Sheldon from Altadena, CA

Spoff, an eon is a measure of time not an amount.

But it took me forever to read through all those submissions.

Keith from North Muskegon, MI

Mornin' II, Wes's suggestion of blaze orange uniforms for the Bucks is absolute genius, even moreso that many non-hunters would not even understand the color choice. There has got to be a way you guys can assist to make that happen, right?

I wish.

Jeff from Waterford, WI

What are the Packers' chances of winning the division?

Much better if they win Thursday than if they don't.

John from Stevens Point, WI

It looks like the NFC North is a three-horse race, with the Vikings playing the spoiler role. Which team of the three – Packers, Bears and Lions – has the advantage coming down the stretch?

Nobody right now, but let's see where things stand when the turkey leftovers are in the microwave come Friday night. The Packers could be anywhere from first place in the division to third place by then.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Happy Thanksgiving Mike! Didn't see much mentioned about the Packers' initial drive Sunday that ended in a TD…as I recall, GB ran a bit of a "muddle huddle" at times, and the offense looked crisp. I'd be surprised if we didn't start tomorrow's game up-tempo and try to keep the foot on the gas the whole way, given the short week and the fact Detroit's D was on the field for nearly 80 snaps Sunday (while the Packers' D played 44 snaps).

I'm curious, too, though I think going up-tempo is a lot easier at home where the communication is easier than on the road. We shall see.

Fred from Solon Springs, WI

It appears to me watching Jared Goff the past couple years, he has most of his success with a clean inside pocket. Do you see us emphasizing more up-the-middle pass rushes verses the outside, end-around technique? As a side note, it might also help limit the Gibbs factor.

Goff's kryptonite, so to speak, is interior pressure, because he doesn't have the lateral mobility to escape it. I would expect to see various inside charges from Micah Parsons on passing downs, but the Packers have to get them in those passing situations by containing Gibbs.

Dave from Edina, MN

Gibbs averaged almost 15 yards per carry against NY last week. Mercy. What's the key to stopping him on Thursday?

Seven minutes after this submission, Jeff sent in the answer.

Jeff from Ogden, UT

The key to this week's game? Get your hands on Jahmyr Gibbs and hang on for dear life! That guy is a menace.

Indubitably.

Greg from Glen Ellyn, IL

Hello, Mike! December Kenny. Kenny Clark always seemed to have strong month towards the end of the season even in his so-called "down years." With your access to league data do you see indication that Micah Parsons' play throughout his first four seasons intensified in any way (if that's even possible) in the month of December?

Nothing statistically jumps out. Parsons has 13½ career sacks after the calendar turns to December. But he also has six sacks in four Thanksgiving games.

David from St. Ignatius, MT

This team could be scary if the offense started fast. I don't believe anyone could protect if our defense is playing with a lead.

That's what everyone forgets about those first two dynamite weeks. The Packers took a 10-0 lead over the Lions in the first quarter and were up 17-3 at half. They jumped on the Commanders 14-0 by the middle of the second quarter. That's how this team plays its best. The only time a sizable early lead got away was against Dallas, due in part to the turnover late in the first half.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Lions were practically unstoppable last year with Hutchinson but they're vulnerable this year with Hutchinson. Why is that?

They've had a lot of injuries in the secondary, and their offense hasn't done as good a job at – wait for it – building leads. That said, the Packers are going to get a very different Hutchinson compared to Week 1, his first game back from the long rehab. He will be a bigger factor in this game and the Packers must limit that impact.

Ethan from La Crosse, WI

How have the Packers and Lions changed compared to Week 1? Will a similar game plan get it done, or do they need to make any changes due to differences in personnel?

Week 1 feels like last season at this point. The Lions were on short notice to prepare for Parsons and weren't really ready for him. They will be now. But Parsons also will have a larger workload. Gibbs is more a focal point of the offense rather than a straight job share with Montgomery, but they don't have LaPorta, and now Campbell is calling the plays. I mentioned Hutch above. They got Alim McNeill back on the interior of their D-line. The O-lines of both teams have undergone changes. The Packers have Christian Watson now, but not Tucker Kraft and maybe not Jayden Reed. We'll see about Keisean Nixon. I'm sure there are other changes I'm missing.

John from Canton, GA

At the start of the season everyone and their brother/mother/sister and father were calling for Romeo Doubs to be traded for draft capital or the next great player. Thank goodness the Packers have GM and coach who play the long game and recognize a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Doubs leads the team in receiving and always seems to be there when we need them. At the speed WRs often get hit we can't have enough of them! Happy Thanksgiving.

There's a reason I didn't give all that receiver trade talk in the summer any air time. The deepest position on any roster is only two snaps away from becoming awfully thin.

Mike from Springfield, OH

Which of our position groups do you think has grown the most throughout the season? My money would be on the cornerbacks – Carrington Valentine's emergence as a starter has been fun to watch!

What we've seen from Valentine and now Kamal Hadden is admirable, but as far as a position group as a whole, I'll go with linebacker. The quartet of Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper has been really impressive across the board and seems to keep getting better.

James from Appleton, WI

Did Isaiah McDuffie just shift the defense to a lot more three-linebacker sets?

Not if the opposing offense comes out in more three-receiver sets.

George from Edinburg, VA

Good morning. I have to admit, when Nixon went down, I thought the Packers were toast. Sure, the pass rush and McCarthy's inability affected quite a bit, but it was still admirable that CV could stay with Jefferson and Hadden and the rest were able to pick up the slack.

