Inbox: The Packers' plan wouldn't have worked without them

Mark from De Pere, WI

I have always been and will always be a fan of draft first to build a team. But I find it kind of ironic three players we didn't draft – Josh Jacobs, Malik Willis and Xavier McKinney – were three of the heroes from Sunday's game. Great job again by Gutey!

Many streams feed into the team-development pond. It doesn't matter how you got to Green Bay. What's important is that you're here whether you're a proven free agent like Jacobs or a young QB who's acquired in a trade.

Noel from Norwalk, CA

Greetings II! Does the strong play by Malik Willis enforce the coaching ability and offensive scheme of ML? Is it the level of talent drafted by BG and coached up by ML? Either way, MW has shown so far he has the talent when placed into, I'm going to say a strong and positive system/environment that brings out the best of the individual when given the opportunity. Yes, it's only a sample of one, but the results have the arrow pointing up. Thanks for all your hard work. GPG!

Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich and the coaching staff will be the last ones to ever take victory lap, but that was a brilliant gameplan. It may have been one of their best in LaFleur's five-plus seasons here based on how everyone and their brother knew Green Bay wanted to run. Willis did a good job of managing everything early and then shouldering the load when the run game wasn't producing as prolifically in the second half. Willis also showed his arm talent on the throws to Romeo Doubs and the speed with which he threw the ball to Dontayvion Wicks for the 14-yard touchdown.

Bill from Clive, IA

Noticed on Monday that La Fleur is finally getting some love from the pundits. Finally! Phrases tossed around like "a coaching clinic," "master class," "QB whisperer," and the like. Good for him. This game also had to be a confidence builder for not only the backup QB, but also the OL, the run game, and the whole D. Hope that confidence carries over to next week and well beyond. GPG!

It's almost like LaFleur is pretty good at this coaching thing. I guess it only took 60 NFL wins for people to start noticing.

Kevin from Tinton Falls, NJ

We have to give the GM and coaching staff credit for realizing the backup QB situation wasn't up to par with expectations and then being bold enough to go find a guy in Malik Willis. This season could've been close to over already if they didn't do that work in the offseason. Overdramatic? Maybe. Winning makes everything look good, but it appears they made a great decision.

Like the kicker situation, the QB competition didn't produce the results the Packers wanted during camp and Brian Gutekunst made the move he felt was in the best interest of the football team. I think Willis proved Green Bay's brass right Sunday. He did everything asked of him to win that game.

Jeremy from Weston, WI

There is a lot made by fans and pundits about "revenge" games in the NFL when players go against some of their former teams. Do any NFL players actually view it that way? If Malik Willis starts against the Titans, will he have any extra juice or bulletin board material?

I think anybody would have a little extra juice competing against his former team. I certainly would. But Willis is a portrait of professionalism. If called on, Willis won't press. He'll execute the plan to the fullest because that's his job – not because the opponent happens to be his former team.

Ben from McFarland, WI

I understand not wanting to risk Willis' health, or the Packers' chances of winning, but it seems to me that he is a real weapon in the running game that was under-utilized vs the Colts. Could that be the change vs. the Titans rather than more passing? He seems to know how to avoid direct hits...although it only takes one.

Perhaps. Every gameplan is different. If the Packers played the Colts again on Sunday, I'd anticipate a different approach than the one they used in Week 2. Green Bay will identify and lay out the best path forward for Willis or Love.

Jason from Boyle, MS

How many games have the Packers won with a backup QB starting the game?

According to NFL research, that was the seventh time the Packers have won a game with a backup quarterback since Aaron Rodgers took over as starter in 2008.

Dale from Owatonna, MN

A lot of game balls deserved, but I think Romeo Doubs' catch and Eric Wilson shutting down the option were so important to maintaining the two-score lead we needed to win that they stood out to me as the biggest offensive and defensive plays. Special teams were the punt that flipped the field in the third quarter.

