These games test a team’s mettle

Hi Wes, I’m part of Mike’s and your loyal followers, but I have to take issue with your Saturday II response when you said the keys to beating the Browns were, “Get off to a fast start and contain Nick Chubb.” While I agree with the latter and failing to do so almost cost us a win, the 2021 Packers rarely get off to a fast start. We are No. 26 in the league in 1Q points, and we’ve been shut out in 1Q more times (nine) than we’ve scored (six)! Shouldn’t we accept our way of winning 12 games isn’t fast?

I thought about that while writing my response but also wondered how much the lack of first-quarter points (relative to the second quarter) also correlated to how often the Packers have lost the opening coin toss this season. To your point, maybe the Packers are slow starters but scoring on the opening drive is a big reason Green Bay had success under LaFleur early on.

Alfred from Kingston, Ontario

I would like to heap some praise on the O-line for the Packers. They have been excellent. A battling, hungry bunch of backups showing their teamwork and spirit. I know the 2010 group had some injuries, but can you tell me if there was another time a Packers’ O-line used five guys as backups on their offensive line for this long?

It’s a broken record at this point but the job Adam Stenavich has done with that offensive line this season is truly amazing. The Packers have lost several starters but they’ve also found some. I think everyone is in agreement Yosh Nijman is a starting-caliber player. Seven starts do not a make a season, but they do make quite the statement. The same can be said for Jon Runyan and Lucas Patrick.

I really hope Aaron Jones wins the Walter Payton Man of the Year. Do you think he has a good chance?

I have no idea, but Jones absolutely deserves it. If you haven’t had a chance to see Tom Rinaldi’s piece on the Jones family yet, be sure to do so and have a box of tissues on standby. It was masterfully done. Beyond all the adversity the family has faced this year, however, Jones and his brother Alvin Jr. also have done so much good in the Green Bay community with the A&A All The Way Foundation.

Richard from Livermore, CA

Against Baltimore, Mason Crosby kicked extra points from the left hash mark. Sunday, he kicked them from the right hash mark. A kick from an angle has less margin of error than a straight-on kick, so why not kick from straight-on, but switching from one side to the other is even more baffling. What gives?

Kicking inside Lambeau Field is a different animal, especially depending on the wind. I don’t know Crosby’s reasons but I assure you there’s a method to the madness.

It looks like we got out of the Cleveland game without any significant injuries for a change. Monday’s news of four going on the COVID list makes me think the bye is more important this year because it’s one less chance of missing important players for a playoff game. Do you think the NFL may tweak its policy in the playoffs, or is it going to be whichever team sustains the best will win?

It’s hard to say what the NFL will do. To be honest, I didn’t expect the league to drop testing altogether like it did. The biggest change with major postseason ramifications is vaccinated players being allowed to return with one negative test. That could be the difference between a key player having to sit out and seeing major minutes.

Does beating Minnesota knock the Vikings out of playoff contention?

It would put their season on the brink. It’s entirely possible an eight-win team makes the playoffs but San Francisco and Philly already are there and have one more conference win than the Vikings.

No debating the top three, but is Lynn Dickey the fourth-best all-time Packers QB?

I love Lynn Dickey as much as the next guy, though probably not as much as my boss, but Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Arnie Herber and Cecil Isbell are the best quarterbacks in team history (in no particular order).

Insiders, I want to thank you for waking me up. I was going to ask you what is the best strategy? Do we put on the gas or rest players as we go against two dangerous rivals, one desperately trying to make the playoffs and had beaten the Packers, and the other in what essentially will be their Super Bowl game for the year? Then, it hit me after reading you guys all year, the only strategy is, just beat Minnesota.

Timidity doesn’t win championships – and you can’t go to the NFC party until you take care of business in the North first.