WEBVTT - #631 Packers Unscripted: Playoff rematch 0:00:00.520 --> 0:00:12.119 Hi, everybody. Welcome to this Thanksgiving edition of Packers Unscripted 0:00:12.119 --> 0:00:15.080 from Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as 0:00:15.120 --> 0:00:18.919 always by my trusted colleague Weston hod Kuits. Happy Thanksgiving 0:00:18.920 --> 0:00:21.560 to y'all. Happy Thanksgiving my friends. Yeah, Happy Thanksgiving to 0:00:21.600 --> 0:00:23.400 you too, Mike. And since we don't see our families, 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:25.600 we only see each other. I'm happy to spend this 0:00:25.680 --> 0:00:28.920 moment with you. All Right, Well, we are here today 0:00:29.400 --> 0:00:33.760 on this Thanksgiving Thursday, to talk about Packers versus Rams. 0:00:33.800 --> 0:00:37.519 It will be a three pm late afternoon Sunday kickoff 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:40.800 at lambeau Field, and we started to talk about this 0:00:40.840 --> 0:00:43.400 on our last show. Looking at this Rams season here 0:00:43.440 --> 0:00:48.760 in statistically, what really stands out West is this team 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:51.879 started out seven and one through the first eight games, 0:00:51.960 --> 0:00:55.080 and in those first eight games, the Rams were held 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:58.560 under twenty six points only once in that entire time. 0:00:59.120 --> 0:01:02.000 But they now come to lambau Field on a two 0:01:02.000 --> 0:01:05.480 game losing streak and in those two losses they scored 0:01:05.560 --> 0:01:11.280 a total of twenty six points. Um. So you have 0:01:11.400 --> 0:01:13.880 to believe that through this bye week, which now the 0:01:13.959 --> 0:01:17.960 Rams have had following the two straight losses. Priority number 0:01:17.959 --> 0:01:20.040 one for Sean McVeigh and the rams is to get 0:01:20.080 --> 0:01:22.360 that offense back on track and back to what it 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:25.280 was doing earlier in the year, and and more specifically, 0:01:25.440 --> 0:01:28.160 just get Matthew Stafford back into a rhythm again. I 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:29.920 mean that that's sort of been the thing with this 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:32.319 season is that you know, they've kind of gone as 0:01:32.360 --> 0:01:35.120 Matthew Stafford has gone and and they've had, you know, 0:01:35.160 --> 0:01:37.520 the injuries at the being the season, losing Cam Akers 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:40.360 right away. Darryl Henderson has been a guy that's been 0:01:40.400 --> 0:01:42.280 around for a number of years for them now, but 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:44.479 they had to kind of weather through some stuff. Okay, 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:48.040 now you lose Robert Woods, you added Odell Beckham, but 0:01:48.400 --> 0:01:50.640 the offense still doesn't really look the way you wanted 0:01:50.720 --> 0:01:53.400 to look heading into the bye week. I really look 0:01:53.440 --> 0:01:56.360 for Stafford to be the key cog in this and 0:01:56.400 --> 0:01:58.360 for green Bay they have to hope that it's one 0:01:58.360 --> 0:02:01.320 more week here where he just is that big dominant 0:02:01.360 --> 0:02:04.120 pass or that he was earlier in the season. Mike, 0:02:04.120 --> 0:02:06.680 you and I we've covered Stafford for so long him 0:02:06.720 --> 0:02:09.239 in your case, your entire career. You've seen this kid 0:02:10.000 --> 0:02:12.840 when he's on fire, when he's clicking, when he's in rhythm, 0:02:13.040 --> 0:02:15.400 there aren't many better in the National Football League. Certainly 0:02:15.400 --> 0:02:18.480 definitely from an arm talent perspective, but he gets into 0:02:18.480 --> 0:02:20.800 these lulls from time to time where things just don't 0:02:20.840 --> 0:02:23.480 look right, and if he doesn't have the resources around him, 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:25.560 which a lot of times in his career he hasn't, 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:28.720 the offense tends to dip. Yeah, and statistically it's just 0:02:28.800 --> 0:02:31.919 it's it's really something again, going back to these two losses, 0:02:32.000 --> 0:02:34.400 the back to back losses the