Scott from Reno, NV

I know it's only preseason but that absolutely sucked.

How 'bout you tell us how you really feel?

Kevin from Athens, GA

Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the game?

Nicely done.

Pete from Caledonia, MI

All I could stomach was the first half. I think unprepared, uninspired, lazy, careless and unfocused are a good start. I realize it's preseason, and there's more to it than win/lose but, there was little to feel good about watching any of it. Are either of you surprised, not by the score, but by the same issues that hamstrung progress last year? Thanks for the blogging, Mike. GoPackGo

I'm not buying any correlation to last year, at least not yet, because most of the mistakes – while they were repeats from last year – weren't by players who played last year. I'm not absolving the coaching here, though, because everything plays a part. But I see how much fundamental work is done in practice, and it didn't carry over to the game. That's a focus issue on the part of the players, mostly, in my opinion. I agree there was little to feel good about. As one blog reader sent into the comments (I can't even remember if I posted it or not), it looked like one team showed up to play a game and the other team showed up for practice.

Bruce from Palatine, IL

Seemed like most of the game the Packers played like they had a job. Jets played like their jobs depended on it.

Another way of putting it.

Bill from Wilmington, DE

Hi, I feel for you today! What a horrible performance across the board. What do you suppose the reason was behind that? Did you even think it was possible to play that bad?

It is not what I expected based on what I'd seen in practice. Dropped passes have been at a minimum on Nitschke Field. I can't imagine there's been that much holding because the coaches watch every snap of practice film and critique it. Why the work didn't translate from the practice field to the game field is what everyone needs to figure out.

Dominic from Chesapeake, VA

Mike, I had to keep saying to myself, "It's just preseason." I am mostly bothered by the drops, penalties and the rookie mistake made by Mecole Hardman, a veteran. What, if anything, stuck in your craw the most?

Just the contagion of poor play. There were too many guys making mistakes and nobody making the kind of play that anyone could rally behind. Forced to narrow it down to something specific, I'd say getting flagged for holding on a third-and-1 run up the gut was the biggest SMH moment.

Craig from Suamico, WI

Half empty Lambeau, the wave on offense, half as many penalties as first downs, plenty of drops. Plenty of sloppy play. But hey, at least the starters played.

Ha. Unfortunately, they did not set the tone, and a massive opportunity for guys on the second units to turn things around and show the coaches something was squandered, in my opinion. Though there was a handful of players who acquitted themselves well.

Brian from Adel, IA

What should we panic most about? QB1 only completed one pass! QB2 fumbled in the end zone! Can't field a punt! Can't block without holding! Can't hold onto passes! So many to choose from! Glad it's preseason, looking forward to watching them clean everything up. Serious question now, what was your biggest positive takeaway from "game" No. 1?

I saw some good defensive play from Colby Wooden, Kristian Welch, Kingsley Enagbare, Ty'Ron Hopper and Barryn Sorrell. There was some strong work up front against the run from the No. 2 defense, and the rookie draft pick was getting pressure off the edge.

Todd from Rio, WI

We got a long way to go, and a short time to get there. What are the positives?

Appreciate the "Smokey & the Bandit" chorus line. That may be an Inbox first. Offensively, I thought in his brief time on the field Matthew Golden certainly looked the part, and Jordan Morgan seemed to hold his own at left tackle, which was confirmed by a solid PFF grade.

Dave from Germantown, TN

How does Amar Johnson's performance on Saturday impact the running back room? It seems like we have another viable alternative in the mix.

With two backup running backs down, Johnson stepped in and filled a void. I thought he ran hard, and not just on his impressive touchdown run. He definitely showed he's got some juice. Now he needs to build on that and do it again next week.

Erik from Mansfield, TX

A rough showing all around for the team in the first rehearsal. It looks like Hardman might have done the most damage to his cause of anyone on the bubble though: a veteran making two bad mistakes on special teams which is supposed to be his advantage over some younger receivers doesn't bode well for him. Think he can recover?

Of course. He's a vet who's been there and done that. He's won Super Bowls. The question isn't can he recover. The question is will he. That's up to him.

Steve from Dodgeville, WI

Good morning Mike, Wes and II. I couldn't wait to see Isaiah Simmons play, what I saw was a linebacker usually in the right place but was a timid tackler and had trouble getting off blocks. What did you see? Thank you for all you do.

I saw a veteran player struggling at times to make tackles, and those physical misses can be a result of too much going on mentally with learning a new scheme and position. I'm sure he expects better of himself and will get a chance to show it.

Joe from Wausau, WI

Why didn't Savion Williams play on Saturday? Hadn't he been practicing?

He had been in and out of practice during the concussion protocol. He's also been dealing with a shoulder injury.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Are five practices and two more preseason games enough to get where the Packers need to be on opening week?

It has to be. They don't have a choice.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

It doesn't count but it matters.

Right. If this doesn't gear a team up to prepare with a purpose the rest of the month, nothing will. Don't let this go to waste. Make it be worth it because of how it drives the rest of camp. That's what I expect LaFleur & Co. to emphasize.

