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Do you think Christian Watson has a shot at Offensive Player of the Year?

Can't say I've even looked at stats around the league to have any idea. The season's barely 1/3 over.

Is Josh Jacobs a go for Sunday?

I don't know. LaFleur is not ruling it out but he's making no definitive statements.

Probably lots of people want to know who RB1 is this week, but do you think there will be changes to the offensive line this week? If they block the way they have the last few weeks, I'm not sure any back is going to get very far.

We shall see. Kevin Zeitler has another week under his belt and Aaron Banks is getting healthier. The team is having a padded practice tomorrow after just a jog-thru today, so that will probably tell us a lot.

Was it an open practice today and if so, how did Jacobs look?

No practice access today. Just a jog-thru.

What would Jordan Love's QBR been if two of those TD throws had been caught?

He was in line for a monster game. But honestly I don't think he cares about the final stats. Certainly the fans care more.

Have you noticed the sledgehammer being passed around by the GB D this season? Do you know who was awarded the sledge after the win over Dallas?

I don't but maybe we'll see someone in the locker room with it later today. The sledgehammer is given out for the hit of the week on special teams.

Is Zeitler known for his run blocking?

Zeitler's done it all in this league. He's played well over 200 games.

Any news if Micah Parsons will start practicing after the Panthers game?

Nothing definitive. LaFleur didn't rule out him going through some of the jog-thru/walk-thru stuff next week during the short week to get started. So we'll see.

If Banks has another good week of practice and Zeitler continues progressing, who do you think gives Green Bay its best combination at LG and RG vs. Detroit?

Good question, but I'm going to leave that one up to the coaches. They're the ones evaluating practice and seeing how everyone is looking.

Can an aggressive defense like we witnessed on Sunday night be our continuing identity for the rest of the season?

This is such a week to week league, with game plans tailored to specific opponents, that talk of identity just doesn't mean much. Gannon wants the identity of the defense to be its play style, flying around and fundamentally sound. The X's and O's part is going to change all the time.

Are the number of penalties up all over the league or is Green Bay just a target for them?

Penalties are definitely up across the league, and they've hit the Packers especially hard. Lotta season left in that regard.

In their defense, the offensive line held its own against the Bears the week prior, any explanation of why it didn't hold up?

Good question. It's so hard to say. The Bears were really aggressive and paid for it with a bunch of big plays made on them. The Cowboys didn't pay quite so dearly, though some.

Did Brandon Cisse get to keep the ball from his INT?

I would imagine so, but I haven't talked to him.

One running game analysis I saw. Between the lineman and the back, they're each right about 80% of the time. The problem is, with 6+ people involved that almost guarnantees someone is wrong on every play and that's all it takes to fail at running the ball.

It's always a collective effort, and the Packers just haven't gotten everything in sync yet. I thought they would against Dallas because the Cowboys had really struggled stopping the run. But it didn't happen. Onto the next.

Alex Moore is referee crew on Sunday. 2nd highest accepted penalties so far this season. Here we go again.

Great.

Are there any specific injury designations we are watching for heading into this Sunday?

The first report for this week won't be out until later today.

Cisse keeps making plays. Has his performance reached the point where you think the defense is starting to view him as one of its core pieces rather than simply an impressive rookie CB?

He's been a big part of things from the jump. He earned his starting spot and keeps getting better. When Gannon gets as aggressive as he does up front, that's because he trusts the guys on the outside to hold up in coverage. He has no qualms about that with Cisse.

Have you ever seen a worse "roughing the passer" call than the one on Lukas Van Ness?

I will say yes, but that doesn't mean I think it was even close to a good call.

Another week for O-line to work together will help with the Lions coming up next.

Detroit has a productive pass rush. The numbers say so. Protecting Love amidst all that dome noise and having to use silent count on the road, etc., is a big challenge this week.

Our receivers and safeties are top of the league. Our QB is elite and our weaknesses are getting healthier/bolstered. There is a lot to like Mike.

Agreed. This team is coming along. Another win this week would be a big boost, given the opponent and location.

Is there any updates on Brandon Cisse?

He said after the game Sunday night he was fine re: the stinger

Could Banks or Zeitler play a different position on the line to get more of them out there? Or is everyone competing for the one spot with Travis Glover?

Banks is a LG, Zeitler is a RG. They don't play other spots.