Rams are coming off 0:02:34.400 --> 0:02:38.280 of here, Matthew Stafford has been sacked fourteen times all season, 0:02:38.600 --> 0:02:41.640 half of them seven in the back to back losses 0:02:41.720 --> 0:02:45.400 coming in. He's throwing eight interceptions, half of them four 0:02:45.760 --> 0:02:47.799 in the back to back losses here coming in. I mean, 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:52.200 just everything about this offense um has uh has taken 0:02:52.200 --> 0:02:54.679 a dip. And maybe for the Rams the bye week 0:02:54.720 --> 0:02:56.760 came at the right time for them. They needed something 0:02:56.840 --> 0:03:00.440 to you know, to some time to rest cover, get 0:03:00.520 --> 0:03:03.400 themselves out of the rut or whatever. I think. From 0:03:03.400 --> 0:03:07.799 the Packers perspective here, you look at you mentioned Henderson 0:03:07.840 --> 0:03:11.080 obviously is the running back. We'll see what you know, 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:13.519 what the Rams are going to do with oh b 0:03:13.680 --> 0:03:17.000 J and everything moving forward, Cooper Cup is the guy 0:03:17.040 --> 0:03:19.560 who really has made this offense go the bulk of 0:03:19.560 --> 0:03:23.560 the season. He's got eighty five catches, forty one yards, 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:28.000 ten touchdowns. Even in um these two losses the rams 0:03:28.000 --> 0:03:30.400 of head, He's still had double digit catches and basically 0:03:30.480 --> 0:03:34.280 hundred yard games, not the big explosive plays. And I 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:37.120 think from Green Bay's defensive perspective, this is one of 0:03:37.120 --> 0:03:39.720 those games where you go into it saying, hey, they're 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:41.880 going to make some plays. They're gonna they're they're gonna 0:03:41.920 --> 0:03:44.240 move the chains, they're gonna move the football. You just 0:03:44.280 --> 0:03:46.520 can't give up the explosives. You can't give up the 0:03:46.520 --> 0:03:49.080 twenty five and the thirty five yard passes that allow 0:03:49.160 --> 0:03:51.040 them to take the big chunks of yards you get 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:53.320 down the field in a hurry. Absolutely, it's an excellent 0:03:53.320 --> 0:03:55.680 point you're raising. I made the argument all year long 0:03:55.720 --> 0:03:58.280 that I feel like Davante Adams is the best receiver 0:03:58.320 --> 0:03:59.680 in the game right now. He's at the peak of 0:03:59.680 --> 0:04:02.880 his hours. If if it's not Adams, though, it's Cooper 0:04:02.880 --> 0:04:06.040 Cup and and certainly was looking at what Justin Jefferson 0:04:06.080 --> 0:04:08.160 did last week, he's on his way to that distinction 0:04:08.200 --> 0:04:11.360 as well. But the Cup has been such a consistent 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:14.400 producer for them for so many years now, but he 0:04:14.440 --> 0:04:16.320 has really been able to take his game to the 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:18.960 next level with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback. To be 0:04:19.000 --> 0:04:22.080 at over yards already and we're not even in December 0:04:22.480 --> 0:04:25.080 really speaks to his dominance throughout the courses here, and 0:04:25.160 --> 0:04:27.919 much like Jefferson last week, while they're different types of receivers, 0:04:28.320 --> 0:04:32.039 if you allow him to get going against you, you're 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:34.800 in for a long afternoon. Now, losing Robert Woods is 0:04:34.839 --> 0:04:38.400 a huge hit for this offense, but as many headlines 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:41.919 as were driven towards Odell Beckham Jr. I really like 0:04:42.120 --> 0:04:44.880 Van Jefferson. This is a young man that came in here. 0:04:45.120 --> 0:04:48.360 He has big play potential and I feel like him 0:04:48.400 --> 0:04:50.119 being able to play off of some of the things 0:04:50.160 --> 0:04:53.320 Cup does is more of It would be disrespectful to 0:04:53.360 --> 0:04:55.240 call him a possession receiver, but as a guy that's 0:04:55.279 --> 0:04:57.440 gonna draw a lot of tension, catch a lot of passes, 0:04:57.920 --> 0:05:00.719 Jefferson's can kind of give them that home run threat 0:05:00.720 --> 