With Home Field advantage secured, Perfect Season pretense ends

[JoeSixPat]

With today's victory the Pats literally have nothing else to play for in the regular season - with the exception of the elusive "Perfect Season".

All those of you convinced that Belichick values a Championship over the chance to make history will get a chance to find out next week when the pretense will be over. Since they have nothing to gain strategically for the playoffs over the next few games, they will be giving a lot of starting players a lot of rest, right?

All season the players and coaches have avoided any public comments on their part speculating about a perfect season. Well unless we see some very significant time from the backups next week, regardless of the score, I think we'll know just how serious this team is about going 19-0.

Not that I ever had a doubt - I think they knew they had a chance after seeing what Brady and Moss could do together even in the pre-season. And once Spygate happened and there was public questioning of the legitimacy of their 3 Super Bowl rings, I had no doubt the team had committed themselves to making a lasting mark in the history books.

So now, if you see starters getting significant time next week, I think we will all be able to agree that this team is putting needed rest for the playoffs secondary to the chance to make history.

 

[aluminum seats]

Actually, there are other issues at play. BB has typically continued to play the games regardless--if they were to downshift now, they'd be looking at taking about a month off. Not really a recipie for success. Having said that, yeah, I'd say they want the record.

 

[Deus Irae]

With today's victory the Pats literally have nothing else to play for in the regular season - with the exception of the elusive "Perfect Season".

All those of you convinced that Belichick values a Championship over the chance to make history will get a chance to find out next week when the pretense will be over. Since they have nothing to gain strategically for the playoffs over the next few games, they will be giving a lot of starting players a lot of rest, right?

All season the players and coaches have avoided any public comments on their part speculating about a perfect season. Well unless we see some very significant time from the backups next week, regardless of the score, I think we'll know just how serious this team is about going 19-0.

Not that I ever had a doubt - I think they knew they had a chance after seeing what Brady and Moss could do together even in the pre-season. And once Spygate happened and there was public questioning of the legitimacy of their 3 Super Bowl rings, I had no doubt the team had committed themselves to making a lasting mark in the history books.

So now, if you see starters getting significant time next week, I think we will all be able to agree that this team is putting needed rest for the playoffs secondary to the chance to make history.

Not really. Many teams (Colts, Broncos, for example) have lost their edge by starting to shut down when the season was 'over' too soon. BB will want to avoid that. Otherwise, it will be about a month between meaningful games.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Actually, there are other issues at play. BB has typically continued to play the games regardless--if they were to downshift now, they'd be looking at taking about a month off. Not really a recipie for success. Having said that, yeah, I'd say they want the record.

No question BB has often said the one week bye is good enough rest. Still I think you'd see the last two games treated like the 2nd or 3rd pre-season game in this unprecedented season were they 13-1. You use the opportunity to fine tune the game - you don't leave your starters in for the full game.

You give as many guys time as possible.

That being said, I still hope they can blowout the Fins early and get the starters some rest - and if ever there were a team to do that to it'd be the Dolphins. But the pretense will be over next week - they want the perfect season, and their approach to the game will prove it. Who wouldn't want to make history?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

With today's victory the Pats literally have nothing else to play for in the regular season - with the exception of the elusive "Perfect Season".

All those of you convinced that Belichick values a Championship over the chance to make history will get a chance to find out next week when the pretense will be over. Since they have nothing to gain strategically for the playoffs over the next few games, they will be giving a lot of starting players a lot of rest, right?

All season the players and coaches have avoided any public comments on their part speculating about a perfect season. Well unless we see some very significant time from the backups next week, regardless of the score, I think we'll know just how serious this team is about going 19-0.

Not that I ever had a doubt - I think they knew they had a chance after seeing what Brady and Moss could do together even in the pre-season. And once Spygate happened and there was public questioning of the legitimacy of their 3 Super Bowl rings, I had no doubt the team had committed themselves to making a lasting mark in the history books.

So now, if you see starters getting significant time next week, I think we will all be able to agree that this team is putting needed rest for the playoffs secondary to the chance to make history.

I don't think it's quite that simple. Remember, the Pats have already clinched a first-round bye, so they're guaranteed at least 14 days rest after the Giants game.

 

[FSUPatsFan]

For next week's game BB can say that he doesn't want to give the players too long of a layoff and wants to keep them sharp.

For the Giants game (assuming they haven't clinched a playoff spot), he can say that since there were playoff implications in the outcome of the game, he thought it would only be fair for the rest of the league to give their best effort.

 

[festy1986]

With a week off before the first playoff game, and hopefully a week off before the SB, rest is a non issue.

If you go into the playoffs, all out of synced, it's not going to benefit you.

Not to mention last year when they had nothing to play for they put the starters in, and that was minus the opertunity for a perfect season, the media went crazy about that decision because it cost the Pats Harrison for the playoffs.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

With today's victory the Pats literally have nothing else to play for in the regular season - with the exception of the elusive "Perfect Season".

All those of you convinced that Belichick values a Championship over the chance to make history will get a chance to find out next week when the pretense will be over. Since they have nothing to gain strategically for the playoffs over the next few games, they will be giving a lot of starting players a lot of rest, right?

All season the players and coaches have avoided any public comments on their part speculating about a perfect season. Well unless we see some very significant time from the backups next week, regardless of the score, I think we'll know just how serious this team is about going 19-0.

Not that I ever had a doubt - I think they knew they had a chance after seeing what Brady and Moss could do together even in the pre-season. And once Spygate happened and there was public questioning of the legitimacy of their 3 Super Bowl rings, I had no doubt the team had committed themselves to making a lasting mark in the history books.

