The New York Giants, who played all their starters in a "meaningless" game against the Patriots in the final week of the season are now 2-0 in the playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys, who played their starters only sparingly at the end of the regular season to "rest up for the playoffs" are now 0-3.
I'm pleasantly stunned by the Giants victory. Though it might be better to call it a total meltdown by the Cowboys, who committed a bunch of stupid penalties in the fourth quarter to bail out the Giants' patchwork defense and preserve the victory. Though, actually, watching Tony Romo turn into a pumpkin in the fourth quarter makes the victory just that much sweeter.
On to Green Bay next weekend for the NFC championship game, in which the starting left cornerback for New York will be Phil Leblonski, a longshoreman from Bayonne, because there's nobody left on the roster with four intact limbs. I have no idea how they kept it together to finish that game, but I love the result.
(Given that Eli Manning and his receivers couldn't hold onto the ball in 40-degree weather in the Meadowlands, I don't think a trip to the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field (R) bodes well. But then, I didn't think they'd win either of the last two game, either, so why are you listening to me?)
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You can add Green Bay too - they played all their starters and ran the full game plan against Detroit the last game of the year. Grant came out when he had a slight injury. I remember one year in the early 90's when Denver came to Green Bay and sat Elway for the final game. They lost to Jacksonville the next week. I think you could compile some good data on this.
Luckily, there are those (myself included) who obsess over certain sports statistics, so the data is out there if you're interested in a larger look at this. It certainly makes sense. I've always thought of losing form as more dangerous than losing a bit of rest at the end of a season, but I'm sure it depends on a lot of different factors.
Congrats to the Giants. They did OK for a bunch of loudmouths :-)
Browns next year though!
I have to disagree with the assessment regarding the Colts. They weren't resting anyone except near the very end of their last game. The players you are probably referring to (Dallas Clark, Marvin Harrison, etc.) were not resting. They were healing!
I am very pleased that the Giants won today. It removes the possibility of a Dallas vs. New England super bowl, which frankly I wouldn't even bother to watch unless they could both magically lose.
I thought Green Bay and the Giants had happily wed to become the Jolly Green Giants...?
Romo turns into a pumpkin every December. Check out his career stats in December (74 passer rating) vs every other month (108 rating).
To answer your question: two. It takes two anecdotes to make data, at least according to most of the doctors I work for.
NY has a shot up in Green Bay, because the long range forecast is for good weather. More anecdotal data - no snow: 0-14, snow: 42-6. Pray for sun.
The other story will have to be whether the GB running back has something to prove to the team that cut him (NY).
Are you kidding me? Peyton Manning played like one quarter. By the second half there wasn't one starter on the field.