WEBVTT - #379 Packers Unscripted: Road woes 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:20.800 Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.800 --> 0:00:24.079 I am Mike Spofford, joined alongside my partner in crime, 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:27.240 Wes Hodkowits were coming to you here from our studios 0:00:27.560 --> 0:00:30.400 at lambeau Field and West I know you were hoping 0:00:30.440 --> 0:00:32.360 the same thing I was, that we would be in 0:00:32.400 --> 0:00:35.400 here on a Monday after a road trip with a 0:00:35.440 --> 0:00:39.440 different narrative to talk about. But the narrative of the 0:00:40.560 --> 0:00:43.960 Green Bay Packers season away from lambeau Field has not changed. 0:00:44.200 --> 0:00:47.600 Sunday at Soldier Field seventeen, the Bears win. The Bears 0:00:47.640 --> 0:00:50.840 clinched the NFC North and as has been the case 0:00:51.120 --> 0:00:54.560 for the bulk of this season when the Packers are 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:56.840 on the road, it was a game that was there 0:00:56.880 --> 0:01:00.520 for the taking, and the Packers unfortunately didn't take. Yeah. No, 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:02.279 I think that's a really good way to sum it up. 0:01:02.840 --> 0:01:05.480 I think it was everything we thought it was going 0:01:05.520 --> 0:01:07.120 to be as far as this game. I remember there 0:01:07.160 --> 0:01:09.800 was actually one exact point where I was recalling this 0:01:10.720 --> 0:01:13.600 right before the Packers scored They're only touchdown of the 0:01:13.680 --> 0:01:16.480 day with the Jamal Williams run. About two minutes before that, 0:01:16.600 --> 0:01:19.240 right after the Davante Adams twenty three yard catch on 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:21.360 second and four. I believe it was. I was thinking 0:01:21.360 --> 0:01:23.000 to myself, I'm like, this is exactly the way I 0:01:23.000 --> 0:01:24.680 thought this game was gonna play out. I didn't think 0:01:24.680 --> 0:01:26.720 either team was going to get blown out. I thought 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:28.080 it was gonna be down to the wire. I thought 0:01:28.080 --> 0:01:32.880 it was gonna be the typical December NFC North chasing, 0:01:33.240 --> 0:01:35.920 you know, matchup that we've grown accustomed to. And for 0:01:36.000 --> 0:01:38.880 the Packers, as great as that drive was, afterwards, they 0:01:38.880 --> 0:01:42.160 just didn't respond with it. The defense gave up points, 0:01:42.400 --> 0:01:45.920 the offense had two straight three and outs, and in 0:01:46.240 --> 0:01:48.920 Davante Adams a credit to him his hundred catch on 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:52.080 the season, another hundred yard performance. Afterwards, talking to reporters 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:54.600 in the locker room, said, it's just been that third 0:01:54.680 --> 0:01:57.440 quarter all season. It seems like, with a few exceptions 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:00.280 where the Packers just went into a stall mode um, 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:02.160 they just weren't able to find their rhythm. And it 0:02:02.240 --> 0:02:04.120 happened once again, and against the team like you and 0:02:04.160 --> 0:02:06.680 I said all last week, Michael, against a team like 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:09.040 the Bears, as proficient as they are, and the fact 0:02:09.040 --> 0:02:11.200 that they were going to be their antennas, We're gonna 0:02:11.200 --> 0:02:12.600 be up a little bit more in terms of the 0:02:12.639 --> 0:02:15.440 second half. You can't do that, and the Packers did 0:02:15.440 --> 0:02:17.399 and they got their seventh loss on the road. Yeah, 0:02:17.440 --> 0:02:20.280 I mean Green Bay was certainly uh fighting an uphill 0:02:20.280 --> 0:02:22.320 battle in this one. You're banged up on both the 0:02:22.360 --> 0:02:25.600 offensive line and the defensive line, with some starters being out. 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:28.600 You lose Aaron Jones at running back early in the ballgame. 