The Baltimore Ravens, much like the Tennessee Titans earlier in the season, are plagued by COVID-19 right before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. As it stands right now the starting QB, 1st and 2nd string RBs, 2 offensive linemen, 2 defensive linemen, and 1 starting linebacker placed on the Covid list. Baltimore has disciplined the staff member who broke protocol.
Does the NFL extend the season to have a week 18 to make up this game, force Baltimore to forfeit for breaking protocol, or open up the 8th playoff spot in the playoffs? Seems unfair to the #1 seeded team, in this case Pittsburgh, to force them to play week 1 of the playoffs, when this has happened twice to them now. It would also be unfair to give every other team to make the playoffs and extra week off, while they reschedule this game on a day when the #1 seed would have off.
There’s a bias against the Steelers on this board, which I understand, but imagine if this were the Cardinals how we’d react. IMO the fairest outcome is to either play the game this week or force Baltimore to forfeit this weeks game.
Does the NFL extend the season to have a week 18 to make up this game, force Baltimore to forfeit for breaking protocol, or open up the 8th playoff spot in the playoffs? Seems unfair to the #1 seeded team, in this case Pittsburgh, to force them to play week 1 of the playoffs, when this has happened twice to them now. It would also be unfair to give every other team to make the playoffs and extra week off, while they reschedule this game on a day when the #1 seed would have off.
There’s a bias against the Steelers on this board, which I understand, but imagine if this were the Cardinals how we’d react. IMO the fairest outcome is to either play the game this week or force Baltimore to forfeit this weeks game.