Inbox: These games count as two in the Packers' eyes

Al from Green Bay, WI

Yesterday Spoff pointed out the need for our linebackers to have speed to the ball. We know Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper have been sharing snaps, but which has the skill set most needed on Sunday?

Speed helps at linebacker, but Jahmyr Gibbs may be the fastest running back in the game. When Green Bay has stopped him, it's been the big guys up front filling gaps and linebackers shutting doors behind them. So, whoever's in there needs to get a hat on a hat. If you're not always gonna take down Gibbs yourself, but you better hold him up enough to get your friends to the fray, or it'll be a long day.

Bob from St. Germain, WI

Mike mentioned the Packer run defense is holding opponents to 3.4 yards per carry, which means teams would get a first down if they ran it three times, correct? What is considered a good run defense number? (and I realize math is not allowed) Thanks for answering my questions. GPG.

I'd say anything under 3.5 yards per carry is elite. Jacksonville currently leads the NFL with 3.23 ypc. Remarkably, Green Bay still ranks 14th at 3.99 despite yielding Robinson's near-career game. Unfortunately, the Packers were the first team to step in front of that Bijan train.

Michael from Glenview, IL

I think Jonathan Gannon is doing great things with the D. What's especially great is how they are swarming to the ball. I still see a missed tackle here or there, but it seems there is another guy(s) right there to finish it off. It seems to me it's been awhile seeing this. When's the last time you can remember getting this from our D?

The Packers have done it before, but the key is tackling consistently over the course of a 17-plus-game season. What stands out to me about this unit, though, is how well the secondary tackles. That is such an underrated part of playing good defense, whether it's getting pass catchers to the ground or minimizing the explosive runs when backs sneak into the second level.

Sam from Madison, WI

Keisean Nixon is not getting the credit he deserves from the fans yet again...It got lost amid the rest of the discussion, but I side with Nixon over Evan Williams OR Xavier McKinney when it comes to drawing a star. I learned starting with a line flat across from left to right, then down to bottom left.

That's where Nixon shines (no pun intended). He's fast and isn't afraid to get physical. And yes, that's the only correct way to draw a star with any degree of symmetrical accuracy.

Dave from Phoenix, AZ

Good morning, II, I was little disappointed that we didn't use Tucker Kraft as much as I thought we would last week. At one point, I even questioned if he was in there. He did finally show up but did get hurt, how is he doing this week? I think both TEs, our Kraft and their Sam LaPorta are going to play bigger roles in their respective offenses on Sunday. Here's hoping Tucker has a career day! Go Pack Go!

Kraft is doing fine. He had his best game of the year against Chicago and made an impact in the win over the Cowboys. The Packers have been feeding Christian Watson and Matthew Golden deep so far. It'll be Kraft's turn in time. Based on Kraft's track record against Detroit, it could be as soon as Sunday.

Tim from Olathe, KS

Insiders, Micah Parsons, Edgerrin Cooper, and Tucker Kraft have suffered major injuries. Even with the miracles of modern medicine and world class rehabilitation, will these players ever be equal to their elite pre-injury level of play?

I think Christian Watson would say yes.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

This Sunday I am going to miss seeing Micah Parsons expose and humiliate Jared Goff like last year. His game on Thanksgiving was one of my favorites. How have you seen Lukas Van Ness perform lately? Seems he has had a quieter couple of weeks after that hot start.

You gotta look beyond the sacks, folks. Van Ness has 13 Next Gen Stats pressures over the past three games, including five and a sack against Dallas. He's healthy and right where the Packers need him to be.

Jason from Austin, TX

I get the concern with Jordan Love not sliding, but I've seen enough football to know that defenders can react to the slide a little too late and end up causing more damage to the sliding QB than if the QB just dove forward. People will usually say that the QB should have slid earlier, but that seems like an easier thing to process watching from above/at home. Unless Love has plenty of time to slide before the nearest defender, I'm fine with him giving himself up the way he does.

My mantra has always been get the yards and then get down, in that order.

Troy from Westminster, CO

I, along with most others, am anxious for Josh Jacobs to be back in the lineup and see how it affects the run game. Whether the shortcomings fall on the O-line or RBs (the easy answer is both), one area I think Jacobs will make a tremendous impact is play-action. As I see it, defenses are going to have to honor his presence more than any other Packers RB. It's not always about having a running game but having the threat of a running game that can open the passing game up to whole new levels. Thoughts?

There are few backs better at finding holes and gaining after contact than Jacobs, so those are two areas I feel like he can make an immediate impact. But Green Bay's issues in the run game have been a sum of the whole. It's on everyone to collectively raise their game to find a solution.

Ben from Cripple Creek, CO

I also think that if we can truly get Jacobs back, that helps set the tone for the other RBs. We've seen special moments from MarShawn Lloyd in preseason/training camp. If Jacobs is the feature and Lloyd the change up, doesn't that help Lloyd settle down into that role? Or is that much ado about nothing?

