WEBVTT - #495 Packers Unscripted: Stakes and statements 0:00:00.880 --> 0:00:15.000 Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:15.000 --> 0:00:17.800 I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:20.440 West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 0:00:20.440 --> 0:00:23.079 at lambeau Field, WES. Our final show of the week, 0:00:23.120 --> 0:00:28.160 Our final show before the Monday night showdown in Minneapolis 0:00:28.160 --> 0:00:31.760 Packers Vikings at US Bank Stadium on Monday Night football. 0:00:32.440 --> 0:00:35.159 So it's time to talk Keys to victory. What do 0:00:35.400 --> 0:00:40.440 the Packers need to do to emerge victorious and clinch 0:00:40.520 --> 0:00:42.600 their first NFC North title for the first time in 0:00:42.640 --> 0:00:45.280 three years. Whoever is running the ball for the Minnesota 0:00:45.360 --> 0:00:50.159 Vikings stop that individual. So if it's Dalvin Cook, Alexander Madison, 0:00:50.560 --> 0:00:54.600 Matt Mike Boone, Robert Smith, Adrian Peterson, whoever is back 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:58.600 there for they make sure you're stay on top of it. 0:00:58.720 --> 0:01:03.680 Because the thing is is that I think by all accounts, 0:01:03.760 --> 0:01:05.640 Cook is not playing in this game. Mike Zimmer has 0:01:05.680 --> 0:01:07.160 not said that, but again those are what all the 0:01:07.200 --> 0:01:09.600 reports are. We'll see what happens in the lead up 0:01:09.640 --> 0:01:13.640 to kick off. But Alexander Madison not practicing this week. 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:16.760 Now the spotlight is on Mike Boone and you really 0:01:16.800 --> 0:01:18.679 don't know exactly who's going to be back there, what 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:21.160 they're gonna do. The thing I like though, if you 0:01:21.240 --> 0:01:24.479 can stop the running back, whoever that guy is, that's 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:28.480 where you're making Kirk Cousins win this game for the Vikings. 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:30.880 And don't get me wrong, he's certainly capable of doing that. 0:01:31.319 --> 0:01:33.280 But the less dimensions he has to work with and 0:01:33.360 --> 0:01:36.160 the fewer weapons that there are available, it's gonna behof 0:01:36.160 --> 0:01:38.200 the Packers and their defense. Yeah, and I don't have 0:01:38.240 --> 0:01:40.280 a whole bunch of statistics in front of me, but 0:01:40.319 --> 0:01:42.679 I've seen things and read things over the course of 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:46.199 this season. For as strong as season as Cousins is having, 0:01:46.200 --> 0:01:48.040 and he's having the best season of his career with 0:01:48.120 --> 0:01:51.480 a one eleven passer rating, it's only thrown five interceptions. 0:01:51.520 --> 0:01:53.440 Two of those came against the Packers in Week two, 0:01:53.480 --> 0:01:58.480 but he's only thrown three interceptions since Week two. Kirk 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:02.040 Cousins is much much better are off of play action 0:02:02.240 --> 0:02:04.720 and that bootleg stuff. Then if he's just a straight 0:02:04.800 --> 0:02:08.320 drop backpass or taking snaps in the shotgun without all 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:11.360 the other action that makes you know, the defense have 0:02:11.480 --> 0:02:13.440 to honor other things. I think that can be said 0:02:13.480 --> 0:02:15.239 for a lot of quarterbacks. I'm not trying to pick 0:02:15.240 --> 0:02:17.600 on Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers looks a heck of 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:19.639 a lot better off of play action as well. We've 0:02:19.639 --> 0:02:22.080 talked about that, but that just goes to your point 0:02:22.080 --> 0:02:24.600 of whoever it is that's running the ball for the Vikings. 0:02:24.600 --> 0:02:28.360 If you can clamp down there and take away some 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:31.480 of the the play action and bootleg stuff that is 0:02:31.520 --> 0:02:33.920 such a big part of the Vikings offense and the 0:02:33.960 --> 0:02:37.320 action that they get off of those maneuvers, I think 0:02:37.320 --> 0:02:40.280 that does put the Packers defense in a pretty good position. Well, 0:02:40.320 --> 0:02:42.440 and again the Mike Spotford let's be real Moment of 0:02:42.440 --> 0:02:45.440 the Week sponsored by a quick trip the Packers. The 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:49.160 thing is is that Delvin Cook is a dynamic football player. 