1 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,719 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is the 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: one and only Weston Hodkowitz. We're coming to you, hear 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field to talk Packers Cowboys. 5 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: It will be the NFC Wildcard playoff from AT and 6 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: T Stadium Sunday. It's a three thirty Central time kickoff. 7 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: And Wes you look at this Cowboys team in twenty 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: twenty three, twelve and five, they win the NFC East 9 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: Championship and everybody talking, of course about that eight to 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: zero record at home. They've actually won sixteen straight home 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: games now. Their last loss at AT and T Stadium 12 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: was in Week one of last season to the Tampa 13 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: Bay Buccaneers and Dak Prescott having I guess what would 14 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: amount to a career year for him. He's the one. 15 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: He's the guy that makes this engine go for Dallas. 16 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wrote in our insider inbox, Colm, I mean 17 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: he is at the peak of his powers right now. 18 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,320 Speaker 2: I think you're seeing a guy that for a number 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 2: of years showed a lot of promise. Obviously was a 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,199 Speaker 2: franchise quarterback, a starting level quarterback. But this year leading 21 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 2: the National Football League in thirty six touchdown passes thrown 22 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 2: forty five hundred yards passing, and his utilization of all 23 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: those weapons around him, I think has really been a 24 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: difference maker. Dallas, pound for pound, is one of the 25 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 2: most complete football teams in this playoff. I mean when 26 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 2: you look at what they can do to you schematically 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: with their receivers. Tony Pollard is a very underrated running back. 28 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: I felt like he'd spend that way for a number 29 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: of years now, and as the Cowboys always do, the 30 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 2: years change, but their offensive line has always been stout 31 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: in my opinion of future Hall of Famer and Zach 32 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 2: Martin there at right guard. So many things to like 33 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: about Dallas, But at the controls is Dak Prescott and 34 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: he's getting the most out of that unit. 35 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 36 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: thirty six. That's actually the second highest total in his career. 37 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: He had thirty seven one other season. He has a 38 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: one oh five point nine passer rating, which is a 39 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: career high for him. And with those weapons. It starts 40 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: with Cede Lamb one hundred and thirty five catches, seventeen 41 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: hundred and forty nine yards twelve touchdowns. And then the 42 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: number two guy is the state of Wisconsin's most famous grandson, Ferguson, 43 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: with seventy one catches, seven hundred and sixty one yards 44 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: five touchdowns. Those two combined for twenty five hundred of 45 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: Zach Prescott's forty five hundred passing yards and seventeen of 46 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: his thirty six passing touchdowns. And I don't want to 47 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: take anything away from Ferguson, but when you watch the 48 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys and the big highlights, it's ceede Lamb. This 49 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: is the this is the explosive weapon. This is the 50 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 1: guy that changes games, changes field position, puts points on 51 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: the board from anywhere on the field. And it's going 52 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: to be really, really interesting to see. You had mentioned 53 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: on our last show, Jayar Alexander coming back from the 54 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: suspension seem like his shoulder was healthy, the way he 55 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: was flying around on defense. This is the kind of 56 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: matchup that jay R Alexander lives for. And you gotta 57 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: believe that he's going to get a healthy dose of 58 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 1: ceed Lamb on Sunday. 59 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: After Yeah, I think the word I've been using all week, 60 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 2: or the phrase I've been using is as much as 61 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 2: schematically possible. 62 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, to be lining up against Lamb. 63 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: I think in a lot of ways, Chicago was a 64 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: good preparation matchup opponent for Green Bay because Dallas is deeper. 65 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: But again, much like DJ Moore and the Bears, everything 66 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 2: runs through Lamb. I mean, you just don't roll out 67 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: of bed and wake up and have one hundred and 68 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 2: thirty five catches, seventy receiving yards and double. 69 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 3: Digit touchdowns, right. 70 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: The guy does it in all different kinds of capacities, 71 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,839 Speaker 2: and he can make every catch, he can run every 72 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 2: route on the tree, and the bond that he's developed 73 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: over the last three years with Dak Prescott is outer 74 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: worldly and everything else builds off of that. I think 75 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: you touched on Jake Ferguson. You know, just a blue collar, 76 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: ready made Wisconsin football player that has gotten to Dallas 77 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: and has taken his game to another level and has 78 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 2: been able to sustain it. 79 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,119 Speaker 1: Guy can work the middle of the field and move 80 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: the chains like he's He's not Travis Kelcey or George Kittle, 81 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: but he's getting there. 