1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting next to my partner in crime, 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: was Hodpots. Are coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. The Packers are fresh off 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: a fifteen victory Sunday at lambeau Field over the Washington Redskins. 6 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: A lot of implications with this one. Green Bay gets 7 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: to ten wins, ten and three, now remaining one game 8 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: ahead of the Minnesota Vikings in the race for the 9 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: NFC North, the Vikings knocking off the Detroit Lions to 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: get to nine and four. The Packers also getting a 11 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: little bit of help that they needed, primarily from the 12 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: San Francisco forty nine ers, who win a shootout in 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: the super domin New Orleans forty six. The implications there 14 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: being while San Francisco is now in the top spot 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: in the NFC at eleven and two, New Orleans is 16 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: ten and three, tied with the Packers, the Packers actually 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: have one fewer conference loss than New Orleans, so if 18 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: Green Bay can win its final three games, it will 19 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: get a first round by regardless of what happens in 20 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: the NFC West. But here's the thing. There are a 21 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 1: lot of questions right now because of how the Packers 22 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: beat Washington, if they are really capable of running the 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: table against the three NFC North opponents coming up, because 24 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: there was a lot of dissatisfaction. I guess maybe is 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: the word with the victory over Washington. How did you 26 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: see it? Okay? So, first and foremost, it was a 27 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: difficult game to analyze because the Packers played that The 28 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: first quarter was picture perfect, exactly what you wanted to 29 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: see from them. Defensively, they forced three straight three and 30 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: ounce to start the game, three and ounce one after another. 31 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: They didn't get a first down until they actually, I 32 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: think it was a penalty that converted it for them 33 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: in the second quarterback jumping off side, and then you 34 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: know that would be until then they had just been 35 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: you know, offensively, we're not able to accomplish anything offensively 36 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: for Green Bay. They get good field position after Tyler 37 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: Irvin's first punt return, defense keeping Washington back, and they 38 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: score points right away. They end up scoring two touchdowns 39 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,239 Speaker 1: the fifth time this season they've scored fourteen points in 40 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: the opening quarter. Looks great, and then they just fall 41 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: into this lull. The one phase that kind of stood 42 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: up the entire time I thought was special teams. Yeah, 43 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: it's one of the probably the better outing special teams 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: has had. J K. Scott was not quite where he 45 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: was at the week before, but Mason Crosby made two 46 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: important field goals. Tyler Irvin has four returns for fifty 47 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 1: one yards and no penalties for Seawan Menega's unit a 48 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: sterling job for sixty minutes offense and defensively, though there 49 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: were lulls. Defensively, I thought for the most part they 50 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: kept him off the board. They gave up some garbage 51 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: points late, but Darius Guys started to get going. He 52 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: had a big explosive play. They were able to dictate 53 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: tempo a little bit more with the running game, which 54 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: we were anticipating Washington was going to religiously do. Yeah, 55 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: we knew Washington even at fourteen to nothing, just like 56 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 1: the previous week in Carolina, Washington was not going to 57 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: abandon the run. They were going to continue to pound 58 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: the run. Packers caught a little bit of a break 59 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: with Darius Guys going out with an injury, so then 60 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: it all fell really on Adrian Peterson. But but yes, 61 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: Washington came into lambo to run the ball just as 62 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: we anticipated. So it's tough. The tough part of this 63 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: for me to break down is the offensive performance because 64 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: you know I said this going into this thing, Washington's 65 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: defense is not an embarrassment by any means. They're a 66 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: good defense. Those weren't just hollow words. They have playmakers there. 67 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: Unfortunately for them, Ryan Krarigan gets injured again after he 68 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: comes back and he leaves with a calf injury. They 69 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: their two cornerbacks were banged up, but they were able 70 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: to get Green Bay out of its offensive rhythm and 71 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: with the exception of Aaron Jones, who goes off for 72 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: a d total yards, they really were unable to recapture that. 73 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: So that's the question they're gonna face now all week 74 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: long going against is Chicago Bears d fence that's always 75 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: been good and is now going to look to be 76 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: back at the peak of their powers in this matchup 77 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: on Sunday. But all those things aside, it was the 78 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: tenth win of the season. The Packers did exactly what 79 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: you and I said they need to do. They need 80 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: to beat a statistically poor Giants team, and they need 81 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: to beat a three and nine Washington team. They did that. 82 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: You can't ask for much more. You could have beaten 83 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: them forty nine to nothing, you only still get one victory. 