1 00:00:07,440 --> 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, joined as always 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston Hodkowitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: here from our studios at Lambeufield and Wes unfortunately to 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: talk about another tough loss for the Green Bay Packers, 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: this one thirty four to twenty against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 7 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: And we'll get into some of the specifics in a minute, 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: but big picture, two weeks ago, the Packers were six 9 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: and six and things were looking pretty good in terms 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: of the teams that you had beaten, what was on 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: your schedule, and the opportunity you were going to have 12 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: to keep yourself in the middle of this playoff race. 13 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: And not that the Packers are out of it, but 14 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: these last two games, two huge missed opportunities that now 15 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: have the Packers very much on the outside looking in well. 16 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,639 Speaker 2: And it's just such a difficult thing, Mike, because when 17 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 2: you go into Detroit with in I understand the Lions, 18 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: they weren't playing their best ball at that point, but 19 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 2: you go into Detroit and you impose your will on 20 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,320 Speaker 2: the Lions the way you did and then you come 21 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,919 Speaker 2: home in a big Sunday night football matchup against Kansas 22 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 2: City and you're six and six. I think the enthusiasm 23 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: and the optimism is there because of what a lot 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 2: of pundits called the easiest slate of games to finish 25 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: out a season. Packers at that point their oposing team 26 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 2: records were twenty and forty. A lot of that having 27 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: to do with this upcoming opponent, the Carolina Panthers. But 28 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 2: things didn't go well this season for the Giants. Tampa Bay, 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 2: much like Green Bay, has been up and down, and 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: for the Packers to kind of give back both of 31 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 2: those victories that they had against Detroit and Kansas City disheartening. 32 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: And then obviously to have the defensive performance that they 33 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: had against the Bucks, not being able to get off 34 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: the field too much production on third downs, Baker Mayfield 35 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: having a maximum passer rating, and the Green Bay Packers 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 2: ultimately losing what became a shootout. It's tough and it's 37 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: tough to come shooting back down to earth after you 38 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: felt like you're really starting to build towards something. 39 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's what this most recent game will be 40 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: remembered for the defensive performance that just allowed Baker Mayfield 41 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: to do whatever he wanted to do. You mentioned a one 42 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty eight point three passer rating, three hundred 43 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 1: and eighty one yards, four touchdowns. He came sixteen yard 44 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: shy of his career high for yardage in a game, 45 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: which is three ninety seven. And you know, Matt Lafleur, 46 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,799 Speaker 1: he deferred the question on Sunday night. He then answered 47 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: the question on Monday. He's not making any coaching changes 48 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: at this point. Obviously, all those kinds of things are 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: going to be evaluated to a greater extent in due time. 50 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: But this Packers' defense has got to figure something out West, 51 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,119 Speaker 1: because no, the Packers are not out of it yet. 52 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: You still have three games left to go. You want 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: to start playing better football. But the bottom line is 54 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: for the last two seasons and there have been in reason, yes, 55 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: and every team deals with injuries, but throughout twenty twenty 56 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: two and twenty twenty three, I think the most maddening 57 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: thing about this Packers defense is that it cannot get 58 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 1: off the roller coaster. It plays good football and then 59 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: it swings the other way. And the distance of the 60 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: swings between what this team's top performances are, and then 61 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: what this team's rock bottom performances are. We've seen it all, 62 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: We've seen it all, and then they can't seem to 63 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: smooth it out, and that just makes it really hard 64 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: to know what you're going to get from that side 65 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: of the ball every week when you take the field. 66 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: That's the bottom line right now. 67 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 2: And when you say we've seen it all, we saw 68 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 2: it all. In the sixty minutes of that football game 69 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: on Sunday, the green Bay Packers defense goes on the 70 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: field after Green Bay turns over the ball at its 71 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,839 Speaker 2: own five yard line, and Kingsleyannigbari gets a strip sack 72 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: ess the type of adversity response you want to see, 73 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 2: taking advantage of that field position and allowing the Packers 74 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: to score a touchdown right after that intake and early lead. 75 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: Kenny Clark gets the six yard sack, pushing and stopping 76 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: the Tampa Bay drive and making them settle for a 77 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: field goal. That's the way Green Bay has been playing 78 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 2: when they've played well this season, but when they've played poorly. 