To Play or Not to Play

There is no doubt that this season’s biggest surprise team was the Kansas City Chiefs.  After finishing 2012 with but two wins, the Chiefs were the NFL worst team.   Things were so bad that during a game against the Baltimore Ravens, fans cheered when their own quarterback went down with an injury.

However, after an offseason where the team acquired a new head coach, Andy Reid, traded for a new quarterback, Alex Smith, and had the number one overall draft pick, Eric Fisher, the Chiefs rebounded by running off nine consecutive wins to start their 2013 season.  Fan support skyrocketed to the point of setting a record for the NFL’s loudest outdoor stadium.  And going into their bye week, the Chiefs were sitting atop of the AFC West as the league’s only remaining undefeated team. 

After returning to action in week 11, the momentum created by their fast start began to fade.  Losses mounted, as the Chiefs were beaten in home and away games to both the Broncos and Chargers.  Along with an at home loss to the Colts, the Chiefs lost five of their final seven games.

Considering this mini collapse to end the season, it is odd that Coach Reid decided to rest 20 of his 22 starting players in the team’s season finale in San Diego.  Locked into the wildcard as the fifth seed the coach decided that rest would be more beneficial than allowing his starters an opportunity to right their late season woes by playing the game.  But will this decision come back to haunt them Saturday when they play a first round playoff game against the Colts in Indianapolis?

Past history of the league may prove this action to be a mistake.  In 2011 the Packers sat Aaron Rogers for the team’s final regular season game after locking up a first round bye.  The Packers then proceeded to lose their first playoff game as Rogers looked sluggish trying to wipe off the rust of three weeks of sitting.  In 2011, the Giants decided to play everyone in a meaningless game.  Instead of resting players against the undefeated Patriots the Giants went all out and although they lost that contest the confidence and momentum they gained carried them on a four game run that ended with the team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following Super Bowl XLVI.

So is Andy Reid walking a slippery slope as he heads into this week’s wildcard matchup in Indianapolis?  Players are creatures of habit.  Siting injured players is one thing while resting 20 of your best players may turn out to bite you where you sit down.  One other thing to consider: the Colts, with little left to play for down the stretch, won their final three games while giving considerable playing time to all of the starters…