Wow. If the Jets win there will be 3 back-to-back rematches in the first week of the playoffs.
I will disclose I am a Jets fan. However, all these discussions of trying to make every single game count the same amount are just STUPID. I call ******** on anyone saying the Bengals threw this game. The Jets defense is for real. The offense finally stayed committed in this game.
The whole discussion concerning the Colts last week and these other clinching teams this week was handled properly by each team as they chose. There are no guarantees no matter what decision a coach makes. The 20/20 folks are always going to be proved right since it already happened.
The analogy i make is that I was on line for space mountain in disney world. There was a family in front of us who knew there child was not tall enough. They kept telling him how to try an stand on his toes just as they put him up to measuring device. When they got to the front the operator was paying attention and would not allow the child on the ride. The family made a little scene, but gave up. I said to my wife, if that kid had gotten on and got hurt due to the restraints not being able to secure the kid, they would have been the first to sue and yell that they should have checked his height. Now more that likely nothing would happen to the kid who was 1/2 inch too short, because I am sure there is an allowance built into the size limit. But DisneyWorld can't take that chance, and teh parents really should not have either.
So if Caldwell plays his starters more than likely no one gets drastically hurt. But if Peyton Manning went down, what would the uproar have been then. Heck, the Dolphins did not have their starting QB Griese for a good portion of that perfect season. So playing a quarter and a half without Payton Manning and a few other starters should not guarantee a loss. However it is pretty obvious that if Payton can't play, they have no chance.
The first goal is to make the playoffs and each team has the freedom to best decide how to accomplish that. Once things are clinched, that have accomplished that goal and then need to decide how best to get through the playoffs. They do NOT have to take a chance, no matter how slight, to get their extremely important players hurt for a game that does not effect THEIR situation.