79 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: It was another manifestation of really those last three quarters 80 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: of that game against Tampa Bay. Too much production in 81 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 2: the middle of the field a week after giving up 82 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 2: the rushing yards to Tommy Devido. Some of the trickeration 83 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: that the Giants played in this one, it was Chris Godwin, 84 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: it was Baker from Mayfield, kind of dicing things up 85 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 2: a little bit. Green Bay got home five times to 86 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: have a season high five sacks and have such a 87 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: drastic swing where if it's gonna be kind of all 88 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: or nothing, well, Mike, you only have five defensive plays 89 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: that result in sacks. There's a lot more defensive plays 90 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 2: that resulted in production. And for the green Bay Packers, 91 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: by the time it got into that third quarter, in 92 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 2: that fourth quarter, it just did not feel like they 93 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: were going to be able to find a way to 94 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: get the brakes on the thing. 95 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you look at the five sacks you mentioned, 96 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: the first two had a huge impact on the game. 97 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: The first sack forces the Buccaneers to kick a field goal, 98 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: and the second one becomes a turnover near the goal 99 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: line that the Packers turn into a touchdown. The other 100 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: three sacks had absolutely no effect on the Buccaneers offense 101 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: quite frankly. I mean, the Packers had him in second 102 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: and twenty nine and they still managed to get a 103 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: field goal before half. They had him in a second 104 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: second and eighteen. At one point the Buccaneers didn't even 105 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: need third down to move the chains. There was a 106 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: third and twelve. They throw a basic wide receiver screen, 107 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: which quite frankly in some ways look like they're going 108 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,679 Speaker 1: to get whatever yards they can and kick the field 109 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: goal rather than take a big risk on third and 110 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: twelve shooting it down the field. Well, the third and 111 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 1: twelve wide receiver screen turns into sixteen yards in a 112 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: first down and they get a touchdown. You mentioned the 113 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: game kind of became a shootout, because yes, the Buccaneers 114 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: they scored touchdowns on with long drives. I believe it 115 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: was sixty six, seventy five and seventy five yards on 116 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: the on their first three drives of the second half. 117 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: And while the Packers they missed an opportunity going three 118 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: and out to start the second half, and then early 119 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter they had to settle for a 120 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: field goal. But you know, you get a touchdown in 121 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: the third quarter on a great throw and catch Jordan 122 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: Love to Jaden Reid on a third and long to 123 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: get within twenty seventeen. But then the next time your 124 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: offense gets the ball, you're down twenty seven to seventeen. 125 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: Then you drive, put together another nice drive, but you 126 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 1: stall out, you kick a field goal, so you're within 127 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: twenty seven to twenty. There's still ten minutes on the clock, 128 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: plenty of ballgame left. But then the next time your 129 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: offense gets the ball back, it's thirty four to twenty 130 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: and the game is for all intents and purposes over. 131 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: You're in desperation mode at that point. It just became 132 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: to the It got to the point where the Packers 133 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: offense was under too much pressure to be perfect because 134 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: the Buccaneers offense was just unrelenting in the Packer's defense 135 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: was unable to do anything about it. 136 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I think they 137 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,360 Speaker 2: kind of came as advertised, to be honest with you, Mike. 138 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 2: Specifically on the defensive side of the ball, Jordan Love 139 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 2: had a fine day. His statistics bared out well. One 140 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: hundred and eleven passer writing whatever. It was a lot 141 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,119 Speaker 2: of times that's going to be good enough to win games. 