1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston had Kowitz. Were coming to 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: you here from our studios at lambeau Field and West. 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: The Packers lose a tough one in Minneapolis, a walk 6 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: off field goal thirty to thirty one. The Vikings emerged triumphant, 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: And this one, for me just came down to the 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: fact that, you know, it's very difficult in this league 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: to play defense week after week after week at the 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: level the Packers have been playing it, You're going to 11 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: run into a hot offense at some point, and that's 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: what happened to the Packers on Sunday. But they also 13 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: had their opportunities on defense to stem the tide, to 14 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: create those to get those turnovers that would have potentially 15 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: changed the complexion of this game. And the bottom line 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: is the defense just didn't take advantag into those opportunities. No. 17 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: I mean, this is the perfect embodiment, Mike, of what 18 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: we've talked about all season. When you know certain things 19 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: weren't working well for the offense, the defense really picked 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: them up. This was a game in which you know, 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: first and foremost, before we talk about any miscuse, any problems, 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: any issues there, at some point you also need to 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: tip your cap to Kirk Cousins. I thought he played 24 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: one of the best games I've seen him play in 25 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: a Vikings uniform against Green Bay. He was surgical. They 26 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: threw everything at him. He was facing a lot of 27 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,440 Speaker 1: heavy pressure throughout the game, and in those instances he 28 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: found his hot read, he found some you know, the 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: ways to keep the you know, the chains moving, and 30 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: then when he did have time to throw, he really 31 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: made the Packers pay for it. So you got to 32 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: give him credit. But defensively for Green Bay, it was 33 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,559 Speaker 1: one of these games, Mike, where they did stop Delvin 34 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,559 Speaker 1: Cook for the most part, they did really keep them 35 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: in third and manageable situations. But when they needed to convert, 36 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: the Vikings did it. They were twenty six I think 37 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: in the league on third downs coming into this game, 38 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: and then converted like seven of the eleven justin Jefferson 39 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: went off. There were some issues in the defensive secondary 40 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: trying to get some of those things under wraps, and 41 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: ultimately in this kind of shootout that it turned into 42 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings one the day. Yeah, 43 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: it was interesting because we talked a lot last week 44 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: about how about the great season Cousins was having the 45 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: fact that he'd only thrown two interceptions all year, and 46 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: yet he gave the Packers opportunities for three, four, maybe five, 47 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: depending on how you want to look at it, how 48 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: you want to grade it. He gave the Packers chances 49 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: with some very risky, questionable throws and the Packers just 50 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: didn't come down with the ball unfortunately. And and you 51 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: know the those are those are the moments. You know 52 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: these games, these games are decided by those big plays 53 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: in the clutch moments, right, And we talked about how 54 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: in Arizona the Packers defense was on its heels in 55 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: the second half and Kyler Murray was rolling and what happened. 56 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: Russell Douglas caught the ball in the end zone for 57 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: the interception. Packers had a similar opportunity, multiple opportunities against 58 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins and uh and simply weren't able to convert. 59 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: And unfortunately, that rendered a tremendous performance by Aaron Rodgers 60 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 1: on a sore, painful toe um an offense missing Aaron 61 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: Jones Um a tremendous performance by the Packers offense in 62 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: which they put up thirty one points despite a very 63 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: slow start to the game. But boy, when Green Bay's 64 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: offense got rolling in this one, Minnesota could not stop 65 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers. No. I mean, with the exception of Jordan's 66 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: Love kneeling down before halftime, that was the only time 67 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: there was really a stop past that Josiah Deguara twenty 68 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: five yard touchdown. I mean, Rogers just got into a zone, 69 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: and I thought that was really emblematic of what happens 70 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: when while Alan Lazard wasn't playing, he did have a 71 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: full array of his weapons. I mean, Marcas Velde scantling 72 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: with a healthy hamstring against any NF fell secondary is 73 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: a really dangerous proposition in Rogers got going with him late. Obviously, 74 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: the seventy five yard is the one that we're gonna 75 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: talk so much about, but there were some of those 76 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: passes even early on where you could see that the spark. 