Jerry from Rockford, IL

Good morning. Not trying to double up but a serious questionnaire. After watching the all-22, Mr. Parsons is a force on the field, and I think the trade of two first-round picks was worth it. He's gonna change the North like we can't believe. What say you?

You guys have thrown so many names at Spoff and me over the past decade in terms of which veteran players the Packers should trade for. Micah Parsons was the one worth waiting for.

Bill from San Antonio, TX

It seems like Parsons has now made two game-saving sacks. Dallas and Arizona.

You want your top players to show their best form in winning time and that's an area Parsons excels. He's a rare breed who gets better as the game wears on.

Jeremy from Rendon, TX

I don't know if there is a question here, but I noticed in Monday's Inbox there was not a mention of Quay Walker. He played one of his best games I've seen. Even Coop seemed to be more active. It's a win for sure and I for one was nervous about the Cardinals. It seems as though the tagline for this team is "They Just Make Things Hard…for themselves." Jeff Hafley does not appear to be calling the same type of attacking defense he did last year. Any thoughts on why that may be?

Spoff probably could write a 5,000-word column after most games, but the man's gotta go home and sleep at some point. But yeah, both Walker and Edgerrin Cooper played great. You ask about playing a more "attacking" style of defense, but Walker factored heavily into the pass-rush plan. He finished with three QB hits and 1½ sacks to go along with his team-high nine tackles. As Matt LaFleur said, Walker is having "a hell of a year" while directing Hafley's defense. He's everything you want in a middle linebacker.

Dave from Waterford, OH

Maybe our defense isn't playing as well as we had hoped, or expected, but watching Dallas (No. 1 offense) and the Bengals (with Joe Flacco) shows that those two teams are pretty darn good on the offensive side of the ball.

The defense knows it needs to play better. Xavier McKinney said after the game: "We for damn sure can't do this against good teams because it's not gonna work." I get where he's coming from because this locker room and the fans have huge expectations for this year. But here's what's scary to me…the Packers still have one of the league's best defenses, particularly when you look at how few yards they're allowing per pass play and against the run. What's exciting is the Packers have a good defense that's hungry to be even better.

Bruce from Lakewood, CO

Mike: Enjoyed your Rapid Reaction and I wonder if you thought of that key moment in "Hoosiers" when Coach Norman Dale calls a play near the end of the championship game. His respectful players can't hide their disappointment. He asks what's wrong and Jimmy simply says. "I'll make it." I love having a coach who can back his players when appropriate. Excellent article.

It's a coach's job to prepare their players, but it ultimately comes down to the athletes on the field to win the game. Jordan Love and Co. wanted that opportunity and LaFleur trusted them to make it happen…and they did.

Jeff from Belen, NM

Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the game, but I did follow it. Maybe because I didn't watch it gave me a different perspective. I thought it was a great win. Albeit not a pretty win, but a really gutsy win. Clearly the Packers didn't play their best game. But that's the NFL, things don't always go the way you think they should. So, I guess I'm puzzled as to why people are acting like the Packers lost. Of course they need to get better, and so do 31 other teams.

Josh Jacobs' words postgame hit home for me. The Pro Bowl running back pointed out games like Sunday were the ones Green Bay occasionally let slip through its grasp last season. At the end of the day, teams gotta scratch and claw for as many wins in September and October as they can find while working to improve. Listen, nobody wants a 42-10 Packers rout more than my Monday alarm clock, but a win is still indeed a win.

Jack from Chicago, IL

I honestly feel bad for those who can't enjoy the wins because they weren't good enough. There were undoubtedly frustrating parts of the performance that have to be improved upon, especially when we play big games (Lions again, even the Bears!). However, there was so much improvement to be seen. Special teams played very clean ball, the end-of-half sequence was an exorcism, Love didn't have that "one" bad play, and the defense got a massive forced fumble leading to points.

The Packers won a bunch of games by wide margins in 2011 and 2012 but fell short of the ultimate prize because nagging issues were left unresolved. It's not about winning big in October. It's correcting your mistakes and playing your best ball when legacy is on the line.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

To anyone who thinks this was a bad team because of their 2-4 record going into Sunday, they are now 2-5 with a minus-1 point differential. They've lost those five games by a combined 13 points. They are not bad by any stretch of the imagination. If you want a REAL bad football team that wears red and white and is named for an animal, may I direct your attention to the state's capital...

Bucky commentary aside, the outcome Sunday reinforces how important it is to finish games. Absent the blunder against the Browns, the Packers have done so this season.

Linda from Portage, WI

When did the hip-drop tackle become a penalty?

Sunday afternoon in Glendale. It's been a finable offense for a couple years now, but that's the first time I've seen a flag dropped for it. Also, I don't feel like penalizing a defender while he sacks the QB in the pocket is staying true to the spirit of the rule. It was my understanding the rule was enacted to dissuade defenders from dragging ball-carriers to the ground in an unsafe manner in the open field. At any rate, the league said it planned to officiate the play more from the checkbook than in the game…but here we are.

Dave from King Ferry, NY

Good morning, Mike. I hope you got enough sleep. As great as the touchdown was in the fourth quarter, I think the end of the half was the game-winning drive! Incredible, a two-play score in seven seconds! Backup kicker Lucas Havrisik's 61-yarder made the difference. If we were only one point up instead of four, all Arizona would need was a field goal.

Just when you think this guy's story couldn't get any better…I felt like the turning point in that game came down to the jolt Havrisik gave Green Bay at a critical time and then Rashan Gary's strip sack of Jacoby Brissett on Arizona's first series in the third quarter. That was a 10-point swing after Jacobs punched in the touchdown. All three phases picked each other up in this game.

Paul from Franklin, WI

Good morning II. So what are we going to do with two good kickers? Do you think Brandon McManus will be let go at some point? Seems like the new kid can handle the job hands down? What say you?

