFL Dwell” about choices the league is contemplating.
If the sport is canceled, the Bengals may also not have a path to the No. 1 seed and home-field benefit. Cincinnati nonetheless may clinch the No. 2 seeds with a win towards the Ravens plus a Payments loss to the New England Patriots in Week 18. Once more, that is if the sport is cancelled.
BaltimoreRavens.com’s Clifton Brown wrote Wednesday evening that if the AFC North title shouldn’t be on the road Sunday, it may affect how a lot the Ravens play their starters towards the Bengals.
Extra from Brown’s article:
“We might be excited to be enjoying for the division crown,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “That is one thing we’re hoping for, however that is actually past us. Our job is to go win the soccer recreation, and actually to do this, we have to management the method, which is to play one of the best soccer that we will. We predict we’re able to enjoying nice soccer, and we have been enjoying nice soccer in numerous methods in numerous instances, so we actually wish to attempt to put all of it collectively.”
“I am unsure how that may find yourself going, however we’re simply going to exit and hopefully we get an opportunity,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey mentioned. “I do know life is not too honest, so no matter occurs is okay. I do know if I used to be the Bengals, I might be like, ‘This is not honest in the event that they cancel it,’ or no matter. Whichever means it goes, I believe we do have a recreation to play, and so with all of the issues happening, it is type of a juggle of locking into this week, whereas additionally nonetheless having ideas and prayers for Damar.”
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This text initially appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati would clinch AFC North if NFL canceled recreation vs. Buffalo