1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: I'm Mike Spofford alongside West Hodkowitz, coming to you here 3 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field and West. We don't 4 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: like to jump ahead too much when we talk about 5 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: the NFL, but I think an interesting thing statistically in 6 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: NFL history, certainly in recent years, is the playoff field 7 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: and how on average, I believe it's over the last 8 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: decade or so, five teams of the twelve in the 9 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: playoffs do not get back to the playoffs the following year. 10 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: So if you look strictly at the NFC, that means 11 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: two to three teams from last year's playoff field supposedly 12 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: will not be back now. Green Bay, Minnesota, Seattle, Arizona, Carolina, 13 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 1: and Washington where the six NFC teams last year. So, 14 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: just for grins and giggles, who do you think are 15 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: the most vulnerable teams in the NFC to perhaps not 16 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: repeat their playoff appearance. Yeah, it's it's a grins and 17 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: giggles time of the season right now for us as 18 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: we get ready for the regular season. These are the 19 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: things that everybody always likes to talk about. I'm sure, 20 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: it's somewhat a cop out, but I think it probably 21 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: starts with Washington just because they kind of were the 22 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: Cinderella at the ball last year things fell their way 23 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: in the division. I think a lot of people are 24 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: expecting the Cowboys to make a run, not only you know, 25 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: at the NFC title, you know, the NFC tub, but 26 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: actually get to the super Bowl with the wow things 27 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: had ended the year before and Tony Romo and what 28 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: they had built up. Romo goes down in Washington, a 29 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: team that was in a lot of turmoil going into 30 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: last season is the one that ended up stepping up. 31 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: And I think that's a at it to to what 32 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: they were able to accomplish and how they were about 33 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: to be able to go about their season and underneath 34 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins. But at the end of the day, I 35 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: think that also leaves in probably the most vulnerable right 36 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: now because there were a lot of things that had 37 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: to slant in their direction to to get there in 38 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: the first place. Yeah, that NFC East, i think it's 39 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: fair to say, is maybe the most wide open of 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: the divisions in the NFC. And Dallas you mentioned they 41 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: were in the playoffs in the number three seed actually, 42 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: and then they did not get back, mostly due to 43 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: that injury to Tony Romo. The Detroit Lions, another team 44 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: from teen that was in the playoffs, did not get back. 45 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: In the question I have, I think and I agree 46 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: with you about Washington and and the NFC East, but 47 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: does Carolina end up suffering that Super Bowl hangover there? 48 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: Sort of? I don't have the statistics in front of me, 49 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: but they're sort of that trend of the team that 50 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: loses in the Super Bowl. There are several years over 51 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: the last decade or so that the team that loses 52 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl does not get back to the 53 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: playoffs the next year, sort of this hangover type of thing. 54 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: Do you think that that might happen to the Panthers. 55 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: It's a good question. I think the way that division 56 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 1: is structured, unless we see some some really quick rebuilding 57 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: in the NFC South, that they still are the favorite 58 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 1: by leaps and bounds at this time. And it's also 59 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: an interesting aspect when you look at everything that they 60 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: had lost last year. They're the injuries that they had 61 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,079 Speaker 1: at receiver. Um, you know Thomas Davis playing with basically 62 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: a broken forearm and in the Super Bowl, uh, and 63 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,239 Speaker 1: and they still made it as far as they did. 64 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: And I think with Cam Newton and what he brings 65 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: the table, uh, you're talking about, uh, generational quarterbacks. So 66 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: I guess for me the division I'm probably more concentrated 67 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: on right now is out West because last year, when 68 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: we did our preseason predictions, um I picked the Rams 69 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs, and I felt pretty good about 70 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: that pick. I thought the defense, even if they didn't 71 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: have all the offensive pieces to get there, the defense 72 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: was going to carry them this season. And now with 73 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: Todd Griley on offense and what they still have defensively 74 