WEBVTT - #500 Packers Unscripted: Special show 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:14.640 Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:14.720 --> 0:00:17.439 I am like Spofford sitting next to the one and 0:00:17.520 --> 0:00:20.560 only West Hodkowitz, were coming to you here from our 0:00:20.600 --> 0:00:26.520 studios at lambeau Field and West. Yesterday we heard from 0:00:26.640 --> 0:00:30.680 head coach Matt Lafleur with regard to following up on 0:00:30.840 --> 0:00:34.080 the win over Detroit, and we talked on yesterday's show 0:00:34.400 --> 0:00:38.280 about how Packers had two substitutes on the offensive line. 0:00:38.320 --> 0:00:40.880 Corey Lindsley went out with an injury. Brin Bolago was 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:45.199 being evaluated for a concussion, so Lucas Patrick Jared Valdier 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:49.839 stepped in. But we didn't know so sort of a 0:00:49.920 --> 0:00:53.559 revelatory statement was that Billy Turner, the right guard, had 0:00:53.600 --> 0:00:57.280 turned an ankle in that game, but he was gutting 0:00:57.320 --> 0:01:00.760 it out and playing on that bad ankle. Because the 0:01:00.800 --> 0:01:03.840 Packers went into the game with only seven offensive linemen 0:01:04.040 --> 0:01:07.560 on the game day forty six, if Turner had needed 0:01:07.560 --> 0:01:09.840 to come out of the game, they would have had 0:01:09.880 --> 0:01:15.319 to put somebody completely out of position into the offensive line. 0:01:15.760 --> 0:01:19.759 So fairly unprompted, which doesn't always happen in press conferences, 0:01:19.840 --> 0:01:22.080 La Fleur gave a pretty nice shout out to Billy 0:01:22.160 --> 0:01:25.479 Turner for for gutting it out there on Sunday at 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:28.760 Ford Field and keeping the Packers offensive line as intact 0:01:28.800 --> 0:01:32.400 as possible. So hours before Matt Lafleur ever addressed the media, 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:35.800 I had tweeted out Billy Turner had started all sixteen 0:01:35.800 --> 0:01:39.039 games led the Green Bay Packers offense and total snaps 0:01:39.080 --> 0:01:41.920 for this past season only coming out, I believe for 0:01:42.040 --> 0:01:45.840 two snaps all year one thousand, seventy six. Has just 0:01:45.880 --> 0:01:47.640 been a total iron man for them. And it goes 0:01:47.680 --> 0:01:50.000 back to something that Brian Goodkin said when he signed 0:01:50.080 --> 0:01:53.160 him and the other three veteran free agency this offseason, 0:01:53.520 --> 0:01:56.840 the durability history, the ability to gut through things, and 0:01:56.840 --> 0:02:01.000 the ability to have that availability at all times. And 0:02:01.040 --> 0:02:03.639 I thought this game really underscored that for Billy Turner. 0:02:03.680 --> 0:02:06.360 And and he's been such a bright spot for this 0:02:06.440 --> 0:02:10.040 offensive line because he hasn't been a big topic for 0:02:10.120 --> 0:02:13.040 the most part. He goes in there, he does his job, 0:02:13.600 --> 0:02:16.160 and he's solidified a position that had kind of been 0:02:16.160 --> 0:02:18.200 going through a lot of upheaval for a number of 0:02:18.240 --> 0:02:21.320 years since t J. Lang had left for Detroit. So yeah, 0:02:21.360 --> 0:02:23.880 to be in a position where Corey Lindsley's out with 0:02:23.960 --> 0:02:27.760 the back injury. That means you're only interior offensive lineman 0:02:27.840 --> 0:02:30.240 as far as reserve Lucas Patrick has to plug in 0:02:30.240 --> 0:02:34.760 at center. Then Jared Valdere, who has been predominantly tackle 0:02:34.880 --> 0:02:37.760 his entire career, he has to go in and suben 0:02:38.000 --> 0:02:41.520 for Brian Bulagas. Yeah, you wonder if Turner of wouldn't 0:02:41.520 --> 0:02:43.000 been able to go through it, if the Packers would 0:02:43.000 --> 0:02:46.040 have sustained another injury. Does that mean, you know, Tyler 0:02:46.120 --> 0:02:48.840 Lancaster would have to dust off his old offensive line 0:02:49.000 --> 0:02:51.359 gear from high school. I mean, there are so many 0:02:51.360 --> 0:02:54.000 different scenarios the Packers would have had to explore, but thankfully, 0:02:54.000 --> 0:02:56.600 with Turner kind of pushing through that