77 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: How this offense looks different when MVS is healthy and contributing. 78 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: Davante Adams, despite seeing a lot of cover two, was 79 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: able to have a successful day, was back to being 80 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 1: a serious red zone end zone type threat in this game. 81 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: And realistically, Mike, the way I look at this thing 82 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: is green Bay put up four hundred and sixty seven 83 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 1: total yards of offense. Minnesota put up foreigner and eight 84 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: total yards of offense. Defensively, if that's how much you 85 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: know production, you're gonna give up. Either need to take 86 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: the ball away or you need to play clean, completely clean, 87 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: three face football, and green Bay didn't do enough of that. 88 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: There was the thirty two yard miss from Mason Crosby, 89 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, not being able to get those turnovers 90 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: when you needed them. And when you play an even 91 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: game like that and both sides are producing nine times 92 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: out of ten, it's gonna end up favoring whoever that 93 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: home team is, and in this case, the team that 94 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: held the ball last. Yeah, Aaron Rodgers ends up with 95 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: three eighty five passing yards, four touchdowns, a one forty 96 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: eight point four passerrating. All of those are season highs 97 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: for one. And if you're looking for some reasons for 98 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: optimism coming out of the loss, I mean, that's what 99 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: you hang your hat on here if you're the Packers, 100 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: Because you mentioned that Lazard wasn't playing Aaron Jones wasn't playing, 101 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: but yet this Packers offense found itself in high gear. 102 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: The contributions from MVS, from Josiah Deguire, from e q 103 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: st Brown in this game, those are the types of 104 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: things that could really bode well here for the Packers 105 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: down the stretch. If if Aaron Rodgers is able to 106 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: create big, explosive plays using so many different guys, right, agree. 107 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: I think the other thing gree me as to hang 108 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,040 Speaker 1: its hat on his consistency. Minnesota has been a wildly 109 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: inconsistent team this year. That's why they're five and five. 110 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: That's just the fact exactly. You know, Yes they've led 111 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: in every game, yes they've only lost by more, but 112 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: you're still five and five. So for green Bay standpoint, 113 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,799 Speaker 1: you're eight and three, and yes, we're gonna talk about 114 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: some injuries here at a minute, unfortunately, but green Bay 115 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: has been able to consistently produce throughout the course of 116 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: the year and it's why they have this lead that 117 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: they have right now in the NFC North. The big 118 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: key for them, Mike, I think is going to be 119 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: where they finished this game offensively. They still want to 120 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: run the ball more. I would have liked to have 121 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: seen a j Dillon get a few more than eleven 122 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: carries in this I thought he was an impact player 123 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: when he had the ball in his hands. But they 124 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:37,559 Speaker 1: were able to get the downfield passing game going again, 125 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: and and must win situations not just hey, let's just 126 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: see what happens here. I mean, they needed every single 127 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: one of those four touchdown drives in order to compete, 128 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: in order to be in this game. And I feel 129 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: like going forward now, especially if MBS gets through this game, okay, 130 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: especially if you get Lazard back, you're gonna start to 131 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: see those perimeter weapons emerged for Green Bay and allow 132 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: them to kind of start looking more like themselves off offensively. Yeah. Absolutely. 133 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: And as much as we've talked about West over the 134 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: course of this season, how the Packers seem to have 135 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: had some costly victories in terms of players who got 136 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: hurt when the Packers emerged victorious this one. The Packers 137 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: lost much much more than just one game. With Pro 138 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: Bowl offensive lineman Elton Jenkins unfortunately being down for the 139 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 1: season now due to a knee injury, and uh once 140 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: again this uh you know, this Green Bay offensive line 141 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: is going to have to shuffle things around. You were 142 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: hoping everybody was hoping that at some point this season 143 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: that left side of the offensive line was going to 144 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: be David Baktieri at left tackle and Elton Jenkins at 145 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: left guard, and you were going to be able to 146 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: re entrench those high level, elite level players at their 147 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: positions for the stretch run. And unfortunately that's not going 148 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: to happen now. Um, a really really unfortunate injury with 149 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: Jenkins and and things with David baktr still up in 150 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: the air. The Packers still believing he's going to be 151 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: able to come back at some point this season and 152 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: help out, but things are still on hold there as 153 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: he is not on the practice field now. It sucks. 