WEBVTT - #387 Packers Unscripted: Last chance 0:00:00.880 --> 0:00:21.000 Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:24.560 I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside as always my trusted 0:00:24.600 --> 0:00:27.440 colleague West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our 0:00:27.480 --> 0:00:30.320 studios at lambeau Field and West It is almost here, 0:00:30.360 --> 0:00:34.320 the two thousand eighteen season finale for the Packers, Green 0:00:34.360 --> 0:00:39.040 Bay versus Detroit Sunday noon Central time kickoff at lambeau Field, 0:00:39.040 --> 0:00:42.360 our final show of the week, which means keys to victory. 0:00:42.400 --> 0:00:44.080 I think there are a lot of different directions, a 0:00:44.080 --> 0:00:47.800 lot of ways the Packers can win this game on Sunday. 0:00:47.840 --> 0:00:49.640 Where do you want to start? Well? I think the 0:00:49.680 --> 0:00:51.960 biggest one for me when I look at this matchup 0:00:51.960 --> 0:00:54.040 with the lines is these are two really banged up 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:56.680 football teams when you look at not only what the 0:00:56.680 --> 0:00:59.600 the injury report looks like this week, but the size 0:00:59.600 --> 0:01:03.720 of both the injury reserves for both of these teams. 0:01:03.760 --> 0:01:05.880 So for me, I think the thing that I that 0:01:06.240 --> 0:01:09.119 it's really going to be about which team overcomes their 0:01:09.120 --> 0:01:12.600 deficiency is better. I think you look at the Lions 0:01:12.680 --> 0:01:15.240 right now, in this aftermath of losing carry on Johnson 0:01:15.319 --> 0:01:18.120 for the season. You know, Marvin Jones Jr. Two was 0:01:18.160 --> 0:01:19.960 a big hit too, But Johnson was sort of their 0:01:19.959 --> 0:01:22.520 bright spot. They were dedicating more to the running game, 0:01:23.040 --> 0:01:24.959 and he was averaging over five yards of carry, got 0:01:24.959 --> 0:01:28.440 them a hundred yard performance this season. It really does 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:31.360 look like a menace for the NFC North and years 0:01:31.400 --> 0:01:35.039 to come. But without him, like Garrett Blunt only averaging 0:01:35.080 --> 0:01:36.959 two point eight yards per carry, they just, you know, 0:01:37.040 --> 0:01:39.480 theoretic is more of a running or more of a 0:01:39.480 --> 0:01:42.480 pass catching running back, so it puts more on the 0:01:42.480 --> 0:01:45.280 shoulders and Matthew Stafford, and last week they just couldn't 0:01:45.280 --> 0:01:48.840 get their passing game going despite that fast start against 0:01:48.920 --> 0:01:52.440 the Vikings. So from my perspective, I think the Packers, 0:01:52.440 --> 0:01:54.760 if they're able to contain Stafford, if you're able to 0:01:55.320 --> 0:01:59.000 eliminate those big plays to the Kenny galadays, I think 0:01:59.000 --> 0:02:00.520 the Packers are going to be able to come out 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:02.480 of this thing victorious. Yeah. When you look at what 0:02:02.520 --> 0:02:05.800 the Packers have done against the run the last couple 0:02:05.840 --> 0:02:08.320 of weeks, really a run defense being led by the 0:02:08.320 --> 0:02:12.440 two Northwestern alums on that defensive line in Dean Lowry 0:02:12.480 --> 0:02:16.480 excuse me, and the undrafted rookie Tyler Lancaster. You know, 0:02:16.600 --> 0:02:19.880 I like the Packers run defense to continue doing what 0:02:19.919 --> 0:02:22.200 it's doing, which is going to put this game for 0:02:22.280 --> 0:02:25.480 the Lions offensively in the hands of Stafford, and Golladay 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:28.040 is his big play guy. And you mentioned carry On 0:02:28.160 --> 0:02:30.880 Johnson and obviously the future we could be seeing with 0:02:30.960 --> 0:02:33.400 him in the NFC North. I think goladays, you know, 0:02:33.480 --> 0:02:36.880 falls into that same category. He made the big play 0:02:37.040 --> 0:02:39.480 down the sideline in the first half in Detroit in 0:02:39.520 --> 0:02:41.640 the first meeting between these two teams, I believe was 0:02:41.639 --> 0:02:44.680 a sixty yard pass was part of the Lions jumping 0:02:44.680 --> 0:02:48.239 out to that big lead that the Packers could not overcome. 