WEBVTT - #490 Packers Unscripted: Difference-makers 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:15.000 Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:15.080 --> 0:00:17.840 I am Mike Spofford sitting next to the one and 0:00:17.920 --> 0:00:20.960 only Wes Hodkowits were coming to you here from our 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:23.759 studios at lambeau Field West, our final show of the week, 0:00:23.840 --> 0:00:28.920 Packers Bears, Sunday noon Central kickoff at lambeau Field. It's 0:00:28.920 --> 0:00:32.360 almost here and as we wrap up the week, that 0:00:32.360 --> 0:00:36.040 means keys to victory. So as the Packers search for 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:39.720 win number eleven, trying to get to eleven and three 0:00:39.920 --> 0:00:42.040 before they hit the road for the final two regular 0:00:42.080 --> 0:00:44.360 season games of the year, what's it going to take 0:00:44.400 --> 0:00:47.200 in this one consistency? And that's one of the things 0:00:47.200 --> 0:00:49.760 we heard this week from Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafleur. 0:00:50.360 --> 0:00:54.000 I think it isn't just a comfortable cliche though. It's 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:56.040 something I think there's a lot of truth too, because 0:00:56.520 --> 0:00:58.640 if you look at the way that this offense, defense, 0:00:58.680 --> 0:01:01.240 and special teams have performed throughout the year, if you 0:01:01.280 --> 0:01:04.679 could put together all their top performances, they could compete 0:01:04.680 --> 0:01:07.679 with any team in the league. But it's about, Okay, 0:01:08.000 --> 0:01:09.600 what are you gonna get out of those three phases 0:01:09.600 --> 0:01:11.640 in any given week? And who's going to be the 0:01:11.640 --> 0:01:13.840 one that kind of rises above, because that's been the 0:01:13.880 --> 0:01:16.960 kind of the when their ten victories, one particular phase 0:01:17.000 --> 0:01:20.399 always seems to stand out. And I just think that 0:01:20.520 --> 0:01:22.320 when you hear guys talk about this in the locker room, 0:01:22.319 --> 0:01:25.520 we haven't played our best game yet, we haven't played 0:01:25.520 --> 0:01:28.080 a four quarter game yet. There is truth to that. Now. 0:01:28.360 --> 0:01:30.720 Don't get me wrong. It's been enough to be ten 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:33.399 and three, and there's you know, twenty some teams in 0:01:33.400 --> 0:01:35.399 this league right now. They would do anything to have 0:01:35.440 --> 0:01:38.800 ten victories at this juncture the season. But it's what 0:01:38.920 --> 0:01:41.319 Matt Fleur keeps saying in terms of what's still out 0:01:41.360 --> 0:01:43.440 there for them. They feel like there's still things that 0:01:43.480 --> 0:01:47.000 they can accomplish. And when I look at this offense 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:50.760 in particular, just the offense with Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, 0:01:50.840 --> 0:01:53.400 Davante Adams, Alan Lazard, all these other pieces that we've 0:01:53.440 --> 0:01:56.680 talked about, they've all shined independently in different games and 0:01:56.680 --> 0:01:59.760 different scenarios. Can you get them all on the same 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:03.560 age together, whether it's this week or Minnesota Detroit. I 0:02:03.640 --> 0:02:05.680 just think that's critical for them trying to mount the 0:02:05.720 --> 0:02:08.919 playoff push here to finally you know see what that 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:12.160 looks like when you can get everything clicking on all cylinders. Yeah, 0:02:12.160 --> 0:02:14.720 I think you and I both agree that this Packers 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:17.600 team has not played its best game yet. I think 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:21.919 both of us believe, as Matt lafleuris continue to say, 0:02:21.960 --> 0:02:24.960 as Aaron Rodgers has also said, there is another level 0:02:25.040 --> 0:02:28.400 out there for this team, but there's no guarantee you're 0:02:28.440 --> 0:02:30.520 going to get there. You still you still have to 0:02:30.600 --> 0:02:33.360 find it. You have to push your level of play there, 0:02:33.720 --> 0:02:35.600 and then you have to try to maintain yourself at 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:38.280 that at that level of play for as long as possible. 