What I love most about Valentine is he backs down from no challenge. That's his best attribute. Wes just posted a nice piece on Hadden, and I remember back in training camp watching him in the joint practice with the Seahawks. JSN was carving up the Packers that day, but Hadden was holding his own with his assignments and playing very confidently. That was the day I figured he'd make the team.

Joe from Fargo, ND

I was surprised to hear nothing about Lukas Van Ness. On TV they showed him getting up very gingerly and limping. Then a quick shot of him grimacing on the sideline. I never saw him on the field again. Did he reinjure his foot? Any news about him? Inquiring minds want to know.

On Tuesday, LaFleur said Van Ness wasn't where they thought he was with his recovery, tried to play and couldn't. That's all we know.

Dennis from Seal Beach, CA

Concerning conservative offensive play-calling, beyond saving wear and tear on your banged-up quarterback might it also make sense not to put too much pass scheme on tape days before meeting a divisional rival? I know we hold back in preseason. Does that come into play once the season begins?

I've seen this suggested, but I don't think so, especially when the opponent has 10 other games of film to watch. Those who are still critical of LaFleur's approach need to rewatch the game, be reminded Jordan Love was handing the ball off with only his right hand, and then count how many times the Vikings blitzed on Love's 21 pass attempts. The risk was real, and not worth it given the game situation, which was the Vikings needing to go for broke on defense to make something happen to give their suffocated offense any chance.

Robert from Richfield, MN

Just a comment on the Giants not kicking the field goal: By trying and failing to get the TD, Detroit gets the ball at the 3, and not the 30 or whatever the kickoff would have been. I thought it made sense to have them pinned and try to make the defensive play.

They got the ball at the 6, and they drove 53 yards to kick the long, tying field goal. If you take the six-point lead and they start, say, on the 30 after the kickoff, they have to go 70 yards to score. I said Monday it was a tough call and still think so.

Johnny from Madison, WI

Regarding Nixon's injury, in the replay on TV it looked like Devonte Wyatt was pushed by a player behind him trying to get out of the way, a la George Costanza escaping the fire. Did I imagine that?

On the film, I saw a slight shove in the back from Warren Brinson but no visible effort to minimize or avoid the collision.

Tom from Columbus, NJ

Given Emanuel Wilson's performance from this past weekend, what are the chances we see more of a split in carries? I hope MLF opts to sub in and out during drives rather than just one drive for Josh Jacobs, next drive for Wilson. I feel like it's more dynamic when they're in and out on the same drive.

Maybe, but running backs also like getting a feel for the defense and finding a rhythm, and playing an entire series is the best way to do that. Situationally, there are always exceptions.

Larry from Cumming, GA

Anthony Belton played 45 snaps against Minnesota. Are we witnessing a changing of the guard? Literally!

Perhaps. Time will tell.

Matt from Boston, MA

Next man up is easy to say, but the Packers have a knack. It's unfortunate especially on the OL because of the synchronization required to be really good. But I think I found a bit of the magic, and my question is does it resonate? Belton started getting reps at guard after Sean Rhyan took over center. Given the lost depth, GB adjusted Belton's development reps to a place of most need for competition (with a player drafted with versatility) thus giving him the most competitive path to the field.

Valid. The short version is if the coaches see a player in practice they believe can help, they'll try to find a way to use him.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Hi guys, would you explain why it wasn't a penalty on GB to push the Minn. punt returner into the ball? I didn't see the game, but watching the highlights reel I thought Zayne Anderson was going to be penalized for obstruction or whatever the term is for not allowing the returner to catch the ball. Thanks!

The returner had abandoned his attempt to catch the punt and became a blocker. Once that happens, he's afforded no grace in terms of fielding it.

Steve from Ankeny, IA

I was wringing my hands over our remaining schedule, and then I looked at the other teams in our division and their remaining schedules and realized they are all wringing their hands too. What a tough division to play in!

No rest for the weary.

Dave from Aurora, CO

Since division realignment to four teams has any team won eight games in a year against division foes? I could see the Packers having to do so to make the Super Bowl.

Just beat the Lions.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Spoff, since you do the live blog, you should make the rules. Is it rude to have my phone on my lap reading the blog during Thanksgiving dinner? I'll follow your directions.

As long as you're not reading it out loud, I don't see a problem.

Keith from Lincoln, IL

Is the Thanksgiving buffet at Ford Field passable or will you be eyeing the lunch Ma Hod packs for Wes?

My ritual – and this is my sixth Thanksgiving game in Detroit – is to make a small lunch plate of items I know won't be part of the food spread back home. I have a family willing to wait until I return so we can all eat together, even with the kickoff a half-hour later than it has been in the past.

Jack from Moweaqua, IL

I don't want to overstate this game, but the way the divisions are starting to shake out, this game is massive. Looking at the schedules all three of us have mostly division games left with the other games coming against teams with winning records, save for one of them hosting the Browns. To me the Lions are still the big brother for right now. Is this where we find out who this team truly is?

The Packers rose to the occasion against a division rival. Now they must do so against a better one in a tougher place to play.

Scott from Seattle, WA

Greetings II. No doubt that the Packers just got a nice W with all three phases performing quite well. Now they just need to maintain that level of play, but the question is will they? This is why we watch.

Happy Wednesday.

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