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:51.440 He's been voted to the Pro Bowl for a reason. 0:02:51.560 --> 0:02:54.560 So we saw bust off of seventy five yard touchdown 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:56.519 run here at lambeau Field when his team was down 0:02:57.480 --> 0:03:00.680 still as by the way, Yeah, but here's the thing 0:03:00.760 --> 0:03:03.520 is that if Cook is unable to play, the Packers 0:03:03.560 --> 0:03:05.679 need to make this game look like Delvin Cook is 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:08.480 not playing in it. You can't let the next guy up, 0:03:08.480 --> 0:03:11.800 whether it's Madison Boone or whoever. Be, you know, come 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:14.800 in and feel really confident. They've been doing a really 0:03:14.840 --> 0:03:17.200 solid job. I think the last two three games of 0:03:17.240 --> 0:03:20.359 not allowing explosive plays and for the most part limiting 0:03:20.400 --> 0:03:22.840 the damage that running backs have been doing. I think 0:03:22.840 --> 0:03:25.519 you're seeing Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry and that defensive 0:03:25.520 --> 0:03:28.440 front really gel together and get some really good solid, 0:03:28.960 --> 0:03:32.480 uh you know, tackling at the second levels is you know, 0:03:32.560 --> 0:03:35.320 kind of played into all that. And if the Packers 0:03:35.360 --> 0:03:37.640 can win that aspect of this and get Aaron Jones 0:03:37.680 --> 0:03:40.440 going on their own side of the ball, I talk 0:03:40.520 --> 0:03:42.720 and I mentioned over and over again trying to take 0:03:42.760 --> 0:03:45.400 the crowd out of it at US Bank Stadium. Eliminating 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:48.960 explosive plays in drawing this thing out is the number 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:52.800 two top two things that I think kind of fit 0:03:52.920 --> 0:03:56.280 into that recipe for for success. Yeah, I mean when 0:03:56.320 --> 0:03:58.280 you talk about taking the crowd out of it, I 0:03:58.280 --> 0:04:03.400 mean there there's is nothing better than hitting an explosive play, 0:04:03.560 --> 0:04:07.840 staying out of those third down situations offensively, and nothing 0:04:07.960 --> 0:04:10.520 is going to slow down the pass rush. Daniel Hunter, 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:14.240 Everson Griffin going against Brian Blaga, David Bactieri. Nothing's going 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:16.760 to slow down that edge rush more than getting that 0:04:16.839 --> 0:04:20.040 running game going for the Packers. If you can get 0:04:20.080 --> 0:04:23.039 the vikings to have to honor the run, you know, 0:04:23.760 --> 0:04:26.160 Aaron Rodgers if he's got an extra half a second 0:04:26.200 --> 0:04:29.320 and actually extra three quarters of a second because those 0:04:29.320 --> 0:04:31.479 pass rushers have to play a little bit of run 0:04:31.520 --> 0:04:34.279 on the way to the quarterback, as some folks like 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:36.760 to say. I think that can make a huge difference here. 0:04:36.920 --> 0:04:38.960 And the other thing I think that that goes without 0:04:38.960 --> 0:04:41.200 saying is obviously the turnover battle, which we can get 0:04:41.240 --> 0:04:43.080 into some of those numbers as well. Yeah, and this 0:04:43.160 --> 0:04:45.800 is to be honest with you, Aaron Jones performance in 0:04:45.839 --> 0:04:48.440 that first game against Minnesota twenty three carries for hundred 0:04:48.440 --> 0:04:52.400 and sixteen yards five yards of carries. His longest carry 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:55.520 was fifteen yards in that ball game. To go for 0:04:55.560 --> 0:04:58.040 a to go for a buck sixteen with your longest 0:04:58.080 --> 0:05:01.479 carry being fifteen, that means that means you were pretty steady, 0:05:01.520 --> 0:05:05.440 pretty consistent, and a and a regular mover of the change. Yeah, 0:05:05.480 --> 0:05:07.360 and to do that with five yards a clip, I 0:05:07.400 --> 0:05:09.160 mean that shows you that there weren't a whole lot 0:05:09.160 --> 0:05:11.000 of one and two yard carries in