Who plays who rests week 17 ?

[Henry Muto]

Well we know Indy will rest players but what about San Deigo, New England, Cincy, Arizona and Green Bay ?

 

Last year I remember Arizona went full bore in week 17 depsite the game meaning nothing to their seed and they ended up in the SuperBowl nearly winning it.

 

I remember in 2007 both NE and NYG playing a great game with neither team needing the game and both met in the SuperBowl.

 

So it looks like to me these teams should be playing the game to win and keeping out only injured players that are questionable due to injury.

 

How much value does NE put on the 3 seed and avoiding Indy in round 2 and having an outside shot at a home AFC Championship game ?

 

Will Arizona go full bore again ?

 

What will San Diego and Green Bay do ?

 

What about Cincy ? If NE has already won they are locked into the 4 seed.

 

Anyone have any thoughts here on any of these teams ?

 

It could go either way (except for Indy players) it seems to me.

 

I think SD is the team most likely to rest players besides Indy

 

NE, Cincy, Arz, GB I am unsure of.

[Henry Muto]

I like Tom Brady alot! Now listen to him Coach Bill!!!!

 

The New England Patriots are 10-5 and have won the AFC East. Other than what seed they will be in the playoffs -- three or four -- the Patriots have nothing to play for in this Sunday's game at the Houston Texans. But Tom Brady said in a radio interview Monday that he would prefer to play the whole game. "The way our team is, we had a good week this week. We had probably our best week in a long time, and ... I think it would be great to see if we can carry that over again, if we can kind of put together another good week," Brady said. Brady mentioned that players who need some rest to get over their injuries will probably be held out, but that he would like to see the team's "healthy" players give it their all against Houston. Of course, Brady knows that decision isn't his to make. "We don't sit around and take votes of what we're going to do," he said. "It's a one-man show,"

 

Analysis: Brady also said something that I think most Indianapolis Colts fans are echoing today: "Everyone always says 'injuries, injuries' but the reality is you can be hurt the first play of a playoff game. That's just the way it is." We'll see how head coach Bill Belichick approaches this week's game, but I would bet right now that Brady plays at least three quarters of Sunday's game, granted it doesn't get out of hand early. Thus, I would consider the Patriots' usual suspects -- Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker -- OK to deploy if you need them in week 17.

[Scorcher]

I'm wondering also. I have an SB this week and am hoping Green Bay comes to play. I guess it's too early to tell. Hoping moving up a seed means something to Green Bay.

[Henry Muto]

Bolts view finale as anything but meaningless

 

By BERNIE WILSON - AP Sports Writer

 

2009-12-28 20:35

 

 

SAN DIEGO (AP) -There's nothing for coach Norv Turner and his streaking San Diego Chargers to debate.

 

Although the Chargers have wrapped up the AFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye, they plan to approach Sunday's regular-season finale at home against the Washington Redskins as anything but meaningless.

 

Turner said Monday that the Chargers will prepare as they always do, with no plans to rest healthy starters. He did say that some Chargers who've been playing with injuries might get a rest.

 

``Our players know we're going to go play. They want to play,'' Turner said.

 

The AFC West champion Chargers (12-3) had the weekend off after beating Tennessee 42-17 on Christmas night, their 10th straight victory.

 

LaDainian Tomlinson enjoyed laying around all weekend, watching games on TV ``and just having nothing to do.''

 

This Sunday, though, he wants to play.

 

``Yeah, I do,'' he said. ``With us having the bye I think it would be good for us to get out and play. We will have a whole week to rest next week. Just to keep the rhythm of how we are playing, I think that is important. I think the only way guys shouldn't play is if they are injured or battling something that needs rest. If you are healthy, why sit out?''

 

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson said the Chargers have plenty more to work toward beyond the Washington game.

 

``I think there are probably about three more games on our schedule,'' he said, referring to the playoffs, including a hoped-for berth in the Super Bowl. ``Just doing what we've been doing, consistency, preparing in the meeting rooms and just leaving nothing to chance.''

