The Packers are counting on them

Good morning! When a neutral zone infraction occurs, what determines whether the play is blown dead or Aaron Rodgers is allowed to run a free play? Thanks for all you do to make us more knowledgeable fans.

It should be based on whether or not the defensive player’s early movement causes an offensive player to move early. If not, it should be a free play, and Rodgers thought he had one early the other night. The other way it gets blown dead is if a defender is “unabated to the quarterback,” as a safety measure.

Chuck from Gold Canyon, AZ

Good morning, Mike. The loss of Robert Tonyan and Kylin Hill was very unfortunate. Tonyan seemed to be trending up in recent weeks. The Packers have a lot of diversity in the TE room but none of them bring the down-the-field options that he did. Clickbait articles have us showing interest in Engram but I don’t see Gutey giving up draft capital to acquire him. Do you think there will be adjustments to Allen Lazard’s role to compensate for Bobby’s loss?

Not really. I think more will be asked of Dominique Dafney and Josiah Deguara, and the Packers are counting on them.

I’m glad we finally know what Rodgers (was) for Halloween. Now, the real question is: Will he cut his hair?

Am I not a member of the modern-day media if I say, with all due respect, I really don’t care about any of it?

At away games, how soon do players arrive at the stadium to prepare for the game? Also, when the game is finished, how much time are the players given before they head to the airport?

The usual procedure is there are two sets of buses that leave the team hotel for the stadium. The first departs about 3½ hours before kickoff, the second 2½ hours prior. After the game, there isn’t a time limit necessarily, but players are asked not to dawdle.

It seems like a lot of these big time injuries have been happening on Thursday night games. It happened to the Panthers a couple of weeks ago. Should the NFL reconsider Thursday Night Football?

Yes, but it won’t, especially not when an epic matchup and finish take place like last week.

Ignacio from Oceanside, CA

On the muffed punt could Ty Summers have advanced the football into the end zone prior to being touched by the Cardinals?

No. The ball was dead at the spot Summers first gained possession of it, which was the 3-yard line.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I couldn’t help but notice we were able to prevent the double-up strategy once again against the Cardinals. I don’t know if it’s specifically part of the game plans, but it has been working all season long.

The Packers are on quite a streak of losing coin tosses and not only preventing the double-up by the opponent, but dominating those possessions that bridge halftime and being in better position to win coming out the other side.

How does Rodgers feel about his viral meme from the Thursday night game?

He gave the only response anyone could after something like that: “The internet is undefeated.”

People who look at one play and say the other team was lucky neglect to consider that there were several other plays that didn’t go the way of that other team. They see fortune/misfortune all in one direction and that’s not reality.

Comment on Kirsten from Madison’s observation on the many online comments about how “lucky” the Packers were on the late interception. Having the guts to call an all-out blitz in that situation is not luck. The pressure was immediate and ready to get home.

That, too. As I said Friday, the Packers decided to force the issue – force the Cardinals to be on the same page to make a play. They were not and did not. That’s football.

While LaFleur is certainly being unfairly dismissed for Coach of the Year because “he’s got Aaron Rodgers,” it’s not the first time a Packers coach’s accomplishments were treated this way because of the team’s talent. Vince Lombardi was named AP COY only once – 1959 after his first season when he took the Pack from 1-10-1 to 7-5. That Lombardi was never named COY during the championship years is ridiculous! Matt is in the best possible company.

Just for perspective, how many games did St. Vince win in his first 40 as a head coach? Granted, he was rebuilding, but still…

Lombardi won 28 of his first 40 in the regular season, compared to LaFleur winning 33.