WEBVTT - #338 Packers Unscripted: What it'll take 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:20.880 Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.880 --> 0:00:23.439 I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 0:00:23.480 --> 0:00:26.000 West Hodkouits. We're coming to you here from our studios 0:00:26.360 --> 0:00:28.440 at lambeau Field and West. It's the end of the week, 0:00:28.480 --> 0:00:30.960 our Friday show, and that means keys to victory for 0:00:31.120 --> 0:00:34.360 the Packers against the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit 0:00:34.440 --> 0:00:36.840 on Sunday. Before we get to that, though, a quick 0:00:36.960 --> 0:00:39.800 rundown at the time, we are taping this episode of 0:00:39.840 --> 0:00:42.360 where things stand with the Packers injuries, because I know 0:00:42.400 --> 0:00:46.080 everyone's wondering what's going on at wide receiver at this moment. 0:00:46.159 --> 0:00:49.280 We have learned that Randall Cobb has been ruled out 0:00:49.400 --> 0:00:52.000 for Sunday's game with his hamstring injury. He will miss 0:00:52.040 --> 0:00:55.800 his second straight contest. Davante Adams, with the calf injury, 0:00:56.120 --> 0:00:59.120 scheduled to practice on Saturday, so there's a chance that 0:00:59.200 --> 0:01:02.640 Adams will be able to play. Geronimo Allison remains in 0:01:02.640 --> 0:01:05.520 the concussion protocol, but Mike McCarthy said there is hope 0:01:05.880 --> 0:01:09.880 for Geronimo, so possibility he could get through the concussion 0:01:09.920 --> 0:01:13.440 protocol by kickoff on Sunday. So all that being said, 0:01:14.120 --> 0:01:15.959 where do you want to start here with keys to 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:18.280 victory for the Packers at Detroit. I'm gonna go back 0:01:18.280 --> 0:01:20.480 to something I said earlier this week, and that is, 0:01:20.520 --> 0:01:23.440 I think, regardless of whether or not Davante Adams plays 0:01:23.520 --> 0:01:26.240 or geronimo Elson plays, certainly we know now that Randall 0:01:26.240 --> 0:01:28.640 cob will not play, I think the running game needs 0:01:28.640 --> 0:01:30.520 to carry the day here for the Packers. And that's 0:01:30.520 --> 0:01:33.480 for two reasons. One, when you're down, when you're missing 0:01:33.480 --> 0:01:35.920 weapons on the perimeter, the easiest way to make up 0:01:35.959 --> 0:01:38.440 for that is with weapons in the trenches. We saw 0:01:38.480 --> 0:01:41.240 that with Eddie Lacy all those years, what he can 0:01:41.280 --> 0:01:43.360 do in the dimension that adds. When you establish that 0:01:43.400 --> 0:01:46.640 and get your production from that perspective, helps lessen the burden. 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:49.640 Then also as well on the passing game and Aaron Rodgers. 0:01:49.680 --> 0:01:51.600 But secondly, and it was something you and I touched 0:01:51.600 --> 0:01:55.080 on in our Final Thoughts video, the Detroit Lions ranked 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:58.200 dead last right now and run defense, and it's not close, Mike. 0:01:58.200 --> 0:02:00.600 They're giving up a d fifty seven points per game 0:02:00.920 --> 0:02:03.040 thirty one in the league right now is Arizona a 0:02:03.160 --> 0:02:07.520 hundred forty one point two. So there's an opportunity there. Yeah, 0:02:07.520 --> 0:02:09.720 so they're more than they're more than ten percent worse 0:02:09.760 --> 0:02:12.239 than the next than the next worst team, and they're 0:02:12.240 --> 0:02:15.079 coming off probably the one of the roughest outings against 0:02:15.120 --> 0:02:17.520 the Dallas Cowboys. And it's it's fair, it's Zeke Elliott, 0:02:17.560 --> 0:02:19.280 it's gonna happen. But if they did give up a 0:02:19.360 --> 0:02:21.799 hundred fifty yards, so I just think from whether it's 0:02:21.800 --> 0:02:25.680 Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams, Time Montgomery getting that triad going 0:02:26.160 --> 0:02:28.959 uh and being able to be effective in that way, 0:02:29.160 --> 0:02:31.720 regardless of what those receiver weapons look like, I think 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:33.280 that's gonna be one of the keys to victory for 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.600 the Packers is they had a hundred fifty seven yards 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:37.760 I believe it was two weeks ago total yards from 0:02:37.800 --> 0:02:40.919 the running game in Washington, a hundred and eighty three. 