1 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spaffer, joined as always 3 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston Hodkoitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: here from our studios at lambeau Field and Wes. We 5 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: got another sort of double duty show here to do 6 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: because we have another Thursday night game coming up. We 7 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: haven't yet reviewed the Packers last game. 8 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: So what is today? 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: Yeah? What day of the week is it? Right now? 10 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 2: Actually day? 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: But we're going to start with the Packers Thanksgiving Night 12 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: victory thirty to seventeen over the Miami Dolphins was the 13 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: final score. And I mean Packers did what they needed 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: to do, getting two home wins in five days to 15 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: get themselves to nine and three, And this one they 16 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: went about it a little bit differently, But what was 17 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: similar to the San Francisco game is the Packers jumped 18 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: out on top, built themselves a big lead, and then 19 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: kind of rode that to the finish line and walked 20 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: out a lambo with another w. 21 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 2: These two games, Mike, between San Francisco and Miami again 22 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 2: illustrate how important a fast start is in the National 23 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: Football League because it's not just about the points you 24 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 2: put on the board. It's how you really tell the opposition. 25 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 2: You got to change your game plan. Yeah, just like 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: that game against the forty nine ers, the Dolphins were 27 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 2: not able to get their run game going at all. Yes, 28 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 2: I know, two of three for three oun and sixty 29 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 2: five yards. I get all of that. But the fact 30 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 2: was is that from the very beginning they were having 31 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: to play from behind, and I just felt like green 32 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: Bay how they were able to really manipulate what Miami 33 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 2: wanted to do offensively, mixed in with a couple pivotal 34 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 2: plays early on that sort of just shifted their momentum 35 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: into green Bay's favor up. A lot of guys talked 36 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: about it after the San Francisco game, they felt like 37 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: that was a complete performance. I thought, by and large, 38 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 2: this was a complete performance. A lot of stuff you 39 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: can still improve upon, things you can correct, But I 40 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: think over these last three games, really, these three games 41 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: since they last saw the Detroit Lions, you've seen the 42 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: green Bay Packers start to round into form. 43 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, this game quite frankly, you talk about momentum shifts, 44 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: there was a big one very early on because Packers 45 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,639 Speaker 1: got the ball first. But went three and out missed 46 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: Jordan Love missed a deep throat to Jaden Reid when 47 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: he was open. Packers had to punt, but those cold 48 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 1: swirling wins. In the late evening at lambeau Field, messed 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: with Miami's putt returner Washington there he ends up muffing 50 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,240 Speaker 1: the punt. Robert Rochelle recovers. It's a first in goal 51 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 1: situation from the nine yard line, and the Packers went 52 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: from three and out to three plays and in the 53 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: end zone and they were up seven to nothing. A 54 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: big play by the special teams, and. 55 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: As we were talking about with Rich Pasaccia on Monday night, 56 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 2: the Packers being able to start that game the longest 57 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: kick return of the season by Keishawn Nixon blocked up 58 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 2: very well. Looks like they're going to have that explosive 59 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 2: start they want. Offensively, did not have the series they 60 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: were looking for. Josh Jacobs even said it when I 61 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 2: was asking him in the locker room afterwards. He felt 62 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 2: like that was the only run, even though he only 63 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: had forty three rushing yards, he felt like that was 64 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: the only run he wanted back. He just wasn't happy 65 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: with how he cut back. Packers end up having to 66 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 2: punt despite having phenomenal field position. But then Robert Rochelle 67 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: makes it right and as we learned about afterwards, dealing 68 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: with a lot of stuff on the personal side, had 69 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: found out earlier on Thanksgiving morning that unfortunately two of 70 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: his childhood friends had been killed down in Louisiana. Played 71 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: through it, played with a purpose, and came up with 72 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: a huge moment there. Also want to say too, I 73 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: mean for green Bay Special Teams. I mean, we were 74 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 2: talking about this whole group sort of rounding into form 75 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 2: some really impressive work that the special Teams unit has 76 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: done really in every phase and every unit and every 77 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: core special teams area, and Green Bay gets the ball back, 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: they turn it into a Jad and Reed touchdown, and 79 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 2: they were often ronic. 80 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. From there, the offense I felt, I felt much 81 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: like the San Francisco game. The Packers established what they 82 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: wanted to on the ground. They set the tone on 83 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,919 Speaker 1: the ground with the running game, and it was a 84 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: combination of Jacobs and Emmanuel Wilson and Jayden Reed. It's 85 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: a nice run on an end around. I think by 86 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: the end of the first half, not only had the 87 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: Packers topped one hundred yards rushing. They had four different 88 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: ball carriers with twenty yards rushing, which just told you 89 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: how much the focus was on, Okay, run the football, 90 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: try to get Miami's excuse me defense on its heels 91 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: a little bit, and then by the end of the 92 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 1: game you look up and it's like, oh, Jordan Love. Yeah, 93 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: he also threw for two hundred and seventy five yards 94 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: and the offense ended up having a pretty darn efiichent night. 