Bengals Banter: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 29, 2009 11:14 AM EST
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PrintA debate is raging. Should the Bengals rest their starters? Should the starters play the first half and then rest? Or should the starters play the entire game? I've always thought that if your team is hitting on all cylinders, then why not. But if they're not hitting on all cylinders, then I believe the worst thing you could do is slow whatever momentum that they do have for the sake of rest, which, alternatively speaks, don't get our players hurt in a meaningless ball game.
Many believe they should rest. Why not include markers? If the offense gains 200 yards, then pull them. Or pull 'em when they reach 20 points. I'd be more inclined to let the defense rest because they are hitting on all cylinders, and most of the team's injuries are on that side of the ball.
Either way, the team will dictate whether or not to rest their starters based on early games. They could also rest their starters based on the fact that the team could rematch the New York Jets
Scott Priestle writes:
Lewis said his plan could change as late as Sunday afternoon, based on the results of the early games. If the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans, they secure the No.3 seed and the Bengals are locked into the No.4 seed.
The Bengals might have to open the postseason with an afternoon game on Saturday, Jan.9, which would be a quicker turnaround than they are accustomed to. In that case, a little more rest this week could be beneficial. They will not know the playoff schedule until after the regular-season finale.
The other variable in the equation is their first-round opponent: It is possible the Bengals will host the Jets less than a week after playing them in New York, in which case they will not want to show their entire playbook in the first meeting.
Joe Reedy writes:
It's not a question of if the Bengals will rest their starters in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Jets, it's how much.
For the Bengals, a lot of that could depend on the result of the New England-Houston game. If the Patriots win, then the Bengals (10-5) are locked into the fourth seed no matter what happens. But if the Texans win, the Bengals could get the third seed if they beat the Jets.
The Chickster doesn't bother guessing. James Walker doesn't think it's worth the possibility to injury.
Here's an interesting little program. Dictate the winners for this weekend and find every possible scenario for who gets into the playoffs and who has what seed.
Since 1978, 30 of the past 31 Super Bowl winners closed the regular season with at least three straight wins.
James Walker believes that Cedric Benson and Chad Ochocinco should be on the Pro Bowl roster.
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The Yahoo Playoff calculator is awesome
From the permutations that I have gone through, if we lose on Sunday, we are the 4th seed and play the Jets again.
If we win, there is a good chance we play either the Ravens, Steelers, or Texans.
I think it would be easier to be the Jets in Cincinnati, than either of those three teams.
But
Home games in the playoffs are very helpful. I think looking toward the Super Bowl is better than looking for one easier 1st round game.
Our second game is on the road at Indy or SD IF we win. I guess I would rather play SD again, but maybe we matchup better with Indy, now that we can run the ball and have good corners.
Either way, we haven’t won a playoff game in a long time, so I’m taking a first-things-first approach to my rooting.
Ok
Makes sense. Just trying to wrap my head around all this!
by Chet Gresham on Dec 29, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
We don’t really have control over who we play in the second round, though. If the wildcard team wins the other game, they go to Indy regardless of whether we’re 3 or 4. And if that wildcard (or the Pats if we’re 3rd) wins again, the AFC Championship is in Cincy, and I get to cash in my second set of playoff tickets. That’s worth playing for, IMO.
by Todd G on Dec 29, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Here is the issue to me.
The main difference between the 3 seed and the 4 seed is that if we play NE anywhere in the play-offs, will it be at home or on the road.
If we play Indy and SD they will be on the road; if we play wild card teams it will be at home.
NE has been awesome at home and below average on the road. So my answer to the poll question is this:
If New England wins,sit everyone of importance. If New England loses, Play to win, becuase if we do play NE in the AFC Championship game, we would much prefer it in Cincy.
Agree
If New England loses, we go for the third seed. Their is that slim chance you could host another game, and for Cincy that would be huge.
Bengals can still win the 3rd seed
Even if the Pats win…….
http://www.cincyjungle.com/2009/12/29/1223637/bengals-can-earn-the-3rd-seed-even
I love that you linked one of our articles to corroborate that point. :)
by Craig Conrad on Dec 29, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Since I wrote that article.......
I thought it would be better just to supply the link rather than copy and paste.