0:02:49.200 --> 0:02:51.720 But I'm with you. I think, if if the Packers 0:02:51.760 --> 0:02:54.280 can contain Golladay and not give up any of those 0:02:54.680 --> 0:02:58.359 big type of explosive plays to him. Um, the way 0:02:58.360 --> 0:03:01.000 this Packers defense is playing, I I like, I like 0:03:01.120 --> 0:03:03.960 Green Bays chances of keeping this offense under wraps. Yeah. 0:03:04.000 --> 0:03:06.520 It is interesting though, because right now he has seventy 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:09.240 catches for a thousand and sixty three yards behind him 0:03:09.320 --> 0:03:12.000 is theoretic with sixty one, but he only has three 0:03:12.600 --> 0:03:16.680 four and then really there isn't a lot of bodies 0:03:16.840 --> 0:03:19.560 at that spot. Marvin Jones Jr. And Bruce Ellington are 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:22.200 both on injury reserve. Golden Tate was traded, like we 0:03:22.360 --> 0:03:24.640 talked about earlier in the week. Yeah, so they've been 0:03:24.680 --> 0:03:26.560 sort of this uh, you know, I don't want to 0:03:26.560 --> 0:03:28.880 call it a hodgepodge, but there just hasn't been a 0:03:28.880 --> 0:03:33.480 consistent three four weapon kind of diversity with that offense. 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:35.720 And as we've talked about on so many of these episodes, Mike, 0:03:35.760 --> 0:03:39.520 in the aftermath of Kelvin Johnson his retirement, that was 0:03:39.560 --> 0:03:41.800 one of the things I thought really helped Matthew Stafford 0:03:41.840 --> 0:03:44.040 get comfortable, as the fact that he did have a 0:03:44.120 --> 0:03:46.280 bevy of different weapons to turn to in the passing 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:48.840 game that's not there for them right now. So and 0:03:48.880 --> 0:03:51.560 it's interesting because now all the headlines you're seeing out 0:03:51.560 --> 0:03:54.160 of Detroit are what's the status with Jim Bob Cooter 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:57.520 as their offensive coordinator when a couple of years ago 0:03:57.680 --> 0:04:00.360 he was the toast of the town that Calvin Johnson 0:04:00.400 --> 0:04:03.760 had left and Detroit's offense actually got better and Couder 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:06.600 and Stafford sort of had you know, this, uh, this 0:04:06.720 --> 0:04:10.160 rapport going and and that offense was very, very dangerous, 0:04:10.160 --> 0:04:12.720 and suddenly it's it's not like that anymore, and there's 0:04:12.720 --> 0:04:15.240 all kinds of questions as to the future with the 0:04:15.920 --> 0:04:19.440 offensive leadership there. It's funny how, especially in the coaching ranks, 0:04:19.440 --> 0:04:22.440 how perceptions can change fast. And look at uh I 0:04:22.480 --> 0:04:25.240 think it was was a Terrell Austin all those years. Yeah, 0:04:25.320 --> 0:04:27.800 on the defensive side of the Lyons was considered a 0:04:27.839 --> 0:04:31.320 really big supreme coaching candidate when he had Adamican, Sue 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:34.200 and Nick Fairley and had some head coaching interviews. If 0:04:34.440 --> 0:04:36.800 if I recall Andre Levy, I mean, they had so 0:04:36.839 --> 0:04:39.760 many different guys in that defense that were really big playmakers. 0:04:40.240 --> 0:04:42.400 And then he ends up having his departure and then 0:04:42.480 --> 0:04:45.120 wasn't able to recapture that success in Cincinnati. It's just 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:48.360 sometimes the way that this business goes. But but from 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:51.360 the Packers perspective, they've seen Matthew Stafford when he's at 0:04:51.360 --> 0:04:54.240 his best and when he's able to control the temple 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:55.919 of a game and get the ball quickly out of 0:04:55.920 --> 0:04:58.040 his hands. You've also seen what you can do with 0:04:58.120 --> 0:05:00.320 him when you do take away the foot all when 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:02.479 you do be able to get him throwing off of 0:05:02.520 --> 0:05:04.760 his back foot and forsaking some of the fundamentals. So 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:07.200 when you look at just as pure keys to victory. 