Doubs was exceptional. That game reflected everything he does so well in this offense, including his blocking. I get 100-yard days and touchdowns get receivers paid, but all the wideouts' selflessness on Sunday helped their team win.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

If Willis were to be the starting QB against his old team this week, who would benefit more from the familiarity? Obviously, the Tennessee coaches have an idea of his strengths and weaknesses, but many of them just arrived this offseason and weren't there when he came into the league. How much time did he spend this summer practicing against the Titans' actual defense?

Willis practiced against Tennessee's scheme all summer, but I'm guessing he didn't take many reps against the starters since Will Levis was the anointed starter. Willis was still in all those meetings, though, and I'd imagine has a good grasp of the Titans' holdings on that side of the ball.

Lori from Brookfield, WI

Wes, is "The center threw up on the football," the NFL avant-garde equivalent of "The dog ate my homework"?

Yes…if you were filming the dog eating the homework on an iPhone. I did say football was a game of adversity, right? You never know what's gonna be thrown at – or on – you.

Tim from Elmhurst, IL

In Gute we trust…moving on from Aaron Jones was difficult but after two games Josh Jacobs looks like a man on a mission to prove his doubters wrong. Couple that with Malik and Brayden Narveson, it seems Gute just never stops in his efforts to make the team better. He seems to have a knack for knowing when to move on from players. Taking nothing away from Jones but Jacobs just pounded that defense all day. Kudos to Gute.

I still don't look at it like Jones or Jacobs. To me, signing an All-Pro playmaker like Jacobs in the prime of his career was an opportunity too good to pass on. Jones is still a great player and I look forward to covering his Packers Hall of Fame induction ceremony someday, but Green Bay's running back is now Josh Jacobs…and he looked pretty dang good against the Colts.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

I'm more than confident in Malik getting another couple of weeks if we need it, but I gotta say, seeing Jordan Love move up and down the sideline nine days after being convinced I had just seen his season end in Brazil leaves me very optimistic about a quick recovery. But was he legitimately almost cleared to play? Or were we playing fast and loose with the "questionable" designation?

The Packers don't play fast and loose with the injury report. They also wouldn't lead everyone on thinking Love was close if he really wasn't. That doesn't do anybody any good.

George from Edinburg, VA

Wes, we've had several laughs about Josh Myers puking. Considering he and Elgton Jenkins were sick (and how many others getting there), didn't they do an incredible job? That might have been a factor in the second half. Also, haven't Gutey and his staff have done incredibly well with FA and the draft?

I can't say enough about the job those six men did. The Packers' plan wouldn't have worked without them. The offensive line played physical, disciplined and just flat-out pushed people around. Green Bay ran 70 offensive plays and was on the field for more than 40 minutes on the second-hottest gameday ever at Lambeau Field. If it were me, I probably would've been doing a lot more than just puking.

Scott from Cambridge, WI

Was Josh Myers sick for the Packers game or just ate a big lunch before the game?

Myers wondered if he was just waterlogged. He said afterward it was only a problem when he crouched down to snap.

Shane from Philadelphia, PA

Thrilled about the win and a great game plan by ML. Something that seems concerning so far is the team's points off turnovers (or lack of). ATMRWCBR, we only have nine points off turnovers, obviously tougher this week without J-Love on the field but hoping this trend doesn't continue.

In a vacuum, yes. The Packers must do better in that area after coming up empty after the Xavier McKinney and Eric Wilson interceptions. However, the offense still had lengthy drives after both takeaways, which was critical to dominating the time of possession and sealing that game.

Isaac from Columbia, TN

If ever you are going to fumble the ball for a turnover inside the opponent's 1-yard line, I suppose that was the game to do it.

And the Packers responded the right way. They didn't let it snowball like Brazil.

Josh from Seattle, WA

I loved the smashmouth game plan! I think it's more on the coaches than we have expressed in the past to call complementary game plans. This was one of the best examples of shortening the game to help your defense keep it low-scoring.

