Andrew from Brownsburg, IN

Four out of the six wild-card matchups feature one team that played their starters in Week 18 versus one team that rested them. Resting: Packers, Bills, Chargers, Eagles. Playing: Bears, Jaguars, Patriots, 49ers. I will be interested to see which side fares better.

Bold strategies in play. Let's see how it pays off for them.

Dan from Algonquin, IL

Hi Wes, crunch time for our season is here, in the home of our biggest rival. I'm sure our guys will bring everything they've got. I expect to see some unusual plays, as the entire playbook should be available now. Ben Johnson is known for some crazy plays. It would be a surprise if Matt LaFleur dials one up. What is the likelihood the game hinges on a trick play or a fake punt?

There's a fine line between creativity and recklessness. I feel like LaFleur has struck a good balance during his seven years at the helm (e.g. Dontayvion Wicks throwing passes, Keisean Nixon running sweeps, "Joker" pass rushers, etc.). If Johnson wants to get tricky, the Packers have to be ready for it, no different than the two prior meetings.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

To me the two keys to winning Saturday night are not turning the ball over and stopping the Bears from running the ball with a large time of possession advantage. Who are our rotational D-tackles and ends?

Protecting the ball is easier said than done, but it must be done. I don't know if the NFL has ever seen a team quite like this year's Bears squad, which led the league in takeaways but finished 23rd in points allowed (24.4 points per game). Ten times a team has led the league in takeaways while allowing 23-plus points per game…the 2025 Bears are the only one to make the playoffs.

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, it was great to see the game experience from some of the Packers' reserves on Sunday. Among that group, which of them do you expect to contribute during the playoff run?

I like what I saw from Nazir Stackhouse in Minnesota. I thought he was strong at the point of attack and played his best game in a Packers uniform. The run defense could use his best form this month. I'm also eager to see how Trevon Diggs could help Green Bay's secondary, even if it's Jeff Hafley building a handful of packages for him.

Alan from Fresno, CA

Jeff Hafley is getting a lot of ink in the next-head-coach articles. While I wouldn't want to see anyone not keep moving up and reaching their goals, it sure would be nice to see him back next year and see where he takes this defense with a full offseason of planning with Micah Parsons. Am I being too selfish? But for now, just beat Da Bears. Go Pack Go!

That's Hafley's message, too. Future will be here before you know it. You gotta keep the focus on today.

Arthur from Eau Claire, WI

Is it possible the Bears will have a bit more pressure on them, especially if they are trailing late in the game? Knowing the Bears fans that I know, if the Bears lose to the Packers, this will be considered a lost season, after all the brag talk earlier this year. GPG!

All the pressure is on the Bears. By every metric, Chicago should be the prohibitive favorite. The Bears are the No. 2 seed playing at home. They're NFC North champions, having pulled endless rabbits out of the hat during this litany of impressive fourth-quarter comebacks. The Packers have 60 minutes turn that dream season into a nightmare.

Nick from Richmond, VA

Seems like there is potential for Rome Odunze to play for the Bears. He missed both of our previous matchups. How does his presence change the Bears' offense?

Chicago already had a deep offense. Odunze's return just gives the Bears another playmaker in their three-receiver sets.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Wes, obviously it boils down to players executing plays, but I think the matchup between Ben Johnson and Jeff Hafley is fascinating on many levels. Two young, well-respected coaches with bright futures matching up for the third time in a month…what new wrinkles, if any, do they throw at each other? Ironically, it felt like Johnson had the better of things (especially in the second half) in the GB win at Lambeau, while Hafley's unit controlled the vast majority of Game 2 (even sans Micah).

Both coaches have had their moments against the other. What intrigues me in this third meeting is Hafley's ability to disguise coverages, mix personnel and throw a barrage of different pressures against opposing offensive fronts. That'll test Caleb Williams' eye discipline, but the Packers can't get greedy, either. They have to stay disciplined and not allow Williams to extend plays. Hafley talked Wednesday about how he feels Keisean Nixon is gonna have a great game in Chicago. Well, as it pertains to Hafley and his defense, I feel like we're gonna see something memorable Saturday night.

