Inbox: Less focus on the hill and more focus on the climb

Bill from Raleigh, NC

Hi II, after that drubbing, I'm feeling really down about our playoff chances. Can you publish an Al from Green Bay letter today that lists the multiple reasons why we should win the Super Bowl? If you don't have a new one, then just use one of the old ones. Thanks. It will make me feel better.

Hold on, let's see what we got…

Al from Green Bay, WI

This we know: The Packers will travel to either Chicago or Philly in the wild-card round. If you had to pick, where would you rather play? For me, I'd pick Chicago. After last week's game, I'm concerned about what Saquon Barkley might do to the Packers run defense. Also, Philly's D is much better than Chicago's.

Take your pick. Either the NFL's richest rivalry gets a playoff rubber match (in more ways than one) or the Packers have the opportunity to foil Philly (and rectify Brad Allen's folly). Narratives aside, Green Bay has its hands full with either opponent. It's no coincidence the Bears have been in practically every game this season with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams at the controls, and Chicago's ability to take away the football is very real. On the other hand, Saquon Barkley is a constant threat in the backfield and Vic Fangio's defenses always peak in time for the playoffs. So, yeah, it's a horse apiece in my book.

Bob from Downingtown, PA

Considering the fanbase and stadiums, are we now hoping for Da Bears to win so we can avoid playing at the Linc?

I don't care about the stadium as much as the location. If we're splitting hairs here, I suppose it would be nicer to take a 40-minute plane trip to Chicago than fly east.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

Well, the Ravens game went exactly the way I feared. With all the criticism about them not using Derrick Henry enough the week before I figure it would be Henry all day and night. We had three DLs inactive before the game. I know all three are rookies, but do you see any of them – Nazir Stackhouse, Barryn Sorrell, or Collin Oliver – can help give the defense the help they need?

Stackhouse is the next man up and should be. He's been in the system for eight months and has familiarity with both the scheme and the personnel. Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt and T.J. Slaton aren't walking through that door. It's going to take the defensive linemen and linebackers at the second level to get this run defense headed back on the right path.

Bryan from West Salem, WI

Losing Kenny in the Micah Parsons deal was a big loss, and then also losing Wyatt to injury is really what put our defense against the ropes. At that point, Micah was single-handedly covering up the majority of our defensive flaws, so naturally his injury was the straw that broke the camel's back. It's hard to change your whole defensive scheme that late in the season. Just brutal injury luck this year. I think a lot of guys will be playing with a big chip on their shoulder in 2026, I think.

With respect, I feel that's an emotionally driven oversimplification. The defense played well in Chicago without Parsons. I think what stings for some fans is that the defense has been the Packers' bread-and-butter this season. When all else fails, Green Bay always had defense to fall back on. That wasn't the case Saturday. Echoing the post-game comments from Matt LaFleur and Javon Bullard, the Packers got whopped Saturday night. Period. Full stop. But one bad game doesn't change my opinion of Jeff Hafley's scheme or the players Green Bay has on that side of the ball. It's bigger than one performance and certainly one person.

Bryan from Denver, CO

Quick question about the different types of throws between our two QBs. Seems to me that Jordan Love throws that "moon ball" vs. Malik Willis having a flatter trajectory. Is that a difference of throwing mechanics between the two QBs or is it more situational?

That's every NFL quarterback. They all have different strengths, weaknesses, mechanics and skills. What works for Matthew Stafford on go balls and deep crossers might be completely different than Josh Allen's approach. Willis has so much natural arm talent, and it allows him to throw a tight deep ball whether he's operating from the pocket or extending plays. It's beautiful; poetry in motion. But Love can put it on guys, too, when the time calls for it. It all depends on the receiver, the coverage and if you're in a "gotta-have-it" situation.

Joel from Shawano, WI

If/when we lose Malik Willis, do you think we look at one of the UFA QBs or do we draft one?

Everything is on the table. The Packers could dive back into the draft, too. OverTheCap currently projects they'll receive two seventh-round compensatory picks. It's also possible the same Packers pro personnel folks who found Willis could unearth another overlooked prospect in free agency.

