The bears game is pretty much meaningless

[Rat]

I see both sides, I just don't ever look at games as meaningless. This team needs a win, bad.

Absolutely. I'm certainly not benching starters. I'd consider maybe erring on the side of caution with some of our injuries though.

 

[Shane Falco]

We better beat the bears. They've lost 9 in row. This would be like re-living the Giants game all over again. Embarrassing.

 

[RiverDog]

I see both sides, I just don't ever look at games as meaningless. This team needs a win, bad.

I never advocate tanking a game for draft position or for any other reason. It sends a bad signal to the team, that losing is acceptable. You always play to win.

Having said that, I do think that you treat it a little differently, perhaps substitute a little more freely to get a good look at players you're going to have to make a decision on in the offseason. But we're not there yet. This game vs. the Bears is important enough that we pull out all the stops.

 

[Rat]

Bottom line is that the Bears game matters for us getting into the playoffs.

It really doesn't. Whether our week 18 game is for the division is 100% dependent on what the Rams do. If they lose, we're in the exact same situation whether we beat the Bears or not.

 

[kidhawk]

Whether the win changes anything standings wise or not momentum is real. If we want a chance to not be embarrassed if we have a shot at the playoffs then we need to get the win.

Besides the playoffs is much rather end the season on a 2 game streak than 4 game slide.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Games are not meaningless. I guarantee every player on that team would never think that way. You play to win.

 

[Rat]

The season is a brutal grind though. How often do we lament having to play a key game on a short week, or getting an opponent coming off a bye? I've lost count of how many times I've seen someone on here reference how we had to play three games in 11 days earlier this year. If we go balls to the wall to win and wear down critical players for the Rams game, or someone suffers another injury, beating the Bears might not feel like so much of a victory.

Momentum is great, but it's a bit overrated too. We had absolutely no momentum after getting humiliated at home by the Packers, and the next week, we're taking Minnesota, who beat Green Bay and controls their own destiny for the #1 overall seed in the NFC, to the wire, even leading late. How much momentum is beating a reeling Bears team even going to give us? Hell, if it's a win that isn't a blowout, they might not be feeling great about that. If they lose to the Bears with a vanilla gameplan and a lot of backups, does that even factor into their minds the following week? I'm sure they'll be aware that they most likely would have won if they had needed to win.

Again, not saying we necessarily SHOULD treat this like an exhibition game or anything, but I don't think the discussion has absolutely no merit either. It's often the healthiest teams you see making the most noise at the end of a long season. This could be an opportunity.

 

[bigskydoc]

Yes, you're right, but if we lose to the Bears and the Rams beat the Cards, they'll have a 2-game lead going into the finale.

Bottom line is that the Bears game matters for us getting into the playoffs. It's not meaningless, at least not at this point.

If the Rams lose to the Cards and the Hawks, they will be 9-8.
- If Seahawks beat both Bears and Rams, they would win the division at 10-7
- If Seahawks lost to the Bears, but beat the Rams, they would win the division, based on win percentage in division games.

In the scenario that Rams beat Cards, they will win the division no matter what the Seahawks do. If they beat the Hawks, they win at 11-6 vs 9-8. If The Hawks beat the Rams, the Rams still win the division due to strength of victory, with the teams tied at 10-7*.

For making the playoffs, it is a meaningless game. It does affect seeding and momentum

*Barring the incredibly unlikely sequence of Buffalo losing to both the Jets and the Patriots, Denver Beating KC and Cinci, and a few other unlikely events.

 

[pittpnthrs]

I'm with the OP. Even if the Hawks miraculously make the playoffs, they are nothing more than first round fodder for somebody.

 

[Shane Falco]

I'm with the OP. Even if the Hawks miraculously make the playoffs, they are nothing more than first round fodder for somebody.

I understand. I used to think that way before "Beastquake". And even a few of PC's last playoff teams. I'd just rather take the chance of a beatdown and have the opportunity of "any given sunday". You just have to go in with the right mindset so it doesn't feel so crushing if it is a beatdown.