injury, they didn't 0:02:56.639 --> 0:02:58.560 have to do that. And then, by the way, for 0:02:58.639 --> 0:03:02.280 everything that had happened in game, the Packers offensive line 0:03:02.280 --> 0:03:06.320 blocked its tail off. It had an exceptional performance given 0:03:06.360 --> 0:03:09.360 what the circumstances were with the injuries both on the 0:03:09.400 --> 0:03:11.120 field and and the guys that had to leave back 0:03:11.160 --> 0:03:13.000 to the locker room. Yeah, I mean that really turned 0:03:13.000 --> 0:03:15.840 out to be, uh to be quite the story of 0:03:15.880 --> 0:03:19.160 the game. And Lucas Patrick I went through the entire 0:03:19.200 --> 0:03:21.560 offensive film, and for those who want to check out 0:03:21.560 --> 0:03:23.680 my what you might have missed Peace with some clips. 0:03:23.720 --> 0:03:27.000 I I focus on about a half dozen plays of 0:03:27.120 --> 0:03:30.760 Patrick's at center, both run blocking and past protection against 0:03:31.120 --> 0:03:34.160 various defenders who were lined up across from him. I 0:03:34.200 --> 0:03:37.600 thought he played an outstanding football game because he came 0:03:37.600 --> 0:03:39.920 in with about I believe it was ten minutes left 0:03:40.000 --> 0:03:42.680 or so in the second quarter, so he played the 0:03:42.720 --> 0:03:47.840 bulk of the ball game. And then Valdeer making his 0:03:48.280 --> 0:03:51.120 Packers debut, now he came in very late in the 0:03:51.160 --> 0:03:53.400 third quarter, so he played just a little bit over 0:03:53.440 --> 0:03:56.280 a quarter of football. But as we talked about on 0:03:56.360 --> 0:03:58.960 yesterday's show, this is a guy who hadn't actually stepped 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:03.200 on an NFL field for essentially a year, and h 0:04:03.360 --> 0:04:05.680 you know, hats off to him. He's only been in 0:04:05.720 --> 0:04:10.600 Green Bay, you know, a few weeks, and but has 0:04:10.640 --> 0:04:13.000 the mental acuity that he picked up enough of the 0:04:13.040 --> 0:04:16.080 offense that it's not like it's not like Matt Lafleur 0:04:16.160 --> 0:04:18.039 had to take half of the call sheet and throw 0:04:18.080 --> 0:04:20.400 it in the trash. Because there's a brand new right 0:04:20.400 --> 0:04:22.440 tackle in there who's only been around for about a 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:24.719 month or so, and that's a credit to a veteran 0:04:24.720 --> 0:04:27.440 guy who's been around a decade and has I believe 0:04:27.480 --> 0:04:30.560 it's a hundred and thirty plus starts in his career. 0:04:30.880 --> 0:04:33.480 You can't you know, you can't, as La Fleur said, 0:04:33.480 --> 0:04:35.120 you can't put a price tag on that kind of 0:04:35.160 --> 0:04:37.799 experience in those situations. So a few things that jumped 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:40.680 out to me about that performance. One, Uh, it is 0:04:40.680 --> 0:04:43.440 pretty crazy that his first career star came at center. 0:04:43.800 --> 0:04:47.520 I've never really really miss that. Raiders played him at 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:50.240 center his first game and then after that said you 0:04:50.279 --> 0:04:52.839 know what your six eight I would say six ft 0:04:52.880 --> 0:04:56.680 eight and they played outside. My goodness. But you know, 0:04:56.680 --> 0:04:58.640 he came from Hillsdale, so there were some questions about 0:04:58.640 --> 0:05:00.720 exactly where you would fit in the NFL Division two 0:05:00.760 --> 0:05:03.000 college player, and evidently they looked at him at six 0:05:03.080 --> 0:05:06.840 eight and said, yeah, let's start there. But anyway, over 0:05:06.839 --> 0:05:09.920 the last decade he's had a really you know, great career, 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:12.000 first as a left tackle and then moving out to 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:14.520 right tackle with Arizona a number of years ago, and 0:05:14.560 --> 0:05:16.680 here he is one month to the day, I believe 0:05:16.680 --> 0:05:18.800 it had been since he had been claimed off waivers 0:05:19.320 --> 0:05:21.279 after he told the New England Patriots that he'd like 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:24.080 to return in what a big security