142 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 2: This game it was not. But defensively, Tampa Bay played 143 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: up to their billing. They gave up some yards, they 144 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: battened down the hatches in the red zone. They forced 145 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: green Bay into a turnover late that kind of stimied everything, 146 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 2: That kind of closed the door on any hopes of 147 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: a comeback, and ultimately they just did not blink when 148 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: green Bay did first offensively. And we'll talk about this 149 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 2: in a second, but I mean there were positives. You're 150 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: seeing guys like Tucker Craft and Dontavian Wicks, you got 151 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: Aaron Jones back in this thing. There's a lot of 152 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 2: positives to draw from offensively, but in a season in 153 00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: which it's been difficult for green Bay to find the 154 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: perfect complimentary pieces to win these type of games, you know, 155 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: the defense came up short and this was the end result. 156 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think I think that's you know, these 157 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: back to back losses are obviously very damaging to green 158 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: Bay season, but very very different losses. We were sitting 159 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: here a week ago, I guess it would have been 160 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: six days ago, coming off of the Monday night game 161 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: against the Giants, talking about a three phase failure. The 162 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: Packers failed pretty miserably, quite frankly, in all three phases 163 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: against the Giants. This one was primarily about one phase, 164 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: not saying the special teams were perfect, but there was 165 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: kind of no harm done there. The offense certainly missed 166 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 1: a couple of opportunities, but Tampa Bay's got a pretty 167 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: good defense. You're not gonna be able to cash in 168 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: every single time and to have twenty points on the 169 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: board with ten minutes left in the game against a 170 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: good defense. You'll take your chances there. This one was 171 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 1: about the defense not really giving the Packers a chance 172 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: to be able to win a really, really important home 173 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: game in December. I do want to talk about if 174 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: I could just quickly, Yeah, absolutely. 175 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 2: The fact that Baker Mayfield threw four different touchdowns of 176 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 2: four different players right, The fact that it was one 177 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 2: hundred and forty yards I think of two touchdowns on 178 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 2: third downs. The fact that they did this against Green 179 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 2: Bay at Lambeufield in December. It points to the fact 180 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: it wasn't one specific player. It wasn't falling on one 181 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 2: guy's plate. It was the collective hole from the coaching 182 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 2: staff to the players. It wasn't where it needed to be. 183 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: Twelve plays solutions for twelve plays by the Buccaneers, an 184 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: even dozen of eighteen plus yards a dozen, that's three 185 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: per quarter. You like to maybe get through you know 186 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: a game like three per half or you know even 187 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 1: you know, three every few quarters. Three per quarter is 188 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: essentially what the average was of plays of eighteen plus 189 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: yards in this game. And that's just not going to 190 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: cut it. I do want to talk about, though, what 191 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: you hinted at before, which is what we are seeing 192 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: happening with the Packers offense, particularly two players, Tucker Craft 193 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: and Doantavian Wicks, rookie rookie draft picks who have seen 194 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,719 Speaker 1: their opportunities and their reps increase because of injuries. Luke 195 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: Musgrave has been out for a little while now and 196 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: Christian Watson has missed the last couple of games. So 197 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: both Craft and Wicks are playing more snaps, getting the 198 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: ball thrown their way a lot more often. And I 199 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: tell you what these these young players have produced, Wes. 200 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 1: And when you talk about craft man, it's it's not 201 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: just that he can, you know, get an explosive play 202 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: down the field, or that he can be a threat 203 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: in the red zone. His blocking, you know, from a 204 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: guy coming from South Dakota State where you're making a 205 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 1: bigger leap than a lot of other players to the NFL. 206 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: In terms of the guy who's lined up across from you. 207 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: Tucker Craft is becoming an all around tight end in 208 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: front of our eyes in a fairly short amount of time. 209 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 2: And it's interesting too, because he talked about coming to 210 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: the Green Bay Packers. One of the things that got 211 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 2: him draft after the third round was his yards after catch. 