Inbox: No apologies for winning in this league

Dennis from Parrish, FL

Looks like the Bears got caught in a "trap" game this week!

Ouch. Careful.

Randy from Kenosha, WI

When told we'd have two more chances at Detroit, you neglected to say just beat Chicago and instead replied with "Sign me up." Sounds to me like you're looking at games down the road, one of which might not even happen. You're the same as the rest of us that admit to discussing games weeks in advance yet you publicly mock us for doing so. No need to post it you hypocrite, just know it.

It was the bye week, with a specific reference to the team the Packers just played, nobody else. But if name-calling makes you feel better, well, OK.

JC from Monona, WI

Mike, you clearly admitted to looking ahead to one or two more chances at the Lions without concern for our next game against the Bears, so stop the stupid charade now that you've joined all of us "future gamers" that you pretended to differentiate yourself from. And don't post this unless you and Wes intend to let readers pile on me even though I provided indisputable evidence. Oh the glory! What do you think our playoff chances are?

Wow, I know I was cranky waiting for the bye to arrive, but this crowd sure got cranky during, what's it called again, oh yeah, the BYE WEEK. As for the Packers' playoff chances, I think they'll look much better at 7-3 than 6-4.

Barbara from Duluth, MN

Comment: Did everyone miss the reference to John Belushi's speech in "Animal House" regarding the Germans bombing Pearl Harbor?

More than enough did. I realize plenty of references in this column are missed, and that's OK. Nobody's asked to take a quiz on them. But you'd think there are enough that when a truly eyebrow-raising calumny appears, it would at least lend itself to pausing rather than pouncing. But pouncing seems the overall theme lately.

Matt from Janesville, WI

The Bears give up nine sacks to New England and are really struggling on offense. If ever there was an opportunity to get the pass rush going, this is it. Who needs to step up this week?

Who doesn't? The guys taking Preston's snaps must seize the moment, and it starts right away.

Matt from Kolesin, Poland

I watched the Bears game to know what is coming. I know it is a week-to-week league but I hope seven days is too short for them to turn things around.

Chicago's season turned on the Hail Mary in DC. The Packers have to prevent it from turning back. That's it, that's all.

Mike from Algoma, WI

Digging the Texans' new unis. Digging the halftime score even more!

How 'bout now? That didn't age well. My wife called the unis their Carnage look, after the Marvel character. That second half was nothing but carnage for Houston. Woof.

Greg from Keller, TX

You talk about good teams needing a few breaks to go their way... how about KC staying unbeaten on a FG block!

I don't call it so much a break but a total breakdown of the field goal protection on Denver's left side. It looked like four different Chiefs had a chance to block that kick. Mercy.

Jacob from Decorah, IA

The Chiefs are more luck than skill. Change my mind.

Not my bailiwick. No apologies for winning in this league. The last two weeks, the Bucs could've gone for the win and decided to play for OT, and the Broncos couldn't execute what amounted to an extra point. Call those whatever you want, but they're wins.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Which play hurt more, if you're a Commanders fan – Zach Ertz microns short on fourth down, or the defensive encroachment to end the game?

The Ertz play for sure, because with that first down, the Commanders didn't need another to get a shot at a long field goal. I thought the replay indicated the ball should've been re-spotted forward just a bit, followed by a measurement. But what do I know.

Jeff from Foothill Ranch, CA

Hi Mike, I hope you're enjoying free NFL RedZone! We complain so much about Packers penalties, but two stupid penalties ended the games for Jax and Wash. Pre-snap and extracurricular penalties are killers, plain and simple.

I must've missed the memo on free RedZone. Oh well. The two penalties that ended those games were about as brain-dead as they come.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix both came close to beating better-ranked teams. Meanwhile, Drake Maye led the Patriots to a drubbing of the Williams-led Bears. Which QB(s) from the rookie class do you think will be significant factors in four years?

I'd say all four that you mentioned, and we haven't yet heard from Michael Penix or J.J. McCarthy.

Ben from Guffey, CO

I don't want to overreact, but GB's defense is actually better than NYJ. Also, the pieces that NYJ got to shore up that OL? Doesn't look any better.

Rodgers is on pace to be sacked 39 times this season, which would be his most since 2018.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike my overarching impression from watching football this weekend, given the number of backup quarterbacks pressed into service (Mac Jones and Cooper Rush come immediately to mind), the Packers did catch lightning in a bottle with Malik Willis. What struck you?

That Robert Saleh was far from the problem in New York, and the receiver the Jets just traded caught the game-winning TD for Pittsburgh. Also interesting to see MVS have a big day to beat a team QB'd by Kirk Cousins, and for Darnell Savage to intercept a Vikings QB … who was picked three times, didn't score a TD, and won – first time since 2006 that's happened. And then to top it off, the Lions become the first team since 1970 to be down 15-plus points, throw five INTs, and win. Madness rules, every week.

Patrick from Ashland, WI

More games in Munich please! Wisconsin's German heritage would fit nicely for a Packers game there. Listening to tens of thousands of Germans sing John Denver and Neil Diamond gave me a natural Rocky Mountain high. That was awesome.

For the fans in Germany subjected to a pair of 2-7 teams, I'm glad they got overtime and an exciting finish. Goodell noted before the game Ireland is on the radar perhaps as soon as next year.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

Random thoughts. The win over Arizona looks better by the week. Glad the Bears chose Williams over Daniels with the first pick. McCarthy will be fired sooner than later. Russell Wilson is the better old quarterback with a new team. Sam Darnold is regressing to his normal.

No arguments to be had. For McCarthy's sake, I wish he hadn't lost his QB, but I keep wondering what's next for him, or if he's gonna call it a career.