0:02:40.960 --> 0:02:43.440 I think it was last week against Buffalo. They need 0:02:43.480 --> 0:02:46.240 another performance like that in Detroit. Yeah, And not that 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:49.440 there's ever a good time to have injuries to your 0:02:49.440 --> 0:02:53.240 wide receivers or whatever, but quite frankly, this is this 0:02:53.320 --> 0:02:55.639 is about as as bad as it gets for the Packers. 0:02:55.680 --> 0:02:58.440 From the standpoint that if you do have to go 0:02:58.560 --> 0:03:01.520 with a lot of younger wide receiver is less experienced receivers, 0:03:01.800 --> 0:03:04.480 Detroit can simply adjust the defense and say, well, we 0:03:04.560 --> 0:03:06.320 are going to take away the run. All it is 0:03:06.320 --> 0:03:08.600 is committing the personnel to the box in order to 0:03:08.639 --> 0:03:11.280 be able to do it, and that does leave your 0:03:11.480 --> 0:03:14.639 secondary a little bit more vulnerable. But if Randall Cobbs 0:03:14.680 --> 0:03:16.960 not out there, if Davante Adams jeron him, Way Allison 0:03:17.000 --> 0:03:19.320 aren't out there, they're gonna be a lot more comfortable 0:03:19.680 --> 0:03:22.680 leaving their secondary a little bit vulnerable against Aaron Rodgers, 0:03:22.680 --> 0:03:25.360 which sounds crazy. It sounds crazy to say they're gonna 0:03:25.400 --> 0:03:28.000 make Aaron Rodgers beat them with his arm, but that 0:03:28.120 --> 0:03:31.440 might be what they do here, depending on how this 0:03:31.480 --> 0:03:34.720 injury situation shakes out for the Packers at wide receivers. 0:03:34.760 --> 0:03:37.880 So I know they're ranking is bad. The Packers have 0:03:37.960 --> 0:03:40.320 shown obviously a lot of life running the ball the 0:03:40.360 --> 0:03:42.880 last couple of weeks, but it's not going to be 0:03:42.920 --> 0:03:45.640 that easy because stopping the run is simply a numbers game. 0:03:45.680 --> 0:03:48.120 If you commit the personnel to it, you can do it. 0:03:48.400 --> 0:03:50.960 And if that's what the Lions do, then the Packers 0:03:51.040 --> 0:03:53.000 have to be able to make plays on the outside 0:03:53.000 --> 0:03:55.200 no matter who the receivers are and that's why Loki, 0:03:55.320 --> 0:03:58.800 a guy like Mark Oisbaldo scantling becomes incredibly important. He 0:03:58.920 --> 0:04:01.200 put it on film. Now, if you give him just 0:04:01.280 --> 0:04:03.800 single high coverage in one cornerback, he can beat you 0:04:03.840 --> 0:04:06.600 with his speed. With that thirty eight yard reception, Jimmy Graham, 0:04:06.640 --> 0:04:08.600 I think is going to be a really critical part 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:11.440 of this offensive plan, huge part. He can affect the 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:14.400 middle of the field. You can position them outside as 0:04:14.400 --> 0:04:17.080 a receiver as well. So getting a guy like Time 0:04:17.120 --> 0:04:20.080 Montgomery open and space and getting him the football, whether 0:04:20.120 --> 0:04:22.880 it's as a runner or a pass catcher, you have 0:04:23.000 --> 0:04:26.480 to use your complimentary pieces because even if Adams plays, 0:04:26.600 --> 0:04:28.480 or you know, if Allison plays, it's probably a little 0:04:28.480 --> 0:04:30.440 bit different. But if Adam's plays, you're not sure what 0:04:30.520 --> 0:04:32.279 that's gonna be like with him trying to push through 0:04:32.279 --> 0:04:35.400 with that calf injury. So to have those auxiliary parts 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:38.520 going with this offense. They've really lived a lot with 0:04:38.560 --> 0:04:40.960 their three wide receiver and Jimmy Graham looks so far. 0:04:41.120 --> 0:04:42.839 So if anything else, I think this is really going 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:45.159 to test them being able to bring out some of 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:47.960 those other components of the offensive game plan. Yeah, if 0:04:47.960 --> 0:04:50.159 there is a a week that we may see the 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:53.280 Packers offensively dig a little bit deeper into the playbook 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:56.719 and start showing some personnel