To rest or not to rest the starters, that is the question

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

You don’t sit your important starters for almost a month and then expect them to come back in rhythm.  It’s a complete non-starter of an idea.

[Gregg]

9 minutes ago, warrior9 said:

They needed a last minute drive to beat Mac Jones...... 

 

Their defense is overrated but Rodgers and their offense have played well these past 2 weeks. The Jets also get fired up to play the Bills. Look at the game at MetLife. The Bills won 23-20 but the Jets missed 2 FG's and extra point if I remember correctly. It certainly wasn't easy beating them.

[ColoradoBills]

None of this has to be decided right now.

 

All 6 of the AFC current seeds play before the Bills play Sunday.

Broncos/Chargers on TNF and the other 4 on Saturday.

 

The Bills play the Pats at home.  They need to play to win.

 

Then the following week the Chiefs play on Christmas. The Bills will know before the NYJ game at home if they have a shot at #1.

 

Let's not overthink this.

[fergie's ire]

Play like they have been playing and get out to big leads against bad teams and rest starters in the second half of games.

[Starr Almighty]

43 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

Yes, but Jets game worries me the most. Their offense has looked good the last 2 weeks as Rodgers is showing his old form. In recent years they treat games against the Bills as their own personnel Super Bowl.

It is a division game so it won't be easy. But you do realize they played the Jags yesterday right? Everybody looks great on offense vs that team.

[warrior9]

30 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

Their defense is overrated but Rodgers and their offense have played well these past 2 weeks. The Jets also get fired up to play the Bills. Look at the game at MetLife. The Bills won 23-20 but the Jets missed 2 FG's and extra point if I remember correctly. It certainly wasn't easy beating them.

Division games are never easy. I agree.

[Kelly to Allen]

37 minutes ago, SageAgainstTheMachine said:

You don’t sit your important starters for almost a month and then expect them to come back in rhythm.  It’s a complete non-starter of an idea.

Nobody is saying this 

[Matt_In_NH]

If it truly does not mean much you rest certain guys who will benefit from it and play others.  You also consider key contributors/superstars to not put them at risk.  You still have a 53 man roster to work with and can you bring up 3 guys from the PS for any one week.  You cannot "rest all the starters", there are not enough guys to do that.

 

At this point the 1 seed looks difficult, we need the team with one loss to lose 2 of its final three.  It is certainly possible since the games are not easy and Mahomes is injured but they can still easily win two of those.  it is possible the Broncos are locked into a position in week 18 but the Chiefs need to win....whereby the Broncos rest guys and the Chiefs go all  out....still too many scenarios are possible, we need it to play out more. Also, the Bills could just as likely drop from  2 to 3 or 4 if they were to  lose games.  They lose tie breakers to Houston and Baltimore....and maybe Pitt.  So they need to keep the petal on the floor for now.

Edited December 16 by Matt_In_NH

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 hour ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

This is why when ppl say " oh it's a long season". 

 

No it's not. It's important to get off to a great start and because buffalo won the division so early, they earned the right to rest guys and be conservative with injures. 

 

We still have almost a month until the playoffs so they're going to rest anyone that is banged up 

 

There is no tangible difference between getting the one seed and the bye

 

Or getting the 2 seed and resting everyone week 18 as a defacto bye. Especially considering KC is playing 3 games in ten days.

 

Great spot to be in 

The 1 seed is a huge difference if Baltimore ends up taking the division…of course if that happens it probably means pit lost to kc so we don’t have a shot at it lol  Really gotta root for pit down the stretch I think.  
 

as it stands now though I feel like you could make the case the 2 seed is better.  

[GASabresIUFan]

Do not rest the starters.  Just rotate more players.  For example for reps for Davis and Johnson at RB.  More Knox and Morris and less Kincaid.   Admittedly, McD will rest some guys with nagging injuries.  

 

Getting backup reps with most of the 1st strings is great experience and can only help short and long term.  However keeping the starters engaged and sharp for the playoffs.

 

The only exception is week 18, where, assuming everything is clinched, I'd start Mitch at QB, but playing with the majority of the starting offense.  He needs reps with the 1st team and we need to keep Josh healthy.

 

 

Edited December 16 by GASabresIUFan

[Johnnycage46]

The absolute last thing this team needs right this second is to take their foot off the gas. Keep playing hard.

[Boatdrinks]

4 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

The 1 seed is a huge difference if Baltimore ends up taking the division…of course if that happens it probably means pit lost to kc so we don’t have a shot at it lol  Really gotta root for pit down the stretch I think.  
 

as it stands now though I feel like you could make the case the 2 seed is better.  

I’d rather need to win just two games to reach the Super Bowl than to win three. The 2 seed is preferable to 3 though: it does matter. Still a reasonable chance at hosting the AFC title game.