Daniel from Greenwood, IN

With the Packers having a joint practice with the Colts this week, do you see Coach Lafleur having the starters play much, if at all in Saturday's preseason game? I live in Indy so am super excited to be able to have my team in my own backyard. GO PACK GO!

LaFleur reiterated Sunday he's not inclined to play the starters Saturday in Indy, but he wants to see how the joint practice goes. His original plan for these last two weeks was to have the starters get a lot of work in the joint practice in Indy, but not play in the game, and then get work in both the joint practice and game vs. Seattle. But nothing's set in stone.

Jim from Mundelein, IL

Where are the smelling salts?

Ha, the blog readers were asking the same thing. With that, I'm going to move on from that abysmal game and discuss other topics.

George from Edinburg, VA

Mike, I enjoyed your article about Billy Howton. One fact that blew me away was, "A year earlier, Howton broke Hutson's team record for receiving yards in a single game when he compiled 257 on just seven catches on Oct. 21, 1956, against the L.A. Rams." Please excuse the math, but almost 37 yards per catch! The word awesome applies.

I always feel it's important when mentioning Howton's historic 257-yard game to point out he racked up that total on just seven receptions. ATMR (WCBW), there have been 33 single-game, individual 250-plus-yard receiving performances in NFL history, and only five of them were achieved with single-digit receptions. The others are Pittsburgh's Plaxico Burress in 2002 (9-253), Washington's Anthony Allen in 1987 (7-255), Baltimore's Qadry Ismail in 1999 (6-258), and Kansas City's Stephone Paige in 1985 (8-309).

Keith from Lincoln, IL

Have the new NFL referees for the 2025 season already been set, or are preseason games used to determine who "makes the cut"?

To my knowledge, referee crews are determined and preseason games are their warmups. Officials aren't being "selected" for anything based on preseason games, as far as I know.

Dave from Plymouth, WI

With Mark McNamee's visa issues, is there any concern of "wearing out" Brandon McManus' leg? I would think they would want someone in there to take some reps. Have either of you two offered your services? Although your last names don't start with an "Mc", so I guess you're out of the running! And now I will show myself out the door!

McManus has been kicking every other day in practice, which would be his schedule regardless. On the days a second kicker would kick, the units just worked on alignment/assignment and such, without an actual kick. McNamee did arrive Friday night and handled the kickoffs on Saturday. Nothing like going out there for a preseason game before you even practice in the NFL.

Mike from Mesa, AZ

Will Jordan Love and rookie Matthew Golden form the explosive duo Green Bay needs to make a serious Super Bowl run?

If the Packers are to make a run, that will certainly be a piece to the puzzle. But only a piece.

Tim from Superior, WI

Ty'Ron Hopper's name has popped up in II a couple times recently as a player to watch. What exactly has caught your attention about the linebacker?

As I mentioned on "Unscripted" last week, to borrow a term from an old friend, he's what you call a "thumper" at linebacker. He has a physical presence. It sounds like he added about 10 pounds to an already stout frame. He's a developing player to watch.

Bill from Raleigh, NC

Hi II, a common II question over the years is how does a football team get the right players into the game so quickly. I share that wonder and especially if a team has a special player come in off the sidelines like a Taysom Hill. But, is this the same problem faced in all high school and college games? In other words, are the NFL coaches and players real good at player substitution because they've been doing it for over half their lives?

It takes experience, efficient sideline communication, and coaches always thinking a play or two ahead.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

A perspective: It is being a savvy, responsible fan to listen to pressers in full yourself to know the truth and get your own impressions before reading coverage. Hearing the questions helps. I still read your stories after to see if your take was the same as mine and because, as Insiders, you have additional info and context that adds color. In a world of fans eating up clickbait content, I celebrate attempts not to fall for it. It doesn't minimize the value of your work. It's harmonious.

I'm just assuming Wes has grown exhausted from reading the constant deluge of complaints over the years in the Inbox about the press conference audio. If either of us could've done something about it, we would've long ago. It's on our website, I know, but it's not our show.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

Moreover, regarding Sandy's point about joint practices taking the place of preseason games, I also highly doubt, unless the NFL adds 20 games to its regular season, that the owners will be willing to remove two additional games' worth of revenue.

Someday the schedule will feature 20 games with no preseason contests, but not while I'm still in this chair.

Chase from Diamond Springs, CA

You thought your coworker's son's girlfriend's nephew's soccer game was bad, but apparently a major media outlet decided Stefanski's mums opinion on the QB competition after Sanders' debut was newsworthy. The baloney never stops!

T-minus 27 days and counting.

Brian from Fort Atkinson, WI

After Mark from Fox Point's comment and the talk about an office or tape on the floor I think Wes should now be known as Wes Nessman.

That has a chance to catch on.

Ken from New York, NY

A reminder for us fans that the purpose of preseason games is to evaluate and improve our panicking skills and form.

Ken wins the Inbox today. Case closed. Happy Monday.

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