The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers decided to rest starting quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Brock Purdy in Week 18, continuing a trend for the best teams in the NFL.
Over the past six seasons, five of the past six teams to clinch the No. 1 seed prior to the final week of the regular season haven't played their starting QBs in the regular-season finale. The 2009 New Orleans Saints were the last team to secure the top seed before the final week of the regular season, sit its starting quarterback in the regular-season finale (Drew Brees) and win the Super Bowl, according to ESPN Stats & Information.