Any word on Chung and Amendola?

[Kontradiction]

I'll contradict you. It's not a must-win. At this point the only must-win games are the playoffs.

Question is, what gives the best chance of winning in the playoffs? Playing at home, or being healthy?

If the former, it's worth risking re-injury by playing dinged up starters. If the latter, better to rest them.

I think it's the latter.

Nobody can contradict Kontradiction. That's a contradiction in and of itself. You picking up what I'm putting down?

Anyway, I would say both are equally as important. You want teams to come to your house and face that harsh New England winter that Tom Brady has been so great in. You also want the team to be as healthy as possible and you want to knock a bitter division rival that knows you better than any other team in the tournament out. Win in week 16, rest everyone that needs it in week 17 and during the bye week.

 

[IllegalContact]

the word for Chung is "Wang"

the word for Amendola is "Unbroken"

 

[zydecochris]

It's baffling that someone would think a person on this board would really believe that the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. It's one of the most used movie references there is.

Give him a break, I am still completely baffled that a vast organization like the NFL didn't have anyone who had ever learned the Ideal Gas Law in freshman physics.

 

[JJDChE]

I've never been a fan of the half-effort week 17 games. I feel like having a week of preparation where there is no onus on winning is not a positive thing. The team needs to be in sync in the divisional round. Two weeks off schedule is too much IMO. I don't WANT them to lose, but if they lost this week and had to play a full 60 to beat Miami next week, I think that would actually keep them the sharpest for the playoffs.

 

[JMC00]

Two weeks off schedule is too much IMO

It's not when you had your bye week back in September

 

[JJDChE]

It's not when you had your bye week back in September

That has no bearing on the point I'm making. It's not about rest, they'll be working either way, but if they know that they don't have to win the preparation won't be as sharp. I think that hurts the team's chemistry and timing. Just look at college bowl games for an example of how that works. The players get a 3-4 week layoff and the teams that come out there for the bowl look totally different. Blowouts and upsets all over the place.

 

[PatriotsPimp136]

I still would love to see edelman get some game action before the season's over if he can give it a go.

 

[JMC00]

That has no bearing on the point I'm making. It's not about rest, they'll be working either way, but if they know that they don't have to win the preparation won't be as sharp. I think that hurts the team's chemistry and timing. Just look at college bowl games for an example of how that works. The players get a 3-4 week layoff and the teams that come out there for the bowl look totally different. Blowouts and upsets all over the place.

I take it you didn't watch the Pats last year? Took Week 17 off and then won the SB.


Also this isn't college.

 

[Bill Lee]

Hopefully the team is looking at it that way. You don't ever want to rely on other teams failing in order for something like that to happen. Get the job done against the Jets (while ending their season at the same time) and rest everyone that needs to be rested in Week 17.

I guess we have different definitions of "must win". In my book, getting into the playoffs at all is "must win". Getting a 1st round bye is "important". Getting HFA is "nice", especially considering the number of injured players and the fact that they get another chance at HFA against a team playing for nothing at all in week 17. If it was "must win" we'd be playing all the borderline injured players. I'm thinking it's the opposite, borderline injured players will sit. BB won't wet his pants worrying about not getting HFA in Week 16, IMHO.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I take it you didn't watch the Pats last year? Took Week 17 off and then won the SB.


Also this isn't college.

Some of the players took week 17 off, some played for a quarter or two. I think you play whoever is healthy for a quarter and that's it. If you have a nagging injury then take the week off.

 

[Kontradiction]

I guess we have different definitions of "must win". In my book, getting into the playoffs at all is "must win". Getting a 1st round bye is "important". Getting HFA is "nice", especially considering the number of injured players and the fact that they get another chance at HFA against a team playing for nothing at all in week 17. If it was "must win" we'd be playing all the borderline injured players. I'm thinking it's the opposite, borderline injured players will sit. BB won't wet his pants worrying about not getting HFA in Week 16, IMHO.

No, our definitions are the same and the only difference is how we're applying them. As beat up as this team is, gaining HFA and the two weeks rest that will come along with it makes this game a must win to seal it. The benefits are as follows:

1. Two weeks of rest for all the players who are beat up and need it and another two weeks for a guy like Edelman, coming off a broken foot, unless the team wants to use him sparingly against Miami.

2. Home field in a New England winter and not having to play at a place like Denver where the altitude can effect the team.

3. Knocking a scrappy division rival out of the race and all but ending their season.

Those three things considered, I would label this a "must win". As I said before, I suspect Belichick and the team agrees with that stance and expect to see everyone out there this week that can go.

 

[JJDChE]

I take it you didn't watch the Pats last year? Took Week 17 off and then won the SB.


Also this isn't college.

I crown you King of Logic.

 

[dannydyn]

Suh aside, I’d hate going into Miami under a ‘must win’ scenario. The Phins may have mentally checked out, BUT:


- We are their division rival

- WE are playing MUST WIN mode, and they’d want nothing more than ruining our #1 seed chances

- We ‘took out’ (in their eyes at least) Cam Wake…. Trust me, they’ll be looking to take one of ours, and presumably, one of our best players to boot (TB, Gronk, etc.)


We NEED to take care of business against the Jets. Not to mention, that would kick that green garbage out of playoffs contention altogether. That’s 2 birds in one shot. Mentally ‘skipping’ over the Jets and kicking the can down the road is a sure recipe for disaster. Any given Sunday…. Don’t forget that. And Miami will be all in to fck with us. Lastly, that’s one more game that we will need our starters if it comes down to it. I’d much rather take care of the Jets, and rest the starters against Miami.


Just my 2c

 

[mgteich]

Some of the players took week 17 off, some played for a quarter or two. I think you play whoever is healthy for a quarter and that's it. If you have a nagging injury then take the week off.

I think that is what folks are suggesting. Sure Brady and Edelman should get a quarter or so together. But, in general, only the healthy should play in Game 17, as was the case last year. And there is a strong argument that we treat Game 16 in the same way, although that seems doubtful.

 

[Mack Herron]

Karen Guregian ?@kguregian 23s24 seconds ago

Injured players Danny Amendola, Dont'a Hightower & Patrick Chung present for walk through

 

[TinhWoodhead]

do they sell Chung jerseys?

 

[aluminum seats]

Karen Guregian ?@kguregian 23s24 seconds ago

Injured players Danny Amendola, Dont'a Hightower & Patrick Chung present for walk through

Looks like Edelman's the only one not there...

 

[Brandon_Cox]

I hate Edelman not being at practice. I hope there's not a setback.

 

[aluminum seats]

I hate Edelman not being at practice. I hope there's not a setback.

Yeah...well, it's impossible to know anything, as we know. Ha.

But not being at the walkthrough means he's not playing against the Jets I guess, which is probably smart whatever the deal is. I really don't think he'll need more than one series to knock the rust off, if that. Think about Moss in 2007--guy didn't even need a preseason, and look how he did.

The playoffs for the Pats are a month away...keep resting/healing....

 

[JMC00]

I hate Edelman not being at practice. I hope there's not a setback.

Wasn't practice, it was a walk thru