Zion from Mt. Horeb, WI

How can we ensure we get a week of solid play from both the offense and defense? Against Dallas our defense felt nearly non-existent, and Cleveland absolutely shut down our offense the week before.

Ensure is a nutritional product. It is not a word that pertains to the NFL. (And no, this is not an ensure-insure grammar lesson.)

Josh from Newhall, CA

Wow. So the 4-1 defending champs lose by three scores to a struggling 1-4 Giants team starting a rookie QB, but some of us feel like our season is over because of a fluky three-point loss on a blocked kick and a 40-40 tie in which our offense scored three straight times while trailing at the end. Perspective can be the ultimate de-escalator…if anyone is paying attention I guess.

The Eagles' season won't be defined by losing two games in five days, just as the Packers' won't by winning two in five days.

Tom from Columbus, NJ

"Eagles fans were none too kind to the Packers (or Rob Demovsky) last year." As someone who was at that game and goes to Philly every time GB plays there, I can GAURANTEE you that the Packers fans won't even come close to returning the favor in Lambeau. With that being said, I'm glad our fans don't stoop to that level. What game would you say has been the most hostile environment you've experienced to date? For me it was 2011 playoffs in Philly.

I procured tickets to that wild-card game for a good friend of mine, and told him in no uncertain terms he and his wife should not wear any Packers gear nor even cheer. They sat quietly in the nosebleeds and walked out smiling. I also got tickets for another friend for the 2016 (Jan. '17) divisional in Dallas, and she told me afterward she and her family are never going to a game there again.

Tom from Cambridge, MA

After Randy from Lebanon, KY's question about championships and ties, is this a good time to revisit how the NFL's original tie rule kept us from the league title in 1932 after earning us one in 1930?

Man, I just want to know who was the dolt in the league office back then who decided ties just shouldn't count at all, like the game wasn't even played? I mean, who thinks like that? How could anyone be so obtuse?

Bryan from West Salem, WI

Wes's response to Roger from Key West regarding NFL officiating is a little unfair. That is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs in all of sports, and they are not provided the proper means to officiate up to the level that they should be capable of given today's technology. The speed and violence with which each play unfolds is not translated to your TV screens at home folks, and those officials are in the thick of it trying to process everything within seconds. Mistakes are inevitable.

And the league's acceptance of certain types, given the resources and options, is irresponsible.

Luke from Dubuque, IA

With Mr. Flacco arriving in Cincy just days ago with a playbook limited to what he's comfortable. I'm expecting to see the ball come out of his hands very quickly. With this in mind, do you see Hafley playing more press coverage to limit those quick, open looks? Thanks for all you do! GPG!

I expect the same. Tighten the coverage on the outside, keep the linebackers in the underneath passing lanes, and tackle well. Tackling will be a big key to this game defensively, because quick passes rupture into substantial gains due to missed tackles.

James from Appleton, WI

The Browns got the finish they were aiming for. They knew they had a stellar defense and made very conservative decisions on offense because of it. The Bengals' defense isn't the Browns' defense. Joe Flacco will be asked to do more and, when he opens that door, don't you think the Packers' defense will find more opportunities than oopsies behind it?

That's a nice theory, but I'm just sticking with the Packers needing to play their game and they should win. They're the better team and they're at home.

Greg from Belvidere, IL

Now that cooler weather is here and the leaves are changing colors, real football is finally here! What is the biggest thing you look for from this team (besides win) going forward?

Just cleaner and sharper play. Avoid the avoidable penalties. Execute smarter situationally. Don't give the opponent help.

Shawn from Mansfield, PA

Hi guys, thanks for all you do. Could you see Josh Jacobs getting on track this week?

Yes.

Dave from Germantown, TN

If Devonte Wyatt can't go on Sunday, we are left with two rookies as backups on the D-line. Is there any chance that the Packers would move an edge rusher like Lukas Van Ness to the inside for significantly more plays? (Get your best four on the field strategy.)

Perhaps. More likely in passing situations than early downs.

Jeremiah from Middleton, WI

If the concerns on our kicker being available are true, we might just beat the record from last time and have six missed kicks between the teams.

I don't expect to ever see something quite like that again. That aside, Brandon McManus sounded pretty confident on Thursday he'd play. He's dealt with this same type of quad injury before and didn't miss that week's game.

Douglas from Waubeka, WI

Hi Wes & Mike, I remember all the talk early in preseason on how the Packers were going to focus more on stripping/punching the ball to create more turnovers this season. I have yet to see that aggressiveness shown by the defense. Was this just some ear candy? The numbers don't lie, the Packers are not producing turnovers on defense. I really haven't noticed a lot of punching the ball by our defenders. Can you explain why? Thanks.

Hafley tells us they chart the attacks on the ball and they're doing more of it than previously. They're just not getting results.

Tyler from Cross Plains, WI

Hey guys, thanks for the "covering up the tackle" explanation! What is the purpose of this rule, just so the offense can't put everyone over to one side of the formation?

That, and it goes hand-in-hand with the rule requiring seven players on the line of scrimmage. Only three players aside from the QB can be off the line or in the backfield.

