Should Andy rest the starters Christmas Day?
 

Hear me out. They only need to win 2 of 3 regardless of what the Bills do. So with a win next week, why not rest the starters Xmas day, the 3rd game in 11 days, and give them 11 days of rest for the Broncos? Then get a week off before the Divisional.

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You can’t take anything for granted.

The starters play until the 1 seed is solidified. That’s what Andy will do.

No. Get the job done in these next two games then give them three weeks off hopefully.

It would be a nice middle finger to the NFL, but no.

No because winning at Denver is not exactly a sure thing.

Neither is resting your starters against them, lose one of the next two (a decent chance imo) So why not get the guaranteed rest?

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Yes. Beat Houston but sit against Pitt. Beat Denver and 1 seed is ours.

I would say 3 weeks off will really screw up the offense's flow, but......

Should Andy rest the starters Christmas Day?
 

No. And obviously Reid would never do it.

If the 1 seed is wrapped up I don’t think Clark would intervene if Andy thought it best to go ahead and start testing starters. But if that 1 seed is still open, Clark wouldn’t allow the idiotic and greedy Christmas Day streaming game to take that hit.

Beating Denver in Denver is not a sure thing.

Hell, the opening line will probably be even.

Yes, Andy should rest them

No but the NFL shouldn't make them play on Christmas day.

Keep chucking it deep until it works

denver might be resting starters that game

They've rested for three weeks before.

The scenario is on the table now where the Steelers rest starters. The one, two and three seeds are locked. I think?

I don’t mind stealing the NBA’s thunder but a ****ing Wednesday on three days rest! **** you NFL.

No, why would he do that? A win next week does not guarantee us a 1 seed. Buffalo has an easy schedule left with two games against NE and the Jets. If Buffalo sweeps the rest of their schedule, and KC drops their last 2 to Pitt and Denver, Buffalo gets the 1 seed.

If Christmas is on a Sunday/Monday/Thursday then I guess go ahead and play... but moving them up to have a game on extra short rest on a holiday where the entire world shuts down is bullshit.

Absolutely not. Beat the Texans and the Steelers. If the Ravens beat the Steelers then us beating them on Christmas day would probably give the Ravens the 3 seed and we get to avoid both the Ravens and Buffalo until the AFCCG at Arrowhead.

I wouldn’t play Mahomes next week. Everything else full go

If the Steelers beat the Ravens that is. The Steelers aren't division champions yet.

I agree.

Hell no we need to get the 1 seed.

The Chiefs already took last Christmas off against the Raiders. As punishment they aren't allowed to have Christmas off this year.

I would be amused if Cincy sneaks in and is Buffalo's first playoff opponent. LMAO

Yes. Would that lock in seeding?

Steelers are still playing for their Division.

The Broncos are probably a harder opponent for us than the Steelers. But anyways we wouldn’t have to worry about this because no coach is dumb enough to pass up a chance (two chances really) at locking in the one seed.

Correct. Therefore, scenario.

If they win, is their seeding locked?

And winning next week and against Denver does that?

I think you get far greater benefits getting 14 days off, playing Denver, then getting 14 days off, than playing 3 games in 11 days, possibly getting the bye vs pitt and resting starters for 20 or 21 days or losing vs Pitt and having to play the starters in the last week after playing 3 games in 11 days.

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If the Lions didn't shit themselves at home, we could beat Houston and rest starters either of the next two games.

Looks like the Broncos will be their undoing.

https://x.com/cincyplzwin/status/186...lslB7sz492FbAw

Should Andy rest the starters Christmas Day?
 

They can still get the two seed outright. Not sure what the tiebreaker would be with the Bills as they are both currently 7-2 in the conference.

This! No way we rest the starters against the Steelers. Thats sooo against what Andy normally does.

Yes, we beat the Texans and Steelers, we have HFA no matter what happens with other teams.

Also winning next week and against Denver does that also even if the Bills win out.

What if this happens?

Chiefs beat Texans. Rest starters against the Steelers, and the Steelers play like shit. The back ups lose a close one that the starters would’ve won.

Then, the Broncos play out of their minds and beat the Chiefs in Week 18.

Chiefs then end up with the 2 seed and all that lost momentum to go play the Broncos or Ravens.

Yeah, **** that.

Win the next 2 and you get a 3 week rest

Other than Mahomes if he's still injured, no, he will play them.

Patrick going for GOAT career stats he ain’t sitting

It potentially puts the one seed on the line in DEN.

NO!

Denver will likely have nothing to play for in the final week. Sure, their coach is a dirty bitch who would love to beat us, but he is smart enough and has enough playoff experience that he'll probably rest key starters in that game. And seriously, where would Payton rather see his team play in a potential AFCCG at the end of January - Kansas City or Buffalo? Let's face it - nobody wants to play in that frozen pit of hell except the Bills, and seriously, they probably don't like all that much, either.

Mahomes is going to need some actual game reps with Brown and whatever OL combination they choose to put out, whether that's Humphries/Thuney or Thuney/Caliendo.

