Bill from Wilmington, DE
Hi Wes, I was at the Washington game last year in the rain and I was very disappointed with the outcome. Do you think there is any sense of revenge in the Packers locker room?
Make no mistake, it's not revenge they're after. It's a reckoning. Good morning!
Scott from Salem, OR
Good morning, Wes! After watching "Packers Unscripted," I am wondering (not!) if you have strong feelings one way or the other regarding whether LeRoy Butler should make it this year as a finalist for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Ha. Yeah, I got a little worked up. All I'm asking is for Butler to be among the 15 finalists whose case will be heard in front of the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters in Miami before Super Bowl LIV. I think Pete Dougherty would do a phenomenal job of presenting Butler's case should he get the opportunity. I stand by every word in the video. He's worthy. He's always been worthy.
Caleb from Knoxville, TN
I'm guessing the Inbox has gone a bit Looney today?
You have no idea.
Steven from Silver Spring, MD
James Looney, an uber-athletic talent who didn't quite fit as a DL, is now being tried as a 287-pound tight end. If he bulks up a bit to 288 he could be perfect for the role. Happy weekend!
The Packers have occasionally moved a player to a new position over the years but defensive line to tight end is a new one for me. I'm intrigued. If you go back to when Looney was drafted in 2018, one big reason the Packers liked him was his measureables. The only issue was at 6-3, 280, he was a bit undersized as a defensive tackle. By moving him to tight end now, it gives him a head start at that position this offseason.
Matt from Bedford, NY
I hate to be that guy but with Looney changing his position to TE and his number to 49 it got me thinking...was 88 already taken? All jokes aside, can you explain the thinking behind this move and why it was made? He seems too big to be a tight end. Is he in the process of slimming down and changing his body, similar to what Lazard did to commit to being a WR?
It's pretty simple. The Packers were using Looney as a tight end on the scout team and liked what they saw so much that they opted to move him there full-time. I don't see Looney shedding 40 to be a 250-pound tight end, but his athleticism could make him a solid run-blocking prospect.
Keith from Bakersfield, CA
The Redskins are talking about stopping the run and "making Rodgers win the game." It seems to me the Pack would love to see them stuff the box and leave a lot of one-on-one in the secondary. Do you think this talk is at all serious, or just pregame posturing?
Who knows? But I'll tell you this – if Washington wants Aaron Rodgers to win the game, I'm sure QB1 would be more than happy to oblige.
Derek from Alden, IA
How would you evaluate our new safety tandem? It feels like they have been solid, but not producing a ton of game-changing plays.
The safety position isn't always synonymous with game-changing plays. Don't get me wrong – they're great and welcomed, but playing safety is more than just getting four or five interceptions a year. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage have made the secondary better this year and helped stabilize the back end. I'm eager to watch them grow together.
Mike from Ames, IA
Lot of talk about Washington's running backs, but what jumps out to you about its defense? What matchups are you interested in?
Talented. For as much as Washington has struggled this year, its defense has a lot of playmakers. Quinton Dunbar, Matt Ioannidis and Landon Collins have all had strong seasons. Its rookie first-round pick, Montez Sweat, also has contributed five sacks this year. Dunbar vs. Davante Adams and Terry McLaurin vs. Jaire Alexander should be fun on both sides.
Al from Green Bay, WI
Which Washington RB has the greater potential to gash the Packers' defense – the aging nemesis Adrian Peterson or the young and explosive Derrius Guice?
How do you pick one? It has to be both. The Packers saw last season how dangerous Peterson remains in his mid-30s, so you can't overlook him. Guice, when healthy, is a serious problem, too. The emphasis is obvious. This game will be decided in the trenches.
Dominic from Chesapeake, VA
On Sunday, in my living room will be my dad and many relatives, all Redskins fans and in my den (aka "the Packer Room") will be my regular Packer crowd. There was a lot of noise coming from the living room during last year's game, but I expect the Packer room to be loud on Sunday. I remember when Mark Murphy hired Matt LaFleur, he said Matt reminded him of a young Joe Gibbs. That was quite a compliment. ML surpassed Gibbs his first year as Gibbs finished at 8-8 after starting 0-5.
A 9-3 record is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a rookie head coach. Credit to LaFleur – the only thing he wants to talk about right now is getting win No. 10 on Sunday.
Neal from Fort Worth, TX
I never commented on LaFleur so I'd like to take a moment to say how much I've grown to appreciate his time at the podium whether it's pregame or postgame. No coach-speak, no clichés and certainly no deflection of his responsibility when things don't go as planned. As a member of the press, you must also appreciate his honesty in answering questions.
LaFleur and Mike McCarthy are different people who come from different backgrounds with different coaching philosophies, but both of them are utmost professionals at the podium. Like McCarthy, LaFleur doesn't bark or get terse with the media. He's a professional.
Brett from Lakewood, CO
4800 Newtons. 1.21 Gigawatts. What happens if Lazard ever hits 88 mph? (PLEASE don't say he becomes a running back).
A black hole forms midfield and sucks us all into the abyss.
