1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is my trusted colleague west Hodkuits. 3 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: We're coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 4 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: Field West. It's almost your Packers Dolphins Sunday afternoon pm 5 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: Central Time kick off and our last show of the week, 6 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: and that always means keys to victory for the Green 7 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: Bay Packers. Where do you want to start with this one? 8 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: I think it goes back to the takeaways and turn 9 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: over margin. I know that comes up it seems like 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: every week, and I know every week it seems like 11 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: I say, well, this is the week it really matters. 12 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: But I think if you look at the statistics and 13 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: the statuets this week, it really shows how paramount it 14 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: is the fact that the Dolphins biggest like victory this 15 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: year for them has been their ability to take away 16 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: the football. The fifteen interceptions. If you get beyond that, 17 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: it's been kind of tough for them. They've had a 18 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: hard time moving the ball consistently, whether it has been 19 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,919 Speaker 1: Ryan Tannehill or Brock Oswiler quarterback. Defensively, as you pointed 20 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,639 Speaker 1: out on our Final Thoughts video, They've given up yards 21 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: there too, specifically against the runs. So they're big play production. 22 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: Their ability to be five and four at this point 23 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: of the year has been able to being able to 24 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: take away the football. Packers have to make sure that 25 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 1: doesn't happen. Yeah, they the statistic Dolphins have fifteen interceptions. 26 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers is only thrown one. We looked it up 27 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: earlier today. It was against Buffalo, which was that Week four. Yeah, 28 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: Buffalo against Week four was Rogers only interception this season. 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: So yeah, I've kind of had the feeling all week 30 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: that if Rogers continues to not throw the ball into 31 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: Harm's way, which he's done a great job this year, 32 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: and it's not as though teams have had a bunch 33 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: of opportunities to intercept the ball on Aaron Rodgers. I 34 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: like the Packers chances here because the Dolphins defense, you know, 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: they rank really in the you know, the bottom third 36 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: of the league essentially and in yardage, and you know, 37 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: they they've had they've had some ups and downs in 38 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: terms of points allowed. But quite frankly, was you know 39 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: they would have lost, they would have been hung with 40 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: a really bad loss against the New York Jets last 41 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,519 Speaker 1: week if not for a pick six um from their 42 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: defense to pull out a thirteen to six victory. So 43 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: I agree with you. It's not as though we're sitting 44 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: here saying the Packers need to win the turnover battle 45 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: three to nothing or something like that in order to 46 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 1: win this game. But you can't let this Dolphins defense 47 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: continue to feed on the turnover thing that has sort 48 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: of been their spark to get to this point where 49 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: they're five and four, even though they're playing with a 50 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: backup quarterback. Yeah, and and that's really I think one 51 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: of the things that they've been able to use to 52 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: to get through that time is that if brock Oswather 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: has done anything really well and these whatever this has 54 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: been now four or five starts he's made, yeah, it's 55 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: the fact that he has part at the football relatively 56 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: well compared to you know what happened in Houston where 57 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 1: he ultimately lost his job for that reason, and then 58 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: you know that these short intervals of time he had 59 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: with Cleveland and Denver. So I think this is gonna 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: be really interesting also seen exactly what form, uh this 61 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: secondary takes for the Dolphins. I mean, they said coming 62 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: out of Miami this week Adam Gaze said, everything's resolve 63 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: with Rashad Jones. Where they're gonna go with that. Are 64 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: they're still gonna be trying to rotate through with Minca 65 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 1: Fitzpatrick or how they're gonna handle all those safeties, because 66 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: it sounded like, and again as a non expert, I'm 67 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: not a beat writer for them, it sounded like that 68 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: was sort of the crux of this whole thing is 69 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: they were trying to rotate guys and maybe Rashad Jones 70 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: wasn't happy with that, whatever, But when he's on the field, 71 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: he's a really dynamic football player, and I think he 72 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: has two or three of those picks on the season, 73 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: and as I mentioned earlier this week, a guy like 74 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: Kiko Alonso has three picks. I mean, they have a 75 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: lot of guys and a lot of different body types 76 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: that can make plays on the football and you have 77 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: to be aware of that. Yeah, I think looking at 78 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: this game from another perspective, I really think this game 79 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: could come down to the running backs. You have Frank 80 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: Gore on the Dolphins side with a partner in Kenyan Drake, 81 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: and then the Packers obviously have Aaron Jones and Jamal 82 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: Williams and looking at what I would consider the number 83 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: one guys for each team. Frank Gore, I think, has 84 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: really been kind of the backbone of this Miami offense 85 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: since brock Oswiler particularly had to take over as the 86 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: starting quarterback. And you know, I wrote a piece on 87 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 1: it for our website this week. You know, Frank Gore's career, 88 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: to me is is really really impressive and you can't 89 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,679 Speaker 1: have anything but the utmost respect for what he's done 90 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: over fourteen years. He ranks fourth all time in the 91 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: NFL in rushing yards. He's going to end up in 92 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame someday. He's had seven career games 93 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: against the Green Bay Packers West if you include regular 94 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: season and postseason, most of them with the forty nine 95 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: is the one game two years ago with the Indianapolis Colts. 96 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: Frank or has seven rushing touchdowns and three yard games. Again, 97 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: it's the Green Bay Packers over the years. With what 98 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 1: he means to this Dolphins offense. Right now, the Packers 99 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: can't really let him get going and do his thing, 100 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: so to speak. I think you have to you have 101 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: to make brock Osweiler be the guy that beats you there. 102 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: You can't let them run the football and keep Aaron 103 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Rodgers off the field. Yeah. And you know who's a 104 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: really good advocate for that, the Chicago Bears giving up 105 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: a hundred yards. I mean, Frankore average six points, so 106 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: he looked like he was twenty four year old franc 107 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: Or in that football game. I mean, just and Drake 108 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: had a pretty good game for for them against Chicago 109 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: as well. He did. And then it was actually I 110 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 1: think it was was a Gore that picked them up 111 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: at the end there when Drake had the fumble, whatever 112 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: the case may be. Here's the other side of this though, too. 113 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: Frank Gore is thirty five. He has a fourteen year veteran. 114 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: The last three games, he's not had a catch over 115 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: nine yards or excuse me to carry over nine yards, 116 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: averaging right in that three mid three range, little lower threes. 117 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: The Packers need to make sure that that trend continues. 118 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: I think we saw in that game two years ago 119 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: against Indianapolis Colts, and I know the Packers were obviously 120 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: ready for him, They've seen him number of times, but 121 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: I'll be honest with you, I kind of counted Frank 122 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: Gore out a little bit going into that matchup. I 123 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: just wasn't sure a guy that thirty five years old, 124 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: thirty three years old at that time, how effective he 125 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: can be. And Frank Gore still showed in those first 126 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: five yards how difficult he is to take down. When 127 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: he gets a lane, he gets a block, how he 128 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:21,480 Speaker 1: executes on it. Now he doesn't have the game changing 129 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: power anymore. If he gets to the second level, chances 130 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: are he's not getting the third. But the fact of 131 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: the matter is when you get back to this offense 132 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: without Ryan Tannehill, it's been predicated on moving the ball 133 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: consistently and then also having a potential home run threat 134 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: there with Drake. This type of game, if it ends 135 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: up being in the mid thirties, could be the kind 136 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: of game that they want to get franc Or out there. Yeah, 137 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: And with regard to the flip side with the Packers 138 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: and Aaron Jones, this Miami defense, as we said, kind 139 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: of predicated on the interceptions there twenty eight in the 140 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 1: league against the run West. I mean this game and 141 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: we're talking about potentially cold weather, mid thirties temperatures. It's 142 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: snowing outside right now is we're taping this episode. I'm 143 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: not sure if there will be snow on the ground 144 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: comes Sunday afternoon. But Packers really need to be able 145 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: to run the football in this game. I think they 146 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,239 Speaker 1: should be able to run the football against this Miami 147 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: Dolphins defense. And and let's face it, Aaron Jones, he 148 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: had the first fumble of his career, his brief NFL 149 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: career last week. It came at a critical time unfortunately, 150 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: really was the turning point in the loss at New England. 