Week 18 schedule

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Just win on Sunday. Our opponents have complained about our easy schedule and the Pats have met those opponents and won. Let’s them show everyone they don’t care who’s up next, just win!

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Let it be known that the Chargers are 100% tanking this week because they clearly want to play New England in the WC round.

Or most teams believe health is more important than seeding or the opponent.

 

[XLIX]

Or most teams believe health is more important than seeding or the opponent.

“Most teams” do not bench starters when they’re still jockeying for seeding.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

“Most teams” do not bench starters when they’re still jockeying for seeding.

Injured starters? Sure they do. The Pats did too. Happens all the time.

 

[KCSVEN]

Or most teams believe health is more important than seeding or the opponent.

Yeah, The criticism you get if your star player, especially QB, gets hurt just to have a different road game would be bad.
That being said the evidence is mixed. Some teams come out rusty. I think NFL players bodies get used to a routine and easier to keep playing. Obviously the 1 seed avoids a game where you could be eliminated which is way better than a possible negative from sitting starters.

I think a HC has to know his team. McVay said his starters need the work so will play in week 18 where in the past he would rest starters.

Sample size is small, but 1 analysis done in the past showed NOT resting starters was a better move

Evidence Breakdown (2003-2010 Analysis)
A blog post analysis examining teams from 2003 to 2010 that had the opportunity to rest their starters identified the following results:

• Teams that rested starters: Of the 15 teams that clearly rested their starters, only seven had "good" outcomes (defined as reaching the conference championship), while eight did not.
• Teams that did not rest starters: The analysis identified six teams that either clearly did not rest their starters (five teams) or mostly did not (one team). All six of these teams achieved "good" outcomes.

This means the teams that played their starters achieved a 100% success rate in reaching the conference championship round in that specific dataset, compared to less than 50% for those that rested players.

 

[XLIX]

Injured starters? Sure they do.

The Pats did too. Happens all the time.

Did Herbert play a full game last week? Yes he did. Therefore he’s not so injured that he can’t play.

“most teams believe health is more important than seeding or the opponent.” If my memory is correct (I’ll need to double check the standings) there are 10 teams who have clinched a playoff spot but are not locked into a seed.

Let’s see how many of the 10 bench their starters.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yeah, The criticism you get if your star player, especially QB, gets hurt just to have a different road game would be bad.
That being said the evidence is mixed. Some teams come out rusty. I think NFL players bodies get used to a routine and easier to keep playing. Obviously the 1 seed avoids a game where you could be eliminated which is way better than a possible negative from sitting starters.

I think a HC has to know his team. McVay said his starters need the work so will play in week 18 where in the past he would rest starters.

Sample size is small, but 1 analysis done in the past showed NOT resting starters was a better move

Evidence Breakdown (2003-2010 Analysis)
A blog post analysis examining teams from 2003 to 2010 that had the opportunity to rest their starters identified the following results:

• Teams that rested starters: Of the 15 teams that clearly rested their starters, only seven had "good" outcomes (defined as reaching the conference championship), while eight did not.
• Teams that did not rest starters: The analysis identified six teams that either clearly did not rest their starters (five teams) or mostly did not (one team). All six of these teams achieved "good" outcomes.

This means the teams that played their starters achieved a 100% success rate in reaching the conference championship round in that specific dataset, compared to less than 50% for those that rested players.

Thanks. If the starter is playing injured I think the equation is different. The Chargers are resting Herbert because his left hand has not healed and he further injured his left arm last week. Like we are resting Landry and Spillane. The discussion you joined was about resting injured starters that could play which is different than your response about resting healthy starters.

 

[XLIX]

Thanks. If the starter is playing injured I think the equation is different. The Chargers are resting Herbert because his left hand has not healed and he further injured his left arm last week. Like we are resting Landry and Spillane.

No. Just no.

Benching your superstar all world quarterback is not even remotely like “resting Landry and Spilane”.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

No. Just no.

Benching your superstar all world quarterback is not even remotely like “resting Landry and Spilane”.

They are all injured. Lots of teams rest injured key starters in the last few weeks to not risk further injury. Playing hurt risks further injury. Avoiding losing Herbert for the playoffs is a lot more important than beating Denver in week 18. It is really that simple. Health is the number one consideration for any coach in any sport going into the playoffs.

 

[XLIX]

They are all injured. Lots of teams rest injured key starters in the last few weeks to not risk further injury. Playing hurt risks further injury. Avoiding losing Herbert for the playoffs is a lot more important than beating Denver in week 18. It is really that simple. Health is the number one consideration for any coach in any sport going into the playoffs.

Yeah he’s so injured that he hasn’t missed a single snap all of December.

You’re a fool if you think this is about an injury that hasn’t sidelined him at all this past month.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yeah he’s so injured that he hasn’t missed a single snap all of December.

You’re a fool if you think this is about an injury that hasn’t sidelined him at all this past month.

I guess I am a fool and you are a genius.

 

[mgteich]

The only reason Herbert would play would be to help New England.

There is no way that LA should play all their starters in order to try to get to play in DEN again next week as the reward for winning.

 

[jmt57]

Boston area will get Indy at Houston and Titans at Jacksonville early, Chargers at Denver opposite Pats-Miami late.

506 Sports - NFL Maps: Week 18, 2025

506sports.com

Saturday 4:30 ET: Carolina @ Tampa Bay (ESPN/ABC; Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick)
Saturday 8:00 ET: Seattle @ San Francisco (ESPN/ABC; Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)
Sunday Night: Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (NBC)

CBS Early Games:

Red - Indianapolis @ Houston - Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt
Blue - Green Bay @ Minnesota - Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta
Green - Cleveland @ Cincinnati - Tom McCarthy, Logan Ryan

Fox Early Games:

Red - Dallas @ NY Giants - Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston
Blue - Tennessee @ Jacksonville - Adam Amin, Drew Brees
Green - New Orleans @ Atlanta - Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth

CBS Late Games:

Red - LA Chargers @ Denver - Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
Blue - Washington @ Philadelphia - Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker
Green - NY Jets @ Buffalo - Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty
Yellow - Kansas City @ Las Vegas - Chris Lewis, Kyle Long

Cannot understand why Tampa gets Wash-Phil, when every other neutral market gets a much better game, LAC-Denver.
There are a few Philly transplants, there, but not that many.

Fox Late Games:

Red - Detroit @ Chicago - Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady
Blue - Miami @ New England - Joe Davis, Greg Olsen
Green - Arizona @ LA Rams - Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

 

[bresna]

Jaguars play at 10am, so the Pats will still have pressure to win and keep the #2 seed if the Jaguars win.

The Jags play at 1:00 ET, which is 1:00 in Jacksonville & Foxboro.

But you are correct that if the Jags win their game, the Pats have another reason to win. But I think having a chance for the #1 seed if they win is enough incentive.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

TB needs to win otherwise would be total disaster 2nd half of season

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Rooting for the Bucs here in west coast FL. Although I do want to see Bowels fired.