"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Eric from Hudson, WI
Why is the AFC so weak except for one team?
I think there are at least three top teams in the AFC: Patriots, Chiefs and Ravens. I'm waiting for the Texans to make it four. Much of the rest of the AFC is in quarterback flux. The Steelers lost Roethlisberger, the Jaguars lost Foles and the Colts lost Luck. Young quarterbacks such as Mayfield, Allen and Darnold are on the way up, and older quarterbacks such as Rivers and Flacco are holding on. Quarterbacks define a conference. The AFC is in quarterback chaos right now. Let's revisit this situation late in the season.

Rob from Rockford, IL
When the schedule was released back in April, you said the Packers "could explode out of the blocks." It seems you're right again, Vic. Can they keep this up?
Yes, I think they can. The schedule is favorable to go into December on a roll and with the NFC North lead. The last three games on the schedule will define the Packers' regular season. Bears, at Vikings, at Lions will validate or violate what the Packers accomplish up to that point.

Josh from Silverton, CO
Vic, I'm sure you'll get quite a few variations of this question, and I'm not jumping to any conclusions yet, but if Minshew continues to look capable at QB in his rookie season, even with some lumps, what do you think happens when Foles is healthy again?
The first sensible out for the Jaguars is 2021, when Foles' dead money would drop from $34 million to $12.5 million. Regardless of what Minshew does the rest of this year, I think Foles is with the Jaguars next year.

Jon from Jacksonville, FL
You growing that Minshew mustache yet?
Yeah, just started.

Robert from Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Run the ball, rush the passer remains a recipe for success, but what the heck happened to running the ball in the Jaguars game? Both offenses were anemic in that regard.
Each team's defensive game plan was to stop the run and make the quarterback beat you with the pass. I counted nine Titans in the box on several occasions. Gardner Minshew made the Titans pay for that strategy.

Justin from Layton, UT
Any difference in opinion after two surprising performances by Gardner Minshew?
What's the rush?

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, Minshew was again composed and consistent. His throws were accurate, he threw receivers open, he protected the ball. His footwork and release are impressive. If he keeps up this progression, Jacksonville will have a $50 million backup QB. Is that a stretch?
No, I like your analysis. I would add this: Minshew's best throws were slants underneath the coverage and lobs over the top of the coverage. That's a good combination, but future opponents are likely to force Minshew to play outside the numbers. They'll force him to hit the honey hole. Does he have the arm strength to do it?

Wendell from Porto Alegre, Brazil
Will Eli Manning go into the Hall of Fame? Do you think he deserves it?
I think he'll get in, but I wouldn't vote for him. I love the two Super Bowl wins, but I just don't think he was a special quarterback.

Mike from Boscobel, WI
Coach Marrone, by all appearance, seems like a good guy. Do you think he can right the ship in Jacksonville? Feels like this may be his last season with this franchise. Funny thing is I'm not as happy about that as some Jaguars fans seem to be.
I was a young reporter covering the Steelers when Doug Marrone was an undrafted free agent in the Steelers' training camp. He's a football man who's dedicated his life to the sport. Two years ago, he took the Jaguars to the verge of winning the AFC title. It's remarkable how it crumbled so quickly. His biggest problem in fixing the Jaguars is he'll have to do it with a rookie quarterback. Or maybe Minshew can buy Marrone some understanding and patience.

Dain from Columbus, WI
I get the idea of putting some talent around Aaron Rodgers before he declines with age, but how much are we crippling the future team with all the free agents this year and last? Or, simply stated, how healthy is the Packers' cap under the new regime?
The Packers are on the edge of their financing, so to speak, but they won't go over the edge, as the Vikings have. It's just not in the Packers' DNA to do that.

Jonathan from Southern Pines, NC
What if Mason Rudolph turns out to be really good this season and the Steelers don't have a terrible season like you think? Then what happens when Roethlisberger wants to come back next season?
If Rudolph wins the job, I think Roethlisberger would be given the opportunity to seek a trade or retire. I would expect him to retire. Cap-wise, it's doable.

Min from Seoul, South Korea
What does Mike McCarthy think to himself after Week 2?
He's probably thinking he wishes he had a defense like that.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, what should the Jags do with Fournette after his rookie contract expires? In my opinion, he’s no better than an average back in the league. I can’t imagine they will be picking up his fifth-year option.
Here's the bigger question: Will the Jaguars have new leadership after this season? The answer to that question will determine what the Jaguars do with players such as Leonard Fournette.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Are the Lions a threat to challenge for the NFC North crown?
The next four games are the meat of the Lions' schedule: at Eagles, Chiefs, at Packers, Vikings. What the Lions do in those four games will answer your question.

Mike from Rochester, MN
Why are players salaries made public? Was it always that way?
It's always been that way because leaking a player's compensation to the media was good advertising for an agent that just got his client a favorable contract. Since the advent of the salary cap, compensation information isn't about agent advertising as much as it is about a need to know. For example, in analyzing the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, you need to know the Dolphins paid him a signing bonus of a little over $10 million. What's left of the amortization of that money stays on the Dolphins' cap, which means the Steelers get Fitzpatrick at a big cap savings. The savings is money the Steelers can spend, say, on a free agent, so you could say the Steelers traded a 2020 first-round pick for Fitzpatrick and an unrestricted free agent to be named later, in addition to the swap of mid-round picks. In the salary cap era, fans absolutely must know the financials involving player acquisition to fully understand and appreciate the game.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

I expect the Packers to be undefeated heading to Dallas
That would mean the Packers would be 4-0. Why not? The Packers are playing top-notch defense and they're beginning to run the ball. The only part of their game that's lagging is a bulky passing attack. Imagine that!
The Broncos will be road kill in Lambeau this week.