0:02:28.720 --> 0:02:32.160 Jamal Williams stepped in played pretty well. I thought, Um, 0:02:32.200 --> 0:02:36.040 the Bears obviously a much cleaner picture of health than 0:02:36.080 --> 0:02:38.760 the Packers are. But that being said, I think I 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:41.160 think the most frustrating thing about it West is that 0:02:41.400 --> 0:02:44.120 you know, with the fake punt, the Packers stop it, 0:02:44.200 --> 0:02:48.240 they capitalize and score tie up the game fourteen fourteen 0:02:48.280 --> 0:02:51.119 after being down fourteen to three at half. But then 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:54.040 the Bears decided to get tricky again. When they're in 0:02:54.080 --> 0:02:56.600 scoring range to take the lead, they go with a 0:02:56.639 --> 0:03:00.600 wildcats shotgun thing with Tarik Cohen and Mitch Trubisk flanks 0:03:00.600 --> 0:03:03.400 out to the side and then Cohen botches the read 0:03:03.400 --> 0:03:07.400 option handoff just hands the Packers the football fumble green 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:10.120 Bay recovers. We talked about turnovers and how important they 0:03:10.120 --> 0:03:13.120 would be in the game. And it's like, there's the 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:15.720 moment fourth quarter on the road, the home team is 0:03:15.800 --> 0:03:20.480 just blown its chance to reclaim the lead in scoring territory, 0:03:20.880 --> 0:03:24.160 scoring territory exactly. They wouldn't have had to gain another 0:03:24.240 --> 0:03:27.040 yard and they probably take a seventeen fourteen lead. Their 0:03:27.120 --> 0:03:30.200 Packers get the ball, the game is still tied, but 0:03:30.639 --> 0:03:33.640 three and out, you allow a touchdown three and out 0:03:33.800 --> 0:03:36.080 along pump return and a field goals. Like the game 0:03:36.160 --> 0:03:40.080 just changed instantly, because whereas it seemed it was going 0:03:40.120 --> 0:03:43.080 to start to snowball in the Packers direction, the snowball 0:03:43.160 --> 0:03:46.120 just started rolling down the hill the other way. And uh, 0:03:46.120 --> 0:03:48.320 and another one got away from Green Bay. Yeah it did, 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:50.560 and and that was probably the most disheartening thing. They 0:03:50.560 --> 0:03:54.040 had two major momentum shifting plays, as you mentioned. There 0:03:54.160 --> 0:03:57.000 was that recovery by Dean Lowry being able to jump 0:03:57.000 --> 0:03:58.960 on that ball get the ball back to the offense, 0:03:59.000 --> 0:04:02.280 and then there was also uh, fatal Brown give him 0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:03.840 a lot of credit. This is a young man that 0:04:03.920 --> 0:04:06.680 came in, was with the Raiders two weeks ago, gets cut, 0:04:06.720 --> 0:04:10.680 the Packers claim him. He ends up making a phenomenal play, 0:04:11.040 --> 0:04:14.320 a solo tackle on third and three makes it fourth 0:04:14.360 --> 0:04:16.839 and two, stopping the running back. I can't think of 0:04:16.839 --> 0:04:20.559 his I think it was, oh, that's right, number thirty 0:04:20.560 --> 0:04:23.840 three and yeah the third guy, yea, so he stops 0:04:23.920 --> 0:04:26.880 him and it's third, it's fourth and two. They tried 0:04:26.960 --> 0:04:29.680 to do some trickeration on that to do the fake 0:04:29.760 --> 0:04:33.120 punt direct snap to Benny Cunningham, Brown and Jake Kumarro 0:04:33.240 --> 0:04:35.520 are ready for it. They stop him and you get 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:37.880 the ball at midfield, and both times the Packers just 0:04:37.920 --> 0:04:40.520 were not able to capitalize on those. We know, what 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:42.920 of a grind it's been for the defense and specially 0:04:42.960 --> 0:04:45.440 well the Packers did capitalize on the fake punt. They 0:04:45.520 --> 0:04:48.960 drove down and scored the touchdown. They did get there. Yes, absolutely, um, 0:04:49.160 --> 0:04:50.960 I guess I meant more from the standpoint of just 0:04:51.040 --> 0:04:54.560 the momentum factor. Yes, yeah, you're you're absolutely pull it 0:04:54.600 --> 0:04:56.279 back in your regard. But yes, as far as points 0:04:56.279 --> 0:04:58.640 were pure points were concerned, yes, huge play for them, 0:04:59.080 --> 0:05:00.960 But you know, it's just was those things where it 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:03.120 just you thought, maybe this is what it's gonna take 0:05:03.160 --> 0:05:06.200 to get the Packers going and get the Bears really reeling. 