2007-12-22 07:32:29 · 14 answers · asked by Rufus 2 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
some coaches are so afraid of someone getting hurt they would rather sit the starters, even if it means losing games. the problem with this mentality is that you are also reversing youre teams momentum, which is so critical heading into the playoffs. Ive seen it more than once with coaches like Shanahan and Dungy "pulling the plug" on their players, and paying for it in the playoffs. the broncos in '96 and the colts a couple years back both took #1 seeds into the payoffs on a "premeditated downslide" and promptly lost. John Madden agrees with me that you play every game to win, period, and everything else will take care of itself.
2007-12-22 08:00:41 · update #1
They are playing for a record and a trip to the Super Bowl. So, no they should not be rested. They also need to stay on top of their game. They can't do that if they are rested. That said, if they lead by a wide margin towards the end of the game, then rest the players and send in the second team.
2007-12-22 07:41:08 · answer #1 · answered by Ceci 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The oppurtunity is too huge to pass up, even great teams will stumble in the course of the regular season, but having only two crappy teams left and 14-0, you take the shot at history. Against Miami they probably will be resting the starters after they get up huge by the half. The other teams like the Colts that have no playoff position and no undefeated season to gain are stupid if they let starters play more than a few drives.
2007-12-22 18:10:44 · answer #2 · answered by bagalagalaga 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
resting players didn't hurt the Colts that year. as much as i'd like to use that for an excuse, they had other issues & were out played.
i can see both sides of this arguement. if you rest players they could be rusty. if you keep them in they could get hurt.
it will be interesting to see your view on this if the Pats keep Brady & Moss in this week & while they are running up the score, chasing the single season TD record & the undefeated season Brady takes a cheap shot & goes down for the season. worse yet what if he gets the Joe Theisman?
at the same time - as much as i'd like to keep the Colts healthy, have them play until half time(ish) they need work. this whole season the team has been injured & they have been playing w/ almost a preseason squad. they need to continue to let other guys (Harrison, Diem, Brock, Mathis etc...) get healthy while Manning gets reps w/ Gonzo, the O line & other WRs.
i don't think there is a right or wrong answer. no matter what they do, it will always be questioned. rest them now, lose a game in the playoffs it was the wrong choice. play them now, lose Moss for the season to injury, it was the wrong answer.
as far as Madden goes, he was a great coach in his day but, the NFL has passed him by. he don't have a clue what it takes to coach the game of football today.
2007-12-22 17:07:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
well the Patriots have an undefeted season on the line so i think Bellickhik will play Brady and Moss for the game untill the last like 5 minutes of the 4th quarter.But if u dont have an undefeted season on the lineand clinched a playoff spot then a coach will probably sit his stars.
2007-12-22 15:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by Matt Z 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the case of the Patriots....it depends if you want to make history. I think you should play them some, just so they don't get out sink with the game. Not a good thing when the starter plays his first game in 4 weeks. I would think you would want to keep that time from one game to the other as short as possible.
2007-12-22 15:39:34 · answer #5 · answered by RonnC1 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think unless you have a strained muscle or sometihnng like that where the extra rest will improve you for the playoffs you should play since there is already one week off for the bye
2007-12-22 15:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Vikingsron2 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They have a chance to do something special, I'd say no don't rest them. No other team has gone 16-0 in the regular season, yeah the Dolphins had the perfect 14-0. Play them and go for it.
2007-12-22 16:01:17 · answer #7 · answered by Tim B 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The players are paid to play 16 games. So Belichick should play them. I don't Tony Dungy is going to rest his startes with 2 games to go.
2007-12-22 15:41:01 · answer #8 · answered by Tinman12 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No
You dont want your players to get off their game. The playoffs are just around the corner
2007-12-22 15:55:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Play them, but.......
It would be so horrible if a primary player got injured and wasn't able to play in the playoffs.
2007-12-22 15:38:57 · answer #10 · answered by Jerry425 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