0:05:07.240 --> 0:05:09.000 The Packers trying to get their first winning streak of 0:05:09.080 --> 0:05:12.200 the season to end the season, trying to avoid losing 0:05:12.560 --> 0:05:15.520 four consecutive games to the Lions, and you know, thirty 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:18.520 five years. This is what I think is the biggest 0:05:18.560 --> 0:05:21.200 path to victory. It's Mike Petton's defense being able to 0:05:21.240 --> 0:05:23.640 contain Galady. Keeping a safety over the top of him, 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:25.560 I think is going to be optimal just by how 0:05:25.600 --> 0:05:28.560 he stresses you and some of those Cover two and 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:31.320 Cover zero looks. So uh, That's gonna be the big 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:34.280 thing for me is just seeing exactly what the plan 0:05:34.360 --> 0:05:37.760 of attack is for the Packers, specifically if you don't 0:05:37.760 --> 0:05:40.680 have jyr Alexander available do that groin injury. Yeah, that's 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:42.880 another one that we're waiting on. And on the offensive 0:05:42.920 --> 0:05:46.000 side of the ball for the Packers, we're also waiting 0:05:46.000 --> 0:05:49.520 to find out, excuse me, if Davante Adams, who did 0:05:49.520 --> 0:05:53.240 not practice Wednesday or Thursday due to the knee injury. 0:05:53.560 --> 0:05:55.359 Um kind of a sore knee, I guess, is the 0:05:55.360 --> 0:05:58.000 way he termed it from the New York Jets game. 0:05:58.880 --> 0:06:01.120 Whether or not he'll be out there on Sunday. You know, 0:06:01.360 --> 0:06:04.360 he wants to be out there with these records, franchise 0:06:04.400 --> 0:06:08.919 records that we've talked about that he is chasing. But 0:06:09.000 --> 0:06:10.640 on that side of the ball for the Packers, I 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:13.320 think when I look at this in from the keys 0:06:13.360 --> 0:06:16.320 to victory standpoint, I tell you what West, If Jamal 0:06:16.360 --> 0:06:20.000 Williams plays another game like he did against the Jets, 0:06:20.080 --> 0:06:23.720 with the rushing yards, the receiving yards, the blitz pickups 0:06:23.720 --> 0:06:27.280 and all of the things that he did that were 0:06:27.360 --> 0:06:30.479 so such a focal point of the offense from start 0:06:30.520 --> 0:06:32.279 to finish. I mean, what was it, eighty six out 0:06:32.279 --> 0:06:35.440 of ninety one snaps that he played. He barely took 0:06:35.440 --> 0:06:39.200 a break in that game. If Williams stacks another game 0:06:39.279 --> 0:06:41.279 like that one from last week, a hundred and fifty 0:06:41.279 --> 0:06:44.520 plus yards from scrimmage and and uh everything else that 0:06:44.600 --> 0:06:47.600 he helped out with pass protection wise, I like, uh, 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:50.520 certainly like the Packers chances to uh to do some 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.200 damage against the trade. Yeah, the Packers needed to make 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:55.760 hey against the Jets just based on you know, it's 0:06:55.760 --> 0:06:58.120 been a tough year for New York with their run defense. 0:06:58.160 --> 0:06:59.960 I think right now they're twenty six. But the thing 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:02.559 that impressed me the most with Williams is as you said, 0:07:02.839 --> 0:07:05.080 the things he did in the other facets of the game, 0:07:05.440 --> 0:07:08.039 him as a pass catcher, him stepping up into pass 0:07:08.080 --> 0:07:12.040 protection when Mike McCarthy was featuring him and Jamal or 0:07:12.280 --> 0:07:14.080 him and Aaron Jones trying to get both of them going. 