0:05:06.560 --> 0:05:08.760 In a credit to Mattnegie's crew, both of them, they 0:05:08.839 --> 0:05:10.800 ended up bouncing back with and they gotta win that 0:05:10.839 --> 0:05:13.120 they needed to clinch their first North title since two 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:15.520 thousand ten. Yeah, the Bears are in the playoffs now, 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:18.799 they'll have at least one home game as a Division champ. Um. 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:23.880 First playoff appearance since two thousand ten for Chicago when uh, 0:05:23.880 --> 0:05:26.719 when the Bears advanced to the NFC Championship game obviously 0:05:26.839 --> 0:05:29.560 at Soldier Field when the Packers won and went onto 0:05:29.600 --> 0:05:34.080 their title. But um, the Bears still in the hunt 0:05:34.080 --> 0:05:36.800 now for a potential first round by because the Rams 0:05:36.800 --> 0:05:39.560 lose on Sunday Night Football. Now Chicago's only one game 0:05:39.600 --> 0:05:43.080 back and if if the Bears actually could tie up 0:05:43.120 --> 0:05:45.240 the Rams record wise by the end of the season, 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:47.320 the Bears have the head to head there, So Chicago 0:05:47.760 --> 0:05:50.120 still looking for bigger and better things in terms of 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:53.279 their positioning. Meanwhile, the Packers now two games left to go, 0:05:53.440 --> 0:05:56.159 officially eliminated from the playoffs with the loss and with 0:05:56.240 --> 0:06:01.440 Minnesota's victory over the Miami doll Fins. And uh, um, 0:06:01.600 --> 0:06:04.200 you know Packers are a banged up team. We'll see 0:06:04.240 --> 0:06:10.760 how things look going forward here and umm, but you 0:06:10.760 --> 0:06:13.120 could you could just you could just feel it, you know, 0:06:13.320 --> 0:06:16.640 the postgame press conferences with Joe Philbin and Aaron Rodgers. 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:18.920 I know you were in the locker room. I know 0:06:19.000 --> 0:06:21.719 the playoffs in some senses were you know, it was 0:06:21.800 --> 0:06:23.360 like a pipe dream, and there were still a lot 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:26.359 of things that needed to fall into place. But losing 0:06:26.360 --> 0:06:30.000 this game to a division rival, having them celebrated division 0:06:30.080 --> 0:06:34.120 champions championship kind of at your expense and everything that 0:06:34.520 --> 0:06:37.280 there were, um, it was this was a tough one 0:06:37.320 --> 0:06:39.640 to swallow for the Packers. A season that a season 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:41.760 that has been a lost season on the road in 0:06:41.839 --> 0:06:43.599 terms of not being able to win a game away 0:06:43.600 --> 0:06:46.479 from Lambeau. The Packers came in confident that they would 0:06:46.480 --> 0:06:48.520 fight for this one, and they did fight for this one, 0:06:48.920 --> 0:06:51.920 but they just once again came up short. Well when 0:06:51.920 --> 0:06:53.520 you say, like, I know what you mean by this 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:55.159 by saying, as a pipe train, it was a five 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:57.480 four or five percent chance, but you know, don't tell 0:06:57.560 --> 0:07:00.479 Davante Adams that. Adams afterwards in locked room was like, 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:02.960 you know, to us, it's still seemed very realistic because 0:07:03.360 --> 0:07:05.719 it wasn't completely out of the realm of possibilities for 0:07:05.760 --> 0:07:09.040 the Vikings to lose twice, especially after firing John d 0:07:09.120 --> 0:07:12.040 Filippo this past week, the the issues that they've been 0:07:12.040 --> 0:07:14.720 having offensively, and the fact that they were going through 0:07:14.760 --> 0:07:17.600 their own mid season dulgrums, and then you look at it, 0:07:17.680 --> 0:07:20.400 you're just needing Washington to lose, you need Philadelphia to lose, 0:07:20.440 --> 0:07:23.200 Carolina to lose, and as it turned out, the week 0:07:23.280 --> 0:07:25.520 basically win as poor as it could for the Packers. 