Jay from La Crosse, WI

Talk about a Nightmare Before Christmas…

That's one way to put it.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Coach LaFleur seemed extremely deflated in the postgame presser. I didn't get a whole lot of warm fuzzies moving forward. Did everyone in the press corps sense the same thing?

I didn't expect him to be singing songs and doing cartwheels.

Bob from Jensen Beach, FL

Mike, can you say something positive to help us out in this time of despair?

I'm not going to downplay the injuries that hit the Packers on Sunday. Those are whoppers, and those losses are way worse than losing the game. Christian Watson, Micah Parsons, Zach Tom, Evan Williams. Mercy. As I wrote in my Rapid Reaction piece, it's serious gut-check time. We're really going to find out what the Packers are made of now. I know there's a lot of fight in this team, and it will battle to the end. This is my 20th season with packers.com and I've never covered a team that threw in the towel. This one won't either.

Nicholas from Moore, SC

Morale has to be the biggest issue this week. Who needs to step up and keep this team focused? Coaches? Vets? Who are those guys? If the attitude is wrong this week the season is all but over.

It's on everybody. LaFleur said it several times. Nobody is going to feel sorry for the Packers. When it comes to injuries, I always say nobody cares. Because they don't. The job is to find ways to win games. That doesn't change. Is it harder now? Yeah. For sure. But the job is still the same.

Kevin from Kirkland, IL

I just wish we could pivot to a dink-and-dunk offense when the situation calls for it. We have the talent to do so, but I'm afraid "all gas, no brakes" gets in the way.

The Packers live and die by the explosive play. That's their game. Lots of people wondering why you call a deep shot right away when you get the ball back up nine in the third quarter. It was obviously the turning point of the game, and perhaps (though hopefully not) the season, but if it connects the Packers have their foot on the throat of the best team in the AFC. Jordan Love said after the game he got hit as he threw, which is why it came up a little short. That was probably the start of Denver's pass rush getting the better of the Packers up front, which continued the rest of the game. I think it's obvious to say in hindsight just play ball control there, but I suspect LaFleur knew they weren't going to have their way with a great defense like that all game, so he went for it while they still had momentum. Denver's defense was going to settle down eventually, it's too good not to, and he was trying to give his defense as big a cushion as possible until that happened. They had just burned them with Josh Jacobs' 40-yard run and knew the Broncos would be loading up to stop the run on the next drive, which was true. There was no safety deep. It's really easy to armchair QB this one the way it turned out, but I totally understand the thought process.

Blake from Marion, IA

At least we got a holding call … Go Pack Go

It's crazy how major storylines can suddenly vanish into thin air.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Robert Burns, 1785.

That, too.

Aaron from Lawton, OK

This felt a lot like the games when AR12 broke his collarbone and you could just see the promise of the season evaporate as the training staff walked onto the field. Did you feel some of that as well when they lost Watson to start the third quarter? We watched GB pull the biggest comeback in Packer history in Dallas one of those seasons, but who can be Matt Flynn and Eddie Lacy for this crew?

There are plenty of candidates. Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks – we all saw what he did on Thanksgiving. Josh Jacobs can still anchor this offense. No, it won't be the same, and yes, the offense really struggled in the second half without Watson, but that defense is the best one the Packers have faced or will face all season, playoffs included. Now they will practice and work on game plans without Watson, and prepare accordingly. On defense, there's Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, maybe Brenton Cox Jr.. As always, it'll be a collective effort. This season just got a lot more difficult for the Packers. No denying that. But there's a lot to play for and a lot of players who will get a chance to shine. Let's see what happens.

Ben from Bismarck, ND

Absolutely brutal loss, and I'm not talking about the game. We are going to need guys to step up, and that starts with Love.

The Packers still have their QB, and one rough half of football won't deter him. Love is the least of my worries as this team goes into rebound and readjustment mode.

Mark from Fairport, NY

Crushing injuries. Crushing loss. Too much to overcome?

We'll find out. The timing here is really tough. It took the offense a little while to find itself after the Tucker Kraft and Elgton Jenkins injuries. There's no time for a lull as adjustments are made again. Defensively, Hafley may have to summon his creativity from last year as far as dialing up pressures. But again, time is of the essence in figuring it out.

Dave from Waterford, OH

Are the Packers one of the top 10 teams in the League? Yes, of course they are. But, there are a couple of things that keep them from being elite. Two things I see happening repeatedly. One, is that the linebacker pass coverage is poor, or whatever it is we're doing (not doing?) in the middle of the field between the line of scrimmage and 10-15 yards downfield. And, the other is that we don't take advantage of the turnover plays when they are presented to us. The elite teams make those plays!

I don't know enough about X's and O's to know what's going on with those coverages. All I know is I saw the Packers in zone and man and it didn't matter to Nix. He carved them up. As for the turnover plays, the opportunities have been there all season. Not cashing in on those chances alters everything about how a defense looks.

