WEBVTT - #744 Packers Unscripted: Poised for Pittsburgh

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<v Speaker 1>Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from

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<v Speaker 1>Packers dot Com. I and Mike Spofford, joined as always

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<v Speaker 1>by the one, the only, Wes Hodkowitz. We're coming to

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<v Speaker 1>you here from our studios at Lambellfield to preview this

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<v Speaker 1>Sunday's matchup, Wes. It will be the Packers against the

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<v Speaker 1>Steelers on the road in Pittsburgh. It's a noon Central

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<v Speaker 1>Time kickoff. And when you look at the twenty twenty

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<v Speaker 1>three Pittsburgh Steelers, if you're trying to find a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of statistics that explain the Steelers five and three record,

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<v Speaker 1>you're going to have a hard time because, honestly, a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of their numbers don't look good. It's hard to

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<v Speaker 1>figure out in a lot of respects just on paper,

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<v Speaker 1>like how this team is five and three. But the

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<v Speaker 1>two things that stand out are the turnover margin and

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<v Speaker 1>how they played in the fourth quarter the fourth quarters

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<v Speaker 1>of most of their football games. It's a team that

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<v Speaker 1>wins the turnover battle and they play crunch time football,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's why they're two games over five hundred.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a very unique team because, you know, statistically, diving

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<v Speaker 2>into some of the defensive numbers, the fact that they're

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<v Speaker 2>thirty first in total defense. I mean they're middle of

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<v Speaker 2>the pack and scoring defense, they're fine there, but then

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<v Speaker 2>you know, bottom of the third, bottom quarter of the

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<v Speaker 2>league and running defense, but they're third and takeaways. It

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<v Speaker 2>reminds me a lot of the twenty ten Packer or

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<v Speaker 2>twenty eleven Packers excuse me, when the Packers were dead

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<v Speaker 2>last to total yards but led the league in takeaways.

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<v Speaker 2>The only difference, though, is the Green Bay had a

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<v Speaker 2>prodigious year offensively. Pittsburgh is having this success without scoring

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<v Speaker 2>more than I think twenty six points in any game

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<v Speaker 2>this season so far. So yeah, when you point out

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<v Speaker 2>the turnover margin and the way they finish games with

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<v Speaker 2>Kenny Pickett, that has certainly been the difference. And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I've always said, and I wrote in our Insider Inbox

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<v Speaker 2>column this week, you are what your record says you are.

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<v Speaker 2>And the Pittsburgh Steelers have found ways to win five

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<v Speaker 2>of their eight games. The Packers have only won three

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<v Speaker 2>of their eight so far. You tip your cap to them.

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<v Speaker 2>But at the same time, I think, if I'm the

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<v Speaker 2>groom at Packers going into this thing, you understand fully

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<v Speaker 2>well what must be accomplished in order to win this

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<v Speaker 2>football game. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Absolutely. I mean I wrote a story on late in

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<v Speaker 1>the day on Wednesday. It's up on Packers dot com

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<v Speaker 1>if you want to check it out, that that lays

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<v Speaker 1>out some of these numbers with regard to Pittsburgh and

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<v Speaker 1>you look at it and some of it, some of

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<v Speaker 1>it is just head scratching. I mean, they've been out

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<v Speaker 1>gained on the season by roughly eight hundred yards. They've

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<v Speaker 1>they're minus roughly forty five minutes on the season in

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<v Speaker 1>time of possession. That's three quarters. It's three quarters of

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<v Speaker 1>football that the opponent has had the ball longer than

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<v Speaker 1>they have. They've been outscored by thirty points overall in

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<v Speaker 1>the season, mostly because two of their losses were by

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<v Speaker 1>twenty plus points to the San Francisco forty nine Ers

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<v Speaker 1>in Week one and then to the Houston Texans when

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<v Speaker 1>they went down to Houston and everybody was like, WHOA,

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<v Speaker 1>what happened there. Obviously they have rebounded and bounced back

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<v Speaker 1>from that. But you mentioned you mentioned Kenny Pickett. You

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<v Speaker 1>had pointed out this stat to me yesterday, actually that

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<v Speaker 1>Kenny Pickett, the second year starter for the Steelers, his

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<v Speaker 1>passer rating in the first three quarters of games is

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<v Speaker 1>seventy five point three. His passer rating in the fourth

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<v Speaker 1>quarter is one oh eight point two. I mean that

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<v Speaker 1>is a dramatic difference in terms of how he performs

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<v Speaker 1>late in games compared to the rest of the contest.

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<v Speaker 1>And that turnover margin is plus eight. On the season,

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<v Speaker 1>the defense has sixteen total takeaways and plus eight is

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<v Speaker 1>only one off of the league lead, which is at

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<v Speaker 1>plus nine right now. I believe it's the Bengals and

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<v Speaker 1>the Chargers maybe that are plus nine on the season,

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<v Speaker 1>and the Steelers are right behind at plus Say so, smart, Yes, okay,

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<v Speaker 1>you're confirming.

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<v Speaker 2>I am confirming it.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm correct.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the guy with the master's degree and this is the.

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<v Speaker 1>Guy with it's just memory number.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't remember stuff like that.

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<v Speaker 1>Numbers stick in mind.

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<v Speaker 2>I need to have the information in front of me.

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<v Speaker 1>But yeah, this is but this is this is the number.

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<v Speaker 1>And I mentioned this on our three Things video as

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<v Speaker 1>well as in the story. The number that sticks out

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<v Speaker 1>to me is when you look at the fact that

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<v Speaker 1>four of Pittsburgh's five victories they have been trailing heading

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<v Speaker 1>into the fourth quarter, and yet they came back in

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<v Speaker 1>the fourth quarter to beat the Browns and the Ravens,

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<v Speaker 1>two teams to division rivals, teams in their own division,

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<v Speaker 1>which are huge wins for them. Also coming back in

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<v Speaker 1>the fourth quarter to beat the Rams and the Titans,

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<v Speaker 1>and not just the fact that they trailed going into

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<v Speaker 1>the fourth quarter and won those games, but the collective

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<v Speaker 1>fourth quarter score in those four games is forty two

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<v Speaker 1>to zero. The defense has given up nothing, nothing in

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<v Speaker 1>those four games. When they have come back to win

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<v Speaker 1>in the four it's not it's not like they get

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<v Speaker 1>into some sort of a fourth quarter shootout, I guess

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<v Speaker 1>is my point, where suddenly the defenses get worn out

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<v Speaker 1>and the offense is going, you know, back and forth

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<v Speaker 1>up and down the field that happens in NFL games.

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<v Speaker 1>Sometimes that's not what this is. This is a team

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<v Speaker 1>that in the fourth quarter has shut down opponents and

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<v Speaker 1>then their quarterback, as I just mentioned, with that that

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<v Speaker 1>rating number, finds a way to elevate his game, and

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<v Speaker 1>the offense finds a way to get the score or

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<v Speaker 1>scores that they need to pull out victories. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>all sorts of other statistics get thrown out because these

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<v Speaker 1>guys are five and three and they're right in the

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<v Speaker 1>thick of it in the AFC North.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, And Kenny Pickett is a guy that I feel like,

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<v Speaker 2>for whatever reason, people have tried to kind of diminish

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<v Speaker 2>him a little bit. And I think he's been underrated

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<v Speaker 2>in some terms because if you're a second year quarterback

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<v Speaker 2>that has also played in that city, it was a

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<v Speaker 2>first round pick and had the expectations that he's had,

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<v Speaker 2>but have been able to pull off six fourth quarter

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<v Speaker 2>comebacks in this short of time, which I think we

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<v Speaker 2>were saying is either first or second in the NFL

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<v Speaker 2>right now. So in the beginning of last.

