Which teams... (1 Viewer)

[RAPTURE]

IND

JAX

DAL

GB

SEA

TB

NYG

* NOTE: Pats would be on this list in a "normal" year. They are obviously chasing 16-0, while both Brady and Moss are pursuing Manning and Rice, respectively.

Am I missing a team (excluding the non-playoff teams)??

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

cleveland has no reason to play because their fate is totally out of their hands. But I think they will still play them

 

[Doctor Detroit]

To me the only teams which absolutely should sit their starters are Seattle, TB, the Giants and Jaxsonville. The are locked into their playoff spot regardless and they will be playing in the first week of the playoffs. For continuity purposes and the fact they are getting a bye week the 4 teams getting the bye should at least give their starters some 1st qtr reps as they would in a preseason game.

 

[RAPTURE]

cleveland has no reason to play because their fate is totally out of their hands. But I think they will still play them

If TEN loses, does CLE still have to win to get in?? Or does a TEN win/loss totaling seal their fate??

 

[Doctor Detroit]

cleveland has no reason to play because their fate is totally out of their hands. But I think they will still play them

If TEN loses, does CLE still have to win to get in?? Or does a TEN win/loss totaling seal their fate??

If Tennessee loses, Browns are in regardless. If Tennessee wins, the Browns are out regardless.

 

[Tom Baker]

Cleveland needs a win, if Indy and Tennessee tie.

 

[Jason Wood]

I think the first few posters have this well covered. I have no empirical evidence to back this up, but it seems that the majority of coaches take the old school "let's not let our team get out of synch" approach and will likely play anyone who isn't marginally injured. Coughlin has come out and said how much he would like to break up the Patriots perfect season, but he then qualified his remarks by saying that he realized the teams playoff position was set in stone and that the key for them is getting ready for Tampa Bay; so I took that to mean that guys like Burress and Jacobs would sit.

Another issue that needs to be considered are incentives. A lot of players have incentives built into their contracts and it's in the organizations' best interests to be sensitive to those who are within reach.

 

[Giants4Life]

I think teams that have a first-round bye will be more inclined to use their starters. I think for GB, Favre plays more than you think. Plus, their backup WRs (Martin, Jones) are pretty solid.

You have to factor in awful teams that want to see their backups and what they could do. Oakland is going with Russell at QB. I can see Detroit sitting Kitna by halftime.

 

[cdwood]

I think the most interesting aspect would be Cleveland. While they rely on Indy to beat Tennessee to get into the playoffs, the Indy-Ten matchup is the last game of the day. Whatever they do, they have to sit around and wait for that game to be played before finding out if they're in or out.

Christopher