Hey everybody, thanks for logging on today. Hope all is well. Go ahead and start sending in your questions and I'll get started shortly.

Did you think the blocked kick was illegal?

No, and I explained why in today's Inbox. Looked to me like the long snapper kept his head down longer intentionally, and he can't try to protect himself that way.

Well Mike, I guess Wes didn't post my comment in II, but I felt it was T-shirt worthy. When asked in the game blog if the Bears' press box food was still bad (OK, I did use a common Bear adjective when asking Wes), I loved your response, "Today did not alter reality." Is that a Spoffism, movie quote, or what?

Oh, that was just my line. Came up with it in the moment. I've been covering games at Soldier Field since 2006 and have yet to feel like I had a good meal in the press box. It is what it is.

The outcry over the blocked FG is amusing to me. Pretty sure you're Spoff on. (sorry)

It's interesting because on the previous Bears placekick, the chip shot FG early in the third quarter, the Packers got pretty good penetration up the middle. Both Brooks and Wyatt were in there, it looked to me.

Saw Evan Williams and Javon Bullard switched spots on the depth chart--is this something you see often?

It's not so much that as Bullard has become the top nickel back with Williams playing safety full time. They're playing the spots they're best suited for in the defense right now.

Any news on Jaire Alexander's injury?

Nope. I'll be headed to practice in less than an hour.

Brenton Cox Jr. made a couple nice plays when unblocked. Did you notice how he did setting the edge, or with the read option?

I focused my film study on the offensive and special teams film this week. Didn't really look closely at the defensive film.

Bears sent that play into the league. Not sure they'll be happy they get told it's fine.

Happens to teams all the time.

Do you think MarShawn Lloyd will get any carries this week? I know it's a bit early, but curious.

Lloyd had an emergency appendectomy last week, from what I understand. He'll be out a while yet.

Hi Mike, thanks for the content. It was so nice to see Jordan Love look like himself again. I thought the 2nd quarter 3rd and 11 that he converted to Christian Watson was what we needed to see. A chaotic pocket around him and he bounced around, stepped up, and fired a rocket. That's a guy who's confident again in his base.

I thought that was a very telling play, too. He maneuvered just enough to stand in the pocket and find a throwing lane, without getting all the way out and throwing the play off schedule. Then he fired a dart. That was a heck of a throw.

Mike, a non-Packers question. Have you had a chance to look at HOF semifinalists? Curious if you think Adam Vinatieri is a lock in his first year eligible, or any of those other first year guys.

I just glanced at the list this morning. Hadn't thought much about it. I think Vinatieri will get in at some point. Not sure on first ballot, though.

Were you surprised that the Badgers took Oregon all the way down to the wire? Sadly, I was expecting like a 52-14 game, with the Badgers not on the top of that.

After the way UW's defense played against Iowa, I thought Oregon would score a lot more than 16. That was an impressive defensive recovery and effort by the Badgers.

Mike, huge fan of yours and the Packers here in Ohio. In your opinion, what is the biggest issues on offense & defense so far this season?

On offense it's been finishing drives and the interceptions. I think that's obvious to everyone. But this offense is explosive and moves the ball pretty well. Just has to take the next step. Defensively, the pass rush is inconsistent. Some games they've made QBs uncomfortable, other games the QB is way too comfortable back there. I don't look at sack numbers as much as what my eyes tell me by how the QB looks and feels back there, and it's very different from game to game. Also, regarding the defense, I will say it would be helpful to get the No. 1 corner back. The unit needs Alexander to reach its peak and play its best.

Hi Mike, Regarding the Pack utilizing a spy on some plays, what caught my eye was Edgerrin Cooper being outrun by Williams a couple of times. Cooper's interweb 40 time is faster and we recently saw him keep step for step with a WR. Cooper took bad angles on both plays so he must have been surprised by his speed. Was he the spy you were noting?

That's what it looked like to me. Cooper's speed is something to behold, but he just lost leverage and Williams took off quickly enough to get the angle on him.

I wouldn't give a carry to anyone else other than JJ right now unless he's out of breathe.

As I've said many times, I love the way Josh Jacobs plays and what he brings to this offense, but the Packers can't overuse him and wear him out. They need him for all seven remaining games (and hopefully more).

Will we be able to afford all of are star Wr when we have to resign them?

No. Of the Packers' top four WR, I wouldn't expect them all to get second contracts here. That's just the nature of the business.

Hey Mike. Do you think this week will get labeled as a "revenge game" for the Packers? If they find a way to get the job done, it'll really put the Niners in a bind for this final stretch...