154 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: It sucks for Elton and I don't know, man, it 155 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: it hurts that for everything bok Tr and Jenkins accomplished together, 156 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: the fact that that December thirty first practice is the 157 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: last time we're going to see them on the field 158 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 1: together now for at least another year probably or at 159 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: least in their abouts. Um, if this is the type 160 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: of injury that I think everybody fears, it is for Elton, 161 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: and the guy has been so selfless this year, And 162 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: what stands out to me the most Mike, we don't 163 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: get to be in the locker room anymore, at least 164 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: at this point. But him being up at the podium, 165 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 1: just seeing Elton Jenkins personality come out there as a 166 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: guy that's a third year VET now and seeing the 167 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 1: playfulness and you know, the photos that I know he 168 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: took with the with the portraits with bok Tr before 169 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: the season. The definition of growing comfortable in your own skin, right, 170 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's what we've seen. He's always been 171 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: such a nice dude since day one he came in. 172 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: But just listen to him talk and the way he 173 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: speaks about his game, and that there just was so 174 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: much more. I don't want to say charisma because that's 175 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: not the right word, but just confidence with how he 176 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: carried himself and to see him play it the way 177 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 1: he did, Mike, as I've said time and time again, 178 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: it should not have been this easy to go eleven 179 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: games without David bok Tr and for eight of those, 180 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: Elton Jenkins was the big reason why. So to see 181 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: him go down with this in the scenario that it did, 182 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: I know, it's a poluted mindset. I know Mike McCarthy 183 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: would probably say, I'm a loser, but you almost just 184 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: wish you could go back just forfeit the darn game 185 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 1: and then just go on to the Los Angeles Rams 186 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 1: with Jenkins still intact. I mean, it was that type 187 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: of loss. So Green Bay has been really resilient on 188 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: their offensive line. Yash Naiman, I think the Packers coaching 189 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: staff has to feel a lot more confident right now 190 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: than probably they were two months ago when he had 191 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 1: to sub in there for three games. But but still 192 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: they got to get back to your are back. I mean, 193 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: if they want to make a big run here, you 194 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: need to get the five time All Pro back, and 195 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: now without Jenkins, that is becoming more and more evident. Yeah, 196 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: it's really remarkable here that we're talking about the Packers 197 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: heading into Thanksgiving weekend and the starting five across the 198 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: front going left to right is going to be Niman, Runyon, Patrick, Newman, 199 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: and Turner. And take nothing away from those guys. This 200 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: this is a unit that can get the job done. 201 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 1: There's no question about that. These guys have all proven it. 202 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: But when you look at what the Packers were hoping 203 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 1: they were going to have at this point of the season, 204 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: where you're talking about, you know, obviously Jenkins, but Josh 205 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: Meyer's your rookie center who was so promising and and 206 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: getting box tri back at some point. Suddenly now that 207 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:49,719 Speaker 1: offensive line you envisioned three fifths of it is is 208 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: not available here for what is going to be a 209 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: really significant game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Packers 210 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: at eight and three, the Rams at seven and three, 211 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: the Rams coming off there by week and a two 212 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: game losing streak, and they're looking to reassert themselves as 213 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: a top NFC contender. Yeah, And and the point I 214 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: think that you're kind of alluding to too, is the 215 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: fact that when the Packers were turned back for the 216 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: off season program at the end of April. There I 217 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: think basically we can all agree one of those guys 218 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: that you just mentioned, Billy Turner, was considered a starter. Runyan, 219 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: Patrick and Newman we're going to get an opportunity to 220 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: compete for a starting spot, but Turner was the only 221 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: one that you kind of had written and Sharpie, So 222 