What are the NFL rules regarding suspended games?

The NFL has a reputation for playing through the toughest conditions, with neither wind nor rain nor even blizzards stopping play, so when tragedy struck on Monday night and Damar Hamlin’s collapse precipitated the suspension of the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills, many fans were left wondering just what the league’s rules say about the situation.

It is, naturally, a no-brainer that the game was stopped. A young man’s life is in the balance and that far outweighs any sporting contest. Calling a halt to the proceedings is unquestionably the correct course for both teams involved.

Now that the immediate action has been taken, however, it does present us with a pretty pickle as to how exactly to deal with the resumption of play.

A first for everything

While this is not the first game to be suspended, or even abandoned entirely, it does present us with an NFL first. All other NFL games that have experienced disruption to the schedule were either postponed before the first kickoff or preseason games that were simply cancelled.

This is the first time in history that a regular season NFL game has been suspended mid-play, to be resumed at a later date.

Back in October of 1971, Detroit Lions receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed from a heart attack and although resuscitation was attempted, actually succumbed and became the only player in history to die on the field. With only one minute remaining in the fourth quarter, the game, in that case, was continued.

The NFL rule book states that all games should be played “to conclusion”, but also allot to the commissioner broad, sweeping powers to act in a variety of ways.

When accounting for events out of the control of the league, such as 9/11 or the earthquake that hit Candlestick Park during Game 3 of the 1989 World Series, the league has made the following provision:

“Games should be suspended, cancelled, postponed, or terminated … when circumstances exist such that commencement or continuation of play would pose a threat to the safety of participants or spectators or would unduly affect the ability of a community to deal with the effects of a local catastrophe or similarly disruptive event.

In determining whether a game should be rescheduled or relocated, public safety, community relations, and competitive integrity should be key determining factors.

Authority to cancel, postpone, or terminate games is vested solely in the Commissioner.

If possible, the Commissioner’s-office representative should consult with authorized representatives of the two participating clubs before any decision involving cancellation, postponement, or termination is made by the Commissioner.”

With the Bengals up 7-3 in the middle of the first quarter, this contest was far from decided. Particularly with Josh Allen and the potent Buffalo offense on the other side of the ball. There is no reasonable way for the commissioner to declare a winner of the match at this early stage, nor is there a reason to declare that the game should start over. Everything points to the game simply being resumed from where it left off.

Under Rule 17 of the NFL rule book, suspended games should be resumed within 48 hours when possible, although the league has announced that the game will not be resumed this week, releasing a statement that reads:

“The NFL continues to be in regular contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, and also the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association. After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week.

The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule. We will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.”

It would seem that the league is leaning toward simply pushing the game back a week, which would have a knock-on effect by slipping the playoffs back and eliminating the rest week prior to the Super Bowl.

Of course, with one the league’s major revenue streams being television broadcast rights, the TV networks may have something to say about the headache of rescheduling prime time slots.

Will the game simply be cancelled?

The league, tellingly, has not ruled anything out, referring not to the resumption of the game, but to the “possible resumption” of the game.

But with both of these teams favorites for a deep playoff run, and one of the two being seen as a likely AFC representative in the Super Bowl, it would seem almost unthinkable that the game will not be resumed. So much of the playoff picture depends on the outcome.

If the game is cancelled, however, it would mean that the Bengals and Patriots would get the number two and three seeds, and likely lead to declaration that the Bills would have home field advantage in any possible meeting with the Bengals in the playoffs.

With so many bad options available to him, Roger Goodell may in the end see cancellation as the lesser of two evils.