Inbox: That's a first for a punter, for sure

Chris from Eau Claire, WI

There are six teams with five wins. Three are in the NFCN.

Are we buckled up yet?

Freya from Austin, TX

What an amazing finish to not only the Packers game, but the Lions-Vikings game as well! I'm a little jealous that you two don't have to listen to the broadcast announcers, though. Tony called our wonderful quarterback "Jared Love" at one point. Oof.

Sounded like another typical crazy game over in Minneapolis, too. This league is bonkers.

Bob from Colby, KS

A minute before halftime, having followed the game from your blog, I decided to (I said this in my head) walk off the frustrating first half. The dogs and I took an extra long walk and then I didn't go back to the game until after it was over. Little did I know there would be a walk-off field goal. I missed the field goal; I didn't miss the stress.

Unfortunately, you didn't miss anything in the live blog. The platform crashed early in the third quarter, and I apologize to all those fans out there counting on it. Bummed me out as well. It was a technical issue out of our hands, and it wasn't just us. We had heard the Patriots were having trouble with their live blog from London, and the Vikings, too. Minnesota has a Thursday game this week so hopefully there's enough urgency to get everything back in order with the platform and we'll be good to go from Jacksonville.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

I'm just glad it wasn't Narveson kicking from 45, left hash, with the game on the line.

The Packers had to get better at kicker after last year. The first attempt didn't work out. That didn't mean it was the wrong move, because they had to try. Hopefully this second one sticks. Having a guy who's been there, done that certainly helps.

Steve from Kansas City, MO

So, we've found our kicker now? Pressure kick for his first FG – could tell he's a veteran simply by the look in his eye. He expected to make it!

They all do. The difference with Brandon McManus is he's made those dozens of times. No kicker reaches 91% for his career inside 50 yards by feeling like it's anything other than the next kick.

Jim from Prairie du Chien, WI

Good morning all, special teams MVP – McManus or Daniel Whelan, or shut up and share it? Monster games by both!

There's a reason Whelan was item No. 2 out of 5 in the game recap. That's a first for a punter, for sure. I silently gasped when I saw the last snap.

Brendan from Warren, MI

Can you recall a game when it felt like the Packers overcame two opponents: the other team as well as themselves? Has to be a pretty good feeling for Matt Lafleur and co. to know they just beat a very strong opponent, and still have a lot to improve upon. Beating a 5-1, seemingly playoff-bound team knowing you still aren't playing your best ball sounds like a dangerous football squad. GPG!

There's A LOT to clean up from this game that'll prevent anyone from feeling too satisfied about the win, as important as it was. The miscues in the punt-return game just can't happen. Totally avoidable. The defensive offsides have to stop. The quarterback has to reduce the interceptions. The run defense was Jekyll & Hyde. No victory against a first-place team will be without flaws, but in most games that's too many to overcome.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA

For your money, which side of the ball has the most potential to improve as the season goes on?

There's still a ton out there for this offense, methinks.

Dan from Grayslake, IL

This Packers defense is fun to watch. One never really knows what to expect. No takeaways this week, but the pressures and sacks had Stroud clearly frustrated. Any predictions on what we can look forward to in the weeks to come as the team becomes even more comfortable with Hafley and his schemes?

A lot will be game-plan dependent. Remember that. But this looked like a continuation of the productive pass rush the Packers had last week against Arizona, except they got four sacks to go with it this time. Hafley never let Stroud get comfortable, and when the pressure calls work with the back end holding up, it gives any coordinator more confidence to keep calling them. Stroud had a couple scrambles on that early fourth-quarter drive, and then late in the fourth he made a really good play and throw against the blitz to convert third-and-10. But those were really the only plays Stroud made all game. He looked nothing like the offensive rookie of the year from 2023, and that's saying something.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

Hi Mike. Lots of lovings to spread around for this win. One thing I think was key was the three-and-out after half. Texans coulda doubled up, dang near tripled up after the turnovers. Your thoughts? Great game. The North definitely interesting.

I thought the defense came up big numerous times. Holding the Texans to a field goal from the 11-yard line after the opening INT. Knocking them out of field-goal range twice with third-down sacks. A trio of three-and-outs. The red-zone stop at the end, with two TFLs on Mixon, when the Packers are burning their timeouts. The defense showed it isn't all about turnovers and doesn't necessarily need them to perform well. Holding any NFL team under 200 total yards is stellar work.

Dave from Waterford, OH

I don't care what you mix it with, or just give it to me straight, but I'm drinking some Evan Williams all day long!

Eric Wilson deserves to have some booze named after him following that performance. Amazing game from such a reliable vet. If there's an unsung hero on the entire defense thus far, he's it.

Gary from Janesville, WI

Do you have any winning percentage stats for teams that finish minus-3 in turnover margin? It can't be good.

The Packers hadn't won a game with a minus-3 turnover margin since LaFleur's first season in 2019. I also saw a stat that since 2000, NFL teams with a minus-3 differential have won just 9.8% of the time (82-753-2) and were 0-13 this season before Sunday.

Pedro from Mexico City, Mexico

If you told me the Packers defense forced zero turnovers and Jordan Love threw two INTs against the Texans, I would've never guessed they won the game. The NFL is funny like that. Your opinion on Love's turnover struggles this season?