212 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 2: It was some of the things he did in the 213 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 2: big plays two years ago that kind of give you 214 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: that idea that a guy with this size and this 215 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: type of skill set could really do some damage in 216 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 2: the NFL. The area, as you mentioned, that was kind 217 00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: of unproven was the blocking aspect of it. How he 218 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 2: was going to be able to hold up on that 219 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 2: end against now football's absolute elite. Coincidentally enough, I actually 220 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: feel like that was one area that sort of was 221 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,319 Speaker 2: come together earlier in the season for him, and he's 222 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: been able to improve upon it throughout the year. Now 223 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,440 Speaker 2: we're starting to see some of the yards after catch 224 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 2: stuff happen too. And he's a gritty, hard nosed football player, man. 225 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 2: I mean you saw in that thirty six yard catch 226 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 2: and run. He explained it afterwards. He wasn't just trying 227 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 2: to showboat when he elevated when he jumped to try 228 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 2: to get to the defender. His mind was defensive backs, 229 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: especially when they're going up against a guy that could 230 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 2: be conceivably sixty pounds heavier than them, they have a 231 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 2: tendency to go for the legs. In that particular case, 232 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: they did not. They went right into his torso and 233 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 2: unfortunate for him, right into the nether regions exactly to 234 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 2: go out a couple of plays. But thirty six yard 235 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 2: pick up there. You also had that little tiny it 236 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 2: was basically like a tight end screen on the touchdown pass. 237 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: Four catches, fifty seven yards a touchdown. I tweeted it 238 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 2: during the game, Mike, I cannot wait. You will see 239 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: if it happens this year. But getting this version of 240 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 2: Tucker Kraft now on the field with Luke Musgrave, I mean, 241 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: the possibilities. This is what the Packers wanted when they 242 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 2: invested as much draft capital of the as they've put 243 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 2: into the tight end position since the seventy merger. Yeah, 244 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 2: you're starting to see exactly why they took these two 245 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: particular players and how they can kind of work off 246 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 2: of one another. 247 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely. And when you talk about don Tavian Wicks, 248 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: I tell you I've mentioned before how We've seen him 249 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: bounce back from his rough moments. He had the drop 250 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: of the slant pass by the goal line against the Vikings. 251 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 1: He lost the football on his own trying to fight 252 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 1: for the first down or you know, try to get 253 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: to the first down marker against the Rams, where the 254 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: ball popped out when it hit the ground ends up 255 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: being a turnover. He's rebounded from that, but not only 256 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: just making catches and moving the chains and getting yards. 257 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: This guy is fighting for every yard there is to get. 258 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: The one thing I didn't do when I went through 259 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: the offensive film yesterday that I wish I would have done. 260 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: I wish I would have just charted it and counted 261 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: up what wicks yards after the catch were in this game. 262 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 1: He ended with a career high to this point of 263 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: ninety seven yards on his six receptions. But man, a 264 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: bunch of those yards were after the catch, and he's 265 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: fighting for every yard he can get. He's protecting the 266 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: ball while he's doing that, And I tell you what 267 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: that's You see that kind of play from a young man, 268 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: from a rookie out there with a team that's fighting 269 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: for a playoff spot and everything. I'll take that guy 270 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: on my team any day. 271 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 2: And here's the other aspect of this. You mentioned some 272 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 2: of the things you know this season, times in which 273 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 2: you know plays you can improve upon, you can learn from. 274 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 2: I'm a big pound for pound guy. This is a 275 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 2: rookie fifth round receiver. You do not get this type 276 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 2: of production that often from these type of players because 277 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 2: he's not just catching passes. Mike. That last touchdown scoring 278 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: drive that Green Bay put together, that was Dontavian Wicks. Yea. 279 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 2: I even tweeted it during the game. He willed them 280 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,680 Speaker 2: down the field on that drive. It wasn't the most 281 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 2: in rhythm, in sync drive you've ever seen. No, it 282 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 2: was Dontavian Wicks making incredible football plays. Ninety seven receiving yards. Yeah, however, 283 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 2: much of that was built under the Yact. But the 284 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 2: green Bay Packers found something here, man. They found something 285 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 2: in twenty eighteen with Marquezveldez. Scantling fifth round has been 286 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 2: very productive for them as a whole. When you think about, 287 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: you know, an all Pro like Corey Linsley in twenty fourteen, 288 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: Dantavian Wicks man in a year in which the Packers 289 