Tom from Oregon, WI

I understand that Willis will be a free agent after this season. So, does this eliminate any opportunity for GB to trade him for picks or players?

The Packers could throw the franchise tag on him but would need the cap space to do that (at the game's priciest position). There was similar talk with Matt Flynn in 2011 before Green Bay ultimately let him walk and took the comp pick.

Paul from Gorham, ME

Good morning, Insiders! On Monday, Mike looked for silver linings and as dismayed as we all are, the gold lining is right in front of us. Saturday was a smackdown, but there are fan bases like the Jets that would ENJOY suffering through just one beatdown per year. Despite the current fizzle to end the season, this is a talented, well-coached, well-managed team. This might make our losing streak more frustrating but it's also our gold lining and our reason to have hope. Peace out!

Every team deals with setbacks, and it's not just those at the bottom of the standings. Tampa Bay is fighting for its life right now after losing seven of eight coming out of its bye.

Steve from Kansas City, MO

Does it ever create hard feelings on a team when numerous starters are rested for a "meaningless" game? You can't rest everyone, and usual benchwarmers will be thrilled for the opportunity, but I know I'd be miffed if I was a starter and it was determined that I had to play and risk injury while other chosen ones get paid for doing nothing.

This ain't Saturday basketball at Bay View Middle School. These men are professionals and the decisions the Packers make are always personnel, not personal. The goal is to win a championship and each man on the active roster has a role in that.

Rohan from Ellicott City, MD

To add some hope to the equation, I'll say that it's pretty nice that the QB we are facing in a get-right game for the defense is Max Brosmer. No disrespect of course but he did just throw for three yards…

I'm sure Minnesota would love McCarthy to get one more start this year, but he's gotta be able to grip the ball. If McCarthy can't do that, it doesn't do anyone any good to put him out there Sunday.

Marc from Crandon, WI

Last year, we found out after the fact that Kenny Clark played the entire season with a painful foot injury suffered in Week 1. People wondered why he wasn't performing as expected. Might a similar injury have caused Rashan Gary's performance to plummet after starting so strong?

Clark was on the injury report all last season, so it wasn't a shock when he talked about the severity of the injury after the year was over. According to LaFleur, Gary isn't dealing with anything that needs to be reported to the NFL.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

The Packers are the first team in history to have three games in one season where they did not punt and lost. So, we have that going for us, which is...not so nice.

It's hard to believe Daniel Whelan hasn't punted in two weeks and yet Green Bay lost both games.

Dale from Prescott, WI

I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. McKenzie at a fly-in Canadian fishing trip. One member of our group unfortunately got a treble hook in his nose from an errant cast. When he got back to camp that afternoon, he graciously came over and with the help of a couple assistants, removed the hook from his nose. He was so professional about it and acted like it was just another day. I will never forget that day.

Dr. McKenzie is a gem of a human being; just an absolute everyman. If you haven’t read Spoff’s piece yet, please take a few minutes to do so. Mike did a wonderful job of not only recounting Dr. McKenzie's story but also providing a rare glimpse into McKenzie's world, the relationships he's cultivated throughout the NFL and the respect he's garnered within the walls of Lambeau Field. He set a standard here not only for player care and professionalism but also humility and grace.

Mizoo from Kalamazoo, MI

Is it me or is play getting ever more brutal? Bigger, faster players or guys taking advantage of no-calls to see what they can get away with?

I was watching Seattle and Carolina on Sunday and isolated on former Packers cornerback Robert Rochell, a great guy and flyer on the Panthers' punt team. He was injured on that play after a teammate's hip contacted Rochell in the head-and-neck area while both tried to make a tackle. After going to a commercial break, CBS showed Rochell walking to the locker room under his own power but still all I could think is, "Man, is this sport brutal…" I fully admit I was wrong on the expansion to 14 playoff teams and not because the Packers have benefitted from the No. 7 seed three years in a row. The three-day wild-card weekend works while also giving each conference regular-season champion a true advantage with the bye. However, I am dug in on my belief that the NFL should have a 16-game regular season. I get it won't happen, but to move the game forward I think we need to go back. I'd go to an 18-week season with two bye weeks. Even if you don't want to do it in the interest of player safety, that format would get more stars to the playoffs.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

I'm sure the Monday Inbox is a hard one for you all, since you're having to deal with all sorts of fuming fans, appreciate you all. With this season looking bleak, can we please just beat the Bears so that they don't get their first win in a decade against us? I couldn't stand hearing about that for seven months.

