Cassidy from San Diego, CA

Was that a Tombstone reference, Wes?

Indubitably.

Jeff from Montclair, VA

The last time the Packers won in Pittsburgh, Bart Starr was still our QB. Any chance ML brings this up as a motivational tool this week?

I can't imagine what good that would do. I do find it ironic that as the Packers look for their first victory in Pittsburgh since Starr, it's another of Green Bay's own HOF QBs trying to prevent it.

John from Stevens Point, WI

How did the NFL know that Rodgers would be playing for the Steelers and that the game would be a marquee matchup? Schedules were released in May, and A-Rod signed with the Steelers in June. Talk about hitting the jackpot for a primetime game.

The rumors were rampant and all signs pointed to Rodgers going to Pittsburgh. The league hedged its bets, but it was a pretty safe one.

Mike from Marquette, MI

Remembering Don Horn's big game in 1969. It was my first Packer game in person (I was 10 years old). In addition to the record tying five touchdown passes he threw, I believe he broke the Packers' single-game passing yardage record (410 as I recall). The Packers beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 45-28. Funny how I remember all this but have a tough time remembering what I had for breakfast three hours ago. My question – in that game, how many completions and attempts did Don Horn have?

You're right, Horn did break the team's single-game record for passing yards that day, and it stood for 11 years until Lynn Dickey threw for 418 against Tampa Bay in 1980. Amazingly, Horn needed just 22 completions (in 31 attempts) for the 410 yards. That's 18.6 per catch, but strangely, only two of his five TD passes were longer than 12 yards.

Jim from Prairie du Chien, WI

Good morning all! A question from Mike’s chat wondered if AR08 had thrown an interception to every opponent except the Packers. The list I looked at shows that he has not thrown one to the Packers or the Browns. GPG!

I've seen this referenced in a couple of places. Keith from La Pine, OR, said there are three teams aside from the Packers who have never intercepted Rodgers. I have no idea what's accurate but thanks regardless for the follow-up effort. Also, I've seen Inbox submissions regarding Edgerrin Cooper, Detroit's makeshift secondary, catch/no catch, keys to beating Pittsburgh and other topics I also addressed in my mid-week chat for readers looking for those comments.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

I am wondering if Lucas Havrisik is the only player on the Packers that has ever received back-to-back game balls. Is there any way you could find out the answer because according to the research I didn't do, I don't know the answer. Thanks.

I'm sure it's happened before. Has it happened in a player's first two games with the team? Maybe for Brandon McManus last year after his back-to-back walk-off kicks his first two weeks here. I can't remember for sure.

Teri from Neenah, WI

Would the team consider keeping Lucas the new kicker on the practice squad?

Potentially, but he'd have to clear waivers first upon being released. No guarantee there. As mentioned previously, if a kicker-needy team offers something for him, Gutey would certainly consider it, but I suspect he's going to keep Havrisik on the roster until there's zero concern with McManus' quad.

Tim from Blandon, PA

Hi Mike and Wes, I'm headed to Pittsburgh this Sunday with my dad and my 10-year-old son. My brother is coming along too, but he's a misguided Steelers fan. It'll be my son's first pro sporting event. Hoping it's a memorable one. What do you remember most about your first time seeing the NFL in person? I remember Vic saying he remembers the vividness of the colors.

My first game was Packers-Bears at Soldier Field in Dec. 1984. The intensity in such a big place was something I'd never felt at a sporting event before. It was like walking into a high school basketball rivalry, except the gym was this huge stadium with 60,000 people in it.

Tom from West Salem, WI

I remember more than a few times during an Aaron Rodgers post-game interview, he would talk about a play they ran in that game and then reference running that same play to Jordy or Cobb in a specific game years earlier. I would have loved to sit and listen to him talk football for a few hours, although then I would realize how much I'll never know about the game.

That's the experience I had when I was fortunate enough to do a pair of extended sit-downs with Rodgers for Yearbook cover stories. One was with Nelson, the other with Adams, and listening to those pairs talk ball was incredibly enlightening and humbling at the same time.

Ruan from Mundelein, IL

I know it's still early but the question I had about Jordan Love going into the season is can he get us points when we NEED them. So far it seems as if every time we absolutely needed a big play for points he has given them to us, but because he isn't blowing teams out everyone just glosses over that fact.

Love has made one awful mistake at a terrible time, and he still put his team in position to win that game. His game isn't flawless, but his demeanor and approach in crunch time is a tremendous asset. He's come so far in that regard since he took the reins.

Aumed from Moorhead, MN

Good morning, Mike. I came across an interesting take on the team. Hafley forces offenses to dink and dunk their way to a score which shortens the game due to long drives. In turn this has limited the amount of drives Love and the offense get which would be the reason the offense isn't lighting up the scoreboard like the fans desire. However, if you believe you are the better team wouldn't this approach favor the opponent?

The offense is not lacking for opportunities. The Packers went three-and-out three times in Arizona and had two possessions against Cincinnati cross midfield that came up empty.

Alan from Saugerties, NY

It seems to me an issue with our offense is that it's feast or famine, either three-and-out or march down the field and score. Like all fans, I want my team to score on every possession; however, a drive that gets stalled after two or three first downs at least allows you to punt and pin a team deep in their own territory. Field position is a huge part of this game and this is a battle we appear to lose more often than our opponents.