So now, if you see starters getting significant time next week, I think we will all be able to agree that this team is putting needed rest for the playoffs secondary to the chance to make history.

I think you have rest confused with rust. Mistake Dungy made a few years back when the Colts finally weren't undefeated any more.

Given Brady and his enire WR corps have been together less than a full season, they still are a work in progress - making adjustments to the variety of coverages teams are throwing at them in a futile attempt to derail them. They will play everyone who isn't hurt with the potential to get hurt worse. Unless it's a blowout, and even that's debatable since he has pounded the adage all season that we play 60 minutes of football. And his belief is that football players play football.

 

[abejarano12]

I think that BB will keep all the starters in. The passing game was not that great and the running game will need to pick up the slack.

 

[upstater1]

Remember when Favre dove and gave Strahan that sack to break the record?

You can't tell me that NFL players don't care about records. Every Patriot is going to do their damnedest to get Brady 50 TDs, that offensive line is going to rise to the occasion. 4 TDs next week, and 2 against the Giants.

 

[LasVegasPatsFan]

You wont see BB resting the starters. I can almost "Anthony Smith" that!!!! We already have a bye week and that is more than enough time to rest. If BB rests his starters then they will have almost 3 weeks before another game. Players will be rusty much like the Colts of 2 years ago. BB rested his players in the 2nd Quarter of the Dolphins game 2 years ago...only because we did not have a bye week. You will probably see a motivated Patriot team the last 2 games in preparation for their first Playoff game. Lets see Brady get his 50th TD.

 

[JoePats]

The only guy to judge really is Brady, and the only year he pulled Brady at the end of the season was in 2005, when there was no bye to fall back on, and (I'm not saying they tanked) that year a loss to Miami set up a better match-up w/ Jacksonville as opposed to Pitt who ended up winning the whole thing.

 

[PatsSteve1]

Here's what Brady said on the subject today:

Teams will rest their best players to protect them for the playoffs. Do you think you’ll play in the next two weeks? Or play much?

"I hope so. I hope I play every snap. That’s the most exciting part of my job is playing; [it’s] not practicing, I know that."

* He's a gamer. It might be a good idea to have some of the guys who've been inactive just about every week be active for a game so they get some game action in case thier needed in the playoffs. We might see more rotation of players. too. But I don't expect much of this until at least the 2nd half and the game is in hand. And if any player has any kind of injury they probably won't play either. Otherwise I want them to stay primed for the playoffs and not laid off for the playoffs.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

I still think they have a few things they'll be trying to work on. Besides, they'll get plenty of rest in the off-season

 

[mgcolby]

With a week off before the first playoff game, and hopefully a week off before the SB, rest is a non issue.

If you go into the playoffs, all out of synced, it's not going to benefit you.

Not to mention last year when they had nothing to play for they put the starters in, and that was minus the opertunity for a perfect season, the media went crazy about that decision because it cost the Pats Harrison for the playoffs.

That is not true, we could have secured the 3rd seed with a win and a Colts loss. Unfortunately the Colts won and that is why we went to Indy for the AFCC game.

 

[sdaniels7114]

It could be the year of the perfect season or the year of the spygate scandal. I'm not saying that spygate has the legs to endure and I sure don't think it should; but why take the chance? The choice is obvious as long as the perfect season is still attainable.

 

[Belichick_The_Great]

I have no doubt that Bill wants the undefeated season. He's the guy that sent Testaverde out to get a meaningless TD that kept Vinny's scoring streak alive. The guy that sent Doug Flutie out for a freakin' DROP KICK, the first one scored in the league since 1941. He's into the history of the league, and there'd be nothing bigger in league history than a second undefeated season.

 

[gomezcat]

Until recently, I was convinced that he would rest players. However, I am hereby eating crow by agreeing that most starters will play. It's an example of being persuaded by good posts on this and other boards.

I will say this, though. I am nervous about Brady playing in semi meaningless games.

 

[BoltsFan]

With today's victory the Pats literally have nothing else to play for in the regular season - with the exception of the elusive "Perfect Season".

All those of you convinced that Belichick values a Championship over the chance to make history will get a chance to find out next week when the pretense will be over. Since they have nothing to gain strategically for the playoffs over the next few games, they will be giving a lot of starting players a lot of rest, right?

All season the players and coaches have avoided any public comments on their part speculating about a perfect season. Well unless we see some very significant time from the backups next week, regardless of the score, I think we'll know just how serious this team is about going 19-0.

Not that I ever had a doubt - I think they knew they had a chance after seeing what Brady and Moss could do together even in the pre-season. And once Spygate happened and there was public questioning of the legitimacy of their 3 Super Bowl rings, I had no doubt the team had committed themselves to making a lasting mark in the history books.

So now, if you see starters getting significant time next week, I think we will all be able to agree that this team is putting needed rest for the playoffs secondary to the chance to make history.

It remains to be seen whether or not you speak the truth. I'll say this. If the pats start|play predominantly 2nd+ stringers the last two games and win out? That'll be impressive. As it will if you just play starters. Either way, I think most fans should be impressed. If the pats win out I know for certain the pressure will be exponentially higher than it would be if the team just had the top seed.

It will be interesting. If the pats win out and win the SB? Obviously the only thing that could be said about that is damn! That was a very serious team!

 

[wistahpatsfan]

Try,... "Greatest Team Ever"