Lose The Battle, Win the War

[afan]

Do you think it would be wise for the Ravens to just play replacements and get the Numbers 1's well these next two games so they are healthy for the playoffs

[cprenegade]

Do you think it would be wise for the Ravens to just play replacements and get the Numbers 1's well these next two games so they are healthy for the playoffs

No. Ridiculous. If they win the division, they most likely host the Colts. They can win that game. The Colts will be emotionally high, especially if Pagano is back and comes back here to Baltimore, but the Ravens can beat the Colts. If they rest players and lose out, then either Pittsburgh or Cincinnati will win the division. That would send the Ravens to New England. They will get beaten badly in a first round playoff game up in New England. They need to win the division to have any shot at making the second round.

[jamesdean]

The sad truth of the matter is that they could very well lose out WITH their starters. There's no way Harbaugh would rest anyone who can play, even at less than 100%. They already have 3rd string players out there as it is. Really, if you think about it, even healthy, the Ravens are a mediocre football team in the talent department so the chances of them going deep into the play-offs is nonexistent in my opinion. They'll have to win on the road at some point and that's not going to happen. 2012 will end with a whimper, not a bang.

[tigercruise]

The sad truth of the matter is that they could very well lose out WITH their starters. There's no way Harbaugh would rest anyone who can play, even at less than 100%. They already have 3rd string players out there as it is. Really, if you think about it, even healthy, the Ravens are a mediocre football team in the talent department so the chances of them going deep into the play-offs is nonexistent in my opinion. They'll have to win on the road at some point and that's not going to happen. 2012 will end with a whimper, not a bang.

I have to agree. The reality is this team is average at best. Last year was the year to get to the promised land and one dropped football ended that.

[classea5]

If our team was intact I believe we would have as much of a chance as any to win the superbowl, our third string can't do it as much as they surprised me last week. Whoever we face we need our starters, let them rest now and play later.

[bud]

Part of me wants to see us get our momentum back the next 2 weeks. Then again, getting healthy for the playoffs would have the greater overall impact.

[Eastside Terp]

The sad truth of the matter is that they could very well lose out WITH their starters. There's no way Harbaugh would rest anyone who can play, even at less than 100%. They already have 3rd string players out there as it is. Really, if you think about it, even healthy, the Ravens are a mediocre football team in the talent department so the chances of them going deep into the play-offs is nonexistent in my opinion. They'll have to win on the road at some point and that's not going to happen. 2012 will end with a whimper, not a bang.

this ......

[Aclobat]

Sit pollar and yanda till playoffs. let lewis rest against the giants.

[afan]

I think the plain is already set. No Lewis, no Pollard and Suggs may play sparingly. I think the need to rest Flacco is the utmost importance now. I think he is mentally and physically beat and his arm is tired.

[SugarRay52]

Beat the Giants tomorrow, win the division and then rest against the Bengals next Sunday. It will be easier for them to rest if they lock up the division, takes away some pressure.

[cprenegade]

I think the plain is already set. No Lewis, no Pollard and Suggs may play sparingly. I think the need to rest Flacco is the utmost importance now. I think he is mentally and physically beat and his arm is tired.

Rest Flacco? And start who, Tyrod Taylor? The division is NOT clinched as of yet. If the Ravens lose tomorrow, no matter who wins in the Cincinnati/Pittsburgh game they will be alive for the division. Pittsburgh gets Cleveland at home. If Cincy wins, they can can win the division outright by beating the Ravens next week on their home turf. And if the Ravens don't win the division, they will end up going to New England where they will get wacked, starters or not.

[SugarRay52]

Rest Flacco? And start who, Tyrod Taylor? The division is NOT clinched as of yet. If the Ravens lose tomorrow, no matter who wins in the Cincinnati/Pittsburgh game they will be alive for the division. Pittsburgh gets Cleveland at home. If Cincy wins, they can can win the division outright by beating the Ravens next week on their home turf. And if the Ravens don't win the division, they will end up going to New England where they will get wacked, starters or not.

Exactly, they need to wrap up the division first and then they can rest if they decide to do so against the Bengals next week.

[Ravens2006]

Suggs and Ngata are the two I think they MOST need healthy right now. Webb would be nice too, but he's never even been CLOSE to a possible return this year because of the nature of the injury. Unfortunately, I don't think either one is going to come close to regaining their normal form this season. Suggs with a myriad of ailments, Ngata still playing on a bad knee, both of them are just barely getting by. Ngata makes a few plays with his upper body when it comes his way, but he can't pursue or more people out of the way. Suggs holds his own from time to time by getting a good jump, reading the play, or head fakes that get OLmen off balance. But he's nothing close to his potential right now. Injuries have turned two Pro-Bowl caliber players in to mostly mediocre substitutes at their positions. In hindsight, if you KNEW ahead of time you would lose late leads to both PIT and WAS, then play like collective crud against the Broncos, they'd have been better off sitting them both. Problem is they are likely no worse than their potential replacements, and the games mean too much now... assuming you put value on a home playoff game.

[cprenegade]

[QUOTE=Ravens2006;8232182]Suggs and Ngata are the two I think they MOST need healthy right now. Webb would be nice too, but he's never even been CLOSE to a possible return this year because of the nature of the injury. Unfortunately, I don't think either one is going to come close to regaining their normal form this season. Suggs with a myriad of ailments, Ngata still playing on a bad knee, both of them are just barely getting by. Ngata makes a few plays with his upper body when it comes his way, but he can't pursue or more people out of the way. Suggs holds his own from time to time by getting a good jump, reading the play, or head fakes that get OLmen off balance. But he's nothing close to his potential right now. Injuries have turned two Pro-Bowl caliber players in to mostly mediocre substitutes at their positions. In hindsight, if you KNEW ahead of time you would lose late leads to both PIT and WAS, then play like collective crud against the Broncos, they'd have been better off sitting them both. Problem is they are likely no worse than their potential replacements, and the games mean too much now... assuming you put value on a home playoff game.[/QUOTE]

I don't think the Ravens year ends in the superbowl either way, but it would be quite a bit easier with the first game at home. Division win would most likely mean they host the Colts, then end up going to Houston. Assuming New England beats either Pittsburgh/Cincy in the wild card round it would mean either NE or Denver eliminates the other. The AFCC would be against NE or Denver at their place. It is also the only way the Ravens could host the AFCC. If the other wild card, Pitt/Cincy somehow beat both NE and Denver, the Ravens with an upset of Houston could end up hosting against a team they know very well. Unlikely, but not impossible. The other road is at New England, at Houston, and then either at most likely Denver, or Pitt/Cincy. Ultimately much tougher. There is no question the Ravens play everyone possible until they clinch the division or lose out.

[Eastside Terp]

its looks like this is the path they are talking with ray .......