Inbox: He's more like the backbone of the entire roster

Hugh from Asheville, NC

It has been said that a winning team is forged through adversity. Well, this year's Packers have certainly experienced it. Let's see how they respond...

And quickly.

Bil from Stateline, NV

Oh, how I long for the days when I only didn't know what a catch was.

Good one.

Mike from McFarland, WI

Hot tip for Inbox readers – On a week where 90% of questions are on the same topic, now's your chance to finally be printed by simply asking something different. What are your favorite socks?

My newest.

Chuck from Whitewater, WI

At Coach's presser, MLF ended by saying the Packers have to "grow up and grow up fast." I think we know what needs to be done, but HOW is that done?

By executing in the biggest moments. By making important kicks. By continuing to adjust on the offensive line with as minimal disruption as possible. By having a running back in his second game look like he didn't miss almost two months. By rushing the passer as though the team's best pass rusher isn't still out. By continuing to hold it down in the middle of the defense without the top two linebackers. The Packers have enough challenges without the ones they've brought on themselves.

Pat from Hudson, WI

I know that last season was last season, but lest we forget what the Panthers did to us at Lambeau after a nice road win at Pittsburgh last November, we sure don't need to see that again!

Carolina is coming off a 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay. Last year, the Panthers came into Lambeau off a 40-9 loss to Buffalo. Be ready.

Tucker from Belton, TX

Who would've thought that replacing Mason Crosby would end up being more difficult than replacing Aaron Rodgers…

You just never know.

Chris from Eau Claire, WI

We're all rightfully frustrated, but can I take it a different direction? My amateur eye says they're both doing great so far, but which rookie do you think is having a better season (and therefore a better start to their career): Dani Dennis-Sutton or Brandon Cisse?

Nothing against DDS, but definitely Cisse and it's not particularly close. To rebound from getting an INT taken away by an iffy flag and make those back-to-back plays in the end zone on third and fourth downs to turn away the opposition? That's a rookie well beyond his years.

Doug from Salem, OR

I just want Isaiah McDuffie to be recognized. When Walker went down last year (can't remember which game), he wore the green dot, and the defense didn't miss a beat. Same this year. I thought he was outstanding both times. Available, accountable, reliable. One unsung hero…

Wes talked about McDuffie a bit on our latest "Unscripted," and I wholeheartedly agree with his and your sentiments. He's not just a next man up, he's more like the backbone of the entire roster.

Christopher from Hagerstown, MD

When the young man got put in at center, I snarkily asked Spoff on the Live Chat what the over/under on high snaps would be; the comment never made it to the page and I was slightly bummed. As it turned out, I would have lost that bet. Performance of the game.

Bad snaps were an issue in training camp with all the backup centers, truthfully.

Nathan from Williamstown, MA

Is Mekhi Becton Sr. coming up to be the swing tackle so John Williams can stay at center? Who is the backup center now? Would Jager Burton suit up for that reason, even though the Packers would seemingly rather not play him yet?

Becton can play guard or tackle, while Burton and Donovan Jennings are also options at center.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

Is hunting explosives without a complementary running game or alternative move-the-chains philosophy counterintuitive? Seems like a loss of offensive advantages when you've become too predictable?

I don't have any stats (or lists) in front of me, but I've watched enough football to know successful explosives more often than not are generated off play-action, and play-action is most effective with a ground game that must be honored.

John from Columbia, TN

I haven't seen anyone mention it, so maybe I am wrong. Did the defender tip the pass to Josh Jacobs in the end zone at the very end? It looked like he barely got a finger on it to me, which would make that catch almost impossible.

I didn't see that, but maybe. It just looked to me like Jacobs didn't open his hands all the way to catch it.

Howard from Appleton, WI

Terrible officiating and some poor head coach decisions (the "regrettable" fourth-and-4 from the 7), but I'm thinking about the psychological effects on performers. Is Karl Brooks less overly eager on that late-game offside if he had not been called for the dubious RTP? Is Smack more confident in the fourth quarter if MLF lets him take the second quarter chip shot that ties the game? Unanswerable but perhaps not irrelevant?

Yes (unanswerable) and not entirely (irrelevant).

Yotam from New Zealand

Dan Campbell was ripped about going for it on fourth-and-1 deep in his own territory, but I saw someone posting that time management-wise, it was probably the correct call. If the Lions punt, the Packers get the ball and can run the clock and might end up scoring with almost no time left for the Lions. By going for it, even though they didn't succeed, his team was in a better spot. The short field meant that if GB scores, Detroit gets the ball with plenty of time. Interesting take, no?

With 4:50 on the clock and all three timeouts, I don't think the Lions were at much risk of not having any time left if they punt. If the Packers score a touchdown with the short field, nobody's praising that decision.

John from Portland, OR

Mike, despite the apparent blowback, I appreciated your reminder that none of us would want to be judged based on our worst moments. That does not mean that all mistakes are equal, or that we can't view Jacobs differently now. But it does mean we are all human and fallible, and that offering most people a chance for personal redemption is not a bad approach to life. So thanks for your humanity and your perspective.

I appreciate those words and other similar comments sent in.

Tom from Santa Paula, CA

Greetings II, there seems to be a disconnect here. Yes, the O left way too many points off the board, but the D played well enough for 17 points to win the game. Yes, the O's failures were not due to bad calls (except the grounding call), but also yes, the Lions' drives were extended by bad calls. The weird take of "well the O stunk, so bad calls didn't tilt the field" is dismissive of the D and, frankly, lazy. You can stick up for the D and demand more of your O at the same time.

