"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Daniel from Burton on Trent, UK
Vic, with the Bears winning on Thursday, is the Packers' season effectively over?
The Packers probably have to win out to make it into the playoffs. The losses to Washington and Seattle are very damaging to the Packers' wild-card hopes. A loss to Minnesota would kill whatever wild-card hope remains.

Nick from Waukesha, WI
One of the things I hear is Belichick takes away what the opponent does best. This means the game plan is intentionally opponent-specific. Do you agree with this assessment? How would you describe this philosophy?
All game plans are exclusive to the opponent. Bill Belichick does what every coach has done: Warner, Rockne, Lombardi, Walsh, all of them. Belichick evaluates personnel to identify strengths and weaknesses so he might create matchups that exploit his opponent's weaknesses and eliminate its strengths. In other words, Belichick schemes personnel. The difference between Belichick and most coaches is Belichick is a better evaluator of talent. Belichick is the best evaluator of talent of any coach with whom I'm familiar. Be that as it may, as Tom Brady ages and his skills erode, Belichick's ability to create favorable matchups will also seemingly erode. He's failed to pencil whip his opponent three times this year.

Tony from Los Angeles, CA
Chatty lived up to his nickname during the Lions-Bears game. What I found most insightful was how he knew exactly what each quarterback was thinking and feeling before, during and after each play. How does he do it?
Chatvoiance?

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, football scores as high as basketball scores. I guess the NFL is getting what they want.
The NFL is getting what it wants and I know that to be true because my inbox was overwhelmed by comments on the Chiefs-Rams game. The fans call the shots. They get what they want because they have what the league wants, the money.

Jerry from Sobieski, WI
What do you remember about Cleveland in December of 2001?
Clink! It's the sound a half-full plastic bottle makes when it strikes the ground. Our memory is a wonderful thing. Special moments and events in our lives are documented by sights and sounds we can see and hear for the rest of our lives. I'll never forget that sound. It was the sound of human behavior gone wild. Sometimes the wolves do more than howl, they throw bottles.

Dave from Madison, WI
What’s your assessment of Fackrell’s recent success?
He's not a speed rusher, he's not a bull rusher, and I don't get the sense he's a technician. I'm not sure what to make of him; I need to see more.

Carbo from Pittsburgh, PA
Vic, it's so good to read your work again. I heard Ed Bouchette on "The Fan" mention your name last week and I decided to look you up to see if you were writing anywhere again. I've been reading your stuff since you were here in Pittsburgh and I've read "Ask Vic" since it started in Jacksonville and followed you to Green Bay. You've always been my favorite guy to read. So, for the Steelers fan, what do you think their legitimate Super Bowl chances are? This team feels different than the ones that have lost in the playoffs the last few seasons.
Their defense is improved from the beginning of the season, but they went through another one of those couldn't-stop-the-run funks against the Jaguars, and that's a red flag for me. They're still trying to replace Ryan Shazier. Everything else looks pretty good. I acknowledge pass-defense concerns lingering from early in the season, but that's a product of today's game and all teams are confronted by it. If it's rush or cover, I pick rush, and the Steelers have a pretty good pass rush.

Oscar from Milwaukee, WI
Your comments about line splits intrigue me. Can you please say more? I'll admit I had no idea what a line split is, much less how to look for one and how it would contribute to the offense.
Line splits are the space between offensive linemen. As you increase the width of those spaces, you create room to run and blocking angles that favor the running game. The negative is you also create room for the defense to rush the passer. So, if you're going to widen the splits to promote the run, you need to know you can deal with the disadvantage you're creating for yourself in pass-blocking. Maybe your opponent doesn't have a strong pass rush, or maybe you intend to get the ball out quickly. Altering the line splits is a wonderful halftime adjustment mechanism. It's a way for offense to dictate to defense. I think it's important for fans to notice these types of subtleties because they go directly to play-calling. It's all part of a plan, and that's why I say you don't call plays, you call a game plan.

Gunars from Iowa
A few years ago you said you couldn't see a hole in Aaron Rodgers' game. Do you think he has developed one or is he just not surrounded by enough talent?
He appears to have lost some mobility, which is going to happen to any quarterback late in his career. When that happens, the ball usually needs to come out more quickly, which is something a quarterback of his experience is more than capable of doing. Getting the ball out quickly also requires receivers to get open quickly. I think Rodgers needs a little more of that to happen. Randall Cobb's absence has forced Rodgers to hold the ball longer, and that's resulted in sacks, as evidenced in the Seattle game.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 12 power rankings:
1. Saints -- Head and shoulders above the rest.
2. Rams -- What's happening to that defense?
3. Chiefs -- What defense?
4. Steelers -- Big Ben having a big year.
5. Patriots -- Soft finishing schedule.
6. Bears -- How good can they get?
7. Texans -- They've arrived.
8. Chargers -- Just when you thought they were good...
9. Seahawks -- They have that winning feeling.
10. Vikings -- Something's missing.
11. Panthers -- Seahawks will be tough to beat.
12. Washington -- Smith's injury changes everything.
13. Cowboys -- Favorite now to win the NFC East.
14. Colts -- Surge should continue vs. visiting Dolphins.
15. Titans -- Identity crisis.
16. Ravens -- Jackson gives them more energy.
17. Bengals -- Arrow game vs. Browns.
18. Lions -- Patricia trying to make them tough.
19. Packers -- Season on the line in Minnesota.
20. Eagles -- Forget the trick plays; play football.
21. Broncos -- Improved.
22. Browns -- Bengals in the crosshairs.
23. Falcons -- League's most disappointing team.
24. Jaguars -- Everything but a quarterback.
25. Giants -- They're in the NFC East title race.
26. Dolphins -- Arrow pointing straight down.
27. Bills -- Better than their record.
28. Jets -- Darnold paying his dues.
29. Bucs -- They always make it exciting.
30. 49ers -- Fading quietly.
31. Raiders -- Feuding, but who cares?
32. Cardinals -- Welcome to hell.

Daniel from Richmond, TX
Vic, I question why the Packers didn't run the ball more, especially when they were leading in the second half. In my opinion, that's what killed the Packers momentum. Is it play calls, or checking out of runs, or both?
I think we've exhausted the play-calling theories: Need to run more, need to be more aggressive, more screen passes, more play action, throw to Jimmy Graham over the middle, more checkdowns, more trick plays, etc. I think this Sunday's game would be a perfect time to evaluate personnel: Are the Packers winning their one-on-ones? You can't expect to be a winning football team if you're not winning your one-on-ones.

Jimmy from Yulee, FL
Did you notice the Jaguars cut Landry Jones the day after the Steelers game?
Some things never change. The Jaguars signed Jones, emptied his head and then cut him the day after the game. I'm old school and I don't like that behavior. It's disrespectful of the player's career and it reeks of that NASCAR if-you-ain't-cheatin'-you-ain't-tryin' crap. Come on, Jaguars, you're better than that.

Rich from York, PA
Vic, can you give me your thoughts on Lamar Jackson? It looks like the howl has caught up to Flacco in Baltimore.
Jackson gives them newness. I loved him coming into the draft. I thought the Ravens got a steal. Jackson is a new-age quarterback in the era of the new-age quarterback. I think it's a good time for the Ravens to be new. All teams get there eventually. It's a young man's game.

Eric from Keene, NH
Vic, I just need to rant about all the fire McCarthy nonsense. Now the latest stupidity is that Josh McDaniels, the genius who thought Tim Tebow was an NFL quarterback, will be called upon to be the Packers' savior.
Who would hire a man who went back on his word to the Colts? Hire him because he has good plays? I wouldn't hire him, in any capacity. Good plays are easy to find. First, I want a good man.

Dan from Madison, WI
Is there any reason McCarthy can’t have a Payton-like resurgence under Gutekunst’s re-tooling?
Nope.

Chris from Jacksonville, FL
What are your thoughts on Notre Dame this year? Still think they’ll never be elite because of the academic requirements? Didn’t seem to hurt them against Michigan or LSU in the last year. Do I think they’ll beat Alabama, no, but I do think what they’ve been able to accomplish has been more than you predicted with your negativity about the calculus requirement, when I was an impressionable young domer in 2006. Thought I’d touch base again to see if your view has shifted at all.
It's a talented team, but not nearly as talented as it could be if Notre Dame cheated in recruiting and found ways to hide football players in soft curriculums, or worse.

Greg from Danbury, CT
I guess Pittsburgh doesn't like being owned. I don't know about the rest of the game, but the final 2:30 was gripping.
It was one of the most amazing games I've ever seen, one of those games I'll never forget. I'm stunned it's not getting more media attention. I've never seen a team being dominated as thoroughly as the Steelers were suddenly flip the switch and become unstoppable. All of a sudden, the Jaguars couldn't gain a first down and the Steelers went from being shut out to scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Jaguars/Steelers games are still special. They have an unpredictability to them I've never seen in any other rivalry.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, this one hurts more than most. The defense did what it could but the offense was awful. I’m not sure if the offensive coordinator is handcufffed by Bortles or he just has a run-first philosophy, but this is bad. You just cut Bortles and eat the dead money to move on in the offseason?
What other choice do they have? The Jaguars guaranteed $26.5 million of his contract, including $6.5 million of his 2019 salary (there are offsets). Yeah, it hurts to walk from that, but you can't pay him $16 million in salary in '19 to do what he did on Sunday. The coach is afraid to let him throw the ball! The good news is the Jaguars should be high enough in the draft order to pick Bortles' replacement.

Dan from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
What are your thoughts on Jalen Ramsey?
I think he's the most talented cover corner in the league, and I was happy to read his admission of battling through some emotional instability. My hope is he'll get some counseling to help him achieve restraint; his rants are damaging.

Kyle from Green Bay, WI
As much as I like good defense, Monday night was the first time I’ve watched an entire Monday night game. Is this the game the league wants or is it what I tell them I want by staying up late?
Most fans, especially casual fans (the largest segment of the TV audience), want offense. I want confrontation. I don't like it when moving the ball looks easy. I like resistance. Monday night's game reminded me of a skeleton drill.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Immediately following Monday Night Football, ESPN had some talking head on who, without hesitation, declared the performance of the teams on the field was all due to coaching, play-calling and scheming. I chuckled, turned off my TV and went to bed.
It sells. Fans like that kind of talk because they can relate to it: The team with the better idea wins and, of course, fans believe they have a better idea. Here's where I get a chuckle: I mentioned in a column following the Packers-Dolphins game Green Bay's extra wide line splits contributed to the gaping holes Aaron Jones was finding in the Dolphins' defensive line. It was ingenious strategy by Mike McCarthy, the kind of scheming that goes much deeper than play selection and often goes undetected. I didn't get one question or comment on the line splits issue. The trick play lit up my inbox, but I didn't get one comment on the game's defining strategy. Do they even know what a line split is, I wondered to myself? How can you know what play to call if you don't even know what a line split is? You call plays according to how you're deploying your players and what you're trying to attack.

