Eric form Ankeny, IA

I always enjoy reading II, especially on Mondays. Yesterday's submissions from fellow readers covered all my frustrations about Sunday's game. Then there was Mike's "refund" response to Jennifer from Cordell, CA. Priceless! GPG.

You have no idea how much I leaned on Mike's response to slog through today's Inbox.

Jack from Moweaqua, IL

I know it's Bears first and win your last home game, but Vic taught me to be an optimist until you can't. So, I like the way this is potentially playing out. Revenge of the regular-season losses, Philly, Minnesota, and then Detroit. It's there for the taking they just have to execute. And at this point not many outside of that locker room really believe they have a chance. Do you guys?

I loved the respectful but honest quote Josh Myers gave to Jason Wilde after the game: "I don't mean this personally against you. But I don't really care what anyone believes. I know we have the guys in the locker room to do it. I know this loss is going to (tick) us off and get us sent in the right direction. I believe in everyone in our organization to get it done. I truly believe we're going to win the Super Bowl this year. I really believe that – whether everyone else believes it or not." I think the Packers can do it because it's a series of best-of-one games from here on and they've proven they can play with anyone. So, get on the wagon or hop off. Either way, departure time is a week away.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

Well, if the Packers remain in the seventh seed and the other playoff matches go as expected it could be a very therapeutic road to the Super Bowl.

Whether Green Bay is the sixth or seventh seed, this team will have the opportunity to exorcise as many regular-season demons as it wants in the postseason. But the Packers gotta earn it one game at a time.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

Not much of a pass rush again, which has been the theme against good teams. On the other side, we knew they would blitz early and often, and they did. Help me understand the lack of screens and quick slants in favor of long-developing pass plays. If I knew more, I'd be a coach, but from a fan's point of view, the game plan sure seemed questionable. Besides the same "we need to execute better" excuse, what am I missing?

I'm not sure, but it does seem like the more stationary Green Bay's offense gets, the harder it gets to push the ball downfield. New Orleans was obviously hurting last week, but the Packers did a great job of mixing pre-snap motions, receiver sweeps and screens into their game plan. Sunday was the second time this season Green Bay didn't have a completed pass to a running back. The other was the Lions game earlier this month.

Mark from Ishpeming, MI

I may be wrong but I'm guessing the Packers' inability to stop short passes whether they be to the left, right or middle isn't a problem. Seems to me something that your opponent can do successfully 80% of the time warrants a different approach.

Xavier McKinney touched on this after the game. Good offenses like Minnesota are going to make plays. It's up to the defense to counter with its own whether it's takeaways, third-down stops or tackles for a loss. The Packers did that in spurts but failed to stifle Sam Darnold once he got rolling. Pressure was too sporadic, as well.

Jay from Janesville, WI

Let's all give props to Carrington Valentine. The guy hasn't given up a touchdown all season. He's been as good as any corner in the league this year, yet his name is rarely mentioned. He might need to work on protecting the ball when it's in his hands, but overall, he's been a lockdown corner. Nice job kid. You have a bright future in this league.

Valentine is the gold standard for what it means to be a seventh-round pick. He has earned every snap he's taken the past two years and parlayed experience into improvement.

Sam from Ronan, MT

Kick a field goal inside the 10 on fourth-and-3, was it? Then, go for it on fourth-and-2 outside of the 20. I didn't hear Coach LaFleur's press conference to see if he addressed it, but I'd really like to see GB either go for it consistently or simply take the points.

I get your point, but game situation matters. As tough as it was to settle for a 22-yard field goal, I understood the decision because neither team scored on its first two possessions. Minnesota answered with a touchdown and LaFleur went with his gut to go for it on the next fourth down. It didn't work out. That's football.

Curt from Pine Island, MN

When Zayne Anderson went down on the kickoff, I figured it was big trouble. What's shaking out of the DB tree?

Losing Anderson early was a heavy blow. Javon Bullard comes back from a two-game absence and (I assume) took all his reps at the nickel in practice. Bullard battled on the back end to the tune of 10 tackles, but that's a tough spot for any returning player to be thrust into.

Bruce from Jefferson, WI

Do you think that sitting Josh Jacobs for the second drive and, going three-and-out with three consecutive passes had an impact on the game? Also, not taking the field goal to make it 7-6 hurt and an egregious defensive encroachment penalty right before the half made it a total of six points. Enough to win the game. Packers' receivers need to get sticky gloves. Every other team must be using them. Jayden Reed's drop was very concerning.

They didn't sit Jacobs. They just didn't give him the ball.

Steve from Middletown, KY

Good morning. I think a true No. 1 WR secures a catch around 90-plus% of the time when it hits their hands. It has repeatedly been said that we don't have a true No. 1, so each of our WRs could drop a pass. That's potentially a lot of drops. However, I do think any of our WRs can get to No. 1. I really don't think it's focus, but how do they get there? More experience? Should they use JUGS machines right before the game starts to lock them in? Anything else? As always GPG!

Catching isn't easy, but I think everyone would agree the Packers have had too many drops this year. That said, what's past isn't necessarily prologue. James Jones and Jordy Nelson dealt with drops early on before going on to decorated NFL careers. It'll take hard work, dedication and focus to get there.

Lori from Brookfield, WI

Wes, I have a theory...the NFL is a thespian league. Plays are designed to deceive opponents. Defensive schemes are masked to cover up coverage realities. Green Bay receivers had difficulty catching the ball yesterday. Coach was unusually animated. Yet, the Pack lost by less than a field goal. Could the Packers' performance against the Vikings be an artfully staged event to lull their playoff opponents into complacency and boredom, causing them to underestimate Green Bay?

