Packers Discussion: Do you want Green Bay to play their starters in Week 18?

Welcome to the 80th edition of the rest or rust debate, a sports radio staple. Despite all the discourse, I don’t think we’ve figured out whether or not it’s better to rest starters, if you have nothing substantial to gain in the final week of the season, or if you should just be playing them going into the playoffs.

With that being said, I’ve already seen some strong opinions about what the Green Bay Packers should do in Week 18, at least in certain circumstances.

As a refresher, this is what could happen in Week 17:

• If the Packers win against the Baltimore Ravens, they won’t be locked into the seventh seed in the NFC. If they lose, they will clinch the seventh seed.
• If both the Packers win and the Chicago Bears lose, Green Bay will have an opportunity to win the NFC North in Week 18 (with another win and another Bears loss).
• If the Packers win and the Bears win, Green Bay will just be playing for road wild card seeding in the first round of the playoffs in Week 18.

There are some fans who, if the division is out of reach going into Week 18, want the team to sit their players against the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale. Hell, some people think the Packers should rest some key players against the Ravens this week, too, even with the division still being up for grabs.

Personally, I think that if there’s anything to be gained by winning, Green Bay will be playing their starters. That’s just how I see it playing out. Unless the Packers lose to the Ravens, I’m assuming the Green Bay starters will be suiting up against the Vikings.

But let’s hear it from you guys: Rest or rust?