The health of his ankle is more important than game reps

I agree, that would suck big time but you dont play scared, you play to win the game. We have to win 2/3 to get HFA. Which teams would you chose to play those two games? I'll take Tesans at home and the Broncos on the road.

But, its a moot point. No way Reid doesnt play the starters at Pitt.

This is the way I see it. Pat is both frazzled and hurt. REST HIM AGAINST HOUSTON. Period. Give him a week and a half to heal up and get his head on straight. Then start him against Pittsburgh and, if necessary, Denver.

Neat. He'll be playing next Sunday and Wednesday.

Pat determines if he plays or doesn’t

No, Chiefs clinched the two seed at a minimum today.

We need to determine if the Steelers lock in seeding with a win against the Ravens.

If they do, they might rest starters on the 25th.

Should Andy rest the starters Christmas Day?
 

No. That’s what I’m responding to. If they are 11-4 and the Bills are 12-3, the Steelers aren’t locked in to anything. As I said, they can outright pass the Bills or tie them, in which case you would have to look up who wins that tie breaker given they would both be 8-2 in the conference after next week’s games.

Well, that's not happening then.

Well, he shouldn't.

Pat doesn't determine if he plays
Andy does.

What will enhance his GOAT career stats is a three-peat and his fourth SB MVP. Not gonna happen if he plays when he’s injured risking further injury. Wentz is good enough to get this team past Houston or Pittsburgh. He’s probably the best backup QB this team has in the Mahomes era.

I don’t think he’s good enough to lead KC to a SB win. This is why they need Mahomes as healthy as he can be starting, especially considering the the issues with the Oline.

Not to be a stickler for maybe long shot details but....

We lose all 3 and the Steelers win out, they are the #2 seed.

Jets are playing better, maybe they can pull off an upset against Buffalo… because the Faketriots sure as hell are not.

What a gift for Buffalo to get the Faketriots twice in their last three games.

Is he? We've been squeaking wins all season against non-playoff teams with Mahomes at QB. What makes you think they still beat two playoff opponents with Wentz?

Considering they also have 3 games in 10 days, I could see Tomlin doing that.

I don't think Houston is any good, Wentz can probably win that one.

Would be less confident against Pittsburgh.

Bills winning ended this as a possibility. They need to win 2 more games before resting. Everyone got hung up on their fantasies of 3 weeks of rest too early.

Unfortunately that game isn’t this week. By the time of the Bills playing the Jets we might (hopefully) have the one seed locked up as we have two games before that one so it’s possible it doesn’t matter to us. But should we drop one it sure would be nice to lock up the one seed on a weekend we don’t play.

Yes. Mahomes is beaten and worn down physically and mentally. Wentz brings in fresh legs.

Keep the load management to peter north

Mahomes is definitely not sitting out at this point in the season.

Andy should treat it like Game 7 of the World Series. Have Mahomes come in to finish the game against the Texans if needed.

If it was a playoff game, he'd be playing. Saturday isn't.

Rest him and win with Wentz.

Agreed.

Wentz and our running game and our D can win this one.

Mahomes needs the rest before the Christmas Day game. That’s gonna be the game to clinch the one seed.

That wont happen in a million years...besides...Steelers play the Ravens 4 days earlier. That will be a playoff type game for them...you only rest players when you have already have things buttoned up.

CP fantasies

Pat, we’re sitting you for the well being of the realm

Pat: Yes mah lord

Houston is an interesting game...they already have the AFC South/fourth seed secured.

Strategically, much do they show against the Chiefs this late in the year? There is a good chance they will see KC in the Divisional.

Andy better bring Tawb with him when he tells Mahomes he’s not playing

Thing is I'm not sure Broncos will be favored in any of those unless we are resting starters (which would be hilarious). If Pittsburgh is resting I see the Bengals winning out. I could see the Colts or Dolphins winning out with those schedules though.

Have Wentz start this Saturday and win vs. Houston, and then have Mahomes start vs. Pitt on Christmas. Win both games, rest starters vs. Denver scum with the 1 seed clinched.

How torturous would it be for Bills fans if they needed us to lose against the Broncos in order to keep them from facing the Bengals in round one. They definitely don’t want that game.

You really think and or believe that Mahomes will allow himself to be benched just so he can start the next week.

The Broncos next 2 are at LAC and at CIN. I can see them dropping both and needing to win that final game.

The way I see it (and I could be wrong here) is, if KC beat Houston and Pittsburgh lose to Baltimore, the Chiefs are guaranteed to go no lower than #2 at that point, because all other teams (outside of BUF) have 5 or more losses.

Agreed with others about game in Denver isn't guaranteed. I would also consider the Pittsburgh game the same, given they are 5-1 at home.

Either way, first order of business is having to beat Houston.

I'd much rather deal with the Donx than the Chargers in the playoffs. That Charger defense is nasty.

What's funny is, LAC is 4-3 at home but both teams do have a lot to play for in terms of seeding.

But the Bengals are 1-5 at home, which is kind of crazy.