Should We Play Our Starters Against The Packers?

[Relapse]

We have a first round bye locked up and we could advance into the top seed in the NFC if Atlanta somehow lost to Carolina next week. We also could eliminate Green Bay's playoff hopes by beating them next week as well. Lovie Smith has already stated everyone is playing regardless and the team is going all out.

Do not get me wrong I want home field advantage throughout and I really really want the Packers season to end at the hands of our Bears. But lets look at the other side of the coin.

Green Bay is going to go all out for this win to make the playoffs. Dom Capers is going to bring heavy pressure all game knowing our weakness. If Cutler gets injured by Clay Matthews then our playoff hopes end. If Julius Peppers goes down then our defense goes back to being ineffective. This team relies so heavily on those two players that is it really worth risking our post season hopes for a small advantage in the playoffs and should we be irresponsible with our players just to take out a division rival?

I am on the fence about this, but I certainly would not bank on Atlanta losing and with that we really have nothing to gain except losing key players for the playoffs.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Relapse]

As the schedule stands right now Atlanta plays before us and there is a very good chance we end up in the Sunday Night slot. So we even could even wait to see if we even had a chance at the top seed, if in fact Atlanta did win I would find it reckless to play our starters just because it is the Packers playoff hopes on the line when we have NOTHING to gain.

 

[FirstTimer]

Rest the starters no matter what...

Not that I think it will matter as Atlanta will beat Carolina.

 

[FirstTimer]

As the schedule stands right now Atlanta plays before us and there is a very good chance we end up in the Sunday Night slot.

The Sunday Night game is already set. St Louis vs Seattle.

 

[Relapse]

The Sunday Night game is already set. St Louis vs Seattle.

Okay even so we play the afternoon game while Atlanta kicks off at noon. We will know the outcome before we take the field.

 

[FirstTimer]

okay even so we play the afternoon game while atlanta kicks off at noon. We will know the outcome before we take the field.

No way!?!??!??!

 

[payton 34ever]

We'll know the plan by about 2:30-3:00 - the Falcons game will probably be decided by then. No way in hell I play my starters if I'm Lovie and the #2 is already sewn up with no chance to move up. Let the Packers worry about their own mess if/when they get in.

 

[Rustysurf83]

Even if we had a chance at the 1 seed at game time (which we won't) I think a week of rest for the starters is a greater benefit that 1 v. 2 seed.

 

[Relapse]

No way!?!??!??!

My point is that if Atlanta does lose by some miracle it would be big to have home field over them considering how strong of a team they have been at home.

 

[FirstTimer]

My point is that if Atlanta does lose by some miracle it would be big to have home field over them considering how strong of a team they have been at home.

Really?!?!?

 

[FirstTimer]

2010 Bears record:

Home: 5-3

Away: 6-1

OMGZERS!!!!

 

[BigP50]

I dont think Lovie will, just because he hates the Packers lol.

 

[Relapse]

Really?!?!?

Internet D-Bag... you're cool buddy.

 

[TopekaRoy]

Wow. I never expected this to happen!

Or did I?...

Here's an interesting scenario that's highly unlikely, but still fun to think about.

Let's suppose you are Lovie Smith and it's week 17. Let's further suppose that, win or lose, the Bears are locked in to the 3rd seed, but the Packers have to beat the Bears to make the playoffs as the 6th seed.

Do you rest your starters, knowing that means that you will have to face the Packers a week later at Soldier Field in a must win playoff game? Or do you play your starters and try to win, risking injury and knowing that your starters won't have that extra week to rest up for, say, the Giants?

Suppose you play that game to win and Cutler or Urlacher gets hurt and the Packers win the game anyway? Now you have to play the Packers a week later and you are basically screwed!

What do you do?

The noon games may not be over when the Bears game starts, but we will likely have a good idea whose gonna win the Falcons game at least. I know it's risky, but I say play your starters, regardless. If you let the Packers win, then they get in the playoffs and you may have to beat them again anyway. I want them eliminated next week. Whatever 6th seed takes their spot will likely be easier to beat then the Packers.

 

[Capt. Serious]

2010 Bears record:

Home: 5-3

Away: 6-1

OMGZERS!!!!

IronMike: Fire Lovie, Cutler sucks.

 

[FirstTimer]

.. you're cool buddy.

Awesome!!!!!

Any more amazing observations about home field in the playoffs being better than playing on the road?

Next Relapse thread: Is Oxygen Important?

 

[Relapse]

Awesome!!!!!

Any more amazing observations about home field in the playoffs being better than playing on the road?

Next Relapse thread: Is Oxygen Important?

You're a fucking moron, the disscussion is not if home field is better than playing on the road but if the risk of losing a key player to injury is worth the risk of playing for home field. Do you feel good about yourself acting all high and mighty on the internet?

 

[TopekaRoy]

Awesome!!!!!

Any more amazing observations about home field in the playoffs being better than playing on the road?

Next Relapse thread: Is Oxygen Important?

Relapse does have a point FT. The Falcons are very tough to beat at home. (7-1) I think. And 2 of the Bears 3 losses came when we were struggling early in the season, so I don't think home field would be a disadvantage for the Bears.

Still, I think the Bears have the kind of offense that would benefit from playing in a dome, and the Falcons would be hurt by playing outdoors, so I think the Bears have a good shot at beating them, either way.

 

[X]

Play the starters for a half...bad things happen if starters rest for two straight weeks.

 

[FirstTimer]

Relapse does have a point FT. The Falcons are very tough to beat at home. (7-1) I think. And 2 of the Bears 3 losses came when we were struggling early in the season, so I don't think home field would be a disadvantage for the Bears.

Still, I think the Bears have the kind of offense that would benefit from playing in a dome, and the Falcons would be hurt by playing outdoors, so I think the Bears have a good shot at beating them, either way.

The entire NFC is a ball of average. Any team could go anywhere and beat anyone. I mean the Bears were one Calvin Johnson "drop" away from being 4-4 at home this season.

You're second point about playing in a dome with our offensive and defensive speed is an interesting one though and has a lot of merit.