We’re rapidly nearing December and the Detroit Lions are sitting at 9-1 and are looking like a team headed for that number one seed. So you know this question is coming around the corner any day now. “Will the Lions sit their starters for a game ahead of the playoffs?”
The answer is a resounding “probably not.” Anything can change, but we know, especially from comments recently made by Lions head coach Dan Campbell, that the Lions just aren’t that into sitting starters unless it makes a ton of sense.
“You want to make sure that you end on a good note. You’re playing good, efficient football. The guys feel good about it. You’re in a rhythm. I think it bleeds into the next week, and I think that’s important. So we did that, and then the right time is to pull them out there, you know, if you’re able to pull them out in the early fourth grade, and we were able to do that. But if you’re asking me to pull somebody out the third quarter, or you’re asking me to pull somebody out right before the second quarter before Anzalone gets hurt, I’m never going to do that, ever.”
The part of that quote that leads you to believe there’s no way the Lions pull their starters for a game is the part where Campbell is saying that he believes the good play bleeds into the next week. If that’s the case, the last thing you want to do is anything that could affect that.
Couple that with the Lions potentially having that number one seed in the NFC. That means the Lions are guaranteed to get a bye week in the playoffs. The last thing you want to do is give your guys two weeks off and then have them play a super high level game on the other side of that. Getting healthy is important, but losing momentum can be killer.
Lastly, Campbell was asked about the potential of benching starters for Week 18 last season when the Lions had the NFC North wrapped up and their chances of a higher seed were gone. His response was very simple.
“When we’re done with the season they’re going to rest. I promise you that, they’re going to get plenty of time off.”
It doesn’t get anymore certain than that. Don’t expect to see the young guys get their own game at the end of the year.