Play them or rest them?

[prairieaug]

From an article on NFL.com:

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Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will be faced will an age-old question this week.

Should he rest players in the regular-season finale against the Bengals and get as healthy as possible for the postseason? Or should the Ravens go all out for the win and try to improve their playoff seeding?

Expect some combination of the two approaches.

“The thing we’re going to do for sure is we’re going to try and win the game,” Harbaugh said after Sunday’s win over the Giants. “That’s the No. 1 thing we’re going to do. That’s what we do, and we’re going to try to win the game.

“We’re also going to try and make sure we are as healthy as we can be going into the playoffs. So, I think we’ll merge those two considerations.”

The Ravens are currently the No. 4 seed in the AFC, but they would move up to the No. 3 spot with a win over Cincinnati and a Patriots loss at home to the Dolphins. The Ravens play at 1 p.m. and the Patriots play at 4:25 p.m., so the Ravens won’t have the luxury of knowing the result of the New England game when they take the field.

Having the No. 3 spot would mean the Ravens play the Bengals in Baltimore again in the first round of the playoffs. Finishing with the No. 4 seed would mean that the Colts come to M&T Bank Stadium in the wild-card game.

The benefit to getting the No. 3 seed is that the Ravens would have a better chance to host a second home playoff game in the event that the top two seeds both lose.

The flip side of the equation is that the Ravens are also dealing with a handful of injuries and some players could benefit from an extra week of rest.
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Curious to hear what some here think.

[Eastside Terp]

you play everyone that is healthy and rest those that are banged up .......

they need to build some momentum ........

don't want to go into the playoffs coming off a poor performance .....

[durango46]

I'm the complete opposite

As banged up as this team is right now being healthy for the playoff is important then winning a somewhat meaningless game IMO.

To me, it's pretty simple. Either put it all in or none. I would hate to see someone like RR or Flacco get injured when guys like Boldin, Suggs, Ray, Pollard Yanda, Ellerbe, Reed, Leach, Dickson and Jimmy Smith all playing with injuries could use the day off.

[Tootsie]

Rest them ALL. 2nd and 3rd stringers ONLY

[Eastside Terp]

opinion will be divided on this one and know I won't be changing anyone's and vice versa .......

mine is based on the fact that this is a team with a brand new offensive coordinator just coming off a 3 game losing streak with a win against a mediocre, slumping team ......

they need to get clicking on all cylinders again ....

[jamesdean]

I think they should approach it like they would the final preseason game. Of course, how the game is going will dictate how it plays out. If for some strange reason, they're blowing the Bengals out by half time, look for the subs to come in across the board in the 3rd quarter. If the game is tight, everyone will play for the duration. You have to be careful offensively because you don't want to disrupt what they had going against New York and build further on Caldwell's input. Personally, I'd rather see them play Indy at home than have to face Cincinnati twice. So, the best of both worlds is for the Ravens and New England to win on Sunday.

[jessup270]

Ravens are in a bind on this one.

The Ravens play at 1pm and the Patriots play at 4pm.

If by chance the Patriots lose and the Ravens win, the Ravens move up in the seeding.

[RavingManiac]

It's a no win situation for Harbaugh. If he plays his starters to build momentum going into the playoffs and Flacco gets hurt then how many people on here will be complaining how stupid he is for playing Flacco in a meaningless game? If he sits the starters to get them a little more healthy for the playoffs and Flacco lays an egg then how many people will complain about the need to build momentum going into the playoffs. Tough situation.

[tman1024]

Well, I think the Colts are an easier opponent than the Bengals, so they should stick with the 4th seed

[tman1024]

Also no way in hell Miami wins in New England

[prairieaug]

I am torn on this as well. Don't want to see them lose momentum, but think the the injured players could benefit from the rest.

Does anyone think Harbaugh would ask for the players input on this tough decision?

[Brohan]

No-brainer, rest them.

[Brohan]

I am torn on this as well. Don't want to see them lose momentum, but think the the injured players could benefit from the rest.

Does anyone think Harbaugh would ask for the players input on this tough decision?

The way it works in the Ravens lockerroom is they tell Harbaugh what they want to do.

[durango46]

I am torn on this as well. Don't want to see them lose momentum, but think the the injured players could benefit from the rest.

Does anyone think Harbaugh would ask for the players input on this tough decision?

I get the momentum thing....but what if Cincy beats them ? which is a strong possibility given it's at home and the Ravens won't have everybody at full strength. Then any momentum gained in the Giant blowout would be lost.

Miami isn't going to beat NE anyway so they wouldn't gain anything with the win

this team has way to many injuries not to rest them



my take

[RIKMAN]

Gotta rest them.

I'd have Tyrod Taylor doing options all day and having the Bengals chase him all over the field.
BTW- do we have a third string QB/ Should activate him.

[daravenator]

opinion will be divided on this one and know I won't be changing anyone's and vice versa .......

mine is based on the fact that this is a team with a brand new offensive coordinator just coming off a 3 game losing streak with a win against a mediocre, slumping team ......

they need to get clicking on all cylinders again ....

thats a good call throw caution to the wind and get some momentum entering the playoffs

[rgh]

The way it works in the Ravens lockerroom is they tell Harbaugh what they want to do.

Just curious have you ever been in the Ravens locker room or are you just making things up?

[Frank Costanza 831]

Gotta rest them.

I'd have Tyrod Taylor doing options all day and having the Bengals chase him all over the field.
BTW- do we have a third string QB/ Should activate him.

Dennis Dixon is on the practice squad so i don't know if that answers your question or not

[Ravens2006]

If the other 3/4 seed were a weak AFC West winner, like K.C. a few years back, I wouldn't care as much. But there's a very good chance the Pats win round one at home and round two away. As unlikely as it may be, you try to win and hope the Pats get a case of the fumbles. It would suck big time if the Ravens wind up travelling to Foxboro again in late January, knowing you gave away a chance to host the conference title game.

[BiggSeth]

Gotta rest them.

I'd have Tyrod Taylor doing options all day and having the Bengals chase him all over the field.
BTW- do we have a third string QB/ Should activate him.

I think Stony Case took my claim ticket at the carwash the other day. He looked limber....