Mike from Lake Villa, IL
Be careful, Spoff! With Wes using such salty language, he is likely to blame you for learning that word when Ma Hod is washing his mouth out with soap!
And once again we're off …
Jeff from Indian Lake, NY
"Buffalo shot itself in the hoof." Well played Weston, well played.
He was rather proud of that one, too.
Steve from Wauwatosa, WI
Could you please explain the difference between Derrick Henry and AJ Dillon? Is there some skill Mr. Henry has that Mr. Dillion does not? Thanks.
They weigh about the same, but Henry is 6-3, Dillon 6-foot, so their running styles are very different. Henry has longer strides and longer (stiff) arms, so it's harder to square up a hit on him. In the open field, he makes it very difficult for tacklers to get at his midsection.
Pat from Kennesaw, GA
Well, there's our answer on Amari. It's a shame, you want the guy to do well but it's a business. The hardest part is I think GB does better than any organization at getting quality people, and those you want to do well and stick around. Good luck to him.
I didn't get to know Amari to the extent Wes did, but anytime Randall Cobb is vouching for a young player's character and makeup, that's more than good enough for me. He was given more than ample opportunity to contribute, and you have to be able to help the team win games. This business is as bottom-line as it gets, as it should be.
Brett from Effingham, IL
OK, Amari really wasn't too much of a shock, but Kylin? That leaves us awfully thin at RB, and he had return ability as well. Is there a move brewing? It's past the trade deadline, but I know that doesn't preclude some other pickup or signing.
Taylor is now on the 53 as the third running back, and there's currently one open spot on the active roster, which I suspect is for Cobb when he comes off IR. Adding receiver Dede Westbrook to the practice squad is certainly intriguing. We shall see.
Matt from Waunakee, WI
Hi Mike, I enjoyed your WYMM as always. Reed did a great job. I noticed Kenny Clark was double-teamed on all of those plays except one.
I just can't imagine how exhausted Clark must be after every game. He is an absolute warrior.
Ivan from Ventura, CA
Hey guys I had a dream last night that I finally had a question answered on II after going 0/4. Unfortunately I forgot what the question was. So my question today is do you think we have enough talent on the roster to pressure opposing QBs without Gary, or is there a free agent you wouldn't mind kicking the tires on to bring in?
Any pass rusher available now would be a holiday gift. It's just so rare. Barry utilized the slot blitz a fair amount vs. Dallas, especially on early downs, and he sent one of the inside linebackers a few times on third. The Packers are going to need everything those young edge guys can bring, though. I have to say, I was really impressed with Enagbare for a second straight game. Going through the Dallas film for my WYMM, he stood out for his work against the run, and he'd shown pass-rush flashes in previous games. He'll be really important the rest of the way.
Blake from Newark, NJ
Insiders, during the thrilling Vikings vs. Bills game there was a crucial fourth-down pass play to Jefferson where it greatly appeared the defender, instead of deflecting the ball, made a play on the ball for the interception, ultimately pinning it to Jefferson's hand on the way down, and then as luck would have it his foot prevented it from hitting the ground, giving Minnesota the first down. Why do players think getting the statistic is reverent to being the hero? Just knock it away and win.
Sometimes players blank on the specifics of the situation in the heat of the moment. Other times the instinct to catch the ball just suddenly takes over. Or the player is focused on statistics because that's how he'll get paid down the road. Concentration and discipline are immeasurable.
Derek from Eau Claire, WI
When is the last time the Packers and Vikings won in OT in the same week?
According to my research (which could be wrong), it had never happened before. They had never gone to overtime on the same day before, other than when playing each other of course.
Melvin from Dubuque, IA
I thought being the underdog at home against the Cowboys was a rare occurrence for the Packers, but when was the last time the Packers were underdogs in back-to-back home games?
Gambling remains illegal at Bushwood, but I don't know, and I honestly don't care. The Packers hadn't had six losses in early November since 2005, and they haven't been 4-6 since 2016. Those two seasons proceeded very differently. Let's see what happens this time.
William from Newburgh, IN
With a number of players having a great game I think the real key was our best five offensive linemen able to practice and play together. Don't you think all the injuries, and shuffling, of our offensive linemen sure put the offense in a tough spot?
Yes. It had a larger impact than in prior years, but yes, combined with the constant uncertainty at receiver on the injury front as well.
Steve from Ankeny, IA
I've watched the replay of the 58-yarder to Christian Watson numerous times. The kid didn't just catch a long pass, he had to twist his body as he made the catch because it was thrown to the sideline side of him. It is amazing to see his eyes follow the ball into his arms and immediately secure it. We may hear a lot from this young man for a long time. We are lucky to have him on our team, and ARod trusting him enough to have this result. GPG.
What's impressive when you watch the film is he takes an inside release to beat his man, which is not the norm against single coverage on the outside, because the throw won't be inside with a safety lurking. Yet he's fast enough that the corner can't maintain outside leverage on him to prevent him from getting to the ball over his outside shoulder.
Matt from Pontiac, MI
And the '72 Dolphins remain alone in Perfectville.
While the NFC is absolutely, positively wide freakin' open.
Ryan from Santa Claus, IN
The blueprint for the Eagles' house has been stolen and we just found out by whom. Now if we can only get a copy from Washington and use it to our advantage.
That's for next week regardless, but that was no blueprint. Turnovers are a blueprint for anybody anytime anywhere. Philly had three giveaways all season, then four Monday night. That was the reason for the loss. Turnovers are the great equalizer, always have been.