82 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 3: He gives them what they need. 83 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 2: And Dalton Schultz was the guy there for years and 84 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: They've had a lot of name brand tight ends. But 85 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 2: I think over the last you know, two seasons, we've 86 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 2: seen this, this kind of morphing of the passing game 87 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: and how Ferguson has sort of turned into one of 88 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: those go tos for them. Michael Gallup has dealt with 89 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 2: some injuries in the past, has had some things. 90 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 3: But as dangerous. 91 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: Brandon Cooks is a guy that has done it at 92 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: such a high level. The list goes on and on 93 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 2: and on with this Dallas passing game, and because there 94 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: is so much variance there, I think it's allowed Mike 95 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 2: McCarthy to really open this thing up with him taking 96 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 2: back the play calling. This year, there has been no 97 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: I mean, they are fifth right now in total offensive yards. 98 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 2: They are the highest scoring offense in the National Football 99 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: the almost five hundred and fifty points scored this year. 100 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: It is not a easy equation to solve, especially inside 101 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 2: that stadium. But Mike, getting back to the original premise 102 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: of your question, in these moments, you want your best 103 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: on their best. Yeah, And to me, jyr Alexander is 104 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: still very. 105 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: Much the best. 106 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. When you when as you said, you look at 107 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: the whole picture of this Dallas offense, like, oh, by 108 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: the way, Tony Pollard has a thousand rushing yards and 109 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 1: six touchdowns. And I know, a thousand yards maybe isn't 110 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: what it was before now that there are seventeen games 111 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: in the regular season, et cetera. But when the NFL 112 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: is the passing league that it is, it still means 113 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: something for a running back to get to a thousand yards. 114 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: And Pollard has done that on a team that you 115 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: know where you know, there's only one football and there's 116 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,919 Speaker 1: a bunch of guys that that crave that ball. And 117 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: the other thing statistically, I'll mention too, that stands out 118 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: to me about this Dallas offense. And I meant this, 119 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: I believe. In one of the earlier Insider Inbox columns 120 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: this week, the Cowboys scored five hundred and nine points 121 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: this year, two hundred and ninety six. So if you 122 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: want to go round numbers three hundred out of five 123 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: hundred points in the first half, Yeah, these guys will 124 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: jump on you and make you play from behind. That's 125 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: what they like to do, especially at home. When you 126 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: look at the scores of their home games at AT 127 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: and T Stadium. 128 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 2: Well, and just to quickly mention that peace on Pollard there, 129 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 2: because you're right, a thousand rushing yards. This offense is 130 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 2: different though than it was in the early days of 131 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: DAK when it was. 132 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: The when it was zekeke Elly's show. 133 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, Pollard has a thousand rushing yards, Mike, as a team, 134 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: they almost have two thousand though, because of how they 135 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 2: can use a guy like CD Lamb in that, because 136 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: of some of the multi dimensionality of Dak's Prescott's game, 137 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 2: and that's what keeps a team honest, that's what allows 138 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: you to open up some of those explosive opportunities. But 139 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 2: dan Quinn, and I'm sure we'll pivot here to the 140 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: defense shortly, but dan Quinn is one of the most brilliant, 141 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: even handed coordinators in the National Football League and it's 142 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: been that way for decade. But the thing about it is, 143 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: as Matt Lafleuur talked about, based on their relationship in Atlanta, 144 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 2: his defense has evolved. And again, when you look at 145 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: what Green Bay has done well this season defensively, it's 146 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: been when they've been staked to a lead and the 147 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: defense can play with that. The defense can shut teams down. 148 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: When you get into the red zone, you can kind 149 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 2: of move your chest pieces a little bit more. Quinn 150 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,440 Speaker 2: is a master at that, and that's why again, this 151 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: McCarthy offense and Quinn defense, they've together have been able 152 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: to play off each other really. 153 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: Well this season. 154 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a good point you bring up about Green 155 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: Bay's defense, because when you look at the twenty twenty 156 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: three season, there were really only two games for me 157 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: that come to mind where the Packers gave the Packers 158 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: gave their own defense a lead and it got away, 159 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: And it was early in the season in Atlanta and 160 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: then late in the season in Carolina. But otherwise, when 161 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: the Packers have built a lead offensively, the Packers defense 162 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: has come right along and been able to been able 163 00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: to hold it in there. With regard to Dallas defense, 164 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: the two guys, of course that get a lot of attention. 