0:07:14.440 --> 0:07:17.240 It wasn't just for the sake of doing it. There 0:07:17.280 --> 0:07:20.240 was a mindset there, There was a mentality And the 0:07:20.240 --> 0:07:21.920 fact of the matter is is when you look at 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:25.760 the total package, all around package, you know Jamal Williams 0:07:25.840 --> 0:07:28.840 is their best guy in that way where Aaron Jones 0:07:28.840 --> 0:07:30.600 gives you the home run threat and gives you that 0:07:30.600 --> 0:07:33.040 big play potential every single time he touches the ball. 0:07:33.040 --> 0:07:35.960 It's why they compliment each other so well. Yea, So 0:07:36.600 --> 0:07:38.880 in this game, I mean, you're looking at a Detroit 0:07:38.960 --> 0:07:41.920 run defense that's better. But I mean, you know, Jared 0:07:42.000 --> 0:07:44.080 Davis has had his ups and downs this season. I 0:07:44.080 --> 0:07:46.600 mean you look at the front that they have. There's 0:07:46.640 --> 0:07:49.800 been some changes along that as well. Um so, but 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:52.640 I really do believe, especially in these kind of weather conditions, 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:55.600 Jamal Williams is built for this. So I mean, if 0:07:55.640 --> 0:07:58.040 you're able to get him twenty touches again, get him 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:00.240 over a hundred total yards. Again, I don't here if 0:08:00.280 --> 0:08:02.760 it's as a running back pass, you know, passing, I 0:08:02.760 --> 0:08:04.280 don't care if he throws the ball. I mean, if 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:06.560 you're able to get him involved the way they did 0:08:06.680 --> 0:08:11.240 last week, it's gonna make things infinitely easier on Aaron Rodgers. 0:08:11.280 --> 0:08:13.480 It's been that way going back to two thousand fourteen 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:15.680 with Eddie Lacy, it was that way going back to 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:18.360 two thousand nine and two thousand and ten with Brandon 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:20.720 Jackson and Ryan Grant. I mean, it's just the way 0:08:20.760 --> 0:08:23.640 it goes in this offense and the way things are structured. 0:08:24.080 --> 0:08:27.559 If you get that type of contribution every single down 0:08:27.600 --> 0:08:29.960 where you have, the defense has to respect Jamal Williams 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:32.040 and what they're gonna do with them. Aaron Rodgers is 0:08:32.080 --> 0:08:34.160 going to be really productive. Yeah, and also on the 0:08:34.200 --> 0:08:36.640 offensive side of the ball for the Packers. Randall Cobb 0:08:36.760 --> 0:08:40.960 was back at practice, cleared from the concussion protocol from 0:08:41.160 --> 0:08:43.880 what had happened in the Chicago game a couple of 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:47.320 weeks ago. As I said, UM still not certain exactly 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:50.120 what Davante Adams status will be. We talked on our 0:08:50.200 --> 0:08:54.920 last show about seeing the two rookie receivers eq st 0:08:54.920 --> 0:08:59.240 Brown and Marquez Felda Scantling both having high impact games 0:08:59.240 --> 0:09:02.480 in the same contest last week. Obviously you'd like to 0:09:02.520 --> 0:09:05.679 see that continue, do you do you see maybe one 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:08.000 of these guys or the other, just based on matchups, 0:09:08.000 --> 0:09:11.120 potentially being the guy that has a big game on Sunday. 0:09:11.240 --> 0:09:13.720 St Brown needs to clear the concussion protocol, you know, 0:09:13.800 --> 0:09:16.480 to be in that conversation, but he does. He is 0:09:16.520 --> 0:09:18.600 the guy that that would project is probably the more 0:09:18.600 --> 0:09:21.600 of the slot threat that Randall cop sort of fills. 0:09:22.200 --> 0:09:24.600 Velda Scandling has shown he can play that role as well, 0:09:24.600 --> 0:09:27.040 but they've had to be a little bit more specific 0:09:27.040 --> 0:09:29.360 and how they move the pieces. You've seen Davante Adams 0:09:29.400 --> 0:09:32.520 play that spot. Sometimes when you have mvs on the outside, 0:09:32.720 --> 0:09:34.720 you can see some of those tight ends being able 0:09:34.720 --> 0:09:37.440 to move over there. Honestly, that the guy I actually 0:09:37.480 --> 0:09:39.360 think that's going to have maybe the biggest opportunity of 0:09:39.400 --> 0:09:42.120 this game is Jake kumro Um and not just to 0:09:42.160 --> 0:09:45.600 get all the fans REVVD up in everything, but there 0:09:45.679 --> 0:09:47.920 was a comment that Davante Adams made when I was 0:09:47.960 --> 0:09:50.720 talking to him in the locker room afterwards, and he 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:53.320 reiterated it this week when he was asked about