Matt from Madison, WI

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween except for Coach LaFleur.

That was an all-timer during Friday’s news conference. I don't think I'm ever gonna forget that one. Matt LaFleur is about his football business.

Joe from Ashburn, VA

Reaction to beating Steelers?

Favorable.

John from Green Bay, WI

How to keep the players' focus on a Carolina Panthers team that has struggled?

The Packers had their wake-up call in Cleveland, a vivid reminder of what can happen when you let the opponent stick around a few minutes too long. The Packers know the assignment. They need that sixth win and the only way to capture it is through the Carolina team before them.

Al from Green Bay, WI

The Pack is a beast at home so far this year. Ain't gonna change this week. Reasons to believe: 1) Lambeau in November. C'mon! 2) The stars will shine brightly. Jordan Love, Tucker Kraft, Micah Parsons, Rashan Gary, Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Josh Jacobs, etc. 3) The return of Christian Watson makes a dynamic offense even better. 4) Emerging players are stepping up – Emanuel Wilson, Carrington Valentine, Matthew Golden as examples. 5) This team has confidence, momentum, and an attitude that they will not be denied. GPG!

The Packers are looking for their first four-game win streak since going undefeated during the month of October last year. What's more, Green Bay is sitting in a powerful position in a crowded NFC race. A fourth home win would nicely stay ahead of the pack heading into the second half.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, the Steelers had some success with their heavy package. Do the Packers have the big guys who could create a mismatch if they employed a heavy package of their own? Is Sean Rhyan athletic enough to be a pass catcher out of a heavy formation? Will our DC create a heavy D to counter going forward?

I, too, was thinking this past week about how infrequently the Packers have deployed an extra offensive lineman, especially during the post-Marcedes Lewis era. Defensively, the Packers will be ready for anything. They know Carolina wants to put the ball in the hands of Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard and will do whatever it takes to get that duo going.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

Wes, loved, LOVED, loved the piece you did on Emanuel Wilson! The person-underneath-the-helmet articles are always a favorite of mine. As a woman of faith, his story was encouraging to me. I've always had a soft spot for Emanuel, and your story just made me appreciate him more. Thank you for writing that!

My favorite thing about Wilson is he wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to be who he is. That's a rare trait. Watching his personality come out over the past three years has been fun, on top of the fact he's a very talented running back. The Packers have needed him, too, with the injuries to AJ Dillon and MarShawn Lloyd the past two years.

Tyler from Albuquerque, NM

I've always been a big Wilson fan. Seeing him get hurt in 2023 broke my heart because you can tell he always plays with 100% of his. Something Packers fans really admire. Wes, seeing your article makes me pull for him even more. Here's to Emanuel ripping off a 70-yarder for a TD this week.

Wilson has grown so much as a football player since he was claimed off waivers from Denver. He runs fearlessly and that enables him to get to top speed in a hurry.

Bret from Stevensville, MT

Not a question, just a comment. Although there has been much concern about Josh Jacobs and the running game, I would like to point out his value in the passing game. Not only is he very good as a receiving option, but his blitz pick-ups are exceptional. I think that aspect of a running back's skills gets overlooked by fans.

Jacobs and the ground game will be just fine. The Packers had a rough start to the year, but the ground game has seen plenty of signs of life during this three-game winning streak. Jacobs has been solid and I'm excited to see what he can do as the temperatures begin to dip.

Steve from Middletown, KY

Good morning. I feel like Buffalo gave a good recipe to beat the Panthers. Establish the pass to open the run. The Panthers have a slight RB controversy going on between using Dowdle or Hubbard, who returned from injury last week. I believe an early lead this week will go a long way to being successful. What's your thoughts on that? GPG!

Pass to run, run to pass, the Packers have to do to whatever it takes to be the better running team. Run the ball, stop the run, win the game.

Jake from Winston Salem, NC

Regarding the conversation around allowing first-round quarterbacks to sit, I think Aaron Rodgers/Jordan Love and Kirk Cousins/Michael Penix comparisons are apples to orangutans. I think it's fair to wonder if the Packers decide to see what they have in Love the last few weeks of 2020 if Rodgers is coming off one TD and nine INTs in the span of five games (as Cousins was) and had only an outside shot at the playoffs (as the Falcons did). I do agree it is a benefit to not have billionaire owner oversight, just food for thought.

It depends on the person, the program and the plan for the player. Everything needs to line up. The Packers succeeded where the Falcons failed in that they had an established, homegrown franchise QB in Aaron Rodgers. Drafting Love may have created angst, but everyone knew Rodgers was still "the man" in 2020-21. The Falcons drafted Penix before the ink was even dry on Cousins' contract, immediately putting pressure on their new QB1. My short reply: Often imitated, never duplicated.

Yotam from Israel

With regards to Jordan Love making defenses pay for blitzing him, it's another evidence of his growth. If you remember his first start (when Rodgers was out due to Covid), Kansas City kept blitzing him, and he had no answers. Even the TV announcers were exasperated at some point. What a few years in this league can do to a QB.

Love's debut against the Chiefs remains an outlier for me because it was practically an emergency start. While I believe Love struggling against the blitz was a bit overblown – the guy will stand in the pocket for days without bailing – I believe we have seen serious growth with Love's downfield accuracy in the face of pressure. What we're witnessing is a young QB becoming a complete, all-around playmaker.

Jeff from Saint Paul, MN

When Wes mentioned the top-notch personnel department, it got me thinking. The Packers have also had several decades of outstanding general managers and presidents. Is this just good fortune, or is this team extra attractive for top-flight executives?