 

[Rat]

I'm with the OP. Even if the Hawks miraculously make the playoffs, they are nothing more than first round fodder for somebody.

I don't know about that. If we do make the playoffs, the most likely first round matchup would be Minnesota at home again. We weren't exactly fodder for them yesterday.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Exactly. That game could have gone either way. 12-win team, and they didn't dominate one bit. Unlike GB.

 

[nanomoz]

Meaningless for our playoff chances isn't the same thing as meaningless. But I get the frustration.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Sorry to beat this drum again, but I can't even believe what I'm reading today. Meaningless? Rest a bunch of guys? Doesn't matter if we win or not?

Damn

 

[Jville]

It will be a good game to identify who refuses to quit. That applies to players and coaches and fans alike.

 

[jammerhawk]

It will be a good game to identify who refuses to quit. That applies to players and coaches and fans alike.

Agree completely!!!

Who knows AZ could just rise up and beat the hated Rams. Then it'd all be on the line in a final showdown.

 

[RiverDog]

For making the playoffs, it (Hawks vs. Bears) is a meaningless game. It does affect seeding and momentum

Not counting ties, there are four possible scenarios in our division in Week 17:

1. Hawks and Rams both win. 2. Hawks win, Rams lose. 3. Hawks lose, Rams win. 4. Hawks and Rams both lose.

Scenario 1: The Hawks are currently 8-7, the Rams 9-6. We both win in Week 17, we go to 9-7, Rams 10-6. We could tie the Rams if we beat them in Week 18 as both teams would finish 10-7, both would be 4-2 within the division, and both of us would have 6-6 conference records, which would throw the tiebreaker to the strength of victory.

Scenario 2. If we beat the Bears and the Rams lose to the Cards, we will go to 9-7 while the Rams would be drop to 9-7, putting us in a tie. That would make Week 18 vs. the Rams for the divisional championship.

Scenario 3. If we lose to the Bears and the Rams beat the Cards, we drop to 8-8 while the Rams would go to 10-6, a two game lead with one to play. They clinch the division.

Scenario 4. If we lose to the Bears and the Rams lose to the Cards, we drop to 8-8, the Rams drop to 9-7. That would make Week 18 relevant as if we were to win, we'd both finish with 9-8 records and the tiebreakers would apply.

The Bears game is relevant to the playoffs. I don't understand why this is an issue.

 

[andyh64000]

Not counting ties, there are four possible scenarios in our division in Week 17:

1. Hawks and Rams both win. 2. Hawks win, Rams lose. 3. Hawks lose, Rams win. 4. Hawks and Rams both lose.

Scenario 1: The Hawks are currently 8-7, the Rams 9-6. We both win in Week 17, we go to 9-7, Rams 10-6. We could tie the Rams if we beat them in Week 18 as both teams would finish 10-7, both would be 4-2 within the division, and both of us would have 6-6 conference records, which would throw the tiebreaker to the strength of victory.

Scenario 2. If we beat the Bears and the Rams lose to the Cards, we will go to 9-7 while the Rams would be drop to 9-7, putting us in a tie. That would make Week 18 vs. the Rams for the divisional championship.

Scenario 3. If we lose to the Bears and the Rams beat the Cards, we drop to 8-8 while the Rams would go to 10-6, a two game lead with one to play. They clinch the division.

Scenario 4. If we lose to the Bears and the Rams lose to the Cards, we drop to 8-8, the Rams drop to 9-7. That would make Week 18 relevant as if we were to win, we'd both finish with 9-8 records and the tiebreakers would apply.

The Bears game is relevant to the playoffs. I don't understand why this is an issue.

How does the bears game matter in any of those scenarios? This week only the Rams/Cardinals game matters.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Ok.........

 

[James in PA]

Meaningless?? For @Bear-Hawk, this matchup is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving!!!