We got hosed.

[Nepa]

(01-07-2023, 07:27 AM)phil413 Wrote: I'd like to hear McKay or someone from the league office address Taylor's comment:

So, we have the opportunity to play for a coin flip that can only negatively impact us," Taylor said. "We don’t have the opportunity to play for a coin flip that positively impacts us. Again, let’s just follow the rules and we accept that. We just have to turn our focus to getting ready for Baltimore and then doing everything we can to control what we can control at that point.”

Id like to hear why the Bengals have no coin flip opportunity to get a home game later in the playoffs in the neutral site scenarios.  Why does it only affect losing the home game the Bengals earn for winning the division, yet they can't win the home game for earning the 1 seed they are shut out of.  Rewrite the rules and use coin flips evenly or don't rewrite the rules.  

Also, anyone arguing their point either way should be mindful of these two deflection tactics.  

1. There is no ideal plan.  King elludes to this as others have. They give up the discussion with a "you can't make everybody happy" cop out as opposed to considering striving for similar rules if they are changed.

2. We all know to be mindful of Hamlin's recovery but that shouldn't stop discussion about how the show goes on.  I'm sure Bengal fans will seem negative and insincere as opposed to fairness.  Three things can be true at the same time.  You can be genuinely concerned for Hamlin's health. You can be looking forward to beating Baltimore. You can also ask why the league didn't consider a balanced plan.

Very well stated. I would like the explanation as well.

The league stated that the reason the coin flips comes up in the case of the Ravens and the Bengals is because the Bengals would have played one less game and could have lost and thus tied the Ravens record. But the exact same scenario comes up if the Chiefs finish #2 with a 13-4 record and the Bengals #3 with a 12-4 record. The Bengals played one less game and could have won and tied the Chiefs record. So what is the league's reasoning for that game being in Arrowhead stadium?

I can figure no explanation other than bias. One poster speculated because one was for the division. But the division was also settled by the league, with the Bengals accorded the division. So, why did the league make two different rules for the same scenario, one subjecting the Bengals to a coin flip, the other giving the Chiefs the home field?

I wish someone would put this to the committee.