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:40.560 And I agree with you. I think whether it's whether 0:02:40.639 --> 0:02:43.600 it's this Sunday against the Bears, whether it's next week 0:02:43.639 --> 0:02:46.080 on Monday Night against Minnesota, I think the Packers need 0:02:46.160 --> 0:02:51.160 to find that level and uh then that will set 0:02:51.160 --> 0:02:56.239 themselves up potentially to make a run in January here 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:59.000 as far as this Bears team is concerned, I think 0:02:59.000 --> 0:03:01.560 the Packers have to be ready for you know what, 0:03:01.600 --> 0:03:03.519 do you call it the punch in the mouth of 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:07.680 the haymaker. I mean this Bears team, they are they 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:10.359 are fired up. They were taking a lot of hits 0:03:10.400 --> 0:03:13.040 from all directions. The midpoint of the season, they had 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:17.880 dropped to I believe it was three and five. At 0:03:17.880 --> 0:03:20.480 the midway point, they were three and five after eight games. 0:03:20.480 --> 0:03:24.600 Everybody was They've won four their last five now, including 0:03:24.639 --> 0:03:28.119 three in a row. They're coming in here with as 0:03:28.120 --> 0:03:30.160 we talked about way back at the beginning of the week, 0:03:30.320 --> 0:03:32.640 their season is on the line. They are going to 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:35.640 absolutely pull up, pull out all the stops. They're coming 0:03:35.680 --> 0:03:38.560 off of back to back Thursday games, so they've had 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:41.760 a little bit of extra rest since their big Thursday 0:03:41.840 --> 0:03:46.040 night victory at home last week against Dallas. I think 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:49.320 the Packers really the Packers have to be ready for 0:03:49.400 --> 0:03:51.600 a team. I know it's a cliche to say you're 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:54.119 going to get their best shot. The Packers really are 0:03:54.200 --> 0:03:57.200 going to get the Bears best shot on Sunday. There's 0:03:57.200 --> 0:03:59.400 no doubt in my mind about that. I've always had 0:03:59.400 --> 0:04:01.400 a lot of for Matt Nage. I think he's a 0:04:01.440 --> 0:04:03.560 brilliant offensive mind. I think what he was able to 0:04:03.560 --> 0:04:06.560 accomplish in Kansas sitting and then come into Chicago, it 0:04:06.840 --> 0:04:09.000 goes without saying at this point that he's a good 0:04:09.000 --> 0:04:11.520 football coach. I think what we learned this year about 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:13.720 him is he's a good leader and for them to 0:04:13.800 --> 0:04:16.040 be able to pull out of this. There's Chicago Bears teams, 0:04:16.040 --> 0:04:18.599 I can tell you, and this isn't an indictment on 0:04:18.600 --> 0:04:21.120 any particular coach, but where there were years where if 0:04:21.160 --> 0:04:24.800 they fall three and five, the unravelings begun. And that's 0:04:24.800 --> 0:04:27.159 what they were hearing from the outside. That is like, oh, 0:04:27.200 --> 0:04:29.479 the Bears with Matt Nagge, there are a one year wonder. 0:04:29.520 --> 0:04:31.800 They went twelve and four, they got knocked out of 0:04:31.800 --> 0:04:34.000 the playoffs and that's it, you know, And it's like, 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:36.520 do they need to find another quarterback instead of Trabisky. 0:04:36.680 --> 0:04:38.800 All of that was going on in Chicago and all 0:04:38.839 --> 0:04:41.000 of a sudden they're seven and six and they're fighting 0:04:41.000 --> 0:04:43.039 for everything they can get. And make no mistake, the 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:45.159 Green Bay Packers need to win this game on Sunday. 0:04:45.200 --> 0:04:46.760 They need to take care of what they need to 0:04:46.760 --> 0:04:49.120 take care of. They have ten wins, the Bears have seven. 