kumarrow 0:09:53.760 --> 0:09:58.920 in that he is exactly what a quarterback once in 0:09:59.040 --> 0:10:02.480 terms of where he is in his responsibility, his ability 0:10:02.720 --> 0:10:05.880 to fulfill that assignment. Um, if you want him going 0:10:05.920 --> 0:10:08.000 on a crosser, he's going to be exactly where he 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:11.000 needs to be in the progression at that moment where 0:10:11.040 --> 0:10:13.520 the quarterback wants to find him. He does the same 0:10:13.520 --> 0:10:16.360 thing on you look at Um. You know it was 0:10:16.400 --> 0:10:18.760 a broken play, but him running that that kind of 0:10:18.840 --> 0:10:21.480 corner route last week and being able to get the 0:10:21.520 --> 0:10:24.280 forty nine yard touchdown Rogers puts it right where it 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:26.040 needs to be and Kumar ruins up making a nice 0:10:26.040 --> 0:10:27.880 play where he brings the ball back inside and looks 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:31.760 ut field. His mindset as a receiver is I think 0:10:31.840 --> 0:10:33.920 something that's going to make him successful in this league. 0:10:34.280 --> 0:10:36.800 Adams joked that even though he has been kind of 0:10:36.840 --> 0:10:38.880 helping him with a few things, that Kumar actually is 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:42.720 older than him, but there's still so much untapped potential 0:10:42.800 --> 0:10:44.839 with his game, and I think the Packers one of 0:10:44.920 --> 0:10:48.200 the things this offseason, however, the coaching staff sorts out 0:10:48.640 --> 0:10:50.160 really are gonna want to take a look at this 0:10:50.200 --> 0:10:52.440 guy and potentially the ways you can use him because 0:10:53.160 --> 0:10:56.480 he has a very intriguing skill set that goes beyond 0:10:56.600 --> 0:10:58.719 just the measurables that you see with MVS and e 0:10:58.840 --> 0:11:02.160 Q st Brown. He's a football player first and foremost, 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:04.760 and I think you know this game specifically, if he 0:11:04.840 --> 0:11:07.320 ends up getting more reps, if if St. Brown can't go, 0:11:07.760 --> 0:11:09.920 or depending on what their plan is for for for 0:11:10.040 --> 0:11:12.719 Cobb being then this matchup, I just think he's the 0:11:12.800 --> 0:11:14.960 kind of guy that could really blow the top off it. Well, 0:11:15.000 --> 0:11:19.319 with the Whitewater background, the home state guy, and everything 0:11:19.360 --> 0:11:22.120 that's gone into Jake Kumero's story, if he finds the 0:11:22.240 --> 0:11:24.880 end zone on Sunday he did against the Jets, we 0:11:24.960 --> 0:11:27.960 might hear the loudest roar we've heard at lambeau Field 0:11:28.040 --> 0:11:30.319 in quite a while. Because the fans are behind this guy. 0:11:30.679 --> 0:11:33.400 They know he was a big star at Whitewater, winning 0:11:33.480 --> 0:11:37.520 national championships in Division three there and everything u um. 0:11:37.800 --> 0:11:40.280 The fans really want to see him rise up in 0:11:40.320 --> 0:11:42.760 front of them and uh and make something happen like 0:11:42.840 --> 0:11:44.920 he did in the preseason. As difficult as this past 0:11:44.960 --> 0:11:47.400 offseason was, and it certainly was, you know, not having 0:11:47.440 --> 0:11:50.079 Jordy Nelson in this offense anymore. You and I mentioned 0:11:50.120 --> 0:11:53.040 I believe it was even on yesterday's show, what they've 0:11:53.040 --> 0:11:55.599 been able to do, the talent they've able to cultivate 0:11:55.679 --> 0:11:58.560 at that position and have gotten those opportunities. As good 0:11:58.600 --> 0:12:00.400 as Nelson is, as much as I they'll think you 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:02.199 can play in this league. Those guys don't get those 0:12:02.200 --> 0:12:04.400 opportunities if it isn't you know, for the way that 0:12:04.480 --> 0:12:07.960 this roster shook out this season, it's unfortunate. Injuries happen. 