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<v Speaker 1>Season, basically less than two seasons he's that's pretty darn impressive.

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<v Speaker 2>And this offense does operate much differently when he's out

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<v Speaker 2>there as opposed to you know, when Mitchell Trubisky had

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<v Speaker 2>to sub in for him a little bit two weeks ago.

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<v Speaker 2>But here's the thing that not enough people are talking

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<v Speaker 2>about when we break down this matchup is what's going

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<v Speaker 2>on offensively right now with the Steelers rushing offense has

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<v Speaker 2>been sort of blase so far this year. Naja Harris.

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<v Speaker 2>They they've been okay but not great. Well, then you

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<v Speaker 2>have Jalen Warren pop up. Yeah, former undrafted free agent

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<v Speaker 2>five foot eight, two hundred and fifteen pounds. This guy's

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<v Speaker 2>a little battering ram. Yeah, in terms of what he

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<v Speaker 2>can do with an opposing team. This isn't a five

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<v Speaker 2>foot eight hundred and seventy pound kid. This kid packs

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<v Speaker 2>a punch, and they've turned out to be a pretty

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<v Speaker 2>good compliment. They're coming off their best running performance of

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<v Speaker 2>the season against Tennessee. Deontay Johnson is back now off

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<v Speaker 2>injured reserve. As much of a big play threat as

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<v Speaker 2>George Pickens is, it's Deontay Johnson who's been sort of

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<v Speaker 2>the the Romeo Dobbs of this offense, for a lack

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<v Speaker 2>of a better term, the guy that can consistently move

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<v Speaker 2>the chains for you. Kenny Pikett has developed a rapport

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<v Speaker 2>with him. He did it last year, he's doing it

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<v Speaker 2>again this year since he's been back. There are guys

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<v Speaker 2>offensively that can hurt you. But where Green Bay must

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<v Speaker 2>succeed in this game is in protecting the football and

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<v Speaker 2>taking the football away. Pittsburgh's defense has as many fumble

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<v Speaker 2>recoveries as they do interceptions. It's eight and eight, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>those sixteen so far this season.

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<v Speaker 1>Right.

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<v Speaker 2>They get the ball out, yeah, and they get on

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<v Speaker 2>the football. Green Bay has to be able to protect football.

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<v Speaker 2>If you go back to last week, Yeah, it wasn't clean,

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<v Speaker 2>it wasn't perfect, but when they did have the turnovers,

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<v Speaker 2>they didn't allow any points off them defensively, and when

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<v Speaker 2>they got them, they were able to generate them. A

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<v Speaker 2>lot going on in this matchup, Michael, But certainly, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>if you take away the team stats and all that

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<v Speaker 2>sort of things, this is still a very dangerous Pittsburgh

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<v Speaker 2>Steelers team coach by one of the best in the

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<v Speaker 2>game in Mike Tomlin. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Absolutely, I mean Mike Tomlin. As many people know, he's

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<v Speaker 1>in his seventeenth season as a head coach. He has

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<v Speaker 1>never posted a losing record over the course. He's had

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<v Speaker 1>some you know, eight nates in there before the switch

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<v Speaker 1>to the seventeen game season, had some eight and eates

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<v Speaker 1>in there. But in his first sixteen years in the league,

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<v Speaker 1>ten playoff appearances. It's a lot to be said for that.

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<v Speaker 1>The vast majority of that, well pretty much all of

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<v Speaker 1>that actually for Tomlin was with Ben Roethlisberger, the future

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<v Speaker 1>Hall of Fame quarterback. Now they've made the transition over

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<v Speaker 1>the last couple of years to Kenny Pickett. George pick

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<v Speaker 1>Ends is that big play guy four pickt He's averaging

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<v Speaker 1>seventeen and a half yards a catch per season. I'm sorry,

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<v Speaker 1>seventeen and a half yards per catch this season, which

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<v Speaker 1>is a pretty standout number.

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<v Speaker 2>And me lose my fantasy game though last week by

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<v Speaker 2>not getting his feet down. I would have won otherwise.

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<v Speaker 1>But you you mentioned though, and what is kind of

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<v Speaker 1>striking is that this Pittsburgh defense from a yardage standpoint

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<v Speaker 1>is ranked as low as it is because and I know,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, Cam Hayward's been injured and he's back now,

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<v Speaker 1>but I mean what TJ. Watt and Alex high Smith

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<v Speaker 1>are doing off the edge. You know, those two guys

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<v Speaker 1>have combined for fourteen of the dealers twenty six sacks.

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<v Speaker 1>They have been missing Minka Fitzpatrick, who's been you know,

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<v Speaker 1>one of their playmakers, probably probably their biggest playmaker in

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<v Speaker 1>the secondary. But but it's a it's a defense that

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<v Speaker 1>is that has you know, built its success on pressuring

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<v Speaker 1>the quarterback and generating turnovers, whether that be the strip

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<v Speaker 1>sacks or whether that be wayward throws that get that

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<v Speaker 1>get intercepted. They like to they like to force quarterbacks

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<v Speaker 1>into making mistakes. That's really what That's really what it

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<v Speaker 1>comes down to, and absolutely protecting the football is paramount here.

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<v Speaker 1>I should mention when we're talking about George Pickens, Deontay Johnson,

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<v Speaker 1>jay r Alexander popped up on the injury report UH

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<v Speaker 1>this week for the Packers with a different injury. It's

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<v Speaker 1>not his back, but he is now dealing with the

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<v Speaker 1>shoulder injury. He missed practice on Wednesday. At the time

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<v Speaker 1>we are taping this, this is prior to Thursday's practice,

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<v Speaker 1>so we don't know much about Alexander your status. But

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<v Speaker 1>the fact that Rasull Douglas was traded last week and

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<v Speaker 1>if Alexander is unable to go in this game, that

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<v Speaker 1>really changes the look of things for the Packers defense.

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<v Speaker 1>So that's definitely something to watch moving forward.

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<v Speaker 2>It does because now you're not just talking about like

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<v Speaker 2>a Carrington Valentine having to play. You're talking about, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Corey Valentine who's off injured reserve, not off injurieser, but

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<v Speaker 2>off the practice squad, right, you know, in his gains

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<v Speaker 2>played last week as an elevation, maybe he potentially has

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<v Speaker 2>added That's where you're starting to dig a little bit

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<v Speaker 2>into this depth. Depending on where things sort out, and

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<v Speaker 2>certainly when you look at Pickens and the dangerous threat

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<v Speaker 2>he provides over the top, you'd love to have a

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<v Speaker 2>guy like Alexander, especially, you know, depending on what happens

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<v Speaker 2>in the in the deep secondary there with Rudy Ford,

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<v Speaker 2>who was back at practice on Wednesday. Right defensively, though,

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<v Speaker 2>Pittsburgh has had to kind of weather some stuff here.