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: and in that those trenches, I think that's gonna be 75 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: a really fun race to track. When you have Seattle, 76 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: then obviously Arizona having the success that they've had recently, 77 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: I think that's gonna be a fun one to be 78 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 1: a part of it. I still am looking for Los 79 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: Angeles to make that jump, depending on how case Keenum 80 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: and were, depending on how they handle that with Jared Goff, 81 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: how that all shakes out. But getting back to the 82 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: original question as it relates to Carolina, I think there 83 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: is something to be said for that as far as 84 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: having that let down, But someone else is gonna have 85 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: to come up and challenge him in that division if 86 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: it's going to happen. Yeah, I think the biggest thing 87 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: that Carolina will have to overcome is the departure of 88 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: Josh Norman, the star cornerback. He was a big part 89 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: of that defense. But you mentioned offensively, the receiving corps 90 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: should be much improved for Cam Newton, and cam Newton 91 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: won an NFL m v P with a receiving corps 92 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: that nobody was talking about, so, uh, there's there's a 93 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 1: lot to be said there. And Josh Norman going to 94 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: Washington and providing potentially a big boost to Washington's bid 95 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: to repeat as NFC East champs. Yeah, that's a huge 96 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,279 Speaker 1: signing for them in terms of you know, I watched 97 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: them last year and no disrespect at all to Will 98 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: Blackman and in the career that he's had for himself, 99 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 1: but it just seemed like in that wild card game, 100 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: the Packers were kind of able to exploit him a 101 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: little bit. They got a little thin in that secondary. 102 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: I think that's one of the reasons that the Green 103 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: Bay was able to make that comeback. It is interesting, though, 104 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: I've never you've been around this a lot longer than 105 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: I have. I can't ever recall another situations like Norman's 106 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 1: where the franchise tag was extended. It was sitting out 107 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: there and then revoked and then he goes and signs 108 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: with another team. I can't recall that ever happening that 109 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: was recently. Yeah, that was that was a really strange situation. 110 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: The way out, Yeah, it didn't seem like it would 111 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: be anything acrimonious, and then suddenly it became this big 112 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: contentious thing. And and less than twenty four hours later, 113 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: Josh Norman had a new team. So um interesting to 114 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: see how that plays out in the NFC. Well after 115 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 1: the break, will focus a little bit more on the 116 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: NFC North, in particular, looking ahead to back with more 117 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: on Packers Unscripted. Right after this Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. 118 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford alongside Wes Hodkowitz and West. Let's focus a 119 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: little more specifically on the NFC North as we look 120 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: at When I look at the Packers three opponents, I 121 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: see three major changes that will have an impact on 122 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: the NFC North race this season. You have Detroit no 123 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: longer with Calvin Johnson. Megatron has retired, the Bears will 124 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: no longer have Matt Forte a running back the Packers 125 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: are used to seeing twice a year and has had 126 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: plenty of productive games against Green Bay and then Minnesota 127 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: opening a brand new stadium and as we know, the 128 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 1: Packers opening that stadium as far as the first regular 129 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 1: season game in Week two. So as far as those adjustments, 130 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: those major changes amongst the Packers opponents, which one do 131 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 1: you think will have the biggest impact on the division race? 132 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: In Yeah, that's an excellent question. I would say it's 133 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: gonna probably be Calvin Johnson just based on the terms 134 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: of he was. He was a once in a generation player. 