Recent History of Resting Starters: 2002-2006

[percyhoward]

These are all the teams since 2002 who had nothing to play for in week 17 (they had clinched a first round bye, and the site of the championship game was already determined). The information given is how much of the game each team's starting QB played.

2002 n/a
2003 n/a
2004 Phi: DNP (lost SB)
2004 NE: first 3 qtrs (won SB)
2004 Pit: DNP (lost AFCC)
2005 Sea: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2005 Den: whole 1st half (lost AFCC)
2005 Ind: one series of 1st qtr (lost in 1st round)
2006 Chi: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2007 Dal: ???
2007 GB: ???
2007 NE: ???
2007 Ind: ???

 

[TheHerd]

But we're really only talking about completely resting injured starters, so that should be a different category.

 

[percyhoward]

But we're really only talking about completely resting injured starters, so that should be a different category.

This is more about who's played and how long, assuming they were healthy in the first place, since resting injured starters is kind of a no-brainer anyway.

Three teams decided to rest their starting QB completely, or play him only one series. Philly and Pitt in 2004, and Indy in 2005. Two of the three struggled in their first playoff game, with Indy losing, and the Steelers being taken into OT at home against an inferior Jets team.

Four other teams that played their starter for at least a half, all won their next playoff game.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

From what Wade said today, I think Romo will play at least a decent amount. He talked at the very end about how he *did* want to get Glenn working with Romo in the game and not just in practice.

Thanks for the research, Percy.

 

[Cowboys&Caps]

i say.......

anyone who is dinged up at all seriously like Newman, TO, Canty,Maybe Henry, Gurode, Maybe Crayton, Maybe Davis, Maybe Colombo, should be out (If any Offensive lineman is out so is Romo btw, that would be dumb) and anyone who has been playing 65-75 percent of the snaps the last 4 games sits after 1.5 to 2 quarters or playing time.

 

[TheHerd]

This is more about who's played and how long, assuming they were healthy in the first place, since resting injured starters is kind of a no-brainer anyway.

Three teams decided to rest their starting QB completely, or play him only one series. Philly and Pitt in 2004, and Indy in 2005. Two of the three struggled in their first playoff game, with Indy losing, and the Steelers being taken into OT at home against an inferior Jets team.

Four other teams that played their starter for at least a half, all won their next playoff game.

But Romo IS hurt, so I can't see playing him much. The only legitimate reason to have Romo play is to work with Glenn at game speed.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

But Romo IS hurt, so I can't see playing him much. The only legitimate reason to have Romo play is to work with Glenn at game speed.

Just for the record, I can't remember who said it today on the radio, but they said Romo's thumb was almost 100% now. It hurt him at the first of the last game, but he never got it hit and it's gotten better ever since.

 

[03EBZ06]

But Romo IS hurt, so I can't see playing him much.

He isn't that hurt. He even stated that if it was up to him, he'd like to play the entire game.

 

[TheHerd]

He isn't that hurt. He even stated that if it was up to him, he'd like to play the entire game.

Romo is a gamer and would never admit an injury or use it as an excuse. But watching some of those throws last weekend, if he's not hurt we're screwed.

 

[03EBZ06]

Romo is a gamer and would never admit an injury or use it as an excuse. But watching some of those throws last weekend, if he's not hurt we're screwed.

Well last weekend he was hurting but I believe he is feeling much better this week and I venture to say he is feeling pretty good.

 

[TheHerd]

Well last weekend he was hurting but I believe he is feeling much better this week and I venture to say he is feeling pretty good.

I hope you're right, but a sprained thumb can be tough. It can feel fine, the every time it gets hit you go right back to where it was.

 

[tyke1doe]

These are all the teams since 2002 who had nothing to play for in week 17 (they had clinched a first round bye, and the site of the championship game was already determined). The information given is how much of the game each team's starting QB played.

2002 n/a
2003 n/a
2004 Phi: DNP (lost SB)
2004 NE: first 3 qtrs (won SB)
2004 Pit: DNP (lost AFCC)
2005 Sea: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2005 Den: whole 1st half (lost AFCC)
2005 Ind: one series of 1st qtr (lost in 1st round)
2006 Chi: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2007 Dal: ???
2007 GB: ???
2007 NE: ???
2007 Ind: ???

Why did you leave Indy out last year or Seattle in 2005?
I don't think their starters played the whole game their last game either.

 

[percyhoward]

Wade said today Romo was 100%, which means he should play at least a half, if recent history means anything.

 

[percyhoward]

Why did you leave Indy out last year or Seattle in 2005?
I don't think their starters played the whole game their last game either.

Seattle in 2005 is there, Indy was the 3rd seed last year so they didn't have a bye.

 

[03EBZ06]

I hope you're right, but a sprained thumb can be tough. It can feel fine, the every time it gets hit you go right back to where it was.

All he had was contusion (bruise), not a sprain.

 

[Boysboy]

2004 Phi: DNP (lost SB)

Looked VERY sharp in their 2 home playoff games sans Owens, that is.

2004 Pit: DNP (lost AFCC)

Were TWO Doug Brian missed FGs away from going one and out, largely b/c Big Ben had a sprained thumb, so this argument how their starters didn't play in the season finale is moot.

2005 Sea: whole 1st half (lost SB)

The Refs ROBBED them of that SB.

2005 Den: whole 1st half (lost AFCC)

Jake "The Fake" FINALLY came out of the closet.

2005 Ind: one series of 1st qtr (lost in 1st round)

They had poor timing with the death of Dungy's son, which seemed to take a whiff out of that team.

2006 Chi: whole 1st half (lost SB)

Even Rex somehow had 2 impressive playoff games.

 

[tyke1doe]

Seattle in 2005 is there, Indy was the 3rd seed last year so they didn't have a bye.

My bad.

 

[Paniolo22]

These are all the teams since 2002 who had nothing to play for in week 17 (they had clinched a first round bye, and the site of the championship game was already determined). The information given is how much of the game each team's starting QB played.

2002 n/a
2003 n/a
2004 Phi: DNP (lost SB)
2004 NE: first 3 qtrs (won SB)
2004 Pit: DNP (lost AFCC)
2005 Sea: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2005 Den: whole 1st half (lost AFCC)
2005 Ind: one series of 1st qtr (lost in 1st round)
2006 Chi: whole 1st half (lost SB)
2007 Dal: ???
2007 GB: ???
2007 NE: ???
2007 Ind: ???

The bye week has no relevence on Conference Championship games or Super Bowls, so these stats are misleading. Only one team failed to reach the CC Game, so after that, it is in the players hands. If Indy never failed that year, no one would ever question resting their starters.

 

[percyhoward]

Eagles looked VERY sharp in their 2 home playoff games sans Owens, that is.

The Refs ROBBED Seattle of that SB.

It looks like you thought I was trying to say the starters should all play 3 quarters (or the whole game) because of how each team later ended its season. I wasn't. I think the two "extremes" are either playing your starters the whole 1st half, or not playing them at all. (I'm not counting what NE does, because they're rogues after all.)

The Eagles did look sharp that year, without playing their starters at all in the last game. But like you said, Seattle looked just as good the next year by doing the opposite. In fact, and FWIW, all the teams who've played it the way Seattle did in their last regular season game (play the starters for one half) won their first playoff game.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Well last weekend he was hurting but I believe he is feeling much better this week and I venture to say he is feeling pretty good.

Wouldn't you if Jessica was *nursing* your thumb?