165 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: Micah Parsons fourteen sacks. I believe Matt Lafleur called him 166 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: a freak show accurate in his press conference. A guy 167 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 1: who he lines up all over. He will rush the 168 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: passer from anywhere. He's not a bad cover guy either 169 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: when they decide to drop him into coverage. But he's 170 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: so disruptive and so valuable as a pass rusher. He's 171 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 1: almost always, you know, more often than not, certainly getting 172 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: after the quarterback. And then the other guys you know, 173 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,680 Speaker 1: oh yeah, the Cowboys lose Trayvon Diggs, last year's you know, 174 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: league leader in interceptions part way through the season. This year, 175 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: they lose him for the rest of the year. And 176 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 1: then all Deron Bland does is go out and get 177 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: nine interceptions set an NFL record with five of those 178 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: returned for touchdowns this season. Parsons in Bland are the 179 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: guys that you have to know where they are on 180 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: the field, and those are the guys who are the 181 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: ultra ultra high impact guys on this Cowboys well. 182 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 2: And there's one guy who lit not be overlooking him, 183 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: and that's Rashid Walker. Who've seen Michaeh Parsons. He spent 184 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 2: that time with him at Penn State, and I just 185 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 2: had a lot of glowing things to say about him 186 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 2: in the way the type of pro that he's developed 187 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 2: into since he's gotten to Dallas. The thing I love 188 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 2: about Parsons is that it's that he is the hybrid 189 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:17,880 Speaker 2: pass rusher. It was the way he was built coming 190 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 2: out of school. He's going to be able to do 191 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 2: everything for you. And again I'm just going to read 192 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 2: off these stats because they're incredible. He has sixty four tackles, 193 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: he has thirty three quarterback hits. Fourteen sacks, but thirty 194 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: three quarterback hits. Some teams don't have thirty three quarterback 195 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 2: hits for a season. I mean, like, just a remarkable 196 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 2: amount of output. That he's had those sackyards, totally one 197 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 2: hundred and fifteen tackles for lost eighteen and is also 198 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 2: forced to fumble. 199 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 3: But to look at what. 200 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: They do with him is the brilliance in that defense. 201 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 2: The fact that you can't just pinpoint him to one spot. 202 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 2: He's going to move around, and I think that makes 203 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 2: the pass rushers around him even better. I have been 204 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: so incredibly press by Deron Bland, though, because I'll tell 205 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: you this, Michael. Whether it's the Al Harris effect, whatever 206 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 2: it is, the ballhawking abilities of these Dallas defensive backs 207 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 2: over the last few years have just been extraordinary. In 208 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 2: this day and age, now, quarterbacks are starting to lessen 209 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: up a little bit. You're seeing a few more interceptions 210 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: than you did per se five years ago, when Aaron 211 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: Rodgers was sort of setting the standard of Hey don't 212 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,719 Speaker 2: turn over the ball at all. Guys are taking a 213 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 2: few more chances, but it's still really rare to see 214 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 2: a guy above that five interception threshold. Bland met that 215 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 2: just with the touchdowns to be able to get to 216 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 2: that plateau, right and then adding on the rest, this 217 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 2: is a defense, and you made a great point when 218 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: we did our three Things video on Wednesday. Their offense 219 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 2: protects the ball, the defense takes the ball away. That's 220 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 2: the bruprint. That's how you win football games in the 221 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: National Football League, and it's something that Mike McCarthy and 222 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 2: his team have done really well this season. Yeah. 223 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: Absolutely, with regard to the three Things video. I looked 224 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: it up. The leg low this year in giveaways on 225 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: offense was fourteen. Amazingly, that was the Houston Texans with 226 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: a rookie quarterback. They were the league low and fourteen giveaways. 227 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: The Cowboys only had sixteen. The Packers only had eighteen. 228 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: So both the Cowboys and the Packers protected the football 229 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: pretty well. From the Packers' point of view. When you 230 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: look at this Cowboys defense and the way they've taken 231 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: it away, you cannot stress enough how important it'll be 232 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: to protect the football in this game. We don't talk 233 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: much when we do these previews and looking at the opponent. 234 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: We don't spend much time on the special teams on 235 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: the other side. But there are a couple things that 236 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: are worth mentioning here before we get to our keys 237 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: to victory. Yeah, we will get too shortly. The Dallas 238 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: Cowboys this year have blocked two punts, so the Packers 239 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: need to be on their p's and ques with regard 240 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: to punt protection. And I don't need to remind anybody 241 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: how punt protection submarined the Packers' last appearance in the playoffs. 