1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: by my partner in crime, West Hot Courts were coming 4 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: to you here from socially distant locations at lambeau Field West. 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: It's almost here. Saturday, three thirty pm Central time, kickoff 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field the NFC Divisional playoff between the Green 7 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 1: Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams. We might as 8 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: well get right into it. Keys to victory here for 9 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: Green Bay. If you want to start offensive side defensive side, 10 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: I'll let you pick. But what's it going to take 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: for the Packers to come out victorious? First and foremost? 12 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: Not getting caught up in the narrative. And what I 13 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: mean by that is there's been a lot of consternation 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: about Aaron Donald. What status, What is his status gonna be? 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: What is he gonna look like? Is he gonna be 16 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: the Aaron Donald that everybody's accustomed to see in the 17 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: term inator that everyone's accustomed to seeing. And my my 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: best advice for that is, don't pay attention to it. 19 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: Aaron Donald is showing up on Saturday afternoon. He is 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: going to be ready to play. And it was funny 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: this earlier this week, Mike someone mentioned inside Ringbox like, Hey, 22 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: you know, with him having the rib injury, does that 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: mean they should maybe gear their game plan towards him. Like, 24 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: if you ever find yourself in a position where you 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: have to gear your game plan towards Aaron Donald, I 26 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 1: don't think it's a very good game plan. Your What 27 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: the Packers need to do is is you've said multiple times, 28 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: do what they do best and respect the opponent that 29 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: they're going to see. Be prepared for the league's top defense, 30 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: the league's top scoring defense. Be prepared for a unit 31 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: that is going to challenge you, particularly in the in 32 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: the trenches and the line of scrimmage. If the Packers 33 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: come out in respect Aaron Donald and understand the threat 34 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: that he presents and down in the front, I feel 35 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: like Green Bay will be able to find its magic, 36 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: be able to, you know, figure out where its offense 37 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: needs to go to succeed and make those adjustments. And 38 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: then whatever happens with Aaron Donald the rest of the way, 39 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: that's up for the the Los Angeles Rams to figure out. Yeah, 40 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: And that's where I keep coming back to with this game. 41 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: And you said it is the do what you do best. 42 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: And when I look at I look at the offensive 43 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: side of the ball. For the Packers. There are three 44 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: things the Packers have done really really well offensively to 45 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: get to being the top scoring offense in the league. 46 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: They've protected the football, They've converted on third down, and 47 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: they've scored touchdowns when they're in the red zone or 48 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: the gold zone, whatever you want to call it. But okay, 49 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: here's the thing. Third down the Packers are like second 50 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: in the league and third down conversions the conversion percentage, 51 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: the Rams are third in the league. In third down defense. 52 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 1: That might end up kind of being a wash as 53 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: you go through this game, because both the Packers offense 54 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Rams defense very very good. But in turnovers and in 55 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: red zone play, the Packers have a distinct advantage. Green 56 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: Bay was plus seven, I believe plus seven, yet in 57 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: turnover margin through the regular season, the Rams were minus three. 58 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: Now to be minus in the turnover margin for a 59 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: full regular season and still win ten games, that doesn't 60 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: happen very often. But if the Packers continue to protect 61 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: the ball, you can't discount how important it was for 62 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: the Rams to win the turnover battle. In Seattle to 63 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: zero last week and knock off the team that was 64 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: the division champ in their own division in the NFC West. 65 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: As far as the red zone goes, Packers number one 66 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: in the league, and it's been even higher than that 67 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: during this winning streak to close out the regular season. 68 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: The Rams, they're not bad in the red zone defensively, 69 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: but twelveth in the league. That's a pretty big discrepancy there, 70 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: number one versus number twelve. As far as the Packers 71 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: offense versus the Rams defense, that's where green Bay has 72 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: an edge. You have to play to where you have 73 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: your edge in the playoffs, and I think that's where 74 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: this game can be decided for the Packers. Yeah, I 75 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: agree with you in the other aspect that I think 76 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: you have to look at with green Bay too, and 77 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: the way that their offense is built is they've found 78 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: ways to establish drives to shore and ball games and 79 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: that's kind of been the blueprint for the Rams two 80 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways. I mean, they are number 81 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: two to Green Bay's number one in time of possession. 