We have a new No. 1

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

Chad from Kansas City, MO
I went to the game Sunday night wearing my Green Bay laundry. I couldn't be more pleased how Kansas City treated fellow Green Bay laundry wearers. The parking lot was a frenzy of food being shared by red and green alike. What a night.
Laundry?

Ben from Alameda, CA
Any thoughts on the Kansas City blitz as a Hail Mary defense?
True blitz teams use the blitz to disguise coverage as much as to rush the passer. The Chiefs didn't use the blitz that way. They used it as a gimmick, a desperate way to rush the passer.

Blake from Normal, IL
Vic, just writing to say I would love an "Ask Vic" Twitter account; it would be amazing. Why are you so against it?
I pride myself in my ability to frame a story. Twitter is an insult to the English language. It's a series of rushed and random thoughts highlighted by coded words and poor grammar. It disturbs me greatly that our president risks world peace by using such an irresponsible forum.

Kirsten from Madison, WI
Do you think it was just time for the Packers to be new? I wasn't one of the people calling for McCarthy's head, but there's clearly a different energy under LaFleur. I'm wondering if the Packers did, in fact, need to get rid of Ted Thompson in order to go after guys like the Smith Bros., and they needed to get rid of McCarthy simply to clean the decks. Would the Packers be in the same position under McCarthy? Where does the coach fit into players, not plays?
Your guilt is palpable. Let it go. Coaches know they'll likely be fired. They sign up for that risk. They get paid a lot of money to suffer the hurt and indignity of dismissal. Weep not for Mike McCarthy. Soon he will be the enemy, no longer the forlorn. Would the Packers be in the same position if he were still the coach? I don't know how to answer that question, but this is what I believe a new coach has done for the Packers: It's made Aaron Rodgers directly accountable for the performance of the offense. Give the Sports Illustrated story an assist. After allegedly getting McCarthy fired, if the offense bombed again, the blame would fall on Rodgers, not the coach. This is Rodgers' offense; he owns it. Maybe that's what the players' council meant when it spoke of a need for accountability. I submit two plays as the difference between this season and last season. On a critical third-down play late in the game in Seattle last year, Rodgers threw wildly incomplete, but it was McCarthy who was blamed for punting on fourth down. Sunday night in Kansas City, in largely the same situation and on nearly an identical play, Rodgers threw a perfect strike to convert third down and clinch the win.

Taylor from Hull, IA
I know players over plays is how a team is going to win over the course of a season, but how much do you see the scheme being the difference for the Packers on offense this year, specifically the way the running backs are being motioned around and used in the passing game?
Don't scheme schemes, scheme personnel. That's what the Packers did on Sunday night. They created mismatches; a linebacker covering Aaron Jones, for example. I'm all for creating mismatches because it's a superior player defeating an inferior player, and that's how you win the one-on-ones.  That play likely wouldn't have succeeded had the receiver been inferior to the defender.

Jeff from Ogden, UT
Who else in the present-day NFL could make the throws Rodgers made on Sunday night? Who else in NFL history could make those throws?
Aaron Rodgers is the most talented passer in the game today and no one in the history of the game has ever thrown a football more adeptly than he has. Rodgers defines the "he can make all the throws" scouting lingo. He can drop it in and he can drive it in. He can throw running to his right or left and he has the ability to throw from multiple arm angles. Rodgers would be a star in any era. What I respect most about him is his pocket courage. His eyes are always downfield. Sunday night in Kansas City was a clinic confirming his greatness. The touchdown pass to Jamaal Williams? Sorry, that was luck and it happens like that for a quarterback and a team when it gets on a roll. I felt this coming a few weeks ago. The Packers could step in limburger right now and their shoes would smell like roses.

Nate from Neenah, WI
Vic, seems like Robert Kraft didn't get the death sentence, not even a slap on the wrist. Besides the Super Bowl winner not opening the season, what penalty was put on the owner/owner's team?
They're banned from the Orchids of Asia Day Spa?

Alex from Orlando, FL
Vic, the Jags only have one week left until it’s decision time on who will be the QB. This game against Houston is going to be a major factor in the decision, but which way are you leaning right now?
Minshew .

Jon from Omaha, NE
Vic, how much fun are you having this football season?
It's not my favorite season. The penalties are killing my fun. Monday night's game was another example of it. Maybe it'll change in the second half of the season.

Samuel from Jacksonville, FL
"Achieve clarity at quarterback." It's too late for that, Vic, they traded their top 10 pick away, but at least they got a DB out of it, so that's nice.
The DB now has three interceptions and I don't think the pick the Steelers traded for him will be in the top 10 of next year's draft. Achieving clarity at quarterback means acquiring an understanding of the direction the Steelers must take to address their future at that position. That's what I hope the Steelers can achieve in what remains of this season. Is Mason Rudolph their quarterback of the future? He impressed me on Monday night by recovering from an awful start to the game and rallying the Steelers to a win.

Dan from Green Bay, WI
Vic, for decades I have wondered why so few coaches will pull a QB when he clearly is having an off day.
It's because the starter got nearly all of the on-field preparation for that week's game.

Offense and defense rankings

• Packers -- 13th in total offense (18th rushing and eighth passing), 19th in total defense (24th against the run and 19th against the pass).
• Jaguars -- 10th in total offense (fifth rushing and 14th passing), 14th in total defense (17th against the run and 14th against the pass).
• Steelers -- 28th in total offense (24th rushing and 26th passing), 13th in total defense (15th against the run and 13th against the pass).

​Here are the Week 9 "Ask Vic" all-important power rankings:
1. 49ers -- The league's new power team.
2. Saints -- Brees back, defense overpowering.
3. Patriots -- I wasn't impressed.
4. Packers -- Best team in the Rodgers era?
5. Vikings -- Hitting their stride.
6. Ravens -- They're gonna thump the Patriots.
7. Colts -- Found a way to win.
8. Seahawks -- Took the second half off.
9. Rams -- Not sure who they are.
10. Eagles -- This team has heart.
11. Bills -- Not too far off.
12. Texans -- It's all on Watson.
13. Chiefs -- The "Charmin Curtain" defense.
14. Cowboys -- Can they make a run?
15. Panthers -- Failed the test miserably.
16. Jaguars -- Must-win game vs. Texans.
17. Titans -- Finally scoring some points.
18. Lions -- Just another team.
19. Steelers -- T.J. Watt leading surge on defense.
20. Chargers -- Rodgers doesn't do duck calls.
21. Raiders -- Competitive.
22. Bears -- Disappointment team of the year.
23. Browns -- Better than their ranking.
24. Cardinals -- Kingsbury isn't the guy.
25. Broncos -- Signing Flacco was a mistake.
26. Bucs -- They just don't get it done.
27. Giants -- Arrow wilting.
28. Jets -- They have no arrow.
29. Falcons -- Pilot to bombardier: We're over the target.
30. Washington -- Playing hard for Callahan.
31. Bengals -- Went all the way to London to lose.
32. Dolphins -- That might've been their best football.