​Jacob from Green Bay, WI
Vic, I was a daily reader of yours when you were with the Packers, and didn't know until today you have your own site. I got so excited I (peed) my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour or so.
It's all part of the experience, Jacob.

Karl from Albuquerque, NM
Vic, watching the Rams vs. Chiefs game, I thought I was watching a Big 12 college game. Is this where the NFL is headed?
Yes. The Rams, Chiefs, Saints and Steelers are Nos. 2-5 in offense. The Bucs are No. 1. The message is in today's NFL, even bad teams have good offenses.

Andrew from Madison, WI
But would Coughlin have won two Super Bowls in Jacksonville, or would things have continued in a downward spiral? Did he need a kick in the pants and a fresh start? Did the Jaguars?
Tom Coughlin was in the process of rebuilding the Jaguars through the cut and gut of 2002. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, the foundation of Jack Del Rio's defense, were Coughlin draft picks. What Coughlin did to make the '02 Jaguars respectable qualifies as one of the best coaching jobs I've ever covered. Del Rio praised Coughlin after watching tape of the '02 season. The '02 Jaguars might've had less talent on their roster than the inaugural-season Jaguars. Why fire a good coach? The answer is to satisfy the howl of the wolves so you can sell tickets. Beware the howl of the wolves.

​Lane from Orlando, FL
I think if a game ended with the final score 77-74 everyone would consider it the best game ever played, while I would consider it among the worst. Am I crazy?
The Steelers-Jaguars game was the best game I saw last weekend, even though one team was shut out through three quarters and the other one was afraid to throw the ball on third-and-10 and on the opponents' side of the 50. Struggle, confrontation, angst, surprise, celebration, despair made it great. They are the ingredients of true drama. The game was a hushed drum roll that built to a cymbals crash with three seconds to play. Here's the problem with that kind of game: The casual fan would've found something else to watch before the fourth quarter began, and that's not good for ratings.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Colin from Lansdale, PA
Matt Nagy, for better or for worse, is without a doubt buried in his play-call sheet.
What does he do when the Bears are on defense, step outside for a smoke?

Josh from Tucson, AZ
Vic, I don’t know how Tom Coughlin got conned into keeping Blake Bortles as his QB, but I can’t watch another performance like that. It was wonderful last year and I celebrated and hoped for the best, but it looks every week like that was a fluke and not part of a growth progression. On a day when the team rushes for over 170 yards and the defense finally shows up after a month-long absence, the better QB still made the play to win the game. Enough is enough.
One more time: You can't play around your quarterback and expect to compete to win a championship. Yes, last year was a fluke, and now it has become painfully clear to the Jaguars they've wasted a season because they chose to delude themselves at the quarterback position. I've never seen a game like yesterday's. The Jaguars dominated the Steelers for three quarters. The Jags ran the ball and intercepted passes, but they were so afraid of their own quarterback they ran the ball on third-and-10 in Steelers territory early in the game. It was in the game plan to play around their quarterback, and the best or worst example of that was running the ball on third-and-5 when one 5-yard completion would've clinched the win. So what happened to the defense in the fourth quarter? That question goes to the culture of the team. Ben Roethlisberger flipped a switch in the fourth quarter and, all of a sudden, a dominant defense became burnt toast: three touchdowns and 170 yards passing, which doesn't include a clang-clang drop by James Conner that would've been the game-winner. Why did the Jags melt at crunch time? That's a question that needs to be addressed. As for the Steelers, they proved their grit. They never quit and they have a great, great quarterback who's one of the all-time best comeback passers.

Andrew from New York, NY
With the Steelers on the 1-yard line and 15 seconds left, why didn’t the Jaguars just commit blatant penalties on every play until the Steelers were left with just enough time to kick?
That's kind of what the Jaguars did -- Walt Coleman is very fortunate he didn't wave off that facemask call; it was blatant -- but the Steelers scored. The review picture of the touchdown almost appeared as if Roethlisberger was posing: knee inches off the ground, both hands on the ball and the nose of it just across the goal line.

Ethan from Ontario, Canada
Alex Smith suffered the exact same injury, on the exact same part of the field, exactly 33 years to the day of Joe Theismann’s injury. And the game finished with the exact same score. X-files theme intensifies.
In the Twilight Zone.

Dave from Chicago, IL
Vic, the Nagy and Trubiski combination is beginning to make the Bears offense respectable and the defense is probably top three. Do you think the Bears could improve enough down the stretch to be a real NFC title contender this year?
Mitchell Trubisky is for real; he's becoming a true franchise quarterback. Matt Nagy, for all the play-call sheet joking, has authored the most creative running-game scheme I've seen since the days of the Wing T. I love, I mean I absolutely love his misdirection rushing offense. I liked the Bears last spring, and I like them even more now, but they are not, yet, in the Saints' and Rams' class. Who knows what will happen in what's left of the season?

Hill from Denver, CO
What are your thoughts on the UCLA/USC game with regards to both teams wearing their home colors every year?
It was beautiful! The colors lit up my old TV. I pushed back in my chair and admired the scene as I would a beautiful painting. For a few moments, I imagined O.J. Simpson and Gary Beban playing against each other. College football does a lot of good things with their uniforms; the NFL isn't doing enough. As colorful as USC's red and UCLA's blue were in the Rose Bowl, the Lions' all-gray and Panthers' all-black were drab in dimly lit Ford Field.

David from Quantico, VA
The 2007 playoff game against the New England Patriots was a tough loss. Such a great game. I sure miss David Garrard. Could they have really beat that Patriots team?
If Dennis Northcutt and Matt Jones hadn't dropped those passes, the Patriots' season would've ended that night, not in the Super Bowl.

Brad from Basalt, CO
Vic, the Packers have a play-calling head coach, an offensive coordinator, a run game coordinator and a pass game coordinator. Too many chefs?
No, too many theories for losing. The Packers are losing because they're in the process of repairing their roster, and because Aaron Rodgers is not having a Rodgers-like season. Heading into the Seattle game, he was No. 14 in the NFL's passer rankings. The Packers were 3-6 with Brett Hundley as their starting quarterback last season. That's not much different from 4-5-1. If you want to analyze the Packers' problems, you start with that.

Rich from York, PA
Vic, do you think the Chargers can actually win a few playoff games for old Philip Rivers? Or too early to tell?
The Chargers have a game coming up in Pittsburgh. The weather will likely be postseason-like. I think we'll get a good read on the Chargers in that game.

Nathan from Neenah, WI
I like how you defend your past occupation and appreciate the profession, however, I am finding it painfully hard to take it as a serious occupation anymore. I struggle to find objective analysis instead of blowhard, headline-grabbing articles that fill every site I look at. I think the state of the industry is the worst it's ever been in this click-bait society. I know it's our fault. Can you direct me and others to sites that provide insightful, thought-provoking articles so we can get them more traffic?
The mania for unique visitors has become a huge problem in the website business, and it's because readers are so easy to manipulate. The website people know fans love fire-the-coach stories, so they give the fans what they want in exchange for their click. I won't do that. It would be disingenuous and deceitful, plus, I don't have to do it because this site is not about the money; I sell nothing. My advice is to find sites that sell nothing. There are a lot of old guys like me who have freebie websites because their fingers won't let them stop writing. Don't let the angry, young, video-game fans tell you the game has passed these old guys by. It hasn't. They still get it. If you want the truth, find them and read them. You'll get the truth because there's no incentive for lying.

Joe from Menomonee Falls, WI
Vic, in regards to Mike McCarthy's decision to punt, sure, the offense struggled in the second half, but shouldn't Rodgers have McCarthy's confidence to lead a game-winning drive regardless of how the rest of the game is going?
I was surprised McCarthy elected to punt. He has a reputation for a lot of midfield go-for-its, some of which have backfired. McCarthy is not, in my opinion, a conservative play-caller, and I did not write in my Friday column I agree with his decision to punt. I wrote I could make a case for either decision. In defense of punting, it puts the ball back at the other end of the field, where the Packers defense effectively becomes the Seahawks' play-caller. In that situation, the Seahawks' playbook is cut in half because it's going to be all run. In my opinion, an NFL defense should be able to stop the run when it knows it's coming. Had the Packers gone for it on fourth down and failed, Seattle would've had the ball at the Packers' end of the field and the Seattle playbook is wide open. Three points are on the board, which means playing for overtime is out of the equation for the Packers, and Pete Carroll is going to try to deliver the kill shot. Punting was obviously the wrong decision -- we know that because it failed -- but there's logic to support what McCarthy did.

Axel from LaPorte, IN
Regarding the non-challenge, perhaps the coaches were reluctant to risk their last timeout with that much time remaining in the game.
I'm not as understanding when it comes to not challenging that call. The Kenny Clark injury gave the Packers more than enough time to review that play, discuss it and make a calculated decision. The play was big enough to risk the timeout. In fact, it might've been to the Packers' advantage to lose the challenge and the timeout; McCarthy would've probably gone for it on fourth down if he didn't have that timeout. In my opinion, the NFL needs to get rid of the challenge option before it becomes embarrassing. During the Clark injury delay, Mike Pereira said he thought the call would be reversed if challenged. So what prevents a team employee sitting in front of the bank of TVs in the press box from running to the coaches' booth and telling them what Pereira said?

Jeffeory from Bloomington, IL
I've defended McCarthy for years against the wolves. Is it time to be new?
Go ahead, howl. You don't need my permission. Howl until you get him fired. You'd probably do McCarthy a favor, because he almost certainly would end up as the head coach of a team with a young roster on the way up, low expectations from fans who welcome McCarthy's arrival, and a new contract that gives him a new lease on life. I saw this happen in Jacksonville. The fans cheered Tom Coughlin's dismissal. At the press conference that announced Jack Del Rio as the Jaguars' new coach, owner Wayne Weaver said "no more three yards and a cloud of dust." Never mind that Ernie Accorsi told me Coughlin had the best pass offense Accorsi had ever seen. Perception is reality, right? Yeah, and the perception is McCarthy has a tired playbook and he's a bad play-caller. That perception would be comical if it wasn't so irresponsible. But go ahead, howl. You need to howl to feel better about losing. You have been denied joy and the person responsible for denying you joy must be punished. Oh, by the way, old three yards and a cloud of dust Coughlin went on to win two Super Bowls as coach of the Giants.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA
When the Packers move on from McCarthy, will it be with a new coach already in mind? I feel like they have something special brewing with Pettine and that defense, but I feel like a new coach will upset that momentum.
Lambeau tried to move the franchise to Los Angeles. Lombardi left for Washington. Holmgren left for Seattle. McCarthy wouldn't leave Green Bay for anywhere. He's a Green Bay guy through and through, but you can't wait to get him out, can you? Yinze are a disloyal bunch and, frankly, I'm ashamed of you. Beware the football gods. If you anger them, they'll punish you. You think this is bad? This ain't nothin'.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Gabor from Budapest, Hungary
Vic, Rodgers' passer rating dropped significantly, meanwhile, Wilson's rose through the match. What were the reasons behind it?
Russell Wilson won the human confrontation. Real football is not a video game. It's a human confrontation with real-life human drama that tests a man's resolve. Wilson has crunch-time grit. He's proven it time and time again. He faced a deficit early in the game and led his offense on touchdown drives of 77, 70 and 75 yards, each time to take the lead, the last one being the game-winner. Then, needing to expire 4:11 from the clock to win the game, he carved out two first downs and won kneeling down. He wasn't the best quarterback on the field last night, but he had what it took to get it done. That's not something you analyze, it's something you appreciate and respect.

