Steve from Scranton, PA

Wes, while watching the officials completely botch multiple calls last weekend related to player safety, I could just envision Spoff's head exploding, and knew a good rant was coming Monday. What I didn't expect was him turning to X/Twitter (twice!). Rather, I pictured him sitting at a wooden desk with the fireplace crackling in the background, dipping his feathered pen into the inkwell, and writing a letter of complaint in cursive to the commissioner's office!

I thought for a second Mike's Twitter account was hacked. It just turns out Spoff chose to bring out the old Billy Baroo.

Steve from Beaver Dam, WI

I think the takeaway from the Washington/Detroit game for me was it's a good indication of things to come for Green Bay once our receivers get more experience under their belts. Jayden Daniels was impressive but the guys he was throwing the ball to all had a minimum of four seasons' worth of experience and Zach Ertz has a Super Bowl ring. That had to help the rookie considerably.

Ertz has been a game-changing addition for Washington. His reliability has been a real asset for Daniels and there may be something to learn there. Although there's still plenty to like about the Packers' pass-catchers, the long-term impact of Christian Watson's knee injury makes me wonder if Green Bay may consider adding a veteran and allocating its premium draft assets elsewhere.

Jason from Austin, TX

Insiders, was there any final diagnosis in the severity of Romeo Doubs' concussion? We've had too many great players lost to frequent concussions. I'm hoping he's not another one.

I don't have any insight on how Doubs is doing at the moment, but there doesn't appear to be any long-term concern based on what the Packers' brass said at the end of the season. Doubs also had positive recollections about his third NFL season on an Instagram post over the weekend.

Don from Marshfield, WI

Brett Favre was good his first year, second year he was blitzed. A lot! Third year and up, we got a great one. Aaron Rodgers was much the same. Love has the first and second year under his belt. Maybe next year he'll take off and become our all-star QB for many years! Tom Brady cried every time a defender got near him. Patrick Mahomes has taken over that! Mike and Wes, you give me great reading material every day. THANK YOU!

Managing growth is part of the ebb and flow of the NFL, particularly at the quarterback position. It's a balance between what you've seen and what might be. I think Love made progress in several key areas, including how few sacks he took. Going into Year 3, Love's next step is harnessing his intermediate throws, hitting check downs, and using his athleticism to extend plays.

Greg from Perkasie, PA

Speaking to the question about Jordan Love's demeanor, do you think his laid-back demeanor may play into the lack of urgency to win big games that Gutey seemed to speak to during his end of year press conference? It seems like that comment and MLF's challenge to be a more vocal leader both relay the same message, just with different words.

I didn't read it that way. Love can be more vocal without changing who he is. For example, Xavier McKinney has been vocal about his own five-year maturation in the leadership department despite being an introvert by nature. To me, the lesson to be learned is strong communicators don't need to be extroverted in the same way being an extrovert doesn't make you a good communicator. Leaders need to lead with authenticity. Otherwise, it comes off fake and superficial.

Bret from Hertel, WI

Dear Wes, now that we have seen running quarterbacks dominate playoffs, would you like to see Jordan Love run and roll out more? Thanks!

This line of questioning subtly dominated Matt LaFleur's final news conference and is something the Packers likely will need to consider going into next year. While Green Bay statistically ran the ball better out of shotgun, the Packers and Love have had success with play-action rollouts from center in the past.

Mark from Deerfield, IL

Watching the games this weekend, it seemed to me it was all about pressure on the quarterback. All the QBs are good when they have time to stay in the pocket and wait for someone to get open. Brian Gutekunst put the draft capital in the right positions, but he hasn't hit on a game-wrecker. We don't have anyone in the top 20 of pass-rush win rate stats. The made a coaching change that may help, but it's players, not plays. Hoping a top FA becomes available.

Four-man rush is king in the NFL and the defenses that thrived over the weekend frequently got home with four forward and seven back. I give Jeff Hafley points for creativity with his blitz patterns, but you want that to be an option more than a requirement, a changeup more than a fastball.

