With reports that Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s condition has significantly improved, the NFL has begun actively thinking about next steps in regards to AFC seeding and scheduling.
Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated during the Bills vs. Bengals game on Monday.
On Friday morning, it was reported that Hamlin had been taken off his breathing tube and had spoken with his teammates via FaceTime.
"Love you, boys," Hamlin said over the phone.
He has also been able to communicate with hospital staff and his family members without additional help.
The game has been canceled entirely.
This begs the question: What happens to AFC seeding? What happens to futures markets regarding seeding, win totals, conference winners and otherwise? What about futures bets specific to the Bills and Bengals?
While these answers are subject to change given the dynamic nature of the situation, what we do know is this, courtesy of DraftKings.
Bills, Bengals Win Totals
Win totals for the Bills and Bengals have been decided already at DraftKings. The Bills came into the season tied for the highest win total at 11.5. They surpassed that against the Bears on Christmas Eve. The Bengals hovered around 10 and 10.5 preseason — they surpassed those figures with their Christmas Eve win over the Patriots.
Alternate win totals were available preseason — those bets would be nullified if Weeks 17 and 18 were needed in order to calcify those results. All other teams’ win totals will not be affected.
AFC No. 1 seed, No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed
These markets would also be determined as is. In all likelihood — if the Chiefs and Bills take care of business this weekend — this market will be paid out as:
No. 1 seed: Chiefs
No. 2 seed: Bills
No. 3 seed: Bengals
No bets in these markets will be voided in the interim. The Bills could have nabbed the No. 1 seed by beating the Bengals, then the Patriots this Sunday.
The Bengals, too, could have secured the No. 1 seed with wins over the Bills and Ravens.
Now, neither team has a shot at the 1 — unless the Chiefs falter against the Raiders on Saturday.
Super Bowl Winner, AFC Conference Winner
These markets would be similarly determined by whichever team is crowned AFC champion or Super Bowl champion during the postseason. No bets in these markets would be voided in the interim.
AFC North Champion
The Bengals will be awarded the AFC North crown.
Had the Bengals lost to the Bills and lost to the Ravens in Week 18, Baltimore would have been champions, giving Baltimore fans and bettors the short end of the stick.
For betting purposes, those with the Bengals to win the AFC North will be paid out.
That's despite the fact that the Ravens could still host a matchup against the Bengals. If the Ravens beat the Bengals and the Chargers beat the Broncos, a coin flip would determine home field for No. 3 seed vs. No. 6 seed matchup between the Bengals and Ravens.
Joe Burrow, Josh Allen Passing Futures
All individual player futures will be paid out as is. Burrow and Allen had a shot to catch Patrick Mahomes in the passing TD market, but that won't happen anymore with one fewer game.
Which Bills vs. Bengals Markets Were Settled and Which Were Voided?
While the vast majority of wagers on Bills vs. Bengals were voided, some markets had already been settled before the suspension of the game.
The following markets settled at DraftKings. All other marketplaces were declared void.
- First Touchdown Scorer
- Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Total First Quarter
- First Bengals Touchdown Scorer
- First Bills Drive Result
- First Bengals Drive Result
- First Scoring Play Type (6 Way)
- Race to 6 Points — First Quarter
- First Score — on or after 6:00 Elapsed
- Bengals to score 1+ points ($50 Max)
- First Team to Score
- First Touchdown Yards
- First Score Yards
- First Field Goal Made
- First Touchdown — on or after 9:00 Elapsed
- First Score Method 3-Way
- Bills First to Score / Moneyline
