Mick from UK

Right now the Packers are a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Kinda fun to watch though.

I heard Winston Churchill was a Packers fan.

Kenton from Rochester, MN

I've noticed every now and then (like Monday) you publish a particularly egregious rant against the Packers organization. I find these mostly maddening, occasionally amusing and sometimes puzzling that anyone could actually believe what they are writing. Then I wonder maybe they are just doing it to get published – even if it makes them look bad. And publishing those types of submissions only encourages more.

But it doesn't mean more will get published. At the risk of violating rule 1, the content of this column can at times depend on my mood. I'm only human.

Andy from College Grove, TN

I used the weekend bye to spend a little time watching other games around the league. I was shocked (shocked!) to discover other teams experienced trouble establishing run game, frustrating kicker misses, heart-breaking injuries, and fourth-quarter meltdowns. It must be an outlier weekend since we know that stuff only happens to the Packers. No need to look around the league and try to keep us readers grounded in reality.

Good to know.

Cindy from Mesa, AZ

I can answer the hospital question since my company supports the Chargers in a similar capacity. There are workflows in place for NFL players to quickly be evaluated and return to the field. If there were a true emergency competing for resources, the NFL players would wait, but that's rare. Otherwise, the patient flow is expedited and the radiologist is well aware of the STAT read before Christian Watson even enters the building. The Packers probably paid for the CT scanner anyway, let them use it!

Also good to know.

Randy from Pineville, NC

Hey guys, what kind of chance do you give us against the Patriots Sunday? What must we do to beat them?

The Patriots and Packers share similar warts. They both commit too many penalties. Neither offense has been great in the red zone. So being better in those not-so-good areas could go a long way. But the big one here, which is not similar, is turnover margin. The Patriots are second-to-last in the league at minus-7, yet they're still 5-3. The Packers are at plus-4. New England's numbers there tell me if the Patriots win the turnover battle, they're very difficult to beat.

Ricia from St. Johnsbury, VT

Hi II, this column helps me survive between games. I miss Dairyland but am now living in New England. We're surrounded by Pats fans and Packer backers. What matchups should we be looking at this next game? GPG!

The Packers can't let Rhamondre Stevenson control the tempo of the game. He's a power back who can wear defenses down, and Drake Maye needs his production to keep the opponent honest. The Packers' run D has to continue doing what it's been doing. Keeping Maye in the pocket is also key. He can run around back there and/or take off and cause problems. Don't let him scramble.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR

Hey Mike, what is different about the New England team the Packers will be facing on Sunday from the one that played in the Super Bowl earlier this year?

It was their overhaul at receiver, but now A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs are both hurt. Maye is back to figuring it out with lesser-known guys, and Hunter Henry at tight end is probably his most reliable target right now.

Kent from Whitehall, MT

Good morning, Mike, Wes, and Insider Inbox. How do we evaluate Matt LaFleur and his impact on the defense not being the defensive coordinator? What is a head coach's role in collaborating with a defensive coordinator, such as Jonathan Gannon? The development on that side of the ball is impressive.

LaFleur and Gannon communicate all the time, and the head coach has input as well as sign off on the game plan. But LaFleur also lets those he hires do their jobs and own their roles.

Kenn from New Brighton, MN

I know there is a lot of season left, but after watching the Bears (Monday), they look like the class of the division. Any thoughts on what would need to change to compete? Run game, for sure in my book.

That's the sore thumb in the Packers' anatomical construction.

Jim from St. Pete Beach, FL

I'm betting the O-line and RBs spent some time over the mini bye doing some self-scouting and will figure out some ways they can improve. How are the Patriots against the run? Will be tough on the road.

New England is sixth in the league against the run, allowing 92.6 yards per game, and tied for seventh in yards per carry allowed, at 3.8.

Tony from Chanhassen, MN

Can you share with Larry that we're all sorry he didn't get to do a video on the Packers' running game kicking butt? Thanks!

He's gonna be so fired up when that day comes.

Ryan from Sun Prairie, WI

Is this the week we see Kevin Zeitler?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Ben from Cripple Creek, CO

Meanwhile, the record of the NFC North against non-division opponents remains ridiculous.

17-3. I believe I said 18-4 on "Unscripted," but I was off by one. The losses are to the Falcons (Packers), Bills (Lions) and Panthers (Lions). The four teams in the division have a combined eight losses, and five of them are to one another.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Right now is it reasonable to say that four of the best five teams in the NFC reside in the NFC North?

The Seahawks and Rams may both be 4-4, but I fully expect them to factor into this thing before it's all said and done.

Jake from Los Angeles, CA

Man, the Seahawks couldn't have the Packers' back just this once?

A month from now we may be glad Seattle lost that game. Who knows.

Steve from Ocean City, NJ

Mike, during the second half of MNF, I was thinking of how many articles I'd see Tuesday morning proclaiming the Bears the best team in the NFL. Sure enough I woke up to a feed full of them! No doubt they played a great game in a very difficult environment. But with more than half a season remaining, it's not so much how you play in Week 8 but how you improve throughout the year, combined with team health. This GB defense has a chance to be special and Jordan Love is playing at an MVP level…just sayin'.

