3 ways the Saints could blow an easy Week 17 win

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 25: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs with the ball while being chased by Troy Pride Jr. #25 and Sam Franklin #42 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 25, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Benching Starters

This season has been one for the injury history books.

I feel like there have been more major, season-ending injuries this year than there were in the last two years combined. That leaves coaches wondering about playing starters in the last game before the playoffs.

Especially if you are not a No. 1 seed, you have to turn around next week and play in Wild Card Weekend. Benching your starters in Week 17 gives them an opportunity to rest before they go to the playoffs for the next five weeks straight.

However, benching the starters in this game might prove detrimental to the team as they need to win their final game to keep the No. 2 and maybe No. 1 seed in the NFC. The narrow margin of victory they won by the last time they met might not be able to be done by the backups.

Taysom Hill, Latavius Murray, and other backup offensive talents might not be enough to even overcome the Christian McCaffrey-less Panthers. Former-Saint Teddy Bridgewater is looking to get his first win against his old team.

Benching the starters could lead to a crucial Week 17 loss.

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