Barb from Wilmington, IL

How much will the weather, especially the wind, be a factor in the game? I'm in the Chicago market, and of course all of the pundits here are saying it will strongly favor the Bears because of their run game. They're predicting Jordan Love will have a hard time with downfield throws in that wind.

If it snows, it snows. That's football. As far as the wind is concerned, I thought Love handled a rather blustery day at Soldier Field just fine before the second of Austin Booker's two roughing the passer penalties knocked him out of the game. Green Bay will be fine.

Jonathan from Hamilton, GA

Regarding the II question from Brian from Oregon, WI, whether another playoff game has occurred where both teams' most recent victories have come against each other, I posed the question to AI (Google Gemini, in this case) and it found no other occurrences. AI does make mistakes, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to verify it, so take that for whatever it's worth.

I'm sure it's happened before, but this is a unique situation and it adds to those high stakes we've been talking about. Either the Packers get redemption, or the Bears send Green Bay into the offseason abyss with five straight defeats.

Mark from Bradenton, FL

I assume that Desmond Ridder being elevated to the 53-man roster was necessary to designate him as an emergency quarterback for the playoffs. The way I understand the emergency quarterback rule, he won't count against the 48-man gameday roster. Am I correct?

Correct. The Packers can dress up to 49 players on gameday as long as they have eight active offensive linemen and three quarterbacks on the active roster.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Wes. With Bo Melton headed to injured reserve status, the Packers' IR/PUP list now has as many players as the practice squad. Mercy. Have you ever seen anything like this for injuries?

Probably 2010, when Green Bay had 16 players on IR.

Kevin from Peachtree City, GA

In hindsight, as well as Sean Rhyan is playing at center, would it have been better to start him at center this year than move Elgton Jenkins to center? Beneficial both to team and player?

I don't look at it that way. I see it more like the Packers were fortunate to invest three years in Rhyan's development at center to get him ready for this scenario. Whether it's injuries or circumstances, you don't know what you don't know until you know it. Rhyan has been solid at center. Hopefully he can finish out the season strong and get what he's earned this offseason.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

I promise the kids (and adults with child-like souls, mine included) were nodding along with Patrick from St. Charles. But I can promise you it did NOT stop with the N64. Same (stuff), different day. On a more serious note, how is our health looking? I think seeing only one DNP for yesterday's practice really convinced me that sitting our guys in Week 18 was by far the best idea, Ben Johnson's masculinity be darned.

The Packers lost receiver/cornerback Bo Melton to a non-ACL knee injury that'll keep him out of the playoffs but got back special-teams ace Nick Niemann. Everybody practiced on Wednesday besides Melton, so things appear to be looking up for Green Bay on the injury front.

Marshall from Mesa, AZ

Not a question per se, but to anyone downplaying Matthew Golden – I respectfully submit you need cataract surgery. He's fast, runs good routes, can take a hit, and has sticky iron hands. That combo doesn't come around often. Not saying he's the next Davante Adams, but he's got a good shot.

This is the last thing I'm gonna say on Golden until new data is presented, but I wanted the Packers to draft him back in April and I absolutely stand by that decision in January. He's a gifted receiver. With more seasoning, Golden has the tools to be a serious playmaker in this offense. Period.

Collin from Brookland, AR

Am I the only one who was hoping we didn't play on Saturday again this year?

The Packers might break a record for Saturday games played in a single season. With a win over Chicago, Green Bay most likely will play next Saturday in Seattle.

Pete from Music City, TN

Wes, that green/blue sweater you wore on Tuesday's "Unscripted" is sharp! I couldn't find it in the Pro Shop online. Is it available anywhere? We've seen a lot of folks praise Barryn Sorrell for his game at Minnesota, and justifiably so. Why didn't he get more snaps throughout the season? Thanks!