242 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: Will leave it at that. The other interesting thing with 243 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: regard to the Cowboys special teams is this rookie kicker, 244 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,679 Speaker 1: Brandon Aubrey. He's a twenty eight year old rookie. He 245 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: was a soccer star at Notre Dame and then went 246 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: into professional soccer. 247 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 3: He played the MLS. 248 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, played professional soccer when he came out of Notre Dame. 249 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: I think he came out of Notre Dame in like 250 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen or something. As I said, he's twenty eight 251 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: years old. He's a rookie in the NFL. He had 252 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: gotten into football playing for the Birmingham squad in the USFL. 253 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: The Cowboys found him, brought him in, and prior to 254 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: last week against the Washington Commanders, he was thirty five 255 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: for thirty five on field goals on the season. Last 256 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: week he had one blocked and then he also missed 257 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: one that was actually under forty yards, his first two 258 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: field goal misses of the season. So he's thirty six 259 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: for thirty eight. But this is a guy who has 260 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,559 Speaker 1: been He has been a weapon, and he has been 261 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: a consistent producer for a Cowboys offense that, as you mentioned, 262 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 1: is the highest scoring in the league this year. 263 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 2: So many points I want to make off of this. 264 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: The first one is John Fossil one of the best 265 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,439 Speaker 2: in the business when it comes to special teams. And 266 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 2: I give so much credit to Jerry Jones, his personnel 267 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 2: department and Mike McCarthy. They thought outside the box this 268 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 2: season because basically, Mike, they got torpedoed from the playoffs 269 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 2: last year because of their kicking situation, and they had 270 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 2: to find an answer for it. They waited, They waited 271 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 2: a long time. They didn't go and sign a guy 272 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 2: on the first day of free agency. They didn't bring 273 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 2: in a veteran. 274 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 3: They thought they had to think a little bit. 275 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 2: Differently about how they wanted to approach this thing, and 276 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 2: obviously that bet has paid off. And to see a 277 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 2: guy like Aubrey come in and perform the way he 278 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 2: has again it shows you there are so many different 279 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 2: ways to go about this thing. The Green Bay Packers 280 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 2: they have a punter too that came from the development 281 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 2: leagues and sometimes especially at those specialist positions, Mike, there's 282 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 2: only thirty two of them. There aren't a lot of opportunities, 283 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: especially now with the COVID phase kind of ending. There 284 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 2: aren't a lot on the practice squads anymore. You have 285 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 2: to earn a job to keep a job in this league, 286 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 2: and obviously Aubrey has done that. I do need to 287 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 2: quickly touch on too, the Turpen kid, who I think 288 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: also might have come from one of those development leagues too, 289 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 2: if I remember correctly, their kickoff returner. He's only had 290 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: ten opportunities this year. He made a bunch of buzz 291 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 2: during training camp because he's five nine and one hundred 292 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 2: and fifty pounds right, but almost averaging thirty yards per 293 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 2: kickoff as well. They play good special teams and when 294 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 2: Mike McCarthy went down there and he brought Fossil in 295 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 2: as his special teams coordinator. They had that relationship already. 296 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 2: I think you've seen that really grow. And I think 297 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 2: he saw some of the things that went wrong in 298 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 2: Green Bay during his time here, and I think he's 299 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 2: kind of rectified them now that he's been in Dallas. 300 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, both of these teams with a rookie kicker, obviously, 301 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: the Packers Andras Carlson. He's still working through some things, 302 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: trying to get to a level of consistency that it 303 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: appears Brandon Aubrey again, twenty eight years old, found it 304 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: right away when he came into the NFL. And special teams, 305 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: one way or another are going to be a factor 306 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: in this game. It certainly feels that way to me. 307 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: I'll take care of sponsor business here, Wes, and then 308 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: we'll get to our keys to victory. Serious XMNFL Radio 309 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL 310 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: news that true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, 311 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: three sixty five. And at Cousin Subs, we have something 312 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese curds, mac and Cheese, 313 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 314 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: sub or sub in a bowl, cousin subs fifty years 315 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: of better. All right, Keys to victory here, Wes, I'm 316 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: gonna go I'm gonna start on this one and I'm 317 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: gonna go back to I think I mentioned it on 318 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: our last show. If I didn't, I know you and 319 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: I talked