Tom from Burlington, IA
You cannot use a replay and ignore that facemask personal foul. "They missed it." The current system is broken beyond repair. The technology is too great to try and integrate with the old system. There can't be a gradual conversion; only abrupt, abject change...which will never happen.
Making safety rules reviewable might help, but my face is too blue to talk about it anymore.
Tabb from Houston, TX
Good morning, II. Not trying to ruin my street cred as a card-carrying cheesehead, but the no-replay of the no-catch at the end of the Vikings game was really hard to watch as a fan. Seeing afterward the same crew missed 12 men during a critical moment in OT screams something else in that context. Without context, I can understand missing 12 men, MAYBE, but not reviewing a play under two minutes is everyone's job to uphold on the officiating crew… and NY's job… so how did no one do their job?
Are you suggesting the rules of the NFL game have become so voluminous and convoluted it stresses the officiating system to the point of inopportune and inexcusable breakdowns? Go figure.
Gary from Davenport, IA
So I guess that loss to Washington doesn't seem so bad now, does it?
It still does to me, because it's a week-to-week league. The Packers were up 14-3 and then went five straight possessions on offense during which they accumulated just four total first downs. I don't care if you're facing Vic's favorite Steel Curtain bunch, that's letting a game get away.
Take a visual tour around Lambeau Field during the first snowfall of the 2022 NFL season on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022.
Jacob from Menomonie, WI
How would you grade Quay Walker's rookie season so far?
Up and down but very promising.
Samuel from Skokie, IL
The Packers players were definitely resilient and gritty. However, another way to look at it is they made key plays in almost all their losses but there was a flag on many of them. This time, great play, no flag. And on the Cowboys' overtime drive, they were stopped by two key penalties. Playing clean was huge in the game. What do you think?
No question. Two sacks in London, the fumble-TD in Washington, Bobby's TD in Buffalo, third-and-5 and second-and-20 in Detroit … all flipped due to penalties, and others I'm surely missing. There's a reason after the game Sunday that McCarthy was being "very, very, VERY frustrated" with his team's overtime flags.
Dave from Waterford, OH
Running the ball does many things: 1) negates the pass rush, 2) allows the O-linemen to be physical, play downhill, and impose their will, 3) wears down the defense, 4) takes time off the clock and keeps the other team's offense off the field, 5) opens the passing lanes. The team running the ball successfully absolutely loves it. The team on the other side of that punishment hates it.
No arguments here.
Dave from Edina, MN
Wes mentioned the 2020 Titans game and it prompted me to pull up the box score. Wow, I hope we can have even half that much success on Thursday. Do you have any specific memories from that game?
I remember watching it with Wes in a Lambeau suite because that was our home-game perch during the Covid season, and the smattering of fans allowed to attend got a real treat with a nighttime snowfall at Lambeau.
Julie from Janesville, WI
WILL Rudy Ford NOW GET MORE PLAYING TIME WITH THE DEFENSE?
INDUBITABLY.
Venny from Montgomery, AL
Wes listed Aaron Jones as one of Ted Thompson's top 10 picks. I don't disagree, but I went through some of Ted's heavy hitters during his tenure and found that his hallmark seemed to be the offensive side of the ball. Aaron Rodgers, David Bakhtiari, Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Josh Sitton, Greg Jennings, T.J. Lang, A.J. Hawk, Clay Mathews and B.J. Raji all have an argument to be considered a top 10 draft pick by Ted.
Without fully defining the criteria (best player, best value, etc.) those lists can go any number of directions. I quickly went through Thompson's drafts (2005-17) to find all the players taken outside the top 100 picks that struck me for the value the Packers got where they were taken and their contributions to the team. In chronological order, I listed Bishop, Crosby, Sitton, Flynn, Lang, Starks, Daniels, Bakhtiari, Hyde, Linsley, Martinez, Lowry, J. Williams and Jones. Of those 14 guys with a draft number in the triple digits, I'd probably rank Jones third, behind only Bakhtiari and Sitton.
Phil from Portland, OR
Just saw the Packers hired Aubrey Pleasant as an offensive assistant. Any word on what his role will be, and is there precedent in the organization having defensive coaches in on the offensive game planning?
He's going to serve as a consultant on the coaching staff, to my knowledge. Both in this regime and the last one, coaches from opposite sides of the ball have attended position or group meetings to lend a different perspective, but this is the first specific hire of this type I can recall.
Bob from Bement, IL
Just a couple of observations: As impressive as AR's block late in the game was (and it was outstanding), I was almost more impressed with his earlier downfield dash on the run and fumble/recovery by Aaron Jones (do I recall that correctly?). I can imagine Rodgers would dive into that scrum, as well. What a competitor! The other thing: Everyone stop worrying about the short Sunday-to-Thursday turnaround – the Titans have the same complications to deal with after a tough contest with Denver, too.
I mentioned Monday the Packers' defense had to play 79 snaps against the Cowboys. The Titans' defense played 73 against the Broncos. Stay tuned there.
Lynn from Machesney Park, IL
What was your favorite play from Sunday?
Sammy Watkins catching a back-shoulder ball for 23 yards. He needs to be able to do that when he's out there.
Doug from Neenah, WI
Good morning, Mike. Coming off that exhilarating win, are you expecting a record audience for your live blog on Thursday night? I for one will be logged in. Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.
With the only viewing access outside the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets coming via Amazon Prime, we might set a live blog record Thursday night. I'll be ready for it.
Caleb from Knoxville, TN
What's one thing you look forward to seeing against the Titans?
Breath through the facemasks. Happy Wednesday.
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