Eric from Wrightstown, WI

Dude! I didn't see that coming!

Yeah, I wasn't expecting snow during either of the past two days.

Michael from Shawano, WI

Gents, would love to see, with whoever is available this week, wildcat, Jayden Reed as QB, direct snaps, fake field goals, etc. More for throwing teams off when like formations are used for playoffs, but to get as many inexperienced players as possible on the field while resting the most we can. Also, can't wait until this "one of the youngest teams" thing is in the rearview mirror in a couple.

I hope the Packers have some fun this weekend because this won't be a typical game (see: the roster moves Green Bay made on Tuesday, Wednesday and likely later today). Whatever happens, it'll be interesting. It always is.

Allan from Austin, TX

Maybe Matthew Golden can pull a Jeff Janis?

Bring it on. All of it. With Green Bay locked into the seven seed, the playbook is wide open. I'd love to see Golden get six-plus targets and even more touches. This game can be a sandbox for the Packers if they choose to play it that way. Not only to see which young players step up but also experiment a little with the scheme.

Al from Green Bay

Wes, what the Minnesota defense did to Jared Goff and company last week was exceedingly impressive. I'm sure the QB hits they applied are weighing on the mind of the Packers' coaching staff. How would you plan to minimize hits to Jordan Love/Malik Willis?

Like Larry said on "Three Things," the offensive line needs to be dialed in to protect whichever quarterback is behind it. I'd be surprised if Love plays, though he was a full participant in practice Wednesday. Willis told us after practice that his shoulder is fine, so maybe he plays. If not, this game could be Clayton Tune's shot to show he's a viable candidate for QB2 next year if Willis leaves in free agency. Whatever happens, Green Bay's offensive line is in for a test against the Vikings' defensive front. It's as fearsome as any unit the Packers may face on their side of the bracket.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

If I had a nickel for every star defensive player we stole from the Cowboys this year, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot...but it's weird it happened twice.

Some might even call it the "Player to be named later."

Aaron from Tucson, AZ

I am a big fan of Brian Gutekunst. Clearly, he is doing all he can to give the Pack a chance this postseason while adding two players that can potentially be key contributors moving forward. Trevon Diggs must overcome injury issues but has a great chance to revive his career reuniting with Micah Parsons. Desmond Ridder is another young QB who can establish himself as the backup of the near future while learning from Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love to possibly reignite his career. I see a lot of potential upside. Color me intrigued.

Roster-building is seven days a week, 365 days a year. While nothing's official until it is official – shout out to my guy, Adam Pearce – the NFL transaction wire on New Year's Eve sent shockwaves through the Packers fanbase. It's not every day an All-Pro cornerback like Diggs pops up on the waiver wire in Week 18. If it all works out, that could be a major addition for a playoff run. Meanwhile, Ridder has a chance to come in, dig into the Packers' playbook, and maybe begin an extended audition for a roster spot. I'd say it worked out pretty well for the last QB Green Bay brought in from the 2022 NFL Draft.

Mike from Pekin, IL

Hey guys, I just saw the Packers grabbed Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Cowboys. If true, what can you tell us about him? If not, toss me out into the snowy Wisconsin weather!

Diggs has accomplished a great deal in his 27 years. He won a national title at Alabama, made two Pro Bowls in Dallas and was selected first-team All-Pro with an 11-INT season in 2021. He's not only close with Micah Parsons but also played for Derrick Ansley in college. Bringing Diggs in makes sense on a number of levels for the Packers.

Mark from Lansing, MI

We are second in our division and just lost to an 8-8 team. It could be worse. We could be third in the division after losing to a 7-9 team. Oh wait, that team is the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl.

I said this on “Unscripted," but the Rams' loss to Atlanta and Sean McVay's post-game comments are yet another example of how quickly this league can humble any team on any week in the NFL. The scale of the setback is defined by what follows, though.

David from Denver, CO

I'm hoping for Jordan Morgan to get another shot at RT this week (to let Zach Tom have more recovery time). He seems better outside than in. Maybe just needs a bit more time. A few years back, here in Denver, there was a common saying: Roses are red, violets are blue, holding on the offense, No. 72. Garett Bolles has now developed into one of the best LTs in the league.

That's kind of where I am with Tom. The guy has played through injuries all season. The Packers would be best served to get him as healthy as possible for wild-card weekend. Meanwhile, Morgan gets important work as he looks to find a long-term spot on the starting offensive line.

Greg from Fort Collins, CO

For anyone who thinks that we shouldn't rest Love or other players this week, please go back and re-watch Weeks 1-2, when they were coming off eight months of rest. Just beat (insert NFC Wild Card round opponent).

You can't rest 'em all, but you can rest some…and getting this team to the playoffs with as many healthy players as possible is what will give Green Bay its best shot. Period.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

If a player like MarShawn Lloyd is on IR, can he still participate in meetings and walk-through practices? If he is cleared, when is the earliest he can be put on the active 53?

He can attend meetings but cannot practice (or do walk-throughs) unless he's designated to return a second time. Once that option is exercised, Lloyd can return to the active roster at any time during that 21-day window. The Packers made Nick Niemann their fifth player designated to return on Wednesday, leaving them with five more options for the playoffs (three regular season, two additional).

James from Chicago, IL

The Eagles-Bills final score got me wondering, will the gods of sports analytics ever analyze how often fourth-down conversions inside of FG range fail vs. how many of those games are lost by a margin that is less than the potential FG(s) would have netted? It would be interesting to see if the three or six points left on the field are impacting outcomes in close games (although I do understand the trajectory of the game would change if a team kicks a FG vs. failing on a fourth down).

