Now that the Packers have excused themselves from this year’s playoff contest, I find it bittersweet watching games this weekend. It’s frustrating that I will not be watching the Pack. But, on the other hand, my anxiety level will finally come down. It’ll be an exciting weekend of games where I have a feeling many will come down right to the wire. I’d like to see Josh Allen finally make it to the big game but at this point, anyone but the Bears! GPG!

It’s the same deal with me every year…I say I’m not going to watch any of the games and then I watch all of the games.

I think we need to draft a quality college center, which could be had in a later round. Or get an experienced free agent to anchor the O-line. Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Sean Rhyan and Zach Tom with the aforementioned center makes a solid O-line. Draft a corner in the second round and a quarterback to battle Desmond Ridder for backup QB. A speedy running back, unless MarShawn Lloyd gets healthy. See…problem solved.

In nearly 10 years with packers.com, I’ve never wanted to talk more in mid-January about the upcoming NFL Draft. Green Bay has six picks but could pick up two more seventh-rounders through the compensatory process, according to OverTheCap. Either way, Brian Gutekunst and his scouts have a big offseason ahead of them. You have to make every swing count, especially with how many quality players the Packers could lose in unrestricted free agency.

If a legit criticism of Matt LaFleur is that he’s slow getting rid of underperforming assistant coaches, how will management approach that topic with him?

I struggle with this line of questioning because most established NFL head coaches have the same lieutenants over the years. Sean Payton, the Harbaugh Bros., Andy Reid and Sean McDermott all have their mainstays. Mike McCarthy did, too. When McCarthy swapped out his staff in 2018, it may have been his weakest in Green Bay. Mike Tomlin shook up his offensive and defensive staffs over the last decade, but nothing really changed from a win-loss perspective. If LaFleur stays, then it’s up to him to decide how he’ll handle his staff. But change for the sake of change doesn’t get anyone anywhere. It’s the “why” behind it.

Jeffery from Monticello, WI

Hello II, I had a dream Hafley stayed and got Rashan Gary, Devonte Wyatt and Micah Parsons double-digit sacks in 2026. Don’t laugh, it could happen.

Hoping for the best for Hafley and his family. He took a big risk leaving Boston College two years ago to become the Packers’ defensive coordinator. If Hafley lands one of these 32 NFL coveted gigs, I applaud his return on investment. If by some chance Hafley is back in Green Bay…giddy up.

When you mentioned Packers/Lions as most watched game broken immediately by Cowboys/Chiefs, I wondered if you had seen Packers/Bears set the record for most-streamed game ever, with an average of 31.4 million viewers and a high of 34 million during the comeback?

I did see that. I’m sure it was a thrilling game to watch for those without a dog in the race.

Good morning Weston! As I sit here looking out the window at yet another four inches of snow, I’m not looking forward to another two months of winter. Winter goes by MUCH faster with Packer games. Can the NFL have the first season go from the first week of November to first week of April instead? But seriously, I feel the Bears could very easily take a step back next year. Too many close victories with the right things happening late in games for them. If they “earn” their wins they had probably 6-7 wins this year.

I’ve gone back and forth on Caleb Williams for the past two years, but I think this season proved he’ll be the Chicago Bears quarterback for the next decade. What’s the Bears’ ceiling with No. 18 under center? We’ll soon find out, as Chicago is one of eight teams still with a shot at this chip. My mouth shall remain shut until that’s no longer the case.