blanket that was. 0:05:24.160 --> 0:05:25.920 And just listen to him talk in the locker room, 0:05:25.960 --> 0:05:27.760 both after the game when I had a few chances 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:29.800 to speak with him, but then also when he addressed 0:05:29.839 --> 0:05:33.000 reporters during Monday's locker room. You can tell how much 0:05:33.040 --> 0:05:36.000 this means to him, not just to be playing football again, 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:38.719 but to be playing a meaningful situation and being a 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:42.040 chance right now to to actually, you know, potentially make 0:05:42.080 --> 0:05:44.120 a big run here in the postseason and maybe even 0:05:44.120 --> 0:05:46.440 a Super Bowl. Uh. He takes a lot of pride 0:05:46.480 --> 0:05:49.720 in that, and and he's a very even keeled, you know, 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:52.120 if steady as it goes performer. He lined up next 0:05:52.120 --> 0:05:54.240 to Billy Turner, his former teammate from Denver, and he 0:05:54.320 --> 0:05:56.520 just did his job. Now, the Packers are going to 0:05:56.600 --> 0:05:58.640 have two weeks here to see if Brian Balaga can 0:05:58.640 --> 0:06:01.240 get through the concussion protocol and be available for that 0:06:01.320 --> 0:06:04.240 January twelve games. So you never know, this might be it. 0:06:04.440 --> 0:06:06.479 This might be the one appearance that veil Deer has. 0:06:06.560 --> 0:06:08.760 But the one thing I think Green Bay can take 0:06:08.760 --> 0:06:10.679 a lot of solace in right now and can feel 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:13.159 confident about is that when he was thrown into that 0:06:13.279 --> 0:06:15.360 situation with the game on the line, the Packers need 0:06:15.440 --> 0:06:18.000 to get a win. These weren't garbage minutes. These were 0:06:18.279 --> 0:06:21.320 important plays for them to be able to to get 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:23.799 that by and and he showed that even with after 0:06:23.880 --> 0:06:26.000 the one year layoff, he could step up for it. Yeah. Well, 0:06:26.040 --> 0:06:27.760 as you said, the Packers will have the buy to 0:06:27.800 --> 0:06:31.120 try to get these guys healthy Bolago with the concussion protocol, 0:06:31.200 --> 0:06:34.320 Corey Lindsley with his back injury, it will be interesting 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:36.800 to see. Obviously there's a lot of time between now 0:06:37.279 --> 0:06:40.360 in January twelve, but the Packers do have two other 0:06:40.400 --> 0:06:43.680 offensive lineman on the fifty three man roster, Alex light 0:06:43.839 --> 0:06:47.200 who has played some both guard and tackle, and then 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:51.479 um Jason leg Lou If I'm saying John Leglu Sorry 0:06:51.520 --> 0:06:54.280 I got the first name incorrect there. And he's been 0:06:54.320 --> 0:06:59.520 here even less time than Velder. Very recent acquisition. But 0:06:59.600 --> 0:07:02.800 depending on the injury situation and given what happened in Detroit, 0:07:02.960 --> 0:07:06.200 you wonder if maybe the Packers go with eight active 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:08.800 offensive lineman on the forty six for the playoff game. 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:12.000 The reason if you're healthy most of the time, the 0:07:12.040 --> 0:07:15.920 reason you usually go with seven because because you you know, 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:19.040 you've got at least two backups there, but offensive linemen 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:22.360 don't really play special teams except for like field goal 0:07:22.560 --> 0:07:25.480 protection that kind of thing. So if you want to 0:07:25.480 --> 0:07:28.520 have other you know, the linebackers and the faster guys 0:07:28.520 --> 0:07:31.160 and what not available for special teams, that's where some 0:07:31.240 --> 0:07:33.400 of those last spots on the forty go. So there 0:07:33.400 --> 0:07:36.760 could be some interesting decisions to make, uh you know 0:07:37.040 --> 0:07:39.000 two weeks from now. Yeah, and Alex Light has kind 0:07:39.000 --> 0:07:41.200 of become that sort of Don Barclay type where he 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:44.160 can play guard or tackle depending on what the Packers needs. 