So, You are McDaniel and Dophins Management

[Rich Stadium Original]

Your team is already guaranteed a playoff spot, but your team is VERY banged up.

When you play the Bills Sunday night do you:

 

A.)   Push all your walking wounded to play in the hopes of retaining division title and #2 seed. Reward is maybe two or more home playoff games..where your record has been pretty good this year

Risk is if you win against the Bills you may play a home game, but then bumped off in the first round because your team is even more tired, and no chance to let injuries heal..more players out when it counts the most.  Added bonus is it may be elimination game for Bills, but may not know if that's the case until kickoff.

B.)  You rest your starters and give them a chance to heal..thus increasing your chances of winning that first playoff game...even if it's on the road.

[Prospector]

They should rest everyone. Makes the most sense in a non-biased opinion 🤥 

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

We’ll get their best effort, from any of their players who can go.  You don’t surrender the division on the eve of the playoffs and then confidently face your team as a leader the next day.

[ddaryl]

You got to go for the 2nd seed and homefield games. Anything else is a losers mentality IMO.... Anything can happen so you have to put your best team on the field.

Edited January 3 by ddaryl

[TheFunPolice]

Dolphins will go all out, as they should. 

 

#2 seed is huge. 

[WNYFAN1]

What if by game time the Bills are guaranteed a playoff spot? Then you could be asking yourself this same question about Buffalo.

[mrags]

The bigger question should be.

 

your the bills management:

by kickoff you are already confirmed you will be in the playoffs as every perfect scenario has happened. You are locked into the 6th or 7th seed. Do you play Miami with everything you’ve got for the 2 seed? Or do you give your players some rest and prepare for the following week. Most likely again in Miami? 

[K D]

They want to win the division. They know they have no shot in the playoffs going on the road into crappy weather. The home field would be huge for them

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, TheFunPolice said:

Dolphins will go all out, as they should. 

 

#2 seed is huge. 

 

Dolphins could be looking at a scenario where if they end up #2, they have the Bills coming right back to Miami and have to beat them 2 weeks in a row versus they lose and end up playing the Jags or Chiefs who look like far easier match ups at this point.

 

Not saying they'll WANT to lose. But I could see them resting guys, losing, and then making a deeper playoff run.

[mrags]

3 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

You got to go for the 2nd seed and homefield games. Anything else is a losers mentality IMO.... Anything can happen so you have to put your best team on the field.

Oddly this makes me completely uneasy in my scenario. And would be worried that McClappy would rest his players once the 2nd half hits. 

[thenorthremembers]

If I am McDaniel I pull my sweatpants up and do whatever I have to do to win. 

[H2o]

They will risk it for the biscuit that is the #2 seed and AFC East crown.

[Gregg]

They will go all out to win the division and get the #2 seed. But if the Bills get off to a good start and they have control of the game like the Ravens did to them last week then you will see starters pulled very quickly is my guess.

[strive_for_five_guy]

Don’t even show up at the stadium.  It’s going to be ugly for them whether they’re trying or not 😀

[Low Positive]

McDaniel left his best pass rusher out there in the 4th quarter of a blow-out loss, only to lose him for the season. He's like a kid playing with toy soldiers. 

[stlbills13]

I do think if you have a guy who is questionable and who can significantly re-aggravate an injury, you have him sit out. But other than that, you are playing your best guys unless the game gets out of hand. 

 

The bigger thing would be if they hold anything back offensively/defensively to save new wrinkles in the playbook for the playoffs.

[JohnNord]

If anyone heard the Mike Vrabel interview this week - it’s clear that coaches and players don’t see things the way fans do.  
 

Miami and McD want that AFCE Divisional title.  
 

To your point, I don’t see Miami rushing back a Jaylen Waddle like they might have if Sunday were a playoff game.  But I also think they’ll have Mostert give it a go, rather than resting him. 

 

Also, I don’t think Miami believes they can win 3 in a row on against winning teams on the road.  They don’t believe they can win outside of Miami Gardens, which is odd considering the home advantage isn’t that good

 

Let’s be honest too… there’s no guarantee the Bills win.  Miami would win the AFCE, give some key players rest, and get 2 home games as the 2 seed.  

Edited January 3 by JohnNord

[JoshAllin]

4 minutes ago, WNYFAN1 said:

What if by game time the Bills are guaranteed a playoff spot? Then you could be asking yourself this same question about Buffalo.

Dolphins are banged up compared to the bills right now. Phins opponents (KC most likely) are probably resting starters as well. They're screwed if they do and screwed if they dont

[JohnNord]

1 minute ago, Low Positive said:

McDaniel left his best pass rusher out there in the 4th quarter of a blow-out loss, only to lose him for the season. He's like a kid playing with toy soldiers. 

To be fair, a lot of coaches would do the same thing.  

[teef]

if players are healthy and ready to go, they'll play.  unless there's absolutely nothing to play for, everyone plays.