0:05:04.919 there as well. So seeing this diversification of resources and 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:07.560 also how Beckham is gonna look being implemented to this 0:05:07.640 --> 0:05:11.600 offense coming off the buy are three really intriguing pieces 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:14.360 here for the Rams offense because while Henderson has been 0:05:14.360 --> 0:05:18.279 able to run the ball effectively, I think ultimately the 0:05:18.320 --> 0:05:20.560 biggest indicator of where this offense is going to be 0:05:20.680 --> 0:05:22.560 is if they can get the ball moving downfield and 0:05:22.600 --> 0:05:24.680 if you get those twenty plus yard passing place in 0:05:25.040 --> 0:05:28.600 this fold. Yeah, absolutely, And whether it's been you know, 0:05:28.960 --> 0:05:31.400 the Rams offense or the Lions offense, that's sort of 0:05:31.440 --> 0:05:34.000 what Matthew Staffords has hung his hat on his entire 0:05:34.040 --> 0:05:36.520 career right as being able to make the explosive play 0:05:36.600 --> 0:05:39.000 to get the defense on its heels and then finish 0:05:39.080 --> 0:05:42.280 those drives. That's that That's what Matthew Stafford has done 0:05:42.560 --> 0:05:45.520 his entire career. Shifting gears to the defensive side of 0:05:45.520 --> 0:05:49.000 the ball. It starts up front right with this Rams defense. 0:05:49.040 --> 0:05:52.400 You look at obviously Aaron Donald um my belief is 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:55.880 a three time NFL Defensive Player of the Year now, 0:05:56.040 --> 0:05:58.040 and then on the edges on either side of him 0:05:58.080 --> 0:06:02.360 you have Leonard Floyd and On Miller, a mid season acquisition. 0:06:02.880 --> 0:06:05.320 This is a defensive front that is tough to handle. 0:06:05.839 --> 0:06:08.320 Um they scheme things up so that they make it 0:06:08.360 --> 0:06:11.159 really difficult for you to just decide you're gonna double 0:06:11.160 --> 0:06:13.919 team Aaron Donald on every single play. They they scheme 0:06:14.000 --> 0:06:16.600 things up so he gets single blocked and is able 0:06:16.640 --> 0:06:18.480 to have the impact that they want him to have. 0:06:19.360 --> 0:06:22.000 And with the Packers obviously making another adjustment here on 0:06:22.040 --> 0:06:24.000 the offensive line, Josh and Iiman's going to go in 0:06:24.040 --> 0:06:28.279 at left tackle with Elton Jenkins now out for the season. Um, 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:30.919 this this is really to me, the key matchup in 0:06:30.960 --> 0:06:34.360 this game is the Packers offensive line against this defensive 0:06:34.400 --> 0:06:37.800 front of the Rams. It is and there's so many 0:06:37.880 --> 0:06:40.440 elements to this that are going to be intriguing. If 0:06:40.480 --> 0:06:43.799 we had a few more resources, we could actually play 0:06:43.839 --> 0:06:47.960 back five years of unscripteds right now where I was 0:06:48.040 --> 0:06:52.000 reiterating how impressed I've been by Leonard Floyd. I felt 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:55.000 like this guy coming out right off the bat was 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:57.239 going to be a premier pass rusher in this league. 0:06:58.000 --> 0:07:00.599 Probably didn't reach the level of dominant said I probably 0:07:00.640 --> 0:07:01.840 would have thought he would have been as what the 0:07:01.960 --> 0:07:04.640 ninth overall picked the year he got drafted, but was 0:07:04.760 --> 0:07:07.520 very productive in Vic Fangio's defense and what they did. 0:07:08.680 --> 0:07:11.080 He's been able to breathe nude life into his career 0:07:11.200 --> 0:07:13.360 in l a and as much as we're gonna talk 0:07:13.360 --> 0:07:14.960 about Donald here in a second, and as big of 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:16.880 a storyline as that's gonna be going to the game, 0:07:17.400 --> 0:07:20.680 Leonard Floyd against yosh Naiman, Leonard Floyd against how the 0:07:20.720 --> 0:07:23.800 Packers defend him is really something that's gonna be important 0:07:23.840 --> 0:07:26.760 to track because he can wreck the game off the edge, 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:29.560 and especially with Aaron Rodgers dealing with this toe injury, 0:07:30.240 --> 0:07:34.960 you've got to be cognizant of that. Donald is a problem. 