Will BBs philosophy change this year if the team clinches #1 seed this week?

[NewFeep]

I hope the Pats lose in Buffalo on Sunday making the final against the Phins important. Then they get a bye to rest up for whoever shows up from wild card weekend........

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Don't see a dramatic change in philosophy. First they have to win at Buffalo. Otherwise, this is moot-- The Miami game will become must win.

 

[Horace's Ivories]

I think BB should play as many back-ups as possible and cut anyone who plays like a$%

 

[Deus Irae]

I foresee a shift from Kant to Kierkegaard.

 

[Ron Sellers]

I hope the Pats lose in Buffalo on Sunday

 

[Betterthanmost]

I hope the Pats lose in Buffalo on Sunday making the final against the Phins important. Then they get a bye to rest up for whoever shows up from wild card weekend........

This post is so dumb, but lets give you time to think about what you just wrote then if all is still the same then I will come back hard.

 

[TheRealMcCagh]

I dont see BB benching anyone against the Bills. He might rest some of teh starters if the last game turns into a blowout. But im sure its nice going into the playoffs with a win at the end, so I'd bet he keeps the starters in til the end

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I have been to games at the end of the season where we had already locked up the #1 seed. The starters played, but only for a half at best. I recall specifically a game against Miami a few years back where Cassel came in and led us down the field at the end of the game for a TD, but we went for 2 to win and missed. I think that might have been the game Flutie nailed the dropkick.

Point is, I think if we beat Buffalo this weekend, the top guys start but don't play more than a half.

I don't think that's correct.

We've only been the #1 seed twice in the BB era, and both times (2003, 2007), the starters played well into the second half. In 2004 when we had the #2 seed, the starters played in the second half. In 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2009, we didn't have a bye, but Brady only got rested in the 2005 game against Miami, which is the one Cassel threw a few TDs.

I believe is the game you were referring to. Still, that was only 1 game out of 7 where the starters didn't play much. The majority of the time, they've played a lot that last week.

I'd imagine they'd play well into the 2nd half, if I recall correctly they had meaningless games in 2003, 2004 and 2007 when the first round bye was already locked up and they played all out.

My guess is that BB doesn't like the idea the starters going from Week 16 until the 2nd round of the playoffs without playing a full game.

That's correct, and I expect he'll do the same next week. And I think it's especially significant for this young defense, as they need to gain as much experience as possible before the play-offs start.

I hope the Pats lose in Buffalo on Sunday making the final against the Phins important. Then they get a bye to rest up for whoever shows up from wild card weekend........

:bricks:

 

[Kid~Brady]

Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

So I was thinking. I know we have like a 27 or 28 game win streak at home. Does BB sit the starters and maybe put that awesome streak in jeporday or does he start Brady and Co. to keep it alive?

The way Miami has been playing, I honestly think Hoyer and the boys could keep the streak alive but I have a feeling BB could care less about that and is more concerned with keeping his starters safe. He learned that the hard way last year with Welker.

Thoughts?

 

[patsfan13]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

BB will do whatever he feels will give the team the best chance of winning the first playoff game.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

Brady and the starters will play. No way does Belichick rest the starters for two weeks. In 2007, they played the Giants for real eventhough they locked everything (granted they were going for the perfect season).

 

[PatriotsInGA]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

He will play starters until mid-way through the 3rd. Then the Brian Hoyer Experience will rear its ugly head into Gillette Stadium.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

I think the same guys are going to play as yesterday and the same guys who are banged up will get the day off.

I would like to see Branch sit though because of his injury tendency. Maybe Mayo and Wilfork too because they have been ironmen in every game. Everyone else I'd see playing at least the first half.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

How about enjoying 13 - 2 with no major injuries coming out of the Buffalo game for awhile??
Personally I'll think about the Dolphin game at 12:59 pm next Sunday.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

How about enjoying 13 - 2 with no major injuries coming out of the Buffalo game for awhile??
Personally I'll think about the Dolphin game at 12:59 pm next Sunday.

This!

As to streak...Could. Not. Care. Less.

I'd like to see the starters play a half at most. Let them play a couple series but minimize contact to Mayo, Law Firm, Wilfy, Welker, Branch, etc. Play Edelperson, Price (remember him?), Cohen, Morris, et. al. Let the injured girly man DLs heal up some more.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

How about enjoying 13 - 2 with no major injuries coming out of the Buffalo game for awhile??
Personally I'll think about the Dolphin game at 12:59 pm next Sunday.

I used to like that approach before all these teams that are playing up to week 17 just to get a shot at making the playoffs started playing better then their supposed to (ie Jets last year, Baltimore and Philly in 2008, Giants in 2007, etc). If your reasoning to not play your starters is to avoid major injuries then why even show up? The Pats have depth, and you have to be confident enough in your team to let them play. I don't want to see anyone on their heels when some playoff team coming off a big win comes to town.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

I hope Lawfirm can get his grand in the 1st half, then give Taylor some time in the second half.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

The play vs. rest thing will be discussed a lot this week I'm sure. I'm not going to re-hash the old arguments, just say look at the Colts record the past 10 years in the play-offs. They are the team that routinely rests their guys. The only time Manning played the entire game was 2006, coincidentally the only year they won the Super Bowl.

We've taken the opposite approach and had a bit more success than the Colts.

 

[R_T26]

Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

The win streak is a bit fraudulent considering they lost a playoff game...same way the colts consecutive win streak iss fraudulent
because if you win 22 games in a row you should have a super bowl to show for it. Pats really own that one.

 

[sarge]

Re: Dolphins Game...... Streak Ends?

Like others have said, the streak is not real given there is a big fat playoff loss in the middle.

Given the Welker injury last season, please just get everyone healthy.

Of course it it not physically possible to rest all the starters. But I would like to see Brady hand the ball off a couple times then hand the ball over to Hoyer.

I think it could do this team some good as well getting more reps for the middle of the roster.