Inbox: That list is too long now

Yotam from Atlit, Israel

Wes, are you sure you are feeling better? On the answer to Marteen's question you seem to have broken the first rule of the Inbox. Hope Mike didn't notice. He'll have you doing double duty for the II.

I wondered about that, too.

Carl from Hartford, WI

Glad to see you boys have put aside the " Just beat the ..." rhetoric. Seems the closer we get to the playoffs, the more everyone is willing to talk about ALL the remaining games on the schedule. Some of us just enjoy discussing it at Week 1.

Clearly there's a time and place for everything now. Evolution is allowed.

Kirsten from Madison, WI

Somehow, 100% feels 100% better than 99%. Inbox math. It's great to be assured a spot in the playoffs. Do the Packers control their own wild-card seeding destiny?

Not exactly. The Packers, currently the No. 6 seed, can avoid the No. 7 by winning out, but they need to win out and have the Lions beat the Vikings in Week 18 to rise to the No. 5 spot. Any loss would allow Washington to bump Green Bay down to the No. 7 with two wins.

Robert from Chandler, AZ

What do we gain by beating Minnesota next week?

In the playoff picture, a chance to move up one spot as well as likely not fall a spot. In the general picture, the perception this team is ready for all comers.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

There's no way the Packers can be locked into any seed after this week. So we can be done with this talk of sitting guys for the Bears game, right? I'd also like to root for the Niners this week just to make sure the Lions don't have a similar conversation about resting starters for the finale either.

I believe you're right, and I agree, on all counts.

Bill from Grandville, MI

I know the Saints were shorthanded but so was the Packers secondary. Bring on the Vikings.

The Saints weren't even competitive. Their depth was no match for a Packers team that has its share.

Rob from Prospect, KY

Was this "that game"?

Not for me. Not against that opponent. I know the Packers had a lot to do with how poorly the Saints played, but when a rookie QB takes one third-and-long conversion as a license to try to be John Elway out there, that was the last straw. I totally lost interest.

Petey from Sarasota, FL

That was a dominant win that felt over in the first quarter. However, MLF can't be happy with the sloppiness that showed up in the second half. I know the Saints were bad all night, and there's no need to score 70, but at least keep the effort going on offense. Five stars to the defense, though. Should be a great game in Minny.

I'm sure LaFleur would've preferred to score late in the first half and again early in the fourth quarter to rest a lot of players sooner, but I'm not going to quibble with this one. I don't think executing a few more plays against a clearly overmatched opponent is going to matter much next week or into January.

Tom from Palatine, IL

Jordan Love had a passer rating of 88.7 last night as he only completed 16-28 passes. That doesn't really tell the whole story though as he threw at least four passes into the ground rather than forcing something as New Orleans had the original play (screen pass) sniffed out. I thought he showed a great deal of maturity there and showed an understanding of the situation by not putting the ball at risk. He really seems to be in a good place right now. Opinions on his performance? GPG!

He was just a tad off on some downfield throws, which he acknowledged after the game, and the ball was in harm's way only once. I don't think this was anywhere close to a top game for Love, but when the running game is doing what it's doing, you're right in how understanding the situation matters.

Luke from Marquette, MI

Wow … I know there's no looking ahead but man I wasn't even on edge during that game.

Hope you enjoyed it. That's rare in a December game that means something.

Jack from Moweaqua, IL

Who put coal in Josh Jacobs' stocking? Goodness he was running angry!

He's such a likeable guy, too. Every game, it feels like he adds a couple of runs to my list of favorites on the season. That list is too long now.

Mark from Two Harbors, MN

I'm impressed with the physicality of this team. The Packers don't mind getting hit and love hitting back. Does this bode well for January football?

That is by far the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's. Offensively, everybody who doesn't have the ball in his hand is hunting for a block, and those with the ball in their hands don't go down easy. Defensively, the swarming to the ball and the ability to stop the run are established physical traits. Those have become defining characteristics with this team.

Mike from San Diego, CA

The fellas took care of business in an old-fashioned beatdown. Mostly complete four quarters against an undermanned team. Congrats on the first shutout of the season!

I had no idea until after the game there hadn't been a shutout in the NFL this year.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

The pundits were saying the Packers offense would face a stiff test in a Saints defense that hadn't given up more than 20 points in several weeks. The Pack had 21 in the second quarter. I guess you really need to watch the game being played, rather than listening to the pundits, as "past results do not guarantee future performance" as much in the NFL as in the financial world.

Last week, the New Orleans defense had eight sacks and allowed Washington just 71 rushing yards on non-QB runs. This week those numbers were zero and 188. Week to week.

Paris from Spring Valley, WI

Sunday will feel like a playoff game without the possibility of ending your season. Not a must win in the standings, but would definitely keep the arrow pointing up. Now is the time to play all four quarters, and please, no stupid penalties. That tripping call on LVN was legitimate and ugly.