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 2: expected to build so much around Christian Watson and Romeo 290 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 2: Dobbs and Jayden Reid and also Samori too y being 291 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 2: in that conversation, here's Wis jumping right into the fold, 292 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: becoming that next man up, and when he's been given 293 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 2: the opportunities, here's what he's doing with them. 294 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and a couple other things I want to say 295 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: about the offense, because because something something getting a little 296 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: bit lost because of all the attention on the defense 297 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: and everything that went wrong there. And I understand all that, 298 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: but a couple of things. Jordan Love, for one, bounced 299 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: back from one of his one of his rougher games, 300 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: probably his roughest game of the second half of the season. 301 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 1: After you know, he kind of hit his stride and 302 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: everything and then a lot went wrong against the Giants. 303 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: Wasn't a good performance. He bounced back and quite frankly, Wes, 304 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 1: I think maybe maybe you have another one in mind. 305 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: I think that third and fourteen from the seventeen yard line, 306 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: the improvise the breakdown play, sorry broken down play, and 307 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: then he hits Jayden Reid for the touchdown with the 308 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 1: with the toe tap, the tow drag. I thought that 309 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: was the most impressive throw Jordan Love's made all season long, 310 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: and kind of it's kind of gotten lost because the 311 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: Packers didn't win the game, and with everything that was 312 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: going wrong on the defensive side of the ball, was 313 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: an absolutely tremendous third and fourteen from the seventeen yard 314 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: line and the play breaks down and he beats you. 315 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: We've seen it happen at lambeau Field with the previous 316 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: quarterbacks that have that have played in the Green and Gold. 317 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: That was a heck of a moment, and I just 318 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: don't want it to get too lost in what was 319 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: a very disappointing defeat. 320 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: I have a take on this. I have some opinions 321 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 2: on this to expository, explain, expound, expound, Thank you sure, 322 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 2: But before I do that, I have a question for you. Yeah, 323 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 2: how many twenty five year old quarterbacks, and they're first 324 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 2: either twenty five years old or is a first year 325 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 2: as a starter, how many of the quarterbacks throw that 326 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 2: pass to Jaden Reied and how many pull it down 327 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 2: and try to scramble for a first down. 328 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: The majority are going to pull it down to try 329 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: to scramble and see here and here's the thing. And 330 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,479 Speaker 1: I we saw earlier in the season in that same situation. 331 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: It was it was a third and long yardage and 332 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: Love did take off to scramble, but there were way 333 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: too many yards to have to gain for the first down. 334 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: He's gotten chance in his field, and as soon as 335 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: he crosses the line of scrimmage, he's a dead duck. 336 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 1: He's not going to be able to get the first down. 337 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,959 Speaker 1: We saw against the Giants a very similar play that 338 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: had broken down. He steps up in the pocket, he escapes, 339 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,160 Speaker 1: and he missed the throw to Samari Toure along the 340 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: boundary in the end zone. That could have been a 341 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 1: very much a game changing play against the Giants. He 342 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: comes back the very next week and makes that play. 343 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: I thought it was really really. 344 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 2: So here's my take on the throw. The other thing 345 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 2: you'll see from a lot of young quarterbacks in this 346 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 2: league is what I always refer to as as Madden 347 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 2: scramble drills. Yeah, because it's what I always used to 348 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 2: do during Madden, which is you just try to evade 349 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 2: the pocket as quickly as possible. And it's usually not 350 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: taking a direct line. You're not pursuing the right eggs 351 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 2: at angle. It's just kind of running around the defensive 352 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 2: end and getting over into the open field on the 353 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 2: right side and trying to find somebody. What impressed me 354 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 2: about Jordan Love on that play was he saw through 355 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 2: the smoke there's a lot going on around him. His 356 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 2: eggs at hole was probably what the size of a guard, 357 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 2: and he kind of got his way through there. The 358 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 2: reason why I mentioned the piece about how many quarterbacks 359 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 2: tucket and go there is because they wouldn't be able 360 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 2: to keep their eyes down field when they're trying to 361 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 2: get through that clutter. Jordan did that, stayed true to 362 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: his fundamentals and his footwork, and then put an absolute 363 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,159 Speaker 2: dime on Jayden Reid and Jaden Reid Mike. For a 364 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 2: guy that is now one catch away from tying Sterling 365 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 2: Sharp single season receptions record by a rookie, it's as 366 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 2: extraordinary as of a catch as you're going to see 367 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 2: from a rookie football player. His ability to get both 368 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 2: feet down there and drag them there was not an 369 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: inch to waste on that play, and he made the 370 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 2: play regardless. 