0:07:25.960 --> 0:07:28.920 But to Dante Adams to that locker room, they still 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:30.560 felt like there was a chance if they took care 0:07:30.640 --> 0:07:33.160 of their own business, that things could be interesting at 0:07:33.160 --> 0:07:36.120 eight seven and one. But at the same time, as 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:38.400 Adams also pointed out, you can put those charts on 0:07:38.440 --> 0:07:41.360 Instagram and Twitter, you can create all the graphics you want. 0:07:41.360 --> 0:07:42.680 At the end of the day, you have to win 0:07:42.720 --> 0:07:45.600 the game. The Packers didn't do that. This is a 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:48.080 tough one for Green Bay in a number regards. One. Obviously, 0:07:48.120 --> 0:07:50.520 you're going into an environment at Soldier Field that's going 0:07:50.600 --> 0:07:53.440 to be energized. They're excited about their nine win football team, 0:07:53.880 --> 0:07:56.680 as they should be. Um they got the tornado sirens 0:07:56.720 --> 0:07:59.840 blaring and all that jazz. But you know, then you 0:08:00.040 --> 0:08:02.520 lose Aaron Jones early on to the knee injury. Jamal 0:08:02.560 --> 0:08:05.600 Williams does a really nice job filling in. But Jones, 0:08:05.640 --> 0:08:07.120 you have to imagine, with the way they were using 0:08:07.160 --> 0:08:08.680 him early on, was going to be a big part 0:08:08.680 --> 0:08:11.680 of that game plan. Um, you know, you're you're playing 0:08:11.680 --> 0:08:13.960 without Brian Balog on the right side. You know the 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:15.960 issues that are going to be there trying to defend 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:19.520 against Khalil Mack and Akeem Hicks. There's just so many 0:08:19.560 --> 0:08:22.400 different components that factor into a game like this. And 0:08:22.440 --> 0:08:25.840 for the Packers perspective, while there were individuals I thought 0:08:25.840 --> 0:08:28.880 stepped up, collectively, the Chicago Bears just played better and 0:08:28.920 --> 0:08:30.920 they got the victory. Yeah, I mean, I take nothing 0:08:30.960 --> 0:08:33.360 away from the Bears defense. I do think it it 0:08:33.520 --> 0:08:35.960 might be the best defense in the NFL. It's certainly 0:08:35.960 --> 0:08:38.920 one of the top two or three at this point. 0:08:39.160 --> 0:08:41.640 But you look at that game, Wes and it's it's 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:44.200 frustrating because it really looked like there were plays to 0:08:44.240 --> 0:08:47.080 be made. And you know, Aaron Rodgers talked about it 0:08:47.120 --> 0:08:49.559 after the game, so did Joe Philbin. Yes, there were 0:08:49.600 --> 0:08:54.000 some misthrows. There's also you know, route running issues. There 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:57.080 obviously are protection issues you just mentioned with Khalil Mack. 0:08:57.240 --> 0:09:00.000 You know, I think it was Mac and Floyd combined 0:09:00.000 --> 0:09:03.000 mine for four and a half of the five Chicago 0:09:03.040 --> 0:09:07.760 Bears Sacks a lot of questions about just what is 0:09:07.800 --> 0:09:10.240 going on with this offense, and I thought, I thought 0:09:10.280 --> 0:09:13.079 Joe Philbin said it best that that it's never just 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:16.760 one thing. I mean, yes, there's a throw missed here there, 0:09:16.800 --> 0:09:20.200 there's a protection breakdown here, there's a route running issue there. Rogers, 0:09:20.840 --> 0:09:24.480 without going into um a whole lot of detail, basically said, 0:09:24.520 --> 0:09:28.280 it's the details. And and that's frustrating when you're fourteen 0:09:28.320 --> 0:09:30.560 games into the season, because you know those are the 0:09:30.600 --> 0:09:32.720 types of things that are supposed to be ironed out 0:09:32.800 --> 0:09:35.480 in training camp in September. You know, then as you 0:09:35.520 --> 0:09:37.880 get later in the season, you're starting to click a 0:09:37.920 --> 0:09:40.480 little better. And for whatever reason, and it's a number 0:09:40.480 --> 0:09:43.880 of reasons, it just hasn't clicked with this offense on 0:09:43.960 --> 0:09:47.040 any kind of a consistent basis, especially away from home. 0:09:47.120 --> 0:09:49.800 The one silver lining I took away from this, and 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:51.480 I said it all last