He was the perfect guy at the perfect time in the…

Anything less than seeing Wes and Spoff in bibs and a cutoff for Final Thoughts this week, outside in the bowl at Lambeau, will be nothing short of a disappointment.

When we’re out in the bowl we have sponsors to answer to. Sorry, and uh, thank goodness.

Mike from Chamberlain, SD

Sounds like it’s in the final healing stages. Aaron Rodgers practiced on a Thursday for the first time since October, and he said last week he’s anticipating the toe being at or very close to 100% by the time the divisional playoff rolls around.

Nathan from Manitowoc, WI

Without knowing the specific opposition till after the wild-card round, do the Packers do more self-scouting or scouting of multiple possible opponents?

They’ll do some of both. There’s always time dedicated to self-scout during a bye, but they will take a look at their four possible opponents, probably spending the most preliminary time on the one they’re least familiar with.

As much as Washington desperately needs an actual name, how much more desperate is their stadium situation? It’s amazing no one got hurt. What a dump!

Funny how we were just talking in the Inbox recently about how run-down that place is, and then that happens. Glad it wasn’t worse.

Michael from Cassopolis, MI

Hi Mike, I love to watch old games and for me there are a few voices that could make a football game sound legendary. I recently watched the game of the week highlights of the ’82 playoff game between the Packers and Dallas. Harry Kalas narrated and it was that classic old-school NFL sound. Are you familiar with him?

Absolutely. Kalas was more the voice of NFL Films for me than John Facenda, to be honest. Legends both, but I recall hearing Kalas as a narrator more often in my youth.

Please give some context as to what the signing of De’Vondre Campbell has meant to this team? He has been by far my favorite player to watch on defense. And how important is it to have him and Kenny Clark healthy in January and February with the cold and wind potentially forcing teams to run the ball more?

Campbell changed the look of this defense. That’s the best way to put it. Amidst the transition to a new defensive coordinator at a position the Packers needed a major veteran upgrade, he was the perfect guy at the perfect time in the perfect scheme, or as close to it as you can get. There’s an old baseball adage that asks how strong teams are defensively “up the middle,” meaning catcher, second base, shortstop and center field. With run defense in football, up the middle is interior D-line, inside ‘backer and strong safety. The Packers’ trio of Clark, Campbell and Amos as the leaders is rock solid, and the best they’ve had in quite a while.

Kevin from Indianapolis, IN

There seems to be a fixation of late around the QB position and the MVP award. May I suggest an Outsiders Inbox question that allows readers to argue for past non-QBs that were most deserving (I’m looking at you Deion Sanders)?

I like that idea, so I posted it for Wes to possibly file away for the summer.

Jeff from Lake Forest, CA

Hey Mike, didn’t want to ask this till we officially locked up the bye, so here it goes. What does practice look like on the off week? Is it a true bye week and the players are free to leave, or are they actually allowed to practice to some degree? I’m guessing there are CBA rules that regulate that?

If I recall correctly from the past two years, LaFleur will conduct a couple of practices late in the week, give the players the weekend off, and then get back at it Monday when they know their opponent. This year, they might still be waiting for the Monday night wild-card game (if it’s an NFC contest) to know how it all shakes out, but I would think they’ll still resume workouts.

A few weeks back I was going to come to the Inbox to complain about the seemingly eight-year streak of never stopping an opposing two-point attempt. Well, here’s to a new eight-year streak of always stopping them, starting in Baltimore and continuing against the Browns!

Those wound up being two awfully important ones. Better to stop the ones that matter most than worry about the overall percentage.

Justin from Maple Grove, MN

Three straight seasons of 13 wins, what a ride it’s been. I feel what happens this postseason will define Rodgers’ legacy. Losing at Lambeau two years in a row would be more disappointing than the NFCCG in Seattle IMO. It’s time to get it done in January.

That it is, but I’ll leave the legacy stuff for when it’s all said and done, which hopefully isn’t for a while yet, no matter what the next month brings.