371 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'll be honest. I mean I said it 372 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 1: in the live blog at the time. When I saw 373 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: it live, I thought, there's no way Reid got his 374 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,959 Speaker 1: feet in. There's no way that that's a reception like 375 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 1: replay is gonna reverse it. And sure enough he kept 376 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: his toes on the ground, you know, dragged it just 377 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: right with a defender right on him there. And yeah, 378 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: I wanted to mention that as well. Jayden Reid now 379 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: with fifty four receptions, he leads the Packers. The Packers 380 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: rookie record in this franchise's illustrious history for receptions by 381 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: a rookie is fifty five by Sterling Sharp. That was 382 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 1: thirty five years ago Wes nineteen eighty eight. That rookie 383 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: record has stood for a long time, and Jaden Reid 384 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: is just one catch from tying it and two from 385 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: breaking it. 386 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 2: I don't have the officials yards after catch for don 387 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 2: Tavian Wicks. It's twenty twenty three. I'm not paying for 388 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 2: that anymore. But for the season, now this one goes. 389 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:47,719 Speaker 2: I'll give credit here to this is player profile dot Com. 390 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 2: They have him down for one hundred and thirty nine 391 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 2: yards after catch on the season out of his four 392 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 2: hundred and ninety one, so just about a quarter of 393 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 2: his receiving yards. 394 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, a little more, a little more than a quest Yeah, 395 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: so pretty impressive. 396 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 2: What the guy's done, right, out of the gate. 397 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, a little bit of sponsor business here west. 398 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: Then we'll move on to other topics. Serious XM NFL 399 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute 400 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: NFL news that true football fanatics need. Twenty four to seven, 401 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: three sixty five and at Cousin Subs, we have something 402 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, 403 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,879 Speaker 1: golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 404 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: sub or sub and a bowl Cousin Subs fifty years 405 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: of better. All right, Taking a look at where things 406 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: are in the playoff picture, lots of lots of moving 407 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: and shifting going on. You know. The Minnesota Vikings blow 408 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,160 Speaker 1: a fourth quarter lead in Cincinnati on Saturday, they drop 409 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: to seven and seven. The Seattle Seahawks pull one out 410 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,360 Speaker 1: on Monday night, driving ninety two yards against the Philadelphia 411 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: Eagles for the go ahead touchdown in the final two minutes, 412 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: and the Seahawks break their lose streak and get to 413 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: seven and seven. In the NFC South, you have the 414 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: Buccaneers and the Saints both at seven and seven. They 415 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,199 Speaker 1: are going to face each other in week seventeen, not 416 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: this week, but the week after, so that division title 417 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 1: in some respects could be on the line and at 418 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: the top of the NFC. We talked last week about 419 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: how suddenly there was a three way tie for the 420 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: number one seed. Well, the Dallas Cowboys lose, the Philadelphia 421 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: Eagles lose, the San Francisco forty nine Ers keep on winning, 422 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: and the Niners, who already have a head to head 423 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: tiebreaker over both of those clubs, now have a one 424 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: game lead with just three to play in the race 425 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: for the number one seed and the only playoff buy 426 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: that comes with it in the NFC. 427 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, forty nine Ers did what they needed to do 428 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 2: against the Cardinals. Cardinals put up some points in the 429 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 2: fourth quarter, but for the most part that game was 430 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 2: out of hand pretty early. On the one that impresses 431 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 2: me the most of the Rams, because here's the thing, 432 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 2: you and I talked about it. 433 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,160 Speaker 1: They got to seven and seven as well. 434 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: Seven. 