groupings, formations and things that 0:04:56.760 --> 0:04:58.760 maybe we haven't seen in the first month of the year. 0:04:59.040 --> 0:05:00.960 This could be it because this is this is an 0:05:00.960 --> 0:05:04.839 injury situation that's highly unusual, just because so many injuries 0:05:04.839 --> 0:05:06.880 have hit at the same position. In the story I 0:05:06.920 --> 0:05:09.200 wrote about the three young receivers being ready to step 0:05:09.279 --> 0:05:11.160 up here, one of the things I referenced in Aaron 0:05:11.200 --> 0:05:13.600 Rodgers reference this week was the Atlanta game from two 0:05:13.640 --> 0:05:16.560 thousand six. Right. I understand the Packers lost that game 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:18.599 thirty three to thirty two, but I don't think anyone 0:05:18.640 --> 0:05:21.280 anticipated at being the shootout that it was. But the 0:05:21.320 --> 0:05:23.080 thing is is that Rogers was at the top of 0:05:23.080 --> 0:05:24.880 his game. He had a hundred and twenty five passer 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:27.920 rating in that contest through four touchdowns. Three of those 0:05:27.920 --> 0:05:30.880 receivers it was their first NFL regular season touchdown catch, 0:05:31.240 --> 0:05:35.279 including Geronimo Allison, which Rogers frequently you know, cites that 0:05:35.440 --> 0:05:38.240 is his you know, big coming out parties. So if 0:05:38.279 --> 0:05:40.120 that's the direction they have to go, I think they've 0:05:40.160 --> 0:05:42.200 proven that they're innovative and that they can do it 0:05:42.600 --> 0:05:44.520 and if if nothing else did. It is also going 0:05:44.560 --> 0:05:46.040 to be a really good test for some of these 0:05:46.040 --> 0:05:49.240 young guys, whether it's at running back, receiver, tight end, 0:05:49.520 --> 0:05:51.680 guys that could be counted on to make big plays 0:05:51.760 --> 0:05:54.279 and you know, really step up for their offense. Yeah, 0:05:54.279 --> 0:05:56.440 this will be a big challenge for the Packers offense. 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:59.760 But you mentioned the game in Atlanta, which when we 0:06:00.160 --> 0:06:02.599 the inactive list before the game, you would have thought 0:06:02.600 --> 0:06:07.360 the Packers are gonna lose by at least two touchdowns. Yeah, 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:10.200 it was like there were no playmakers available. But yet 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:12.760 those young guys stepped up. We saw Aaron Rodgers almost 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:16.200 win a playoff game in Arizona with nothing but James Jones, 0:06:16.279 --> 0:06:19.839 Jared Aberdaris and Jeff Janis at wide receiver because everybody 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:24.240 else was down and out. So, um, he's done this before. Uh, 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:26.880 there's a there's a lot on his plate every single week. 0:06:27.160 --> 0:06:29.120 He is getting healthier, which is a good thing. He 0:06:29.200 --> 0:06:32.960 was a full participant in Thursday's padded practice for the 0:06:33.000 --> 0:06:36.120 first time since Week one before the knee injury, so 0:06:36.320 --> 0:06:39.600 there's obviously at least some progress being made there. Even 0:06:39.640 --> 0:06:42.400 though Rogers has Rogers has downplayed a little bit, but 0:06:42.440 --> 0:06:45.800 Mike McCarthy is indicated there's definitely progress being made with 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:48.120 regards to that knee. So a lot is gonna fall 0:06:48.200 --> 0:06:50.720 on number twelve, especially at the line of scrimmage. How 0:06:50.720 --> 0:06:53.320 are they lining up run pass option type of stuff. 0:06:53.640 --> 0:06:56.280 And the Packers have got to find a way to, 0:06:57.040 --> 0:06:58.760 you know, when they do put together a good drive 0:06:58.800 --> 0:07:00.280 to put the ball in the end zone, because kicking 0:07:00.279 --> 0:07:02.360 field goals in Detroit's not gonna cut. No, it isn't. 0:07:02.400 --> 0:07:04.200 And and we've seen that in the past just in 0:07:04.320 --> 0:07:07.080 terms of and I've cited it several times that when 0:07:07.080 --> 0:07:09.480 you the Lions get going, when Stafford gets going early. 