NFL analyst ridicules league’s coin-flip decision for Ravens-Bengals home-field advantage
The Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals could have home-field advantage for the playoffs decided by the toss of a coin. Since the Week 17 matchup between the Bengals and Buffalo Bills was suspended, it leaves the Bengals with 16 games.
The Ravens face the Bengals in the regular-season finale in Week 18. It could be a disadvantage for Baltimore even if they defeat Cincinnati in Week 18. Cincinnati would still have a better winning percentage than Baltimore.
Managing editor of Pro Football Talk, Michael David Smith, took issue with the NFL's decision to use a coin-flip to decide home-field advantage. Smith notes how the coin-flip is any different than when deciding where the AFC Championship game will be played.
Am I missing something about why the NFL plans a coin flip for Ravens-Bengals home field but a neutral site for the AFC Championship Game? Who says that's any more fair than a neutral site between Cincinnati and Baltimore and a coin flip for AFC Championship Game home field? https://t.co/erkm6rLce5
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, there is a proposal in place when it comes to the Bengals- Ravens matchup.
The proposal reads:
“If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati in Week 18 it will have defeated Cincinnati, a divisional opponent, twice but will not be able to host a playoff game because Cincinnati will have a higher winning percentage for a 16-game schedule than Baltimore will for a 17-game schedule."
The proposal adds:
"If Baltimore defeats Cincinnati and if those two clubs are scheduled to play a Wild Card game against one another, the site for that game would be determined by a coin toss. 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 Baltimore Ravens can get home field in an AFC wild-card game against the Bengals by both winning in Week 18 and the subsequent coin flip. This would be applicable even if the winning percentage approach would otherwise make the Bengals the AFC North champions.
Where do the Ravens and Bengals currently stand in the AFC North?
Baltimore is currently second in the AFC North with a 10-6 record, while the Cincinnati Bengals lead the division with an 11-4 record. Both teams last played back in Week Five, with the Ravens defeating the Bengals by a score of 19-17 in Baltimore.
For Baltimore, a win would give them a sweep over the Bengals this season but they are still short of the AFC North crown. We'll see how this pivotal matchup plays out in Cincinnati.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Mike Florio and H/T Sportskeeda.