0:12:08.040 --> 0:12:09.880 But the fact that you can get reps to Kumero, 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:13.200 to mvs Uh to these young receivers, I think is 0:12:13.240 --> 0:12:15.280 something really is going to behoove them now going into 0:12:15.320 --> 0:12:18.120 next season. Yeah, well, hurry up, Packers fans because the 0:12:18.160 --> 0:12:20.600 season is almost over. So make sure you stop in 0:12:20.640 --> 0:12:23.280 at your local quick trip and pick up your Packers 0:12:23.360 --> 0:12:26.800 cup today. Get eighty nine cent refills on your Cafe 0:12:26.840 --> 0:12:30.880 Cruba coffee all season. Law. Alright, Wes Week seventeen here 0:12:30.920 --> 0:12:33.880 in the NFL is upon us. There are a handful 0:12:33.880 --> 0:12:36.480 of games, some really good ones. I'm sure when you 0:12:36.520 --> 0:12:38.760 and I are back at our desks after Sunday's game 0:12:38.800 --> 0:12:41.240 working on our stories, we're gonna have, you know, half 0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:44.120 an eye on the televisions around the building to see 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:46.280 what's going on in some of these games. I'm gonna 0:12:46.280 --> 0:12:50.600 put you on the spot, NFC number six seed. Do 0:12:50.640 --> 0:12:53.240 you think the Vikings get it? Or do the Eagles 0:12:53.320 --> 0:12:55.640 get it? The football fan of me is rooting for 0:12:55.679 --> 0:12:57.960 the Eagles in this um just because I think it'd 0:12:58.000 --> 0:13:00.760 be such a great storyline the Vikings. I mean, if 0:13:00.760 --> 0:13:03.440 they get it, they get it, you know, you know, 0:13:03.720 --> 0:13:06.880 top notch. I mean that they deserve it. But just 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:09.640 the idea of Nick Foles leading the Eagles into the 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:12.160 playoffs again, this time, they wouldn't be thirteen and three, 0:13:12.160 --> 0:13:15.040 they'd be the sixth seed. But there's just some magic 0:13:15.400 --> 0:13:17.400 in the football when it seems like he's in the huddle, 0:13:17.960 --> 0:13:20.600 didn't quite come together earlier this season, but then when 0:13:20.679 --> 0:13:22.520 he ends up being thrown back in there with Carson 0:13:22.520 --> 0:13:27.359 Wentz's injury, here he is and he's rolling again. And ultimately, 0:13:27.400 --> 0:13:29.880 I think if Nick Foles he's he's playing for a 0:13:29.880 --> 0:13:31.679 starting job right now. He wants to show that when 0:13:31.679 --> 0:13:33.800 he goes into free agency this year, he can be 0:13:33.840 --> 0:13:36.000 that weekend and week out starter for a team. So 0:13:36.080 --> 0:13:39.040 I I think from a storyline standpoint, if you're rooting 0:13:39.080 --> 0:13:41.240 just for a reason to watch the games, it's a 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:43.480 lot the narratives a lot more intriguing. If the Eagles 0:13:43.520 --> 0:13:45.840 could find a way to sneak into this thing, Yeah, 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:49.120 I think that the Vikings are going to find a 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:51.280 way to beat the Bears at home. I'm not sure 0:13:51.559 --> 0:13:53.920 the Vikings a week later would be able to go 0:13:53.960 --> 0:13:57.400 to Chicago and handle that Bears defense in the elements 0:13:57.440 --> 0:14:00.920 in January and everything, because you talk about a back 0:14:00.960 --> 0:14:03.040 to back type of thing, like with the Packers and 0:14:03.080 --> 0:14:05.480 the Vikings in two thousand twelve, when you went from 0:14:05.760 --> 0:14:08.400 the Metro Dome in week seventeen to lambeau Field for 0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:11.000 a wild card playoff game, it just becomes a completely 0:14:11.000 --> 0:14:13.880 different matchup. But that being said, I will also say 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:15.960 this about the Vikings because I made this comment in 0:14:16.000 --> 0:14:20.280 my Insider inbox. The change was made at quarterback. But 0:14:20.360 --> 0:14:25.400 aside from that, this is essentially still the team that 0:14:25.480 --> 0:14:29.080 played for the NFC Championship last year. Teams like that 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:32.320 they're in this situation. They're going They're going into their 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.040 locker room on Sunday, getting suited up, getting ready, saying 0:14:35.360 --> 0:14:38.840 all we want is a shot. Just give us another shot. 0:14:39.240 --> 0:14:42.280 And when a team has that type of approach, if 