82 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: But last week, if I'm Matt la Fleur in this 83 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: coaching staff and I'm looking at that footage from the 84 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: Seattle game. I'm looking at and going, you know what, 85 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: the way the Rams played that for all the different 86 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: problems that they had, the quarterback issues that they had, 87 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: that was a pretty good blueprint. If you're looking at 88 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 1: your Sean mcvain, you're saying, Okay, I want to make 89 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: a run. We want to win a super Bowl with 90 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: this team. They kind of set that out when with 91 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: what they did against Seattle. And it's another reason why 92 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: I think they have to be respected because, as you said, 93 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: they won the turnover margin that was huge, But what 94 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: did they do with that turnover margin? It was cam 95 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 1: akers then turning out all of these total yards, all 96 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: of this production, being able to extend drives and and 97 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: find ways to control the clock. Yeah, you lost John Wolford, 98 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: and John Wolford looked pretty good early on. Jared Goff 99 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: has been limited. How much that's the thumb, how much 100 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: of that is golf, we don't know. But the fact 101 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: of the matter is is the packers. You talk about advantages, 102 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 1: decided advantages, distinct advantages, advantage advantages. One of the things 103 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: that plays into that is Green Bay knows exactly who 104 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: they are and what they need to do to win 105 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: They've done it all season long, Mike. To get to 106 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: thirteen and three, they have probably most likely the National 107 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: Football League's m v P at the most important position 108 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: on the field where the Rams have some question marks 109 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: going into this game, regardless of who they put out there. 110 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: The fact that they haven't said it, the fact that 111 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: you know, we even have to ask about them saying it, 112 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: it tells you that there are questions there. Green Bay 113 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: doesn't have those questions. They need to have the answers 114 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 1: on Saturday and show that the team that won the 115 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: NFC regular season that was the top seed, they can 116 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: be the unit that goes out and carries that over 117 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: into the postseason. Yeah. Absolutely, And and I'm with you 118 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 1: with the where you started the conversation about don't get 119 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: caught up in the narrative. There are all kinds of 120 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: potential distractions here, whether you're talking about Aaron Donald's injury, 121 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: whether you're talking about Cooper Cups injury, whether you're talking 122 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: about the quarterback situation for the Rams, whether you're talking 123 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: about Jalen Ramsey and all his trash talking and what 124 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: he might do to try to throw Davante Adams off 125 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: his game. Don't get caught up in any of those distractions. 126 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 1: If you're the Green Bay Packers, you have to do 127 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: what you do and to switch things to the defensive 128 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 1: side of the ball. I think you and I are 129 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: on the same page here. This all starts with clamping 130 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: down on cam Acres, the rookie running back, second round 131 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 1: pick out of Florida State. He's been a revelation for 132 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: that Rams offense. He was He's exactly what the Rams 133 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: offense did not have last year. The year before, they 134 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: had Todd Gurley Offensive Player of the Year, they went 135 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: to the Super Bowl. Last year, the Rams didn't have 136 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: this kind of a running game. And there's so much 137 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: of this offense, particularly with a quarterback like Golf and 138 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: I think Wolford falls into the same category. The play 139 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: action game is huge for these guys, and they are 140 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: very very effective as play action passers. I from what 141 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: I've seen of the Rams, and I've been saying this 142 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: all week, I think Jared Goff, if he's a straight 143 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: drop back pastor I'm not saying he's a bad quarterback, 144 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: but I think he becomes a very ordinary quarterback in 145 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: a straight drop back passing game. If you clamp down 146 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: on the run and take away the effectiveness of the 147 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,559 Speaker 1: play action and turn whoever's that quarterback for the Rams 148 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: and do a straight drop back passer without that play 149 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: action game. I think that completely plays to Green Bays 150 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: and fan Well, let's go back in the archives. Let's 151 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: go back to the multiple seasons of Packers Unscripted, the 152 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: West Hogkwitz, let's be real moment of the week. Let's 153 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: bring it back. Let's talk about it for a second. 