At the halfway point, who is your choice for league MVP? Crazy as it sounds, I say Baker Mayfield. Also, how about the Colts and the Commanders as biggest surprises and disappointments respectively.

I can’t say I saw either coming, though Jayden Daniels’ injuries have a lot to do with Washington’s recent misfortune. Josh Allen is my MVP pick right now.

Throughout the season, I’ve enjoyed watching Rashan Gary become the game wrecker we thought he would be. With some of Gary’s sacks though, I cross my fingers each time praying for no flag. It seems RG could be called for a hip-drop tackle on a few of hits on the QB. With Luvu being handed a healthy, yearly salary-sized fine, I hope RG and company are taking notice to make any adjustments. Do you think there will be more attention on this type of play moving forward?

I’m not worried about it. First, Luvu wasn’t just fined (originally suspended) out of the blue. There was a track record there and most of his offenses came while chasing ball carriers downfield, which is in the spirit of the rule. Even compared to what was called on Micah Parsons, you’ll notice a difference on Luvu’s sack of Michael Penix. Luvu doesn’t just go weightless – he falls flat on his back while pulling Penix down. That’s a no-no.

You could also argue Badgers football was close to at least competing for a championship in 2011. We were a special teams blunder (MSU) and a couple Hail Marys (MSU and OSU) away from an undefeated season. Wins over both those highly touted squads likely land us a matchup with LSU in the BCS Championship. Tormenting, for sure. It really tugs at the heartstrings if you play out the hypothetical of J.J. Watt sticking around for his senior year. Good memories, though. That was a fun team to watch.

David from Athens clearly didn’t watch that year or he would’ve seen Russell Wilson trying to spike the ball before time expired in the 2012 Rose Bowl.

Hi Wes, have you already forgotten that the Bucks won the most recent championship for a Wisconsin-based team, in 2021? They were never “inches away” in any other year in recent memory. Go back to 1974 to see their previous appearance in the NBA Finals. What’s the best way to attack the Eagles’ D with our current offense?

You’re right, the Bucks won it all in 2020-21, so fans should be content with plenty, right? Deal. No more complaining. The best way to attack the Eagles? Protect the ball, go directly right at ’em, and finish drives. This game Monday night will be won inside the red zone.

Have been watching the Packers since the Lombardi days, and do not recall seeing a game in which a team that never punted lost. Admittedly, my memory is not what it used to be. How many times has this happened (to the Packers and in the NFL generally)?

It happens across the league at least a couple times each NFL season. It’s a first for LaFleur but twice occurred during the Mike McCarthy era – a 31-23 loss to Detroit in 2018 and the infamous 44-23 loss to New Orleans in 2014.

The Jets are going to Jet! Seven high picks in the next two drafts, and in a great year, they might get two correct!

It’s wild watching New York systematically deconstruct what’s been its only strength over the past four seasons. For all the Jets’ flaws – and there are plenty – you could always count on them fielding a top 3-5 defense.

Dustin from Kansas City, MO

I really messed up at the game on Sunday. I was walking along near the Kwik Trip entrance an hour or so before the game, when I saw a fella, all dressed up and walking in the opposite direction of me. We made eye contact for a moment, and I gave him a little nod and a smile as the rolodex in my brain tried to place where I knew him from. By the time it dawned on me it was Wes, he was already gone. Talk about a missed opportunity.

Dustin! Nooooooooooooooooooo. Next time!

Would you please consider including the expected “Packers Unscripted” schedule for the coming week as part of the II sign-off on Mondays?

Yeah, we can do that. Outside of Thanksgiving week, I think it should be pretty much every Tuesday and Thursday unless I run into another contract dispute.

As last season progressed the Packers showed they were a good team needing to “put it all together” in order to make a deep playoff run. Last year they ran out of time. This season feels similar but heightened due to more talent on the roster. Only halfway through the season, they aren’t playing their best ball, and we are all asking the same question as last year: Will the Packers “put it all together” at the right time? I’m excited to find out.

The journey continues Monday night.