Herbert from Palm Desert, CA

Good morning, Wes. Over these next six days, I'll continue to remind myself this is a week-to-week sport. With back-to-back blowout victories the Lions look unstoppable. Something tells me that may change this Sunday.

One thing is permanent in this league: wins and losses. You gotta collect as many of the former as you can regardless of style points. Learn, adjust, improve.

Scott from East Helena, MT

Obviously, the injury to Jordan Love is concerning and unfortunate. If there is a silver lining, it's that Detroit now has to prepare for two very different offenses. If I were Matt LaFleur, keeping some mystery to Love's status would be milked as long as possible. Thoughts?

First and foremost, give all the credit in the world to Malik Willis for how he's handled being the next man up at the game's most critical position. But LaFleur and his staff also have been brilliant in catering to their backup QB's strengths. As far as Love is concerned, LaFleur simply said his QB seems to be in good spirits. The Packers always take the full week to determine their players' gameday availability and I expect this to be no different.

Nick from Plainwell, MI

Good morning, Insiders! Detroit might be the most compete team in the NFL right now. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are such a dynamic duo they don't lose a step when one of them comes off the field. What's it going to take to slow them down?

Protect. The. Football. At all costs. The Lions are second in the NFL in turnover differential at plus-10 and proficient at turning opponents' mistakes into points. The Lions are loaded offensively, but their backfield might be the best in ball. I was absolutely, 100% wrong about Montgomery. I thought Detroit erred two years ago when it signed him over keeping D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams. Montgomery has stayed relatively healthy and been a difference-maker. Oh, Jared Goff is playing like an MVP, too. So yeah, fun times.

Ryan from Chippewa Falls, WI

I have a lot of respect for this Detroit team. They look as dominant as any great team in recent history. It may be cliché, but I am guessing the main focus this week has to be controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Hands down the biggest test of the season and it will require a dominant performance in the trenches to pull it off.

It's a midseason measuring stick. No doubt about it.

Don from Boise, ID

How do the Packers contain the Lions' offense with a crucial injury in the backfield? Are they going to need to pressure Goff more often? Looks to be a stiff test for our defense.

The Packers need to get more pressure on Goff than they did Trevor Lawrence, especially with the four-man rush. When given time, Goff is dicing defenses up. He's throwing darts right now.

Jeff from Albuquerque, NM

I thought the discussion around the long pass to Jayden Reed was fascinating, that they had showed a run just before to kind of "deke" the defense. I was yelling at the TV, "Why the heck are you running?" They deked me too (not saying much). The game within the game.

The Josh Jacobs run allowed Green Bay to run a little clock before getting into its two-minute offense. It also threw a smokescreen over what the second-down call might be. Again, it was brilliant play-calling. It was a high-percentage play if the look was there. If it wasn't, Willis still had the option for a keeper to threaten a first down and/or keep the clock running.

Steven from St. Albans, WV

Have to shout out Devonte Wyatt recovering that fumble. It looked like one of the Jags O-lineman was going to get to the ball first, but Wyatt laid a HUGE "bump" on him, knocking him well out of the way and ensuring he got the ball. Such a huge heads-up play in a bang-bang moment. I was ecstatic when I saw it, and then laughed pretty hard when I re-watched it. I don't think the O-lineman saw it coming at all. Well done! Go Pack Go!

That was a remarkably nimble play by a 304-pound defensive lineman. A skill-position player couldn't have corralled the loose ball any better than Wyatt did, especially with how he bodied the nearest offensive lineman to get to the ball. That takeaway might have won the game for Green Bay.

Bill from Clive, IA

McMoney! Man, this guy looks solid, unflappable, and competent. Maybe all the fans who were calling in training camp for GB to sign a veteran kicker had a valid point.

There's something to be said for "Been there, done that," particularly when it comes to kicking. Brandon McManus has done it all in the NFL. Now, he's doing it in Green Bay.

Jim from Albuquerque, NM

Read a recent comment regarding Tucker Kraft asking for accountability on both sides of the ball. My question concerns the defensive missed-tackling gaffe. How does our defensive coordinator correct prior to the Lions?

Just stressing the fundamentals. Echoing LaFleur, Green Bay's problem was how many yards the Jaguars picked up on check downs against Cover-2. The defense dictated terms but didn't capitalize on the opportunity. It's a long game, but maintaining concentration for all 60 minutes of regulation is paramount.

Glen from Leesburg, VA

Any word on the Evan Williams and Jaire Alexander injuries? Having those guys against the Lions' offense is going to be crucial. It could be a shootout and getting a key stop could make the difference in this game. Hopefully, we can get QB1 back as well.

Early reports are promising, but we'll see where things stand Wednesday. The Packers need both of those defenders.

Dave from Rockford, IL

I heard Willis did not receive any snaps in practice last week with the starting team. Is that true? You would think the Packers would want to keep him ready? I thought the backup QB ran the scout team.

The backup runs the scout team, but those plays aren't the Packers' offensive game plan. It's the "look" the scout team is mimicking of the opposing offense Green Bay is facing. There's only so many snaps to go around during practice. Reality is the first-team reps must go to the starter.

Woody from Kill Devil Hills, NC

I don't recall if this has been asked and answered here in II, but I am sure that many readers would like to know the status of the contract for Willis. Does he have a multiple-year contract with the Pack, or is he a free agent at the end of the season? He indubitably deserves a shot at QB1 somewhere in this league, but having a good QB2 can make or break a season.

As a former third-round pick, Willis has a four-year rookie contract that runs through the 2025 season.

Dan from Beechgrove, TN

Just a comment on Willis to Reed. Seems like Malik Willis has one of the purest and most effortless throwing motions I've seen. Reed was almost taking a handoff. Just perfection at a timely moment.