there. That is 0:05:11.040 --> 0:05:14.599 them consistently winning on first and second down. And when 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:16.400 you think about the start they got off to in 0:05:16.400 --> 0:05:19.560 that game, like three straight offensive touchdowns, being able to 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:21.840 turn over a football that is I think what kind 0:05:21.880 --> 0:05:23.479 of set the table for them to have the day 0:05:23.480 --> 0:05:26.039 that they did. You got to repeat that. Yeah, absolutely 0:05:26.440 --> 0:05:28.840 with regard to the turnovers, I think, as we've been 0:05:28.880 --> 0:05:31.640 talking all weak long, it goes without saying, especially anytime 0:05:31.680 --> 0:05:33.440 you go on the road, you go into a dome 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:37.240 and a noisy venue, and you look at this Vikings defense. 0:05:37.440 --> 0:05:40.839 They are, I believe it's fourth in the league with 0:05:40.880 --> 0:05:44.800 twenty seven takeaways. They're coming off of a seven takeaway 0:05:44.839 --> 0:05:48.880 outing against the Chargers. The Packers are a few steps 0:05:48.880 --> 0:05:51.120 behind them in the rankings, either sixth or seventh in 0:05:51.160 --> 0:05:53.320 the league with twenty three. I mean, some of the 0:05:53.400 --> 0:05:55.640 numbers get skewed a little bit. As I said, the 0:05:55.720 --> 0:05:58.839 Vikings just had seven takeaways in one game, and you know, 0:05:58.920 --> 0:06:01.080 things got out of hand again it's the Chargers. The 0:06:01.080 --> 0:06:03.760 Packers got two takeaways last week, one on a hail 0:06:03.839 --> 0:06:05.560 Mary at the end of the half, the other one 0:06:05.960 --> 0:06:09.480 on you know, the multilateral final play of the game. 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:12.960 But you can you can parse the numbers and and 0:06:13.000 --> 0:06:15.760 say what's misleading and whatever and any which way you 0:06:15.800 --> 0:06:20.040 want to. I think the Packers have to win the 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:23.440 turnover battle in order to win this game. I just 0:06:23.560 --> 0:06:28.839 I just think that they're the great equalizer when you 0:06:28.920 --> 0:06:30.960 have a lot of other things going against you. And 0:06:31.000 --> 0:06:34.240 I think with the Packers going into this building, with 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:39.400 that crowd, with that Minnesota defense, and and what one 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:43.840 or one or two turnovers can do for Minnesota's defense, 0:06:43.839 --> 0:06:45.560 and what that's going to do to the crowd, the 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:48.880 Packers just cannot go down that road and expect to 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:51.520 win this football. Yeah, And and that is especially in 0:06:51.560 --> 0:06:54.120 that environment, because in any other road, you know, you 0:06:54.160 --> 0:06:58.000 can't lose one or two points in the turnover differential 0:06:58.320 --> 0:07:00.680 and expect to win on the road. You're gonna need 0:07:00.720 --> 0:07:03.120 things to go your way in different areas for that 0:07:03.200 --> 0:07:05.960 to play out. But in that stadium, a place where 0:07:05.960 --> 0:07:08.080 the Vikings are undefeated this year. I don't know their 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:10.240 exact record over the last three seasons when they're in 0:07:10.240 --> 0:07:12.960 that house, but it is difficult to beat them. And 0:07:13.000 --> 0:07:15.320 even when teams look like they've had the upper hand, 0:07:15.520 --> 0:07:17.920 they just haven't been able to finish it. So I 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:19.360 think when you go from the first game of the 0:07:19.440 --> 0:07:21.200 year with Green Beta where they need to be at 0:07:21.240 --> 0:07:24.040 in this second match up with Minnesota. They got off 0:07:24.080 --> 0:07:26.520 to that first start they wanted, that first quarter they wanted, 0:07:26.720 --> 0:07:28.640 but what does it look like in quarters to what 0:07:28.720 --> 0:07:31.280 does it look like after halftime? You're gonna have to 0:07:31.360 --> 0:07:33.880 keep that up. It is impossible to play a a 0:07:34.040 --> 0:07:37.560 complete sixty minute performance. There's always gonna be something in 0:07:37.560 --> 0:07:39.240 there you're gonna want back. The game is just too 0:07:39.280 --> 0:07:41.720 many plays and there's too many variables, especially when you're 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:44.360 on the road. But if you end up coming out 0:07:44.560 --> 0:07:46.440 and having a good start, and you come out a 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:49.960 halftime strong and you protect the football, that's the recipe. 