Chiefs, Bills and Bengals fans share thoughts on NFL’s plan for the AFC postseason
One thing most NFL fans and pundits agreed on this week: the Bengals-Bills game shouldn’t be restarted. What no one could agree on: how to determine the top seed in the AFC playoff field with teams not playing the same number of games.
The NFL on Thursday confirmed the Bills-Bengals game wouldn’t happen, assuring those teams would play 16 games this season, while the Chiefs would play 17.
On Thursday night, the NFL outlined its plan to rectify the AFC playoff seeding with the unbalanced records.
In a nutshell, the Chiefs can get the No. 1 seed and bye week with a victory Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs then would be in line to be host to the AFC Championship Game if the Bills lose Sunday. But if Buffalo wins, the title game would be at a neutral site. Should the Chiefs lose and the Bills win, Buffalo would play host to a potential title game.
The Star’s Jesse Newell has a nice breakdown of what could happen if the plan is implemented.
Fans of the Chiefs, Bengals and Bills shared their thoughts on the NFL’s plan for the playoffs (which must get approval of team owners on Friday).
Here’s a sample of what all three fanbases were saying.
Bengals
Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon didn’t seem happy with the plan.
“So we not following the rules no more,” he wrote on Twitter while sharing screenshots of the NFL’s game operations manual.
So we not following the rules no more️ pic.twitter.com/AreAM1xAsp
— ️Primetime!!!️ (@Joe_MainMixon) January 6, 2023
Some other Bengals fans also were not happy, with some saying the NFL favors the Chiefs.
I honestly can’t say I’m surprised. Mahomes is the NFL golden child and the Bengals, regardless of how good of a team they’ve become, will always get screwed by the league.
— bay (@BayleeB2015) January 6, 2023
Everyone chill.
Win and we host Baltimore or whomever in the wildcard round.
Win and Buffalo loses we play them at home. Then go to KC at a neutral site.
Bottom line: Win. And #9 knows how to do that. #RuleTheJungle— Wes Harrison (@Wes_Harrison) January 6, 2023
Bengals always get screwed. The @NFL never gets it right man. Bills should of had to forfeit. Bengals were winning each team had a possession.
— Jack Dills (@SiMpLe_jack3) January 6, 2023
The NFL hates the Bengals being good https://t.co/WIpQwxXTLB
— Bengals Graphics (@BengalsGraphic5) January 6, 2023
I wonder how many talking heads that keep saying "It isn't fair but what are you gonna do" when it comes to the #Bengals right now would keep that same energy if it were any of the other teams#RuleTheJungle
— Dan DePaul (@Mutimus3841) January 6, 2023
Am I surprised the Bengals get absolutely shafted by the league yet again? No I am not. Rooting hard for Bills and Chiefs losses, and a dominant win over Baltimore on Sunday! #RuleTheJungle
— Derek Coffey (@thedecaf32) January 6, 2023
With this announcement the Bengals could theoretically have played 9 road games and only 7 home games and be the only team in NFL history to play a road game on Wildcard weekend as a division champion.
Tough situation and no perfect answer but this seems unfair#RuleTheJungle— WhoDeyCinema (@CinemaDey) January 6, 2023
Bills
Only silver lining to The Bills getting the #1 seed snatched away from them:
They’d get TWO Home playoff games.
That’s TWO parties.#BuffaloBills #BillsMafia @BuffaloBills #NFL #NFLTwitter— Danny D (@BuffaloDan01) January 6, 2023
Sure seems like the NFL loves them some KC Chiefs
— Otto (@Otto2787) January 5, 2023
I think this is the best scenario. It would have been awkward to go back to #Cincinnati. No contest is the right decision. AFC Championship should be at a neutral site. #BillsMafia #bills #PrayForDamar #PrayersForDamar https://t.co/K4kLgy0da0
— Chetan Rakieten (@chetanrakieten) January 6, 2023
Man that’s disappointing. I’m so thankful that Damar is recovering and that’s clearly priority one. But the Bills had the opportunity to hold on to their top spot and it sucks that it gets handed to KC. Especially with how powerful Buffalos home field adv is.
— Can you Diggs it? (@CanDiggs) January 6, 2023
If the Chiefs were losing to any NFL team 7-3 after 10 minutes, no matter how the game looked, everyone would believe that the Chiefs would win that game. That Cincy game was about respect. We didn’t get it…
…yet #BillsMafia— MAFIA MAN #BILLSMAFIA (@BuffaloBill95) January 6, 2023
This sucks… but I’d hate to be the person deciding how to resolve the game
— HolyShrimp (@Holy_Shrimp1) January 6, 2023
Chiefs
Don't think you've thought this thru. Chiefs essentially lose their #1 seed even if they win. They lose money, fans are screwed, and they weren't even involved. If they weren't going to play this Wed (should have) then needs to be deemed a tie, Week 18 determining the results.
— LT (@kslibra) January 6, 2023
As a @Chiefs fan, I'm a little embarrassed by a lot of #ChiefsKingdom responses tonight. We lost to the #BillsMafia and #WhoDeyNation we don't deserve home field advantage. I love the team and fully support them but, the outrage doesn't make sense! Be mad at @NFL for no plan.
— Mike Tavener Media (@mtavener1978) January 6, 2023
Chiefs fans just need to root for a chiefs win, Buffalo loss, then k.c. will get all games at Arrowhead for all the playoff games, even the afc championship.
People are getting confused, lol.#ChiefsKingdom— H E X (@HEXchiefs2) January 6, 2023
I'm fine with giving up home field for the AFC title game but we keep the bye week with a win Saturday. I can live with that. #Chiefs
— Brett Rasdall (@BrettRasdall) January 6, 2023
Unless they sit all starters the bill’s probably beat the patriots. So that’s not gonna matter much. Whatever they end up doing, I just hope we stay healthy and kick ass in the playoffs. @Chiefs #ChiefsKingdom I love you
— Chance Sargent (@Chief_Chance93) January 6, 2023
Before you go crazy about the #Chiefs getting screwed here, consider two things:
1). Unprecedented situations call for unprecedented solutions
2). Had the Chiefs beat a pathetic Indy team there would be no 1 seed discussion— Greg Sheffield (@Kcchiefs58dt) January 6, 2023
This is a good deal for Chiefs. You can tell it’s fair because everyone is a little pissed. But…that bye. That’s the biggest deal for any team. Free win
— Neil (@Royals_Navy) January 6, 2023