 

Redskins coach Jim Zorn doesn't expect to see San Diego's starters play the whole game.

 

``They can't sit their guys down for three weeks and expect them to come out and play the first game of the playoffs. I don't think I could do that,'' Zorn said. ``But I don't necessarily think I would play my starters the whole game. I wouldn't put any words in Norv's mouth at all, but they may treat it more like a preseason attack, with their starters playing in a limited role.''

 

Although Tomlinson is on pace to finish with less than 1,000 yards for the first time in his brilliant nine-year career, he said he is looking forward to being healthy heading into the playoffs. Last year he injured his groin in the regular-season finale, which limited him in a first-round win against Indianapolis and sidelined him for a loss at Pittsburgh.

 

The year before, he hurt his left knee in a divisional-round win at Indianapolis and barely played in the AFC championship game loss at New England.

 

``You will cherish it, you really do,'' Tomlinson said. ``You cherish when you are healthy and able to crank it up and go do what you want to do versus playing hurt and just trying to gut it out for the team. I am so thankful to be in this position, to have two feet to run on.

 

``I haven't taken a lot of shots like I usually take,'' he said. ``And just to stay fresh throughout the year and I haven't been beat up other than the first game when I hurt my ankle. Other than that, it's been great.''

 

Tomlinson sprained his right ankle in the season-opening win at Oakland and sat out the following two games.

 

``It feels good to be at this point and say we are at the position where we have accomplished everything we need to for the regular season - we got the first-round bye. And there's not a need to win one game to get to the playoffs.''

 

The Chargers were 2-3 after consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and Denver.

 

``I think more than anything it gave us a chance to back up and really evaluate what kind of team we wanted to be, how we wanted to be portrayed and what kind of performance we wanted to put out on the field on Sundays, more than anything,'' Tomlinson said. ``So when people kind of jumped off and said, 'These guys are going to be done,' it gave us an opportunity to say, 'Hey guys, let's just put performance, after performance, after performance out on the field and let's see where we stand after 16 games.' That was the turning point.''

 

The Chargers are looking to sweep the NFC East, after having already beaten the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

 

``I still think it is one of the toughest divisions in football, if not the toughest,'' Tomlinson said. ``I think it says a lot about our team also being ready to play against that division. It's more a credit to what we've done more than anything.''

 

---

[i_am_the_swammi]

Who plays? Who rests? Who cares? Most varsity leagues held their SB this week so as to avoid exactly what you are asking.

[dope man]

Who plays? Who rests? Who cares? Most varsity leagues held their SB this week so as to avoid exactly what you are asking.

Doesn't your "varsity" league give anything for total points? Just curious......My "Varsity" league gives most of the prize to total points b/c of what they are asking......

[i_am_the_swammi]

Doesn't your "varsity" league give anything for total points? Just curious......My "Varsity" league gives most of the prize to total points b/c of what they are asking......

 

Yes, we do award a total points prize...most points Weeks 1-16 in two leagues, 1-13 in the BoTH league.

 

So the best team in your league could potentially lose the total points race because he was savvy enough to draft the best team Weeks 1-16, only to see his best players on the bench at crunch time? You reward teams for drafting players from mediocre squads that aren't good enough to clinch a playoff spot?

[Kansas State 2000]

Who plays? Who rests? Who cares? Most varsity leagues held their SB this week so as to avoid exactly what you are asking.

 

I do I'm in the 32Homers Super Bowl next week.

[dope man]

Yes, we do award a total points prize...most points Weeks 1-16 in two leagues, 1-13 in the BoTH league.

 

So the best team in your league could potentially lose the total points race because he was savvy enough to draft the best team Weeks 1-16, only to see his best players on the bench at crunch time? You reward teams for drafting players from mediocre squads that aren't good enough to clinch a playoff spot?

That's cool

[Shorttynaz]

Jets and Ravens play - everyone else takes the week off.