0:07:09.720 --> 0:07:12.000 You can look at any of their games historically packers 0:07:12.000 --> 0:07:14.520 are not Packers. They have a lot of success just 0:07:14.560 --> 0:07:16.760 because it's that rhythm based offense. It's been that way 0:07:16.800 --> 0:07:19.440 since Jim Bob Coutter took over as their offensive coordinator. 0:07:19.880 --> 0:07:22.240 The other thing too, that that's an interesting facet to this, 0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:24.840 as you mentioned, with with Rogers being a full participant. 0:07:25.080 --> 0:07:27.560 I was talking Aboldes Scantling about this this week, and 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:30.240 he's gotten a lot of work with Rogers. He's had 0:07:30.280 --> 0:07:31.800 a lot of work with the Shawn Kaiser and that's 0:07:31.800 --> 0:07:34.640 starting offense as the number four receiver, Jamon Moore and 0:07:34.640 --> 0:07:38.000 Equinemius st Brown. This was really their first extended look 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.600 on Thursday of Rogers and playing with him, and in 0:07:40.720 --> 0:07:43.880 knowing what he's looking for and taking the playbook as 0:07:43.880 --> 0:07:46.200 it stands, and also kind of keeping in mind what 0:07:46.320 --> 0:07:48.240 Rogers needs when you're out on the field with him. 0:07:48.280 --> 0:07:51.120 So regardless of whether or not those guys actually end 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:54.000 up playing significant snaps in this game, there is a 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:56.880 byproduct a positive effect from that for those young guys 0:07:56.920 --> 0:07:58.720 getting used to what he's looking for and what it's 0:07:58.720 --> 0:08:01.400 going to be required if another situation like this should 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:04.000 arise at some point else in the season. Yeah, and 0:08:04.040 --> 0:08:05.960 you said it West. As far as the key on 0:08:06.000 --> 0:08:08.480 the defensive side of the ball, Matthew Stafford and the 0:08:08.560 --> 0:08:12.280 rhythm that he can get into with this offense, I'm 0:08:12.280 --> 0:08:14.000 not sure how the Packers are going to do it. 0:08:14.040 --> 0:08:17.120 I don't think there's necessarily one way to disrupt Matthew 0:08:17.120 --> 0:08:19.680 Stafford's rhythm. You have to do it with pressure. You 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:21.920 have to do it with mixing up coverage looks. You 0:08:21.960 --> 0:08:24.480 have to do it with getting a turnover here there 0:08:24.600 --> 0:08:27.840 and and blunting the momentum that the Lions can generate 0:08:27.920 --> 0:08:30.800 sometimes with those big plays on offense. But you have 0:08:30.920 --> 0:08:33.800 to disrupt Stafford's rhythm because we saw last year in 0:08:33.960 --> 0:08:37.760 both of the Packers Lions games. Aaron Rodgers didn't play 0:08:37.760 --> 0:08:40.480 in either one, but Matthew Stafford was the star of 0:08:40.520 --> 0:08:42.719 the show in both of those games. He was he 0:08:42.760 --> 0:08:46.800 was completely in his comfort zone. And especially the one here, 0:08:46.880 --> 0:08:49.320 the Monday night game here at Lambe Field, which you know, 0:08:49.360 --> 0:08:51.280 as I've mentioned to you before, I thought that was 0:08:51.679 --> 0:08:53.960 really what put the writing on the wall for for 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:57.080 the changes to the defensive coaching staff that came later on, 0:08:57.480 --> 0:09:01.840 because Matthew Stafford just just did anything and everything he 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:04.720 wanted to in that game, and the Packers cannot let 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:07.760 him get into that type of a rhythm on Sunday. Yeah, 0:09:07.760 --> 0:09:10.640 And it's really interesting because you know, you're always going 0:09:10.679 --> 0:09:12.439 to get at this juncture of the season, You're still 0:09:12.440 --> 0:09:14.520 gonna get un scouted looks. There's still gonna be things 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:16.920 that the lines have been working on since you know, 0:09:17.040 --> 0:09:20.360 March in April, especially for a division opponent, right for 0:09:20.400 --> 0:09:22.360 a division opponent to be ready for. But at the 0:09:22.400 --> 0:09:25.160 same time, you kind of know what you're getting they've 0:09:25.160 --> 0:09:28.199 they've played