George from Edinburg, VA

Thank you again, Mike and Wes, for Packers content for all fans. While you appease the majority with the no-math rule in II, Mike takes care of us geeks with the Crazy Stats columns. Something for everyone!

Instead of "Here's a crazy stat" … we should've titled the series, "I was told there would be math."

Bill from Menominee, MI

Isn't an opponent's strategy of "get the ball out quick," aka dink-and-dunk, a compliment to a defense? For so many years, it was preached to limit the big play and not get beat over the top. This defense is designed to discourage deep passing. Offenses have responded accordingly by playing the short game. Call it a win and be satisfied with giving up 10-20 points per game. Keep in perspective this team is two blocked kicks away from being undefeated.

It is a compliment, but it also goes back to that adage about not getting tired making the routine play. If the offense is lulling you into a staring contest, the defense must stay disciplined and not blink. When the offense makes a mistake, the Packers gotta capitalize. Green Bay is giving up too much production in the fourth quarter and it's up to the coaches and players alike to find answers.

Kyle from Los Angeles, CA

Like three-pointers in basketball, some teams "live by the turnover, die by the turnover." Our D is top 10 in many categories after six weeks with only two turnovers? An object in an unnatural state will eventually return to its natural state. When that happens, this D will go from "very good" to "incredible." One or two turnovers on Sunday and this game could snowball into an avalanche in the desert. Is my optimism unfounded, Mike?

Strangely, the Packers and 2008 Giants are the only teams to have a .700-plus winning percentage with two or fewer takeaways through their first five games. New York won 12 games that year. I feel like that next takeaway is gonna go a long way for this defense, like a batter working through a hitting slump.

Andrew from Richmond, VA

Am I the only one who would rather face Kyler than Jacoby?

Echoing Matt LaFleur's comments on Wednesday, the challenge with the Cardinals is Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett are solid quarterbacks but for entirely different reasons. Murray still concerns me more because he can stretch a defense with both his arm and feet. He's Arizona's leading rusher right now. Brissett can keep a defensive front honest, but Murray can change the complexion of a game fast. That gives the Packers a lot to consider.

Bob from Rome, NY

Wes: Not a question but a statement. This is going to be the game where all three phases play consistent complementary football. Arizona has a deceiving record with a dropped ball before the goal line and a valiant effort with their backup QB against the 5-1 Colts. Time to check all the boxes! Thank you!

I've watched the Cardinals quite a bit this year. They're a feisty bunch on both sides of the ball. This would be an opportune time for the Packers to tie everything together, especially with Pittsburgh on the horizon.

James from Appleton, WI

In the Bengals game, it looked like "see a run, take a run" moved up on Jordan Love's mental checklist. I'm eager to see how that continues. Love's runs weren't long, but they were effective. Will defenses adjust by shifting someone down out of coverage and risk leaving a gap, or just accept those runs as the cost of doing business against a prolific deep passer?

Like Aaron Rodgers before him, Love is fast enough to make defenses pay if they don't respect his feet. Any adjustment the defense makes – specifically if it entails a linebacker spying Love – should create opportunities downfield. It's good to see that element reintroduced to Love's game.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

The Cardinals have such a long and storied history, it's a shame they've moved around so much! That seems to have taken away some of their "coolness," would you agree?

Perhaps, but the Cardinals have been wildly inconsistent regardless of where the franchise has been located. They haven't won an NFL title since 1947 and have made the playoffs just six times since moving to Arizona in 1988.

Brian from Charlottesville, VA

I think the Packers need a very clear hierarchy and protocol for throwing to receivers with "0" being WR1. Call it the Golden rule. What do you think?

All the best to your fantasy team this week.

John from Sussex, WI

I commend Mike on his answer to Gary from Vineland, NJ. The question had a sense of fantasy football angst. In my mind receiving stars (e.g. Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams) became stars by making play after play. They then were more of a focus for the respective offenses. The stardom wasn't forced upon them. A tract that Tucker Kraft and Romeo Doubs seem to be following and a path that Matthew Golden is embracing. Would you agree, Wes?

