Karen from South Beloit, IL
“Mikey?” Yeah, you probably shouldn’t have printed that one.
I hesitated, but I needed to keep the story authentic.
What is one thing you learned from Vic that has made you a better writer?
It’s incumbent upon any writer to get the details right, but don’t get so caught up in them you lose sight of the bigger picture.
Mike, how do you feel about not making Weston’s top three writers?
Ha. I’m grateful his horizons are sufficiently expanded.
Joe from The Villages, FL
Is this the year we can finally “just beat the Niners”? If any year, this looks like the right one as even with CMC back, they definitely look beatable.
The only time in the current iteration of the rivalry the 49ers didn’t look beatable, to me, were the two matchups in 2019. The last three meetings, split 2-1, have been decided by a grand total of eight points.
Thomas from Lake Geneva, WI
With San Francisco next, how will Robert Saleh’s influence help the Packers? Also, do the Packers have a 49ers demon to exorcise?
Hard to say on Saleh. He hasn’t coached there since 2020. That’s an eternity in the NFL. As for demons, you can’t exorcise playoff ones in the regular season. It just doesn’t work that way. All that matters is the Packers getting win No. 8 this week.
I’m glad you both are responding to (momentary) relief vs. replying to pure misery. On to the next game vs. what must be a salty 49ers team. Seems to me this matchup always comes down to which team wins on the O- and D-line play. Bosa may be out. Disregarding penalties, what is your view of the advantages and disadvantages the Packers face in the trenches?
I really like the way the Packers’ offensive line is playing right now. With Josh Myers back at center and everyone at their normal spots, the cohesion is there. As many are writing in about, the defensive line isn’t generating enough pressure with the four-man rush, and when it did against Caleb Williams, he scrambled away from it. The 49ers are plenty stout up front, so Hafley may need to get pretty creative. Sending (or bluffing) extra guys to get McCaffrey and/or Kittle to stay in to block would certainly be worth a try, but nothing’s a cure-all.
Richard from Livermore, CA
Comments on the Niners from a Bay Area Packer fan who has seen them play a lot: 1) The Niner defense has shown they are much, much less effective without Bosa. 2) Purdy makes crucial plays with his legs, but gets a lot of passes deflected. 3) Their special teams have cost them games. 4) De’Vondre Campbell is constantly picked on by opposing offensive coordinators. 5) The Niner fans are called “Whiners” for a reason, so JUST BEAT THE 49ERS.
What will it take to finally beat the 49ers at Lambeau Field on Sunday?
One takeaway. Just gimme one. The Packers dropped two easy-as-pie interceptions last January, either of which would’ve made Purdy the goat of San Francisco’s season.
Congratulations to Mark Murphy an honor richly deserved. A fitting tribute coming at the right time. Anything else would be a travesty. His contributions to our team are indisputable. Many thanks for all he has given us. We would be much poorer without his leadership.
It’s outstanding Mark is going into the Packers HOF by himself, an honor that started in 1995 with the induction of Packers HOF founder William Brault. The others who have gone in as solo inductees are Ron Wolf (2000), Bob Harlan (’04), Reggie White (’06), Mike Holmgren (’12), Brett Favre (’15) and Ted Thompson (’19). I’m glad for Mark he’s joining that list, because it’s deserved.
I haven’t seen anyone comment on the bad snap Mr. Daniel Whelan artfully got ahold of and placed after a TD. Even the kicker had a split-second of hesitation. It was “just one point”… I think that showed itself to be important. It’s a “what you might have missed” moment, and Whelan again shows he deserves our praise. He’s a special-teams machine don’t ya think?
We’ve commented on his holding prowess several times in this space. It’s somewhat fascinating if you play out the game with that PAT being missed. If it’s 13-all, then when the Bears score a TD, they’d kick to go up seven. When the Packers score, they’d probably kick to re-tie the game at 20. Then the blocked field goal sends the game to OT. That’s assuming no other blocked kicks, of course.
In Monday’s II, Mike said “not a lot to feel good about except Christian Watson and Josh Jacobs.” I’d like to add Brenton Cox Jr.. When P. Smith got traded it was said that would open more opportunities for Cox and Arron Mosby. Cox certainly responded! For how many snaps was he on the field to produce a big TFL and sack?
Cox played 22 snaps on defense. I’m going to slow down the hype train on him, though, until I see him make a play aside from when he’s unblocked (not to disparage a season debut). What LaFleur said about him Monday impressed me more, he how dominated a guy on special teams so badly the dude threw a head butt in frustration for a 15-yard penalty, and Cox kept his cool and didn’t retaliate.