Browns lose... Steelers win the AFC North

by cgolden on Dec 23, 2007 6:36 PM EST in News

With the Steelers win on Thursday and the Browns loss on Sunday, Pittsburgh has secured the North and the #4 seed in the playoffs. Now the Browns are in a fight with Tennessee to see who ends up with the 6th seed and who gets to go to Pittsburgh and play in the slop.

Now the question is how much should certain starters play, guys like Holmes, Big Ben, Troy, Ike and any other guys who are absolutely without question 100%? What do you guys think and who would you rather play in the first round?

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Rest

I know this comes up every year, but we have a good reason to rest these guys. Ben is banged up, Davenport needs to be protected, Troy could use two weeks, and Marvel will have more time to rest his back. In addition the Ravens would like nothing better than to put a hurtin' on some of our key guys going into the playoffs. Looks like Jacksonville is coming to town again. We all know how physical that game will be. I would much rather play the Browns or the Titans. All in all it is great to be The AFC North Champs. Let's get a run!

by Jack58 on Dec 23, 2007 6:48 PM EST reply actions

batch

I want to see Batch play the game against the ravens - rest big ben up!!!

by acrollet on Dec 23, 2007 7:27 PM EST reply actions

The answer: It depends

I think it will depend, at least partly, on the outcome of the Chargers game tonight.

I, for one, would much rather play against anyone who isn't Jacksonville in the first round, especially since that anyone-but-Jacksonville is likely to be Cleveland. Since Jax is likely to lock up the fifth seed (if they haven't already), if we can take the third seed by having the starters play next week, then we should probably go for it. After watching the Ravens for the last two weeks, it's likely the starters will only need to play for the first half anyway.

Has anyone gone through the seeding scenarios yet? (I could do it myself, but laziness seems to be taking over.)

by HinesField on Dec 23, 2007 8:11 PM EST reply actions

Ok, I'm an idiot.

It was apparently enumerated in the post right below this one.

If the Chargers win tonight, I figure you'd have to sit people and take the #4 spot. It seems absurd to rely on the Raiders beating anyone. If they lose tonight and a Steelers win next week gives us #3, then playing the starters--at least for part of the game--is probably worth it.

Am I just too scared of Jacksonville (given what they did to us both this year and last)? From what I've seen this year, I think Pittsburgh has a better matchup against Indy (or possibly even New England) than against Jax.

by HinesField on Dec 23, 2007 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

ok, I agree

It would be much nicer to go (cle or ten) -> indy -> ne than jax -> ne - so, if the broncos did win tomorrow, it's worth playing to win against the ravens...

by acrollet on Dec 24, 2007 12:17 AM EST up reply actions

Top 7 reasons to Play Full Tilt on Sunday

1)Steelers can still attain #3 seed with a win plus help(ie,the game is important).
2)Rat-Birds-I haaaaates the Rat-Birds!!!(Yosemite Sam voice).
3)in the legendary words of Herm "HOIM" Edwards:
"You PLAY to WIN THE GAME...HELLO?!"
4)Momentum.In 2k5,Steelers had "maximum momentum"(Colts,for one,did not,after resting and coasting into playoffs)..
5)11-5 sounds better than 10-6
6)Chance for a perfect(6-0)divisional record.
7)"DEFENCE...I play DEFENCE." We want another Ray-Ray quote!

by steelerambassador on Dec 24, 2007 2:40 PM EST reply actions

Reasons to rest key starters vs Ravens

Health for playoffs is obviously more important especially if the first playoff game turns out to be on Saturday.
With the Chargers win on MNF, likelihood of getting the #3 seed is now pretty low. No way the Raiders beat SD on Sunday.
We can beat these sorry-ass, banged-up Ravens even without some key starters (Ben, Troy, Faneca, Hines). Because we really don't have much to play for, there's not much the Ravens can spoil, i.e., not much reason for them to be motivated. McGahee is out. Boller and R.Lewis may be out too.
Momentum can be an issue if you are going to coast for several weeks like the Colts did in '05 - one week shouldn't be an issue.

by santhome on Dec 24, 2007 11:53 PM EST reply actions