Packers are headed toward a tough strategic decision, but everything hinges on how Week 17 games play out
Green Bay has clinched a playoff berth with two regular season games left to play.
The Green Bay Packers clinched a playoff spot on Thursday, when the Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings in an unexpected fashion. After the celebration, some fans immediately wondered whether the Packers should rest their starters in the final two games of the regular season, against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.
While that might eventually happen in Week 18, the Packers still have a lot to play for.
There’s still a big battle for the Packers
Even with the loss to the Chicago Bears last week, the Packers have a shot at winning the NFC North for the first time since 2021. That includes winning out and the Bears losing out. It’s not necessarily a likely scenario, but it’s not impossible.
The Bears play the San Francisco 49ers, one of the hottest teams in football, on “Sunday Night Football.” And next week, they play the Detroit Lions — it’s fair to wonder how the Lions will operate with nothing to play for, but Dan Campbell doesn’t seem to have the coaching profile to quit like that.
Winning the NFC North would have obviously significant repercussions, like playing a playoff game at Lambeau Field and theoretically facing an easier opponent — even though the NFC playoff picture is pretty flat in terms of talent level.
When the Packers can actually rest starters
If the Packers lose to the Ravens on Saturday and/or the Bears beat the 49ers on Sunday, then it would be time to have a real conversation about resting starters in Week 18 versus the Vikings.
By that point, the Packers would just fight for seeding, and ending the season in sixth or seventh place in the NFC is just a marginal difference.
Last year, the Packers had already clinched a playoff spot and had a similar circumstance, trying to achieve the sixth seed in Week 18 — and in 2024, there was a bigger argument trying to get the sixth seed just because the difference between playing the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was massive.
Ultimately, the Packers played everyone and still lost to the Bears. Still, things got much worse — quarterback Jordan Love suffered an elbow injury that impacted him in the postseason, and wide receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL.
This year, facing the Eagles or Bears in the playoffs may or may not make a difference, but it’s certainly not worth the risk of losing important players right before the playoffs, especially because the Packers have already handled so many impactful injuries.
Green Bay has a lot to play for in Week 17. And the decision to rest starters or not in the regular season finale won’t come before what happens this weekend.
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