In the post-Adams era, the Packers' offense isn't built on force-feeding a specific guy. I believe that approach has cultivated a sense of camaraderie and belonging among the pass-catchers. To those who want to harp on stats, receivers and tight ends get paid regardless of what the box score says in today's NFL. In Green Bay, everyone has a role to play. If a receiver does well, he'll get his opps.

Niki from Hazelhurst, WI

Spoff, I loved what you said about Matthew Golden on Wednesday – "I think fans need to be less fixated on making someone a star and just let him become one. It's worked here before." It was awesome seeing Golden in action Sunday and that Love trusts him, but it's early. If we're seeing the next Brett Favre-Donald Driver or Aaron Rodgers-Jordy Nelson duo, then it will come in time. This franchise doesn't trial-and-error QBs, it develops them, and we wait in anticipation for that next magnetic QB-WR connection.

I should add that, too. Davante Adams didn't become Davante Adams because Rodgers anointed him WR1. It's because he earned those targets at a critical time when the Packers were transitioning from Nelson and Randall Cobb. I promise you guys…the team is seeing exactly what you're seeing in Golden. But it's a progression, not a prophecy.

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

How well would you say our rookie WRs are doing with their run blocking in the NFL? At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Savion Williams is built like a linebacker, so he presumably handles his blocking assignments more often than not. But, how about Golden? Does he run block well, comparatively, for a roughly 190-pounder?

That's also a part of the equation. I can't give you a huge assessment right now of where Golden is with his blocking, but technique and effort are more important than size. Sure, someone like Allen Lazard (6-5, 225) tied it all together, but Cobb was proficient despite often being the smallest player on offense.

Glen from Leesburg, VA

We've heard a lot about the possible return of Christian Watson, which is great news, but I don't think I've heard much else about any other players coming off the IR. Any word on MarShawn Lloyd, Brenton Cox Jr., Jayden Reed, etc.? Getting any or all of them back would be great for the rest of the season.

Half of LaFleur's news conference was addressing injured players. Lloyd is "getting closer," but won't be back this week. Collin Oliver's status remains "up in the air," but the Packers still have hope he'll play this season. Devonte Wyatt (knee) didn't practice Wednesday. Packers plan to give him the week to play. Nothing to report on Reed or Cox.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

I had to go to a casino, which shows all the games, to watch the Pack. The Cardinals game was of course on, too. It looked like the Cardinals were a different team with Brissett at QB. Next week is the Cardinals' bye week, so the word around here is Murray will sit out to get totally healthy for Dallas after the bye. Will the pass pressure packages by GB be different or the same for either QB? Hope to finally meet you guys at the Packers Everywhere pep rally.

Hope to see you there, Ray. Many of the same principles apply regardless of who starts at QB, but the front probably can pin its ears back a little more if it's Brissett for aforementioned reasons. Jeff Hafley and the coaches know far better than me what works, but I'd like to see Xavier McKinney in the box more and Edgerrin Cooper factoring into the pass-rush plan. Obviously, you gotta give something to get something, but those two were key pieces to the Packers' takeaway party last year. I wonder if the Packers can do a few things to get both closer to the football again.

Andrew from Gillette, WY

Just got tickets to take my 9-year-old to Packers at Cardinals. The last and only game I went to was Packers at Saints in Jacksonville. Terrible outcome, but I remember thinking that maybe the silver lining was I watched Jordan Love's first-ever NFL action. Time goes by quickly. Looking forward to making some lifelong memories and passing on the love of the Packers to my son.

Scottsdale is a great city for making a road trip. I love that stadium, too. I can't believe it's been nearly 10 years since my last game there. I hope y'all have a great time.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

How soon can we expect to see Christian Watson back on the field?

