Inbox: His rise has been fast and fruitful

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Come on Spoff. You can't tell me you can't get a handful of rookies to come over and rake your yard?

Ha, if only. And now the bed of leaves surrounding my house is soaking wet. Fun times.

Kenton from Rochester, MN

Has the Packers official logo changed? Has the iconic "G" within the football shape been replaced with a mustard yellow "GB"? Is this a permanent thing or is it maybe just to honor the throwbacks unis being used this week for the Lions game?

It's permanent. Until Monday.

Tom from Nolanville, TX

Congratulations to Edgerrin Cooper and Xavier McKinney for the well-deserved recognition as NFC Defensive Player of the week and month, respectively. Six picks by the X Man. How many points did the Packers score off those six turnovers?

17.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

The strength of the Lions still appears to be their stellar offensive line. In order to win, I don't think the Packers can count on winning enough one-on-one battles in the trenches to be successful overall, but the Packers dialing up a lot of looks and creating enough confusion will probably be a key to winning on Sunday, plus the rain.

The overall health of the secondary will probably factor into just how much can be dialed up, though.

Rick from Trempealeau, WI

Singin' in the rain baby! So this game may come down to who can stay on their feet and hang onto the ball. Who do you see having the advantage in the trenches and controlling the line of scrimmage?

That's an advantage the Lions are accustomed to having. If the Packers can at least neutralize it when Detroit's offense is on the field, and potentially gain it against a Detroit defense minus Hutch, it would put the Lions in the type of game they're not used to playing. That's what happened on Thanksgiving last year.

Nate from Lino Lakes, MN

I go back to the Giants upending the best to ever do it (Patriots) because they were hot at the end. Do we need to win now? Do we want to win now?

I'm not taking the last question seriously (cue Herm Edwards). But do the Packers "need" to win this game? It's way too early to say anything will be decided, but I do think Green Bay's chances of winning the NFC North take a substantial hit with a loss. In that scenario, the Packers will have lost home games to the Vikings and Lions, while the Lions will have won road games at Minnesota and Green Bay. Could that be overcome? With eight games left including four division games, absolutely. But the Lions are clearly in command of the division if they win this one. If the Packers win, I don't see a true frontrunner emerging until later on.

Steve from Grawn, MI

To be the best you have to beat the best, yadda yadda. Is this a bellwether game for GB do you think? The fact that it is a division game makes me think records sometimes matter less, but this feels special. For me it's hard to put too much into one game, especially where a few plays can make all the difference. I am sure we will learn some things though. What are you looking for this week? Do you have a peek into what's going to be in 5 Things next week?

If you're asking about the "5 takeaways" in my game recap story, not a word of that is written until after the game and press conferences are over. I approach that each week as a clean slate, no preconceived notions. The game writes the story.

John from Portland, OR

We've talked a lot about what a great play design the long pass to Jayden Reed was during the final drive. But every time I watch the replay I am so impressed with what a perfect pass Willis threw. Having not thrown a long pass at all to that point, it would have been so easy to steer it short or sail it long, but it was right on the money. May we all be so calm and confident when it matters most. Thanks for all your great coverage.

Trusting in one's natural ability in the biggest moments is what makes for a clutch performer.

Yotam from Atlit, Israel

Juan from Miami asked about an extension for Malik Willis; I'll take it a step further. End of the season, you get a trade offer in exchange for a second- or third-round pick. Do you take it?

It would be difficult to decline a top 100 draft pick, but I don't believe the offer would be that high, unless another team is making Willis its starter, no questions asked. Maybe that happens, but I think the more likely scenario is for him to join a competitive situation with the starting job uncertain, which means offering a lower draft pick (I'd say no and keep him as backup for another year) or waiting until after '25 when he's a free agent and maybe a comp pick could be earned anyway.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Mike, interesting take by Rams HC Sean McVay last week, when discussing whether his injured WRs (Kupp and Nakua) would be activated. He contrasted "returning to play" vs. "returning to performance." As fans we're often excited when an injured player is "active" for the week, but is he truly healthy enough to play at the highest level (and without undue risk)? It highlights the importance of communication and trust between the players, physicians/training staff, coaching staff and GM.

It can take a village to decide what's best for the player and the team.

Craig from Lakeville, MN

The Athletic just ran a great story on Mike Eayrs and the early impact he had on analytics for the Packers, Vikings, and entire NFL. I know he was with the Packers mostly before either yours time with the Packers, but do you have any interesting Mike Eayrs stories or tidbits? Who is the current-day Mike Earys-like analytics guru for the Packers?

I did see the story, and I remember Eayrs fondly. He was here for my first nine or so seasons. The times I did chat with him, I was intrigued and wished I'd had more time to just sit in his office and listen. Incredibly interesting, and friendly, individual. Analytics now is more a group effort of various folks in football ops, led by a manager (Jack Prominski), plus contributions from certain coaches, I believe.

Charles from Boyle, MS

How many employees do the Green Bay Packers have?

Not including players and coaches, I think there are around 300-350 full-timers now. It might've been not much more than 100 when I first got here, if I recall. On my first day, I met in human resources with the individual who's now our VP of HR. She was actually part-time back then.

Wayne from Stevens Point, WI

How good is Tucker Kraft? Using just this season and looking at the NFL's TEs, how good is he? When he arrived he was talked up as a blocking TE with some receiving ability. Seems like a bit like Fred Astaire who was evaluated as "Can't act, can't sing, can dance a little."