95 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: You have a longer history here with the Packers and 96 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 2: covering games, but I can tell you what this game 97 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: felt like. To me. It felt like the twenty fourteen season, 98 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: and what I mean by that is that was the 99 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,720 Speaker 2: one year where you got prime Eddie Lacy mixed with 100 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 2: a relatively healthy Aaron Rodgers, and you saw what Eddie 101 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: Lacey did for Rogers during that season and how he 102 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: was really able to compliment everything he was doing in 103 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 2: the passing game. Yes, Josh Jacobs did not go off 104 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: for one hundred and fifty rushing yards in this game, 105 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: and he had to fight for a lot of the 106 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 2: yards that he did get. But whether it was what 107 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: he the short yarded situations that he converted in in 108 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: some of the passing game stuff that he did as well. 109 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 2: Those two things I thought were really a catalyst for 110 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: what Green Bay did offensively. Green Bay already over two 111 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 2: hundred carries this season with Josh Jacobs, and for a 112 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 2: guy that was brought in and heralded as such a 113 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 2: All Pro rushing champion, a durable back, he's lived up 114 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 2: to the hype here through the first thirteen weeks. 115 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned though, what he did in the passing game. 116 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: He ends up with over one hundred yards from scrimmage 117 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: in this game. When he takes the checkdown throw in 118 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: the fourth cores or makes one of the best open 119 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: field moves we've seen all season long ends up getting 120 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: forty nine yards there. So between the rushing and the receiving, 121 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: Jacobs goes over one hundred. The Packers go three out 122 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: of five in the red zone, which I think has 123 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: been not only not only the reduction in turnovers. Since 124 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: the first Detroit game. The Packers will only turned the 125 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,919 Speaker 1: ball over once in their last three games. But after 126 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: that Detroit game, the first one, the Packers had gone 127 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: one for four in the red zone in that game, 128 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: and they had dropped a twenty ninth in the league 129 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: in red zone offense. Since then, the Packers have converted 130 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: eleven out of fifteen red zone opportunities into touchdown. They 131 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: have climbed from twenty ninth in the league in red 132 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: zone offense to eighteenth. They've jumped eleven spots in three 133 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: weeks because that efficiency has ratcheted up so high. So 134 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: that has been a major improvement in where you see 135 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: that in the turnovers where this Packers team is very, 136 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: very different from the first one that faced the Lions 137 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:05,040 Speaker 1: a month ago. 138 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: One thousand percent. And I just want to mention this 139 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 2: to kind of to go off that as well. So 140 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: many times the buzzword with football teams is what's your identity? 141 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: And it sometimes gets overblown. Sometimes there's truth to it, 142 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: but I think a lot of times it gets overblown. 143 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: What I look for in NFL teams is not necessarily 144 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: what your identity is, but what are you good at? 145 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:27,679 Speaker 2: And I think what we've seen is the Packers season 146 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: has gone on as we've found out, Okay, inside the 147 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: red zone, whether it's a guy like Tucker Craft that 148 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 2: can extend plays, get those yards after catch, you know 149 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 2: you can throw it down short ten yards of the 150 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 2: goal line and he's gonna be able to make make 151 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 2: a push for the end zone, or a guy like 152 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 2: Josh Jacobs being able to convert in those those short 153 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: area goal to go situations. There's confidence there. You don't 154 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: you don't have to reinvent the game of football. You 155 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: can play the game the way it's intended. Your guys 156 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: can win. I think that has been very encouraging from 157 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: the Packer's side of things. In addition to the fact 158 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: that you've seen it didn't so much happened in this game, 159 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: but you know the explosive plays in the passing game. 160 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 2: You know, Christian Watson did have the forty six yard reception, 161 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 2: and obviously we've seen him go off for some big 162 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: plays here the last couple weeks, but it can be 163 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 2: a twenty three yard Jaden reed Cary as well. Yeah, 164 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: the multitude of options that Green Bay has offensively at 165 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 2: its fingertips. The best thing that they've done all season long, 166 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 2: whether Jordan Love has been in the lineup or not, 167 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 2: is moving the football. And over these last three games now, 168 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,560 Speaker 2: we've seen them start to not only have that type 169 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: of production, but be able to carry that through in 170 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 2: the red zone and turn those into touchdowns. 171 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, eleven out of fifteen the last three games has 172 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: been pretty impressive and it's why the Packers have been 173 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: putting up the point totals that they have. On the 174 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: defensive side of the ball. You mentioned it earlier, a 175 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 1: lot of passing yards for Tua Tagabaloa. It became pretty 176 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,959 Speaker 1: obvious early on what Jeff Hafley's game plan was here. 177 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: The Packers did not have jyr Or Alexander once again, 178 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: the team's number one cornerback still not back from the 179 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: knee injury. He has come back to practice this week. 180 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: We'll see if he's going to be available Thursday night 181 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: in Detroit. But without your number one corner Look, you're 182 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: not gonna line up Mann de Man against Tyreek Hill 183 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: and Jalen Waddle with the Miami Dolphins when your best 184 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: cornerback is not available. So, Jeff haffley the game plan 185 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: was was try to flood the zones with it. Flooded 186 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,360 Speaker 1: the passing lanes with your zone coverage, keep everything in 187 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: front of you, rally to the ball and make tackles. 188 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: We talked about last week how you can't let these 189 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: guys break tackle right because they take the short passes 190 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 1: and turn them into explosive gains, and I thought the 191 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: Packers did that. Yes, it got tiring. It got tiring 192 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: to see John hu Smith, in particular the tight end 193 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: for the Dolphins catching the passes over the middle and 194 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: getting eight or twelve or thirteen yard chunks as the 195 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: Dolphins were trying to come back from the big deficit. 