1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,319 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is the 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: one and only Weston Hotkoits. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field time for a bit 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: of a season wrap up show. Wes and Uh. I've 6 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: got a list of questions here, and as this show 7 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: is truly unscripted, I did not share them with you 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: before we turned on the cameras. Here. I'm just gonna 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: start with this, and this is a This is a 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: wide open You can take this any direction you want to. 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: I will give my thoughts as well. What will you 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: remember most about the Green Bay Packers season? Man, there's 13 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: so many different ways you can go with this. Um, 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: I'll do the old down capers here. Let's start with 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: the positives. Uh, this team did not quit. Uh. They 16 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: could have easily pitched the tent, been done with the 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: season right after Philadelphia. You know, at that point they 18 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: lost and what was at six of seven, Mike, things 19 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: were not going well. It was not looking promising to 20 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 1: make the playoffs, and these guys kept themselves in it. 21 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: They went and had a very gutsy performance down in Miami. Uh, 22 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: they imposed their will on the Minnesota Vikings here at 23 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: lambeau Field. The ability to overcome some of the injuries, 24 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: to overcome some of the inconsistency and still stay together, 25 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 1: I think is one of the big hallmarks this team 26 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: and a testament to the job you know that locker 27 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: room did, and also the coaching staff, and then on 28 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 1: the other side of it, certainly the the you know 29 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 1: inability to to meet the expectations for this season. It's 30 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: probably the lasting image, just because I don't think you 31 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: and I I'm not saying I never take anything for granted, Mike. 32 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: We've seen these seasons can go any sort of different ways. 33 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: Look at the l A. Rams I didn't think. I'm 34 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: guessing they did figure that this is how their year 35 00:01:55,920 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: was going to go. But I definitely thought that was 36 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: for sure a playoff team. Yeah, me too. I thought 37 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: this was a team that was going to contend in 38 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: a wide open NFC race, and the Packers couldn't get 39 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 1: themselves into that dance. Early in the season, the offensive 40 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: game just wasn't there. The passing games struggled. I I 41 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: the running game wasn't as domineering as I thought it 42 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 1: was going to be, and then defensively as well as 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: I thought the Packers played in the first half of 44 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: the season, there was sort of that midseason laps and 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: and kind of picked it back up at the end 46 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: of the year. Uh, they're they're just when you look 47 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: at the record at eight and nine, I think it 48 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: is a good reflection of the fact that Green Bay 49 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: just was too inconsistent this year and and they kind 50 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: of ended up being. It was reflected in that in 51 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: the winning last column. Yeah, I echo those thoughts in 52 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: terms of I will remember that this team certainly did 53 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 1: not quit, but but that it also just it fell 54 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: so far short of expectations based on where everyone including us, 55 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: thought the season was going to go. A couple of 56 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 1: things that I will remember most about this season, more 57 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: more so specific moments than than overarching that I'll share. 58 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: One is that I will always remember the last play 59 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: of the game in London, because I'm always going to 60 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: wonder what might have happened had Aaron Rodgers not broken 61 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: his thumb and he you know, he got that broken 62 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:18,799 Speaker 1: thumb on the hail Mary attempt. When that whole second 63 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,360 Speaker 1: half in London went sideways for the Packers and and 64 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: U if that game doesn't come down to a Hail 65 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: Mary attempting that thumb is not broken, I'll always wonder 66 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: where this season might have gone. The other thing I'll 67 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: I will remember is the win in Christmas. Win on 68 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: Christmas in Miami for a couple of reasons. One, you 69 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: coming back to the press box after doing pregame radio 70 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: and telling me the story about making your way through 71 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: the hard rock nightclub or whatever that's buried somewhere in 72 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: hard rock stadium and uh, and the fact that you 73 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: came to the press box and didn't spend the game 74 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: in the nightclub. Appreciate it because we did have we 75 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: did have, we did have some work to do. Um. 76 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: But also just walking out of that stadium, walking out 77 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: of that press box in Miami on Christmas, after that 78 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: big victory and sort of going okay, like the playoffs 79 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: are actually a realistic possibility, Like that was the moment 80 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: for me. You know, I didn't I didn't really want 81 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: to to buy into everything with so much that had 82 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: to go right and so much that had to happen, 83 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: um and UH, and that weekend is kind of when 84 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: it came together and and the playoffs went from you know, 85 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: for for a team that had been four and eight, 86 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: went from being a total pipe dream to a very 87 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: realistic possibility, and the Packers ended up putting themselves in 88 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: that position. So that the feeling, the feeling of walking 89 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: out of that press box in in Miami on Christmas 90 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: is something I'll remember because that was that was the 91 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: first really truly uplifting feeling after a game that we 92 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: had had really quite some time, going way back to 93 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: to the Bero. Probably it's the walking out of the 94 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,920 Speaker 1: press box in Tampa Bay after the after the two 95 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: point victory, when the two point conversion was stopped and 96 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: you felt, Okay, Packers got a big road win here. 97 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: You know this, this is a good one. This will 98 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: mean something as the season goes along. And that feeling 99 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: didn't really come back, and at least for me, until 100 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,679 Speaker 1: the win on Christmas. No, because until that day everything 101 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: was kind of by the skin of their teeth. I 102 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: mean you kind of forget that, you know, you got 103 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: out of Chicago after being down nine points going into 104 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter against the Bears team that ultimately won 105 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: three games. The Dallas game went right down to the 106 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: wire like it was such a tight season. I mean, 107 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: I was thinking about that in the fourth quarter of 108 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: the Detroit game. I'm like, well, of course, this is 109 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: how this is gonna go, maybe not necessarily from the 110 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: losing standpoint, but that it was gonna come right down 111 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: to those last fifteen minutes because that's the way it 112 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: was absent basically one game the entire season for green Bay. Um. 113 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: But yeah, it is funny you go back and you 114 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 1: think about that game in Christmas. You hope everything ends 115 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:02,119 Speaker 1: up being okay for Tua, But those the three interceptions 116 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: back to back to back, the way that the tide 117 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: had finally shifted for Green Bay. You don't wish that 118 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: for Tongua Bloya at all in terms of the injury 119 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: and the long term implications of that. But it was 120 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: the first time for Green Bay it felt like, Okay, 121 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,839 Speaker 1: the floodgates had finally opened in their favor, as opposed 122 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: to a lot of these games where they had a 123 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: hard time taking the ball away early, then when they did, 124 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 1: they weren't scoring points off of it. That was the 125 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 1: game where it was like, Okay, maybe green Bay can 126 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: do something with h Yeah. Alright, My next question, do 127 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: you have a favorite play or favorite moment from this season, 128 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: the Christian Watson end around in Chicago, because that was 129 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: the one where it was like got him right. It 130 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: wasn't like a really good catch, it wasn't like a 131 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: really good throw. It wasn't this big interception, It was 132 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 1: a It was one of those plays where they just 133 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: caught the Bears with their pants down, I mean, honestly, 134 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: and unfortunately for Green Bay they were on the receiving 135 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: end of that a couple of times this season, but 136 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: in that specific instance, it went back in their aver. 137 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:02,119 Speaker 1: And as I was just talking about, when you lose 138 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 1: seven of eight, you come back in the fourth quarter 139 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: to win that game and score you know, however, what 140 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: was zero eight zero in the fourth quarter in Chicago? Yeah, 141 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: those were the Those are the turning point games. I 142 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: think it also was another reminder of this is what 143 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: this young man can really bring to this offense. I 144 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: think when you're talking about us getting back for the 145 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: off season program in April and then in o t 146 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: as a minicamp, Christian Watson is going to be the 147 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: big name