Inbox: They'll see each other again

The NFL has some things to consider after that game

Sep 18, 2018 at 07:35 AM

Wes Hodkiewicz

packers.com senior writer

Mike from Ridgewood, NJ

I'm already looking on to Washington. How about you?

Absolutely, but I gotta feeling you and I are the only ones fishing in that boat. I honestly considered just posting the hundreds of comments we received and stepping away, but here we are. Good morning!

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

Wes, in the first half when Eric Kendricks was called for roughing on Aaron Rodgers, my wife and I both said the same thing (terrible call). At the same time, textbook tackle just as the pass leaves the QB's fingertips, head and body weight to the side as he's brought down. Then, Clay Matthews gets the flag on a virtually identical call that ultimately decides the game. It's hard to put this one on Matthews. Should he or the coaches have anticipated it? Do they need to move forward?

Mike McCarthy said something similar Monday afternoon, drawing a connection between the personal fouls called on Kendricks and Matthews. While McCarthy agrees with the need to protect quarterbacks, he also said the league has to make sure the emphasis isn't creating a competitive disadvantage for the defense. You teach the technique and fundamentals, but you can't account for every variable.

Paul from Lexington, KY

Please tell me why the Packers threw the ball on the last regulation drive instead of running to run time off the clock?

Spoff addressed this Monday and I agree 100 percent with everything he said. The Vikings were going to have time regardless and you needed a touchdown to win the game. Like always, nobody complains if the Packers score a touchdown there. There's a reason why the time stone is the most powerful of the six Infinity stones, y'all.

Trent from Red Wing, MN

Did you think Josh Jackson's Lambeau Leap would come this soon? I knew it would come but not this early in his career. On to Washington now, I hate dwelling on things that can't be controlled by myself which is something many on this forum struggle with when things don't go the way they wanted it to.

Yes. Truly. The guy is a magnet for the football.

Jay from Land o Lakes, FL

Wes, what is your assessment of the defensive back performance versus the Vikings? My concern surrounds the availability of Kevin King.

I liked what I saw for the first three quarters, but McCarthy admitted the defense didn't respond well enough to King leaving the game with a groin injury. It's a tough spot to be in. As Spoff said on "Unscripted," the narrative changes if Alexander's interceptions stands. Cousins is held to 280ish yards and throws picks on the final two series to end the game. As McCarthy said, though, you have to battle back from moments of adversity.

Matt from Oshkosh, WI

I know he was "limited" but even after Rodgers beat MIN once with his feet I'm amazed how many times he was able to step through the pocket into daylight. Was this more a result of strong line play, or the Vikings D discounting Rodgers' willingness to run if needed?

I think Rodgers caught everyone by surprise when he stepped up and ran for the first down on third-and-7 in the first quarter. Lane Taylor made an astute observation on Monday about how that play showed the Vikings that Rodgers wasn't going to be a sitting duck all afternoon. They still needed to account for his mobility.

Ethan from La Crosse, WI

Is 10 minutes too short an OT period? Seems like the team that wins the coin toss is almost guaranteed an extra possession. Of course that depends on the time for each possession, and it was still a possibility with 15 minutes on the clock, but it's definitely not doing any favors to the team that loses the coin toss. So why not just turn the game clock off, give each team two possessions and be done with it? The NFL is really lacking in the "thinking ahead" department lately.

It's funny. I think the league did the right thing getting rid of the sudden-victory stipulation, but then it immediately gives the advantage back to the team winning the coin toss by reducing overtime from 15 to 10 minutes, all but ensuring one team gets two possessions and the other only one.

Greg from Marquette, MI

I don't understand why Rodgers is always rushing to snap the ball with 1 second left. Many times I have seen linebackers timing their rush as the play clock runs down. Also, I think it contributes to all of the wasted timeouts.

You know all that cool stuff Rodgers does? Well, that cool stuff starts with how he diagnoses the defense pre-snap.

Joe from Mandan, ND

Early on in the game this week we saw Cousins launch a ball deep into the secondary. There wasn't a receiver anywhere close to this pass, and Cousins was still in the pocket. Why wasn't there an intentional grounding called on this play?

The referees determined he wasn't pressured on the play.

Jim from Janesville, WI

I know Inbox was full of questions and complaints of the roughing-the-passer penalty on Clay Matthews, but here is one more from an analytical point of view. The ref says that he flagged him for "lifting him up and driving him into the ground." After watching the video countless times, I saw no "upward" motion. What I saw was a leaning-backwards quarterback on one foot getting hit by a linebacker at the same time in a horizontal motion. There was no upwards motion whatsoever.

Right. Cousins rushed that ball off his back foot much like when he twirled that pass earlier to Laquon Treadwell when Reggie Gilbert was breathing down his neck. Matthews did everything he could, including putting his hand down to demonstrate he wasn't landing with his full weight on Cousins. The emphasis on player safety is admirable, but you have to give rushers a fighting chance. Replay would give them that opportunity. The NFL has some things to consider after that game.

Lowell from St. Paul, MN

More of a comment but kudos to Clay Matthews for his restraint when asked about the roughing call. I thought he handled it like a pro. That's a veteran setting a good example for young players on how to handle controversy.

Matthews has handled it better than I probably would have. He's saying and doing all the right things…no different than his play on the interception.

Austin from Woodstock, IL

It looks like the NFL is doubling down on Clay roughing Cousins at the end of the fourth quarter. If this is roughing the passer and not a clean sack, we are going to get more and more plays like Mike Daniels pulling up on sacking Cousins. This seems bad for football. Protect the quarterback but the defense has to be able to play.

I don't typically make it a point to check out the league's weekly officiating video, but I'll be watching this week. The way this league's argument is presented is going to be very important for how the game is played the rest of the season.