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<v Speaker 2>You know when you look at you know, Cole Holcomb

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<v Speaker 2>ends up having his injury, he's out now. He was

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<v Speaker 2>one of their leading tacklers. They're two leading tacks didn't

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<v Speaker 2>play last week with him and Fitzpatrick. So you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Kean O'Neil has had a little bit of a resurgence

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<v Speaker 2>there stepping in for Minca. But overall, the yards have

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<v Speaker 2>been there. It's just been the bend but don't break

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<v Speaker 2>mentality that has allowed Pittsburgh to survive that much like

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<v Speaker 2>again drawing that comparison to the Packers in twenty eleven,

0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:23.440
<v Speaker 2>but for the Packers it comes down to having that

0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:25.600
<v Speaker 2>plan up front. And that's kind of the thing I

0:11:25.600 --> 0:11:28.240
<v Speaker 2>want to bring it back full circle with is with TJ.

0:11:28.360 --> 0:11:32.200
<v Speaker 2>Watt and alex Highsmith, you have two high energy, similarly

0:11:32.240 --> 0:11:35.960
<v Speaker 2>built guys that are going to give your edge rusher

0:11:36.080 --> 0:11:37.960
<v Speaker 2>or you're you know, on the edges, you're gonna give

0:11:37.960 --> 0:11:40.839
<v Speaker 2>your tackle some issues. But also just the way that

0:11:40.880 --> 0:11:43.280
<v Speaker 2>they can bowl themselves around inside too, if they need to.

0:11:43.960 --> 0:11:45.760
<v Speaker 2>That's going to be a big point of emphasis in

0:11:45.800 --> 0:11:48.280
<v Speaker 2>this game for Green Bay because if you allow them

0:11:48.320 --> 0:11:52.000
<v Speaker 2>to start creating those pressures, that's where takeaways happen. And

0:11:52.040 --> 0:11:54.000
<v Speaker 2>the fact that you know, when I mentioned those eight

0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:57.520
<v Speaker 2>fumbles recoveries, three of those are TJ and I don't

0:11:57.520 --> 0:11:59.439
<v Speaker 2>even know how many of those he generated himself. So

0:12:00.600 --> 0:12:02.960
<v Speaker 2>it does show you the dangers that lie ahead with

0:12:03.040 --> 0:12:06.480
<v Speaker 2>this Pittsburgh team. But at the same time, you would

0:12:06.480 --> 0:12:08.959
<v Speaker 2>hope from the green Bay Packers perspective, especially with how

0:12:09.040 --> 0:12:12.280
<v Speaker 2>progressively healthier they've been getting on the offensive side of

0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:15.400
<v Speaker 2>the ball, this would be a matchup that lines up

0:12:15.440 --> 0:12:17.760
<v Speaker 2>okay for green Bay, and in terms of the matchups

0:12:17.760 --> 0:12:19.600
<v Speaker 2>they want to be able to develop well.

0:12:19.640 --> 0:12:22.760
<v Speaker 1>One injury certainly the Packers are watching on the offensive

0:12:22.800 --> 0:12:25.280
<v Speaker 1>side of the ball is at left tackle, because yash

0:12:25.400 --> 0:12:30.000
<v Speaker 1>Niman had taken over for Rashid Walker, but then after

0:12:30.040 --> 0:12:33.360
<v Speaker 1>the first half against the Rams last week, he was

0:12:33.360 --> 0:12:35.280
<v Speaker 1>having a little bit of trouble with his back, so

0:12:35.360 --> 0:12:39.760
<v Speaker 1>he went to the bench. Walker came in and finished

0:12:39.760 --> 0:12:44.360
<v Speaker 1>the game. Nyman did not return to practice on Wednesday,

0:12:44.800 --> 0:12:48.160
<v Speaker 1>so again that's another thing to watch because it seemed

0:12:48.640 --> 0:12:51.360
<v Speaker 1>Nyman had certainly moved ahead of Walker on the depth

0:12:51.440 --> 0:12:55.439
<v Speaker 1>chart and seemed to be taking that left tackle spot back.

0:12:55.520 --> 0:12:59.439
<v Speaker 1>But now with the injury, that's a little bit uncertain.

0:12:59.480 --> 0:13:04.080
<v Speaker 1>And whichever guy you know, whether it's Water or high Smith,

0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:06.000
<v Speaker 1>that ends up on that side, I know sometimes they

0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:08.960
<v Speaker 1>flip flop those guys back and forth. At least occasionally.

0:13:10.240 --> 0:13:14.240
<v Speaker 1>We'll have to see how exactly how the Packers are

0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:16.760
<v Speaker 1>going to match up there. But I want to get

0:13:16.760 --> 0:13:18.880
<v Speaker 1>to our keys to victory. I think we've already said

0:13:18.960 --> 0:13:22.040
<v Speaker 1>protect the football three or four times throughout this But

0:13:22.160 --> 0:13:27.800
<v Speaker 1>aside from that obvious talking point of protecting the ball,

0:13:28.080 --> 0:13:30.160
<v Speaker 1>what else do the Packers need to do to win

0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:30.520
<v Speaker 1>this game?

0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:35.280
<v Speaker 2>We'll probably protect the football, it's kidding. Two stats that

0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:37.880
<v Speaker 2>really stand out to me defensively for Pittsburgh. A lot

0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:39.520
<v Speaker 2>of things on the high end of things when you

0:13:39.520 --> 0:13:42.679
<v Speaker 2>see the twenty nine's the thirties in terms of their rankings, well,

0:13:42.760 --> 0:13:44.880
<v Speaker 2>two areas are really exceptional This year. Has been fourth

0:13:44.920 --> 0:13:48.520
<v Speaker 2>downs and in the red zone. Both of those type

0:13:48.520 --> 0:13:51.400
<v Speaker 2>of statistics I think speak to not only their ability

0:13:51.480 --> 0:13:54.240
<v Speaker 2>to stop opposing teams, but also some turnovers they've generated

0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:56.720
<v Speaker 2>in that side of the field. Again, I don't want

0:13:56.760 --> 0:13:59.000
<v Speaker 2>to just keep belaboring the bend but don't break, but

0:13:59.679 --> 0:14:02.560
<v Speaker 2>that's the way they've survived. So for Green Bay standpoint,

0:14:02.679 --> 0:14:05.480
<v Speaker 2>a team that has been pretty proficient inside the red

0:14:05.559 --> 0:14:07.880
<v Speaker 2>gold whatever you want to call it, z own this year.

0:14:08.600 --> 0:14:10.760
<v Speaker 2>They need to be able to keep that going. I

0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:13.280
<v Speaker 2>love the way and we talked about this on Tuesday's show.

0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:17.080
<v Speaker 2>I love the way they finished last week. They turned

0:14:17.120 --> 0:14:21.760
<v Speaker 2>turnovers into points, they turned opportunities into points, and they

0:14:21.800 --> 0:14:24.680
<v Speaker 2>got the twenty points they needed to win that game handily.

