Hey everybody, thanks for logging on. Hope everyone is doing well. I see questions coming in already so I'll get rolling here.
In a season lacking a signature win, what do you consider to be the team's most impressive victory this season?
The win at Seattle. I thought the Packers dominated a team in the playoff hunt at their place and if not for a couple of mistakes would've totally run away with that game.
Do you think the passing game will look more like it did week 1 vs Philly or will it be more like we've seen the past month or so, with leaning on Josh Jacobs?
I don't think I'd say the passing game has leaned on Josh Jacobs. He's certainly being utilized in the passing game, both on designed throws and checkdowns, and he's been valuable there. But LaFleur and Love are always going to pick their spots to try to push the ball down the field.
Hi Mike, As you mentioned on unscripted, in Brazil Barkely was held in check until he broke off a 60 yard run late. I'll take 100 yards on 16 carries if won is for 50 and not a TD. Would you agree?
The big run he broke was a 34-yarder on the last play of the third quarter. I don't believe I said 60-yarder. Don't think I specified the distance until I looked it up for this morning's Inbox. Those big runs are backbreakers and I don't think the Packers can afford to give him any of them. They just change the game too much. He's got more long runs than any back this season by quite the margin, I believe, so it won't be easy to prevent them entirely.
Congratulations to Xavier McKinney! Very cool recognition! I don't recall that voting process. Is that something new? Or have I just forgotten?
Being voted All-Pro by the players' union is a cool honor, and X is certainly deserving. We don't cover or promote that All-Pro team on our website unless a Packers player makes it, but there have been a few in recent years. The Associated Press All-Pro team comes out later this week, I think.
Thanks for the chat, Spoff! I'm still mystified by the TO before GB's FG. Fan focus seems to be on the safety alignment on 3rd & 11, but the latter doesn't happen without the former. Prior to the TO, Malik Willis clearly had issue throwing the short pass to Malik Heath, as he shook his injured throwing hand after the pass. I assumed that's why we ran it on 2nd and 3rd (including setting up the kicker). MLF stated he was considering going for it despite 2's injury. Tough play call for 4th down when the opposition is aware of the injury. Again, not needed if you bleed the clock and make the FG. Da Bears would have been left with about half of the time they had, right? Were they not confident about a 55 yard FG in the cold? How can you not be ready for that decision?
LaFleur had turned down a FG opportunity from that exact same distance, 55 yards, earlier in the game. So he was going to go for it again, and that didn't surprise me. A 55-yarder in those temps is well under a 50% proposition to me. Kudos to Brandon McManus for making it. As for the timeout, he obviously shouldn't have taken it. If he hadn't, the Bears almost certainly would've used their last one right there, and they wouldn't have had one for their final drive.
After this last Sunday, I'm just ready for this Sunday and I hope they can compete, regardless of the result. Even without Jaire Alexander, hopefully Evan Williams/ Zayne Anderson/ Quay Walker can come back from their injuries - I feel like that helps the defense handle more.
The Packers would love to get back to all their preferred groupings on defense, at LB and in the secondary, if guys can return to practice this week. Our first glance at that is coming up in just under an hour.
Hey Mike, I'm sure we're all excited for some playoff football. What's the biggest concern for the Packers going into the playoffs? Is it back to back losses? Injuries? What's your take? As always, GPG.
I'd say the concern is finding rhythm to the offense again. It's been missing. The Packers continue to run the ball really well, and that should set up the offense for steady success. But it hasn't translated. That has to get figured out, a rhythm between run and pass, to give the Packers their best chance to win.
It's easy for me to watch these games and think, "they need to get back under center and do more play-action passing". Yet, I realize MLF has forgotten more football than I'll even know, so there must be a reason, right?
I would imagine. It's hard to read too much into last week because we don't know how much the play-calling changed with Willis in the game instead of Love. But the offense wasn't in any rhythm before Love got hurt, either. I know they like to do more motion stuff out of shotgun, so that could be a reason. But I've always believed shotgun diminishes the effect of play-action fakes.
When you guys filmed Final Thoughts last week, how cold was it outside? You were bundled up while Wes was just in a vest.
I was cold as well as a tad under the weather. Wes is also 15 years younger than I am.
Mike - first congrats to you and Wed on another outstanding regular season of II. You guys do a phenomenal job with that. My question is if the Packers elevate someone from the PS to replace Christian Watson what would be a realistic expectation of that player in terms of performance?
I think the Packers have enough receivers/pass catchers available they don't need to elevate someone just because of Watson's injury. As long as Romeo Doubs is past his illness that kept him out last week.