Lotta season left.

Brent from Delano, MN

Mike, help me understand the decisions around starting Aaron Banks. I know the Packers have a fair amount of money tied up in him but his availability and performance have been terrible. He has constantly been graded as one of the worst performers on the Packers' O-line yet they always seem to turn to him on the rare occasions he's available. What am I missing as it relates to his performance?

The Packers' evaluations of their players often differ from the various metrics publicly available. The team believes Banks is one of its best linemen when he's playing regularly, and that's based on the game film from late last season when he had a run of good health. He missed five games before playing last Thursday, as well as a big chunk of training camp, so they're giving him an opportunity to get up to speed and prove he's the player they believe he is.

Jay from Altoona, WI

Knowing there is a 21-day ramp-up period, and given the fact that the Packers play a Wednesday game on Nov. 25, it would not surprise me if the Packers hold Micah Parsons out of practice on Wednesday (Nov. 4) but have Parsons begin practice on Thursday. That would give the Packers more flexibility and maximize their ability to make a decision about Parsons playing against the Rams but free up a roster spot if Parsons needs the additional 11 days.

Interesting theory.

Dennis from Toledo, OH

Hello II, something occurred to me as we talk Gannon's excellent management of the defense without Micah. Do you think there's something to consider that upon Micah's return some of how the defense functions will change as they try to accommodate Parsons' presence? Feels like there's an assumption the defense will automatically ascend, but maybe there could be a "loss" of some of the new things they're doing to make up for his absence that the D will have to further adjust to once he's back?

Don't overthink it. There's no downside to getting a player of Parsons' caliber back in the fold. Once he's cleared for action, he's not going to play 50-some snaps right away, either. He'll progress toward full-time duty, and Gannon's defense simply will continue to evolve.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

During a press conference when a coach opens with a statement and basically says that's all he has got to say on the matter, is it truly a reporter's job just to ask the questions anyway? It seems one of them always does, even when they don't get a lick more information.

It is their job. The person answering the questions gets to control the answers, not the questions. Follow-ups are to be expected, even if they're not going to be answered.

Mike from Charlotte, NC

I know we want them to catch everything. I do, too. However, it is a lower-percentage remedy than people think. Why? Because the Packers tend to come right back with an answer after a drop. Not all of them, but more than I think people are realizing (e.g. TD to Matthew Golden right after a drop). The OL performance and the kicking game are the big ticket items here. Fix those, and we're a high-percentage team to go all the way, don't you think?

The Packers need to play cleaner football, and every area has a responsibility in that. The fact that we're talking about "which deficiency isn't really as bad as it looks" tells us how much needs to get straightened out. Because you never know which sloppy, avoidable mistake is going to cost you the most.

Bill from Raleigh, NC

Hi II, I don't know why there are so many "wait, he'll turn it around" letters about Trey Smack. We've seen this movie before where we're all nervous before every kick with Anders Carlson. When Mason had a bad season, he already had a lot of money in the Green Bay bank. He also had a lot of money between his ears. He knew he could handle the pressure again. Trey might turn it around and he might not. Just watch ... and cross your fingers and toes. Our GM is always considering options.

That's why I always say, "It's up to him."

Bruce from Travelers Rest, SC

While the Vikings' defense gets the biggest share of the credit for the team's first-place standing, justifiably so, I think a vastly underrated factor in the team's success has been the fact that after wandering in the wilderness at the kicker position for years, they now have one of the better ones in the league. That team seems destined to play a lot of close, low-scoring games, and having a kicker a coach can count on must make coaching a fair amount easier.

When Reichard opened the game in Detroit by missing that 57-yarder, just his second miss of the season, you knew it would loom large all day, and it did.

Mike from Glendale, CA

During the just-completed eighth week of the season, with four teams on byes, 14 of 28 teams missed at least one field goal or extra point attempt.

And outside of a few exceptions, it hasn't gotten difficult to kick outdoors yet.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

I liked Noah Pauley's and Jason Vrable's comments about Savion Williams. When you watch what defenses do to try to keep up with Christian and Golden and then have a third guy coming out of the slot that has Savion's talent, it puts a lot of pressure on a defense. Someone is open!

Savion's development has helped mitigate the loss of Jayden Reed much like Ty'Ron Hopper's development has done the same regarding Edgerrin Cooper.

John from Columbia, TN

Insiders, I have been enjoying Inbox this week with almost no questions about officiating. Can you put in a request to the league for the same next week?

I'll do my best.

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

If Green Bay can sweep their next three games (Patriots, Vikings, and Bills), their playoff leverage skyrockets to 90%. You are at Lambeau every day. Are you feeling it?

Just beat the Pats.

Meghan from Erie, CO

Of the remaining games, which do you think will be the toughest matchup and why?

(Sigh.) Happy Wednesday.

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