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:51.560 And the Bears, even though they've called themselves back, it 0:04:51.600 --> 0:04:55.200 hasn't been against premier NFL talent and all that considered. 0:04:55.240 --> 0:04:57.360 Why I bring this all up is, let's just say 0:04:57.400 --> 0:04:59.800 the Packers do take care of business. It is still 0:04:59.800 --> 0:05:01.920 in Horton for the Bears to finish strong here, because 0:05:01.920 --> 0:05:04.880 I don't think you're gonna see a dissimilation of just 0:05:04.920 --> 0:05:08.839 this entire you know, organization. They still want to be 0:05:09.000 --> 0:05:12.480 within that reach of the playoffs to give themselves some confidence, 0:05:12.480 --> 0:05:15.440 to give themselves some belief that, Okay, two thousand twenty, 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:18.120 we can still stay on this trajectory. Mitchell Rubinsky can 0:05:18.160 --> 0:05:19.960 be our guy in our defense. Is going to be 0:05:20.000 --> 0:05:22.920 the group that we think it is. The Packers need 0:05:23.000 --> 0:05:26.240 to kind of ease them into that next season. That's 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:28.640 their goal. I mean, Aaron Jones even talked about it. 0:05:28.680 --> 0:05:30.320 He didn't really realize this. To be honest with you, 0:05:30.360 --> 0:05:32.960 I didn't realize this. The Chicago Bears and almost an 0:05:32.960 --> 0:05:35.919 exact same scenario last year, effectively shut the door on 0:05:35.960 --> 0:05:38.760 the Packers playoff hopes with that victory late in the season. 0:05:39.080 --> 0:05:41.760 Now Green Bay wants to do the same. Yeah. From 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:43.800 an x IS and O standpoint here, I mean, I 0:05:43.839 --> 0:05:46.880 think you and I are definitely on the same page 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:49.840 as far as this goes. I think defensively for the Packers, 0:05:49.880 --> 0:05:53.080 this game comes down to how you defend Mitchell Trubisky. 0:05:53.240 --> 0:05:56.120 And what I mean by that is whether he's doing 0:05:56.120 --> 0:05:59.239 the read option runs with David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen, 0:05:59.360 --> 0:06:01.960 or whether he's scrambling out of the pocket trying to 0:06:01.960 --> 0:06:04.359 make plays with his legs. Those are the kinds of 0:06:04.400 --> 0:06:07.120 things the Packers have to be. Matt Lafleur used the 0:06:07.120 --> 0:06:11.080 word discipline several times at the podium this week. It's 0:06:11.120 --> 0:06:13.520 disciplined with that read option so that you don't just 0:06:13.560 --> 0:06:16.040 sell out to stop the running back, because Trubisky can 0:06:16.080 --> 0:06:18.919 tuck the ball and run. It's discipline with your pass 0:06:19.000 --> 0:06:21.680 rush lanes so that when he when he drops back 0:06:21.720 --> 0:06:24.880 to pass, you're not giving him these easy escape routes 0:06:24.960 --> 0:06:26.920 to be able to to get to the marker and 0:06:26.920 --> 0:06:29.520 move the chains on a third and seven, for example. 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:32.040 Those are the kinds of things if if the Packers, 0:06:33.240 --> 0:06:37.240 if the Packers can contain Mitchell Rubinsky and not let 0:06:37.360 --> 0:06:40.480 him dictate things with his legs, which is what which 0:06:40.520 --> 0:06:43.000 is really what he did against Chicago, I'm sorry, in 0:06:43.120 --> 0:06:47.160 Chicago against Dallas last week, I think that's uh. That 0:06:47.560 --> 0:06:49.480 to me, that's the whole key to this game and 0:06:49.600 --> 0:06:54.240 keeping the Bears down. He had excuse me, two yards 0:06:54.279 --> 0:06:57.640 passing on attempts and the opener was sacked five times. 0:06:57.640 --> 0:07:00.000 The Packers kept a barrage of pressure in his face, 0:07:00.040 --> 0:07:02.680 and the edge resher has kept their integrity. That's going 0:07:02.720 --> 0:07:04.680 to be critical. The other thing I think is gonna 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:07.719 be critical in this equation is David Montgomery, because well, 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:11.080 Montgomery hasn't had maybe that two yard game where okay, 0:07:11.120 --> 0:07:14.600 all the Yahoo Fantasy and ESPN everyone's like talking about 0:07:14.600 --> 0:07:16.880 this guy. He's a star now and people start to 0:07:16.880 --> 0:07:18.480 want