Tucker from Belton, TX

I have a sneaking suspicion that great-great grandpa Hilary is going to dominate submissions for a while.

The Hods have Hilary, the Spoffs have Ainsworth. We all come from somebody.

David from Madison, WI

Morning and thanks for you's guy's work. Have the field conditions in Chicago improved? Haven't seen any conversations addressing this.

A new surface was installed in 2022, replacing the Kentucky bluegrass with Bermuda grass. Whether any Featherbed Bent or Northern California Sinsemilla were mixed in, I'm not sure.

Bob from Rome, NY

With the OC change in Chicago two things I could see happening. One, a heavy dose of Swift and more bootlegs or rollouts by Williams. I saw a lot of the sacks last week came in the pocket. Your feedback?

Both of those feel like distinct possibilities to me.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

If there is any truth to the rumors that some Bears players were campaigning for CW to be benched, I can't imagine that's a cohesive or healthy locker room. When things are going bad, that's when you really find out who you are. Have you ever witnessed anything like that in a Packers locker room?

No. I believe it was reported via anonymous sources earlier this week that some players asked for a QB change, but players denied those reports were true when the media followed up in the locker room Wednesday.

Mike from Geneva, IL

Wes made a comment that a team is built from the inside out. Recent evidence of that is the Chicago Bears. They are on their third early first-round QB, but have had relatively poor lines with each. And the early returns aren't looking great for Williams' development with the sacks and pressure he is dealing with. You may receive negative comments for your opinions, but that is a pretty astute belief. No question, just appreciation for the Packers' continued development of OL.

I think the Bears had fairly solid offensive lines, at least at times, during the Trubisky and Fields eras, but they didn't surround those QBs with enough perimeter weapons. Now they've focused on getting the weapons around Williams (big contract for DJ Moore, drafting Rome Odunze in first round, signing Keenan Allen) but the O-line hasn't come together. Roster building is not an exact science. It's also not easy.

Davey from Stevens Point, WI

The closer we get to this game, the more nervous I'm feeling. Everything I read talks about these two teams heading in opposite directions, and that it's nearly a forgone conclusion that the Packers will add to the Bears' misery. While I certainly hope that is the case, I can't help but feeling this is one of these games that will play out completely opposite of expected. And the narrative next week will be flip-flopped. I really hope the Packers aren't overlooking this game.

I can't imagine that's the case. As I've been saying all week, Chicago's defense is legit, regardless of the offensive struggles, and it doesn't take a genius to understand how close the Bears were a couple weeks ago to being 5-2 with perhaps a whole different outlook right now.

Petey from Sarasota, FL

Divisional game against a bad team where Green Bay has more than respect to lose. If we don't win convincingly, there will be a lot of doubt surrounding this season, and rightly so. I expect a two-TD victory against a team that can't find the end zone. Any less and I'll ignore any rainbow summaries sure to be found in the Inbox. You usually speak with candor Mike, and I would think you know we need to make a statement this week.

I never look at it like that, because "statements" are overrated and fleeting. "Rainbow summaries" aren't my style, either, if you read on Mondays regularly. I believe the Bears are more accurately a struggling team, not necessarily a bad one. I also believe the Packers should win this game by multiple scores and it should not come down to the last possession. If things don't unfold as such, I don't think it'll say much about the rest of the season, only how far the Packers remain from their potential.

Clayton from Oak Park, IL

Can you remember a time in Packers history when a veteran of Preston Smith's caliber was traded or injured midseason and produced an increase in playing time for the younger men behind him? How did those young bucks do? Any notable ascensions that are worth mentioning?

Carrington Valentine for Rasul Douglas, Tramon Williams for Al Harris, Ty Montgomery for Eddie Lacy/James Starks, Desmond Bishop for Nick Barnett, Bryan Bulaga for Mark Tauscher all come to mind.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

During a game, players get shuffled in and out between plays. How does that happen? Surely players can't easily hear their number being called from the sideline in a noisy stadium. Do incoming players let the guy that is leaving know? Are the position coaches responsible for communicating to exiting players? The structure of football, where the play stops after the preceding play, lends itself to substitution, but having never played the game, it's a mystery to me. Thanks.

Generally, each personnel group has a name. Animals are common – eagle, falcon, hippo, pony, etc. Every player knows which personnel group(s) he's in. So when that personnel group is called out on the sideline, the players must react accordingly and get on or off the field. And if a player is injured or otherwise removed from a personnel group, his substitute is informed where/when he's now up.

Stan from Merrill, WI

Have there been any hip-drop tackle fines levied by the league this year? I've seen a couple plays that were iffy, but nothing egregious. Just curious.

Not including appealed cases, so far the league has issued 13 fines for hip-drop tackles. Six were in the first two weeks of the season.

Dale from Aurora, CO

I read about a $45K fine levied upon Josh Jacobs and then after an appeal was rescinded. What was that about?

Illegal use of the helmet. He dropped his pads and bowled over a Tennessee defender in the fourth quarter of the Packers' win at Nashville. He wasn't flagged. He appealed the fine, which was so high because he'd been fined for this previously with the Raiders, and won the appeal. I think the video showed the forcible blow he delivered was more with the shoulder, and there was no intent to use the helmet. In short, he proved it was a clean football play.

Rachel from Hudson, WI

Another NFL week, another week of refereeing head scratchers. I understand the NFL's desire for experience at the highest level but at what point does it become law of diminishing returns when we ask 50-plus-year olds to make calls on superhumans moving at the speed of light? Trying not to be ageist, but getting younger on the field at the expense of some experience may create a better product, especially with upstairs/NY help. Teams go "young" all the time. Thoughts? Just beat the Bears.

