How Can The NFL Have More Meaningful Games

[MTK]

Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.

I agree 100% with Matty and how great would it be if the Jets ended up knocking the Colts out of the playoffs?

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Honestly I think all of the complaining about teams resting starters is so silly. If you start off 13-0 and have everything locked up, you've earned the right to sit your guys and rest them for the games that really count.

I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.

My problem with the competitive balance argument is this...

People get all up in arms over a team that has home field wrapped up and nothing to play for. But how about a team that is 6-8 with 2 games to go and they've been eliminated from the playoffs. While they may be playing their starters realistically that team has checked out and is just going through the motions. Do you gig that team just as you would for gigging the 14-0 team that is resting their guys? One team is playing their starters, one isn't, same results. A team that isn't going all out to win a game.

In the end I believe it all comes out in the wash. The good teams make the playoffs, the bad ones don't, and the ones on the fence really only have themselves to blame.

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

My problem with the competitive balance argument is this...

People get all up in arms over a team that has home field wrapped up and nothing to play for. But how about a team that is 6-8 with 2 games to go and they've been eliminated from the playoffs. While they may be playing their starters realistically that team has checked out and is just going through the motions. Do you gig that team just as you would for gigging the 14-0 team that is resting their guys? One team is playing their starters, one isn't, same results. A team that isn't going all out to win a game.

In the end I believe it all comes out in the wash. The good teams make the playoffs, the bad ones don't, and the ones on the fence really only have themselves to blame.

except when we lose to the chargers second and thrid teir guys

i like the league the way it is right now, , the one thing they could do is charge less for the preseason as a season ticket holder i think it is a big effing joke to pay full price for a terrible preseason game, i couldn't even give them away this year

and as far as taking it overseas and into different countires f that, i would be pissed if the skins lost a home game so they could play in englan witha bunch on fguys who don't really give a rat ass about the teams playing watching

if it ain't broke don't fix it

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.

Maybe the Steelers should have helped themself and not relied on another team to get them into the playoffs. Its their fault for loosing 5 games in a row.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Maybe the Steelers should have helped themself and not relied on another team to get them into the playoffs. Its their fault for loosing 5 games in a row.

Yeah, I completely get that and you're right. I just don't like to see a team like the Jets get into the playoffs when they didn't really "earn it". At the end of the day though, you're right, if you take care of business in October and November it makes December moot.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Yeah, I completely get that and you're right. I just don't like to see a team like the Jets get into the playoffs when they didn't really "earn it". At the end of the day though, you're right, if you take care of business in October and November it makes December moot.

The Jets are in so they earned it in my mind.

Only 12 of 32 teams make the playoffs, it's not an easy thing to do so I don't buy this stuff about teams "backing in" or not "earning it". It's a long grind of a season, teams have plenty of chances to prove their worth. Who else deserved to get in over the Jets?

[WaldSkins]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I don't think you'd find many Steelers or Texans fans who would agree with you. The Jets got 2 pre-season games in December to get into the playoffs. It screws with the competitive balance of the league IMO. I would like to see the NFL do something to address this but realistically there's no way to force a team to play their starters.

The Steelers also had a 5 game losing streak that included loses to the Browns,Chiefs, and Raiders so i don't wanna here anything from Lamar Woodley about teams having it in for them.