Should the Steelers sit Ben vs the Bengals?

[Six Rings]

Hear me out. We are in the playoffs. If Ben's arm is weak, possibly from playing 3 games in 12 days, would it make sense to rest him vs a very bad Bengals team and have him fresh for the playoffs?

I don't think Tomlin has the vision or courage to do it, but maybe he should. We are NOT going to win a playoff game with Ben having a tried arm. If a weeks rest would fix his inability to go down field, Tomlin should do it.

[Shoes]

Hear me out. We are in the playoffs. If Ben's arm is weak, possibly from playing 3 games in 12 days, would it make sense to rest him vs a very bad Bengals team and have him fresh for the playoffs?

I don't think Tomlin has the vision or courage to do it, but maybe he should. We are NOT going to win a playoff game with Ben having a tried arm. If a weeks rest would fix his inability to go down field, Tomlin should do it.

Tomlin won't do it. Ben said his knee and arm are fine.

[Moose]

I understand your thinking, BUT let's not be foolish enough to think this game is gonna be a 'gimme'. I know the bungholes record is a losing record, but let's remember how the Steeler's play against bottom feeders. You know the bungholes are going to come at us with all kinds of crap and try to hurt us. And the Steeler's have been known to make unknown QBs look like HOF material. Hope it is a blow out like some of you are thinking, hope the Steeler's win by 3 TDs like they should, but I have a feeling I'll be sitting on the end of my seat drinking and popping pills.

[86WARD]

No

[DesertSteel]

Absolutely not! Ben gets his veteran days off. He needs to get back in a rhythm. If there's nothing to be gained in week 17, I'm for resting him against the Browns. But not as long as the #1 seed is still available.

[CV1]

No...

Unfortunately Ben is playing out the season, especially if the Bills and Chiefs poop a game.

We have a small cushion for #2 (not a given yet) and a long shot at #1

As we are playing now, we very well could end up the 4th or 5th seed.

Win at the Bungholes division is ours and locks the 4th... then if you want to rest Ben you can for the next two...

Either way, we want to maintain the #2 for the possible two home games, although that is look way far ahead.

In the end... it’s Win and accept the 4th... or chance more injuries and COVID for maybe holding the 2... with a Bengals win that is.


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[Dissolv]

No. He can do it or he can't. Resting him for a potentially critical game isn't something you can count on to help him to be more able to perform in the next set of games. It is a nice thought, but the time to think about resting is when the outcome of the game becomes meaningless. We are not remotely there.

[DesertSteel]

A. It’s not unrealistic that the Saints beat the Chiefs Sunday.
B. It’s not unrealistic for a Steelers team that won 11 in a row to win 3 in a row.

A + B = #1 seed

[tube517]

A. It’s not unrealistic that the Saints beat the Chiefs Sunday.
B. It’s not unrealistic for a Steelers team that won 11 in a row to win 3 in a row.

A + B = #1 seed

Chiefs need to lose 2 more for the Steelers to have a shot at #1 seed. Chiefs have the tiebreaker

[Dwinsgames]

Chiefs need to lose 2 more for the Steelers to have a shot at #1 seed. Chiefs have the tiebreaker


do they ? when we both had 1 loss we had the #1 seed

we have 2 losses 1 conference 1 non conference

if they lose to Saints

they would have 2 losses 1 non conference and 1 conference that is within their division ...

I think at that point we have the #1 I could be wrong

[86WARD]

do they ? when we both had 1 loss we had the #1 seed

we have 2 losses 1 conference 1 non conference

if they lose to Saints

they would have 2 losses 1 non conference and 1 conference that is within their division ...

I think at that point we have the #1 I could be wrong

Common games is the next tie breaker. Buffalo: Chiefs won, Steelers lost. Chiefs would apparently have to lose two more games now. Not sure that they would tie on the Broncos tie breaker either since the Chiefs beat the Broncos twice to the Steelers one time? Texans game is a wash so the Bills it is...

[86WARD]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201218/da11c9b2c06749e3e86986a0e02f63b2.jpg

[Fire Goodell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5-iJUuPWis

[Mojouw]

Common games is the next tie breaker. Buffalo: Chiefs won, Steelers lost. Chiefs would apparently have to lose two more games now.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

This is saying that KC needs to lose 3 games total (so 2 more) for the Steelers to take the #1 seed

[DesertSteel]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

This is saying that KC needs to lose 3 games total (so 2 more) for the Steelers to take the #1 seed
I didn’t realize the Steelers had lost the tie breaker. They definitely should rest against the Browns.

[86WARD]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

This is saying that KC needs to lose 3 games total (so 2 more) for the Steelers to take the #1 seed

Correct. The Steelers need to win out and the Chiefs need to lose to Saints and Falcons or Chargers...which could be possible. All three of those teams could surprise...our luck, the Saints will win and then the Falcons will be leading 35-3 and blow it...lol.

Edit: or would you rather see KC just secure the one seed and then have your “old fashioned” Andy Reid Playoff Collapse? You know...for old time sake?!?

[teegre]

do they ? when we both had 1 loss we had the #1 seed

we have 2 losses 1 conference 1 non conference

if they lose to Saints

they would have 2 losses 1 non conference and 1 conference that is within their division ...

I think at that point we have the #1 I could be wrong

You are correct.

It all depends on to whom the Chiefs lose. If the Chiefs lose to the Bolts, and the Steelers win out, we’d be the #1 seed (even though we’d both be 14-2). Why? The Chiefs would have lost to two AFC teams (while one of our losses was to an NFC team).

The tie-breaker breakdown listed above of for the division.

For the conference, it’s the AFC win-loss record.

