John from St. Albert, Canada

Hi Mike, another great WYMM! Between II and WYMM, I have gone from a fan who understood the basics to someone who understands the 1/11th. I used to be excited by splash plays. Now I get as excited, maybe more, by good blocks. Makes me think of a T-shirt: WYMM – nuance for the neophytes.

I like the combination of alliteration and vocabulary.

Nick from Prescott, WI

Isn't this week the coaches' favorite week? The team played bad but just good enough to win. That way they get the win, but still get to tear into the team and get after them. Is that old-school thinking or is that still done around the league?

Sure, coaches love having plenty to correct coming off a victory to keep the players focused, but it's not done with the fire and brimstone many assume. The players are very highly paid professionals, and professional treatment is generally what elicits the most professional response.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

What are some ways this Niners team is different from when last we met?

Deebo Samuel is healthy. His leaving the playoff game in January due to injury was significant. Also, last year's Niners were really strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring opponents more than two-to-one (156-73), including postseason. This year they've been outscored 88-61 in the fourth quarter.

Cindy from Mesa, AZ

Good morning! At the beginning of the season, Jeff Hafley was relatively unknown, and his defensive strategy and approach kept offensive coordinators guessing a little bit. After 11 weeks, what tendencies or trends has Hafley put on tape that help the opposition create a game plan? Do you think these tendencies have anything to do with the defense appearing less effective over the last few games?

The long NFL season is a never-ending cat-and-mouse game schematically. Hafley has come up with all kinds of different ways to rush four, with bluffs and drops to create confusion, while also utilizing stunts/picks to free up rushers. It's all out there. I do think he's less likely to rush five or six without his top cover corner out there, though I don't have any data to back that up. Does he have anything else to dial up? Any more changeups or fresh looks? Likely not having Edgerrin Cooper this week doesn't help there. We'll see.

Robert from Chandler, AZ

How much does the Pack's overall defense suffer when Jaire Alexander is not on the field?

I don't know how to quantify it, but it makes a difference in the game-planning, the play-calling, the energy of the unit, and other areas when your No. 1 corner isn't out there. That's reality. Nobody wants to use injuries as an excuse because everybody deals with them, but there's a reason No. 1 corners get paid what they do.

Steve from Wabasha, MN

I feel when Kenny Clark's toe is better our defense will be better. He is like our big toe.

That too, and good way of putting it. You and Dan from San Antonio are of the same mind.

Colin from Milwaukee, WI

A whole lot of classic matches between the 49ers and Pack over the years. While we aren't the primetime game this week and neither team has a HOF lock starting, I still feel like we might get another memorable game. Any player you have pinned as the most likely to have a career game this Sunday?

I don't know about career game, but I'm watching for Keisean Nixon. He could provide a major impact in two phases. Last January, he let a potential Purdy INT get away and ripped off a long kickoff return (saved by Eric Wilson). Alexander is still hurt, and the Niners have allowed a 97-yard kickoff return for a TD this season, with colder weather and potentially more opportunities in the return game coming Sunday.

Pete from Hillsborough, NC

Several years ago GB was deadly in the red zone. What do you think was different with that team? Maybe stouter OL play, different running style, different play calling, or just better execution one-on-one? I seem to remember (WCBW) more quick slants across the middle. Could this have drawn the DBs in some and opened the end zone a little?

The best red-zone offenses run the ball really well down there to set up everything else, and the Packers excelled in that regard a few years back, along with a goal-line master in Davante Adams. This year, penalties in the red zone have really hampered efficiency. The Packers have 19 RZ infractions. That puts you behind the sticks, which takes away the run. This last game, the Packers got some strong red-zone runs from Jacobs, and LaFleur admitted he should've stuck with him on the second-and-1 pass play that got flagged. The signs shown, with three TDs against the league's top red-zone defense, were positive overall.

Kent from Homosassa, FL

Family members from around the country have tickets for Dec. 15 in Seattle. What is the deadline for the league to "flex" the game? The late afternoon window includes Steelers at Eagles on FOX and Bills at Lions on CBS so it is a possibility. Can a network refuse to have a game flexed? I am sure you would be "heartbroken" if the kickoff was moved up four hours.

The league would have to make that flex decision at least 12 days in advance, and I wouldn't anticipate it changing with both teams in the playoff hunt. The afternoon networks are allowed to protect some games and those you mentioned could be protected anyway.

Doug from Cedar City, UT

I'm wondering why you say that 1939 was the last time the Packers won a game on a blocked field goal when I can recall definitively the Packers beat the Rams sometime in the early '80s (can't remember the exact year) when Gary Lewis blocked the potential game-winning field goal by Chuck Nelson. Am I wrong here?

I looked up that game, Week 3 of 1983, and Lewis blocked Nelson's 27-yard field goal with 2:10 left in a 27-24 Packers victory in Milwaukee. The 1939 reference was specifically related to the final play of the game.

Jim from Las Vegas, NV

Mikey, the pass from Campbell to Epps was more of a SCUD than a "bomb." Epps had to stop and run back several yards to catch it. Still a great memory!

I watched it for the first time in a really long time the other day and had forgotten the 43-yard TD pass came on third-and-20 against a Bears blitz.

Scott from Noblesville, IN

I understand both the mental and physical preparation remain the same, and I fully realize you aren't inside players' thoughts, but is the emotional/psychological preparation affected at all by the lengthy 49ers injury list? Do our players secretly hope their key players won't play? Further, is there an emotional kick in the gut if the inactive list doesn't include their stars, or is it just the fans who might experience this hope/letdown? I've always wondered this. Thanks.