As I said in Inbox this morning, postseason demons can't be exorcised in the regular season. Apples and oranges. And honestly, while a Packers win Sunday would put a damper on SF's wild card hopes, if Seattle beats Arizona, then everyone in that division is still in the hunt for the crown.

Hi Mike, any update on Bosa's and Purdy's injuries?

All I heard on Purdy is he's day to day. We'll see what their practice report says. The word on Bosa wasn't as promising, but it sounds like they're getting Kittle back this week.

Hey Mike, any way you could provide WYMM in slow motion?

I could try it here and there. But that's why the clips run through the play several times, because it's hard to see everything on first glance.

Mike the 49ers don't seem like there 5-5 record I feel like it will be a close game hopefully we can stop the run sounds like everyone is getting healthy on the 49ers I personally feel we might take a loss here. Hopefully not tho because our nfc win record is not good we need as many nfc win as possible.

I don't think anybody thought SF would be 5-5 at this point, but I assure you the Packers aren't looking at that record. They're studying the film and know they have plenty to contend with. This is a big game for both teams, as it should be in late November.

During Mike Murphy's tenure, I've had him respond to an email in the "Take 5", sign an autograph on a tailgate tour, and engage in a conversation during a conference call for fans a few weeks ago. I love that he engages with the fans on a regular basis and will miss his leadership. Do you think they'll ever move the mandatory retirement age?

Doubt it. Mark said himself he thinks it's a good thing for the organization, and it's time for Ed to step in and take over. He has full confidence in his successor.

Hey Mike, So offensively, we had only 1 penalty, one bad block, one drop, and one bad throw, That's the good news. The bad news; they each came at almost the worst possible times. It's hard to say we're killing ourselves (sitting at 7-3), but we are still doing ourselves no favors

The offense is close and keeps getting closer. That's how I look at it. Not quite there, but hopefully getting there.

So I guess we root for ARI to beat SEA?

At this point, I'd say yes.

Hi Mike. Any thoughts about the trainwreck, or maybe plane crash, that is the New York Jets?

I'll just say the Packers ownership structure is the best in sports.

Is our DE's or Edge guys just a square peg in a round hole right now? As in, does Hafley and his staff start thinking about changing how they attack or where they line up. Not a wholesale change closer to a 3-4, but something to get them going.

I think it's a game plan thing, week to week. I don't see it as square pegs and round holes. The Bears changed offensive coordinators and got their starting offensive tackles back from injury. I said it would be a strange week of prep and that proved to be true. Learn from it and move on.

I think Xavier McKinney will have a bounce back game this week. I'm thinking he'll make a game altering INT this week.

The Packers' inability to catch two passes Purdy threw right to them last January cost them that game.

How do you think Ed will do the balance of power, since he's not a football ball like Mark.

That's up to him. I don't want to speak for him on that issue. I'm sure he has a plan, and we'll hear from him at some point when he takes over.

Not a question but kudos to the Packers digital team for syncing the Live Blog with the TV broadcast.

I didn't even know they did that.

So, what happened to our defense Sunday? It wasn't just not getting enough pressure, but we consistently didn't get off blocks, and the tackling was pretty bad. And this is the first game I've seen from Hafley where we didn't get better after the half-time adjustments. Just one of those games? At this point, the pass rush is what it is, but we can't afford to stop tackling

I've always said missed tackles rear their ugly head at different times throughout a season. Always happens. Maybe this time it had something to do with coming off the bye. I don't know. But often when a defense has a poor tackling game, it shores up that area for a while before another lapse comes. That's what I usually see. Hopefully that was the last lapse of this season.

2 straight home games against warm weather teams. What is the forecast for Sunday and the 10 day forecast

I believe it's supposed to be chilly Sunday but not brutally cold. Low 40s or high 30s perhaps. I don't think it'll bother anybody. I haven't looked ahead to Thanksgiving.

Speaking of which, Andy floated the idea of AR fleeing NYJ to MIN...Following pattern, but it's highly unlikely. Definitely don't wanna see that happen.

Unless JJ McCarthy is not expected to be healthy next year, I don't see it happening.

Mike, who decides on which player gets mic'ed up each week? I really enjoy those segments.

That's the video dept.'s gig, and I don't know their process. Those segments are pretty cool, I agree.

How do we correct "setting the edge"?

If you're talking on the zone reads/QB keeps, it's a matter of studying the film and having the scout team run more of those looks in practice.

Any thoughts on Kenny Clark and how he's been performing? I don't hear his name called much anymore and I'm wondering if this scheme just isn't as good a fit for him.