I don't have any lists in front of me, but it does feel as though the Packers have lost the field-position battle more than they've won it. I will say, though, after two or three first downs, plenty of offenses (Packers included) go for it on fourth down and don't try to pin opponents deep anymore. So that trend might in some ways shape perception.

Dan from Rice Lake, WI

Regarding offense pre-snap penalties, might we be spending too much time at the line of scrimmage trying to decipher the defensive scheme? I know that the longer I spend standing over a golf ball at address the less likely I am to execute a good swing. The body gets tight, it's only natural.

But checks at the line and getting into the best possible play is how the NFL game is played. Take that ability away and you're playing uphill at this level.

Josh from Pooler, GA

Rashan Gary and Micah Parsons both have 5.5 sacks. Were the Smith brothers the last tandem for 10 sacks each? Have we had many tandems recently do that?

Yes on the Smith Bros. (2019: Za'Darius 13.5, Preston 12). Before that, you have to go back to 1993 (White 13, Paup 11). There were two other close calls – 1995 (White 12, Jones 9) and 2007 (Kampman 12, KGB 9.5).

Richard from Farmington Hills, MI

I thought Willie Davis had the unofficial sack record for the team.

Unofficial career franchise record, yes. Pro Football Reference's research has Davis, whose entire career obviously took place before sacks became an official statistic in 1982, with 99½ sacks playing for the Packers. That's well ahead of Clay Matthews' 83½, the official team record. But Davis never had more than 14½ in one year, according to PFR, which would be tied for fifth on Green Bay's single-season list.

Scott from Palos Park, IL

There were all kinds of issues exposed that the D will need to address. However, the pass rush appeared to be very solid and it was not just No. 1 doing the work. Multiple times it appeared that the rush forced an early throw that was unfortunately still finding their man. Was it just me or did Karl Brooks push the pocket and rush throws multiple times Sunday?

Brooks and Colby Wooden both impacted that game on the interior. They've taken different trajectories but both appear to be coming into their own.

Keith from Fishers, IN

Which defense will be on the field Sunday? The one that gave up 40 points to Dallas, or the one from the fourth quarter against Arizona? Fans prefer the latter. Can you get them booked for a three-hour performance on Sunday evening?

"Fans prefer the latter." You don't say?

Sean from Springfield, OR

Here's a non-Packer question for the week: What did you guys think of the Vikings technique for stopping the tush push? If nothing else maybe the more ridiculous defenses get the more likely it will get banned.

It was a curious tactic, but it worked. I don't know how you get a volunteer to lay down across the line of scrimmage like that, but the more ridiculous things get, the better chance it, along with all the pile pushing and pulling, will be gone.

Pete from Caledonia, MI

The NFL is on the brink of a huge problem. Can you imagine if the "double review" had been KC's? The Lions/Bucs game, with that, numerous ticky-tack calls and a stunning missed tripping call, magnified the need for immediate change. On the heels of a player/official incident, in Denver, it's gonna start pitting players against officials. I don't see this slowing down or ending well. Am I off base?

You're seeing a growing player-official conflict. The potential powder keg with the gambling industrial complex could be much, much more volatile. This latest NBA story won't be the last, or worst, of its kind.

Kevin from Rockton, IL

Is there anything more important than the four-point lead late in a game in today's NFL? With the historic closeness of game scores across the league and FG length, coaches need to be judicious with FG and two-point attempts in the first three quarters of games. Points matter...

Indeed. I feel like I've seen more field goals on drives of 30 seconds or less this year than ever before.

Greg from Big Lake, MN

Virtually all the pundits are talking about AR and his motivation to play his former team. But what about JL and his motivation to play well versus his former mentor? He must be stoked and I expect our guy to come out with a fire in his belly. What's your take?

Motivation abounds for both. But when the game's on the line, it won't be about motivation. It'll be about execution.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

Mike, I'm really sorry but I can no longer continue being an enjoyer of your live blog. Living out of market and often being forced to watch, let's say, dis-reputable streams, you are too fast with your updates. The anticipation of what is about to happen is gone. You are far too talented, and I must now fade into retirement. Thanks for all the memories.

Sorry to see you go. The impossible challenge with the live blog is the need to serve two masters – those double-screening who are watching (or listening to) the game while following along, and those whose only connection to the game is the live blog. It'll be forever imperfect that way.

Ted from Findlay, OH

Mike, just a thank you for participating in the HOF class on Wednesday. You have an encyclopedic memory for the time you have been with the Packers. You also came across as an even nicer guy than I thought you already were.

Ha, that's kind of you to say. It was my pleasure to be a guest for our HOF curator Brent's class. Didn't realize there was someone in the II community out there in Zoom land. I love digging all the memories of games I've covered out of my brain. I had a blast.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

Saw a stat of the Packers on SNF since 2019. Annnnd the average points per game … wait for it … 27.7 I don't know what to do with that mind-blowing fact today.

Eric has an idea.

Eric from Roswell, GA

I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious. Think I'll dust off the ol' Eddie Lacy jersey.

Whatever works.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Mike, the late HOF coach Bill Walsh said that at some point every season he "would turn the team back over to the team." As much as an offensive genius and innovator as he was, Walsh still realized it was up to his players to perform, and his job was to give them the freedom to do so. For a HC to develop that philosophy takes a great deal of wisdom, experience, and self-confidence. I believe our HC took a big step forward last week in trusting his team (and QB in particular) on that fourth-and-2.

I think so, too, and wrote as much in my postgame Rapid Reaction piece. Does this team take another such step this week? Can't wait to find out. Happy Friday.

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