0:07:44.200 --> 0:07:45.480 So he could be a little bit of a Swiss 0:07:45.560 --> 0:07:46.960 Army knife there if they feel like they need a 0:07:47.000 --> 0:07:50.520 little bit more security. Depending again, we're gonna have a 0:07:50.560 --> 0:07:52.560 full week here before we get another injury report to 0:07:52.600 --> 0:07:55.320 see where Turner and and Lindsley and and all these 0:07:55.320 --> 0:07:57.320 guys are gonna be at. I know Corey's putting together 0:07:57.320 --> 0:07:59.400 a plan trying to make sure that he can be 0:07:59.440 --> 0:08:02.320 ready here for the stretch run as well. Packers were 0:08:02.320 --> 0:08:03.920 smart about it. I thought when you look at the 0:08:04.040 --> 0:08:06.360 entire way that they approached that game. You know, Jamal 0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:08.880 Williams address reporters in the locker room as well on Monday, 0:08:08.880 --> 0:08:10.920 and he basically said, I mean, if this would have 0:08:10.920 --> 0:08:12.680 been a you know, playoff game, he could have played 0:08:12.680 --> 0:08:14.120 in it. He feels like if they would have need 0:08:14.120 --> 0:08:16.560 to play this weekend, he would have been available. But 0:08:16.600 --> 0:08:18.320 you need to be smart and you want to try 0:08:18.320 --> 0:08:21.200 to get your team as healthy as possible. And for 0:08:21.240 --> 0:08:23.760 the first time in a long time here Packers are 0:08:23.760 --> 0:08:25.440 in a position to do that. They aren't trying to 0:08:25.520 --> 0:08:28.480 run a table. They're not trying to you know, claw 0:08:28.560 --> 0:08:31.040 their way to a division title. They had that hay 0:08:31.080 --> 0:08:32.400 in the barn and they were trying to get a 0:08:32.400 --> 0:08:34.320 buy and they've earned that by now at this this 0:08:34.360 --> 0:08:36.559 winning streak they've been on, and it affords them this 0:08:36.640 --> 0:08:39.640 opportunity now to sit back, relax, take those keep those 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:42.559 hits off their bodies, and you know, see what falls 0:08:42.600 --> 0:08:45.520 to them now in this divisional round. Yeah. Well, shifting 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:47.480 gears to the defensive side of the ball, There is 0:08:47.520 --> 0:08:50.120 definitely something we need to talk about in the big 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:53.880 picture sense, and that is that with the defense only 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:58.120 allowing twenty points to the Detroit Lions, the unit actually 0:08:58.120 --> 0:09:02.960 finished the season on a five game run of allowing 0:09:03.240 --> 0:09:06.439 only twenty allowing twenty points or less to the opponent. 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:09.480 And that's the longest streak that a Packers defense has 0:09:09.520 --> 0:09:13.160 had in the regular season since it had a six 0:09:13.240 --> 0:09:16.120 game streak back in two thousand and ten. And we 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:17.880 all know what happened in two thousand and ten, but 0:09:17.960 --> 0:09:20.600 the other connection to that year is that this Packers 0:09:20.640 --> 0:09:25.120 defense finished the entire season allowing nineteen point six points 0:09:25.120 --> 0:09:28.560 per game, and that's the first time a Packers defense 0:09:28.600 --> 0:09:32.800 for an entire regular season has has had a points 0:09:32.800 --> 0:09:37.079 allowed average under twenty since two thousand and ten. So 0:09:37.840 --> 0:09:41.200 hats off to Mike Petton and the Packers defense. We 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:43.920 obviously saw the unit get off to a tremendous start 0:09:43.960 --> 0:09:46.880 in Week one against the Chicago Bears, just allowing the 0:09:46.960 --> 0:09:51.400 three points, but I think what really defines this unit 0:09:51.480 --> 0:09:54.360 season is the way it bounced back from allowing the 0:09:54.440 --> 0:09:59.400 thirty seven in San Francisco in UH in the blowout loss, 0:09:59.800 --> 0:10:02.199 to then come back and go five straight