Consecutive losses are consecutive losses. Not sure what the record going in (10-3 vs. 13-0) has to do with it. Either you can recover or you can't.
This. This is a team of players in which a large majority have never played in the playoffs before. They need confidence and a regular schedule. I was actually concerned had they gotten a bye. 2 weeks to think about it would have been counterproductive.
I don't believe in regular season momentum (the good or bad kind) carrying over into the playoffs. I can cite countless examples of it having no bearing whatsoever (locally, consider the '93 Oilers). I think Yates needs the reps and he needs those reps with the first-team in a play-off-like atmosphere. Caldwell needs as many snaps as possible with the first team, too. I think AJ needs to knock the rust off. Defensively, I'd treat it like a preseason game, let Cushing and Joseph rest and recover. And we need Wade Phillips back on the sideline healthy and able.
The Saints have also been there before. I'd rather be the Lions right now heading into the playoffs than the Texans. The Texans are stumbling their way in instead of going in hot.
