1 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I and Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,319 Speaker 1: by the one, the only, Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to 4 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: you here from our studios at Lambellfield to preview this 5 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: Sunday's matchup, Wes. It will be the Packers against the 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: Steelers on the road in Pittsburgh. It's a noon Central 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Time kickoff. And when you look at the twenty twenty 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: three Pittsburgh Steelers, if you're trying to find a lot 9 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: of statistics that explain the Steelers five and three record, 10 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: you're going to have a hard time because, honestly, a 11 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,839 Speaker 1: lot of their numbers don't look good. It's hard to 12 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: figure out in a lot of respects just on paper, 13 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: like how this team is five and three. But the 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: two things that stand out are the turnover margin and 15 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: how they played in the fourth quarter the fourth quarters 16 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: of most of their football games. It's a team that 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: wins the turnover battle and they play crunch time football, 18 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: and that's why they're two games over five hundred. 19 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 2: It's a very unique team because, you know, statistically, diving 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,479 Speaker 2: into some of the defensive numbers, the fact that they're 21 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: thirty first in total defense. I mean they're middle of 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: the pack and scoring defense, they're fine there, but then 23 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 2: you know, bottom of the third, bottom quarter of the 24 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: league and running defense, but they're third and takeaways. It 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 2: reminds me a lot of the twenty ten Packer or 26 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: twenty eleven Packers excuse me, when the Packers were dead 27 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 2: last to total yards but led the league in takeaways. 28 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: The only difference, though, is the Green Bay had a 29 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 2: prodigious year offensively. Pittsburgh is having this success without scoring 30 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 2: more than I think twenty six points in any game 31 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: this season so far. So yeah, when you point out 32 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 2: the turnover margin and the way they finish games with 33 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: Kenny Pickett, that has certainly been the difference. And you know, 34 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: I've always said, and I wrote in our Insider Inbox 35 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 2: column this week, you are what your record says you are. 36 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: And the Pittsburgh Steelers have found ways to win five 37 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: of their eight games. The Packers have only won three 38 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: of their eight so far. You tip your cap to them. 39 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 2: But at the same time, I think, if I'm the 40 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: groom at Packers going into this thing, you understand fully 41 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 2: well what must be accomplished in order to win this 42 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 2: football game. Yeah. 43 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: Absolutely. I mean I wrote a story on late in 44 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: the day on Wednesday. It's up on Packers dot com 45 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: if you want to check it out, that that lays 46 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: out some of these numbers with regard to Pittsburgh and 47 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: you look at it and some of it, some of 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: it is just head scratching. I mean, they've been out 49 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: gained on the season by roughly eight hundred yards. They've 50 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: they're minus roughly forty five minutes on the season in 51 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: time of possession. That's three quarters. It's three quarters of 52 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: football that the opponent has had the ball longer than 53 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: they have. They've been outscored by thirty points overall in 54 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: the season, mostly because two of their losses were by 55 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: twenty plus points to the San Francisco forty nine Ers 56 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: in Week one and then to the Houston Texans when 57 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: they went down to Houston and everybody was like, WHOA, 58 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: what happened there. Obviously they have rebounded and bounced back 59 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: from that. But you mentioned you mentioned Kenny Pickett. You 60 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: had pointed out this stat to me yesterday, actually that 61 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: Kenny Pickett, the second year starter for the Steelers, his 62 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: passer rating in the first three quarters of games is 63 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: seventy five point three. His passer rating in the fourth 64 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: quarter is one oh eight point two. I mean that 65 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: is a dramatic difference in terms of how he performs 66 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: late in games compared to the rest of the contest. 67 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: And that turnover margin is plus eight. On the season, 68 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: the defense has sixteen total takeaways and plus eight is 69 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: only one off of the league lead, which is at 70 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: plus nine right now. I believe it's the Bengals and 71 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: the Chargers maybe that are plus nine on the season, 72 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: and the Steelers are right behind at plus Say so, smart, Yes, okay, 73 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: you're confirming. 74 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: I am confirming it. 75 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: I'm correct. 76 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: That's the guy with the master's degree and this is the. 77 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: Guy with it's just memory number. 78 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: I don't remember stuff like that. 79 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: Numbers stick in mind. 80 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 2: I need to have the information in front of me. 81 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: But yeah, this is but this is this is the number. 