Dan from Algonquin, IL

Hi Wes, the Packers are due for a glow-up on offense, and this would be a great week to have it. I could see a shootout at Acrisure Stadium, and the network would love nothing more than to see Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love put up lots of points and end the evening with a stunning finish. Can you imagine a better SNF game, assuming it ends in a Packers win?

This game was scheduled for primetime. The NFL knew what it was doing. One way or another, it's gonna be a show.

Jesus from El Paso, TX

What can you tell us about this "Aaron Rodgers" guy?

He is one of the greatest to ever play this game and as smart as they come. In this column, I voiced my reluctance earlier this year about Rodgers returning for a 21st NFL season considering how things played out in New York. But I'm glad he explored this final chapter in Pittsburgh. Because I feel like I'm watching Aaron Rodgers again. He's playing freely and looks to be really enjoying himself out there. The Packers-Vikings games in 2009 were played with a lot of tension and enmity. This feels like two old friends getting ready to play some chess.

Jeff from Ogden, UT

What's the key to winning the game this weekend? Simple. You don't want the ball in Rodgers' hands with two minutes to go and the game on the line.

Time of possession will be huge in this one, for sure. It's right up there with explosive plays and takeaways as far as my three biggest keys to the game.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, historically the Steelers' "personality" is very physical. Attack with a strong defense and run the ball well on offense. Do you believe that has evolved with Rodgers at the helm?

From a pure schematic standpoint, this is a different Steelers team. Jaylen Warren is a fine running back and Kenneth Gainwell has provided an unexpected spark, but Rodgers was brought to Pittsburgh to set the tempo for this offense and that's what he's doing. DK Metcalf is one of the most explosive receivers in the game right now. Defensively, it's a bit feast-or-famine for the Steelers. They rank fifth in takeaways (10), sixth in sacks (9.28% per pass attempt) and fifth in red-zone defense but also just yielded 470 yards and 33 points to the Joe Flacco-led Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers are scrappy and opportunistic, though, and it's propelled them to a 4-2 start despite being in the bottom quarter of the NFL in both offense and defense.

Craig from Brookfield, WI

Many have tried and failed to outsmart Aaron Rodgers. Having worked closely with him for a few seasons, to what extent might Matt LaFleur have insights into what defensive tactics/strategies cause QB8 the most grief…or what Rodgers' tendencies might be on certain down-and-distance situations?

There aren't many weaknesses in Rodgers' game, even at 41 5/6 years old. He's seen it all and getting the ball out as quickly as he ever has in his career. The Packers need to slow up the ground game, keep a lid on Metcalf as much as they can and try to pressure Rodgers to the best of their ability. Getting Devonte Wyatt back would be huge for this defense and collapsing the middle of the pocket.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

Going to the game on Sunday and can't wait to see Rodgers one more time. Any tips or observations from your past trips to Pittsburgh for a game? How is their stadium?

Pittsburgh is one of my favorite trips in the NFL. The gameday atmosphere is the closest to Lambeau with fun-loving, blue-collar fans who have a deep admiration for this game. I also love how Acrisure and PNC are both off the Ohio River. It's just a beautiful setup to watch a game.

Michael from Ellicott City, MD

Congrats to Micah Parsons being named NFL Defensive Player of the Week! Other than the praise, does he get anything else like a trophy, plaque, letter, money, something that was written into his contract like a bonus, etc.?

It sounds like we got a big shhhhhhhhhhhhout out in the team meeting Wednesday morning. Congrats to Parsons, though. It was a no-brainer for him to win it. That's one of the most impressive games I've seen by a player in a Packers uniform in my 14 years covering this team.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

II, Giants kicker missed two XP and was released. They might want to trade for a kicker!

Jason Wilde did an exquisite job of laying out the butterfly effect of the New York Giants not only signing Younghoe Koo over Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad but also the decision to go with their IPPP player, Jude McAtamney, over Koo on gameday in Graham Gano's stead. Who's to say what might have happened in New York if the Giants went with Havrisik, but we know how it's turned out so far in Green Bay. He earned two game balls in seven days.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

How is Zach Tom doing after the game Sunday? I read that the Bengals game was really hard on him, but nothing about the Cardinals game. I hope that no news is good news. Just beat the Steelers!

Tom got through the game OK and continued to practice Wednesday. Coincidentally, he's no longer on the injury report with the oblique, only the back. It ain't easy to get healthy during an NFL season, but hopefully Tom can do it.

Simon from Denmark

On one hand I want Parsons to have a great game Sunday. On the other, I don't wanna see old-man Rodgers get hurt. This one is gonna be fun to watch regardless of outcome.

Parsons can have a good game without Rodgers getting hurt. It's football, not boxing.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Wes. Would you please explain what's new and different about this year's K-balls? Thanks.

The NFL adjusted the rules surrounding the preparation of kicking balls at the owner's meetings earlier this year, which now allows teams to prepare K-balls the day before games. ESPN has a full story on this if you want to know the gritty details of it, but some – including Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio – believe it has resulted in longer field-goal makes. Others think it's rubbish.

Hank from Centennial, CO

Some maintain linebackers were bigger back in the day and hit harder. If that's so, what accounts for the change? Do teams attack the middle of the field more in the passing game now, because of rules to protect receivers? Would that place a premium on a linebacker's coverage skills and militate against 260 pounds? Maybe this is just a spurious "hot take" to generate clicks. After all, Ray Lewis and Quay Walker are listed at the same weight – 240 pounds.