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: to be in a position now where they've been very 223 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: blessed with depth, I mean, how many times have we 224 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 1: talked about depth and versatility with this group and it's 225 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: still a really good offensive line but now it's like, 226 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: this is where you start to remember why they signed 227 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: Dennis Kelly, this is where you start to remember about 228 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: how they've developed Jake Hanson over the last year. Because 229 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: now the next men up behind the next men, it's 230 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: starting to become more of a real probability possibility of 231 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: them potentially having to step in at some point. You 232 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 1: just hope that at some juncture of this season the 233 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: injury thing is just going to calm down and hopefully 234 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: maybe week thirteen and that buy is going to be 235 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: the beginning of that. Yeah, that would sure be nice. 236 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 1: This this Packers team has been waiting for that bye 237 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: week to get here, to to have to play, To 238 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: have to play twelve games in this league without a 239 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: bye week is a really tough task. And I know 240 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: the Packers in a sense did it. I forget if 241 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: it was last year the year before where they had 242 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: the early buy and then you know, you go all 243 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: the way through that and into the postseason. Um, although 244 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: the Packers then would you know, had to buy in 245 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: the playoffs, so it was like they got to buy 246 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: there in um in early January. But it's a but 247 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: it's tough, it's a brutal game and uh um, you know, unfortunately, 248 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: the this uh, this injury epidemic so to speak of 249 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: the season for the Packers just doesn't seem to uh 250 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: to want to stop. Some word for our sponsors. 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Taking a look at the big 258 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: picture here, the Minnesota Vikings have climbed within two and 259 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: a half games of the Packers in the NFC North 260 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: Green Bay at eight and three, Minnesota at five and five. 261 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: In the NFC as a whole, Arizona has jumped back 262 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: on top into that number one spot at nine and two. 263 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: Hats off to the Cardinals. They've lost their quarterback for 264 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: three games and Colt McCoy has won two of those 265 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: as Kyler Murray's backup. So that is why Arizona is 266 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: nine and two. Despite plenty of injuries of their own 267 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: significant ones, and then right behind the Packers at eight 268 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,079 Speaker 1: and three, you have three teams that are seven and three. 269 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: And I'm talking about, of course the Rams who are 270 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: coming into Lambeau on Sunday, as well as the Dallas 271 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is five teams west, Uh, 272 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: any one of whom quite frankly could end up with 273 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: that coveted number one seed in first round by in 274 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: the NFC. This is six or seven games to go, 275 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: depending on, um, you know, the bye week situation, but 276 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: six or seven games left and this is wide open 277 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: for that top spot in the conference. Yeah, because I 278 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: think all those teams you mentioned have been fallible, they've 279 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: been human. Uh. Dallas, the fervor out of Dallas right 280 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: now isn't great. After Kansas City, who is much maligned 281 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: for some time, is sort of reignited. You look at 282 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: suddenly Kansas City is winning with defense, by the way. 283 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: I mean, yes, they had one big game from Patrick 284 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: Mahomes out of these last three or four, but Kansas 285 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: City Chiefs are playing some really, really good defensive football. 286 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: And that's what looks like is going to catapult the 287 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: Chiefs into the a F C playoffs could have played 288 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: eight quarters. You don't know if Dallas is going to 289 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: be able to find the end zone that I mean, 290 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: that's the way that that's how dominant they were. It 291 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 1: felt a lot like that Seattle game for Bay. But 292 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: you know, you look at the Los Angeles Rams. They 293 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: got Odell Beckham and they're feeling really good about themselves, 294 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: and then they had some lightdowns. The real, big interesting 295 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: thing about the way that's lined up though for Green 296 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: Bay this week is they're going to be facing arrested 297 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: Rams team and they're really hurting. So you know, I 298 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: think this is really going to be incumbent on Matt 299 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: la Fleur keeping these guys up for one more week 300 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: and saying we have one more focus here to try 301 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: to get that ninth win here before the bye week 302 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: and be able to give ourselves a little