Inbox: That unit hits the reset button

Scott from Seattle, WA

Greetings II and a giant welcoming to the baloney season. Let the fun begin.

We weren't having fun before?

Ed from Tucson, AZ

I clearly remember Sam Darnold's "seeing ghosts" game against the Patriots and the resulting backlash. It felt like he might not ever overcome that. But six years later he beats the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Pretty poetic.

I honestly had forgotten his opponent from that infamous MNF game until being reminded of it the other day.

Charlie from Waukesha, WI

First Brad Johnson, then Sam Darnold. Can you think of any other franchises that let two Super Bowl-winning QBs out the door?

Now we're really getting harsh.

David from Janesville, WI

Mike, in the years the Packers had made it to the NFC Championship Game and lost, it really seemed like such a lost opportunity. Other years when they made the playoffs but made an early exit it felt like they maybe didn't have what it would take to win the Lombardi. This season was so odd because I have a similar level of disappointment as to when they were one game away. I think it's because they had it in them to be better, and we may not see a field of contenders as ripe for the taking again.

I'm not sure where you're coming from there. I thought the NFC playoff field was loaded, and I said before the playoffs began I wouldn't be surprised if any team other than Carolina reached the Super Bowl. Given their injuries, had they not blown the game in Chicago the Packers would've had a massive challenge on their hands flying to Seattle to play the rested Seahawks. No matter how daunting, of course you want the opportunity, and that's what the Packers denied themselves. Even if they had won the first Chicago meltdown and taken the division to earn a home playoff game or two, any NFC playoff matchup at Lambeau would've been a true toss-up. The Packers definitely had it in them to be better, but this never felt like the lost opportunities of other heartbreaking playoff exits to me, due to the legitimate depth of the NFC contenders.

Al from Green Bay, WI

One play makes a difference. I'm thinking back to the Bills/Broncos game. If James Cook possesses the ball for a split second longer, it's a catch and not an interception. The Bills win that game, and are likely going to the Super Bowl, providing America with a much better matchup. Is that how you see it as well?

First, it was Brandin Cooks, not James Cook. Second, it would've been no picnic for Buffalo to try to win the AFC title in Foxboro against a division rival, but I would've liked Josh Allen's chances. Referring to the topic above, the opportunity that got away from the Bills this year feels monstrous, with neither Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, nor Lamar Jackson in Allen's way during the postseason. That may never happen again in his career. So it goes.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

Lots of people mentioning how Seattle was happy to go for field goals and wondering whether a copycat league may follow suit next year, but we shouldn't forget how they made one of the gutsiest calls of the whole season: going for a walk-off two-point conversion against the Rams in Week 16. Likely ended up the difference between a wild card and home-field advantage. They had immense good fortune, like all SB winners, but they did a good job picking and choosing moments to be aggressive too.

In the moment it felt incredibly gutsy, but with three minutes left in overtime and having lost to the Rams in their first meeting, a tie wasn't going to do the Seahawks much good, so it was really the only sensible decision to make. It turned out L.A. surprisingly was bumped the following week by the Falcons, but if both teams had finished 13-3-1, the Rams would've been division champs.

Tommy from Washburn, WI

I would assert that there is much more than an element of luck in the NFL. Compared to other professional sports, football has a shorter season, less games, and less plays and possession opportunities per game. This means that luck has a much more dramatic effect on the games, especially when you consider the elements in outdoor games, questionable officiating, field conditions and slipping, and plays like the Hail Mary. Even a blocked kick, I would say, has a large luck factor.

No argument from me.

H.R. from Henderson, NV

"Of any single player, he had the biggest impact on the game." Mike, I could not disagree with you more on this. Myers was the only player to score any points through three quarters, he had more points by himself than the entirety of the Patriots team, and he set two records (most FGs, most points by a kicker). There is absolutely no reason for him to have not won MVP other than every journalist admitting the award is only for offensive players. Shame on you for toeing that line.

On the Seahawks' second FG drive, Walker accounted for all 55 yards gained. On the fourth FG drive, he accounted for 26 of 69 yards. On the last FG drive, he accounted for 27 of 30 yards. His work set up a lot of those kicks, and made them relatively short. As I said, if Myers had been banging through a bunch from 50-plus, we're having a different conversation. His longest kick was 41 yards, and four of the seven total were PAT distance or shorter. I give credit to the voters for awarding a running back for the first time since Terrell Davis.

Andy from Kalamazoo, MI

Dear Insiders, last year, the Packers put up 30 points on Seattle's D. Jordan Love wasn't sacked with a 123.8 rating. Eight starters on that Seattle D also started in the Super Bowl; Thomas played against GB and started against NE. Did the additions of Lawrence and Emmanwori make that much of a difference? How do you account for Seattle going from a roughly 11th-ranked D in '24, behind the Pack, to a nickname in one year? Is there a path for the Packers to improve that much next year?