I don't think the age of the officials matters much (to a degree). They miss calls while in perfect position many, many times. I think it's just cameras give multiple angles for every call, while each official has just one angle.

Kyle from Pittsburgh, PA

Regarding your response to Luke's replay question, you suggested that the NFL would take a while to eventually make the change toward college. Wouldn't a reasonable change just be to go to the "Replay Assist" mechanism and if a team calls a timeout to give the booth a chance to review, they get the timeout back on a favorable change? In other words, coaches wouldn't have to "challenge," but they could still prevent teams from rushing to beat the review without penalty (unless they are wrong).

I've never thought it would be that disruptive for the booth to buzz the referee to temporarily halt play if something needs a closer look. It's not difficult. All the rushing to the line to beat the red flag is beyond amateurish.

Jim from Yorktown, VA

"Calling the DPI would've rewarded the Texans for a terrible pass Stroud never should've made." Is whether Stroud should have thrown the pass relevant to a penalty call?

No. That's why I said there was no rulebook justification for how I felt about the play. But to me the outcome was just. As Jeff from Royse City, TX, pointed out, some officials throw flags at whatever they see. Others use discretion as to whether it materially affected the play. There's an inherent inconsistency that's impossible to resolve there, but on balance I prefer the latter approach.

Paul from Nevada City, CA

Spoff/Hod, given that this is a game of inches, what do you ascribe to the NFL's complete reluctance to engage technology (i.e., ball chip) regarding ball placement/touchdowns? My observations lo these many years is that the officials are now behind the curve in getting calls right. Is their union that strong or is it just the NFL being obdurate?

Maybe I'm ignorant here, but there's more to it than just putting a chip in the ball, no? Technology would have to be installed to cover all (roughly) 6,400 square yards of the playing field, right? Perhaps we'll get there someday, but it's not happening overnight.

Philip from Green Bay, WI

Could they change the QB safety rule so that they blow the whistle early, like as soon as the QB nears the sideline, or for sure when a QB hesitates while running? (Call it the "No QB juking" rule.) Seems to me the only solution if they don't want QBs to get hit. Otherwise, when they're a runner or blocker or tackler, they should get treated like everyone else.

Again, I don't think it's that simple. If the first-down marker or end-zone pylon is in sight, the QB should be allowed to maneuver to reach it if he wants to, otherwise more controversy is being invited. I think officials should be allowed to exercise judgment as to what constitutes a late hit. If the QB is clearly headed out of bounds in lieu of sliding, he should be off limits. If he's trying to gain every possible inch before going out, he's fair game. If he's faking like he's going out of bounds and then turning upfield, he should be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Craig from Green Bay, WI

Perhaps an unknown, but, what other international cities does the NFL have plans to have games? In the future, might there be a European football league versus the current NFL similar to the Ryder Cup in golf?

I don't see a Ryder Cup coming on the gridiron, but it sounds like Berlin and Dublin are very squarely on the commish's radar for the next round of international games.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I grew up watching Tim Allen and "Home Improvement" in the '90s. As much as I don't want to give Detroit any love, I feel like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor would have loved it if Dan Campbell was coaching the Lions at that time.

Indubitably.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, I know the team needs to look at what is directly in front of them in terms of playing the game, but we're creeping toward December which is when I seem to recall a few extensions being announced in the past. My personal top target, Zach Tom, is in his third year. Is he eligible yet for an extension or does he need to complete this entire season first? Any specific other guys you wouldn't be shocked to see get an extension before the end of this season?

Tom needs to complete his third season to be eligible for an extension. Maybe I'm overlooking someone, but I don't see any December extensions on the horizon this year.

Jake from Marina del Rey, CA

Follow up to a Mid-Week Chat response. If I'm thinking of this, I'm positive the DCs who devote their lives to this have too. Mike mentioned teams passing on third-and-short when they get a favorable one-on-one matchup. Are defenses "baiting" favorable matchups in these scenarios only to switch it up at the snap? What a game!

They can try, but generally if a safety has creeped down into the box to help in short-yardage, he can't get to the boundary to help on an outside matchup in time.

Tom from Raleigh, NC

Given your oft-noted need for explosive plays, does the Packers propensity to self-destruct with offensive penalties drive LaFleur and Love to go for big plays more than "usual" knowing that a long, drawn-out drive is likely to be put in jeopardy by pre-snap or holding penalties?

I don't sense the desire for explosive plays is any greater this year than in the past. It's always been an emphasis for LaFleur. But part of the rationale is, yes, the more plays the offense has to run in order to score, the greater the likelihood for a miscue that stalls the drive. Big plays are tougher for defenses to recover from and put them on their heels. That's why defenses focus on preventing them.

Ryan from Baldwin, WI

Is this the year? Is this the year that the Packers redeem themselves and beat the 49ers at home?

I just can't anymore. I really can't.

Grant from Janesville, WI

I've always wondered how many teams have an Insider Inbox equivalent, such as a mailbag. Finally looked at each team website. ATMR (WCBW): 16 without, 1 monthly, 9 weekly, 4 multiple per week, 2 daily. Biggest surprises? 1) Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, and 49ers, despite their success and loyal fanbase, have nothing. 2) The Vikings are the only rival with a mailbag (weekly). 3) The other team with a daily Q/A? The Jaguars! I'm sure we all guessed that.

The original lives on. Happy Friday.