It’s going to be a shoot-out.
You start the #2s and you’re conceding the game.
Maybe you’re okay with that.
I’m not heartbroken over the idea, myself.
Seems to me that having the starters in the best shape possible for the playoff run is more important than the first round opponent.
Seattle might be more of a “sure victory” than anyone from the South, but they should beat anyone from the South, too. And if they don’t…oh, well. They weren’t going to get passed the following week anyway, in all likelihood. The road to the Super Bowl goes through Minnesota, and if the Rams can’t beat the Saints, Panthers, or Falcons at home, they weren’t going to beat the Vikings in Minnesota anyway.
Thing is, though, “resting the starters” really means resting Gurley. You can’t pull the entire OL. You can’t pull Quinn, Donald, and Brockers. There aren’t enough backups to play every snap. WRs aren’t worth pulling because they get hit 4 times a game anyway. So pull Gurley and Goff, and rotate the DL more heavily in favor of Fox and Westbrooks etc., but you can’t “pull the starters.” Not really. You can pull the “stars.”