to put him on their roster and make sure 0:07:18.520 --> 0:07:20.720 he's a top five talent, and then everybody knows who 0:07:20.800 --> 0:07:23.400 David Montgomery has. He hasn't had that type of game yet, 0:07:23.840 --> 0:07:26.600 but he is their best option in the backfield now. 0:07:26.680 --> 0:07:30.320 Terrik Cohen a nice gap back, but David Montgomery, the 0:07:30.360 --> 0:07:32.120 reason they drafted him last year was to be that 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:35.320 number one guy. This guys two pounds at five tens. 0:07:35.840 --> 0:07:37.720 He's got a lot of power in that in that body. 0:07:37.720 --> 0:07:41.240 He's a pistol. And for all the things that happened 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:43.040 in that opening, we can talk about Trabisky, we can 0:07:43.080 --> 0:07:44.920 talk about the low scoring game. I thought the number 0:07:44.920 --> 0:07:48.000 one mistake the Bears did. And this is no disrespect 0:07:48.000 --> 0:07:49.960 to Mike Davis. I have a lot of respect for 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:52.040 how he able, he was able to claw himself back 0:07:52.080 --> 0:07:53.880 and make a career out of this thing for himself. 0:07:54.480 --> 0:07:57.200 But they pulled the band aid half off this offseason. 0:07:57.240 --> 0:07:59.160 They either got to go all the way or you 0:07:59.240 --> 0:08:00.760 gotta keep it on. And what I mean by that 0:08:00.880 --> 0:08:03.920 is they got rid of Jordan Howard and then they 0:08:04.000 --> 0:08:07.160 signed Davis to a two year deal, who, for the 0:08:07.200 --> 0:08:10.240 most part, is a very similar type back if you're 0:08:10.280 --> 0:08:12.640 going to usher in the David Montgomery era for a 0:08:12.720 --> 0:08:15.680 running back usher in the David Montgomery era, he didn't 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:18.120 get nearly enough touches in that opener, and we're seeing 0:08:18.200 --> 0:08:20.240 it now. Yeah, and Davis really wasn't able to get 0:08:20.280 --> 0:08:22.320 anything going, and they weren't able to run the ball. 0:08:22.800 --> 0:08:25.120 We can talk forever about all the things that went 0:08:25.160 --> 0:08:27.280 wrong with Trabinsky in that game. He didn't have a 0:08:27.360 --> 0:08:29.440 chance to get the run game going at all. And 0:08:29.480 --> 0:08:31.240 it doesn't matter if it's the Packers defense, it doesn't 0:08:31.280 --> 0:08:33.520 matter who you're playing. If you are one dimensional with 0:08:33.559 --> 0:08:36.600 a third year quarterback that has certain limitations, it's gonna 0:08:36.640 --> 0:08:38.840 be a long day at the office. I I just 0:08:38.920 --> 0:08:42.319 think that not only containing Trabinsky but also making sure 0:08:42.360 --> 0:08:45.319 that you hold Montgomery and check because this time he's 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:46.959 going to get the touches, Mike. It's not going to 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:49.040 be like the opener where he got six or seven 0:08:49.080 --> 0:08:51.240 carries and then a couple of catches. I mean, there's 0:08:51.240 --> 0:08:54.240 gonna be touch guy, Yeah, no question about it. You 0:08:54.240 --> 0:08:57.319 look at last week, Trabinsky had sixty plus rushing yards 0:08:57.360 --> 0:08:59.920 against the Cowboys. That was by far his biggest total 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:04.640 of nineteen and actually his second largest rushing total of 0:09:04.679 --> 0:09:07.760 his career. So that's the sign that he's getting back 0:09:07.760 --> 0:09:10.520 to being that running and scrambling mits true biscuit that 0:09:10.559 --> 0:09:12.360 we saw the first couple of years of his career. 