One point though is.........
With the quick turn around that is possible the rest would be beneficial but we also need to make the Jets work hard to win. We don’t want them to rest and get the win. It is kind of a balancing act. If we can make them work and still get some rest ourselves the road trip though short will still wear on them a little giving us a bit more of an edge. If they go ahead by 3 TDs in the first half they will rest their starters as well. We still have to make them play all of the game for the win. They are a pretty good team. Better than the Chiefs and we will need to get whatever advantage we can.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
Psychological momentum
I think there is a psychological momentum to be gained by winning the final regular season game, especially if we face the Jets in the playoffs.
Winning is contagious.
RE:
I’m with ya on that one.
Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 29, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Play to win
You gotta raise your game, not your hope for a better schedule.
If they play to win, they control their destiny.
The Jets in or out may or may not make a difference, but winning always cures the headache, it just makes everything BETTER.
Minister of Great Legs
by Drofintellact on Dec 29, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
We will know prior to the game what all the possible impacts will be.
It is possible that prior to kick-off, that it will be set that we will play the Jets in the 1st round, if Pit, Bal, Den and Houston lose. IF so I would want to give as little information as possible to the jets, sit Palmer, and Chad, then let JT O’sullivan throw to Simpson and let LJ and Ced get 20 carries apiece, regardless of the score (brat should be good at calling an uninspired game plan) and play a base Defense. Don’t let the Sanchize get any recognition of blitz packages, and don’t let Palmer get hurt.
On the other hand, if we do control our destiny, take it.
Chad
Chad is also irreplaceable, maybe more so than Palmer, without him there will e noone to throw to.
He's only open all the time because the other team has zero respect for his ability to catch the ball.
by Craig Conrad on Dec 29, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
it's nice of you
to use “ability to catch the ball” when talking about Dan Coats
by pedro_oliveira on Dec 29, 2009 7:22 PM EST up reply actions
Use strategy
1st QTR and may be 2nd QTR – Play with starters so they know what to expect in playoff
3rd QTR and 4th QTR – Loose the match, so that we get to meet the Jets again in the playoff match.
Baby steps – Win the 1st playoff match. Playing with IND or SD is tough at least we should win the 1st Playoff.
Screw the Steelers
To make the playoffs, the Steelers need the Jets to lose (and thus the Bengals to lose) in almost every scenario. (They still get in if they win and Houston and Baltimore both lose.)
If it comes down to it, I almost want the Bengals to lose, not because I don’t want to face the Steelers again, but just because I want to see Pittsburgh get screwed.
Face it
the Steelers dont want to play the Bengals again……Revenge from 05 would be sweet. Plus they suck this year
CB85......Collaros for Heisman
by TennBengalfan on Dec 29, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
if it came between facing the steelers or jets in the playoffs, what idiot wouldn’t say they’d rather play the jets?
i'm going to go america all over your ass!
by Raging Clue on Dec 29, 2009 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
Me, they have a softer D and O line than anyone else in the Playoffs
Plus a win would shut you Steeler fans the hell up. Additionally, we already beat you twice and nothing has changed. Face up to it. This year we are a better team. WE don’t need to “unleash hell”. We just need to unleash Benson, Chad, Carson, Leonard, Hall and Joseph. The Steelers don’t deserve the playoffs anymore than the Jets do.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
Bring on the Steelers or Ravens
I sense a fear of playing the Steelers or Ravens by some on this blog. I think this team of ours would eat either (the Steelers or Ravens) for lunch and then have a great big satisfying burp.
Beat the Jets Sunday, gain some momentum and then play whoever comes along. That’s what football is all about.
I love it.
Steelers and Ravens for lunch
Have you watched how we have played the last 5 weeks? Eat them or lunch and then burp!!!!! Man I wish I had the confidence in our team that you have. They both scare he hell out of me In my opinion we need to play the Jets with all of our players and play full throttle for the whole game and try and get some pass plays in. We need momentum going into the playoffs and the last game left a sour taste in my mouth.
by James Schmid the great on Dec 29, 2009 9:49 PM EST up reply actions
I would be afraid of last year's Steeler team too. But this is this year.