82 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: And I mentioned this on our three Things video as 83 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: well as in the story. The number that sticks out 84 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: to me is when you look at the fact that 85 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 1: four of Pittsburgh's five victories they have been trailing heading 86 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: into the fourth quarter, and yet they came back in 87 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter to beat the Browns and the Ravens, 88 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: two teams to division rivals, teams in their own division, 89 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: which are huge wins for them. Also coming back in 90 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter to beat the Rams and the Titans, 91 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: and not just the fact that they trailed going into 92 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter and won those games, but the collective 93 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: fourth quarter score in those four games is forty two 94 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: to zero. The defense has given up nothing, nothing in 95 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: those four games. When they have come back to win 96 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: in the four it's not it's not like they get 97 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: into some sort of a fourth quarter shootout, I guess 98 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: is my point, where suddenly the defenses get worn out 99 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: and the offense is going, you know, back and forth 100 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: up and down the field that happens in NFL games. 101 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: Sometimes that's not what this is. This is a team 102 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: that in the fourth quarter has shut down opponents and 103 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: then their quarterback, as I just mentioned, with that that 104 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: rating number, finds a way to elevate his game, and 105 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: the offense finds a way to get the score or 106 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 1: scores that they need to pull out victories. And you know, 107 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: all sorts of other statistics get thrown out because these 108 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 1: guys are five and three and they're right in the 109 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,559 Speaker 1: thick of it in the AFC North. 110 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, And Kenny Pickett is a guy that I feel like, 111 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: for whatever reason, people have tried to kind of diminish 112 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 2: him a little bit. And I think he's been underrated 113 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: in some terms because if you're a second year quarterback 114 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 2: that has also played in that city, it was a 115 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: first round pick and had the expectations that he's had, 116 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 2: but have been able to pull off six fourth quarter 117 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 2: comebacks in this short of time, which I think we 118 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: were saying is either first or second in the NFL 119 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: right now. So in the beginning of last. 120 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: Season, basically less than two seasons he's that's pretty darn impressive. 121 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: And this offense does operate much differently when he's out 122 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: there as opposed to you know, when Mitchell Trubisky had 123 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 2: to sub in for him a little bit two weeks ago. 124 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 2: But here's the thing that not enough people are talking 125 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 2: about when we break down this matchup is what's going 126 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 2: on offensively right now with the Steelers rushing offense has 127 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: been sort of blase so far this year. Naja Harris. 128 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 2: They they've been okay but not great. Well, then you 129 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,119 Speaker 2: have Jalen Warren pop up. Yeah, former undrafted free agent 130 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: five foot eight, two hundred and fifteen pounds. This guy's 131 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: a little battering ram. Yeah, in terms of what he 132 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: can do with an opposing team. This isn't a five 133 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: foot eight hundred and seventy pound kid. This kid packs 134 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: a punch, and they've turned out to be a pretty 135 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: good compliment. They're coming off their best running performance of 136 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: the season against Tennessee. Deontay Johnson is back now off 137 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 2: injured reserve. As much of a big play threat as 138 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 2: George Pickens is, it's Deontay Johnson who's been sort of 139 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: the the Romeo Dobbs of this offense, for a lack 140 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 2: of a better term, the guy that can consistently move 141 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: the chains for you. Kenny Pikett has developed a rapport 142 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 2: with him. He did it last year, he's doing it 143 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:05,679 Speaker 2: again this year since he's been back. There are guys 144 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: offensively that can hurt you. But where Green Bay must 145 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: succeed in this game is in protecting the football and 146 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: taking the football away. Pittsburgh's defense has as many fumble 147 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: recoveries as they do interceptions. It's eight and eight, yeah, 148 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 2: those sixteen so far this season. 149 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: Right. 150 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: They get the ball out, yeah, and they get on 151 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: the football. Green Bay has to be able to protect football. 