How Do We Approach Week 17?

[RiverDog]

The division champs are awarded the top 4 seeds based on their record and about a half dozen tiebreaker criteria. Since the NFC East has performed so poorly, the winner of that division can get no higher than the 4th seed. We're currently sitting on the #3 seed and chances are that's where we are likely to finish, but there is a chance that we could get the #2 or even the #1 seed. Here's what has to happen:

To get the #1 seed, we need to beat the Niners, the Bears need to beat the Packers, and the Panthers need to beat or tie the Saints.

If we beat the Niners and either the Packers or Saints lose and the other one wins, we would get the #2 seed.

The 5-7 seeds are all up for grabs. Of the potential wild card teams (Bucs, Rams, Cards, and Bears), only the Bucs have assured themselves a spot and can do no worse than the #6 seed.

If both the Packers and Saints lose their games, our contest with the Niners becomes very important as winning would give us a first round bye. If one of them loses, the game would still have some importance, particularly if it means that we wouldn't have to travel to Green Bay in January, as the #2 seed would give us HFA over all but one of the other two teams,

Both the Packers/Bears and Saints/Panthers games are in the early time slot, 10:00am PT. We play at 1:25pm, so barring some sort of delay, we will know the outcome of both of those contests before we kick off against the Niners. Cards-Niners also kick off at 1:25, so we won't know who we might playin the opening round until later in the afternoon.

So my question is this: Under what circumstances, if any, do we treat our game vs. the Niners as we would a preseason game, with getting our starters a minimal amount of work, letting those with injuries take the day off, and minimize the risk of injuring a key player in a meaningless game?

[c_hawkbob]

Nothing will be determined before we play as we all play in the late time slot. We play to win the game.

[RiverDog]

Nothing will be determined before we play as we all play in the late time slot. We play to win the game.

Ahh, you're right! My apologies!

But I'm not sure we necessarily play to win or at least do so by pulling out all the stops. If the Packers are blowing out the Bears, I'm going to be awfully tempted to start pulling guys.

[NorthHawk]

Pete always plays his starters like any other game.
Other than a blowout or a player taking a big hit, I don't see anyone being rested during the game.

[Agent 86]

I think this is correct but someone let me know if I goofed:

Seahawks clinch #1 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints lose to Panthers, and Packers lose to Bears
Seahawks clinch #2 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints beat Panthers, and Packers lose to Bears
Seahawks clinch #2 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints lose to Panthers, and Packers beat Bears
Seahawks get #3 seed if - Seahawks lose to 49'ers
Seahawks get #3 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints beat Panthers, and Packers beat Bears

[RiverDog]

I think this is correct but someone let me know if I goofed:

Seahawks clinch #1 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints lose to Panthers, and Packers lose to Bears
Seahawks clinch #2 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints beat Panthers, and Packers lose to Bears
Seahawks clinch #2 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints lose to Panthers, and Packers beat Bears
Seahawks get #3 seed if - Seahawks lose to 49'ers
Seahawks get #3 seed if - Seahawks beat 49'ers, Saints beat Panthers, and Packers beat Bears

One minor correction. If the Panthers tie the Saints and we beat the Niners, we'll finish with a better W/L percentage than the Saints.

[RiverDog]

Nothing will be determined before we play as we all play in the late time slot. We play to win the game.

I wasn't seeing things. Apparently the league changed the start times of the Saints and Packers games to the later time slot corresponding with ours, I assume so as not to give us an advantage.