about it, perhaps with the microphones off. But 320 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: I see this game as one the way, with what 321 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: the Cowboys have done all year on offense, with where 322 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: the Packers currently are on offense over these last couple months, 323 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: I see this as a game where both offenses are 324 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: going to be able to move the football. And it 325 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: just feels to me like this is a game that 326 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: will be decided in the red zones. You have to 327 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: be the better team offensively in the red zone. You 328 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: have to be the better team defensively in the red zone. 329 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: It's going to come down to who can finish drives 330 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: and whose defense might be able to stop a drive 331 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: and force a field goal. That is that difference of 332 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: four points here four points there on the scoreboard. I 333 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: think this is a red zone, you know, do or 334 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: die type type of game. 335 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, And for me, it all goes back to the 336 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 2: original premise that we open the show with, and it's 337 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 2: Dak Prescott. It's pressuring him, it's turning over the football, 338 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,720 Speaker 2: and it's being able to get those takeaways that maybe 339 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: haven't always been there. This season when playing the Dallas Cowboys, 340 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 2: one interesting thing I've noticed with them when you look 341 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 2: at their season so far eighteen game seventeen games over 342 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 2: eighteen weeks, only four times has he been held underneath 343 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 2: a ninety passer rating. They've lost three of those. When 344 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 2: you're able to get in completions, when you're able to 345 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 2: get him in third and lungs, and obviously being able 346 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 2: to get interceptions. 347 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 3: That has been a huge key in catalyst to this thing. 348 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 2: And the tangent that builds off of that is Ceedee Lamb. 349 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 2: Now there isn't as many convenient stats with him. He's 350 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 2: had big games where they've lost, he's had games where 351 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,959 Speaker 2: he hasn't really contributed that they've won. But if he 352 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 2: goes off Michael, the job for the Green bit Packers 353 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: gets exponentially more difficult. So containing those two I think 354 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 2: is the biggest part. As you said, they're going to 355 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 2: get yards, it's making sure that those yards don't turn 356 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 2: into points, and in addition to the red zone, one 357 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: of the best ways to do that is getting the 358 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 2: football back in your quarterback's hands. 359 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think the other thing that goes along 360 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: with that, with regard to Prescott and Lamb in this 361 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: offense is the explosives, because we talk all the time 362 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:56,199 Speaker 1: about how does a defense respond after it gives up 363 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: an explosive play. They can be really hard to bounce 364 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,120 Speaker 1: back from there, especially hard to bounce back from when 365 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: you're on the road when that explosive play happens and 366 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: the crowd starts going crazy and suddenly it just feels 367 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,880 Speaker 1: like everything is against you, and all of that momentum, 368 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: you know, for the home team is moving along and 369 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: it becomes very difficult to get stops trying to limit 370 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 1: those explosive plays and make the Cowboys, you know, earn it. 371 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: By moving the chains down the field is going to 372 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: give you more opportunities to get the stops that are 373 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: going to force field goals as opposed to giving them 374 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: those those opportunities to get into the end zone. I 375 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: mentioned obviously the turnover thing already. I think this game 376 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: also if somebody commits a turnover one turnover in this 377 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: game could be the difference. And as I mentioned on 378 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: our three Things video, the Packers kind of got away 379 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: with being that one team last week that committed a 380 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: turnover against the Bears that was the only turnover in 381 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: the game. The Packers were able to overcome it. It's 382 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 1: going to be a lot harder to overcome that type 383 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: of mistake in this game. 384 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 2: And that's why it brings me to my last point here, 385 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:09,120 Speaker 2: and that's just play free. Don't play careless, but play free. Yeah. 386 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 2: I mean, I don't want to use that expression about 387 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 2: playing with house money, but you did sneak your way 388 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: into the playoffs. 