435 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 1: I meant to mention them. 436 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 2: And the only reason I bring them up. We've talked 437 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 2: so much about the Packers just beating the teams you 438 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,400 Speaker 2: need to beat. The Rams have worked themselves back into 439 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 2: this conversation for the playoffs by beating the teams they 440 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 2: need to beat exactly under no pretenses, should you lose 441 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 2: that game to Washington with the all the issues of 442 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 2: Washington's had, you know, kind of breaking up their defensive line, 443 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,560 Speaker 2: Jack del Rio being fired. The Rams are a different 444 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: team with Kiriyan Williams back in this lineup. I think 445 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: I saw one thing about the yards over expectation. I mean, 446 00:22:27,280 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 2: Williams is just he's in front of Christian McCaffrey. With 447 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,479 Speaker 2: what he's done so far this he's a different football 448 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 2: team when he's out there. I tip my cap to 449 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 2: Drew Lock obviously finished that game strong. It seemed like 450 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 2: he didn't even know for sure he was going to 451 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 2: be playing until hours before the game. 452 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was that was almost that was. That was 453 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: not just a last minute decision, but even after the 454 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: inactives were turned in, both Geno Smith and Drew Locke 455 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: were active, and then it was sort of like they 456 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: were all going through pregame warmups and then they decided 457 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: to give the ball to Lock. 458 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, and Locke had come in before the season, but 459 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 2: otherwise really hasn't played much before last week. I would 460 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 2: be happy and content now if the Denver Broncos would 461 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 2: dismiss themselves from this playoff contention just didn't even bother 462 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,640 Speaker 2: showing up against the Lions, which is fine, but one 463 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 2: of the you know, it looked a lot more like 464 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,360 Speaker 2: the first month of the season Denver Broncos than what 465 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 2: the Packers had seen and what a lot of these 466 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:20,679 Speaker 2: other teams had seen in the second half of the season. 467 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 2: It's gonna be down to the wire, man, but you're 468 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 2: seeing what the value of that victory is. And you know, 469 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 2: Tampa now actually has, you know, in a position where 470 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 2: they're kind of in control of their own destiny now 471 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 2: by picking up that seventh win and seeing what they 472 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 2: can do against the New Orleans Saints here in a 473 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 2: couple of weeks and teams like Minnesota and the Rams 474 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 2: in the Seahawks trying to hold those positions now that 475 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 2: they got back to five hundred, green Bay has work 476 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 2: to do. But as I said in our insider inbox 477 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: call today, it almost kind of feels like they play 478 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 2: better in these instances when they are playing from behind, 479 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 2: when they are the B side kind of have that 480 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 2: Connor McGregor quality to them and seeing if maybe now 481 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 2: they can reel three off here to keep this thing interesting. 482 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, in the Atlanta Falcons took a damaging loss 483 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: to the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons have now fallen off 484 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 1: the pace in the NFC South and UH, and that 485 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: Panthers team is the one the Packers will be facing 486 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: this week, and we'll talk about them on our next show. 487 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: But I want to make a couple of quick comments 488 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: about the a f C because it kind of looks 489 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: like right now if the NFC, or sorry, the a 490 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: f C is is UH as you know, crowded and 491 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: convoluted as the NFC, but just with UH, with a 492 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 1: lot of the middling teams having a little bit better records. 493 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 1: But when I look at the a f C right now, West, 494 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: the three teams that stand out to me that I 495 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: wouldn't want to have to mess with in January are Baltimore, Miami. 496 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 2: And Buffalo and Indianapolis. 497 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: You're putting Indianapolis in that category? Okay, okay, you just yeah, 498 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: you love You're you're a big gardner. Hey, but here's 499 00:24:52,080 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: but here's here's the here's the really interesting thing, because 500 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: the the Buffalo Bills have gotten themselves back in this 501 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: thing now with big wins over the Chiefs and a 502 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: big road win over the Chiefs and then a convincing 503 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Buffalo's now eight and six. 504 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: Miami has been riding the riding atop that AFC East 505 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: all season long, and they are still there at ten 506 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: and four, two games ahead of the Bills. This is 507 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: what's interesting, though, Wes. Miami's next two games are against 508 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: Dallas and Baltimore. Buffalo's next two games are against the 509 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 1: Chargers and somebody else who's also sub five hundred, and 510 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 1: the name escapes me right now. 511 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 2: Hold on, I got you, brev Okay, it is the 512 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 2: uh Patriots. 