Inbox: There's no better way to prepare for postseason play

Al from Green Bay, WI

It will be a battle of NFL powerhouse teams in Minneapolis, with playoff seeding on the line. Green Bay can take home the W. Reasons to believe: 1) The Matt LaFleur-led Packers are at their best in December. Only Vince Lombardi has a higher December winning percentage. 2) The offense is rolling with five straight games of 30-plus points. 3) This top 10 Packers defense is disruptive and opportunistic. 4) Jordan Love continues to elevate his game. 5) Josh Jacobs. 6) Special teams have been solid. GPG!

To be the man, you gotta beat the man, right? There's no better way to prepare for postseason play than going into U.S. Bank Stadium to face a 13-2 Vikings squad.

David from Zephyrhills, FL

Do we lose the tiebreaker if Washington wins out and we go 1-1? We would both be 12-5.

Correct. Washington would get Green Bay on the conference tiebreaker (9-3 NFC record for Commanders, 7-5 for Packers). It's crazy to think of a 12-win team not making the playoffs under the previous postseason format. Frequent Inbox readers know how skeptical I was of a 14-team playoff, but maybe the NFL had it right all along.

Gary from Belle Mead, NJ

If the Packers beat the Vikings and the Lions beat the 49ers, do the Vikings and Lions have anything to play for next week?

The Lions wouldn't, which is where things get tricky for Green Bay's hopes at securing the No. 5 seed. In order to do so, a beat-up Lions team with nothing to play for in Week 18 needs to beat the Vikings. It's possible, though, DCMC might not want his team sitting on ice for two straight weeks.

Stan from Pensacola, FL

Time to change it up in this next game, use the pass to set up runs. Need to get Jordan Love off to a good start as less than 200 yards passing won't get a win. Least mental and physical mistakes win games, and one play never wins or loses a game as there are multiple opportunities in all team sports. Pack has to take and not wait to be given. Minnesota is overdue for a loss, and I look for Pack to dominate both lines. GPG

Leaning on the pass is a possibility, but a respectable run game is required to prevent the Vikings' blitz-heavy defense from pinning its ears back.

Caleb from Leadville, CO

Is the saturation of games at season's end disruptive to having fresher and somewhat healthier players for playoff season? First and foremost, has to be attributed to driving revenue.

This is one stance I'll likely never budge on. I still think a 17-game regular season is a bad idea (and 18 will be even worse). Yes, it's another week of revenue, but 13 teams had nothing to play for these final two weeks. That's 40% of the league.

Jason from Cleveland, MS

Not sure what we change at this point? It got us this far. Will be nice to see how the play-calling goes working Luke Musgrave back into the lineup.

Musgrave is another jar on the shelf and a good insurance policy on the pass-catching front for the stretch run. He got his feet wet last week with eight snaps and hopefully will keep building from there.

Tony from Davenport, IA

Musgrave only played eight snaps. On his very first play, Musgrave made an outstanding block. It's not about quantity, it's about quality. GPG!

And progress.

Nic from London, UK

This is the most complete team since 2010/2014. Not having a stubborn, micromanaging Aaron Rodgers benefits our offensive balance. Though he may not be a better QB on a full season, Jordan Love's in-game ceiling exceeds that of Sam Darnold and Jared Goff. Of the three teams ahead of us in the NFC, only the Lions feel built for comebacks where they might have to throw their way back from a two-plus-score deficit. TLDR: Start strong, build a lead and we have a good chance against any NFC opponent. What more could you ask for?

When the Packers start fast and finish drives, they can beat anybody.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

This game against the Vikings looks to be an old Black and Blue division-type game. The team that controls the trenches has the best chance to win. Both teams have explosive offenses, so keeping those offenses on the sidelines with long sustained drives will be the goal for both play-callers. This should be a lot of fun!

This is what you play for. In a normal year, this could be an NFC North-deciding game. Instead, the two-loss Vikings are trying to keep their division hopes alive while the Packers are trying to climb as high as they can in the wild-card race.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

Proximity tends to be having good road support for this game. With a playoff spot in hand for GB, will the support diminish or escalate? The GPG chant in the house of 12s was invigorating. What affect does it have for the players?

Hopefully, it'll only escalate because that has a huge impact on a game. It's not only motivating for the Packers but also demoralizing for the opponent. Green Bay is 5-1 in road games played in the United States and fans are a big reason for that. This is as much vocal support as I can remember seeing for the Packers away from Lambeau Field. We'll see how they travel this Sunday.

Kyle from Osceola, WI

" Carrington Valentine noises" might be my favorite closed captioning term I've seen in quite some time.

C.V.'s legend grows by the hour. The best part is it's no act, either. The guy is even funnier when the cameras aren't on.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Watching the Saints game and following that with WYMM, I'm amazed at the "veteran like instinctive play" of rookies like Zayne Anderson and Edgerrin Cooper! I didn't know Zayne was on the team until he played. Then, to watch his instinctive reactions to the situation in front of him was amazing. Who is his position coach? My hat's off to him for a job very well done. When I see rookies (with obvious talent) playing like veterans, I feel great about the future for this team. Here we go!