The officiating on Sunday made the game almost unwatchable even in person. Nothing will change but man it is frustrating watching a league just not care about its product on the field.

It's gotten really bad, and it's sad honestly because the plays these guys are making all over the league are incredible. But every time something happens everyone's waiting to see if a flag was thrown.

If the NFL's punishment ultimately for Jacobs is a suspension for a period of time, do they have to include "time already served"?

Yes.

If MIN can blitz at an insane rate, GB can to...the issue is the corners continuing to play as well as they have for that to work.

Keeping the opposing offense off-balance does wonders. If they pick up a blitz clean, the coverage is really compromised. There's a ton of risk-reward.

I used to think CB was the most difficult to play due to interference penalties, but now defensive line might be due to roughing the passer penalties?

I'd say neither is easy these days.

Is this game nationally televised?

It's the national 3:25 p.m. CT game, with Burkhardt and Brady on the call for FOX.

Mike, interested in your opinion of how Jacobs can use the holes provided by the line to increase yards gained on First and Second?

He's a proven back who can squeeze more out of what's there. He also can take a play that's not as well blocked and still get a yard or two rather than lose a yard or two. That matters.

Everyone was down on Keisean Nixon at the beginning of the year. Not anymore it seems.

Last season didn't end well for him, and there were moments in training camp that weren't his best. But he's played very well and the coaches are counting on him to keep it up.

Would you feel there is any validity to the officials performance going downhill since the start of being micromanaged by *upstairs/NY* the whole game?

No, I think the officials' performance has gone downhill as the league has added more and more rules/infractions for them to adjudicate, and it's overwhelming. I've been saying that for years. The rulebook is too big and they're asking these guys to do too much.

If we beat this Lions team, do you think people will start seeing us as a serious threat?

Honestly, I don't care and it doesn't matter. Whatever happens in Detroit, the Packers have another big game four days later. That will be the focus.

Jordan sometimes throws to receivers (especially Watson and Matthew Golden) when they are double covered and not open. Does Matt give Jordan license to do this regularly or situationally?

He's going to give his guys chances to make plays, and he's careful most of the time to not be putting the ball in harm's way. He's the one making the reads and going through the progressions and dealing with the pass rush.

Do teams send in tape of non-calls too? Thinking of how our star QB hasn't had a single RTP call yet despite multiple hits to the head area.

I would imagine so, yes.

Doesn't it seem that GB incurs stupid (or bogus) penalties more often than not that overturn huge plays, such as nullifying an interception or overturning a stop on a third and forever play?

Seems there's been a greater share this year, but it happens all over the league.

re: drops. Are they just pressing too much?...trying to do too much? Not who they are normally.

The one deep ball to Golden over the shoulder was a frustrating drop. But people have to realize how difficult the spinning around/back shoulder catch in the end zone was, and he almost had it. The one to Watson was deflected right in front of his face by the defender. Those last two were not easy plays. They'll tell you they should've caught them, to their credit, but those aren't the same as the first drop in my book.

The more I have watched games over the last few weeks, the more I feel that if just one of the third down penalties that were called against GB on that one drive the Vikings had where three third down penlaties were called, the game may definitely have ended differently.

Entirely possible, but GB's offense also got overrun in the latter stages of that game by the Vikings' aggressive defense. The pass protection just didn't hold up.

With how bad the run game has been, I would say there is zero chance Jacobs doesn't play this week.

If they think he can play, they aren't going to hesitate. That's how I look at it.

How long do you think it takes Micah Parsons to get ramped up?

No idea.

Matt praised Savion Williams after Sunday's game. Is he likely to get more touches this weekend and beyond? He was impressive!

They like what Williams can go when given opportunities, and he's a bit of a change-up offensive weapon, so he provides variety to the offense.

Does Trey Smack practice indoors all week or is there anything special he can practices for kicking indoors?

Just like for the offense, they'll crank up the crowd noise and he'll have to stay focused to hit his kicks in the Hutson Center.

What's your favorite part of the week leading up to a game?

I enjoy Fridays when Wes and I shoot Final Thoughts and then also our live Packers Preview on the social channels. Those are good ways to get ready.

I don't know anything about our new DT, Mazi Smith, but as a former first rounder with only 3 years in the league it seems like he could be a contributor as soon as he learns the playbook with the practice squad. What can you tell us about him?

