Tim from Charlotte, NC

So, do you think the playoffs are a crapshoot? Asking for a friend.

One more Sunday of dice rolling, then two teams play for a trophy. I'm fired up for Buffalo.

James from Peterborough, Canada

Monsieur Spoff, wood or gas in your fireplace? IMHO gas fireplaces are the equivalent of a domed stadium. Unreal.

Wood. Always.

Aaron from Tucson, AZ

And so goes the NFC North. Wow.

When you don't play your best in the biggest moments, your season ends. There are exceptions, but that's definitely the rule.

Chris from Gridley, CA

It was not a good playoff run for the NFC North this year. What were your thoughts with the teams going 0-3 in the playoffs after such an amazing season as a division?

See above. I'm getting all sorts of claims now that "the division wasn't as good as everyone thought it was." If that's your take, fine. I don't look at it that way. I learned a long time ago it's not how good you are, it's when you're good. The NFC North was good, but not when it mattered most.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Wow … the Commanders looked like the Packers did against the Cowboys last year.

Or like the Packers against the Falcons 14 years ago. Except No. 2 seed Philly is a WAY better team than No. 2 seed Chicago back in 2010.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Do you ever remember a four-win team from the previous year playing in the NFC Championship game the next year?

In 2005 the Saints went 3-13, and then in 2006 they reached the NFC title game against the Bears.

Jake from Regina, Canada

Jayden Daniels is legit. He's the dude that I hope Love can turn into (even though Love is older and more experienced).

He's on one heck of a run, and he's a blast to watch. I'm also very curious to see how Year 2 goes for him. When defensive coordinators in this league get a whole offseason to study, they find ways to make life more difficult.

Roger from Roscoe, IL

After seeing Jayden Daniels take down the Lions, I am glad the Bears picked Caleb Williams in the draft instead.

A popular sentiment, and in the moment, I concur. But the book hasn't been written on either young QB yet. Just the prologue.

Gregg from Murrells Inlet, SC

I didn't expect to enjoy the weekend games much this week with the pack out. I was wrong I really enjoyed watching Washington be the bully against Detroit. Going for it on fourth to give them a taste of it. And just being physical. Great game.

There was something fitting about the Lions finding out how tough it is to beat a team that makes you defend all four downs. After that initial blunder on fourth-and-1, Washington stayed aggressive and was money in the big moments. There's also something poetic about that franchise getting rid of a knob like Dan Snyder and suddenly going to the NFC title game for the first time in 33 years.

Greg from Glen Ellyn, IL

Step 1: Have QB. Step 2: Make playoffs. Step 3: Get hot. Is that really all there is to it? Congrats to Washington, who pretty decisively out-Dan'd the Campbell.

There are other formulas, but that one works pretty well.

John from St. Albert, Canada

Good morning Insiders. Talk about the difference being one or two plays! The Bills-Ravens game was a showcase of how small the margins are.

Did the Ravens go for two too early? I know it felt natural to try to tie the game at 21, but it was still the third quarter. I've always advocated not going for two until 10 minutes or so left in the fourth, absent extenuating circumstances. Just too many possessions left. Not getting one point with 1:37 left in the third played a huge role in the outcome. Everyone who assumes you'll get it once if you go for two twice needs to remember that game.

Sherman from Eureka, CA

It looks like one might call these the "turnover playoffs." Moving the ball wasn't the problem, holding on to it long enough to score was.

The Lions' sudden turnover barrage was reminiscent of the Packers' 15-1 team in 2011. I thought I heard the Ravens hadn't turned it over more than once all season until Sunday, and Mark Andrews hadn't lost a fumble since 2019. Andrews' fumble was their third turnover of the game, and then he blew his shot at redemption. Can't help but feel bad for Andrews. Unfortunately, by some he might be remembered more for those two plays than the 5,000 yards and 50 TDs he's compiled as a three-time Pro Bowler.

Kim from Hudson, WI

I hate to beat a dead zebra but something needs to be done about officiating in the NFL. As I'm typing this I'm still watching the Lions/Commanders and the non-facemask penalty that cost 15 yards and a TD. Not to mention the KC game earlier. It's getting ridiculous but what can be done?

One reason I've advocated for so long to make safety rules reviewable is it usually takes one, maybe two, looks at a replay of a potential safety violation and the correct call is obvious. Whether it's the two Mahomes plays (the QB hit that wasn't RTP, and the late slide with no helmet contact as the two Houston defenders crashed into each other instead), or the helmet shot on Goff on the pick-six, or the phantom facemask on Montgomery on a big third down … those calls are fixable, like, lickety-split. As I've said, my face can't get any bluer about this. It bothered me so much I actually took to X/Twitter on Saturday. Twice! Me! The most anti-social media figure in the media. There's just no excuse anymore. None.

Bob from Covington, KY

Hi, guys. I saw that Oren Burks was fined for the helmet-to-helmet hit on the opening kickoff of the Eagles games. Just curious … if that penalty had been called, would it have affected the turnover call, like Packers' ball at the spot of the foul? Or wouldh it just have been the penalty yardage tacked on, so Eagles' ball near midfield?