It all comes down to the fact that we can cover their receivers and they can’t cover ours. Hell I am not sure their corners can cover me. OK, they could probably cover me, I’m 60. But if MaLor, Raven and Bruce were the WRs each would have 100 yards. The Steelers and their fans remind me of the Knight who guarded the path in Holy Grail.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
No Rest For the Weary
And these guys have sapped my strength all year.
Everybody plays until we can get to the fourth quarter with a 21 point lead with 5 minutes left.
The overworked defense has become too porous and the under-worked offense still looks like Week 1.
The O-Line needs continuity and the D-Line needs to regain penetration without blitzing.
This will take the pressure off the LBs and D-backfield.
These guys need the work and I need rest.
Minister of Great Legs
Look at our record against the AFC north vs. the rest of the AFC
Stats will tell you we have a much better chance against PIT or BAL than anyone else.
Good point.
I would love to beat the Steelers or Ravens for a third time in one year.
LOL.....agreed.....NOW WIN!!!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
It is nice to see others come around to my point of view.
Bring the Steelers and Ravens on. Bring them on twice. Bring them on three times. I am tired of all of this cowering. It is time to end this. To my experience hitting to bully in the mouth usually sends him running. This year we are better. Next year who knows. Just look Kyle Cook in the face and tell me that he is afraid?
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
Sprots illustrated will like to see Dhani Jones in Pro Bowl
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/12/29/probowl/
CB85......Collaros for Heisman
plus
News of the day! Tentatively scheduled: UC vs Notre Dame Nov 16, 2013
CB85......Collaros for Heisman
by TennBengalfan on Dec 29, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
I would nominate Leonard. @0 or so plays in the crunch and only 1 fumble.
Anybody would have coughed up the rock on that hit.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
Oops again, I meant 20 or so. I need glasses.
" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran
Can I switch the subject for a moment?
Is it me,or does anyone else wanna punch that loudmouth Rodney Harrison square in his steroid bloated head! I’m sick and tired of him bad mouthing the Bengals every chance he gets! It’s not the Bengals fault that David Tyree posterized him for all of eternity! Fu%$ Rodney Harrison, and I can’t wait until NBC fires his worthless ass! Tony Dungy, who is a class act, probably can’t stomach the fact he has to work with that blowhard week in and week out!
top priority
Does it really matter if we get 3rd or 4th seed?
Main thing is to get some reps, don’t show any sneaky plays we will use in the playoffs, and rest anyone who could use the rest.
I say no matter what happens between Houston and New England on Sunday, let's beat the Jets' *sses.
I’m sick of people like Florio thinking the Bengals are scared of Pittsburgh. Apparently beating them twice this year wasn’t enough, so if the stars align and they do their part only needing us to beat the Jets to get in, bring ’em on. We have the formula to beat them this year and I want to shut everyone up.
Rest Defense....OFFENSE ALL NITE!!!!!
I live in Florida and I am from Cincinnati…From Bengals fans everywhere REST THAT DEFENSE!!! THEY KNOW HOW TO TACKLE! On the other hand, the entire offense and special teams should play. We need to score score score more points more rest for the D. The Bengals when the go score take up chunks of clock… # points won’t matter if the other team can score in 2:00. My advice get that offense some reps might need a shootout to remind us we need to score to reach the Super Bowl!!!! Who Dey
Very valid point here. We've seen the past two weeks where our defense has controlled the field very well for a half of football or a game,
only to be gassed at the end of that half or game to let the opposing offense drive right to where they needed for a field goal. Two weeks ago we lost that way in SD and last week the Chiefs marched it right down the field to tie us going into the half.
Got to hold the ball better on offense and score more points. I would LOVE to see this defense with a three-score lead. They’d be bringing body bags out for the opposing skill players.
by Craig Conrad on Dec 29, 2009 11:35 PM EST up reply actions
Treat this like a playoff game
Winning this game eliminates the Jets. That’s a playoff game, for all practical purposes. Plus you prove you can beat the NFL’s best defense (to yourself, more than anything).
I think this whole “resting players” crap is bullshit. To win in the playoffs you need to be sharp and peaking. The Bengals peaked vs the Bears and Ravens, two months ago.
by occams_tiger_teeth on Dec 30, 2009 2:40 PM EST reply actions
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