week, Mike. It was one 0:09:51.520 --> 0:09:53.959 of my subheads for one of the inboxes we did 0:09:54.000 --> 0:09:55.679 is we're about to learn a lot about both of 0:09:55.720 --> 0:09:57.560 these teams. I think we've learned over the last two 0:09:57.600 --> 0:10:00.160 and a half weeks. Chicago Bears are very real rent 0:10:00.280 --> 0:10:02.000 in the NFC. I think they're a team with their 0:10:02.000 --> 0:10:04.760 defense and the way they're built. If Mitchell Robinsky protects 0:10:04.760 --> 0:10:06.640 the ball like he did in this game, they can 0:10:06.679 --> 0:10:09.080 go a long way. From the Packers perspective, this was 0:10:09.080 --> 0:10:11.040 a game you had to win because not only does 0:10:11.080 --> 0:10:12.720 it keep you in the playoff race, but these are 0:10:12.760 --> 0:10:14.840 the type of teams you're gonna have to beat if 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:17.960 beyond that regular season, let's say you do, you know, 0:10:18.120 --> 0:10:19.920 defy all the odds and get in. You have to 0:10:19.960 --> 0:10:22.120 beat the teams like the Bears, and you have to 0:10:22.160 --> 0:10:26.199 do it, you know, methodically, with with what is required 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:29.000 to be able to play a complete performance. It's about 0:10:29.000 --> 0:10:32.400 execution in the clutch exact, quite frankly, and the Packers 0:10:32.440 --> 0:10:36.040 played a solid football game on the road for three 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:39.000 quarters and then and then in the fourth quarter. Whether 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:41.000 you want to point to the three and outs and 0:10:41.120 --> 0:10:43.880 some misthrows, whether you want to point to a penalty 0:10:43.920 --> 0:10:46.640 on special teams that allows the Bears to start across 0:10:46.679 --> 0:10:48.920 the fifty and then a big punt return that's allowed 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:51.880 later on, you had special teams breakdowns, and you had 0:10:51.920 --> 0:10:54.800 defensive breakdowns with a couple of defensive penalties on the 0:10:54.800 --> 0:10:57.720 go ahead touched on drive. You had miss tackles here 0:10:57.760 --> 0:10:59.960 and there. That miss tackles was kind of the issue 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:02.040 of the defense in the first half. They seemed to 0:11:02.080 --> 0:11:03.520 clean that up in the second half and then the 0:11:03.520 --> 0:11:05.959 penalty started to bite him. So but you look, you 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:09.200 look at the fourth quarter. All three phases, all three 0:11:09.200 --> 0:11:13.199 phases had rough, rough moments and made the types of 0:11:13.280 --> 0:11:17.920 killer mistakes that cost you games. Because of your games 0:11:17.920 --> 0:11:19.880 in the NFL come down to the fourth quarter. You've 0:11:19.920 --> 0:11:21.760 got to make the plays in the fourth quarter and 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:24.360 on the road. This year, the Packers just haven't done it. 0:11:24.440 --> 0:11:25.840 The one I would have liked to have seen. I 0:11:25.840 --> 0:11:27.679 think there's two plays that stand out to me when 0:11:27.679 --> 0:11:29.440 I look back at the game. The one if if 0:11:29.800 --> 0:11:33.080 that I believe it was the post route that Equinomius 0:11:33.080 --> 0:11:34.800 st Brown was running in the end zone. It looked 0:11:34.800 --> 0:11:36.640 like he had a little bit of separation from him. 0:11:36.720 --> 0:11:39.080 If you're able to connect on that takes seven instead 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:41.880 of three. There what that could do for you. Actually, 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:43.559 I even thought that Hail Mary at the end of 0:11:43.600 --> 0:11:46.080 the first half was actually pretty competitive. That was Clote, 0:11:46.120 --> 0:11:48.959 I mean, yeah, Davante. Davante Adams got his hands on it, 0:11:49.000 --> 0:11:50.720 looked like he had a chance. I think it was 0:11:50.840 --> 0:11:53.480 Eddie Jackson who kind of got his arm in there 0:11:53.480 --> 0:11:56.120 as well to just to mess it up enough that 0:11:56.280 --> 0:11:58.679 what had Yeah, that Adams couldn't get a clean catch 0:11:58.720 --> 0:12:00.480 on it, And the one I really to see if 0:12:00.520 --> 