A little of both. The Packers have tremendously talented homegrown scouts but also solid front-office connections. Top executives John Wojciehowski, Milt Hendrickson, Matt Malaspina and Patrick Moore all joined Green Bay after getting their starts elsewhere in the NFL.

Phil from Paris, IL

All the talk about the Packer way when it comes to QBs makes me sad for all the Kenny Picketts of the world who maybe had to play before they were ready and lost confidence. Think about how many young men's careers were sunk before they even had a chance. Conversely, would Aaron or Jordan have been who they are if they had been thrown into the fire Year 1? Would they have even had long enough for any of us to know before being replaced? Makes me grateful to be a Packers fan!

That's life, though. We only get one shot at this thing. Formula One drivers talk about it all the time. There are only four premier F1 teams. The drivers on the other six must get maximum performance from their respective car regardless of the circumstances. The Packers have a good thing going and gotta keep it that way.

Kurt from Greenville, WI

Do the Packers need to make any trades prior to the trade deadline?

I don't think so, but the Packers have become more active at the trade deadline. Each time, however, I believe they've moved a player rather than acquired one. The two most recent examples were sending Preston Smith to Pittsburgh last year and Rasul Douglas to Buffalo in 2023.

Kay from Lynchburg, VA

Best play of Packers/Steelers game?

Take your pick of the two third-down plays – the 59-yard pass to Tucker Kraft or the 33-yarder to Christian Watson on third-and-7 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. I don't think there's a wrong answer.

Nate from Naples, FL

"General" Colby Wooden. "Enforcer" Aaron Banks. Parsons "The Closer." We received quite the nickname dump Thursday.

And don't forget "Spoff the Fixer."

Tucker from Belton, TX

I don't have much hope that it will happen, but I'd love to see illegal contact done away with. If you hold or interfere in the process of contact, flag it. But these ticky-tack "defender touched the receiver seven yards downfield" aren't fun for anyone. College football seems to do fine without it.

I understand why the rule is there. It's just a shame those "automatic" first downs sometimes bail out an offense of a second/third-and-forever of its own making.

Alan from Butternut, WI

The Dorsey Levens catch in the NFC Championship will always be the foremost thought for me when I think Packers vs. Panthers.

I'd agree. It's also the featured photo inside the "Dope Sheet" section of Sunday's Gameday program.

Bob from Rome, NY

Wes: It's Saturday before a noon home game. You are A. Raking leaves. B. Watching college football C. Completing your "Honey Do" list. D. All the above E. None of the above. Asking this during my teacher planning period. Thank you!

I desperately need to get some yard work done today. I have leaves gathering on top of leaves right now.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Insiders. How do you REALLY feel about the administration of hip-drop tackle rules?

Yeah, Spoff got me a little fired up on that one.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I see Mike Pennel just signed with the Chiefs for the eleventeenth time! Great for Mike.

Pennel really is a tremendous story. There are just two active players from the Packers' 2014 rookie class: Davante Adams and Mike Pennel, who has played with six NFL teams since leaving Green Bay in 2017. This is his third go-around in KC, where he won two Super Bowl rings.

Cindy from Minneapolis, MN

The Vikes can't throw J.J. McCarthy to the Wolves so the Lions will have to do (exits stage right).

It's an interesting matchup McCarthy strolls into Sunday. As Spoff said on "Unscripted," the Packers would surely like to see the Lions take a third loss…but that's a mighty tall task for a young QB returning from a lengthy layoff.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

Wish the Packers had chosen another weekend to wear their throwback unis. The Pack and Vikes both play at noon on Sunday and both games are on FOX which means the Packer faithful here in SD will be forced to watch McCarthy get devoured by the Lions. Will they wear these uniforms again this season or is this a one trick pony?

Unfortunately, this is the only one for 2025. The 1923 uniforms will be back next year, though. Before you ask why the unis were selected for this particular matchup, I don't know and haven't thought about it until 34 seconds ago.

Mark from Canada

I have a solution for Gary from Cross Plains, WI, regarding pre-snap motion. Gary, watch a few CFL games dude! There's no limit to movement in the offensive backfield and the two wideouts are also allowed to be in motion. Oh, and one more thing. Offensive false starts NEVER get called until the last two minutes of the game. The NFL game is PERFECT by comparison!

I will never bemoan non-NFL players getting a chance to earn a living while playing this game. That said, I watched the CFL a few times when Mike Sherman was coaching the Alouettes and it's definitely an acquired taste.

Rebecca from Madison, WI

Hello Insiders! No question but a sort of public service announcement. I went to see the documentary "No Packers No Life." It's about a Packers Japanese cheer team and it was something every Packers fan will enjoy. The Packers truly are a worldwide phenomenon. It's playing at Marcus Cinemas around the state. Cliff Christl and Mason Crosby are featured in parts of it. Go Pack Go!

If Cliff is in it, I'm watching.

Charlie from Caledonia, WI

So, the league's official statistical site isn't public? Rats. If I promise not to tell anyone, could I "borrow" your password?

No prob. $p0ffsH@kEs$Mak3r

Greg from Perkasie, PA

From time to time I will go explore other teams' official websites to see what kind of content they have and how they compare to packers.com. So far, I think this website blows the rest of the league out of the water. So one, thanks for all the content you provide. And two, how do those decisions get made? It seems like it has to be a conscious effort to try and be one of the best team websites around the league.

We throw words at the site and see what sticks. It's been a 20-year process to make packers.com what it is today and it's so much bigger than what Spoff and I write. We are a living, breathing digital organism that's constantly evolving. I am so incredibly proud to be a small part of that.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Happy Halloween! No tricks on Sunday, please. Just treats from all three phases.

Confectionary football at its finest. Enjoy the game everybody.

HAVE A QUESTION?