Should Pack go for perfection or exercise caution?

By GREG PECK ( Contact )   Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - 10:44 a.m.

The Packers might have escaped disaster Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. The Pack enjoyed a 31-0 halftime lead, and Jennings hurt his knee early in the third quarter. Instead of it being a season-ending injury, however, reports suggest it’s a knee sprain and he will be out two to three weeks. Jennings is expected back in time for the January playoffs.

Whew!

While the Packers are loaded at receiver—stocked perhaps better there than at any other position—it served as a warning for the club and fans who would like to see Green Bay win its last three regular-season games and finish 16-0 heading into the playoffs.

It’s the same dilemma faced by every team that goes undefeated through most of the season. Do they go for perfection or, once they’ve secured home-field advantage through the playoffs, rest players and protect stars from possible injury before the playoffs begin?

Does sitting out players risk ruining the cohesiveness and “edge” that got the Pack to this point with an unblemished record? Would it be better to taste defeat now and perhaps go into the playoffs with the bitter taste that might leave—providing the edge that might propel the team to a second-consecutive Super Bowl victory?

Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook

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(18)
kiowamohican
Dec 16, 2011 at 3:38 a.m.
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last two posters = RIGHT ON!

packattack
Dec 15, 2011 at 11:23 a.m.
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Injuries can happen in the first or last game or any where in between. Last year the Pack had to overcome injuries, just as they have these last couple of games. IMO I say go for PERFECTION. The Green Bay Packers have and always will set the precedent.

deplanedeplane
Dec 15, 2011 at 9:43 a.m.
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They are paid tp play, you play to win....hopefully common sense will prevail as it did against the raiders.

kiowamohican
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:34 a.m.
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"The plan will be to run up the score in the first half, then sit Rogers. Won't be too hard against the Bears and Lions."
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I disagree...These teams will be VERY motivated to end the streak..You get everyone's best shot when you are the marque team. I think KC will play closer then most expect this week (I'd bet KC with the +14 betting line). When the patriots had their perfect regular season, they were tested right to the end many games down the stretch. Nothing motivates professions more then saying " we knocked off the best...Snapped their perfect streak".

kiowamohican
Dec 15, 2011 at 3:28 a.m.
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You PLAY TO WIN (need I say the famous Herman Edwards post game rant)! Sitting players is BEYOND MORONIC. It has been attempted MANY times in the past, and TOTALLY back fired. Off the top of my head, Denver did it years back, and lost the 1st round to Jacksonville..After that it was tried many more times, and the result was uncannily often the same..It simply takes players out of their rhythm. It's just a bad idea, no matter if your playing for perfection, or not. It's really been time tested to FAIL when you sit guys (football, baseball, and basketball..I can site cases in every one)..Injuries are always a risk you take any time you line up. We lost about 12 players to injury last season..STILL managed to win. Injuries are all a part of the game..Take the field and PLAY THE GAME like you ALWAYS DO..Don't cower to this "we might lose so and so"...If you have that attitude, you are DONE!

bucky12345
Dec 14, 2011 at 10:39 p.m.
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Don't mess with the streak win them all.

hiredgun
Dec 14, 2011 at 3:15 p.m.
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Perfection is nice, but not at the cost of injuries to key players. The Packers should concentrate on the homefield advantage, then rest their key players.

cynicaleye
Dec 14, 2011 at 2:39 p.m.
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Just play football. It's a game after all, not life.

thediplomat
Dec 14, 2011 at 1:22 p.m.
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Go for it all and shut those old Miami players up. I am tired of hearing about their champagne celebration year after year. Sorry, but the Patriots record is far more impressive than what they did.

Zoom
Dec 14, 2011 at 12:21 p.m.
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The plan will be to run up the score in the first half, then sit Rogers. Won't be too hard against the Bears and Lions.

humbird56
Dec 14, 2011 at 11:51 a.m.
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Go for it! Play it just like the Raider game. Play to win and then pull some starters at the end of the game. I am so tired of listening to the 72 Dolphins tell us how great they were.

justoneof
Dec 14, 2011 at 11:50 a.m.
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to win back to back super bowls are one thing, but to have the perfect season will always be remembered. go for the perfect season.

emac
Dec 14, 2011 at 11:02 a.m.
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If you are going to lose a game do it during the regular season. One loss in the playoffs sends you home. Personally I would take a page from the Colts playbook and "sit" as many starters as possible during the last 2 games. The way the Bears looked last week you could probably field the practice squad on Christmas day and win by 3. (P.S.I am a lifetime Bears fan)

Acer
Dec 14, 2011 at 11:01 a.m.
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With the teams they have left, I think they can do both.

garyprimer
Dec 14, 2011 at 10:54 a.m.
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Choke!

IndyColtFan
Dec 14, 2011 at 10:52 a.m.
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They should definitely go for it (16-0). I have never forgiven my team in 2009 for tanking after they were 14-0. It was deflating for the whole organization and fan base. For those who don`t remember, we lost the Super Bowl that year to New Orleans. We haven`t been the same since. It was the worst decision in professional sports ever imo.

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