Brian from Red Wing, MN
In what was essentially a must-win game, what do you think about McCarthy’s decision to not go for it on fourth-and-2 and down by three in the fourth quarter with just over four minutes to go and only having one time out?
I would've been OK with whatever he decided; I could make a case for punting or going for it. He believed his defense would get the ball back. His defense let him down. Look at it this way: What had the Packers offense done to earn Mike McCarthy's confidence? They had scored 10 points in the last three quarters of the game, only three points in the second half.

Vincent from Seattle, WA
What did your eyes tell you about the Packers during the Seattle game?
They're finding young players. They're progressing faster than I expected.

Oscar from Orange County, CA
I understand one play does not define the game, but why didn’t the Packers coaching staff challenge Lockett’s catch?
They had plenty of time to review the play and discuss it, and it was obvious the ball came loose from the receiver's grasp and touched the ground. The Packers should've challenged the call. This is another example of why I have long believed the challenge process should be eliminated. Coaches should not be responsible for officiating the game, especially now that we have eyes in New York ruling on games being played 3,000 miles away. If the intent is to get it right, then stop the game and get it right. Last night, they got it wrong, and the impact of that play on this year's NFC playoffs race is greater than the infamous "Fail Mary" was on the 2012 season.

Dustin from Orlando, FL
I searched all of the Internet but could not find the meaning of “Kire Pire.” Could you enlighten me please?
It's Pittsburghese for Cowher Power. The Pittsburghese.com translator says it should be pronounced Cahr Pahr, but I think the translator has a sahside accent. I come from the norside.

Ben from Columbus, OH
Vic, are you still going to the Jags/Steelers game this weekend with it being moved out of the night time slot?
No, I was in Jax two weeks ago and on the way home I decided I didn't want to make this drive again just two weeks later. The spirit is willing but the body is not. Plus, it's Thanksgiving week and I've got to prepare the house for kith and kin. Drum roll!

Jonathan from Sun Prairie, WI
It seems the Packers can hang with anybody in the league but consistently fall one or two plays short. Do you think Green Bay looks like a team that could turn the corner and make a run (say, after a win in Minnesota)? Or more like a team that needs another draft or two to really compete?
We're going to know the answer to your question soon because the game in Minnesota is a true must win. The Packers' wild-card chances were on the line last night. In Minnesota, any chance the Packers have of winning the division will be at stake. I don't want to give up on this team too early -- I see reasons for hope -- but my expectations are built on patience and optimism for the future.

Dave from Franklin, WI
Vic, what has been the greatest disappointment in your career.
Nothing about my career has been a disappointment, unless you consider the outcomes of two games to be a personal disappointment. They would be the 1999 AFC title game and the 2014 NFC title game. My heart ached for the Jaguars and Packers fan bases. I had an AFC title game clock bearing the date Jan. 23, 2000, on my desk until not too long ago. It broke and I threw it away. It felt good to get rid of it. Because of the way the 2014 NFC title game ended, it was especially hurtful. I could feel Packers fans' pain. I didn't know what I could write to ease their hurt. The following day's "Ask Vic" was written in tear-stained ink. Nearly four years later, it still hurts. I'm sorry for you all. You didn't deserve what happened.

Wesley from Market Weighton, East Yorkshire
I like throwback uniforms, but I'd like to propose a change: Make both teams in a game throw back to appropriate era throwbacks.
I like that idea. I'd like the see the Steelers play the Eagles in Bobby Layne vs. Chuck Bednarik uniforms, which is to say a yellow helmet vs. the Eagles' old-green uniforms. I loved Washington's Norm Snead feather helmets, the Chargers' powder blues and the Rams' Roman Gabriel all-whites. The NFL needs to do more with throwbacks.

John from Austin, TX
Love the game? It's professional football. I thought it was always about the money.
Yes, it's about the money, but it's also play for pay, and you can't play if you don't love the game.

Jack from Jacksonville, FL
What's your prediction for the Jags-Steelers game this weekend?
The Jags own the Steelers. I predict a Jaguars win.

Robert from Dresden, Germany
Vic on the Packers-Seahawks game, 10/26: "I don't see anything especially daunting about the game in Seattle." 11/14: "This game is a daunting challenge for the Packers." What happened?
I watched the Seahawks lose to the Bears and they looked ordinary. Then I watched the Seahawks lose at home to the Rams and I thought they might've lost their homefield advantage, a fact that was confirmed two weeks later when they lost at home to the Chargers. Last Sunday, I watched them nearly beat the Rams and I thought to myself, "Uh, oh." The Seahawks didn't sneak up on the Rams, who were coming off a loss and ready to play against an opponent they don't like. The Seahawks ran the ball and played with an edge in that game. Teams change. Opinions change. The Packers caught the Seahawks at a bad time.

Josh from Dayton, OH
Vic, curious about your thoughts on Marrone and how much of the Jags' hapless five-game stretch reflects on him. Obviously, the blame isn't all on him, lots of things going on here, but just looking for your perspective.
Doug Marrone is a good coach who knows how to win. As the Jaguars were applauding themselves last season, Marrone understood his team was limited in what it could do and its margin for winning was very slim. He remained humble and focused; I thought he provided great leadership for a team that desperately needed it. He understood his team had to win by playing a particular way, and he coached his team to win in that specific way: attacking defense, conservative offense, hardnosed attitude. What's happened since then is Jalen Ramsey has destroyed much of the chemistry for winning the Jaguars built last season. His rants have become a distraction for the Jaguars and a motivator for opponents, and I get the sense Ramsey has infected his teammates. I kept waiting for Marrone to reel Ramsey in, but he never did. That's the only criticism I have of Marrone.

Dan from Grand Rapids, MI
Vic, why the negativity towards Le’Veon Bell wanting to be paid what he feels he is worth? I don’t understand the questioning of his love of the game. Every single NFL player is in the sport for the money. No one would play for free.
For free? How about for $14.5 million? How about for a contract his agent told him to sign, a contract the Steelers are lucky Bell didn't sign? I don't get it. Something's not right about all of this.

Nick from Owego, NY
Which player is your favorite to watch this season?
I love running backs and three of them jump out at me. Adrian Peterson, Todd Gurley and James Conner are my kinds of backs. Peterson is special; it's wonderful to see him running like he did in his prime. He's one of the few backs in NFL history I believe is worthy of being compared to Jim Brown. Gurley is a true downhill runner, and when those guys break the line of scrimmage in full stride, defensive backs begin looking for ways to hide. He's a stylish runner. Conner is not only a heartwarming story for a cancer survivor, which I am, he's a delight to watch run through tacklers with his upper legs and hips. He's pure power as a runner, but he catches the ball with the grace of a wide receiver. Quarterbacks are the stars of today's game, but I still believe running backs define the game.

Richard from St. Augustine, FL
What is your recollection of the early Steelers-Jaguars rivalry, in light of stories of a groin kick and a mystery phone call?
I remember the heat in Jacksonville causing Chad Brown to pass out in the huddle and fall face-first to the ground. That was in the first-ever game between the two teams, in 1995. I remember the Jaguars and Steelers playing arguably the best two-game season series I've ever seen. It was in 1997 and both games ended on a touchdown. Mystery call? Oh, yeah, I remember the mystery call. It was in '97. The Jaguars claimed Jim Miller, who had been cut by the Steelers, before the Jaguars played the Steelers. The day after the game, the Jaguars cut him, which suggested Tom Coughlin had used Miller to acquire information about the Steelers. That's common practice nowadays, but back then it was considered dirty pool and I remember telling a then-member of the Jaguars personnel department cutting Miller will result in payback. Hey, I knew the Steelers; I covered them for 23 years. Early in the second game between the two teams, Keenan McCardell had to crawl on his hands and knees to the sideline following a play. No one knew what happened until we saw the replay. Away from the ball, Greg Lloyd decked McCardell with a vicious head shot. After the game, Lloyd accused McCardell of calling Lloyd's house and threatening his wife. It was a ridiculous accusation. I knew what it was all about, payback. It was a message. The Jaguars and Steelers had a true rivalry and it was great for Jacksonville, where pro football was new and in need of a flavorful rivalry. I hated to see the two teams part ways in realignment. I felt strongly Jacksonville could be to the AFC North what Miami is to the AFC East, which is to say a late-season retreat. Steelers fans came to Jacksonville in droves. They loved making that trip, and I began to sense a migration of Jaguars fans to Pittsburgh. The Colts, Texans and Titans are the Jaguars' new division rivals, but the Steelers will always be the Jaguars' true rival. Games against the Steelers represent the Jaguars franchise's finest hours, and some of mine, too.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 11 power rankings:
1. Saints -- Fire! Fire!
2. Rams -- Do they have another gear?
3. Chiefs -- Can they win a big one?
4. Chargers -- Getting better every week.
5. Vikings -- NFC North on the line in Chicago.
6. Steelers -- Jags beat them like a drum.
7. Titans -- Gritty bunch.
8. Patriots -- Showing signs of decline.
9. Panthers -- They can't possibly be that bad.
10. Bears -- Now we'll find out if they're for real.
11. Washington -- Surprise team in the NFC.
12. Texans -- Big test at Washington.
13. Seahawks -- Better than their record.
14. Bengals -- On the edge of goodbye.
15. Packers -- Must-win game in wild card race.
16. Cowboys -- Season on the line in Atlanta.
17. Ravens -- Do or die vs. Bengals.
18. Eagles -- They're done.
19. Browns -- They've become a tough out.
20. Falcons -- Nobody saw this coming.
21. Colts -- Frank Reich was a good hire.
22. Jaguars -- It's Steelers week in Jacksonburgh.
23. Broncos -- Good season if you like bad seasons.
24. Lions -- Patricia needs to shave and start over.
25. Dolphins -- Second-place team in NFL's weakest division.
26. Jets -- Won't lose this week.
27. Bucs -- Did they really beat the Saints?
28. Giants -- Winning is bad.
29. 49ers -- Losing is good.
30. Cardinals -- Big one vs. Raiders. LOL!
31. Bills -- Alas, poor Peterman.
32. Raiders -- They won't win again.

