If CIN Wins, Rest Starters?

If the Bengals win and with our team obviously destroyed by injuries, do you think BB would consider resting starters next week vs. Miami's D-Line?

I know that I am in the vast minority, but I would CONSIDER resting them (only if Cinci wins). Brady's health and at this point, any human being's health on this team is more important to me.

There is zero chance that Cincinnati will beat a team in the playoffs with AJ McCarron.

If Denver wins, I would 100% play the starters.

I will never understand why anyone would want to just give away the #1 seed.

I don't get it. If Cinci goes into Denver on a Monday night and beats a Denver team with the #1 defense in the league, how can you say there's zero chance they win a playoff game?

Concussion Protocol said:

I don't get it. If Cinci goes into Denver on a Monday night and beats a Denver team with the #1 defense in the league, how can you say there's zero chance they win a playoff game?

Click to expand...

They are also a team that has not scored in the 2nd half in 3 straight games.

Fixit said:

I will never understand why anyone would want to just give away the #1 seed.

Click to expand...

To save the QB who has taken the most hits in the last two months.

That is pretty much the only reason I would consider it. Again, I more than likely would play them, I am just saying man. TB is getting destroyed.

CISGS said:

If the Bengals win and with our team obviously destroyed by injuries, do you think BB would consider resting starters next week vs. Miami's D-Line?

I know that I am in the vast minority, but I would CONSIDER resting them (only if Cinci wins). Brady's health and at this point, any human being's health on this team is more important to me.

There is zero chance that Cincinnati will beat any playoff team with AJ McCarron.

If Denver wins, I would 100% play the starters.

Click to expand...

With the amount of injuries we have - it is pretty hard to rest a lot of people outside the obvious ones (Brady/Gronk). Who plays on the OL that wouldn't normally? We can put in a few backups on defense (Tavon Wilson, Grissom) but unfortunately a lot of our decisions are going to be made for us.

In regards to your bold statement...technically, Denver is one of the better teams in AFC this year. So if they beat Denver they are at least dangerous. Bengals are a well-rounded team this year. Defense is very solid..

CISGS said:

They are also a team that has not scored in the 2nd half in 3 straight games.

Click to expand...

Winning at Denver against a motivated Broncos team will make me consider the Bengals a major threat. If you don't, that's fine. Do I wish to see Geno Atkins dominating our horrible interior OL in the AFFCG while the Cinci crowd is at full throat? No.

no. i want the 1 seed. plus... do you really wanna go in the playoffs having lost 4 of the last 6?

Every member on this forum should be required to form out their logic using pen and paper before creating a post.

We lost at home to the Eagles and barely lost twice on the road. Because we have a bye i could care less about having home field throughout. If we are injured and our offense is so lacking then our chances are not good anyways, i.e. Baltimore blow out. Even coach thought the same thing when he kicked in overtime so our defense can play first. If we are healthy though are chances are good anywhere we play.

VrabelJr said:

Every member on this forum should be required to form out their logic using pen and paper before creating a post.

Click to expand...

Haha hey man, its Monday morning. If there ever is a time to post an out-of-left field thread, its now.

Tonight's game is irrelevant, doesn't matter really who wins.

I suppose you can argue that if Cincy wins, then Baltimore can deal them a loss next week, but the game is happening at the same time as the Patriots game so it won't impact how the Patriots play it.

The Patriots lose HFA if they lose to the Dolphins.

I don't see why people are making arguments about tonight's game at all. Why does it matter who wins?

I just don't want to give away the 1 seed when it's ours for the taking. Part of me wants to bubble wrap Brady, Edelman, Amendola, Gronk, Hightower and McCourty until the playoffs, but I just can't willfully give up HFA when it's right there.

Interesting arguments on both sides. Personally, I feel this team can beat any team, anywhere IF healthy. If the team can walk into the playoffs with: Edelman, Amendola, McCourty, Chung & Vollmer able to play at a high level, this team can beat Denver in Denver or Cincy in Cincy.

If they sustain more injuries or key players get reinjured, yet still win home field, the question would be, what kinda team can we put out there once the playoffs start. And the other question would be, was it worth it. If the Pats coulda won yesterday, this would all be moot, but unfortunately that didn't happen and it brings up all kinds of issues and scenarios.

CISGS said:

If the Bengals win and with our team obviously destroyed by injuries, do you think BB would consider resting starters next week vs. Miami's D-Line?

I know that I am in the vast minority, but I would CONSIDER resting them (only if Cinci wins). Brady's health and at this point, any human being's health on this team is more important to me.

There is zero chance that Cincinnati will beat a team in the playoffs with AJ McCarron.

If Denver wins, I would 100% play the starters.

Click to expand...

1. Who says Andy Dalton is out for the playoffs?

2. The team is going to get an extra week of rest anyway so "rust" is going to be more of a concern.

3. It would be nice if we could head into the playoffs on a high note.

4. Miami looks like they've packed it in for the year and Tannehill is hurt. It will be pretty disturbing if we can't beat this team (even though back to back road games are always a b*tch).

Ideally, we open up a can in the first half, run out the clock in the 3rd, and give Jimmy G the ball in the 4th. Then the starters can relax a few days in South Beach once the 1 seed is locked.

YOUGOTMOSSED said:

Ideally, we open up a can in the first half, run out the clock in the 3rd, and give Jimmy G the ball in the 4th. Then the starters can relax a few days in South Beach once the 1 seed is locked.

Click to expand...

I like this. Hopefully we can just get a big lead early, then coast.

Maybe give SJax the ball more. I thought he ran well.

So if the Bengals beat the Broncos tonight, they will have beaten the team who will be the AFC's #3 seed in the playoffs with AJ McCarron. Yet, there is no chance that they will beat any team in the playoffs with AJ McCarron? Am I missing something here?

Rob0729 said:

So if the Bengals beat the Broncos tonight, they will have beaten the team who will be the AFC's #3 seed in the playoffs with AJ McCarron. Yet, there is no chance that they will beat any team in the playoffs with AJ McCarron? Am I missing something here?

Click to expand...

What I want to know is this? Why do people keep talking about tonight's game as though it matters to the Patriots?

There's a whole other thread on this issue, and yet no one has said the obvious. Tonight's winner gets HFA if the Patriots lose to Miami.

The Pats have to field the best team they can as long as there is something to play for. Home Field is something to play for.

Rob0729 said:

So if the Bengals beat the Broncos tonight, they will have beaten the team who will be the AFC's #3 seed in the playoffs with AJ McCarron. Yet, there is no chance that they will beat any team in the playoffs with AJ McCarron? Am I missing something here?

Click to expand...

Yeah you are.

A playoff game means that if you lose, your season is over so there is a higher sense of urgency/completely different atmosphere.

If there was no difference, Peyton would have at least 5 rings by now.