0:12:03.440 you're able to get that ball to Randall Cobb there, 0:12:03.520 --> 0:12:06.040 you know, get that explosive play down field. I believe 0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:08.760 was on one of those three and out scenarios. What 0:12:08.920 --> 0:12:11.200 that could have done, because not only is it a 0:12:11.240 --> 0:12:13.040 huge play in a big moment of a game, but 0:12:13.080 --> 0:12:15.600 also that's Randall Cobb. I mean, you know the ghosts 0:12:15.600 --> 0:12:17.520 that kind of punt the Bears as it relates to 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:21.040 Randall Cobbin, I could have really turned it. But as 0:12:21.040 --> 0:12:23.360 Clay Matthews said afterwards when he was talking to the media, 0:12:23.400 --> 0:12:26.160 I mean those not those plays specifically, but those type 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:28.120 of plays, the type of plays you need to make 0:12:28.200 --> 0:12:30.920 to win games. The Packers just haven't done that enough 0:12:30.960 --> 0:12:33.520 this season. And that's why you know in these eight losses, 0:12:33.559 --> 0:12:35.839 six of them have been within one score. Yeah, it's 0:12:35.840 --> 0:12:38.160 interesting that you mentioned Randall Cobb because there were a 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:41.240 couple of instances there. One on the first three and 0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:43.040 out in the fourth quarter, and then on the second 0:12:43.040 --> 0:12:45.520 three and out there was the one Rogers is scrambling 0:12:45.520 --> 0:12:48.720 a little bit and Cobb breaks free. Your classics scramble route, 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:52.240 your veteran receivers with you, and Rogers Rogers just missed 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:54.560 him with the throw. And then he said after the 0:12:54.559 --> 0:12:56.320 game that the wind just kind of took it, like 0:12:56.360 --> 0:12:58.319 he thought, you know what, you saw that he had 0:12:58.400 --> 0:13:01.680 him and everything, but it was those wind. Yeah, yeah, 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:04.480 the wind took that throw off target. And then on 0:13:04.559 --> 0:13:08.560 the next drive after another sack on first down, Packers 0:13:08.559 --> 0:13:11.160 are behind the chains, but Cobb is right there for 0:13:11.200 --> 0:13:13.600 the slant and the balls there and he drops it 0:13:13.640 --> 0:13:15.880 when he probably at least gets the first down, and 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:18.320 if he breaks one tackle, he might be, you know, 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:21.000 potentially off to the races there. So it's just those 0:13:21.040 --> 0:13:24.600 types of missed opportunities, and it just seems that with 0:13:24.679 --> 0:13:26.720 the Packers the way things have gone on the road 0:13:26.760 --> 0:13:29.720 this year, those missed opportunities continue to happen in the 0:13:29.760 --> 0:13:32.080 fourth quarter, in the key moments when you're right in 0:13:32.120 --> 0:13:35.080 the game. They haven't been blown out, you know. Yes, 0:13:35.200 --> 0:13:38.600 the early games Detroit and Washington. They were coming back 0:13:38.640 --> 0:13:41.319 from huge deficits. But since the bye week, all these 0:13:41.400 --> 0:13:44.600 road games against some very very good teams, they've been 0:13:44.720 --> 0:13:47.560 right there. But then the missed opportunities in the fourth 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:50.360 quarters what costs you. And then because the other team 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:52.880 is the team making those plays, you're always coming home 0:13:52.920 --> 0:13:54.560 with the loss. You and I were gonna have plenty 0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:56.200 of time in a couple of weeks here to kind of, 0:13:56.360 --> 0:13:58.360 you know, look back on this season and it stands 0:13:58.360 --> 0:14:00.320 out to you. I think, you know, one of things 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:03.080 the Bears really benefited from this year, in my own opinion, is, 0:14:03.160 --> 0:14:05.440 you know, when you finished a certain place in your division, 0:14:05.720 --> 0:14:10.200 it makes the schedule theoretically easier because you'll face teams 0:14:10.200 --> 0:14:13.560 from corresponding spots into those two spots in the schedule. 