151 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: I know he's put it in the right perspective. But 152 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: if there's anybody on this Packers offense who's coming into 153 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: Sunday's game with maybe a little bit of a little 154 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: bit of anger, a little bit of edge to his game, 155 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: you know, it's Aaron Jones. You know he wants a 156 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: little bit of redemption for what happened on that first 157 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: play of the fourth quarter last week. Yeah, Mike, and 158 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: last week you asked me kind of put me on 159 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: the spot a little bit. It came up an inbox 160 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:46,679 Speaker 1: as well. Could that be the week where Aaron Jones 161 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: has a hundred yards? I said I didn't think so, 162 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: but I also said I thought he'd be really important 163 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: to that game. I think that he was. He absolutely 164 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: was This is the kind of game though, where I 165 00:07:56,760 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: think and if he doesn't have a hundred yards, I 166 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: could still see him in Jamal Williams having a lot 167 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: of production. I just think that that threat is there, 168 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: and it's very real when you look at how they 169 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: match up with the Dolphins and potentially as well Mike. 170 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: You know, you go back to some of the more 171 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: difficult stretches the Packers have gone through with their offense 172 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: and trying to find efficiency. Home base a lot of times, 173 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: while this is a structured pass offense, you know, on 174 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: West Coast principles, home base a lot of times has 175 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: been the run game. It's been the reset button. I 176 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: think it could be like that in this game. I 177 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 1: you know, we talked about the fumble last week. Aaron 178 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: Jones said the same exact thing in his locker that 179 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: he tweeted that he said to his coaches, he was 180 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: accountable for it, he stepped up to it, he wants 181 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 1: to be better from it. And I think one of 182 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: the bigger positives was actually Ben Sermons saying it wasn't 183 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: like it was a careless error that he made, or 184 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: it wasn't some huge fundamental breakdown or something where he 185 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: just he just exposed the football. It was it was 186 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: it was a football play. The ball came out and he's, 187 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: to Sherman's credit, he wasn't being on the complete So 188 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: there's things you still and do with that juncture. But 189 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: it almost takes the perfect punch out that Lawrence Guy 190 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: delivered to be able to turn over the football there. 191 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones is gonna learn from that. He's going to 192 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 1: get correct and I think he can still be a 193 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: really important player for them down the stretch. I said 194 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: it on inbox what Tuesday, microor Wednesday, The Packers are 195 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: going to need him. He has to move forward. Yeah, 196 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: he They are going to need him, and I think 197 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: he could be very big in this ball game. Weather 198 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: conditions here, wes what you know if it's mid thirties, 199 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: a little chili. I don't know if there's going to 200 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: be snow or not. But what do you how do 201 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: you think that plays into this game? Really the first 202 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 1: Chili game, although last Sunday night in New England wasn't 203 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: exactly warm. I mean that was that was kind of 204 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: chili as well. But um, but you are talking about 205 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: a team from South Florida coming up to lambeau Field 206 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: here in November for a game that frankly is going 207 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: to be a little bit colder than you would expect 208 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,959 Speaker 1: for Week ten in the NFL. I actually be honest 209 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: with you, Mike, this might be a controversial answer. I 210 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: don't think it's gonna be that big of a deal, 211 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: Okay in the re and I say that it actually 212 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 1: goes off of something that Clay Matthews said in the 213 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: locker room. Brock Osweiler played in even worse conditions in 214 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: this in Green Bay two years ago when he was 215 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: a starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. Texans lost that game, 216 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 1: but Osweiler actually played relatively well thirty five for two 217 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 1: and two and a touchdown. Uh. They just they just 218 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: had some fundamental things that fell through and the Packers 219 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: were able to execute when they needed to. That being 220 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: said Frank Gore. While also a you know, a Dome 221 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: West Coast type back, he's shown he can be in 222 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: those elements and get