Chuck from Santa Ana, CA

What's a phone booth?

It's funny, I saw that line in Wes's Saturday column, which may have subliminally come from my mentioning to him in the press box Thursday night how the Packers were playing "phone booth football" when they lined up with everybody tight to the ball and nobody split out wide. I don't know if anybody but a nerd like me even uses that reference anymore.

Craig from St. Petersburg, FL

Mike, I thoroughly enjoy the live blog during games, but I enjoy games even more when you sign off with five minutes remaining. Keep the trend going, okay?

I'll do my best. There are other times that happens, too, though …

Rob from Elgin, IL

I think we really got a chance in Detroit. What are the keys to victory?

Exactly what the Packers have done the past few games – protect the football, set the tone with the ground game, execute in the red zone, limit explosive plays defensively, and get a takeaway here or there. It's a winning formula against pretty much anybody. Against the Lions, I'd say reducing the penalties as much as possible would help, too.

Everett from LeSueur, MN

How will the gameplan differ from what it was when they played the Lions earlier?

Jordan Love is healthy, not one week removed from the groin injury that knocked him out of the Jacksonville game. The Packers aren't going to reveal the types of plays/concepts that weren't considered for the first go-round vs. Detroit with Love far less than fully mobile, but I'm sure there were some that could be options in the rematch.

Josh from Newhall, CA

First, a thank you is owed to our II writers who have to take time from even their holidays to satisfy our insatiable hunger for Packers content. It's greatly appreciated. I came away from the loss to Detroit feeling optimistic. Watching that game it didn't look like they were actually better than us. It was our unforced errors that cost us that one. Am I off base with this? I feel good about our chances Thursday if we can simply minimize the errors like the last two games.

The first matchup was a potpourri of dropped passes, penalties, and a game-changing miscue late in the first half with the pick-six. The Packers put themselves in a hole and then Detroit just sat back and got the clock to zero. I think the Lions can play better than they did, and more aggressively if needed, but turning the tide starts with the Packers playing cleaner football.

Tom from Palatine, IL

I don't want to make too much of this but the Packers have been much more efficient in the red zone in recent games which sort of coincides with Robert Saleh joining the coaching staff and taking a look at our offense from a defensive view point. Is there any credence to this or is it just LaFleur and the offense getting comfortable and discovering what we do best and doing it more often? Really enjoy the content so thanks for all you and the website deliver. Go Pack Go!

I can't speak to anything Saleh might've contributed as far as red-zone analysis. But I can say the Packers have reduced the negative plays in the red zone – penalties, TFLs, sacks, etc. – which has kept them in favorable down-and-distance and kept the entire playbook open down there. For much of the season, the Packers went backwards a lot in the red zone. That's happening less often and better results have followed.

Adrian from Oregon City, OR

Our happy Monday Inbox came on Friday. To be happy next Friday, the Packers will have to match the physicality of the Lions and figure out how to disrupt Jared Goff, who throws on time with pinpoint accuracy in a well-designed offense. Tall order. But it's looking like the Packers drew a good time to play the Lions.

We shall see. Detroit's defense was really on a roll until the second half Thursday. The Lions had shut out the Texans in the second half, held the Jags to six points and the Colts to six, and shut out the Bears in the first half. That's 12 quarters, 12 points allowed, before Chicago suddenly scored three TDs.

Wayne from Stevens Point, WI

Fourth snap of game put the cold in the 'Fins. I know Josh Jacobs is shifty, I know he breaks tackles, I know he finds holes, but how fast is his game speed? Maybe it was TV camera angle, when he didn't have people hanging on him, I think he was out running a similarly unimpeded No. 21 for the Dolphins.

No one will confuse Jacobs for De'Von Achane or Jahmyr Gibbs, but he's plenty fast in the open field. I know he's not 21 anymore like his draft year, but back then there were concerns about his speed when he clocked a 4.64 in the 40 at the combine. Then at Alabama's pro day he ran a 4.52.

Dave from North Potomac, MD

I'd like to point out two things about the comment by Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua. First, I've been rightly called out for chortling in the Inbox and the comment could be considered as such. Second, go back and see who made the tackle on Jacobs. Dodson got beat once but turned, took a good angle, and made sure he didn't get beat a second time. That was a pro response.

Very true.

Joe from Plano, IL

Regarding the declined delay of game penalty, what's to stop the offense from continually taking delays until the defense accepts the penalty?

Purposefully repeating a penalty that's been declined could be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.

Michael from Portland, OR

How far can a lineman go down field on a pass play before it's a penalty? On Miami's screen pass for a TD it sure looked like a lineman was 5 yards downfield but no penalty and not even a comment from the broadcast team.

Anything more than a yard is too far. They definitely missed that one, unless there's something about the rule I don't understand.

Al from Green Bay, WI

I just watched the Vikings/Cardinals game. Late in the fourth while ahead 19-16 with a first-and-goal at the 5, Arizona was called for a false start. The replay clearly showed the Vikings player jumping into the neutral zone first. But instead of first-and-goal inside the 3, it moved back to the 10. Ultimately AZ kicked a field goal, and then Minnesota marched down for a winning TD. The bad call was likely the difference in that game. Shouldn't the "eye in the sky" in NY have intervened?