The best the Packers can do in this whole deal is the No. 5 seed, but they can give themselves that chance while stopping the Vikings from a shot at the No. 1 seed. I like those kind of stakes.

Mike from Waikoloa, HI

Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii. Here's a fun fact about our beloved Packers: With last night's win, Green Bay has qualified for the playoffs for an NFL record 37th time. Going into this season, the Packers and Cowboys were tied for most playoff appearances (36).

So we got that goin' for us, which is nice.

Stan from Pensacola, FL

Off the subject but looks like Bears finally have a quality QB and just doesn't turn it over which is shocking for a rookie, thoughts? Not the great four quarters ML wanted but didn't need it against the Saints unlike the next opponents. D had a solid game though not a great offense to go against. McManus wow, a savior he's been. Cooper appears to be the real deal with huge upside and will be fun to see his growth. Vikings very beatable and they are due for a loss. GPG.

You covered a lot of ground there. I guess I'll say I've got no arguments.

Robert from Brookeville, MD

What are the prospects for Malik Willis returning next year?

He's under contract for 2025 and until I hear differently, I'm going to assume he'll be Jordan Love's backup for another year.

Mike from Brick, NJ

Seeing a lot of questions about the top three running backs being traded and comparing their new and old teams. I only know about the Giants here on the East Coast, but I can tell you that their problems are much deeper than losing a top-flight running back. I can tell you that if Barkley was still on the Giants, he would not be top three in rushing yards.

The QB situations of the teams those top running backs left behind (Giants, Raiders, Titans) says more about the state of their clubs than anything related to those running backs.

TK from Grafton, WI

Assistant coaches work insane hours looking for any little edge they can for each game. What was the last one you've heard a coach mention? Such as, "We noticed from film study that QB X never throws to his left when pressured."

I've never heard a coach reveal publicly any piece of film study that provided an edge. There's zero upside to doing so other than ego.

Richard from Canton, GA

Have you seen the synched-up video of the Lions' "fake fumble" versus the successful Love actual fumble play versus the Bears? I guess coaches really do go deep into the film to find possible plays.

It also explains why they ran it against the Bears.

Michael from Winfield, IL

Watching the top of the NFC these past few weeks, particularly Sunday, this should be a very entertaining playoff season. I get the feeling all three wild cards could advance. Has that ever happened before?

In the young life span of the three-wild-card era, no.

Richard from Madison, WI

I know your beat is pro football, but what do you make of the odds on the college football playoffs? No. 5 Texas by 14 over No. 4 Arizona State, No. 6 Penn State by 10½ over No. 3 Boise State, and No. 8 Ohio State by 2½ over No. 1 Oregon? Only No. 2 Georgia is favored over No. 7 Notre Dame, and that by only 1½. What is going on here?

For one, recency bias. For another, college football clearly expanded the playoff too much, which most sane people questioned when they went from four to 12 teams without even trying eight.

Dan from Columbus, OH

I think we need different criteria for MVP. Seems like too much of a media narrative award. Josh Allen is going to win, but does he deserve it? Lamar has better stats. If you're going to say it's not about stats how can you make a better argument for Allen over Saquon? If you say it's a QB award then how can you argue Allen over Jayden Daniels? Just compare their teams to themselves last year.

I think it's a pretty competitive three-headed race right now. Barkley is making a strong case for a non-QB to win it. Some of the tilt toward Allen might have to do with his 11 rushing TDs as a QB anomaly, and the fact that Lamar has two MVPs already. Not saying that's right or wrong, but it could be playing into the narrative you mentioned. It's interesting that all three top candidates are facing the last-place teams in their respective divisions in Week 18, so I suspect most voters' minds will be made up after next weekend's games.

T from Cedar Falls, IA

Good morning, Mike/Wes! The broadcast last night shows that 51 of 53 of the current roster was brought in by Gutey. According to my memory (which is usually wrong), the remaining two are Clark and Jaire, right?

Clark is the only player on the current roster not acquired by Gutekunst.

Randy from Clarksville, TN

When was the last time the Pack had three running backs (non QBs or receivers) score a TD?

Dec. 27, 2009, vs. Seattle – Ahman Green, Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson.

Grant from Janesville, WI

Nine players carried the ball for us. Any chance that's a record?

Most for Green Bay since 1953.

Michelle from Ringgold, GA

Based on where they are currently ranked, what do you think Green Bay's chances are of going all the way this year?

If their best football is still out there for the Packers, and they can reach it, I like their chances as much as anybody's.

Jake from Madison, WI

I just wanted to jump in at halftime to remind everyone that we do not chortle. You hear me? This is a zero-chortling zone. Thank you and the floor is once again yours.

I don't think I did. Happy Tuesday.