Time to be new in Pittsburgh
The run is over for the Steelers. I expected as much, but sadly it's a season-ending injury to Ben Roethlisberger that's punctuating the Steelers' demise.
Life starts anew! This season will determine whether Mason Rudolph is the future at quarterback for the Steelers.
It's gonna get bad for the Steelers. I expect them to lose in San Francisco. More than any other, this is a season that'll define Mike Tomlin as a coach.

Jaguars on display tomorrow night
Will they rally against the Titans? Or  might Jalen Ramsey further embarrass the franchise?
It's a national TV game and it will be the worst of times for the Jaguars if the Titans do to the Jaguars as the Titans did to the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football a year ago.

I don't want to waste good questions
Here are a few to whet your appetite for Friday's column.

Daniel from Johnston, IA
Can the Saints stay alive with Bridgewater? They might get Brees back before they have to play Atlanta.
The Saints are toast.

Don from Richmond, KY
If Shad Khan asked for your advice, what would you tell him to do with Jaguars personnel?
I would tell him to forbid any move to be made without his approval. No more giving away draft picks for stop-gap scrap.

Sean from Chaska, MN
Would GM Vic have paid Kirk Cousins $84 million guaranteed?
No, because my father, too, also a frugal man. Be that as it may, I gave the Vikings credit for knowing they needed an upgrade from Case Keenum. The Jaguars deluded themselves. The Vikings didn't.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, if the Giants are willing to trade Eli and he's still willing to play, which team would be the best fit for him?
As Coach Noll would say, it's time for Manning to get on with his life's work.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
What are the Steelers trying to accomplish trading away a possible top 10 pick in a rebuilding year?
I didn't like the trade, either, but Kevin Colbert is an esteemed personnel man so I spent time yesterday trying to look at the trade from his perspective. First of all, the trade is a desperate move to fix that defense. The Steelers have lost their identity and they desperately need to get it back. The trade for Fitzpatrick isn't about salvaging this season or rebuilding for the future. It's about fixing that defense and becoming the Steelers again. Beyond that, it might suggest Colbert thinks Rudolph is the future at QB. Remember, Colbert traded up for him. I talked to a long-time NFL scout on Tuesday. He told me he had an especially high grade on Fitzpatrick coming out of Alabama. The scout said he thought Fitzpatrick was special as a draft prospect. Look at the whole deal. Colbert was dogged in negotiating it. The Steelers gave a one, a five and a six; they got Fitzpatrick, a four and a six. Numerically, the four waters down the one. The Steelers get a former first-round pick who's about to come into the prime years of his career. His signing bonus stays in Miami which makes Fitzpatrick cap friendly. Maybe Colbert thinks next year's draft is weak at the top but strong in the middle. This is intriguing. So why were the Dolphins willing to trade him? That's what would trouble me. Coach Noll said you need to "resist the temptation" to trade picks for players.

Jason from Austin, TX
"When all is said and done, this might be the game that costs Mike Zimmer his job." Really? I didn't know Zimmer was even on the hot seat. I think he's a great coach. If he gets fired, I bet he won't be without a job for long. Do you consider Mike Zimmer a good coach?
Zimmer is an outstanding coach, but the big free-agent spending put him on a short leash because teams that spend big in free agency are on a short leash.

Mark from Regina, SK
I totally agree with you, Vic, the Week 2 performance likely sealed Coach Zimmer's fate. The burning question now is does Coach McCarthy start buying purple and gold? Or should he wait until it's closer to spring?
He won't have to buy it.

Josh from Madison, WI
What do you figure led to the Vikings' sluggish defensive start? Maybe they didn't eat the whole Week 1 pizza, just a slice, and the antacid kicked in by the second quarter?
No, they ate the whole pizza.

David from Madison, WI
"Singing into a can" is what I meant to have written in my previous question.
OK.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
Have you ever wondered if it's just been one person asking you questions under different aliases?
It doesn't matter. Who do you want to be?

Jack from Chicago, IL
Vic, I understand you have great admiration for Bill Belichick as an evaluator of talent. What do you know about Ernie Adams and his role in Bill's success?
I'm sorry, I lost communication with you in mid-sentence. Ernie who?

Here are the Week 3 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings:
1. Patriots -- Greatest franchise ever?
2. Chiefs -- The real deal.
3. Rams -- I guess they taught them a little bit of a lesson.
4. Ravens -- Great, but they've beaten nobody.
5. Cowboys -- They look good.
6. Packers -- Making the big plays.
7. Seahawks -- Wilson's scrambling wins.
8. 49ers -- They're moving on up.
9. Bills -- They own New Jersey.
10. Colts -- They own the Titans.
11. Titans -- Mariota is their weakness.
12. Vikings -- They don't get it done.
13. Saints -- Put a fork in them.
14. Eagles -- Play hard, but something lacking.
15. Lions -- Gut check win against the Chargers.
16. Texans -- Doing less with more.
17. Chargers -- Rivers also showing some age.
18. Bears -- I'm not impressed.
19. Browns -- Wow, they beat the Jets.
20. Cardinals -- Young QB gives them hope.
21. Falcons -- Schedule is favorable.
22. Bucs -- Arians needs time.
23. Raiders -- Hammer time in Minnesota.
24. Washington -- Soft and cheesy.
25. Bengals -- Not Burfict's kind of team.
26. Broncos -- But they won a Super Bowl.
27. Jets -- Adam Gase, really?
28. Giants -- Now it begins.
29. Panthers -- What was Newton wearing on his head?
30. Steelers -- They're all gone.
31. Jaguars -- Ramsey must go.
32. Dolphins -- Last drafts first.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Ethan from Ontario, Canada
What did your eyes tell you was the biggest cause of the point drought during the game?
I don't want this to become a recurring theme, especially after a win.  A win needs to be good enough. The Packers are 2-0 and the road to the NFC North title goes through Green Bay. OK, here are the obvious choices for an answer to your question: 1) The play-calling became conservative and protective. 2) The Vikings decided to play defense. 3) Aaron Rodgers just isn't the quarterback he was in his prime. 4) The Packers offense is a work in progress under a new coach. In my opinion, the best approach is to lower these ridiculous expectations that the way it was is the way it must always be.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA
Are we seeing an Aaron Rodgers that isn't comfortable yet?
I think we're seeing a quarterback for whom expectations are too high.