0:09:13.200 --> 0:09:16.720 And with regard to Montgomery, eighty six rushing yards last 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:20.120 week against Dallas, that's that's his second highest total of 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:22.480 his rookie season. He has one one yard game. He 0:09:22.520 --> 0:09:25.000 had a hundred and thirty five yards I believe it 0:09:25.080 --> 0:09:28.160 wasn't in one game this season. But the twenty carries 0:09:28.200 --> 0:09:31.920 for eighty six yards in the last game against the Cowboys, 0:09:32.840 --> 0:09:34.760 that's what I think the Packers are going to see 0:09:34.840 --> 0:09:37.120 on Sunday. He is going to be the bell cow. 0:09:37.200 --> 0:09:39.720 He's going to be the number one running back and 0:09:39.880 --> 0:09:42.800 that read option stuff you know, uh, you know, the 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:45.000 the whole mesh point thing and is true bisky gonna 0:09:45.040 --> 0:09:47.080 hand it or pull it all that? I think. I 0:09:47.080 --> 0:09:49.600 think that's where this Bears offense is starting to kind 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:52.920 of just get more comfortable with itself because Montgomery is 0:09:52.960 --> 0:09:56.000 settling into being that number one back here at the 0:09:56.000 --> 0:09:58.520 tail end of his rookie season, and Matt said all 0:09:58.520 --> 0:10:00.840 the right things about Dallas d defense and what he 0:10:00.840 --> 0:10:02.680 thought about him. I'm gonna tell you right now, for me, 0:10:02.840 --> 0:10:05.760 Cowboys defense has been a letdown this season. I thought 0:10:05.760 --> 0:10:08.280 how they defended the read option was very uninspired in 0:10:08.280 --> 0:10:11.480 that game. For how much speed they have right at 0:10:11.480 --> 0:10:14.439 the inside linebacker position, there were there were just assignments 0:10:14.480 --> 0:10:17.199 being ignored. You could see it on the film. So 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:18.920 that's where I think for the Packers, it's going to 0:10:18.960 --> 0:10:20.800 be being disciplined. It's going to be making sure that 0:10:20.840 --> 0:10:23.959 you are holding your gaps and in playing with integrity. 0:10:24.000 --> 0:10:25.679 But the other thing is too, As you mentioned, I mean, 0:10:25.720 --> 0:10:27.240 you have to have the read to be able to 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:29.760 have the option. And that's why the Montgomery and Trabinsky 0:10:29.840 --> 0:10:32.640 partnership I think has worked out so well, especially this 0:10:32.720 --> 0:10:35.560 year where he hasn't really had Trabinsky hasn't had all 0:10:35.559 --> 0:10:38.360 of his trusted weapons that that maybe he developed his 0:10:39.120 --> 0:10:42.439 last season. So again, I just I look at Strabinsky. 0:10:42.520 --> 0:10:44.280 I look at being able to pressure him, but being 0:10:44.280 --> 0:10:46.040 able to keep him in the pocket, not allowing him 0:10:46.040 --> 0:10:48.360 to screep, you know, kind of streak out into space. 0:10:48.760 --> 0:10:51.120 And in terms of Montgomery, making sure that you keep 0:10:51.120 --> 0:10:53.520 a hat on him for four quarters because if you don't, 0:10:53.960 --> 0:10:55.640 they're going to be able to move the chance. Yeah, well, 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:58.320 I'm gonna throw a stat at you, and then um 0:10:58.360 --> 0:11:01.120 after that, in an unreal aid matter, I'm going to 0:11:01.160 --> 0:11:05.480 ask you a question. Here's something I found wes first 0:11:05.559 --> 0:11:08.280 quarters of games this year. The Packers have outscored their 0:11:08.280 --> 0:11:12.240 opponents six Okay, that's better than a two to one ratio. 0:11:12.360 --> 0:11:14.880 We've talked about how how much getting off to a 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:16.840 fast starting games has been a big part of the 0:11:16.880 --> 0:11:19.680 formula for the Packers getting to double digit wins. But 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:22.800 listen to this. In the third quarter, the Chicago Bears 0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:27.040 have outscored their opponents to thirty, more than a three 0:11:27.040 --> 0:11:29.959 to one ratio. So whereas the Packers come out of 0:11:30.000 --> 0:11:32.480 the locker room at the beginning of the game trying 0:11:32.520 --> 0:11:35.199 to make their statement, you know, and set the pace. 0:11:35.600 --> 0:11:37.959 The Bears come out of the locker room at halftime 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:40.760 and they're gonna throw some punches there that that that's 0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:44.160 when they have taken control of the games that they 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:46.480 have won. So I think that's something to keep in 0:11:46.559 --> 0:11:49.320 mind as we go into Sunday looking