0:14:13.640 --> 0:14:15.840 I'm I've already been looking a little bit towards two 0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:18.160 thousand nineteen. The schedule is interesting for the Packers what 0:14:18.200 --> 0:14:20.200 they could potentially you know, do I think they had 0:14:20.400 --> 0:14:22.280 ended up You know, you have to win games. This 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:24.520 record is what it is. But the schedule that they 0:14:24.600 --> 0:14:26.440 ended up having this year, when you factor in what 0:14:26.520 --> 0:14:28.520 happened in November, the stretch they were on the teams 0:14:28.520 --> 0:14:30.520 they were playing. It's gonna go down as one of 0:14:30.520 --> 0:14:32.360 the more difficult ones. I think this Packers team has 0:14:32.400 --> 0:14:34.560 faced that being said, you have to win the games. 0:14:35.000 --> 0:14:37.840 But uh yeah, I just there were so many quirky 0:14:37.960 --> 0:14:42.360 things about this season that I think it really, um, 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:44.080 it's gonna make it one that when you think back 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:46.400 on it, you know, the Packers hope it's an anomaly. 0:14:46.480 --> 0:14:49.160 You hope you can pull everything together, but it's uh, 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:53.720 it's definitely been a strange year. Yeah, no question about it. Um. Well, quickly, 0:14:53.760 --> 0:14:56.200 here west the Green Bay Packers get ready for game 0:14:56.280 --> 0:15:00.360 day with the powerful noise canceling technology of BOS Quiet 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:04.760 Comfort thirty five headphones. To learn more at www dot 0:15:04.840 --> 0:15:08.680 bos dot com. Slash Packers Bows the official headphones of 0:15:08.720 --> 0:15:11.000 the Green Bay Packers, And at home or here in 0:15:11.000 --> 0:15:13.360 the stands, we all know that Green Bay fans give 0:15:13.400 --> 0:15:15.800 it there all that takes a lot of energy, So 0:15:15.920 --> 0:15:18.480 grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty 0:15:18.480 --> 0:15:21.200 goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. Try the 0:15:21.200 --> 0:15:25.120 delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local supermarket 0:15:25.160 --> 0:15:28.400 and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup. Official sup partner of 0:15:28.440 --> 0:15:32.360 the Green Bay Packers. Okay, we mentioned obviously the Packers 0:15:32.360 --> 0:15:37.200 officially eliminated from any playoff contention. The mathematics are what 0:15:37.360 --> 0:15:39.640 they are. But I want to talk a little bit 0:15:39.640 --> 0:15:42.240 about what's going on in this NFC playoff picture. I 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:44.520 already mentioned the Bears and the fact that they still 0:15:44.520 --> 0:15:47.200 have a shot now at a first round by because 0:15:47.360 --> 0:15:52.400 the Rams lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. But that uh 0:15:52.520 --> 0:15:55.400 the two wild card spots in the NFC US. The 0:15:55.440 --> 0:15:58.600 Seattle Seahawks lose at San Francisco, first time the forty 0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:03.160 Niners have beaten the Seahawks. Yeah, you talk about a 0:16:03.200 --> 0:16:06.440 division rival that had just owned the other one. The 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:09.840 forty Niners get their first win over Seattle in five years. 0:16:11.040 --> 0:16:13.440 Seattle still in the five spot for the wild card. 0:16:13.520 --> 0:16:16.880 The Minnesota Vikings get a win with their new offensive coordinator. 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:20.360 They put up forty one points to beat the Miami Dolphins. 