135 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: He was the wide receiver of the two thousand eight 136 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: to two thousand sixteen time frame. I mean, he was 137 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: a legit threat anytime he stepped on the field. We've 138 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: talked about it before, Joe Wit kind of quipping a 139 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: little bit that he's no longer going to have as 140 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: much gray hair as he used to have. But he 141 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: was just there was no one really like him. And 142 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: that's no disrespect to Matt Forte. Matt Fourte was is 143 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: a terrific running back as well, but Calvin Johnson was 144 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: the one percent he was the cream of the crop. 145 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: In taking him out of that rivalry now, I'm just 146 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: really interested to see what the Lions are able to 147 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: come up with this here. It sounds like they're going 148 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: to be moving to more of a no huddle type 149 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: scheme again, but without him on the field, he was 150 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: he was the difference maker. Yeah, I think this is 151 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: a huge challenge for matt Stafford, the veteran quarterback. Now 152 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: for the Lions to not have Calvin Johnson really for 153 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: the first time in his career there with Detroit and yeah, 154 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: they're going to change some things as far as their 155 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: offensive scheme and whatnot, But taking away a weapon like that. 156 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: If you think back to the early days of Brett 157 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: Farve in his career when he lost Sterling Sharp, Farve 158 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: actually in a lot of ways became a better quarterback 159 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: because he wasn't so focused on that one guy. But 160 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: that was also very early in forest development as well. 161 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: Taking away Calvin Johnson at this stage of Matthew Stafford's career, 162 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: I'll be really curious to see just what happens to 163 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,320 Speaker 1: his play at quarterback and how he leads and conducts 164 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: that offense going forward. Yeah, I mean just going through 165 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: his stats just really quickly. I mean one reception over 166 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: eleven thousand yards. I mean, my goodness, being able to 167 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: do that, and what nine NFL seasons, what the averages, 168 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 1: the production you have to have, and he played through 169 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: a lot, as we saw. So now at the same time, 170 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: to your point, now we've seen the history will show 171 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: that the Lions can be resurgent, they can come back 172 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: and compete for a division title. I think everybody's expecting 173 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: Minnesota to be the one that that is probably the 174 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: biggest threat right now to Green Bay. So them actually 175 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: starting that first game at US Bank Stadium, Uh, that 176 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: is also going to be an interesting kind of new 177 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: curveball to this. Packers are used to playing in domes 178 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: in in Minnesota. They did that for number of years 179 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: in the Metrodome. But this is going to be a 180 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: new wrinkle to this this rivalry, and that is one 181 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: thing when that day comes around in September, I'm gonna 182 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: be interested to see how that plays out as well. Yeah, 183 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: I think we're definitely looking forward to that trip and 184 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: seeing just what that new stadium entails, what kind of 185 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: atmosphere environment excuse me, there will be there. I I 186 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: think the this new stadi him in Minnesota will will 187 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: really be interesting the first year because the Vikings had 188 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: and I know it's not that they made the playoffs 189 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: every year or anything, but the Vikings had a really 190 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: significant home field advantage with that Metrodome and with that 191 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 1: noise and teams that came in there, and particularly teams 192 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: unlike say the Packers and Bears, who were there every year, 193 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: but teams that came in there, you know, not every year, 194 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: not all the time. It was a really tough thing 195 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: to get used to and to play well. And I'm 196 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 1: really curious to see if the new U. S. Bank Stadium, 197 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:35,199 Speaker 1: you know, has that same sort of annoying, frustrating environment 198 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 1: for opponents that the Metrodome did. Yeah, and before you know, 199 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: the Seahawks ended up having their whole situation with Century 200 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: Link Field, and in the everyone talks about how loud 201 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 1: it isn't there. I mean, the Metrodome was really the 202 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: beginning of all that. It was the horn and the crowd. 203 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: And yeah, well though they'll still have that, it's gonna pass. 204 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: They're still they're not getting rid of the horn. I 205 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 1: just remember my first time in two thousand twelve going there, 206 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: and and being told, okay, we're out there too. Where 207 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: there is the press box, wasn't you know window paned 208 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: off from everybody you're in the crowd as well. Basically, yeah, 209 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: we were right in the middle of it, and I 210 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: had I had my headphones on the entire time trying 211 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: to drown out the sound because I mean, it was 212 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: hard to concentrate for me just trying to write a 213 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 1: story on deadline, let alone winning