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:52.240 It's it's it isn't a secret what you have to 0:07:52.240 --> 0:07:54.760 do to beat the Vikings. It's just the amount of 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:56.920 perfection that you have to achieve to do it is 0:07:56.960 --> 0:07:59.400 That's really the challenge. Yeah, and we talked about a 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:02.280 bunch of the key matchups and whatnot in this game 0:08:02.880 --> 0:08:06.600 on yesterday's show. But the other thing that that it 0:08:06.720 --> 0:08:09.760 really is interesting about this because, as we talked about 0:08:09.840 --> 0:08:11.880 last week, it had been a long time since a 0:08:12.000 --> 0:08:15.440 Packers Bears game at lambeau Field had such high stakes 0:08:15.480 --> 0:08:18.520 for both teams. It's frankly been a while since a 0:08:18.600 --> 0:08:24.040 Packers Vikings game anywhere had stakes this high now I know. 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:28.000 In which was only four years ago, the Vikings were 0:08:28.000 --> 0:08:30.600 coming to lambeau Field in the regular season finale and 0:08:30.640 --> 0:08:33.360 the NFC North title was on the line. But the 0:08:33.440 --> 0:08:36.160 Vikings and the Packers were both already in the playoffs, 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:39.680 and neither team had a shot at a first round 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:42.680 by it was really just who's gonna host a playoff 0:08:42.720 --> 0:08:44.600 game and who's going to be on the road for 0:08:44.640 --> 0:08:47.000 the playoffs. The Packers lost, the game went to Washington, 0:08:47.440 --> 0:08:52.800 the Vikings ended up hosting the Seahawks this game. The 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:55.960 Packers can clinch the division with a win, they can 0:08:56.040 --> 0:08:58.959 keep themselves on track to get a number at least 0:08:58.960 --> 0:09:01.800 a number two seed in the first round. By Meanwhile, 0:09:01.840 --> 0:09:06.880 the Vikings are looking to clinch a playoff spot with 0:09:06.920 --> 0:09:09.400 a win. Now there's a chance they could get into 0:09:09.400 --> 0:09:14.680 the playoffs if on Saturday night, if the Rams lose 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:17.640 to the forty niners, the Vikings would already be in 0:09:17.679 --> 0:09:20.960 the playoffs before Monday night. But of course they're still 0:09:20.960 --> 0:09:23.880 looking at what they would still be looking at, wanting 0:09:23.880 --> 0:09:26.679 to win the division, take the division from Green Bay 0:09:26.679 --> 0:09:28.920 by by winning the last two games and seeing the 0:09:28.920 --> 0:09:31.760 Packers lose the last two games. So this is this 0:09:31.840 --> 0:09:36.520 is a as as high stakes a Packers Vikings rivalry 0:09:36.559 --> 0:09:39.440 game as we've seen in quite a while. It is. Yeah, 0:09:39.520 --> 0:09:43.080 and I go back to and they knew they were 0:09:43.080 --> 0:09:44.640 in the playoffs. I mean, like you go back to 0:09:44.679 --> 0:09:46.880 two thousand twelve, even when they were at the YEA. 0:09:48.080 --> 0:09:50.640 Was definitely big because the Vikings that was at the 0:09:50.679 --> 0:09:53.040 Metro Dome. The Vikings needed to win to get into 0:09:53.040 --> 0:09:55.840 the playoffs. The Packers were. The Packers were in the 0:09:55.840 --> 0:09:58.840 playoffs and were the division champs, but we're looking to 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:00.800 win to get a first round by so there was 0:10:00.840 --> 0:10:03.640 a lot on the line for both teams. Adrian Peterson 0:10:03.679 --> 0:10:05.800 had the big monster game as he was chasing the 0:10:06.360 --> 0:10:10.679 single season. It was he was at a hundred ninety Yeah, 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:12.520 it was a hundred nineties something that he got. He 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:15.040 ended up like seven or eight yards short of the record. 