Scott from Madison, WI
Vic, I don't want to overeact or withold due credit through two games, so please provide some perspective on what we should think about the 2-0 Packers so far?
They're making plays that win games, and they have a very favorable schedule ahead of them. Go ahead, get excited.

Brad from Yulee, FL
Vic, despite some horrid coaching decisions and a lackluster game by Gardener Minshew until the end, Minshew turned a switch at crunch time. What did we just see at the end of that game?
What happened is good. We'll watch for more on Thursday. The Steelers are in the same situation. Mason Rudolph looked good in his surprise debut. Can Minshew and Rudolph do it again?

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, you’ve gotta trade Ramsey. He can’t physically push the head coach. Who’s in charge of this team?
His trade value declined with that display. The longer the Jaguars wait, the worse it'll get.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Can you hear a horn in the distance?
When all is said and done, this might be the game that costs Mike Zimmer his job. A missed field goal attempt, a missed extra point attempt, an interception in goal to go with the game on the line, a hundred yards in penalties and damaging incidents of undisciplined behavior, all contributing to a devastating division loss on a day the Vikings rushed for 198 yards. On top of all of that, Zimmer didn't have his defense ready to play. Yeah, I can hear a horn in the distance.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, do you think Howard Cosell could have envisioned former coaches such as Urban Meyer being pregame analysts who constantly refer to their former teams as we?
Cosell saw it coming and he created terminology for it: the jockocracy. If you go back to the days of Paul Christman, the former players and coaches in the booth were names of lesser renown. They weren't capitalizing as much on their fame as they were their knowledge of the inner workings of the game. Monday Night Football gave us celebrity-type former players, such as Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Alex Karras. That's when the explosion of former jocks in the booth began and it's now to the point it's a prerequisite for getting a booth analyst or studio gig. I don't watch pregame shows, and I turn off the sound on any analyst who can't detach himself from his team allegiances.

Josh from Madison, WI
Is Cam on the fast track to an early exit, ala Luck?
Anybody who's had rotator cuff surgery knew and knows his career is in jeopardy.

Nathan from San Diego, CA
With all this defense talk, I realized my knowledge of Packers history is overwhelmingly focused on offense. I’m embarrassed to say I can't even tell you what Lombardi’s defenses were known for outside of the names of some of the players. How would you describe Lombardi’s defenses?
They were a typical read-and-react front whose tackles were assigned the task of keeping the blockers off the middle linebacker so he could run to the ball and make the tackle. That's how defense was played in the run-the-ball era. You didn't see a lot of exotic looks in the passing game -- I don't remember seeing five-wide until the mid-nineties -- so pass coverage was basic: cornerbacks on the two wide receivers, strong safety on the tight end and the free safety playing centerfield over the top. That was defense in the Lombardi era. Taking the tight end off the field and bringing on a third wide receiver on passing downs began the age of specialization; that's when defenses began to evolve in exotic ways. Three wide receivers introduced nickel and dime coverages and pass-rush specialists.

Eric from Las Vegas, NV
Vegas boards have the combined spread of those four games at 89 points, so I'll take the under on your total. I have a feeling the Big Ten games are closer than you think.
The combined points differential in Saturday's four featured games was 107 points. I set the over/under at 120. Congratulations, you've won a free subscription to "Ask Vic."

Eric from Hudson, WI
I suppose you’re going to start giving Mike McCarthy credit for these wins just like you did Jeff Fisher a couple of years ago. Draft and develop was cute until the drafting went south. What’s the rush in paying Rodgers? Weeks one and two are your answers. He tilts the field; your words. Did New England need AB? Nope. Bill Belichick picked him up in spite of Vic Ketchman. If receivers are a dime a dozen, coaches are a nickel.
OK.

Jim from Hunterton, IN
Well, Vic, we made it six quarters into the season before Rodgers and LaFleur had a sideline spat.
I'm not sure what to make of that.

Timothy from Ocala, FL
I think the call to go for two was the right call for the Jags versus Houston, but the actual play dialed up was terrible. They hadn't gotten any yards up the middle all day! Why not keep the ball in Minshew's hands?
I thought they should've kicked and gone to overtime. All of the pressure was on Houston. The Jags' arrow was pointing up. Lengthen the game.

Kyle from Osceola, WI
Paul Hornung (recently placed) the first legal sports bet in the state of Indiana. Commissioner Rozelle is rolling in his grave?
I hope Hornung got a lot of money for the promotion.

​Mark from Eau Claire, WI
I know it's premature, but what are your first impressions of Matt LaFleur?
He's had his team ready to play in both games. That's job one for a coach.

I'm posting Friday's column a day early because we've lost Internet service on Edisto and I suspect that could continue. Let's call today's column "Day Early Ask Vic."

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Vic, do you think the Dolphins apparently trading good players for picks is wise? After all, the draft is a crystal ball business and if you have a young and good left tackle, why trade him for uncertainty? I understand you need "The Man," but why blow everything up until you get him?
Sometimes that's what you have to do to get "The Man," and by the time you develop him and he truly is "The Man," that good young tackle might be bad and old. You don't want the back end getting old before the front end "arrives." I'm talking about talent on your roster. It's all got to happen quickly or you'll have a short run. I understand what the Dolphins are doing and I'd do the same thing if I was running the show.

Nathan from New York, NY
I was watching highlights of the Colts-Chargers game and I noticed the Colts only rushed one man on the final play of regulation. Will we eventually see the "Ketchman prevent defense" or will teams copy the Colts instead?
Why bother rushing one? Get another pass defender in there. I don't care if the quarterback uses all of the time left on the clock to find an open receiver. That's what you want, right?