154 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: The let's be real moment of the week is there 155 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: was a reason why John Wolford fit what Sean McVeigh 156 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: wanted to do offensively and why they felt okay about 157 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,119 Speaker 1: him if they didn't have Jared Goff because he also 158 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: is a guy that has some mobility to him and 159 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: he can thrive in a play action type scheme. But 160 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: everything that McVeigh does, and even to some extent, what 161 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: Green Bay does with wanting to establish the run, it 162 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 1: has to start in that first and second quarter. It 163 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: has to begin with being able to sort of impose 164 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 1: your will and allow your quarterback to adapt off that 165 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: that that's when Goff becomes dangerous. Jared Goff is at leven. 166 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: I think it's a hundred and eleven passer rating in 167 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: two games I believe against Green Bay. I mean, he 168 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: has had respectable performances and it's been built on explosive making, 169 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: taking advantage of explosive plays, opportunistic happenings in the game, 170 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: and also just being able to establish the run. Cam 171 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: Akers is a guy I've been I've loved since the draft. 172 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: He's been one of my favorite guys on the board. 173 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: I draft him my own fantasy football league and he 174 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: was there the entire season. I mean, I just felt 175 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: like when push came to shove, even though they worked 176 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: with Henderson for a while and obviously Malcolm Brown has 177 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 1: been there for a few years, it felt like Acres 178 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: is where this thing was trending. And when they finally, 179 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 1: you know, kind of took the reins off and just 180 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: let him go. You saw the impact he made. Now 181 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: that being said, he's not a wonder kind. I mean, 182 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: he's not this guy that's just gonna be uh, you know, 183 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: you can't stop him, you know, like we're looking at 184 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: with with Derrick Henry. Last month he was held the 185 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: thirty four care thirty four yards and twenty one carries. 186 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,559 Speaker 1: There are answers for him, but the Seattle Seahawks did 187 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: not have those in the wild card round, and it 188 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: bit them, man. I mean that was ultimately as much 189 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: as the turnover has hurt, the fact that they couldn't 190 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: solve the first and second downs and end up being 191 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 1: in multiple manageable situations. That's why the Rams were able 192 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: to move the ball as wall as they did. Yeah, 193 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: and when you look at the Packers right now defensively, 194 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: we've been talking about it for the last several weeks. 195 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: The Packers run defense is in a very different place 196 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: than it was earlier in the season, in a very 197 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: different place than it was in the postseason last year. 198 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: We've talked about that fifty seven yard run by David 199 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: Montgomery on the Chicago Bears first handoff of the game 200 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: back in Week twelve, that Sunday night game at lambeau Field. 201 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: That's what That's been a turning point for this Packers 202 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: run defense because since that fifty seven yard run by Montgomery, 203 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 1: opposing running backs over the last six games have averaged 204 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: only three point nine yards per carry. Against Green Bay, 205 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,680 Speaker 1: that's all that the opposing running backs have been able 206 00:09:51,679 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 1: to do in in essentially traditional run game situations. The 207 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: Packers will take that any day of the week. And 208 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 1: that's what it's going to take to try to take 209 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: away this this uh, this play action game of the Rams. 210 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: And then to further the point I was making earlier 211 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: about the red zone, Okay, the um It's interesting you 212 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: look at the statistics West, the Rams red zone offense 213 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: fifty seven point nine percent, the Packers red zone defense 214 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: fifty seven point seven percent. That's almost identical in terms 215 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: in terms of those percentages. If the Packers can play 216 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,319 Speaker 1: to that now and and just to tell you those 217 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: percentages being identical, the Packers defensively eighth in the league, 218 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: the Rams offensively nineteen in the league. The Packers have 219 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: an edge there, and and and the Packers red zone 220 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: defense has been better down the stretch these last three 221 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: or four games than it was earlier in the season 222 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: as well. So again that's another thing. I see both 223 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: of these teams being able to move the ball between 224 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: the twenty yard lines. I think both of these offenses 225 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: the coach the coaches are creative that there's playmakers on 226 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,559 Speaker 1: both sides, but when the ball gets inside the twenty 227 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: yard line, this game comes down to are you gonna 228 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: score touchdowns? Are you're gonna settle for field goals, and 229 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: I think that's where the Packers have to win this game. Yeah, 230 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: and