I don't think anybody was selling Kraft's receiving skills short. In his last 24 college games, he caught 94 passes for 1,121 yards and nine TDs. What's incredible to me is how he's gone from playing only sparingly the first half of his rookie year to being a key cog in the offense right from Game 1 of Year 2 despite missing most of the offseason, and being limited in training camp, due to injury. His rise has been fast and fruitful.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

X is on a DPOY tear, but with the incredible dearth of talent in this league, accolades of this sort often come down to a popularity contest. As the smallest market in the league, it is infinitely more challenging for Packers players to achieve this recognition compared to their big-city counterparts. As the mouthpiece of the franchise, do you have a responsibility to drive the hype train? If so, we expect more out of you than some "Kane is Able" buttons.

First, I'm nobody's mouthpiece. My views are my own. Second, I don't buy the small-market narrative when it comes to that stuff. If the Packers are winning, recognition will come for the players, and I'm not just talking about Rodgers' four MVPs. Woodson won DPOY. Eddie Lacy won Offensive Rookie of the Year when the Packers were playing with backup QBs. Jordy Nelson won Comeback Player of the Year. Sure, there are snubs (COY) and close calls in the voting for some awards. Happens to all teams. But the small market is not the reason it happens here.

Jim from Tempe, AZ

Watched the mic'd up video of Christian Watson and we all know he's an excellent blocker for a WR, but it's how enthusiastic he is about doing it, how much pride he takes in it and how much his teammates value this aspect of playing the game.

That struck me, too.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, one item I liked about the jump scare video was seeing Mark Murphy and Evan Williams walking in together. I'm not sure if there was any conversation going on between the longtime safety and the rookie safety, but pretty neat that the person who represents all of us owners can speak to the players with on-field experience.

Another thought I had as well.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

How much difference is there, on a play-by-play basis, between an average NFL player and a backup or practice-squad player? All of these guys are exceptional athletes, and almost all of them know more about football than any of us armchair QBs ever will. There are a handful of outliers, field-tilters who will win most of the time regardless of who's playing against them. I wonder if the margins are pretty thin for everybody else.

They are, for the most part. But in the realm you're discussing, it's not so much about the great plays the "next man up" might make, but whether he can avoid making any damaging mistakes.

Patrick from Forest Lake, MN

In regards to a game-winning Hail Mary (as only TD by winning team) … 2011 between Chicago and Kansas City. Bears were up 3-0 in the first half with 2 seconds left and KC QB Tyler Palko threw one into the end zone. It was deflected and landed in the hands of (one of the greatest football names) KC running back Dexter McCluster for a touchdown. Kansas City won, 10-3. Not exactly the same, but the closest I could find! GPG!

Also deflected, also against the Bears. Can't make this stuff up. Hat tip to Robbie from Hingham, MA, for also finding that one.

Kevin from Chemung, IL

While watching WYMM play No. 5, I couldn't help but think that Reed was so wide open in the middle that a Malik Willis pass at that point, instead of the run, would have easily resulted in an uncontested scamper to the end zone! If I were MW2 breaking that down on film it would be hard not to file that away mentally as a missed opportunity. Do players perseverate on that type of "could've, should've, would've" or just take the win and move on?

After a win, they have a laugh about it in the film room, especially when the Packers scored on literally the next play (Jacobs' 38-yard TD run). After a loss, the missed opportunity might stick for a bit. In this case, passing game coordinator Jason Vrable noticed it from upstairs, and it led to calling the deep route for Reed off the same look that won the game late. I didn't include that in my WYMM because I wasn't 100% sure, until I saw Larry's Rock Report.

Mark from Waterloo, IA

Hello II! I was checking out the WYMM segment for this week and Malik Willis "canned" a play which was recognized by several of the receivers. My question is how do down linemen know when a play is canned, or is there actually an audible call that goes along with the hand signal?

If you look at the two plays (7A and 7B) closely, you'll see the offensive linemen block both the same way. Their job doesn't change. That's one beauty of can calls.

Dan from Richmond, VA

I was one of those "lots of folks" asking about the Rolex concept at the end of the Jags game, and I couldn't agree more with Mark from Eureka. But Mike says there is "no debate" that we're all wrong. Well. OK. Then. I guess something happened while I was on vacation and this is no longer an open forum.

I didn't say "no debate" to be a jerk. I said it because every single NFL coach – 32 of 32 – would play it the way the Packers did, without hesitation, even if down by one or two points. Last season, leaguewide on field goals under 30 yards, kickers were 239-of-243 (98.4%). Four misses, all season, far fewer than the number of 70-yard TD drives in the last minute or two with no timeouts (even though I don't have a list in front of me). Thursday night's chip-shot clank by Houston was the first missed field goal under 30 yards in the entire league this year (107-of-108, 99.1%). A 98-99% proposition to win a game is not eschewed. Period. Did anyone arguing this watch how the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl two seasons ago? Anyone? Bueller?

Jeremiah from Middleton, WI

IIRC, Mike McCarthy used to say the magic number of wins to get to each year was 10 and then you can realistically talk about the playoffs. I'm not looking ahead by any means, but I wonder if for the NFC that number has shifted to 11. Seems like there may be a team or a couple that miss out on tiebreakers any lower than that. Compared to last year in the NFC, that would be quite the shift.

That's a great topic to ponder … about a month from now.

Tim from Olathe, KS

I do not like the vibe I am getting about the Lions game from our fellow Packers fans. It's like an "I just hope they don't put up 50 on us" vibe. They need to remember we beat the Super Bowl champs last year which no one thought possible. We thought Dallas might hang 50 on us in the playoffs, but we nearly did it to them. The Packers can play with and beat anyone. Get onboard. We're taming the Lions this weekend!

I'm expecting a whale of a game. What a way to start November football. Happy Friday.