at the beginning 0:11:49.320 --> 0:11:51.240 of the first half and the beginning of the second half. 0:11:51.240 --> 0:11:53.679 The question I want to ask you, though we all 0:11:53.720 --> 0:11:56.880 know about Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones and 0:11:56.920 --> 0:12:00.160 everything he means, we've seen so many different guy us 0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:03.520 throughout the course of this season for the Packers be 0:12:03.760 --> 0:12:07.760 that complementary piece on offense in a given game to 0:12:07.840 --> 0:12:10.240 help put this team over the top and get the 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:13.280 points that are needed for a victory. Is there somebody 0:12:13.360 --> 0:12:17.560 in that perimeter skill position group that you think might 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:21.280 be that complimentary piece on Sunday? It's Robert Tanyan. Is 0:12:21.320 --> 0:12:23.240 the guy I looked towards right now because I thought 0:12:23.280 --> 0:12:26.360 we saw him look like himself again last week. You know, 0:12:26.360 --> 0:12:28.360 he missed five games with that hip injury that he 0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:31.360 was dealing with and wasn't able really quite able to 0:12:31.360 --> 0:12:33.320 get past it and finally just had the bye week, 0:12:33.360 --> 0:12:35.040 and you know, I was able to rest it up 0:12:35.040 --> 0:12:37.560 and got back last week. I thought it showed you 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:40.559 the dimension he adds when when he's right, and being 0:12:40.600 --> 0:12:42.560 able to get that twelve year touchdown pass I thought 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:46.160 was critical. He is the kind of in between of 0:12:46.200 --> 0:12:49.320 all these different tight end personnel because, as Matt Lafleur said, 0:12:49.320 --> 0:12:52.040 going back to the NFL owners meetings in March, they 0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:54.000 want to be a tight end team. That's a package 0:12:54.000 --> 0:12:55.720 that he likes to live in. It's a package. A 0:12:55.720 --> 0:12:58.480 lot of those teams running that Shanahan West Coast Varia, 0:12:58.640 --> 0:13:01.959 you know version um, they like to use very ants 0:13:02.000 --> 0:13:03.160 with the word I was trying to go for their 0:13:04.520 --> 0:13:06.240 I just think that Tanyan is the guy that not 0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:07.760 only can play in line, but he can give you 0:13:07.800 --> 0:13:09.920 some snaps. Is this is a you know, spread guy 0:13:09.960 --> 0:13:12.400 as well. He just fits the mold for what the 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:14.600 Packers want to do. And I'm not saying he needs 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:16.720 to play more than Jimmy Graham or Marcedes Lewis, but 0:13:16.800 --> 0:13:19.360 I just think that you're seeing how he can be 0:13:19.480 --> 0:13:21.520 useful in the fact that Aaron Rodgers does have that 0:13:21.559 --> 0:13:23.320 trust in him and for a young guy a second 0:13:23.360 --> 0:13:25.920 year player that was an undrafted free agent. This just 0:13:25.960 --> 0:13:27.640 screams to me like the type of game where they 0:13:27.640 --> 0:13:29.439 could make some hay in the middle of the field 0:13:29.480 --> 0:13:31.040 and Tanny and I think could be a really good 0:13:31.080 --> 0:13:34.160 conduit to accomplishing that. Yeah, I could definitely see that. 0:13:34.200 --> 0:13:36.600 I think that's a good calling with with the Bears 0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:39.240 dealing with replacing role Kwan Smith in the middle of 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:41.079 the field and all that as well. If I were 0:13:41.120 --> 0:13:43.520 to pick a complimentary piece for this game, I think 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:45.720 I have to go with Jamal Williams. And I mentioned 0:13:45.800 --> 0:13:48.520 him as kind of, you know, my guy player to 0:13:48.600 --> 0:13:52.320 watch in our final Thoughts video because you know, you're 0:13:52.320 --> 0:13:55.040 talking about highs in the teens on Sunday, it's going 0:13:55.080 --> 0:13:58.840 to be cold. Having that that power running back for 