The Seattle Seahawks’ Week 18 finale in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams rapidly went from probably being for the NFC West title to successfully meaningless. Seattle is eradicated from postseason rivalry with per week to spare, whereas the Rams have received the division however haven’t locked of their seed but.
For the time being, the Rams are the No. 3 seed and would play the Washington Commanders, but when the Rams have been to lose to the Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the New Orleans Saints to clinch the NFC South, Los Angeles would drop to the No. 4 seed and mechanically host whoever loses the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions recreation.
Would Sean McVay need to push to maintain the No. 3 seed by taking part in his starters, or would he do what he usually does and relaxation gamers when there’s no actual vital seeding (e.g. first-round bye) at stake? It appears to be like like we have now our reply.
“These are all the time the good questions you ask your self,” McVay stated on The Coach McVay Present. “And I believe you have got a accountability as a head coach and actually together with your teaching employees to collaborate and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to compete each alternative that we get.’ You don’t reduce the significance of each single recreation.
“However relative to what’s in danger, what’s at reward when it comes to both/or, and having the ability to possibly get some guys which are – you recognize, the toll {that a} season takes – get them again, refreshed, rejuvenated. Sometimes, we’ve erred on the facet of leaning a bit bit extra in the direction of that and I’d think about as we proceed to finalize our plans, that’s most likely the route we’ll go.”
McVay additionally mentioned seeing the likes of operating backs Blake Corum, Cody Schrader, and a few reserve offensive linemen get extra taking part in time than they’ve been getting this season. He additionally all however indicated that former San Francisco 49ers starter Jimmy Garoppolo might be at the least getting the majority of the taking part in time if not the beginning over Matthew Stafford.
This isn’t shocking to listen to from McVay given who he’s approached earlier seasons the place they knew their playoff/division destiny prematurely. One play right here, one other play there, and the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams may’ve been for the NFC West title. Even when the “energy of victory” tiebreaker scenario staved off elimination for Seattle into Week 18, this recreation would’ve positively had starters taking part in the entire recreation.
On the flip facet, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald didn’t instantly say that the starters will get the complete workload, nevertheless it appears as if the starters will play.
“The very first thing is it’s a chance for us to go get to 10 wins and that’s vital proper now,” Macdonald stated on Monday. “There’s a normal right here of what we’re attempting to ascertain and exhibit our soccer character of what sort of staff we’re, what sort of individuals we’re, and the way we’re going to play. The scenario has modified, however the scenario actually hasn’t modified to a sure extent as nicely. We’re going to play a superb soccer staff that received our division, and we need to get to 10 wins.”
“Yeah, we’re going to go play to win the sport,” he added.
