Agreed, but with a 1st round bye, somebody would have to be really screwed up to need more than two weeks rest.
The other issue too, is that they may need a 16th win to guarantee home field advantage. I'm not sold on the 49ers, but their remaining schedule is pretty easy. It's not impossible for them to end up 15-1.
Very good point! It just damn well may take a 16-0 record for us to fend off the 9 'ers! Of course, the only undefeated record that us Packer fans are most concerned with is during the post season, yet, 19-0 would be the icing on the cake, no doubt. As great as it is for us to be 10-0 and enjoying a 3 game cushion in our division with only 6 games left, it's just as frustrating to know that after 10 games played, SF is in the opportunistic position they are and with an easier remaining schedule in the fight for home field advantage.
I don't want to stray from the topic thread, but how often has it ever occurred in either conference where one team is undefeated and another has only ONE loss with just a handful of games left in the regular season? I'm an old guy and I can't remember such an instance! If memory serves me, the undefeated '72 Dolphins, the '07 Pats
{perfect regular season} and the '09 Colts
{back to back losses in the last two games of the regular season} all had an average lead of at least 3 games when clinching home field advantage. So that said, on the discussion of staying perfect, those aforementioned teams who were striving to go undefeated heading into the last game or two of the regular season had some breathing room, whereas in our position, we are undefeated with SIX games left and don't have that luxury of a comfortable cushion which puts even more added pressure on us. I'm not at all saying those teams weren't feeling the pressure in their quest to stay perfect, but I would think that when you do have a comfortable lead as they did, in my opinion it would be like gambling with "house" money and there would seem to be less pressure, yet, also, there is the risk of injury to key players teams have to be concerned with
{as was the factor in the Colts decision to rest players during their run}. It's a "Catch 22" for a team, yet, the Patriots went for it all!
This "going undefeated/regular season loss not hurting us" discussion is crazy to even debate! We have watched every game for "unteen" years cheering on the Packers to win no matter what their record is, so hell yes we want them to go 19-0. We are the defending SB champs and unlike former champions, we are NOT following up a SB win with a lack-luster season performance as our record is proving this year. We control our own destiny and can't rely on somebody to knock off SF for us. We just have to continue to stay focused, take it one game at a time, secure home field and continue into the playoffs playing like the defending champions we are. Sounds like a worn out cliche, but it is what it is and I really like our chances for a "repeat" and/or better yet, an undefeated season as well.
