Inbox: Keep moving forward, one play at a time

John from Stevens Point, WI

How does Coach LaFleur motivate his team for what appears to be a meaningless game in tough conditions?

It's the Bears. If you can't get up for that, get off the field.

Al from Green Bay, WI

The Packers will win on Sunday. Reasons to believe: 1) Matt LaFleur doesn't know what it feels like to lose to the Bears, and he doesn't want to limp into the playoffs on a two-game skid. 2) The Packers are a better team on offense, defense and special teams. 3) Lambeau Field in January. GPG!

Brevity aside, this is a great opportunity for the Packers to set the tone for postseason play. Two weeks ago, Green Bay pitched a shutout against New Orleans. Last week in Minnesota, the Packers aimed for a fast start and missed the target. Sunday needs to be about playing to the standard.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

Every team shoots themselves in the foot occasionally. The Packers are not unique in that regard. A pre-snap penalty is quickly forgotten if you proceed to get a first down. From my armchair perspective, it hasn't been so much the initial penalty (or turnover) but the response that's killed us. In this long season where we've seen so much improvement, that seems to be the final fix.

Keep moving forward, one play at a time.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Wes, earlier in the week, you spoke of the importance of momentum and hit the nail on the head. Given the detailed game-planning and multitude of injuries throughout the season, I believe there is no "week-to-week" momentum per se, but in-game momentum is palpable and something the Packers have had difficulty obtaining until late in games this year. Contrast the Vikings and Lions games this season to last year's playoff games, and it's obvious getting off to a good start is imperative.

My answer was a derivative of something Josh Jacobs after the Packers' 24-22 win over Houston in October. "I don't know if you all feel it, but in the game, you can feel the flow, you can feel the momentum changes, you feel the swings, you feel all of that." I think we've all seen how the running game and fast starts have been the flint and tinder to getting the Packers going this year.

Fredrick from Okatie, SC

All the previous praises for our GM leave me to ask why we didn't try and pick up a good DB prior to the deadline. There must have been a lot of question as to whether we would have Jaire Alexander back. I think we had cap space so shouldn't we have tried to back up that area? I read that we were undecided on picking up Eric Stokes' fifth-year option. Is that true? If so, more reason to have gotten someone.

Never confuse movement for improvement. Remember all the consternation over Chase Claypool a few years ago and how upset some Packers fans were when the Bears traded a second-round pick for him in 2022? Well, that ended up being the 32nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Sometimes a deadline deal works out, but there is risk involved. The Packers always have an eye turned towards the future and didn't find a player worth the draft picks. As far as Stokes is concerned, fifth-year options are now fully guaranteed for skill and injury since the latest CBA. You're making a huge commitment to that player if you exercise the option. With Stokes coming off injuries in back-to-back years, Green Bay erred on the high side of caution.

James from Appleton, WI

You don't always hear Rashan Gary's name called, but I sure heard it when the Pro Bowl did the calling. It made me reassess. Moving on from Preston Smith wasn't just to make opportunities for a younger player to stand out, it's about adding oomph to the second part of the old one-two, so the one has more room to swing for the knockout. From what you see, are teams extremely overloading protection on Gary?

Yes, but I think Gary and defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich would tell you that's irrelevant. Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett and all the league's top edge rushers deal with the same thing. Gary made a big switch going from a two-point stance in a 3-4 scheme to a three-point rusher in Hafley's 4-3. I think you've seen Gary gain more comfort and explosiveness as the season has progressed, though. He's also had his best year setting the edge, which was critical after Green Bay moved Smith.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Happy for all three of our Pro Bowlers, especially Rashan Gary. He has been my favorite Packer since we drafted him. He is quick, strong and his motor never stops. He might have benefited the most when we switched to the 4-3 defense as he was able to play his natural position. If Gary stays healthy an entire year, I see All-Pro in the near future!

Gary is a really good football player, a tireless worker and incredibly deserving of the honor. You could make a solid case Gary should already be a Pro Bowler. Well, now he is.

Dan from Morehead City, NC

Just sitting in a hospital waiting room waiting for my wife's minor surgery to finish. Too early for you to have new content so have been surfing. I sure hope the Packers are taking this game more seriously than most fans and talking heads. It seems most everyone is expecting a blowout. The Bears' defense is stout, and Caleb Williams can get hot like last game against us. This is also the Bears' Super Bowl. Are you expecting a similar game to our last meeting?

Green Bay needs to be on high alert because this game is the last opportunity for Chicago to salvage its season. Not only are the Bears riding an 11-game losing streak against the Packers but they're also in danger of taking an 11-game losing streak overall into the offseason. If you're the Packers, you better be ready for Chicago's best shot because it's absolutely guaranteed whomever Green Bay plays in the NFC Wild Card playoffs is coming full force.