0:14:25.960 --> 0:14:27.960
<v Speaker 2>Maybe you do need more in this game, maybe you don't,

0:14:28.200 --> 0:14:31.440
<v Speaker 2>but being able to actually convert when you get into

0:14:31.720 --> 0:14:34.800
<v Speaker 2>Steelers territory is going to be huge, because Mike, it's

0:14:34.840 --> 0:14:38.720
<v Speaker 2>just not about when you face the Steelers the points

0:14:38.760 --> 0:14:41.160
<v Speaker 2>and the score on the scoreboard. It's also about the

0:14:41.200 --> 0:14:44.240
<v Speaker 2>momentum meter. And I think when you follow Pittsburgh and

0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:45.560
<v Speaker 2>you follow some of these things they've done in the

0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:47.840
<v Speaker 2>fourth quarter, a lot of it is when momentum has

0:14:47.880 --> 0:14:51.840
<v Speaker 2>turned drastically in their favor. Yeah, And I think that's

0:14:51.880 --> 0:14:54.040
<v Speaker 2>one area where Green Bay has to come up big

0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:57.240
<v Speaker 2>in this one. When you get the chances, you have

0:14:57.320 --> 0:14:58.760
<v Speaker 2>to be able to turn it into points.

0:14:58.920 --> 0:15:02.680
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. And this this game, to me, you know, I

0:15:02.760 --> 0:15:07.359
<v Speaker 1>don't see I don't see either one of these offenses

0:15:07.440 --> 0:15:11.760
<v Speaker 1>right now going up against these respective defenses. I don't

0:15:11.800 --> 0:15:15.120
<v Speaker 1>see either one of these teams being able to salt

0:15:15.120 --> 0:15:17.200
<v Speaker 1>this game away in the first three quarters. This is

0:15:17.200 --> 0:15:19.840
<v Speaker 1>going to be a crunch time game. It's going to

0:15:19.840 --> 0:15:23.560
<v Speaker 1>come down to the fourth quarter, and you have to

0:15:23.560 --> 0:15:25.920
<v Speaker 1>be the better team in those moments. And that is

0:15:26.480 --> 0:15:28.680
<v Speaker 1>that much harder to do when you're on the road

0:15:29.320 --> 0:15:31.080
<v Speaker 1>versus at home. And all you have to do is

0:15:31.160 --> 0:15:35.040
<v Speaker 1>look at the Packers twenty twenty three season. Right the

0:15:35.040 --> 0:15:38.600
<v Speaker 1>fourth quarter against the Saints, the Packers have the big comeback.

0:15:38.640 --> 0:15:41.160
<v Speaker 1>They have a really strong fourth quarter to beat the Rams.

0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:44.200
<v Speaker 1>Those were at home. The fourth quarter in Atlanta, the

0:15:44.240 --> 0:15:47.200
<v Speaker 1>fourth quarter in Vegas, the fourth quarter in Denver. The

0:15:47.240 --> 0:15:50.760
<v Speaker 1>Packers had all the opportunities you could ask for, and

0:15:51.000 --> 0:15:53.400
<v Speaker 1>they did not prove to be the better team in

0:15:53.440 --> 0:15:56.560
<v Speaker 1>those instances. So this is going to be a game

0:15:56.600 --> 0:15:58.400
<v Speaker 1>where the Packers are going to have to get done

0:15:58.480 --> 0:16:01.200
<v Speaker 1>in crunch time on the road, hostile crowd, the terrible

0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:04.040
<v Speaker 1>towels waving, all of that kind of stuff. The other

0:16:04.080 --> 0:16:06.920
<v Speaker 1>statistic I'll point out that I think is pretty interesting

0:16:07.680 --> 0:16:11.440
<v Speaker 1>is that veteran kicker Chris Boswell for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

0:16:11.440 --> 0:16:13.760
<v Speaker 1>He's been a big part of this because their offense

0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:16.520
<v Speaker 1>does not light up the scoreboard, they do kick a

0:16:16.520 --> 0:16:19.200
<v Speaker 1>fair amount of field goals. He's only missed one kick

0:16:19.240 --> 0:16:22.920
<v Speaker 1>all season and it was actually from sixty one yards away,

0:16:23.160 --> 0:16:26.400
<v Speaker 1>is his only miss of the year. So that's something

0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:32.000
<v Speaker 1>to watch as well. In Pittsburgh, you know, outdoors, we'll

0:16:32.000 --> 0:16:33.720
<v Speaker 1>see what the weather is like and everything. And if

0:16:33.760 --> 0:16:35.960
<v Speaker 1>you're asking him, I trying to jinx him into missing

0:16:36.000 --> 0:16:42.040
<v Speaker 1>some kicks on Sunday, Yes, I absolutely am. But you know,

0:16:42.280 --> 0:16:44.720
<v Speaker 1>veteran kicker, the Packers are gonna have their rookie kicker,

0:16:44.760 --> 0:16:48.480
<v Speaker 1>Anders Carlson, who's had his ups and downs lately too,

0:16:48.520 --> 0:16:52.240
<v Speaker 1>so you know everything, you know, all three phases are

0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:54.080
<v Speaker 1>gonna are gonna play a part in this. I thought,

0:16:54.200 --> 0:16:56.600
<v Speaker 1>you know, I'll just mention too briefly before we move

0:16:56.640 --> 0:17:01.800
<v Speaker 1>on Packers' special teams aside from Carlson missing the kick

0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:03.760
<v Speaker 1>at the end of the first half, which was unfortunate,

0:17:03.800 --> 0:17:06.840
<v Speaker 1>but in the return game, Packers might have started to

0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:09.679
<v Speaker 1>find something against the Rams and not just you know

0:17:09.800 --> 0:17:12.399
<v Speaker 1>the obvious, which was the fifty one yard kickoff return

0:17:12.440 --> 0:17:15.280
<v Speaker 1>by Keishawn Nixon to open the second half, but Nixon

0:17:15.320 --> 0:17:18.440
<v Speaker 1>also had a fifteen yard punt return and Jaden Reid

0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:21.919
<v Speaker 1>had a twenty two yard punp return. When you're getting

0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:25.600
<v Speaker 1>when you're getting those types of returns, it doesn't you know,

0:17:25.640 --> 0:17:27.760
<v Speaker 1>it doesn't have to be the forty and fifty yard

0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:31.200
<v Speaker 1>explosive returns. Like a fifteen yard punt return of twenty

0:17:31.200 --> 0:17:33.320
<v Speaker 1>two yard punt return, those can be big in the

0:17:33.320 --> 0:17:36.159
<v Speaker 1>field position game, and if the Packers are starting to

0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:38.640
<v Speaker 1>find something with regard to their return game, I think

0:17:38.640 --> 0:17:42.600
<v Speaker 1>that could play a huge factor on Sunday when when

0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:45.080
<v Speaker 1>every you know, any yard here or there could be

0:17:45.119 --> 0:17:47.240
<v Speaker 1>the difference between whether you're going to be in field

0:17:47.240 --> 0:17:49.560
<v Speaker 1>goal range and be able to get points in a

0:17:49.600 --> 0:17:52.280
<v Speaker 1>game where points may be at a premium, or you're

0:17:52.280 --> 0:17:53.720
<v Speaker 1>going to be in a position where you have to

0:17:53.720 --> 0:17:55.840
<v Speaker 1>go for it on fourth down, or you're going to

0:17:55.880 --> 0:17:57.840
<v Speaker 1>try to pump them, you know, back inside the ten

0:17:57.920 --> 0:18:01.439
<v Speaker 1>yard line. Every everything is really gonna I think be

0:18:01.600 --> 0:18:04.640
<v Speaker 1>magnified in this game, just because of the way these

0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:06.520
<v Speaker 1>two teams have played so far this season.