389 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:14,479 Speaker 1: Here. 390 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 2: You are the seventh seed. Probably people are counting you 391 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: out a little bit, especially considering you're playing Dallas on 392 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: their turf. It's turf, get your grammar right West. The 393 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 2: fact is that with the green Bay Packers, when they 394 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 2: get into that rhythm we talk about the Dallas Cowboys 395 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 2: putting up points early in the first half, When Green 396 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 2: Bay puts up points early, when they can kind of 397 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 2: get the snowball going a little bit, that's when this 398 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 2: team is at its best. I really enjoyed what aj 399 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 2: Dillon said at his locker. When he was addressing the 400 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 2: media on Wednesday, he said, Hey, listen, we still have 401 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,239 Speaker 2: a goal of winning the Super Bowl. This wasn't just hey, 402 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 2: we made the playoffs. Thanks, we'll see you later. You'll 403 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: take your door prize and head home. No, they have 404 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 2: big goals. They have a mission. There's an idea in 405 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 2: the back of their minds that we knew what this 406 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 2: quarterback was and we knew what we could do this 407 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 2: season right off the gate, even if others didn't. This 408 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 2: is their opportunity now to go up against a Dallas 409 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 2: team with the weight of the worlds on their shoulders, 410 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 2: with the expectations on their shoulders, with some stuff in 411 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 2: the media already about hey, what does this all mean 412 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 2: for Mike McCarthy if they you know, if they go 413 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 2: out early, or how much they how far they make it. 414 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 2: Green Bay is playing like a team that is the 415 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: youngest in the National Football League, but not the shortest 416 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 2: on experience. They've gone through all these trials and tribulations. 417 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 2: Now now it's up to see what all those games 418 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 2: and all those moments can kind of do to push 419 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 2: them now to towards something special. 420 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I want to ask you one more question with 421 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: regard to the quarterback situation. We all know Jordan Love 422 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 1: this will be his first, his first official NFL playoff game. 423 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 1: I actually asked him if Aaron Rodgers had ever talked 424 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,400 Speaker 1: to him about his first playoff game, which he said 425 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: he didn't. He didn't really know anything about it, and 426 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 1: you know, which is fine. I wasn't gonna I wasn't 427 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:57,400 Speaker 1: gonna press him on it. But for those who remember it, 428 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: of course, Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on his first 429 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: playoff pass and then and then went on to put 430 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: up forty five points, bringing the Packers back from twenty 431 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: one points down in Arizona in the second half to 432 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: get that game to overtime and unfortunately ended up losing 433 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 1: it on a rather controversial non call. Anyway, I digress. 434 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: My question to you with regard to the quarterback situation 435 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: is with Prescott. Do you think he's going into this 436 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,400 Speaker 1: these playoffs not just for the Cowboys and the franchise 437 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,760 Speaker 1: and everything there, but as Dak Prescott going into these 438 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: playoffs personally with something to prove he has. He has 439 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: two playoff wins I believe in his career, but he 440 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: has taken a lot of heat and a lot of 441 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: criticism for the Cowboys exits in the playoffs. On his watch, 442 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: it just this this situation strikes me as as one 443 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: where the Cowboys quarterback is the one with a massive 444 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: chip on his shoulder coming end of. 445 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 3: This game, no no, no doubt. And I actually kind 446 00:21:59,160 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 3: of liken it. 447 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 2: The more I've been reading and the more I've been 448 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 2: listening to stuff out of Dallas this week, It almost 449 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:05,679 Speaker 2: in some ways does remind me of Matt Ryan in 450 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 2: twenty sixteen, which could, you know, be a positive for 451 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 2: the Cowboys. 452 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 3: In the long run. 453 00:22:10,320 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 2: Ryan was kind of at that point where it was like, Okay, 454 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 2: Atlanta's had some success, but are they really going to 455 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 2: are they going to put something together? 456 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 3: Yeah? 457 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: Are you going to prove it? 458 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 3: Are you going to get to a super Bowl? 459 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 2: And? 460 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 3: Shoot, they almost won it. 461 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 2: I think that's the moment that DAK is chasing, because 462 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 2: let's be honest, Mike, it isn't just about Dak. It's 463 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 2: when the when they made the move that, hey, Mike 464 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 2: McCarthy is going to be the new head coach. Jason 465 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 2: Garrett's out, We're going to go to Mike. 466 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 3: All of this. 467 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,359 Speaker 2: The first thing Mike said I think almost in his 468 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 2: press conference was how excited he was to work with 469 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 2: Dak and build that relationship. They felt like they had 470 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,399 Speaker 2: their franchise quarterback. How do we get them to the 471 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 2: next level now? How do we bring it there? Well, 472 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 2: they're on the precipice now, but because of the way 473 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 2: the league is gone, there is no number two by anymore. 474 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's a wild card game. 475 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 2: Against the number seven seed and you're going to have 476 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 2: to go through the. 477 00:22:56,680 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 3: Green Bay Packers. 