Josh from Newhall, CA

My question is regarding the pass rush. I've been pondering the lack of rush ability by the front four this year. Is the dismissal of the DL coach significant? BG tends to draft for physical tools and potential over production ( Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness). Is this an indication that ML/BG feel the players are on the roster but not being properly guided or taught? How much impact does a position coach has on individual player development? Is this a main focus for them?

Position coaches are tied directly to the development of players. I think about the outside linebackers' productivity under Mike Smith's watch whether it was established veterans such as Za'Darius and Preston Smith or a first-round pick like Gary. The fact that's the only significant change the Packer have knowingly made to the coaching staff (other than Tom Clements retiring) suggests Green Bay felt it didn't get enough from the pass rush this season. But I'll let LaFleur speak for himself whenever we find out who succeeds Jason Rebrovich.

Chuck from Winthrop Harbor, IL

It seemed to me that the Packers just didn't have it this year compared to last year. Last year the receivers were making outstanding plays, and it seemed like they were in sync. This year they seem to lean more towards the running game, and it seemed to throw off the passing game. What is your opinion on this?

It's a fair assessment. Last year, a number of guys – not just receivers – stepped up to overcome the prolonged absence of Watson. This year, that proved much more difficult.

Zack from Dayville, CT

So there are four QBs left in the tournament. All four are either run/pass (Allen, Hurts) or pass/run (Mahomes, Daniels) players. None are true pocket passers. The teams that left the playoffs early had some (GB, MN, DET, PIT, LA, HOU) true pocket QBs. Are we witnessing the change of that position where you must have the entire skillset and make the D play in essence 11 vs. 12? Stafford, Brady, Manning (both), Wilson, Rodgers all won one mostly in the pocket – is that time past?

Ha. Wilson and Rodgers definitely didn't win just from the pocket. Both QBs used their feet to extend plays. Frankly, I don't think much has changed with the position. If anything, it speaks to the multiplicity the NFL demands from QBs. You can't just play one way.

Bill from Forest Park, OH

Now that was a weekend of fun and (mostly) exciting games! Bonus enjoyment for those of us who enjoy watching football played in the snow. Observations: Saquon Barkley is an absolute beast and fun to watch. So much for the NFC North. Buffalo-Baltimore was everything we expected; Mahomes gets every roughing-the-passer flag possible.

The statistic I saw about Barkley's APY not ranking among the top 30 receivers is something else. NFL teams have to think long and hard this offseason about how they spend their money.

Jeff from Champlin, MN

I agree with the need to "ramp up our sense of urgency," but this must also include the acquisition staff and Gutey himself. Gutey has done a good job the past three years of acquiring talent. However, let's see our acquisition staff hit on more No. 1 picks who have the best chance of being difference-makers. Aside from Love, Gutey's No. 1s have issues with inconsistency and availability. Gutey is good, but we need him and his acquisition staff to be better to go to the next level.

For years, I enjoyed how some fans took issue with the Packers struggling in the third round. Then, Green Bay drafts Sean Rhyan and Tucker Kraft in back-to-back years and now the peanut section moves to the next narrative. Sure, the Packers need more from their first-rounders. Of course, that becomes exponentially more challenging when you're not picking in the top 10 like Detroit did for two decades.

Jonathan from St. Louis, MO

Turnover differential has been the defining factor in this year's playoffs. Teams that lost the turnover battle are 0-5, while the other three games, which featured no turnovers, were tightly contested – except for Buffalo's dominant win over Denver. Of the remaining teams, who do you think will do the best at protecting the football?

All four remaining teams have yet to turn over the ball this postseason, but it would be foolish for me to say anyone besides the Bills. Buffalo led the NFL in turnover differential by eight during the regular season. Pittsburgh (plus-16) was the only other team over plus-12.