Matthew Stafford more than any other quarterback obviously 0:09:28.240 --> 0:09:30.600 now that Jay Cutler's gone in the NFC North, in 0:09:30.640 --> 0:09:33.240 really the NFC in general. And you look at where 0:09:33.280 --> 0:09:36.200 this offense is structured right now, there's three receivers there 0:09:36.360 --> 0:09:40.000 that have made up of Matthew Stafford's passing yards with 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:43.160 Golden Tate, you know, one of the most consistent, you know, 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:46.600 playmakers in this league for some time now. Marvin Jones Jr. 0:09:46.640 --> 0:09:48.920 Is a big play threat, and Kenny Galladay is a 0:09:48.920 --> 0:09:51.360 guy that continues to cement himself in this offense. So 0:09:51.800 --> 0:09:53.560 I wrote about it earlier this week. I mean, if 0:09:53.559 --> 0:09:56.080 they can get Kevin King available and healthy for this game, 0:09:56.240 --> 0:09:58.840 if Jr. Alexander is able to play through the growing injury, 0:09:59.120 --> 0:10:02.439 they can have that full contingent of secondary weapons. It's 0:10:02.440 --> 0:10:04.200 gonna be the perfect way to combat that and allow 0:10:04.280 --> 0:10:05.880 some of those guys in the trenches to be able 0:10:05.880 --> 0:10:08.720 to get to work and trying to keep Matthew Stafford uncomfortable, 0:10:08.760 --> 0:10:11.600 because the double sided coin of this is that when 0:10:11.640 --> 0:10:13.480 you are able to pressure Stafford, when you can get 0:10:13.520 --> 0:10:15.959 him on his back foot, that's where the turnovers happened. 0:10:15.960 --> 0:10:18.319 That's where your big place for your defense can occur. Yeah, 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:21.120 this will just be conjecture on our part, But do 0:10:21.160 --> 0:10:23.600 you have a sense if the Packers are fully healthy 0:10:23.640 --> 0:10:25.640 and ready to go in the secondary, with King and 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:28.920 Alexander both playing despite being on the injury report, with 0:10:28.960 --> 0:10:30.840 the groin injuries, all that kind of stuff, do you 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:33.520 have a sense of how the Packers might match up 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:37.440 here with these wide receivers. My personal take is with 0:10:37.520 --> 0:10:41.440 Golladay being such a speedy, deep threat type of guy, 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:45.040 but a boundary and outside receiver, I kind of see 0:10:45.120 --> 0:10:48.880 Kevin King being there, Termont Williams being um on Marvin 0:10:48.960 --> 0:10:51.520 Jones Jr. And then you line up year Alexander in 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:54.720 the slot against Golden Tate. Now, whether that is the 0:10:54.720 --> 0:10:57.760 matchup all the way across the board for sixty plus plays, 0:10:57.800 --> 0:11:00.800 I don't know, but that's kind of what I'm guessing. 0:11:00.840 --> 0:11:03.000 I don't know if if you if you think that's uh, 0:11:03.120 --> 0:11:04.920 that's in line, or if you have other thoughts, Well, 0:11:04.920 --> 0:11:07.360 it really depends on how they want to attack this 0:11:07.440 --> 0:11:09.640 thing in terms of are you gonna just keep guys 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:11.120 on one side of the field or do you go 0:11:11.200 --> 0:11:13.800 back to the old Sam Shields Let guys travel and 0:11:14.120 --> 0:11:16.280 you know where you want to have your matchups, and 0:11:16.320 --> 0:11:18.120 that's gonna be right now, it seems like for the 0:11:18.160 --> 0:11:20.120 most part at this point of the season, and it's 0:11:20.160 --> 0:11:22.120 probably partially due to the fact that they've had some 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:24.839 moving pieces in the secondary, but they've pretty much kept 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:26.880 Hermon Williams on one side and they've kept the other 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:29.360 boundary corner where he's at and just let the game 0:11:29.400 --> 0:11:31.319 play out from there. So it would be interesting to 0:11:31.360 --> 0:11:33.160 see if they make an adjustment to that this week. 0:11:33.440 --> 0:11:35.000 I don't know whether or not we're gonna see it 0:11:35.000 --> 0:11:37.080 