I don't think there's a player on the Packers' offense who won't benefit from having No. 8 back on the field, beginning with Lloyd. It also gives Green Bay its best shot at getting back to its two-RB concepts after losing Jayden Reed, Chris Brooks and most recently Skyy Moore.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

How is Detroit's rookie class looking? Any names we should keep an eye on Sunday?

Kendrick Law tore his ACL in June, but the rest are out there. First-round pick Blake Miller is starting at right tackle for the Lions. Second-round pick Derrick Moore is getting more opportunities on the defensive line, recording three quarterback hits the past two weeks. Fifth-round safety Keith Abney had an interception in his first NFL start two weeks ago against Arizona.

Carl from Onalaska, WI

The fact the NFL covers up their bad calls and doesn't let coaches discuss them says a lot. They can't even acknowledge a call was messed up and they'll attempt to improve, probably because they aren't attempting to improve...

I get not wanting every media session to be coaches and players ripping on the officials, but the lack of accountability is maddening, and it's been that way since 2017. The NFL just flips the calendar to Monday and on it goes, but fans remember what the league often forgets – those folks in the stands are the only ones paying to be in the stadium on gamedays.

Frank from La Crescent, MN

Is it possible that Jacobs can be ready to play on Sunday? I assume, if yes, it will be on a limited basis.

I would think Jacobs plays, but neither he nor LaFleur is guaranteeing his availability on Sunday. If Jacobs is up, my guess would be he sees half the reps he typically does with it being his first game back.

Mark from Canada

Wes, any chance "Uno" had something to do with picking up Mazi Smith? They did play two years together in Dallas. (Side note: GREAT JOB on “THE TAKEAWAY” series!)

Appreciate that, Mark. Just a newspaperman trying to survive in a visual media world. Micah Parsons was a huge fan of Smith's when the Cowboys drafted him a few years ago. I'm not really sure what happened after the trade to New York, but I know this – signing a 25-year-old prospect of Smith's caliber to the practice squad is a low-risk, high-reward proposition for Green Bay, especially with all the injuries it has suffered on the D-line.

Greg from Tosa, WI

On a few of the roughing the passer penalties this year, it appeared the offensive lineman pushed the defender in the back toward the QB. I for one would like to see any flag for hitting a QB picked up when that occurs. Can the refs have taken that into consideration? I feel it would be hard to control or alter one's angle to avoid the QB when that occurs.

If we're not going to make player safety penalties reviewable, my request is for referees to take a breath, process the play and then throw the flag. They do it on most TDs in the corner of the end zone…why not do the same for a potential infraction on a game-altering play?

Jon from Eau Claire, WI

You know, on the LVN roughing the passer the NFL should enforce the penalty at the conclusion of the play and not act like the play didn't happen. In this case, no matter how ticky-tacky it was, the penalty had no influence on the play itself. The football was released from Dak Prescott's hand before the foul. Carrington Valentine got the pick fair and square. The rule should allow the pick to stand and only then should the RTP 15 yards be applied at the end of the play, giving GB the ball, but backing them up 15 yards.

Another reason I'd rather the NFL police those types of personal fouls in the wallet rather than the game. If it's good enough to warrant a flag, then it should be good enough to fine the player the following week. Chris McClellan's body-weight penalty didn't result in a fine in Week 1, and I doubt Van Ness' roughing the passer will either.

Matthew from Racine, WI

With Jacobs coming back, what RB will become the odd man out?

The Packers haven't been healthy enough to have an odd man out this season.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

With every NFC North team having a winning record, these division games are huge as far as who will make it into the postseason. If you lose, it is almost like two losses that have to be made up to catch a team ahead of you. Do you agree that these division games are like MUST WINS?

These games count as two in the Packers' eyes. If you go back to last year, Green Bay pulling off that upset at Ford Field became a massive hole from which to climb for the Lions in their unsuccessful playoff chase.

Ted from Findlay, OH

The Packers have fortified the trenches. They are surviving with air support. Members of the cavalry are approaching the skirmish. It may be enough to win the battle for the North.

I expect to see plenty of downfield throws on Sunday. The team that wins the battle for explosive plays walks out of Ford Field with a critical division win.

Dale from Appomattox, VA

Good morning, I'm not ready to eat crow just yet; it still is early in the season, but the grill is heating up.

Crow is dish we all eat at some point every season. The trick is making sure it does not become the main course.

Bill from Menominee, MI

Going into the 2025 season, we had a relatively stable coaching staff and returning starters. So, we as fans dug deeper for stories. We latched onto takeaways and forcing fumbles. We were disappointed when the results weren't representative of the emphasis. This offseason was one of question marks in the pass rush and secondary. No emphasis, just questions. Right now, the Pack is third in four-man pass rush win percentage and leads the league in interceptions. No question, just appreciation.

The talkin' is in the doin' and the Packers gotta keep on doin'.

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