No and no. A live ball personal foul would've wiped out the play, and the Eagles would've had to kick off again from 15 yards back. That's why missing the helmet shot and later fining the player, but not correcting the enforcement on the field when it would be so easy to do, is just inexcusable on the part of the NFL. All these fines that aren't flagged, and flags that aren't fined, are results that are just supposed to be accepted by the teams, players and fans. But it's not acceptable. It's the biggest crock of (sugar) the league forces on everybody, and it should be embarrassing to 345 Park Ave. Thoroughly. The competition committee must step in. Like yesterday.

Gary from Bear Valley, WI

Eagles player gets fined for helmet-to-helmet hit. What a slap in the face. ML may want to take a second look at Slay's INT. Obvious PI not called in playoffs. What a concept?

LaFleur did mention on Tuesday morning the sly play by Slay. But the experiment to make PIs reviewable went so awry the league ain't goin' back there. Now that I think about it, maybe that disastrous season is a big reason behind the reluctance to put safety rules under replay's purview. I dunno.

Tom from West Palm Beach, FL

Do you think the overprotection of Mahomes will eventually backfire? If I'm a defender, I eventually get frhustrated on getting flagged for simply breathing near him and just "make it count." Chiefs games are officiated differently and it's a terrible optic. And I say that as someone who tries to be as objective as possible.

I think Mahomes' exploitation of the QB protections will lead to more scrutiny of them. At some point. At minimum, a flopping rule has to be on the way.

Kurt from Long Lake, WI

I thought playoff officials were the best of the bunch?

They are. Which tells you how little that matters when the league has made the rule book inexorably complicated and doesn't help the officials where needed. I don't blame the refs on the field. Never have. Let the cameras and all the eyes in the sky protect the players and adjudicate safety. Let the refs manage the rest. At least try it. Can't be worse.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

The Packers' defensive effort against the Eagles last week looks even better after watching the Rams loading up against Barkley and still giving up 200 yards to him.

The Packers didn't let Barkley get loose until the very end when he broke through and slid down. The Rams gave up two long runs to Barkley and one to Hurts. Those three plays accounted for more than half of Philly's yards (186 of 350). All that said, the Rams still gave themselves a great chance. It looked like they might've had the winning TD on an outside-in route by the tight end if someone had blocked Jalen Carter. So close, but so it goes.

Thomas from Madison, WI

Has DC Hafley actually agreed to an interview with the Jets? Is there any precedent for turning down HC interviews? I understand it is a big deal to become a HC in the NFL, but in my opinion, Hafley would be wise to not go down that road. They've got green, but there's no gold at the end of that rainbow.

Hafley did the interview, which can be valuable experience for someone in his position. Exposing yourself to the process can only help. Taking the job if offered is another decision entirely, but taking the interview when you've never been an NFL head coach before is a no-brainer.

Lee from Citrus Heights, CA

It will be Love's third season next as starter. Do you think the game will slow down a bit more for him? Reading his progressions seems like a skill that could benefit from that maturity. Thanks for another great season!

There's no substitute for experience at the QB position, given how complex defenses can be and how many different things they can throw at you. (What Jayden Daniels is doing is rare, to say the least.) Love still hasn't seen it all, but now he's seen twice as much as he had a year ago. I also go back to LaFleur's rhetorical monologue last Tuesday: "Do I think he can play better? Absolutely. Do I think I can help him out and be better? Absolutely. Do I think we can play better around him? Absolutely." Anyone looking for a singular magic bullet to fix the offense needs to keep that quotation in mind all offseason.

James from Appleton, WI

It seems that Jordan Love is a pretty laid-back guy, but I've thought before Matt LaFleur said it that I wish Love would be more vocal and dominant in running the offense. Do you think sitting for three years behind a guy on the exact opposite side of the dominance scale has hindered Love's effort to find a happy medium?

Not really. Love's demeanor has been pretty steady since he got here, as backup or starter, and I don't think it's had anything to do with Rodgers. As he broadens his leadership approach, I'd expect him to do it his own way.

Daniel from Chillicothe, MO

I get the Vikings have a tough situation this offseason, but I don't think we should underestimate them. They had an equally tough situation last offseason where the franchise QB walked in FA, and they still cobbled together a team of free agents that came one game short of claiming the first-round bye of the conference.

Fair enough. But that's also a franchise that has made the playoffs in back-to-back years only once since the turn of the century. We shall see.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Gutey essentially went all-in with AR, Davante, Bakh, etc. in their last 2-3 years here (rightfully so IMO), knowing that GB would be in salary cap purgatory for at least a few years. During that time, he has signed his franchise QB and two superstar FAs in their mid-20s, drafted core building blocks and revamped the entire defense…while making the playoffs each season and now having over $50 million in cap space. Lots of disappointment and frustration now, but the best is yet to come.

I guarantee nothing, except it'll for sure be interesting.

Nic from London, UK

Now that I know Wes doesn't like attacks on his heritage I feel bad for saying his mother was a hamster and his father smelt of elderberries that one time he didn't answer my question.

Smelt? Isn't that some kind of fish?

Gretchen from Dousman, WI

The ability of both of you to maintain high professional standards and still allow yourselves to share on a personal level is remarkable. I think it's one of the main things that keeps me coming back. So sorry for the loss of your colleague. Take care of each other.

We're hoping for a better week around here.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, your comment about a weekend of "winter lager, snacks and a fire in the fireplace" brings a Norman Rockwell image to mind. I'm envious. I get to watch maybe two hours of one game. But then, I can't say: "But honey, it's my job."

Happy Monday.