Posted on: January 5, 2023, 02:17h.
Final up to date on: January 5, 2023, 02:17h.
The excellent news is that Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin reportedly continues to recuperate after going into cardiac arrest throughout the staff’s Monday Night time Soccer sport in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. The suitable determination to droop the sport that evening in gentle of the medical emergency has led to confusion over what occurs subsequent to the season, and the league may present an replace in the present day.
Buffalo Payments gamers react after teammate Damar Hamlin suffered a life-threatening hit within the sport between the Payments and the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL suspended the sport that evening and will determine in the present day tips on how to conclude the season. (Picture: Getty Photos)
There was plenty of hypothesis about how the NFL may deal with the scenario. The sport had critical implications for the groups’ standings, and calling it off can change the complete dynamic of the postseason.
Completely different NFL analysts and insiders have offered their perception into how the league may transfer ahead. Primarily based on the latest chatter, it’s doable Commissioner Roger Goodell may announce a call someday in the present day.
Hamlin Nonetheless Progressing
Hamlin took what appeared like a routine hit throughout the sport that put him in cardiac arrest. Studies later indicated that medical personnel introduced him again to life on the sphere earlier than an ambulance took him to a neighborhood hospital.
The 24-year-old was nonetheless in intensive care and respiratory with the assistance of a ventilator on Wednesday afternoon, in keeping with the Payments, however is exhibiting “indicators of enchancment.” He’ll stay in ICU as docs and nurses proceed to information his restoration.
Because the NFL world intently follows his progress, the league’s video games have to maneuver ahead. As a result of a lot was driving on the result of that Payments-Bengals contest, making a name on what to do subsequent isn’t straightforward.
Goodell has full autonomy to make the willpower, though he gained’t seemingly achieve this with out enter from NFL and staff officers. With a set of video games going down this Saturday and Sunday, time is operating out for an announcement to be made.
The NFL Community’s Ian Rappaport believes there are three seemingly eventualities. The primary two could be to name the sport a tie or a no-contest. Neither is good for creating the postseason standings.
His third possibility could be a Week 19 for the Payments and Bengals to play. This is able to suggest eliminating the bye between the AFC and NFC championship video games and the Tremendous Bowl. This feature is the one that will permit the season to most intently resemble its path earlier than Hamlin’s accident.
Nonetheless, that will additionally pressure different adjustments. The Professional Bowl is at present scheduled for February 5, per week earlier than the Tremendous Bowl. That interval additionally coincides with media week and different occasions, all of which must shift. It additionally may pressure the postseason, scheduled to start on January 14, to alter, as nicely.
Cancel Week 18
Ryan Leaf, a former – and controversial – NFL quarterback, believes the best choice is to cancel Week 18. He tweeted on Wednesday that it’s the one method the NFL can present that it “really cares” concerning the well being of gamers.
The gridiron gurus behind Professional Soccer Speak assume they’ve an inside monitor on what’s going to occur when the NFL makes its announcement. They tweeted Wednesday evening that the sport may not happen in any respect. As an alternative, the seeding for the AFC playoff lineup may fall in keeping with the convention groups’ profitable percentages after Week 18.
Momentum is at present pointing towards Payments-Bengals not being resumed, with AFC playoff seeding based mostly on profitable proportion following the result of the Week 18 video games.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 5, 2023
The Payments have been set to take the highest seed of the AFC, and never resuming the sport could be the best path to maintain the remainder of the season on schedule. Nonetheless, the plan would nearly actually give the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs the highest seed and home-field benefit for the playoffs. In different phrases, if the Payments don’t do nicely within the postseason, some will ceaselessly argue that it was as a result of the NFL stole the chance from them.
Irrespective of the way you have a look at it, there isn’t a single “good” consequence. Nonetheless, the league has to make an imperfect determination to an imperfect situation. Nobody likes to see a life-threatening harm to an athlete on the sphere, however it doesn’t imply the world will cease turning.
That call will seemingly be made in the present day.