Karl from Albuquerque, NM
Do you think anyone will want Le'Veon Bell on their team next year?
He'll be signed, but I don't think he'll get near the money he was seeking, and that'll make the money he lost in 2018 by not signing the franchise tender greatly regrettable. Bell was his own worst enemy. His agent told him to sign the contract the Steelers offered him. This was his decision and if I'm a team interested in signing him, I'd have to question his love of the game. Does he really want to play, or does he just want the money? Barry Foster is one of the most talented backs I ever covered. He was a solid citizen and an intelligent man. He had everything a team could want in a star running back, except he didn't love the game as a professional football player must love it to endure the commitment it requires. How much does Bell love football? I think that's a fair question of any player who's willing to sit out a season.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what are your expectations heading into the Green Bay-Seattle game?
This game is a daunting challenge for the Packers. Not only has CenturyLink Field been a house of horrors for the Packers, the Seahawks are coming off a tough loss to the Rams in which I think they found how good a team they can be. This game is all about the wild-card race, which is the Seahawks' only chance of making it into the playoffs. The Packers will be facing a Seahawks team and a Seattle crowd with a sharp focus on winning. The Packers will have to play, in my opinion, their best game of the season to have any chance of winning.

Jim from Houston, TX
Vic, what are your thoughts on the type of block St. Brown made against Miami’s McCain?
I went back and looked at Hines Ward's peel-back block on Keith Rivers. It's the block that changed the rule. In my opinion, St. Brown's block is similar to Ward's.

David from San Francisco, CA
Vic, what is the difference between the Saints offense and the Packers offense?
The Saints are 5-8-7; the Packers are 7-14-6. Statistically, there's not much difference between the two teams, except the Packers are No. 13 in points per game, the Saints are No. 1. One more thing: When I watch the Saints, my eyes say wow! When I watch the Packers, my eyes want more. I trust my eyes more than I trust stats.

Paul from Cumming, GA
The roughing the passer issues from the first quarter of the season seem to have been largely resolved. Did players adapt, or did the officials start calling a more sensible interpretation of the rule?
I haven't seen a pass rusher burp the quarterback since the flurry of burping penalties early in the season.

Pat from Seneca, SC
Do you have any thoughts about what Gruden is doing with the Raiders?
He's cashing checks, and I have a feeling that's why he took the job. I like Gruden. I think he's a top football man and an outstanding broadcast personality. If I was Gruden's agent, I would suggest approaching Mark Davis for the purpose of reaching some kind of exit settlement and getting Gruden back in the broadcast booth. Taking the Raiders job was a big mistake. It's a floundering franchise with no commitment to excellence. Those days are over.

Curt from York, PA
Vic, after the Packers-Bears game, you stated you were not impressed with the Bears new head coach, Matt Nagy. Have you changed your opinion since then? Back in the mid-90’s, Matt was the QB at my high school alma mater here in south-central Pa., Manheim Central, so many of us here are rooting for him, but for me, not at the expense of the Packers.
I didn't like his debut game. I thought he buried his face in his play-call sheet and lost feel for the game and for his team. I thought he coached scared and allowed the Packers to rally for the win. Be that as it may, it was his first game as a head coach. Chuck Noll was 1-13, Bill Walsh was 2-14 and Jimmy Johnson was 1-15 in their first seasons as head coaches, and they went on to coach the dominant teams of the '70s, '80s and '90s. Nagy has done a nice job of beating bad teams, developing a young quarterback and putting the Bears into NFC North title contention. Sunday, he'll have a chance to score the Bears' biggest win since 2010. I'll judge him on what happens this Sunday against the Vikings.

Barry from Hayward, WI
Vic, are there any teams you'd say are peaking too early right now?
The Chiefs are the first team that comes to mind. Andy Reid is an early peaker. He's a scheme coach and scheme teams tend to peak early and fail late in the season. We'll see.

John from Darlington, UK
Do you think age is finally catching up with Tom Brady? Or do you think it's just a mini-slump? Watching him play the last two weeks has been difficult. He's missing an awful lot of throws he would usually make with his eyes closed.
I agree, but that's not what would concern me; Aaron Rodgers missed some throws against Miami. What would concern me about Brady is he's beginning to sack himself, and that means he's looking at the rush. You can't look at the rush and have your eyes downfield. Age can cause that to happen. I've never seen a quarterback sack himself as much as Peyton Manning did at the end. The physical skills begin to erode and a quarterback has no choice but to cover up. He senses his own "mortality." I can't help but wonder what Bill Belichick saw in Bernie Kosar that caused Belichick to cut Kosar. If Brady is showing signs of eroding skills, Belichick is seeing it. No coach is a better evaluator of talent than Belichick.

Bob from Cedar Rapids, IA
Regarding college football uniforms, how about a little love to the Iowa Hawkeyes? Back in 1979, when Hayden Fry came to Iowa, he noticed the black and gold colors were the same as the Pittsburgh Steelers'. He requested a uniform from the Steelers to model and they sent Terry Bradshaw's. Hayden said, "We'll look just like the Steelers, until we snap the ball."
The Hawkeye is not on the right side only.

Elizabeth from Sylvania, OH
So, if you win in today's game with offense, not defense, how great is it the Packers have spent the past several years trying to build their defense?
You don't win with defense, but you can lose with it.

Paul from Cumming, GA
Could you share your impressions of Coach Cowher and his time in Pittsburgh?
Bill Cowher's reputation is for being a tough-guy motivator. What's lost is his acumen for being one of the best strategists in modern coaching history. He owns a remarkable record for games in which he held a 10-point-or-greater lead heading into the fourth quarter. It's something like 107-1-1. That's a coach with a plan. That's a guy who knows how to close the deal. Cowher is one of the most underrated coaches of our time. I also admire him for being smart enough to get out a winner and stay out. He's a good analyst because he's embraced his role, instead of acting as a coach doing TV while waiting for his next job. I did a video with him in 2013 when I was with packers.com. It touched me that I was able to reconnect with Coach Cowher after all the years had passed since I covered his first three teams in Pittsburgh. Kire Pire!

Kevin from New Orleans, LA
Got any thoughts on Howard Cosell?
He's so irreplaceable, MNF has stopped trying. I'd rather listen to Cosell and Meredith do a blowout than listen to the current MNF broadcast the best game in the history of the world.

Ben from El Paso, TX
What do the triangle numbers for Green Bay and Seattle tell you as to what kind of game we could expect to see tomorrow evening?
The Seahawks have the league's No. 1 rushing attack. They run to win or they don't win. The Packers will be all out to stop the run, but a big part of stopping the run will be keeping Russell Wilson in the pocket. Seattle's defense is worst at stopping the run, so Aaron Jones needs to be an important figure on offense for the Packers. In my opinion, the triangle rankings favor the Seahawks. They're best at running the ball; the Packers are worst (No. 22) at stopping the run. On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks are best (No.7 against the pass) at what the Packers do best (No. 6 in passing). I don't like the matchup. The Packers will have to play above the X's and O's.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

David from Silver Spring, MD
There's your trick play!
I've never felt greater joy. Finally, McCarthy gets it. He should listen to the fans more.

Scott from Hamlin, NY
You talked in the preseason about Graham being a big target down the seam, but most of his receptions this year have come on the outside. Is this what's causing the offensive woes; still no vertical threat down the middle?
It was my expectation Jimmy Graham would be the big receiver in the middle of the field Mike McCarthy said was critical to the passing game. After all, Graham's reputation is for being that kind of receiver. Well, he's not being used that way. Against the Dolphins, Graham caught one pass and it was along the sideline. I don't get it but it wouldn't do any good for a reporter to ask Coach McCarthy in a press conference why Graham isn't being used more in the middle of the field because McCarthy would say he doesn't answer questions that pertain to strategy. That leaves me with one of two answers for you: 1) The Packers don't want to use Graham as a big receiver in the middle of the field, or 2) they can't use Graham as a big receiver in the middle of the field. Take your pick.

Paul from Cumming, GA
What team outside of the "Ask Vic Three" are you most enjoying following this season?
I enjoy watching the Rams. Todd Gurley is a special running back and Aaron Donald might be the most dominant defensive lineman I've ever seen. The Rams are an exceptional team. They pound with Gurley and flash with Brandin Cooks in the jet sweep. They throw the ball with big-play explosiveness and they rush the passer with frightening force. The Saints will remain the No. 1 team in my all-important power rankings because they beat the Rams, but I think the Rams are the most talented and complete team in the league.

Dave from Madison, WI
What is your opinion of Aaron Jones? How would you describe his skill set?
He's shifty and explosive. He reminds me of LeSean McCoy. I want to see more.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Put the win over the Dolphins into perspective for us.
It was a shouldn't-lose game. The Packers did what they were expected to do and they did it with impressive balance on offense and with resilience on defense. They put themselves in position to make a run at the NFC North title. They must win, in my opinion, in Minnesota and in Chicago to have any chance of winning the division title. I won't call Thursday's game in Seattle a must win, but a loss would probably force the Packers to have to run the table.

Brad from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, this one hurt. The offense scored points. The fumble at the end hurt. Bortles has a good stat line. The reality is he was scared to push it downfield. Despite that, the defense looked lost. The only interception was blind luck on blown coverage. There were eight missed assignments on zone handoffs. That is even scarier to me coming off a bye. It is unraveling quickly now. Where do you go from here?
The Steelers are next on the Jaguars' schedule, and that's a positive for the Jaguars because they have always played their best football against the Steelers. It goes back to year one, when I was covering them. The Jaguars always got up for playing the Steelers. It was their biggest game of the year. I could never figure out why they didn't feel the same way about the Titans, and that includes Jaguars fans. Even all these years later, 16 years after division realignment separated the Jaguars and the Steelers, the Jaguars still play their best football against the Steelers and some of their worst against the Titans. The two wins against the Steelers last season defined the 2017 Jaguars. In most other ways, it was an ordinary season. So, will next Sunday's game re-energize the Jaguars and turn their season around? It wouldn't surprise me if it did. If it doesn't, Doug Marrone might be coaching for his job in what's left of the season.

