Should Green Bay Packers Rest Starters After Failed 16-0 Perfect Season Bid?

The 1972 Dolphins popped their champagne and lit their cigars Sunday night, as the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated the Green Bay Packers from being the NFL's next undefeated team with a 19-14 win.

The Chiefs manhandled the Packers, controlling the ball for almost 37 minutes and holding a lead for all but a couple of minutes in the third quarter.

Now, with history out the window, do the Packers sit their starters in the coming weeks?

There are a few factors to ponder here.

First, the Packers have to secure home-field advantage. It might happen before the Packers play another game, as the San Francisco 49ers have two games (Monday night, Saturday night) before Green Bay takes the field next on Christmas night.

If the 49ers win those two games—home against Pittsburgh and at Seattle—there's no reason for the Packers to rest starters. Home-field advantage has to be secured before the Packers can take their foot off the wheel. That's first. 

However, let's assume that the 49ers lose one of those two games before the Packers play the Bears in Week 16. That's not a crazy assumption, as the Steelers present a tough matchup and the Seahawks are playing really good football. 

If home-field advantage is locked up, coach Mike McCarthy will definitely have some choices to make regarding his top players. 

McCarthy already has three offensive lineman out right now in Chad Clifton, Bryan Bulaga and Derek Sherrod. Josh Sitton has also missed time this season. 

Bulaga has a knee sprain and a MRI Monday will determine how long he is out. It's a strong possibility he could miss Sunday's game. Sherrod broke his leg and will miss the rest of the season. 

Clifton has been out since a Week 5 win in Atlanta with a torn hamstring. He still hasn't practiced and isn't expected to this week. Sitton finally returned last week after suffering a knee sprain in Detroit.  

That brings me to the bigger issue: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

Will the Packers throw Rodgers to the wolves behind a makeshift offensive line if there's nothing to play for? Sure, there is something to knocking the Bears out of the playoffs. But is it really worth the risk of potentially getting Rodgers injured?

Without No. 12 under center, the Packers' Super Bowl hopes (which, as a reminder, are still alive despite losing a perfect season) go up in smoke. 

Certainly, I think McCarthy would have kept his foot on the gas if the chance for 16-0 were still alive. But now that starters are dropping like flies and history no longer applies, it may be time to start looking at the big picture. Don't be surprised if you see a heavy dose of backups against the Bears if home field advantage is locked up.

The starters will still start, but Matt Flynn and Co. should see the field early if the Packers' regular season goals are completed.