GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Detroit Lions and head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers meet after the Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 30-17 at Lambeau Field on November 6, 2017 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

This week’s pain could be the long-term gain for the Green Bay Packers.

As a Packers fan, I’ll never root for them to lose. Especially against a division rival.

But going into a Week 17 matchup without Aaron Rodgers, and likely also missing Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Aaron Jones and Nick Perry, I sure expect them to lose.

That’s especially true with the Lions reportedly not planning to sit quarterback Matthew Stafford, or any of their starters for that matter.

Like just about every Packers fan, I’ll sit down to watch the game on Sunday and cheer on my team. It’s almost impossible not to.

But while a victory would provide a feel-good finish to an otherwise disappointing season, it wouldn’t help the team in any other way. Losing, on the other hand, could.

If the season ended today, Green Bay would own the 14th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Not since 2009 has Ted Thompson picked inside the top-half of the draft.

Should they lose to the Lions on Sunday, their position could move even higher.

Green Bay is currently tied with Washington and Arizona at 7-8.

The Redskins play the Giants this week. The Cardinals play on the road to the Seahawks. Washington is a realistic bet to win and jump above Green Bay, giving the Packers a higher draft pick.

The 6-9 Dolphins can still overtake the Packers with a win, but that would be determined on strength-of-schedule.

Realistically, a loss on Sunday would mean the Packers pick at either No. 12 or No. 13 in the first round.

A win could have the opposite effect. Victory over the Lions could give Green Bay a draft pick as a low as No. 19, depending on the outcomes of games featuring the Chargers, Bills and Cowboys.

A meaningless victory over the Lions could cost the Packers as many as seven positions in the draft. Is it worth it?

That could be the difference between selecting All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald (selected 12th overall in 2014) or safety Calvin Pryor (18th overall the same year) who is now at his third team.

It’s not that simple, of course, but in theory, a higher pick gives the team a better chance of landing an elite talent.

Mike McCarthy will prepare his players to win. There will be no talk of “tanking”. This game means something to the players. They are competing for contracts, playing time and to put good film on tape. Draft picks will be the last thing on their minds.

But for us, the fans, it’s a different story.

It may be a step too far to actually root against the Packers, but the short-term frustration of a third consecutive loss on Sunday could actually make a positive difference by April.