478 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 2: You're going to have to potentially go through you know, 479 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 2: these squads to make a run at this thing, and 480 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 2: every single one of these games is going to be 481 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: a battle. So I think, yeah, I think it is 482 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,400 Speaker 2: a big test for Dak Prescott seeing exactly, Okay, everything 483 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: you've done and the stats you've put together and the 484 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: production that you've had with this team, three consecutive twelve 485 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 2: win regular seasons, how far does that get you into 486 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 2: January and February. 487 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:23,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Cowboys. The Cowboys as a franchise, not only 488 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 1: have they not won a Super Bowl or not yeah, 489 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: not gotten to or won a Super Bowl since the 490 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety five season. That was the last time they 491 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: actually made it to the NFC Championship game was back 492 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,720 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety five. That's where why you know, all 493 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: this pressure is on Dallas now heading into this game. 494 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,160 Speaker 1: It's going to be interesting to see how they respond, 495 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: how the crowd responds. If if the Packers you know, 496 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,719 Speaker 1: take a lead in the third or fourth quarter, how 497 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: does how does the crowd respond to that, and in 498 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: terms of the home field advantage and whatnot. 499 00:23:57,640 --> 00:23:59,640 Speaker 2: That reminds me, I don't think. I don't think I've 500 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 2: covered lost in Dallas yet because my first game was 501 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen, the Matt Flynn comeback. 502 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, pack the Packers have not lost in that stadium. 503 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 3: That's wild. 504 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: So the first real Packers first game in that stadium 505 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,560 Speaker 1: was Super Bowl forty five. But yes, then, since then, 506 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: there was there was the Matt Flynn game, there was 507 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 1: the playoff game in sixteen. Two regular season games in 508 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: seventeen and nineteen the Packers want, you know, the one 509 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: with Rogers threw a late touchdown to DeVante Adams to win. 510 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:31,199 Speaker 1: To win one of those, Aaron Jones had, you know, 511 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:35,400 Speaker 1: like a four touchdown game down at AT and T Stadium. 512 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:39,119 Speaker 1: So Packers as a franchise have a lot of a 513 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: lot of historical success in that building, so we'll see 514 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: what happens before we go. I want to get your 515 00:24:45,600 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 1: thoughts on some of the other wild Card games on 516 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: what the NFL now regularly calls Super wild Card Weekend, 517 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,640 Speaker 1: with six games and all first on the NFC side. 518 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: The Rams are at Detroit. The storyline is obvious rights itself, 519 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: with Matthew Stafford, the former Lions quarterback, going back to 520 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:07,520 Speaker 1: Ford Field to try to ruin everything that the Lions 521 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: have built in the thirty years of history that the 522 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: Lions are working against to try to get a playoff victory. 523 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: And then the other NFC game Philadelphia at Tampa Bay. 524 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: Your thoughts on either of. 525 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: Those Detroit and Rams is just the highest amount of 526 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: drama that I think you could. 527 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 3: Ever dial up for a while. 528 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: Fascinating to me. 529 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 2: Not hatred, but definitely drama. Yes, I think it's a 530 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 2: trade that benefited both sides. You know, there's al always 531 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 2: this idea of hey, who is the winner and a 532 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,479 Speaker 2: loser in a trade. I think it benefited the Lions 533 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 2: and it gave Matthew Stafford an opportunity to go win 534 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 2: a Super Bowl and kind of add to his legacy. 535 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 3: But now you're running into that crossroads together. 536 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. Stafford still feels like he has plenty left and 537 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 2: Detroit is finally in the playoffs once again, looking for 538 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:53,199 Speaker 2: that first playoff win in my goodness, my lifetime, I. 539 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:54,440 Speaker 1: Mean thirty two years. 540 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 3: Yeah almost so. 541 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,880 Speaker 1: Their last playoff win was the nineteen ninety one postseason. 542 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: Their last playoff home game was the nineteen ninety three postseason. 543 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 2: I got it, which I do remember that one, but 544 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 2: be that as it may have been an excellent football game. 545 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 2: Excited to see Matthew Stafford back there and see where 546 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,320 Speaker 2: that takes it. Can Philadelphia get itself back on the 547 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: tracks here? 548 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? 549 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 2: Tampa Bay, by no means is a world beater. And 550 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 2: if you leak out this early after having the season 551 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 2: they had in the first half of the year. 552 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, the Philadelphia Eagles were ten to one after eleven games. 