NFL: Bills-Bengals Game Officially Canceled After Damar Hamlin Collapse --Here Are Its Playoff Implications

The NFL confirmed Thursday night that the postponed Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals matchup would not be rescheduled and was canceled.

After Bills safety Damar Hamlin made a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, he had a heart attack, and the game had to be postponed. Hamlin is still in the hospital, but his condition has improved much since he began getting full oxygen saturation via a ventilator.

In a statement, NFL Commissioner Rogel Goodell remarked that this week "has been a very difficult" one, noting that the league is heartened by the progress of the recovery of Damar Hamlin and the outpouring of love shown by fans to him and his family following the Damar Hamlin injury incident.

"We are also incredibly appreciative of the amazing work of the medical personnel and commend every one of them," Goodell said, per Fox News.

According to the NFL, if the game had continued, the playoffs would have been postponed, which would have impacted all 14 teams that needed to qualify. Additionally, the game will not affect the team's chances of making the playoffs, just where they could be seeded.

The league said that deciding before Week 18 is consistent with its "competitive" ideals and allows all teams to determine the postseason possibilities before "playing the final weekend of regular season games."

Playoff Possibilities

When the game was called off, the league announced that all teams would have a special meeting on Friday to discuss the idea of playing the AFC Championship Game at a neutral location.

The league specified the following conditions under which Buffalo or Cincinnati would be required to forfeit an away game against a 17-game team:

The First Possible Outcome: If Buffalo and Kansas City were to win or draw, the championship game would be played at a neutral location.

Another Possible Outcome: If both Buffalo and Kansas City were to lose and Baltimore was to win or draw, the championship game would be played on a neutral venue with Buffalo and Kansas City facing off.

Third Possibility: If Buffalo and Kansas City both lose and Cincinnati wins, the championship game between Buffalo and Cincinnati or Buffalo and Kansas City would be played at a neutral venue.

If the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Bengals this weekend, they will have beaten a divisional opponent twice but will not be allowed to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a greater winning percentage for a 16-game season than Baltimore would for a 17-game schedule. The AFC North has now been secured by the Bengals.

The NFL said, if Baltimore beats Cincinnati and those two teams are slated to battle in a Wild Card game, the venue would be chosen by a coin flip.

"If Cincinnati wins the Week 18 game or if Baltimore and Cincinnati are not scheduled to play one another in the Wild Card round, the game sites would be determined by the regular scheduling procedures," the league stated.

Update on Damar Hamlin's Condition

Even though Damar Hamlin is still in the critical care unit, there were encouraging signals for his recovery on Thursday. After waking up from his sedation, the 24-year-old second-year NFL player immediately thought of Monday night's Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game.

On Thursday, doctors gave an update on Damar Hamlin injury. They said that Hamlin's neurologic status and function were both stable, indicating that he was making significant improvement, according to USA Today.

According to doctors, Hamlin's first words were said to a nurse at his side, and he has had support from his loved ones and teammates in the Bills club ever since he was taken to the hospital.

Buffalo's head coach, Sean McDermott, told reporters thatHamlin's father had told him that Damar would want the team to play, as per a New York Times report.

At a news conference on Thursday, head coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen relayed the message, with the news that the improving health condition of Damar Hamlin as he continues to receive treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest in Monday's game. It gave the Bills the push they needed to focus on their jobs while continuing to pray for and worry about their hurt teammate.

After the Bills returned from Cincinnati, head coach Sean McDermott, who has made player mental health a priority, said that the club will be holding spontaneous team meetings and making counselors accessible to players and staff.

"Mental health is real," McDermott said. In critical situations, coaches must prioritize the safety of their teams above everything else.

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Sports, Nfl, Buffalo bills, Cincinnati bengals, Football, Health