[RedZone]

Two questions:

1. Do playoff-clinching teams detract from the quality – even the integrity – of the competition by easing up and/or resting their starters?

2. If the answer to the first question is yes, is corrective action in order (that is, a disincentive for slacking, or an incentive to play to win)?

I'd answer yes to the first but no to the second. Here's why....

When the Giants decided to play all out against the Patriots at the end of the season (and I'll admit that the Giants were probably given stern warnings from the league that they'd better "show up to play" in primetime on the NFL Network) it propelled them into a hot streak that carried them through to their Super Bowl win.

Common sense should dictate that with only 16 regular season games, you have to play each one like single elimination. Unfortunately, the prevailing wisdom is clinch, then rest up and stay (or get) healthy.

Obviously, I don't agree with the "mail it in" mentality. Arguably, it cost Tampa, Dallas and Indianapolis this year. So ... let the chips fall where they may.