The Green Bay Packers were guaranteed to make the playoffs and they could not win their division.
But on a day when many of the NFL’s best teams rested star players or pulled them early, the Pack chose to send quarterback Jordan Love and wide receiver Christian Watson onto the field.
GettyJordan Love was forced off the field due to injury[/caption]
Love completed seven passes and threw for 69 yards.
Then Green Bay watched its entire season suddenly on the verge of disaster.
“Jordan Love is having his arm looked at on the sideline,” tweeted FOX Sports.
“Oh no,” a fan replied.
Love was soon being examined off the field.
Then Green Bay’s best hope of advancing through the NFC playoffs was ruled as questionable to return to a game that the Pack didn’t have to win.
“Haven’t they locked up playoffs?” one fan tweeted. “Why are they playing their starters?”
“Why the f*** would they play him this game?” a second fan posted.
When Watson was pictured holding his head while being carted off the field, bad became worse for an 11-5 team that couldn’t win the NFC North but still had sleeper Super Bowl potential.
“This team being held together by tape and gum going into the playoffs,” a fan tweeted.
GettyChristian Watson was carted off the same field[/caption]
GettyLove’s status for the playoffs could be impacted by his Week 18 injury[/caption]
Watson entered Sunday against the Chicago Bears ranking third on the Packers in receiving yards.
Love led Green Bay to a stunning playoff road win over the Dallas Cowboys last season.
But while the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions played for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage, all the Pack could benefit from was eclipsing the Washington Commanders as the No. 6 seed.
With Watson suddenly dealing with a knee injury and Love having to process an elbow injury, two of the biggest names in Green Bay became huge question marks for a much bigger game in a week.
Kansas City chose to rest Patrick Mahomes on Sunday, while the Houston Texans treated their Week 18 matchup like a preseason contest and removed C.J. Stroud after a drive.
After a week filled with constant rest vs rust debates, the Packers reminded fans across the league why owners, general managers, coaches and teams are often so reluctant to play key starters in Week 18.
There is often little to no upside, and there is a huge downside.
Love was later seen throwing on the sideline.
But if the star QB is off target or limited in the playoffs, the real damage will have been done in a Week 18 regular-season finale that was almost meaningless for the Packers.
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talkSPORT will bring you live coverage across Week 18 with a double header featuring the Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions.