Rest the starters?

[kramer1]

I say YES.

What do you say?

 

[bengaldoug]

If Baltimore can still win the third seed, then hell yes. Otherwise we really need to beat them for our mental health.

 

[icehole3]

no, Balt deserves a 30-0 whupping, they cant beat Denver in Denver, so smack Balt as hard as you can.

 

[kramer1]

There's just no reason for any of the starters to play. That's all I'm saying.

What if Geno got hurt? Or AJ? For no reason at all....it would be devastating.

I'd like to see Kirkpatrick, Boom, Allen, and Gradkowski get significant time against real competition. Let's see what they have. We may need them in the playoffs.

 

[flamingrey]

Absolutely rest the starters. Let Baltimore win and hope for a Patriots loss. Only way we can avoid the Broncos or Patriots.

 

[Be Weary of Query]

Absolutely rest the starters. Let Baltimore win and hope for a Patriots loss. Only way we can avoid the Broncos or Patriots.

Agreed.

Let Baltimore show their hand, pull out all the stops in a 'big win' scenario for them.

While the Bengals rest their starters, heal up and play the Ravens fresh off of a game where they go all out. I can maybe see playing the starters for a quarter & then treat it like the 4th preseason game.

 

[cincygrad]

I don't think Baltimore will be playing their starters for more than a half. They have a home game the next week regardless - And I don't think they mind getting Indy's young roster in their first playoff game.

 

[bengaldoug]

I don't think Baltimore will be playing their starters for more than a half. They have a home game the next week regardless - And I don't think they mind getting Indy's young roster in their first playoff game.

Good point. I think maybe from the second quarter on it will be backups vs backups.

 

[Servo]

No. As a whole, play them. Particularly on offense. I don't think the Bengals have played well enough to afford themselves the rest. They need the work and you cannot win anything when you manage by fear.

That being said there are some guys with nothing left to prove. Atkins comes to mind. I'd rotate him in but let Thompson/Still/Sims handle the vast majority of snaps. Hall, too. I'd give Kirkpatrick and Jason Allen some PT.

As far as the offense goes I wouldn't rest anyone. As a unit they are not where they need to be.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I say play them hard, try to get the kinks worked out on offense and go into the playoffs with a head of steam and going 7-1 in the second half of the season.

 

[vancelot23]

Have you seen what happens to teams who rest their starters in the last game as a general rule? They get out of rhythm and lose. Play 'em, for better or worse. I hate when teams sit their guys.

 

[vancelot23]

I say play them hard, try to get the kinks worked out on offense and go into the playoffs with a head of steam and going 7-1 in the second half of the season.

This is absolutely a valid point. This offense needs to get some things working before the playoffs. They've been terrible for the past few games, and can't afford to just take a week off.

 

[futballiscool]

If winning means they have a better chance of avoiding Denver/NE/Hou in the first rd, then I'd go all out for the win...

otherwise I'd just rest the important starters (Dalton, Atkins, Green, Whitworth etc)

 

[DanBengalfan]

It's the playoffs, the only way to avoid playing a good team is to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

But yea, I think there is something to what Vance says about getting out of rhythm, our offense has scored very little since the second half of the Cowboys game. although, I would work in the second string when it seems possible to do so, in order to alleviate injuries.

 

[UDFlyers90]

Hey footballiscul, like the avatar. Cool Aussie band. Caught some of their set at Lolla last summer. If I'm not mistaken they are coming to Cincinnati in the next few months.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

No. As a whole, play them. Particularly on offense. I don't think the Bengals have played well enough to afford themselves the rest. They need the work and you cannot win anything when you manage by fear.

That being said there are some guys with nothing left to prove. Atkins comes to mind. I'd rotate him in but let Thompson/Still/Sims handle the vast majority of snaps. Hall, too. I'd give Kirkpatrick and Jason Allen some PT.

As far as the offense goes I wouldn't rest anyone. As a unit they are not where they need to be.

I agree!!! Play em!!

 

[cravnravn]

Dam shame, Bengals finally hit a sellout, it will be televised locally, and the game essentially means zilch..8.50 for a beer, to watch minor league football.

 

[jgreene95]

I say play to win. You can't be the best if you don't beat the best. The Bengals tried that crap with the Jets. How'd that work out?

If they would have beat a couple more teams when they should have,then they deserved rest. Keep the hammer going.

 

[kramer1]

Lots of results oriented thinkers here. You people are funny. There's absolutely no reason to play any of the starters. Nothing but bad can come from it.

And just because the Bengals rested their starters before and lost in the first round doesn't mean that if they do it again they'll get the same result. One has nothing to do with another. Good grief.

 

[UDFlyers90]

I think I'm in the camp that they play it essentially like the third preseason game. Starters play a half to stay sharp, but come out in second half to avoid injury. Kramer is right that a second injury to Green or Adkins in a meaningless game would be beyond ridiculous. I think the team is so different from 2009 and last year even that there is of risk of the team coming out flat in the playoffs. Unfortunately, I still think we get smoked in New England.