[tube517]

do they ? when we both had 1 loss we had the #1 seed

we have 2 losses 1 conference 1 non conference

if they lose to Saints

they would have 2 losses 1 non conference and 1 conference that is within their division ...

I think at that point we have the #1 I could be wrong

You and Teegre are correct. I read the division tie breaker. So, Steelers win out and the Chiefs lose to the Chargers would be the only way to get home field.

[Istina]

Hear me out. We are in the playoffs. If Ben's arm is weak, possibly from playing 3 games in 12 days, would it make sense to rest him vs a very bad Bengals team and have him fresh for the playoffs?

I don't think Tomlin has the vision or courage to do it, but maybe he should. We are NOT going to win a playoff game with Ben having a tried arm. If a weeks rest would fix his inability to go down field, Tomlin should do it.

I would play him this week and hopefully, win the game and wrap up the division. Then for the final 2 games give him about a quarter of action to keep him sharp and then let Rudolph and/or Dobbs play the final 3 quarters. Treat the final 2 games like pre-season for the starters that can use the rest but also get some work in.

Istina

[pczach]

Here's a good breakdown of the current AFC playoff implications by team.

https://triblive.com/sports/division-titles-playoff-seeds-at-stake-for-steelers-other-afc-contenders/

[EzraTank]

Here's a good breakdown of the current AFC playoff implications by team.

https://triblive.com/sports/division-titles-playoff-seeds-at-stake-for-steelers-other-afc-contenders/

Barring a miracle #2 should be our goal but that may be tough as well thanks to the egg we laid last week. Buffalo has Miami and New England still but we need them to drop at least one game and we have to go 2-1.

[86WARD]

Barring a miracle #2 should be our goal but that may be tough as well thanks to the egg we laid last week. Buffalo has Miami and New England still but we need them to drop at least one game and we have to go 2-1.

Both the Dolphins and Patriots (maybe even Broncos today) can play the Bills tough. I could see them dropping one of those games.

If the Steelers figure out the offense and get back on track, they’ll have a chance at #2.

[katmandu]

Hope it is a blow out like some of you are thinking, hope the Steeler's win by 3 TDs like they should, but I have a feeling I'll be sitting on the end of my seat drinking and popping pills.ROGLMFAO !!!

I thought I was the only one doing that ! LOL !!

Whoelse screams, yells and throws foam bricks at the TV ? Lol !

[teegre]

If the Steelers get a significant lead, they should burn as much clock by having Rudolph hand the ball off as much as possible. I’d also rest TJ, Cam, and Stephon.

[bendsteel]

If I am not mistaken, should Cleveland lose to the Giants, we have the AFC North clinched on Sunday night before we even play Monday night. That could influence who plays and how much. I might be wrong, but do not think so.

[pczach]

If I am not mistaken, should Cleveland lose to the Giants, we have the AFC North clinched on Sunday night before we even play Monday night. That could influence who plays and how much. I might be wrong, but do not think so.



You are correct. Any win by the Steelers or any loss by the Browns clinches the division.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2020/12/15/22176207/playoff-scenario-what-it-takes-for-the-steelers-to-clinch-the-division-and-more-browns-week-15


This link explains every clinching scenario in every playoff scenario for the Steelers.

[HollywoodSteel]

I really don’t understand why people are saying that the Chiefs need to lose to the Chargers specifically.

It says the next tie breaker is division games. The Chiefs already lost a division game and we haven’t. So if we win out and they lose to anyone shouldn’t that give us the 1 seed?

[teegre]

I really don’t understand why people are saying that the Chiefs need to lose to the Chargers specifically.

It says the next tie breaker is division games. The Chiefs already lost a division game and we haven’t. So if we win out and they lose to anyone shouldn’t that give us the 1 seed?

You’re looking at the divisional tie-breakers.

You need to be looking at the conference tie-breakers.

[86WARD]

I really don’t understand why people are saying that the Chiefs need to lose to the Chargers specifically.

It says the next tie breaker is division games. The Chiefs already lost a division game and we haven’t. So if we win out and they lose to anyone shouldn’t that give us the 1 seed?

They aren’t in the same division.

[steel striker]

No Ben needs to play and, let rest if they are up by three TD's.

[HollywoodSteel]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201218/da11c9b2c06749e3e86986a0e02f63b2.jpg

I’m just going by the order 86Ward posted.

I assumed it was the seeding tie breaker for the playoffs, not just teams within the same division.

[86WARD]

I’m just going by the order 86Ward posted.

I assumed it was the seeding tie breaker for the playoffs, not just teams within the same division.

It’s “if the teams are in the same division”. If not, it goes to the next tie breaker.

[HollywoodSteel]

It’s “if the teams are in the same division”. If not, it goes to the next tie breaker.

Okay, it doesn’t say that on this chart, but I believe you.

So does that mean the Chiefs need to lose two games in order to lose the top seed? Because on this chart common opponents is above conference record.

[HollywoodSteel]

Teegre said that there is a different tie breaker chart for teams that are not in the same division but in the same conference, in which conference wins are prioritized above common opponents. Is that correct? Or am I misunderstanding.

[HollywoodSteel]

Okay, it does seem like Teegre is correct. There’s a completely different tie breaker list for teams in different divisions. And conference record is above common opponents.

https://www.nfl.com/standings/tie-breaking-procedures

[DesertSteel]

It just registered with me that if we have nothing to gain in week 17 and we rest Ben and key starters, that would have Mason Rudolph starting in Cleveland. Hmmm...

[HollywoodSteel]

It just registered with me that if we have nothing to gain in week 17 and we rest Ben and key starters, that would have Mason Rudolph starting in Cleveland. Hmmm...

They should have Rudolph taunt Myles Garrett into a fight so he’s suspended for the playoffs.

[86WARD]

Maybe Ben should have sat...lol.