production. I think the bigger thing 223 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: in this is gonna be not necessarily how the Dolphins 224 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: react to the elements. It's gonna be more who's protecting 225 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: the football and are you exposing it? Due to the elements. Uh, 226 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: you know, your hands start getting a little colder, the 227 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: ball starts getting a little harder. You know, your fundamentals 228 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: are challenged a little bit in that just from the 229 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: the air temperature alone. So I think it's gonna be 230 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: really important for the Packers specific fickally to be able 231 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: to what if there is an advantage there to be gained, 232 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: whether it's practicing outdoors, whatever it is, to make sure 233 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: you take advantage of that. Because the Packers are three 234 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: oh and one right now at home, this is an 235 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: opportunity to be able to get some momentum back against 236 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: a team that doesn't normally play in these conditions. I 237 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: just don't know if it's ultimately gonna be something that 238 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 1: turns the tie to the game. Yeah. I think another 239 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: thing we need to certainly touch on before the end 240 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 1: of the week here is special teams for this matchup 241 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: with the Dolphins. I I know I harped on at 242 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: last week heading into the game against the Patriots, and 243 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: we saw it. The game started with Cordorrell Patterson running 244 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: a kickoff back to the thirty six yard line, A 245 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: five yard offside penalty on the Packers tacked on and 246 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 1: Tom Brady gets to start the game from the forty 247 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: one yard line, you might as well kick the ball 248 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: out of bounds, right, I mean, if you're gonna give 249 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: it to him there, he only has to go fifty 250 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: nine yards for the opening touchdown and the Patriots are 251 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: up seven nothing. Then we see later in the game 252 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: the roughing the kicker are roughing, the punter call fifteen 253 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: yards automatic first down. At the end of the day, 254 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: that cost the pack There's twenty four yards of field 255 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: position because they would have had the ball in the 256 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: thirty one Instead, when the defense got another stop, they 257 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: ended up with the ball in the seven yard line. Um. 258 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: So those those types of things continue to to hurt 259 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: the Packers on special teams, and they are facing a 260 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: guy in this game. West Jachim By saying that right Grant, 261 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: he has a return for a touchdown both off a 262 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: punt and a kickoff this season. This is a guy 263 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: who can impact the game and the Packers have to 264 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: make sure he doesn't. Yeah, and here's the two other 265 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: notes about that. The kickoff return out of his own 266 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: end zone for a hundred and two yards. The punt 267 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: return wasn't like this was some kind of thing where 268 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: the guy was going out of his own end z 269 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: on a punt seventy one yards back to the house. 270 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: So ron Zook said it when he was meeting with 271 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 1: the media on Thursday. Uh, this is a guy that 272 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: you have to stay on the entire game because he 273 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: has game breaking qualities in a time in which there 274 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: aren't a lot of guys in those capacities with game 275 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: breaking qualities. We know how kickoff returns to some extent 276 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: have been neutralized, so to have a guy that can 277 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: turn the tide, I think again, getting back to the 278 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: original reason why the Dolphins are five and four going 279 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: into this game, They've done really well in situational football, 280 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: whether it is the takeaways or whether it is the 281 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: returns or being able just to move the chains. There 282 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: isn't an aspect of their team where you go, man, 283 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: this is this is we gotta shut this down and 284 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna be fine. No, there's a lot of things 285 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,560 Speaker 1: that you have to stay up on tune about. Grant 286 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: had a tremendous career. I believe it was Texas Tech. Yeah, 287 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 1: six round pick two years ago. A diminutive type receiver 288 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: five ft seven that's basically a big guy but boy, 289 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: he can run. It's basically was Hod quiz but uh no, 290 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: but I mean he just he has a lot of 291 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 1: physical gifts and and it's worked out here the last 292 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: couple of seasons for the Dolphins and maybe this is 293 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: the area west as we've been trying to decide, you know, 294 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: is the weather going to have an impact on this? 295 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: Definitely the kickoffs, it could be harder to get touchbacks, 296 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,599 Speaker 1: and the