0:10:15.080 --> 0:10:19.400 I think it was yah um and uh um. Yeah. 0:10:19.480 --> 0:10:21.960 So the the Vikings got in the playoffs, the Packers 0:10:22.080 --> 0:10:23.960 ended up having to play in the first round, which 0:10:24.040 --> 0:10:26.880 ended up being against the Vikings. And then Christian Ponder 0:10:26.920 --> 0:10:29.120 didn't play and Joe Webb was the quarterback and the 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:31.680 Viking season ended at lambeau Field the following week. But 0:10:31.679 --> 0:10:33.760 it's funny too because the Packers then had to go 0:10:33.800 --> 0:10:36.000 on the road to San Francisco. We all know that 0:10:36.080 --> 0:10:38.920 story very well. San Francisco got the bye instead of 0:10:38.960 --> 0:10:41.439 Green Bay is essentially what happened. The Vikings got the 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:45.360 last playoff spot instead of the Bears, and that result 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:48.160 at the Metrodome really just changed the whole course of 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:50.679 the the NFC playoffs did, and it caused me to 0:10:50.760 --> 0:10:54.240 do a midnight overnight drive back to green Bay, Wisconsin 0:10:54.240 --> 0:10:56.520 because we had availability at seven thirty in the morning. 0:10:57.400 --> 0:11:00.320 Right that was that was an interesting time time, but 0:11:00.600 --> 0:11:02.760 because when the Packers played on Saturday. But so all 0:11:02.800 --> 0:11:05.400 these things stitched together though, it shows you what the 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:08.120 stakes are and in the original point that you presented 0:11:08.160 --> 0:11:10.719 this is this is the highest stakes game between these 0:11:10.720 --> 0:11:14.400 two teams in some time. And it's funny that no 0:11:14.400 --> 0:11:17.000 matter what happens in this league where the Packers they 0:11:17.000 --> 0:11:18.959 went down for two years, Minnesota was out of the 0:11:18.960 --> 0:11:22.240 playoffs last year, the cream really does always rise back 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:23.839 to the top. And I think when you look at 0:11:24.160 --> 0:11:26.240 not only Green Bay, but also Minnesota. During the Mike 0:11:26.320 --> 0:11:28.280 Zimmer era, these have been two of the more consistent 0:11:28.320 --> 0:11:31.680 teams in the NFL. So to see them square off 0:11:31.720 --> 0:11:34.760 here with these kind of steaks, uh, it is, it's it's. 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:37.240 I think it's a real testament to how those both 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:39.280 of those teams have sort of pulled themselves back up 0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:42.160 thought through adversity and now we're on the precipices again 0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:44.840 here of the playoffs. But Minnesota, you can tell Mike, 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:46.920 And I'm sure Mike Zimmer's message all week long has 0:11:46.960 --> 0:11:49.040 been to his guys, what's at stake, what we have 0:11:49.120 --> 0:11:51.240 to do to achieve. It doesn't matter who's out there, 0:11:51.520 --> 0:11:53.600 this is our house. We have to protect it. So 0:11:54.320 --> 0:11:56.319 for green Bay, that is the uphill back climb that 0:11:56.360 --> 0:11:58.880 they face going into that venue. Yeah, and just interesting 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:02.319 how this season is ending schedule wise, with the Packers 0:12:02.360 --> 0:12:05.440 playing back to back division games on the road here 0:12:05.440 --> 0:12:07.960 in week sixteen and seventeen, the Vikings playing back to 0:12:08.000 --> 0:12:12.080 back division games at home to end the regular season. Um, 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:14.840 Packers have you know that leg up right now, but 0:12:15.600 --> 0:12:17.800 they need to win in order to in order to 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:19.559 keep that and they want to make a statement. I mean, 0:12:19.600 --> 0:12:21.480 that's the one thing I've been writing an inbox all week, 0:12:21.559 --> 0:12:23.240 and it's one thing you and I have been talking about. 