Patrick from Indianapolis, IN
Vic, Aaron Rodgers' performance has not been the same for several years now (a bit understandably, given age and the injuries). Do you still consider him an elite QB capable of carrying a team? If so, what do you see as his best remaining skill/asset?
I'm getting a lot of this type of question and it's chafing me because I think it's unfair. Two years ago, I said the Packers should consider drafting a quarterback early, if one is at the top of their board when it's time to pick. I was soundly rebuked by my readership. Then last year, on the subject of signing Rodgers to a new contract, I said "What's the rush?" and I was even more harshly rebuked. Now I'm being asked if I think Rodgers is still an elite quarterback. That's baloney.

Charlie from Waukesha, WI
Can/would the league punish the Dolphins for not fielding a competitive team? For example, take away draft picks? If so, should the league punish the Dolphins?
I don't think the league would or should. The Dolphins are trying to take care of their future. They're trying to become what they aren't. They stink and they want to stop stinking, and the best way to do that is to accumulate a lot of high draft picks. I think the Jaguars should do the same thing. It bothers me they traded a fifth-round pick for Josh Dobbs.

Josh from Madison, WI
For newer readers (and those of us with suspect memories), could you explain how your mistrust for the Patriots organization developed?
It began with the headset stuff. It became a leaguewide joke. As I've written, Jack Del Rio and I once jokingly made a friendly wager on what quarter the headsets would go out for the Jaguars-Patriots game in New England that week. The Colts were piping in crowd noise and the Patriots were turning off the visiting teams' headsets. They were the top two teams in the AFC. It was a disgrace. Then came Spygate, which is when I put the asterisk next to the Patriots' name in my power rankings: "Cheated in one game." Hey, they cheated in one game! I'm sure it was more than one game, but the league had convicted the Patriots of having cheated in at least one. It was official, right? At that point, the Patriots were who we thought they were.

Chris from Bozeman, MT
The promise of winning seems to have caused a few guys to stray from making value-driven choices. At some point, winning has to take a back seat to doing things the right way. That point is upon us.
If you're referring to the Antonio Brown saga, I don't think the drama has ended. The Patriots better make sure they don't anger him, or he might sing like a canary.

Chris from Winston-Salem, NC
I'm not sure if I am becoming old and curmudgeonly (I am), but the antics of players have become bothersome to the point I can't enjoy the game as much. Whether it's Jalen Ramsey, Beckham and his watch that costs more than my house, the never-ending Brown saga; is it me or are these things becoming more common?
Nefarious behavior is on the rise and it's distasteful. I think Odell Beckham should be disqualified from any game in which he attempts to wear the watch while playing. It's unnecessary equipment that hasn't been approved by the league and, therefore, should be considered a danger to Beckham and the other players in the game. Hey, Antonio Brown had to change helmets because the league wouldn't approve the one he wanted to wear, and that ruling was supported by an arbitrator. The Beckham watch ordeal is the same thing.

Morgan from Kaukauna, WI
When Brian Gutekunst was looking at how to build the team his way, what was he looking for on both sides of the ball?
Speed. The Packers had become a slow football team.

Elizabeth from Sylvania, OH
You got me, Vic. Hope you stayed safe. What is your impression so far with college football? What about Michigan in particular? Are they just hype or are their problems on offense fixable?
The network TV games  Saturday are Ohio State at Indiana, Pitt at Penn State, Alabama at South Carolina and Clemson at Syracuse. I'll put the total point differential in those games at 120 points. Anybody wanna take the under? College football is a bad product. As for Michigan, it's fallen far behind Ohio State.

Ryan from Plymouth, MN
What do you think of Steve Palazzolo's quip the Raiders gave up draft picks so the Pats could sign Antonio Brown?
Aaron Hernandez? Brown being accused of rape? I'm not laughing.

Kyle from Green Bay, WI
On the play after J.J. Watt sacked Brees, Payton called a draw play directly at Watt. The tackle let Watt run past and the running back got the first down. Masterful play-calling. I won't forget that for a while. I'm sure Watt won't either.
Run at a rusher is old-school football strategy. Yinz people are gaga about play-calling, but you don't see the real genius in football strategy. Mike McCarthy completely pencil-whipped Adam Gase with line splits, but nobody saw it or appreciated it. Calling plays is easy stuff. Creating matchups and attacking weaknesses are true examples of strategic genius.

​Derek from Eau Claire, WI
Packers fans become very angsty when the offense isn't the star of the show. Any coping techniques?
Instead of wetting their pants every time Rodgers completes a pass, maybe the Lambeau crowd should start chanting, "Defense, defense, defense."

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the regular season.

Please welcome "Yes or No Vic"
I didn't intend to answer questions in the Wednesday edition of "Ask Vic," but it bothers me to waste so many good questions and I got a brainstorm while hitting some sand shots in my driveway the other day: Why not do a yes or no column? So, I give you the first-ever yes or no "Ask Vic."

Joe from Bloomington, IN
Did Gutekunst build the Packers to beat the Patriots?
No.

Andrew from Greendale, WI
Obviously, you've had your columns to document your football memories , but did you do anything specific to remember the details of your life outside of football?
No.

Matt from Marshall, MI
Are Rodgers' eyes too far downfield?
No.

Dustin from Orlando, FL
There is speculation Antonio Brown and the Patriots colluded in arranging his release from the Raiders and his subsequent signing with New England. Do you think the Patriots had a hand in the whole ordeal?
Yes.

Blake from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, any reason to have hope in Minshew for the next eight weeks?
No.

Bruce from Las Vegas, NV
Would you be in favor of a preseason rule in which quarterbacks could wear a non-contact jersey?
No.

