The CheckerBoard

In the past they have rested their starters in Week 17, and wound up losing the first playoff game. Clearly it hasn't worked for them in the past, so why not try something, anything different? They had already locked up home field through the NFC playoffs and a bye to the second weekend, so it's not like they don't have time to rest up and prepare.

We shall see.

I think the Seahawks are about to take the NFC over in the playoffs....

Not a NFL guy but don't they just have 40 something on the roster? Do they have enough to sit all the starters?

The roster is 53 guys.

You wouldn't sit everybody, just your key guys. No need to risk injury to Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White and Julio Jones. On defense, no way would I have left Abraham out there as he is injury prone anyway.

Think they finally gotten rid of all that Georgia bias when the Smith family sold the team to Arthur Blank. I always thought old Rankin would have greatly preferred owning the University instead of the Falcons.

I have a great friend who plays for the falcons. His wife told my wife they were going to play them, but not push them hard. If it came easy great if not, don't push it. That obviously did not play out the way Mike Smith planned. They are a resiliant team though, and I actually think the loss done them some good on one hand. On the other, some of the players are now banged up a bit more than before the game started. I agree with using starters for...say...the first half. If it is a walk in the park, take em' out, if it ain't, take em' out anyway! Don't risk injury.

I hear ya man. I really don't want to play them again next week. Not the same defensive performance we've had the last few weeks. It'll be interesting to see what adjustments we make.

I recall the Colts resting starters during an undefeated season campaign, losing the game, and then looking completely out of sync for the playoffs.
Sometimes your playing for is to keep your edge and rhythm.