PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin needs to do the right thing on Sunday, rest as many starters he can. The game with Cleveland doesn’t matter.
Don’t worry about what Buffalo does, even if they can get the two seed with a win in Ohio on Sunday, fresh veterans are more important.
The wear-and-tear on a body week-to-week is rough, but to do that for 12 weeks in a row. Look at how different Tampa Bay, a team also with a number of vets and a Hall of Fame quarterback, looked after their late bye. Three straight wins and Tom Brady has thrown for eight touchdowns with no picks.
It’s not only the physical wear and tear, but several former NFL players suggested they thought the Steelers looked emotionally exhausted or mentally fatigued during their losing streak. Tony Romo on CBS Sunday said players mentioned to him during their pregame interviews of mental wear of the season.
Sounds like on several fronts the best advice is to rest.
And forget about how playing a number of back-ups affects the Browns or the AFC playoff race.
In baseball, the ‘unwritten rule’ is to play your most veteran players late in the season when you are playing a team trying to get in the playoffs. Even though your team might be trying to figure out its future playing its young players against quality talent.
That’s always been stupid.
Worry about yourselves. Don’t worry about the other team. The Steelers have a responsibility to put themselves in the best position to win a championship.
Resting key players before four-game, winner-take-all, high intensity post-season is the only decision.