0:13:58.840 --> 0:14:01.520 the short yardage, for the goal line stuff, I think 0:14:01.559 --> 0:14:04.240 Jamal Williams could play a pretty big role in this 0:14:04.240 --> 0:14:07.560 game on Sunday. And looking at his statistics on the season, 0:14:07.640 --> 0:14:10.680 he was he was on a streak middle portion of 0:14:10.720 --> 0:14:14.240 the season. He caught a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers 0:14:14.240 --> 0:14:18.080 in four consecutive games. He still leads the Packers overall 0:14:18.200 --> 0:14:21.720 this season with five touchdown catches, which is really unusual 0:14:21.760 --> 0:14:23.200 that you get this late in a season at a 0:14:23.280 --> 0:14:26.080 running back is is your top guy there? But since 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:28.960 that streak of four straight games with a touchdown catch, 0:14:29.120 --> 0:14:31.520 he hasn't had any. He's gone four games now without 0:14:31.520 --> 0:14:33.800 a touchdown catch. And I just wonder if you know, 0:14:34.040 --> 0:14:37.160 in in the red zone, the goal to go situation, 0:14:37.200 --> 0:14:40.680 if maybe that's something that the Packers pull back out 0:14:40.800 --> 0:14:43.400 and uh and Jamal Williams starts finding the end zone again, 0:14:44.280 --> 0:14:46.200 agree with you, and it would be. I think when 0:14:46.200 --> 0:14:48.800 you see Jamal, especially in the red area, how effective 0:14:48.840 --> 0:14:50.760 he can be as both a runner and a pass catcher. 0:14:51.240 --> 0:14:54.680 Those are things I definitely look for this game in particular, 0:14:54.960 --> 0:14:57.240 I really am looking for Aaron Jones though, And and 0:14:57.280 --> 0:14:58.920 why I say that is if you go back over 0:14:58.960 --> 0:15:01.320 the last two and a half year playing the Chicago 0:15:01.360 --> 0:15:04.000 Bears has not been kind to Aaron Jones. There have 0:15:04.040 --> 0:15:06.280 been injuries, there are times where he just you know, 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:08.760 like the the opener he only had thirteen carries for 0:15:08.760 --> 0:15:12.160 thirty nine yards. I just feel like these next two weeks, man, 0:15:12.240 --> 0:15:13.920 if you want to make a real statement, I don't 0:15:13.920 --> 0:15:16.640 care what the scoreboard looks like. I don't care what 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:18.600 even the result is, But if you want to make 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:20.240 a statement that says this team is a team to 0:15:20.280 --> 0:15:22.520 be messed within the playoffs, if you can get Aaron 0:15:22.600 --> 0:15:25.680 Jones to really break out hundred and twenty total yards, 0:15:25.760 --> 0:15:28.320 hundred and thirty total yards and to do it against 0:15:28.320 --> 0:15:31.800 the defense the caliber of Chicago and or Minnesota, that 0:15:31.840 --> 0:15:34.320 makes a statement. Here we talked about the consistency side 0:15:34.320 --> 0:15:36.920 of it. Now, all that being said is Aaron Jones 0:15:36.960 --> 0:15:39.440 doesn't need thirty touches to do that. We've seen it. 0:15:39.520 --> 0:15:41.920 He can do that in fifteen to twenty touch is fine. 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:44.760 There's still room there for Jamal Williams. And every single 0:15:44.800 --> 0:15:47.680 time someone asks about Aaron Jones, Matt Lafleur is quick 0:15:47.680 --> 0:15:49.640 to mention Jamal Williams is a big part of this too, 0:15:50.080 --> 0:15:52.480 because what makes them so great together. It's not just 0:15:52.520 --> 0:15:54.800 their chemistry, it's not just their friendship that makes us 0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:58.800 all work together. It's the fact that, despite being entirely 0:15:58.800 --> 0:16:01.840 different running backs, they both fit the scheme well. Uh. 0:16:01.920 --> 0:16:04.360 They both can run the inside zone concepts and they 0:16:04.360 --> 0:16:07.280 can succeed in their own ways. The yards are there. 0:16:07.440 --> 0:16:10.320 I think people sometimes forget if something would happen and 0:16:10.560 --> 0:16:12.880 you do not want this by any means for Aaron Jones, 0:16:12.920 --> 0:16:15.040 but let's say he ends up being knocked out for 0:16:15.080 --> 0:16:18.200 a season in Week two. Jamal Williams is a guy 0:16:18.240 --> 0:16:20.960 that could easily be a thousand yard back in this league. 