Ryan from Thorp, WI
Vic, you’ve often said the Packers-Bears games never really live up to the rivalry hype. Can you paint us a picture of what a good game looks like between two rival teams in today’s NFL?
Yes.

Mike from Berlin, WI
Am I the only one who thinks all the laundry on the field makes the game unwatchable?
No.

Aaron from Point Pleasant, MD
Vic, 53 seems like such an arbitrary number to me. Do you have any insight on why or how the league settled on this number as the roster limit?
Yes.

Pat from Seneca, SC
Have you ever needed a reminder to be you?
No.

Patrick from St. Johns, FL
With the defense's attitude not changing from last year, it's clear we have our own Antonio Brown issue named Jalen. While everyone is running zone he plays man? He did this same thing last year. Should we trade him now for as many picks as we can get before he starts in with his own antics?
Yes.

​Here are the "Ask Vic" Week 2 all-important power rankings:
1. Patriots -- Better than ever.
2. Chiefs -- Explosive!
3. Rams -- Bad plays were the problem.
4. Ravens -- Didn't waste the preseason.
5. Titans -- Might be league's best defense.
6. Vikings -- Dalvin Cook just what they need.
7. Saints -- Now they whine when they win.
8. Cowboys -- Prescott can be elite.
9. Packers -- Defense leads the way.
10. Eagles -- Injuries dogging them.
11. Seahawks -- Struggled but won.
12. Chargers -- Developing winning habit.
13. Texans -- Didn't get it done at crunch time.
14. Bears -- Trubisky might be just average.
15. Browns -- Too much hype.
16. 49ers -- Signs of improvement.
17. Bills -- They have grit.
18. Lions -- Grumbling has already begun.
19. Cardinals -- Murray looked good.
20. Panthers -- Survivor game against Bucs.
21. Raiders -- Apparently they don't need Brown.
22. Colts -- They play hard for Reich.
23. Washington -- They'll lose many games.
24. Jets -- Bell did not make them better.
25. Bengals -- Better than expected.
26. Broncos -- Have a chance to be really bad.
27. Giants -- Manning is done.
28. Bucs -- SOB (Same old Bucs).
29. Falcons -- Time to blow it up.
30. Steelers -- Tomlin didn't have them ready to play.
31. Jaguars -- I hurt for them.
32. Dolphins -- Now they play the Patriots.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the regular season.

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
It might be time to stop yelling "Duval" and start yelling "discipline." Could anyone have scripted a worse opening day in Jacksonville?
It looks bad. Change is in the air, again.

John from St. Augustine, FL
Father Time is no longer undefeated. Tom Brady doesn’t age.
Brady's passes were sharp, accurate and on time. I've never seen him look better.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Be straight with me, Vic. Is the Jags' season likely over?
If I'm Tom Coughlin, I'm now accepting trade offers for Jalen Ramsey. Let's start the bidding at two ones.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
Something stinks about Brown and the Patriots. Could this have all been orchestrated because the Steelers would never trade him to the Patriots?
If the Patriots offered the Steelers a first-round pick for Antonio Brown and the Steelers declined because they didn't want to have to play against him, as reported, the Steelers made a huge mistake. They are not a Super Bowl contender, as evidenced by last night's dreadful performance. Their receivers are slow and plodding and their defense continues to be subpar.

Mary from North Bay, Ontario
In Week 4 of last year, the Packers defense shut out the Bills. Rodgers' postgame presser was as snarly as he gets; this year a different story. What a difference a year makes. How long will the honeymoon last?
I, too, sense a new and fresh attitude. Mike McCarthy deserved as much.

Brent from Dubuque, IA
How well do you think Antonio Brown does for Tom and Bill this season?
When I saw Brown was signed by the Patriots, I thought to myself, "Do they really need him?" The answer is no, and that's why I'm not ready to concede this as being another genius move by the Patriots. The Patriots are accepting a major risk with Brown. He could become a distraction and threaten the Patriots' sharp focus on Bill Belichick's "just do your job" mantra. There's also the perception the Patriots are guilty of tampering. This may not end well and I don't think the Patriots needed to take the risk.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
With growing excitement for the 2019 season opener, I read “A look back at Jaguars opening days” on Saturday night. It brought me such joy to read your writings on jaguars.com again. I enjoyed it as much as any football article I’ve ever read, especially Fred’s quote about “the Bus." Thank you, Vic.
I'm at the stage of life that writing about historical events is a walk down memory lane. It was wonderful reconnecting with Fred Taylor, Tony Boselli and Jack Del Rio, and flipping through the pages of my memory. None of them have yellowed. I am rich!

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your thoughts on the Packers' defense?
The Packers have young speed on defense. I think it has the potential to be dominant.

Elizabeth from Sylvania, OH
How much did Aaron Rodgers' attempted Hail Mary not reaching the end zone concern you? Rust from no preseason? Rust from collarbone surgery? Sign of age?
Aaron Rodgers is 35, a 15-year NFL veteran, two-time league MVP, Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP. Don't you think he knows by now how to properly throw a Hail Mary pass?

Rich from Apple Valley, MN
What are your thoughts on how Jon Gruden handled Antonio Brown's absurd behavior during the summer?
Gruden embarrassed himself with the whole ordeal, beginning with the trade that has now caused him to trade three draft picks for two troubled Steelers wide receivers, neither of whom has given the Raiders anything but angst. Mike Mayock needs to keep a distance from Gruden, lest Mayock go down the same drain Gruden is circling.

Luis from New York, NY
Vic, does it seem Rodgers has come into the habit of throwing off his back foot? It seems as if it's not limited to pressure situations.
I've noticed him doing more of it. It's Favre-like, and I sensed Favre doing more of it late in his career.

