Would you purposely lose the last game of season?

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BriansRams said:
I'm reading between the lines here with your answer. So yeah. That's what McVay can do to save face if needed. "We're resting our starters for the playoffs but still going for the win." (wink wink)
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Haha! I can see how it might feel that way! But after losing Cooper Kupp for multiple playoff runs now, I am strongly in the camp of, if there does not appear be anything huge to gain from winning our last game of the year, send out the backups, and play to win, but if we lose, so be it. The health of the stars has to be the top priority. It truly is about health for me. Football is a super physical game. The potential for injury is too high. I suspect McVay might feel similar. He won't play starts in pre-season. And recall, that was not always a common move. McVay was the first to implement it to such a great extent. Now, nobody plays starters in pre-season.
 
The only way I want the Rams to do that is if they aren’t making the playoffs and can improve draft position.
 
BriansRams said:
I hear ya. I value your opinion too.
But on the flip side, WHAT IF we just can't beat GB on their turf in the snow .... however, we could go to and win the super bowl (playing other teams) by never having to go to GB (assuming someone else beats them). Could you really say "we're not champions" if we went to and won the superbowl?
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Totally understand your perspective. I'm just not a big fan of losing on purpose.
 
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OntarioRam said:
Haha! I can see how it might feel that way! But after losing Cooper Kupp for multiple playoff runs now, I am strongly in the camp of, if there does not appear be anything huge to gain from winning our last game of the year, send out the backups, and play to win, but if we lose, so be it. The health of the stars has to be the top priority. It truly is about health for me. Football is a super physical game. The potential for injury is too high. I suspect McVay might feel similar. He won't play starts in pre-season. And recall, that was not always a common move. McVay was the first to implement it to such a great extent. Now, nobody plays starters in pre-season.
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A few years ago, I would have agreed with your position, for all the reasons you eloquently stated in both posts. (And for the record I agree with resting starters in preseason).

But this board had some interesting debates on this topic in 2017. McVay did what was thought to be the smart play, and rested most of the starters vs. SF in the last game. (And yeah, McVay did the obligatory pep talks about how "the backups will be expected to get the W." )

Well, the Rams backups got crushed. And then in the next playoff game against ATL, the Rams had a sluggish and sloppy first half and went on to lose. A lot of fans and pundits blamed the ATL loss on the decision to rest starters vs SF.

A key part for me in the debate is hearing that Belichick is very much against resting starters before playoffs. Belichik talked about how important it was to keep winning momentum, and to send a consistent message to the team that 100% commitment is required every single game for a winning culture.

Anyway, it's a real interesting debate with strong arguments on both sides. I've switched my thinking on this one. As much as I hate the cheater Belichick, I also think he's a genius and the best coach in football. Belichick has a proven record of playing starters in meaningless games at the end of the season-- -- even at risk of injury-- in order to keep the winning momentum for the playoffs.
 
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Valid arguments on both sides in my opinion.

If you play to win and lose a key starter or get crushed vs the Packers is looks like the wrong decision.

If you play backups and come out rusty next game and lose it looks like the wrong decision.

I consulted my psychiatrist, sent a letter to Santa, prayed to God and asked my wife (who is never wrong).

The Answer was Unanimous - "Fire Morris and run the Dam ball! "
 
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I don't think I've ever seen a team, in any sport, that won a competition while making these calculations. I think once you admit that you're afraid of a team, you're setting yourself in a losing mentality and you pay for it sooner rather than later.
You can adjust, rest some guys, etc, but never play to lose, it fucks up everyone psychologically.
 
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OntarioRam said:
You never play to lose. But I would be resting as many key players as possible, to preserve their health for a playoff run, if winning our last games does not grant us any real benefit. If the lower seed has the "easier" playoff matchup, and perhaps also gives us better draft seeding, then I prefer to rest starters, because if the backups lose, so be it, and in some aspects it might actually work out well. But every backup on that field better be busting their behind for a W. You play to win. That's the culture. And if injuries strike, we needs those backups in top form as next men up.
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This is done all the time in the scenario you use and is only a problem to a team that need us to win to make the playoffs.
 
The Ramowl said:
I don't think I've ever seen a team, in any sport, that won a competition while making these calculations. I think once you admit that you're afraid of a team, you're setting yourself in a losing mentality and you pay for it sooner rather than later.
You can adjust, rest some guys, etc, but never play to lose, it fucks up everyone psychologically.
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If there is no value to winning that game, then you protect your starters. All there is to it.
 
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I like Rams said:
Momma ain't raise no bitch.
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iu
 
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