John from St. Augustine, FL
I’m watching the Jaguars defense completely melt against the Colts. They don’t lack talent. What do you think the problem is? Have they quit on the season or is it coaching or what?
You're forgetting the first rule of today's NFL: Thou shall not play defense. Seriously, you win in today's game with offense, not defense. The Jaguars had the ball with plenty of time to score and win, and they fumbled it. That's why they lost.

Chenc from Gent Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium
On Sunday, I got to stand on the same field that 100 years ago the last Belgian artillery shot was fired before the weapons fell silent. I hope everyone who reads this column remembers that 100 years ago today, people finally got the chance to wake up with hope in their lives. Let's never forget the privilege we enjoy today thanks to their sacrifice.
I will, even if it's raining.

Steve from Lake Stevens, WA
Can anyone beat Alabama?
It would probably take an Oklahoma kind of team, which is to say a team that eliminates blocking and tackling with hurry-up, spread-the-field offense. I watched Oklahoma and Oklahoma State play a game that was an insult to the game I've loved since I first saw Bobby Layne's nose bleed down his shirt sleeve. If It's come to that, I'd rather not watch. It makes me sad.

Jerry from Savannah, GA
Vic, whatever happened to the goal line being around the world?
I think I covered the last around-the-world touchdown. It was on a catch by Jimmy Smith against the Jets. He reached the ball across the goal line as it extended out of bounds and it was ruled a touchdown. I think it was the game-winner. By rule, it was the right call, but I had never seen it called and I was told the league's officials were informed the following week that even though the around-the-world rule was still in the rulebook, Mike Pereira didn't want it called that way. Some years later, the around-the-world rule was officially eliminated from the rulebook.

Aaron from Wausau, WI
How do you notice what the scheme is for a game plan? If watching individual plays isn't helpful, what trends do you watch for?
Here's one: The Packers used extra wide splits in their offensive line on Sunday. Rich Gannon made mention of it late in the game, for which he has my respect as a true analyst. Wide splits are what an offensive line does when it wants to run the ball. The intent is to create wide running lanes, and they did, which allowed Aaron Jones to gash the Dolphins early before the Dolphins were able to adjust. The negative to big line splits is they create room for pass rushers to maneuver; they invite the rush. The Packers' game plan must not have been concerned about the Dolphins' pass rush; it was 29th in the league in sacks per pass play.

Nick from Owego, NY
When isn't it too early to watch Christmas Vacation?
It's not permitted in my house until Thanksgiving night, at which time I enjoy the cinematic traditional with kith and kin and a slice of shoo-fly pie.

Rich from York, PA
Do you think Patrick Mahomes can sustain this level of play over the course of the full season? He has a bit of a Nick Foles feel to me.
A lot of quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers, have been compared to Joe Montana, but Mahomes is the first one who truly reminds me of Montana. Mahomes has that delicate ease to him that defined Montana's style of play. Mahomes has Montana-like grace and panache. Does that answer your question?

Mark from Napierville, IL
Ugliest uniforms ever? Norte Dame, hands down! Why would they ever wear those uniforms?
I liked them. What I don't like are the gray uniforms I've seen this year. Northwestern's gray unis are depressing, especially on a gray day. I watched a lot of games on Saturday and I enjoyed the visuals. I'm not a fan of red, but Penn State and Wisconsin made for a handsome red, white and blue spectacle. Pitt's throwback uniforms might be the best in football. I love Texas Tech's flame-red helmet with the black stripe. West Virginia's gold is the best. Their midnight blue and gold colors and their numbers font are coal minesque. Florida's blue and orange are a sunset special. North Carolina and Duke was heaven for a blue lover like me. I love bright colors. It's a big part of my fascination for football.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Do the Packers need to win the NFC North to make the playoffs?
They can win a wild card spot, but only if they win in Seattle this Thursday.

Matthew from Oshkosh, WI
Tell Adam from Cary, NC, the only whiny, petulant child is Cam Newton after each of his sacks. As a Packers fan, I really enjoyed watching the Steelers embarrass Panther nation.
Isn't that kind of silly?

Tracy from Sioux Falls, SD
I am impressed beyond measure with the play of Jaire Alexander. He took out a lineman so the linebacker behind him could make a play. Is he the future star of this defense?
He's the best player on the Packers defense right now.

Luke from Chattanooga, TN
Hope the guy is okay, but how could St. Brown have made the block on McCain legally?
Hines Ward made that block when it was legal to do so, and he was called dirty. A Packer does it after the block has been outlawed, and it's what else could he have done?

Simon from Norwalk, CT
I liked the EQ hit. He led with his shoulder and connected center mass, avoiding any head to head nonsense. Am I wrong? Didn’t those kinds of hits used to make the NFL promo commercials?
Yeah, it was great seeing the guy's head snap and then watching him lie motionless on the ground. I'll bet he lost consciousness before he hit the ground.

Sean from Glen Ellyn, IL
I know this isn't football related, but I mowed my grandparents' lawn on Thursday and woke up Friday to a couple of inches of snow. Felt good getting that last mow in. I'm sure you don't have the same problem down in SC, though.
This is the time of the year the temperatures dip low enough at night to make the mosquitoes go back into the rotted vegetation and take a nap. The next 5-6 months are heaven.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Randy from Medicine Hat, AB
Why is it so hard to find a good north-south running back these days?
It's not hard to find them. The Steelers found James Conner in the third round. The truth is coaches don't value north-south runners as they should because they don't value the running game beyond the balance they want to achieve from it. Coaches are manic about creativity in the passing game, but they continue to run the same old schemes in the running game. Pounders are under-appreciated. Everybody was gaga about Le'Veon Bell's stop and start, wiggle and jiggle running style, but Conner's a better complement to what the Steelers want to do with their passing game. Why? Because you stop Bell with the same personnel you use to defend against the pass. You gotta get some big guys on the field to stop Conner. If you're not running the ball with power, you're not running the ball. I love pound and bomb.

Daniel from Richmond, TX
Vic, there is no criticism of the Packers that makes me roll my eyes more than "McCarthy's message has gotten stale." This dismisses the fact the Packers have missed on far too many draft picks and are way overpaying a handful of players. What do you think about the criticism of the freshness of McCarthy's message?
I think the message has been freshened: Fumble a kickoff when you were told not to take it out of the end zone and you'll be traded; commit a costly penalty due to a lack of emotional discipline and you'll be cut. Any player who can't understand that message is too stupid to play for me, as Brian Billick would say.

Dan from Waupun, WI
As a Packers fan, you have us ranked too high.
If they lose this week, you won't feel that way next Wednesday.

Adam from Cary, NC
How did this become "Talk Packers Weekly" with Vic? I know you direct your column to be a reflection of your inbox, and I respect that integrity, but I guess I'm sad the answer to that survey from a couple of months back wasn't shifted slightly more towards the NFL in general. I've grown somewhat tired of whiny Packers fans but, of course, I'll stick around because I appreciate your insights. Thanks for resurrecting the all-important power rankings.
I answer what I'm asked. Ask me about some other teams.

Derrick from Rockaway, NJ
Will T.J. Watt go down as one of the most disappointing misses in Packers draft history?
He had another big game last night: a sack, a tackle for loss and two QB hits. His hit on Cam Newton that caused a fumble was a game-changer. Newton wasn't the same after that hit. I think Watt will be remembered for bookending Ted Thompson's career as Packers general manager: Aaron Rodgers in the beginning and Watt at the end.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL
Was the acquisition of Jimmy Graham a bust or does he just need more time with Rodgers? He doesn't seem to get separation, gets double-teamed, or timing is just off. Maybe they're using him wrong?
Expectations were too high. He was a disappointment in Seattle for the same reason. Also, the knee injury might have cost him a step. Looking at the way his cap hit is structured, his salary spikes in 2020. At that point, he'd be a cap savings cut, so I suspect the Packers will try to get at least one more year out of him. He got $11 million guaranteed at signing; it's hard to walk away from that kind of investment after just one year.

Gabor from Budapest, Hungary
Vic, what happened to the AFC South? At the beginning of the season, it looked intriguing, but right now its best team is only 16th on your power rankings.
Jacksonville and Tennessee have under-performed. Hey, the Jaguars were No. 1 in my all-important power rankings after Week 2. I'm not sold, yet, on the Texans, but I could get there in a couple of weeks if they keep winning. I'm keeping an eye on the Colts. I like what Frank Reich is doing with that team. Should they beat the Jaguars this Sunday, the Colts will be in the division title race.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, when I watch Brady, I'm always stunned by how he looks both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. I can't identify something special or unique about his game other than this nonchalant excellence that never seems to abandon him. But I'm not a professional, and it's likely I'm missing something more specific. In your estimation, what's his greatest strength? His brain, his arm, his pocket presence? Something else?
He makes it look easy, which is the trademark of a truly dominant player. It's that way because he can do it all, except run. Unitas couldn't run, either. Sinatra couldn't dance but nobody knew it because he didn't do it. Don't try what you can't do. Brady doesn't.

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL
If you were wearing the GM hat in Jacksonville last offseason, what would you have done, if anything, to address the quarterback position?
I think my question would be: Did they do enough? Maybe going after Kirk Cousins would've been too bold a move -- or maybe not; they had the cap room to do it -- but I don't think they did enough to upgrade the position and protect themselves from a Bortles meltdown. Washington was aggressive in trading for Alex Smith. The Bucs didn't allow Ryan Fitzpatrick to reach free agency. The Broncos were aggressive in signing Case Keenum. The Packers traded for DeShone Kizer; the Seahawks for Brett Hundley. The Steelers traded up to draft Mason Rudolph. It's quarterback, you have to have one and no team can rest until it's addressed the position as fully as possible. The Jaguars' options weren't good, but I think they should've been more aggressive in trying to address the position.

Ian from Kirkwhelpington, England
Vic, after 35 years supporting from afar, I am en route to Lambeau for the Dolphins game and taking great hope from your power rankings comments in recent weeks the Dolphins aren't as good as their record. My question is about trick plays. The Packers have suffered in their last two games from a fake punt, a flea-flicker and a throw by a receiver. I can't remember the last time the Packers tried a trick play other than an end around. Is that overly cautious coaching and play-calling or is there another reason for it? I will raise a glass to you on Sunday. It's a shame not to have the chance to meet you.
I can see the headline now: McCarthy fired; not enough trick plays! When the wolves begin howling for trick plays, all hope is lost. As for the Dolphins, their triangle numbers are 28-21-26 and 26-28-22. In my quest to find something they do well, I discovered they are No. 3 in the league in returning punts and kicks. If John McKay was the coach of the Dolphins, he'd say we don't rush the passer, but we make up for it by not blocking the rush. The Dolphins are 5-4 and the Packers are 3-4-1, yet, the Packers are favored by 9.5 points, which proves Bill Parcells was wrong, you aren't what your record says you are. Enjoy the game. I hope the Packers run some trick plays.

