5 Big Questions Facing Green Bay Packers v. Detroit Lions

The Green Bay Packers may have the one seed locked up and playing in a mostly meaningless game against the Detroit Lions, but that doesn’t mean that aren’t still 5 Big Questions facing this team.

As I do each and every week as part of my game preview, I dive into the big questions facing the Green Bay Packers ahead of their upcoming matchup.

How long will the Green Bay Packers starters play?

Rest verse rust. This is the debate that many have had this week when it comes to whether or not Matt LaFleur should play his starters in a meaningless game against Detroit–although it doesn’t sound like it was ever much of a debate for LaFleur, who has said from the get-go that his starters will play.

As LaFleur told reporters, three weeks off is certainly a long time without any live reps heading into the playoffs. While Aaron Rodgers would also mention that his toe is feeling much better and playing will give Green Bay the opportunity to continue building upon their momentum. Not to mention the importance of giving players like Josh Myers and potentially David Bakhtiari some reps before the playoffs begin.

On the flip side, it only takes one misstep for Rodgers’ toe to be reinjured, whereas if he rests, it could be completely healed by the divisional round. Resting Green Bay’s starters also eliminates the possibility of injury, and we would get to see more of Jordan Love.

There are pros and cons to each category, and as LaFleur would go on to say, he’s likely to be questioned either way.

While I would lean towards resting the starters to avoid injury, I don’t feel terribly strongly either way and see the merit of both sides. Also, there may not be another coach in football who has the pulse of his team like LaFleur does–and if he’s comfortable with the Green Bay starters taking the field, then so am I.

My guess is that the Packers’ key players will be out there for at most two quarters, but possibly just one.