I am so very pleased with Sean McVay's decision to take the logical, rational, pragmatic but understandably unpopular (among some) decision to bench key players in a home game against the Niners. Would have been a whole lot easier if this was a road game.
Clearly this was well thought out and no doubt Sean had private meetings with Goff and Gurley especially because no matter how you cut it, stats do matter in today's world of made-for-media awards, and contracts with incentives built in. Goff will NOT reach 30 TDs in the regular season. Gurley will NOT lead the league in rushing. Milestones that can be very important to a player's image (if not ego) and can and will have an effect on his place in the pecking order of other NFL players.
But it's also clear how on-board Demoff and Kroenke are with this decision such that those players who are on the verge of reaching incentives that they would otherwise reasonably make if they played, will still be given the incentive as though they played but didn't because of the coach's decision to sit them to safeguard them for the playoffs.
Vinny B did a good job of outlining the 2 sides of the debate of whether to sit your best players, and if it really matters that much whether you are 3rd or 4th seed, but he comes to the same conclusion that McVay did: sit them and bear the slings and arrows of those who disagree.
The Goal of the regular season was to win the division. Mission accomplished.
The Goal of the 2nd season is to win the Superbowl. This decision to sit certain players and consequently give big minutes to back-ups helps to make this goal
more possible. After all, if the Rams are to get to the Superbowl they'll almost for sure have to go through a team who had a playoff bye and the entire team got to rest.
But this decision also makes it clear that McVay is all about about the playoffs. He is willing to more or less sacrifice a regular season game if it means being more prepared and ready to make a long playoff run.
Love it. Gutsy.
This is true leadership and it sets the bar high for all to see.
