Rudolph to Start, Roethlisberger will Rest

[CoolieMan]

And its so unprecedented too...like teams that have locked in a playoff spot dont do this all of the time.

well the Steelers are not locked into a spot right now. a win and a bills loss and they are the 2 seed plus the fun of knocking the stains out of the playoffs. the dolphins have a lot to play for so they could beat the bills..

but I'm all for resting Ben when possible

 

[FordFairLane]

Anyone over 30 should take a seat. Everyone else should rotate more often at the very least. Browns game means nothing.

 

[madinsomniac]

We already got whipped there and if you think you can compare mid January weather in buffalo to Pittsburgh ou are badly mistaken.

Ive been to Buffalo enough and live in Pittsburgh... Buffalo gets more snow due to lake effect, but the rest is a push... its windier at hienz on the riverside than that Buffalo stadium built in the suburbs... there is absolutely no good reason to risk losing key players in the hopes that Miami wins and we win just to get a home game in case the bills win in the first round....

That just isn’t worth the gambit at all...

Moreover there is a like 80% chance that we end up playing Cleveland in the first round, so why the **** would we want to try to beat them and give them any idea how we were planning to attack them..

Sit everyone... forfeit the damn game, hell plsy iron man with practice squad scrubs, I don’t care
Just don’t get a key guy hurt before the playoffs...

 

[Steelin]

well the Steelers are not locked into a spot right now. a win and a bills loss and they are the 2 seed plus the fun of knocking the stains out of the playoffs. the dolphins have a lot to play for so they could beat the bills..

but I'm all for resting Ben when possible

I guess I meant that they've locked a position.

 

[steelerscotty]

My 2 cents: We still could get the number 2 seed. Guess I would be less understanding if it were a normal year with fans and all, not sure what home field means right now other than the players get to sleep in their own beds etc. With our injuries and the covid-schedule screwing I get resting some key players, but it still doesn't sit well with the opportunity to knock the stains possibly out of playoff contention.

 

[madinsomniac]

My 2 cents: We still could get the number 2 seed. Guess I would be less understanding if it were a normal year with fans and all, not sure what home field means right now other than the players get to sleep in their own beds etc. With our injuries and the covid-schedule screwing I get resting some key players, but it still doesn't sit well with the opportunity to knock the stains possibly out of playoff contention.

I get the wanting to knock out the stains, but it’s bittersweet because if the stains are out, the rats are in... and I don’t really have a preference

 

[stillwright]

Not this year. There are no fans. There is no home field advantage in 2020. In fact, the lack of fans has caused problems for audibles and on field communications. Both teams hear each other’s cadence and protection calls much easier than ever before.


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I thought I heard on a radio show that the visiting teams actually had a higher winning percentage this season. I could be wrong or it might have changed since I heard it. The numbers were close and it was a few weeks ago. They were talking about that exact argument. The advantage or lack of having to play at home vs the road in the playoffs.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Even without the crowd, there are still advantages associated with playing at home revolving around not having to travel and being in familiar surroundings.

I'm sure every player would still much rather play a postseason game at home.

 

[Stryker]

The advantage in the playoffs for this team, is Ben starting a game without leg pain. He's a monster when he's able to move fluidly. I give us a chance anywhere with this D and a healthier Ben, because if this team wins a SB this year, it will be because of him.

 

[slashsteel]

The advantage in the playoffs for this team, is Ben starting a game without leg pain. He's a monster when he's able to move fluidly. I give us a chance anywhere with this D and a healthier Ben, because if this team wins a SB this year, it will be because of him.

That is how I pretty much look at it. If his leg is healthy and Randy doesn't handcuff the team in the playoffs anything is possible. But those two things need to happen.

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[Stryker]

That is how I pretty much look at it. If his leg is healthy and Randy doesn't handcuff the team in the playoffs anything is possible. But those two things need to happen.

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You know what would be great? First game back in the playoffs, we go no huddle on the first drive. No team would be ready for that since they're used to the RF 3 and out offense this year...

 

[slashsteel]

You know what would be great? First game back in the playoffs, we go no huddle on the first drive. No team would be ready for that since they're used to the RF 3 and out offense this year...

And mix that in in various times within the game. Yes throw them off. Give them extra things to worry about.

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[skline00]

Ben is 38, not 28 and has played a full season on a surgically repaired elbow.

We clinched the division last week, Thank God, and winning or losing this week does NOT matter about gaining an extra week of rest for a bye. Only KC gets the bye, they earned it.

Sitting Ben and perhaps some others a week against a team we might play again makes sense.

This has been a physically AND mentally challenging time for the Steelers.

Ben and others that rest can scout and help on the sidelines.

For the Browns this game is their entire season. They will pull out all the stops.

Great test for Mason Rudolph.