I don't know how many of those were games in which the Packers were already going to the playoffs and their seeding was pretty much set. Maybe a few. The only time it's happened in Mike McCarthy's tenure was at the end of the 2007 season. It was a home game against the Lions. Several key players were inactive for that game with minor or nonexistent injuries, including Driver, Jennings, Woodson, Kampman, and Pickett. Favre was benched early in the second quarter and Ryan Grant was yanked quickly as well. They still won easily because the Lions were so bad, but they did not give anywhere near their full effort.

I expect a similar effort against the Cardinals on Sunday. I wouldn't mind if they took the game more seriously, though. I trust McCarthy to take the team's pulse and know what is best for them in this situation.

I'm just having a hard time picturing McCarthy's pep talk before the game: "We've got to beat the Cardinals so, um.......we can play them again next week!"

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