0:07:35.000 --> 0:07:37.239 But the thing about it is he's still a three 0:07:37.280 --> 0:07:41.960 tech middle of the defensive front player. You can you 0:07:42.000 --> 0:07:44.920 can double him easier, you can throw additional resources, and 0:07:45.000 --> 0:07:46.640 you can tell you're running back to keep an eye 0:07:46.640 --> 0:07:50.600 on him. Those elements are ways in which the Packers 0:07:50.600 --> 0:07:53.760 have beaten Donald before. I think the issues they've had 0:07:53.800 --> 0:07:56.200 against this defense going all the way back to eighteen 0:07:56.560 --> 0:07:59.280 when they played him at at the Colisseum is if 0:07:59.320 --> 0:08:02.160 you get the edge rush going as well, So, uh, 0:08:02.280 --> 0:08:04.320 it's a great matchup. I mean A Shaan Robinson's the 0:08:04.360 --> 0:08:06.720 guy was really high on in my in my drafts. 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:09.200 When I get asked to make the predictions for who 0:08:09.240 --> 0:08:11.480 the Packers taking the first round, Robinson was my guy, 0:08:11.560 --> 0:08:14.320 whatever it was four or five years ago. I think 0:08:14.320 --> 0:08:15.960 he's a good compliment. I think they have a lot 0:08:15.960 --> 0:08:18.880 of pieces defensively, but Leonard Floyd is the one that 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:20.800 probably is going to have my eyes on the most 0:08:20.800 --> 0:08:22.840 on Sunday. Yeah, And I don't I don't like to 0:08:22.920 --> 0:08:25.360 make too much of this because because I think it 0:08:25.400 --> 0:08:27.440 gets overblown a little bit. But I am going to 0:08:27.560 --> 0:08:29.720 make a point here about a couple of guys with 0:08:29.760 --> 0:08:33.800 regard to this being the playoff rematch from from last 0:08:33.880 --> 0:08:36.760 January where the Rams came in and saw their season end. 0:08:36.840 --> 0:08:39.680 I don't think players, for the most part, they don't 0:08:39.679 --> 0:08:41.600 get too hung up on, you know, sort of that 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:44.640 revenge angle or getting back at somebody. But when I 0:08:44.679 --> 0:08:47.120 look at Aaron Donald and the fact that he was 0:08:47.160 --> 0:08:49.520 not healthy for that game in January last year, he 0:08:49.559 --> 0:08:51.280 was dealing with the rib injury. He was not a 0:08:51.400 --> 0:08:55.439 hundred percent, you know that he wants I think anyway 0:08:55.440 --> 0:08:57.800 that he really wants to show something to this Packer's 0:08:57.880 --> 0:09:00.040 offense in this game. And Jakin's got the better of 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:03.840 him in that game. He absolutely did. And the other guy, 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:06.480 I'll say too, because we saw him throw the little 0:09:06.520 --> 0:09:09.520 temper tantrum after Davante Adams got the touchdown there at 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:12.000 the goal line is Jalen Ramsey. This is a guy 0:09:12.040 --> 0:09:14.920 and now he leads the Rams with three interceptions, tremendous 0:09:14.960 --> 0:09:17.240 talent as as a cover corner, one of the best 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:19.760 in the league, no question about it. And this is 0:09:19.760 --> 0:09:22.719 a guy that you know, when the Packers are in 0:09:22.760 --> 0:09:25.720 the red zone, he wants Davanta Adams, he wants to 0:09:25.760 --> 0:09:29.080 stop Davante Adams from getting a touchdown. And again I 0:09:29.080 --> 0:09:31.520 don't like to overplay sort of the revenge angle in 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:34.120 looking back and whatever, but those two guys, in particular, 0:09:34.520 --> 0:09:37.280 what we saw in the game last January when the 0:09:37.360 --> 0:09:40.240 Rams season ended and the Packers moved on, those are 0:09:40.280 --> 0:09:42.880 two guys to definitely watch on well. And in this 0:09:43.240 --> 0:09:46.960 you know, this secondary that l A has is just incredible. 