Inbox: They're intentional about the time and place

Jeff from Janesville, WI

At my winter home in Tucson. Hope you two are staying warm.

Not an easy task these days but we're almost out of this deep freeze.

Preston from Tallahassee, FL

Good morning, Mike. What a league, right? NFC East (not North) will rep in the Super Bowl, and the AFC has a stellar game for its title. Overall, I thought it was terrific theater and plenty of heartbreak. What player and or team do you feel happiest for and which the worst?

I'm happiest for Buffalo's opportunity, because the Bills have a chance to exorcise the 13-seconds-at-Arrowhead demon against a KC team that is the Chiefs' least impressive during their current run of success. But nothing will be easy. I feel the worst for Mark Andrews, but I still wonder how that finish plays out if the Ravens just kick the PAT in the third quarter.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

One thing I feel I haven't seen mentioned with Rebrovich being let go, is how this may impact the defensive front against the rush. We were very solid there, so I hope that isn't impacted by someone new coming in. Is it fair to say that a focus on stopping the run can hamper a rush on the quarterback?

Rebrovich coached outside linebackers in 2022, then his title was pass-rush specialist in 2023, before being given the defensive line this past year when Hafley came on board. Hafley, his approach, and the players' buy-in were the keys to the Packers stepping up their run defense, in my opinion. Stopping the run and pressuring QBs can't be an either/or proposition, but there's no arguing that the defense's rise in the overall rankings stemmed from toughening up against the run. It started there. Now the Packers must take the next step, and a different position coach is one effort toward that. Another could be adding a speed rusher or two to the rotation to provide changeups from Green Bay's cast of power rushers.

Pat from Fort Myers, FL

Give Hafley an offseason to figure out how to use Walker and Cooper together to both complement the pass rush and cover the safety valve in the flat and you’ll see a marked improvement in an already vastly improved defense.

That, too.

Tom from Chesterfield, VA

If you'll notice, all four teams left have one thing in common – a QB who's a threat to break contain and move the chains or go the distance. Unless/until LaFleur and Love embrace that aspect of our offense we will struggle to reach our offensive potential. Even when he inserted Willis against the Bears he seemed loathe to exploit the QB's explosiveness as a runner. Dial up some more designed pass/run options and keep DCs guessing.

I think there's definitely a time and place for that, but the injury risk of designed QB runs is real, and Love played a good portion of this past season hobbled by the knee and/or groin. Once Willis was in the game, judiciousness still applied because losing him relegates you to the No. 3 QB. Using Josh Allen as an example, I think the Bills pick their spots for when to use him more as a runner. Allen didn't have double-digit rushing attempts through the first 10 games this season, but since then he's had four such games – against the Chiefs, Rams, Lions and now Ravens. No accident it was those opponents. They're intentional about the time and place.

Jim from Panama City Beach, FL

Biggest thing I've taken away from the playoff games this past weekend was the dual-threat QB and how much stress and pressure they put on the defense.

It certainly provides an edge, I won't disagree. And yet, if Jalen Carter gets blocked, old man Stafford and the Rams are hosting the NFC title game. The edges, just like the margins, are forever thin.

Robert from Orlando, FL

Hi Insiders, not a question but more of a comment and hope: With the news of Ben Johnson presumably taking over as head coach of the Bears, I hope that JH is working out ways to solve (or even slow down) Ben Johnson's offense. It seemed like the Packers' D struggled with screens most of the season, among other things that Johnson utilized. What are your thoughts on this hire and the potential effect it will have for the Packers' defense?

The Bears ran a ton of screens with their personnel, too, but everyone will just have to wait and see what type of offense Johnson believes fits Caleb Williams and his surrounding cast best. Johnson's biggest issue will be putting together an offensive line that even resembles what he had in Detroit. The Lions had three top-20 draft picks up front (Decker, Ragnow, Sewell). The Bears have three picks in the top 50 of the upcoming draft. I'd be stunned if at least one or maybe even two of those picks aren't O-linemen.

James from Geneva, IL

I applaud your choice to stay positive and look for the good in the Packers' current situation. However, I am unable to share in your outlook. I get the sense that "the worm has turned" in the NFC North. The Packers are closer to the bottom of the division than the top. You see a talented roster. I see a mistake-prone, undisciplined group that can't close the deal. There are many more questions than answers with this team. Something is "off." I hope I am wrong. I fear I am not.

And you feel the Lions and Vikings are more capable of "closing the deal" at this point? Only one of 32 closes the deal. Mistakes and discipline can be coached. Talent can't. I agree this team has plenty of questions, and something was "off," but mostly in the last few games, not for four months.

Roger from Eau Claire, WI

As we look for how we can get better and compete with the upper-tier teams I think one of the clear areas are dropped passes. We were tied for third-most dropped passes by a team. 33 times we let the ball drop. I know a lot of those were crucial to making a first down or TD that the turned into a punt or FG. The best team, the Eagles, had seven dropped. Detroit second with 12. That feels like a big issue to me.

I agree, but drops can be a group effort, too. "That ball could've been thrown better. It also could've been caught." If I said it once this past season, I said it 100 times.

Benjamin from Chicago, IL

Watching Buffalo made me think about the direction of our team going forward. Now Jordan Love and Josh Allen are two very different players stylistically, but both command the team and trigger the action similarly. Is it really just the maturation and football team around him both on the perimeter and in protection that can get us to that level?

That's a big part of it. When Love made such huge strides in the second half of 2023, it coincided with the improvement and development of the players around him. That's how Gutekunst went about this transition. His comments last Thursday indicated there wasn't nearly as much collective growth in 2024. That combined with the injuries, drops, penalties, change in running game, etc., all played a factor in the offense not peaking in the playoffs the way it did the year before.

