Inbox: There's always an element of luck involved

Brad from Bozeman, MT

I'm counting the Seahawks' victory as the Vikings' fifth Super Bowl loss.

Alrighty then.

Richard from Madison, WI

Golly, an entire post-Super Bowl column that just talked about football and completely ignored the most exciting part of the entire evening, the halftime show (which is about the ONLY thing everyone else in the country had something to say about). Were you guys just off making pizza for all of that?

I made pizzas before kickoff. I watched the halftime show and was impressed with the overall production, but I couldn't care less about all the blather. Not worth my time and energy.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA

Looking at that picture of John Schneider, I got thinking what his seasons have looked like with Seattle. I was astonished he has only one losing season since 2011, after two 7-9 seasons to start his tenure, and they made the playoffs one of those seasons. Truly amazing. Is his philosophy of building a team closer to Ted Thompson's or Gutey's?

Neither, really. Schneider isn't afraid to roll the dice, and he's taken the kinds of chances rarely seen in the Thompson and Gutekunst eras until the Micah Parsons trade. But those risks have come with a cost. Various gambles left Seattle with just three draft picks in 2021, and that began a rough stretch of just one playoff appearance over four years (2021-24), and a one-and-done at that. Now the Seahawks have just four draft picks come April, but nobody's going to complain. It goes to show there isn't just one way of doing things, and there are different measures of success. Since beating the Packers in the game that shan't be discussed, the Seahawks didn't make it back to the NFC title game until winning it this year, while the Packers advanced to three (once by beating Seattle in the divisional round) but never got over the hump. The Seahawks snagged the ultimate prize, and it can never be taken away. But it also must be remembered …

Allan from Austin, TX

Who would have thought a crazy two-point conversion could impact who goes to the Super Bowl?

… that if not for a goal-line pass that went backwards, bounced off a defender's helmet and caromed into the end zone, where a Seattle player casually picked it up completely unaware he was scoring two crucial points, the Seahawks don't get the NFC's No. 1 seed plus the bye and home field that went along with it. There's always an element of luck involved in winning it all. Always.

John from Ashland, OR

Hey Mike, what do you think the Packers can learn from how Seattle built and managed a Super Bowl-winning team?

I don't know about learning anything. For me, it was a reminder of the defense Gutey tried to build with the big trade for Parsons – a pass rush that could win consistently without needing to blitz. The Packers didn't have the depth at corner the Seahawks did, but we'll see what this offseason brings there.

Scotty from Lombard, IL

One thing about this Sunday's game was the quality of the tackling. The Seahawks did not miss tackles, and the tackles were hard.

While the Patriots had a lot of misses on Walker and Darnold.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

The Seahawks' punter was crazy. I was impressed by Daniel Whelan this year but their punter was so impressive I thought they should have given the MVP to the punter and the kicker! Would've been funny.

Three of New England's drives started at the 2-, 4-, and 6-yard lines after Seattle punts, with a 47.3-yard net average on seven punts total. Dickson was on one.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

I, too, believe this team is very close. However, the few holes we do have seem to be glaring. Our draft-and-develop process has served us well over the years, but do you think we approach this draft with a little less "this player has a strong upside," and a little more "this player can contribute immediately"? Or does that question get answered more accurately after free agency?

When draft-and-develop is the baseline, the process is always going to lean toward upside, because the players who develop into difference-makers, as opposed to the ones who just plug holes, ultimately decide games. For every miss on Josh Jackson in the second round and Jace Sternberger in the third round, there's finding Tucker Kraft in the third round and Zach Tom in the fourth round. That's the draft.

Johnny from Madison, WI

What was your favorite game and favorite memory from the 2025 season?

Thanksgiving Day.

David from Oak Hills, CA

Now with the 2025 NFL season and the Super Bowl behind us, it's never too early too look forward to the new season. Next year the Seahawks open up vs. the following opponents: Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Cowboys, Giants, Chiefs, Chargers, Patriots and Bears. Come Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, who will the Seahawks play to kick off the 2026 season? The NFL season can't get here quick enough!

Wow, several good choices there. A rematch of a dynamite NFC title game or lackluster Super Bowl in Week 1? We shall see. But I wonder if the league will pick the Bears, for the conference title game that almost was and the team that will inevitably have more hype surrounding it this offseason than any other.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

II, with more games scheduled for overseas, do you ever see a time when the SB would be played overseas? I can't imagine it would but you never know.

I wouldn't rule it out forever but don't see it as an imminent possibility.

Tim from Champaign, IL

I saw a wonderful little headline Friday. "Woodson chooses liquor over ownership stake in the Browns." Given a choice between owning a piece of the Browns and a good stiff drink, which would you choose? (I think the choice is obvious.)

Ha. Well, to be clear, Woodson actually chose to keep his name and likeness on his burgeoning wine and whiskey businesses, which wouldn't have been allowed had he been part of an ownership group of an NFL franchise. Classic Woodson savvy, always aware of where and how he can best make his mark.

