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Are you hoping Packers earn a bye?

By GREG PECK ( Contact ) Thursday, December 27, 2012 - 12:30 p.m.

Some Packer players would appreciate an extra week of rest. The team has suffered more than its share of injuries this season, and some key players are just getting healthy. Wouldn’t a win over Minnesota on Sunday, which would guarantee a first-round playoff bye and a second-round game at Lambeau Field, be the best route to the Super Bowl?

Well, maybe not. Keep in mind that the Pack barely squeaked into the playoffs two years ago, then went on the road and tore through the competition to the Super Bowl trophy. Last season, after a 15-1 regular season, the team earned a first-round bye, only to stumble when the New York Giants came to Lambeau Field. As we all know, the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl.

So which makes more sense? Continuing to play each week on the path to a Super Bowl, even if it means a loss Sunday in Minneapolis, which might diminish the momentum the Packers are building? Or earning a win against the Vikings and getting an extra week for rest and rehab before hosting some playoff foe at Lambeau?

Were you confident that this Packer team, now 11-4, would be sitting in such a great position after staggering to a 2-3 start?

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

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(8)

killngrill
Feb 5, 2013 at 9:16 a.m.
Suggest removal

DahBears!!

dtb
Dec 27, 2012 at 9:28 p.m.
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Last year's playoff loss had less to do with a bye week than the fact that OC Joe Philbin lost his son and wasn't with the team for a crucial week of practice; then tried to return on Saturday for a Sunday game. The whole team went to the Thursday funeral and it was clear they were distracted and off nearly the whole game. The defense was their usual terrible self, and it didn't matter so much during the regular season that they gave up 35 points a game because the O could put up 45. When that didn't happen, they lost.

will_kirchmayer
Dec 27, 2012 at 9:11 p.m.
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No.

saxcat70
Dec 27, 2012 at 1:39 p.m.
Suggest removal

yes. go bears!

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