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Should the New York Jets Rest Their Starters Against the Buffalo Bills?

The Jets have an interesting decision to make. No matter what happens against the Bills, they will be heading on the road for the Wild Card round of the Playoffs. The team could sit its starters to avoid injury and get the backups some experience, knowing that a loss would only end the slim hopes of getting the 5 seed instead of the 6. While I do think it is possible for both Wild Card teams to win a pair of road games given their quality, I am not sure fighting for the spot is really a good enough reason to keep playing on its own.

There really is no magic formula for something like this. There are plenty of examples of either approach working and failing. In 2007 the Giants and Patriots both played their starters in a high intensity Week 17 game even though both side already had everything clinched. New England was going for a perfect regular season, but the game changed nothing about the Playoff race. It was a well played game by both sides. The Giants and Patriots rode the momentum from that game and both ended up in the Super Bowl. The Giants suffered injuries to three key players during that game. They lost center Shaun O'Hara for a Playoff game, but it is difficult to argue the game against New England did them anything but good.

On the other side, both Super Bowl teams from last year, the Colts and Saints, rested their starters down the stretch and took late season losses playing with backups.

It seems like the kind of thing that is more of an art than a science. Different teams benefit from different things.

I personally would like to see the Jets play this game to win. It has nothing to do with this theory that the team plays worse with more rest. I still have a difficult time accepting it. This team has mostly similar parts to last year's squad that crushed Houston on opening day and Tampa Bay on 10 days of rest. I have a tough time believing these guys and these coaches forgot how to prepare with an extra layoff. I think there have been other issues in those losses.

The reason I want to see the Jets play is that we really haven't seen a complete effort since the first meeting with the Bills. That was the last time everything was working. I think this is a valuable opportunity to try and get things working and build some momentum for the Playoffs. This team seems a lot more like the 2007 Giants, searching for a spark, than last year's Colts and Saints, who dominated during the first three months of the season. A week off would be nice, but these guys are conditioned to play every week. Yes, injuries would be a risk, but I think there are greater things to be gained.

I say this with one caveat. The Jets should sit anybody who would be playing hurt. If a week off will make an ailment anybody has feel a lot better for the Playoffs, even Mark Sanchez, that guy should sit.

What do you think?

Poll
How should the Jets play against the Bills?
Play the starters the whole way, even the banged up ones
32 votes
Play the starters the whole way but sit the banged up ones
140 votes
Play the starters part of the game to keep them sharp and then sit them
229 votes
Sit the starters the whole way
52 votes

453 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 10 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Comments

Display:

I say the heatlhy starters need to play

This team sucks when it has a “bye” or any time off, as we’ve seen from the last two years under Rex. They need as much playing time as possible going into the postseason.

"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998

by kotite4ever on Dec 27, 2010 10:14 AM EST reply actions  

I think we should sit Sanchez

But we should play Clemmens, not Brunell

Also I think we should give LT the week off so he’ll be rested for the playoffs.Give Greene and McKnight the carries so they can some momentum.

All other healthy starters should play.

by Bob_The_Friendly_Baker on Dec 27, 2010 10:17 AM EST reply actions  

Sanchez should only play a quarter. But don’t tell him ahead of time. Let him prep all week like he’s playing and let whoever the backup is get thrusts into the fire like he would in reality.

Also get McKnight a bunch of carries and touches so he’s prepped in case of an injury in the playoffs.

Also activate cumberland and mess around and see if u can do some things with him match-up wise.

Let pryce and ellis sit, give gholston all of their reps. And play revis and cro as little as possible.

by Crackback on Dec 27, 2010 10:42 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

There is no question we need to win this game. Rex and the players can talk all they want, but any team that backs into the post season losing 4 out of their last 5 is not playing with confidence and not expecting to win. Then there are the obvious issues with this team following a layoff. They are not a very disciplined squad and the offense falls out of rhythm in a hurry. Whether it makes sense or not, that’s the way it is.

Another huge issue is seeding. If I’m not mistaken, If Pitt loses to Cleveland (division rival who’s playing tough with a very motivated coach whose GM wants his job) and Baltimore beats the Bungles, we get the 5 seed by beating the Bills. That means we avoid the distinction of being the divisional round sacrifice at New England.

Playing a wounded Sanchez is tough call. But the offense will certainly suffer if he sits out. Not just against Buffalo (Clemens could win that game) but more importantly when he comes back against KC or Indy…

by nationalist88 on Dec 27, 2010 11:08 AM EST reply actions  

I'd say start the starters.

But also give the backups some snaps. It could be valuable if someone goes down in the playoffs.

Would also like to see some plays with McNight running outside and catching some passes.

by James Calvin on Dec 27, 2010 11:46 AM EST reply actions  

Start the younger players

i want to see vladimere duccasse get some reps at Oline and give all the Oline many plays off but they still play

get mcnight in there and take out LT……….LT is a veteren and knows how to take care of his body and we all remember how well he ran in the begining of the season while his body was fresh i say give him the week off and we know he will be able to play come playoffs

same with jason taylor we need this guy in there as much as we can he is our best pure pass rusher give him the week off to rest and he is a veteren so he knows his body better than qany one else in terms of beign ready for the playoffs

GIVE KYLE WILSON REPS…. This guy was our 1st round pick and i want him to see what he got……if he plays the whole game and screws up consistantly than ok……he at least now has some film work to learn from and hopefully he can make adjustments during the game and improove……but i dotn want to him making mistakes in the playoffs

by MrMartain on Dec 27, 2010 1:56 PM EST reply actions  

They all have to play including Sanchez the WHOLE GAME

It’s punishment for giving up 38 and losing the game and getting in the way they did instead of taking care of business themselves. If they sit Sanchez and the starters, they will LOSE GUARANTEED to Kansas City. GUARANTEED. We only have to look at this group’s past history as proof that they always lose games after bye/mini-bye week. If they want the ring so badly, they will play through the injuries and tired starters. Rex disappoints me more and more than anybody, his smiling and being happy that they back in, screw that. Get angry like I’m sure the defense was but stop with “I’ll take it”….No, you shouldn’t take it. THat’s why the Jets get the bad write-ups like the ones from Cimini, Rex’s mouth doesn’t match the team’s performance on the field consistently. He should be pushing the team’s practices and make them rinse and repeat everytime they screw up until they get it right.

by winnebagosun on Dec 27, 2010 1:58 PM EST reply actions  

Tough to argue with that…

by nationalist88 on Dec 28, 2010 2:34 AM EST up reply actions  

The starters need to play for the fans who supported the team by buying PSLs and season tickets. If you buy season tickets, you pay for 10 games, two if them are exhibitions, it would be unfair to turn the last game into an exhibition. I might think differently if it was a road game or if there was going to be a home playoff game.

by ispartan on Dec 27, 2010 4:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

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