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The NFL is currently juggling what to do with the AFC championship game after the Buffalo BIlls and Cincinnati Bengals game was canceled. With the game having huge playoff implications for both teams as well as others, the league is working feverishly to determine a fair outcome.
The NFL announced the cancellation late Thursday as well as various playoff scenarios. If the Bengals lose to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 and they face each other in the playoffs, the site for that game will be decided by a coin toss. If any of the two combinations of the Bengals, Bills and Kansas City Chiefs reach the AFC championship game, it will be played at a neutral site.
Also, the owners will meet via teleconference on Friday to discuss all options to determine seeding, according to a Pro Football Focus on Thursday.
"As one source explained it to PFT, the owners will have to resolve some “controversial” aspects of finalizing the plan. The specific options for the owners currently aren’t known," PFT's Mike Florio reported.
Also, the AFC championship game could be staged at a neutral site, possibly Indianapolis, according to another report.
With the game having repercussions for the playoff race, there is now some news regarding the AFC championship game.
Who are the current Super Bowl favorites?
The NFL's announcement confirmed the reporting of Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer about the AFC's showpiece game.
"Idea the NFL is discussing with teams/has real traction: Seeding by win percentage, with the AFC title game at neutral site, if seeding b/w the two teams was affected by Bills/Bengals cancellation. Indy floated as one potential site to clubs (NFL hasn't talked to Colts yet)," Breer tweeted.
Fans aren't happy with this and feel that the Bengals have got the rough end of the stick. With Buffalo and Cincinnati both having the potential to host the AFC championship game had either won on Monday night and with a Kansas City Chiefs loss, this appears to be the best way forward.
Is playing AFC championship game at neutral venue the right move for the NFL?
As the old saying goes, you can't please everyone. The league is doing its best to try to figure out a way for every team to at least have an equal shot in the playoffs.
While some might see it as unlucky to any team that manages to get hosting rights for the game, but that is all irrelevant. The reason we are here is so both the Bills and Bengals do not have to replay the game.
Playing in Week 18 will be hard enough for both teams, so the cancellation and now a proposed neutral-venue AFC championship game is seen as the best outcome.
While the Bengals had an outside shot of getting the No.1 seed, the Bills had a good chance, but both needed Kansas City to lose to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18.
Nevertheless, the decision to have the AFC championship game played on a neutral field is a good decision in the most trying of circumstances.