Watson needs to be added to the 53-man roster by Oct. 27, so anytime between this Sunday and the Carolina game.

Ben from Afton, VA

Hey Wes, it seems as though every team gives the Packers their best game, would you agree? Seems as though every team wants to beat the Green Bay Packers. That's something that doesn't get taken as a factor when looking at our wins/losses, IMHO (wcbw).

Everyone has come to play this year whether it's 4-2 Detroit or 1-5 Cleveland. It also didn't help the Browns game came at the worst possible time to have a deluge of O-line injuries.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents – a question jumping back to the Cleveland loss. I read one of those clickbait articles (I know, I know) that did a 2025 first-round re-draft based on how this year's rookies have played. Cleveland had six (SIX!) of their current draft class chosen in the re-draft. The Pack should have won, but that team wasn't without a lot of young talent it appears.

The Browns are gonna take their lumps this year, but there's some young talent on that football team. They sorta remind me of the 2021 Lions in that way.

Dan from Maquoketa, IA

I see we have the most flag-happy officiating crew this Sunday, sigh. Anyway, I have seen some articles on players the Packers may be scouting in the college ranks, and I have always wondered, do scouts have to buy tickets, and do they inform the teams they are there?

The latter. They're usually up in the press box with us.

Mary from Pewaukee, WI

I know we do not really need another kicker, but since he did such a great job, could you just sign him to the practice squad?

Lucas Havrisik signed to the active roster Saturday, so the Packers need certainty Brandon McManus is good to go before we get to that point. As a second-year player, Havrisik needs to clear waivers before he can sign to the practice squad and you can be certain a kicker-starved league took notice of what he did on Sunday.

Joe from Wausau, WI

Would the QB we had in training camp from Canada qualify for the international pathway program? If not, why? Thanks.

No. Players born in the United States or Canada are not eligible for the International Player Pathway Program.

Derek from South Point, OH

II, I've thought recently about the most motivating moments in recent (last 20 years) memory. My list, in no order, is Mike McCarthy's "No one's underdog," Rodgers' "Run the table," Charles Woodson's "President" comment, Rodgers walking out after his leg injury in '18 against the Bears, Kevin Greene telling Clay Matthews "It's time" in the Super Bowl, and Jones picking up Wicks' head after a key drop and patting his helmet. Which of these is your favorite? Any that stand out I've forgotten?

Greene and Matthews would be mine because of how it tied directly to the Packers winning a world title, but maybe we'll open it up to the caucus in next year's Outsider Inbox.

Charlie from Caledonia, WI

97.3 The Game has switched to an adult contemporary music format. Woe is me. How will that affect the Packers radio broadcasts this season and in the future?

Everything I/we know can be found here.

Paul from Mount Holly, NC

That was a beautiful story Wes wrote on Nazir Stackhouse. Brought a tear to my eye reflecting on the dedication and love of his mother.

Thanks Paul and thank you to everyone who took time to read it. Special thanks to Lauren Anderson and Ellie Culver for bringing eyeballs to the story with their graphics on the website and social media platforms, respectively.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Good morning, Wes. Loved the story on Nazir Stackhouse. These features really personalize the men in uniforms and helmets that mask their individualism. I'm just curious why you chose Nazir for a backstory (or do you work on various players, and his piece was the one that worked out)? Thanks.

I wanted to write something on Naz as soon as he made the 53 as an undrafted rookie last month, but it took a little more time than expected to put everything together. I appreciate the digital and social department's patience with me on the project.

Alyssa from De Pere, WI

Who is the team to beat in the NFC?

As far as the Packers are concerned, I'd say Sunday's matchup between Tampa and Detroit probably answers that. You could make an argument that the Buccaneers have been the NFL's most consistent team through six weeks.

Gary from Davenport, IA

Happy Birthday Mike! Too bad the Brewers haven't given you the present you really want.

Here's to a belated birthday present later this week in L.A.

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