0:09:47.040 --> 0:09:48.839 Now they don't have the most picks in the National 0:09:48.840 --> 0:09:51.439 Football League, but it's a top four, top three type 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:54.720 past defense. Um Jalen Ramsey's a big part of that 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:57.120 because he's one of the few guys in this league 0:09:57.520 --> 0:09:59.480 where you can just ask him to go up against 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:02.320 any pro liftic receiver and have him shadow him sideline 0:10:02.360 --> 0:10:05.400 to sideline, and Ramsey's going to be able to do it. Honestly, 0:10:05.440 --> 0:10:07.840 that's what I'm expecting in this matchup with the Packers, 0:10:07.880 --> 0:10:10.959 and and just asking him to fulfill that assignment against 0:10:11.040 --> 0:10:14.600 Davante Adams and allow them to address resources otherwhere in 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:17.400 other areas. But the other thing I want to keep 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:19.600 an eye on in this game, Mike, is the Packers 0:10:19.679 --> 0:10:22.640 running offense. Because as difficult as it's been to pass 0:10:22.679 --> 0:10:25.679 against the Rams, the way they rush, the way that 0:10:25.960 --> 0:10:29.600 Aaron Donald rushes, sometimes there's a jet element to it. 0:10:29.640 --> 0:10:32.400 There's a pinning the ears back, and sometimes that can 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:35.520 lead the gaps being unfilled. I really want to see 0:10:35.679 --> 0:10:38.200 if Green Bay with a J. Dillon can pound the 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:41.120 ball against this front. I think him winning against those 0:10:41.120 --> 0:10:44.520 inside linebackers that is going to dictate where this game goes. 0:10:44.640 --> 0:10:47.760 Because if you can't get the run established against the Rams, 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:50.760 they have the type of perimeter group when it's third 0:10:50.760 --> 0:10:53.520 and long, they're gonna be pitching you a shutout. So 0:10:53.720 --> 0:10:55.240 you've got to be able to do that. I think 0:10:55.280 --> 0:10:57.520 that's gonna be a huge, huge element to whoever is 0:10:57.559 --> 0:10:59.920 cable to come out Victoria. Yeah. Absolutely, As as the 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:02.760 old saying goes, the best defensive fronts in the league. 0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:05.920 They can play run on the way to the quarterback right, 0:11:06.000 --> 0:11:08.040 and Aaron Donald is a guy who can do that. 0:11:08.160 --> 0:11:11.439 But that is something that is difficult to do for 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:13.920 sixty snaps. I mean to do it all the time. 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:16.199 And as you say, if if there is if there 0:11:16.240 --> 0:11:17.760 is a gap or if there is a crease, and 0:11:17.800 --> 0:11:20.560 if the Packers can hit it, then suddenly you start 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:22.920 to keep that pass rush a little bit, a little 0:11:22.920 --> 0:11:25.080 bit more. Honest, it's it's going to be an interesting 0:11:25.160 --> 0:11:27.280 chess match in that regard. And it's the only weakness 0:11:27.400 --> 0:11:28.960 right now in this l A defense. I mean, this 0:11:29.080 --> 0:11:30.800 l A defense is probably one or two in the 0:11:30.840 --> 0:11:32.400 league if it isn't for the fact that they're what 0:11:32.440 --> 0:11:34.080 they're giving up against the run. I think there may 0:11:34.760 --> 0:11:36.680 in the league against the run this year's but but 0:11:36.720 --> 0:11:38.880 even with that, they're only giving up I believe it's 0:11:38.920 --> 0:11:41.679 four point zero yards per carry, which from an average 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:44.120 per carry stampoint Branks near the top of the league. 0:11:44.160 --> 0:11:47.880 So um quickly here west some sponsored business. Serious x M. 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:50.839 NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:55.480 minute NFL news that true football fanatics need seven three, 0:11:55.559 --> 0:11:58.439 six and at cousin subs we have something for everyone, 0:11:58.480 --> 0:12:01.200 like our Wisconsin cheese curds, can cheese, golden fries, and 0:12:01.240 --> 0:12:04.280 creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub 0:12:04.360 --> 0:12:08.040 in a bowl Cousin Subs. We believe in better all right, 0:12:08.160 --> 0:12:10.679 quickly here West Keys to victory for the Packers. I've 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:13.679 sort of I've already kind of mentioned the two that 0:12:13.720 --> 0:12:17.000 are on my mind. The most one is limiting the 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:20.520 explosive plays by the Rams offense, and the other is 0:12:20.600 --> 0:12:24.200 to protect Aaron Rodgers and that injured tow from this 0:12:24.400 --> 0:12:27.600 Rams defensive front. I think those are the two biggest things. 