I don't want to get into the whole bend 231 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: or brank Brand bend, but don't break easy for me 232 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: to say, uh, mentality stuff. But I thought one of 233 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: the things that Dom Capers didn't get nearly enough credit 234 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: for was the fact that the Packers were exceedingly good 235 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: in the red zone throughout his tenure. They were when 236 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: they were at their best. It was when they route 237 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: rose up and answered in that area the field. The 238 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: problem ultimately became down the stretch, just too many explosive plays. Well, 239 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: you look at what Petton has done this year. Mike 240 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: Petton has done this year with his unit, Packers have 241 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: not had very many explosive plays, especially with the deep 242 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,959 Speaker 1: passing game. They've been able to curtail that. And while 243 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 1: there have been instances, mostly in the first half of 244 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 1: the season, where teams move the ball a little too much, 245 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: probably for green Bay's liking, green Bay in the last 246 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: six seven weeks has really, as I've said before and 247 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: gotten some people making fun of me, batting down the hatches. 248 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say it again in that area. Because here's 249 00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: the thing, like we've seen it time and time again. 250 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: You can pull out multiple examples pass Packers games. There 251 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: is a huge difference between three and seven seven and 252 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: it changes the complexion of the game. Just look at 253 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 1: that matchup against Chicago too, and in the fact that 254 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: the Bears weren't able to punch some of those in 255 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: and the way it changed things. So that's where this 256 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 1: comes back to me. For Green Bay being able to 257 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: finish eighth in that category and also have that uptick 258 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: the second half of the season, that bodes well. It 259 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: shows that guys are on their assignments. They're being able 260 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: to have their containment, protect their edges. Chris Barnes is 261 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: crashing down into gaps, he's staying clean. The cornerbacks aren't 262 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: making foolish mistakes getting too handsy with with the receivers. 263 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: They're all those type of things that play into playing 264 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: eleven man solid red zone defense, and the Packers need 265 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: to be able to bring that against the Rams. Yeah, 266 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: and you mentioned like the Bears game for the Packers 267 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: was a really good example. They did give up the 268 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: one deep ball over the top about a fifty plus 269 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: yard play or whatever. It was, but then the defense 270 00:12:56,960 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: rose up and forced a field goal attempt. When defense 271 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: of lee We've talked about this a lot. When you 272 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: when you do give up an explosive play, when you 273 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,199 Speaker 1: can recover from that and not let it lead to 274 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: a touchdown, you're fine. You know those those don't hurt 275 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: you as much, and you know that's a that's certainly 276 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,200 Speaker 1: an area of the Packers have improved on in I 277 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: thought as the year has gone along, the other thing, 278 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: I think you just have to be ready for and 279 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: this is where I think these last couple of games 280 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: have have been good for the Packers in terms of 281 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: you have to be ready to handle momentum swings in 282 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: these playoff games that things are gonna swing wildly back 283 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: and forth. You look back at the Rams and the 284 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: Seahawks in the wild Card round last weekend, when Darius 285 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: Williams got that pick six, which I believe was the 286 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,679 Speaker 1: rams fourth pick six of the season, if you can 287 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,559 Speaker 1: believe that, I mean, that's really impressive. So again, we're 288 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: not stressing the turnover thing too much here as we 289 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: go into this, but it just felt like Seattle never 290 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: recovered from that momentum swing when the Rams got that 291 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: pick six, took it to the house. It just felt 292 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: like the Rams were in control of the game the 293 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: rest of the way. And these last couple of weeks 294 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: the Packers have gotten off to a fast start against Tennessee. 295 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: Tennessee climbs back in, but then the Packers regained control 296 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: and finish it. Same thing kind of happened in Chicago. 297 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: You have to be able to handle those momentum swings 298 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: and snatch it back when when you have those opportunities. 299 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: I think the Packers have done a good job of that. 300 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: They have to continue to do a good job of 301 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: that in the playoffs. Yeah, and and and this is such, 302 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: this is gonna be a momentum game, Mike. I mean, 303 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: you've seen it already. That stat was brought out to 304 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: me and I haven't corroborated yet, so I hope I'm 305 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: not spouting false knowledge. But that stat that when the 306 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: readers brought up about Sean McVeigh and his team's their 307 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: record in the second half when they lead at halftime, 308 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: I think they threw it out at thirty seven to nothing. 