I can't speak for Mike, but I've been reading four months of overreactions in both directions, so what's another day really?

Dan from Rothschild, WI

More of an observation than a question. Everyone is saying we had no business losing to the Panthers, and we probably beat ourselves. But the Panthers seem to be turning out better than originally advertised. Maybe we lost to a better team than we thought.

As I've been saying all season, I felt like the Packers had one "bad" loss. That was Cleveland in Week 3. The rest is the rub of the green when it comes to traversing a 17-game regular season in the NFL. I will say that Panthers game was a harbinger for the run defense, though.

David from Janesville, WI

Mike's comment about the CLE/CAR/CHI games was a salient one. Many years I recall the Packers "stealing" a win here or there. This year they earned every one of them, no thefts detected. Unfortunately, they puked up those three losses snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. If they had those three wins, maybe the Ravens game is a disturbing one-off instead of what appears to be a team circling the drain. I hope they can swim their way back out, time grows short.

Now that's an excellent point. Because of those early losses, however you define them, the setbacks against Philadelphia, Denver, Chicago and Baltimore hurt a little more.

Eric from Green Bay, WI

My fourth grandson was born this morning, mom and baby are doing great! Jeff is a very proud father. After all the letdowns this year, a second round of cancer treatments, and seeing Tucker Kraft, Micah Parsons, then Jordan Love all go down to injury, I will still watch the playoff games with a full heart! Go Pack Go!

Amen to that, Eric. All the best to you and the growing fam.

Pete from Hillsborough, NC

It's likely to be tough sledding either way, but I think I would prefer to play Da Bears in Chicago than the Eagles in Philly. What do you think?

Less focus on the hill and more focus on the climb.

Joe from Cedar Rapids, IA

I completely agree that the losses to the Browns, Panthers and Bears were far worse than the Ravens loss. Is it fair to say that the Packer fans are now being asked to accept just making the playoffs as our new standard? We seem to have lost our homefield advantage as well, a direct result of the inconsistent effort by the team.

I think "Packer fans are now being asked to accept just making the playoffs as our new standard" might be the most entitled thing I've read in 10 years writing this column. There is no way to guarantee Super Bowl victory, folks. If there was, a team would've mastered it by now. You put the most talented team together you possibly can and hope for the best. That's organized sports – from the Elm Division of Green Bay rec league basketball to the NFL.

Bill from Forest Park, OH

I really appreciate the honesty with which the two of you respond to our questions and comments here in II. Whether it's about the Packers' performance in a single game or looking back over the entire season, or addressing officiating and the league's level of concern, I know you're giving us your unvarnished opinions, and I greatly respect that. Thanks for making this a must-read for us six (or five offseason) days a week!

That's why I chuckle when people are like, "Well, you're just saying that because you work for the team." If you know me, this is how I am in every aspect of my life – for better or worse. Getting too high leads to the hardest fall while being too low prevents you from living in the moment. I've only felt true disappointment twice while working here: the 2020 NFC title game because A) It was Covid and nothing else was happening, and B) that was the best Packers team I've covered. The other was the 2021 divisional loss to San Francisco because I felt that was Green Bay's last shot with Aaron Rodgers. In a way, it sorta was.

Jesse from Colorado Springs, CO

My Super Bowl is beating the Bears in the wild card (if they keep the No. 2 seed). I would love to beat the Bears, because I hate the Bears.

That's a common sentiment shared among Packers fans, but winning is powerful elixir in this league. The 2010 team is a testament to the power of just going 1-0. A single spark is enough to start a fire if the kindling is set right. So my advice…Don't lose hope.

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