I try not to just lump everything together into a general comment because it's always more complicated than that. To me, the first INT looked like a telegraphed throw the Texans knew was coming. On the second, LaFleur took some blame for a bad play call against Houston's surprise coverage, but Love needs to recognize the bad spot he's in and go somewhere else with the ball. I'll continue to say this about Love – he's a young QB still figuring things out, but the best thing about him is he never lets anything rattle him.

Blake from Minneapolis, MN

After an opponent got a last-minute score against the Packers, TV commentators would often say, "They left too much time for Rodgers!" Is it too early to think we just may see a similar story beginning with Love?

His next step is to put together a game-winning, two-minute drive on the road.

Jonathan from Richmond Hill, GA

Why did we get the ball at the 25 after the kickoff when it was kicked out of bounds? Did it have to do with the penalty that had the Texans kicking at the 50? If so, smart to kick it out, if not, why?

The penalty for a kickoff out of bounds is the ball gets placed 25 yards from the kickoff spot. On a normal kickoff from the 35, the ball goes to the 40. But that kickoff was from midfield due to the Green Bay personal foul on the field goal, so 25 yards from the 50 is the 25, which makes it better to kick it out of bounds in that situation than kick a touchback.

Gary from Sheboygan, WI

Insiders, when scouting film of an upcoming opponent, do the coaches look at the TV broadcast as well as video supplied by the league? Any difference between the two? And which do the coaches rely on or like the most?

They rely on the all-22 by far, but there are some who will also watch the TV copy to potentially pick up on any cadence or verbal signals that could be helpful.

Mike from Kalamazoo, MI

Is Mike Holmgren worthy of the Hall of Fame? Why or why not? Thanks.

Nothing against Bill Cowher, but I was on the record very quickly as soon as Cowher was inducted that Holmgren is absolutely worthy, and I would argue Holmgren's case is stronger. He was the head coach who brought the Packers back to respectability and contending status after 25 years in the wilderness. He took two franchises to three total Super Bowls. If he had won one of the two Super Bowls he lost, it would be an absolute no-brainer and he'd have gotten in already. Should one game literally determine this? No.

Bryce from Lorain, OH

"You're gonna stick out like a sideways pinky if you're not wearing white on Sunday." I see what the writer did there.

Our social media truly has entered a new era.

Josh from Richmond, VA

Was the week the Winter Warning uniform being worn determined before the schedule was released? I can't remember. Just my opinion but I think they would look awesome under the lights of Lambeau for a night game.

It was chosen after the schedule came out. Perhaps your night game idea will take hold in a future year. The Packers have worn the all-whites (but gold helmet) at night in the past.

Jason from Austin, TX

Not sure if this has been asked yet, but is this color rush game the only game this season to feature an alternate uniform? Speaking of, I wish teams would be more willing to do throwback uniforms along with the opposing team. I think a Bears-Packers game with both teams wearing throwback jerseys would be a great spectacle.

The 1994 Halloween night game at Soldier Field, in a monsoon no less, was a true marvel in that regard with the double throwbacks. I remember a Thanksgiving game in Detroit (2001?) with both clubs in throwbacks, too. As for the Packers' '50s Classic duds, they could still be coming this year but no announcement yet.

Terry from Elroy, WI

Didn't your response to Mike from Granite City, IL, about math in the II violate the first rule of the II?

Yes it did, but I felt it was necessary. Sometimes you break the glass when warranted.

Jeff from Albuquerque, NM

Capiche? I had visions of Mike softly tapping a baseball bat in his hand while walking around a table full of Insider math "wise guys," and one of them had just challenged his math skills. Chilling.

This legit made me laugh.

Tom from Lisbon, WI

What a game! How did the "winter warning" whiteout feel in person? I had been curious to see if the fans would show up in white, and it sure looked like they did on TV. Seemed like a pretty cool vibe!

The fans pulled off the whiteout. Kudos. Definitely a different but cool look inside Lambeau.

Earl from Marietta, GA

I stand corrected, the defense is getting better every week. GPG

It's also proving to be a defense that gets better during the game. That's five straight weeks allowing seven or fewer points in the second half. Just 22 total points in the second half over five games.

Steven from Balsam Lake, WI

Ugly start. Beautiful finish.

Better than the other way around. Every time.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

You guys must be so relieved not to be getting any kicker complaints today. While that story is huge, I would say that the biggest story is how, despite all the mistakes in all areas, the Pack kept coming back. Would you say this is because of coaching, confidence, chemistry, or something else?

It's been a hallmark of LaFleur's teams since he got here that they constantly fight and never just crumble. That's the culture. Nobody expects everybody to play their best all the time. But their best effort is always demanded.

Mike from Orange City, IA

Whose our toughest opponent in our division?

Who's.

Bette from Orange City, IA

Will it be hard to beat the Lions soon?

Just beat the Jaguars.

Jimmy from Madison, WI

I'm concerned that next week vs JAX on the road could be a letdown game, overlooked by the team, taken for granted, with the Lions on the horizon right after. Coach can keep the team focused on the next task at hand – it's one foot in front of the other that will keep this season heading in the right direction.

Happy Monday.