NFL Playoff Scenarios: Green Bay Packers and Teams That Should Rest Starters

Ah, yes. It's Week 17 of the NFL season. You know what that means?

Some teams, like the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, will be playing for their postseason lives. Others, like the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams, will be jockeying for better picks in the 2012 NFL Draft.

And then there are those, like these three teams, who have diddly squat to gain from Sunday's action and, as a result, would be wise to hold out their starters for most, if not all, of the game.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers have already wrapped up the No. 1 seed. They're not playing for an undefeated season (thanks KC!). Their offense is beat up and the absence of their starting tackles could jeopardize the health and safety of All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

So, remind me why Green Bay should give more than half a hoot, if that?

That's what I thought. Time to rest up, defending Super Bowl champs.

Houston Texans

No team would or should ever be pleased with backing into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak, especially one that's never played past the waxing days of January.

But when you're the Houston Texans, and you're stuck with the three-seed in the AFC whether you beat the Tennessee Titans or fail miserably to do so, does it really matter? Is it worth risking the health of quarterback TJ Yates, who's already your third-stringer to begin with?

Survey says...nay.

Pittsburgh Steelers

It's not that the Steelers don't have something on the line coming into Week 17. It's just that the Cleveland Browns are so bad that Pittsburgh could probably win with its practice squad on the field.

Remember, the Steelers slogged it out with the Browns only three weeks ago while Ben Roethlisberger was hobbling around on what at the time looked like a broken leg. They did just fine with Charlie Batch under center against Pat Shurmur's old team last week, dominating the St. Louis Rams, 27-0. Surely, they should have plenty of success against Shurmur's current squad with Batch making the calls and their aging defense resting up in the Forest City.

A victory, though, hardly guarantees any postseason advantage for the Steelers. They'll need the Baltimore Ravens to lose to the Bengals in Cincinnati just to have a chance at a bye and a home playoff game.

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