bit of 303 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: a break, because you have to imagine Sean McVeigh is 304 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: going to be sending the same the opposite message to 305 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 1: his guys out in Los Angeles. If you guys are arrested, 306 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: you're going up against a beaten and battered kind of 307 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: Green Bay crew here and seeing those two things to 308 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: come together is gonna be really interesting to watch. But 309 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: it is both conferences right now, Mike, it is going 310 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: to be a sprint to the finish with the way 311 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: that this thing is lined up. Yeah, you look at 312 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: the Rams season. I know we'll talk more about them 313 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: on our next show later this week, but you look 314 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: at their season and the way they just seemed to 315 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: be absolute we rolling offensively, and then suddenly against the 316 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: Titans and against the forty Niners, they score sixteen and 317 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: ten points respectively in those two games heading into their 318 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: bye week, and you wonder was that was was this 319 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: a team that was also sort of dying to get 320 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: to their by to get to they lost Robert you know, yeah, 321 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: they lost Robert Woods and Beckham came in but hadn't 322 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: practiced much obviously, so you know, the it's just it's 323 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 1: just the way this league works sometimes, right, And I 324 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: don't want to over dramatize it, but when you look 325 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: at the fact that you have this big game against 326 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: the Rams on Sunday at lambeau Field, and then the 327 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: Packers are finally going to get to their bye week, 328 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 1: and the Packers will either be nine and three or 329 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: eight and four, those two records just look will look 330 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: and feel so different, right, depending on depending on which 331 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: one the Packers fall into well, and the fact you 332 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: have to think about it, you know, for that extra 333 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: seven days, you don't get a chance to turn the 334 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: page like you usually do. Um. And that's the interesting 335 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: part with the Rams though, to the fact that they 336 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 1: were seven and one and then suddenly lost too straight 337 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: and then had this whole extra week to stew over, 338 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: you know, losses that really really frustrated. And the landscapes 339 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,680 Speaker 1: a lot different in that conference and that division where 340 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: you got the Arizona Cardinals kind of just keeping their 341 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: heads above water here hoping they can get Kyler Murray back. 342 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,959 Speaker 1: Will still being at the top of the conference. So again, 343 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 1: every season has it's built in challenges. I'm really eager 344 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: to watch how this team adapts to it. Um. You know, 345 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: you would hope if it's not this week, it'll be 346 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: after the boy you get Aaron Jones back, you know, 347 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: same situation with Alan Lazard. If you get box tr 348 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: back in the fold and then obviously the two biggest 349 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 1: carrots the gold at the end of the rainbow here, 350 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: if they can get them back as Gire Alexander and 351 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: Zadarius Smith, that I think can be uplifting for them 352 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: if they can find a way to get healthy, if 353 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: they can turn off the faucet with these injuries. Yeah, 354 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 1: you talk about a potential infusion of energy, you know, 355 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: for a stretch run when you're in this highly highly 356 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 1: competitive and contested no matter what happens in the NFC North, 357 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:08,159 Speaker 1: but looking at the conference as a whole, how highly contested. 358 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: This is that type of infusion of energy from big 359 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: time players potentially coming back and rejoining your lineup, that 360 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: that's promised. I think back to thirteen with Aaron Rodgers 361 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,439 Speaker 1: and Randall Cobb coming back. I mean you get you 362 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: start to get that type of ability back in your 363 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 1: locker room, back on the field. Uh. It can't help 364 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 1: but be a galvanizing moment. But again, you have to 365 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 1: earn it. You have to earn it with a gut 366 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: bunch of guys here this upcoming week that probably weren't 367 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,959 Speaker 1: viewed as main contributors at the beginning of the season. 368 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be a challenge. It's gonna be one 369 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 1: of the biggest they faced all season. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, 370 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,880 Speaker 1: we will talk more about the rams. As I said 371 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: on our next show. For now, we'll call it a 372 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to 373 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team all week long. 374 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 1: We'll have it for you on packers dot com for West, 375 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you 376 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:55,520 Speaker 1: next time.