Inbox: Nobody's expecting a flawless game

Cody from De Pere, WI

"To find meaning in the chaotic parts of life." An excellent reminder for many of us! What about you, Mike? What's your New Year's resolution?

Worry less, trust more.

Steve from Cedar Falls, IA

Prayers to everyone affected by the terrorist attack in New Orleans. I will assume that this will have huge ramifications in Green Bay for the draft planning.

We will let the experts do their thing. It's tragic to hear they were reportedly fixing the street barricades in New Orleans in time for the Super Bowl but didn't get the work completed for New Year's Eve.

Mark from Atlantic Mine, MI

I know there is a formula for the answer to my question, but finishing third this year means what exactly for next year's schedule?

It means the three opponents on the Packers' 2025 schedule that won't be on any other NFC North teams' schedules will have finished in third place in their divisions as well. Once Sunday's game is over, we will be posting a short story listing all of Green Bay's opponents next season.

Matt from Middleton, WI

Hi Mike, I never heard of Thomas Brown before his rapid ascent through the Bears' coaching ranks. On one hand it looks like an opportunity of a lifetime. One the other hand he was set up for career failure.

Talk about a tough assignment, but certainly one nobody could turn down. I don't think I've ever seen someone go from not being a play-caller to being that and a head coach within the same season.

Curt from Westby, WI

The Packers have started slow in too many games this year. Once they get behind, they start showing what they are capable of. What is it going to take to get this team to come out with their hair on fire?

It's not about passion or desire, it's about execution. The first play in Detroit a month ago was a sack. A promising first drive in Minneapolis last week ended in a fumble. Protect the QB and the ball. That's a key part of execution.

Margo from Solvang, CA

Hi Mike! Cool idea for WYMM column focusing on Edgerrin Cooper. He really is special, but I also noticed he had a great accomplice in Isaiah McDuffie. In play No. 2, he literally flew in from the right side for an airborne assist on the tackle. Play No. 4, he comes from the left side to finish the tackle. Play No. 6, McDuffie shifts left and sets a nice edge so Cooper's pursuit racks up another tackle. Makes me appreciate how all the moving parts have to work together – yes?

Indubitably.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

There will probably be speculation as to why Jaire Alexander did not have surgery earlier. Simply, that's a good question if he was told early on that surgery was the only option, but if he was told that the injury might heal without surgery, I understand why he would want to wait. These choices are very common for people who face possible surgery. Best wishes to Jaire and the team.

All the medical issues and potential complications are a rotten part of this game, and decisions sometimes aren't clear or obvious.

Jim from Whitmore Lake, MI

Good morning. With Jaire most likely done for the year, does this make the Packers' secondary strictly a zone coverage defense? I don't remember seeing very much man-to-man coverage without Ja on the field.

I wouldn't say strictly zone. Hafley will pick his spots. They have been predominantly zone without Alexander, but that's also been partly a result of other injuries, too. If they can get back to their preferred Alexander-less nickel group – Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams deep, Bullard in the slot, Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine outside – I could see some more mixing and matching possibly.

Eric from Chicago, IL

It seems that the past two losses against the Lions and Vikings have come from huge performances from Tim Patrick and Jalen Nailor, respectively. In Week 16, Nailor had one catch for 5 yards and in Week 17 Patrick didn't record a single target. Do you think this has more to do with the Packers' ability to limit the big threats so teams have to rely on these receivers, or is it more the lack of depth to cover these wide receivers and as a result they're more open?

I think the answer is depth, not as much about the personnel at kickoff, but as the games unfolded. In both, the Packers entered already shorthanded in the secondary and had DBs go down during (Anderson in MIN, Williams and Bullard in DET), so they were playing musical chairs and scrambling a bit back there.

Kurtis from Stoughton, WI

I think we've dwelled enough on Sunday, so let's dwell elsewhere – if you're Sirianni, do you let Barkley take a shot at the rushing title, knowing you get either a vengeful GB team or the rival Commanders coming next week? Talk about a rock and a hard place. Giants might be feeling themselves too after a big (?) win over the Colts. I'd sit him.

This question came in before Sirianni announced Barkley would be sitting, and I agree with that call. I'm sure he'd love the record, but the Eagles had their bye way back in Week 5, and their mini-bye after a Thursday game was before Thanksgiving. Barkley has carried the ball 345 times this season. The decision makes all the sense in the world.

David from Minneapolis, MN

I know it's not the offseason yet, but I hope the Vikings pay Darnold and the 49ers pay Purdy just so they have less cap space for other players.

Or if they want to start over with lesser-known quantities, be my guest. Either way, win-win for the rest of the NFC.

Jeff from Foothill Ranch, CA

Hi Mike, question about end-of-season scheduling. With how the NFL likes end-of--season divisional matchups, could you see a formula where the last two weeks are divisional matchups across the board, but the matchups those two weeks are based on standings? Like, GB could have MN and DET the last two weeks, but which week they play them be determined based on standings as the games draw near? Or logistically too much to figure out on such short notice?

I could see the league slotting Weeks 17-18 as division matchups across the board, but building in a flex element doesn't seem plausible with balancing home/away considerations.

Marty from New Orleans, LA

You guys were not too happy when the NFL expanded the playoffs to seven teams per conference. Is there any irony that our team will slide into that seventh playoff spot for two years in a row?

Probably, but I also know one of these years the Packers will get the No. 2 seed and I'll be wishing they had a bye.

Justin from Los Angeles, CA

Apologies for polluting the Inbox with a Lions/Vikings question, but has there even been (to your recollection) a final game where the winner gets the No. 1 seed? I know there have been a bunch with the No. 1 seed on the line, but not sure if there's even been a cut-and-dried final game where both sides have a shot at it.