games to 0:10:02.320 --> 0:10:05.000 end the season. And actually the Lions were the first 0:10:05.040 --> 0:10:07.120 team out of those five to score more than fifteen 0:10:07.160 --> 0:10:09.080 because they were on a run of four straight games 0:10:09.080 --> 0:10:12.640 of allowing fifteen points or less. A really good finish 0:10:12.679 --> 0:10:15.520 to the season, I thought by the Packers defense, despite 0:10:15.600 --> 0:10:18.720 obviously a rough first half in Detroit, which they turned 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:22.080 around with a pretty dominant second half. This conversation about 0:10:23.200 --> 0:10:25.800 the Packers and they're, you know, winning ugly and things 0:10:25.800 --> 0:10:27.280 like that. One of the reasons they've been able to 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:29.400 do this is because of how the defense has performed 0:10:29.400 --> 0:10:31.880 down the stretch. And I think that's the reason why 0:10:31.920 --> 0:10:33.720 I keep saying over and over again, that's what ugly 0:10:33.760 --> 0:10:36.240 wins are, two fans, and to those who want to 0:10:36.320 --> 0:10:39.400 characterize it is that is is when your defense is 0:10:39.480 --> 0:10:43.559 tough and your offense doesn't look like anything spectacular, it 0:10:43.640 --> 0:10:46.360 just falls into that category of an ugly victory. And 0:10:46.360 --> 0:10:48.840 and the Packers are just fine with that right now, 0:10:49.320 --> 0:10:51.400 as much as they'd obviously like to see the offense 0:10:51.440 --> 0:10:53.640 find another level in January. And that's going to keep 0:10:53.679 --> 0:10:55.480 you in games here down the stretch too. I mean, 0:10:55.640 --> 0:10:58.320 they're going to have chances here. And and I go 0:10:58.440 --> 0:11:00.240 back to something that was actually asked of me an 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:01.959 insider in box, and you had to edit this. I'm 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:04.240 curious to see what your thoughts were on it yourself. 0:11:04.280 --> 0:11:06.880 Somebody had said if this, if if I saw parallels 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:08.959 between the two thousand ten team and the two thousand 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:12.160 ninet team in terms of the structural makeup of it, 0:11:12.400 --> 0:11:15.840 entirely different scenarios. The two thousand ten team was banged up. 0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:18.040 They were very talented, but they were banged up. This 0:11:18.080 --> 0:11:21.760 team is much healthier. That defense statistically was more dominant 0:11:22.080 --> 0:11:24.560 than what this year's team has been. But it is 0:11:24.640 --> 0:11:26.840 interesting and that I feel like there's a very similar 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.040 swagger and energy in the locker room, and I also 0:11:29.080 --> 0:11:32.520 feel their capabilities of winning those close knit games. There's 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:35.840 a lot of ties between these two squads. And you know, 0:11:35.840 --> 0:11:38.079 I'll be honest with you, the Packers finished eighteenth and 0:11:38.120 --> 0:11:41.320 total defense this season. They could have very easily been 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:43.880 a top ten unit had they been able to reduce 0:11:43.920 --> 0:11:46.960 more of those explosive plays. Because the red zone defense 0:11:47.040 --> 0:11:49.680 was exceptional. They did a really good job in certain 0:11:49.720 --> 0:11:52.239 scenarios and being able to keep teams off the scoreboard. 