Because it's not just about "running the ball." It's the offense playing disciplined, penalty-free football that doesn't get behind the sticks. It's also protecting the football to not put your defense in disadvantageous situations. You can't always count on the defense generating three takeaways, but they couldn't have come at better time.

Dan from Wausau, WI

With it being so hot, why didn't the Packers go with the white jerseys and make the Colts wear their dark jerseys?

Those decisions are made weeks ahead of time, so equipment staffs can prepare. Miami and Jacksonville know it's gonna be hot in September and plan accordingly. You can't bank on 85-degree September days in Wisconsin.

Jeff from New Lisbon, WI

Hey II, I always look forward to reading your take on things. Great game, fun to watch for sure! My question is this. Just before the half the Packers had the ball with a little less than two minutes, with I believe a couple of timeouts. It seemed they just wanted to run the clock out. Curious what you thought of that?

It was the right call. LaFleur addressed this postgame and said he felt it would've been reckless to try to run a two-minute offense with a brand-new backup QB while leading 10-0. As Spoff told me in the press box, that move ensured the Packers would maintain the lead regardless of what the Colts did on the opening drive of the second half. That was not the time to chase points. Plus, Willis already did his job after helping put Green Bay in position to be up either 13-0 or 17-0 if Jacobs doesn't fumble.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, since it doesn't seem to have been brought up yet, what (if anything) do you think Brian Gutekunst is doing about the K position? Two misses in two weeks in the 40-49-yard range? These aren't chip shots, but definitely should be in the wheelhouse of an NFL kicker. Do you anticipate BG going to the rolodex or sticking with him through the season?

I don't believe now is the time for rolodexes. That's what the offseason is for, and the Packers settled on Brayden Narveson. They're prepared to practice patience.

Tom from Scottsville, KY

On to Tennessee. Watching the Titans the past two weeks, I see the defense as rather stout. The Pack offense will need to show more in the passing game to keep the run offense viable. Titans' offense is in rough shape. Will Levis doesn't appear to know his elbow from third base when pressure is on. Another bonehead turnover trying to make something happen that wasn't there. When Levis was coming off the field, you could read the coaches lips, "What the (fudge) was that?" I almost dropped my brat laughing.

The Packers have their hands full this week. Statistically, the Titans are the best defense in the NFL through the first two weeks. For the second straight week, that unit gave its team a chance to win the game. Conversely, the Titans' offense and special teams have had real problems so far. The key for Green Bay is to keep that trend going at least another week.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Great win! It's obvious neither the kicking team nor the receiving team wants anything to do with the new kickoff rules. The kicking team is happy to accept the 5-yard penalty, and the receiving team is discouraged from bringing it out rather than just taking it at the 30. Not what the league wanted. I was really hoping it would add some excitement. OK, what now? Can the league adjust or change the rule midseason?

It's kind of a similar answer for me. The NFL and league ownership had an entire offseason to figure this out and this is where we are. Outside of an exception for player safety, I would never be in favor of changing a rule in-season.

Adrian from Chula Vista, CA

If Tua is cleared to play, and he decides to return, can the NFL mandate his wearing of a Guardian cap, or would that have to be negotiated with the NFLPA? I saw a few players wearing the caps this weekend, and I applauded them for their decision. In the future, can you foresee Guardian caps as a standard uniform item?

I don't believe the NFL can force players to wear them this year. Maybe that's something they revisit in the future for players coming out of concussion protocol. If the medical professionals deem it beneficial, I'd be in favor of it.

Bill from Bloomfield Hills, MI

Regarding Spoff's answer about full-time refs not any better than weekend warriors. Could you two do as well at game blogs and summaries if you had a second full-time weekday job?

No shot.

Robert from Elgin, IL

Who's better than us in the NFC? I don't think anyone is.

Good to see fans not getting too high or too low through the first two weeks.