Oscar from Milwaukee, WI
What is it about Bill Belichick that lets him bring players in line where other coaches have failed?
Coaches of Belichick's esteem are intimidating -- Bill Parcells had that same quality -- but not all of Belichick's reclamation projects have been home runs. Corey Dillon was a hit, but Albert Haynesworth was a miss. The Patriots traded a fifth-round pick for Haynesworth, and then cut him after he got into a confrontation with assistant coach Pepper Johnson. The bottom line is players such as Brown are so talented they're thought to be worth the risk. We'll see.

David from Washington, DC
I have suddenly gained a great deal of respect for the Steelers' organizational ability to handle someone like Brown.
We're beginning to get the full story on Brown's troubles in Pittsburgh, and they didn't begin last season. His teammates hated him. Troy Polamalu is said to have yelled out during a practice, "The receivers are live," suggesting Polamalu wanted to take a shot at Brown. Now we know why Ben Roethlisberger reportedly yelled out at practice late last season, "Get him off the field." Brown can dull a team's focus; he can be a distraction. Mike Tomlin showed restraint in handling Brown, just as he did with Santonio Holmes. Today's coaches have to do that because they are held captive by the salary cap and the howl of the wolves.

Kale from London, Canada
How would Chuck Noll have dealt with a player like Antonio Brown?
Coach Noll wasn't without troubled players. Joe Gilliam was such a player. Chuck cut him, but Chuck didn't have a salary cap. Howl of the wolves? Chuck began his career with three consecutive losing seasons. What wolves?

Lupe from Minneapolis, MN
Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens gave Jackson a lot of playing time in the preseason. John Harbaugh had his team ready to play.

​Ben from Columbus, OH
Vic, loved reading your article on the Jags website; just like the old times! What happened Sunday? Red jerseys sure didn't make much of a difference. This team is facing a ton of adversity this early in the year. And that defense? Overrated or just early-season funk?
The defense is a legend in its own mind. The truth is it hasn't been the same since Roethlisberger and Brady lit it up in the 2017 playoffs. No sunglasses, both feet on the floor and ties tight to the collar. That's what the Jaguars need.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the regular season.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Vic, do you think we can glean anything from this game?
I'm going to avoid attaching too much importance to what I saw last night. It was an important road win against the team to beat in the NFC North. It'll count two at the end of the season, when tiebreakers become as important as win-loss records. That's where I'll stop because I didn't think either team was ready to play a game of that importance. It was bad football.

Stern from Cedar Rapids, IA
Was that an enjoyable game for you?
No. It was, yet, another example of a rivalry that seldom seems to be the equal of its hype.

Daniel from Johnson, IA
That wasn't the sort of game that's popular these days, but I can't say I'm complaining about getting to watch good defense and special teams in Week 1. Of course, Aaron completed his end zone pass when he needed to, but what other differences did you see in the QB play?
Trubisky is beginning to appear as though he has a low ceiling. He doesn't have the look of a quarterback who can become elite. There's nothing sudden or special about him.

Drew from Woodinville, WA
How much of the Packers’ defensive triumph was just the Bears’ offense struggling?
The Packers defense is for real. The secondary is exceptional.

Marty from Louisville, KY
Penalties and punts. What are your thoughts on the fifth preseason game last night?
I'm kind of angry that after making fans endure four preseason games, the Bears and Packers gave us that dud of a football game.

Kale from London, Canada
Something has been said about silk sheets. With that, is your immediate reaction the Cowboys made the right move in regards to Elliott's contract?
It's silk pajamas and he's wearing them. Now, will he get out of bed? We'll see.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL
What do you think about the Jared Goff contract?
He's "The Man." Once you pick him, you gotta pay him.

David from Calistoga, CA
Vic, what impressed you the most about the Packers defense?
The Packers finally have a fast defense. Brian Gutekunst has done an outstanding job of retooling the Packers defense. It runs to the ball.

Chad from Kansas City, MO
In regards to the Chiefs and Jags, the heat index this week in Kansas City was 116 with about 90 percent humidity. Remember, in the Midwest it's not the heat, it's the humidity. It's just different here.
Got it. The forecast for Sunday in Jacksonville is for it to be sunny and 98 degrees. I'm guessing it'll be a little on the sticky side, too. The Chiefs will be wearing red and positioned on the sun sideline. Coming out of a warm week of work will help them, but if the forecast holds true, they're going to feel heat and humidity they have never previously felt. It'll likely be one of the top storylines in this game. The formula for victory for the Chiefs, in my opinion, is get a lead early and try to nurse it into the fourth quarter. At that point, all the Chiefs will want is a burger and an aisle seat.

James from Jenkintown, PA
How can the Rams sustain their spending? Seems like the whole team has ballooning contracts.
The Rams will restructure contracts and push money out to make cap room, and that'll worsen the cap outlook for a team that's spent recklessly, especially at non-premium positions. I can only think of one high-dollar player on their roster who is worth the money they're paying him. Rams management hasn't impressed me since they've been in Los Angeles.

Dru from Lehi, UT
So the Kizer trade doesn't look so good now. Why do you think the Packers were so eager to give up on Randall and Kizer so quickly?
Randall was part of a housecleaning. Kizer lost in an open competition. New brooms sweep clean. There'll be more changes.

Nick from Owego, NY
How much does coach Vic expect from a No. 1 overall QB pick in his first year?
I expect him to prove to me he's the player I projected. The Cardinals will know whether they picked the right guy. The stats won't tell them; their eyes will.

Tim from Sun Prairie, WI
“We’ve given him all the freedom,” LaFleur said on Monday. “So, if he sees something, he’s got the green light to do whatever he needs to do to get us into a good play. We’re not going to take that from him.” Is LaFleur showing weak leadership qualities or adapting his scheme to put his team in the best position to win?
I don't think LaFleur is displaying a lack of leadership. I think he's strategically demanding accountability from his quarterback. No more complaints or sideways looks about the plays being called. They're Rodgers' plays now.

