That is the question. It comes up anytime a team has made the playoffs and an additional week will not effect their seeding, whether that be already locking in a first round bye, or already clinching a wildcard spot.

And, obviously, those players who have gotten a little banged up in the last couple of weeks will be rested. Owens would top that list, the self-proclaimed ‘fast healer’ being diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, an injury that can take anywhere from two to six weeks to recover completely from.

As for what to do with the ’star’ players, there are different philosophies. Personally, I’ve always been of the opinion that you rest your starters at your own peril. Sure, there is a chance at injury, but you can’t play the game scared of injury. An injury can happen on any play of any game.

And, I’m not saying that the star players need to play all four quarters, but I think there is something to said with too much inactivity. Football is about timing, and sitting around for three weeks without any real game time can effect that timing. A little bit of rust can build up, and the last thing the Cowboys need going into their first playoff game — a game that they may or may not have T.O. for — is to be trying to knock off some rust.

I would treat it like a preseason game. Let them go in, play for a bit, get some game time, hopefully put together a good drive or two, and then think about putting in some younger guys for game experience.

It might even be a good idea to leave Romo in for three quarters or more. If the Cowboys do need to win a playoff game without T.O, it might be good to get some more game time with Hurd and Austin and, hopefully, Terry Glenn.

But, at the end of the day, this is the type of dilemma you like to have for your team. I’d much prefer to go into the last week of the season debating whether or not to rest the starting quarterback than to be stuck figuring out the mathematical possibilities of making the playoffs.