because that is the brightest star right now 148 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: in this orbit for Green Bay. Yeah. Absolutely for me, 149 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: and that one certainly ranks up there for me. Although 150 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: it doesn't because I was actually sick and covering that 151 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: game from home. I was not in the press box 152 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: with you in uh in Chicago for that one. The 153 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: one for me is is Keshawn Nixon's hunter and five 154 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: yard kickoff return for a touchdown, because then I had 155 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: talked about this after the Vikings game, just that the 156 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: crescendo that was building with the crowd where you had, 157 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, first and goal in the one second, and 158 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: goal in the one third, and goal in the one 159 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: and the defense gets makes that goal line stand, gets 160 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 1: to stop, and the Vikings kicked the field goal. The 161 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: crowd was really into it with the way the defense 162 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,239 Speaker 1: had risen up in a difficult situation. And then Nixon 163 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: takes the ensuing kickoff, huge hole up the middle of 164 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: the field. We could see it from the press box. 165 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 1: It was sort of a by the time he got 166 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: to like the thirty yard line, it was like, oh 167 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: my goodness, like there's nobody going to stop him. And uh, 168 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: the fact, obviously that broke a really long streak, you know, 169 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: going back to Randall Cobb as far as a Packers 170 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: player taking a kickoff return, the distance and and all 171 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: that and what it meant, and you know, setting really 172 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: setting the stage for what became a big, a big 173 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: blowout win, and and setting things up for weekends. And 174 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: how much grief all the DBS and everybody we're giving 175 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: Nixon for being tackled at the seven the weeker, Yeah, 176 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 1: the week before, the week before in Miami's very I mean, 177 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: Devin Hester did it all the time, but it's very 178 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: rarely in the NFL do you see a guy have 179 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: a ninety three yard return or whatever it was and 180 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 1: then come back the next week. It was like, So 181 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: it's a lot of times those kids off returns, they 182 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: surprise you, right, you're not expecting them. And in this instance, 183 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: it was almost when he got that return at the 184 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: beginning of it, even before the whole opened, you're like, okay, 185 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: Keishaw Nicks and the ways returning the ball, are we 186 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: getting close here? Is this going to be it? And 187 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: obviously he punched it in. Yeah. All right. Um, I'm 188 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: gonna ask you for some various m vps in different categories. Here. 189 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: You get to pick first, and then I will have 190 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: to pick somebody else. Um, your offensive m v P 191 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: for Aaron Jones. He was the most consistent player for 192 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: them and Mike there when when Aaron Jones produced, the 193 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: Packers won football games. It's just the way this season went. 194 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't have the exact stats in front 195 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: of me right now, but show me the games where 196 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: he had over a hundred total yards, show me the 197 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: games where he scored multiple touchdowns. He was the ultimate 198 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: reflection of what this offense was doing. He finished the 199 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: season with a career high one thousand, one hundred and 200 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: twelve receiving rushing yards. I would have liked to have 201 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: seen the passing game work out a little bit more 202 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: for Green Bay in the backfield. They weren't as dynamic 203 00:09:57,320 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 1: in that area as I thought they were going to 204 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: be with the you know, the Poe only and some 205 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: of the stuff going into the season. But but certainly 206 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: keep this in mind too, Mike. He averaged five point 207 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: three yards per carry. Aaron Jones didn't have a carry 208 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: individually over thirty six yards on the season. His ability 209 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: just to run eight nine ten yards at a clip. Uh, 210 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: it was really a huge impact. I felt like in 211 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: this offense again, and he was a guy that was 212 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: there for them every week. Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with 213 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones offensive m VP. That would be my choice 214 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 1: as well. In order to pick somebody different, I'm gonna 215 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 1: say Christian Watson just because and I know he really 216 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: was only a big part of things for half the 217 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: season because of the injuries and and other things he 218 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: dealt with early on. But he changed Green Bay's offense 219 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: when the season was clearly going south, not going anywhere. 