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Inbox: There's lots to like about how he plays the game

Putting one like that away is the next step

S Evan Williams
S Evan Williams

Venny from Montgomery, AL

Victory Monday! A win with plenty to improve is not a bad place to be.

No, it's not.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

Winning on the road is usually especially difficult, but I think we can agree that they will need to play substantially better to win at home against the Cardinals.

For sure, and I think we can all agree they're capable of playing substantially better.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike the Rams had more first downs, ran more plays, had more total yards, and had a sizable advantage in TOP. The TO differential was probably the difference in the game. Over time you can't expect to win games when your offense is underperforming. What is the identity of this team?

To me, identity has become an outdated concept in a balanced, parity-filled league that forces every team to go through ups and downs and deal with adversity. This defense takes the ball away and the offense is explosive while working to smooth out its game. That's where they are right now.

Brad from Komoka, Canada

Are these the growing pains we expected to see last year but we ended up getting spoiled instead?

Did you not watch the first nine games last season?

Al from Green Bay, WI

Good teams find a way, and the Packers did just that. The TDs that came after Rams turnovers provided that complimentary football we've been seeking. Who were the "under the radar" players that contributed to the win?

Well, Karl Brooks wasn't under the radar with his 1½ sacks, but both of those plays came at key times. There's no discounting that. Kingsley Enagbare's forced fumble was a really aggressive play, and I thought Bo Melton's reception to get that drive going right before half was plenty big.

Michael from Bloomington, IN

Right when they needed it the O-line came out and dominated the second half. Don't even care if the stats reflect that, it was obvious. Do you think the starting five has been established for the season going forward (absent injury)?

I wouldn't be surprised if they find ways to work Jordan Morgan back in there on occasion once he's fully healthy, but the offensive line showed what it can be in that second half. The pass protection wasn't the best in the first half but wasn't an issue after halftime. That unit stepped up and came through.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Mike, you often say cliches are cliches for a reason. An oldie but goodie is that "fortune favors the bold." Although the incompletion on the deep ball to Dontayvion Wicks stopped the clock and saved LA a timeout, the Packers came within a whisker of wrapping up the win. And while the defense played too conservatively on the previous drive, Hafley threw the kitchen sink at Stafford on the final drive and it paid off. That was exactly the type of game the Packers coughed up early last season.

I thought the quick slant to Malik Heath on first down after Josh Jacobs' run on the final drive was a bold can call, too, and unfortunately the Giants defender tipped it or Heath would've been halfway to San Diego by the time the bus left the stadium. The offense played to win, and the defense was waiting for the right moments to bring the heat. That long, 91-yard drive was somewhat maddening to watch, but Stafford had no idea what to expect or when on the last possession.

Vishnu from Santa Clara, CA

No. 33 has had a nice stretch of really good players for the Packers. William Henderson, Micah Hyde, Aaron Jones. Hope to see Evan Williams keep continuing that trend. The early returns look promising.

Williams is a baller, man. He's not a polished player by any means, nor should he be at this early stage. But there's lots to like about how he plays the game.

Ryan from Bloomer, WI

X! That is all.

That is enough.

James from Anna, TX

First Packer to have five INTs in first five games, Xavier marks the spot. I'll see myself out.

The only other five-INT streak in team history was in 1943 by a rookie named Irv Comp. He picked off 10 passes that year which still stands as the franchise single-season record. And Xavier McKinney almost got his sixth Sunday. Stay tuned.

Erik from Anchorage, AK

Is there a defensive player in the NFL that is more impactful and valuable than McKinney?

I don't have enough time to watch enough other games to know. I believe Aidan Hutchinson was the NFC's defensive player of the month for September, so there's that. But it's remarkable the Packers had seven INTs all of last regular season and McKinney already has five himself. That says it all.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hey Spoff, in the live blog when someone said Hafley's system suited McKinney, you said "I think McKinney is making Hafley's system work." I believe there are a few layers to that. Would you care to expound?

All I meant was it's symbiotic. The right scheme needs the right players and vice versa. Sometimes the fit is, like, perfect.

Chuck from Jackson, WI

I was frustrated during the game at the defense, but realized that after all, they gave up only 13 points. Bend, but don't break, I guess. But my blood pressure still isn't what it should be!

The Rams going for it early on fourth-and-goal from the 4 was a head-scratcher for me, and it turned into a huge stop. The TFL on Williams and sack by Edgerrin Cooper knocked them out of field-goal range in the second quarter, too. But GB's offense kept sputtering. To go takeaway-TD-takeaway-TD in the third quarter was dominant football. The Rams were entirely on their heels until the last six minutes. Putting one like that away is the next step.

Roshan from Brooklyn, NY

Unpopular opinion: Love's pick-six in the second quarter might have been the best outcome in a sticky situation. If he takes the safety, Rams get the ball back with a chance to end the half up nine. If we punt, the Rams get great field position and could end the half up seven. Instead, Packers get the ball back, Love shakes off the mistake, and we end the half down four. Who's with me?

That's certainly a creative way to look at it. But that entire sequence resulting in just a minus-3 for the Packers on the scoreboard is why I focused on Love’s bounce-back drive in my Rapid Reaction piece. With the Rams getting the ball coming out of half, points there were invaluable. I thought Love really showed his moxie there.

T from Cedar Falls, IA

Good morning Mike/Wes! A leader is not immune to mistakes. A leader does not let those mistakes derail the rest of the game. JL10 showing his leadership in the second half, proving his place at QB1.

He proved that a long time ago, but every week is a reminder that he's not a finished product. Which is what makes this so intriguing.

