Packers Playing To Win, But What Does That Mean?
The Green Bay Packers enter week 17 with a meaningless game. They’ve wrapped up home field advantage throughout the playoffs and no longer have an undefeated season to worry about.
So what to do?
Coach Mike McCarthy said his team would play to win when the Detroit Lions come to town this week, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be trotting out all their starters or even letting them play the whole game.
Although he hasn’t said exactly what the plan is, if you read between the lines it seems pretty clear.
“We’re going to play to win the game next week,” said McCarthy. “I’m not real excited about a division opponent coming in here and thinking we’re not going to do everything we can to get to 15-1.
“But health is an issue for us. I think that’s stating the obvious.”
He went further and said the Packers will look at all their options.
Meanwhile, quarterback Aaron Rodgers sounded like he plans on sitting this one out, at least for the most part.
“I think as a close friend of Matt [Flynn] I wouldn’t mind seeing him get an opportunity to play a little bit, but I’ll definitely do whatever Mike says,” Rodgers said.
Although McCarthy will probably keep some guys out of harm’s way, the team wants to see some injured starters who are close to returning, get game action before the playoffs.
Among those are tackles Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga and defensive end Ryan Pickett.
Pickett is returning from a concussion and is expected to go on Sunday. McCarthy said Bulaga is close to returning and is expected to return to his starting spot on the right side of the line. Clifton, who’s been out the longest, will practice all week and will need the Detroit game to shake off the rust.
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I suppose Detroit might be playing to increase their playoff seeding, but I can’t imagine they’d play their starters the whole time. Then again, Jim Schwartz is a dick…
Assuming both teams rest some key players, our team has far better depth. I see us going undefeated at home, and sweeping the division!
Get up by 3 TD’s then put in the backups.
I have faith in Matt Flynn, just as Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers do. I say start Flynn and expect a win. (did i just make a rhyme)
The Packers are going to play to win! Come on Man!! are they going to play to lose! The Pack can play to win With Flynn and show the NFL and the world the Depth of America’s Team, The GREEN BAY PACKERS! and there’s your Daggeeerrrr!
Here are the scenarios. Mark
Lions can clinch the No. 5 seed of the NFC playoffs, and a matchup against either the New York Giants or Dallas Cowboys, with a victory Sunday over the Green Bay Packers.
Even if they lose to the Packers, the Lions can clinch the fifth seed if the Falcons lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A victory at Lambeau Field would be historic for any number of reasons. It would give the Lions their first 11-win season since 1995 and their first victory in the state of Wisconsin since 1991.
NFC Wild-Card Permutations (5th and 6th seeds)
Relevant games over the next week.
DET @ GB CHI @ MIN TB @ ATL CAR @ NO Wild Cards
Det wins either either either 5-Lions, 6-Falcons
GB wins either TB wins either 5-Lions, 6-Falcons
GB wins either Atl wins either 5-Falcons, 6-Lions
My concern is that we are playing the Lions, who have proven to be a dirty team. If we were playing anyone else, I wouldn’t be so worried, but this team was so confident at the beginning of the season and finally ready to do their Thanksgiving day spotlight justice and then got embarrassed by the Packers… and Suh. I see them wanting revenge… What better way than hurting a key player, like Aaron.
The Lions have to know the refs will be watching them like hawks. I’d LOVE to see the Packers egg them especially that pile of shiat Suh, into doing something stupid and getting another suspension.
Do you really think a 15 yard penalty is that big of a deal when compared to ruining the Packers chances at Super Bowl? Look, I realize that may be a bit dramatic, but I don’t see the refs stopping the Lions from their dirty play. Plus, plenty can be done away from the eyesight of the officials.
I could def. see someone like Suh doing The Stupid Thing and trying to cheap shot Rodgers or try to cripple an O-lineman again, but I think even Schwartz isn’t a big enough fucktard to let his wild child dirty no talent assclown defense do whatever they want and risk suspension during the playoffs just for the opportunity to do some thuggish shit in a meaningless game. Fuck the Lions, right now I hate them more than the Bears and Vikings and as a dude in his mid-20s, who hasn’t really ever seen a relevant Detroit team, that’s a big statement. Go Pack.
This game does not affect seeding for either team, so they both will likely pull players at different points. The Lions will then go on the road to face the Dallas-New York winner. I think the winner of that divisional game faces the Pack in Rd.2, correct? At some point, the Pack will have to face either San Fran or NO…as long as they take care of business. Not an easy challenge for them with how their defense has been playing all season. Let’s hope the confidence of playing at home is enough to carry them through and back to the Super Bowl.
Yes it does Vijay, the Lions can fall to sixth seed.
What’s he suppose to say? That we’re gonna play to win until half-time? Then we’re gonna go to lunch and let the backups finish the game.
Win with Flynn…lol
let vic so’to play all the game so everyone can see how good he is
I say rest the banged up starters and only starters that are healthy. Don’t need anyone aggravating an existing injury heading into the playoffs. However, I don’t want them to lay down like the Colts did in past seasons when they had home field advantage locked up.
I would like to see Clifton and Bulaga play just so we can all see that they are indeed back.
Woodson, Matthews and Driver probably sit for sure.
Leave the seeding as it is. I like it this way. Let D-troi play the Giants in the first round, at least one of them will be gone then. And let the Falcons replay the Saints. The Falcons are the last team the Saints want to see back. You never like playing a divisional rival in the playoffs.
If the Falcons beat the Saints, they would play us and the Lions/Giants winner would go to San Fran. That would be the best case scenario.
You can rest AJ “I’ll tackle you 5 yards down field while getting run over” Hawk all you want. I’d rather see DJ Smith for the rest of the season.
Walden’s play has been attrocious and Zombo should be given another chance to get hurt in his place.
Cliffy needs to get back in there – but only after Rodgers comes out.
We have a bye week to rest up already. Don’t want the players getting off rythem. Play everybody until the start of the fourth. Kill the Lions hopes and momentum. Make them second guess themselves. Don’t want them walking in the playoffs with any confidence. As far as Suh, he will screw himself! and goodbye for the playoffs. Play to win. we don’t want the shitbag lions coming to our home and showing us up or making us feel that we have to rest for safety! Its Lion hunting time!!!