Prepare to be the better team at crunch time

Mike Spofford

Bill from San Antonio, TX

Not to further muddy the waters regarding laser goal posts, but if the ball touches the lasers, would the try be good or bad?

No good, because the ball gets incinerated by the laser. A ball that disappears cannot score points. Speaking of muddy

Josh from Nicaragua

Whiskey...whiskey!? I'll forgive this transgression just once, and remind you that in the great state of Wisconsin an old fashioned is made with brandy. But if you tell me you use a mix instead muddling the fruit with some bitters, our friendship is over.

I'll declare whiskey an acceptable alternative for an old fashioned (and it's actually my preference, though I like both). But I'm sure Wes is a muddler. Has to be. His father was a muddler. His mother was a muddler. Sorry, I'll see myself out (in a bit).

Matt from Middleton, WI

I became a biggerJordan Lovefan today.

Didnt we all.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

If the Packers wantJayden Reedto play this week do they have to sign him to the 53 on Fri/Sat and activate him on Sunday, or can they do it all on Sunday?

He would have to be activated by Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, is it safe to say that D-tackle is maybe an easier position to pick up a new defense than say linebacker or DB? It's not like they are likely going to have to fall back into coverage and the stunts are likely pretty similar from defense to defense. Or am I oversimplifying? I'm trying to understand how quicklyJordon Rileycould be added to the mix.

I think they can give Riley a package of calls to start where he could rotate in for certain run-defense situations, and then just grow his knowledge from there. Will he be out there Sunday? You never know.

Mark from Winona, MN

Brenton Cox Jr.coming back could be an overlooked benefit. He had an outstanding run late last season. Prior to his injury he appeared to be on an upward trajectory. With the uncertainty surroundingLukas Van Nessdo you think he could play an important role going into December and, hopefully, January?

I like Cox as a potential situational asset as well, his situations being see quarterback, get quarterback.

Dan from Algonquin, IL

Hi Mike, do you and Wes ever talk to visiting players/staff on the field before a game, or are you already glued to your keyboard before warmups are over? Regarding the game, would you rather have zero turnovers by the Packers and zero sacks of Williams, or a minus-1 in the turnover ratio and three sacks of Caleb Williams?

I don't spend much time on the field before games, but I did once say hi to Edgar Bennett when we were in Oakland for a preseason game. I also caught Daryn Colledge in the tunnel in Miami after he left here. But it's rare for me. Gimme the zero turnovers, hands down.

Jeff from Edgerton, WI

Good morning Mike. Two questions to ponder...1) If the Packers go 3-2 to finish the season regardless which team we lose to, do they make the playoffs? 2) If no turnovers are made by either team and the game is officiated cleanly I feel the Packers win seven times out of 10. Would you agree with this statement?

I'll say yes and yes.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Prior to this winning streak, all the talk was the Packers needed to get teams to stop playing two-shell zone defense by running the ball in order for the offense to be successful. The Vikings and Lions played mostly man coverage, exactly what the offense wanted, instead of forcing them to do it. Besides execution, did we learn anything over these two big wins? Or does playing with a lead help dictate what the defense will do?

Playing with a lead certainly helps, but defenses are going to do what they do best. The Vikings blitz a ton, which dictates man behind it. The Lions are a man coverage team all the way. The Bears are a vision-based defense, which is how they get all those INTs, and means shell and zone coverages often disguised as other looks. But as I said the other day, they're 28th against the run. The Packers need to run them out of their preference so they can't play with as much vision on the QB.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Insiders, the Bears seem to be a team that gets the better of you if you let them linger around. I say, score early and often to go in the lead. What say you?

I say that form of question was banned long ago, but I'll also say you can't count on putting the Bears away early. They've won five games in the final moments. Prepare to be the better team at crunch time or they very likely could find a way.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Aside from Rodgers-to-Cobb for the playoff berth, what are your best memories of the Bears-Packers rivalry through the years? Of yeah, A-Rod emerging from the tunnel at halftime is up there, too.

The 2010 NFC title game obviously ranks at the top of the list, but the one that's rarely talked about was three weeks before that. Bears were coming to Lambeau for the regular-season finale. Chicago was locked into the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC, nothing to play for, while the Packers needed to win to get in. Lovie Smith played all his guys and was fighting to end the archrival's season. He knew how dangerous that Packers team could be, and he was right. I always respected Lovie as a coach, but he went to a whole 'nother level with that one.

Tom from West Salem, WI

Besides Sweetness, who was Bears player that you enjoyed watching? I grew up during the "46" defense and I really hated those guys, so for me it was Tillman or Urlacher.

You can't say besides Sweetness, because Walter was the best and my absolute favorite football player growing up. In my sports writing career, watching the line-of-scrimmage chess matches between Urlacher and Favre, and Urlacher and Rodgers, was great football.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

Good morning Spoff! After seeing Dart get blown up along the sideline Monday with no flag, do you foresee a time when the NFL makes that a reviewable play, similar to targeting in college? Too many QBs are getting away with sneaking out at the last moment after the defender's committed, and the refs are usually quick to throw the flag even when the QB is still in-bounds.

I could see it being reviewable at some point, but I think officials have adjusted. They used to go out of their way to protect QBs along the sideline and flag anything close, until guys like Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes (who took it to the extreme) exploited those protections. Over the last couple of years, the officials have edged toward making it clear the QB needs to give himself up and get out of bounds before the hit is delivered. The guys who pushed the envelope hurt their own kind.