I know there's no gambling at Bushwood, but do you think there any upsets on the slate this week? Not including the Packers of course :)
As far as the other games, I'm most curious about the Vikings-Rams contest Monday night. The Rams rested up and didn't care about dropping to the 4 seed. The Vikings took one on the chin and have to bounce back quickly. Very interesting matchup.
On to the serious questions! Are you getting a cheesesteak in Philly?
It sounds like Wes is going to try one, so I might have to join him. Haven't had an authentic one in a while.
Everybody talks about no mistakes and good complementary football. Has their ever been a game where that was achieved or any NFL game that was achieved?
There's no such thing as perfect football. It's just when the other team makes more, or bigger, mistakes, yours don't matter as much.
Went back and watched the 2003/2010 playoff games at PHI. It all came down to getting a defensive stop. GB did it in 2010, but not 2003. Since 2010, it feels like GB has almost always failed to get that "one" defensive stop, and it ends in playoff heartbreak. One of these years, that has to change. Despite some meltdowns this year, what makes you confident that this defense could get a "stop" in a similar spot Sunday?
This defense has made some big fourth-quarter stops this year, including in recent games, just not on the very last possession. I hear your concern, but if the defense is on the field with the lead for the last possession Sunday, I think we'd all take that and hope for the best.
Other than limiting Saquon Barkley's production, do you think relying heavily on Josh Jacobs is key to Green Bay winning this game?
The Packers have to stay balanced on offense, and that means using Jacobs and not falling behind to the tune of being one-dimensional.
Morning Mike. I feel the same way about these playoffs as I did about last year's; we'll go as far as Love will take us. I think every other aspect of the team is good enough, but what separated us last year was Love's performances. Do you see them moving him out of the pocket more? Or trying more rhythm passes? To me, getting him on track early is more important than establishing Jacobs
Getting Love in a rhythm is paramount, and I think that's accomplished with the types of pass plays early, but also getting the ground game going. There's a symbiosis that gets this offense, and Love, to their best levels. It's never just one thing.
Looking back at the stats from week 1, GB had more total yards, more rushing yards, way better yards per carry, and won the turnover battle by 2. How did we lose again? If guaranteed those numbers on Sunday, I'd break Bushwood rules.
The Packers didn't finish drives early in the game and were kicking field goals rather than scoring touchdowns. Also missed a field goal. The turnover margin was decidedly in GB's favor early on, but the early lead didn't reflect that.
Hello Mike, Thank you for all the work you put in during the year, my question is what is your all-time favorite Packers playoff win? Thanks again
Not including SB 45, it would have to be the one two games before that, when Rodgers just went off in Atlanta. It was a master class. A tour de force that foreshadowed not only the title but him winning his first MVP the following year. I've never been so confident the Packers could win a Super Bowl as I was after that game.
How can we regroup after our possible worst NFC north division record in 30 years?! The Detroit Lions stand on the road ahead, should we even make it that far, and to me it seems they might have their two headed monster back by then!
Nobody is concerned about Detroit around here this week. It's all about Philly. If the Packers find a way to win Sunday, they will be a dangerous opponent moving forward, just like they were last year.
How do we beat these guys? What's the recipe?
Run the ball, stop the run, get a turnover or two, and be the better team in the red zone on both sides of the ball. That's asking a lot, but that's how it's done.
Don't you think the 5,7,9,6,4,7 yard runs hurt more than 1 chunk run?
No. The shorter runs give the defense more chances to eventually get the stop. The one big run forces the defense to adjust so it doesn't happen again, and then the opposing offense is in command.
Mike, in terms of growth this season I've seen it with teams and with the defense (except maybe with last possessions). I can't put my finger on growth with the offense however. What do you see?
The growth has been in the running game. This is GB's best ground game since 2003. Led by Jacobs and the guys up front, there's a physical element to this running game that has been missing for a long time. If that can be married up to an efficient passing game, the Packers can beat anybody.
To me this game comes down to whether or not the remaining receiving core steps up and makes the plays in key moments. It feels like many of our struggles go back to catchable balls on 3rd and 4th down. Can it be that simple?
Sometimes, yeah. How different is the Vikings game if Love and Jayden Reed connect on the fourth down in the second quarter? We'll never know. You have to make the plays that are there. Not every play will be there, but you can't miss when one is there for you.
Congrats to our Pack on making another trip to the post season. But that leaves me asking, what is the plan to stop Saquan? What will they do to open things up downfield with no Watson? Yes, Jacobs is playing much better football at this time in the season than he was week 1, but tough task ahead. GO PACK GO!
The Packers have played really solid run defense the second half of the season. This will be a monster test in that regard. The plan is to continue getting off blocks and making plays against the run like they have. Can't let Barkley break tackles, which is easier said than done. Opening things up downfield without Watson will come down to route combinations that create defensive challenges, and then protecting the QB, especially against a blitz when Philly's secondary will be down a man. That's when someone will be open, but Love has to be protected long enough to find him.