a professional football game. 214 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: So it is, and we've seen there's so many renderings 215 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: of it. I haven't gotten to read a whole lot 216 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: of this stuff on and it's been really popular the 217 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: stories that have been done on on what the stadium 218 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,959 Speaker 1: is going to be like. But it will be interesting, 219 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: especially the last two years after being at in at 220 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: the Gopher Stadium to where they were outside and you know, 221 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: playing it's kind of kind of a smaller, a little 222 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,120 Speaker 1: more intimate type setting, you might say. I thought, I 223 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: thought that was interesting how that played out. And and 224 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: Minnesota certainly ended up playing that super cold playoff game 225 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: against against Seattle after all those years of their home 226 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 1: playoff games being in the Tredome. That was a nice 227 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: change of pace, I guess you might say for the NFC. Absolutely, 228 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: the Packers to getting back to the Bears now, They're 229 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: gonna have a change of pace with Jeremy Lankford now 230 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: instead of Matt Forty. Matt Forty a dual threat guy. 231 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, I don't have the exact stats up 232 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: in front of me, but I found a lot of 233 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,199 Speaker 1: ways to to hurt Don Caper's defense over the years. 234 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: So I'll be interesting to see what Langford can do now, 235 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: and and Kevin White and him getting added the equation 236 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 1: as well. Yeah, the Bears relying on some changes amongst 237 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: their offensive weapons. So we'll be back to talk a 238 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: little bit more about the Packers schedule after the break 239 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: back with more on Packers Unscripted. Right after this Welcome 240 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford alongside West, hod Kowitz 241 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: and West. We touched on that Week two game in 242 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: Minnesota opening up US Bank Stage for the regular season. 243 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: That's a part of a tough double opening, you might say, 244 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: with weeks one and two with the Packers going to 245 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: Jacksonville and then going to Minnesota. A couple other tough 246 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:17,880 Speaker 1: stretches of the schedule, three consecutive road games, in November Tennessee, Washington, 247 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: and Philadelphia, with the latter two against the two NFC 248 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: East teams, both being in prime time on the road. 249 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: And then you finished the season with three consecutive division games, 250 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: playing all of your division opponents Chicago, Minnesota, and Detroit 251 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: weeks fifteen through seventeen of the regular season. So I've 252 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: been throwing a lot of questions at you today, So 253 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna throw this one at you. Two of those 254 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: three stretches Weeks one and two, the three road games 255 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: in November, the three division games to finish up, Which 256 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: do you believe is the most crucial part of the 257 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: Packers schedule in you know what's funny, I'm gonna go 258 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: with option D Okay, I'm not even gonna go with 259 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: one that you just gave me. A um. As far 260 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: as treacherous and difficult, I still maintain it. The November stretch, 261 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 1: that's brutal, and Mike McCarthy has talked about it a 262 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:06,319 Speaker 1: lot in terms of this regular season schedule not having 263 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: a lot of rhythm to it. But for me, I 264 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: think the most crucial stretch for them is actually gonna 265 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: be after the bye week, where you have three home 266 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: games in the span of about eleven twelve days. Those 267 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: are critical in terms of you need w's there and 268 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: there's there's gonna be a lot. I mean, the Giants 269 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: with Ben McAdoo knows the Packers well, the Cowboys are 270 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: fixing to be better this year, and the Bears is 271 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: always a tough game, and what will be the color 272 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: rush there's a game as well. That's the one I 273 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: keep looking at because that's the only extended time that 274 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: the Packers have at home. To your point, though, the 275 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: first two openers, first time in ninety six years, whatever 276 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: it is, two back to back road games. You're in Jacksonville, 277 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: which is gonna be hot. We've already talked about what 278 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: Minnesota probably be like with them debuting. There's there's stadium 279 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: in the regular season. But that November stretch, man, I 280 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: think that's gonna be a difficult one with two primetime 281 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: games and uh and against two pretty decent opponents as well. Else. Yeah, 282 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: you raise an interesting point about that October stretch at home, 283 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: because if the Packers are going to find any sort 284 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: of rhythm and get on any kind of a role 285 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: in the regular scene, that's where you have to do it. 286 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: I totally agree. And as we've talked about before, you 287 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: can't have a better finish to a schedule than playing 288 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: all three of your division opponents back to back to back, 289 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: two of them on the road at Chicago and at 290 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: Detroit in weeks fifteen and seventeen, and then that Christmas 291 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: Eve Day game at lambeau Field against the Vikings in between. 