Packers coasting to the playoffs

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

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
What are your thoughts on the Packers?
They're playing at one of their highest levels in the Rodgers era. The Eagles were helpless against him. The combination of Rodgers' command of the game and the crispness and accuracy of his passes makes the Packers offense unstoppable. It's going to take an opponent with a strong running game and good corners to beat the Packers. You have to dominate time of possession and limit Rodgers' time on the field, and at least be able to match up on the outside well enough to deny receivers from running free in the secondary. As it stands right now, the Packers are coasting to the playoffs. Coach LaFleur's biggest decision will be about when to shut it down and rest his players.

Ryan from Stevens Point, WI
Chatty had a rough game.
Nantz and Romo were as boring as the game. They were even more saccharine than Mike Tirico was the previous week. Chatty rambled so much I struggled to understand his point. During one disjointed diatribe the truck told him to break for a commercial and he just stopped in the middle of what he was saying.

Dalton from Medford, WI
If Vic is head coach of the Eagles, does he bench Carson Wentz?
Continuing to play him is only making matters worse. He's lost his game. He's not setting his feet and he's afraid to step up in the pocket. He looks skittish; he's peeking at the rush. His delivery makes Kaepernick's look Marino-like. If Pederson can't rebuild him, he'll have to trade him to the Bears.

Mike from Bridgeport, CT
That was a cruel and expected ending in (the Jets game). Interesting spot to dial up a cover zero blitz.
It was curious defensive strategy. The Jaguars are still alive.

Bob from Saint Charles, IL
If you could pick running the Bears or Lions this offseason, which team would you prefer and what would be your plan of action?
I'd pick the Lions because Stafford gives me dry powder. I think I could get a one and a three for him.

Brandon from Imperial, MO
Vic, while watching Davante tie the Packers record for consecutive games with a TD catch, Nance and Romo already had the graphic ready immediately afterwards. Since I've only been watching football since the '80's, my question is what was it like when you watched TV as a kid? Obviously, with no computers available, someone had to manually keep track of records in a game. Were the announcers able to provide that info during the game or did they leave it for the journalists the following day?
The NFL didn't even keep track of that stuff. As I've written, pro football did a terrible job of recording its history. If it wasn't for dedicated historians such as Cliff Christl and the Pro Football Researchers Association, a lot of the really old information would still be unknown. There's almost no information for Jim Thorpe's career. The emergence of Elias Sports Bureau was a game-changer. It sharpened everybody's focus on records and stats.

Jimmy from Vero Beach, FL
As I watched Henry Ruggs run by the CB without a safety over the top, it reminded me once again how luck plays an integral part of football. I was sitting in the stands in 2003 when the "River City Relay" unfolded. I cheered with the thousands of other fans as John Carney missed the extra point and we escaped with a win. Fast forward to draft day and realize the win cost the Jags a chance at Larry Fitzgerald.
All the Jags can do is lose. They're taking care of business.

Samantha from Marion, IA
Maybe it's because I'm looking at this from an entirely different generational perspective than you, but I rolled my eyes hard when I heard what Cris Collinsworth said, and I absolutely bristle at anything that tries to lay out the idea of a female football fan as something wondrous or remarkable. I know you didn't mean anything by it so I never gave much thought to the "Ladies Day Ask Vic," but it does feel a little icky and disrespectful, personally. Call me a crazy feminist, but all I want is equality. That doesn't mean acknowledging women can like football too, it means not being surprised in the least women love and understand the nuances of the game.
OK.

Dan from Milwaukee, IN
"Nothing beats retirement and an LLC." Love it. What are some fun and creative things you can do with an LLC?
You can exercise your first amendment rights.

Rich from Manitou Springs, FL
I know you'll never answer this. I doubt if you could. You say you put Seattle ahead of the Packers because of the division they're in. Is that why you put the Bears at 32, because they lost to a top 10 team?
I put the Bears at No. 32 as punishment for their disgraceful performance in the most recent edition of the most overrated rivalry in professional sports.

Mark from Naperville, IL
What are your thoughts on the FBS breaking from the NCAA?
Something has to be done to repair college football. It's deteriorated to a point it's not worth watching. Opting out of bowl games has now spread to opting out in the middle of the season. The old college try no longer exists. Dear old U has become screw you.

Pete from Chapel Hill, NC
Looks like homefield advantage won’t be much of an advantage this year in the playoffs, except for the weather. Do you think the Packers would be better off on the road in a dome?
You mean New Orleans, right? No, I'd rather see the Saints have to play in the cold in Green Bay.

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, is Trevor Lawrence the type of quarterback that comes around once a decade? In my opinion, he was up until a month or so ago, but his play hasn't been great as of late. At least that is what my eyes are telling me.
I love his toughness, athletic ability, natural instinct for the position, leadership and nearly everything else about him. The only thing that concerns me is his length in the pocket. He's a long strider. He's going to need room to throw.

Michael from Eau Claire, WI
Vic, I’ve noticed the bubble allowed for a player to catch the ball on a punt seems to have disappeared. It often appears the coverage players are almost in his lap. When did the rule change, or did it?
I agree, the rule isn't being enforced. I think the league should make it a major point of emphasis to enforce the rule, and maybe even enlarge the bubble. There's nothing entertaining about seeing a punt returner struck viciously as he attempts to catch the ball.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
What are your thoughts on Kyle Trask? Is he a first-round pick?
Two of my favorite scouts love him. One of them has compared Trask to Ben Roethlisberger. As it stands right now, I think Trask is moving in right behind Lawrence.

Jake from Knoxville, TN
I’m a Packers fan, but I'm glad the Titans have found relevance again. Do you think Derrick Henry deserves MVP consideration? What do you see as the best arguments for and against him?
The best argument against him is obvious: He's not a quarterback. The best argument for Henry would have to be made in the playoffs, and that's after voting concludes. Henry can be a postseason star. He's the guy who can beat Patrick Mahomes, but the award will have been decided by then.