Dan from Henrico, VA

Fewer words. Better play. Thank you.

The Packers had plenty of chances to win Sunday. Alex Moore and his crew took away a couple of them. But the chances were there all the same.

Brad from Bozeman, MT

Good on X-man. Someone had to lay out the case on the officiating. Scott Van Pelt said he would start a Go Fund Me for Xavier McKinney's fine if he gets one (and we all know he will). I'm in on that idea. Packers fans could cover the fine and give the rest to charity. I'm sure we could easily raise over $1 million. Will the Inbox help?

I was surprised to hear SVP say that considering he barely mentioned penalties during his highlights. He just sort of tacked that in at the end to transition into the McKinney bite. At any rate, McKinney spoke the truth, and his words were worth every cent it may cost him. Of course, the NFL could simply not fine him and allow a good spokesman for the sport to say his piece, but that would be too easy. I'm sure the league will feel the need to remind everyone who runs the bingo around here and it's not the 1,500 men putting their bodies on the line every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and soon Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Chad from Danville, IL

Insiders, I get Matt LaFleur not berating officials at the postgame press conference all of the time. And I appreciate his approach, but isn't there a time and place to step up and let it fly? In baseball, managers get tossed. In basketball, coaches get technicals. Wouldn't it behoove MLF to just once drop the nice guy approach? I'm sure his players will have his back, and I bet us, the fans, can start a GoFundMe account to pay the fine.

You can send a message to your football team without doing it at the podium. It's not like that's the only means of communication. But even if LaFleur goes up there and berates the officials, then NFL social media rips him for complaining. Regarding baseball and basketball, you know what helped those sports reduce the number of times managers and coaches get thrown out? Technological advancements such as ABS challenges on balls and strikes, and replay challenges to determine if a foul was a flagrant infraction. The NBA and MLB evolved while the NFL is content officiating the game like "Return of the Mack" is still No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Dennis from Batavia, IL

At the end of the season, I fear the outcome of the first Detroit game will loom large.

It's tough to argue with that considering last year's series was the difference between the Packers advancing to the playoffs and the Lions staying home. It was a high-stakes game and Green Bay came up short.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Will we see Mekhi Becton start on Thursday?

The Packers are hurting more inside than outside right now, but Mekhi Becton Sr. is on the 53-man roster now and that puts him an injury away from being out there (as we saw Sunday). With Travis Glover (knee) also popping up on the injury report Monday, Becton provides badly needed depth at tackle if John Williams has to start at center Thursday night. Kevin Zeitler is on call, too.

Mark from Westminster, CO

The Packers have had 18 drops so far this season. That's six more than ANY other NFL team this year. What are your thoughts on challenging the Lester Hayes rule?

Not great, Bob…or Mark. We've said it a few times now this season, but the Packers haven't consistently done the small things well enough to pull away from .500. Green Bay's best chance is clearly through the air but even that isn't failsafe.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

Earlier this season I submitted that I had absolutely zero worries when the ball was thrown to Matthew Golden. Now all of a sudden, he's dropping passes. He's an incredible playmaker, and despite the miscues I still don't have any major concerns, but what's up with the sudden number of drops he's had? Can the position coaches work with him in to refine his ability to hang on to the ball?

I'm still not concerned. It happens to the best of them. Christian Watson, Davante Adams and James Jones all had early issues with drops before becoming reliable playmakers. You gotta keep chopping. The Packers need Golden.

Jeff from Montezuma, IA

Much was being made about the trajectory of the kick by Trey Smack that was partially blocked. I wonder if the coaches should follow the old Pythagorean theorem, A squared + B squared = C squared and move the set point back 8 or 9 yards instead of 7. Don't think there would be any rule against that, especially for short kicks. Is it legal to go back further than seven yards?

Smack said in the locker room he didn't like the way he hit the first one but the second wasn't necessarily a bad kick. I didn't see the finger block until I was on the plane and couldn't tell you how much the finger affected the kick. We'll have a chance to speak with Cam Achord about it on Wednesday, though.

Rick from Shawano, WI

Wes, I wish you would spend as much time and energy decrying and dissecting Packer ongoing issues like lack of a pass rush, poor blocking, missed tackles, red zone incompetence, poor decisions, poor coaching and drops among others as you do on the officiating problem. Then the Packers might start to fix its own failings. But that would mean holding people accountable in the Packers organization from the top on down. What are you scared of?

You think the Packers' failure to fix their, um, failings is because doth Packers writer protest too little in this column? If that's truly the secret, then you'd think the NFL would've figured out its officiating problem with how much ink I've spilled here.

Anthony from Madison, WI

Just wanted you to know that the two comments I posted Sunday night were relatively right after the loss, so I was still pretty raw. I also understand why you can't post everybody, and why you can't respond to everybody. Thanks for all you do, thanks for letting us vent, and thanks for agreeing with us when we are right and challenging us when we are wrong. We've all been Packers fans for way too long not to know about football more than just about everybody else.

I've been saying to everyone who will listen since the game ended – I'm not mad. You guys are paying for this product. Honestly, your opinion matters more than mine. But here's what I struggle with: Player safety is a big deal, right? It's the origin of all these roughing the passer calls. But then Brian Branch does a flying headbutt to Tucker Kraft straight out of "Fast and Furious 6" and nary a flag is thrown. But yeah, Packers and Panthers on Thursday Night Football. Tune in.

