How long will the starters play?
Matt LaFleur decided against sitting his starters this week, meaning Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and other Packers stars will take the field on Sunday.
Entering the Divisional round of the playoffs on the back of a three-week break since their last in-game action may not have been the best idea, and ultimately, LaFleur knows his team and what they need.
If the Packers make it out of their matchup against the Lions without any bitten off kneecaps or other, more traditional injuries, the move will be a success, as ‘rust’ will be no excuse when Green Bay hosts their first playoff opponent.
With the starters suiting up, this week’s game does become a touch more meaningful, because now that Rodgers and company are playing, they need to play well.
They may be fighting for little more than professional pride with the NFC’s number one seed locked up, but Green Bay will not want to sleepwalk into their bye week on the back of a lacklustre performance versus the lowly Lions.
LaFleur indicated how long his starters play will be based on “feel” during the game, which may mean the better his team plays, the quicker they will be relieved of their duties.
That should be enough motivation for the Packers to match the Lions’ always stellar effort, get out to a lead and get out of harm’s way.
Give Love a chance
With Rodgers starting the game, Jordan Love will have to bide his time before getting his opportunity in Green Bay’s final game of the regular season.
Love was unceremoniously chucked into the deep end in his first start for the Packers, on the road against a blitz-crazy Kansas City defense, and has barely seen the field since that tough day at the office.
He did receive some playing time near the end of the Vikings game, but Green Bay were in ‘run the clock’ mode by that point.
There is a real chance Love gets a full half of football at Ford Field this week, which should present him an opportunity to get into a rhythm and hopefully put up some points against Detroit’s defense.
The Packers front office faces a massive decision at the quarterback decision this offseason, and Love should get a chance to put some good tape together this Sunday for Gutekunst and his crew to ponder.
Packers returning from injury
Things are starting to look up on the injury front for Green Bay, just in time for the playoffs.
Rookie center, Josh Myers will play this week for the first time since undergoing knee surgery earlier this season.
This news came somewhat out of nowhere, with Myers almost a forgotten man amid all the Packers’ other injured stars.
Myers had been solid, if unspectacular before his injury, and represents a clear upgrade on Lucas Patrick if he can get up to speed.
David Bakhtiari practiced in full on Friday, and appears to have a shot to see some action against the Lions.
That would be a massively positive development for Green Bay’s offensive line, which has held up impressively well despite being regularly depleted by one injury after another.
If Bakhtiari can get some snaps under his belt and get his feet wet before being thrown back into the fire in the high-pressure environment of a playoff game, the Packers’ postseason chances could receive a huge shot in the arm.
Battle of the St. Brown’s
Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a revelation for the Lions in his rookie season, emerging as a bright spot in another losing campaign for the NFC North’s resident basement-dwellers.
The receiver has racked up more than 850 total yards and five touchdowns to date, and looks to be a piece worth building around for the Lions going forward.
Green Bay has its own St. Brown of course, and the career of Equanimious has been filled with ups and downs so far.
In his fourth and possibly final year in green and gold, EQ has embraced his role and earned praise from Aaron Rodgers, as well as his trust.
Opportunities as a pass catcher have not been plentiful for EQ, but with some other Packers receivers likely to be pulled from the game at some point, he should get more of a chance to show his ability from scrimmage and give his younger brother a run for his money.
——————————————————-
Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @Marko7LW.