with it being Kevin King if he plays his first 0:11:37.120 --> 0:11:39.600 game back. But the one thing I really do like 0:11:39.720 --> 0:11:41.800 in Alexander I give I tip my cap to him. 0:11:41.800 --> 0:11:44.120 I thought he played really well these past couple of 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:48.400 games without King, but having him in that nickel slot position, 0:11:48.480 --> 0:11:51.280 the defense is different there, I agree, And he's he's 0:11:51.320 --> 0:11:54.199 a playmaker. He's the type of ball hawk that you 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:56.839 want that I think defenses need now, to be honest 0:11:56.880 --> 0:11:59.960 with you, in that nickel position. Josh Jackson again another 0:12:00.000 --> 0:12:02.439 a guy that's great to have available depending on where 0:12:02.480 --> 0:12:04.880 you need to play him. They've trained him at multiple spots, 0:12:04.880 --> 0:12:07.480 but to me, I think going in right now unless 0:12:07.520 --> 0:12:09.760 I see something different, I'm very curious to see if 0:12:09.760 --> 0:12:11.840 it just ends up being King on one boundary, Tremont 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:13.760 Williams and the other, and then you know, make your 0:12:13.760 --> 0:12:17.160 moves inside with your interior guys. Okay, well, before we 0:12:17.200 --> 0:12:18.760 go here west at the end of the week, let's 0:12:18.760 --> 0:12:20.920 take a quick look at some other things going on 0:12:21.000 --> 0:12:24.240 around the NFL. Chicago Bears are on their bye week, 0:12:24.360 --> 0:12:27.320 so regardless of what happens elsewhere in the NFC North, 0:12:27.400 --> 0:12:30.600 at three and one, Chicago will remain in first place. 0:12:30.640 --> 0:12:33.439 The Packers can inch closer if they win and get 0:12:33.520 --> 0:12:35.640 to three one on one, they will obviously be right 0:12:36.000 --> 0:12:38.480 on the Bears heels. There but one game in the 0:12:38.600 --> 0:12:42.520 NFC North that definitely stands out, the Minnesota Vikings traveling 0:12:42.559 --> 0:12:45.520 to I believe they're on the road, traveling to Philadelphia, 0:12:45.600 --> 0:12:50.600 the rematch of last year's NFC Championship. And looking right 0:12:50.600 --> 0:12:52.880 now at both the Vikings and the Eagles with two 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:56.520 losses apiece, these two teams trying to avoid a third 0:12:56.600 --> 0:12:59.040 loss this early in the season. What are your thoughts 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:00.720 on this match? You kind of ends too the SEC 0:13:00.880 --> 0:13:03.360 a little bit. I still refuse to think that either 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:05.080 one of these teams is a three lost team at 0:13:05.080 --> 0:13:07.840 this juncture of the season, one of them, assuming there's 0:13:07.880 --> 0:13:09.920 not a strange tie, will end up being that. Again, 0:13:10.080 --> 0:13:12.400 I'm gonna throw that caveat we kind of have. There's 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:14.360 been a lot of overtime games, a couple of ties 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:17.000 and a couple of near ties already in the NFL issue. 0:13:17.040 --> 0:13:18.680 But it sort of reminds me the sec where you 0:13:18.720 --> 0:13:20.680 end up having like Auburn or somebody gets two losses 0:13:20.760 --> 0:13:22.520 right off the bat, but they're still ranked like twelve 0:13:22.559 --> 0:13:25.600 in the country. I think both these teams are still 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:27.840 big playoff contenders. I think they're Super Bowl contenders. But 0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.200 you're right in that you're digging yourself into a hole 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:32.160 here if you don't come out on top. Carson Wentz 0:13:32.240 --> 0:13:34.839 is back as the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Can 0:13:34.880 --> 0:13:37.000 the offense get back to where they feel like they 0:13:37.000 --> 0:13:40.360 should be? And then from the Vikings perspective, they've had 0:13:40.400 --> 0:13:42.960 some tough matchups. They lost a game they should have 0:13:42.960 --> 0:13:45.520 won at home against Buffalo, and then you go and 0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:47.680 you lose a game