The spotlight is on Barry. If it hasn't already arrived, it's Judgment Game for him. What's the plan this time around? Containing Jefferson is essential, but you need to be paying attention to Thielen and Hockenson (13 catches last week), as well as keeping Cook under control.

I think it's a fair assessment that the Packers would be a touchdown worse off if Watson and Nixon can't suit up. Watson draws a lot of attention. But the Vikings aren't particularly good vs. the pass, so that works in our favor.

Savage? I'll have to see it to believe it.

A. Jones has to be good for more than 5 carries this time, doesn't he? Jeez.

On defense, rush with 4 and cover with 7. They'll still complete over 60%, but if we tackle after the completion we'll be fine. Those long runs after the catch are hurting us.

On offense, I'd line up in the 3-1-1. Force Minnesota to play nickel, then use our TE and Oline to pummel the six defenders left in the box. Smaller defenders. And then you've still got Jones, or Dillon, or Rodgers with the ball. It's good math for us. Maybe it's boring to watch, but it gets it done on a cold day.

We just signed Bo Melton off Seattle's practice squad and have elevated RB Tyler Goodson finally. I want to see GB run the rock on the Vikings, control the clock and keep Justin Jefferson off the field as much as possible.

If Christian isn't full go, use the new guy and his 4.3 speed to open up the offense with play action passes and quick screens, bubble screens, slants and short to middle crossing routes. Get the ball out quick to our playmakers and negate Z and Hunter's pass rush.

GB has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Play loose, play fast and score a lot of points.

On an unrelated note, I just finished watching the TCU Michigan game. TCU’s WR Quentin Johnston is something else. He is 6’4, 215 lbs, with a 4.40 40 yd dash. He looks incredible - one of his best plays was taking a rushed screen pass 75 yards for a TD. He is projected to be an early-ish 1st round pick. I don’t think the Packers should take a WR in round 1, but Johnston may have changed my mind. If he falls to the Packers’ pick, I think they should seriously consider getting him in 2023. A trio of Watson, Doubs, and Johnston would be an enticing WR group.

The Packers elevated Kicker Ramiz Ahmed for the Vikings game. The Vikings have a very good returner in Kene Nwangwu, who has averaged 28.6 yards per kickoff return over two seasons and 26.0 this year. I am not sure that Ahmed can kick them out of the endzone in January, but he should get them deeper, at any rate. The Packers also elevated Tyler Goodson, per Tom Silverstein.

I have to think Bo Melton might be inactive. Teams don't elevate players from the PS unless they plan to make them active for the game. To a large extent, it becomes a numbers game. Aaron Jones was a limited participant all week but did not receive an injury designation of any kind. They have Patrick Taylor on the roster, and while they don't have to make him active, he seems to be the #3 RB. Perhaps Goodson is going to return kickoffs, but he only had one kickoff return for 5 yards in his three college seasons. That doesn't mean he can't do it, but it might have more to do with the team wanting to manage Aaron Jones' snaps like they did against Miami. IIRC, Goodson got a look during TC on returns.

It is all good to me. I wanted to see Bo Melton, but I also wanted to see Tyler Goodson.

I see Goodson very similar to Hill who was let go earlier this season. Would be good to see him play some. Melton would have been fun watching play. I am hoping with his 4.34 speed he develops into a good WR for the Packers. The thought of him on the field at the same time with Watson at a 4.36 speed would be fun watching defenses try to defend that kind of speed. Then having Doubs doing what he does. Priceless!

Still need a quality TE like a Hockensen.

If Goodson, Taylor, Dillon and Jones are all active is it likely Jones is less than full speed?

Melton has had issues with drops in college and in camp with the Seahawks. He apparently did work on both punt and kick returns there though as well as as a gunner based on his comments and those of friends who follow them. In college his team had good specialist returners while he was their star WR whom they seem to have tried to protect when they could and used him as a gunner unless their returner was hurt.

His lower body power is impressive, but his upper body is in need of development. He struggles to beat press and is poor if the catch is contested. I don’t know that he profiles as much more than a returner or gunner and maybe an option/go type. I do see upside for the future, although he probably profiles best to the slot at a little under 5’11 and very sudden. I’m happy he will be with us for the future. A good development prospect: I think an upgrade over Amari in terms of upside.

Elevating Goodson puzzled me. They could have elevated Abernathy and kept him, but that could say more about their assessment of him. Goodson is an excellent pass catcher and the nearest to a Jones type as a runner that we have. Is that the reason? Is Jones going to be limited, was there interest in poaching him too or is it STs? If so, I can only say that Goodson looked dodgy on punts in the little I saw of him. Melton and Goodson seem like their initial roles would be very similar if they aren’t replacements for specific absentees. It will be interesting to see. He’s a guy I thought made a strong argument for a spot as an option type and even partial slot role in camp.

The elevation of Ahmed I think confirms what many of us suspected and that the team has come to terms with this being the last year of the Crosby era. That’s in a way sad, he’s been a great Packer, but it’s a relief that they seem not to be in denial at least with respect to that.

Here are the WRs under contract for 2023, according to Spotrac

Watson, Doubs, Toure, Melton. All cheap rookies. This is reminiscent of Gutekunst's first WR reload, when he took three guys on Day 3 of the draft, and some FAs, and in the end he got two pretty decent NFL WRs...Lazard and MVS, to line up with Adams. Now, we're looking for the guys we want on the field with Watson, the number 2 and 3 guys. Unless we bring Lazard back, which I hope we do. Then our WR unit is largely set for 2023.

Thank you Carson Wentz for making the Packers game meaningful.. and thanks Ron Rivera for not benching Wentz today.