Bengals’ Zac Taylor lashed out at NFL’s coin-toss resolution for homefield in potential Cincinnati-Baltimore playoff matchup, insists rules are ‘black and white’ – after MNF canceled due to Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest
Bengals coach Zac Taylor is unhappy with the NFL’s coin-toss resolution to determine homefield advantage for a potential Wildcard Round playoff matchup between Cincinnati and AFC North rival Baltimore. Specifically, Taylor took issue with the league’s decision to ignore its own rules, which state that playoff seeds are determined by winning percentage.
‘It’s black and white, it’s in the rulebook,’ Taylor told reporters Friday as NFL owners met to discuss proposed tweaks to this year’s playoff format.
Taylor was speaking before team owners approved the NFL’s proposed resolution.
The issue stems from the NFL’s decision to call off the rest of Monday’s Bills-Bengals game, which was postponed after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered an on-field cardiac arrest and required resuscitation. Hamlin remains in critical care at a hospital in Cincinnati, where he recently had his breathing tube removed and even FaceTimed with teammates on Friday.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor is unhappy with the NFL’s proposed coin toss for homefield advantage for a potential Wildcard Round playoff matchup between Cincinnati and Baltimore
Damar Hamlin is awake and showing signs of improvement after suffering cardiac arrest and being resuscitated during Monday’s Bills-Bengals game in Cincinnati
The MNF matchup carries significant playoff implications for both the 12-3 Bills and 11-4 Bengals, with the latter hosting the 10-6 Ravens on Sunday.
If Cincinnati wins, they will have homefield advantage in a potential first-round matchup with Baltimore.
However, if the Ravens beat the Bengals for the second time this season, the two teams would be in a virtual tie for first place in the AFC North, separated by just percentages.
The Bengals’ official Twitter account didn’t seem too impressed with the NFL’s decision
That’s why the league proposed a coin flip to determine homefield advantage in a potential Wildcard meeting, even though the Bengals would still have the higher winning percentage of the two teams should the Ravens on Sunday.
‘This game means more today,’ read a tweet from the Bengals’ Twitter account. ‘Gotta bring energy to Sunday.’
Under normal circumstances, homefield advantage is determined by winning percentage.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills react as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) is treated on the field after a collision in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium
“So we don’t follow the rules anymore,” tweeted Bengals running back Joe Mixon.
The league also passed a resolution to move a potential Bills-Kansas City Chiefs AFC Championship to a neutral field if both teams advance that far.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the complications facing the league in a statement Thursday.
“As we consider the football schedule, our principles are to limit disruption across the league and reduce competitive inequities,” Goodell said.
‘I recognize that there is no perfect solution. The proposal we are asking ownership to consider, however, addresses the most significant potential fairness issues created by the difficult, but necessary, decision not to play under these unusual circumstances.’
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the complications facing the league on Thursday
