John from Mukwonago, WI

How many times do you think "I could've pooped" will make its way into Insider Inbox?

Hopefully this is the extent of it, but that was an all-timer from Larry on Three Things.

John from Lexington, SC

I enjoyed your comments on scripted plays and not pulling plays out of a hat. Still I don't understand why LaFleur doesn't use the play we used growing up on the streets of Wauwatosa. Stop n' Go route at McMullen's mailbox, then sprint a corner route behind the parked Pontiac. Guaranteed six points every time.

In my college intramural flag football league, we'd run both the hook-and-lateral and the out-and-up (with a pump fake on the out) every game, and we scored almost without fail. The problem was I don't think we ever scored with any other plays.

Russ from Henrico, VA

I can't decide which is more annoying, when the talking heads diss on the Packers or when they go overboard with praise. Any reason to listen to either?

You answered your own question.

Bill from Las Vegas, NV

No question, just an observation. A sign I saw in an elementary class applies to nearly everything in life, including football, "No one can go back and make a brand new start, but everyone can start now and make a brand new end." I've applied this to my sons and it's true. Packer naysayers should apply this. GPG

We learn more in elementary school than anywhere else, yet we unfortunately forget more from then, too.

Jeff from Ely, MN

Deep thoughts related to teams improving as the season progresses. I've watched the NFL for 60 years. Back in the day, "dynasties" were common. SF, Dallas, Pitt won every year. The margins between teams were wide. The margins today are narrow, e.g. league parity. Relatively small improvements have a bigger impact on outcomes. So a team can seemingly "flip a switch" from bad to good. Us older fans too quickly think the season is a bust when in fact small improvements have big impacts in number of wins.

True on all counts.

Richard from Madison, WI

"Not only does Watson/Golden's 871 receiving yards lead the NFL but it's also the SECOND-most by a pair of Packers receivers since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger." OK, ya wanna drop the other shoe now?

Lofton and Jefferson in '83. They had 873 through the first five games.

Eric from De Pere, WI

I'm thinking Dak is going to be throwing the ball a lot. Bears couldn't get the run going and I think Dallas will start pass-heavy and try the run later in the game if the passing is successful at having the Packers focusing 8-plus yards downfield on any down/distance combo. It's what they do best, so they go with it. What do you guys think?

I agree. I think they'll attack with Lamb, Pickens and Ferguson downfield, see where the Packers provide help, and attack their best matchup.

Keith from Fishers, IN

I've seen a lot of Prescott on TV over the years, and two things have stood out. He can connect very precisely on difficult throws, and he seems like someone who is easily rattled by pressure, sometimes putting balls up for grabs. I hope our defense brings every possible rush variation against him, so he never knows how many defenders are coming and from where. Any hints that the Packers' D is preparing that way?

I wouldn't characterize it as getting rattled. I think he's got the belief he can always make the play, including very difficult ones, and plays that way.

Mike from Geneva, IL

Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams each seem to be involved in a lot of key plays and always around the ball. If they both continue playing this way, then making All-Pro for either seems possible. Do you have a sense of which traits opposing GMs, coaches and players value more? McKinney has more INTs, but Williams is always around the ball and involved in tackles. Regardless, the Packers are blessed to have both.

There's plenty of value in a safety who discourages opponents from taking deep shots, which is McKinney's forte, and this year he's catching the INTs coming his way like he did in '24. A safety like Williams who can attack the LOS and force defenses to account for him provides a different value. Eye of the beholder, probably.

Jason from UK

With Micah Parsons not returning for a few more weeks, how do you think the edge group of players of Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr.., Dani Dennis-Sutton and Barryn Sorrell have fared so far?

LVN is having a really solid season, and DDS looks like he's coming on strong. Cox and Sorrell have held their own but without as many impact plays. Perhaps those are coming.

Nate from Canada

I haven't heard much about Brandon Cisse and that can be a good thing. Biggest thing that's stood out to me is a couple missed tackles but also some pretty strong tackles too. Doesn't get a lot of balls thrown his way. How would you characterize his time this far?

Reliable, and that's not often said about rookies, especially at corner.

Steve from Flagstaff, AZ

Ty'Ron Hopper might be traded or not make the team. He also played pretty well and had a nice INT. Another reason why depth is needed.

The Packers haven't really found out yet what Hopper has to offer. That's happening now.

Aaron from Portland, OR

I will tempt fate to point out how many thought CW9's contract extension was a bad move given his injury. I had stated at the time that he had actively sought answers to fix his soft tissue injury issues and had the fluke knee injury, but that he was all-dedication, all-team. It is awesome to see him excel to this level given all the effort and energy he poured into being on the field.

Couldn't agree more. With good health, that contract will become a massive bargain for the Packers.

Dar from Mansfield, TX

It might've gone unnoticed, but MarShawn Lloyd's very good day started with a stone block on a blitzer, thereby allowing Christian Watson's first TD. It seemed to set the tone for Lloyd. Are the Packers trusting him more as a pass blocker these days? Or is Chris Brooks' injury creating more opportunities for Lloyd to prove/show his ability on passing plays?

They have no choice but to trust him more with Brooks out, and he's rewarding that faith.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Travis Glover is a large man.

Indeed he is, and Anthony Belton's got 20 pounds on him, which makes for a rather meaty right side of the line.