All I know is players prepare for the best guy to play if there's any chance he will. If not, then adjust. How they feel emotionally on hearing any news shortly before kickoff? The best don't let it distract them either way.

Lee from Hollister, MO

Do you know if they keep the stat on games won after a team scores on the final possession before the first half? I watch so many games that seem out of reach or dominating for one team, then suddenly the opposing offense puts together a drive to score just before halftime. Often it is like a different game when they take the field again. To me it is one of the most important possessions of the game.

I would agree, but I haven't seen any statistic related to that. Would be interesting, though.

Lori from Heredia, Costa Rica

Good morning! Do you know anything about Jordy Nelson getting a job with the NFL officiating in some capacity? So curious …

Nelson is one of four appeals officers for fines and suspensions for on-field infractions.

Marc from Crandon, WI

Your thoughts on Eli Manning in the PFHOF? I don't see it at all. He was good, not great. If his last name was Smith, would this even be a thing? What say you?

It'll be an interesting debate. I think eventually Manning will get in, but it could take a while. To my knowledge, the only other two-time Super Bowl-winning QB eligible for the Hall who's not in is Jim Plunkett. Wanna hear something crazy? Manning's regular-season record as a starting QB was 117-117. Plunkett's was 72-72. Manning's postseason record was 8-4, Plunkett's 8-2.

Daniel from Allerod, Denmark

I went and checked out Jacobs' standing amongst all-time rushing touchdown leaders. When I brushed over the list I was left wondering why Shaun Alexander isn't in the HOF. All other HOF-eligible running backs in the top 15 have been admitted to the Hall. And Alexander even has an NFL MVP award to boot. Why do you think he has been left out? And do you find him worthy of the Hall?

Alexander's MVP year in 2005 capped a dominant three-year stretch, but his inability to sustain it or even approach that standard will probably keep him out of the Hall. After '05, Alexander averaged just 3.5 yards per carry over his final three seasons. His game fell off a cliff. His 100 rushing TDs is a great number, but he's hurt in a sense by 27 of them coming in that one year. Alexander is one of 13 league MVPs from 1968-2005 not in the Hall. It's not an automatic ticket.

Jason from New Hampton, IA

When the Packers travel, they do so with two planes. Could you give us insight into why there's two planes and who flies on which one?

I'm not privy to all the logistics, but I believe the size of the travel party is such now that the size of plane needed for a comfortable flight (Wes and I get an empty seat between us, for instance) doesn't normally fly in and out of Green Bay, which puts a burden on the airline to get one here. With two planes, most of the players are on one, staff is on the other, and the coaches (who get the first/business class seats) are split.

Matt from Kolesin, Poland

Hungry, unsatisfied Bears are going to win against Vikings. Mark my words.

I hope you're right. But I don't think Chicago's new offensive coordinator can surprise Minnesota's defense with anything now.

Dave from Germantown, TN

This year the Packers are 5-2 in one-score games. It seems to me under LaFleur the Packers have won more than their share of one-score games. What is the Packers' record in one-score games under LaFleur?

Defining the margin as eight points or fewer, the Packers are 34-21 in such games under LaFleur, including playoffs. They went 9-1 his first season and have gone 25-20 since.

Bruce from Travelers Rest, SC

I agree totally that the results the NFL produces are crazy and vary greatly week to week. Having said that, the Packers have played 10 games and a (very) strong argument can be made that they have neither lost to a lesser team nor beaten a superior team. That has to be very rare for any team this deep into a season.

I think the way this team has gone about it makes such an analysis too simplified. Backup QB for 2½ games, hobbled QB in others, change at kicker, new defense, and more. They know what it's supposed to look like. They just haven't gotten there yet.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, from the comments from some fans, it seems like the record is a "nervous 7-3." Are the Packers falling short of expectations at this point (recognizing that the team's expectations and the fan's expectations could be different)? Also, are they playing up to their abilities? Just beat the Niners, get to 8-3 and settle some nerves!

I feel like this is setting up to be a massive overreaction Monday. If the Packers win, they'll be on their way to a strong stretch run like last year. If they lose, it'll portend no such run is possible. And those are the only options. To me, either way, there will be six regular-season games remaining for the Packers to find and play their best football. They'll still be working toward it whether they're 8-3 or 7-4. I'm reminded of what Aaron Rodgers said Tom Clements always emphasized about the two-minute drill – as long as you've still got time and downs, you've got a chance. This season will have plenty of time and downs left after Sunday, regardless of the outcome.

Josh from Seattle, WA

Beating the Niners this week would be a huge victory! It would knock them back and any chance we have to knock them down or out of playoffs we need to seize! Also, is it too early to start looking at the other games and rooting for teams to be contenders, as in go Bears?

I'm thinking we're at least two more victories from cranking up "Path to the Playoffs." I'll keep you posted.

Chris from Voorhout, Netherlands

For me our path to the playoffs lies in the matchups against 49ers and Seahawks. We are not going to catch Detroit (unless they implode) so you are already looking at a wild card. Having the head-to-head tiebreaker on those teams might be the difference come January. Win those two matches plus Dolphins and Saints and the divisional games have much less of an influence on our destiny.

And it starts with the 49ers. Happy Friday.