K.J. from Louisville, KY
Here's hoping Spoff chimes in on the following: Picking on the "Hod" … aggressive caution, or cautiously aggressive?
Aggressively cautious.
Eric from Wausau, WI
I must have a defective standings list. I seem to be missing the "style points" section on mine. Does it come after the W-L-T section, or do you have to order one of those fancy advanced extended standings lists to get it?
Wausau will always have a special place in my heart.
Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL
Geez, here we go again, the third week out of six that we face a QB who can kill us with his legs. Since seemingly Fran Tarkenton GB defenses have struggled mightily versus mobile QBs. What about this Hafley defense gives you hope that it will be less of a problem this year?
It wasn't a problem against Hurts or Richardson because the rushers stayed very disciplined, and that'll be required again. But Kyler Murray is another animal. His ability to turn a routine zone-read or scramble into a monster play with his shiftiness and speed is downright scary. Did you see him put his arm up at the 40-yard line in San Fran on Sunday? He knew he was scoring from there.
Kevin from Westminster, CO
Is the game plan contain Kyler at all cost?
It's never that simple, though definitely a key. But James Conner is an underrated power back in my opinion, and Marvin Harrison Jr. has quickly shown he belongs, averaging 16.4 yards per catch, with four of Murray's seven TD tosses.
Brian from Moncks Corner, SC
JA vs. JR. Will we get to see it?
I sure hope so.
Jim from Mundelein, IL
I am just an ignorant but avid fan. The most disappointing aspect of the season for me is the lack of pass rush. We have a new scheme that allows the front four to GO. We have Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare…four D1s. This season will disappoint unless GB pass rush improves. An II perspective on this situation would be appreciated. GPG.
This, and other forms of it, is the most popular question in the Inbox currently. I'm not saying all is well with the pass rush, but everyone needs to take a deep breath here. Pro Football Focus, while not the be-all/end-all, did have the Packers for 19 pressures on Stafford's 45 pass attempts. That's not great, but not awful, and Stafford is a master at getting the ball out quickly, which he did a lot Sunday. Needing 29 completions to get to 260 yards (just 9 per, with only four passing gains longer than 11 yards) speaks to that. The Packers put an eight-sack day on film three games ago, so the Vikings and Rams responded with extra help in protection, and the Packers need to find some counters. This may not be the week for it, given the opponent, but Hafley is still learning his personnel. They're also working to get the secondary back to full health, which can change the equation, too. There's work to be done, and I trust all involved to put the work in.
Steve from Las Vegas, NV
Do you believe Edgerrin Cooper has recouped all of his lost time from training camp?
He's gaining on it. I also think Hafley is learning what he does best and where/how he can make the most impact.
Paul from Northglenn, CO
Is Romeo Doubs coming back a universal forgive and forget, or is a sincere declaration of remorse for acceptance to the fraternity of the locker room in order?
That's up to Doubs and the locker room. I'm not about to tell other adults how to work it out.
Yotam from Atlit, Israel
A what-if question: You're the Rams head coach, and your kicker DIDN'T miss the PAT in the first half. The team just scored a TD, you're down by four with 3:30 left in the game. Do you go for a kick (and have a three-point difference) or do you go for two with a chance to win with a field goal? What do you do, Jack?
It's Mike, but I'd say 99 times out of 100 a head coach is going to kick to get within three points there. But you've highlighted how much Colby Wooden's blocked PAT impacted the game. If the Rams get that point plus kick again with 3:30 left, it's 24-21 and they could've tried a 56-yard field goal to tie on that final fourth down.
Jeff from Littlefork, MN
I'm not trying to put a negative spin on a very positive aspect of the team, I love what X is doing with the takeaways and streak. After the pick by X, Romo commented on his ball-hawking and implied that he was somewhat out of position. Said that a QB could move X with his eyes and beat him with a throw over the top. I know you two are too busy during the game to listen to the live broadcast. Is there any truth to the analysis that this interception streak is in danger of burning us?
Xavier McKinney is going to get beat over the top at some point. It'll happen, because this is the NFL. I hope folks are prepared for it and don't lose their minds. Savvy QBs are going to try to hold him one way with their eyes to attack a different part of the field. His extensive, intensive film study allows him to anticipate like no DB I've seen here since Woodson or Collins. At some point, an opponent also will try a deep shot it hasn't put on film yet, strictly because of him.
Jeremy from St. Catharines, Canada
I don't have a question. I just want to start a petition to get Tucker Kraft mic'd up for a game.
William from Scranton, PA
Hello Insiders, when Tucker Kraft received a game ball Sunday he said, "I play the way I do on every play because I love you guys." That young man gets it. Great things can happen on teams when teammates play for each other instead of with each other.
No lie told. The culture LaFleur and Gutekunst have created here, though it's impossible to make it universal, has tremendous value.
Roger from Eau Claire, WI
I have watched the TD to Tucker Kraft down the sideline many times and as much as I love watching him score, I love seeing Wicks block his butt off downfield to get Kraft into the end zone even more. That is what a TEAM needs to do to win.
See above.
Steve from Hilton Head Island, SC
Very happy to see Tucker Kraft playing so well! He has become an integral piece of Packers offense. After such a great start last year, surprised that we are not seeing more of Luke Musgrave. I looked for him against the Rams and can't remember seeing him in the game. He wasn't on the inactive list. Is he hurt and not playing or going through sophomore slump?
Kraft is definitely TE1 now, but Musgrave didn't practice all last week due to an ankle injury. He was active for the game but apparently for emergency purposes only because he didn't play.
