Brock from West Lafayette, IN

Good morning! It's my birthday today and all I want is a Packers victory! Do you think they can recover from the Denver game as well as Wes recovered from the Peacock gaffe from Thursday's "Unscripted"? Maybe a top-two moment from the series. Nothing but love for you, Wes!

I didn't have my A game Thursday…or even my B game. But like Sam Darnold, we composed ourselves in the fourth quarter/overtime and rallied. Happy birthday, Brock.

Don from Boise, ID

Wow, was that the wildest game ever? The second two-point play has to be one of the strangest plays ever. Good thing Zach Charbonnet had the presence of mind to pick up the ball. Still, the Rams would have won if they had only scored one more touchdown rather than a field goal. Thinking red-zone efficiency will be a key to the Packers earning a victory this Saturday.

It ain't over 'til it's over, right? Maybe a lucky deflection bounces Green Bay's way, too, this evening.

Arnie from Kirkwood, MO

We've been a WR room by committee for this entire season and been very good with that philosophy. Now it's time for us to show everyone that our defense can be just as successful by committee. Not taking anything away from Micah Parsons, but I think our defense by committee can take care of business. GPG!

I think so, too. Micah Parsons is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, but this past week made me think about the collective impact Xavier McKinney, Edgerrin Cooper and Evan Williams have all had since joining Green Bay in 2024. We're talking All-Pros and PFWA all-rookie players, too. Parsons helped the Packers get this far. Now it's up to the defense to take them the rest of the way.

Jon from Tallahassee, FL

It's obviously interesting how the defense will adapt to post-Micah football, but I'm curious about how the offense adjusts. Do you think they'll be more conservative to control time of possession more, or more aggressive to try to get a bigger point cushion for the D? Or is it purely situational in the moment and what the D is showing? GPG!

Conservative isn't the right word, but I feel like time of possession is a critical component of this game. No different than Matt LaFleur, Ben Johnson loves to control the clock and use tempo to his team's advantage. The Packers can't let that happen. They need to win up front and wear down Chicago's defense over four quarters. Explosive plays help, but 10-plus-play scoring drives aren't a bad thing as long as Green Bay can get the ball safely into the end zone. If the Packers dominate both time of possession and turnover differential, they win this game in my mind.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

They may call it a collision sport, but the Packers will win their second game against the Bears if they tackle well. That means wrapping up and providing no second chances.

That's major. Not only as it pertains to containing D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai but also Caleb Williams himself. When the Packers get hands on Williams, they gotta get him to the grass. The more second chances the Bears get, the harder it's gonna be for the Packers to get out of Illinois with win No. 10.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Wes, instead of "Next man up," it looks like it's "Next men up." A collective effort is needed. I'm looking forward to seeing Barryn Sorrell on the field. Do you have any observations on how he has progressed since training camp? Is he ready for this? Go get one, boys!

Sorrell is ready for more work. In limited duty, the rookie fourth-round pick has had some good rushes this season and gained experience inside while spelling Lukas Van Ness on third downs. Count me curious how Jeff Hafley sprinkles Sorrell and Brenton Cox Jr. into the pass rush, especially with Kingsley Enagbare (illness) questionable.

Daniel from Chillicothe, MO

This is the point in the season I've been waiting for. After last season ended, we said we needed to act with more of a sense of urgency. I really want to see that on display these last few games but I'm unsure what to look for. I don't think urgency necessarily translates to being super-aggressive with play-calling, but what should we be looking for that displays urgency?

Attention to detail is the biggest thing. The Packers won four straight last month because they kept moving forward. They didn't hurt themselves with penalties or turnovers.

Don from Grayslake, IL

Losing Micah Parsons was a devastating blow, but here's a glass-half-full thought. The Bears now don't have film of how Hafley is going to scheme the defense without Micah out there. I'm looking forward to seeing what he has up his sleeve. We've still got a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball and an outstanding mind coaching them.

If the first meeting between Johnson's offense and Hafley's defense wasn't entertaining enough already…Hafley wasn't about to give away any trade secrets when talking with the media this week, either.

Doug from Aurora, CO

I know it's an odd way to look at perhaps a positive in Micah Parsons' injury, but do you think that might have Hafley thinking he needs to stay in Green Bay next season and finish the job, regardless of the season outcome?

I promise you the only thing Hafley is thinking about right now is keeping his defense playing into February.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

The game plan for the Bears will no doubt change a bit on defense because of no Micah Parsons. Now on offense, it should be pretty much the same as it was in GB right? I am assuming that Christian Watson and Josh Jacobs will play, but if they are on a pitch count because both are banged up, will that alter the plan?

Jacobs has been on a pitch count the past few weeks already. I suppose the Packers could monitor his workload even more, but I feel like Jacobs will get his touches if he plays tonight. Depending on Watson's availability, Green Bay still has a solid Plan B/C with Matthew Golden and Bo Melton, whose speed can keep those deep pass plays in the game plan.

Mark from Appleton, WI

It seems this win isn't as important as getting a win the third time they play this season. Agreed?

No. The division still is there for the taking, a win could go a long way in the Packers hosting at least one playoff game at Lambeau, and who knows? With how the NFC is shaping up, anything is possible if Green Bay keeps stacking wins. If that means having to beat Chicago a third time, then so be it. So, win. Win today…next week…next month. Win, win, win. Just keep winning.

Steve from Cedar Falls, IA

After the game Thursday night, two slots are taken, five to fill. Just win out and let the chips fall where they may! How many of our dinged-up players will make it to the field against the Bears?

