Resting Players

[HelmutVII]

Every year at the end of the pro football season, the question of resting players after a playoff spot is guaranteed. continues to come up. I can remember the 2005 (I think) Steelers and the 2007( I think) Giants that had to win in the last few weeks of the regular season to get in as wild cards. After that, they continued to win and won the super bowl. The Giants might do it again this year but not as a wild card but they had to play on the wild card weekend. On the other hand there are examples of teams that rested starters and wound one and done. This years Packers, the Colts a few years back were going for a perfect season and lost a game because they rested the starters (I think they were one and done that year) come to mind. I'm thinking momentum and the confidence it brings is more important then resting players.

Does anybody know of a team that rested players that went on to win the super bowl? Thanks for your help.

[Rebel02]

Every year at the end of the pro football season, the question of resting players after a playoff spot is guaranteed. continues to come up. I can remember the 2005 (I think) Steelers and the 2007( I think) Giants that had to win in the last few weeks of the regular season to get in as wild cards. After that, they continued to win and won the super bowl. The Giants might do it again this year but not as a wild card but they had to play on the wild card weekend. On the other hand there are examples of teams that rested starters and wound one and done. This years Packers, the Colts a few years back were going for a perfect season and lost a game because they rested the starters (I think they were one and done that year) come to mind. I'm thinking momentum and the confidence it brings is more important then resting players.

Does anybody know of a team that rested players that went on to win the super bowl? Thanks for your help.

2009 New Orleans Saints

[CajunEXPRESS]

The Saints in 2009. After losing a game they rested players and ended up losing their last three regular season games. They were still the number one seed.

[I Cajun Me]

Every year at the end of the pro football season, the question of resting players after a playoff spot is guaranteed. continues to come up. I can remember the 2005 (I think) Steelers and the 2007( I think) Giants that had to win in the last few weeks of the regular season to get in as wild cards. After that, they continued to win and won the super bowl. The Giants might do it again this year but not as a wild card but they had to play on the wild card weekend. On the other hand there are examples of teams that rested starters and wound one and done. This years Packers, the Colts a few years back were going for a perfect season and lost a game because they rested the starters (I think they were one and done that year) come to mind. I'm thinking momentum and the confidence it brings is more important then resting players.

Does anybody know of a team that rested players that went on to win the super bowl? Thanks for your help.

The Colts did it multiple times, but they won a Super Bowl and lost in the Super Bowl to the Saints in 09. I think they are the exception. To my recollection, most of the time they don't make it far after the loss of momentum and continuity.

[Turbine]

If the NCAA ever comes out with a true playoff system this will be the biggest change to the regular season.

Right now with bowl games 3-7 weeks after the regular season, there is never a need to rest a team.