0:11:52.440 --> 0:11:54.720 It was just not being gutted for that big fifty 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:57.760 or sixty yard game that ultimately, nine times out of 0:11:57.840 --> 0:12:00.000 ten is going to result in some type of points, 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:02.760 and obviously it's going to reflect poorly when you look 0:12:02.800 --> 0:12:04.240 at a stat sheet at the end of the game. 0:12:04.480 --> 0:12:07.000 But this team can win football games. And I just 0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:09.240 think the way that they're using Zadarius Smith right now 0:12:09.240 --> 0:12:11.920 has been a revelation for them. It's allowed Kenny Clark 0:12:11.960 --> 0:12:13.839 to be able to really excel this last month of 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:16.199 the season. I know Preston Smith is getting a lot 0:12:16.200 --> 0:12:18.920 more attention right now, but he's up for it. And 0:12:19.040 --> 0:12:22.079 to be honest with you, who nobody keeps track of 0:12:22.120 --> 0:12:25.040 playoff stats, Mike. You know this. We can talk about 0:12:25.040 --> 0:12:27.720 Tremont Williams and in the interceptions he'd had back in 0:12:27.720 --> 0:12:29.679 two thousand ten, and those things that stand out to you, 0:12:30.120 --> 0:12:33.800 but nobody cares about tackles. Nobody cares about individual accolades. 0:12:33.840 --> 0:12:35.480 At this point, It's about whether or not your team 0:12:35.520 --> 0:12:37.520 can win and advance to the next round. And I 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:40.040 think when you look at this defense specifically in the 0:12:40.040 --> 0:12:41.959 parallels that you could run to two thousand and ten, 0:12:42.160 --> 0:12:44.240 there's a very similar mindset and there just get the 0:12:44.320 --> 0:12:46.840 job done. Yeah, I think so. I I like what 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:50.199 you said just kind of about the swagger in the attitude. 0:12:50.200 --> 0:12:54.319 There is there is a belief on this defense that 0:12:54.520 --> 0:12:56.160 they're going to find a way to get the job 0:12:56.200 --> 0:12:58.000 done when they when they have to, and I think 0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:00.560 the two thousand ten unit was like that. The two 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:04.280 thousand ten unit went through with with the injuries that happened, 0:13:04.320 --> 0:13:07.680 with Nick Barnett going I are and other guys, you know, 0:13:07.760 --> 0:13:10.400 you had Dozen Bishop stepping in. You're signing Howard Green 0:13:10.480 --> 0:13:12.880 and Eric Walden off the street to come in to 0:13:12.960 --> 0:13:15.840 help that two thousand and ten units. So the process 0:13:15.880 --> 0:13:18.600 of getting to the end of the season was completely 0:13:18.640 --> 0:13:21.920 different because this Packers defense really other than what Darnell 0:13:22.000 --> 0:13:25.200 Savage missing a couple of games, I mean, they've had 0:13:25.240 --> 0:13:27.920 their primary guys, you know, pretty much all the way along, 0:13:27.960 --> 0:13:30.440 which I think is also a big factor in in 0:13:30.720 --> 0:13:32.720 how they were able to turn it around after that 0:13:32.840 --> 0:13:36.920 rough game in San Francisco. But the other thing too, 0:13:37.000 --> 0:13:40.520 is that ability, that ability to make you know, and 0:13:40.559 --> 0:13:42.600 I talked about it yesterday with the offense, but it's 0:13:42.679 --> 0:13:45.839 making a key play at the key time. I mean 0:13:46.000 --> 0:13:49.800 Nick Collins getting the interception in week seventeen to close 0:13:49.840 --> 0:13:52.000 out that ten to three victory over the Bears just 0:13:52.080 --> 0:13:54.960 to get into the playoffs. B J Rogie with the 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:57.679 pick six and the NFC Championship, Termon Williams at the 0:13:57.760 --> 0:14:00.120 end of the first half to you know, start to 0:14:00.160 --> 0:14:02.960 get some separation from the Falcons in the divisional round. 0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:05.040 Those are the things that stand out to me about 0:14:05.040 --> 0:14:08.160 the two thousand ten team after they got through all 0:14:08.160 --> 0:14:12.840 the injuries, that defense just made key plays at key 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:16.319 times down the stretch to to fuel that playoff run. 0:14:16.760 --> 0:14:20.520 This two thousand nineteen defense is perfectly capable of that, 0:14:20.640 --> 0:14:23.240 and they made several of those types of plays during 0:14:23.240 --> 0:14:26.920 the regular season. If they can do that in a playoff, 0:14:27.120 --> 0:14:29.720 in a playoff game or two, who knows how far 0:14:29.800 --> 0:14:33.600 this goes. And they got Tremont Williams. Williams number number 0:14:34.240 --> 0:14:36.240 is