I'm not an analytics guy, personally. I think data is important, but human instinct and intuition is as important in football as any other team sport in my opinion. Isolating percentages on individual plays also don't take into account the domino effect those decisions have on a game.

Curt from Pine Island, MN

The problem with scheming a package up for Willis is the same one I see when scheming for any particular player. When they come in the game the defense knows something is up and where to focus. Saw that with the Packers and Williams early this year; when he came into games he always got the ball.

Maybe the Packers roll Willis out there and have him take a receiver rep and then go back to the sideline. Put it on film and then revisit in a possible divisional round playoff game. Just an idea.

Robert from Burke, VA

I just don't buy into the doom and gloom or put too much into momentum. It can have an influence on confidence, but these are pros. Also, season statistics are fairly meaningless to me in the playoffs. They show a season trend and may be informative but are not predictive. Cut down on pre-snap penalties, stay on your assignments, catch passes and INTs, and don't turn the ball over. Way easier said than done, but fundamentally sound play is the key.

For better or worse, you have to wipe the slate clean once the playoffs begin. The gameboard is set. The regular season took care of all that. All that matters now is how you proceed with the pieces you have vs. the opponents in front of you.

Edward from Byron, MN

NASCAR has a weekend with no races and all the teams rest. It seems the NFL should do the same. But TV would not allow this. So why not have all the byes within say a two-to-four-week window so no team has these crazy early bye weeks?

I think this will be the last time I answer this question, so please refer to the Jan. 1, 2026, Inbox for my response moving forward. I agree with you 100%, Edward, but that's not how the NFL views bye weeks. In 15 years covering this league, my contention is the NFL schedules byes more out of convenience to the league itself than actual value to the clubs. That leads to randomness every year in how open weeks are distributed. Last year, 12 teams had byes in Weeks 12 and 14. That's inexcusable. I don't care if it's four, five, six or seven weeks. There absolutely, positively should not be Week 14 byes in an 18-week season. That's my answer today, tomorrow and until the league shifts to a different strategy.

Christopher from UK

"The owners will push for an 18th game sooner than later, reducing the preseason by one game and probably offering to shorten if not eliminate offseason programs (workouts, OTAs, etc.). By the next CBA, the offseason might be a two-week minicamp and that's it, except for rookies." Should this happen, I would hope, and expect, that the early schedule would be inter-conference, rather than division rival games.

In that vein, don't ever think the NFL will schedule itself into a corner with the layout of games – especially with so many platforms ponying up to stream them in 2026. The league will expand to 18 games in my professional career. That is inevitable. It will maintain as much flexibility as it wants.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

The Justin from Thousand Oaks submission from yesterday pretty much blew my mind. On pace for the lowest takeaways in team history?! After an offseason and training camp that was dominated by "take the ball away." I know this is a lazy take but, I thought you get what you emphasize?

The goal is to minimize explosives and make the opposing offenses run more plays, which should increase the likelihood of creating more takeaways in theory. Watching Minnesota and Chicago in recent weeks, neither of those teams is doing anything too out of the ordinary to generate turnovers. But when the opportunity is there, they capitalize on them. For whatever reason, that just hasn't been in the cards for Green Bay to this point.

Craig from Brookfield, WI

You have to give something to get something. Losing Kenny Clark was tough, but you really can't argue with the deal since GB acquired an unbelievable game wrecker in his prime. With Clark being a possible salary cap casualty for Dallas, do you think he has enough left in the tank for the Packers to bring him back on a cap-friendly contract? Baltimore made me miss him all the more!

Kenny Clark is a Dallas Cowboy until somebody tells me otherwise. But if there's ever an opportunity to bring Clark back, I'd gladly volunteer to pick him up from the airport.

Sheboygan, WI

Morning guys, during a 2004 summer league basketball game, my son tore his ACL. He was heading into his senior year and expectations were high. Long story short, we were able to get an appointment with Dr. McKenzie. I was surprised that was possible. But he repaired my son's ACL, and after six months of strenuous rehab, he returned for the final three games of the season! An awesome accomplishment by my son, but not possible without Dr. McKenzie! Thank you, doc! A great memory for our family!

That's just one of many fond recollections I've heard regarding Dr. McKenzie and the work he performed on athletes ranging from Aaron Rodgers to the backup receiver on an area high school team.

Eric from Wrightstown, WI

Happy New Year, II! You guys do such a great job keeping us informed in times both good and hard. Can you give us a peak behind the curtain at a day in the life of Mike and Wes? Thanks so much!

I get here, answer emails/Slack messages, shoot videos, write Inbox, torment my boss, attend LaFleur's press conference, go to practice, go to locker room, ask questions, react to seemingly some type of breaking news on most days, sometimes shoot more videos and eventually I get to write.

Jim from Tempe, AZ

Happy New Year, Mike and Wes! I hope you enjoy celebrating the arrival of the New Year with family and friends. Best wishes to a great 2026!

We're here. We're always here.

Marteen from Reno, NV

Mike and Wes, welcome to 2026. You both have handled this season with honesty, transparency, a little humor, and being our English teacher. I love this platform because it gave me something to look forward to each day in 2025, the increased engagement with fans who follow II, and the both of you navigating a difficult season. I always look for your perspective. May 2026 be filled with endless root beer floats, Ma Hod's cheeseboards, and a few more wins as we close out this season. Thank you!

Happy New Year, Marteen, and everyone out there! 2025 was a lot of fun and 2026 is going to be even better.

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