152 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 2: If you go back to last week, Yeah, it wasn't clean, 153 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: it wasn't perfect, but when they did have the turnovers, 154 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 2: they didn't allow any points off them defensively, and when 155 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: they got them, they were able to generate them. A 156 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: lot going on in this matchup, Michael, But certainly, you know, 157 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 2: if you take away the team stats and all that 158 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 2: sort of things, this is still a very dangerous Pittsburgh 159 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 2: Steelers team coach by one of the best in the 160 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 2: game in Mike Tomlin. Yeah. 161 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: Absolutely, I mean Mike Tomlin. As many people know, he's 162 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: in his seventeenth season as a head coach. He has 163 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: never posted a losing record over the course. He's had 164 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: some you know, eight nates in there before the switch 165 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: to the seventeen game season, had some eight and eates 166 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: in there. But in his first sixteen years in the league, 167 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: ten playoff appearances. It's a lot to be said for that. 168 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: The vast majority of that, well pretty much all of 169 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: that actually for Tomlin was with Ben Roethlisberger, the future 170 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame quarterback. Now they've made the transition over 171 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: the last couple of years to Kenny Pickett. George pick 172 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: Ends is that big play guy four pickt He's averaging 173 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: seventeen and a half yards a catch per season. I'm sorry, 174 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: seventeen and a half yards per catch this season, which 175 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: is a pretty standout number. 176 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 2: And me lose my fantasy game though last week by 177 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: not getting his feet down. I would have won otherwise. 178 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: But you you mentioned though, and what is kind of 179 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: striking is that this Pittsburgh defense from a yardage standpoint 180 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: is ranked as low as it is because and I know, 181 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: you know, Cam Hayward's been injured and he's back now, 182 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: but I mean what TJ. Watt and Alex high Smith 183 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: are doing off the edge. You know, those two guys 184 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: have combined for fourteen of the dealers twenty six sacks. 185 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: They have been missing Minka Fitzpatrick, who's been you know, 186 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: one of their playmakers, probably probably their biggest playmaker in 187 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: the secondary. But but it's a it's a defense that 188 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: is that has you know, built its success on pressuring 189 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: the quarterback and generating turnovers, whether that be the strip 190 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: sacks or whether that be wayward throws that get that 191 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: get intercepted. They like to they like to force quarterbacks 192 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: into making mistakes. That's really what That's really what it 193 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: comes down to, and absolutely protecting the football is paramount here. 194 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: I should mention when we're talking about George Pickens, Deontay Johnson, 195 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: jay r Alexander popped up on the injury report UH 196 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: this week for the Packers with a different injury. It's 197 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: not his back, but he is now dealing with the 198 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: shoulder injury. He missed practice on Wednesday. At the time 199 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: we are taping this, this is prior to Thursday's practice, 200 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: so we don't know much about Alexander your status. But 201 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: the fact that Rasull Douglas was traded last week and 202 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: if Alexander is unable to go in this game, that 203 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: really changes the look of things for the Packers defense. 204 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: So that's definitely something to watch moving forward. 205 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: It does because now you're not just talking about like 206 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 2: a Carrington Valentine having to play. You're talking about, you know, 207 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 2: Corey Valentine who's off injured reserve, not off injurieser, but 208 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: off the practice squad, right, you know, in his gains 209 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 2: played last week as an elevation, maybe he potentially has 210 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 2: added That's where you're starting to dig a little bit 211 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 2: into this depth. Depending on where things sort out, and 212 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 2: certainly when you look at Pickens and the dangerous threat 213 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 2: he provides over the top, you'd love to have a 214 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 2: guy like Alexander, especially, you know, depending on what happens 215 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 2: in the in the deep secondary there with Rudy Ford, 216 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 2: who was back at practice on Wednesday. Right defensively, though, 217 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 2: Pittsburgh has had to kind of weather some stuff here. 218 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: You know when you look at you know, Cole Holcomb 219 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 2: ends up having his injury, he's out now. He was 220 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: one of their leading tacklers. They're two leading tacks didn't 221 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 2: play last week with him and Fitzpatrick. So you know, 222 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: Kean O'Neil has had a little bit of a resurgence 223 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: there stepping in for Minca. But overall, the yards have 224 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 2: been there. It's just been the bend but don't break 225 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 2: mentality that has allowed Pittsburgh to survive that much like 226 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 2: again drawing that comparison to the Packers in twenty eleven, 227 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 2: but for the Packers it comes down to having that 228 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 2: plan up front. And that's kind of the thing I 229 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: want to bring it back full circle with is with TJ. 230 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 2: Watt and alex Highsmith, you have two high energy, similarly 231 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 2: built guys that are going to give your edge rusher 232 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 2: or you're you know, on the edges, you're gonna give 233 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 2: your tackle some issues. But also just the way that 234 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 2: they can bowl themselves around inside too, if they need to. 235 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 2: That's going to be a big point of emphasis in 236 00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 2: this game for Green Bay because if you allow them 237 