292 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: You know, we we've discussed it many times before. It's 293 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: hard to see this division being decided by anybody before 294 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: those final weeks of the regular season. Absolutely, and there 295 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: is a little bit of a reprieve there because once 296 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: you do get past the Eagles on November, that's where 297 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: you do have back to back home games against the 298 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: Texans and Seahawks, and then you get into this extended 299 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: stretch of divisional games. Personally, that's the part of the 300 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: schedule I really like. I think that it adds another 301 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: nice little caveat to it because if you go back 302 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: the last three or four years, that NFC championship, NFC 303 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: North Championship has come down to that last game of 304 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: the season, and the Packers have played every team in 305 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 1: the division to decide that in those you know, consecutive years. 306 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: So I think it's gonna be really exciting. You have 307 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,240 Speaker 1: some noon start times. If they happen to stay there, obviously, 308 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: we'll see. But it is it's that's that's what the 309 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: NFL is all about. That's what the regular season is 310 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: all about. You gotta win your division to get in 311 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and you have to win as many of 312 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: those other games as possible to get a better seed. 313 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: And at that point, once the they get to that 314 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: Bears game on December eighteen, I think the Packers will 315 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: have a good idea of where they're at now. It's 316 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 1: just gonna be a matter if they can finish it out. Yeah, 317 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: and you you look at maybe a couple of spots 318 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: that the schedule Tilton green Bay's favor You might say 319 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: that those first two games in December, you have the 320 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: Houston Texans coming in. That's a southern warm weather team 321 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: coming up to Green Bay in early December, so it 322 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: could be kind of cold in a tough environment. And 323 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: then Seattle the following week obviously a big rivalry there 324 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: and see out on one of the top teams in 325 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: the NFC. But again Seattle, Seattle doesn't win the super 326 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: cold playoff game in Minnesota, without the miss twenty seven 327 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: yard field goal. That was not Seattle's best performance in 328 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 1: those kinds of conditions. So you wonder if they're coming 329 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,680 Speaker 1: in and it's cold at Lambeau Field, how they'll respond 330 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: in that environment. It is interesting. I remember originally when 331 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: this happened, I was hoping there'll be a Jacksonville game 332 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: in December. But now the way the schedule lines up, 333 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: a lot of cold football games will be played between 334 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: Green Bay Chicago. The Packers are gonna have to put 335 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: their long sleeve sweaters on those for those games. Yeah, 336 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 1: it sounds good. Well, a long time until then, but 337 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,440 Speaker 1: something to look forward to. So we got one more 338 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: segment to go West back with more on Packers Unscripted. 339 00:17:40,440 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: Right after this Welcome Back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spafered, 340 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: alongside Wes Hodkiwits and West have been throwing questions at 341 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: you the entire show, so I'm gonna throw another one 342 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: at you. At the at the time that we're taping 343 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 1: this episode, there are two training camp practices left in 344 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: the training camp for the Packers. So to this point, 345 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 1: do you have a favorite moment in training camp? Oh? Wow, 346 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: favorite moment during training camp this is unscripted, so you're 347 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,200 Speaker 1: just throwing all these curveballs at me. It's Tim Wakefield 348 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 1: and I'm just swinging at all the knuckleballs here. Um, 349 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: I'll go with the night practices. That was probably my 350 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: favorite moment, the return of the night practices. And I 351 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 1: understand a lot of players don't necessarily like them. Yeah, 352 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers said, he is, he does enjoy them, but 353 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: there is just something special to me about it. Only 354 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: happens so many times a year, and you know the 355 00:18:52,359 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 1: two thousand, However many people show up for those those practices. 