Gary from Davenport, IA
Aaron Rodgers threw his fifth career pick-six on Sunday in his 229th career start. Jordan Love also threw one, which was the first of his career in his 21st career start. I'm good at math and could tell you how low the probability was of them throwing pick-sixes on the same day, but I don't want to violate any Insider Inbox rules.
And they did so more than 5,000 miles apart, no less.
Robert from Seattle, WA
Why does Love get a complete "pass" every week? He makes mind-numbing errors every game and does not seem to learn. It is not a talent issue, but one of discernment. Sliding down last year after a long run vs. Detroit, outside of FG range. The blind Hail Mary into triple coverage Sunday that was miraculously caught, and of course the pick-six that would have seen a HS QB benched. He's a guaranteed lowlight reel, at least twice a game, and yet you just keep smiling. Is someone paying attention?
Terry from Green Bay, WI
Good morning, Mike. Everyone is talking about the great catch by Jayden Reed early in the game. My question is how do the coaches see that play? Obviously Reed gets an A+ for making a great catch. But how would the coaches grade Love on the play? Does he get a good grade based on the results or a bad grade based on throwing into triple coverage?
My best guess is a minus for the decision, a plus for the throw, and a plus for the result.
Mike from Aurora, IL
I love the aggressiveness on the last offensive drive. To me at that point there are two ways to win the game there – close it out with first downs or have the D get a stop. Running the ball three times forces the Rams to burn the timeouts but the D most likely will have to come up with a stop in that scenario, too. Throwing the ball on first, I felt, gave them a better chance for the preferred option. Do you feel the non-execution will inhibit MLF's play-calling going forward?
Nope.
Adam from Fox River Grove, IL
II, looking at the quality of the teams in the NFC North and the likelihood that the Bears will be contenders for the division next season, I'm curious what the best overall record for a division has ever been. Has there ever been a time where an entire division went undefeated with the exception of trading losses with each other within the division?
Well, first off, the Bears are 3-2 and facing 1-4 Jacksonville this week with a great chance to get to 4-2. So there's no point in writing anybody off right now. As far as best overall divisions, ATMR (WCBW), since the current divisional format was instituted in 2002, the top marks in a 16-game season belong to the 2007 AFC South and 2013 NFC West, both 42-22, and tops in a 17-game season goes to the 2022 NFC East (43-23-2) and 2023 AFC North (43-25).
Kenton from Rochester, MN
I know it's way, way, way too early to be thinking about playoffs. BUT ... all four teams in the NFC North are currently ABOVE .500 (with no other division having more than two) so it's possible that all four NFC North teams could make the playoffs (which I'm guessing has never ever happened). The current playoff picture has the Vikings and Lions in, with the Packers and Bears the first teams "on the bubble." Wouldn't that be something!?
Just beat the Cardinals.
Adam from Pomona, CA
Hi Mike and Wes! I just wanted to thank you guys again for being so gracious at Saturday's Packers Everywhere pep rally. I really appreciate your taking the time to chat with me and sign my book. Go Pack!
It was great to meet you, Adam. All the best in your future endeavors.
Bob from Colby, KS
It's too bad "What You Might've Missed" can't have a voiceover from you along with the writing. Does this have to do with copyright laws? The NFL? Or does it have to do with you already having a heavy load to carry in terms of bringing such a good product to us?
When I started WYMM a dozen years ago (wow?!) we produced it as a video, not a written piece. But it got to be a burden for our video production crew in the early stages of each week, with Larry's Rock Reports, the head coach's show, and other obligations. So we switched to written format with the all-22 clips spliced in, which just requires me and our annually top-notch intern (Hailey this year) to help on the technical portion. It was a real treat to put this one together on Evan Williams, by the way.
Ethan from La Crosse, WI
I believe it was Vic who introduced the idea of a football team's "identity," and for as much as I respect him, I despised this concept. It was too simplistic a way to talk about a team, and minimized much of their results. It was with much relief when I read, "identity has become an outdated concept." It's a week-to-week league. You are not who you were last week, and won't be who you are this week, next week. Now we just need to do the work of removing "identity" from our football lingo.
In Vic's world, teams like the '70s Steelers and '80s 49ers had clear identities. Of course the '60s Packers, too. Everyone knew what they were going to do, and they could win with it anyway. But the game isn't played that way anymore, not with the salary cap, free agency, outsized importance on QB play, rules geared toward offenses, and all the rest. McCarthy used to talk about his team's identity in his early years here, but that faded as time went on. Offseason time with players has been greatly reduced. Teams watch film and steal concepts from other clubs. Game plans are designed specifically for that week's opponent. Finding ways to win is the identity of the best teams.
David from North Potomac, MD
The team identity questions are perennial. Can almost set my calendar to them. My impression after this game, the team is good enough to beat bad/hurting teams and nearly good enough to beat good teams. While that is who they are today after five weeks, it may be different as early as Week 6.
There are (at least) a dozen games left for this team to show what it can do and where it's going.
Nathan from Abingdon, MD
Unable to watch the game, but I watched the highlights and looked at the box score. This looks like a young team that went on the road and found a way to win the game with not their best. The offense looks explosive at times and lost at others. The defense is opportunistic but prone to giving up a few explosives themselves. I look forward to when this team can sustain drives and play complementary football (third quarter!). I'm glad it's October. Plenty of time to grow and enjoy the ride.
And you get to enjoy me again tomorrow, as I'm taking consecutive columns so (teaser here) Wes can have some extra time for a great piece he's working on for later this week. Happy Wednesday.
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