In general, linebackers have to be much faster in today's NFL than they were back then because of the vertical passing game. You have to be stout enough to defend the run while being quick enough to cover, which is why that 235-245 window seems to be the optimal weight range.

Aaron from Fort Wayne, IN

Back when the league was emphasizing not driving the QB to the ground, it noticeably began to change the way players tackled QBs in the pocket. They had to grab and drag/twist them to the ground. Most Packers fans remember this well with Matthews being the brunt of many a roughing the passer call. So now what are we at, can't hit the face, can't hit below the knees. So hit him in the mid-section, but don't drive through, and don't twist him to the ground. What's next? Just put a red jersey on 'em.

It has never been more difficult to be a defensive football player than in today's NFL. The easy answer is defenders need to view the play as tackling the quarterback more than hitting/sacking him. In Parsons' case, it was just a series of unfortunate events that robbed him of a four-sack game.

Greg from Perkasie, PA

One guy with two things … I think people may be underestimating how motivated Rodgers will be for this game. I know he and Love have a good relationship and enough time has passed now, but I have a feeling this game does mean just a little more to AR8. Also, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on Mike Tomlin's comments calling out the Browns GM. On one hand, getting anything in return for 40-year-old Joe Flacco is a plus, but I also understand the odd optics of trading a starting QB to a division rival.

Not at all. I covered Rodgers for a decade and fully expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder. The Packers' locker room does, too. It's built into his competitive DNA. Sure, it's not revenge he's after (It may be a reckoning, though), but Rodgers and the Steelers are a good football team looking to grab that fifth victory. Yes, it was silly for Cleveland to trade Flacco within the division. I still don't get it. Plus, the Browns barely got anything in return. Not my call, though.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

What is your favorite Rodgers story from his days with us? It'll be good to see our old man again!

Oh man, there are so many – both on the field and off. On the personal side, I'll never forget ranting to him about the "Game of Thrones" finale in 2019. I read all five books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series and was so disappointed how the TV show ended. Rodgers was one of the few who devoutly watched it like I did. Professionally, it's his Hail Mary in Detroit. I've written this before, but not only the madness of the play but also the vibe in the locker room afterward. Evan Siegle captured an incredible photo of him in the visiting locker room, but it was the smirk and look of total disbelief on Scott Tolzien's face that's forever engrained in my mind. It screamed "How in the hell did you do that?" and summed up Rodgers' greatness completely.

Jeff from Asheville, NC

OK guys, we all know stats are for losers, except for a team's W-L record. As of the end of Week 7 there are only 12 of 32 teams with a losing record. Eight of them are in the AFC and only four are in the NFC. It seems the road to the playoffs will be tougher in the NFC. Is parity out the door this season with good teams beating up on bad ones, or do you feel the league will reset to a more level field by the end of the season?

More the latter because there are only so many Ws available to the 16 NFC teams. That said, the Packers need to collect as many as they can in their pursuit of their first NFC North title in four years and everything that could come with that.

Joe from Liberty Township, OH

With Sterling Sharpe, LeRoy Butler and Bobby Dillon now all in the HOF, who are the most deserving senior Packers players and do any have a shot? My picks would be Verne Lewellen, Cecil Isbell and Gale Gillingham, although Isbell might be a stretch because of his short career. Gillingham gets lumped in with Gregg, Ringo and Kramer and the "three OL is enough" argument. Lewellen should be a no-brainer, but he played in the '20s and early '30s and there are no voters left who saw him play.

I'm a big fan of Isbell as most of you know and I think a compelling argument can be made for his inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but Lewellen should be the next Packers player to go in. If the Centennial Slate of 2020 was utilized appropriately, Lewellen would already be in with Bobby Dillon.

Jack from Denver, CO

I saw Ty'Ron Hopper's TFL and feel like he has a lot of potential to make a significant impact. Do you think he will ever see regular snaps this season?

The Packers are loaded at linebacker, but Hopper can play.

Christopher from United Kingdom

So, the cut-down HOF list doesn't include Clay Matthews. Scanning the list, there doesn't appear to be an ex-Packer amongst them, am I right?

From what I could tell, Jahri Evans (2017) was the only player with Packers ties among the 52 who advanced.

Dave from Phoenix, AZ

Good morning, II, not a question but an observation. Kyle from St. Charles described myself and my five brothers to a tee during a Packers game. While we always try to stay positive and hopeful, it seems this year that negativity is creeping more and more into our text exchanges and at game's end, I find I'm exhausted! From this point forward, I vow to watch the games with more positivity and enjoy the moment and the ride, who knows where it may lead. Serenity now! Serenity now! Serenity now!

If you ride an emotional rollercoaster for six months, you're fixin' to wind up with an uneasy stomach.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

Wes, I believe I have the solution to stop the Packers' penalties. The coach fines them their lunch. Problem solved. Welcome everybody! Go Pack Go :)

Bold, but it straightened me out pretty quick.

Dale from Prescott, WI

If the new kicking football is now considered an asteroid, the only way to go from here is laser goalposts! How else do you tract a kick as high as the roof?

See, we were ahead of the curve all along.

Brett from Cincinnati, OH

Per the Dope Sheet, "Including Super Bowl XLV, Green Bay has scored 27-plus points in five of the last six matchups against Pittsburgh." Sounds like we're right on track to keep the 27-point win streak alive!

If the Packers score 27 points while ending a 55-year winless streak in Pittsburgh on the same evening…

HAVE A QUESTION?