0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:10.280
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and I unfortunately didn't do my proper research on

0:18:10.320 --> 0:18:14.080
<v Speaker 2>my Claire Tretder stat packet that she brings down our

0:18:14.119 --> 0:18:18.200
<v Speaker 2>wonderful communications intern Yes, last week, I believe Green Bay

0:18:18.280 --> 0:18:21.920
<v Speaker 2>was leading the league in was it opposing starting field

0:18:21.920 --> 0:18:25.720
<v Speaker 2>position or that the discrepancy between the two Packers have

0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:27.600
<v Speaker 2>actually done a really good job there when it comes

0:18:27.640 --> 0:18:29.920
<v Speaker 2>down to where they've been starting as a post where

0:18:29.920 --> 0:18:32.560
<v Speaker 2>the opponent's starting. I will throw this stat at you though,

0:18:32.560 --> 0:18:35.440
<v Speaker 2>Michael Is, you're a big stack guy. Yeah, Green Bay

0:18:35.480 --> 0:18:39.560
<v Speaker 2>Packers presently kickoff returns and punt returns. Do you know

0:18:39.600 --> 0:18:42.240
<v Speaker 2>where they rank? Can pick either one first if you want.

0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:44.159
<v Speaker 1>I do not. That is not one that I take

0:18:44.160 --> 0:18:46.040
<v Speaker 1>a quick git. That is not one that I looked up.

0:18:46.320 --> 0:18:47.919
<v Speaker 2>I did look this one up because I was curious

0:18:47.960 --> 0:18:50.280
<v Speaker 2>after Keishawn's fifty one yard or where the kickoff return was,

0:18:50.320 --> 0:18:51.280
<v Speaker 2>so I looked at both of them.

0:18:51.440 --> 0:18:53.760
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it doesn't seem like the Packers have had a

0:18:53.800 --> 0:18:56.639
<v Speaker 1>whole lot of opportunities this year, there have been a

0:18:56.680 --> 0:18:57.360
<v Speaker 1>lot of touch.

0:18:57.640 --> 0:18:59.600
<v Speaker 2>It's the National Football League, Yeah, and there's a lot

0:18:59.640 --> 0:19:01.280
<v Speaker 2>of teams to play in warm weather. There's been a

0:19:01.359 --> 0:19:03.960
<v Speaker 2>lot of touchbacks. But if you had to just get

0:19:04.040 --> 0:19:06.719
<v Speaker 2>give me a guess, obviously it's good because I wouldn't

0:19:06.720 --> 0:19:07.800
<v Speaker 2>be throwing it at you if it was like, oh,

0:19:07.800 --> 0:19:11.520
<v Speaker 2>they're thirty first, kickoff returns, punt returns average, where do

0:19:11.560 --> 0:19:12.160
<v Speaker 2>you think they rink?

0:19:12.640 --> 0:19:16.080
<v Speaker 1>I'm gonna guess punt returns there around tenth in the league.

0:19:16.160 --> 0:19:18.560
<v Speaker 1>And kickoff returns, I'll say.

0:19:19.320 --> 0:19:23.480
<v Speaker 2>Twelve packers are third and kickoff return third yep average

0:19:23.480 --> 0:19:24.320
<v Speaker 2>so far this season.

0:19:24.480 --> 0:19:24.760
<v Speaker 1>Wow.

0:19:24.880 --> 0:19:26.679
<v Speaker 2>I think a part of that's probably been a product

0:19:26.720 --> 0:19:28.440
<v Speaker 2>too of Kishan taking a couple out.

0:19:28.359 --> 0:19:32.359
<v Speaker 1>Yea from eight nine yards deep? Yeah, because get all

0:19:32.359 --> 0:19:33.320
<v Speaker 1>those yards right.

0:19:33.440 --> 0:19:36.640
<v Speaker 2>But I think it shows you one explosive, getting back

0:19:36.680 --> 0:19:39.240
<v Speaker 2>to your original premise of this question. One explosive, how

0:19:39.240 --> 0:19:41.879
<v Speaker 2>important that can be. I'll tell you what man I

0:19:41.920 --> 0:19:45.000
<v Speaker 2>thought in that game. There were so many things that happened,

0:19:45.840 --> 0:19:48.480
<v Speaker 2>especially the fumble after his kickoff return, that we weren't

0:19:48.520 --> 0:19:50.880
<v Speaker 2>really able to put the proper light on Kishan's performance.

0:19:50.920 --> 0:19:53.480
<v Speaker 2>But I thought he was a spark for them. I

0:19:53.520 --> 0:19:56.160
<v Speaker 2>thought he's shown the signs there of seeing the field well,

0:19:56.240 --> 0:19:58.920
<v Speaker 2>getting the blocks he needs, and being able to break

0:19:58.960 --> 0:20:01.240
<v Speaker 2>a few eighth and punt return average too.

0:20:01.280 --> 0:20:03.080
<v Speaker 1>By the way, Okay, I was a little closer on

0:20:03.119 --> 0:20:03.400
<v Speaker 1>my game.

0:20:03.400 --> 0:20:06.440
<v Speaker 2>You were closer there. But I like what I've seen

0:20:06.480 --> 0:20:08.679
<v Speaker 2>from that group, and I think especially this is the

0:20:08.680 --> 0:20:11.320
<v Speaker 2>time of the year, Michael. You know you're going to

0:20:11.359 --> 0:20:13.480
<v Speaker 2>be in Pittsburgh, You're going to be back in Green Bay.

0:20:13.560 --> 0:20:15.120
<v Speaker 2>You're going to be back in Green Bay two weeks

0:20:15.160 --> 0:20:19.320
<v Speaker 2>after that New York. It's going to get colder. There's

0:20:19.359 --> 0:20:21.800
<v Speaker 2>going to be more opportunities, and I think this is

0:20:22.080 --> 0:20:23.840
<v Speaker 2>Keyshawn Nixon season in a lot of ways.

0:20:23.920 --> 0:20:25.920
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, And you just you wonder if the fact that

0:20:26.200 --> 0:20:29.280
<v Speaker 1>some of I mean, obviously the injuries don't entirely go away,

0:20:29.560 --> 0:20:32.400
<v Speaker 1>but just some of the settling down in the injury

0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:36.879
<v Speaker 1>department has maybe allowed those special teams units to to

0:20:37.000 --> 0:20:40.640
<v Speaker 1>get more consistent with their personnel. And when the personnel

0:20:40.720 --> 0:20:44.399
<v Speaker 1>is more consistent, perhaps the performance then becomes more consistent

0:20:44.600 --> 0:20:47.720
<v Speaker 1>and more reliable for what rich Basaci and those guys

0:20:47.760 --> 0:20:48.560
<v Speaker 1>are looking for.

0:20:48.400 --> 0:20:50.560
<v Speaker 2>One hundred percent. Even look at last week with the flyers.

0:20:50.600 --> 0:20:52.399
<v Speaker 2>I mean in his gains is on the practice squad.