Vincent from Seattle, WA
Vic, why is Gruden your hero?
They have to keep paying him.

Andrew from Madison, WI
I think Gute is cutting players in order to force the coaches to go with younger players with more potential upside. Am I crazy for thinking this?
During the season especially, GMs work with coaches in shaping rosters according to weekly game-plan and injury needs. Jermaine Whitehead is a come-on-back type of player; cut him and bring him back, cut him and bring him back. His release probably served two purposes: The Packers needed to tweak their roster due to injury at another position, and releasing him allowed McCarthy to send a message about self-control.

John from Marshfield, WI
Why doesn't Ted Thompson get the love? Granted, Ron Wolf saved the Packers. Wolf: 11 seasons, one Super Bowl win, Reggie White in free agency, trade for Brett Favre, 68 percent winning percentage. Thompson: 14 seasons, one Super Bowl win, Charles Woodson in free agency, drafted Aaron Rodgers, 65 percent winning percentage.
Wolf changed expectations. There was appreciation for what he did; contempt for what Thompson accomplished. That's what expectations can do. It also didn't help that Thompson wasn't as personable or as communicative as Wolf was. It helps calm the wolves if the GM or coach can endear himself to the fans. If I was an owner, I wouldn't hire a coach or GM who couldn't relate to the media and fans. Tony Dungy is the example. I think he genuinely enjoyed working with the media. As a result, the media valued him as a resource and treated him accordingly. His image with the fans benefited from that give and take, all of which made Dungy a likeable coach whose favorability helped quiet the wolves when times got tough. GMs and coaches don't do themselves any favors by estranging themselves from the media and fans. If I'm an owner, I'm not going to hire a GM or coach who lacks likeability. Wolf had that quality. He was beloved.

Dave from Franklin, WI
Love your work and thank you for continuing "Ask Vic." I keep hearing talk how McCarthy wasted Rodgers' talent by only winning one Super Bowl. So it makes me wonder, how did a Hall of Fame coach waste Marino's talent?
Don Shula failed to build a strong defense. Sound familiar? The Dolphins drafted poorly on that side of the ball. By the time free agency began, Marino was nearing the end of the line. He lost a season to an Achilles injury, he developed neck problems and Jimmy Johnson replaced Shula as coach.

Gary from Murietta, CA
Vic, following your columns for years has taught me to be a better fan and analyze what I see in the game. I could be bitter right now and say the heck with the Packers, but you have taught me to be better than that. I will not desert my team and I will continue to be hopeful as our new talent evolves. Thank you for your years of helping me understand what is really happening right now.
The choice is watch or don't watch. I like to watch.

Rudy from Milwaukee, WI
Have you ever discussed how often the play is changed at the line of scrimmage with the QB?
Back when coaches weren't completely paranoid and they believed it was their job to communicate with the media and fans to help promote pro football, Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw would playfully spar in their postgame press conferences about who was responsible for a play that was called. Bradshaw called his own plays, but on occasion Coach Noll would send in a particular play he wanted run. There was no hiding it back then because plays were sent in with messenger guards, not by helmet communicator. We'd see a guard run into the huddle and we'd know Coach Noll was sending in a play, and then we'd see or here Bradshaw changing the play at the line of scrimmage -- brown was the Steelers' hot color back then -- and we'd look down to the sideline and see Noll with his lips tightened down to a bloodless scratch. After the game, we'd ask Coach Noll, "Whose play was that?" "It was Terry's play," Coach Noll would say with a playful edge in his voice. So, the answer to your question is in the old days, yes, we discussed plays being changed at the line of scrimmage. These days? No chance! "That's proprietary information," a coach would say. Yeah, It's proprietary; only you and your opponents know it. I spent 45 years trying to accumulate information for my readers. I hate, and I mean truly hate, the unnecessary stealth in today's game. Vic to coaches: You're not hiding anything from your opponents. You're only denying fans information that might help them understand and appreciate the inner workings of the wonderful game of professional football.

James from United Kingdom
Vic, seems a silly question but do the Steelers now even want Bell to return? Would they not be worried about disrupting the team's harmony? Or do you just take good players when available?
I'd want him back, provided he's in any kind of shape to play. The creativity Bell's return might offer could put the Steelers over the top in December. I can envision Bell and Conner in a split-backs set, or one of them in the slot. You could do a lot by formation with those two guys. They're each accomplished pass-catchers who would be the equivalent of another tight end or wide receiver on the field. If Bell comes back, he'll be a motivated player because he won't be worth the money he wants in free agency if he lays down or plays poorly in December. We talked about this in this column before the season began.

Ben from Chicago, IL
Vic, I recently looked at the draft positions of players the Packers have moved on from, and I saw there were Pro-Bowl players other teams found later on in those drafts. Regarding the need for star players, are you referring to those typically drafted in the first 20 picks?
You can't possibly be referring to the 2015 draft, the one for which the Packers are being criticized, because it was a turd leaguewide. Try this: Go back to those drafts and calculate the hit-miss percentage on star players from the Packers' first pick on. Compare it to the hit-miss percentage from the Packers' first pick in reverse.

Ben from Hilo, HI
You mentioned how the Big 12 plays soft football (with the exception of TCU) and it's difficult for QBs from the conference to make the leap to the NFL. Is Mahomes' production the product of Reid's scheme, the result of star-position players or the real deal?
Patrick Mahomes is on the verge of becoming the best NFL/AFL quarterback to have come from the Big 8/Big 12 since John Hadl. Every 50-60 years, I guess it can happen.

Ryan from Bloomer, WI
I know, I know, players, not plays, but what is your opinion of the bubble screen play in the flat? I feel like the Packers run this ridiculous play more than any other team and, in my opinion, it is the biggest down waster they run.
It's a play run best when the ball is thrown to an elusive wide receiver, a big-play threat such as Antonio Brown or Tyreek Hill. The Packers don't have that kind of player, but the play is also run for another reason: It forces the cornerback on that side of the field to come up and support. He doesn't dare backpedal into soft coverage when the ball is snapped. The play to which you are referring helps set up the deep ball. I've said this over and over: Don't look at plays, look at scheme. Each play is a piece in the total scheme. The wasted run helps sell play action, the wasted deep throw helps create space underneath, etc. A good coach doesn't call plays, he calls a game plan.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Here's the "Ask Vic" Week 10 power rankings:
1. Saints -- They beat the best.
2. Rams -- Dose of reality.
3. Patriots -- Won with WR playing RB.
4. Chiefs -- Cardinals and then the Rams.
5. Panthers -- Roaring into Pittsburgh.
6. Chargers -- They're for real.
7. Vikings -- Bye and then at the Bears.
8. Steelers -- Le'Veon Bell drama just beginning.
9. Bengals -- Saints game will define them.
10. Bears -- Feeding off bottom dwellers.
11. Washington -- Must win at Bucs to restart motor.
12. Falcons -- Beginning to make their move.
13. Seahawks -- No. 27 in passing.
14. Ravens -- In free fall.
15. Packers -- Who are they?
16. Texans -- Team to beat in AFC South.
17. Eagles -- Is Wentz all the way back?
18. Titans -- Mariota "The Little Girl With A Curl."
19. Jaguars -- Must-win game at Colts.
20. Lions -- Stop slouching!
21. Colts -- AFC South contender with win over Jags.
22. Cowboys -- Lacking focus.
23. Broncos -- Won't lose this week.
24. Dolphins -- Much worse than their record.
25. Jets -- Stinky game of the week vs. Bills.
26. Bucs -- I'd like to speak to Sybil now.
27. Browns -- Next loss, Falcons.
28. 49ers -- They found the next Jimmy Garoppolo.
29. Giants -- Titanic clash vs. 49ers.
30. Cardinals -- Just mail it in.
31. Bills -- You're going the wrong way!
32. Raiders -- Gruden is my hero.

Ramiro from Jurupa Valley, CA
Vic, the real heavyweight fight was the Rams at Saints. Barring a major injury and assuming they both get to the playoffs churning, who would you pick if they played each other in the NFC Championship?
I'd pick the Saints if the game was played in New Orleans, which is why last Sunday's game was so important. The Saints now own the homefield tiebreaker. The Superdome, in my opinion, is the toughest place in the league for a visiting team to play.

Tony from Onalaska, WI
I know the wolves are howling for McCarthy's removal. Do you suspect Brian Gutekunst has a different head coach in mind for the future, or is Mike his guy?
I have no reason to believe Mike McCarthy isn't Gutekunst's guy. In fact, I'm not sure Gutekunst is old enough and traveled enough to have a guy. He's just a young man in his first GM job doing the best he can to repair a roster. Frankly, I'm tired of the howl talk. I regret ever having introduced the term to this column. It's empowered fans to believe they're in control. Now my inbox is full of howl questions and comments. Vic to fans: A new coach isn't going to fix the Packers' problems; new players will.

Daniel from Cedar Rapids, IA
How do you think the Packers will finish this year? My prediction is 10-5-1. Who have the Packers lost to? Washington (leads division), Rams (that was on an insubordinate player who's no longer on the team. Plus, they lead the NFC), and the Patriots, who own the AFC. Oh, and Detroit due to Mason Crosby having the only off game he's had going back through high school. Who do the Packers play the next few weeks? Miami at home. If we lose this, someone should be fired. At Seattle on a short week. Not a gimme, but we should still win. At Vikings after a mini bye week; coin flip that we need to win for the division and maybe playoffs. Arizona at home should be a win. Atlanta at home; for various reasons we should be favored, but not a gimme. At Chicago not a gimme; I'm not sure we should be favored, but I like our chances. At Jets should be an easyish win. Detroit, without Golden Tate they need a deep threat; regardless, this is at home. I can see us going 7-1 and finishing 10-5-1. if we lose to Minnesota and Chicago, 9-6-1. I think we need to win at least one of those two games for the playoffs and both for the division. As for how we'd do in the playoffs, it depends on the development of our young talent, but we honestly need one more draft and free agency to be great (I think you said 1-2, right?).
You forgot the Super Bowl.

John from Sioux Falls, SD
Vic, I know better than to start asking play-calling questions, but here I go and please be gentle as I really am curious. When Rodgers gets pressured, there never seems to be a checkdown or some dump-off option to gain a few yards and avoid taking hits. Is it they don’t run those types of options or is it Rodgers doesn't like to utilize them?
It depends first on the blocking scheme. If the Packers are in max protect, which means a back and/or tight end is/are being held in to help block the rush, there is no checkdown receiver. I remember Aaron Rodgers completing a checkdown-type pass to Aaron Jones on Sunday night; Jones was tackled immediately. You have to know the scheme before you can judge Rodgers' willingness to dump the ball off.

