Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley in contrast it to a scene from “Friday Night Lights.”
If the Ravens defeat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and earn a direct rematch within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, the host could be decided by a coin flip, in line with a plan authorized Friday by NFL homeowners.
The plan represented the league’s try at a good decision after it declared final Monday’s sport between the Bengals and Buffalo Bills a no contest within the wake of Bills security Damar Hamlin collapsing on the sector.
Ravens gamers and coaches appeared extra bemused than riled up concerning the uncommon state of affairs, which supplies them no shot to win the AFC North however retains home-field benefit on the desk.
“It wasn’t something that as a coach, we really had time to be involved with,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “We were working on the game planning and preparation. I think that was at a league level. The thing I appreciated and the way I understand it, the No. 1 consideration was Damar Hamlin, his health and his family. And that’s why the game was originally postponed and then eventually canceled. And then after that, there’s 100 considerations in terms of logistics, competitive fairness, the fans, all the partners involved. All of those things, I’m sure, were taken into account.”
Huntley made the comparability to the well-known scene from actual life, literature and display screen during which the Permian Panthers earned a spot within the Texas state playoffs through coin flip. “I think it’s crazy,” he mentioned. “God willing, when we win, that’ll put everything into process. … We’ve just got to go handle business and win this one.”
Safety Kyle Hamilton agreed: “It’s unique, obviously, because of what happened, but at the end of the day, it’s control what you control. I was talking with one of our teammates going to practice, I was like, ‘Does it really matter? Because we’re 5-3 at home and away this year.’ If we’re at home, then great. If we’re not, then that’s fine, too.”
The Bengals, who might make all this moot by beating the Ravens on Sunday, had been much less glad with the decision. Several reviews out of Cincinnati mentioned group officers lobbied homeowners of different franchises to vote towards the proposal.
“As far as I’m concerned, we just want the rules to be followed,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor instructed Cincinnati reporters Friday. “When a game is canceled, you just turn to winning percentage to clarify everything so we don’t have to make up rules.”
Harbaugh added that the Ravens are weighing the chance they’ll play the Bengals once more within the wild-card spherical as they determine on a sport plan for Sunday.
“We’re going to play this thing for short-term and long-term considerations,” he mentioned. “You really can’t sit too many guys out. It’s not the preseason. You don’t have an unlimited number of guys. So it’s not as big of a deal as it’s sometimes made out to be. But our plan is to go up there and win the football game, do the best we can to win the football game. I’m sure the Bengals are going to be looking at it the same way, and I’m sure it will be a hard-fought game.”
Week 18
Ravens at Bengals
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Chs. 13, 9
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Bengals by 10
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