Willis throws a nice ball. In a QB-starved league, I'm still flabbergasted how Willis was acquired for a seventh-round pick.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Is this the year Brian Gutekunst finally wins NFL Executive of the Year?

I think there's a different trophy he's more interested in.

Dan from Tallahassee, FL

Good morning, Wes, as to the point made by Robert from Verona about teams going all out to acquire talent, I can't help but think it reflects billionaire owners who think money can solve every problem. The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles' "dream team" came immediately to mind; yeah, the one that finished 8-8 after significant personnel acquisitions. The salary cap remains Green Bay's friend.

And age. The public likes to gawk over the acquisition of big-name players, but this isn't pro wrestling. Winning is not about who is most "over" with the fans. It's who can do the job in the here and now. I remember in 2021 some media outlet tweeted a graphic of all the marquee players the Lakers had on their roster with the words: "Who's beating this team?" The answer turned out to be more than half the league.

Quinlan from Red Wing, MN

I admire everything Coach LaFleur has done. Do you find more joy in watching players or coaches come into their own in the league? Nonetheless, this team has plenty of both in the years to come! Go Pack Go!

Respect to the coaches, but it's the players for me. It's special watching a fifth-round pick like Aaron Jones go from a healthy scratch as a rookie to the face of the franchise. Those stories are what I'll remember most when I put my pen down.

Tom from West Palm Beach, FL

I figured it was time to consult the statisticians for the extra point vs. two-point debate and share that for the sake of transparency. According to fivethirtyeight.com, the difference in going for one vs. two points is almost negligible – either decision is justifiable. I was surprised at that. My perception of how often two-point conversions succeed was also pretty far off (roughly 50%. I thought it was closer to 60-65%).

That's one of the bigger misconceptions out there among some fans. Whichever way you slice it, it's a coin flip. A head coach is either a genius or a scapegoat depending on how it lands.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, to those wanting to discuss future games/opponents, look no further than our own injury report. When you first looked at the game against Detroit on the schedule, did you have Aidan Hutchinson with a broken leg, Jordan Love with a groin injury, or any of the other injuries on your bingo card? Wes, can you point to another season with so many surprises and the team kept winning?

…2010.

Bob from Rome, NY

Wes, do you think the Packers having their backup quarterback in the game played into the decision for Jacksonville to not go for two on its last touchdown, thinking it could get a stop and win in regulation or OT more so than if JL was in the game? Thank you!

There was just too much time left. Even if you get the two-point conversion, the Packers still had nearly two minutes with which to work.

Lori from Broomfield, CO

I have a solution for alleviation of the dissertation on letting games get to close at the end. How about doing better than 2/6 in the red zone and 2/4 in goal line? A combined 40% success rate needs to be greater with any hope of beating Detroit. Does emphasizing explosives diminish red-zone success?

No, not executing in the red zone diminishes red-zone success. If you're trying to be overly dramatic with the percentages, it should be a 33% success rate. Goal-to-go is already factored into red zone.

Steve from Flagstaff, AZ

Is it wrong for me to say that the Titans traded the wrong QB? I'm grateful for what Willis has done and at the end of the day I would rather have a healthy Jordan Love be QB1. I won't start that discussion because I have seen already from fans of the Packers that Willis should be QB1 instead. I do believe scheme and talent make a QB better and I think that is the case in Willis' favor. You look at the Titans now and it says rebuild. Maybe they allowed him to have a better situation.

There is no future. There is no past. No day but today.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

Six months ago, if you had told me the Cardinals, Commanders, Falcons, and Steelers would all be leading their divisions at midseason, I would have laughed. What's the biggest surprise of the season for you thus far?

Definitely Washington.

Cindy from Minneapolis, MN

No question, just an addition to the thesaurus. When "bonkers" doesn't cut it, try "bananapants," as in "The shouty-show pundits are really bananapants today." GPG!

I used a different word to describe that Hail Mary that would be ungentlemanly for me to repeat in this forum. Jayden Daniels might be that dude, though.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Wes, looking at the Bears' defense on the final play, they only had three active rushers chasing Daniels and one "spy" lurking at the line. That gave him ample time to unload the pass. Might it be better to have at least five active rushers to pursue the QB and still have enough men on the goal line?

I'm fine with a three- or four-man rush, but the Bears were feeling themselves too much on that final play (see: Tyrique Stevenson). Also, bat that ball down – not up. Everything was off on that play. I get Chicago was on an emotional high after rebounding to score that TD, but the clock's gotta hit zero before you start the celebrating.

Terry from Naperville, IL

Mike/Wes, when you guys sit down with Coach LaFleur to game plan for Detroit, PLEASE remind him to watch out for a fake punt/field goal. I hate it when that play works for the Lions.

The Packers will be cued up for it. What makes Detroit impressive is its ability to still pull those fakes off even when the opponent knows something may be coming.

Karl from San Jose, CA

My birthday is Love/Dillon/Jenkins (I was really sad when Dillon got injured) and I turned Tom years old, so my wife is getting me a Tom jersey. You may have answered this before, but do you buy the Packers gear you wear every day or is it comped to you, and would you be willing to trade clothing for cookies? I'll cover the shipping for both.

I'd say it's about 50/50. I spend quite a bit of money at the Packers Pro Shop, especially on hats.

Jim from St Pete Beach, FL

Wes, thanks for sharing that great pic at the pep rally. It was a strange and heartwarming experience feeling like I knew you even though we had never met. What a great community we have with II. I had to chuckle when you and Mike were forced into looking ahead to the Lions! Anyone who thought the Jags would be an easy win was sorely mistaken.

It was wonderful to meet you, Jim. While Sunday's game was not easy, it's finally Lions week. The Packers need to bring their best. Have a good Tuesday.