0:12:27.600 --> 0:12:30.960 If the Packers have enough success in those two areas, 0:12:31.000 --> 0:12:33.080 I like their chances of getting a win here. Yeah, 0:12:33.200 --> 0:12:35.960 I do too, Mike, And I just feel like it's 0:12:36.040 --> 0:12:38.640 every single week. It's kind of become a broken record 0:12:38.720 --> 0:12:42.640 now where I'm sitting here saying protect the football and 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:46.280 I'm saying, you know, get after the opposing quarterback. Last week. 0:12:46.840 --> 0:12:49.280 I guess I was wrong, and I have to admit 0:12:49.320 --> 0:12:51.920 I was wrong because I think the Packers did pressure 0:12:52.000 --> 0:12:55.680 Kirk Cousins well uh, and it still really didn't matter. 0:12:55.760 --> 0:12:58.480 Cousins was able to get the ball out quickly, but 0:12:58.559 --> 0:13:00.760 they had the opportunity for the takeaways, and they didn't 0:13:00.760 --> 0:13:05.079 execute on it. That's where the same thing comes into 0:13:05.080 --> 0:13:08.160 play here against Matthew Stafford. They've seen Matthew Stafford a lot, 0:13:08.480 --> 0:13:11.439 uh these these defenders, the Kenny Clarks, the Dean Lowry's, 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:14.960 they've played him a dozen times now. So being able 0:13:15.000 --> 0:13:18.520 to get after him, not allow him to get comfortable, 0:13:18.559 --> 0:13:20.880 and forcing that ball out, getting them throwing off the 0:13:20.920 --> 0:13:23.640 back of his foot, that's where Green Bay is going 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:26.240 to have success in this game. And and I feel 0:13:26.280 --> 0:13:30.240 like last week, Mike, defensively, it was a letdown for them. 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:33.560 They had chances to be able to really put their 0:13:33.559 --> 0:13:36.400 foot on the pedal and they weren't able to do it. Now, 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:39.800 you can't expect them to do that every seventeen games, 0:13:39.840 --> 0:13:42.480 but it probably was the difference between a winner or loss. 0:13:42.720 --> 0:13:45.280 I'm interested to see how this group bounces back. I'm 0:13:45.320 --> 0:13:47.720 interested to see how they can counteract all these perimeter 0:13:47.760 --> 0:13:50.520 weapons and frankly, just being able to make them one 0:13:50.559 --> 0:13:53.360 dimensional like they did last week with Dalvin Cook for 0:13:53.400 --> 0:13:55.599 a majority of that game. Don't allow Darryl Henderson or 0:13:55.640 --> 0:13:58.000 Sony Michelle to be able to get going and put 0:13:58.040 --> 0:14:00.280 this game in Matthew Stafford's hands. Yeah, I think it 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:02.880 was interesting. If if I'm not mistaken on the timing, 0:14:02.920 --> 0:14:05.240 I believe it was on Sunday night, pretty much right 0:14:05.280 --> 0:14:08.200 around the time that the Packers plane would have been 0:14:08.280 --> 0:14:10.960 landing coming back from Minnesota. The Adrian Amos, one of 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:14.880 the defensive captains, tweeted, it's not about what happens, it's 0:14:14.920 --> 0:14:16.960 about how you respond to it. And that's where this 0:14:17.000 --> 0:14:19.920 Packers defenses right now, because it had been playing so well, 0:14:20.240 --> 0:14:22.680 was at such a high level, they took a big 0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:25.160 punch in the mouth, a heymaker, whatever you want to 0:14:25.200 --> 0:14:28.320 call it, in Minneapolis. So now it's it's it's about 0:14:28.320 --> 0:14:31.080 the response. It's about what happens next. And they have 0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:33.560 a heck of a challenge here with this, with this 0:14:33.720 --> 0:14:40.920 Rams offense coming in. With regard to other games on Sunday, first, 0:14:41.080 --> 0:14:42.680 a game that will be going on at the same 0:14:42.720 --> 0:14:47.520 time as Packers Rams with the kickoff is Minnesota is 0:14:47.560 --> 0:14:51.520 out at San Francisco. Interesting here because the Vikings. The 0:14:51.600 --> 0:14:53.600 Vikings have gone to l A to play the Chargers. 