Jimmy from Chicago, IL

I've been going to Lambeau since training camp '96, when, as an overstimulated 7-year-old, I ran up to a burly, mustachioed man behind the fence yelling "COACH MIKE! COACH MIKE!" only to have Andy Reid turn around and grumble "I'm not Mike." Memories make us rich. That said, through all the games I've been to, I've sensed a fever building in Lambeau the last two weeks. This crowd senses something special. Am I projecting? Or do those of you inside the building feel it too?

I think the anticipation you feel is a byproduct of witnessing something that isn't easily achieved. I'm not sure how many of you were able to watch the Chicago and Detroit game, but the Lions returned to form while the Bears looked completely overmatched. The Packers picked up big wins over contending teams, but it's only two wins in standings. Now, Green Bay needs to take care of business on the road.

Al from Green Bay, WI

First road game! What do you think of the Dawg Pound as a venue? What challenges await the Packers playing in this environment?

With respect to Cleveland fans, Myles Garrett and the Browns' defense are the biggest challenge. The 41 points Baltimore registered tell only a small part of a larger story, including a fourth-quarter fumble recovery for a touchdown. Cleveland only allowed 242 yards and a mere 23 rushing yards on 11 Derrick Henry carries. Meanwhile, Garrett remains one of the league's most-feared pass rushers. I'm writing a story for today on Anthony Belton, but the thing about Garrett is he can generate pressure from anywhere. He's a lot like Micah Parsons in that way. The Packers must protect both Jordan Love and the football. If they do that, I think they'll be OK.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, is there one stat you believe has the highest correlation to victory against the Browns? Based on Mike's II column, I have a laundry list. Win field position, no giveaways, no three-and-outs, 100 yards rushing. I am presuming we maintain all the positives. And foremost, just win baby!

Cleveland is minus-4 in turnover margin through two weeks, tied for last with Miami. While I respect the formidableness of their defense, the Browns are one of seven teams without a takeaway. It's the Packers' job to make sure Cleveland's turnover train doesn't start chugging until Detroit.

Tom from Chesterfield, VA

I haven't seen anybody mention that we already have as many division wins as we did last season. Baby steps.

It takes on even greater significance considering the Packers won't even have a shot at another win in the NFC North until almost Thanksgiving. That was a mighty large lion Green Bay lifted off its back last Sunday.

Scott from Holly Springs, NC

It was good to see Luke Musgrave get some significant looks against Washington. Do you believe he will take more snaps from Tucker Kraft, or with Jayden Reed's injury, do you think there will be more two tight end sets?

Probably more the latter than the former. Two tight ends are almost Green Bay's base offense at this point. Kraft has been on the field pretty much every snap he wasn't cramping through the first two games (106 of 116, 91.4%). Meanwhile, Musgrave (38) and John FitzPatrick (36) are near-split. But Musgrave can navigate the slot, too, and could help alleviate the absence of Reed.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

As Mike mentioned, it is indeed a cat-and-mouse game. But for the first two games, it sure was fun being the cat. Just cat the Browns!

That's the challenge now. Green Bay set a standard with those wins over Detroit and Washington. Now, the Packers must impose their will in similar fashion against a team against whom they'll be heavily favored this week.

Dwight from Brooklyn, NY

Regarding Daniel from Rothschild's comment about Micah Parsons' speed off the line, while attention has been paid to players' 40 times, I seem to recall coaches also monitoring "burst" or "twitch" times – I'm not sure of the term. Basically, it was measuring short-distance speed. It struck me that one reason Parsons gets to the ball carrier so quickly is because he's a drag racer off the line. Your thoughts?

Parsons' 40 time in 2021 put him in the 99th percentile among edge rushers, but his splits were pretty darn impressive, too: 1.59 seconds in 10-yard (77th) and 2.58 in 20 (89th). He has a strong get-off but just keeps building speed and accelerating where most fall off. He's like a Formula One car racing down the start/finish straight at Monza.