0:16:21.000 --> 0:16:23.600 He has the durability for it. He's a guy that 0:16:23.640 --> 0:16:25.840 I think it could be a mutter that late in 0:16:25.880 --> 0:16:28.680 the season can really ramp things up. That hasn't been 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:30.760 his role and he hasn't complained about that at all 0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:33.080 in Green Bay. But make no mistake, there's a lot 0:16:33.120 --> 0:16:36.080 of times I keep drawing these comparisons to Edgar Bennett. 0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:38.760 I really feel like this is a guy that could 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:40.440 be in every down back if you need him to be. 0:16:40.480 --> 0:16:43.880 And sometimes people forget that Aaron Jones is flashy, he's 0:16:43.920 --> 0:16:45.840 really fun. You can do different things with him, and 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:47.600 he's rounded out his game as a pass catcher and 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:50.000 a pass protector. But Jamal Williams is a big part 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:51.920 of this too. So the original point, it would not 0:16:51.960 --> 0:16:53.600 surprise me at all of a guy like him actually 0:16:53.600 --> 0:16:56.000 came out and balled out on Sunday. Yeah, Well, looking 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:58.560 at what else is going on in Week fifteen around 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:02.720 the NFL. Obviously a lot of games impacting where the 0:17:02.760 --> 0:17:06.240 Packers stand and where they can potentially go. Just to 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:08.760 lay out a couple of different scenarios, one is the 0:17:08.800 --> 0:17:12.679 Packers can clinch a playoff spot this week if they 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:15.920 get a victory, and if the Cowboys can beat the Rams. 0:17:16.280 --> 0:17:19.560 A Packers win in a Rams loss would assure green 0:17:19.600 --> 0:17:21.760 may have a playoff spot no matter what would happen 0:17:21.800 --> 0:17:23.760 over the final two weeks. As far as the NFC 0:17:23.800 --> 0:17:26.880 North is concerned, the Packers can win this division one 0:17:26.880 --> 0:17:29.199 of two ways. You can either beat the Bears this 0:17:29.240 --> 0:17:31.959 week and the Lions in week seventeen, or you can 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.359 beat the Vikings in week sixteen. If you do it 0:17:34.400 --> 0:17:38.520 either way, you will win the NFC North. Now, obviously 0:17:38.560 --> 0:17:40.520 you can't play the Vikings this week, so you might 0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:42.600 as well beat the Bears, and if you do that, 0:17:42.840 --> 0:17:46.320 you give yourself essentially the option of winning one of 0:17:46.359 --> 0:17:48.879 the last two in order to win the division. So 0:17:48.920 --> 0:17:52.280 that's where the Packers sit. And with regard to potential 0:17:52.359 --> 0:17:56.280 seating in the playoffs, we all know Green Bay controls 0:17:57.640 --> 0:18:01.520 the situation for potentially getting one of those first round 0:18:01.560 --> 0:18:03.320 by is getting a top two seed. If the Packers 0:18:03.320 --> 0:18:05.920 win their final three games, they will have a week 0:18:05.960 --> 0:18:09.640 off in the postseason in January. So the first one 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:13.520 amidst all that mix that affects the Packers is Cowboys 0:18:13.520 --> 0:18:16.480 hosting the Rams. In terms of the immediate trying to 0:18:16.560 --> 0:18:18.600 clinch a playoff spot. What do you think here? What 0:18:18.640 --> 0:18:20.480 I think? Moving forward? I'm gonna just start referring to 0:18:20.520 --> 0:18:23.280 you as Mike the playoffs situation. I think that's gonna 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:25.679 be my nickname for you. I enjoy, I enjoy, So 0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:28.480 I enjoy wrapping my brain around at all. Yeah, it's awesome. 0:18:28.480 --> 0:18:31.200 I'm glad you do, because my i Q wasn't high 0:18:31.280 --> 0:18:33.520 enough to be able to figure all this stuff out. Okay, 0:18:33.560 --> 0:18:35.560