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:25.240 You want to make a statement. As much as Minnesota 0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:27.720 I think needs a marquee win, I think Green Bay 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:29.880 to feel good about the wins over the Giants in 0:12:29.920 --> 0:12:33.240 Washington and Chicago, they need to win over a winning 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:36.920 football team, a good football team, to show them, Okay, 0:12:36.920 --> 0:12:39.520 what happened last month against San Francisco, that's an anomaly. 0:12:39.559 --> 0:12:41.560 We're going to press forward. We're going to be a contender. 0:12:41.600 --> 0:12:43.640 Well that and and that's the thing West, You and 0:12:43.679 --> 0:12:46.880 I both know nobody's oblivious to the fact that the 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:52.040 the outside twelve six narrative on this Packers team is 0:12:52.880 --> 0:12:55.720 the analysts looking at what happened in San Francisco, what 0:12:55.880 --> 0:12:59.199 happened you know, in l A against the Chargers, that 0:12:59.280 --> 0:13:02.319 when this pack As team goes on the road, they're 0:13:02.360 --> 0:13:04.760 they're a different team. They don't live up to, you know, 0:13:04.880 --> 0:13:07.480 what everybody thinks they could be or should be. And 0:13:07.480 --> 0:13:10.760 and the Packers are being looked at as as not 0:13:10.920 --> 0:13:13.840 as strong a contender frankly as the forty Niners and 0:13:13.880 --> 0:13:16.960 the Seahawks and the Saints. For all the national analysts 0:13:16.960 --> 0:13:21.000 that are looking at it. You completely change that narrative 0:13:21.360 --> 0:13:23.719 if you go into US Banks Stadium on Monday night 0:13:23.720 --> 0:13:26.280 and pull out of victory every the and not that, 0:13:26.480 --> 0:13:29.120 not that anybody inside this building, not that anybody in 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:31.440 that Packers locker room or in the coach's offices on 0:13:31.520 --> 0:13:34.439 third floor above us care at all about what the 0:13:34.559 --> 0:13:37.320 national the outside narrative is. I'm not saying that that 0:13:37.400 --> 0:13:40.840 you know, they couldn't care less about it, But it 0:13:40.880 --> 0:13:45.640 will change dramatically and swiftly if the Packers go into 0:13:45.679 --> 0:13:47.880 Minneapolis and get a win. Yeah, and I liken it 0:13:47.920 --> 0:13:49.920 a lot to what happened in two thousand fourteen with 0:13:49.960 --> 0:13:52.400 the Patriots. The Patriots came to lambou Field, things didn't 0:13:52.400 --> 0:13:54.640 go well for them. It was a really competitive football game, 0:13:54.640 --> 0:13:57.240 but they lost. After that game, they went on a 0:13:57.280 --> 0:13:59.320 four or five game winning streak to finish the regular 0:13:59.360 --> 0:14:00.839 season and then just went all the way to the 0:14:00.880 --> 0:14:03.559 Super Bowl and won the darn thing. So there is 0:14:03.600 --> 0:14:05.120 a lot to be said. I don't care what the 0:14:05.120 --> 0:14:07.080 opponent is, I don't care what the record is. If 0:14:07.120 --> 0:14:08.640 you find a way to get yourself on a four 0:14:08.720 --> 0:14:11.000 or five game winning streak to end the regular season, 0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:13.760 I can think of no better way to propel yourself 0:14:13.760 --> 0:14:16.680 into a postseason run. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, looking at some 0:14:16.720 --> 0:14:19.800 of the other games here that impact the NFC playoff 0:14:19.840 --> 0:14:22.440 picture already mentioned, the Rams and the forty Niners are 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:26.120 playing on Saturday night. Packers fans Vikings fans will be 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:29.800 on opposite sides there because the Vikings will be hoping 0:14:29.840 --> 0:14:32.880 that the Rams lose because that gets them into the playoffs. 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:36.640 The Packers hoping that the Rams can win and stay 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:39.440 alive and hand the forty Niners another loss, which will 0:14:39.560 --> 0:14:42.520 which would help the Packers in their quest potentially for 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:45.120 a first round. By then, you look at Sunday's games. 