temperatures in the mid thirties, you don't know 297 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: how it's going to affect the punting game and a 298 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 1: return a return man like this going against you, as 299 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: as Tremont Williams likes to say, you gotta be on 300 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: your peas and huge. Yeah, maybe they should have kept 301 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: around Drew Kayser this week, right, that was the whole 302 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:05,599 Speaker 1: thing last week, And well maybe he's in there for 303 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: kickoffs to avoid patters. There were so many strange story 304 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: There were a lot of There are a lot of 305 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: theories as to as to what was going on there 306 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: with actual that ended quickly, but to original point, Yeah, 307 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: I mean, this is I think a big game for 308 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: Mason Crosby. Uh and and then runs book and deciding Okay, 309 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: you know, Crosby has kicked in these conditions. He knows 310 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: what he needs to do. But I think it's probably 311 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: gonna be more about the strategy that goes behind. You know, 312 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: where you're trying to place the ball, what you're trying 313 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: to do with it, Because I don't know, Mike, at 314 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: thirty four thirty five degree weather, how much you can 315 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: just count on being able to kick it out of 316 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: the back of the end zone every time. And even 317 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: if you do, this is the kind of guy like 318 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: Patterson who might still test you. Well. You'd like to 319 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: see at some point here the Packers really start to 320 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: give their offense some better field position. You look at 321 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: these last two games West, not including the possession the 322 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: Packers started at the one yard line after the goal 323 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: line stand, not including that one. The last two weeks, 324 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: the Packers have had four pos sessions starting inside their 325 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: own ten yard line. One of those was the drive 326 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: that ended with the Aaron Jones fumble. That drive was 327 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: actually about sixty yards that they drove. But when you're 328 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: starting on your own seven, yeah, the fumble happens at 329 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: the yard line and uh, and you don't get any 330 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: points out. I'm glad you brought that up, because that's 331 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: the old Dom Caper's theory. They're about, you know, if 332 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: you don't give up the big plays and you don't 333 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: have big penalties against you, when you force an offense 334 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: to go the full length of the field, there's going 335 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: to be more opportunities there to be able to get 336 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: that takeaway in the Patriots case turned out to be 337 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: a very critical one in that game. Yeah, all right, 338 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: well before we go here, West, let's take a quick 339 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: look at what's going on around the NFL this week. 340 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: And the Minnesota Vikings are on there by, so they 341 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: will sit uh where they are, which is five three 342 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: and one if I have that correct. Um. The other 343 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: game in the NFC North the Bears against the Lions. 344 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: It is in Chicago. Here's an interesting thing, West, Sun 345 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: is November eleven, correct, correct. Thanksgiving is November twenty two, 346 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: So that's a total of twelve days. The Lions and 347 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: the Bears are playing each other twice in a span 348 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: of twelve days because they're playing this Sunday in Chicago 349 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: and then on Thanksgiving in Detroit, and the Bears have 350 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: a Sunday night football game against the Minnesota Vikings in between. 351 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: You talk about the you know, a key stretch of 352 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: your season for Chicago. They're five and three, They're right there. 353 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: They've got three consecutive division games here in a span 354 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: of twelve days, two of them against the same team. 355 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: This is this is going to be big for Chicago 356 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: to announce whether they're really in this thing or whether 357 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: they're still kind of on the fringes. Yeah, and if 358 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: I know Adam Gaze, the whole theory down there. At 359 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: least what they've been saying is that they won't say 360 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,119 Speaker 1: the P word right there. They're not talking about playoffs. 