Tom from Bismarck, ND

Jordan Love is not a dual-threat QB. He isn't a very good passer in what coaches would call a scheme. He likes to bounce around and throw floaters in hopes his receivers can come down with them. He isn't a scrambler, either. It has to be said that Chicago (new coach) and Washington now have the best young talents in the NFC at that position. Goff, Stafford, Hurts, Prescott are proven. How can you think the Packers aren't destined to be second tier the next few years with our current QB?

Because he's not a finished product.

Scott from Manson, IA

Lots of folks complaining about Coach LaFleur. I would just comment that they should be careful what they wish for. Here is a high-caliber, innovative and focused teacher who just happens to be the most successful coach in NFL history in his first few seasons. He is detail-oriented, cares about his players, and fully understands the history and expectations of the organization he works for. I'm fully behind him, and expect that he will eventually earn the title he strives so hard to achieve.

Can't make any promises on that last item. But overall, well said. This wasn't LaFleur's best season. He's all but admitted it. But he's adaptable, not set in his ways, and he's built a winning culture that will continue to serve this team's ambitions well.

Joe from Hardwood, MI

Isn't it plausible that the NFL doesn't want to make these rules/review changes you propose simply because what's in place may look bad and frustrate most fans, but it sure generates a lot of buzz. Why would they change something that's working so well for them? People may complain but they still watch, click, and buy like never before.

There's no denying the NFL loves controversy, but there is a limit. Maybe it'll take more than the current grumbling for meaningful change, but back in 2018 when the wrong team went to the Super Bowl because of an officiating gaffe in the Rams-Saints NFC title game, the league made the effort to adjust.

Aaron from Shelley, ID

Mike, you mention the failed experiment of PI being reviewable. Wasn't it the officials that made that fail when after being nitpicky the first few weeks completely failed to reverse any calls the rest of the season. I agree being a ref must be incredibly hard. Even deciding what is holding vs. a good block with a legal amount of holding looks difficult. Replay assist seems to be a success when used. Do you think seeing that success will make the officials open to more replay assistance?

The doomed experiment with PI review in 2019 was mostly due to the league's officiating chief not effectively establishing a standard for what's PI and what's not in the review process, and yes, it devolved into calls or non-calls simply being upheld. This came on top of the RTP emphasis disaster in 2018. Subsequently, this officiating chief was demoted in 2020, "retired" the year after that, and then showed up as an officiating supervisor in the college ranks another year later. Interpret as you wish. As for replay assist, I think the officials on the field are all for whatever help they can get. It's about which rules are under the purview of replay assist, which I believe will be expanded. The question is how much.

Joe from Des Moines, IA

Maybe I'm wrong here, but it felt like the reviewable PI season was only a disaster because officials didn't like being second-guessed on what would be considered a judgment call. It really seemed like they were determined to uphold the call on the field no matter what. In my mind the safety calls would be handled by a separate crew or individual who would relay the correct call to the head official. In that scenario do you see the same situation arising? I think it would be more cut-and-dry.

With regard to safety rules, there'd be no need to give the "call on the field" any precedence. Look at the replay, and it's either a violation or not, regardless of the original call. I think the league should do all replays like this – if you go to the video, call it how you see it. The call on the field shouldn't matter, though I understand the idea of a baseline within the working procedure. I don't think it would be necessary at all with safety violations.

Bill from Brooklyn Park, MN

Sorry Spoff, but complaining about rulebook "complexity" is off-target. The complexity is a necessary evil in today's instantly replayed game. It used to be that a catch is "what looks like a catch." Then replay made some things which look like a catch to some, not look like a catch to others – so it was necessary to further define the difference. And redefine it when that definition proved unsatisfactory. That's what makes it complex. It's all better than "looks like a catch" ambiguity.

I was referring to the complexity with the safety rules, which must be called at live speed and don't have replay to back them up the way the catch conundrum does.

Chris from West Allis, WI

Mahomes is such a great player (that TD to Kelce while being tackled was amazing), it's sad to see that greatness tarnished by those ridiculous attempts to draw a flag on the sidelines. The one right before the aforementioned TD wasn't called but was a horrible look. I'm assuming there's no rule that would allow the referees to penalize those plays even if they wanted to? After watching that game I can certainly see what everyone has been complaining about (including the other RTP calls).

As I said before, I do believe a flop rule is coming, but it would almost require replay to confirm or deny, which could delay its implementation.

Gary from Pattaya, Thailand

What do you think of Tom Brady in the booth? Personally I find him annoying and don't think he's a great contributor to the broadcast.

I've only watched a couple of his games, and I barely listen to the announcers anyway. Plenty of folks feel like you do, but I'll give him credit for being all over the Lions having 12 defenders on the field on that big fourth down near the goal line Saturday night. That was very astute.

Seth from Madison, WI

Tom Brady had a pretty interesting take Saturday night on how the window closes every year for the 31 teams that didn't win the Super Bowl, basically meaning they're starting from scratch next season. I think there's a bit of truth in that statement, but what are your thoughts?

There is, because every season is its own entity. But some teams have a core that is growing and developing, while others are overhauling their roster to a greater degree than the norm. Every team is in its own stage.

Paul from Vientiane, DR

While watching the games last weekend it occurred to me that, given all the transfer portal moves, if players list all their schools during the "let's meet the players" segments, it will be the second quarter before the introductions are complete.

This for some reason cracked me up, so I'll wrap it there. Happy Wednesday.