Inbox: Now is not the time to look back and dwell

Butch from Donna, TX

Thank you Vikings! Win Saturday night and see what the Bears do.

I did not expect to be writing a breaking news story around dinnertime on Christmas night, but I'm not complaining.

Andrew from Brownsburg, IN

Thanks to the Vikings for the Christmas present! Does that change the way the Packers approach Saturday's game?

I don't think so. As long as there's still a chance to win the NFC North, I think the Packers need to play to win. The opportunity to be seeded No. 2 or 3 vs. No. 5 or lower is significant, in my opinion.

Richard from Canton, GA

Not the Christmas present I asked for, but I will take it. Obviously the North is still in play now, but maybe rest some guys in Week 18 if the results don't fall the way we want. Is that a possibility?

I think it's a matter of seeing the possibilities based on Week 17 results, and how the health of the roster looks come the middle of next week after the players go three straight days without practice (Sunday thru Tuesday). For now, the Packers' division title hopes are alive, so just beat the Ravens.

Matt from Waunakee, WI

Hi Mike, what is the better case scenario for the Packers? A win and a loss by the Bears keeping hope alive for a division title, or ending Week 17 locked into the No. 7 seed allowing for rest and recovery for key players in Week 18?

I'd love to head into Week 18 with a shot at the division and the No. 2 seed, which is possible if the Packers win and Bears lose, and looks even better if the Eagles also lose this week. The second seed gets you two home playoff games if you win the first one. But again, just beat the Ravens.

Doug from Woodington, OH

Good morning, Insiders. In honor of Festivus, I've skipped the decorations and brought only one thing to the table: grievances. Mostly about injuries, Week 16, and why every game feels like the feats of strength. That said, the season marches on, the Inbox endures, and Festivus remains for the rest of us.

My kind of holiday. In all sincerity, I hope everyone out there had a Merry Christmas.

Paul from Los Angeles, CA

ATMRWCBW, LaFleur has never lost three regular-season games in a row. With everything currently at stake, I don't expect that to change this week.

I hope you're right in the abstract, but your research is entirely wrong. The Packers lost five in a row in '22 and four straight in '23.

Andrew from Kannapolis, NC

I was reviewing the schedule and I think I have the Packers' plan figured out. Win two, lose two. Win three, lose two. Win four, lose two. Win five. It's very important in this plan that the losses are so bad that people are distracted from the genius planning behind it. Merry Christmas.

Delicate genius at that.

TC from Waunakee, WI

Happy Boxing Day II and readers…can we put the "hard to beat a team three times in a season" myth to bed? That is, it IS hard to beat a team three times in a season, but just because you flipped heads twice doesn't make it any more likely the third flip will be tails. Since 1970 in the NFL, if one team already won both regular-season matchups, that team is 15-9 in the playoff matchup. So, sadly, there is zero silver lining in last week's loss. Just beat Baltimore.

One of those 15 is Packers over Buccaneers in 1997. One of those nine is Vikings over Packers in 2004.

Mike from Racine, WI

When the season began, who would have believed that with one intradivision game left to play the Lions would be 1-4. Also, if they finish tied with the Vikings they will get a last-place schedule next season. Anyway, thank you Vikings for the great Christmas present. It was all I wanted.

I'll have to do some research to find out how many times in the current playoff structure the No. 1 seed from the previous year hasn't even qualified for the playoffs the following season. Just goes to show how hard it is to win consistently in this league.

Tom from Two Rivers, WI

What happened to the Lions this year? It can't be as simple as losing two coordinators. Anyway, go Pack go! Playoffs bound! Merry Christmas!

Losing both coordinators is no small thing, especially with a first-place schedule staring you in the face. A couple years back, the Eagles had the same thing happen (Steichen to the Colts, Gannon to the Cardinals) after losing the Super Bowl to the Chiefs. They collapsed at the end of that next season, bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, and then came back to win it all. Not saying the Lions will do the same, but write them off at your own peril.

Roger from Roseville, MN

This week's Bears/49ers game is the result of them finishing fourth last season in their respective divisions. One year later, potentially the top two seeds in the NFC. The "drama" never ends.

You just never know in this league. The 49ers haven't been in first place in their own division since the calendar turned to November, but if they win their final two games they're the No. 1 seed in the entire NFC.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

When I look at Matt LaFleur at the podium this week I do not see a man who is too concerned about QB availability.

All signs have pointed in positive directions with Jordan Love so far. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

Neil from Beaver Dam, WI

I think we're not getting anywhere with jet sweeps or end arounds or whatever the name is for them lately. I think I saw four of them against the Bears and the biggest gain was only 3 or 4 yards. It seems like defenses are very prepared for them. Does Coach LaFleur only call them to set up other plays?

No, he's calling them because they're hoping to get production, but they are also used to set up other calls.

Larry from Carney, MI

I'm glad to hear coach is feeling festive so players can celebrate some with family/friends. Maybe Saturday's game will turn out better than how Halloween game turned out.

OK, I smiled.

Dale from Prescott, WI

What kind of crud is going through the locker room? Cold/flu or maybe Covid?

Dunno, but it was unsettling to see "illness" added to the injury report for both Sean Rhyan and Christian Watson on Thursday.