that you know maybe you should 0:13:47.679 --> 0:13:49.960 lose on a short week against the Rams. So what 0:13:50.200 --> 0:13:52.720 tough assignment there, what team are you? And I think 0:13:52.760 --> 0:13:54.880 that's the thing that probably Mike Zimmers talking about with 0:13:54.880 --> 0:13:57.760 this guys this week. But yeah, from the Packers perspective, 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:01.600 with having the Bears an idol this week and and 0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:04.840 having a chance to play a division opponent and the 0:14:04.960 --> 0:14:07.320 Vikings having the opponent that they have, it's a big 0:14:07.320 --> 0:14:09.280 opportunity this week if they can go and take one 0:14:09.320 --> 0:14:11.840 on the road from the Lions, considering all the other 0:14:11.880 --> 0:14:14.080 things that are happening right now in that division. Yeah, well, 0:14:14.120 --> 0:14:17.880 another game that's really interesting, and you don't we don't 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:21.560 normally talk about the cross conference games all that much, 0:14:21.920 --> 0:14:25.920 but Atlanta is traveling to Pittsburgh, and you're talking about 0:14:25.920 --> 0:14:28.360 a Steelers team that already has two losses in a 0:14:28.440 --> 0:14:31.120 tie and they've been dealing with the whole distraction of 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:34.080 the Lady on Bell situation all the way along. And 0:14:34.120 --> 0:14:36.640 the Atlanta Falcons are one in three and having to 0:14:36.680 --> 0:14:39.160 go on the road here to Heinz Field, a very 0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:42.320 difficult place to play. These are two teams. I don't 0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:44.120 I don't like to use the word desperate for a 0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:47.280 victory in early October, but this is about as close 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:49.840 as it gets for early October for for being in 0:14:49.840 --> 0:14:52.560 that desperation MODEI just you have to get a win. Yeah, 0:14:52.560 --> 0:14:55.040 it's a marathon, it's twenty six point two miles. But 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:58.640 the thing is is that if you can not fall behind, 0:14:58.680 --> 0:15:00.680 you don't have to gas yourself all down the stretch 0:15:00.720 --> 0:15:03.800 trying to make, you know, make it to the finish line. Yeah, 0:15:03.800 --> 0:15:06.480 the Steelers have gone through so much so far early on. 0:15:06.560 --> 0:15:08.800 I think this game in particular for them, even though 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:10.880 they are technically the team that only has two losses 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:13.880 right now, I think this is a huge matchup because 0:15:13.880 --> 0:15:15.960 you've had the questions with Levan Bell and where and 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:19.080 he's when he's going to come back, who's communicating with who? 0:15:19.400 --> 0:15:22.080 Ben Roethlisberger saying that he needs to do more. Antonio 0:15:22.160 --> 0:15:23.920 Brown miss practice a couple of days. So it's just 0:15:24.000 --> 0:15:27.640 like these type of things, it really tests you, and 0:15:27.680 --> 0:15:29.680 it tests the defense as well. Pittsburghs off to a 0:15:29.720 --> 0:15:32.160 really slow start with their defense this year, and that 0:15:32.280 --> 0:15:35.080 historically has been a hallmark. They're taking on Atlanta Falcons 0:15:35.080 --> 0:15:37.280 team that's had questions on defense, but is you know, 0:15:37.320 --> 0:15:40.360 Matt Ryan's throwing through the roof right now with Kelvin 0:15:40.440 --> 0:15:43.480 Ridley and Julio Jones. So a big gut check for 0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:45.640 both of those teams. Certainly from the Packers perspective, you 0:15:45.640 --> 0:15:47.920 wouldn't mind seeing the Steelers just pull one out here. 0:15:48.320 --> 0:15:50.400 But but certainly from the Falcons, trying to go on 0:15:50.440 --> 0:15:52.640 the road and win in Hinesfield is not easy to ask. Yeah, 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:55.720 and one last thought as far as the NFC West 0:15:55.840 --> 0:16:00.280 goes um, I tell you what West with with losing 0:16:00.360 --> 0:16:03.200 Jimmy Garoppolo for the season, they're on their backup quarterback, 0:16:03.200 --> 0:16:06.680 the Arizona Cardinals clearly struggling out of the gate. The 0:16:06.800 --> 0:16:09.680 Rams here undefeated at four and oh going to Seattle. 