Nhoj from Waterloo, WI

The only thing I am still mad at after a little under 24 hours later is just how childish the Lions were after that offsides and how none of that mattered to the refs. Where is it posted for fines? Because I want to check and see if any of them get fined. If not, then the NFL should refund Golden, because my goodness. Dan Campbell is a standup coach, but that was embarrassing for him and the NFL.

I don't blame the Lions. I'm sure they were excited. They were about to win the game. But again, there's this leaguewide emphasis on taunting and you have the NFL social accounts amplifying it multiple times. The league doesn't even know what it's emphasizing at this point.

Jeff from Rhinelander, WI

Good morning, Wes. I know that betting isn't allowed at Bushwood, but I bet off the side that you're glad you didn't get yesterday's Inbox. Question, do you know how many of the Packers' RTP penalties have resulted in fines? Just GPG!

I don't know of one but also am not going around the locker room asking for direct deposit receipts.

Hannes from Glendale, WI

Short week should be a good thing here, no time to dwell on the past. What can you tell us about the Carolina Panthers so far this season?

Dangerous football team. Bryce Young can go off at any moment, and he has two studs at receiver in Tet McMillian and Jalen Coker. Chuba Hubbard is a highly underrated running back, durable and steady. Defensively, the Panthers are hurting a bit with their top two cornerbacks, Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, on injured reserve and Jaelan Phillips estimated as DNP. For the second time in three weeks, this game features the league's 32nd-ranked run offense against its 32nd-ranked run defense. The Packers must do more on the ground than they did against Dallas.

Jim from De Pere, WI

Major props to John Williams for stepping in at center Sunday. The offense did not miss a beat with him being put in a tough position. He played guard and tackle in college and with the Packers. How difficult is it to transition to center with his relative lack of experience playing the position previously?

It ain't easy, but Williams has been working at it for a couple years now. I can't imagine he's taken many reps there as of late, though. The Packers likely will need him with Sean Rhyan down with the ankle and Jacob Monk (quad) on IR and out at least four games.

Jesse from Menifee, CA

This season has solidified my new process. I read II daily, read many of your articles and enjoy talking about the Packers. I have stopped watching actual games. If they win, I will find a replay and enjoy it and don't care if a coach blows a call, player makes an untimely error, or the refs botch every call. Thank you for the game day coverage you provide as that is enough for me. Happy to support what you do and the team in this little way. Go Pack Go!

I hope you guys keep watching, Jesse. It's an incredible sport featuring some of the world's best athletes. I just wish football went back to being football again.

Jeff from Albuquerque, NM

I just wonder, on the play where the ref was knocked down, if he felt so embarrassed in front of so many people he just determined "someone needs to pay for this!" and tossed the laundry. Anyway, it was truly bizarre.

Referees' inability to maintain their composure this year is unsettling. Terry Killens had one person to blame on that play, and it was not Devonte Wyatt.

Thomas from Orangevale, CA

Gents: Thanks much for all you do. So, we lose our best defensive player on basically a walk-through practice during the week, within the first five minutes of the game we lose our first- and second-string centers, and the third-string center, who never really practiced center, plays a solid game. Finally, a Lion kicks a ref between the legs – and the ref penalizes the Packers. Can it get any more bizarre for these 2026 Packers?!

I'm scared to say no at this point.

Keith from Lincoln, IL

I'm a lifelong Packer fan who bleeds green and gold, so I'm no different from thousands who live and die with what you guys communicate about the Packers. But Spoff's story about going to the World Series with his dad, wife and son reminded me of something easy to forget: You're people, too, with families you love and lives beyond the Packers. Thanks for putting up with our zeal and for listening to our complaints. We appreciate you, whether we say it or not.

As difficult as it is to believe, we are all humans trying to feed our families and overcome the daily challenges of life with intermittent moments of happiness. If I can make one memory every day, I feel I lived that particular one to its fullest. While Spoff was enjoying Game 1 with his dad at AmFam Field, I was watching it with my son in our living room, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Jake from Decatur, GA

Another short week. I hope the NFL finds enough time to remind the referees that they're supposed to watch both teams for penalties. I hope the Packers can figure out how to catch the ball. And I hope you both have learned your lesson about posting submissions from people named Jake.

Spoff's response to Jake, and his follow-up to Joseph, is why I'm proud to call him a colleague and a friend. It was a rational and well-articulated comment on a difficult topic with many layers. Unfortunately, false equivalencies and innuendo also can make you regret speaking in the first place.

Andrew from Richmond, VA

As angry as we all are following that game, I still come away feeling oddly encouraged. The defense yet again rose to the challenge of facing a top-flight offense. Nothing has come easy for them all year, but they just keep grinding away getting stops. They've shown some real fortitude the last two weeks, especially holding some referee-aided drives scoreless. Something tells me all this adversity they're going through right now will pay off later this season…

The Packers need a big response on Thursday night heading in the second half. There's no doubt about it.

Reed from Myrtle Beach, SC

Not a question but a thought to lift our spirits: They say over the course of a season that the calls will even out. Well, we've sure got a lot to look forward to then.

It's more likely we keep down this path, but I just hate what officiating has turned this glorious game into. I'll close with the Once-ler's cautionary words at the end of "The Lorax." It encapsulates my feelings on officiating since Dean Blandino stepped down nine years ago. I feel the league would do well to listen. "Through the years, while my buildings have fallen apart, I've worried about it with all of my heart. But now, says the Once-ler, now that you're here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

HAVE A QUESTION?