Seahawks should rest their starters in week 17 versus 49ers

I am never one for throwing in the towel, but for the potential long-term success of the Seahawks in 2019, Seattle should rest starters in week 17.

The Seahawks have made the playoffs for 2019. Win, lose or tie, they are in the postseason. But you know who isn’t in the postseason? Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, at least. Jadeveon Clowney is dealing with a core injury that will require offseason surgery and he may not even be with Seattle after this season. Quandre Diggs hasn’t played in a few weeks but might play Sunday, though he is more valuable in the postseason.

My point is that, yes. Seattle could possibly defeat the 49ers in week 17 and gain possibly the second seed. Or they could win and still be forced to host a home playoff game in the first round of the postseason. Both the Packers and Saints could win and make a Seahawks victory over San Francisco on Sunday fairly moot.

Should Seattle defeat the 49ers on Sunday Night Football, the Seahawks will win the NFC West. But they are likely to still be playing week one of the playoffs. And that would be at CenturyLink. Seattle is 4-3 at home this season, with losses to the Ravens, Saints, and the um, Cardinals. On the road, Seattle has beaten the 49ers and likely-playoff bound Eagles. For whatever reason, Seattle could be a better road team than home team this year.

Sure, that sounds ridiculous, but the facts bear me out. Seattle is 4-3 at home and 7-1 on the road. Plus, Seattle could get a wildcard berth and start on the road against the Eagles which is a team they have already beaten in Philadelphia.

My point in all this is that the Seahawks need Clowney and Diggs and Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch (yes, really) and others a lot more in week one of the postseason than week 17 of the regular season. Defeat the 49ers and great, still going to host a home playoff game in round one. Lose and Seattle goes on the road.

But I would rather have a relatively healthy and rest Clowney and Wilson than a potentially banged-up group that was trying to win a relatively meaningless final regular season game of 2019 than one that was trying to re-start greatness going into the playoffs. Winning the NFC West is great, but winning a few games in the playoffs is better.