That's an oldy but a goody I occasionally bust out. Unfortunately, it probably hasn't been in the Packers Pro Shop for almost 10 years. Sorrell's situation was a matter of opportunity or lack thereof. Green Bay already had a lot of mouths to feed at edge rusher going into the season and then it acquired Micah Parsons, who played roughly 80% of the defensive snaps prior to his knee injury. There's plenty of opps available now, though, and I'm excited to see what Sorrell and Brenton Cox Jr. do when their number is called.

Dave from Kaukauna, WI

How about more about the 1941 playoff against the Bears? Where was it played? How was that decided? Was that the first such division tiebreaker game?

It was the first of its kind, an unscheduled game between 10-1 Green Bay and 10-1 Chicago to decide who won the NFL Western Division. The game was played at Wrigley Field because the Bears won a coin toss. Clarke Hinkle scored the first touchdown in the game before the Bears scored 30 straight points. The Packers finished with just 33 rushing yards on 36 carries, losing 33-14. Chicago beat the Giants the following week, 37-9, to claim back-to-back NFL crowns.

Johan from Evansville, IN

Think the offensive staff watched any of the SF-CHI game when putting together a game plan? Getting TDs, not FGs, especially early will be paramount to winning, I think.

Yes, but the Packers should know that from watching their film.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Which non-Packers playoff matchup intrigues you the most?

Buffalo and Jacksonville.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN

Based on some questions you've answered, it seems that not everyone agrees with the NFL's playoff seeding procedure. I love the format, and I hope they never change it. Often we see a 5 seed with a better regular-season record than the hosting 4 seed, but how often has there been a situation like the SF/PHI game, when the 6 seed has a better record than the 3 seed?

I get the frustration with division champions having home-field advantage over wild-card teams but also like how winning your division counts for something in the NFL. Maybe a proper compromise would be re-seeding based on best record in the divisional round, but I'm fine with Philadelphia and Carolina hosting the West runners-up this weekend.

Ben from Pittsfield, MA

First decision of the NFC Wild Card playoff game will be to call heads or tails. What do the Packers call? If they win, will they kick or receive?

Tails and defer.

Brian from Chesapeake, VA

When is the right time to take down the 2025 Packers schedule I have proudly displayed in my office since August? I usually keep it up till the season is over for the Pack. It seems to me, after noting the L as the final result in four consecutive weeks, it will bring on the good vibes by taking it down now.

To each their own, but I leave my Packers schedule up until the season is over.

Bones from Ripon, WI

Why was there no Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy award recipient in 2015?

We simply never got around to it. The following year, the Pro Football Writers Association asked us to be more proactive in naming an annual recipient in Green Bay. My "unofficial" winner that year would have been Casey Hayward.

Matt from Irvine, CA

Who is the AP media rep for Green Bay? How do we get Spoff/Hod the job?

Tom Silverstein votes for the Associated Press All-Pro team while Pete Dougherty is the Green Bay market's Pro Football Hall of Fame voter. Both do a great job.

Jon from La Crescent, MN

Amazon owns Twitch.tv. That is how I watched Prime games for free this year. I am hoping it works for the playoff games.

I've seen a lot about this over the past few days. I used to watch Thursday Night Football on Twitch but didn't know if Amazon was still streaming games there this year.

Joe from Swansea, IL

II guys, I haven't had a question answered since our last win, the thriller over the Bears. I don't want to draw a straight line between those two, but I think you know what to do.

So, Joe from Swansea is whom we have to blame then…

Austin from Woodstock, IL

Gents, you got me looking at etymology. Apparently the "track" you are undoing is being stuck in a slump. So, untracking yourself is getting yourself out of the slump and back on the right course.

Well, here's to a whole lotta untracking Saturday night.

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