Matt from Kula, HI

On the Kevin Zeitler/Glover and Aaron Banks/Laken Tomlinson competition, it seems that the coaches must weigh changing what has been an effective pass protection lineup against the potential of an improved run blocking lineup. Are Tomlinson, Zeitler, and Banks considered better pass protectors or run blockers? I'm thinking that this assessment would be harder to make with Glover, as he is a younger player with a very small sample size, and has room to improve in both areas.

Maybe that comes into play eventually, but I think right now they're mostly looking at how the unit plays together, pass or run, and whether it can still improve as is, or take another step with more changes. As noted in my mid-week chat, considering where things were, it's a tough call.

Benjamin from Evergreen Park, IL

Is being good as a left tackle harder than any of us novice fans could ever comprehend? Lot of impatience surrounding our guy. Do you envision a rise in performance level … no different than Jordan Love had 2023, albeit a different position, where he starts up and down, but irons out his playstyle?

It's the highest-paid position up front for a reason. The eye test told me Morgan played really well in Tampa, his best game yet, then not quite as well vs. Chicago. Progress isn't always linear. There's a lot on the line for both him and this team.

JR from Silvis, IL

I was surprised to learn that Kaleb Johnson is "only" 6-1, 224. Maybe I'm crazy but he looks much bigger than that on the field. Honestly he gave me Brandon Jacobs vibes when I first saw him out there.

He does seem bigger than that, especially when you consider Lloyd carries 220 on that small frame. But Brandon Jacobs? Nah. He was 260-plus. Mercy.

Austin from Manassas, VA

The worst run defense against the worst run offense. If ever there were a game to get back on track, this would be it. I'm not looking for 2024-5 level commitment to the run, just cut the no gains and I'll be thrilled.

Bingo. Second-and-7 is light years ahead of second-and-11, and when second-and-4 becomes third-and-less-than-4 rather than more, it works wonders for a play caller.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Opposing defenses playing two high safety and daring the Packers to run the ball? We've seen this before, in 2011 and 2012. Could you compare/contrast how the offense and running game now compare to then? It was a big struggle to overcome then and led to Eddie Lacy being drafted.

I'm not sure how to compare it, but the Packers just didn't get the production needed. Neither James Starks nor Ryan Grant hit 600 yards in '11, but combined they topped 1,000, which was still better than '12, when Alex Green was the leading rusher with just 464, as Starks and Cedric Benson both got hurt. The second leading rusher on that team was Rodgers. DaJuan Harris sparked the run game late that season, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Hal from Lanesboro, MN

What is Josh Jacobs allowed to do, vis a vis practice, while on the commissioner's exempt list? Can he use the facilities? Attend meetings? Be seen by the team doctors/trainers? When, and if, he is finally able to join, what do you see as his window before competing in a game again? Thanks for all you do.

I don't know about a timeline or window, but players on the exempt list can attend meetings/workouts and get treatment at the team facility. They can't practice or play in games.

James from Chicago, IL

Why do so many fans seem to watch a single aspect of the game and think, "Just do XYZ all time because it was successful." First-down runs might not be successful because the D was bringing the safeties up. Keep passing downfield on first down and opposing D will keep their safeties back. It's not "this or that," "either/or." Defenses will adjust and change what they do. Which then means the offense has to change what it does. Also, stop running the ball and play-action passes become meaningless.

I try to explain all the time how the pro game has a level of complexity that's difficult to grasp. Anytime I think I'm starting to process more of it, I'll hear a coach jabbering about some X's and O's and be reminded how little I really know.

Clint from New Berlin, WI

Stenavich on Mark Redman: "He's kind of messed up in the head." OK, now we NEED a story on this guy. I just think of an old Vicism (paraphrasing here): Football is not a game for the well-adjusted.

That Bill Parcells quote will live forever.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

Dear Abby, I mean Spoff, as another chapter is added to the Packers-Cowboys rivalry, I got to wondering: What's your favorite memory from this matchup? For me, it's Nov. 29, 2007. When Brett Favre was forced from the game, we got our first real look at a young Aaron Rodgers. I remember thinking, "He looks like he belongs." At the time, it was just a loss. Looking back, it feels like a glimpse of something special to come. Nostalgic for a moment before we knew.

That was the first Packers-Cowboys game I covered for packers.com, and the only game I covered at old Texas Stadium. Definitely a fond memory. The favorites, though, are the playoff wins in '14 and '16, easily.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR

Hey Mike, just wanted to thank you and Wes for the inspiration that went into my custom No. 88 WHOMEVER home jersey I'll be wearing to the game Sunday night. It'll have a patch on the front that says SCOTT from LINCOLN CITY, OR, and I'll be sitting in row 44 of section 138. Are you going to be anywhere close by where I can at least wave in your direction (knowing full well you'll be head down, busily typing away on the Live Chat)?

It's hard to see us in the press box because we're in the second row up there, but we sit side by side straight up from about the 25-yard line toward the south end on the Packers' side of the field.

Julie from West Allis, WI

Happy birthday, Mike! Brewers won!

Couldn't have asked for a better birthday present last night. Incredible joy 44 years in the making. I was in fifth grade. Just amazing.

Jon from Bayfield, WI

Is it possible to not be inspired by this Brewers team?

Journey's not over.

Joel from Show Low, AZ

Mike, you can have total concentration for Sunday night's game.

It's not exactly total consciousness on my death bed, but I'll take it.

Aaron from Denver, CO

Hey Spoff! You gonna go to a baseball game next Friday?

Planning on it.

Greg from Long Beach, CA

Dear Spoff, just beat the Cowboys.

Happy Friday.

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