Wes from South Saint Paul, MN
Is it just me or have there been significantly fewer no-huddle plays this year. Seems like Matt LaFleur's offense doesn't or hasn't worked well with what, in the past, has worked really well with AR. No-huddle can also help the run game, too. Your thoughts?
There was a time the Packers lived in the no-huddle but that isn't their base offense anymore. Since Green Bay hasn't been playing from behind a lot this season, the offense hasn't had to lean on it. It's there if the Packers ever need it, though.
Robert from Verona, WI
What's the inside scoop on Montravius Adams? One of the preseason storylines was that he appeared to be much improved and was poised to make an impact on the defensive line (one of several reasons given, I believe, for why Mike Daniels was expendable). Has Mike Pettine said much about Adams and his ongoing development?
Adams missed a few games with a shoulder injury early in the season and Tyler Lancaster stepped into that third lineman role in the base defense. The Packers have been healthy on the D-line all season, which has limited Adams' opportunities.
David from Cable, WI
Knowing you need to play better is not the same as being desperate. Thursday night we saw the difference. Chicago had to win to keep its hopes viable. Even with a loss and a Philly win this week, Dallas will still lead its division. That's what Green Bay has to be ready for!
The Bears may not have been as good as everyone expected them to be this year, but they're also not as bad as people said they were a month ago. They have a lot of talent. What I saw was two teams going in different directions Thursday night. And oddly enough, the one coming apart at the seams is still in the thick of this playoff chase.
Jim from McLean, VA
I hate to say anything positive about the Bears, but those throwback uniforms were sweet.
My brother-in-law, a Bears fan, felt they were an upgrade over the 1920 throwbacks. Personally, I was a fan of them.
Gretchen from Dousman, WI
Thanks to you both for writing in-depth player profiles. This team is about family for me and knowing more about the players is special. I was impressed with the "Big Dog" at training camp. He's so big and fit! Thanks, Wes for fleshing out the man who wears the number.
This wasn't supposed to be an in-depth story, but the more people I talked with, the longer it got. I've only covered Lewis for a very short time but he's already one of my all-time locker-room favorites. He is a fascinating individual who just happens to be an NFL player.
Rob from King Salmon, AK
In the article about Tyler Ervin, there's a photo of him carrying a football with black laces. I'm not sure I've ever seen an NFL football like that. Is that a kicking ball or have I just missed something for the last 35 years? Thanks for the great job guys.
People have been pointing this out and I honestly don't know. It's possible it's a different type of ball the running backs used in practice for ball-security drills.
Matt from Sierra Vista, AZ
In response from Sean from Vancouver, WA, I proposed to my now wife on a stadium tour. I told one of the guides beforehand, and they even gave me an opportunity to be out front of everyone to do it with no one around. It makes for a great surprise and amazing pictures.
Legends tour. Champions tour. Engagement tour.
Ryan from Watertown, WI
Sean from Vancouver, WA, I just proposed Week 3 vs. Denver. Get into the stadium early before it's too crowded. Find a good photo opportunity, give someone a camera and then drop down. That's how I did it and my camera lady did an excellent job.
It wasn't at Lambeau but I proposed to my wife at Disney World in August 2011. I had a spot picked out on Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom, but some kid wouldn't get off the bridge. So I just kept walking around with her. She was getting annoyed but I begged her to bear with me. And then I finally did it…and got chicken pox a day later.
Dan from Chippewa Falls, WI
In response to Sean from Vancouver, I proposed to my wife during halftime of the Dec. 11, 2016, blowout of the Seahawks. If you get into the stadium early you can get down to the field-level rail pretty easy. That tactic didn't work out for me, so I winged it and was able to block the stairway during halftime for a very public spectacle. Anywhere inside the bowl is pretty amazing though. Good luck!
What a happy accident. And it made for a much more memorable and meaningful moment, didn't it?
Colin from Tripoli, WI
Guys, is there any good way to mentally prepare for the beat down our Badgers are going to be gifted? I can't not watch it. What if they win?
Then you'll have missed a pretty cool moment and the cool moments are always worth the risk of disappointment. That's not football – that's life.
Kristen from Surprise, AZ
I enjoy listening to "Unscripted" as often as possible, but I also appreciate the brevity of it. As a busy momma of five, 22-25 minutes is about all I can squeeze in! Thanks for the jam-packed episodes!
We get in. We get out. See you on the next one.
Wesley from Kingsland, GA
Wes, a dream is coming true. Thanks to Packers Perks, I won tickets to my first Packers home game. My dad and I are flying up (his first home game, too). It's his birthday and we're seeing his late dad's (my late grandfather's) favorite team: the Redskins. Your story regarding Brittany Crosby reinforces something I believe in strongly: family. Is there anything more important? I hope I get to meet you again (we met at the Jacksonville pep rally a few years ago).
There is nothing more important, Wesley. I hope you guys have a fantastic time on Sunday.
Braden from Denver, CO
Thank you for bringing the "Path to the Playoffs" column back. Knowing not only what games matter and who to root for, but why to root for them is invaluable info around the water cooler at my office. Much appreciated!
Don't say we didn't get you guys something for St. Nick. Enjoy the game, folks.
