(01-06-2023, 08:48 AM)kevin Wrote: OK, I tried to Delete the first post to delete the whole thing, but this site won't let me do that. I hit Delete to left and right, but it won't delete.

I did not know the NFL came up with this First Time Ever coin flip ruling. That NFL say Bengals are AFC North Champs, but getting a home play-off game may come down to a coin flip. So of course Bengals starters have to play Sunday due to this coin flip deal.

I tried to delete this entire thread. It will not delete.

Yes, Burrow has to play now. Can't let this ride on a coin flip.

(01-06-2023, 09:17 AM)Synric Wrote: Problem is Bengals have the worst case scenario in this whole thing with the possibility of earning a 1st place division schedule without the perks of the a playoff home game. No other team has a scenario like this...

Did the NFL balance that worst case with a long shot scenario at the number 1 seed like we had before? No

Does the league throw in a kicker for the Bengals such as a neutral location for a Bills vs Bengals divisional round? No.


....so to Summarize. Bengals get the worst part of the deal without a reward and no kicker to make it even. That's not a contract I would sign because there is no upside for the risk.

(01-06-2023, 07:33 AM)kevin Wrote: The NFL made it official.  The Bills at Bengals game is a No Contest, and will not be restarted. The NFL schedule into play-offs makes that impossible.  So Bills are AFC East Champs.  Bengals are AFC North Champs.

Bengals can not move up to get top seed in AFC or bye week or home field advantage through play-offs.  

So the only smart thing for Bengals to do is not start Burrow against Ravens and risk injury to their franchise quarterback. Burrow will take enough hits in the play-offs, as we saw last year.  The Bengals were wise to not start Burrow against Browns in last game of last season, and should be wise again to not start Burrow against Ravens in last game this season.

Do not stop at not playing Burrow.  There are other Bengals stars who have missed games from injuries this season who should also be saved for the play-offs. The goal now is not this Ravens game, but to win the play-off game in The Jungle the next week.

I know some of you will want Burrow and everybody to play Sunday.  Certainly sports betters will.  However the outcome of this game means little, just as last years season ending Browns game.  By resting Burrow and others, The Bengals were healthy enough in play-offs to go to Super Bowl. So it makes perfect logic to do it again.  

The last thing the Bengals can have is Burrow injured against the Ravens and going into play-offs without Burrow, which would greatly reduce Bengals chances of winning the play-off game in Cincinnati the next weekend.

I would add others who have had injuries and to hold out are Chase, Higgins,  Hurst, Mixon, Hendrickson, Boyd.  Rest or bench as many of them as possible along with Burrow, but by all means save Burrow for The Play-Off game in The Jungle the next weekend.

(01-06-2023, 09:17 AM)Synric Wrote: Problem is Bengals have the worst case scenario in this whole thing with the possibility of earning a 1st place division schedule without the perks of the a playoff home game. No other team has a scenario like this...

Did the NFL balance that worst case with a long shot scenario at the number 1 seed like we had before? No

Does the league throw in a kicker for the Bengals such as a neutral location for a Bills vs Bengals divisional round? No.


....so to Summarize. Bengals get the worst part of the deal without a reward and no kicker to make it even. That's not a contract I would sign because there is no upside for the risk.