0:20:52.440 --> 0:20:53.960
<v Speaker 2>It was his third game that had been elevated, but

0:20:54.000 --> 0:20:55.600
<v Speaker 2>in this has been around for a couple of years now.

0:20:55.640 --> 0:20:58.840
<v Speaker 2>He was instituted, inserted right away on one of those

0:20:58.880 --> 0:21:00.720
<v Speaker 2>flying you know, as one of the flyers at the

0:21:00.720 --> 0:21:03.720
<v Speaker 2>first team, and he's getting down the field. These guys

0:21:03.800 --> 0:21:05.879
<v Speaker 2>understand what the standard is. And while there have been

0:21:05.920 --> 0:21:07.760
<v Speaker 2>a lot of injuries, you do have the guys you

0:21:07.800 --> 0:21:10.520
<v Speaker 2>can hang your head on the down Levittz, the Eric Wilson's,

0:21:10.520 --> 0:21:12.760
<v Speaker 2>the Isaam McDuffie's, guys that have been there, done that,

0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:15.639
<v Speaker 2>and then some and I think overall, I mean, they

0:21:15.640 --> 0:21:17.879
<v Speaker 2>had a big wake up call two weeks ago with

0:21:17.960 --> 0:21:21.480
<v Speaker 2>that almost a kickoff return against Minnesota, but I thought

0:21:21.520 --> 0:21:24.239
<v Speaker 2>they really came together with the strong performance in that

0:21:24.280 --> 0:21:25.240
<v Speaker 2>win last week.

0:21:25.320 --> 0:21:27.520
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I thought so too. I'll take care of some

0:21:27.560 --> 0:21:31.400
<v Speaker 1>sponsor business here. West Sirius XM. NFL Radio delivers hard

0:21:31.440 --> 0:21:34.479
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0:21:50.040 --> 0:21:53.120
<v Speaker 1>All right, a glance around the league, Another week of

0:21:53.160 --> 0:21:58.880
<v Speaker 1>some intriguing matchups in the NFL. In Week ten, I'm

0:21:58.880 --> 0:22:01.200
<v Speaker 1>gonna rattle these off you, the ones that jumped out

0:22:01.200 --> 0:22:02.800
<v Speaker 1>to me when I glanced at the schedule, and I'll

0:22:02.840 --> 0:22:05.560
<v Speaker 1>let you talk about whichever ones you want to thank you.

0:22:06.000 --> 0:22:09.800
<v Speaker 1>Cleveland is at Baltimore. Interesting matchup in the AFC North

0:22:09.840 --> 0:22:13.600
<v Speaker 1>with Baltimore has had its ups and downs. They've really

0:22:14.080 --> 0:22:17.320
<v Speaker 1>manhandled some good teams and then they kind of they'll

0:22:17.320 --> 0:22:19.440
<v Speaker 1>have a letdown, you know. So this is a big

0:22:19.480 --> 0:22:22.840
<v Speaker 1>division matchup in the AFC North with Cleveland traveling to Baltimore.

0:22:23.280 --> 0:22:26.240
<v Speaker 1>Houston is at Cincinnati. Was c J. Stroud coming off

0:22:26.280 --> 0:22:31.760
<v Speaker 1>of that, you know, monstrous rookie performance and now going

0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:34.760
<v Speaker 1>into Cincinnati where the Bengals seem to be finding themselves

0:22:34.760 --> 0:22:37.959
<v Speaker 1>with Joe Burrow being fully healthy and although now Jamar

0:22:38.080 --> 0:22:41.639
<v Speaker 1>Chase has hurt He's hurt his back in that Sunday

0:22:41.680 --> 0:22:44.000
<v Speaker 1>night game against Buffalo, so that could be an impact there.

0:22:44.440 --> 0:22:49.240
<v Speaker 1>San Francisco at Jacksonville two playoff teams from a year ago,

0:22:49.320 --> 0:22:52.520
<v Speaker 1>one of those interesting AFC NFC matchups. And then as

0:22:52.560 --> 0:22:56.119
<v Speaker 1>far as the NFC North goes, New Orleans is at Minnesota.

0:22:56.160 --> 0:22:58.040
<v Speaker 1>You had brought this one up on our last show.

0:22:58.920 --> 0:23:03.520
<v Speaker 1>Minnesota turning things over obviously to Josh Dobbs at quarterback,

0:23:03.560 --> 0:23:08.639
<v Speaker 1>and the Saints despite you know what they obviously believe

0:23:08.720 --> 0:23:10.680
<v Speaker 1>was a game at Lambell Field back in Week three,

0:23:10.680 --> 0:23:12.840
<v Speaker 1>they should have been able to win up seventeen to

0:23:12.840 --> 0:23:15.919
<v Speaker 1>nothing going into the fourth quarter. But the Saints have

0:23:16.000 --> 0:23:19.000
<v Speaker 1>rebounded from that and put themselves in good position. And

0:23:19.040 --> 0:23:21.240
<v Speaker 1>then the Detroit Lions are back from their bye week

0:23:21.280 --> 0:23:23.679
<v Speaker 1>and they will face they will travel out west to

0:23:23.680 --> 0:23:27.400
<v Speaker 1>face the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chargers and the Lions

0:23:27.480 --> 0:23:31.040
<v Speaker 1>being the two Packers opponents in the next two games

0:23:31.119 --> 0:23:33.840
<v Speaker 1>after the trip to Pittsburgh. Those two teams going ahead

0:23:33.840 --> 0:23:34.840
<v Speaker 1>to head on Sunday.

0:23:34.960 --> 0:23:37.560
<v Speaker 2>Well, first off, my older brother Pete Carmichael, I like

0:23:37.640 --> 0:23:40.880
<v Speaker 2>some of the adjustments they've made in New Orleans. One

0:23:40.920 --> 0:23:43.480
<v Speaker 2>of those brother you ever look at Pete Carmichael, Yes,

0:23:43.880 --> 0:23:47.119
<v Speaker 2>I have, that's my older brother. I mean, I know

0:23:47.160 --> 0:23:48.720
<v Speaker 2>some people like they'll be like, oh, there's a guy

0:23:48.720 --> 0:23:51.240
<v Speaker 2>with glasses of dark hair that looks like you. No, Google,

0:23:51.240 --> 0:23:54.960
<v Speaker 2>Pete Carmichael. We're the same person. Fifteen years difference in age,

0:23:54.960 --> 0:23:58.840
<v Speaker 2>but otherwise the same person. But the Saints got back

0:23:58.880 --> 0:24:00.600
<v Speaker 2>to doing the things that made them good a few

0:24:00.680 --> 0:24:03.639
<v Speaker 2>years ago. Yeah, Taysom Hill's doing some really creative stuff.

0:24:03.680 --> 0:24:06.000
<v Speaker 2>They're using him to the best of his capabilities. Again,

0:24:06.160 --> 0:24:08.879
<v Speaker 2>Alvin Kamara has just been a major difference for this offense.

0:24:08.960 --> 0:24:11.040
<v Speaker 2>It's just they are different when he's available. Yeah.

0:24:11.119 --> 0:24:14.800
<v Speaker 1>Not having him earlier in the season definitely impacted where

0:24:14.800 --> 0:24:17.320
<v Speaker 1>the Saints were going, and they seem to be They

0:24:17.320 --> 0:24:19.680
<v Speaker 1>seem to be hitting their stride now offensively.