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:49.320 The New Orleans Saints are on the road at the 0:14:49.320 --> 0:14:53.200 Tennessee Titans. And then the other one is the Seattle Seahawks. 0:14:53.240 --> 0:14:56.440 Are they at home or on the road. They're at 0:14:56.480 --> 0:14:59.360 home against the Cardinals. At home, they're at home against 0:14:59.400 --> 0:15:03.400 the Cardinals. So Packers fans hoping that the Seahawks potentially 0:15:03.440 --> 0:15:06.720 get another loss tagged on them if the Cardinals have 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:10.320 something left. Um as far as the Saints going to Tennessee, 0:15:10.400 --> 0:15:12.960 I've been you know how I've passed through all these 0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:16.720 different playoff things or whatever, I honestly can't really figure 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:20.080 out a realistic scenario where the Saints Titans game even 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:23.640 matters because it's against an a f C opponent. What 0:15:23.680 --> 0:15:26.680 I mean is, if the Saints were to lose, it 0:15:26.760 --> 0:15:31.120 doesn't really afford the Packers the opportunity to lose and 0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:33.960 then still win the division against the Lions and get 0:15:34.000 --> 0:15:36.520 the first round by. They would because the Saints are 0:15:36.520 --> 0:15:39.560 playing an a f C opponent in this one. If 0:15:39.600 --> 0:15:41.560 they were to lose and the Packers were to lose, 0:15:41.560 --> 0:15:45.080 the tiebreaker thing gets all changed around and the Packers 0:15:45.080 --> 0:15:47.200 would still need the Saints to lose to the Panthers 0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:50.120 the following week in order to get the first round by. 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:53.880 So yeah, sure, cheer for the Titans and and you 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:56.360 know if you don't want the Saints to win, But honestly, 0:15:56.360 --> 0:15:58.680 I just don't think that game really matters in in 0:15:58.760 --> 0:16:01.400 the big picture, just the way the schedule fell. Yeah, 0:16:01.440 --> 0:16:03.480 it probably doesn't because the Packers still have to win 0:16:03.520 --> 0:16:05.520 their games to be able to keep that laid ahead 0:16:05.560 --> 0:16:08.680 of the Saints. But you know who doesn't like to 0:16:08.720 --> 0:16:11.720 see a nice little Saints lost your division or your conference. 0:16:11.920 --> 0:16:13.600 They are going on they are going on the road, 0:16:13.640 --> 0:16:15.920 against a team that's fighting for a lot because Tennessee 0:16:16.040 --> 0:16:18.000 is right in the picture in uh in the a 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:20.120 f C. And and the Saints have had some issues 0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:22.120 on the road. Yeah, and this is actually really good test. 0:16:22.480 --> 0:16:24.600 I love Mike Vrabel's defense. I think that's a really 0:16:24.640 --> 0:16:26.640 good unit. I think that's been the strength, that's been 0:16:26.640 --> 0:16:29.040 what they've carried their hat on this season. Is what 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:31.760 exactly they've done so far and being able to, you know, 0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:33.520 win these games a lot of times with what they 0:16:33.560 --> 0:16:35.840 do on the defensive side of the and the resurrection 0:16:35.880 --> 0:16:39.600 of Ryan Tannehill at quarter absolutely and and Tannehill playing 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:42.120 my strake mistake free football and not allowing them to 0:16:42.120 --> 0:16:43.960 win some ballgames. So yeah, you're right though they still 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:45.320 have a lot to play for. Is they try to 0:16:45.360 --> 0:16:48.080 make a chase here and Vrabel obviously trying to put 0:16:48.080 --> 0:16:49.960 his own system in place. So if you can take 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:53.080 out the Saints, you're feeling pretty good about yourself. But yeah, 0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:56.440 that is a tough task and certainly uh challenge there 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:58.840 for for Tennessee. Yeah, before we go one, I want 0:16:58.840 --> 0:17:01.040 to get your opinion has