If Bengals beat Denver, would Patriots rest 1st-team players?

Since Bills game is no longer important (other than pride).

I don't remember previous years, if the Patriots rested players in a final meanless game.

I doubt they would, they played their starters in 2009 and I expect that with the bye week they will want the guys to play at least the first half. I could see them taking out their starters after the half if they are in control

I hope we do or just play them for a half.

If, then Jimmy G gets his first NFL start

In that horrible game against the Texans that Welker was hurt in, the starters rotated in and out. Even Hoyer played in the first half. Brady played some in the second.

IF Denver loses, I would play Brady for maybe a series. I wouldn't let Gronk or Edelman dress

They rested against Houston a few years back. If top seed was locked up, I think they would rest some guys.

upstater1 said:

In that horrible game against the Texans that Welker was hurt in, the starters rotated in and out. Even Hoyer played in the first half. Brady played some in the second.

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Yes, I think that game taught them to either play a regular game or rest their players, don't screw around with that back and forth crap.

I'm thinking no matter what happens tomorrow night, we try to win with our normal O and D against the Bills.

He has previously stated he does not sit players in order to avoid injuries (with a limited roster, nobody is expendable). Expect if they are on the injury list it is more likely they will not play. I would suspect that players sit earlier if the game gets out of hand.

He has never embraced the Indy or Denver approach with playoff status in hand before the regular season closes, possibly with good reason because great teams have been one-and-done after using that personnel management approach.

"Thirty minutes! THIRTY MINUTES!!!!"

They will not sit healthy players. If guys are banged up that's a different story but healthy players will at least play the first half if not the whole game. Buffalo has never won in Gillette so id hate to lose this one

i would play them for the half or 3 QTrs...but TB deff not entire game..SAme with Revis Gronk and Edelman

The way their Offense has been playing, I would play the first unit until they got in sync and started moving the ball. Another game like the Jets game would drive me crazy.

I'd sit quite a few players including Brady,Gronk,Edelman,Lafell,Connolly,Blount,
McCourty,Revis, Browner and Gray and anyone else who is deemed to have been playing injured or is irreplaceable. I don't want any Welkers in some meaningless game.

upstater1 said:

In that horrible game against the Texans that Welker was hurt in, the starters rotated in and out. Even Hoyer played in the first half. Brady played some in the second.

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I think that was just so Brady could get some reps with Edelman after WWW went down.

nope. keep the train rolling. we already have a bye. you don't want to rest players 2 weeks in a row.

Connolly and Edelman for sure. Hightower is valuable but he's had a rugged season. I say sit him.

And miss an opportunity for reps against a quality defense (and Dline in particular)? No way, especially not after today.

Brady played a half against the LOLphins in 2010.

If donkeys lose, I expect starters to play a half. I would certainly rest Gronk and smile big that he survived an entire season !

If Denver loses, yes, I hope they rest the injured players. All of the Premier starters out after the first half.