84 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: So in a very tight and highly contest at NFC 85 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: right now, with seven teams really duking it out, I mean, 86 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: obviously somebody has to get in from the NFC East. 87 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: This is this is a scenario that you're in. You 88 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: need to win the ball games, and the Packers accomplished 89 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: that goal on Sunday. Yeah. I think the frustrating thing 90 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: on the offensive side of the ball for the Packers 91 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: is the opportunities they had, the field position they had, 92 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: There were so many chances to score more points and 93 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: to get yourself some separation here from Washington. I thought 94 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: the key sequence, quite frankly west was at the end 95 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: of the first half, because the Packers had they'd blown 96 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: a couple of opportunities when they had crossed midfield but 97 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: then stalled out weren't able to get into field goal range. 98 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: Late in the first half, about a minute left and 99 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: a half, the Packers are inside the thirty yard line, 100 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: they have first down at the Washington twenty seven. You 101 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: have a fourteen to six lead. At that point, you're 102 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 1: looking at and the Packers are getting the ball coming 103 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: out of halftime, so you're looking at your feeling like, 104 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: at a minimum, the Packers are going to double up 105 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: here and get either a field goal in a field 106 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: goal or a touchdown on a field goal, or maybe 107 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: two touchdowns. You're looking at anywhere from six to ten 108 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: to fourteen points potentially before Washington gets the ball back 109 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: in the third quarter. But Aaron Rodgers gets hit with 110 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: a strip sack loses the ball, Washington recovers, and then 111 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 1: coming out of halftime, the Packers do put a drive together, 112 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: but they stall out and kick a field goal, so 113 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: instead of getting six or ten or fourteen, you get 114 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: three out of those two possessions. Washington gets the ball 115 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,719 Speaker 1: back only down seventeen to six. When they respond in 116 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: the third quarter at one point with a field goal, 117 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: it's seventeen to nine, and you're still in a one 118 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: score game going into the fourth quarter. When you had 119 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: these opportunities to to stretch things out, it was it 120 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: was a maddening frustrating game to watch offensively because of 121 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: the position the Packers were in and the opportunities they 122 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: were presented with. Personally, I guess it's one of those things. 123 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: I just look at it as you know, the NFL, 124 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: this is a week to week thing. If the Packers 125 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: would run up forty five points on Washington, yeah everybody 126 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: would be feeling better about themselves. But if they do 127 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: that against Washington, that still doesn't that doesn't say anything 128 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: about what you're going to do in January. I just 129 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 1: don't believe that. I just believe every game in the 130 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: NFL is its own single entity. And yes, the Packers 131 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: didn't do everything they should have offensively to win this 132 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: game against Washington, but they did enough because then they 133 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: were able to put together a long seven and a 134 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: half minute, fourteen play drive in the fourth quarter that 135 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: finally tacked on some some more points and got that 136 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: two score lead restored. Yeah. I mean, well, first and 137 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: foremost this, there's thirty two teams in the league. There's 138 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: sixteen games right now a week, and very few times 139 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: are you're just going to have the team that's supposed 140 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: to win just completely dominate. You look at New England 141 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: right now, they have a lot of questions after losing 142 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: to Kansas City. Seattle lays an absolute egg in l 143 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: A and you know New Orleans ends up being outstruck 144 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: out shot by San Francisco. So that's why the Packers 145 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: are the number two seed right now if the playoffs 146 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: started today, and it's because they won their game and 147 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: those other teams didn't. And and and that's kind of an 148 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: easy answer to that, but it's the truth. I mean, 149 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: you have to win what's in front of you. That's 150 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: why the green Bery Packers are in an interesting spot 151 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: here with three games to go all against the division. 152 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: Now that being said, the one thing that I did 153 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 1: take away from this game was something that you and 154 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: I have been talking about for weeks now, and that's 155 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: that it isn't always just one particular player in this game, 156 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: the Packers after the first quarter had a difficult time 157 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: getting its pass game going. So then Aaron Jones re emerges. 