513 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 1: The Patriots, so they have the Chargers and the Patriots. 514 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: Nothing is a given in this league. What I'm saying 515 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: is it's an entirely plausible scenario that Miami could lose 516 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: its next to Buffalo could win its next to. Both 517 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: of those teams would be ten and six and facing 518 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 1: each other for the AFC East title head to head 519 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: in Miami in Week eighteen. I just think that's one 520 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: to watch because so many people had written off the 521 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:04,680 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills with their struggles and everything, and they lost 522 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: that absolute heartbreaker to the Philadelphia Eagles when Jake Elliott 523 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: made a fifty nine yard field goal in the rain 524 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: to get that game to overtime where they would have 525 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,360 Speaker 1: won that one. They bounce back from that to beat 526 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: the Chiefs and the Cowboys. Nobody wants to mess with 527 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: the Buffalo Bills. 528 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 2: Right they don't, And I agree with you, But I 529 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,479 Speaker 2: will use my final two minutes here to just quickly 530 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,879 Speaker 2: talk on the Baltimore Ravens because Lamar Jackson is not 531 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,359 Speaker 2: the most boisterous quarterback in the league. I feel like 532 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 2: that sometimes as to his detriment. The Ravens are playing 533 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 2: as good a football as anybody right now. 534 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:37,679 Speaker 1: And I agree with you. 535 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 2: Their defense, they're just so consistent, Mike, and you know it. 536 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 1: Looks so complete, right is the way they unfortunately, the 537 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: way they look as a football team. 538 00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 2: Their lost Mitchell, so I mean their running back situation. 539 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 2: They've just been completely snake bitting at running back over 540 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 2: the last few years. But Lamar Jackson, the way he's 541 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 2: performing right now, he's steady as they goes. He's not 542 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 2: a big quote, and I think that again, people don't 543 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 2: really give him the national attension he deserves because of it. 544 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 2: But when you talk about teams you don't want to 545 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 2: face in the playoffs. I think it starts with a 546 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 2: team like the Ravens because for the most part, you 547 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 2: know what you're getting and they're going to give you 548 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 2: that when you play them. There's going to be dangerous 549 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 2: teams here, Mike, the Bills definitely one of them. You 550 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 2: look at these squads that could find their way into 551 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 2: the postseason and possibly make a run at this thing. 552 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 2: There's a lot of names to keep track of right now, 553 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 2: but what wins in the playoffs is consistency, and I 554 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: feel like that's the one aspect of the Ravens as 555 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,880 Speaker 2: long as Lamar Jackson stays healthy, that is the one 556 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 2: thing that they have over everybody else in that conference 557 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 2: right now. Consistency. 558 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they and they seem to have made a 559 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: decent adjustment losing a big play tight end in Mark 560 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 1: Andrews who has been such a big part of their offense. 561 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: Well likely mart and Yeah, Lamar Jackson is making it 562 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:59,239 Speaker 1: work and Isaiah likely has definitely filled the shoes of 563 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:01,480 Speaker 1: Mark Andrews about as well as they could have hoped for. 564 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,399 Speaker 2: When you lose a superstar, you just don't see that 565 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 2: type of stuff. It's one thing for Luke Musgrave to 566 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 2: go down, and you got a transition to Tucker Craft. 567 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 2: They're both rookies, they're both going through this thing together. 568 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 2: There are a lot of teams. Where would the Kansas 569 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 2: City Chiefs be if Travis Kelsey goes down? 570 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: Right? Well, we saw it in Week one, yeah, exactly. 571 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: They were playing at home as the defending Super Bowl 572 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: champson and played an absolutely terrible football gametely, So with that, 573 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,720 Speaker 1: we'll call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 574 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 575 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com. We'll be back in a 576 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: couple of days to talk about the next opponent, the 577 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers on the road for Christmas Eve. For Wes, 578 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 1: I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. We 579 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: will see you next time.