NFL 17 game schedule : 4th string QBs; players limping

[ProfessorGAC]

2. How Does The 17th Game Fit In?

The 49ers QB was playing in his 4th game. He took something like 3 snaps before he was forced into the starting role.
The backup who got concussed had this incident occur after about one quarter of offense. The 17 games meant nothing to him. He never played.
Kelsey didn't play every game this year. He played 16. And, McCaffrey, who never plays a full season, plated this game healthy.
While I agree injuries made the games far less compelling, I'm not sure how it connects to the 17 game season.
And I agree with Hugh that the refereeing in the AFC game was embarrassingly bad.