Joe from Menomonee Falls, WI
Vic, the Pats and Brady have mastered the QB sneak. They use it a lot on third-and-short situations, and they are successful a lot. I don't see other teams trying to emulate this, why?
It's a skill and Brady has it. He finds a crease and he wedges into it. Most teams don't like their quarterback going shoulder first into the pile. The Steelers are just beginning to use Ben Roethlisberger in a sneak role. He scored a 1-yard touchdown on Sunday. I think we're going to see more of it because it's a sound strategy against penetrate-and-disrupt defensive schemes. Aaron Donald, for example, is just too quick off the ball to block in short-yardage if you're handing off deep to your running back. The QB sneak is a way to beat the defense to the punch, so to speak. I prefer a short-yardage back who can leap over the pile, as Sam Cunningham did. I think goal-line and short-yardage plays have become critical enough to have a back on your roster who specializes in getting up over the pile. Maybe it's something a wide receiver could add to his resume.

Sean from Denver, CO
Vic, you talk about repairing the Packers roster but also acknowledge the young talent in the secondary and offensive skill positions. I thought our offensive and defensive lines were better than average, at least. Obviously, we need a pass rush. What do we need on offense? What are the positions that need repair in your opinion?
The Packers need a couple of star-quality players, at any position. They're building depth. The young wide receivers, for example, are depth-type players, but I don't see star-quality in them. I could say the same about the running backs. Don't focus as much on positions; focus on impact.

Pete from Conway, AR
Vic, I watched two games before Packers/Patriots: Chiefs/Browns and Saints/Rams. Screen passes were everywhere. The Chiefs had four in the first quarter. Is there a reason the Packers refuse to run screens?
You run screens against teams that are weak at linebacker or like to drop their linebackers deep, or when you think you can catch them in a blitz. The Patriots' linebackers are, in my opinion, a good bunch; they don't usually invite the screen. Again, you have to know the overall design and concerns before you can pass play-calling judgment. Yes, the screen pass is great strategy for attacking deep-drop and up-the-field defenses, but it doesn't always meet with success. Do the Packers have the personnel to run it successfully? Eddie Lacy was a great screen back, and Sitton and Lang were great at getting out in front of it. In the final analysis, it's about players being able to execute the play.

Jerry from Grantsburg, WI
The Packers' primary needs seem to be pass blockers and pass rushers. What else is missing?
Stars! The Packers need young star players. Jaire Alexander might be one of those young star-type players. More are needed. Filling needs makes you 8-8. You win championships with stars. The Patriots do a lot of patching to fill needs, but they've had a lot of star players through the years: Brady, Law, Revis, Wilfork, Seymour, Dillon, Light, Bruschi, Gronkowski, etc.

Mike from St. Louis, MO
Vic, it seems good teams like the Saints, Rams, Chiefs, Pats, etc. take what they want from the opposing defense. In Green Bay, it seems like Rodgers spends too much time pre-snap trying to decipher what the opposition is doing. The play clock is always near zero or they end up wasting a timeout/delay-of-game penalty. Why is offense so difficult in Green Bay right now?
Your question doesn't mesh with your comment. The Packers' struggles on offense aren't about their pre-snap routine. Be that as it may, I am very tired of the catch-the-defense-with-12-on-the-field thing. It's an overused gimmick. It says we're gonna trick you because we can't beat you, and I hate that. I'd like to see more of a line-up-and-knock-them-off-the-ball mentality, instead of this catch-them-offside baloney. It feels bad inside. I thought the Packers should've committed more firmly to the running game on Sunday. I thought they were gashing the Patriots but they quit on it. The Packers averaged 4.7 per rush and 5.7 per pass and the Patriots were 4.0 per rush and 8.2 per pass, yet, the Packers were 25-43 in rush-pass attempts while the Patriots were 31-36. In other words, the Patriots had better balance, despite having less reason for it.

Travis from Plymouth, WI
Vic, two or three years ago, I seem to recall Aaron Rodgers discussing how he knew the red zone plays McCarthy was calling would result in TDs before the play was run. What happened to the confidence and ability to visualize such success in the few years that have elapsed since Rodgers expressed those sentiments?
The players around Rodgers have changed. Rodgers had Sitton and Lang in front of him, Lacy, Kuhn and Starks behind him, and Jordy Nelson on the outside. In 2014, Lacy, Kuhn, Starks and Nelson accounted for 3,666 yards and 29 touchdowns. In a few short years, they were all gone, and that's why I say it's a game of replacement. Replacing that kind of talent is difficult, especially when you're sitting at the bottom of the draft. From 2011-17, the Packers' average first-round draft position was 27-28, and that's not where you find star-quality players. In retrospect, the Packers probably should've tried to trade up more often to find star-quality players to replace the star players they would lose, but moving up is easier said than done.

Tom from Bismarck, ND
Vic, it seems the Packers went from having the slowest tight ends in the NFL to having, well, the slowest tight ends in the past 20 years in the NFL. Wow! The lack of athletes on this team the past 7-8 years is staggering. The laughably poor athletes on our defense, especially in the front seven, is a reflection of a systematic problem in this team's upper levels. Yes, we know about Ted, and it's as we expected. But wasn't there a little check and balance in the leadership room? How could this have happened? No one had the ability to step in? Why weren't you saying something? Isn't a good reporter's No. 1 job to see and report this?
They were drafting at the bottom. I think I warned everyone it would take its toll. What happened to the Packers is the inevitable for a draft-and-develop football team. Patch-and-plug like the Patriots? That's easier said than done, too, and it just wasn't the Packers' way under Ted Thompson. The Packers wanted to execute a self-sustaining process of acquiring and replacing talent, and I think they did. They had a good, long run of success. Eventually drafting at the bottom caught up to them, but it's not as though they're facing a cut and gut. They just need some repair. Why aren't fans more understanding? Isn't it a good fan's No. 1 job to be supportive?

Brian from Yakima, WA
How important is play-calling in a game?
It's critically important. The coach needs to put his players into favorable positions to make plays, and that's a process that begins early in the week when the coach and his offensive staff identify favorable personnel matchups and create a corresponding play sheet. Once all of that has been accomplished, it's up to the players to execute the team's play choices. It's not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants process. Play-calling involves hours of tape study and advance scouting.

Matthew from Madison, WI
Vic, did you cringe at the Packers passing three straight times from the 2-yard line early in the game?
I frowned.

Craig from Cedarburg, WI
Why do fans want to declare a season lost before it truly is?
Their emotions are fragile. If they'd learn to discipline their passion for winning, they'd find more enjoyment in watching the Packers evolve. Change is happening and it's growth. We're going to see the Packers' roster improve as the team picks higher. The next big issue confronting the Packers will be having to replace Rodgers. I consider this to be an exciting time for Packers fans. They're seeing the future reveal itself.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Simon from Santa Clara, CA
The Packers offense isn't getting it done when it needs to. What's wrong?
The Rams and Patriots took their pass rushes to a higher level late in the last two games. I don't know if it's age or the knee injury, but Aaron Rodgers has lost some mobility. That's obvious on tape for opponents to see, so we can expect more pass-rush emphasis in the future. Giving Rodgers time to throw is, in my opinion, job one on offense.

Brian from Vancouver, BC
If Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery don't fumble those balls, how are we looking at the Packers?
Unrealistically, but happily.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, please give your impressions and perspective on the Packers after the Patriots game.
To the casual observer, the Packers are still all about Aaron Rodgers, but to those who follow the Packers' every move, I think it's obvious it's a team defined by young talent on the rise. It's a team in the midst of change, which means repair. I like the rebuilt young secondary. I like the young backs and receivers. Repair requires patience, and I'm not sensing much of it in my inbox. This will be hardest on the fans, for there are many steps to be taken before the Packers are the team its fans have come to expect.

Luke from Rochester, MN
The Packers don't appear to be a Super Bowl team. Heck, they don't really even resemble a playoff team, and help is not on the way with the trade deadline already passed. What can we be hopeful for as fans at this point?
Be hopeful for patience and the wisdom that allows it.

Matt from Boomsgrove, UK
Vic, a 29-0 final for college football's mega-hype matchup on Saturday is very disappointing. How can the NCAA level the recruiting game?
Reduce scholarships so there are five-star players left over for everyone.

Phil from Madison, WI
Vic, as a young fan who is accustomed to seeing championship-level football teams, this season has been an adjustment for me. However, your messages over the years have taught me how to be a better football fan than the howling wolves who call for firings after each loss. What are some pieces of the team we can build around? What does this team need to point the arrow up again?
The Packers can build a genuinely strong defense around the young talent they have in their secondary. They might only need a couple of young pass rushers. I give Brian Gutekunst major credit for identifying the problem on defense, clearing out the dead wood and rebuilding the secondary. The Packers' arrow is pointing up because they finally have some young players on defense who can run and hit. They need to do the same thing on offense: find young players with impact talent. Gutekunst knows who those players are, and I believe he'll be picking high enough to draft them.

Jarad from Stevens Point, WI
Vic, I’ve remained pro-McCarthy, particularly since, as you like to point out, the talent on the Packers just isn’t there at the moment. The fans, however, seem to have settled on a scapegoat. Honestly, in your estimation, does McCarthy have the respect of the locker room right now? Can he weather this?
You're being overly dramatic. This isn't about respect of the locker room, it's about finding more good football players and using the time between now and then to develop the talent that exists on the roster. Yeah, Coach McCarthy can weather the storm. Can the fans? I think that's the bigger question.

Dan from Madison, WI
What has surprised you about the Packers this season?
I'm pleasantly surprised the Packers' young secondary has evolved as quickly as it has. That's about it. I'm not surprised by their record or their apparent struggles. I identified the need to repair their roster and I adjusted my expectations accordingly.

Jonas from St. Paul, MN
I feel emotional.
I'm sorry. Give it time; it'll pass.

Alison from Minneapolis, MN
Vic, you have discussed a winning team’s ability to make plays in crunch time. This Packers team seems incapable of doing so. Can you share your thoughts on why that is the case?
Crunch time is that point late in the game when each team's game plan has been diagnosed and the guess work is over. At that point, the more talented team plays with the confidence of knowing it's the more talented team, and that's the team that makes game-winning plays at crunch time. Aaron Rodgers masks a lot of deficiencies and he has always tilted the field, but he can't do it all. He needs more talent around him, and I think he'll get it.