Tom from West Salem, WI

I just read "5 things" with Gutekunst. He talked about bad win/loss record in December and January when you should be playing your best ball. The Packers' standard for the last 30 years has been a really good win/loss record in those months. I'm sure the last few years are an anomaly and that will change. It has to.

Indeed it does. Even setting aside the last 30 years, the previous two have been nothing like LaFleur's first five during the stretch run.

Peter from Eagan, MN

I agree with GM Gutekunst that there has been improvement in the special teams with one glaring position that has not been addressed. That position is a punt and kick returner. Do the Packers need to dedicate a roster spot to a return specialist?

It's not a cure-all, and it's worth remembering Seattle's Rashid Shaheed was playing a lot of receiver during the playoffs, too. I think the Packers just need more productive options for when injuries strike, because dedicating a roster spot to a return guy doesn't guarantee he'll stay healthy.

Bart from Appleton, WI

It was mentioned that Belichick being passed over for HOF would cause a problem for head coaches missing their chance, well another issue happened as it allowed a good player to enter. Roger Craig was a very good player, but I wouldn't consider him one of the best backs. Look at his numbers compared to others of the same time frame, kinda falls short. Granted it was veterans grouping, but Tiki Barber, Steven Jackson, Fred Taylor were better, just not fortunate to play on championship teams.

Those backs didn't play in the same era as Craig, really, and the players they've been up against in the modern-era process have made it very difficult on them. I'm sure there's some truth to the championships bias, but it's not just about comparing career rushing totals. As noted yesterday, in his heyday Craig was a major offensive weapon as a receiver out of the backfield, which Taylor and Jackson (except for one year of boffo receiving production he never repeated) were not. There's a good argument to be made, though, that the last few years of Barber's career look a lot like Craig's best years. I just wonder if the fumble stats will be forever held against Tiki.

Mike from Appleton, WI

Regular reader here, thanks for the chat guys. When talking about Stafford's HOF worthiness, Mike mentioned his number of Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections. IMHO the number of Pro Bowls has become completely irrelevant due to the joke it has become. Am I wrong, does this still hold value? Cough...Shedeur Sanders....cough.

I think it's still relevant for a player drafted back in 2009 like Stafford, but I agree it's become practically meaningless in recent years due to how deep into the alternate list the league regularly digs due to players who now skip the event because they just don't feel like attending.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

In Roger Craig's last high school game he rushed for 275 yards and four touchdowns. His Davenport Central squad lost 28-27 on the dreaded missed extra point. Why is this relevant to this forum? On the microphone for the Blue Devils was none other than Wayne Larrivee!

Outstanding.

Dave from Fairbanks, AK

Not a question, but a comment on Jeff from Littlefork's question regarding cold games. I got to meet Tom Coughlin in Iraq in the early '00s, and asked him if he was as cold as his nose appeared to be. He (too quickly) denied being cold at all! I told him I was at the game, and despite my Alaskan "cold-proof" blood I was actually quite chilly and could own it!

Somehow that seems totally on brand for Coughlin.

Ethan from Fort Collins, CO

I wish someone would acknowledge the large portion of the NFL fan base that is against the overseas games and their expansion. I hate the idea of the Packers losing a home game and I know many other fans of different teams feel the same. Why do I and other fans have to say goodbye to one of the exceedingly few home games every year just to deepen the pocketbooks of NFL execs?

Because they run the game and the only control you have is how you spend your money and time.

Tom from Fort Myers, FL

For which of the Packers' regular-season games played on foreign soil were they the visiting team? It seems that teams like to keep the Packers on their home stadium schedule because they are a big draw and ensures their stadium is full even if it is filled with Packer fans.

The Packers lost a home game when they went to London in 2022. They were the visiting team when they faced the Eagles in Brazil in 2024.

Jay from Altoona, WI

How does it work when a front office guy leaves such as Jon-Eric Sullivan? Surely the Packers wouldn't allow him to bring Packers scouting reports with him. Does he have his own private scouting reports he can take with him, or does he just use what Miami already has and supplement from memory?

Mostly the latter. Scouts have steel-trap memories. But any reports he filed while working for the Packers are this team's, not Miami's.

Todd from Campbell, CA

When deciding which free agent to target/sign and/or resign your own player, do you base your offer on past performance or future potential? Or both?

A player's market value is based on the contracts of comparable players on similar trajectories around the league. From that market-value estimate, teams decide whether they value the player that much and want to be involved in negotiations, or not.

Darrin from Cataract, WI

In response to the final comment in Tuesday's Inbox, Curt from Tampa, FL, must be a newbie. He obviously doesn't understand that Packers fans will stew and stew and stew on this season until well into next season. Packers fan for life, move on, enjoy your time on this planet. Brewers are right around the corner!

Happy Wednesday.

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