Vote Now

Ben from Cripple Creek, CO

If Vrabel does get COY, would he be the first HC to win it with two different teams? I still can't believe that TN let Vrabel walk. He had Henry in his prime, but other than that I can't really think of league-changing superstars on that team, but Vrabel had them in the playoffs consistently and overachieving, even ending NE's dynasty, if memory is correct.

Vrabel got the Titans to the AFC title game in his second season (2019), yes, knocking out the Patriots along the way. Then he had two one-and-dones in the postseason, followed by two losing seasons before he was let go. The last two years have shown he clearly wasn't the problem in Tennessee. ATMR(WCBW), six coaches have won the AP COY with different teams George Allen, Don Shula, Chuck Knox (3 teams), Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves and most recently Bruce Arians.

Pat from Cleveland, TN

Just another comment on whether to defer or not. The only stat or data I need is it guarantees the opposing team cannot double up and GB has the possibility of doing so. What other stat/data is needed? I think it's a no-brainer to defer.

Another reason I always lean that way.

Bob from St. Germain, WI

Morning guys. Just consider me Mr. Irrelevant as I have only had one question ever posted in the last five years but I digress. Do you consider this week's game at home a must-win against the Bears even though we play them again in two weeks in Chicago? Thanks for all you do and your insights into our Packers. GPG!

This is not a must-win, even though the rematch is on the road. This game positions one team better for the stretch run, in the NFC North and overall playoff chase, than the other. Significantly better, but it's not make-or-break.

Bob from Covington, KY

Hi, guys. Sometimes I think that for division games, lots of stuff like records and past performances go out the window because the teams know each other so well. Then it comes down to who can surprise whom. And not necessarily with gimmick plays but with stellar execution in some unexpected phase. Wouldn't surprise me if the Packers and Bears ... teams with a desire to run ... both come out throwing to confound the other's defensive game plans.

Wouldn't totally surprise me, either, but the weather could temper those thoughts, too.

Marteen from Reno, NV

Good morning Mike and Wes,

I hope you both are feeling better. I just looked at the weather for Sunday. Yikes, a high of 19 degrees. We know that the running game will have to be stellar. What other adjustments need to be made for the team to be successful? Passing and kicking are a given when it's that cold. Both teams are cold-weather teams so I wonder if coach is going to cook up some creative schemes. Mike will have to break out the keyboard mittens for this one. Go Pack, Go!

Ha. I'm counting on the heat functioning in the press box. I will be sipping on my hot cider, though. The cold puts a premium on ball security. A cold ball can get punched out easier. Cold passes tend to bounce off cold hands, and who knows where those deflections go.

Dave from Germantown, TN

How did the Bears get the top rushing offense in the league? I know they revamped their O-line in the offseason and running a lot of two tight end formations but it has to be more than that. Can we avoid a Rico Dowdle type of game and have more of the run defense that throttled the Lions?

The Bears rebuilt the interior of their O-line, all three spots, via trades/free agency and they have a head coach/play-caller who philosophically insists on the run as the offensive foundation. That said, the O-line's pass protection is spotty. Caleb Williams runs around back there under duress a lot. But a defense has to earn the right to rush the passer, asMicah Parsonslikes to say, by containing the run. The Packers have proven they can shut down Barkley and Gibbs. They also let Dowdle control the tempo too much. The bottom line is Green Bay can't let Chicago live in third-and-3 (or less) all day.

Jason from Austin, TX

All defenses have their pros and cons. Bend but don't break defenses have the pro of being able to shut down an opposing offense and limiting them to FGs, but the con is that opponents can put together 8-plus minute drives. Opportunistic defenses, like the Bears, have the pro of delivering momentum-changing turnovers, but the con is when they face an opponent that doesn't turn the ball over. Then they become pedestrian. Let's not beat ourselves on Sunday.

Sounds like a plan.

Richard from San Diego, CA

It seems like the team turned the tables on the Lions, with the fourth-down conversions. Would be nice if we could turn the tables on the Bears with takeaways.

I like that plan as well.

Steve from Scranton, PA

Mike, after watching as much football as humanly possible last weekend, one thing is clear: Weather plays a huge role in the final outcome of games. It's not just snow or freezing rain, but simply cold air causing the ball and turf to be slick. Pass patterns are run slower, and the wind significantly affects QB ball placement (never mind the kicking game). Unless you're playing in a dome, it's as if there are two distinct NFL seasonsand why the running game will always have great importance.

It's a valuable form of pass protection when passing the ball gets harder.

Mike from Geneva, IL

The NFL has been striving for parity for years and the NFC is bringing it this year. I doubt this has ever happened before but this weekend could see this happen. The 49ers have a great conference and division record and a bye week. They presently sit seventh in the NFC playoff picture. Sans a tie, the Bears or Packers will lose. With losses by the Rams, Eagles and Seahawks, the 49ers could move to second WITHOUT playing. That's what parity brings!

Mercy.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

Mike must have watched "Inception" prior to writing his Path to the Playoffs article.

It hasn't even gotten all that complicated yet.

Joe from Bozeman, MT

Does Monday's job fair include the position of assistant to the live blogger?

This crowd never quits. Happy Friday.

HAVE A QUESTION?

ASK A QUESTION