I thought I did that, but it also must be acknowledged the defense was gifted two fumbles by the Lions' sloppy play. The Packers did nothing to cause them and just had to fall on the ball. The defense wasn't playing particularly well in my view, to that point, and then when it was, the officials undermined the effort.

Adam from Wausau, WI

I'm assuming refs aren't aware that the Packers feel like they are being unfairly penalized. They probably look at a sheet before the game and see that the Packers have had a large number of 15-yard penalties against them and probably think that this team is dirty and that they need to be on the lookout for those penalties.

Entirely possible.

Jason from Woodbury, MN

In response to Jeff from Rhinelander's query on fines for RTP, the NFL Football Ops Accountability tracker is particularly illuminating. Straight from the source, through Week 6, Packers players received a grand total of one fine for roughing the passer. One.

Peachy.

Randy from Overbrook, KS

Wes: "I just wish football would go back to being football again." That's exactly my sentiment. This is not the game I grew up playing and loving. Between the gambling and officiating, I'm not sure it ever will be something I enjoy as much. I'm close to just tuning the NFL out. The money won't allow the gambling to be curtailed, but do you think sooner, rather than later, the owners/NFL can improve officiating with more referee training, oversight, accountability, and technology?

Can they? Of course. Will they? I'm not holding my breath.

Steve from Greenfield, WI

The NFL can crow about being the most popular and profitable sport in the world but baseball has at least made some significant strides in improving the fair enforcement of the rules in the past few years. Not sure if Spoff's face is still some shade of blue or if it has progressed to an even worse color over this issue.

Baseball's ABS challenges are seamless in terms of the pace of play. Other reviews obviously take longer, but MLB implemented a pitch clock and other timeout/disengagement rules, which counteract the delays necessary to get calls right. There are reasonable solutions. This isn't rocket science.

Craig from Appleton, WI

Baseball had an optics problem with their game and they took steps to fix it. Banning the shifts, pitch clock timers, and the ABS challenge system all made the game better for the fans. As a result baseball is gaining in popularity. The NFL doesn't have a ratings or popularity problem. So what incentive do they have to fix the officiating problems?

Read on.

Dave from Chicago, IL

Do you believe the NFL is inviting a "rigged" conversation given the propensity of predictive markets and extremely questionable officiating occurring at an alarming rate with no apparent league response? I don't like the look and have been a fan for 55 years.

Do I think all the questionable officiating and the league's apparent indifference to it are currently tied to gambling? No. Do I think if the league doesn't make a concerted effort to get significant calls correct it provides a vulnerability for the gambling world to infiltrate and compromise games in the future? Absolutely.

Zack from Dayville, CT

The league is one step away from a player saying I have had enough and really hurting a QB. If said player is going to get flagged for trying to stop, trying not to hurt someone, tying to play within the rules, they might as well take the penalty, the fine and the suspension and finish the deal. One really ugly play changed the entire backdrop of Bears history and changed a QB forever. NFL, get the calls correct or someone will decide pulling back is not worth it.

That, too.

Troy from Bakersfield, CA

"The league doesn't even know what it's emphasizing at this point." I am gonna lean on you guys for your expertise and my sanity. Please give us readers your best shot on how the officiating can be fixed. I have ideas but you guys are more than just Q&A to all of us. The level of zebra ineptitude is killing the sport…and it ain't just Packer games. Please give us your remedy.

I've been saying it for years and again on our latest "Unscripted": Let the eye in the sky handle the safety rules (RTP, head/neck hits, unnecessary roughness, other personal fouls) so the stripes on the field can focus on the garden variety officiating and restore the players' and fans' confidence the game is being adjudicated properly. It's not a cure-all, but it's the best place to start.

Dave from Hollywood, MD

Three years ago, I was among those who thought the Brewers would regress without Craig Counsell. Pat Murphy didn't miss a beat and led the Crew to new heights. In addition to being a great coach and leader, he is, indeed, a special person.

For the Brewers to lose Stearns and Counsell and actually get better with Arnold and Murphy is the big-picture story I don't believe has been fully appreciated. Still one more to get.

Bill from Oswego, NY

Good news is that outside of NFC division leaders, only two teams have fewer than our three losses (both in our division with remaining games against each, which helps). Just make the playoffs…

Just beat the Panthers.

Andrew from Chicago, IL

I go back to the title of one of the Monday Insider Inboxes from October 2023: Winnable games need to be won. I know we are in a different situation with a different team than back then, and we can talk about the officiating all we want to, but that was a winnable game and it needed to be won. Making both field goal misses, capitalizing on Detroit's mistakes, and catching catchable balls are all things under this team's control. And the season is not getting any longer to re-create those moments.

Amen.

Kevin from Indianapolis, IN

OK, Sunday was rough for all the reasons already noted. We have reason to hope, though. We have multiple talented linemen ready to step up. Jacobs showed flashes and will continue to work back into form. The defense made some huge stops, and a top three defensive talent is returning soon. Play above the refs and catch the ball. We can make a big push, starting Thursday. I'd rather get back in action quickly than fester any longer than necessary.

Indubitably.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

If you guys ever want to escape this madness, I know a really good place.

You got somebody to rake my leaves if I bolt? Happy Wednesday.

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