196 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: But the Packers were okay with that because a the 197 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: Dolphins were going to burn some clock in order to 198 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: try to come back, and then b at the end 199 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: of the day, the Miami Dolphins, one of the most 200 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 1: explosive offenses in the league, had one pass completion for 201 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: more than sixteen yards. Right, I mean the game plan, 202 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: the game plan was exactly that. And then where this 203 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: game hinged defensively was when the scores twenty seven to eleven. 204 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: Miami drives down and they are at second and goal 205 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: in the one yard line. It's early in the fourth quarter, 206 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: so a touchdown on a two point conversion there makes 207 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:41,960 Speaker 1: it a one possession game, would make it an eight 208 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: point game. But from second and goal on the one 209 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: yard line, you get a run stop from Rashaun Gary, 210 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: you get a great pass breakup on a difficult play 211 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: by Keishawn Nixon on the play action to the right, 212 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 1: throwback to the left to John new Smith, and then 213 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: you get the fourth downsack quay Walker with the big 214 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: push from TJ. Slayton up the middle, really good coverage 215 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: in the end zone by Nixon and Valentine which two 216 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: has got nowhere to go with the ball, and Walker 217 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 1: eventually finishes it that goal line stand where the with 218 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: a touchdown on a two point conversion, Miami had a 219 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: chance to make it a one possession game there in 220 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter. It didn't happen. The Dolphins never really 221 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: did get close, and the Packers put it away from there. 222 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: It was the key to the game. Obviously, I focused 223 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: my actual story that's called Key the Game on Rochelle 224 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: in his fumble recovery early, but I felt like after 225 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 2: that the air completely left the balloon. The Packers were 226 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 2: able to finish that thing. And what I like the 227 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 2: most about that series was, yes, it was it was 228 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 2: Rashan on first down, but then it ended up being 229 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 2: the guys that you want to see making plays. Not 230 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 2: that you don't want to see that with Rashaan, but 231 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 2: it's almost expected with Quay Walker, a guy that has been, 232 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 2: you know, had some ups and downs this season, and 233 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 2: I think everybody from Matt Laflorida to Jeff Hafley and 234 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 2: even I think to some extent Quay himself has talked 235 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: about you know, he's playing his best ball right now 236 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 2: and intangible wise, fundamentals wise, just what he brings to 237 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 2: the table. On paper, he is a every down middle 238 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: linebacker in this league. He is a mic linebacker with speed. 239 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 2: And I felt like this game, especially with not having 240 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 2: Edger and Cooper, they were going to need to use 241 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: a little bit more of his blitzing ability and they 242 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: did that, and yeah, b and right next to him, 243 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 2: alongside of him, you have Isaiah McDuffie, who had an 244 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,839 Speaker 2: ankle injury that Matt Lefuller talked about. He didn't even 245 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 2: think coming out of that San Francisco game he was 246 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 2: going to be able to make the turn to Miami. 247 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: Jeff Hafley then added they weren't even sure if he 248 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 2: was gonna be able to finish the second half against 249 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 2: the forty nine ers. Not only that, McDuffie plays almost 250 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 2: ninety percent of the snaps, has ten tackles, force as 251 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: a fumble, a key breakup on a third down pass 252 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 2: that ended up leading to another turnover. On downs, the 253 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 2: Packers came through with the guys that are sort of 254 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 2: seen as I think, the complimentary pieces. And when you 255 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 2: have that, you have a guy like TJ. Slayton getting 256 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: some push. That's what gives you the confidence now that 257 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 2: this is a unit to be you know, trifled with. Yeah, 258 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 2: and could potentially help you win some of these games 259 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 2: into the month of December. 260 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that sequence at the end of the first half 261 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: is worth mentioning here too before we move on, because 262 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: the score is twenty one to three. The Packers are 263 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: sitting on a pretty good lead, but Miami's got the 264 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: ball late in the first half. They cross midfield. They're 265 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: looking to get some points and Miami's going to get 266 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: the ball coming out at the start of the third quarter, 267 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: third down and five, the Dolphins are not yet in 268 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 1: field goal range. They need to get this first down 269 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: to get into field goal range. Third down and five, 270 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: and you know, a dump off pass over the middle. 271 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,679 Speaker 1: McDuffie comes up and makes a big hit. I believe 272 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: it was Washington. Washington Milikua the receiver slash returner. Washington 273 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: takes that hit from McDuffie can't hang out of the 274 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: ball incomplete pass fourth and five, and Tua makes a 275 00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 1: bad throw on fourth and five, so it's a turnover. 276 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: On downs. The Packers get it back two seconds on 277 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: the clock, but the Packers have all three of their timeouts, 278 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: use a couple of passes to tuck her craft a 279 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: nice run by Chris Brooks get in range using the timeouts. Wisely, 280 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: Brandon McManus comes out and drills a field goal at 281 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: the end of the first half. So instead of looking 282 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: at possibly twenty one to six, if the Dolphins get 283 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: a touchdown and then they're getting the ball coming out 284 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: to start of the third quarter at twenty one to six, 285 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: instead the game is twenty four to three. 