0:16:10.120 --> 0:16:12.640 Arguably it might be the rams toughest road game of 0:16:12.680 --> 0:16:14.520 the year in terms of the you know, a stadium 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:18.080 to go into. If the Rams win this game and 0:16:18.120 --> 0:16:20.360 get to five and oh and hand the Seahawks their 0:16:20.440 --> 0:16:22.800 third loss, with everything else going on in that division, 0:16:23.120 --> 0:16:25.640 it's almost like that division race is over. I mean, 0:16:25.760 --> 0:16:28.280 if Seattle wants to have a chance to win the 0:16:28.400 --> 0:16:31.800 NFC West, they almost have to win this game against 0:16:31.800 --> 0:16:33.560 the Rams on Sunday the way it sets up, and 0:16:33.600 --> 0:16:35.360 certainly there's a lot of football they play, but it 0:16:35.440 --> 0:16:37.000 kind of they start to remind me of the two 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:40.120 thousand eleven Packers a lot. Now their defense with Wade Phillips, 0:16:40.160 --> 0:16:42.240 it's a lot more stout than the Packers were that season. 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.280 But their offense is so explosive. They're able to blow 0:16:45.320 --> 0:16:47.000 teams out. They're able and then and then when they 0:16:47.000 --> 0:16:50.640 get and shootouts, they're able to you know, go tip 0:16:50.680 --> 0:16:53.560 for tat with them. And you know, Jared Goff fits 0:16:53.600 --> 0:16:56.600 that system so well. It's what Sean mcveigh's developed. They 0:16:56.600 --> 0:16:59.480 have three legit downfield options, certainly one of the best 0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:01.920 running backs in the game, a lot of things for 0:17:01.920 --> 0:17:04.440 them to hang their hat on. And conversely, now it's 0:17:04.440 --> 0:17:06.760 a Seattle team that's going through a lot of adversity. 0:17:07.359 --> 0:17:09.359 You look at what's happened now with Earl Thomas and 0:17:09.359 --> 0:17:11.879 losing him. I mean, that's arguably your biggest playmaker on 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:13.920 that defense. The the offense has had a lot of 0:17:14.000 --> 0:17:17.120 questions and there's been you know, some some issues there 0:17:17.119 --> 0:17:19.359 with Russell Wilson and being able to to generate the 0:17:19.400 --> 0:17:21.720 plays that you know he can generate just based on 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:24.359 the weapons and offensive line around him. So it's gonna 0:17:24.400 --> 0:17:25.800 be a good game to watch, one that I'll be 0:17:25.840 --> 0:17:28.679 paying close attention to just to see. Okay, from the 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:31.240 Rams perspective, you are going into century Link, Central Link 0:17:31.320 --> 0:17:33.520 still going to be century Link. Yeah, so are you 0:17:33.640 --> 0:17:36.399 able to overcome that? Is the offense able to play 0:17:36.440 --> 0:17:38.679 to what they believe it can play to, uh, to 0:17:38.800 --> 0:17:40.720 get a huge win that would really give them a 0:17:40.720 --> 0:17:42.879 lot of separation in that division early on. Yeah, this 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:45.320 is a real gut chet game for Seattle. They're getting 0:17:45.400 --> 0:17:49.040 the division leader at home in their building. But that 0:17:49.080 --> 0:17:51.720 division leader is coming off of extra rest, having played 0:17:51.760 --> 0:17:54.399 the Thursday, the game the week before. They're rested up 0:17:54.440 --> 0:17:56.280 and ready to go. And the Rams know this is 0:17:56.320 --> 0:17:59.480 this is their opportunity to absolutely stop on the rest 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:01.119 of the division and say here we are, We're the 0:18:01.160 --> 0:18:03.399 team to be totally and before we leave them, Mike, 0:18:03.400 --> 0:18:05.119 I want to throw one more out at you. Okay, 0:18:05.280 --> 0:18:07.840 just kind of my favorite just from a pure football perspective. 0:18:07.880 --> 0:18:11.800 Really no ramifications whatsoever with the Packers, but Jacksonville versus 0:18:11.840 --> 0:18:15.320