Ryan Downard does a great job with the safety room but also credit Anderson for his professionalism. He's the longest-tenured safety on the team but waited for his defensive opportunity while becoming a featured player on special teams. Most impressively, both of Anderson's appearances came on late notice – in-game against Detroit and in the days leading up to the New Orleans game.

Jason from Boyle, MS

I like where we are at in the playoffs. I don't want to lose either of the last two games but rather rest who we can have all the guys we can at 100% come wild card.

To each their own, but I'd rather beat Minnesota and Chicago and take a swing at the NFC West or NFC South champion than play the top two seeds in the first two rounds of the playoffs again.

Kate from Indianapolis, IN

Happy Holidays! Which defensive players have benefited most from the shift to Jeff Hafley's defense?

Piggybacking off Spoff's answer from Friday, it's Keisean Nixon for me. He's fit like a glove into this scheme, especially with Hafley's penchant for sending the nickel cornerback on blitzes. Nixon has seamlessly bounced back and forth between the slot and perimeter all season. He's been a catalyst for what the Packers have accomplished in the secondary this year.

Ed from Hilltown, PA

Merry Christmas gentlemen and thanks for your efforts throughout the year. Special thanks to Wes for his responses on Christmas Day! I read a question in yesterday's Inbox regarding MarShawn Lloyd. What was his injury and is there any thought or hope of having him join the active squad this season?

Lloyd was almost back from the ankle/hamstring injuries before suffering appendicitis. That's a tricky deal because you're undergoing surgery in your core. Like LaFleur said, Lloyd will be back on the practice field when it's safe for him to do so.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

For me there's nothing better than watching the Packers blow out another team at Lambeau Field. I love watching the fans so happy especially when they are dressed like elves. I love watching our defense eat with a big lead. I especially love watching the players after the game interacting with the fans who stayed until the very end. Brings back memories of Favre and Reggie back in the day.

I think blowout wins can be good for a team, too, if channeled the right way. Everyone expected the Packers to run through the Saints and they met that challenge in a 34-point victory. Now you gotta keep it rolling against an elite opponent that's won eight straight games.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

If the Packers can find a way to match up versus the Lions in the playoffs, what will be the keys to finally beating this team?

To beat the Lions, you have to make every possession count and absolutely cannot turn over the football.

Richard from Madison, WI

Sunday afternoon football? What a concept! Do you suppose it'll ever catch on?

Timeless.

Gary from Engadine, MI

Really enjoy listening to all the Packers press conferences, especially those with the coordinators. How many reporters are typically present as the voices heard make it sound like only five or six are in the room?

On a traditional week with a Sunday game, Wednesdays are the most well-attended and it trickles off from there. By Fridays, it's usually just four or five diehards left.

Larry from Carney, MI

Good morning. What part of football would you like to see improve in the final weeks of this season? I wish the punt return team would create more opportunities.

Sure, it would be cool to bust one, but I always prioritize maintaining possession. To me, it's such a high-risk, OK-reward play. My wish would be Daniel Whelan getting into a postseason groove. He's doing fine, but the past month has been a bit of a grind going back to the San Francisco game.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

As a practical matter the game against the Vikings is really about how it may impact postseason seeding. However, no matter who wins Sunday, I don't think it is a stretch to think either of these teams can go far this year. Currently, I think the Packers have a bit more overall balance, but Sunday's game is not critical for either team doing damage in the playoffs. Enjoy the game.

Green Bay and Minnesota are two teams that have been circling the NFC wagon for the past few years. It would not surprise me at all to see the Packers and Vikings make a run.

Robbie from Guelph, Canada

How many targets does a wide receiver need to experience before they really feel like they are "part of the game?"

Maybe three?

Lori from Broomfield, CO

Was the inexplicable ineptitude of Da Bears' final drive a derivative of just not caring?

I don't know but it's not the first time we've seen that. Chicago just looks like a beaten team waiting for its season to end.

Jeff from Mequon, WI

I have quite a bit of Madden experience, namely turning around the Panthers franchise in just three short years on Madden 24. Can I put Wes and Mike as a reference on my job application for the front office in New York?

By all means.

Bette from Orange City, IA

Will you play Jordan Love this weekend?

I've been eliminated from my fantasy football playoffs.

Jeff from Pleasant Hill, IA

Any New Year's resolutions this year?

Live more in the moment.

Chris from Kennesaw, GA

I think you two oughta consider reducing your rep counts. Send in some interns. We're gonna need you fresh in the postseason!

Never. Mike Vandermause always used to say, "You can't take Wes away from his keyboard. He wants to be out there."

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

A final fortnight before the road to fourteen is set
We call it Titletown for a reason and your quest continues
Focus on your path and keep eyes on the prize, Green and Gold.

Man, this week flew by. Enjoy the game everybody.