0:16:20.880 --> 0:16:24.320 So Minnesota is sitting in the sixth spot at seven 0:16:24.360 --> 0:16:27.240 six and one. But you had the Eagles pull the 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:30.760 upset against the Rams with backup quarterback Nick Foles. The 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:34.480 Washington Redskins, on what is it, their fourth quarterback in 0:16:34.600 --> 0:16:37.520 the season, they win down in Jacksonville. I think it 0:16:37.560 --> 0:16:41.560 was in Jacksonville, UM. So both of those teams from 0:16:41.600 --> 0:16:45.080 the NFC East are seven and seven and right on 0:16:45.480 --> 0:16:48.080 not only the heels of the Minnesota Vikings for the 0:16:48.160 --> 0:16:50.440 sixth spot, but now just one game back of the 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:53.680 Dallas Cowboys for the lead in the NFC East because 0:16:53.680 --> 0:16:57.080 the Cowboys went to Indianapolis as one of the hotter 0:16:57.160 --> 0:16:59.880 teams in the NFL and got shut out. So the 0:17:00.000 --> 0:17:02.680 Cowboys are still leading the NFC East and currently in 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:05.520 the four seed in the NFC, but they are eight 0:17:05.560 --> 0:17:08.080 and six and two of their division rivals are just 0:17:08.119 --> 0:17:10.679 one game back with two games to go. Yeah, this 0:17:10.760 --> 0:17:13.760 was a humbling week, I thought, specifically in the NFC 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:17.200 because a lot of narratives changed with with the results 0:17:17.240 --> 0:17:21.000 of Week fifteen. I mean, everybody leaves Philadelphia for dead, 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:24.040 you know, with Carson Wentz being down, everything's working against them. Well, 0:17:24.080 --> 0:17:26.600 ain't Nick Foles still doing his thing against his former 0:17:26.640 --> 0:17:28.440 team in the Rams, although it's been a change in 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:31.280 city and that's where it started for him last year 0:17:31.480 --> 0:17:33.400 was out in l a as well when he had 0:17:33.440 --> 0:17:36.520 to step in for Carson Wentz. But then the Steelers, 0:17:36.520 --> 0:17:38.480 they just came off a demoralizing loss. Oh yeah, let's 0:17:38.480 --> 0:17:41.280 go beat the Patriots in the fact that you had, 0:17:41.800 --> 0:17:45.399 like the San Francisco beating Seattle just mind blowing. But 0:17:45.720 --> 0:17:47.520 the one that stands out to me the most as 0:17:47.520 --> 0:17:50.400 far as maybe a feel good type story, Josh Johnson, 0:17:50.400 --> 0:17:54.119 who entered the league in four won his first game 0:17:54.200 --> 0:17:58.479 as a quarter Sorry but I mean, I mean his 0:17:58.600 --> 0:18:02.600 first know what you're saying, as a quarterback. A starting quarterback. 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:06.240 Jess Johnson has played for thirty three of the thirty 0:18:06.240 --> 0:18:10.000 two NFL teams. He finally won a game for a 0:18:10.119 --> 0:18:14.240 Washington team that's on its fourth quarterback, the most recent 0:18:14.240 --> 0:18:17.280 of which they've signed two weeks ago. The first overall 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:20.240 pick in the spring league draft. Just led Washington to 0:18:20.280 --> 0:18:23.879 a victory and there's still in the running for the playoffs. 0:18:24.760 --> 0:18:27.119 And hey, by the way, Dallas Cowboys hottest team in 0:18:27.160 --> 0:18:30.359 the league. Oh, we're gonna get shut out by the Colts. Dude, 0:18:30.600 --> 0:18:32.600 this is gonna be I wish the Packers are part 0:18:32.600 --> 0:18:35.960 of it. Would it would it would be fun to 0:18:36.000 --> 0:18:38.720 be paying attention to this with the Packers in the mix, 0:18:38.760 --> 0:18:42.480 because because the results yesterday in the in the NFC 0:18:42.640 --> 0:18:45.760 just kind of made things crazy, everything's nuts, everything's turned 0:18:45.800 --> 0:18:48.359 on its head. And it's the great part of this league. 0:18:48.400 --> 0:18:50.440 You can't ever just say, Okay, well, this is what's 0:18:50.440 --> 0:18:53.560 gonna happen. This is exactly what's gonna happen, and then 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:55.680 everything changes on you on a dime. It's gonna be 0:18:55.680 --> 0:18:58.040 fun to watch these playoff games in January. And to 0:18:58.080 --> 0:19:00.960 be honest with you, Michael, whoever ends up grabbing those 0:19:01.000 --> 0:19:03.560 final two spots in the NFC, I wouldn't count them 0:19:03.560 --> 0:19:05.520 out from being the team that's gonna end up making 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:07.399 to the super Bowl. It just seems like one of 0:19:07.440 --> 0:19:09.320 those years as long as you don't have to go 0:19:09.400 --> 0:19:12.320