Will the Bengals Play Their Starters?
by John B on Dec 28, 2009 9:00 AM EST
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PrintLet's return to a theme that got our attention all last week. The Bengals have an interesting dilemma ahead of them. They have a chance to get the 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs instead of the 4 with a win and some help this week. However, they cannot get a bye. It will be interesting to see whether Marvin Lewis plays or sits his starters against the Jets.
Reasons for playing his starters:
- In the event the Patriots and Bengals both win two Playoff games, the difference between the 3 and 4 seeds will be the difference between hosting the AFC Championship Game and playing on the road. You may scoff at this, but this happened three years ago when the Colts rode their home crowd to an 18 point comeback against the Patriots. That comeback probably wouldn't have happened if the game was in Foxborough.
- The Bengals haven't looked all that great recently. There were a couple of losses to the Vikings and Chargers this month. A home win against a lousy Kansas City team wasn't convincing. Remember how the Giants caught fire two years ago playing their starters in a Week 17 game against the Pats that was meaningless on paper.
- If the Bengals don't take care of the Jets next week, there's a chance they'll have a rematch in the Wild Card round. Would you really want to face an elite statistical defense and the league's best rushing attack in a cold weather Playoff game if you can avoid it?
Reasons for sitting his starters:
- No matter what happens, the Bengals will host a Wild Card game and have to play on the road in a Divisional game. They cannot get a bye.
- They can rest up for a Playoff game in the Wild Card round.
What do you think the Bengals will do?
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Pats get the 3 if they win
I am not a believer in the sitting starters play, but you did neglect to mention that if the Patriots win their game, the Bengals are locked in at 4.
I always play starters
except when they’re already injured – i believe palmer is injured so in that case I would sit him and play all the healthy players
He's hurt?
what a suprise.
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by Patssuck456 on Dec 28, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
Im guessing if the pats win
then they will rest any guys that are banged up. Does anyone know which bengals have nagging injuries?
Cincy will probably rest key players.
To rest them; and also to keep from divulging anything in the event that they face the Jets in the first round.
not only to rest them
but to keep them away from a physical jet team who wants them to be even more banged up going into a potential playoff rematch
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A slight typo
You may scoff at this, but this happened three years ago when the Colts rode their home crowd to an 18 point comeback against the Colts.
So the Colts played the Colts? I believe this was the Patriots!
Rest the starters on offense if they are banged up.
Defensive players get paid to hurt players in the nfl and make them eat turf. Do you really want your WR Chad or Laverneous Cole (Former Jet) to play and they might get hurt. Just imagine that scenairo…..
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Cant wait to see Revis
play against 85 though, no matter how little.
I thought Reggie Wayne was the toughest WR he had to cover this year.
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If Revis shuts down 85, I got a feeling that’s the defensive player of the year award right their.
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You would think so, right? A lot of people don’t really understand how Revis frees up the defense. They think the blitzes help him and not the other way around. Hopefully the voters actually look at the performance and don’t go by name alone.
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Interesting subplot.
Ochocinco calling out Revis on twitter. saying he’ll go wild on Revis Island. Good luck with that buddy. Got to give props to Wayne and Manning they got the best of Revis a couple times.
Yes, Reggie is tough, but the Peyton combo makes it that much worse.
Revis can defend Wayne, but Manning can make that perfect throw that other QB’s can’t. It’s one thing defending the best WR in the league, it is quite another to defend him when Peyton is hurling the rock.
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by newyorkjeffs on Dec 28, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
I dont know about 85 or Benson
but Palmers hand is all yolked up and he’s been handing off with his wrong hand all year. I think they rest him at least. Either way, we are going into week 17 controlling what happens to us. Couldn’t ask for more.
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Moves of dubious effect
1) Resting your starters for a game or part of one so they perform better in the playoffs.
No evidence that this really works in any way.
2) Tweaking your play (i.e., not playing your best) in order to draw a certain opponent and not another one in the playoffs.
This tends to backfire, and it fires up the supposedly inferior opponent that you played sub-par in order to draw.
Colt's repeat?
I would guess, depending on the aches and pains my starters are feeling and what the Pats did earlier in the day, I would begin with starters then slowly pull them as the game goes on..
I really think that is most likely, if New England win, then I don’t think they will be out their long, say what the Colts did against the Titans in 07 in week 17, a couple of series and then that’s it. With nothing to play for why leave your banged up guys in against an aggressive defence, ranked number one in the league. Doesn’t make sense.
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Interesting question...
but I think few more factors should have been mentioned. First and foremost, the Jets-Bengals game is a night game. Consequently, the Bengals will know before the game whether #3 seed is still possible. They will also know #5 and #6 seeds under all scenarios. And I’m pretty sure their decision will depend on what the possible play-off scenarios are. Hence, without actually knowing the results of the afternoon games, I think it’s impossible to guess what would be the decision.
I think the Bengals will sit players
Because they would rather not see the Steelers a third time this year. Teams almost never win three times against an opponent in one year. They can see the Jets best without revealing their best until the next week. Football fans are gonna be pissed if the Jets get another “gift” this week. I say screw em. 40 years of bad karma needs to go.
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