John from Jupiter, FL

Morning Wes. Of the big three in the NFC – Detroit, Minnesota and Philadelphia – which one has the best chance of an implosion ala Dallas last year? Thanks.

I don't know. All three are solid. Minnesota is battle-tested and complete. The Eagles have Saquon Barkley. Detroit has scored at will this season, but that defense is a question mark. So, I guess the Lions by process of elimination?

Gary from Sheboygan, WI

Insiders, the only truth to you being "homers" is that you do not announce or confirm a Packer trade or injury is until the team officially makes that announcement...which is a good thing. You do not deal in rumors.

I appreciate something Spoff said earlier this week related to Green Bay's potential seed. Our website might not be the first on everything, but you can take whatever information that's posted here to the bank.

Scott from La Crosse, WI

It's always disappointing to lose anyone to an injury and especially tough when it's one of the key leaders on the team. My question is how do we change the narrative about players and their commitment to the team? Worse than losing Jaire Alexander is hearing talking heads question his motives and throwing out wild accusations that he doesn't want to play or that the team is benching him due to past attitude. Hope he heals cleanly, and we get to see him perform at his peak all next season!

Having empathy. Fans often will talk about how much a player makes and criticize them for not being out there, but those guys under the helmet are all human. I thought maybe we'd learn a thing or two from what David Bakhtiari went through, but I get how emotionally and financially invested fans are in this team. Nobody knows how an athlete feels other than the athlete and conjecture isn't fact.

Michael from Des Moines, IA

Can I just say, what a complete travesty it is for the whole NFL community that the Eagles are resting Saquon Barkley when he's only 101 yards away from breaking the rushing record? I hope we win but still land the seventh seed so we can punish the Eagles for what they've taken away from us all.

Respectfully…who gives a flying Spofford?

Bob from Bement, IL

I'm sure I'm not the only one that noticed all four teams receiving byes in the College Football Playoff lost. Adds to my belief that a bye is not all it's cracked up to be. Seems more often than not it is a detriment. That said, it's also fair to recognize that NFL playoffs are decided by game performance rather than a season record. Each team has earned its opportunity to advance. Now is the time to execute.

It's whatever you make it. By and large, I think there's a greater benefit to having a bye and homefield advantage through the playoffs than not. But it's also worth recognizing how teams such as the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 New York Giants and 2010 Packers used a long postseason road to build momentum to the big game.

David from Goldsboro, NC

In the past, the Pack has snatched players off practice squads during the last week of the season. Bo Melton comes to mind a couple of years ago. With a hopefully long playoff push ahead, what positions of need could you see the GM stockpiling before the end of Week 18? Can they still take guys from practice squads off teams that are eliminated during the playoffs if the need arises?

I believe the NFL made some changes, so that practice-squad players with expiring contracts are only eligible to sign futures contracts for the following season. To your first point, it's customary for non-playoff teams to sign practice-squad players off other squads to bolster their 90-man offseason roster. It's paid dividends for the Packers in 2018 with Allen Lazard (signed off Jacksonville's practice squad) and again with Melton in 2022 (signed off Seattle's).

Lex from Mequon, WI

Do you think the NFL will one day award home field in the Super Bowl to the conference champion with the better record? If they did, most of the playoff teams locked in their seeds would have something to play for in the final week of the season, since they won't know which team from the other conference will make it to the Super Bowl. Tiebreakers could include (after any head-to-head result) the team with the better interconference games record.

You're saying homefield advantage in the Super Bowl? No. Not at all. You can't have 14 NFL cities on standby to host the biggest game in all of American sports. That stuff is planned out for years.

Tucker from Belton, TX

What we never say about the defeatist attitude is the way it attacks success. When you convince yourself the Packers are going to lose so it won't hurt when they do, you enjoy the wins less. You can't have it both ways. Assuming the worst always numbs the best. True in football fandom as in life.

If you hedge for disappointment, you'll never enjoy the triumph. It's like Littlefinger's "Chaos is a ladder" speech in "Game of Thrones." Only the ladder is real whether you choose to climb or not.

Greg from Big Lake, MN

Last January, I had a fairly difficult procedure at the Mayo Clinic. My brother, who was staying with me for the first week, and I got settled there in time for the kickoff of the Bears-Packers game. The win along with the drubbing of Dallas and near upset of the 49ers provided a much-needed diversion. II and the Pack website was a daily part of that diversion. Thank you for what you do and GPG!

All the best to you, Greg. Sending prayers and positive vibes your way. I hope you and your bro enjoy the game.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Lambeau Field
Tundra weather
Packers vs. Bears
Enough said

See ya Sunday.