Mike's Mid-Week Chat: More of the aftermath

[Cheesehead]

I know the fans of both the Lions and Packers are still obsessing over the impact of the calls in the last game. Does the thought that perhaps we stole one that might have been somewhat undeserved have any effect on the players psyche?


It shouldn't. This happens all over the league now. Everyone has been a victim, or perceived victim, at some point, Packers included. Patricia's public message is the one his players have to buy into, that they had plenty of opportunities to put the game away so it didn't come down to those calls. Just like the Packers couldn't get too worked up about the DPI at the goal line on the Philly INT, because if they had punched it in from the 1 on the previous possession, everything is different. The phrase control what you can control has never been more apropos.


Props to Jamaal Williams and his performance Monday night against the Lions.


Williams was outstanding, and to do that after missing essentially two whole games was impressive, too. It looked like the Packers were moving the line of scrimmage up front on most running plays and getting 4-5 yards pretty easily with Williams' power running. It was an important part to the comeback, both of them.


Mike--If you and Wes competed in a decathlon who would win?


Wes is much younger than I am so the safe bet is him.


A lot of people said Packers offense had trouble against the Detroit D but I saw it differently. I thought they moved the ball well against Detroit defense. Only if Packers' receivers caught those balls, we would've beaten the Lions by more than 1 pts.


The Packers hurt themselves on offense plenty, and then Shepherd's slip on the goal line cost them points as well. The Packers moved the ball pretty well from the second quarter on. In the first quarter, a dropped third-down pass and the Jones fumble ended the first two drives.


Sure looks like the run defense is improving the last two games and another challenging running back coming to town on Sunday. Does Pettine make specific changes to the game plan for each back or does the defense follow a single general script?


It appeared in the Lions game Pettine got the defensive front back to playing more gap sound football, not worrying so much about penetrating, which was leaving creases for running backs in previous weeks. It cuts into your pass rush on play-action, but that's a sacrifice worth making. The Packers' pass rush has been really good on third downs.


Post game locker room, the team always breaks with "Family", I'm truly beginning to believe that word is becoming part of this team's identity, do you get the same feeling?


Indubitably.


I think something that is getting lost in the Flowers penalties is that the penalty includes contact to the neck area and based on where Flowers hand is on the second call it is completely conceivable that the official saw it as a penalty and called it as such. The timing of the calls is really what is fueling all the controversy - don't you think?


They were both on third down, giving automatic first downs and changing the course of both possessions dramatically. The first one wiped out a sack and the Packers were going to punt. Three plays later they're in the end zone. The second one took away their opportunity to get the ball back, and they would have only needed a FG to win. They were huge calls, but that gets back to the point Patricia made to the public and to his team right after the game. The Lions had chances to score way more than 22 points, and failing to take advantage of the opportunities made those late calls matter a ton.


The Raiders are 3-2 i believe coming off a bye. What will be the key to stopping them on Offense? Is it Josh Jacobs or Derrick Carr and the passing game? Gruden seems to be getting the most out of this team.


I give the Raiders credit. Driving 97 yards against Chicago's defense to win that game in London said a lot about what they have going. Jacobs is really coming into his own, and Carr is a dangerous QB. It's the second straight week the Packers are playing a team coming off a bye, and GB is on a short week to boot. This is a challenging week of preparation for an uncommon opponent.


Why wasn't Detroit first TD reviewed?


It was. All scoring plays are reviewed. They didn't see anything to reverse the call on the field, which was touchdown. Even though there was clear disagreement on the field from the officials as to what that call should have been.


Thanks for your hard work mike, does it seem like our third place schedule is kinda hard with the panthers and niners being the special games that the rest of the division doesn’t have to play? Vikings get falcons and Seahawks, bears get rams and saints, lions get cardinals and buccaneers.


That's how it shakes out sometimes. The Vikings getting the Falcons didn't look like a break in Week 1, but now it looks different. No one when the schedule came out thought Packers-Niners in Week 12 would be that big a deal, but that could now be a huge game. All part of the fun.


If Geronimo Allison can not go Sunday, do you think Lazard can step up and be a consistent threat like he was when he got his chances on Monday night? He has a confidence about himself that reminds me of a few great leaders we had over the past decade or so. Going back to Tae, James Jones, Driver, Jordy and even Greg Jennings. He really showed that in the preseason and Monday Night. Excited for guy like that to get the opportunities he has worked for since day one.


How can anyone not be excited for Lazard? Hopefully Allison can be back sooner than later, because even though this season hasn't gone as well as he would have hoped personally, he's proven he can do it in the past and can get back to it. What Lazard did was huge, and now he has to follow it up. The Packers are going to need him.


Being that I know quite a few lions fans up here, any suggestions on how to shut them up about "the packers bribing and cheating them out of a win?"


I get the Detroit fans' frustrations. They've been victims plenty, going all the way back to the play that started the Calvin Johnson rule in 2010. But you find out what your team is made of when you have to move on. Seven years ago the Packers bounced back from the Fail Mary and won a one-point game on a short week. The Fail Mary made the '12 Packers a better team.


Is our susceptibility to big plays becoming a concern? It's great we lock down in the end zone but we've given up a lot of bombs to good QBs, not great ones. Curious to see what we do against the cream of the crop...


Well, the Packers clamped down after the two early explosives vs. Detroit. Against Dallas, the big plays were consistent throughout the second half and that was a bigger problem. Teams are going to make some plays, but it's easier to recover if you give them up early vs. late.


Hi Mike, I was surprised to see the Lions come out with their blue "home" uniforms Monday night. Can the Packers (or any home team) wear any uniform they choose and the away team must respond with a contrasting uniform? Apparently, color-wash uniforms aren't only for Thursday nights anymore?


That surprised me, too. Had no idea until I got to the stadium Monday the Packers were going all-white. But yes, the home team gets to pick what it wants to wear and the visiting team has to choose an appropriate contrast from there.


King got burned a few times on Monday night. He did make a couple nice plays but he just didn't seem himself for long throws. Did you get a feeling he is dealing with some issues physically or more of a byproduct of fast WR?


He's been on the injury report with hamstring and groin issues. How much those are affecting him I can't say.


The vibe feels different this year. Obviously from a 35,000 foot view. Does that rub off on reporters like yourself covering the team?


I don't know what you mean by rub off, but it's certainly noticeable. The real test will come when adversity hits. The team has responded well to Adams' injury and the one, tough loss. But it's a long season and they'll have to respond again. So far, they've shown a togetherness that has been beneficial.


Mike, did it look to you like Detroits RB made it into the end zone? Did any of the players have anything to say?


I think the Packers thought they stopped him. I thought they stopped him. At least half the officials with a view of the play thought they stopped him.


Before we lost him, did you feel like Savage was developing good lateral speed and instincts? Would be nice to have an Earl Thomas-lite mop up guy to take the pressure off of CBs on deep balls.


I don't think it was an accident the Lions tested the Packers deep early with Savage out. That's nothing against Will Redmond, just a reality of how this league is.


Will it be key for the defense to limit Josh Jacobs and if so, how will they try to do it?


With the same principles they used against the Lions. The Packers were much more sound against the run, and it showed.