Which defense will be on the field Sunday? The one that gave up 40 points to Dallas, or the one from the fourth quarter against Arizona? Fans prefer the latter. Can you get them booked for a three-hour performance on Sunday evening?

“Fans prefer the latter.” You don’t say?

Sean from Springfield, OR

Here’s a non-Packer question for the week: What did you guys think of the Vikings technique for stopping the tush push? If nothing else maybe the more ridiculous defenses get the more likely it will get banned.

It was a curious tactic, but it worked. I don’t know how you get a volunteer to lay down across the line of scrimmage like that, but the more ridiculous things get, the better chance it, along with all the pile pushing and pulling, will be gone.

The NFL is on the brink of a huge problem. Can you imagine if the “double review” had been KC’s? The Lions/Bucs game, with that, numerous ticky-tack calls and a stunning missed tripping call, magnified the need for immediate change. On the heels of a player/official incident, in Denver, it’s gonna start pitting players against officials. I don’t see this slowing down or ending well. Am I off base?

You’re seeing a growing player-official conflict. The potential powder keg with the gambling industrial complex could be much, much more volatile. This latest NBA story won’t be the last, or worst, of its kind.

Is there anything more important than the four-point lead late in a game in today’s NFL? With the historic closeness of game scores across the league and FG length, coaches need to be judicious with FG and two-point attempts in the first three quarters of games. Points matter…

Indeed. I feel like I’ve seen more field goals on drives of 30 seconds or less this year than ever before.

Virtually all the pundits are talking about AR and his motivation to play his former team. But what about JL and his motivation to play well versus his former mentor? He must be stoked and I expect our guy to come out with a fire in his belly. What’s your take?

Motivation abounds for both. But when the game’s on the line, it won’t be about motivation. It’ll be about execution.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

Mike, I’m really sorry but I can no longer continue being an enjoyer of your live blog. Living out of market and often being forced to watch, let’s say, dis-reputable streams, you are too fast with your updates. The anticipation of what is about to happen is gone. You are far too talented, and I must now fade into retirement. Thanks for all the memories.

Sorry to see you go. The impossible challenge with the live blog is the need to serve two masters – those double-screening who are watching (or listening to) the game while following along, and those whose only connection to the game is the live blog. It’ll be forever imperfect that way.

Mike, just a thank you for participating in the HOF class on Wednesday. You have an encyclopedic memory for the time you have been with the Packers. You also came across as an even nicer guy than I thought you already were.

Ha, that’s kind of you to say. It was my pleasure to be a guest for our HOF curator Brent’s class. Didn’t realize there was someone in the II community out there in Zoom land. I love digging all the memories of games I’ve covered out of my brain. I had a blast.

Saw a stat of the Packers on SNF since 2019. Annnnd the average points per game … wait for it … 27.7 I don’t know what to do with that mind-blowing fact today.

I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious. Think I’ll dust off the ol’ Eddie Lacy jersey.

Mike, the late HOF coach Bill Walsh said that at some point every season he “would turn the team back over to the team.” As much as an offensive genius and innovator as he was, Walsh still realized it was up to his players to perform, and his job was to give them the freedom to do so. For a HC to develop that philosophy takes a great deal of wisdom, experience, and self-confidence. I believe our HC took a big step forward last week in trusting his team (and QB in particular) on that fourth-and-2.

I think so, too, and wrote as much in my postgame Rapid Reaction piece. Does this team take another such step this week? Can’t wait to find out. Happy Friday.