What will happen if NFL cancels Bills vs. Bengals? Potential effect on playoff picture

The NFL playoff picture could be significantly affected by the tragic events that took place during Monday Night Football in Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field following a routine tackle against Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

The terrifying scene included Hamlin going into cardiac arrest. Medical staff were forced to administer CPR and use an AED before he was rushed to the hospital. He remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, while the entire NFL world prays for his recovery.

The league clearly made the right move by postponing the remainder of the game on Monday night. Nobody in their right mind can expect players from each team to resume a football game after going through such a traumatic experience.

Damar Hamlin's health is the number one priority to emerge from the game. He is at the forefront of everyone's minds as Week 18 approaches.

While everyone is awaiting every update on Hamlin's recovery, eventually the 2022 NFL season will move forward and the playoff picture will take its final form. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's office released this official statement regarding the conclusion of the regular season games in Weeks 17 and 18.

As it currently stands, there are no plans in place to complete the suspended game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. The league has instead decided to move forward and resume Week 18 as previously scheduled.

They added that the game will not be played this week, but did leave the door open for it to possibly resume at a later date. This could be tricky, considering the playoffs begin next week.

Cancelling the game altogether and leaving it incomplete has major effects on the playoff picture for both teams involved, as well as the entire AFC.

AFC Playoff Picture entering Week 18

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

The Buffalo Bills entered Week 17 in control of the number one seed in the AFC playoff picture. If they were to win their two remaining games, they would officially clinch the top seed.

A loss or tie against the Cincinnati Bengals would have put the Kansas City Chiefs in the driver's seat for a first-round bye and home-field advantage.

Leaving the Week 17 matchup between the Bills and Bengals incomplete has the same effect on the playoff picture as if the Bills lost or had a tie. They now trail the Chiefs by half-a-game in the standings.

This means that if they don't complete the suspended game and the Chiefs defeat the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18, Kansas City will clinch the top seed. This would be regardless of the Bills' result against the New England Patriots.

The Bengals entered Week 17 needing just one more win or tie to clinch the AFC North division. This same outcome can be accomplished if their game against the Bills is left incomplete.

The Baltimore Ravens currently trail the Cincinnati Bengals by a game and a half with one game remaining. While they face each other in Week 18 and both have clinched a playoff berth, the division title is only up for grabs if the Bengals receive a loss in Week 17.

The Bengals have also entered their Week 17 game with a chance to earn the top seed. Their only path to do so was by winning each of their remaining two games, while also needing the Chiefs to lose a game.

If their game against the Bills is not complete, they will officially be locked into the third seed in the AFC playoff picture.