Andrew from Big Flats, NY

Nixon is one of the NFLs best return men and the Packers need to create advantages elsewhere to overcome injuries. I know the Philly game was brutal last year and there is risk putting your CB out there, but I believe we are reaching the point a calculated risk will be necessary to make a deep run.

Nixon hasn't returned a kickoff since last January and has just four punt returns (including one fair catch) this season. I don't see the coaches adding return duties to his plate at this late stage.

Mark from Ishpeming, MI

The Packers have given up over 40% of their season point total in the fourth quarter. They have only scored 11% of their offensive points in the fourth quarter of the last eight games. Why such disastrous production on offense and failure on defense?

The Packers have been wildly up and down at crunch time. My One Last Look column posting later this morning addresses that very issue.

Tom from West Salem, WI

My worry for this game is Henry. I think we will control the QB and his out-of-pocket playmaking while getting pressure. The Ravens have shown to be inconsistent in the fourth and we need to make them be inconsistent again late in the game.

Lamar Jackson's back must really be a problem for him to be listed as doubtful with Baltimore's season on the line. That shifts even more of the defensive focus to Henry, especially if the Ravens want to make him a factor late in the game. They ignored Henry in the fourth quarter last week against the Patriots, and I don't think they'll make that mistake again.

Randy from Raymond, IA

What is your opinion of the Colts bringing back Philip Rivers this year?

I know Rivers hasn't won a game and the Colts' season is barely alive, but coming off the couch after five years to nearly beat the Seahawks and put up 27 points on the 49ers further cements his Hall of Fame status for me.

Keith from Canada

Merry Xmas guys, I just finished listening to Hafley's pregame interview and man, the Pack don't want to lose that gentleman. He is a super coach and was right on by saying no one play is the result of a loss. Hope he remains with GB in whatever capacity it may be. Your thoughts?

Over the last two seasons, I've learned something about defense every time I've listened to Hafley. Lately, I've also learned something about leadership.

Erik from Rydal, GA

It just doesn't seem that refs are really held accountable for their lack of calls. What has to happen to change this? Make it a full-time position where they are truly graded and held accountable for their decisions/performance? I fear I know the answer and will have to counter it with more adult beverages, even on non-game days, lol.

I've always questioned how much positive impact would result from making the officials full-time employees, but earlier this week I watched a very candid video by Florio and Simms on PFT that made a very salient point. They were discussing the madness at the end of the Steelers-Lions game, and how they got the OPI calls right, but not ruling forward progress being stopped and calling the last play a touchdown was just full-blown incompetence. They mentioned how, in a full-time scenario, a situation like that (and other similar ones) would lead to all the officials getting together for Tuesday/Wednesday meetings to discuss and critique tough calls. It would inevitably improve their work far beyond getting an email with their grades and going back to the lawyer or accounting office for the next few days.

Gary from Denver, CO

Following up on Wesley from Woodbury, MN's comment about Malik Willis, I've heard a saying many times about Green Bay's philosophy on QBs: The best time to acquire one is when you don't need one. It seems with Willis, Gutey extended the philosophy to backup QB. Truly amazing when we watch so many teams struggle to find their franchise QB, let alone a solid and reliable backup.

Gutey actually went and got Willis precisely because he needed a backup QB. As the 2024 training camp wound down, the Packers weren't comfortable with anyone they had as No. 2, and the personnel department was studying all options.

Jake from Sun Prairie, WI

Longtime, first time – is that still a thing? The column mentioned "mental toughness" and it had me thinking who is "THAT" guy on the Packers? Watching the Pats/Ravens game, they were down 24-13 and Diggs was walking the sideline telling guys to keep their heads up and was an obvious spark on the field and off. Who would you say is that person on the Packers, if anyone? They could use someone like that this week and going forward.

Interesting question, and my mind immediately went to 3-4 really good candidates who are on IR, and a couple others who have been in and out of the lineup. I think they have players who could fill that role, but the vocal part must either come naturally or grow on a guy. Somebody faking it for the sake of noise won't work.

Chris from West Allis, WI

There are still games to play and I hope I'm wrong, but I can't shake the feeling that we'll look back on Saturday's game and see it as a microcosm of the season – plays of brilliance from a talented team, controlling games against good competition, overcoming adversity,... and yet committing one too many mistakes when it matters most and not getting over the finish line. Here's hoping for 3-6 more games to change that narrative!

Sign me up.

Bill from Menominee, MI

Even in their current state, I'd argue no coach wants to face this Packers team for the sake of the physical and mental stress it puts on their team. This squad makes every opponent work for every last inch. The problem is that they aren't putting enough inches of separation between themselves. Fans enjoy identity talk by this time of year. "Underachieving" feels too lazy to call such a physical, tough squad, but I'm at a loss for the appropriate term. Perhaps "un-opportunistic"? Is that a word?

I don't know how to pin a specific word on it. My take is the Packers are legitimate contenders who have lost too many games they shouldn't and therefore have made the path to their goals more difficult. But now is not the time to look back and dwell, only ahead with courage and conviction.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Do you think Socrates could make sense of an NFL playbook? Or would it all just be Greek to him?

I've never seen so many exit doors in one season. Mercy.

Kenny from Wild Rose, WI

With all the abbreviations coming in to save characters may l say MC25 and HNY26 to all in the Inbox Family.

Happy Friday.