Inbox: That’s the potential beauty of a game like Sunday’s

Cheesehead

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Mar 19, 2019
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Phil from Marietta, GA


I know it's very early and a division title is by no means assured. But I'm tempted to look at possible playoff seedings and therefore cheer for the Bears to beat the Saints this weekend. Am I crazy?


A little. I personally feel this NFC North is going to be brutally difficult to win, so until further notice, I’m all for anything that helps the Packers in the division first.


Nick from Richmond, VA


As we continue with the season, should we be pulling for the other teams in our conference to win to show how tough our conference is, or do we hope they lose every game and give us a nice cushion and easy road to be division champs?


Anytime there’s an AFC vs. NFC matchup, root for the AFC (well, you know, except Sunday at Lambeau). If my quick research is accurate, right now the NFC is 19-10 in cross-conference matchups. The NFC was 11-3 through the first three weeks and it’s been a little more even since. Still, that’s a pretty big disparity and one reason the conferences look so different right now.


Ryan from Irvine, CA


What happens to the clock when a penalty is assessed and is there a rule of thumb for when the penalty yardage is added to the end of the run vs. replay the down? Does the time go back on if the play "never happened"?


The clock doesn’t move on a pre-snap penalty that kills the play. Time is not put back on the clock for completed plays that are wiped out by fouls, though. Post-snap defensive penalties for holding, etc., are added to the end of running plays. On pass plays, the offense has to decide whether to take the play or the penalty.


Theologos from Athens, Greece


Mike, the schedule doesn't do the Packers any favors having to play for three straight weeks against well rested opponents. If you consider how banged up we are I think this is an opportunity to gauge the character of the team.


Nearly every week serves as some sort of gut-check in the NFL. When you’re decimated by injury at one particular position, that certainly qualifies.


Richard from Menasha, WI


I read an article about the CBA negotiations and it stated the door is wide open to a 17-game regular season while reducing the preseason to three games. It didn't mention where the additional game would be played. Are all of the 17 game regular-season proposals suggesting the additional game be at a neutral site?


I don’t know the details on all the proposals, but the league has certainly dropped hints about wanting a more extensive international series and might push for each team’s “extra” game to be played outside the country.


Michael from Winchester, VA


With the Chiefs' loss of Mahomes, did their extra rest just give the Packers a small advantage in the form of more time to prepare for Moore? Obviously the team won't be thinking about that until after Oakland, but is there someone on the coaching staff pulling out old film on Moore, or does that wait until Monday, too?


There are assistant coaches assigned to begin work on the next opponent once the current game plan has been implemented and repped, so that’ll start this weekend and the full coaching staff will dive in Monday night into Tuesday. From the Chiefs’ perspective, if anything the mini-bye gives the team as a whole more time to process life without its star QB. I think mentally Kansas City will be in a better place come next Sunday night than it otherwise might have been.


Jake from Brooklyn Park, MN


What is it you've said? It's not just who gets hurt, but when they get hurt. I know, just beat the Raiders, but that Chiefs game looks a lot different with Mahomes out. Does it take any pressure off of a player (e.g. Savage) to return from injury knowing the opposing team's star that they would directly match up against is out?


I really don’t think coaches and players look at it that way. If a guy is healthy enough to play, he plays. If not, he doesn’t.


Sean from Aubrey, TX


I think the Chiefs should be smart with Mahomes and sit him for their next game, then play him the next. You know, in the interest of player safety. Rest and then test. The fact that their next game is against the Packers and the one after that is against the Vikings has nothing to do with it. The mantra of "it's not who you play, it's when you play them" has never been truer.


Mahomes beat the Lions with a last-minute drive, it appears he’ll miss the games against the Packers and Vikings, and then he’ll be back when the Chiefs play the Bears in December. This injury could have a significant impact on the NFC North race, but you still have to play the games.


Nic from London, UK


Ugh. Mahomes out for duration TBD. Roethlisberger out. Chargers struggling. Is it OK to be frustrated that it already looks like playoffs will run through NE? I'm going to be sending the most positive thoughts in the world for the entirety of Deshaun Watson's body, he's going to have to be the Iron Man to Brady's Thanos. But you know, with a happier ending for him.


Don’t count the Chiefs out. They can overcome this, and they’ll be determined to show they can next Sunday night. But that’s enough about next week.


Chase from Ft. Wood, MO


No more sack celebrations? I understand the reason but I feel like there could be some middle ground. The defense is the main reason we are 5-1, let them have a little fun. Maybe tell them to run back to their side of the line and celebrate there or something. P. Smith "ground slap" takes all of two seconds. C'mon man.


LaFleur clarified on Friday he’s not against the celebrations, he just wants them to be quick. Everything’s fine.
 
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