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: to start creating those pressures, that's where takeaways happen. And 238 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: the fact that you know, when I mentioned those eight 239 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 2: fumbles recoveries, three of those are TJ and I don't 240 00:11:57,520 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 2: even know how many of those he generated himself. So 241 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 2: it does show you the dangers that lie ahead with 242 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 2: this Pittsburgh team. But at the same time, you would 243 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: hope from the green Bay Packers perspective, especially with how 244 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: progressively healthier they've been getting on the offensive side of 245 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 2: the ball, this would be a matchup that lines up 246 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 2: okay for green Bay, and in terms of the matchups 247 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 2: they want to be able to develop well. 248 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: One injury certainly the Packers are watching on the offensive 249 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: side of the ball is at left tackle, because yash 250 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: Niman had taken over for Rashid Walker, but then after 251 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: the first half against the Rams last week, he was 252 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: having a little bit of trouble with his back, so 253 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: he went to the bench. Walker came in and finished 254 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: the game. Nyman did not return to practice on Wednesday, 255 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: so again that's another thing to watch because it seemed 256 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: Nyman had certainly moved ahead of Walker on the depth 257 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: chart and seemed to be taking that left tackle spot back. 258 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: But now with the injury, that's a little bit uncertain. 259 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: And whichever guy you know, whether it's Water or high Smith, 260 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: that ends up on that side, I know sometimes they 261 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: flip flop those guys back and forth. At least occasionally. 262 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: We'll have to see how exactly how the Packers are 263 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 1: going to match up there. But I want to get 264 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: to our keys to victory. I think we've already said 265 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: protect the football three or four times throughout this But 266 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: aside from that obvious talking point of protecting the ball, 267 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: what else do the Packers need to do to win 268 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: this game? 269 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 2: We'll probably protect the football, it's kidding. Two stats that 270 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: really stand out to me defensively for Pittsburgh. A lot 271 00:13:37,880 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: of things on the high end of things when you 272 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 2: see the twenty nine's the thirties in terms of their rankings, well, 273 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 2: two areas are really exceptional This year. Has been fourth 274 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 2: downs and in the red zone. Both of those type 275 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 2: of statistics I think speak to not only their ability 276 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 2: to stop opposing teams, but also some turnovers they've generated 277 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: in that side of the field. Again, I don't want 278 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 2: to just keep belaboring the bend but don't break, but 279 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 2: that's the way they've survived. So for Green Bay standpoint, 280 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 2: a team that has been pretty proficient inside the red 281 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 2: gold whatever you want to call it, z own this year. 282 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 2: They need to be able to keep that going. I 283 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 2: love the way and we talked about this on Tuesday's show. 284 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 2: I love the way they finished last week. They turned 285 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:21,760 Speaker 2: turnovers into points, they turned opportunities into points, and they 286 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 2: got the twenty points they needed to win that game handily. 287 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 2: Maybe you do need more in this game, maybe you don't, 288 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: but being able to actually convert when you get into 289 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: Steelers territory is going to be huge, because Mike, it's 290 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 2: just not about when you face the Steelers the points 291 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: and the score on the scoreboard. It's also about the 292 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: momentum meter. And I think when you follow Pittsburgh and 293 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 2: you follow some of these things they've done in the 294 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: fourth quarter, a lot of it is when momentum has 295 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 2: turned drastically in their favor. Yeah, And I think that's 296 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: one area where Green Bay has to come up big 297 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,240 Speaker 2: in this one. When you get the chances, you have 298 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 2: to be able to turn it into points. 299 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. And this this game, to me, you know, I 300 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:07,359 Speaker 1: don't see I don't see either one of these offenses 301 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: right now going up against these respective defenses. I don't 302 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: see either one of these teams being able to salt 303 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: this game away in the first three quarters. This is 304 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: going to be a crunch time game. It's going to 305 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: come down to the fourth quarter, and you have to 306 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: be the better team in those moments. And that is 307 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: that much harder to do when you're on the road 308 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: versus at home. And all you have to do is 309 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: look at the Packers twenty twenty three season. Right the 310 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: fourth quarter against the Saints, the Packers have the big comeback. 