I'm wondering if you'll offer insight as to why sportswriters, in the postgame from ML, always let him off the hook when he says, for the 50th time in the season, "we have things to clean up". these guys are paid millions of dollars, and those of us who earn a fraction of that can't understand why silly mistakes keep happening. That may be the source of many fans frustrations, knowing what would happen to them in their jobs if week after week we continued with similar miscues.
The other guys, and coaches, get paid millions of dollars too.
Listened to AJ Dillon on a podcast discussing the extensive ball security drills that are run every single practice. It was fascinating! Ball carriers are even smacked at as they exit the field after the play is over! And players are fined as well! You can't say they don't take it seriously!
Agreed, ball security is always an emphasis around here, and we see it in the practice drills. One momentary lapse can be all it takes, though, and we've seen that too.
Do you think Love is being too cautious with his desire to not throw interceptions?
No. I don't think the passing offense has been in any kind of rhythm, knowing what it can count on when it has to have something.
There has been some reports that Hurts hasn't cleared concussion protocol yet and it been over two weeks. It that cause they haven't tried to clear him or he keeps failing the protocol? I don't understand the full protocol.
I don't know all the details of the protocol either, but the Eagles released one of their reserve QBs yesterday, a strong indication Hurts is about to be cleared.
I feel like the only loss in which we were able to be two-dimensional instead of one was the PHI game. Close to it in the second DET game, and part of the beginning of the MIN game, but then it faltered. If GB can stay on schedule, I like their chances.
In those Philly and Detroit games you reference, the Packers scored 29 and 31 points. They were never behind by an amount that dictated getting one-dimensional, and they had a good chance.
I'm choosing to play the optimist this postseason. We have had an inordinate amount of heartbreak the past 13 years. We are due to break that streak. This team is capable and just needs to play with an edge.
I agree this team is capable. It's now or never.
If they Packers win the toss, do they elect receive? Thanks Mike
It'll be interesting to see what LaFleur decides there. As I've said, I'm always in the defer camp to eliminate the chance the opponent can double up on either side of halftime. But I've also seen GB play its best games, on both sides of the ball, when it has an early lead so I get the desire to take the ball and go score.
They didn't capitalize on the turnovers in Week 1. Need to in Playoff 1
Yup.
Hi Mike I think most games are determined at the line of scrimmage. And this game will be no different
The Eagles have one of the best O-lines in football. The Packers don't get that kind of recognition, but their group is no slouch.
Will we see anymore Love and Willis on the field together as was teased by ML vs Chi ?
I don't know. I'm sure the Eagles are wondering the same thing, but I doubt they're losing any sleep over it.
It seems Love is not "seeing the field". Networks are showing multiple examples from the game of him simply not seeing wide open receivers. It's not a one-off event and it's clear to see via replay. Love seems to have the second year blues, just as HOF number 12 did. Disappointing, but he has a lot of his career left. is this just his natural progression as a pro or should it concern us?
I take what the networks show with a grain of salt. Every play has a progression for a QB to make his reads. He can't see the whole field at the same time. Nobody can. When he makes his reads from guy to guy, either that guy is open and the ball is coming out, or not and he's moving onto his next read. Plays and routes are designed to have players come open at certain times, in the progression, not just "get open whenever" because that doesn't actually help the QB. Timing is everything.
Do you see more run blitzed this game to stop the run followed with zone to protect against being beat over the top. Possibly use Edgerrin Cooper and/or Walker to spy Barkley/hurts to keep them contained?
If Cooper and Walker are on the field together Sunday, I'll be very curious how they're used. We haven't seen much of that this season.
Did anyone as Hafley why they only rushed three on that last pass play? I know there were other problems with the alignment and call, but to me the failure to try to force CW out of the pocket was the worst part of that call
The pass rush wasn't the problem. Williams got that ball out in an instant on the slant. The rush had nothing to do with the play.
While Philly's defense is 1st in yards and 2nd in points to GB's 6th in both, GB is actually ranked higher against the run (7th vs 10th). With Watson out and Luke Musgrave ramping up, could we see a bigger plan for the TE's to complement the running game? Turn it into a slobberknocker?
The Packers have to bring every physical element to their running game into this contest. This game will not be won with finesse.
How did Kitan Oladapo look at safety? Hear anything from the coaches?
We haven't really hard anything, but I thought KT held up well. It's been a long road for him to get on the field as a rookie, but regardless of what happens this week, it's good he has something to build on for Year 2.
Regarding the pass rush; do we run a contain rush as we've done against running QBs all year, or is this going to be a more traditional rush?
