How much will the weather, especially the wind, be a factor in the game? I’m in the Chicago market, and of course all of the pundits here are saying it will strongly favor the Bears because of their run game. They’re predicting Jordan Love will have a hard time with downfield throws in that wind.
If it snows, it snows. That’s football. As far as the wind is concerned, I thought Love handled a rather blustery day at Soldier Field just fine before the second of Austin Booker’s two roughing the passer penalties knocked him out of the game. Green Bay will be fine.
Jonathan from Hamilton, GA
Regarding the II question from Brian from Oregon, WI, whether another playoff game has occurred where both teams’ most recent victories have come against each other, I posed the question to AI (Google Gemini, in this case) and it found no other occurrences. AI does make mistakes, and I have neither the time nor the inclination to verify it, so take that for whatever it’s worth.
I’m sure it’s happened before, but this is a unique situation and it adds to those high stakes we’ve been talking about. Either the Packers get redemption, or the Bears send Green Bay into the offseason abyss with five straight defeats.
I assume that Desmond Ridder being elevated to the 53-man roster was necessary to designate him as an emergency quarterback for the playoffs. The way I understand the emergency quarterback rule, he won’t count against the 48-man gameday roster. Am I correct?
Correct. The Packers can dress up to 49 players on gameday as long as they have eight active offensive linemen and three quarterbacks on the active roster.
Good morning, Wes. With Bo Melton headed to injured reserve status, the Packers’ IR/PUP list now has as many players as the practice squad. Mercy. Have you ever seen anything like this for injuries?
Probably 2010, when Green Bay had 16 players on IR.
Kevin from Peachtree City, GA
In hindsight, as well as Sean Rhyan is playing at center, would it have been better to start him at center this year than move Elgton Jenkins to center? Beneficial both to team and player?
I don’t look at it that way. I see it more like the Packers were fortunate to invest three years in Rhyan’s development at center to get him ready for this scenario. Whether it’s injuries or circumstances, you don’t know what you don’t know until you know it. Rhyan has been solid at center. Hopefully he can finish out the season strong and get what he’s earned this offseason.
I promise the kids (and adults with child-like souls, mine included) were nodding along with Patrick from St. Charles. But I can promise you it did NOT stop with the N64. Same (stuff), different day. On a more serious note, how is our health looking? I think seeing only one DNP for yesterday’s practice really convinced me that sitting our guys in Week 18 was by far the best idea, Ben Johnson’s masculinity be darned.
The Packers lost receiver/cornerback Bo Melton to a non-ACL knee injury that’ll keep him out of the playoffs but got back special-teams ace Nick Niemann. Everybody practiced on Wednesday besides Melton, so things appear to be looking up for Green Bay on the injury front.
Not a question per se, but to anyone downplaying Matthew Golden – I respectfully submit you need cataract surgery. He’s fast, runs good routes, can take a hit, and has sticky iron hands. That combo doesn’t come around often. Not saying he’s the next Davante Adams, but he’s got a good shot.
This is the last thing I’m gonna say on Golden until new data is presented, but I wanted the Packers to draft him back in April and I absolutely stand by that decision in January. He’s a gifted receiver. With more seasoning, Golden has the tools to be a serious playmaker in this offense. Period.
Collin from Brookland, AR
Am I the only one who was hoping we didn’t play on Saturday again this year?
The Packers might break a record for Saturday games played in a single season. With a win over Chicago, Green Bay most likely will play next Saturday in Seattle.
Wes, that green/blue sweater you wore on Tuesday’s “Unscripted” is sharp! I couldn’t find it in the Pro Shop online. Is it available anywhere? We’ve seen a lot of folks praise Barryn Sorrell for his game at Minnesota, and justifiably so. Why didn’t he get more snaps throughout the season? Thanks!
That’s an oldy but a goody I occasionally bust out. Unfortunately, it probably hasn’t been in the Packers Pro Shop for almost 10 years. Sorrell’s situation was a matter of opportunity or lack thereof. Green Bay already had a lot of mouths to feed at edge rusher going into the season and then it acquired Micah Parsons, who played roughly 80% of the defensive snaps prior to his knee injury. There’s plenty of opps available now, though, and I’m excited to see what Sorrell and Brenton Cox Jr. do when their number is called.