158 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones re emerges as a pass catcher. His five 159 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: yard catch down the sideline ended up keying that four 160 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: team play drive. That was the play of the game. 161 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: I thought, you're you're you're facing third and fourteen from 162 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: your own seven yard line with about eight minutes left 163 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter. It's a one score game and 164 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: the uh seventeen to nine at that point. If you 165 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: don't convert. There you're looking at J K. Scott punning 166 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 1: the ball off the goal line and Washington being down 167 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: just eight points getting the ball back with plenty of time. Yeah. 168 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: And in this maturation of Aaron Jones is a pass catcher. 169 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: You've seen it throughout the season. And even though he 170 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: hadn't been a firm part of that game plan for 171 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: a month now, or at least hadn't been able to 172 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: get the ball in that capacity in a month, Aaron 173 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: Rodgers had the confidence to go to him in a 174 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: critical situation and even rewarded him for it. It It was 175 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: a picture perfect pass. But he needs to catch it, 176 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: he needs to fall backwards, he needs to not drop 177 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: it him, he needs to make sure he doesn't double 178 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: clutch it. And he did that. And the one thing, 179 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: and I tweeted this during the game. There's been highs 180 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 1: and there have been lows this year for the Green 181 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: Bay Packers offense. The one thing that has been con 182 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: instant and has been a constant since the beginning, and 183 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: they are doing as well as I've ever seen during 184 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 1: my eight years covering this thing. Their foreman an offense 185 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,199 Speaker 1: is really effective when they know when defense is no Okay, 186 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: they're gonna need to run the ball here. The Packers 187 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: can do it. They weren't even always able to do 188 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: that with Eddie Lacey when he was there running back, 189 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: but they can accomplish it, and they can do it 190 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: with both Aaron Jones and Jemal Williams. In this particular game, 191 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: it was Aaron Jones time and he he came through 192 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: in spades. I mean, this is a guy now that 193 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: has reset every major statistical single season record in his 194 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: career and there's still three games to go. Yeah, um, 195 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: well quickly here Wes select Cousin Subs locations are now 196 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your favorite sub, 197 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: They're delivering right to you when your order online at 198 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: Cousin Subs dot com. Cousin Subs. We believe in better. Yes, 199 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, Aaron Jones ended up with a hundred 200 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: nine yards from scrimmage, a hundred and thirty four on 201 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: the ground, fifty eight through the air. Defensively, though, I 202 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: wanted to revisit one thing also with regards to this 203 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: game for the Packers, it was it was interesting because 204 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,719 Speaker 1: because there were a couple of moments when the defense 205 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 1: got some key stops right around midfield when it looked 206 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: like Washington was potentially pushing into scoring range. They got 207 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: Adrian Amos gets an interception right at the end of 208 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: the first half. There's an early fourth quarter drive or 209 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: Washington's right at midfield and the defense rises up and 210 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: gets the stop. The funny thing is until the final 211 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: drive of the game, Um that made this went the score. Sorry, 212 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: the score went from twenty to fifteen. Prior to that, 213 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: The only touchdown drive the Packers gave up was when 214 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: they were put in the best possible field position. They 215 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: had them backed up on the five yard line. The 216 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: Washington comes running out with with Peterson and Guice pounding away. 217 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: They hit one big pass down the field once they 218 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: got across midfield. They end up scoring that but scoring 219 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: on that one. But defensive the Packers gave up one 220 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: drive of significance, that being that yard touched on drive. 221 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 1: One drive of significance in the first seven possessions for Washington. 222 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: Considering everything we've been talking about what the Packers defense 223 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: and the explosive plays it's given up and and all 224 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: of that, this was this. This was a pretty solid 225 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: defensive effort. I thought Um and yes, at the end 226 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: of the game. You don't like giving up a touchdown there, 227 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: but you know, the Packers were in sort of that 228 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: keep everything in front of you, tackle them, make the 229 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: clock run, all that kind of stuff. I thought the 230 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: Packers defensively played a really, really solid game, and frankly, 231 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,439 Speaker 1: if the offense had taken advantage of more of the situations, 232 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: we would have been talking about this being a very 233 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: complete victory from Packers. Yeah, they largely did what they 234 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: were supposed to do in Tremont Williams. Some of the 235 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 1: guys lamented afterwards the fact that Washington was able to 236 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: march down they add some more points, actually add some 237 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: more you know, they did add more points, but they 238 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: added some more yards to otherwise would have looked like 239 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:59,400 Speaker 1: a very dominant defensive day. Yeah, and certainly that past 240 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: that Dwayne Askins made to Terry mclauren, I mean, that 241 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: is a picture perfect there's no way better in terms 242 