newcam2012 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 6 hours ago, TD716 said: I don’t see them resting their starters. The starters they don’t play will have a three week gap from when they last played until their first playoff game. If the Bills had the one seed locked up would you want the Bills starters to play. You have to also assume the Bills would be clicking on all cylinders as well. The ravens certainly are. Once you answer the question above you should change your mind. 2 Quote
BeastMaster Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Division rivals don't just roll out the red carpet for the other to get into the playoffs so that they might have the chance to beat them later on. Whether the starters play or not, the Steelers will get a Baltimore team that will be prepared and ready to give them all they can handle next week in their own building Quote
Mr. WEO Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Harbaugh + Jackson = really bad in the playoffs. I bet starters play some. Quote
Big Turk Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Their backups could still beat the Steelers and I would half expect them too. Quote
Rico Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401131041 We'll soon see... I don't think Harbaugh has forgotten this game the last time they were the #1 seed. Edited January 1 by Rico 1 Quote
Negan Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Ravens aren't going to just want to get embarrassed and take an L against their hated Steelers. I think the Ravens still win this game regardless if they have nothing to play for. They were still throwing on Miami late in the game up 30 points. Harbaugh still wants to send a message and who wants to take an L heading into the playoffs. Quote
strive_for_five_guy Posted January 1 Posted January 1 1 hour ago, newcam2012 said: They have nothing to play for. Bodies are banged up and rest is more than welcomed. Also, why would you risk injuries for a meaningless game? Lastly, it would be smart to lose and maybe aid in the dangerous Bills team to miss the playoffs. The ravens will 100% rest their starters. 100% this. I’d be shocked if any key Baltimore player played more than a series or two, if at all. All the reasons you listed for resting guys heavily outweigh any reasoning of either not wanting to be rusty OR having some vendetta against the Steelers. We knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs a few years back, so by similar reasoning, they’d just as much want to keep us out of the dance. Not to mention Josh is way more of a threat than Kenny Pickett / Mason Rudolph. 1 Quote
Casey D Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Also a Saturday prime time game. I think even the backups would like to take out Pittsburgh-- they hate each other. And Pittsburgh's O is not good, and Rudolph is due to puke. 1 hour ago, newcam2012 said: I disagree. Do you really think playing starters here will be advantageous to their future playoff game? Are people here saying it will prevent the players from being rusty? I'm not buying that argument at all. Instead, all players bodies are banged up at this point. Rest and preventing injuries are optimal here. This game is totally meaningless for the Ravens unless they see the Bills asca threat. If so, they will lose the game. Either way the path is paved for a Pitt win unless the Ravens backups steal one. Huntly isn't bad. Happy medium-- play some for a half. Three weeks with no action is a long time. And 2020 shows the Ravens can get rusty. Quote
Johnnyp566 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 The Mason Rudolph lead Steelers make the playoffs over Josh Allen and the Bills. That will be a tough pill to swallow. 2 Quote
zow2 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 First off you only have so many players to play, therefore many regulars will be starting vs Pittsburgh. Secondly, the Ravens more than any other club have plenty of backups who’ve played meaningful games over the past two seasons, including Huntley and all the RB’s. People think Pittsburgh is going in there and will beat up the Ravens? no way. it may be a Steelers close victory but could also easily go the other way. Quote
Matt_In_NH Posted January 1 Posted January 1 With the amount of injuries they have dealt with in recent years, I would be surprised if key guys play, especially Lamar. Quote
SCBills Posted January 1 Posted January 1 If I’m a fan of Baltimore, I’d want them to rest the key guys. If I’m Harbaugh, I know we haven’t had a ton of success in the playoffs in the Lamar era and my QB is gunning for a personal achievement in MVP. I don’t think it’s clear cut they rest guys, given they have a Wild Card Round Bye Week, but anyone who’s dinged up isn’t playing and I think it’s 30/70 Lamar plays… and if he plays, probably a half. The good news is the Ravens/AFC North is a different animal. I’m guessing they still care about imposing their will on a rival and ending their playoff hopes. I also don’t think they care about losing on purpose with the hope Buffalo loses and gets left out. Might not be smart, but I don’t think they are wired that way. 1 1 Quote
Big Turk Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) Even if they do, they literally HATE the Steelers, a bitter division rival, so they will be playing as hard as possible to keep them out. Plus it's a home game for them. No different than the Bills destroying the Fins in a meaningless game resting half their players when the Fins could have gotten in the playoffs with a win in 2020... Edited January 1 by Big Turk 1 Quote
zow2 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 You have to remember too, the Seahawks never play the Steelers. They weren’t prepared. The Ravens and Harbaugh, know the Steelers and Mason Rudolph like the back of their hands. They will get a crucial pick or two. Quote
JoshAllin Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) Ravens should ride there winning streak to 7 and keep that psychological momentum up, otherwise would be interesting if they fall flat again Edited January 1 by motorj Quote
Big Blitz Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Absolutely won’t see the field: Lamar Hamilton Roquon Queen Likely Clowney Stanley Linderbaum Gus Hill Williams Humphrey Pierce Flowers OBJ I’d expect a bunch of them will be inactive. A handful of them have been playing with injuries. Especially in their secondary and RB has already been decimated. Quote
Success Posted January 1 Posted January 1 It's a division game, it's on Saturday, and they have the bye. I'd be really surprised if they didn't play starters for a half. Which is about all they'd need. I'm still of the mindset that we'll have to beat Miami to get in, but we may get a surprise in this one. Quote
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted January 1 Posted January 1 10 hours ago, NJKBillsfan said: Either way I still see Pitt winning the game. Agreed. Pittsburgh is playing well. with decent QB play now, their entire O is rejuvenated. Their D and ST has always been elite. if they make the playoffs as a 7, I really don’t want to face them. Quote
Scott7975 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 Imagine losing Lamar in a meaningless game. That would be a coaching disaster. McD would absolutely get killed if we had the 1 seed locked up and lost Allen for the playoffs in a meaningless game like that. 2 Quote
dma0034 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said: Agreed. Pittsburgh is playing well. with decent QB play now, their entire O is rejuvenated. Their D and ST has always been elite. if they make the playoffs as a 7, I really don’t want to face them. At some point Rudolph will turn into a pumpkin again. Will it be against the Ravens? We'll see 1 Quote
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