Tom from Vista, CA

I lost track of how many times Parsons got hit on the facemask. You could even see hands grasping around on the facemask. Is that because he's frequently going past his man? I guess the refs had other things to watch.

I don't think it's intentional. I just think Parsons is that active and that violent with his hands and his penetration that offensive linemen struggle to keep their arms on him.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Wes. Two games is a small sample size, but it sure looks like Lukas Van Ness is getting off the ball much quicker this year than in the past. Has Parsons has been coaching Lukas up about his more explosive get-offs?

Having Parsons here helps, but Van Ness is now 24 years old with two NFL seasons under his belt. It's plausible you're watching a young pass rusher – dare I say – develop.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

Green Bay may have the most underrated (disrespected?) CB room in the league. It took a miracle, falling-out-of-bounds, one-handed catch in garbage time for Carrington Valentine to give up his first touchdown in over a year, and Keisean Nixon broke up five passes against Washington...on six targets. Elite-level play.

It takes all 11 but the four or five DBs on the field at any given time are all doing their part.

Erik from Mansfield, TX

After all the worry over our lack of secondary depth during the offseason, it certainly looks like Gutey just disagreed with the assessment of the players we already had. Is it a little gratifying to see him being proven right after all the questions/commentary you've gotten on the topic of cornerbacks for the past several months?

I get why you may ask that, but that way of thinking doesn't even cross my mind. Because Gutekunst and his scouts think about this stuff at a level we can't even fathom. Are they gonna bat 1.000 on his picks or free agents? Of course not. But nobody knows Green Bay's personnel better than the people in this building. It's not like the Packers rested on their laurels – they signed Nate Hobbs and cut Jaire Alexander. That's a major change. Outside narratives are what they are, but the Packers know what they have in that room.

Andrew from Brea, CA

Good morning II. I've been following this page for a few years now but it's my first time submitting a question. Man, it feels like we are so close to Love unlocking that deep ball. I always feel like it is just a tad too overthrown or a tad too underthrown, but the looks are definitely there. One thing I feel like I've noticed a few times is that Love seems to throw some of those almost off his back foot. What do you think needs to happen for the deep ball connection to come alive?

Everyone wishes Love could've hit the deep ball to Matthew Golden down the seam against Washington, but that's not an easy throw to make. Those two are still working on their connection. Once it's locked in, the Love-Golden combo is gonna be a problem for defenses.

Scott from Snoqualmie, WA

On the Golden tackle with the leg pick up, I didn't think Golden's knee was down prior to that late hit. Upon replay review, you can see his knee did touch the ground prior to the late tackle, but I would not fault the defender for thinking Golden might not have been down. I support the ref's decision not to call that a late hit.

Yeah, it was just kind of an "Ope" play.

Greg from Conway, SC

Who is going to step up and be the leader of the defense that Kenny Clark was? Can a "newcomer" like that Parsons fill the role?

Parsons' time will come, but right now he's getting his feet wet in this defense and locker room. The Packers have veterans such as Xavier McKinney, Rashan Gary and Quay Walker leading in their own way.

Joe from Brightwaters, NY

Any update on MarShawn Lloyd's injury? I know he has had several injuries since he was drafted which has hurt his development. He is a dynamic runner who would be a great complement to Josh Jacobs.

Outside of Christian Watson, we probably won't have any updates on the Packers' injured players until the Week 5 bye at the earliest.

Jerry from Des Moines, IA

Non-Packers football observation. I dislike the "tush push" about as much as you can dislike something. Not that I was rooting for the Chiefs but replay clearly showed the Eagles' offensive line moving before the snap. Here's a point of emphasis, call the penalties that actually occur.

Novel concept.

Ryan from Chippewa Falls, WI

I hate to bring this up again, and don't blame you if you pass on this submission. I have no love loss for the Kansas City Chiefs, but this Tush Push play must be looked at by the league, and I mean NOW! It either needs to go entirely, or the refs need to start calling neutral zone and early movement on the offense. Every time they line up, I see at least three or four helmets in the neutral zone and the guards are ALWAYS moving a tick before the snap. The absurdity of this play has reached a new level.