0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:45.400 they can get in and with the experience that the 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:48.680 bulk of that roster gained last year, with the run 0:14:48.720 --> 0:14:50.920 that they made almost to the super Bowl, they could 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:53.200 be a dangerous team in the NFC if they can 0:14:53.200 --> 0:14:55.080 get it. The only thing is, though, that I wonder, 0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:59.840 is can can Cousins be consistent enough? Absolutely, you absolutely 0:15:00.000 --> 0:15:03.440 about Keenum last year, even though you know he is 0:15:03.560 --> 0:15:06.680 is Denver showed this year he has his limitations, but 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:09.600 he was just so darn consistent leading up to the 0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:12.640 NFC champions right. It was like you knew exactly what 0:15:12.680 --> 0:15:14.480 you were going to get from Keenum every week, and 0:15:14.520 --> 0:15:17.040 so then the Vikings could build everything around what they 0:15:17.040 --> 0:15:19.680 were going to do on defense in order to in 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:22.160 order to win a game, because Keenum just gave them 0:15:22.200 --> 0:15:25.480 something to count on. And I totally agree with you, Cousins, 0:15:25.520 --> 0:15:29.320 consistency has been an issue and it's why Minnesota season 0:15:29.360 --> 0:15:31.000 has been so up and down. Yeah, I mean you 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:34.320 look at it, though you know more recently, maybe with 0:15:34.440 --> 0:15:37.120 the exception that Seattle game Miami, he did exactly what 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:38.920 he needed to do. He played a picture of perfect 0:15:38.920 --> 0:15:42.520 performance against Detroit. If you can stitch those together you 0:15:42.560 --> 0:15:44.920 get on a run. But the issue there is that, 0:15:44.960 --> 0:15:46.520 you know, you look at him this year, he has 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:51.400 seventeen turnovers on the season, seven fumbles lost, ten interceptions. 0:15:51.640 --> 0:15:54.680 That's been one of the bugaboos for him this entire career, 0:15:54.720 --> 0:15:56.840 is that as talent as he is and as much 0:15:56.840 --> 0:15:59.200 as he's thrown the football and been proven that he 0:15:59.360 --> 0:16:03.520 is a bona fide starting quarterback in this league, it's 0:16:03.560 --> 0:16:05.520 those type of things that can really cost you this 0:16:05.560 --> 0:16:08.160 time of year. So again we'll see this is gonna 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:10.000 be a supreme test. It goes back to what I 0:16:10.040 --> 0:16:13.040 said two weeks ago with the Packers playing the Bears. Okay, 0:16:13.080 --> 0:16:14.720 if you want to be a playoff team, you've got 0:16:14.840 --> 0:16:17.440 to beat this team. The Vikings are in the same 0:16:17.480 --> 0:16:19.400 boat right now. You want to be a playoff team, 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:21.320 you win at your own house, you beat one of 0:16:21.320 --> 0:16:23.960 the top teams in this conference. Yeah, a couple I 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:25.400 want to ask you about. In the a f C. 0:16:25.560 --> 0:16:27.360 I'll start with the a f C North. You have 0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:31.240 the Ravens controlling their destiny for the division championship facing 0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:34.800 the Browns. If the Ravens were to lose and the 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:37.760 Steelers beat the Bengals. Then Pittsburgh wins the a f 0:16:37.840 --> 0:16:40.160 C North and gets into the playoffs. How do you 0:16:40.160 --> 0:16:42.680 see that one shake up? It's basically the same exact 0:16:42.720 --> 0:16:44.960 thing of what the NFC is going through right now 0:16:45.280 --> 0:16:49.120 with Philadelphia Minnesota vie for that spot. Pittsburgh has kind 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:51.560 of been sputtering a little bit down the stretch there, 0:16:51.560 --> 0:16:53.600 the team that really hasn't had been able to sustain 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:57.480 