Week 17 @ Bengals - Rest or play starters?

[MsMarvel73]

Sweeeeeeet I get to add to my Division Champs shawg...2011 and now 2012...

I was at work tonight with a dead cell phone in my pocket ...was there by myself so couldn't sneak back to the driver lounge to see if they had the game on back there...

and the Ravens go and kick some NY heinie....figures.

I has a happy anyway!!!

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='INRavensgirl' timestamp='1356333484' post='1277562']
Sweeeeeeet I get to add to my Division Champs shawg...2011 and now 2012...

I was at work tonight with a dead cell phone in my pocket ...was there by myself so couldn't sneak back to the driver lounge to see if they had the game on back there...

and the Ravens go and kick some NY heinie....figures.

I has a happy anyway!!!
[/quote]

It'd be worth your while to find a way to watch this game. The O lit it up and D was looking great. STs didn't do bad either. Awesome game to enjoy watching again, like I'm doing now.

[Grapple Raven]

[i]Another record tonight as per Brent Harris of CSNBaltimore, [b]first time in franchise history we have won consecutive AFC North Division Championships![/b][/i]

[i]Go Ravens!!! [/i]

[CptJesus]

You guys are missing a key point here. If the AFC seeding stays as it currently is, we definitely do not want to face the Broncos in the second playoff game (assuming we win, which we should). The way things currently stand, as the fourth seed, we would face the Colts, and if we win, would play against the Texans (1st vs 4th). If we were the third seed, we would have to play the Broncos. I'm way more scared of the Broncos than I am of the Texans. Instead, we let the Patriots and the Broncos duke it out while we go to town against Houston, which despite the crushing defeat earlier this season, is not looking NEARLY as hot as they were before.

Its unfortunate that we play after Denver, because I would really love to see if the seeding changes. Provided both Houston and Denver win next week though, it wont matter. If the pats lose and we win, we take the third seed through tie-breaker.

[Yatagarasu]

[quote name='CptJesus' timestamp='1356342628' post='1277587']
You guys are missing a key point here. If the AFC seeding stays as it currently is, we definitely do not want to face the Broncos in the second playoff game (assuming we win, which we should). The way things currently stand, as the fourth seed, we would face the Colts, and if we win, would play against the Texans (1st vs 4th). If we were the third seed, we would have to play the Broncos. I'm way more scared of the Broncos than I am of the Texans. Instead, we let the Patriots and the Broncos duke it out while we go to town against Houston, which despite the crushing defeat earlier this season, is not looking NEARLY as hot as they were before.

Its unfortunate that we play after Denver, because I would really love to see if the seeding changes. Provided both Houston and Denver win next week though, it wont matter. If the pats lose and we win, we take the third seed through tie-breaker.
[/quote]

If we can't beat the Broncos, then we don't deserve that Lombardi.

I say whoever we face, we bring our A-game and make them know that they're going to play real football, not some cupcake schedule cleaning against some tanked team like the Browns.

[Irish Raven]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' timestamp='1356320552' post='1277245']
. You might give Gino a chance to start, just to give a old guy like Birk rest.
[/quote]

I'd like to see that

Yes, give Birk some rest and we'll see how Gino is progressing

[arnie_uk]

Forgot about that divison rule my bad. Well I'm still keeping the same stance. we need to play and gain momentum. But I'd rest anyone with a slight knock. ray suggs ngata reed boldin even yanda.

[Crabcakes&Football]

I'd also like to add that Michael Oher should play the entire game.

[Crabcakes&Football]

[quote name='CptJesus' timestamp='1356342628' post='1277587']
You guys are missing a key point here. If the AFC seeding stays as it currently is, we definitely do not want to face the Broncos in the second playoff game (assuming we win, which we should). The way things currently stand, as the fourth seed, we would face the Colts, and if we win, would play against the Texans (1st vs 4th). If we were the third seed, we would have to play the Broncos. I'm way more scared of the Broncos than I am of the Texans. Instead, we let the Patriots and the Broncos duke it out while we go to town against Houston, which despite the crushing defeat earlier this season, is not looking NEARLY as hot as they were before.

Its unfortunate that we play after Denver, because I would really love to see if the seeding changes. Provided both Houston and Denver win next week though, it wont matter. If the pats lose and we win, we take the third seed through tie-breaker.
[/quote]

We wouldn't necessarily play Houston as the 4th seed. They play the lowest seed remaining and if one of the wild cards win they would be going to Houston. It does however, give us a chance to play Houston, whereas the 3rd seed would not.

[RobFuseRaven]

Sometimes the Ravens tend to play like crap after being too rested. I'd say play them for the first half so they have a little bit of gameplay under their belt then put in our young, hungry guys like LaQuan Williams so they can show what they can do.

[FerrariFan87]

The starters should play at least a half on offense. I want us to stay in a rhythm heading into Wild Card weekend. I might rest guys like Suggs, Reed and Ngata who are banged up and don't really need to play.