0:14:53.600 --> 0:14:56.240 They gotta win there. They came back home, they beat 0:14:56.280 --> 0:14:58.400 the Packers. Now they're going back to the West Coast 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:01.960 to play San Francisco and the Vikings two and a 0:15:02.000 --> 0:15:05.200 half games behind the Packers in the NFC North. From 0:15:05.200 --> 0:15:08.280 the Vikings perspective, they're looking at this feeling like, Okay, 0:15:08.560 --> 0:15:11.080 we're a hot team. Our offense is rolling. We've scored 0:15:11.200 --> 0:15:13.600 I believe, if I'm doing the math quickly in my head, 0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:18.000 sixty one in the in their two victories here, they 0:15:18.040 --> 0:15:21.120 feel like they've got things going. They go out to 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:23.400 San Francisco and get a win, and they're watching the 0:15:23.440 --> 0:15:25.840 scoreboard to see if the Rams can knock off the 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:28.440 knockoff the Packers at Lambeau and then suddenly they're only 0:15:28.480 --> 0:15:31.240 a game and a half back. Packers have a have 0:15:31.400 --> 0:15:34.120 the task here of of of keeping the Vikings at 0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:37.479 bay regardless of of what happens out in San Francisco. 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:39.720 And San Francisco has risen from the dead a little 0:15:39.720 --> 0:15:41.760 bit and they've been able to kind of find themselves. 0:15:41.760 --> 0:15:44.520 The downfield passing game is working again from them. You know, 0:15:44.560 --> 0:15:47.040 Brandon Ayuk, who I was talking to you about Week three, 0:15:47.160 --> 0:15:48.960 was often such a slow start to the season. He 0:15:49.040 --> 0:15:51.720 started to re emerge as a big playmaker in this offense. 0:15:51.760 --> 0:15:56.280 So seeing how you know, San Francisco getting their offense 0:15:56.360 --> 0:15:59.280 going again against the Minnesota defense that's giving up a 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:01.760 lot of yards. It's me interesting to watch in addition 0:16:01.800 --> 0:16:03.760 to the fact of just watching two teams that are 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:07.800 on the boundary the perimeral, the peripheral of the playoff 0:16:07.920 --> 0:16:10.440 race right now, which one wants to finally become a 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:13.400 winning ball club and who could potentially mount kind of 0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:15.200 a comeback here late in the season. It's not been 0:16:15.240 --> 0:16:18.240 easy for either of these teams. They've been battle tested 0:16:18.360 --> 0:16:21.040 based on their division, based on the way their schedules 0:16:21.080 --> 0:16:24.120 lined up. It's competitive five and five records right now. 0:16:24.120 --> 0:16:26.720 But from Green based perspective, certainly, you know, you would 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:28.640 like to see the Vikings kind of fall back a 0:16:28.640 --> 0:16:30.800 little bit after that win last week. Yeah, and the 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:33.560 other one I think that we'll be watching on Sunday 0:16:34.040 --> 0:16:37.360 prior to the Packers and Rams kicking off as a 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:42.120 very interesting um interconference game, cross conference game. Tampa Bay 0:16:42.320 --> 0:16:45.720 on a short week travels to Indianapolis. The culture as 0:16:45.760 --> 0:16:47.720 hot as any team in the NFL right now, with 0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:50.800 Jonathan Taylor and what he's doing, and that defense is 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:54.600 playing some solid football. The Colts are thrusting themselves into 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:56.720 the a f C playoff picture. And no, I didn't 0:16:56.720 --> 0:17:00.400 bring up this game just because of Jonathan Taylor. But uh, 0:17:00.440 --> 0:17:04.159 but I had to add to anyway, right, But but 0:17:04.280 --> 0:17:06.959 it's for the die hards, for the inboxer, for the inboxers. 