Jim from Portsmouth, NH

Apologies if this has been asked/answered in the past. Game ball. Is it only awarded in victory? Only one awarded or is one awarded for both the defense and offense? Who decides the recipient(s) and when is the decision made? Is the ball "decorated" with name, date, score, etc., or is it "just" the ball? Finally, when was this tradition initiated in pro football and is a game ball (or puck) awarded in other sports? Thanks for making my morning reading fun!

I can't speak to other sports. In my experience here, game balls are awarded only after victories, and the head coach decides who's worthy of them. Usually an actual ball from the game is handed out in the locker room after, and then later a commemorative, decorated ball is made and given to the player(s).

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

Mike, I recall Sterling Sharpe, on a snow-covered field against the Lions, mistaking the 5-yard line for the goal line and the ball getting knocked out of his hand. Fortunately, he recovered in the end zone. I expect that was before young Weston was but a twinkle in Pa Hod's eye, but do you recall?

That was at Milwaukee County Stadium if memory serves.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

The conversation about how does Xavier McKinney get All-Pro votes when no one will throw in his vicinity leads me to think the best voters for All-Pro are the players and coaches. They really know. Is there an official players/coaches All-Pro poll?

No. Players and coaches count for two-thirds of the Pro Bowl voting, with the fans counting the other third. But I don't know how seriously they take it, to be honest.

Jack from Chicago, IL

I wholeheartedly agree with the change to protect the QB in the head and neck area and even from low hits to an extent. However, I feel the rules of protection for the QB have gone beyond meaningful player protection and into scoreboard protection. One of the big draws of my childhood was marveling at the toughness of QBs to take hits in order to deliver a pass. Favre was the best at it but I wish they protected his head, though.

The league had to start protecting quarterbacks more because the game became so quarterback-driven that losing a starter denigrated the product on the field and competitiveness of games. If that's what you mean by scoreboard protection, I concur.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

NFL.com recently had Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, Jared Goff, and Sam Darnold among their top five MVP candidates after five weeks. Heck of a year for QBs given second chances. Makes me wonder what the future holds for Malik Willis when he eventually gets another chance to lead a franchise.

Indubitably.

Mike from Hobart, WI

Have the Packers considered installing railing at the stadium? Many of the faithful season ticket holders of the '60s and '70s are having a hard time getting up to their seats. Many younger fans also. Mark Murphy said installing railings could cost loss of 10,000 seats. I don't know where this is coming from. Railings could also help out with other events at the stadium. Your thoughts.

My rudimentary grasp of this issue is as follows: Two aspects of the Lambeau seating bowl not up to current standards are the lack of railings and the width of each bench seat (number of "seats" marked over the length of a given bench). A grandfather clause has allowed Lambeau to exist as is, but as soon as that clause is broken – such as by adding railings – then everything must be fixed, which would mean renumbering the benches in the bowl to make wider "seats," and also widening the stairways now that railings would be included, thereby losing thousands of seats.

Suzanne from Milwaukee, WI

When was the last time the Bengals beat the Packers at Lambeau?

Back in 2009. That was the day right tackle Allen Barbre gave up five sacks to Antwan Odom, the most sacks recorded by a Packers individual opponent in a single game (since sacks became official in 1982). That's Cincinnati's lone win at Lambeau in six tries, though the Bengals went 2-0 in Milwaukee. Since '09, their only visit was in 2017, and the Packers won in overtime.

Brian from Menominee, MI

I just noticed something I found interesting. On Sunday morning the Packers will have gone a full month without a win, and in that same period of time the Lions have four wins. If things go right, by Sunday night the Packers could retake the lead in the division.

Welcome to this league.

Jeff from Waterford, WI

How can a defense play so good for three games, then look so bad against Dallas?

See above.

Kevin from Rockton, IL

Not to cerebrate too much on the Lions, but they've beaten the Bears, Ravens, Browns and Bengals. Their next five games are against the Chiefs, Bucs, Vikings, Commanders and Eagles. The tiebreaker is likely inconsequential. It's time to make hay.

I hear you. But just beat the Bengals.

Ryan from Mt. Zion, IL

Thanks for the Dope Sheet, it is always a fun read. I see Kevin Harlan is on the call this Sunday. Any good one-on-one stories to share about him? Thank you.

For a while, Kevin and I had a strange tradition of bumping into each other in the elevator at a preseason road hotel every summer. But it's been a while now. Small-world story … Kevin often uses a local recording studio to produce his voice-overs for commercials, documentaries, etc. The owner of that studio is my racquetball partner. And his daughter Olivia interned here with our video team for a training camp before going on to bigger and better things in her broadcast career.

Dale from Prescott, WI

Regarding early II submissions, I for one always try and read all your postgame articles after a game before submitting to II. Knee-jerk reactions or words in haste benefit no one.

My hero.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Is it me or the lighting in the studio that appears to give Spoff a few more noticeable gray hairs?

Not my hero. But I'm blaming the Brewers the last two days. Gotta go get 'em Saturday.

Jason from Rochester, NY

Who is Wes kidding? If Spoff lets him go up twice for lunch on Fridays, you know very well Spoff is claiming one of those lunches…So is it really a bonus?

Happy Friday.

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