My take: If KC beats Pittsburgh on Wednesday…

[Billsfanatic8989]

2 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

KC going to play 3d chess and lose Wednesday to make the Bills play out the season 

Which might be beneficial..

 

Injuries can happen at any time. Resting guys too long can be disastrous. 

[Dan]

Next week…

if possible, I’d start Douglas, Rapp, Hamlin and Milano for at least a half.  Rest Bernard, Benford and Johnson. Let them get some time to heal. And keep rolling the dice with the 2nd stringers.  
 

If KC wins and we have the #2 seed locked down for the final week.  I’d forfeit the game.. stay home and make your own bye week. And coaches prepare for the playoffs. 

[Mr. WEO]

43 minutes ago, Chugga said:

I don’t think you shut things down completely until you have the 2 seed locked up.  Also there is something to be said about being “cold” going into the playoffs.  If we gave the bulk of our starters time off for 2 weeks then came out flat as hell the wildcard round this board would erupt.

 

I think McDermott is doing the right thing.  Don’t rush anyone back take your time recovering and if we ever get locked into place then yeah pull the plug on Josh.

 

 

Tony Dungy can vouch for that.

 

Losers rest before the playoffs.  Winners rest after the SB.

[Sierra Foothills]

40 minutes ago, Chugga said:

I don’t think you shut things down completely until you have the 2 seed locked up.  Also there is something to be said about being “cold” going into the playoffs.  If we gave the bulk of our starters time off for 2 weeks then came out flat as hell the wildcard round this board would erupt.

 

I think McDermott is doing the right thing.  Don’t rush anyone back take your time recovering and if we ever get locked into place then yeah pull the plug on Josh give Josh a spa day.

 

Fixed it for us.

 

39 minutes ago, bills6969 said:

1) we need one more win to lock up 2 seed

 

2) Two weeks off is too long for the starters.  We see it all the time in the playoffs.  Team benches their starters in the last week or 2 and then come out flat in the playoffs.  

 

3 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

No. 

 

Even if the two seed is locked in stone, you can't rest guys for two straight weeks. It increases the likelihood of a first round loss. 

 

Rust is a real thing.

 

Yes, the annual discussion of Rest vs Rust.

 

37 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

I can't believe what a dirty the schedule is for Pitt from the NFL- Philly, Bal and KC in 10 days

 

10 minutes ago, Taro Nimbus said:

Kinda like how the bills had San Fran, Kc and Detroit in 3 weeks?

 

And the Steelers play Cinci in week 18.

 

I don't expect them to have much left in the tank come the playoffs.

 

[BillsPride12]

11 minutes ago, Billsfanatic8989 said:

Which might be beneficial..

 

Injuries can happen at any time. Resting guys too long can be disastrous. 

I agree with that.  Used to happen to the Peyton Manning Colts teams all the time.  They would start resting guys in Week 15 and have the first round BYE and by the time they played their next football game a month had gone by and they would come out totally flat.

[mikemac2001]

55 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

We also need the Ravens to lose to Houston, who really have nothing to play for. 

Houston wins vs ravens and Steelers lose wouldn’t they go to the three seed? Not a huge deal but still matters for seeding and matchups 

[Drew21PA]

Let’s say we get the third seed - which is the better route to go to the SB?

 

 

[T.E.]

I'm actually rooting for a KC win and Baltimore loss. The #1 seed is a pipe dream, but knowing we're locked in at #2 gives us a lot of flexibility over the last two weeks.

 

Allen with two hand injuries is pretty concerning. That seems like the type of ailment that will not mix well with cold weather. If we can give him at least one week off, that will help out a lot, I think.

[Ya Digg?]

16 minutes ago, Dan said:

Next week…

if possible, I’d start Douglas, Rapp, Hamlin and Milano for at least a half.  Rest Bernard, Benford and Johnson. Let them get some time to heal. And keep rolling the dice with the 2nd stringers.  
 

If KC wins and we have the #2 seed locked down for the final week.  I’d forfeit the game.. stay home and make your own bye week. And coaches prepare for the playoffs. 