311 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 1: They have a really strong fourth quarter to beat the Rams. 312 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: Those were at home. The fourth quarter in Atlanta, the 313 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: fourth quarter in Vegas, the fourth quarter in Denver. The 314 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: Packers had all the opportunities you could ask for, and 315 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: they did not prove to be the better team in 316 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: those instances. So this is going to be a game 317 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: where the Packers are going to have to get done 318 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: in crunch time on the road, hostile crowd, the terrible 319 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: towels waving, all of that kind of stuff. The other 320 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: statistic I'll point out that I think is pretty interesting 321 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: is that veteran kicker Chris Boswell for the Pittsburgh Steelers. 322 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: He's been a big part of this because their offense 323 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: does not light up the scoreboard, they do kick a 324 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: fair amount of field goals. He's only missed one kick 325 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: all season and it was actually from sixty one yards away, 326 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: is his only miss of the year. So that's something 327 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: to watch as well. In Pittsburgh, you know, outdoors, we'll 328 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: see what the weather is like and everything. And if 329 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: you're asking him, I trying to jinx him into missing 330 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: some kicks on Sunday, Yes, I absolutely am. But you know, 331 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: veteran kicker, the Packers are gonna have their rookie kicker, 332 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: Anders Carlson, who's had his ups and downs lately too, 333 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: so you know everything, you know, all three phases are 334 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: gonna are gonna play a part in this. I thought, 335 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, I'll just mention too briefly before we move 336 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: on Packers' special teams aside from Carlson missing the kick 337 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: at the end of the first half, which was unfortunate, 338 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: but in the return game, Packers might have started to 339 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,679 Speaker 1: find something against the Rams and not just you know 340 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: the obvious, which was the fifty one yard kickoff return 341 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: by Keishawn Nixon to open the second half, but Nixon 342 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: also had a fifteen yard punt return and Jaden Reid 343 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: had a twenty two yard punp return. When you're getting 344 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: when you're getting those types of returns, it doesn't you know, 345 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: it doesn't have to be the forty and fifty yard 346 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: explosive returns. Like a fifteen yard punt return of twenty 347 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: two yard punt return, those can be big in the 348 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: field position game, and if the Packers are starting to 349 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,640 Speaker 1: find something with regard to their return game, I think 350 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: that could play a huge factor on Sunday when when 351 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: every you know, any yard here or there could be 352 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: the difference between whether you're going to be in field 353 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: goal range and be able to get points in a 354 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: game where points may be at a premium, or you're 355 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: going to be in a position where you have to 356 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 1: go for it on fourth down, or you're going to 357 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: try to pump them, you know, back inside the ten 358 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: yard line. Every everything is really gonna I think be 359 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 1: magnified in this game, just because of the way these 360 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: two teams have played so far this season. 361 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I unfortunately didn't do my proper research on 362 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: my Claire Tretder stat packet that she brings down our 363 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 2: wonderful communications intern Yes, last week, I believe Green Bay 364 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 2: was leading the league in was it opposing starting field 365 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 2: position or that the discrepancy between the two Packers have 366 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: actually done a really good job there when it comes 367 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:29,920 Speaker 2: down to where they've been starting as a post where 368 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 2: the opponent's starting. I will throw this stat at you though, 369 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 2: Michael Is, you're a big stack guy. Yeah, Green Bay 370 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,560 Speaker 2: Packers presently kickoff returns and punt returns. Do you know 371 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,240 Speaker 2: where they rank? Can pick either one first if you want. 372 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,159 Speaker 1: I do not. That is not one that I take 373 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: a quick git. That is not one that I looked up. 374 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:47,919 Speaker 2: I did look this one up because I was curious 375 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 2: after Keishawn's fifty one yard or where the kickoff return was, 376 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: so I looked at both of them. 377 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it doesn't seem like the Packers have had a 378 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 1: whole lot of opportunities this year, there have been a 379 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 1: lot of touch. 380 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: It's the National Football League, Yeah, and there's a lot 381 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 2: of teams to play in warm weather. There's been a 382 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: lot of touchbacks. But if you had to just get 383 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,719 Speaker 2: give me a guess, obviously it's good because I wouldn't 384 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 2: be throwing it at you if it was like, oh, 385 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: they're thirty first, kickoff returns, punt returns average, where do 386 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 2: you think they rink? 387 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna guess punt returns there around tenth in the league. 388 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: And kickoff returns, I'll say. 389 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 2: Twelve packers are third and kickoff return third yep average 390 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 2: so far this season. 