0:17:06.960 --> 0:17:10.840 You'll get where that's coming from. But Tampa Bay um 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:13.080 one of these you know, handful of teams in the 0:17:13.160 --> 0:17:15.960 NFC with three losses and uh, and they've got a 0:17:16.000 --> 0:17:17.920 tough match up here on the road on a short 0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:21.119 week after having played on Monday night. UM on a 0:17:21.160 --> 0:17:25.400 really interesting matchup here with with significant implications for both 0:17:25.400 --> 0:17:28.040 teams in each conference. Can I make a little bit 0:17:28.040 --> 0:17:30.440 of a shout out here, even though he'll never watch 0:17:30.480 --> 0:17:32.119 the show, I'm gonna give him a lot of credit. 0:17:32.240 --> 0:17:35.600 Why not? My buddy Scott Vincy, your former co worker. 0:17:36.600 --> 0:17:40.199 Scott is in a keeper league for fantasy football. He 0:17:40.240 --> 0:17:44.360 has Jonathan Taylor. He drafted Jonathan Taylor, however long ago. Now. 0:17:45.400 --> 0:17:48.040 He was saying to me, because he watches and follows 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:50.680 him pretty pretty much just die hard as anyone in 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:53.160 the state of Wisconsin is going to follow the Indianapolis Colts. 0:17:53.160 --> 0:17:55.159 He was saying to me that, you know, at some 0:17:55.200 --> 0:17:57.720 point Frank Wright needs to give him the ball and 0:17:57.760 --> 0:18:00.159 then just get out of the way. Just be like, 0:18:00.200 --> 0:18:03.000 this is our running back. We don't need a committee. 0:18:03.480 --> 0:18:05.480 We don't need to put it in in you know, 0:18:05.480 --> 0:18:08.440 Philip Rivers hands or Carson Wentz's hands, or Jacoby bris 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:12.119 said or Peyton Manning's just give the ball to Jonathan Taylor. 0:18:12.680 --> 0:18:14.480 There as hot as anyone in the league, Mike, because 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:16.879 they're feeding their running back. And and you and I 0:18:16.960 --> 0:18:18.720 joke and to let the people in who don't watch it, 0:18:18.880 --> 0:18:22.080 don't read in box. I had some real reservations about Taylor, 0:18:22.440 --> 0:18:24.359 but as it turned out, I think a lot of 0:18:24.400 --> 0:18:27.359 those reservations were based on the fact of how he 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:30.640 was being utilized. And now you're seeing them trust him 0:18:30.680 --> 0:18:33.400 with this offense yards already on the season, he doesn't 0:18:33.400 --> 0:18:37.159 even have two hundred carries. I mean, this guy can play. 0:18:37.359 --> 0:18:40.760 And for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers here, I mean, I'm 0:18:40.800 --> 0:18:44.199 not being disrespectful of defending n NFC champions. They've had 0:18:44.240 --> 0:18:46.640 some ups and downs this season. They've had some moments 0:18:46.680 --> 0:18:48.480 where they've looked like the defending champs. They've had some 0:18:48.480 --> 0:18:53.199 moments where they've looked really old. So Indianapolis Man to 0:18:53.280 --> 0:18:57.120 be able to rally the troops here. That's uh, that's 0:18:57.119 --> 0:18:59.760 an interesting game for them to determine. Hey, how much 0:18:59.760 --> 0:19:01.960 of a tender are we and that's a division that 0:19:02.119 --> 0:19:04.199 you know can really be anyone's Yeah, I think I 0:19:04.240 --> 0:19:06.040 think that's a result in terms of an a f 0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:09.359 C versus NFC matchup, that's a result that's going to 0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:12.480 have have some implications in the in the playoff races 0:19:12.520 --> 0:19:15.040 on on both sides. There can I because we don't 0:19:15.040 --> 0:19:16.760 have an own budsman like I think I used to 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:18.000 be on around the Horn. They used to have like 0:19:18.000 --> 0:19:19.600 the old budsman that corrected people. At the end of 0:19:19.640 --> 0:19:22.240 the show, I got to correct myself, Um, the rams 0:19:22.240 --> 0:19:25.480 weren't in run. I had that wrong. So I just 0:19:25.480 --> 0:19:27.000 want to make sure that's right. I still think the 0:19:27.040 --> 0:19:29.399