still here, so I mean, you got that, boy. 0:14:36.280 --> 0:14:37.920 That'd be cool if Packers actually could get on a 0:14:38.000 --> 0:14:39.680 run this year win a Super Bowl, to actually have 0:14:39.880 --> 0:14:42.040 a run like that where you had a guy on 0:14:42.080 --> 0:14:44.280 both of those teams that played in those type of 0:14:44.320 --> 0:14:46.600 situations that it's one thing to have the quarterback or 0:14:46.600 --> 0:14:48.440 to have a tackle or something, but it's not easy 0:14:48.480 --> 0:14:50.640 for its cornerback to stick a round that long, at 0:14:50.720 --> 0:14:53.040 least as far as the NFL is concerned. But yeah, 0:14:53.240 --> 0:14:55.520 I think that's why everybody understands why this is such 0:14:55.520 --> 0:14:58.320 a special opportunity now too. You know, I've said this 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:01.280 a number of times now, but I think it bears repeating. 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:03.960 You know, this season started for the today as we do. 0:15:04.080 --> 0:15:07.680 This is December thirty one, Happy New Year, Mike. This 0:15:07.720 --> 0:15:10.840 whole thing started in mid April for the Green Bay Packers. 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:14.440 Like they built their roster obviously back in March, and 0:15:14.480 --> 0:15:16.680 they were able to come back, and they're able to actually, 0:15:17.240 --> 0:15:21.120 you know, put a team together, build the system, get 0:15:21.120 --> 0:15:24.160 the offense to buy in, get these new pieces involved 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:26.960 in Mike Patton's defense, get them to believe. And here 0:15:27.000 --> 0:15:31.560 they are, thirteen wins first round by and now it's 0:15:31.600 --> 0:15:33.560 all up to the next sixty minute game in front 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:36.080 of them. So I just think that there is an 0:15:36.120 --> 0:15:40.760 awareness with this team, and also they definitely understand that 0:15:40.760 --> 0:15:43.960 they're mortal. This is not infallible. They've been in a 0:15:43.960 --> 0:15:47.320 lot of knockdown, drag out games in which of certain 0:15:49.040 --> 0:15:53.440 swing here, gust of wind there, and next thing you know, 0:15:53.520 --> 0:15:56.320 you're you're on the losing end of it. They understand 0:15:56.560 --> 0:16:00.200 what it takes to win and also knowing where their 0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:02.840 weaknesses have been and where they need to improve. And 0:16:03.080 --> 0:16:05.240 I still think when we talk over and over again, Michael, 0:16:05.240 --> 0:16:07.600 but the Packers having that best game out there for them. 0:16:08.240 --> 0:16:10.200 That's still very much at play here when they go 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:12.480 into this postseason. Yeah, I think so. But you know, 0:16:12.640 --> 0:16:14.600 you know how this goes in the playoffs to us? 0:16:14.640 --> 0:16:16.840 I mean, you know, thinking back to the last time 0:16:16.880 --> 0:16:19.040 the Packers had the first round by in two thousand 0:16:19.120 --> 0:16:23.400 and fourteen, Obviously everybody remembers that Dallas came to lambeau Field. 0:16:23.400 --> 0:16:26.360 That does Bryant catch, no catch, you know whatever, But 0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:29.480 when you even you go back a week, how close 0:16:29.520 --> 0:16:32.720 it was that Detroit almost beat Dallas. And then it 0:16:32.760 --> 0:16:34.920 wouldn't have been Dallas coming here, it would have been 0:16:35.280 --> 0:16:38.600 somebody else. And and the way the way those playoffs 0:16:38.680 --> 0:16:41.720 unfolded because of some really close calls in the wild 0:16:41.720 --> 0:16:44.880 card round. And so who knows what's going to happen here? 0:16:44.880 --> 0:16:49.480 With Minnesota playing New Orleans and Philadelphia playing Seattle, the 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:52.040 Packers have, you know, one of three possible opponents, and 0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:55.080 you just don't know how this. Obviously, everybody's i think, 0:16:55.160 --> 0:16:58.440 expecting the Saints to win at home against the Vikings 0:16:58.520 --> 0:17:01.080 at