391 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: Wow. 392 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 2: I think a part of that's probably been a product 393 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 2: too of Kishan taking a couple out. 394 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: Yea from eight nine yards deep? Yeah, because get all 395 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: those yards right. 396 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 2: But I think it shows you one explosive, getting back 397 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 2: to your original premise of this question. One explosive, how 398 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 2: important that can be. I'll tell you what man I 399 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: thought in that game. There were so many things that happened, 400 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 2: especially the fumble after his kickoff return, that we weren't 401 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 2: really able to put the proper light on Kishan's performance. 402 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 2: But I thought he was a spark for them. I 403 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 2: thought he's shown the signs there of seeing the field well, 404 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 2: getting the blocks he needs, and being able to break 405 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 2: a few eighth and punt return average too. 406 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: By the way, Okay, I was a little closer on 407 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: my game. 408 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 2: You were closer there. But I like what I've seen 409 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:08,679 Speaker 2: from that group, and I think especially this is the 410 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 2: time of the year, Michael. You know you're going to 411 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 2: be in Pittsburgh, You're going to be back in Green Bay. 412 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 2: You're going to be back in Green Bay two weeks 413 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: after that New York. It's going to get colder. There's 414 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 2: going to be more opportunities, and I think this is 415 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: Keyshawn Nixon season in a lot of ways. 416 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, And you just you wonder if the fact that 417 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: some of I mean, obviously the injuries don't entirely go away, 418 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: but just some of the settling down in the injury 419 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: department has maybe allowed those special teams units to to 420 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: get more consistent with their personnel. And when the personnel 421 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: is more consistent, perhaps the performance then becomes more consistent 422 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: and more reliable for what rich Basaci and those guys 423 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: are looking for. 424 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. Even look at last week with the flyers. 425 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 2: I mean in his gains is on the practice squad. 426 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 2: It was his third game that had been elevated, but 427 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: in this has been around for a couple of years now. 428 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 2: He was instituted, inserted right away on one of those 429 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 2: flying you know, as one of the flyers at the 430 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: first team, and he's getting down the field. These guys 431 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 2: understand what the standard is. And while there have been 432 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 2: a lot of injuries, you do have the guys you 433 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,520 Speaker 2: can hang your head on the down Levittz, the Eric Wilson's, 434 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 2: the Isaam McDuffie's, guys that have been there, done that, 435 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 2: and then some and I think overall, I mean, they 436 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:17,879 Speaker 2: had a big wake up call two weeks ago with 437 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 2: that almost a kickoff return against Minnesota, but I thought 438 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,239 Speaker 2: they really came together with the strong performance in that 439 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 2: win last week. 440 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I thought so too. I'll take care of some 441 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: sponsor business here. West Sirius XM. NFL Radio delivers hard 442 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:34,479 Speaker 1: hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news that 443 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, three sixty 444 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: five and Ed cousin subbs. We have something for everyone, 445 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 1: like our Wisconsin cheese curds, Mac and Cheese golden fries 446 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 447 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:49,439 Speaker 1: sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs fifty years of better. 448 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: All right, a glance around the league, Another week of 449 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 1: some intriguing matchups in the NFL. In Week ten, I'm 450 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: gonna rattle these off you, the ones that jumped out 451 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 1: to me when I glanced at the schedule, and I'll 452 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: let you talk about whichever ones you want to thank you. 453 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: Cleveland is at Baltimore. Interesting matchup in the AFC North 454 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: with Baltimore has had its ups and downs. They've really 455 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: manhandled some good teams and then they kind of they'll 456 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: have a letdown, you know. So this is a big 457 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: division matchup in the AFC North with Cleveland traveling to Baltimore. 458 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: Houston is at Cincinnati. Was c J. Stroud coming off 459 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: of that, you know, monstrous rookie performance and now going 460 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: into Cincinnati where the Bengals seem to be finding themselves 461 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,959 Speaker 1: with Joe Burrow being fully healthy and although now Jamar 462 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: Chase has hurt He's hurt his back in that Sunday 463 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: night game against Buffalo, so that could be an impact there. 464 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:49,240 Speaker 1: San Francisco at Jacksonville two playoff teams from a year ago, 465 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: one of those interesting AFC NFC matchups. And then as 466 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: far as the NFC North goes, New Orleans is at Minnesota. 