By playing for each other, they’re winning with…

Not so much a question as a statement: Forget about Matt LaFleur’s supposed need to improve his goal-line play calls. Sean Payton called three passes in a row, starting on first-and-goal, and ended up giving Tom Brady an extra minute and a timeout to play with because of it. Even the home fans started booing, which is rare for a team playing with the lead in the fourth quarter. Lucky for him his defense came through, otherwise that press conference would have been brutal.

Unless a team sees something on film that can be exploited, I’m convinced every team should just run it on first-and-goal. Even if you get stuffed, the defense must consider whether you’ll run again, go play-action or pass on second down. If you pass on first down and it falls incomplete, it sort of becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Two serious injuries on one kick return in last Thursday’s game. Do you see the NFL doing more to regulate the kick return out of the game? I like, for example, the college rule of allowing a fair catch of the kickoff in the field of play (not just the end zone) and being awarded the ball at the 25-yard line or spot of the fair catch. Do you like that idea? Also, I always want a kickoff in the end zone as a touchback. Ty Montgomery and Kylin Hill are Exhibits 1 and 2 to support my case.

I used to think the changes to the kickoff were ruining football. Now, I think they might be saving it. It was a scary play, for both Jonathan Ward and Hill, but the problem is Ward didn’t do anything illegal. It was just a poor form tackle but he didn’t deserve to be injured on the play. Listen, it’s a QB-driven league, right? The rules are tailored to that reality. Just give the guys everyone wants to see the football. So, no, I wouldn’t be disappointed in the slightest by just having offenses start at the 25. Returners will still have value on punt returns, which are important now more than ever.

After a glance at the standings, I noticed the Packers at 7-1 are only plus-25 in point differential. Pretty remarkable when you look at other teams in that range. 3-5 Indy at plus-17, 3-5 Seattle and Philly, 3-4 Minnesota, and 4-4 Carolina all at plus-12. Only the Raiders at 5-2 plus-14, and the Ravens at 5-2 plus-23 are close. In your opinion does something have to give at some point or can this team keep winning these “just barelies”?

I guess. Honestly, I haven’t thought much about point differential. The Packers lost by 35 points to New Orleans in an anomaly in Week 1. So, yeah, it’s gonna take few games to burn that loss off.

Good morning! Getting a bigger lead in the North is great, as winning the division is priority No. 1 each year. At what point though would the Vikings beating the Cowboys be a better scenario for the Pack? If we take care of our business in our division, the Lions, Vikings, and Bears won’t catch us. More losses for other contenders might be helpful. Go Pack Go!

Spoff presented this question to me last week and I didn’t have a good answer for him. If you have confidence in your ability to run the table in the NFC North, then I suppose it would’ve benefitted the Packers for the Vikings to de-cleat the Cowboys. However, it’s well-documented how I favor the bird in the hand over the two in Spoff’s hydrangeas. In my opinion, it’s too early to talk about playoff implications. There’s still so much that could happen by December. What’s real is the Packers have a 3½-game lead in the NFC North. And it’s spectacular.

Nathan from Lino Lakes, MN

When I think of RBs or QBs changing teams I imagine the transition is difficult because there are so many scheme/language updates that the player has to be brought up to speed on while making sure the rest of the team is following the same direction. Will Von Miller have an easier time as a DE or am I vastly underestimating the complexity of that position coming into a new role, on a new team?

There’s always going to be some transition involved with a new scheme but it seems like a friendlier move for edge rushers than other positions (e.g. Whitney Mercilus coming in and playing right away in Green Bay).