The contain rush worked well vs. Hurts back in Brazil and I think it's important to be cautious against him. He hasn't played in a while, so running around a bit, safely, might be his way of getting back into things. The game in '22 out there, the Packers didn't contain him at all and he killed them.
Our DC, I think has done a great job this year. I think the few bad play calls are just transitions from college to nfl. Hard moments to learn from but I don't remember a time a year 1 DC did this good of job.
There's no doubt Hafley is kicking himself over the end of the Bears game, but everyone has to move on, and he will too. The way the Packers are defending the run, and the various injuries they've had to navigate during his first season as DC, make for legitimate accomplishments. But a lot of judgment will fall on this game, too.
So what is Watsons future look like with the Packers? Do you think he's sticking around with his durability issues?
He has one more year left on his rookie contract. Hopefully he can come back from this ACL and get back on the field at some point in 2025, but he's got a long road. There's no use in making any predictions about anything until he's healthy again.
Does it appear to you Love is throwing short, into the dirt at times?
He's had a few of those lately, yeah. Not sure what to make of them. But he's been critical of his own play and knows he needs to smooth things out.
I'm not a big betting man, but Vegas has the line at Philly -4.5. Given Philly's O and D, only 3 loses and rested players, plus our back to back losses and losing 3 of last 5, it seems like it should be wider margin. What does Vegas know that we don't?
Who knows. Things like last year's game in Dallas can linger in the minds of the betting folks. I honestly don't pay attention.
It seems like many teams have a "go to" play that always works for a short first down. We don't seem to have one of those.
Agreed.
Saw Travis Kelce had a few choice words about KC losing to keep Cincy out of playoffs. I like his statement though that they want to play the best team. Bring on anybody. I'm sure many in Green Bay locker room have the same attitude. Who cares about last week now? Time to go play the best.
Also agreed.
I don't subscribe to the number 1 receiver narrative, BUT I have been wondering if for whatever reason the Pack has suffered from not having sure thing go to receiver this year.
People seem to conveniently forget this offense scored 30-plus points in five straight games before the recent downturn. Yes, the Packers have to get out of this rut, but there's not a systemic problem with the offense.
Does the practice schedule change during playoffs or does it usually follow the same times as it does during the regular season?
The practice regimen is very much the same, as long as there isn't a short week involved.
I'm still wondering why Jayden Reed seems to get ignored in some games. MLF always says the play-calling is his fault, but why isn't he making more of an effort to get Reed the ball? Every loss this year sees Reed not get more than one or two touches.
There's been a concerted effort to get Reed the ball the last couple of games. I think people are way too hung up on this. The offense works best when it doesn't matter who's getting the ball. The last two seasons have proven that.
I just can't wait to see what a Cooper/Walker combo shows as far as taking away the middle stuff more and making a good run defense even better - which will also be an important facet of winning.
The Packers have been better at setting edges against the run this year than they've been in a long time. If guys like Walker and Cooper can make Barkley try to bounce outside, and that edge is there, they can contain him. All easier said than done.
I think the Vikings ended up with the biggest scheduling break. Coming off that game against Detroit, they draw the Monday nighter. And who wouldn't want the extra day of rest?
That was rather predictable the Lions-Vikings loser from the Sunday night game would get the Monday night wild-card game. Everyone else was done playing in the afternoon/early evening.
For those being pessimistic, would you rather be playing this weekend or not? I'm disappointed after last week but still so excited to watch my team in the playoffs. Why do you think fans seem to lean negative so often?
Because they don't want to get their hopes up only to be disappointed. I don't get it either.
There has been a lot of clock mismanagement at the end of a lot of games this year across the league. Is there something in the NFL water?
I agree there have been more issues this year. This didn't apply to GB on Sunday, but a lot of coaches have tried to hard on a final drive not to leave any time at all on the clock for the other team, and they've cost themselves in the process by not leaving enough time for themselves.
I believe tackling has been much better this year. Hence, better defense overall. Much less frustrating.
I agree. The defense has had a rough tackling game here or there, but not often. That speaks to fundamental soundness.
I too have made notice to route timing seeming off. To my untrained eyes, I feel Goff and the Detroit offense has really excelled at dialing in route timing and it's made a relatively simple offense very effective. Obviously it requires a perfect blend of smarts, talent, and preparation. Easier said than done.
When you watch Detroit, the timing is so smooth you don't even realize how timing-based the offense is. That's a well-oiled machine.
I expect the Packers to win and I know they do too or they might as well just stay home. I feel our offense clicking on Sunday especially Jacobs as this is what he came here for.
Jacobs and McKinney came here to win playoff games, and they turned into GB's 2 best players this season. Let's see where this goes. I've got to get to practice folks so I'll sign off. Thanks for all the participation today and I'll be on the live blog Sunday again. Take care, talk soon.
Best,
Mike