[ravensdfan]

The Bengals have nothing to play for at all. They cannot move anywhere in seeding. There is a good chance they rest their starters. Though, that didn't work out too well for them last time lol

I'm on the fence here really. I say rest anyone nursing an injury because we'll need them for the post-season run. I want Flacco to get his 4,000 yard season so I say play him till he makes that, then sit him because I don't want him injured.

Then, there is the momentum. I don't want to head into the post-season on loss.

Ugh. Play them unless they are nursing an injury I guess.

[FreckleNate]

My inner selfishness says play them because I live in Cincinnati and this is the only game I get to attend every year. But logically we need to sit them maybe only play a few for the first half.

[Latch]

if we won in the wild card, we'd either be visiting Houston, New England or Denver. I prefer New England, personally. they've shown that they can be completely embarrassed at home, and it's nowhere near as long of a trip as Denver would be. We can only hope that Houston knocks Peyton off his high horse and there's an epic rematch at Reliant Stadium.

Then again, I can't really make a good judgement as to how afraid I should be of home games until at Cincy next week, which makes me believe we should play our starters at least for a portion of the game so they can learn how to handle this Caldwell offense on the road. There's no sense in injuring them, though, no matter how sweet a No. 3 seed might seem.

[JO_75]

I wonder if this will help some people out on whether the Ravens should play or rest starters. The NFL has flexed the Patriots-Dolphins game to 4:25p.m. Which means we rest our starters and lose, and then turn around the Dolphins beat the Patriots, we would have lost out on the 3 seed. I think due to the NFL flexing the Patriots-Dolphins to 4:25 and the fact the 3 Seed is still realistic, Harbaugh will have the starters out there to try to win the game.

[SecretAgentMan]

Ha. Many are still picking us to lose... ROFL

[AsianRice]

When you play football, you know injuries are waiting to fall on you, so I think we should play our healthy starters to get confidence and momentum into the playoffs; if anyone is doubtful, he should rest for playoff....

There is no reason to rest healthy starters...........

[reediddy]

It's wishful thinking to predict that Harbaugh would even fathom resting his starters, in my opinion. He is a prideful guy and the team follows suit. That being said, the logic behind the move would make complete sense. I just don't see it happening

[AsianRice]

Yesterday game, Pees pulled out some of his tricks to overwhelm Eli; I hope he'll save his other tricks for playoffs and championship.....I'm pretty sure he'll have butt load of tricks in his pocket and ready to unload in playoffs....

[TonyTone1192]

We should definitely play our healthy starters. Anyone who is borderline should definitely rest up.

But we have been too inconsistent this season and we looked good 2 games before our first playoff game, so hopefully that will be the beginning of us getting hot and riding that momentum into the tourney.

If we rest our starters that could disrupt the flow that we currently have.

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='Latch' timestamp='1356364167' post='1277831']
if we won in the wild card, we'd either be visiting Houston, New England or Denver. I prefer New England, personally. they've shown that they can be completely embarrassed at home, and it's nowhere near as long of a trip as Denver would be. We can only hope that Houston knocks Peyton off his high horse and there's an epic rematch at Reliant Stadium.

Then again, I can't really make a good judgement as to how afraid I should be of home games until at Cincy next week, which makes me believe we should play our starters at least for a portion of the game so they can learn how to handle this Caldwell offense on the road. There's no sense in injuring them, though, no matter how sweet a No. 3 seed might seem.
[/quote]

You wanting New England makes PERFECT sense.

But after we got EMBARRASSED by both Denver and Houston I want one of them. If we can play how we played yesterday throughout the playoffs we have the best team in the AFC (I believe). I want a chance to avenge one if not both of those losses.

[Bravens292]

maybe they will play them to allow for another week to adjust to caldwells style of offense. personally, i want them to play. i want to know how much of a fluke (if it was) last game was. i hope this was a positive step, not just another flash in a pan for this offense.

[flaccopoe]

Speaking of injuries, does anyone know Webb's recovery status? It would be great to see him ball-hawk in the playoffs!

[codizzle]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1356382148' post='1278202']
Speaking of injuries, does anyone know Webb's recovery status? It would be great to see him ball-hawk in the playoffs!
[/quote]
No chance

[flaccopoe]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1356382273' post='1278204']
No chance
[/quote]

He's done for the year like McClain?

[Yaha]

Since the Ravens will play either the Bengals or the Colts the following week, play with the intent to win. Rest Flacco after 2 qtrs no matter what and surely rest Rice, Reed,Nagta,Yanda,Oher and Harbaugh. Just my thoughts. Also how do I post a new topic on here. thanks George

[Fang]

Not because I want to bench Joe, but because I don't see a huge difference between the 3rd and 4th seed. Plus I can't see the Dolphins winning in New England.

I'd like to see all the starters rest. Start planning for the playoffs now. They should treat the game in Cinci as a preseason game.

Thoughts?

[RavensPunkXVX]

http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/50294-week-17-bengals-rest-or-play-starters/

[Fang]

Ah I missed it. The "pinned" thing threw me off. Thx. Merge or delete please.

[display name]

I don't want any more injuries. I say rest them. At least for a half.