I don't know much about him other than his draft status and college. Given GB's injuries at DT, it's a sensible addition to the PS to see if he can help down the road.

Wasn't my question, but I didn't see any answer about Bo Melton being run out of bounds by the DB.

Yeah, somehow that got lost in the ether. My comment was it's not illegal if the contact is within 5 yards of the LOS, and before the ball is thrown, if both players are engaged they often don't call it. But in this case the ball was in the air when he was shoved, so it was a pretty obvious call.

I know Evan Williams doesn't have Nick Collins' speed but he does remind me of Collin. Wish him the best and hope he stays healthy through out his career.

He's an impressive player. Really coming into his own.

With Jacobs return, and Chris Brooks soon off IR (hopefully), the RB room will suddenly feel full…and totally different.

That's the hope.

The next 4 games going into the bye is probably the toughest 4-game stretch. Lions, Panthers, Patriots, Vikings.

The games coming out of the bye will be no picnic either. One at a time.

Having watched the Lions previous game,the offense struggled most of the 1st quarter,then the weapons came to life,what's the most important weapon of their offense to shut down?

They have a lot of them but the key is Gibbs. Goff is at his best running play-action, and Gibbs' production on the ground sets up all their play-action passing. He's a handful, as a runner and pass catcher out of the backfield.

What's the Lions' defense like this year? I know they had a bunch of injuries during training camp; are any of those guys back?

They're supposedly getting Brian Branch back this week. But that unit has definitely struggled. They get after the QB. That's what they do best on that side of the ball.

Is this the week Tucker Kraft breaks through with big play(s) given the emphasis DET will be putting on the really good WR duo?

Wouldn't surprise me. Kraft is going to have one of those Kraft games at some point here.

If our ST are at least middle of the pack this year we have to be happy with that. I don't need splash plays, just consistently not terrible would be great.

There have been several ups and downs already. Limit penalties and make kicks. Those are the two biggest things I look for to help the team.

I didn't see this coming for the Vikings. That might be a secret to their success so far, element of surprise.

Their defense is really good, and their offense is coming around. They aren't going anywhere.

Speaking of ST, any timeline on Skyy Moore?

He was put on IR so it's at least a month now.

In the last Monday night game, a niners linebacker was called for a helmet to helmet hit against the Commanders. The ref's then said it wasn't a penalty and pulled the flag. The replay showed it was clearly a foul. What do you make of that? The same player had another helmet hit that wasn't called later on. This is the stuff that makes me suspicious.

That's because the league refuses to just make all the safety rules reviewable. Those are tough calls to get right in real time at full speed. That's what I mean by asking the officials to do too much now. Help them out. If they know the safety rules would be reviewable, then they can focus on getting all the other stuff (holding, DPI, pre-snap fouls, etc.) correct, and the officiating would improve dramatically. Been saying it for years.

Goff has not been intercepted this year. "It is time."

That would be nice. I didn't realize until today he hadn't been picked off this season.

Interesting comment from JG about pre-snap vs. post-snap confusing the QB.

Yeah, JG's media availability on Tuesday was a great lesson/lecture on how DCs have to think in order to be successful. It's worth a listen.

Lions D on the back end is more susceptible than their front end. Should the Pack rinse and repeat?

It would be good to get something going on the ground so the Lions can't just sit back with two deep safeties and try to take away the big plays all day.

If Savion becomes another play maker, it will be hard for any team to stop GB's offense.

More options never hurts.

I really don't know what is a RTP anymore.

This isn't the first year that's been said.

If we win the coin flip, who are you sending out first?

I'm always a big fan of deferring. Home or away, doesn't matter.

If Josh Jacobs did play this week, then how would he play? Because he has been out for 6 weeks.

That's the big question. That's a long layoff. But it wasn't an injury layoff. He's been working out and staying in shape. Maybe we'll find out.

All I heard for two years was how incredible MarShawn Lloyd is. I dont see it.

He's an impressive athlete. I just think he missed too much time playing the game, and trying to make the transition from college to the pros essentially three years later has been tougher than anticipated. That's how I view it.

To be the best you have to beat the best!

Ain't that the truth. Don't beg for an easy schedule, welcome the tough one.

All right folks, with that, I'm going to call it a chat. Enjoy the rest of your week and I'll be back on this platform Sunday afternoon from Ford Field. Take care, Spoff