All it takes is one at the right time

Tyler from Cross Plains, WI

So does that mean Ben Sheets reads the Inbox? Did the faithful Inbox reach out on your behalf? Or is an Inbox having a little fun with you?

All distinct possibilities we're trying to figure out.

Dave from Germantown, TN

I think I read somewhere that the Rams 'offensive tackles are No. 1 in the league and the packers' OTs are No. 2. Will these four players neutralize the pass rush of their opponents, or will a superior performance by one or the other be instrumental and tilt the game into their teams favor?

I expect the breakdowns on the edge to be few and far between in this game. But nobody's perfect, when is it going to be a good thing? Will it happen on a big third in the second half? Will he knock the ball out and create a turnover? Sometimes it all takes place at the right time.

Jim from Maple Grove, MN

Spoff, how does Blake Martinez make your list of A-grade candidates for the season thus far?

I think Martinez has played well, and he's clearly a key piece of Green Bay's defense. But I'm not thinking of Martinez would get the same Pro Bowl consideration as Clark, Bakhtiari and Adams. But I also do not think Martinez has hit his ceiling by any means.

Andrew from Washington, D.C.

Insiders, I've been told about our pack. All of the comments were made by Rodgers (deservedly so) but I am not sure about this problem. It was as if the Rams Believed to be far inferior, albeit with the threat of a great QB. My question, is that how do most teams view the Packers? I'd rather not think that we were going to "puncher's luck" cliche solely due to A-Rod.

Right or wrong, that's just the nature of the beast until you win a big game and announce yourself as a contender. Having gone so far, the Packers must change the perceptions. It's on them, and this is their biggest opportunity.

Tanner from Tulsa, OK

McCarthy on Aaron Donald's success: "He's from Pittsburgh, a big factor in success as we know." Delivered with a perfectly straight face. On that same note, what is "phone-booth football" that he mentions discussing Donald's success?

Phone-booth football is a reference to the game played in tight quarters.

Keith from Farmington Hills, MI

With NFC North, how do you think the division is going to be difficult? All of the teams look like possible playoff contenders and each game has a strong character, especially against division opponents.

I will continue to believe …

John from Hillsborough, NJ

Is it correct the Packers have not beaten the Rams in L.A. since Dec. 1966? Seems we are overdue for a little luck again this week.

My "One Last Look" column this week, which is Saturday, takes a look at the Packers' history in the Coliseum. In a word, it's strange. Aside from when Vince Lombardi was head coach, the Packers have won only two in 20 stadiums, in 1947 and 1990 (against the Raiders). Yet one of the franchise's most significant wins in Super Bowl I, as Lombardi went 7-2-1 in the coming. Rodgers' game for Cal vs. USC there in '04 was something, too, and McCarthy won there a Chiefs assistant in a do-or-die game on Christmas Eve in '94. Like I said, it's just strange stuff.

Steven from Silver Spring, MD

In his mid-week interview, Pettine was asked about pre-snap motion, which allowed him to be allowed to play. When Pettine was hired as it was pointed out that it was going to simplify things so that the reads would be simpler. I think it is really telling that our second halts of games have been successful as they have been. We have young girls getting fooled in the first half, coached up, then producing later in game.

But it's time for a complete game now.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

I just tucked my sister and brand new nephew (6 hours old) in the morning. I hope to make EJ a Packers fan like his Auntie and Mom. I had a talk with him about it before bed. May we give him a hearty Inbox welcome?

Maybe G residing between E and J will help.

Bruce from Bloomington, IL

The NFL just fired a line judge in rather unusually quick fashion with very little public comment. I'm going to tuck this away to see if there are more of these. The new legal gambling capabilities seem to me to be very close to any officials who make game-changing mistakes. BTW, I do not worry about what is in Area 51.

I'm not going to speculate about gambling, but this is an unprecedented move. The league has never gone before in the season for the Super Bowl era. This bears watching, indeed.

Nick from White Bear Township, MN

We've got a couple of new guys in our office, and I'm being reminded of how difficult and mischievous it is to get somebody up to speed. " Vic's old saying that "help is not on the way." If you could choose a player to make an unbelievably big step forward this help this team really needs (growing from within), who's your guy?

Jaire Alexander.

Patsi from Riverside, CA

Hi Mike. In your response to Aaron from Tomah regarding the longest streak of consecutive home wins, you reported that the league records only count, and not postseason games. Does this apply to individual player stats? For example, are the QB passing touchdown records based on only regular-season games as well? If so, what are the stats for the quarterback leaders (Manning, Favre, Brady, Brees) have thrown? Where does Rodgers rank on that count?

All league records, team and individual, count only regular-season stats. Postseason records are kept separately. There may be a lot of things in the world, but those numbers are not recognized by the league in any meaningful way.

George from North Mankato, MN

What position group must win their one-on-one battles to allow us the best chance for a W?

The offensive line and the cornerbacks.

Mark from Rochester, NY

Thanks for all the work of the Inbox Insider, but like the zebra, no one gets them all right. I would like to throw a challenge flag on your reply to Ron from Rockford, IL. On further review, Could you give us some insider view on why moving?