0:24:19.920 --> 0:24:23.040
<v Speaker 2>But let's focus on what matters most for the Packers

0:24:23.000 --> 0:24:24.919
<v Speaker 2>because I want, I just want your opinion on this,

0:24:24.960 --> 0:24:26.879
<v Speaker 2>because I don't know if I have one. Maybe you

0:24:26.920 --> 0:24:31.199
<v Speaker 2>don't either, But we'll try Detroit in the LA Chargers. Yeah,

0:24:31.200 --> 0:24:34.480
<v Speaker 2>this is interesting because historically, yeah, you just want the

0:24:34.520 --> 0:24:36.520
<v Speaker 2>Chargers to win this. I think you still do want

0:24:36.520 --> 0:24:38.640
<v Speaker 2>the Chargers to win this, but then you got them

0:24:38.680 --> 0:24:40.760
<v Speaker 2>on the other side of this thing. Yeah, and you

0:24:40.800 --> 0:24:44.720
<v Speaker 2>also have Detroit. What probably two weeks from today, I think.

0:24:45.280 --> 0:24:47.480
<v Speaker 1>Yes, two weeks from today would be Thanksgiving Day.

0:24:47.480 --> 0:24:49.439
<v Speaker 2>That's actually right about right now, you and I will

0:24:49.480 --> 0:24:52.720
<v Speaker 2>be getting ready to eat turkey together, So happy Thanksgiving.

0:24:53.560 --> 0:24:56.000
<v Speaker 2>What do you make of this matchup? I watched most

0:24:56.080 --> 0:25:01.080
<v Speaker 2>of that Chargers game on Monday, I mean they handled Jets. Yeah,

0:25:01.440 --> 0:25:03.760
<v Speaker 2>very curious to see how they respond now against Yeah.

0:25:03.760 --> 0:25:06.239
<v Speaker 1>I honestly, I don't know what to make of that

0:25:06.320 --> 0:25:08.880
<v Speaker 1>Monday night game. I realized the Chargers were on the road.

0:25:09.040 --> 0:25:11.880
<v Speaker 1>You're going all the way across the country to play

0:25:11.880 --> 0:25:15.639
<v Speaker 1>a primetime game on the road, so nothing's easy about that.

0:25:15.760 --> 0:25:19.040
<v Speaker 1>But man, the Jets offensively were just so bad. Like

0:25:19.119 --> 0:25:21.000
<v Speaker 1>I don't you know, I don't even know. I don't

0:25:21.000 --> 0:25:22.959
<v Speaker 1>really know what to make of that. I do think

0:25:23.600 --> 0:25:26.040
<v Speaker 1>based on what I've seen, I think justin Herbert is

0:25:26.600 --> 0:25:29.040
<v Speaker 1>playing a lot better now than he was earlier in

0:25:29.040 --> 0:25:32.280
<v Speaker 1>the Sustin Night healthy, yeah, and with Eckler being healthy,

0:25:32.320 --> 0:25:35.320
<v Speaker 1>But it seemed like Herbert was a little more erratic

0:25:35.520 --> 0:25:38.119
<v Speaker 1>I think earlier in the season, and he's kind of

0:25:38.160 --> 0:25:41.399
<v Speaker 1>getting his uh, you know, getting his legs and the

0:25:41.440 --> 0:25:45.680
<v Speaker 1>fundamentals and everything underneath underneath him. As far as as

0:25:45.680 --> 0:25:47.000
<v Speaker 1>far as who do you want to win? I mean,

0:25:47.040 --> 0:25:50.000
<v Speaker 1>it's just it's it's always just natural to cheer for

0:25:50.119 --> 0:25:55.120
<v Speaker 1>anybody that's playing, you know, an NFC North opponent, And hey,

0:25:55.200 --> 0:25:57.480
<v Speaker 1>like if I guess I look at it this way,

0:25:57.520 --> 0:25:59.960
<v Speaker 1>if the if the Chargers, if the Chargers knock off

0:26:00.040 --> 0:26:03.440
<v Speaker 1>the Lions, and you know that'll be them stringing together

0:26:03.480 --> 0:26:06.080
<v Speaker 1>a few victories, I think everybody's gonna suddenly start talking

0:26:06.119 --> 0:26:08.520
<v Speaker 1>about the Chargers. And I think that works to the

0:26:08.560 --> 0:26:12.120
<v Speaker 1>Packers advantage with the Chargers coming in here the following week.

0:26:13.080 --> 0:26:15.480
<v Speaker 1>So but I do think that I do think that

0:26:15.520 --> 0:26:18.199
<v Speaker 1>matchup is really intriguing. It's a it's a it's a

0:26:18.200 --> 0:26:20.159
<v Speaker 1>big test for Detroit going all the way out to

0:26:20.200 --> 0:26:23.520
<v Speaker 1>the West coast, playing a team that that seems to

0:26:23.560 --> 0:26:26.720
<v Speaker 1>be finding itself. And uh, and you know the Lions,

0:26:26.920 --> 0:26:29.119
<v Speaker 1>the Lions coming off there by week, and you know

0:26:29.160 --> 0:26:32.119
<v Speaker 1>they're ready to make a charge and and take this

0:26:32.280 --> 0:26:34.960
<v Speaker 1>NFC North Division and stay in control of it. Because

0:26:34.960 --> 0:26:37.679
<v Speaker 1>here's the thing, Wes, I mean, who knows what's going

0:26:37.760 --> 0:26:40.639
<v Speaker 1>to happen in Minnesota with with Josh Dobbs making his

0:26:40.760 --> 0:26:45.480
<v Speaker 1>first actual start as the Vikings quarterback. But if the Chargers,

0:26:45.560 --> 0:26:49.600
<v Speaker 1>if the Chargers knock off the Lions, and Minnesota with

0:26:49.760 --> 0:26:54.320
<v Speaker 1>Dobbs can beat the Saints in Minneapolis, suddenly there are

0:26:54.359 --> 0:26:58.160
<v Speaker 1>a lot you know, the NFC North feels a heck

0:26:58.200 --> 0:27:00.920
<v Speaker 1>of a lot more wide open as opposed to the Lions,

0:27:01.040 --> 0:27:03.399
<v Speaker 1>you know, kind of being the front runner and sitting

0:27:03.400 --> 0:27:05.520
<v Speaker 1>in the caffards. They would still be in first place,

0:27:06.200 --> 0:27:09.360
<v Speaker 1>but but that all that all changes if they were

0:27:09.400 --> 0:27:11.280
<v Speaker 1>to lose and the Vikings were to win another one.

0:27:11.359 --> 0:27:15.680
<v Speaker 1>So a lot of a lot of interesting things there.

0:27:15.720 --> 0:27:18.280
<v Speaker 1>But but yeah, seeing those two the two teams, it's

0:27:18.280 --> 0:27:21.840
<v Speaker 1>funny how that worked out because it wasn't that long

0:27:21.880 --> 0:27:25.639
<v Speaker 1>ago that the the Rams and the Steelers were playing

0:27:25.640 --> 0:27:28.560
<v Speaker 1>each other, and then they were back to back opponents

0:27:28.560 --> 0:27:33.080
<v Speaker 1>for the Packers right after that, and now the Chargers

0:27:33.080 --> 0:27:35.160
<v Speaker 1>and the Lions are playing each other and they're back

0:27:35.200 --> 0:27:38.080
<v Speaker 1>to back opponents on the Packers schedule right after It's

0:27:38.240 --> 0:27:41.719
<v Speaker 1>it's it's it's there's just been schedule quirks like that all.