The Seahawks added a couple of key pieces, the players they had developed and improved, and the unit gelled in the second season with Macdonald's system. The group also stayed very healthy and played together every week. It was able to build toward a peak without a significant interruption. For the Packers, in Year 2 with Hafley, key guys got hurt, others saw their games level off or regress, depth at a premier position (corner) was suspect all season, and defenders dropped an inordinate number of catchable INTs. Now that unit hits the reset button on the coaching side, and some personnel will change, too.

Thomas from Oviedo, FL

The last two Super Bowls have proven one thing. The big games are won in the trenches. If you control the line of scrimmage you control the game. I am hoping the Packers load up on offensive and defensive linemen this offseason.

If only it were that simple. The Seahawks controlled the trenches in the Super Bowl, certainly, but nobody has that type of edge all season, against every opponent. They also had solid QB play, two dynamic and productive running backs (until Charbonnet got hurt in the playoffs), the best and most dangerous young receiver in the game, four different defenders with at least six sacks, two with at least four picks, and a decided edge on special teams with a reliable kicker and explosive returner. Oh, and they made an entire three-game postseason run without turning the ball over once.

Larry from Cumming, GA

Based upon the latest Chicago loss and the current Super Bowl, it seems that exotic blitzes are becoming the norm. IMO the Packer offensive line didn't handle them very well in Chicago. Is this the starting point for building next year's offensive line?

As far as how the unit is coached, how it communicates, and the protection calls and adjustments within the system, the struggles handling the Bears' defensive changeup in the playoff game will definitely be a part of how the Packers build their offensive line. Personnel-wise? No.

Lee from Sullivan, IN

Do teams get any financial kickback when they play overseas, specifically the home team? Do they get a percentage of ticket sales or something like that to help make up for the loss of revenue? The home team American city is just out of luck I guess.

During the previous 16-game schedule, a team giving up a home game to play overseas was given a stipend by the league as compensation for the lost revenue. With the 17-game schedule, and teams losing their ninth home game to go overseas, I don't know if that's the case any longer.

Richard from Caledonia, WI

Good morning! Looking forward to the draft, can you provide the selection numbers the Packers will have in the upcoming draft by round?

The Packers currently have one pick in each round from the second through the seventh. Those pick numbers are 52, 84, 120, 158, 199 and 236. They're also projected to get two compensatory seventh-rounders, which are estimated to be 254 and 257.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

The feeling is Micah Parsons, Devonte Wyatt and Tucker Kraft will not be ready to start the year. Will their health status factor into the drafting for need rather that best player available?

No, and while Parsons has talked realistically about playing roughly a month into the season, it's way too early in mid-February to have any idea on Wyatt or Kraft.

James from Chicago, IL

Ethan from CO, I've heard many fans say the same thing. What they fail to see is, the diehard is a valuable base to the NFL, but the NFL doesn't have to cater to them. Diehards watch games on TV, sellout stadiums, and buy the merch regardless of where the games are played, and they already get a full dose of their favorite team. The international games are not a punishment for diehards. They are a reward to those fans overseas fans who also have $$ to spend but no outlet in which to spend it.

Bingo. The logic is similar to the broadcast contracts with streaming services, which also rankle some fans. The league isn't catering to them. It's trying to grow the audience by putting games on platforms non-diehards can find them. The small number of fans it may lose out of frustration or spite will pale in comparison to the number it stands to gain. It's a business calculation, plain and simple.

Derek from South Point, OH

Once the NFL season ends, I get fully geared up (pun intended) for racing. NASCAR officially starts this weekend, with Indycar, F1, and local tracks coming later. My brother, son, and I will be attending our first Indy 500 this year. What sports or specific sporting events fill the void for you until the next official kickoff?

Next month I'll be all fired up for March Madness, and then baseball season starts shortly thereafter. Plenty of distraction for me.

David from Janesville, WI

Mike, I think losing Durbin hit me harder than losing Fastball Freddy, plus the Brewers empty the cupboard at third. Were you expecting Arnold to stockpile pitchers like this?

Not exactly, but given his track record, I'm willing to give Arnold the benefit of the doubt. At least until he trades an All-Star closer at the deadline with the team in first place like his predecessor did.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR

Hey Mike, I experienced hypnopompia the other morning envisioning Rodgers coming back to the Packers to be Love's backup for his swan song year. No way that is happening, but does your gut tell you he'll be playing one final season for his former coach?

Certainly seems like a distinct possibility. But what does falling into a trance during a graduation processional have to do with it? Sorry, I'll see myself out. Happy Thursday.

HAVE A QUESTION?