the super Dome and the three seed the Saints 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:03.760 will come play the two seed in Green Bay. But 0:17:03.840 --> 0:17:05.840 here's an interesting thing, because I just looked this up 0:17:05.880 --> 0:17:09.800 before week before. We came in here three previous times 0:17:09.840 --> 0:17:13.440 before this year, since the NFL instituted the playoff format 0:17:13.480 --> 0:17:16.520 in with the six seeds and the top two getting 0:17:16.520 --> 0:17:19.720 the by three previous times, the Packers have been the 0:17:19.720 --> 0:17:23.760 two seed with the bye one of those times. Only 0:17:23.800 --> 0:17:26.439 one of those previous three times they did not play 0:17:26.560 --> 0:17:31.399 the three seed in the next round. It was after 0:17:31.440 --> 0:17:34.960 the Super Bowl title when they ended up playing Tampa Bay, 0:17:34.960 --> 0:17:38.080 who was the four seed. Why because Minnesota was the 0:17:38.119 --> 0:17:41.199 sixth seed and knocked off the three. Just throwing that 0:17:41.280 --> 0:17:43.639 out there just in case. But anyway, but that's the 0:17:43.680 --> 0:17:46.280 madness of the post exactly. That's the thing. You just 0:17:46.359 --> 0:17:48.600 don't know how. You just don't know how this stuff 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:50.359 is going to go. The Saints had to put it 0:17:50.400 --> 0:17:53.000 all on the line. They were playing for a possible by. 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:54.760 They had to put it all on the line. They 0:17:54.800 --> 0:17:58.640 blew out the Carolina Panthers. They didn't get there by. 0:17:58.760 --> 0:18:00.760 They have their home game as the three seed. The 0:18:00.760 --> 0:18:03.800 Minnesota Vikings rested everybody. The Vikings are coming off a 0:18:03.880 --> 0:18:05.840 bye week, going into the super Dome and trying to 0:18:05.920 --> 0:18:08.920 knock off a favorite team. You just never know. Yeah, 0:18:09.000 --> 0:18:11.639 and the Packers perspective. You just need to look at 0:18:11.680 --> 0:18:14.520 two thousand and ten for how crazy these things can 0:18:14.560 --> 0:18:16.359 play out. I mean that they ended up having to 0:18:16.359 --> 0:18:19.119 go to Chicago, out of all places to to go 0:18:19.200 --> 0:18:21.399 to win the Super Bowl, after winning in Atlanta and 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:24.400 winning in and after the after the Bears had tried 0:18:24.760 --> 0:18:27.560 had didn't have anything to play for and played all 0:18:27.600 --> 0:18:30.480 their starters in Week seventeen to try to prevent the 0:18:30.520 --> 0:18:33.119 Packers from getting into the playoffs in the first place, 0:18:33.440 --> 0:18:35.760 and then that ends up being the NFC Championship game 0:18:35.800 --> 0:18:38.080 at Soldier Field is Green Bay in Chicago, when it's 0:18:38.080 --> 0:18:39.800 all said and down and here you are now. And 0:18:39.880 --> 0:18:41.600 it was a couple of guys that talked to in 0:18:41.600 --> 0:18:43.919 the locker room after the game. I mean, like Lucas Patrick. 0:18:44.000 --> 0:18:46.680 Lucas Patrick was on the practice squad when the Packers 0:18:46.680 --> 0:18:49.000 did the run the table thing in two thousand and sixteen. 0:18:49.040 --> 0:18:52.800 And then you know, you have Aaron Jones and Jamal 0:18:52.840 --> 0:18:55.399 Williams to draft classes that don't know what it's like 0:18:55.480 --> 0:18:57.360 to play in the postseason. I didn't get a chance 0:18:57.400 --> 0:18:59.080 to ask him, but I was looking at I don't 0:18:59.119 --> 0:19:02.280 know if Billy Turner has played in a playoff game 0:19:02.359 --> 0:19:04.320 yet I don't believe he has because he got to 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:07.560 Denver after their Super Bowl and I think he left Baltimole. 0:19:07.560 --> 0:19:09.000 He's only in Baltimore for a short time, and I 0:19:09.040 --> 0:19:11.800 don't think he made it with Miami. So there's veterans, 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:13.440 there's young guys, and then you look at a guy 0:19:13.440 --> 0:19:17.119 like Mercedes Lewis that has been to the a f 0:19:17.200 --> 0:19:20.480 C Championship Game. He was on the doorstep of finally 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:22.000