Ben from Chicago, IL
You've said scheme teams win early in the season and lose late in the season. Have the Packers become a scheme team?
What I said was plays can win early, players win late in the season. A lot of teams rely on scheme early in the season, when execution is lacking, but I didn't see an abundance of scheme from either team in last night's game. I thought it was vanilla football. The Packers won because they ran to the ball on defense.

​Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What did you do for Dorian?
I moved the ball back in my stance.

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the regular season.

Can the Packers beat the Bears?
The Packers can beat anybody when they play a little bit of defense and Aaron Rodgers is on his game. I expect the Packers to play a lot of defense this year, but can we expect Rodgers to be on his game in the opener after not playing a down in the preseason? I guess the answer to that question is yes because, well, he's Aaron Rodgers.
Yes, the Packers can beat the Bears, but I can't say that's my expectation. The Bears have a powerful roster and they are heading into this season with the belief they are the team to beat in the NFC North.
In the final analysis, the team whose quarterback plays best will probably win the game, and it's from that modern-day reality the Packers draw their hope for starting fast in their pursuit of reclaiming their hold on the NFC North.

Can the Jaguars beat the visiting Chiefs?
Absolutely! The forecast for Sunday's one o'clock start in Jacksonville is for scorching heat and suffocating humidity.
I talked to former Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio last week for a story I did for jaguars.com on Jaguars home openers, and Jack said this: "I look at the schedule each year and I look at the games where teams are going to melt, and that could be one right there. It's huge for teams not accustomed to that heat and humidity. A one o'clock start is brutal for teams not practicing in those conditions."
The key to victory for the Jaguars is keeping the game close heading into the fourth quarter. That's when visiting teams run out of gas.
This is a huge game for the Jaguars. They play a somewhat disheveled Texans team in Houston in Week 2, and then host Tennessee in a Thursday night game. If the Jags can win their opener, they could get off to a fast start to the Nick Foles era.
I'm picking the Jags to win.

Can the Steelers beat the Patriots?
In New England? Probably not, but the Steelers finally played inspired defense against Tom Brady late last season, in an impressive win in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers defense is on the uptick. I don't think this is going to be a championship season for the Steelers, but young talent has the arrow pointing up after two seasons of discord.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 1 all-important power rankings:
1. Patriots -- Can Brady do it again?
2. Chiefs -- Is the defense fixed?
3. Bears -- Ready to roar.
4. Rams -- Could take a step back this year.
5. Browns -- OK, boys, show us what you got.
6. Seahawks -- Clowney makes them better.
7. Saints -- Are they done whining?
8. Ravens -- Unique team with unique approach.
9. Eagles -- Wentz is "The Man."
10. Vikings -- Zimmer in hot-seat season.
11. Chargers -- Was last year a fluke?
12. Texans -- Strange maneuvering.
13. Cowboys -- They need Elliott.
14. Packers -- Better plays or better playing?
15. Jaguars -- The Jaguars are 6-0 following hurricanes (I just made that up).
16. Steelers -- Not rebuilding but not reloading.
17. Jets -- Will Bell make them better?
18. Titans -- Last chance for Mariota.
19. Colts -- They might be deceiving.
20. Panthers -- Newton is breaking down.
21. Lions -- Nothing jumps out at me.
22. Bills -- Could be a surprise team.
23. Washington -- Season dedicated to Haskins.
24. Broncos -- What am I supposed to like?
25. Giants -- Jones takes over before midseason.
26. Dolphins -- Totally non-descript franchise.
27. Bucs -- Arians could fix them.
28. Falcons -- Ryan beginning to show some age.
29. Bengals -- This could get really bad.
30. 49ers -- Garoppolo at the test.
31. Raiders -- It's the Antonio Brown Show, starring nobody.
32. Cardinals -- What if Murray isn't good?

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the regular season.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, after looking at the Packers' new roster, what do you discern about the team, its focus and its direction?
The Packers' roster is dramatically improved from this time a year ago and I believe the team's arrow is pointing up, but I know nothing of its focus because there was nothing in the preseason that would speak of it. No problem, because we only have to wait until Thursday to find out about that focus. Thursday night, the baloney stops, but I won't say baloney.

Kale from London, Canada
I tried to find the "Ask Vic" but I couldn't. I remember you warning us about Andrew Luck coming out of college, not about his ability but his commitment/love of the game. He obviously played through a lot, and seven years isn't a flash in the pan, but do you remember how exactly you felt about him back then?
I don't remember the column but I vaguely remember writing Luck was a player who would have options. He's a Stanford grad whose father is at the top of administrative athletics. This is not a guy who had to milk the game for everything he could get out of it. He's someone who could leave the money on the table. Good for him and good for every player who used his college scholarship to put himself into that position. The Hall of Hanging On is also a sad football place.

Mark from Sheboygan, WI
All the best during the coming storm. Hope everything comes out all right!
Thanks to everyone who've sent their well wishes. My intent is to publish on Wednesday and Friday of this week, but the weather could change those plans. Power outage is likely. So, if there's no column, that'll likely be the reason.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
Years ago, legendary Black Hawks hockey player Stan Mikita was quoted after a playoff series loss: "I can't break a stick over a man's head one minute and shake his hand the next." I always marveled at football players going full bore with each other and then shaking hands or high-fiving at game's end. Was there glad-handing at the end of the 1975 AFC final?
I don't remember any. What's more telling is I don't remember any of those guys exchanging pleasantries in retirement. Swann and Atkinson never did a cutesy beer commercial. I think the Steelers and Raiders of the 1970's, many of whom are sadly gone, will dislike each other forever. No hype. They really did hate each other. It's the most real thing I ever covered.

Christopher from Hagerstown, MD
Vic, would you please put the last shovel of dirt on this Carli Lloyd nonsense?
Football players can be kickers but kickers aren't football players. George Blanda, Lou Groza, etc. were football players who kicked. A part of me would like to see kicking eliminated from football. Get rid of the goal posts, the whole bit. I think having to convert a fourth-and-one would be more exciting than seeing a kick decide a football game. I've just never been a special teams guy. There's something about it that seems to cheapen the game. Line up and play! No kicking!