361 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: But you get two wins over Detroit, now you're starting 362 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: to put yourself in the conversation. You get a win 363 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: over Minnesota add into that, well, then you've announced yourself 364 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: to the party. So uh, this is a critical stretch 365 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: for them, a critical stretch for the entire NFC North, 366 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: just seeing how this is all going to shuffle out. 367 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 1: The Packers having to go down to US Bank Stadium, 368 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: uh in preparation, but then for that matchup at Soldier 369 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: Field next month. So uh, it is a little bit 370 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: different schedule in terms of how the division has worked 371 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 1: out this year, but certainly from the Bears perspective. You've 372 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,920 Speaker 1: got to get this one. And if you're Manatrician the Lions, 373 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: you're trying to keep yourselves in and there will be 374 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: no better way to do it than to knock off, 375 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: you know, the Bears right from the top. Yeah, an 376 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: interesting cross conference game. There have been a lot of 377 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: them this year, and we saw actually one of them 378 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: on Thursday night with Carolina against Pittsburgh, which started out 379 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: with a flurry of touchdowns and Pittsburgh kind of never 380 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: stopped scoring. They're rolling up fifty two. I believe I 381 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,959 Speaker 1: heard that was the most points they've ever scored at 382 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: hines Field since they opened, since they opened, that's correct, 383 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: which also would probably make the most points that they've 384 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: scored at Hinesfield, like through three and a half quarters. 385 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: My god, I mean I watched basically that entire game 386 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: and it was incredible to see if hey, by the way, 387 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 1: just to go on a sidetrack, Greg Van Roten is 388 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: a starting guard for the Panthers. Did you know that 389 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: Greg Van Roten, the undrafted for the former Packer two 390 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: thousand twelve is a starting guard for the Panthers. That 391 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: was news to me. Wow, I didn't you can appreciate that. 392 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if anyone else I did not know that. 393 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,360 Speaker 1: But the game I wanted to get to though, across 394 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 1: conference is the Saints coming off of that big win 395 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: last week in New Orleans against the Los Angeles Rams, 396 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: the first team to beat the Rams. The Saints on 397 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: a seven game winning streak now since losing in Week 398 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: one to the Buccaneers. They're looking they're the team that 399 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 1: has the spotlight on them now with their winning streak, 400 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: with their record, the fact that they beat the Rams. 401 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: They go on the road to play a Cincinnati Bengals 402 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,120 Speaker 1: team that has been a little bit up and down, 403 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: but a Bengals team that fancies itself in the mix. 404 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: Here West at five and the five and three um 405 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: a big opportunity for the Bengals and one of these 406 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: games that you know, can be tricky for the Saints 407 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: when you're coming off of a really, really big home 408 00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: win and then you have to go on the road 409 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 1: to play a team that's not too shabby. You missed 410 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: the biggest storyline in this matchup, Mike. It's Drew Brees 411 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: in that offense against one of the worst defenses we've 412 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: seen in the modern era. Statistically right now, the Cincinnati 413 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: Bengals are giving up yards, so this is gonna be 414 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: really big. You know, the Bengals. One thing that they 415 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: get they are able to play them on their own 416 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: turf here, but they're gonna have to get some big 417 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: stops or at least some takeaways. I mean, I was 418 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: reading one of the things out of Cincinnati believe last week. 419 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 1: I mean, they are on pace for a record amount 420 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: of yards allowed, which has just never been the way 421 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:35,440 Speaker 1: of a Marvin Lewis team. So it's gonna be interesting 422 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: to see how they match up now with the Saints 423 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: team that has added Dez Bryant, has both of their 424 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: running backs healthy, and you you know, obviously you look 425 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: at what their receivers are already doing at this point. 426 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: So I'm very interested to pay attention to it. We 427 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: obviously won't be able to watch it, but I just 428 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,399 Speaker 1: think this game, unless they can figure out something in Cincinnati, 429 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: this is a game that has shootout written all over it. 430 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,400 Speaker 1: It could be could be a fun one, and we'll 431 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: see what the web there is like in Ohio with 432 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 1: what's moving through the Midwest this weekend. Absolutely, this won't 433 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: be in the Dome, so I mean, that definitely adds 434 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 1: into it. It's just that it's incredible this year. I mean, 435 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: the Bengals are five and three, but they've had to 436 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: get yards and points to be able to stay there. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely, Well, 437 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: we gotta call it a wrap on this edition of 438 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage 439 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: of the team and of Sunday's game from lambeau Field 440 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: on Packers dot com. On Twitter, He's at west Hot 441 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:27,080 Speaker 1: I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. 442 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.