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: of a throw and a catch. Tremendous catch, going to 243 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: make a lot of highlight reels. Tremendous catch by mclauren 244 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: there at the end of the game. The thing that 245 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: that stinks from a football purist perspective, it would have 246 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: been nice if Darius Guys is still out there, because 247 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: I just he's such an exciting young player, and I 248 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: thought you started to see what he brings in this 249 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: offense because one of the reasons why as good as 250 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: Adrian Peterson still is at thirty four, you know what 251 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: you're getting when he's in there. I mean, it's just 252 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: going to be north and south running, just smashing the mouth, 253 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: and they're hoping to get enough yards on first and 254 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: second down to create third and manageables and to be 255 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: able to keep the ball moving. When Geiss was out there, though, 256 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: there just wasn't that home run threat. And for the Packers, 257 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: to their credit, I thought there was some really good 258 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: alterations and adjustments that Mike Petton made going into this game. 259 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: One of them was the big base package where they 260 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 1: brought in Rashaan Gary. He was actually a third outside 261 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: linebacker along with the three defensive linemen. They played with 262 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: only one true cornerback. That was to match their six 263 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: offensive line personnel from Washington and guys tackle. The guys 264 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: stayed in the trenches. Kenny Clark had his best game, 265 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: uh statistically speaking, since Week two with the one and 266 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,720 Speaker 1: a half sacks. Adrian Amos I thought played a whale 267 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: of a ball game in interception a sack, Blake Martinez 268 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: was a few penalties and a few reverses away from 269 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: having like two sacks and a forced fumble, but it 270 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:28,719 Speaker 1: didn't quite go his way. I thought, Yeah, overall, defensively, 271 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: it was a solid performance. It just from that first quarter. 272 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: I mean, it looked like this could have been a 273 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: historic performance. They just you know, Washington eventually did start 274 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: to move the ball a little bit. Yeah, and uh, 275 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: it felt like for the most part, the Packers stayed 276 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,320 Speaker 1: in control of this game. As I said, the offense 277 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: not taking advantage of the opportunities that would have given 278 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: the Packers more breathing room. But getting back to what 279 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: you had said off the top, the special teams finding 280 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: a punt return game, I tell you what I know. 281 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: There was all this stuff, you know, minus eight punt 282 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: return yards for the season through the first twelve games 283 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 1: and all that. It was an ugly season statistic for 284 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 1: the Packers, and Tyler Irvin wiped it out in one 285 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: game four returns fifty one yards. He was a big 286 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: reason that the Packers were starting a lot of drives 287 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: at midfield. Um. You know, even if they're in between 288 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,960 Speaker 1: say the thirty five and forty, that's still pretty good 289 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: field position. But at midfield you get a ten twelve 290 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: yard return um that's even better. And what I thought, 291 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: we talked about how the blocking needed to improve, and 292 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: it definitely did improve, because I know on at least one, 293 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: if not two of those returns, the Packers were just 294 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: single blocking the gunners on the outside for Washington, and 295 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: we've seen in the past where even double teaming the gunners, 296 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: the Packers weren't able to get the job done, and 297 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: every punt was being fair caught. Even with the single blocking. 298 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: The space was there for Irvin to get up field 299 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 1: right away, then try to make the first guy miss 300 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: after the first few yards, and for him to put 301 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: up fifty one punt return yards in four attempts a 302 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: huge change in how the Packers return game looks here 303 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: now heading heading through December. I mean, if the Packers 304 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: actually can get their punt return game on a little 305 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: bit of a you know streak here and get some 306 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: momentum built up, they're gonna need to send a nice, 307 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: you know, fruit broquet to trust Way for being willing 308 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: to punt him in the middle of the field, because 309 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: I thought that was critical to ye. Bill Hubert from 310 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: s I may even brought up a great point all 311 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: week and I didn't realize. I mean, this really goes 312 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: to his scouting at this game. I mean, trust Way 313 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: punts to the middle of the field. He doesn't do 314 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: any directional punting, and I think he s he swings away. 315 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: He leads the league in gross punting average. It's all 316 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: it's all about booming him and kicking him as far 317 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: as you can. And Irvin was able to get some 318 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: returns off. Yeah, and it's funny too because he's still 319 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: up there in net yards too. It's just that if 320 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: he gives up eight or nine yards, it's punted so 321 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: far that it doesn't really throw