286 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 2: It was. 287 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: It was a clear six point swing, where then it 288 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: wasn't as crucial in a sense that Miami was going 289 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: to get the ball starting the third quarter because the 290 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: Packers had then added to their lead. That sequence there, 291 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: which really in my mind, started with the big hit 292 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: by McDuffie to break up the third down pass. That 293 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: played a big part in how this game unfolded as well. 294 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 2: And things could have shifted there too. Miami getting the 295 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 2: ball in the second half. I mean being able to, 296 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 2: you know, do the double up. That's something that everyone 297 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: under the Shanahan tree mostly wants to always accom Yeah, 298 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 2: and even when it looks like twenty four to three, 299 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: well that score changes if it suddenly becomes twenty four 300 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 2: to seventeen. And the Packers didn't allow that to happen. 301 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 2: They actually ended up tacking on some more points. I 302 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: thought it was very important too. Matt Lafleur made kind 303 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 2: of a tongue in cheek joke about it at the 304 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: podium on Sunday, where he said, yeah, I mean, I mean, 305 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: you know, you got to save those timeouts right in 306 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: the first half. I mean so many times I think 307 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 2: there's people out there that just think, okay, well the 308 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 2: second half. You got to save them as long as 309 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: you can the first half, if you need to take 310 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 2: a few here and there. No, you saw in this game, 311 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 2: the value of being able to keep all three of 312 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 2: those timeouts twenty two seconds gets a lot longer if 313 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: you can stop the clock three times, and certainly. 314 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: And you can use the whole field. Absolutely, when you 315 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: can use the whole field, because you make the defense 316 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: defend the whole field, not just oh we can defend 317 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: the sideline, tackle them in bounds. The clock is going 318 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: to run, They're not gonna be able to guess in 319 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: kicking range. Right, So that was that was definitely a 320 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: key sequence in this game. We do have to move on, though, 321 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: to talk about this game coming up Thursday night in Detroit, 322 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: and we will do that right after this sponsored a 323 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: serious XMNFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to 324 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need. Twenty 325 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: four to seven, three sixty five and at Cousin Subs, 326 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, 327 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 328 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin 329 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 1: Subs fifty plus years of better. All right, well, it's 330 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: another Thursday game. It's another Thursday night game. This one 331 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: will be at Ford Field in Detroit, the nine and 332 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: three Packers visiting the eleven and one Detroit Lions. The 333 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: Lions a close shave on Thanksgiving, completely dominate the first 334 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: half against the Chicago Bears, and then they are hanging 335 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: on for dear life to not let the game go 336 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: to overtime. And the Bears end up batching the whole 337 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,000 Speaker 1: final sequence, they get their coach fired and all that. 338 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: The bottom line is, the Detroit Lions are eleven and one. 339 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 1: The Packers are two games back at nine to three. 340 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: And let's be real here, Wes, if the Packers are 341 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: going to have any chance, any realistic chance of winning 342 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: the NFC North, they have to win this game on 343 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,200 Speaker 1: Thursday night. If the Packers go to Detroit and lose 344 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: by all means not all is lost, but it becomes 345 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,640 Speaker 1: wildcard or bust at that point. So if the Packers 346 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: are going to threaten the Lions for the NFC North title, 347 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: and the Vikings for that matter, it's on the line 348 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: Thursday night at Ford Field. 349 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 2: I saw this tweet, but when I give their proper credit, 350 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 2: I believe was Zach Cruz was the one that tweeted this. 351 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 2: The Packers, even if they beat the Lions and the Vikings, 352 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 2: I still think there's like a thirty six percent chance 353 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 2: of them winning the division. So losing either of those 354 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 2: games obviously would diminish that potential. Yeah, that's with the 355 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 2: New York Times playoff generator. All that being said, the 356 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 2: Detroit Lions, I thought, what Larry's point was in three 357 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: things might have been the most salient thing any of 358 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 2: us have said all season, where so many people, myself included, 359 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 2: We're watching that game against the Bears being like, all right, 360 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 2: come on, Chicago, let's pull this thing out. And Larry said, 361 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 2: He's like, no, if there's going to be a wake 362 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 2: up call, it should be against the Packers. And I 363 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 2: think there's a lot to be said for that. The 364 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 2: Packers momentum and how they've built since that loss to 365 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 2: the Lions has been really critical to how this season 366 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 2: has played out. And as Xavier McKinney said, he actually 367 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: sent a text message to some of his teammates after 368 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 2: the bye saying, hey, let's just win the rest of 369 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 2: these things. And he left that game as disappointing as 370 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 2: it was, as slow as a start as Green Bay 371 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: had against the Lions. He didn't feel like they were 372 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 2: all class. He didn't leave that game feeling like, hey, 373 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: we can't play with these guys. The Packers had a 374 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 2: menagerie of errors and penalties and setbacks that they just 375 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 2: could not overcome in that game. Yea, and now suddenly 376 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: everything's back there for you. Nine wins. I think there's 377 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 2: a ninety six percent chance right now green Bay making 378 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 2: the playoffs with five games to go on the regular season. 379 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 2: But you gotta go one game at a time, and 380 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 2: there is no bigger game than going back into Ford 381 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 2: Field just over a year after they played and defeated 382 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 2: and upset the Detroit Lions on their home field and 383 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 2: going back and trying to do it once again. 384 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: Well, the Packers are a very different team from the 385 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: first meeting, not only in the ways that we've been 386 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: talking about offensively, defensively, the way they're playing, certainly, the 387 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: way the running game is playing, the reduction in turnovers, 388 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: the red zone efficiency, what the run defense for Green 389 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: Bay is doing as of late, Christian McCaffrey, Devon h Chan, 390 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: Raheem Mostert, the running backs the Packers have faced the 391 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 1: last couple of weeks have not been able to do 392 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: anything on the ground. The Packers are also different from 393 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: a health standpoint compared to the first game against Detroit. 394 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,160 Speaker 1: Jordan Love is certainly healthier he was coming. He had 395 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: just had the groin injury the week before in Jacksonville 396 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 1: when and basically didn't really practice all week long leading 397 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: up to the first Detroit game. He was healthy enough 398 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: to play, but obviously was not himself. Jordan Love is 399 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: in a very different place. Josh Myers, Williams, JayR Alexander 400 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: all missed the first Detroit game. That was the only 401 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,880 Speaker 1: game this season the Packers have not had their main 402 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: starting five for the offensive line, where they had to 403 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:15,440 Speaker 1: move Elton Jenkins to center and all that, so hopefully 404 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 1: the continuity is there for that group. Evan Williams has 405 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: since returned to the lineup from his hamstring injury that 406 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: forced him to miss the first Detroit game, and as 407 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 1: I said before, Alexander is back at practice this week 408 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: trying to work his way back from the knee injury. 409 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: We'll see it, We'll see if he's available. So health wise, 410 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 1: I think the Packers are a very different team than 411 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,719 Speaker 1: the first time against Detroit. On the Lions side, the 412 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: Lions are banged up on defense. This is a very 413 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: different looking defense than the one the Packers faced a 414 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 1: month ago because now Hal Hutchinson was already out. But 415 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 1: they have had a number of injuries since then. Linebackers 416 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: who have gone on injured reserve and now some defensive 417 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: linemen who seem iffy for the game. As to whether 418 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: or not they're going to be able to play offensively. 419 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: The Lions are healthy, and this is the unit that 420 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: the Lions are relying on. This is the unit that 421 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: for Detroit they're looking at. These are the guys who 422 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: are gonna take them to the promised Land. I mean, 423 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: you know, Jared Goff, the two running backs, Saint Brown, Laporta, 424 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: all those guys. It feels like it's going to be 425 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: a very different matchup in a lot of ways than 426 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,280 Speaker 1: a month ago. But the one thing that isn't different 427 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: is Detroit's offense. 428 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,439 Speaker 2: Do you know, Mike, how many players the Detroit Lions 429 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 2: now have on injured reserve after they made some moves 430 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 2: this week. 431 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: I don't, but I'm guessing it's probably upwards of thirteen. 432 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 2: Eighteen got eighteen. I mean, they lost several guys at 433 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 2: the beginning of the season two even before the year, 434 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 2: they've been beat up. And as much as people talk 435 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 2: about Aiden Hutchinson, and you should, He's was potentially the 436 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:51,879 Speaker 2: NFL defensive player of the Year at the time in 437 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: which he got injured. Yep. But Alex Azeloni, I say 438 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: it probably every time you and I do the show, 439 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,680 Speaker 2: I think is the most underrated guy potentially in the 440 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,160 Speaker 2: National Football League, but certainly when it comes to defensive 441 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: and lineback and play, this guy what he's turned himself into. 442 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 2: He is the heartbeat of that defense. He is the 443 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: guy that is the rallying cry for that team. And 444 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 2: to not have him available right now I think has 445 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 2: been a big hit for them. They've made some move. 446 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: Sadarius Smith obviously is now in Detroit. He has two 447 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 2: sacks and three games. They are moving him everywhere once again, 448 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,200 Speaker 2: much like the Packers once did. If we know anything 449 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 2: about Sadarius when it comes to him coming out of 450 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 2: the gate, starting with a new team, a fresh start, 451 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 2: he always plays really well. He did it in Green Bay, 452 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 2: he did at Minnesota, and he certainly did it in Cleveland. 453 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 2: So seeing him the kind of the enthusiasm and the 454 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 2: energy that he's injected too that defense, you can feel it. 455 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 2: But the fact of the matter is is they still 456 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 2: are a hurting unit and there are a lot of 457 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 2: players in that secondary that I've had to kind of 458 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 2: fight through some things as well. They still have their 459 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 2: one two punch Kirby Joseph Brian Branch probably two as 460 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 2: good as they get in the National Football League, especially 461 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 2: with the versatility of Branch to pretty much move him 462 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 2: anywhere you want. He is an incredible chess piece. Offensively, 463 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: You're right, they are healthy. Taylor Decker does have some 464 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 2: questions though at left tackle. We'll see how this week 465 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 2: works out for him. 466 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: That's right. Dan Skipper has started a couple of games 467 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: at left tackle, including the Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears. 468 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 1: Skipper was in there in place of Decker. 469 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: And Skipper's kind of like the Evan Smith of that line, 470 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 2: like he's the guy that just always seems to be 471 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 2: in there if there's an injury that creeps up and 472 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 2: has been sort of a dependable letteran for them as well. 473 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 2: But the big difference for the Lions compared to that 474 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 2: first game is Jamison Williams is available. He's not suspended, 475 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 2: he's back. He's making huge plays for them. The contrast 476 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: of his explosive style with just the consistency of Amen 477 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 2: Ross Saint Brown, that is a very difficult thing to 478 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 2: deal with. Sam Laporta has battled some injuries. We'll see 479 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 2: exactly where he's at physically and how he performs in 480 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 2: this game. But with a one to two punch in 481 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 2: the backfield like gibbson Montgomery and potentially both of those 482 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 2: guys going over a thousand yards this season at said 483 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,199 Speaker 2: last time. And Ben Johnson is going to be a 484 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 2: head coach in the National Football League this year, this 485 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 2: will be his last year. Is the offensive coordinator of 486 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 2: the Lions. You cannot see it any other way. He's 487 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 2: going to be the most highly coveted coach in the 488 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 2: National Football League in twenty twenty five. But in the 489 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 2: here and now, man, this is about as explosive and 490 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 2: as consistent as an offense as there is in the NFL. 491 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, I mean, Jared Goff is still completing seventy 492 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: two percent of his passes on the season. His season 493 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,320 Speaker 1: passer rating is in the triple digits, over one hundred. 494 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: I added up what running backs David Montgomery and Jamier 495 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 1: Gibbs have done. This is crazy west three hundred and 496 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: twenty nine carries, one thousand, six hundred and ninety three yards, 497 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: and twenty one rushing touchdowns in twelve games. Yep, I mean, 498 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 1: those those are tremendous numbers for a one to two 499 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: running back punch for an entire season. And those guys 500 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: have done that three twenty nine, sixteen, ninety three, and 501 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: twenty one in twelve games. It is it's remarkable the 502 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: offensive machine that the Lions have become. Now here's the 503 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:01,520 Speaker 1: interesting thing, though, Like they looked like they were just 504 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: on their way to a complete and total demolition of 505 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:10,399 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving with that early game. But 506 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: in the second half, Chicago Bears defense started to stand tall. 507 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 1: The Bears got their offense going and they made a 508 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: game of it, and the Lions really the Lions never 509 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: put the game away with that offense, as much as 510 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: it was humming in the first half, they did have 511 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:29,640 Speaker 1: some red zone struggles. They were kicking too many field goals, 512 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: so they didn't put the Bears away there. But then 513 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: they also couldn't put them away in the second half 514 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 1: because they couldn't get a big time drive going when 515 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: they really needed one. So it's interesting how this is 516 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: has unfolded because because while a lot of people are 517 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 1: saying the Lions might be the best team in football, 518 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: and at eleven and one, they certainly looked better as 519 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:53,800 Speaker 1: a one loss team than the Kansas City Chiefs have. 520 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 1: So I certainly understand that argument, and I take nothing 521 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: away from them. But this isn't a team that played 522 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: perfect football, No and so, and the Packers are going 523 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 1: in there knowing, hey, Green Bay walked. They they walked 524 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,239 Speaker 1: out of that tunnel at Ford Field last year on 525 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving for that eleven thirty am Central time kickoff and 526 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 1: took it to the first place team when not a 527 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: lot of people gave him a chance, and and it was. 528 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 2: It was. 529 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: It was a win that ended up shaping a lot 530 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: of how the the end of the season unfolded for 531 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: the Packers. If you're Green Bay man, you're looking at 532 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,240 Speaker 1: you're looking at trying to do exactly the same thing 533 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 1: on Thursday night. 534 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 2: You and again, I don't know if you're probably gonna 535 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 2: spin this off into the keys of victory. So I 536 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 2: don't want to give away too much, but you have 537 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 2: to play with physicality against Lions. There aren't any losses 538 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 2: to really point to in terms of what's the key 539 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 2: to beating them. The one that they did I remember 540 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 2: that was where they afterwards, you know, you kind of 541 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:50,960 Speaker 2: heard Dan Campbell fall on the sword for some of 542 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,919 Speaker 2: the coaching decisions that were made in that loss to 543 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 2: Tampa Bay in Week two. But when it's been close 544 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 2: whether it was what Chicago did or Houston or somebody's 545 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 2: that teats, it's when teams played physical. You gotta play 546 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,920 Speaker 2: error free football. You can't set yourself back with penalties. 547 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 2: You can't turn it over. They'll make you pay for it. 548 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 2: Possessions are always at a premium with this team, but 549 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 2: you have to play with physicality and I think Green 550 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: Bay knows that and they saw that. The other thing 551 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,560 Speaker 2: that stands out that's interesting to me is Lions have 552 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 2: outscored teams three eighty three to two oh three, almost 553 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 2: doubling up teams, but they've been outscored in the first 554 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 2: and fourth quarters, fourth quarter. It makes total sense because 555 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: you know they're playing with leads teams. 556 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: Don't, and they've had some games with massive leads, absolutely 557 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: huge leads. 558 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 2: But a lot of their damage is done in those 559 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 2: second and third quarters. Forty eight points in the first 560 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 2: quarter to one seventy four in the second, the third 561 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 2: quarter one oh six. I mean they are looking to 562 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 2: double you up at the end of the half. They 563 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 2: are looking to really take it to you and take 564 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,000 Speaker 2: games away from you. Jacksonville added a lot to that. 565 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: Some of these games have added a lot to those numbers. 566 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 2: But that being said, this is a very dangerous football 567 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 2: team if you do not counter their punches. And I 568 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: think the Green Bay Packers with that first matchup at 569 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: Lambeufield understand exactly what the type of opponent that they're 570 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 2: facing and what you have to do to take them down. 571 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, they've basically averaged two touchdowns per game in the 572 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:16,919 Speaker 1: second quarter, and they get their offense rolling the points 573 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: that they end up putting up before halftime is pretty impressive, 574 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: I would say. If there is if you look at 575 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 1: the three the three games this year that Detroit has 576 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 1: looked the most vulnerable, the loss to Tampa Bay back 577 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,919 Speaker 1: in Week two, the very close loss where they had 578 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: to come from behind against Houston, and then last week 579 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: against the Bears. If there's a common thread to those, 580 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: it's the opposing defense rising up in the red zone 581 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: and making the Lions kick field goals instead of getting touchdowns. 582 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: Because when the Lions get touchdowns, they end up with 583 00:28:49,280 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: forty plus on the board. But you make them kick 584 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: field goals, you can keep the point total in the 585 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 1: twenties and that gives you a chance. That gives your 586 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: offense a chance, especially right now with their defenses banged 587 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 1: up as it is, it gives your offense a chance 588 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: to score enough to be able to win. Let's go 589 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: right into keys to victory and a lot of them 590 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 1: we've already talked about for me, and again I don't 591 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: I'm not taking anything away from the Lions, but looking 592 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: strictly at what the Packers have been doing, you have 593 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 1: to just keep doing what you're doing. You have to 594 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: keep the turnovers to a minimum, you have to keep 595 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: the red zone efficiency up, you have to keep the 596 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 1: miscues to a minimum. You know, talking about the drop passes, 597 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: the penalties which I think are down on the defensive 598 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: side of the ball for those I mean the fans 599 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: are frustrated with the jumping off sides, the lining up 600 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: off sides and stuff like that. Don't think the Packers 601 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: aren't frustrated with it as well. Just take a look 602 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: at what Matt Lafleur said at the podium with regard 603 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 1: to that, Take a look at what Jeff Hafley said 604 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: at the podium with regard to the off sides. The 605 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: Packers just they they haven't figured out how to stop it, 606 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: stop that happening yet, but there is definitely frustration mounting 607 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: in that it can't continue. The Packers know they can't 608 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: do that two, three, four times against the Detroit Lions 609 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: on Thursday night and expect to win. You're just giving away. 610 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: You're giving away too much. So all of those things. 611 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 1: If the penalties start to come down in the same 612 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: way that the drop passes have been reduced, the turnos 613 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 1: have been reduced, and the red zone efficiency has gone up. 614 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,360 Speaker 1: If the penalties come down along with that, the Packers 615 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: will give themselves a chance to win this game. 616 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 2: There is no team in the National Football League, at 617 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 2: least from I haven't run the whole like sybermetrics numbers 618 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 2: or anything like that, but when you look at situational 619 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 2: football on both offense and defense, Detroit is the cream 620 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 2: of the crop. Offensively, you look at it fourth in 621 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 2: third down conversions, sixth in red zone, third and goal 622 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,160 Speaker 2: to go. You look at the defensive side of things 623 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 2: for them, first in third down defense, second in red zone, 624 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 2: third in goal to go, beat you inside the twenty. 625 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 2: That's how they win. So what do you have to 626 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,600 Speaker 2: do well? First and foremost, you cannot be in third 627 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 2: and long against this team. Kirby Joseph is just salivating 628 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 2: on the back end, wanting you to throw that football 629 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 2: in those instances. Jordan Love somewhat saw that last, you know, 630 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 2: on this last encounter with them. Yep, you see him. 631 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 2: When you get put in adverse situations. If you can't 632 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: run against their front, if you can't cut those yards 633 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 2: in half on first down, the Detroit Lions are going 634 00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 2: to feast. Conversely, the first thing that the Brad Holmes 635 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 2: Dan Campbell philosophy since the very beginning, the thing that 636 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 2: they instilled even when they were a third three win team, 637 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 2: was we are going to run the football. They did 638 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 2: it with Jamal Williams. Jamal Williams set the single season 639 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 2: touchdown record and then they let him go. I mean, 640 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 2: this is the way that these guys are wired. Yeah, 641 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 2: they want to run the football. They want to have 642 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 2: that contrast between Montgomery and Gibbs. Personally, I favor Gibbs. 643 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 2: I've watched Montgomery for a lot of years. Very talented guy, 644 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 2: very violent running back, Difficult to bring him to the ground. 645 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 2: Jam gives is a home run hitter. Jamior Gibbs is 646 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 2: going to play a long time in the National Football League, 647 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,160 Speaker 2: And I feel like if you can take away the 648 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 2: explosive gains there you have a chance. What happened in 649 00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,240 Speaker 2: that first game was they kept them. And Jeff Hafley 650 00:32:13,280 --> 00:32:15,840 Speaker 2: talked about this, There's so many times where the Packers 651 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:17,959 Speaker 2: will keep you to a one yard game, a negative 652 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 2: two yard rush, zero yards, and then they will spin 653 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 2: one off for sixteen. Green Bay has to keep that 654 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,920 Speaker 2: stuff in check because if you do that, Jared Goff's 655 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:28,120 Speaker 2: going to be right where he wants to be. 656 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. Montgomery is the running back who wears you out. 657 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: Gibbs as the running back who scares you. Yeah. 658 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 2: Because of that, he's the one that knocks you out. 659 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. The home run, the home run hitting ability that 660 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:46,479 Speaker 1: he has. Well, I already sort of started with in 661 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,440 Speaker 1: the transition to talking about the Lions with where things 662 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:52,120 Speaker 1: are the NFC North implications of this game, it's pretty 663 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:55,520 Speaker 1: clear for green Bay. In between green Bay and Detroit, 664 00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:57,680 Speaker 1: of course, you still have the Minnesota Vikings. They are 665 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: at ten and two. They survived a a very close 666 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:05,000 Speaker 1: call against the Arizona Cardinals. I'll just say they got 667 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: a little bit of help from the officials in that one, 668 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,320 Speaker 1: a little but but hey, we move on. 669 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 2: But hey, Sam Darnold got his face mask in the 670 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 2: end zone grabbed at some point. 