Mark from Appleton, WI

We all know referees are human and with slo-mo, hi-rez replay and instant contact with the NFL New York office, mistakes are sometimes made to look obvious. However, I wish this conspiracy theory of Roger Goodell somehow scripting games to control who wins would just stop. What is your take on this idiocy?

Your word suffices.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Interesting tidbit in Saturday's Inbox about the Raiders going 6-0 in the division and missing the playoffs. Made me wonder … has any team ever gone 0-6 in their division and actually MADE the playoffs?

ATMR (WCBW), since the current divisional format was instituted in 2002, there have been 35 teams go 0-6 in division play, and every single one of them finished last in its division. The best record I found was the 2008 Buffalo Bills, who went 0-6 in the AFC East, finished last, but had a 7-9 overall record. I also never found a team with a 1-5 division mark make the playoffs. The 2015 Falcons went 1-5 in the NFC South and finished 8-8 overall but missed the playoffs, and the 2009 Texans went 1-5 in the AFC South, finished 9-7, and lost a four-way tie for the two wild-card spots on a tiebreaker (conference record).

Dave from Waterford, WI

Will Green Bay run a full practice schedule during their bye week or will it be modified?

The players return to the practice field today and then get their CBA-mandated Tuesday off before the typical routine resumes Wednesday.

Grant from Janesville, WI

Growing up, I remember feeling hatred toward division rivals. But I don't feel that anymore. Maybe I'm soft. Maybe I'm mellow. But there just isn't a Warren Sapp or Ndamukong Suh type of villain in our division anymore. The black and blue division used to be meaner, but I think that's lost with the prevalence of free agency, where players easily switch uniforms. Are there any villains in the North now?

I'd say it's a good thing players pulling the stuff Sapp and Suh did aren't as readily identifiable. In a very different way, I think Justin Jefferson has become an NFC North villain, in that he's the center of attention for any game against the Vikings. Aidan Hutchinson was headed for that status with the Lions until getting hurt. I'm sure division rivals felt that way about Rodgers and Adams for a while, and there was Brian Urlacher back in his day with the Bears. But I'm fine with saying sayonara to the Sapp/Suh misdeeds.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

If you had the chance to meet one former Packer player you never got the opportunity to meet, who would it be?

Don Hutson.

Nick from Carson City, NV

Insiders, with MarShawn Lloyd potentially coming off IR in a couple weeks, what do ML and Gute do with the RB situation? Wilson in my opinion has done great with his opportunities, but Chris Brooks has also flashed some solid potential when on the field. Could we see all four stay on the roster?

I wouldn't rule it out, but I think it would be a stretch for all four to be active on game day.

Luke from Port Alsworth, AK

At what point do you think the Super Bowl champion went from being the "best" team to the "hottest" team? Did anything change in that timeframe, e.g. rules, salary cap, play of the game?

I think when the Dallas dynasty ended in the mid-'90s and the salary cap/free agency era started settling in, one could argue the shift might've begun. At least that's when we started seeing more "shocking" postseason upsets that indicated the talent disparities across the league weren't as great as everyone was accustomed to. The Broncos beating the Packers in XXXII, the Falcons beating the Vikings in the '98 NFC title game, the Patriots beating the Rams in XXXVI, … all those were examples within the first handful of years after Dallas' run ended.

Adam from Chippewa Falls, WI

The 2007 New York Giants were swept by the Dallas Cowboys before exacting their revenge in the Divisional round.

Ah yes, the '07 Giants, one embodiment of getting hot at the right time.

James from Appleton, WI

Pulled groins and rolled ankles aren't forever, but the focus created to play through them and the will and commitment demonstrated to teammates sure are. Kudos to Matt LaFleur, too, because it seems this year, more than most, demonstrates that each season has a different set of problems.

Adversity hitting is never a question of if, but always when, where and how often.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

Chase's game on TNF was amazing. I know the Packers like to spread the ball around, but wouldn't it be beneficial to feature Reed more in the offense? I am not saying he will put up numbers like Chase but he can dominate a game.

Sorry, but I'm going to need evidence it would be beneficial. Chase has enjoyed two monster games this year, both against the Ravens, with 193 yards and two TDs, then 264 and three, and the Bengals lost both shootouts. They're 4-6. In the four Cincinnati wins, Chase has put up 85, 72, 55 and 43 yards.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Mike, I was listening to the Dan Patrick Show on Friday, they were discussing the end of Thursday night's game. They were brainstorming ways for a penalty to be thrown when the facemask was so obvious, yet missed on the field. They were THIS CLOSE to suggesting your idea of safety rules should be reviewable or able to be overturned from a sky judge. I thought you should know.

'Preciate you.

Jeff from Athens, WI

They say imitation is the best form of flattery – if so the Packers should be flattered. Thursday night the Bengals used the same TE sneak that Packers used with Kraft last week. One of my favorite plays of the day to be honest. I think Tucker Kraft is a crucial playmaker and major bright spot for the Pack. Wouldn't you agree?

Of course, but the Packers didn't invent the TE sneak. They copied it from somewhere else. I know the Chiefs did it with Blake Bell back in 2021.

Adam from Madison, WI

So the three losses are to the top three teams in the NFC. So they have won the games they should have but need to win some they maybe shouldn't.

I'm willing to wait.

Gary from Davenport, IA

Mike, we were both there on Nov. 8, 1980, when UW-Platteville came back from a 33-0 deficit to beat Eau Claire and claim a share of the conference title. Fast forward 44 years and a day and again, UW-P beat UW-EC to claim at least a share of the conference title. They went without a single title between those games. A win next week will clinch sole possession of the conference, a feat not accomplished since 1970. The 1980 game is one that shan't be forgotten. Memories make us rich.

Indubitably.

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI

Get Healthy, get right and start winning, that is all.

Happy Monday, and a special shout out to all veterans on their day.