Why didn't the Eagles play Hurts?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTHKG1OkcRy/?igsh=aXBia3QzdG40cDl0

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47508337/eagles-stand-decision-rest-fall-no-3-seed

@undermysac

 I'm listening to sports radio with pissed off fans angry about the decision, highly entertaining. If Hurts played, the starting o-line would have had to play and they definitely need rest. Tanner McKee was chased around quite a bit bc the receivers simply didn't get open so the starting receivers needed to play as well if Hurts played. Hurts is the 4th slowest at getting rid of the ball at 3.99 sec which is my main concern going fwd and needs a healthy line to have any chance.

Sirianni has made some bonehead decisions this year on field but this really takes the biscuit.

The 2 seed is definitely a better spot and the 49ers have quietly had an excellent season, I much rather play the Packers.

I hate how they changed the playoff format a d increased the games to 17. If the 2 seed still got a bye there's no way you don't go for it. If they don't play that extra game you wouldn't feel the need to take week 18 as a bye week which is what they did.

In saying that, they were winning and I'm surprised McKee didn't play better he is usually super solid but that end zone pick effed everything up.

I am okay with the decision.  He knows the players best and I am sure all of them discussed their situation.

They are the hottest team going into the playoffs.

They are the type of team that can beat any team anywhere.

Homefield is nice for them but not as necessary as it is for other teams.

I think if they would have had a chance at the #1 spot and a bye it would have been a different situation.

@undermysac

 Keep him healthy for the playoffs maybe??

Philly has been down this road before.  They fear no one.  Rest was the highest priority.  Getting the 2 seed to ensure a 2nd home playoff game is nice, but they arent scared of playing at Chicago in round 2 if it came to that.  There's also the chance GB beats Chicago and Philly gets the 2nd home game.  It was the right call IMO.  We'll see how things play out in the next 2 weeks.  Chi didnt rest their players and still lost and now face a very rested (but probably still carrying some injuries) GB team.  SF didnt rest their players (rightfully) and they now have to travel to Philly playing a very rested Eagles team.  I trust Sirianni knows what he's doing

Its a good call. You get the rest for your starters.  Bears should have won and then youre playing your starters for no reason.  And they almost won with the backups anyway.

theyre starters are all pretty banged up.  Rather have a healthy team than an extra home game.

plus, if gb beats bears (50%) then they get the home game anyway.

PERFECTLY STATED!

These are great points. I thought about this as well. Chicago is in a wee bit of trouble come Saturday. 

@undermysac

 Hurtz sucks he cant complete a 5 yard pass

They did not want to get this generations trent dilfer hurt before playoffs

The paper tiger held a hot Seahawks team to 13 points.

Offense was horrible, but should look a lot better if Trent Williams and Pearsall play this weekend. 

Don’t think it’s an easy W for Philly. Toss up game to me. 

@L0adingshow

@undermysac

 100% right call to rest starters

If Hurts or Carter or any other important piece got injured then it's a disaster 

Plus the OL needed rest. Dickerson and Jurgens been playing at 40-60% all season and that's why the run game has been trash

Jurgens never had time to recover from back surgery and Dickerson been playing on 1 leg all season

Better to go in as healthy as possible

Also have a huge rest advantage on SF now as well

@Raiders22

 in what world do you think Eagles the hottest team heading into the playoffs?? They have the pedigree and experience, but hottest team heading into the playoffs?? What?? they won 3 in a row after losing 3 in a row, and I don't even count the final week where they sat everyone, how does that translate to "hottest team heading into the playoffs " lol.  If anything, Eagles been shaky as fuck heading into the playoffs.... only the defense been lights out, but still vulnerable to the run.

Only reason I guess since they weren't getting a bye he felt rest was the best option which could've been the right decision especially since the niners lost and didn't get any rest

I think this could backfire, the offense already sloppy as it is, they need all the reps they can get to get it going, and having a week off might not be the best thing.

All good arguments for rest and going for the 2 seed.

It is what it is now, can only handicap going forward.

Thanks for the replies 

well had wash ml +150 for 200 so im happy with $500 in ACCOUNT

PO'S superbowl 60 

@skn02

  in what world do you think Eagles the hottest team heading into the playoffs??

Sorry, just seeing this.

I track efficiency numbers for each team in basically three categories for offense and three for defense.

Passing, Rushing, Receiving and Pass Defense, Pass Rush, Run Defense.

I keep a yearly total and a last 5-game total and a last 3-game total.  I also do a weighted rolling average.

In the last 3 games, leading up the last game of the season where a lot of players sit and do not have much to play for, that is where I see PHL being the hottest going into the playoffs.

In the six categories I check, only HOU, NE, and PHL had positive numbers in all categories.

For example: 

PHL .5, .7, .1, .9, .6, .1 for a total of 2.9

HOU .8, .4, .4, .2, .3, .2 for a total of 2.8

NE .4, .2, .5, .1, .2, .1 for a total of 1.5

JAX had one zero for a total of 2.0

CH had one zero for a total of 2.2

SF had a -.2 for a total of 2.1

DEN had two -.2s for a total of 1.3

LAR had a -.1 and -.3 for a total of 1.2

GB had a -.3 and -.1 for a total of .9

LAC had a -.1 for a total of .7

BUF had one zero for a total of 1.7

SEA  had a -.1 and a zero for a total of .9

PIT had a -.1 and a zero for a total of .7

CAR had 1 -.1 and -.3 for a total of .3

So, that is why I feel they are the hottest team heading into the playoffs.

You can make the case also that they are the most improved team since about the midway point of the season.

That is NOT to say other teams are not hot.  Like CH, JAX, SF, LAR, HOU, or even BUF, NE, and DEN.

I just think when a team has improved all of their numbers on both sides of the ball and in all segments of both sides of the ball that they are clicking on all cylinders.

So, I think at this moment they are hottest.

Philly Rolls this weekend. 

I get the Resting players aspect it was a good decision before the games started..   to me it’s like when a coach takes a risk and makes it happen everyone praises them and when they fail it’s the opposite.. it was a risk he took with a “higher probability of happening before the games started” everyone thought Detroit would lay down and lose with Goff playing like crap previously.. it was a tight game Bears should have won..the fact that Bears lost is what made it a bad decision post outcome in a game they could have won versus Washington.. I’m sure he’ll regret it if San Francisco ends up pulling the upset..

@Raiders22

 Is there any way of tracking your high efficiency teams when interrupted by a bye week? In this case it's more of a self imposed bye, with resting starters.

In other words, could resting starters in week 18 lead to a disruption with the Eagles "hot hand" for lack of a better term.

Your opinion is valuable, as much as data, if non can be found.

I believe we've all heard arguments for and against resting starters in the last week of the season right before the playoffs. 

@undermysac

 I looked into it some time ago and never saw anything substantial.

In other words the trailing 3-5 game average did not really jump up or down out of the norm when the team played the next game following their bye week.

I also looked into it some time back whether it 'helped' or 'hurt' to rest starters after they had their seeding locked up.  I could not see a big relationship one way or the other.

I do recall someone that tracked it writing about it.

If I remember correctly, it was sort of weird because it was almost team-dependent.  It seems some teams did well doing this and others did not.  But overall it did not have a large effect the following week.

I will say, in my opinion, based just on perception, byes and resting starters 'seems' to backfire more than it helps.

What are your thoughts on it?

@Raiders22

 It almost always backfired on teams who locked up a rd 1 bye, rested starters in week 17, thus having virtually 2 weeks off. I remember that fairly clearly. 

Other than those instances it's hard to recall