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Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis listened to my emotionally-fueled rant that the Bengals should do whatever they must to beat the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday. Along with symbolically beating a team that they haven't (save for the preseason-like regular season finale in 2012), the Bengals could claim the No. 2 seed if the Bills beat the Patriots... or fall to the No. 4 seed if the they lose to the Ravens and Indianapolis beats Jacksonville.
Lewis confirmed on Sunday that they're all-in, full-go.
Marvin Lewis, as expected, confirms Bengals are full go and not resting anybody Sunday.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 24, 2013
Lewis : We'll do everythingto win the game. Full go.
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) December 24, 2013
Along with the symbolism and the seeding implications, resting starters and disrupting the regular season routine tends to have a greater impact but not for the good because the momentum that was built is broken.
Then again, this could be Lewis' attempt to push tickets and prevent a black out.