We made it to the final game of the season. For many teams around the league, this game represents a shot at a playoff berth.
For the Packers, it’s just another game on the schedule as they already have the No. 1 seed in the NFC wrapped up. But therein lies the problem. Do you rest your notable players or let them play?
“I know that you can look at it a million different ways and there’s never a right answer unless it works out,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday. “If somebody goes in there and gets injured then, ‘Well, why’d you play your guys?’ But if you go out there in that first playoff game and you lay an egg,’’Well, why’d you rest your guys?’ So there’s not a right answer.”
The starters are going to play at Detroit on Sunday and I completely agree. What has LaFleur’s philosophy been since he got here? All gas and no break. Even if that means that Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, De’Vondre Campbell and Adrian Amos play about one quarter or maybe a little more, it’s still important for the starters to play.
If the starters sit, they wouldn’t get game action until Jan. 22 or 23. Rust is a real thing, especially for the offensive skill guys that depend on rhythm and coordination — things that can be improved with increased reps.
Yeah, I am mildly interested in Jordan Love getting playing time, but I’m not sure what it’s going to mean. Even if Love struggles and throws a couple of picks and doesn’t look very confident in the pocket, I don’t think it will be right to judge him. He has started one regular season game and this game will be geared toward Rodgers’ skill set.
Even though this is basically a meaningless Week 18 game, it isn’t a preseason contest. The Lions are going to come after the Packers. And even though Detroit is 2-13-1, that team has played hard under first-year coach Dan Campbell.
It really is a delicate balance, but this is a game that the Packers should still try to win. The last thing you want to do as an athlete is go out there with the mentality to not get hurt. Because when you do that, it seems like injury just finds you.
Put your foot on the gas and treat this game like any other regular season game. Same mindset: play to win.
Just because there’s nothing to play for in this one, doesn’t mean that the playing to win mentality should be placed on the backburner. That is how every team should approach every non-preseason game.
It may appear meaningless on the schedule, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t matter.
——————-
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on “Clubhouse Live” and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn