What NFL Teams Will Sit Their Starters?

With the NFL playoffs right around the corner, many teams are faced with the decision of whether or not to rest their starters. Get the inside scoop on which teams are planning on sitting their stars and why.

NFL Teams That Will Sit Their Starters

The NFL preseason is winding down, and with it comes the question of which teams will sit their starters. Some teams want to get a look at their second- and third-string players, while others want to keep their starters sharp. Here’s a look at some of the teams that will sit their starters in the preseason finale.

New England Patriots

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the New England Patriots will sit quarterback Tom Brady and several other starters in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins:

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Patriots have nothing to play for in Week 17, as they have already clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They will take on the Dolphins in Miami for what amounts to a tune-up game before the playoffs begin.

The Patriots are expected to give significant playing time to backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will need all the reps he can get as he is one possible injury away from being thrust into action during the postseason. Other Patriots starters who are expected to sit out include wide receiver Julian Edelman, running back Dion Lewis and offensive tackle Nate Solder.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have already clinched the NFC West title, so they will be resting some starters in their Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams have nothing to play for in terms of playoff positioning, so they will be giving some young players an opportunity to get more reps in.

Quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks are all expected to sit out the game.Linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive lineman Aaron Donald will also be given the day off. Head coach Sean McVay has not said who will start in place of Goff, but it is likely that backup quarterback John Wolford will get the nod.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have already clinched the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, so they will be resting their starters in Week 17. That means that quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and running back Damien Williams will all be sitting out against the Los Angeles Chargers.

NFL Teams That Will Start Their Starters

The NFL regular season is winding down and some teams have already clinched a spot in the playoffs while others are fighting for their lives. With that said, some teams will start to sit their starters in order to preserve them for the playoffs. Here is a list of NFL teams that will start their starters.

Baltimore Ravens

Although Baltimore has clinched the AFC’s top seed, John Harbaugh said he hasn’t decided whether to start his key players — including quarterback Lamar Jackson — in Week 17.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member club of the American Football Conference South division. The team plays its home games at NRG Stadium in Houston—an retractable-roof stadium that sits atop natural grass.

The franchise was founded in 2002, making them the youngest team in the NFL currently. The Texans replaced the Houston Oilers, who played from 1960 to 1996 (they then became the Tennessee Titans). In their first season, they were an expansion team coached by Dom Capers and led by rookie quarterback David Carr. The team played their inaugural season game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8, 2002, where they were defeated 19–10. The Texans posted their first winning record in franchise history with an 11–5 record during the 2009 season under new head coach Gary Kubiak, but they failed to make the playoffs after losing a crucial Week 17 game to the New York Jets 30–17.

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears will not be resting any starters in their Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears have clinched the NFC North and will be playing for a first-round bye, so they will be trotting out their best players in hopes of getting a win.