Mercy. McManus is still the man, folks. All the credit in the world to Havrisik for the job he's done, but how soon some forget the doldrums from which McManus saved Green Bay's kicking game last year. At the same time…it makes you wonder if the Packers might be able to acquire a draft pick or do a pick swap with a kicker-needy team based on how well Havrisik has performed.

Bill from Fort Worth, TX

I'm not sure where Lucas Havrisik's hopefully resurgent NFL career will take him, but on the very off chance he goes back to substitute teaching, he oughta consider Wisconsin. This guy won't have to pay for his beers for quite a while.

Hopefully Havrisik enjoys a long, fruitful career in the NFL, but he'll always be a cult hero in Green Bay for what he did over the span of like 10 days. That's the stuff of legend.

Betty from Peachtree City, GA

Do you think Cousins Subs will be introducing a "Super Sub" soon? I'll see myself out.

That's gold, Betty. Sounds like a great collab to me, Cousins.

Steve from Hilton Head Island, SC

Very impressed with Colby Wooden's play on Sunday. Seemed to be good at run-stopping with a couple TFLs and looked to get steady pocket push on the pass rush. Is he becoming the next Kenny Clark?

The Packers need him to be the Colby Wooden who's realizing his potential after being a fourth-round pick in 2023. He's packing more punch this year and driving into the backfield. Parsons credited Wooden's inside push for some of his pass-rush opportunities vs. Arizona. Wooden's maturation as a run-defender and Devonte Wyatt's pass-rushing prowess are what made it possible for the Packers to move Clark.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hi Wes! You have a passion and talent for illuminating the human side of football. I wonder if you have any interesting color for us about the position coaches on the staff plane once they found out their guys were stuck in GB. Were you en route when they found out? I imagine them pacing the hallways at the hotel because I bet those five hours felt longer for those already there.

I was in my hotel room in Phoenix by time I heard the second plane hadn't left Green Bay yet. I didn't come across any assistant coaches before the game, but that's undoubtedly a tough spot to be in. I spoke with Jacobs in the postgame locker room. He said the delay was a challenge, mentally and physically. Remember he tweaked the calf less than 24 hours earlier. To stay loose, Jacobs walked around the tarmac and did a series of stretches.

Daniel from Monroe, IA

Good morning! My comment involves kicking strategy. I noticed after Arizona's first touchdown their kicker sent the ball through the endzone, giving the Packers the ball at the 35. Returning the kick would have likely run out the seven seconds eliminating the field goal. After the go-ahead touchdown, the Packers also kicked into the end zone. I know it's a pick-your-poison call, but I really questioned the Packers' decision to give Arizona a shorter field. Go Pack Go!

Matt LaFleur confirmed to packers.com's Mike Spofford on Monday that the touchback wasn't intentional. Havrisik just put a little too much mustard on it.

JMS from Harrisburg, SD

Good morning, campers! Do you see any chance that Aaron Rodgers is standing next to the Steelers defensive coordinator when the Packers have the ball Sunday night? Would they have enough time to relay anything he picks up to the Steeler defense?

I think Aaron Rodgers will be busier looking at the tablet and commanding the Steelers' offense. But even if AR12 had the time, it's been nearly three years since he played here. That's an eternity in the NFL. Only 13 players remain from Rodgers' final season in Green Bay in 2022. He may have a few tips for the defense about LaFleur's offense but that's about it.

Shane from Philadelphia, PA

One of my biggest concerns for this week is Rodgers getting free plays with the Packers' tendency to jump offsides on defense. Hopefully it will be emphasized all week in practice.

I'm sure it will be, especially after some of the offsides penalties Green Bay has put on tape this year.

JR from East Moline, IL

I couldn't hear the explanation for the Harrison non-fumble because my brother and sister-in-law were arguing about the correct amount of Giardiniera to put on Italian beef. Was it a non-football move thing or a bang-bang thing? With the most unbiased eyes I could achieve, it looked like a catch and fumble. But, I supposed if I've been dying on the "Dez didn't catch it" hill, I have to live with that call.

He didn't complete the catch. Pretty simple.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Great meeting both of you at the AZ pep rally and sorry for not submitting a question yesterday. I was still heavily sedated with margaritas after that game. Wondering why with all the bad play by our secondary against the Cardinals, why did Carrington Valentine only play three snaps? When he is in there, all he does is make plays!

It was our pleasure. Thank you for reading and turning out for the pep rally. The Packers keep looking for ways to get Valentine on the field, but he remains the next man up behind Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs at perimeter corner. Both Nixon and Hobbs were questionable going in but played, leaving Valentine only a handful of snaps.

Rich from Sierra Vista, AZ

Wes and Mike, thanks for the heads up to get to Packers Everywhere early. It was a great time with, I swear, some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet. I saw something at State Farm Stadium that you'll never see at Lambeau – empty seats. Do you see that at other stadiums, also? Just more opportunities to outnumber the hometown fans.

Packers fans at State Farm Stadium and those like Ray at the pep rally were out of this world. I'm not sure how well it picked up on TV, but there was a massive "Go Pack Go" chant on the Cardinals' final play. Afterwards, Brissett said Arizona worked most of the game on a silent count. The crowd made it feel like home away from Lambeau there.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

The lenses through which some of these fans choose to view games has to be an exhausting, miserable experience. I'm not going to sit here and say the Packers just imposed their will on a (somewhat debatable) lesser team, but they managed to escape a road game plagued by inconsistencies with a win. That's huge. That last 2:32 had me involuntarily sitting on the edge of my seat. I'll take 4-1-1 and still atop the North in lieu of the alternative. I, for one, am very much looking forward to SNF.

I think we all are…have a great Tuesday.

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