Honestly, I have no comment on the tush push and probably won't have any further take on the tush push the remainder of this season. I've said my piece. NFL owners made this bed for us all to lay in. From an officiating standpoint, I'll just add the league lost its opportunity at advancement when Dean Blandino resigned in 2017. We've been treading water ever since, and I've stopped waiting on the life preserver.

Nathan from Abingdon, MD

An observation, there were 16 fines handed out by the league from Week 1, and five were for taunting. Three of those five were from the GB/DET game. How long do you think the league will continue to enforce this emphasis? It seems every year the emphasis is forgotten midway through the season. (e.g. hip-drop tackle last year, clear and obvious in a playoff game but not called).

The league treats rules emphases like a new car. You take care of it for a few months, wash it and get it detailed. Within a year, the cup holders are sticky again and there are crumbs in the cushions.

Brianna from Farmington, MN

Where is the one consistent area that the Packers' offense has struggled with so far in the games we have had?

They're pretty solid across the board right now, statistically. The one area is maybe busting a few more explosive plays on the ground, but Jacobs is running his tail off.

Nathan from Laramie, WY

In response to fears of field-goal fests and/or the perceived need to start moving the goal posts, I suggest letting this play out. Nature has a way of self-correcting and achieving a gesture of balance. It's only a week ago we had two doinks in one game and a year ago we were all praying harder than a Catholic mass at the thought of a PAT, let alone a field goal attempt with the game on the line. Let's see what happens when winter is here. Meanwhile, thank St. Vincent for Brandon McManus!

Kicking is an artform and guys are improving. Brandon Aubrey is an exceptional kicker. Just be thankful the Packers have a pretty good one, too.

Bob from Fredericksburg, VA

Morning gentlemen, during the Steelers-Seahawks game, the returner gaffe in the end zone that resulted in a Seattle TD, seemed to my untrained eye that the Seahawks player did not have possession of the ball before he was out of bounds. What constitutes possession? I know all scoring plays are reviewed, but that seemed like a missed call to me. What am I missing here?

He hopped on it. That's it. It's not like a catch where he needs to get two feet down. Once the Seattle coverage player jumped on the ball, it's a touchdown. The play is over.

Ken from New York, NY

What do you think of Aaron Glenn releasing the Jets' kickoff returner because of his costly fumble? I get the idea of demanding accountability, but it seems dicey to me to have your players on such a short leash.

It's a "What have you done for me lately" business. Unfortunately for Xavier Gipson, it's not 2023 anymore.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

I remember Lazard getting a flag, only to have it picked up, after his "1, 2, 3 blocks in one" play. Do you think that flag would stick with the emphasis on taunting?

If the league starts flagging players for counting, we've lost the plot.

Derek from Kennebunk, ME

First-time questioner, longtime reader. Big fan of II, love the organization, love Mike and Wes, love all my fellow fans. Do you believe Chicago will ever realize no matter who it brings in, it's gonna take longer than a season to turn into not the Bears? (e.g. Dan Campbell and the Lions).

This is my 10th year at packers.com and 14th covering the team. The Bears have had six full-time head coaches over that time. Each transition, there's talk about the Bears beating the Packers and taking back the NFC North. Ryan Poles even added, "…and not giving it back." That's fine. I get it. You gotta create hope for your fans. But those narratives litter most of our offseason Inboxes. Words are great, but the proving ground is now…and Ben Johnson's Bears are 0-2.

John from Stevens Point, WI

The Packers' chances of winning v. the Bengals just got better. Beating the Bengals would be a nice way to start the second half of the season after an early bye. What are the chances the Packers deal Malik Willis to Cincy?

Last I checked, the Packers are playing the other team from Ohio this week…and it's time we start talking about 'em.

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