Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

Ever since the Rodgers trade I’ve kept tabs on the Jets, and I just don’t understand how a team can be that bad. They have a pretty good roster on paper every year but no matter which coach or new quarterback they bring in every year they still stink. Maybe it’s the culture? Grateful for an awesome organization and front office in Green Bay. Why do you think the Jets are always bad?

Culture plays a part in it, but it’s also execution. The Jets are falling short in areas good teams cannot falter. New York is the first team in 92 years that hasn’t produced a takeaway through its first five games, which has the Jets sitting last in turnover differential right now (minus-8).

Johnny from Nasewaupee, WI

Wes and Mike: Kinda fun watching NFL games without a lot of emotional anxiety (except for Vikes and Lions). Lots of variation in officiating from game to game. Does the NFL review games for officiating consistency?

What adjustments realistically can be made over the bye week?

Not many during the bye week, but meetings and practices can be dang productive when teams get a healthier and refreshed football team back on the other side of it. A little rest goes a long way.

So, was the defense against the Cowboys a hiccup? A kerfuffle? How did things just go blooey? Do you think getting a couple more solid defensive efforts in the books will help to identify what the hell was going on out there?

Hopefully, it was a hiccup. Dak Prescott is playing like a serious MVP contender right now. So yeah, hopefully, the Packers’ defensive performance in Dallas was somewhere between a hiccup and a wake-up call.

Hey Wes and Mike. Thanks for providing insightful and entertaining reads every morning. My son and I are looking forward to coming up for the Week 17 game. But if Baltimore rights the ship and is in playoff contention by then, could the game really be moved to Christmas Day?

It’s impossible to say right now, Dean. Fortunes can change quickly in this league and the Ravens are an experienced bunch. It only takes a couple wins to get on a run. The Packers are classic examples of that. I hope you guys have the best time, though.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

Has there ever been a season where ALL teams representing a conference in the playoffs the previous season returned to the playoffs the next season? There is still a lot of season left, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Eagles, Lions, Packers, Commanders, Rams, Bucs, and the Vikings all return for the 2025 playoffs. However, the 49ers and Seahawks will likely be the teams looking to keep the playoff parity alive.

I believe the only time that occurred was in 1984-85 when Miami, Denver, Pittsburgh, Seattle and the LA Raiders all qualified for the AFC playoffs in back-to-back years. You’d think the expansion to a seven-team postseason format, though, would make that nearly impossible in today’s NFL.

Perhaps you have answered this before, but how do you guys avoid the familiarity bias that affects so many of the fans? I try to overcome it, but it always seems to creep back in when the team or a player does not meet my lofty expectations.

It is an awesome job, but it is a job. We all have work to do and there’s an entire digital and social department that wants me to finish my work as soon as possible so they can get home at a reasonable hour.

Which game surprised you the most this weekend? We had a lot of shockers!

It’s gotta be Denver scoring 18 unanswered in the fourth quarter to upend the Eagles at the Linc. Prior to J.K. Dobbins’ touchdown run, the Broncos had punted on six straight possessions.

John from Stevens Point, WI

Week 5 road wins by the Vikings (playing two weeks in a row in Europe; neutral site but REALLY away), Broncos, Patriots, 49ers, Cowboys (maybe they aren’t so bad after all), Texans, Bucs, Lions, and Titans. A convincing home win by the Colts. What is going on? Which of those was the most impressive in your eyes?

As surprised as I was by Denver’s comeback, I found Tennessee’s win over Arizona most impressive. Cam Ward and Brian Callahan’s Titans showed a lot of fortitude. The Titans could’ve easily packed their bags entering the fourth quarter and nobody would’ve blamed them with how the season was going.