Nothing comes to mind. The closest I can recall was the 2014 finale at Lambeau between the Lions and Packers, where the winner took the NFC North, No. 2 seed and bye, and the loser got the No. 5 and hit the road.

Miranda from Rochester, NY

Good morning. The more I think about it, the more I get Dan Campbell's constant going for it on fourth down. It's clearly not a spur of the moment idea. If you go into the game and each drive knowing you're going to go for it most of the time, you know you have four plays instead of three to pick up 10 yards. That's quite a bit easier. Maybe it is, I don't know, kind of genius. Or am I crazy?

Once they get across their own 40-yard line, going for it on fourth-and-3 or less is their norm, which impacts their play-calling on third down. I don't have any stats in front of me, but from watching their games, I think they run the ball on third-and-5-plus more than anyone else.

Jean from Longueuil, Canada

"Flip the switch" I also believe there is no such thing in football. So in the context of the playoffs what is most likely to happen: procedural penalties, blown coverages, and perhaps a turnover. What will be the effect of those miscues? Depends when they will happen will dictate the outcome of the game. But to expect a flawless game after having none over 16 games is dreaming in technicolor. Your thoughts.

Nobody's expecting a flawless game. That's absurd. But you have to limit the miscues enough to make fewer than the opponent to give yourself the best chance to win.

Reed from Myrtle Beach, SC

The Packers appear better this year than last. Yet they seem a lot further away from reaching the Super Bowl than last year. So, what do you see as the difference between the 2023 and 2024 Packers?

In terms of style, this year's running game is stronger and the defense is better, particularly at taking the ball away and stopping the run. Bigger picture, the 2023 team went through way more peaks and valleys. The 2024 team raised the floor (no Broncos, Raiders, Giants losses, and almost Panthers) but hasn't reached last year's ceiling (no Lions, Chiefs, Cowboys wins), yet. The ride this year has been smoother overall, but what's hanging out there is whether this team has another gear, and if it can hit it.

Randy from Billings, MT

We tend to evaluate teams by the growth they show throughout the season. What aspect(s) of the game has this team improved upon since the beginning of the season? I would say it is improved offensive line play and of course Jordan Love's play as he got healthy. Overall, I think the performance arrow is tracking slightly above horizontal and below the potential arrow. Your thoughts?

I would add the defense against the run has made major strides since early in the year.

Jon from Forest, VA

Related to the need for precision on the short/intermediate passing game, do you think going for the "explosive" play (because analytics says they are important) too often kills otherwise promising drives?

I wouldn't say too often, but it certainly can. I think one thing missing from the analytics on explosive plays is how many times a shorter pass can turn into an explosive play due to helpful blocking and broken tackles.

David from Cary, NC

Before this week slips by, could you touch on the JJ touchdown run that got called back near the end of the game? Stiff-arm took out one would-be tackler and it looked like he carried the second guy three yards into the end zone. I thought it was one of the best runs I've seen all season.

It was. The way Josh Jacobs finished that run was impressive as all get-out. But he got to the second level by running right through a hole created by the holding penalty.

Steve from Plover, WI

I've seen some fans that believe the seventh seed is preferable to the sixth seed, as it would set up a potential revenge tour through Philly, Minnesota and Detroit, and if we're worthy of the Super Bowl we need to prove it by exorcising these demons. I feel like there's enough adversity in the playoffs that we should take advantage of playing a third seed instead of a second seed if at all possible. What would you say for those wishing for a seventh seed?

If someone else is going to take down one of those top three dogs in the NFC, I won't complain.

Bill from Bloomfield Hills, MI

Let's look at my favorite "everybody is 0-0," the Giants of 2007 with a record of 0-4 versus the Packers, Cowboys and "undefeated bet the house on 18-0 Patriots" … did it matter? GB is 0-5 against the likely Eagles, Lions and Vikings with maybe the three-peat team of destiny Chiefs out there. A couple key injury returnees plus solving the drops, what else would help pave the way?

A 2007 Giants pass rush.

Chris from Eau Claire, WI

How many times have two wild-card teams made it to the conference championship game?

In the same conference, it's never happened. The closest seed-wise, so-to-speak, came in 2008 with (6) Philly at (4) Arizona, and in 2021 with (6) San Fran at (4) LA Rams. The Cardinals and Rams were the lowest-seeded division champs in those instances.

Jack from Moweaqua, IL

Just got done binge watching "Dynasty" about the Patriots and I think it's safe to say that their previous 25 years of success has ruined fan base expectations. They've done something that I believe we might not ever see again, because it's so hard to even get to the Super Bowl. What's one piece of advice you'd give to be a healthy fan of a team and to have realistic expectations?

Understand how razor thin the margins are in this league, especially in the playoffs where one play, injury, bounce of the ball, official's call or whatever else can have an outsized influence on the end result. I agree with you entirely on your Patriots take.

Michael from Novato, CA

I'm getting tired of hearing "can't beat the top teams" narrative. We haven't (yet) but that's not the same. We don't need new strategies or mindsets; just make the plays that are there. If Jacobs doesn't fumble, or Reed holds onto the ball, we likely beat MN. In the first game against them, if McDuffie holds on to the INT, we might well win that one. If Watson doesn't fumble against DET, we probably win that game. Just make the plays that are there when you have your hands on the ball.

See above.

Jon from Soldiers Grove, WI

Here are a couple suggestions for the audience who thinks you guys are homers. Tune into the live blog. Mike is not afraid to criticize slow starts, poor play, etc. Listen to "Unscripted." We all know the team needs to take another step. It's not being a homer to believe they can succeed in taking that step.

'Preciate you.

Jeffery from Brooklyn, NY

What do you see as the biggest need to get this team over the top?

They have everything they need. They just need to play their best. Happy Friday.