I do not want to put words in Wes's mouth, but I think our shared reluctance, generally speaking, is unlikely to be understood. What Matthews did in '14 and Montgomery in '16 are the exceptions, not the rule. In this particular case with Williams, I'd like to see how it is doing for the first half of the week. Minnesota before I start entertaining midseason switches.

Jason from Eagle, WI

Pretty amazing to see Sam Shields back on the field again, in a different jersey. Are you impressed with his drive to get back to the field of seriousness of his injuries, or do you think he's a bad guy?

Both, frankly.

Joe from Bloomington, IN

Have you noticed how players often look at the big screen between plays? Do you think that's distracting? Strikes me they should be thinking about the future, not the past.

It's their only way to get an in-game glance at movie. I do not blame them. You never know what they might spot to help them.

Jannis from Schimborn, Germany

Mike has done it again. In his cat he said that Detroit or Seattle will have a fourth loss after this weekend. Now guess what will be the next tie.

Of course.

Pete from Wausau, WI

My perspective … the Rams should be good. They have had a lot of picks for a few years. I wonder why they got all those high picks? I enjoy being a Packer fan.

Goff, Gurley, Donald and Brockers were all top picks from the 2012-16 drafts, and they even missed out on two other picks during that time in Greg Robinson and Tavon Austin. And with Goff making peanuts in QB money, they've used the term they've been drafted in Suh, Peters and Talib. The Packers have no top 15 picks and one top 20 pick on their own roster, and he's a rookie.

Mark from West Bend, WI

Mike, on "unscripted" you and Wes touched on the across-the-hall meetings that took place this week. My question is, who do the quarterbacks go across the hall with? It seems as though DB / WR, LB / RB and DL / OL were the groups. Does Aaron just go against Pettine?

Great question. Your suspicion sounds reasonable.

Ian from Owatonna, MN

Hello Insiders, first-time questioner, longtime reader here. In the early days of the Rodgers era, I would report statistics that showed a wide variety of Rodgers recipients would pass to. In the third or fourth game of one season, I believe he had passed to 13 different receivers. Recently it seems that number is down. It only seems to pass to our top receivers in that particular week. Why do you think this is a good thing?

I'm not sure it's either. As Rodgers' career has unfolded, I think he sees more week-to-week value in developing an extensive relationship with top targets, and he uses his powers at the line of scrimmage to work. In general, it's hard to argue with the results. While I do not remember the occasional game when it has been completed, it is necessary to be more or less impractical. by circumstances and situations.

Quinton from Madison, TN

I was just checking out the Bears Q & A on the Chicago Tribune website. Change a few names and the questions would look very much like the Inbox. Should T. Cohen be converted to receiver? Why is Roquan Smith on the field only 60 percent of the time? Should Khalil sit until his ankle heals fully? Then they answer their own questions with the answers they want to hear. I just have to wonder if they can manage their teams better than the people paid to do it?

Indubitably.

Alex from Helena, MT

Ha! Eli in the Hall of Fame. If you blindly look at two Super Bowls then OK, but look at his whole career. Skip rating lower than Bradford, Dalton, Flacco, Tannehill, and Schaub to name a few. Take away his two Super Bowl seasons, and he's 0-4 in the playoffs. Only playoff game he ever scored over 24 points in the pack against the Packers' 2011 defense, which ranked 32nd in yards allowed. If not for a great defense and two lucky throws, we'd like to talk about it.

His case is going to generate great debate when it comes up. The only two-time Super Bowl-champion QB not in the Hall of Fame that I'm aware of Jim Plunkett, but he only won one Super Bowl MVP while Manning won two. Performance on the biggest stages count for a lot, as they should. Never having a pass rating of 95 or above is a huge strike against him, but your playoff record quote does not sway me. He's 8-4 in the postseason, period, and lucky or not, the two throws you are two of the biggest in Super Bowl history. A pair of 4-0 runs and Super Bowl MVPs I believe will eventually get him into Canton.

Krystal from San Antonio, TX

Which player will have the biggest impact against the Rams?

It's stating the obvious, but I'll say it's been recorded on both "Unscripted" and "Final Thoughts," which Rodgers has to be the best player on the field for the Packers to win Sunday. He can not do it alone, but this is one of those games he must tilt the field each instance he steps onto it. He has to start every day in the morning. He walks to the huddle. He's done it before, and he needs to do it again.

Nick from Michigan City, IN

If Wes gets moved to janitor, will he have to change his number? Asking for a friend.

Nicely done.

Don from Madison, WI

I'm surprised how many people are basically stating the Rams game. We're nobody underdog, and we expect the Rams to bring their best. Are they a well-oiled machine? Yes. Has the game been played? No. Have the Packers played to the level they're consistently capable of with all starters? No. Let's see how the game works out before declaring an outcome. And, thanks for letting me answer my own questions for the Inbox. Can I get paid now?

No, but I'll give you Wes's lunch. Happy Friday, everyone.

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