Explain please….as in actually forfeit a game?!??

[Drew21PA]

Nevermind 

 

our ideal situation I think is get 2 seed

 

kc bye

den @ buf

Chargers @ hous

balt @ pit

 

k would play winner of Baltimore Pittsburgh -

 

we would play Houston home and in the elements good luck Texans - revenge

 

then go to KC because there is no way nfl won’t permit them not to be on afccg 

[JP51]

1 hour ago, NeverOutNick said:

Yes I agree with this if ravens lose to Texans as well as chiefs beat Steelers. We’re locked into #2 seed in this situation 

That would be a close second to locking up 1.... 

[CincyBillsFan]

14 minutes ago, mikemac2001 said:

Houston wins vs ravens and Steelers lose wouldn’t they go to the three seed? Not a huge deal but still matters for seeding and matchups 

If the Steelers & Ravens both lose Wednesday the Bills clinch a 2nd seed no matter what happens against the Jets & Pats.

 

 

[Matt_In_NH]

The way this plays out could get interesting.....the Bills are kind of in no mans land.   If the Steelers beat the Chiefs and Bills beat the Jets then they go into the last game with 1 seed still in play....if they dont rest (and why would they) and the Chiefs beat the Broncos on some weird last play of the game then the Bills kind of get no rest and dont get the 1 seed.  

 

1.  They could go into the last two games with the 2 seed locked up (improbable but could happen) - This would give them two week to rest the right guys and get people more or less healthy without having a bye.  However, you dont get new roster spots,  you cannot "rest all the starters", rather you can rest a handful of key guys.

2.  They could go into the last game with 1 seed in play, meaning no on really gets rest.  This sucks if KC still gets the one but this is a possible scenario.

3.  They could go into the last game with 2 seed locked up with an opportunity to rest some guys.

 

I believe they are already in rest mode with guys who are injured....could Rapp, Hamlin and Douglass have played?  I bet earlier in the season one or more might have.  I think they handle next week similar, be smart about guys with nagging issues but you still have to try and win

[Eastport bills]

Bills need 1 more if Ravens win on Wednesday or else we have to play Baltimore in their place if we end up with the same record. The last week will be our bye.

[Matt_In_NH]

13 minutes ago, Eastport bills said:

Bills need 1 more if Ravens win on Wednesday or else we have to play Baltimore in their place if we end up with the same record. The last week will be our bye.

No, if the Bills win one of the last two (Jets, Pats) they will have more wins than the Ravens.

[Kelly to Allen]

This isn't complicated 

 

If on Wednesday the 2 seed is clinched for buffalo ( KC and Texans win) 

 

You play the starters vs the jets a couple series/ 1st qtr and then rest everyone week 18.

 

If we to beat the jets to secure the 2 seed, you try to blow out the jets and then rest everyone week 18. 

 

 

[Charles Romes]

1 hour ago, Andrew Son said:

KC going to play 3d chess and lose Wednesday to make the Bills play out the season 

if KC loses to Pittsburgh they will be seeing the Ravens in the divisional. 

[klumzyfule66]

If the Chiefs win on Wednesday, I would use that week (week 17) to rest guys. Maybe play one quarter for those not injured at all, for those that are, just sit.  Week 18 I would play everybody.

 

As others have mentioned, I also agree that you don't want too much rest so as to not come out slow in the playoffs and need 3 quarters to get your feet back under you. Is it a bit of gambling potentially with 2/3 seed? Sure, but I'm not sure it matters whether the Chargers or Broncos are the opponent. Broncos because rookie quarterback, but Chargers because its a full 3 hour time zone trip and warm weather team. And those seedings are likely not decided till week 18 anyway. If the Bengals somehow sneak in, think I personally would prefer the 3 seed anyway, to play the Chargers. If Indy/Miami sneak in, I think those would otherwise be the preferable match ups over Den/LAC.

[Fleezoid]

The most Billsy thing to do is if KC loses Wednesday, Bills lose to the JETS. 

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

I can't believe what a dirty the schedule is for Pitt from the NFL- Philly, Bal and KC in 10 days

 Brutal