that off. So that 322 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: being said, this was a game where I thought a 323 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: couple of times Way out punted his coverage, and especially 324 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: when they had only the single blockers, and you look 325 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: at it, Irvin was able to make plays. I mean 326 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: the other thing that just stands out to me, and 327 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: it's no one's really going to talk about it because 328 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: they don't need to, but punt return is a really 329 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: difficult job and it's not glamorous. I mean, there's a 330 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: reason why. You see the fact that the guys that 331 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: are really good at this league get rewarded financially with 332 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: accolades all that stuff, because it's just it's not an 333 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: easy gig. The thing I like the most from Irvin 334 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: it didn't have anything to do with the fifty one yards. 335 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: It's just that he catches the ball really clean. He 336 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: said he could still do it better, but I mean, 337 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: it's just catching a ball cleanly on a punt return 338 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: is so critical because you have to be able to 339 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: hit that first step right away. And you see that 340 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: with Irvin. So you understand why the Packers took a 341 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: liking to this guy. Now he needs to keep it going. 342 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: It was just one game, but the fact that both 343 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: of the Packers touchdowns came off of returns from Irvin 344 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: afterwards or beforehand, that they went and scored, uh, that's 345 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: that's a real testament to him, and he shows you, Michael, 346 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: why it's so important to manage the field position in 347 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: these games, especially late in these seasons, when a lot 348 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: of it as much as made of points and yardage 349 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: and production and takeaways, it's those hidden yards on the 350 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: actual field position that sometimes can turn a game one 351 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: way or another, especially when it gets close in the postseason. Well, 352 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: I think what I like the most about Irvin is 353 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: that his first step every time he caught the punt 354 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: was forward. So he was he was just he was 355 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: he was taking what was there immediately, and you could 356 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: see as he caught the ball there was all he had, 357 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: all the confidence in the world and how he was 358 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: catching and securing the ball. He's just getting up field 359 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: immediately and getting what is there. And yeah, a ten 360 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: yard punt return, and you know, and we're you know, 361 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: we're obviously talking it up because the Packers just hadn't 362 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,439 Speaker 1: done anything like that all season long. But when you 363 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: do it three or four times in a game, yeah, 364 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: that adds up to some of those hidden yards. And 365 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: just the fact that he's taking what was there, not 366 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: trying to, you know, dodge three or four guys at 367 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: the spot of the punt and then try to make 368 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: something happen. Well, by then everybody else is down there 369 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: and you're pretty much a dead duck. So um, I 370 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: just like the way he approached it. He got the 371 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: yards that was there. He helped out the Packers field 372 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: position game, and and I think this is going to 373 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: be an important player here for the Packers down and 374 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 1: the Packers blocked to clean too. There were no there 375 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 1: were no blocks in the back, there was no holding 376 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: off the line of scrimmage. They just I think they 377 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 1: haven't been rewarded with the big returns yet. But I 378 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: thought over the last month, you've seen them cut down 379 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 1: on the mistakes and the mental errors and the things 380 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: that really hurt you because you saw it happen to 381 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,360 Speaker 1: Washington in this game. The Washington had some kickoff returns 382 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: brought back some yards because they just you know, they 383 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 1: had those penalties that just kind of really, you know, 384 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: shoot you in the foot. So if they can get 385 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: Irvan going here, and we didn't get to see him 386 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,200 Speaker 1: on kickoff returns because they all got they all were 387 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: touchbacks well into the end zone. But Mason Crosby and J. K. 388 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:44,800 Speaker 1: Scott have had their moments this here at Crosby has 389 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: been playing at a Pro Bowl level, but it's just 390 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: the return unit has been the one that has just 391 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,920 Speaker 1: been lacking. If you can bring that up here down 392 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: the stretch that is, I think that's really something that 393 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,119 Speaker 1: can give you some energy and something boost you know, 394 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: on some of these offensive possessions. Yeah. Well, we will 395 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: continue to review this game on tomorrow's show, but for 396 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: now we do have to go. That's a wrap on 397 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscript. Would be sure to follow 398 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com, 399 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: subscribed to us, like us on iTunes and other podcast services, 400 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: and be sure to check out the Packers YouTube channel 401 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: for Wes I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in everybody. We'll 402 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: see you next time.