An offside vs. false start decision is not under the purview of replay assist. That was a huge miss at a critical juncture, no doubt.

Mike from Seattle, WA

I watched all three Thanksgiving games. In especially the two earlier games, there were ton of injuries. Detroit's D felt like they were on fourth-stringers. However it felt like there were an inordinate amount of injuries and injury timeouts, even the commentators in all games seemed surprised at the injuries. How much do you think that was due to playing on a short week? And do you think the NFL or players' union are looking at that?

Short weeks are brutal on players' bodies, and Thursday football isn't going anywhere.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentlemen, great choices on turning points in the game. I would like to add an honorable mention. The six-point swing at halftime, and demoralizing effect of a 22-second drive for the Packers score. Game is much more interesting if score is 21-6 at half.

Especially with Miami getting the ball to start the third quarter. Isaiah McDuffie had the big hit on Washington to create the incompletion on third-and-5, and then Tua's fourth-down throw was off, giving the Packers those last 22 seconds, with all three timeouts, too.

Keith from Truro, Canada

Hi guys: I've never seen a team has such good luck as the Chiefs. That game Friday should have gone to the Raiders. Another unfortunate event. The Chiefs have been on the ropes three or four times this season. They better be looking over their shoulder.

I'm sure the Chiefs are nowhere near satisfied with their level of play in a number of games this season. Their pass protection and pass defense leaves plenty to be desired, but they've still got time to find their best game just like all the other contenders.

Scott from Las Vegas, NV

Did you ever think at this point in the season that the Packers would be 9-3 and the Jets would be 3-9?

No on the latter, but nothing truly shocks me in this league anymore. The Jets had 21 points on the board with 10 minutes left in the second quarter and didn't score the rest of the game to lose to the Seahawks. And yet at this point it barely makes you shrug.

Pat from Stoddard, WI

Thanks to Mike for a great breakdown of the goal-line stand in Saturday's WYMM. I want to point out another key on the third-down incompletion. The inside penetration of T.J. Slaton, Lukas Van Ness, and Kenny Clark force their TE to "bow" his route. He doesn't get to the flat as quickly as he could have which allows Keisean Nixon to be in great position to break up the pass. A great example of everyone doing their job. Thanks for all you guys do. GPG!

Very astute observation, and I should've included it in the rundown.

Gretchen from Dousman, WI

Thank you, Mike, for WYMM. What I learn from them makes me a better fan. I hope you got a well-deserved extra helping of green bean casserole.

Ha. I got three – two on Thursday, leftovers on Friday.

Lee from Citrus Heights, CA

I hope all of you at packers.com media had a good a holiday as Jacobs did waltzing away with the platter! What would be a priority, moving up in the playoff standings or keeping players healthy?

Hopefully both. But if you're talking about resting players to keep them healthy, the Packers are a long way from pondering anything like that.

Jeremy from Tampa, FL

Coaches can't win. Eberflus gets ridiculed for not running one more play before a FG attempt and Pierce runs one more play and disaster strikes. Players not plays proven right again.

That's a valid point regarding the end of the Packers-Bears game. How it was handled is debatable. But taking a timeout home with you on Thanksgiving is not.

Brian from Urbana, IL

Y'all buy the narrative that Eberflus' record in one-score games was a result of his poor clock management?

It wasn't solely about poor clock management. Game management at crunch time encompasses a litany of things – play-calling, personnel, matchups, situational awareness – as well as the clock and timeouts. When a coach has the worst record in NFL history in one-score games, it covers a lot of ground.

Brett from Pasadena, CA

This just popped into my head now I can't seem to make it go away. Would Robert Saleh consider taking the Bears head coaching job? I'm sure he will be on a short list. With the right coach Da Bears are going to be a team that competes. I know just beat the Lions. Moving on!

I have to believe the Bears' coaching search will be all about finding the guy they believe can develop Caleb Williams into a true franchise QB, which almost certainly means an offensive coach.

Dan from Morehead City, NC

On the Dolphins' tip touchdown pass does Xavier McKinney get a pass defensed for the tip?

No.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

The top four rushing teams in the NFL going into Sunday's games have a combined record of 37-10. Coincidence?

Doubt it.

TK from Grafton, WI

I have believed for a long time that the playing field in the NFL is too level for any team to go out and just physically dominate its opponent week after week. College? Yes. NFL? No. Am I mistaken?

No.

Carl from Antigo, WI

Can the Pack win the NFC Central?

Don't think so.

Kevin from Rockton, IL

Hey Mike, is it Bazooka, Double Bubble or Big League Chew?

Bazooka. It's all about the comic strip, Joe. I mean, Kevin.

Josh from Easton, PA

If someone was to tell me that the Packers would be 9-3 after what happened throughout September, I would call them crazy. I know everyone loves to look forward to the rest of the season, but it's always a treat to look back and recognize the progress this team has made, especially with a perfect October and near-perfect November!

The Packers have put themselves in good position. Let's see what they do with it.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

The Packers are 9-3 and considered lucky to be so after close wins. The Chiefs, Lions, and Vikings have all escaped multiple games in the past few weeks and are considered the best in the league. We even have a better point differential than the Chiefs. As fans we just need to appreciate the W's and move to the next game.

Happy Monday.