John from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Any thoughts or stories in regards to Vince Manuwai? He passed too young and I’ll always remember him opening holes for Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. What a joy all of them were to watch.
I was crushed when I saw the news of Vince's passing. I was immediately flooded with memories of Vince walking the rubber hallway, his flip flops slapping the floor with the distinctive sound of Vince's waddle. I would hear them coming and I always turned to look out my door as Vince passed, to exchange smiles and nods. He was a friendly man. Everybody loved him. Jack Del Rio thought he was one of the league's most underrated players. I am truly sad today for his passing. These are the days when I count most on memories.

Dan from Austin, TX
Battle of the GOATs? Color me unimpressed. Brady looks off a depleted secondary for one big play and Rodgers completes a couple of decent passes to MVS. These are not great defenses. Mahomes vs Wentz/Watson seems more exciting. Maybe the torch is being passed?
It wasn't what we expected, was it?

Kabir from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
The Packers got sloppy and got penalties at critical moments. More than the fumble, the roughing the kicker and the Whitehead personal fouls cost the game.
The Aaron Jones fumble was the game-changer. That was the play the Packers couldn't overcome. It changed momentum and there wasn't enough time left in the game to change it back. Jones is a good-looking back. I like him, but he's got to be a more dependable player. The fans see the talent; Mike McCarthy sees the flaws. McCarthy's job is to eliminate the flaws, develop the talent and fit it into the offense. That's how I judge a coach's performance. Time management isn't the benchmark; developing and utilizing talent is. Jones is a project. He's going to define McCarthy.

Mike from McFarland, WI
Did anyone get pencil whipped in that game?
Mike Pettine did a great job of disguising coverages and directing the ball. During Brady's incompletions streak in the second half, he missed a wide open receiver on a critical conversion down. It was very un-Brady like. Late in the game, Josh McDaniels did a good job of attacking Pettine's scheme and forcing the Packers' corners to support against the run, which caused some hesitation. I attribute the last touchdown pass to that hesitation. Last night's game was loaded with scheme.

Tom from Hamden, CT
Do you think Aaron Rodgers will ever win another Super Bowl?
I think the Packers can get back into title contention within two years; in my opinion, it'll take two drafts and free agency periods to surround Rodgers with the talent he needs. Will he still be on top of his game at that point? The answer to that question will determine whether or not Rodgers can win another Super Bowl.

Craig from Miami, FL
Fans will call for coaching changes, but the problems run much deeper than that. Rodgers misses throws he never used to. Will his contract inhibit the Packers’ ability to get much better during the duration of his contract?
No, because it can be re-structured to push money out and create room for free-agent signings. I'm not a fan of that strategy, but it's a common practice. The Saints have sold out for one last push with Brees, and the Packers can do the same thing with Rodgers.

Tyler from Augusta, GA
Players, not plays. I feel like we have a soft roster and Brian G knows it. We're definitely not a player away.
I think that's a healthy attitude.

Garrett from Knoxville, TN
What are your thoughts on how the Patriots play on offense?
It's a scheme offense and they execute the scheme beautifully. They were playing without Gronkowski and Michel and they still got it done. That's impressive.

"Ask Vic" will publish on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the football season.

Travis from Sobieski, WI
I feel I've been defending Mike McCarthy a lot recently to friends and family, as I still think he's a great coach. Your comments in this column seem to agree with me. However, when do you believe it is time to make a head coaching change? What signs do you look for?
Is the coach getting the most out of his talent? That's the question that needs to be answered. In Mike McCarthy's case, I think the answer is yes. The Packers have an ordinary roster. They lack talent at most positions, except for quarterback. Aaron Rodgers is both the best and the worst thing to happen to McCarthy. He's the best because he keeps the Packers competitive; he's the worst because he masks deficiencies and that causes unrealistic expectations among fans and media.

Chase from Madisonville, KY
I recently watched an interview with Marcedes Lewis. He mentioned Rodgers made up a play during the game. Is this typical behavior from the QB?
The only game the 1984 49ers lost was the result of a play Mark Malone drew up in the dirt, so to speak. Yeah, Mark Malone. It happens. The quarterback sees something he thinks he can exploit so he adds a little twist to the formation or the route tree that isolates a back or a receiver on a particular defender.

Pat from Seneca, SC
What do you think will happen once Le'Veon Bell reports to the Steelers? He doesn’t want to be there and I’m guessing most of the players and coaches don’t want him there, either.
The first question that has to be answered is whether or not Bell reports in shape. If he comes in heavy, the Steelers will likely use a two-week roster exemption on him. Assuming at some point he rounds into playing shape, I would expect Bell and James Conner to be used in a complementary way. It would be ideal because Bell doesn't want to be overused and Conner is a high-character, team-first guy who would never complain about his role being reduced. If the Steelers found themselves in playoff contention, and that's a big if given their schedule, the Bell-Conner combination could make the Steelers a hot team at the right time. I'm not a fan of Bell's style of running -- I've made that known -- but I love Conner and his ability to pound and catch. It's a rare skill set. I thought Conner was the perfect back to replace Eddie Lacy.

Nathan from Tiffin, OH
Vic, maybe it's too early to ask this, but what are your thoughts or feelings on the job Brian Gutekunst has done so far?
He assembled a good draft class and he's expressed a desire to use free agency to complement the draft. I'm not crazy about this year's free-agent additions, but I want to give him time to see if he can affordably patch what the draft can't fully address. I think he's upgraded the roster, and that's a very good thing because it had become obvious the roster was in decline.

Milan from New York, NY
Re: Jaire Alexander. It's easier to draft good future players after a losing season, ain't it?
Ask the Steelers if they'd like to have Alexander. In the NFL, to the loser goes the spoils.

Kelvin from Kenilworth, UK
Is Rodgers vs. Brady the closest thing to a matchup of the two greatest quarterbacks to play than, say, Manning vs. Brady, or has there been two better that played each other in previous decades?
I can't imagine a better big-game matchup of quarterbacks than Joe Montana vs. Dan Marino in Super Bowl XIX. Bradshaw vs. Staubach is the best I've covered. I think it has to happen in a postseason game for it to really count.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
Vic, it's been an interesting year for the Packers, to say the least. Moving forward, what will you be looking at the most within their organization?
I'm looking forward to getting a read on their personnel philosophy under Brian Gutekunst. To what degree will they use free agency? Will they re-structure contracts and push money out? Will they target a player and trade up? I sense Gutekunst wants to be more aggressive than the Packers were under Ted Thompson. How much more aggressive?

Loftur from Columbus, OH
I saw the Malcolm Butler interception against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl mentioned as the best interception in NFL history. What do you think are the best plays of each type in NFL history? Pass, run, reception, interception, sack, fumble recovery, etc.
Let's start with this: The James Harrison interception and 102-yard return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half in Super Bowl XLIII is not only the greatest interception in Super Bowl history, it might be the greatest play in Super Bowl history. He ran through the whole team and fell across the goal line as time expired. It's the greatest play by one man I have ever seen. The other stuff? I don't know, coach, that's a lot of work.

Maggie from Kenosha, WI
I truly believe Mike McCarthy is one of the better head coaches in the NFL. If the Packers do indeed move on from him in the offseason, do you think he would land elsewhere right away?
He would likely become the head coach in Cleveland, where he would lead a roster full of high picks into the playoffs -- maybe even win a Super Bowl -- and make the Packers and their fans look like fools. Be very careful, folks. You have a great coach and he's all over your record book. The Jaguars fired Tom Coughlin and then he won two Super Bowls. The Browns fired Bill Belichick and he's since won five Super Bowls.

Shane from York, NE
Vic, what do the Packers' trades tell you?
The Ty Montgomery trade tells me nothing more than we already knew: Circumstances following the Rams game made it impossible to keep him on the roster. The Ha Ha trade speaks volumes about the Packers' opinion of him as a player and of their personnel strategy going forward. They intend to be players in free agency, which meant they weren't going to get a compensatory pick for losing Ha Ha.

Craig from Miami, FL
It cannot come as a surprise the Packers traded both Montgomery and Clinton-Dix, albeit for different reasons. A change of scenery will be good for Montgomery and Clinton-Dix fell out of favor since his Pro Bowl season in 2016. What do you think of the value the Packers received?
The Packers got a pick a year earlier than they might've gotten as compensation for losing Ha Ha in free agency, but they would've only received that compensatory pick if they had sustained a net loss in free agency, which they don't intend to happen. They plan to be a player in free agency, which means they wouldn't show the net loss required to receive compensatory pick consideration. Losing Ha Ha in free agency would've netted the Packers nada.

Robert from Arizona
As one of the fans who "picked" Clinton-Dix, I'm pretty bummed out to see him go. Honestly, I just want some insight from somebody more experienced than I am. Are we officially in rebuilding mode?
Ha Ha's play was soft. He got some interceptions as a centerfielder, but he was weak at the point of attack. He reminded me of another safety I covered, Reggie Nelson. The Packers need muscle in that defense. They need some guys who'll bang. That's not Ha Ha. Beyond that, as I mentioned, his I-won't-be-here whine was getting old. You don't want your young players being subjected to that kind of self-absorbed attitude. It's not rebuilding, it's sound personnel management. Gutekunst has a roster to repair, not rebuild.  The Raiders have a roster to rebuild. That's the difference.

Tyler from Dunellon, FL
Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but it seemed in years past it was rare to see in-season trades, especially so close to the trade deadline. But these past two seasons, it looks Iike there’s been a flurry of them. What do you think has caused a change?
They're cheap patches for teams that think they're contenders. They dovetail with a team's overall personnel strategy. Teams are using every means available to improve their roster. They're better personnel managers than they were 20 years ago because they're better salary cap managers. The first indication of this change was the flurry of draft-day trading. It's all a result of the salary cap. Everybody is trying to find a way to address need without sacrificing value.

Dave from Madison, WI
Why has pro-style offenses disappeared from college football?
Generally speaking, the defensive backfield talent in college football isn't good enough or deep enough -- college programs have traditionally put their best players on offense -- to play man to man. For example, four wide receivers are usually covered by six defensive backs, which leaves five in the box against seven and the defense at a numbers disadvantage, but only if the quarterback is a runner. I'm sure you can figure out the rest.

Ron from Boise, ID
Vic, I noticed the Packers are carrying a little over $2 million in dead money for Ha Ha. I thought once a player was traded, that included the contract. Where does this dead money come from?
A player's bonus proration remains with the team that traded him. You pay it, you claim it. Remember? The contract goes with the player, but the cap hit changes. The Packers will get a credit for the salary they won't pay Ha Ha, and that will help offset the dead money he leaves behind.

Mike from Glen Allen, VA
"I like a day that begins with truth and ends with hope." That is lovely, Vic. I am going to use that along with my other favorite Vic quote, "Memories make us rich." There is much more to life than football. Thank you for enriching mine.
I was just trying to capture the spirit of the thing, Reg.