Sue from Libertyville, IL

Heartbreaking injury for Parsons and Packers going forward. Any clues why the pass defense in zone or man-to-man played so poorly? Was it LaFleur's play calling or Denver's top defense that resulted in lack of crosser routes over the middle?

Lack of crosser routes? The second INT was a crosser that was thrown behind Wicks. It's also tough to hit crossers when the QB is constantly moving in the pocket anyway. Love was getting the ball out lickety-split in the first half. When the Broncos tightened up and he had to hold the ball longer, their pass rush took over.

Marty from Plymouth, WI

Looking back on the fourth quarter, it seemed that all four of Denver's defensive linemen were unblockable. I didn't see many blitzes either. How did our offensive line suddenly completely fall apart? Yes, Z. Tom got hurt, but seriously? We were manhandled up front.

That bunch has 58 sacks for a reason. You have to block them for 60 minutes, and the Packers didn't get to the finish line. That's what's so hard about a pass rush that doesn't allow the protection unit to key on one guy. They weren't going to just give up because they weren't getting the pressure they were accustomed to early on. They kept attacking, all the way to the end, and on the last three drives, they knew the Packers had to throw.

Zach from Green Bay, WI

Who will win the Super Bowl this year? Every time when we play the Broncos we think about Super Bowl 32 defeat to the Broncos. Bo Nix looks like younger version of John Elway.

Nix was outstanding Sunday. I knew he was pretty good but I was super impressed. I think the Broncos will be really tough to beat in the AFC playoffs at home. New England is very good, Houston's defense is for real, and Buffalo will have the most playoff experience in that field, but Denver is headed for the No. 1 seed and will be a very tough out at home.

Dwight from Brooklyn, NY

I have to hand it to Bo Nix. When the play broke down, did he ever step up and make the play.

He was as good in the pocket as out, able to make a play from anywhere. The Packers needed to corral the ball when he put it in harm's way and they didn't. That's on them. Would one play like that have rattled him? We'll never know. Nothing bothered Nix.

Larry from Carney, MI

Good morning, I see Keisean Nixon did not receive a fine from the league for the 15-yard penalty called against him. Instead the league assessed a fine of $11,075 against Luther Burden. I'll take it but it would've been nice if the referees got it right.

It's one of many maddening aspects of NFL officiating that's been going on for a long while with personal fouls but hasn't received much attention – players getting fined who weren't flagged, and players getting flagged but not fined. Back in Arizona, Parsons lost a sack – and a four-sack game – for a hip-drop tackle flag that did not result in a fine, meaning the call on the field was wrong. I refuse to believe it would take that long to get it right in real time via replay. Getting it right should be the priority, period.

Dave from Naples, FL

In the Thursday night game between Tampa and Atlanta, the Falcons were down by 14 and went for two after the first TD. I can hardly believe the analytics say this makes sense. They failed and I was certain it would cost them the game. Why not get within 7 and have a chance to win if you score again? Of course, Atlanta won despite doing everything wrong the entire game except at the very end. I don't get it.

I don't either. Never have. Leaving yourself the option to go for the win or tie after the second TD has always made more sense to me.

Eric from De Pere, WI

Denver is the "other" AFC game this season. I understand there is a rotation of divisions: This season was AFC North plus the other from the West. Can you review what that sequence is? Also, not complaining about playing the Broncos, but I think the league should consider randomizing the "other" conference and interconference game assignments. Lots of movement happens in all the divisions every season. Last season as a criterion seems rather pointless.

But is there another structure that would make sense? "Randomizing" is not how the league is ever going to go. I don't have the "17^th game" rotation in front of me, but I know the NFC North plays the AFC East in '26, the AFC West in '27, the AFC South in '28 and then the AFC North again in '29.

Eric from Roswell, GA

There's a devil on one of my shoulders telling me this season is lost. On the other shoulder is a little gray-haired man with a smirk reminding me about "next man up" and "jars on the shelf." Who should I listen to?

It's whom, and it's your choice.

Lori from Cherry Valley, IL

Denver brought their A game. Injuries and penalties will cost us in the long run. I'm sure the Bear fans are looking forward to the rematch next Saturday. Here we go.

Chicago is back in command of the division. The Packers have to recapture it. This will be the biggest game at Soldier Field in seven years. That city is going to bring it.

Kent from Homosassa, FL

Have the Packers ever played an opponent three times in a period of 36 days? Could happen this season with Chicago.

Just beat the Bears (again).

Charles from New Berlin, WI

Insiders, it is not time to despair. The Green Bay Packers have a solid team and a deep roster. A big game is coming on Saturday with playoff ramifications. Soldier on at Soldier Field and bring the A game. Go Pack Go!

That's all they can do. Just keep playing. Happy Monday.

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