NFL Divisional Round: What happened in the last regular season game between the Bengals and Bills?
In a delayed meeting, marked by tragedy, of two AFC giants in the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills, we take a look at what is on the line
Just two weeks ago at the first meeting of the Bengals and Bills, the stakes were high, but perhaps not as critical to the season as they are now.
When these two potent offenses squared off in Week 17, the winner was a shoe-in for the top seed in the playoffs. With the tragic collapse of Damar Hamlin, that contest was abandoned and the Kansas City Chiefs took the top seed, despite having lost to both Cincinnati and Buffalo during the season.
You can follow the clash between Bengals vs Bills here: NFL Divisional Round
In the first quarter, Hamlin made a tackle on Tee Higgins, who was coming over the middle on a crossing route, and the Bills defender got to his feet but then collapsed to the ground. Players quickly called the medical team on to the field, as many from both teams dropped to a knee upon seeing the aftermath of the hit.
Within 10 seconds of Hamlin’s collapse, Bills team trainers and physicians were treating him. An ambulance was on the field in less than five minutes, and he was given CPR before being taken to the hospital.
The game was postponed, and later cancelled by the league.
With the news that Hamlin is recovering, both teams have moved on from Week 17, with the Bengals stomping the Ravens, twice, and the Bills making short work of the Patriots before getting themselves into a real brawl with the Dolphins.
The NFL considered several possibilities of how to deal with the fact that both of these teams have competed in one less game than everyone else, as well as the fact that they both have a valid argument to feeling hard done by with the outcome. In the end, the NFL chose to allow the higher seeded team to host any future meeting between the two teams.
The winner of this game will go on to face the winner of the of the Jags-Chiefs matchup, and that is where it gets somewhat complicated. Owing to the difference in total games played in the season, if the Bills and Chiefs win, AFC Championship Game will be contested in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. If the Bengals should win, they would have to face the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. And if the Jaguars should beat the Chiefs, then the winner of the Bills-Bengals game will host the AFC Championship.