With Health A Primary Concern, Packers Mulling Over Who Will Play Next Week

The Green Bay Packers, who this weekend clinched the top seed in the NFC, are mulling over whether they will rest their starters in their final game of the season this weekend against the Detroit Lions.

"I'm not going to stand here and tell you we're going to give away an opportunity to win a game," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy told ESPN. "We're going to play to win the game next week. I'm not real excited about a division opponent coming in here and thinking we're not going to do everything we can to get to 15-1. But health is an issue for us and I think that's stating the obvious."

With their 35-21 win over the Chicago Bears last night, the Packers sit atop the NFL with a 14-1 overall record. The next best records in the league belong to the San Francisco 49ers and the New England Patriots, who are both currently 12-3.

At one point Green Bay stood 13-0 and were staring at a potential undefeated season, however those hopes were squashed when the team was upset 19-14 by the Kansas City Chiefs in week 15. With the possibility of a record setting 17-0 year off the shelf, many expect the Packers’ decision to rest their star players to be a much easier one.

"I think that's going to be up to Mike depending on how he wants to play it," quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN after being asked whether he would play Sunday. "We'll fall in line. I think as a close friend of [backup Matt Flynn], I wouldn't mind seeing him get an opportunity to play a little bit. But I'll definitely do whatever Mike says."