The Bengals’ Zac Taylor rages over the home field coin toss in the potential Cincinnati-Baltimore wildcard

Bengals coach Zac Taylor is unhappy with the NFL’s coin toss decision to determine home field advantage for a potential wild card round playoff match between Cincinnati and AFC North rivals Baltimore. In particular, Taylor criticized the league’s decision to ignore its own rules, which state that playoff starting spots are determined by winning percentage.

“It’s black and white, it’s in the rule book,” Taylor told reporters Friday as NFL owners met to discuss proposed changes to this year’s playoff format.

Since Taylor made his statement, NFL owners have voted to approve Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office’s proposals.

The issue stems from the NFL’s decision to cancel the remainder of Monday’s Bills-Bengals game, which was postponed after Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin suffered on-field cardiac arrest and required CPR. Hamlin remains in the intensive care unit at a Cincinnati hospital, where he recently had his breathing tube removed and even had a FaceTime call with teammates on Friday.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor is unhappy with the NFL’s proposed coin toss to determine home field advantage for a potential wild card round playoff match between Cincinnati and AFC North rivals Baltimore

Damar Hamlin is awake and showing signs of recovery after suffering cardiac arrest and being resuscitated during Monday’s Bills-Bengals game in Cincinnati

The MNF match had significant playoff implications for both the 12-3 Bills and the 11-4 Bengals, the latter of which host the 10-6 Ravens on Sunday.

Should Cincinnati win, they would have home advantage in a potential first-round match against Baltimore. However, if the Ravens beat the Bengals for a second time this season, the league has suggested tossing a coin to determine home field advantage in a possible wild card round meeting, though the Bengals still have the higher winning percentage of the two teams would.

The league decision makes Sunday’s Bengals-Ravens game a crucial clash that could determine home advantage in the wildcard round, let alone the AFC North winner.

“This game means more now,” the Bengals Twitter account tweeted. “Must bring the energy on Sunday.”

Under normal circumstances, home field advantage is determined by the win percentage.

“So we don’t follow the rules anymore,” tweeted the Bengals, who manages Joe Mixon.

The league also passed a resolution to move a potential Bills-Kansas City Chiefs AFC Championship to a neutral field should both teams advance that far.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and the Buffalo Bills react as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) is tended on the field after a first quarter collision against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium