1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 3 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,960 Speaker 1: West Hotko Hits for coming to you here from our 4 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: studios at lambeau Field West. It's the middle of the 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 1: week and that means we take a closer look at 6 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: the Packers upcoming opponent, and that is surprise, surprise, it's 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings Monday Night Football. It'll be at us 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: Bank Stadium in Minneapolis this coming Monday on December. The 9 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: Vikings are ten and four. We all know what the 10 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: Packers playoffs scenarios are. When the NFC North with one 11 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: more victory clinch of first round by with two more victories. 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: The Vikings playoffs situation is this, they are in the 13 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: playoffs with one more win or a loss by the Rams, 14 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,080 Speaker 1: and if they win their last two games and and 15 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: the Packers would also lose to Detroit, then the Vikings 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: would be the NFC North champs. So that's where it 17 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: stands for them. And really, the one thing when I 18 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: my first glance at the Vikings statistical sheet before we 19 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: sat down here, there's one thing that jumped out at 20 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,479 Speaker 1: me the most. It's that they are undefeated at home, 21 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: they are five hundred on the road. That old adage 22 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 1: of whin all your home games, split your road games 23 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: will be twelve and four, that's exactly from their perspective 24 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: what they're on track to do. They have two home 25 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: games to finish up there, six and oh at US 26 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: Bank Stadium this year, including an awfully big comeback victory 27 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: over the Broncos. And I don't know if it was 28 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers or Matt Lafleur who talked about it, but 29 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: sometimes that strategy isn't even good enough now with the 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: way that the NFL plays out that also certainly in 31 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: the in the NFC this year, twelve and four does 32 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: not get you what it has gotten you in a 33 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: lot of other years. But be that as it made. 34 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: This has been a really difficult environment for the Packers 35 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: to play in. You and I were in there in 36 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: two thousand, was at sixteen, the year that they opened 37 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: it up, and I also covered games in the Metrodome, 38 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: and I can tell you for as much as the 39 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:09,239 Speaker 1: Metrodome was praised and lauded for its volume and boisterous atmosphere, 40 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: the U. S Bank Stadium is its own different animal 41 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: because yeah, you're still getting a relatively loud environment. You 42 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: can debate how much of that is natural and how 43 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: much of that is synthesized. But they have you know, 44 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: they did the whole skull thing, they brought in the 45 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: mountain from Game of Thrones. You know, they've They've done 46 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: a lot of different things to kind of ramp up 47 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: their their action. But let's be honest, Mike, the biggest 48 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: thing is the on field product has been pretty darn 49 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: good here the last few seasons. They've had some ups, 50 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: they've had some downs, but every time they've had a 51 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: setback or a disappointment, I give Mike Zimmer a lot 52 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: of credit for rallying his team back. That's where they 53 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: sit right now, trying to make a run at this 54 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 1: thing in the postseason to come. Yeah, well, the Vikings 55 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:50,119 Speaker 1: are in the uh. Their season has gone pretty much 56 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: to pattern. And what I mean by that is with 57 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer, the Vikings have been on this alternating years 58 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 1: of being a playoff contender. In the odd numbered years fifth, 59 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: teen seventeen, and nineteen eighteen, they stumble a little bit 60 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 1: and they don't get back to the postseason. So they've 61 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: been on this kind of one one year up, one 62 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: year down. This is definitely an up year for them, 63 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: I think for all of the talk about Dalvin Cook, 64 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: and we'll certainly talk about him as the week goes along, 65 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: because he left last week's game when they were playing 66 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: the Chargers. He left with a shoulder injury. But the 67 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: reports out of Minnesota are that it's going to be 68 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: okay and they are expecting him to play on Monday night. 69 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: So we'll see what shakes out there. But I have 70 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: to give a lot of credit to Kirk Cousins because 71 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: you look at his numbers this year. He obviously signed 72 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: that big contract with Minnesota. Last year came with all 73 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: kinds of pressure, all kinds of expectations, didn't live up 74 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: to them. The Vikings missed the playoffs one year after 75 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: being in the NFC Championship Game. But then this year 76 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins has come back and he without question is 77 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: having the best season of his career. Is passer rating 78 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: is one hund eleven, which is ten points higher than 79 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: any passer rating that he's ever had for a single 80 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: season in his career to this point. And I think 81 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: the most important thing that stands out about that is 82 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: that he's only thrown five interceptions this season with two 83 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: regular season games to go, and he has been in 84 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: double digit interceptions the last four years running. So kirk 85 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: Cousins has definitely taken his game to another level here. 86 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: And yes, he's got Stefon Diggs, he's got Adam Feeling, 87 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: he's got Dalvin Cook, and he's got that defense. But 88 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: they pretty much had all of that last year two 89 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: and kirk Cousins wasn't quite getting the job done he 90 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 1: is this year. So Marvin right now can put up 91 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: the video of me talking about kirk Cousins early in 92 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: the season when they had some of the issues they did, 93 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: and in me mentioning that, you know, this guy still 94 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: a pretty good quarterback. Mark, we can go, Marvin, we 95 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: can go to the tape right now if you want 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: to bring that up. There were so many fans that 97 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: wanted to throw him on the dosh. Yeah, they wanted 98 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: to kick him to the curve. And I get it 99 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: because you're a fan and you're super into it, but man, 100 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: you just got to pull yourself back. Can look at 101 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 1: this thing from like ten thousand feet up and there 102 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: aren't a lot of quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins in this league. 103 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: And then, by the way, that giant contract that he 104 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: had got a couple of years ago, that's set the 105 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 1: tone for all the other contracts to come. It's not 106 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: like you're just paying him tens of millions of dollars 107 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 1: more than what every other quarterbacks making. I mean, here 108 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: he is in year two of that contract, and his 109 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: salary does not look at that exhortable compared to what 110 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: other you know, other top level, elite level quarterbacks are 111 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: making in this Kirk Cousins is a dang fine quarterback 112 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: and he's helped them have a lot of success in Minnesota. 113 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer the quote I always go back to, you know, 114 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: in the last couple of weeks to keep bringing up 115 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: over and over again about the two thousand and sixteen 116 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: NFC Championship game and and Rogers and his comments about 117 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: when to play games at home. I thought the biggest 118 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: comment that Mike Zimmers made during his entire time as 119 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: a head coach right now with the Minnesota Vikings goes 120 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: back two years ago when he said, going into the 121 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: off season before they signed Kirk Cousins, they had all 122 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: these other quarterbacks they had to make a decision on 123 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: He said, we have to make the right choice because 124 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: I probably won't be able to survive it. Like they 125 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: have to get the right quarterback or the Mike Zimmer 126 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: era might have ended. They did that, Mike, and not 127 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: only that, they went and found the best quarterback available 128 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: and it happened to be a pretty darn good year 129 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: to do it. There are so many quarterbacks in this 130 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: league right now that have one good year, a couple 131 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: of good games as a backup, and they get paid 132 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: monstrous amount of money. Mike Glennon is the one that 133 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: probably jumps up more than any in this point in time. 134 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: They paid Kirk Cousins, and Kirk Cousins has produced for them, 135 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: and he has been the consistent presence that they have 136 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 1: needed for years in Minnesota. And you're right, during the 137 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: times where they haven't had Adam feeling, or they haven't 138 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 1: had Dalvin Cook or guys have been banged up, he's 139 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: been the galvanizing force that has pushed them forward and 140 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: allowed them to be here playing meaningful football into middle December. Yeah. Well, 141 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: a couple of those offensive weapons for the Minnesota Vikings, 142 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,160 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook and Stefon Diggs, having quite frankly monster seasons. 143 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook over rushing yards, Stefon Diggs is over a 144 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: thousand yards receiving, both of them with two regular season 145 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: games left to add to those totals. Adam Feeling not 146 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: having as big year, been dealing with a bunch of injuries, 147 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: but he actually still leads them in touchdown with six. 148 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: He's only caught thirty passes all season long, but six 149 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: for touchdowns, So one out of every five times Adam 150 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: Theland catching the game, it's in the end zone. Yeah, 151 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,239 Speaker 1: he's missed a third of the season essentially, So um, 152 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: he's got Cousins, has a lot around him to work with. 153 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: And uh and this Vikings offense has been uh boy, 154 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: I mean they when when they get rolling, and especially 155 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: when they've been playing at home, I think, but even 156 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: we saw that Monday night game in Seattle when they 157 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 1: got down and then they got kind of got things 158 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: cranked up again. This is a this is a dangerous offense. 159 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: And uh and playing at their place, you know, the 160 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: fast track all of that kind of stuff. Packers are 161 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: gonna have their hands full here. Six and points right now, 162 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: twenty seven points per game, tenth and total yards twelfth 163 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: and passing fourth and rushing. Now, we do have to 164 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: actually see how things shake out with Cook this week. 165 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: Summer did express optimism, but I know there were some 166 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 1: ESPN reports out there questioning whether not Cook would play. 167 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: All this seems to be a thing where he keeps 168 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: leaving games and not being able to finish the game. 169 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: But then the next week he's back up again. And 170 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: so it's been happen with the ankle last week. It's 171 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: it's it's been this in and out thing with with 172 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: the injuries with him. So hard to say, but there 173 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: is an extra day here in terms of recovery with 174 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: the game being on a Monday night and all that. 175 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 1: So well, we will see how it plays out over 176 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: the weekend. And there's just no way to replace him. 177 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: I mean, he is he is the guy in that offense, 178 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: and you and I have had a chance to watch 179 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: him for a couple of seasons now when he's been healthy. Man, 180 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: I mean, this is one of the top two or 181 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 1: three running backs in the league at this point. And 182 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,839 Speaker 1: Stefon Diggs to mention him, you know, this could be 183 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: a week we've seen Jaire Alexander really graduate. I think 184 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: over this last month to being a shutdown corner. I mean, 185 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: it seems like they're more comfortable putting them in that 186 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: role now having him travel with guys. Now Adam Feeling 187 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: is a big task himself, but I'm this will be 188 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: an interesting one for how they want to defend him 189 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: because it's not just about the Vikings and Diggs. It's 190 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: about Kenny Gallady the following week too. And although Matt 191 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: Staff for now is on in reserve and his season 192 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: is over, Galay is a guy that can still really 193 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: hurt you. So seeing exactly how they deploy Jr. Alexander 194 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: and these games to come is gonna be really interesting 195 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: because I think it's going to set the tone for 196 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 1: how they use them in the playoffs. Yeah, I think 197 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: so too. Here's an interesting thing West, As I said, 198 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: I kind of glanced through the Minnesota Vikings stat sheet 199 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: before we sat down here and turn the camera on. 200 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook thirteen rushing touchdowns this year, Aaron Jones fourteen 201 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 1: rushing touchdowns this year. The Minnesota Vikings defensively have sixteen interceptions. 202 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: The Packers have fifteen interceptions. Zadarius and Preston Smith have 203 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: combined for twenty one and a half sacks. Daniel Hunter 204 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: and Everson Griffin have combined for twenty one and a 205 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:43,839 Speaker 1: half sacks. There's just some statistics with these two teams 206 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: that are really interesting and how they correspond and how 207 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: they match up in uh, some key areas here. And 208 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: I for one, and we'll talk a little bit more 209 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: about the Vikings defense in a minute, but I for 210 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: one think that this game, if if there is, if 211 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: there is a game that you're that you want to say, boy, 212 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: would be great for the Packers to win the turnover battle. 213 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,599 Speaker 1: I think it's this one. I mean, in that environment 214 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 1: with what the Packers offensively are going to be dealing with, 215 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: with Minnesota's pass Russian, all of the noise and all 216 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: of the challenges that come with protecting the football in 217 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: that environment, if the Packers can successfully do that and 218 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: they might be able to get a takeaway or two 219 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: from Minnesota's offense, I just I just think any turnovers 220 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: in this game are going to potentially be huge, huge momentums. Yeah, 221 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 1: and there's only a handful of teams that rank in 222 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: the top ten in the league right now, and both 223 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: giveaways and takeaways in terms of limiting the number of 224 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 1: giveaways and the Packers and Vikings are in that category too. 225 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: So when you're playing Kirk Cousins and he plays as 226 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 1: high percentage of football as he does, which again I 227 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: understand for some Bikings fans that can be maddening at times, 228 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: but he plays really high percentage. You don't get a 229 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: seventy percent completion percentage just by winging it. He's very 230 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: methodical about how he approaches things. Yeah, that path, I mean. 231 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: I bet I bet Kirk Cousins if he's asked this 232 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 1: week leading up to this game about his season and 233 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: about the first game against Green Bay back in Week two, 234 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: I bet he would rank that interception he threw to 235 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: Kevin King in the end zone in the fourth quarter 236 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field might be he might call that his 237 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: worst pass of the season. And I think he knows 238 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: he knows that, and to his credit, you know, I 239 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: it's not like he's gone on some interception binge as 240 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 1: I said. He's only had five interceptions all season long, 241 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: when he's been in double digits for the last four 242 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: years in a row. So, um, he he learned a 243 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: lesson a little bit from that first game here at 244 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: lambeau Field, and uh, the Packers are going to have 245 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: to force him into that kind of a mistake. I 246 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: think on Monday Night, he's not just going to make 247 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: it on his own as he did in that instance 248 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: when it was a basically a first and goal play 249 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 1: with the game on the line. Well, something else to 250 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: keep in mind too, there's a lot of times you'll 251 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: see quarterbacks in this league. I think Daniel Jones is 252 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: a good example of this, where Daniel Jones hasn't thrown 253 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: an exorbitant amount of interceptions this year, but he hadn't 254 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: exorbitant amount of fumbles that he lost. Kirk Cousins doesn't 255 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: hurt you either way. It's not his fumbles. He only 256 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: has three loss on the season, and it's not his interceptions. 257 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: But if you go back and roll back the film, 258 00:12:09,920 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: in their four losses, three of them he has turned 259 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: over the football. I mean, it's just it's been that 260 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,400 Speaker 1: kind of slight margin for Era that has been really 261 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: the difference between between victory and defeat for them this season. 262 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: And when Kirk Cousins is playing consistently, can work the 263 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: ball down field. Everybody always talks about that with him, right, 264 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: It's about developing a rhythm early and as the game 265 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: wears on, that's when the explosive play start to show 266 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 1: themselves a little bit more. That's gonna be the big 267 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: key for him, especially if Delvin Cook ends up being 268 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: limited or depending on what happens there with the shoulder 269 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: injury and it lies more on his hands. They're gonna 270 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: have to be something to watch. But I think if 271 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: nothing else has proven this season is that for the 272 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 1: first time you could make an argument that they now 273 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: have an offense that is right up there with their 274 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: defense when everything is firing the way it's supposed to be, 275 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 1: that they aren't playing catch up there in that stratusy, Yeah, 276 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 1: I would agree. I want to ask you one thing 277 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: about their defense, and there's certainly a lot of things 278 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: that jump out. As I said, they have sixteen interceptions 279 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 1: as a team. I believe it's Anthony Harris as safety 280 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: leads them with five. But Daniel Hunter thirteen and a 281 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: half sacks this year, I forget now if he I 282 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: think he's on a run of double digit sacks seasons. 283 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: I'm not exactly sure how many he's at now. But 284 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 1: where did this guy come from? West? Because because when 285 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:26,199 Speaker 1: he first came into the league, nobody was talking about 286 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: this guy, and he's He's now one of the premier 287 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 1: pass rushing defensive ends, not just in the NFC North, 288 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:37,479 Speaker 1: not just in the NFC, the entire league. This guy, 289 00:13:37,520 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: this guy is is one who really really recks offensive 290 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: game plans. So Packers get a lot of flak for 291 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: their two thousand fifteen NFL draft. Uh And And the 292 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: thing that I think people don't really realize when you 293 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: go back and look at it, the fifteen draft wasn't 294 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: an overly fruitful draft for really the entire league. It 295 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: was a down year for the most part. The Minnesota Vikings, 296 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,320 Speaker 1: much like I always paired like the two thousand eleven 297 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: draft wasn't a great year for teams in general, but 298 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: Seattle ended up building a Super Bowl contender out of 299 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: that draft. I look at the two thousand fifteen group 300 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: much similar for the Vikings. That was a transformative UH 301 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 1: year for them coming off a fourteen and getting bar 302 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: And you look at their fifteen draft. Here you've got 303 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: Daniel Hunter. Daniel Hunter in the third round of that draft. 304 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: You got Eric Kendricks in the second, you got Trey 305 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: Wayne's in the first. Oh and then by the way, 306 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: Anthony Harris was a college free agent that year. You 307 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: mentioned him with the five picks this year. The thing 308 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: that strikes me the most about Hunter is so often 309 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: with defensive ends or outside linebackers, it takes time for 310 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: them to really find their footing. His weakest year, his 311 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: least you know, statistically, you know, best year with six 312 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: sacks his rookie season. He went to twelve year after 313 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: that and it was seven and a half. And now 314 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: he's been going up and up and up. He's a problem. 315 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: He's a problem for defensive lines. And the reason why 316 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: Minnesota has been able to sustain their success with their 317 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: defense is because it's had other players emerged. It was 318 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: Everson Griffin for a while and he's still very formidable 319 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: with eight sacks this season. But Hunter has kind of 320 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: grabbed that role now and he's become one of the 321 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: faces of this defense. And seeing his maturation over the 322 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: last four years and how he's turned himself into a 323 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: complete player and not just a pass rusher, it's been 324 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: one of the most impressive things about Mike Zimmers unit. Yeah, 325 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: I think I think that's what we've seen with this 326 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: with this Zimmer defense over the years. I mean, a 327 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: couple of years ago, I remember feeling like in the 328 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: teen game at US Bank Stadium. I know that was 329 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 1: the game Aaron Rodgers got hurt, but I felt like 330 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: walking out of the building that day, it was like, boy, 331 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: Harrison Smith was the best player on the field today. 332 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: You know. Then there are times I've watched Packers Vikings 333 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: games and got boy Xavier Rhodes looked like the best 334 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: player on the field today. Now it's it's as though, 335 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: as you say, the guy who has who has grabbed 336 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: onto that is Daniel Hunter, and he's the guy who 337 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: really makes this defense go. Not to not to take 338 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: anything away from those other guys who are still very 339 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: solid professional football players who really know what they're doing, 340 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: and these guys have played together for a long time, 341 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: but it seems the Vikings continue to have these guys 342 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: that rise up to that level as uh as just 343 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: the guys in the spotlight, and uh they take advantage 344 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: of it, and everybody kind of gravitates towards that and 345 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: and and that's where they go. It seems like Hunter 346 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: is that guy this year. Yeah, he definitely is. And 347 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: it's interesting too because you and I will go here 348 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 1: will preview these teams every single week. These defenses every 349 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: single week on the show, and everybody else does it too, right, 350 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: and every once in a while it's like, Okay, you 351 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: know who the big hitters are. Those are the guys 352 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: you hit on. When you talk about Minnesota, you can 353 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: go nine ten deep talking about their stars. They just 354 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: have so many different guys and actually, I think they 355 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: have some really good reserves too. They brought back Andrews 356 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: in Dajo, he's been the primary backup now as safety. 357 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: He already has two picks and he's got a couple 358 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 1: of picks right after he came back. So I mean, 359 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 1: they're just so diverse with their talent and where it 360 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: comes from, and when they have a spot open up, 361 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: they have guys who fill it. And it's allowed them 362 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: to be able to sustain this because for so often, Mike, 363 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: when a def it's reaches its pinnacle, when it's one 364 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: that considered one of the top defense is the league, 365 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: it's so hard to hold onto that because a lot 366 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: of times you have a lot of veteran players who 367 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: sometimes start to be on the downside of their career. 368 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,679 Speaker 1: Minnesota has bucked that trend and they continue to be 369 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: one of the league's best. Now, are they as dominant 370 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: statistically as they've been in previous years. Probably not, But 371 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: with the way that the offense is playing, in the 372 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: fact that special teams is kind of picking them up 373 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: too at points this season, they haven't really needed to be. Yeah. Well, 374 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: before we go on today's show, we do want to 375 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 1: talk about the Pro Bowl announcement which was made on 376 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: Tuesday night. The Packers with two Pro Bowl selections, quarterback 377 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers left tackle David Baktiari. For Rogers, it's his 378 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: eighth Pro Bowl selection, so he is now only one 379 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: behind Brett Farvan Forced Greg for the most in by 380 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: a single player in Packers history. Far and Greg both 381 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: were chosen nine times. Bok TR congratulations to David an 382 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: overdue honor. I think he would even admit, while this 383 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: has been a very very solid season for him, and 384 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: I think box Tr has played better in the second 385 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: half of the season this year than he did in 386 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: the first half, he would not say this is his 387 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: best season, but this is the year that he gets 388 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowl recognition after three straight years of getting 389 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: either second or first team All Pro. Yeah, yeah, exactly, 390 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: And for that very reason, I want to just go 391 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: out there right now and congratulates to Darius and Preston 392 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: Smith on their Pro Bowls in two thousand twenty, because 393 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: that's typically how this process ends up working, right. I mean, 394 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: I don't even want don't get me started on one 395 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,959 Speaker 1: of the Smiths. Okay, both of the Smith's not making it. 396 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,360 Speaker 1: Come on, bro, come on, um, but Box tr this 397 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: it's funny. I mean, he was a three time All Pro, 398 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: a first team All Pro last year, and he couldn't 399 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: get he couldn't get the Pro Bowl nod. Um, So 400 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:45,199 Speaker 1: it's it's it's good for him. He finally did it. Obviously, 401 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers, the litany of times that he's been named 402 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: to that team, give a quick shout out to Mason Crosby. 403 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: That's a difficult thing to be a first alternate a kicker. 404 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: They only pick one, uh, and you know Mason is 405 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: is right there now. The Packers hope that he won't 406 00:18:58,640 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: be able to do it and he won't be able 407 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: to fill in, but you know, obviously that's something too 408 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: that for him at this juncture's career, everything he went 409 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: through this year, that's really special for him to get 410 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: that acknowledgment. Yeah, and I know a lot of fans, 411 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: a lot of fans are up in arms about the 412 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: Smiths and about Aaron Jones with the you know, being 413 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: second to the league. I get because I do. I 414 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: do to what I was going to show what I 415 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: was going to say. Though as much as I would 416 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,360 Speaker 1: I would like to have seen Crosby make it. I'm 417 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,719 Speaker 1: glad he got first alternate, so if if the Packers 418 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 1: aren't in the super Bowl, he does have a chance 419 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 1: maybe to get that call and and to have that honor. 420 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: To me, the biggest snub, if you're looking for the 421 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: snub storyline for the Packers, the biggest snub of the 422 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 1: whole thing to me is that Brian Bulaga did not 423 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: even make an alternate list out of this thing. With 424 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: the season that he's having, Are you kidding me? Look 425 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: at the rushers, look at the edge rushers that he's 426 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 1: gone up against, especially in the first half of the season, 427 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 1: And I know there's a recency thing to all this. 428 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 1: The the opponents the Packers have played later in the 429 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:59,160 Speaker 1: season are not some of the ones that they had 430 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: earlier in the year. He was going up against a 431 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: murderers row of edge rushers throughout the first half of 432 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: the season, he was putting together a tremendous year, and 433 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: for him just not even to be on an alternate 434 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,439 Speaker 1: list anywhere, I think is I think it's it says 435 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: all you need to know about the process, which is 436 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: why I try not to get too worked up. Well, 437 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: the tough thing is is I have so much respect 438 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 1: for the AP because they made a modification a few 439 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: years ago that finally allowed right tackles to get their due, yes, 440 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: instead of just picking two tackles, and we're usually both 441 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: blindside you know, left tack because here's a spoiler alert, 442 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: there are two different positions. Cancers do the same thing 443 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: at either one of them. And Brian Blaga, I think, 444 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: and hopefully here we'll we'll figure out all pros here 445 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping he gets that 446 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 1: acknowledgement because his career definitely deserves it. Basically, if you're 447 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,159 Speaker 1: not Lane Johnson, it's gonna be tough to be a 448 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: right tackle that makes an a Pro Bowl and unfortunate 449 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: for Brian Blagg I think he is the best performing 450 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 1: right tackle in the game right now. For the reasons 451 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: that you mention and the answers to the test are there. 452 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: You've seen his work this whole season, what he's played through, that, 453 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: what he's put himself into. And I really I realized 454 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: there can be all kinds of nuances between who gets 455 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: it and who gets alternates and stuff. Right, the Smiths 456 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 1: are dealing with that. Crosby to a certain extent dealing 457 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: with that. But when I saw the full list last 458 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 1: night and I was working, you know, and posting a 459 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: story on our website, that the fact that I listed 460 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: all of these guys for the Packers who are alternates, um, 461 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: and that I did not type Brian Bulaga's name into 462 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 1: that story, I was just I was just in disbelief 463 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:34,920 Speaker 1: that he didn't at least get on some kind of 464 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: an alternate list. I didn't get it. We were at 465 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: a point where the I was thinking about this last night, Um, 466 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: should the Pro Bowl teams be expanded? And the reason 467 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: I mentioned that is, Okay, so they pick three quarterbacks, right, 468 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 1: they pick three offensive tackles. Uh. The the outside linebackers 469 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,399 Speaker 1: and edge rushes are basically the same position. If you're 470 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: a four or three outside linebacker, good luck making a 471 00:21:57,359 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl team. It's just it's very interesting with the 472 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: with the way it's it's it's it's a it's an 473 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: imperfect science with the variance that there's been now with 474 00:22:06,520 --> 00:22:09,679 Speaker 1: that um that that one confuses me because it's just 475 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 1: it's one of these things where, hey, the running backs, 476 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: I get it man Delvin Cook, McCaffrey and Zeke Elliott. 477 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 1: They don't get much better than that in the entire 478 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: football league. But some of these positions, it's like, really, 479 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: that's the best way to we're gonna do this, That's 480 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: how we're gonna pick it. I don't know, that's something 481 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: I think we should be looking for. By the way, 482 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:27,879 Speaker 1: I just want to do a quick shout out for 483 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: Rick Lovado making the Pro Bowl team of Philadelphia. A 484 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: gentleman and a scholar, a total professional during his time 485 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:36,480 Speaker 1: in Green Bay. Glad to see him being able to 486 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: get that acknowledgement. Yeah, it's always that's always cool, I 487 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: think for the specialist. And I think that's why I, 488 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: you know, you and I had talked about it throughout 489 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: the year. We're kind of holding out hope for Crosby 490 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: a little bit. And I know it's not a career 491 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 1: achievement award, but for a guy who's played as long 492 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: as he have, and he as long as he has, 493 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: and he really is on the top of his game 494 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,919 Speaker 1: right now with with what he's doing. Um, I was, 495 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: I was sad to see the he didn't get it. 496 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: I'm glad that he got first alternate because we'll see 497 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: what happens from there. But but it's for those specialist guys. 498 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: I always think it's kind of a cool deal. This 499 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 1: is a tough one because, you know, pulling myself back 500 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,960 Speaker 1: a little, Will Lutz has had a phenomenal season and 501 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,640 Speaker 1: if you go, if you know anything about the same 502 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: storylines that kicks that that guy's had to make this 503 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: year to win them ballgames, he's definitely a pro bowler. 504 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: But well, we'll see all the rest of the shakes out. 505 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,680 Speaker 1: Hopefully for the Packer's sake. They're in the Pro they're 506 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: in the super Bowl. It's like a Jordy Nelson type 507 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: thing where he had yard season but didn't make the 508 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: you know, because there's other things going on. Hopefully it 509 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: works out, you know that in that regard. Yeah, alright, Well, 510 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: with that, we will sign off on this edition of 511 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage 512 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: of the team on packers dot com. You can subscribe 513 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,920 Speaker 1: to us, like us on iTunes and other podcast services, 514 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: and be sure to check out the Packers YouTube channel 515 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: for all kinds of great video content For Wes, I'm Mike. 516 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in everybody, We'll see you next time.