The Tennessee Titans have already clinched the first seed in the AFC North, earning home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the number two seed, also earning the first round bye. Last week the Steelers and the Titans played each other, fighting for the number one spot. All players who weren't injured played in the game, but now that the seeds are decided why risk injury right before the all important playoffs?
Players signed up for the entire NFL season, 16 games over 17 weeks. Players earn big bucks — millions of dollars — to play all the games. So, is it the integrity of the game to play each and every game? Some do believe so. Last year, the Patriots were going for their "perfect season." They did get their perfect regular season, but they had to play their players for all the regular season. The New York Giants, who played them in the last game, wanted to take away their perfect season and also played all their players. Three Giants got hurt.
Was it worth it for the Giants to lose three players in the final regular season game to destroy the Patriots' perfect season? Did it hurt them in the playoffs? Well, no. They won the Super Bowl. The players did start in the Super Bowl.
The New York Daily News reported that head coach Tom Coughlin said, "I disagree with the idea that you have nothing to gain. ... There's a lot to be gained. If you believe, as we do, you have to be playing your best football at this time of year, you certainly do have some things to build on." Coughlin stopped short of making anything official. "I'm taking all that into consideration and I'm not going to answer any questions about that stuff."
Essentially, this Sunday's game is a practice game for the Steelers against the Cleveland Browns. Last year, the Steelers started back-up quarterback Charlie Batch. Ben Roethlisberger was rusty in the first round of the playoffs and lost to the Jaguars. Ben needs the practice too. There were four turnovers (fumbles, interceptions) last week against the Titans because of him, 21 points. Willie Parker—who was injured a lot of this season—needs work too. In the Titans game, he had 18 carries. Six of those (yes, six) went for negative yards and three went for no gain. Where was Super Bowl Willie from Super Bowl XL? Well, nobody knows. The Steelers can't go in the playoffs like that! It seems that Pittsburgh should be starting their starters.
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