absolutely nothing to do with 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:04.760 the Packers, but Buffalo Bills versus New England Patriots. What 0:17:04.800 --> 0:17:07.199 do you think? Yeah, interesting, right, I think it's I 0:17:07.200 --> 0:17:10.760 think it's really interesting because the Patriots have not exactly 0:17:10.800 --> 0:17:14.520 looked like the Patriots, and Buffalo's defense is really good. Yeah, 0:17:14.600 --> 0:17:17.720 so Patriots defense is exemplary. That's one of the reasons 0:17:17.720 --> 0:17:19.320 that they are where they are. But it's funny how 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:21.560 much the sentiment has changed from the first time these 0:17:21.560 --> 0:17:23.600 teams played each other, because if you go back early 0:17:23.640 --> 0:17:25.320 in the season, that was the only winning team that 0:17:25.359 --> 0:17:28.480 the Patriots had played. They handled them fine, uh, and 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:30.960 they just went up out their way. Buffalo starting to 0:17:30.960 --> 0:17:33.080 feel a little bit better about itself and the Patriots 0:17:33.080 --> 0:17:35.040 have kind of gone through this mid season lull, this 0:17:35.240 --> 0:17:37.080 this mid to late season laws, so seeing how they 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:39.440 bounced from back from it is going to be interesting. 0:17:39.480 --> 0:17:44.040 And certainly with Josh Allen, Buffalo's had. Buffalo's chalked up 0:17:44.080 --> 0:17:46.280 some nice road wins this year. I mean everybody saw 0:17:46.320 --> 0:17:49.520 obviously on Thanksgiving they won at Dallas, but Buffalo has 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:52.639 also won at Tennessee and they won at Pittsburgh in 0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:55.800 a primetime game last week. So, uh, now they go 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:58.919 they go into Foxborough trying to even up that season 0:17:58.960 --> 0:18:01.000 series against the Patriots. I also do have to ask 0:18:01.040 --> 0:18:03.240 the NFC East. I was waiting for the cow Boys 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:06.359 Cowboys almost I almost forgot about it again because it 0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:09.239 doesn't it just doesn't affect the Packers. I'm sure when 0:18:09.280 --> 0:18:12.359 we get to our hotel Saturday afternoon and Miny or 0:18:12.560 --> 0:18:15.919 I'm sorry, Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis, will all be turning 0:18:15.960 --> 0:18:19.280 on our TVs to watch this or we will. We'll see. 0:18:19.320 --> 0:18:20.840 I don't know how much I want to put my 0:18:20.920 --> 0:18:23.399 eyeballs through that, but well we'll see exactly how come on, 0:18:23.560 --> 0:18:25.560 it's it's I think it's going to be an interesting game. 0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:27.720 Though it could be very interesting. But it's kind of like, 0:18:27.760 --> 0:18:30.000 you know, like you remember all those old wrestling posters 0:18:30.000 --> 0:18:32.160 when you were a kid, or maybe boxing where they 0:18:32.240 --> 0:18:34.320 have like the big Marquee matchup and they have like 0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:36.040 a big phrase on the bottom makes you want to 0:18:36.080 --> 0:18:38.920 buy the pay per viewer for the Tallas Cowboys in 0:18:38.920 --> 0:18:41.720 philadelph Eagles. Mine would be who wants It? I'd be 0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:45.520 like right on the bottom it like who wants this thing? Hey? 0:18:45.560 --> 0:18:48.199 All the jokes aside Dallas. I thought that was a 0:18:48.240 --> 0:18:51.080 gut check moment for them last week. Big big win, 0:18:51.400 --> 0:18:53.800 Big win for the Cowboys and looked impressive doing it 0:18:53.880 --> 0:18:57.120 because kind of like the the New Orleans Saints thing 0:18:57.359 --> 0:18:59.720 that you were outlying as far lays of packers. If 0:18:59.760 --> 0:19:02.160 the how Boys lose that game to the Rams, doesn't 0:19:02.200 --> 0:19:04.920 really matter, Maybe not because you can come right back 0:19:04.960 --> 0:19:07.880 and be Philly. But man, good luck beating the Eagles. 0:19:08.200 --> 0:19:10.560 Just no matter how banged up they are, it's gonna 0:19:10.560 --> 0:19:12.320 be difficult to beat that team if you don't have 0:19:12.480 --> 0:19:15.000