The Saints pulled their starters in 2009, and STILL WON THE SUPER BOWL!!!
No difference.
Everyone loves to bring up the 2009 Colts, but the 2009 Saints did the same thing. Most people wouldn't know that, cause they didn't watch them.
Cowboys at Saints, 13-0
The Saints were missing 5 starters going into that game, at the end, Payton benched some of his defensive players, knowing they would probably lose.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans 13-1
They lost this game on Hartley's missed field goal, but also, once again he benched some of his starters, including taking the leading rusher out the game in the 4th quarter.
New Orleans at Carolina 14-2
They benched ALL starters going into this game. The game was meaningless, he wanted them to have an extra week off, with the playoffs, and everything wrapped up, no need risking losing a starter in a meaningless game.
oh I forgot this too, the Panthers was DIVISIONAL. But it didn't matter. Those teams straight up hate each other with a passion, and Payton was more worried about an extra week of rest before the playoffs.
The whole argument of "taking your foot off the gas" I don't know, the Saints did take their foot off the gas, and they still won it all. Brees would be an inch closer to Unitas record had he played in week 17, but it wasn't worth risking the injury of your star quarterback. They were quite banged up at the end of the year, but when they came into the playoffs, that team was 100% healthy.
If you're up 31-0 on a team that's not even trying anymore, you should bench the entire team. I hope Jennings is ok, but I've been saying it for a while, that I don't care about going undefeated, cause I really don't. We could lose 1 or 2 games now and it wouldn't bother me, and it shouldn't as long as REPEAT. That's the goal of this team, a repeat. I want back to back Super Bowl wins.