Scott from Sauk City, WI

Haha, I'm still laughing at calling Dan Snyder a "knob." I had forgotten that he's gone, so thank you. It makes the Commanders a little more tolerable now. I think "knob" is the nicest word you could use to describe him, and still publish a family-friendly blog. Thanks, Mike!

One more reason why I'm pulling for a Buffalo-Washington Super Bowl among many.

Bob From Marietta, IL

Wow, it was so good to see Rasul Douglas recover the onside kick in the Bills game. He made so many big plays for the Packers. I'm glad to see he's having continued success and wishing him the best. He was always one of my favorite Packers.

A talented cornerback and a consummate professional. It also says a lot about Douglas he won the Green Bay media's Stand-Up Guy Award during his only full season with the Packers. I'll always cheer for his success.

Michael from Mahomet, IL

Hello fellow Insiders, I know there's no chortling in the Inbox, but this weekend...wow! Brutal.

Brutal is a good word for it. Remember last week when I was talking about how the Lions have rarely blinked all season? Well, they played like they had something in their eye Sunday. Football is a tough game and the consequences for not bringing your best are dire in the playoffs. Everyone knows the stakes, but it hurts the same when the ride is over.

Eric from Green Bay, WI

Two back-to-back soul-crushing playoff defeats for Detroit. Last year's loss to the 49ers felt OK because the future seemed so bright. They got the band back together. Now I think the magic is gone. Detroit fans are in for the most miserable regular season of their existence because nothing will be good enough until they get back to the NFCCG. Losing in the playoffs is never a good thing. And to top it all off, they might have to do it without their coordinators. Good luck...

We already know they're gonna have to do it without their offensive coordinator. Fascinating to see Ben Johnson stay in the NFC North. That's a bold move on his part.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Bring it, Ben Johnson!

Johnson calling that convoluted fake against the Bears makes a whole lot more sense to me now.

Alex from Bethany, CT

Reading comments in II as well as in the rest of sports media, there is an overwhelming consensus that properly calling player safety penalties is at best inconsistent, if not a joke. I can somewhat get the league office adopting the attitude that controversy sells the product, but I have to believe that owners of teams bounced from the playoffs and losing all the revenue that comes with postseason games would demand Roger Goodell do something to fix the problem. Why isn't this the case?

If changes are ever going to be made, it needs to happen at a level much higher than Insider Inbox. Unfortunately, nobody seems to care above steerage, which I find peculiar. In a sport where everyone and everything is scrutinized, the NFL openly accepts officiating for what it is. When anything is questioned, the league just doubles down on its righteousness like Walt Anderson did on Sunday.

Mark from Miami, FL

There is a pretty simple, quick, and cheap fix to ALL the replay situations on every play of every game in the NFL: utilize replay assist more. For a league that makes 11 figures a year, there is no way it would be too costly to just have one extra person monitoring the video of each game in real time and radioing down to the lead referee. No challenges or wasted time reviewing. Better product for low cost. What is so complicated about this? Why are we making this harder than it needs to be?

Here's a controversial idea – use replay assist consistently. Call me crazy but pace of play is no longer an acceptable reason for not making sure the calls on the field are correct.

Phil from Madison, WI

I know we've beat the officiating into the ground, but the tackle that injured Jalen Hurts sure looked like a hip-drop tackle to me, and there was another apparently missed in the Chiefs game. After making a new rule about it, did you see a single hip-drop penalty called the entire season? I sure didn't.

I didn't but the league also made it clear at the start of the year the hip-drop tackle was a penalty it planned to enforce more with fines than flags.

Jeff from Mequon, WI

Hey Wes, after watching the Chiefs advance to yet another AFC Championship Game, it got me wondering, do you believe that dynasties are good for the NFL? I can't knock what the Chiefs and Patriots of years past have accomplished as we've all seen how hard it is to be that good consistently, but I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'm tired of watching the Chiefs win.

Dynasties are great for sports, in my opinion. There's no better way to capture the imagination than having a villain to root against. Floyd Mayweather Jr. made a fortune off it.