Barry from Aberdeen, SD

I will most certainly take the win. I am concerned though. Wicks has had a lot of drops this season. Has it gotten too much into his head? Some of those have been drive-killers.

He can't let it get into his head. He's too talented for that. The drops are frustrating but he just has to keep after it. All he can do. He's not alone, either. I thought Jayden Reed's drop on third-and-short late in the first quarter swung the rest of the first half LA's way.

Bryan from Madison, WI

I haven't been able to watch any of the games this year, so I have been following the season via highlight reels. I was watching Tucker Kraft's 66-yard TD and found myself thinking how much bigger he looks. Any sense of how much weight he has gained since the end of last season? Whatever the amount, it seems noticeable.

I don't know any details but it's not unusual for a second-year pro to tone up after that long rookie year. What I liked best is Kraft clearly didn't let his holding penalty or fumble from last week bother him. He's been a big-time player in this offense and got right back to being exactly that.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

A win is win but there is definitely room for improvement. What areas do they need to improve?

Penalties and dropped passes. LaFleur has never had a team flagged this much, and it's not helping the cause. They've got to play cleaner football. The tackling was suspect for a good portion of the game Sunday as well, but I wouldn't say that's been an ongoing issue. Bad tackling games crop up in this league all the time.

Dan from Herriman, UT

Mike, it seemed we were too cute in the first half instead of lining up and running the ball against the league's worse rush D. Dropped passes didn't help either.

I thought the Rams committed a lot of personnel at the line of scrimmage to stop the run, especially early. The opportunities were there in the passing game, but the Packers didn't execute. I thought Love was under duress quite a bit until the protection solidified later on.

The Green Bay Packers kicked off their fifth game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.

Dana from Bethlehem, PA

Nice to get a third win in LA, but after five games there still seems to be a number of things to get "cleaned up." When does it finally happen?

Hopefully January. That's what every team strives for. You just try to win as many as you can along the way and keep working. When I do get a chance to watch other games, I don't recall ever walking away saying, "Well, that was flawless." The Packers have plenty of work to do. Nobody's denying that. But you also have to enjoy any and all victories because this league is bonkers. In the NFC, 13 of 16 teams already have two or more losses.

Derek from Neshkoro, WI

Greetings, Insiders. I know you're going to have a ton of questions about Doubs' suspension but I am curious about one aspect. If a player is suspended by their team for detrimental conduct, do they collect a paycheck that week?

No.

Joseph from Sioux Falls, SD

Who knows what the real story is with Doubs? I fully trust BG's handling of the situation and I sure hope it's sorted out this week. Doubs non-presence was palpable to me during the game. Having the usual one or two key third-down grabs from him sure would've made this feel different.

Agreed. The Packers didn't convert a third down until Love scrambled on third-and-12 in the fourth quarter. That does make it difficult to win games. I don't know any specifics of Doubs' situation so it's not prudent for me to comment. But the Packers went through some insubordination and a suspension with Alexander last year, and ultimately the relationship came out for the better on the other side. Hopefully that's the case with Doubs as well.

Tom from Keota, IA

This is a non-Doubs submission, so I got that going for me. The NFL is fining players for "violent gesture" celebrations, like "finger guns." And honestly I'm okay with that, as long as the players got the memo (there was a memo, right?). But the NFL is also apparently okay with 30,000 people in Kansas City pretending to chop people with tomahawks on a weekly basis? Does that seem odd to anyone else?

I'm sure that's not the league's preference, but it's not going to police fan behavior outside of illegal activity. Many moons ago as a kid, I remember the league allowing QBs to back away from center if nobody could hear the snap count, and after multiple warnings a delay of game penalty could be assessed on the home crowd. It didn't go over well and the rule as quickly scrapped.

Mike from Sioux Falls, SD

Since the "Rock" has access to practices via his radio broadcast responsibilities, shouldn't the "Spoff" have the same access because of his live blog broadcast responsibilities?

Ha. To be honest, I get a lot of other work done during the portion of practice we're not allowed to watch.

Bruce from Slinger, WI

What made Soldier Field special on your first visit and what changed most? As a Packers fan living in Chicago for over 10 years, I've always loved the iconic lakefront site and hope they're able to keep the stadium in that area.

The lakefront site is outstanding, but there was a real sense of gravitas and history there until they dropped a spaceship into the middle of it and called it a renovation.

Stephen from Palos Park, IL

Now that the Green Bay Packers finally played a game at SoFi Stadium, are there any current NFL stadiums, the Packers have not played a game at yet, and if so, which stadium(s)?

Other than various international venues, no. SoFi pushed my career stadium total up to 44, so I've got that going for me, which is nice.

John from Madison, WI

How was SoFi? It looked pretty cool on TV.

It is. Neat place. The nosebleed seats are really, really up there, though. Mercy.

Beth from East Brunswick, NJ

Mike, although I watch the game live I also follow along with the live blog. Just want to thank you for choosing some of my comments the past couple of weeks. It's great to be part of the Packer community. I don't think you can find this with any other team.

The live blog is a weekly whirlwind, and my selection of comments is so random from the fast-and-furious pace of submissions I honestly can't tell you afterward the name of anyone whose comment(s) I chose. I do appreciate the audience and participation, as wild as it gets in there.

Graeme from Tucson, AZ

It's perhaps hard to know what to make of that. But at the end of the day, we're 3-2 vs. 2-3. Moments of extreme mediocrity were balanced with some great plays on defense and offense. This team definitely has yet to find its identity but in the meantime just do whatever it takes, right?

Just win, baby.

Chris from Oregon Mountain, VT

Is anyone not entertained? My goodness...

Happy Monday.

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