467 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 1: You had brought this one up on our last show. 468 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,520 Speaker 1: Minnesota turning things over obviously to Josh Dobbs at quarterback, 469 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: and the Saints despite you know what they obviously believe 470 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: was a game at Lambell Field back in Week three, 471 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: they should have been able to win up seventeen to 472 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:15,919 Speaker 1: nothing going into the fourth quarter. But the Saints have 473 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: rebounded from that and put themselves in good position. And 474 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: then the Detroit Lions are back from their bye week 475 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 1: and they will face they will travel out west to 476 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,400 Speaker 1: face the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chargers and the Lions 477 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: being the two Packers opponents in the next two games 478 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: after the trip to Pittsburgh. Those two teams going ahead 479 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 1: to head on Sunday. 480 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 2: Well, first off, my older brother Pete Carmichael, I like 481 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 2: some of the adjustments they've made in New Orleans. One 482 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 2: of those brother you ever look at Pete Carmichael, Yes, 483 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 2: I have, that's my older brother. I mean, I know 484 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:48,720 Speaker 2: some people like they'll be like, oh, there's a guy 485 00:23:48,720 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 2: with glasses of dark hair that looks like you. No, Google, 486 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 2: Pete Carmichael. We're the same person. Fifteen years difference in age, 487 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 2: but otherwise the same person. But the Saints got back 488 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 2: to doing the things that made them good a few 489 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 2: years ago. Yeah, Taysom Hill's doing some really creative stuff. 490 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 2: They're using him to the best of his capabilities. Again, 491 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 2: Alvin Kamara has just been a major difference for this offense. 492 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 2: It's just they are different when he's available. Yeah. 493 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: Not having him earlier in the season definitely impacted where 494 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: the Saints were going, and they seem to be They 495 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 1: seem to be hitting their stride now offensively. 496 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 2: But let's focus on what matters most for the Packers 497 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 2: because I want, I just want your opinion on this, 498 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 2: because I don't know if I have one. Maybe you 499 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 2: don't either, But we'll try Detroit in the LA Chargers. Yeah, 500 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 2: this is interesting because historically, yeah, you just want the 501 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 2: Chargers to win this. I think you still do want 502 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 2: the Chargers to win this, but then you got them 503 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 2: on the other side of this thing. Yeah, and you 504 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 2: also have Detroit. What probably two weeks from today, I think. 505 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 1: Yes, two weeks from today would be Thanksgiving Day. 506 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 2: That's actually right about right now, you and I will 507 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 2: be getting ready to eat turkey together, So happy Thanksgiving. 508 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 2: What do you make of this matchup? I watched most 509 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 2: of that Chargers game on Monday, I mean they handled Jets. Yeah, 510 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 2: very curious to see how they respond now against Yeah. 511 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,239 Speaker 1: I honestly, I don't know what to make of that 512 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: Monday night game. I realized the Chargers were on the road. 513 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 1: You're going all the way across the country to play 514 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 1: a primetime game on the road, so nothing's easy about that. 515 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: But man, the Jets offensively were just so bad. Like 516 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: I don't you know, I don't even know. I don't 517 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 1: really know what to make of that. I do think 518 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: based on what I've seen, I think justin Herbert is 519 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: playing a lot better now than he was earlier in 520 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: the Sustin Night healthy, yeah, and with Eckler being healthy, 521 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: But it seemed like Herbert was a little more erratic 522 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: I think earlier in the season, and he's kind of 523 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 1: getting his uh, you know, getting his legs and the 524 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:45,680 Speaker 1: fundamentals and everything underneath underneath him. As far as as 525 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: far as who do you want to win? I mean, 526 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: it's just it's it's always just natural to cheer for 527 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:55,120 Speaker 1: anybody that's playing, you know, an NFC North opponent, And hey, 528 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: like if I guess I look at it this way, 529 00:25:57,520 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: if the if the Chargers, if the Chargers knock off 530 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 1: the Lions, and you know that'll be them stringing together 531 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: a few victories, I think everybody's gonna suddenly start talking 532 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: about the Chargers. And I think that works to the 533 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: Packers advantage with the Chargers coming in here the following week. 534 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,480 Speaker 1: So but I do think that I do think that 535 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: matchup is really intriguing. It's a it's a it's a 536 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 1: big test for Detroit going all the way out to 537 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: the West coast, playing a team that that seems to 538 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: be finding itself. And uh, and you know the Lions, 539 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: the Lions coming off there by week, and you know 540 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,119 Speaker 1: they're ready to make a charge and and take this 541 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 1: NFC North Division and stay in control of it. Because 542 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: here's the thing, Wes, I mean, who knows what's going 543 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: to happen in Minnesota with with Josh Dobbs making his 544 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 1: first actual start as the Vikings quarterback. But if the Chargers, 545 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: if the Chargers knock off the Lions, and Minnesota with 546 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: Dobbs can beat the Saints in Minneapolis, suddenly there are 547 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 1: a lot you know, the NFC North feels a heck 548 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,920 Speaker 1: of a lot more wide open as opposed to the Lions, 549 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 1: you know, kind of being the front runner and sitting 550 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: in the caffards. They would still be in first place, 551 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: but but that all that all changes if they were 552 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: to lose and the Vikings were to win another one. 553 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 1: So a lot of a lot of interesting things there. 