Jon from Jacksonville, FL
The regular season is finally here! What do you think is more important for the Jags defense to regain that '17 magic, having Josh Allen or Nick Foles?
What happened in 2017 was a fluke, so forget about recapturing that '17 magic. Focus on a team with a proven quarterback and defense. If Foles and the Jags defense play to expectations, the Jaguars will be playoff contenders. It's not Allen or Foles, it's Allen and Foles, just as it was Brackens and Brunell.

Ryan from Morris, MN
I'm a smoker (I know it's bad; I'm trying to quit). I was wondering if you ever covered any players who used (tobacco).
The facing board that separated the locker stalls in the Steelers' Three Rivers Stadium locker room had mounted on it big bowl-type ash trays. You moved a lever and the butts and ashes fell into the bowl. I remember players chain-smoking on team flights. A  certain linebacker would always sprint off the field when the first half ended. He wanted to get to the locker room and light up a Tareyton. I think one of the reasons Coach Noll didn't give pep talks is because he hated having to breathe in all of that smoke in the locker room. Those Steelers teams trained on cigarettes and cheeseburgers, and then kicked the you know what out of teams on Sundays. They didn't have to live healthy to do what they did.

Zach from Virginia Beach, VA
I'm sure I'm not the only one curious about your "deceived" answer in regards to Luck and the Colts. What did you mean? Do you think Luck knew he was going to retire and should have announced sooner?
That wasn't Luck's responsibility, but it was the Colts' responsibility if, in fact, they knew this would happen. Hey, if you want your fans to be loyal to you, you have to be loyal to them. When the injury talk started again in OTAs, I remember thinking to myself "he should retire." My suspicion is a franchise famous for deception deceived its fans for the purpose of selling season tickets. I'll be interested to see what the fallout from this will be.

Mark from Ventura, CA
Will Vic's power rankings start on Wednesday before the season opener between the Bears and Packers game?
Yes, I intend to publish my all-important power rankings this Wednesday.

Keith from Springfield, MO
Win or lose, I can't wait to see the player I think is the most talented QB to ever play the game go against great defenses in Chicago and Minnesota. Wanting to write a report postgame. What should I need to know to convert from fan to press?
I doubt you can make the conversion.

Pat from Seneca, SC
I want to send a pizza to your house before the start of Thursday's game.
Dorian is expected to arrive here on Thursday. Even if you could find a pizza shop that would answer the phone, they'd probably hang up on you when you said you'd like to order a pizza to be delivered.

John from Salisbury, MD
What were the popular sentiments shared by football insiders, players and writers the morning after the Colts' famous midnight departure from Baltimore? I live in Maryland and it's pretty apparent the anger still runs deep with that generation of fans. I was wondering if there were folks that saw the Colts actions as understandable. Love the blog!
One of my best friends is Vito Stellino, who will forever be famous for covering the Colts' middle-of-the-night escape. Vito got a tip earlier in the day, and he sat in the cold and dark outside the Colts' Owings Mills training facility as he watched the Mayflower moving vans drive away with Baltimore's heart and soul. The 15 moving trucks took different routes to Indianapolis to avoid being delayed by Maryland state police until the state legislature could pass the eminent domain bill. How's that for deception? It was disgraceful. I'll never forgive it.

Dave from Chippewa Falls, WI
The Packers are flashing the stadium lights after touchdowns. They tried the fog horn. Guys taunt and then don't understand why they get penalized for taunting. Coaches don't ask too much of their star players (like playing or practicing). The league panders to the networks that want controversy and personalities more than competition and teamwork. The voices in the league and the media are more interested in self-promotion than the actual quality of the competition. I've been saying for the last several years the NFL is turning into the NBA. Can you explain to me where I'm wrong?
I don't know, I just wanted a free hot dog and a seat in an air-conditioned or heated press box so I could watch all of this in peace and quiet. It's all very entertaining.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
Vic, I finally found a benefit of the preseason games! We're season ticket holders, but with kids in elementary school and with the Packers playing so many night games, we rarely get to go to games as a family. But school hadn't started for us, so last Thursday night we all went together. It was great! Like "Family Night" but better because there's an actual game. Not a solid enough reason to maintain the current preseason schedule, but I don't think we should discount the joy of families getting to share the Packers game experience. It was pretty great.
Are you the von Trapps? Are you going to sing now?

John from Green Bay, WI
Please tell us your best Turk story.
I was interviewing Tony Dungy in the hallway of the second floor of the Steelers' training camp dormitory. Tony had just been traded to the 49ers. As I was interviewing him, the Steelers' Turk, legendary scout Bill Nunn, knocked on the door of veteran kicker Roy Gerela. When Gerela answered the door, Nunn said, "Roy, Coach Noll wants to see you, and bring your playbook." Tony saw the look on my face and smiled. "They really do say that," I said. Tony nodded his head.

Dave from Savage, MN
SI published 100 photos from the NFL through the years. Really good stuff. Do you have a favorite photo?
I have two: Y.A. Tittle's cracked head (the story behind the photo is as good as the photo) and Joe Greene carrying in his arms an unconscious Lynn Swann from the field in the 1975 AFC title game. I'm ashamed to say I have an attraction to violence. I'm not well-adjusted.

Linda from Waukesha, WI
Do you prefer the Packers coaching staff wearing gray pants on the sideline as was done under McCarthy’s direction, or navy blue directed by LaFleur?
Real men wear khaki.

Allan from Guatemala City, Guatemala
Vic, when is help officially not on the way?
It's official. The teams have been picked. The season is about to begin. The baloney stops on Thursday. No more talk about what you're going to do. It's time to do it.