356 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: It just I just always have really positive memories though, 357 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: And it's just there's something just very tranquil about it. 358 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 1: The weather is usually a little bit cooler at that 359 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,280 Speaker 1: time and night, the sun is going down, starts sunny 360 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: ends you know at night. There's an atmosphere to those 361 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: workouts that that you can't you can't have whether if 362 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: it's a nine am or a noon or whatever. There's 363 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: something about being in a nice summer evening in Green Bay, 364 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 1: Wisconsin and there's football going on for people to watch. Yeah, 365 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 1: And and I mean there's some there was some fun 366 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: moments too. You know when you go back to those 367 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: those practices and the way that they played during this 368 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: whole training camp. You know, Aaron Rodgers and when he 369 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 1: was out there leading the offense. I mean, there there's 370 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: a lot of memories that I think, um, that I 371 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: think can be had out of that. I know you 372 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: even mentioned it a little bit earlier too. I mean, 373 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: some of these performances that we saw from these receivers 374 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: and tight ends really really stood out. Yeah, and that 375 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: was what I was going to say, is my favorite moment. 376 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: I believe it was actually the last of the night practices. 377 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 1: It was the first practice that we saw Jared Cook, 378 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: the new tight end free agent acquisition in the off season. 379 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: He came off pup from the foot surgery in the 380 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: off season, and he lit the place up. I mean, 381 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: he and Aaron Rodgers looked like they had been a 382 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 1: quarterback tight end combination for the last five or six years. 383 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: And it was the first training camp practice for Cook. 384 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: His real really his introduction to the Packers fans who 385 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: came there to watch that night. I don't know how 386 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,959 Speaker 1: many touchdowns he had in the red zone work. It 387 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,080 Speaker 1: was a red zone and goal line kind of night, 388 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: but uh, that's what the packers were working on. But boy, 389 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 1: there had to have been at least four or five 390 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: touchdowns just to him alone on all sorts of different plays. 391 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,280 Speaker 1: It was really an impressive and for me, a memorable 392 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: practice in terms of a guy introducing himself to his 393 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: new team and his new fan base. Yeah, and it 394 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:49,879 Speaker 1: was definitely a positive first impression that you want to 395 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: set if you're cooked, because the two biggest question marks 396 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: what were they when he came to Green Bay. One 397 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: he didn't have a touchdown catch last year, and two 398 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,640 Speaker 1: people like questions about his hands on that particular night 399 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: call everything that was thrown his direction and was a 400 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: legitimate threat inside the red zone. It was really a 401 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: precursor to, I think the excitement that everybody's feeling right now, 402 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,159 Speaker 1: but what he can do with his body type and 403 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: athleticism in this offense. And we've got a little taste 404 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: of it so far with Brett Hunley and Joe Callahan 405 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: working with them, but now actually going into the regular 406 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: season with Aaron Rodgers, it's a different ballgame, yeah, for sure. 407 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: And I'd be remissed as far as reviewing this training 408 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: camp if I didn't say, on a personal note, how 409 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 1: nice it was, how how special it was to be 410 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 1: in Canton, Ohio from the gold jack at ceremony for 411 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: the Brett Farves Hall of Fame induction, and that tremendous 412 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: speech that's certainly a memory from the training camp I'll 413 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: take with me. I'm not sure how long we'll remember 414 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: the canceled Hall of Fame game, but you know, that's 415 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: a story for another day, so we'll we'll call that 416 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: a rap on Packers unscripted for now. Be sure to 417 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,840 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team on Packers 418 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: dot com on Twitter. He's at west Hod, I'm at 419 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for watching, everybody, 420 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:11,400 Speaker 1: and we'll see you next time. H m hmm.