I don't think scheme has anything to do with it. Clark has been on the injury report pretty much all season with a toe injury. His practice reps are limited a lot. He's never going to use it as an excuse, because he's healthy enough to play, but I have to wonder how much that's a factor. If he can't fully push off on one of his feet due to a bad toe, that's gotta affect his overall play.

Hey Mike, not a question, but a comment. This is a game that I kinda hope our front 4 can make a difference. The 9er oline has been pretty leaky the past few years (Purdy's very underrated at moving around and out of the pocket), and our big guys are pretty fast. I feel like this isn't a game to contain the QB, but to finish the opportunities that we'll get.

We'll see. SF's O-line has been pretty stout most of the time. I think it's a pretty tough group. Nothing's going to come easy.

I was at the game Sunday. Watson looked wide open on a lot of plays.

It was great to see him have a big game. Not only for him, but to give opposing defenses that much more to think about now.

Jaire's injury is really putting the secondary in a difficult situation. Early in the season, the secondary was humming along and getting a lot of props in the Inbox. What do you see as the way to get back to more solid play out of that part of the field?

I think the Williams and Bullard arrows keep pointing up, but as I said before, getting 23 back will be a huge factor in the secondary playing its best.

What do you think about all the people freaking out about Tucker Kraft only getting one target? I think Love was throwing to who he was in a rhythm with and I don't see the reason for all the fuss.

Sometimes I think that's a lot of disappointed fantasy football owners, honestly.

What's it like traveling to Thanksgiving Day games?

I've always enjoyed covering that early game in Detroit. The family holds the big meal for me and I usually get home around 6:30 p.m. to eat. This year it'll be an early meal before heading off to Lambeau.

One big positive last Sunday was Love taking more checkdowns. A decent number of them resulted in big plays anyway. I was surprised he didn't do this earlier in the year when he was hurt, rather than go for so many big plays. It also (ironically) seemed to open the deep ball more. In your opinion, was this an adjustment from the bye week, the result of Love's introspection, part of the game plan going in, or something else? Whatever, it was nice to see and I hope they'll stick with it

I think it was a combination of all of that, and from what I could tell, some of those were designed passes to the RBs, not just checkdowns. Simple, high percentage throws always help QBs get into rhythm.

The way the Packers' offense is structured, there are going to be games where certain players don't get targets. If Kraft gets more, maybe Watson doesn't get his opportunities, which he cashed in on. If Doubs gets 12 targets, maybe Jacobs gets fewer carries. There's only one ball.

Exactly. The Packers had only 42 snaps in Chicago (not including one kneel down) because the Bears dominated TOP. It was one of those games.

Wouldn't more pressure on the qb help out the secondary as well?

Absolutely. It all goes hand in hand. Coverage holding up a tick longer can give the guys up front one more step to get home. Always intertwined.

After Sunday 2 straight Thursday night games. Has that ever happened before?

I think in 2015 the Packers had the Thanksgiving night game at home (vs. the Bears) and then played the following Thursday night in Detroit (Miracle in Motown).

Mike, If you eat early and then go on the live blog, no napping.

Nope. It'll be a long night of work regardless.

Were the plethora of turnovers early in the season hiding poor play on the rest of the defense? The lack of QB pressure, third down conversions, time of possession, aren't doing the team any favors.

Generating turnovers is good defense. I don't think it was hiding anything. Games have just been up and down.

By now, more film to see and teams seem to be figuring some things out about Hafley and what he likes to do... and I'm not sure I'm seeing a lot of counters to that yet. What can he pull out of his sleeve the second half of the year with Alexander banged up and nobody getting to the QB?

We've seen Hafley get creative with the rush packages, who bluffs, who drops, etc., so I'd expect to see more of that. Some teams handle that kind of stuff better than others. Nature of this league.

I think Weston generated a little excitement by reporting Kraft wasn't limited/wearing the red practice jersey, and we all would like to see more of him running over people. But just fix the red zone, baby, and everyone will be happy.

I actually first reported Kraft was out of the red practice jersey last week, for the record. But yes, I think the Packers are getting there as far as the red zone. They scored three TDs vs. the top red zone D in the league last week. They also left opportunities out there, one of which was purely their own fault. They're close, I believe.

Wasn't the 2007 game in Dallas where Favre was injured and Rodgers almost pulled off the comeback also the Thursday after Thanksgiving?

Correct. I was going to mention that one, too. Packers played the early TG game in Detroit, then the following Thursday night in Dallas.

How many wins in your opinion will it take to reach the playoffs?

In the NFC, I'm thinking 11 to assure a wild card. Maybe 10 will do it, but I'm not counting on it.

With that, I'm going to call it a chat, folks. Gotta get to practice. Thanks for all the questions today and we'll talk again soon.

Best,

Mike