554 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,280 Speaker 1: But but yeah, seeing those two the two teams, it's 555 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: funny how that worked out because it wasn't that long 556 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: ago that the the Rams and the Steelers were playing 557 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 1: each other, and then they were back to back opponents 558 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: for the Packers right after that, and now the Chargers 559 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,160 Speaker 1: and the Lions are playing each other and they're back 560 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:38,080 Speaker 1: to back opponents on the Packers schedule right after It's 561 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:41,719 Speaker 1: it's it's it's there's just been schedule quirks like that all. 562 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 2: See, you might have just figured out the whole process here. 563 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,880 Speaker 1: Maybe, yeah, maybe something with one of those computer algorithms. 564 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,040 Speaker 1: Maybe that's what that's how they that's how they spit 565 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: some of this stuff out. I don't know, but it 566 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 1: isn't that isn't that weird? Though? 567 00:27:55,400 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 2: It is very strange. 568 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it feels. 569 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 2: It feels there's a lot of interesting ques. We can 570 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,959 Speaker 2: do it entire episode on just all the weird quarks 571 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,479 Speaker 2: of this year's schedule. Like remember with Denver where it's like, hey, 572 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,440 Speaker 2: they're gonna play Kansas City and then they're gona play 573 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 2: Green Bay and then they're gonna play then they're gonna 574 00:28:08,000 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 2: play Kids the City or on a buy Yeah, what 575 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 2: like how does that work? 576 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? 577 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, but certainly when you get there will be certain 578 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 2: amount of patterns that develop like that when you're having 579 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: these cross conference you know, divisional matchups. But uh, for 580 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:25,920 Speaker 2: Green Bay, I think you've laid that out perfectly. If 581 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 2: the Chargers can take care of business against Detroit in 582 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 2: addition to whatever happens with the Vikings and let's say 583 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,679 Speaker 2: the Packers not promising anything, Packers take care of business 584 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 2: against the Steelers and then against the Chargers, well then 585 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 2: Thanksgiving becomes really interesting. 586 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. We may have that opportunity, Yeah, no question about it. 587 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 2: When you're at three wins, you have to find way 588 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 2: to claw yourself back. And when you're looking out at 589 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 2: a Lion's team that has two losses. You have to 590 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 2: find a way for them to have setbacks. And right 591 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 2: now Green Bay just has to worry about what's in 592 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,239 Speaker 2: front of them. It but I mean, it's still all 593 00:28:58,320 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 2: right there for them on the other side of this thing. 594 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 2: If you get the job done against Pittsburgh on Sunday. 595 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, it's time. It's time for the Packers to 596 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: start stacking something. Right. Packers have not had a winning streak. 597 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: They have not won two games in a row this season. 598 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: The last winning streak for this team was in December 599 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: of last year. And you don't get anywhere in this 600 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: league without stringing together victory. So it's got to start 601 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: somewhere for green Back. 602 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,479 Speaker 2: So it's been fifty three years now since they've won 603 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: an acupuncture stadium. 604 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: Right in the city of Pittsburgh, in the city of Pittsburgh. Yes, okay, yes, 605 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy. I'll be writing about that over the weekend. 606 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: Actually looking at this history of the Packers actually losing 607 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: a lot of close games unfortunately in Pittsburgh, both at 608 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:48,320 Speaker 1: Three Rivers and at Heinz Slash Akrascher Stadium. 609 00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 2: Aqua filter. 610 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: All you have to do is spell it right. On 611 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: Sundays that's it, so I don't have to fix it. 612 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: Your story all right? With that, we're gonna call it. 613 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 2: If I put three rivers, we let it stay. If 614 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 2: I put three rivers, I'll I'll just let that one 615 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 2: stay in there old three Rivers Stadium. 616 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: There we go. 617 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 2: We'll call it a. 618 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: Wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to 619 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:23,000 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team, and we 620 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: will have everything for you from Sunday's game in Pittsburgh 621 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: at whatever stadium you. 622 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 2: Want to call it. 623 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: It will be there for you on Packers dot com 624 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: for Wes. I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. 625 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: We will see you next time.