0:27:41.800 --> 0:27:44.080
<v Speaker 2>See, you might have just figured out the whole process here.

0:27:44.240 --> 0:27:48.880
<v Speaker 1>Maybe, yeah, maybe something with one of those computer algorithms.

0:27:48.920 --> 0:27:51.040
<v Speaker 1>Maybe that's what that's how they that's how they spit

0:27:51.119 --> 0:27:53.840
<v Speaker 1>some of this stuff out. I don't know, but it

0:27:53.880 --> 0:27:55.240
<v Speaker 1>isn't that isn't that weird? Though?

0:27:55.400 --> 0:27:56.480
<v Speaker 2>It is very strange.

0:27:56.640 --> 0:27:58.000
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, it feels.

0:27:57.480 --> 0:27:59.680
<v Speaker 2>It feels there's a lot of interesting ques. We can

0:27:59.760 --> 0:28:01.959
<v Speaker 2>do it entire episode on just all the weird quarks

0:28:01.960 --> 0:28:04.479
<v Speaker 2>of this year's schedule. Like remember with Denver where it's like, hey,

0:28:04.520 --> 0:28:06.440
<v Speaker 2>they're gonna play Kansas City and then they're gona play

0:28:06.440 --> 0:28:08.000
<v Speaker 2>Green Bay and then they're gonna play then they're gonna

0:28:08.000 --> 0:28:10.120
<v Speaker 2>play Kids the City or on a buy Yeah, what

0:28:10.520 --> 0:28:12.040
<v Speaker 2>like how does that work?

0:28:12.200 --> 0:28:12.440
<v Speaker 1>Yeah?

0:28:12.960 --> 0:28:16.399
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but certainly when you get there will be certain

0:28:16.440 --> 0:28:18.520
<v Speaker 2>amount of patterns that develop like that when you're having

0:28:18.520 --> 0:28:22.600
<v Speaker 2>these cross conference you know, divisional matchups. But uh, for

0:28:22.720 --> 0:28:25.920
<v Speaker 2>Green Bay, I think you've laid that out perfectly. If

0:28:25.920 --> 0:28:29.040
<v Speaker 2>the Chargers can take care of business against Detroit in

0:28:29.040 --> 0:28:31.840
<v Speaker 2>addition to whatever happens with the Vikings and let's say

0:28:31.880 --> 0:28:34.679
<v Speaker 2>the Packers not promising anything, Packers take care of business

0:28:34.680 --> 0:28:37.840
<v Speaker 2>against the Steelers and then against the Chargers, well then

0:28:37.880 --> 0:28:39.480
<v Speaker 2>Thanksgiving becomes really interesting.

0:28:39.560 --> 0:28:42.160
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. We may have that opportunity, Yeah, no question about it.

0:28:42.320 --> 0:28:44.680
<v Speaker 2>When you're at three wins, you have to find way

0:28:44.680 --> 0:28:47.080
<v Speaker 2>to claw yourself back. And when you're looking out at

0:28:47.080 --> 0:28:49.160
<v Speaker 2>a Lion's team that has two losses. You have to

0:28:49.160 --> 0:28:51.920
<v Speaker 2>find a way for them to have setbacks. And right

0:28:51.960 --> 0:28:54.080
<v Speaker 2>now Green Bay just has to worry about what's in

0:28:54.120 --> 0:28:58.239
<v Speaker 2>front of them. It but I mean, it's still all

0:28:58.320 --> 0:28:59.920
<v Speaker 2>right there for them on the other side of this thing.

0:29:00.080 --> 0:29:04.160
<v Speaker 2>If you get the job done against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

0:29:03.880 --> 0:29:06.280
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, well, it's time. It's time for the Packers to

0:29:06.320 --> 0:29:10.560
<v Speaker 1>start stacking something. Right. Packers have not had a winning streak.

0:29:10.600 --> 0:29:13.160
<v Speaker 1>They have not won two games in a row this season.

0:29:13.200 --> 0:29:16.760
<v Speaker 1>The last winning streak for this team was in December

0:29:16.800 --> 0:29:19.200
<v Speaker 1>of last year. And you don't get anywhere in this

0:29:19.320 --> 0:29:22.440
<v Speaker 1>league without stringing together victory. So it's got to start

0:29:22.480 --> 0:29:23.320
<v Speaker 1>somewhere for green Back.

0:29:23.440 --> 0:29:25.479
<v Speaker 2>So it's been fifty three years now since they've won

0:29:25.560 --> 0:29:27.240
<v Speaker 2>an acupuncture stadium.

0:29:26.920 --> 0:29:31.680
<v Speaker 1>Right in the city of Pittsburgh, in the city of Pittsburgh. Yes, okay, yes,

0:29:31.800 --> 0:29:34.840
<v Speaker 1>nineteen seventy. I'll be writing about that over the weekend.

0:29:34.880 --> 0:29:41.120
<v Speaker 1>Actually looking at this history of the Packers actually losing

0:29:41.160 --> 0:29:43.760
<v Speaker 1>a lot of close games unfortunately in Pittsburgh, both at

0:29:43.800 --> 0:29:48.320
<v Speaker 1>Three Rivers and at Heinz Slash Akrascher Stadium.

0:29:48.960 --> 0:29:49.520
<v Speaker 2>Aqua filter.

0:29:51.360 --> 0:29:54.400
<v Speaker 1>All you have to do is spell it right. On

0:29:54.520 --> 0:29:58.480
<v Speaker 1>Sundays that's it, so I don't have to fix it.

0:29:58.560 --> 0:30:03.040
<v Speaker 1>Your story all right? With that, we're gonna call it.

0:30:03.160 --> 0:30:05.360
<v Speaker 2>If I put three rivers, we let it stay. If

0:30:05.400 --> 0:30:10.080
<v Speaker 2>I put three rivers, I'll I'll just let that one

0:30:10.120 --> 0:30:15.000
<v Speaker 2>stay in there old three Rivers Stadium.

0:30:14.040 --> 0:30:16.400
<v Speaker 1>There we go.

0:30:16.160 --> 0:30:17.200
<v Speaker 2>We'll call it a.

0:30:17.120 --> 0:30:20.800
<v Speaker 1>Wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to

0:30:20.800 --> 0:30:23.000
<v Speaker 1>follow all of our coverage of the team, and we

0:30:23.080 --> 0:30:26.520
<v Speaker 1>will have everything for you from Sunday's game in Pittsburgh

0:30:26.520 --> 0:30:27.800
<v Speaker 1>at whatever stadium you.

0:30:27.760 --> 0:30:29.160
<v Speaker 2>Want to call it.

0:30:29.160 --> 0:30:32.360
<v Speaker 1>It will be there for you on Packers dot com

0:30:32.360 --> 0:30:35.040
<v Speaker 1>for Wes. I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody.

0:30:35.120 --> 0:30:36.800
<v Speaker 1>We will see you next time.