671 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's true, very true. 672 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 2: They had no chance to when that came out. 673 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: But it's it's funny, Wes. If you if you had 674 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: told me, if you had told me at the beginning 675 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,440 Speaker 1: of the season that the Packers would be nine and 676 00:33:28,560 --> 00:33:31,520 Speaker 1: three going to Detroit for this big Thursday night game, 677 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: but they'd be sitting in third place and two games 678 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 1: back in the division. It's it. Before the season started, 679 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 1: it would have been hard to picture like that actually 680 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: being reality. But here we are. The Lions have eleven wins, 681 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,720 Speaker 1: the Vikings have ten, the Packers have nine. The whole 682 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 1: country is going to be watching. The whole country is 683 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,600 Speaker 1: going to be watching this one. And uh, it's it's 684 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 1: one of the Uh, it's one of the first really 685 00:33:57,760 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: really big down the street games in the NFL. Here, 686 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 1: Oh for sure. 687 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 2: I mean, if you want to get pumped up for 688 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 2: this game. I ended up basically writing a story on it. 689 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,359 Speaker 2: On Monday, Dan Campbell's presser where he's talking about this 690 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 2: race that's beginning in the NFC North, and you know, 691 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 2: so many guys are like Matt Lafleora's reaction to figuring 692 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:18,520 Speaker 2: finding out that the Vikings won. Dan Campbell almost seemed 693 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:20,880 Speaker 2: to be embracing it. He's like, hey, won great, you know, 694 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,960 Speaker 2: like the guy is just wired differently. He is embracing 695 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 2: that grind and if it means pushing his team to 696 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 2: being sixteen and one to win the North, he's fine 697 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:32,359 Speaker 2: with it. That's what it ends up having to be, right. 698 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 2: But all that being said, I did that story this 699 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:38,719 Speaker 2: week looking at the NFC North. I found this absolutely 700 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 2: fascinating because people want to kind of dog on the 701 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:43,279 Speaker 2: Bears a little bit. Yeah, they've gone through a lot, 702 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,000 Speaker 2: but the Bears have won four games. At one point, 703 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 2: we're four and two. The thirty four wins that the 704 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:50,800 Speaker 2: NFC North has a mass through thirteen weeks is already 705 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 2: the third most of the division, tied for the third 706 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,399 Speaker 2: most that the division has won going back to two 707 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 2: thousand and two. I mean, in twenty eight they've won 708 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,400 Speaker 2: thirty six games, but that was partially bullied by the 709 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,440 Speaker 2: fact that the Packers won fifteen of their own. The 710 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,879 Speaker 2: competition there and the way that all three of these 711 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 2: teams are performing, and the fact that they have six 712 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 2: losses amongst the Lions, Vikings and Packers, and three of 713 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,360 Speaker 2: those were divvied out amongst themselves. I mean, it just 714 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 2: shows you that the standard and the way that in 715 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 2: all three of these teams have done it differently. Minnesota 716 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:24,560 Speaker 2: was the team that I had in the cellar of 717 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 2: the division this year, right after JJ McCarthy got hurt. 718 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 2: I'm like, this team's got no chance, and Kevin O'Connell 719 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,799 Speaker 2: does is doing what Kevin O'Connell does and making this 720 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:37,080 Speaker 2: thing work. Detroit has been the team, the juggernaut everybody 721 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 2: expects of the being. Green Bay has taken that next 722 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 2: step through the first three to thirteen weeks. Just I 723 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 2: know it's a different week, so I don't want to 724 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 2: get too far ahead of myself, but there's a pivotal 725 00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:50,280 Speaker 2: game at US Banks Stadium this weekend between the Atlanta Falcons, 726 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,520 Speaker 2: who now they're having questions should Michael Pennock should he 727 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 2: be the quarterback? They're six and six, but still right 728 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:58,319 Speaker 2: in the thick of this thing for a wide open 729 00:35:58,440 --> 00:35:59,400 Speaker 2: NFC South. 730 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: Right when Kirk Cousins is coming back to Minneapolis, right, 731 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's it's it's funny how these how 732 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,200 Speaker 1: these things unfold, the and the timing of them. 733 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 2: And I give the Vikings brass a lot of credit. Man, 734 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,760 Speaker 2: they made a difficult decision to move on from Kirk Cousins, 735 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 2: But the fact of the matter was they had to 736 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:18,840 Speaker 2: do better. What they did, they gave it a good shot, 737 00:36:18,880 --> 00:36:21,680 Speaker 2: it didn't work. What's the next step? Who's the next quarterback? 738 00:36:22,239 --> 00:36:24,520 Speaker 2: You get Sam Darnold on a one year deal for 739 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:26,680 Speaker 2: ten million dollars and he plays half the season like 740 00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:30,680 Speaker 2: an MVP. These are the type of kind of gut 741 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 2: wrenching moves that you occasionally have to make. The Packers 742 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:34,880 Speaker 2: had to make one of their own with Aaron Jones. So, 743 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:37,439 Speaker 2: uh yeah, I mean this is this is a very 744 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 2: interesting week for the whole NFL and and certainly the 745 00:36:41,000 --> 00:36:43,520 Speaker 2: Packers kick it off against the Lions and if you 746 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 2: could find a way to win this thing again and 747 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 2: make it two for two at Ford Field, and suddenly 748 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 2: the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings find themselves one 749 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,359 Speaker 2: game behind the Lions with four games left to play. 750 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, that's the that's the scenario the Packers are 751 00:36:56,320 --> 00:37:00,359 Speaker 1: hoping for, and we will see what unfolds. Before we go, 752 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: I have to let you know the countdown to the 753 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five NFL Draft has begun. Green Bay is 754 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 1: hosting this year and you won't want to miss it. 755 00:37:09,520 --> 00:37:12,760 Speaker 1: Mark your calendars for April twenty four through April twenty 756 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 1: six of twenty twenty five, and visit green Bay dot 757 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:20,200 Speaker 1: com slash Draft twenty five for more information. With that, 758 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:23,279 Speaker 1: we'll call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 759 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:25,920 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 760 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:29,720 Speaker 1: team and of Thursday nights big game from Ford Field 761 00:37:29,719 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 1: and Detroit. Wes and I will be there. We will 762 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: have it all for you on Packers dot Com, and 763 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:37,960 Speaker 1: we'll be back on our regular two shows per week 764 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 1: schedule with Packers Unscripted beginning next week. So thank you 765 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:45,879 Speaker 1: for tuning in, everybody, and we will see you next time.