309 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if that's factually true, but it is 310 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: startling when you look at that type of production, and 311 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: you follow the Rams enough the last few years, you 312 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 1: understand the way they play and why they've been successful 313 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: with Sean McVeigh as their head coach, and that's played 314 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: into it. The fact that they can shorten games, the 315 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: fact that they can take the momentum and if they 316 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,400 Speaker 1: get it, they'll seize it, they'll hold on to it. 317 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: And they have veteran players now that have been in 318 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: this system for three or four years that understand what 319 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: their role is in those instances. Green Bay. I thought 320 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: that's where they've made the big jump this year, in 321 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: year two underneath Matt Lafleur. Last year, the construction was there, 322 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: the foundation had been built, but it was everybody still 323 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: settling into it, understanding what is being required of them. 324 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: This year they do Aaron Rodgers playing faster, the running 325 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: backs seeing their lanes and and understanding the wide zone 326 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: scheme and what the Packers are looking for there, and 327 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: then ultimately the passing game with Davantae Adams doing Davantae 328 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: Adams things. And then you've got your Robert Tonnions of 329 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: the world stepping up and making huge contributions when I 330 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: think expectations are rather modest for him going into the season. 331 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: That's where this team to me is different than the 332 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 1: thirteen and three team a year ago. And it's why 333 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: I feel like this game at lambeau Field, with green 334 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: Bay having a full week and a half extra time 335 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: to to get ready for this in the Rams, making 336 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: a flight back to l A, practicing in l A 337 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: other and also coming out here on a short week 338 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: with dealing with the injuries that they are. Everything points 339 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: to green Bay. But that doesn't matter if you don't 340 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: show up on Saturday afternoon. Yeah, you've got to play 341 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: your game, absolutely you. You have to be able to 342 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: do that well before we go. I do want to 343 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: get your thoughts West on the other divisional games. I've 344 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: always considered this, you know, maybe the best weekend of 345 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: NFL football of the entire year, when you're down to 346 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: the final eight four in each conference. The other one 347 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: in the NFC, of course, is the NFC South Showdown 348 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: Showdown number three of this season between Tom Brady's Buccaneers 349 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: and Drew Brees Saints. What are your thoughts on this one. 350 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: It's funny when everybody was talking about Brady moving over 351 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: to the NFC. I think these are the type of 352 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: matchups that people started salivating over right away, right, I 353 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: mean they wanted to be able to see primetime Aaron Rodgers, 354 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: Tom Brady, Drew Brees. Those type of matchups happened before 355 00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl because everybody's gonna watch the Super Bowl, 356 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: and then as it brought out, and when I were 357 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: discussing this over the weekend, as we were setting our 358 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: schedules and trying to figure out, Okay, when where the 359 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: Packers are gonna play. When you knew it was gonna 360 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 1: be Brady versus Brees, that things going in primetime, You 361 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: and I had a ticket book towards an afternoon football 362 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: game on Saturday, and and here we are Low and Behold, 363 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,120 Speaker 1: and both of these teams, though they just didn't dominate 364 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: all year, they had to kind of work through some things. 365 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: They have had their moments, and this is sort of 366 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways, like that rubber match between 367 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: the two understanding Okay, who's one who's lost. Certainly the 368 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers have something to prove in this game. 369 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I just look at New 370 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: Orleans and this is what it's all about. Everybody knows 371 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: what their salary cap situation is like for next season, 372 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 1: it's not pretty. Uh. They invested heavily into winning a 373 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 1: Super Bowl this year, they got healthy breezes back, Michael 374 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,439 Speaker 1: Thomas is back in their defense, has been able to 375 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: maintain uh an air of dominance here that I think 376 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 1: some people were wondering a couple of ago if they 377 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: were going to be able to do that. So it's 378 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: a great matchup in that regard. And then certainly from 379 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 1: Tom Brady's perspective, do you look at the way he's 380 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: played over the last month and a half as he 381 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: settled in the Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich is scheme. Um, 382 