momentum during December. Whereas you have Baltimore, which feels like 0:16:57.480 --> 0:16:59.480 a new team right now with Lamar Jackson and the 0:16:59.480 --> 0:17:02.479 defense a in the way that they're playing. The difficult 0:17:02.520 --> 0:17:04.960 thing is, though, is that the Steelers are taking on 0:17:05.040 --> 0:17:07.359 a Bengals team that really has had to win knocked 0:17:07.359 --> 0:17:09.600 out of their sales, is not going to have Vonte's 0:17:09.640 --> 0:17:12.760 perfect available, you know. Can they just get the job done, 0:17:13.240 --> 0:17:15.120 you know, and and win the game and see where 0:17:15.119 --> 0:17:18.200 the chips fall. It's all on the Ravens right now. 0:17:18.520 --> 0:17:21.520 Then the Browns, and the Browns at seven, seven and 0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:24.800 one are trying to finish above five d. This is 0:17:24.880 --> 0:17:27.280 this is a playoff game type of thing for the 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:31.280 Browns because with where that franchise has been, if they 0:17:31.320 --> 0:17:35.680 finished this season above five hundred. The the optimism and 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:39.280 the anticipation for nineteen with that franchise will be through 0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:42.359 the roof. Thank you. I mean everyone was asking me about, 0:17:42.400 --> 0:17:44.399 you know, what are you and play for playoff spots 0:17:44.480 --> 0:17:47.119 or or play for draft position and things like this. 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:51.440 Tell the Cleveland Browns at the last six weeks haven't mattered. Yeah, 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:53.600 I mean, that's a team that is really trying to 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:56.080 build something going into next year and be like, all right, 0:17:56.440 --> 0:17:58.480 we're not only in a position to compete for a 0:17:58.480 --> 0:18:00.879 playoff spot. They want to run. They want to be 0:18:00.920 --> 0:18:02.480 the next team to make a Super Bowl with a 0:18:02.560 --> 0:18:06.400 young quarterback. You know. So yeah, but the problem for 0:18:06.720 --> 0:18:09.119 it's gonna be an excellent matchup just if you you 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:10.760 have no doubt. I think so too. I think I 0:18:11.359 --> 0:18:13.600 usually don't get two wrapped up in a f C 0:18:13.800 --> 0:18:16.760 games because I'm always watching the NFC that much more closely. 0:18:16.800 --> 0:18:19.080 But if I had a chance to sit and watch 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:21.320 an a f C game on Sunday, I'd watch Ravens 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:23.120 Brown because you have I mean, it's the two young 0:18:23.200 --> 0:18:25.280 quarterbacks that have sort of shined out of this draft. 0:18:25.400 --> 0:18:27.880 Absolutely seeing which team maybe wants a little bit more. 0:18:27.920 --> 0:18:30.600 The Browns trying to get their first winning season since 0:18:30.680 --> 0:18:34.760 two thousand seven with Derek Anderson. I think something like that, 0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:38.280 or the Ravens, who have always sort of been the 0:18:38.320 --> 0:18:40.720 heart attack guys at the end of the season. So yeah, 0:18:40.720 --> 0:18:42.920 it's gonna be an excellent matchup to and whoever gets 0:18:43.000 --> 0:18:44.879 that spot, whether it be the Ravens or the Steelers, 0:18:44.920 --> 0:18:47.239 they'll have earned it. Yeah. One other one Sunday night 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:50.480 football to run past you. Colts and Titans, a de 0:18:50.560 --> 0:18:54.040 facto playoff game to end the regular season for the NFL. 0:18:54.560 --> 0:18:56.840 The winner is into the a f C playoffs, the 0:18:56.880 --> 0:18:59.320 loser is done. Who do you like? It has to 0:18:59.359 --> 0:19:01.800 be the Colts, It has to be Andrew Luck. It 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:04.240 sounds like Marcus Mariota is going to be back for 0:19:04.280 --> 0:19:06.679 the Titans, that they will have their starting quarterback. But 0:19:07.280 --> 0:19:09.200 that said, I agree with you even on the road. 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:10.879