553 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,360 Speaker 1: This what's interesting to me about this matchup, and that's 554 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: the Monday Night one is Philadelphia at Tampa Bay. The 555 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 1: Eagles have stumbled toward the finish line, and quite frankly, 556 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: since you know the Baker Mayfield one fifty eight point 557 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 1: three game at lambeau Field, the Buccaneers haven't done a 558 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: whole heck of a lot. I mean, yeah, they ended 559 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: up winning the division. You know, they shut out the 560 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers, but after the win over the Packers, they 561 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: had a loss in there. They haven't really looked all 562 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: that impressive. These are two teams that are not they 563 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: neither one is really going into the playoffs on some 564 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 1: sort of a big high note. 565 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 3: But somebody's gonna win. 566 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:08,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, somebody is gonna win. And one of these two 567 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: teams is going to be among the last four standing 568 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 1: in the NFC heading into divisional weekends. So on the 569 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: AFC side, I think all of these are really intriguing matchups. 570 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: Cleveland at Houston, Miami at Kansas City, Pittsburgh at Buffalo. 571 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: Your thoughts on any of those. 572 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: Miami in Kansas City is a huge game because the 573 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 2: Dolphins really felt like they were Super Bowl contenders, but 574 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 2: they just weren't able to get over that hump. I 575 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 2: think the stat that the NFL put out there one 576 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 2: and five against teams in the playoffs right now, Kansas 577 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 2: City has stumbled. They've had their own issues, but still 578 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 2: have Patrick Mahomes who ultimately can be the equalizer for them. 579 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, the one in that Miami one and five was Dallas, 580 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: but it was when they were They hosted Dallas a 581 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: few weeks ago and that was their that was their 582 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 1: one victory. 583 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, the playoff team, and then they weren't able to 584 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 2: double up on it and had the issues against Baltimore. 585 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 2: But that's gonna be an excellent football game. Joe Flacco 586 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 2: back in the postseason against Houston should be. 587 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 3: A lot of fun. 588 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 1: What a what a quarterback matchup Joe Flacco, you know, 589 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 1: off the couch to lead Cleveland to the playoffs against 590 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 1: the off the presumed offensive rookie of the year in CJ. Stroud. 591 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:17,720 Speaker 1: You talk about two, you know, diametrically opposed quarterback situations, 592 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: Flacco against Stroud. It's it's it's pretty interesting. 593 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,959 Speaker 2: And I'm happy for Stroud. I wish him a lot 594 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: of success. I think he's gonna be fun to watch 595 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: for years to come. I need Joe Flacco to win this, 596 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 2: I need Kansas City to win this, and I need 597 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,399 Speaker 2: Buffalo to take care of business. All right, and then 598 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 2: we got Joe Flacco going back to Baltimore in an 599 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 2: AFC Divisional playoff game would be unbelievable. 600 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 1: There you go, especially. 601 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 2: Consider he wasn't playing football three months ago. But hey, 602 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 2: and then I'm cheering on Pittsburgh too. Pittsburgh got the 603 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 2: Packers into the playoffs. Let's see if they can create 604 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 2: some magic over an Orchard Parker. 605 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think, I think that Pittsburgh Buffalo matchup. You know, 606 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: Josh Allen seemed to have the Buffalo Bills rolling, then 607 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:58,479 Speaker 1: didn't play very well in the first half against Miami 608 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: with the division title online. Then they got it together 609 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: in the second half and and they got the points 610 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,520 Speaker 1: that they needed to be able to win that game. 611 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: And Pittsburgh, you know, for for everything with you know, 612 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: changing offensive coordinators and all this, and Mason Rudolph has 613 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: suddenly given that offense new life. It's like the Steelers, 614 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 1: the Steelers are a completely different team and the but 615 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: then defensively, they won't have TJ. Watt because of because 616 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: of the knee injury. I heard has already been ruled 617 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: out for that game. So that's a that's a major injury. 618 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, they're going up there. 619 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 2: It's it's a mighty mighty climb for them, especially with 620 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,960 Speaker 2: the way Buffalo has played over the last five games, 621 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: but still be a lot of fun to watch. 622 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 3: I'm excited. It's a good it's a good weekend slate 623 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 3: of games. 624 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: And then and the Tyreek Hill revenge game at Arrowhead 625 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: Stadium too, with with Tyreek Tyreek Hill going back to 626 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 1: h to face the Kansas City Chiefs. Lots of really, 627 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 1: really good storylines here on Wildcard. 628 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 3: The scriptwriters did a good job this year. Michael. Let's 629 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 3: see what they got written for us this weekend. 630 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: All right, with that, we are gonna call it a 631 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: wrap on this edition of Packers Uns Grip. I'd be 632 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage of the team 633 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,719 Speaker 1: and of the big wild Card game down in Dallas. 634 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: We will have it all for you on Packers dot 635 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: com for Wesiammike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. We 636 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: will see you next time.