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: it's gonna be fireworks. It's gonna be an absolute banger 383 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: of a game that I hope you and I on 384 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: Sunday afternoon are going to be eager to watch for, 385 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: you know, packers ramifications. Yeah, you just this. This is 386 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: a heck of a matchup, and and you just wonder here, 387 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: here's the one thing I'll say with regard to the Saints, 388 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: because you're right, they've they've gone all in. They know 389 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: that Drew Brees is nearing the end, possibly at the 390 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: at the very end here if he if he retires 391 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: in the offseason. You wonder what the psyche of this 392 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: Saints team is going to be if they are in 393 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: a close game down the stretch. Because they lost the 394 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 1: Minneapolis Miracle, you know, they lost on the bad call 395 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: to the Rams in the NFC Championship game that one year, 396 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: they lost in overtime to the Vikings. Again last year 397 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: in the wild card round. They've they've got some night marriage, 398 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: they've got some demons to exercise here and uh and 399 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: to do it against the division rival and with a 400 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: with a matchup like Drew Brees against Tom Brady. Um, yeah, 401 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: it's it's absolutely going to be one to watch, Mike. 402 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: I want to mention this to this tells you how 403 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: precious these moments are as well, because over the last decade, 404 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: I would challenge anyone to debate me on this, Green 405 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: Bay in New Orleans have been the cream of the 406 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: crop in the NFC. I mean, they are the most consistent, 407 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: viable title contenders in all those regards. But yet they 408 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: haven't made it back to the Super Bowl. Um, you've 409 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: had I'm not calling them fleeting, you know, moments or 410 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: flashes in the pans. But you saw Seattle pop up 411 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: and you saw you know, San Francisco and New York 412 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: a little bit, and and certainly a championship to Philly, 413 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,960 Speaker 1: Atlanta getting there and now San Francisco getting back again. 414 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: But it's been Green Bay. In New Orleans, it's been 415 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 1: Rogers and Breeze. And uh again, I'm not looking ahead. 416 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: We'll have to see all this weekend plays out. But 417 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 1: if it comes down to Rodgers versus Breeze for a 418 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: spot to go back to the Super Bowl, uh, those 419 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 1: those storylines will write themselves. In addition to the fact 420 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: that if it would end up being Rogers versus Brady, 421 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: I get that too. But the Packers and in Saints, 422 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: in their administrations, their brass have kept themselves in this 423 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: hunt for a decade in the league. That stresses parody. 424 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: That's incredible. Yeah. Absolutely. On the a f C side, 425 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: Baltimore is at Buffalo, Cleveland is at Kansas City. Um. 426 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 1: The the Baltimore Buffalo game really really intrigues me because 427 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: especially because of what we saw last week from Baltimore, 428 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,640 Speaker 1: where Tennessee was kind of having their way early, their 429 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: offense was getting things going. They got a couple of scores, 430 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: they got up tend to nothing and then all of 431 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: a sudden, here come the Ravens. It was like it 432 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: was like this, this train started cranking up, coming down 433 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: the tracks, and then and then Tennessee could not stop it. 434 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: Um And you know, Baltimore will probably try to use 435 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: that that same type of formula. I mean, Josh Allen, 436 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: he'd probably gonna be able to come out and drive 437 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: the Bills down the field on the first possession of 438 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 1: the game and get some points on the board. But 439 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 1: can you do can you play like that for four 440 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: quarters against a defense like Baltimore's and then, you know, 441 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:14,160 Speaker 1: try to contain the singular most unique, nobody's liking quarterback 442 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: in the NFL in Lamar Jackson. This uh, this, this game, 443 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: this game from a matchup standpoint, is really really intriguing. 444 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: It's fantastic. And in the other aspect of this too, Mike, 445 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: you and I all weak were asked from people. You know, Hey, 446 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,920 Speaker 1: the NFC, you know they have a bunch of older 447 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: quarterbacks and a f C has a bunch of younger quarterbacks. 448 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 1: What do you make of that? Well, what I make 449 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: of it is you're seeing Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, who, 450 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: by all accounts, are gonna be guys that are gonna 451 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: give the National Football League a lot of problems for 452 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: the next decade. In one shape or form, they are. 453 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 1: They are two of the guys I think really stood out. 454 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: And then you have Baker Mayfield over in Cleveland too. 455 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,959 Speaker 1: That those recent draft classes that have produced this talent 456 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,120 Speaker 1: in the a f C. Now you're trying to see, Okay, 457 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: other than Patrick Mahomes, reigning MVP the league, who was 458 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, drafted a few years ago too, Can any 459 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: of these young guys guide a team to a super Bowl, 460 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: to a to a ring, you know, much like Aaron 461 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 1: Rodgers did a decade ago when when he got that opportunity. 