We'll find out in a few hours. Because it's a primetime game, the Packers can make modifications to their lineup until the NFL transaction wire closes at 3 p.m. CT today.

Craig from Appleton, WI

With the new kickoff rules, do teams really need two good returners now? In the past kickers kicked the ball high to give the cover team more time to get down the field. This allowed the returners time to run under the kick. Seems like now the kickers are hitting more line drives and directing them away from the scarier returner.

Whoever's back there must be on high alert for anything. I don't know how "dynamic" the overall rule change has been, but it's boosted the value of a kicker another notch. Placement inside the "landing zone" is critical.

Bill from Winnebago, IL

Do any Green Bay Packers players wear Q-collars or Kerr collars to protect their brains and necks? Thank you for your help and God bless everyone.

That started here a few years ago with Adrian Amos and Josiah Deguara. I believe Romeo Doubs and a few current Packers wear it but don't know the full list.

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

All this week there's been talk about the Bears moving to Indiana if they can't get the funding from Illinois. What are the odds that Milwaukee would fund that?

Now that would be something, though I'm sure the McCaskey Family would never allow George Halas' team to relocate to Wisconsin.

Bill from Raleigh, NC

Hi II, when Matt from Allouez said he's convinced that winning the Super Bowl is 50% luck then he's not studying history. Brady won seven SBs and Mahomes won three SBs. Those two QBs "willed" their teams to success. Bart Starr (five championships), Terry Bradshaw (four), Joe Montana (four), and Troy Aikman (three) all got it done. To win one SB can be the stars being aligned for one year. To win three or more is when a QB has the "it" needed to be legend.

And probably a pretty good defense.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Spoff mentioned he thought the Bears left Lambeau two weeks ago knowing they "should have" beaten the Packers. I'd suggest the proper term is "could have," but doesn't every team feel that way after a defeat?

Shoulda, coulda, woulda…only good for horseshoes and hand grenades…or something.

Doug from Salem, OR

Watching TNF, and the Rams dominate the first half, but have to settle for a couple field goals. Seattle takes first drive of second half and has the lead. Don't know how the game will end, but this shows the importance of finishing drives. Go Pack Go.

You have no idea how right you were, Doug.

Andrew from Brownsburg, IN

Did you see the Rams' flea-flicker Thursday night? My question: On that play, since it begins as a run play, are linemen allowed to move downfield? Or, when it turns back into a pass play, if they are too far downfield, will they be flagged as ineligible?

Correct. A forward pass must be completed before offensive linemen can go beyond one yard of the line of scrimmage. That's why you saw Warren McClendon and Steve Avila pitter-pattering before jetting up field once Colby Parkinson caught the ball.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I am watching the Rams at Seahawks game and just saw my first virtual measurement. I don't remember seeing that in any Packer games? I also didn't see any lasers?

It happened a few times earlier this season, but it's been a good month since we've seen one.

Gary from Davenport, IA

I had a lot of nightmares Thursday night after watching Seattle come back at home to win a game in OT that they trailed by 16 points in the second half. As a courtesy to this forum, I shan't discuss what those nightmares were about.

Was it clowns?

George from North Mankato, MN

Kudos to BG for the Watson extension (even if only for one year). For anyone thinking it was a reach, look at the Jacobi Meyers signing for three years with $40 million guaranteed and up to $60 million. How much do you think Romeo Doubs will command this offseason?

That was my exactly my first thought after seeing the numbers attached to Meyers' extension. I assume Doubs will be somewhere in that ballpark with how the price tag for NFL receivers has skyrocketed over the past five years.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Oh boy…I just looked up the refs for today and thought I should submit this PSA so we can prepare ourselves. AI summation: "If you're watching a game with Alex Kemp's crew, expect a lot of flags, especially for holding, and be aware that the away team might be on the receiving end of more offensive holding calls, potentially leading to more total points or a slower pace." Would you agree with this, Wes?

I mean, who am I to disagree with AI? However, your query led to me asking AI: "What does Wes Hodkiewicz think about NFL officiating?" and here's what Google had to say: "Wes Hodkiewicz, a writer for packers.com, often expresses frustration with NFL officiating, particularly regarding inconsistent calls, missed holding penalties on Micah Parsons, and the complexity of rules like 'in the grasp,' feeling referees struggle with modern defensive techniques and the financial pressures of the game impact calls. He highlights issues like stoppage time for penalties and how officiating impacts player safety and the game's flow, wishing for clearer standards, though he also acknowledges referees' difficult job and the league's review processes."

Al from Green Bay, WI

Sure, the Packers have won their last six meetings at Soldier Field. But that means nothing, and it's not why they will win on Saturday. Reasons to believe: 1) The Power of 11, as described by Larry. This team has cohesion and will play as a team. The D will swarm to the ball. 2) Jordan Love. Despite all the team injuries, JL is healthy, and he is a weapon. 3) Great receiver depth, especially if Watson can go. Mismatches will be exploited. 4) Josh Jacobs. He will not be denied. GPG!

The Packers have never lost at Soldier Field under LaFleur. I see no reason to start now. It's time for the Packers to bounce back after everything that happened in Denver.

Rick from Trempealeau, WI

Lombardi liked to say, "You make your own luck." Preparation and practice obviously can't control random events, but it does help in a player's/team's reactions to them. So, here's hoping the Packers "make their own luck" against the Bears and come home with a win.

May the odds be ever in the Packers' favor. Enjoy the game, everyone.

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