I'm not sure, Lori, but I maintain the Packers aren't a team anyone wants to see in their postseason bracket.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Searching hard to find a silver lining in that one? Found one. You and Mike should be home for dinner next Sunday?

I'll take any noon game the NFL gives us. I only wish they could have announced it sooner. I mean, did we really need to go to the 11th hour before announcing an All-AFC North Saturday? Mercy.

Dale from Indianapolis, IN

Hey, a lot of chatter about Tucker Kraft's low block on Pat Jones. What's the official rule on that? Was that block within the scope of fair play?

Thanks for asking, Dale, and I'm glad Matt LaFleur covered this at his news conference. Kraft executed a legal cross-sift block inside the tackle box, the same play Minnesota ran offensively when Johnny Mundt cut Brenton Cox Jr. It's incumbent on the defender to defeat the block. But the last thing you do is stop moving your feet. You cannot get caught flat-footed by the fire. I remember a veteran telling me years ago that's how injuries happen. I feel for Jones. You don't want to see anyone get hurt, but Kraft's block was not malicious. It was football.

David from San Antonio, TX

I'm not too bent out of shape about losing to the best three teams in the league. Maybe it's more about how we lost, but we are a good team and can be great. I don't care about Chicago. I say get healthy and rest guys. We could be at near full strength in two weeks. That's what matters most.

Like Spoff said, I doubt the Packers rest anyone vs. Chicago. I could see them giving injured players an extra week to heal up for the playoffs. Those are all decisions LaFleur and Co. will need to make this week.

Jeff from Storm Lake, IA

After 16 weeks why are the Packers still committing dead-ball penalties? And why did the coaching staff not stop 12 men in the huddle before it happened? In my opinion this all points to coaching and accountability.

Pre-snap penalties reared their ugly head again. Those things just can't happen against elite teams.

Tony from Mount Juliet, TN

In response to Danny from Chattanooga, under the old 12-team playoff system the Packers would still be in the playoff hunt. The Packers played Miami (a win) for their 17th scheduled game, and Washington played the Titans (a win). Under the old 16-game schedule, neither of these games would not have been scheduled, and both teams would currently be 10-5. This weekend would decide a playoff berth with division games against Dallas and Chicago, respectively.

As pointless conversations go, pondering what might have been in a 12-team playoff format ranks right up there with discussing whether you ordered the steak or fish on Flight 209. It's over. It's done. There's no going back.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

Did you think the crowd noise impacted the offense on Sunday? It seemed worse at the start of the game and either quieted down or the offensive line settled in as the game went along.

I think that's a fair assessment. Crowds are always going to be at their peak at the beginning and end (of close games). It's hard to keep that energy for all three hours.

Herbert from Palm Desert, CA

Good morning, Wes. It appears some of the faithful have lost hope. Perhaps I'm overly optimistic, but I don't believe this loss was as devastating as some have opined. If the defense makes a stop on the last possession, I felt like we kick a game-winning field goal against a possible No. 1 seed, on the road in a very tough environment. The Packers must play better to make a playoff run, but they're more than capable.

It's not about the loss. It's about what you learn from the loss. Kansas City won four of its last eight last year and then reeled off four-in-a-row to win the Super Bowl.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

Go Cowboys! Go out with a win, Coach Mike!

Hopefully "Go on" with a win. But yes, Coach Mike and the 'Boys could do his old club a huge favor on Sunday.

Lars from Mapleton, WI

Only two more stupid poems from Dean before we get a break from his italicized garbage that Wes so hungrily lops up. How about you two try crocheting T-shirts for all of us next year instead?

Lauren Anderson handles the crocheting here, not me. I can't speak for Dean, though.

Pat from Hudson, WI

Yes, Sunday's loss was disappointing and, yes, we have yet to beat the teams ahead of us in the standings. But, as a glass-half-full guy, I try to keep in mind that over the last three years the Packers have moved on from their four best offensive players: Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and David Bakhtiari, and have gone 100% in on the youth movement and I think that inexperience showed in yesterday's game. But they're in the playoffs for the second straight year and, win or lose, the future looks bright in GB!

The NFL's youngest team in back-to-back years has now qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back years. Meanwhile, Minnesota had the second oldest team entering the season. I get those superlatives don't matter to some fans, but it's the facts. While Green Bay wants to make a Super Bowl run this year, the foundation has already been built for the future.

Theal from Flounder, CT

0-5 against the elite three and you think we can beat two or three of them in the playoffs? The scores in those five games are not indicative of how far behind we are in talent and coaching, but you deny the homer label and instead label us defeatists. Go ahead and play the "anything is possible" card, it's all you got. I'll be honest with myself and other Packers fans and admit right now the future looks good, but this season will fall short. Truth is, you CAN'T say it. You're paid not to.

Stop. Seriously. I'm over these submissions without a fragment of a question – just aimless, thoughtless ranting. Theal, there isn't a thing you could say to slice through the scar tissue of co-authoring this column for the past nine years. The low-hanging homer fruit is plucked and rotted on my table. Like Spoff intimated, Insider Inbox is a free, daily Q&A. What Insider Inbox is not is a comment jar in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Mike and I are not punching bags for you to rip on your playoff-bound, 11-win team. You wanna know hard times? The team Green Bay plays Sunday has lost 10 games in a row. T-E-N. That's hard times, brother. You want to discuss the Packers? Let's discuss. You got a question? Let's hear it. But if you want to hurl insults and rage-quit the season, go to X or shout from a nearby window. Honestly, I don't care what you do – just go. It's not worth my time. It's not worth Mike's time. I'm busy. Thank you very much. Have a great day.