462 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: That that's what I'm looking for in this matchup. And 463 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: for Buffalo, as i'm gonna say that, I'm gonna echo 464 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: the same thing I said last week going into that game, 465 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: is that they are a team that has been building 466 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,720 Speaker 1: towards this moment. It hasn't been an overnight success story. 467 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: It's been a long, gradual process, finding their quarterback, finding 468 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: their defense even before that, and now here they are, 469 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: they're going up against the Ravens. And for the Ravens, 470 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,719 Speaker 1: as you mentioned earlier this week, a chance to exercise 471 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: some demons from last year as well. So it's gonna 472 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: be a very compelling matchup. Yeah, the other one in 473 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,919 Speaker 1: the a f C, Cleveland is at Kansas City, just 474 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,360 Speaker 1: like you wrote it up at the beginning of the Yeah, exactly. Well. 475 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 1: I I give the Cleveland Browns a heck of a 476 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 1: lot of credit for getting forgetting this far. They've certainly 477 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: dealt with you know what they had to deal with 478 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 1: last week with the COVID issues and the coaching staff, 479 00:22:57,840 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 1: and then they go on the road to a division 480 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: rival at Pittsburgh and and uh and you know, blow 481 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: them out of their own yards, so to speak. But 482 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: I just don't know if Cleveland's defense can really hang 483 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: in there against Patrick Mahomes in this Kansas City offense. 484 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: I think this Chief's offense it's just it feels like 485 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: it's it feels like it's too much for what Cleveland 486 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: has on the defensive side of the ball. And Baker 487 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: Mayfield he probably is gonna really enjoy and have a 488 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 1: lot of fun in a shootout maybe with Patrick Mahomes. 489 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: But I just I think the Chief's offense is too 490 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: much in this game. Yeah, I get so many two 491 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 1: thousand eleven Packers vibes from Kansas City's offense, not saying 492 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 1: that they're even remotely similar, but just in terms of 493 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: their production in the way they've gone about that. This year, 494 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: they were Super Bowl champions, they succeeded, they thrived, and 495 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: here they come right back and they're every They're up 496 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: in everybody's business again. And Mahomes certainly doing what he's 497 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,879 Speaker 1: done at his age is just remarkable. But for the 498 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: Browns perspective, the great thing about this is that, I mean, 499 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: do they've won the lottery already? They They've They've been 500 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: able to get back to the postseason for the first 501 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 1: time in eighteen years. They want to playoff game now 502 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: for the first time in twenty six years. Right, They 503 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: now are in a position where they're playing with house 504 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: money and you're going up against the best team that 505 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: everybody's had in their power rankings all season long. What 506 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 1: do you have to lose? So Yeah, to mention your 507 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,879 Speaker 1: Baker Mayfield thing there, I would totally embrace this. I 508 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: wish the best of luck to Cleveland's defense trying to 509 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: find a way to to find the answers here. But 510 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: for Mayfield, for Stefan Stefanski for Alex van Pelt, who 511 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 1: was calling plays last week. This is go go have fun, 512 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 1: see what happens, make a miracle happen. I don't know 513 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: what the line is like on this game, but you know, 514 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: I just feel like the Cleveland Browns, for everything they've 515 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: been through last year, everybody thinking it was gonna be 516 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: their year. This year, everybody jumped off the hype train. 517 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: It was it wasn't fun to talk about the Browns anymore. 518 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,200 Speaker 1: It was last year was about the Browns. We gotta 519 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: find our next team that we're gonna overestimate. And here 520 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: you are. They're right back in this thing and there 521 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 1: they're really become the team that I think everybody felt 522 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: they could, you know, since the day that Baker Mayfield 523 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: became a Cleveland Brown. Yeah. Well, it should be a 524 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 1: whale of a weekend of NFL football the Divisional Playoffs. 525 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 1: Two games Saturday, two games Sunday. It starts with Packers 526 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: Rams at lambeau Field PM on Saturday afternoon. With that, 527 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: we will call it a wrap on this edition of 528 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 1: Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage 529 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: of Saturday's big playoff game on Packers dot com for 530 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: wes I am Mike, thank you for tuning in. Everybody, 531 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.