220 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: He changed things. He changed the way most defenses had 221 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: to defend green Bay. I mean that that stretch of 222 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: you know, eight touchdowns over a span of four games. 223 00:10:58,120 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: And I know the Packers even lost a couple of 224 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: those games. You know, Tennessee and Philadelphia were a couple 225 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: of games in in that mix there, but eight touchdowns 226 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: over four games from a rookie, I mean it was 227 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: absolutely unprecedented, and he completely changed the tenor and the 228 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: tone of how people felt about the Packers offense. So 229 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: he so he would be my pick. That line Tony 230 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: and Robert Tonyan told me to after the game against Detroit, 231 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 1: how he's like, you know, our offense kind of got 232 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: going when Christian got back. Yeah. I think it's it's 233 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: one sentence, but it really encapsulates how things went for 234 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: them this season. Yeah, wholeheartedly defensive m v P. I 235 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: mean it's Jayre. It has to be. I mean, he 236 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: he's a shutdown cornerback in every uh sense of the word. 237 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: For him to have five picks this year was big too. 238 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a guy that doesn't typically get thrown 239 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: out a lot um. He had to create some opportunities 240 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: for himself throughout the course here. I thought he really 241 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: improved his hands. There weren't as many drop picks as 242 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 1: there were his first few seasons. I mean, he had 243 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: five picks this year, the same amount as what he 244 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: had his first four seasons, which I guess was more 245 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: like three and a half. But still, you get the point. Uh, 246 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: A guy that got a big contract in the offseason, 247 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: a guy that welcomed the bright lights. You know, he 248 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: put down the challenge there to Justin Jefferson and the Vikings. 249 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: He met that challenge. I think the thing for green 250 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: Bay moving forward is finding even more ways to to 251 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: incorporate him into this defense. You know, I he's to 252 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: the point now, Mike, the way I look at him 253 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: where it's like, you know how we talk about you 254 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: build your offense around like your skill position players. It's 255 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:32,600 Speaker 1: almost getting to the point where it's like, you want 256 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: to build your defense around what Alexander does best, And uh, 257 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,319 Speaker 1: I think that's something Green Bay is really gonna have 258 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: to consider this offseason. Yeah, that's a valid point. Um. 259 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: Absolutely For me, my pick for defensive m VP is 260 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: Preston Smith. And I say that, Um, you know, no, 261 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: he didn't have the you know, dozen sacks that he 262 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: had you know earlier with you know, with the other 263 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: Smith bro previously in his time in Green Bay and 264 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: all that, and you know, I think he ended up 265 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: missing what is that a million dollar bonus in his 266 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: contract by like one and a half sacks or like 267 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: you did with one and a half. Story short, he 268 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 1: did pay and he didn't didn't quite didn't quite get there. Um. 269 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: But the reason I say Preston Smith is because this defense, 270 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 1: this defense was wildly inconsistent throughout the vast majority of 271 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: the season. It had even when the Packers were losing games, 272 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: It had stretches in those games where it looked really 273 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: really good and then suddenly things would turn and the 274 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: defense would look like it was really really struggling. I 275 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: thought Preston Smith was the most consistent, most reliable, most 276 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: dependable player on the defensive side of the ball. I 277 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: remember watching from the press box in Philadelphia one time 278 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: he got out of his rushing lane and Jalen Hurts 279 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 1: took off running. And that's one of the only times 280 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: I can remember watching a play, either from the press 281 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: box or looking on film where I just went, Wow, 282 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: Preston got like way out, way outside of himself there 283 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: and the defense got hurt. Right. You saw that with 284 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: a lot of other players throughout the course of the season, 285 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: and that one play in Philadelphia might be the only 286 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: really glaring negative mistake I saw Preston Smith make all season. 287 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, he's become a leader on the 288 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: defensive side of the ball. Maybe not as as vocal 289 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: as some other guys, but a leader on the defensive 290 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: side of the ball and just a rock solid, dependable 291 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: guy who I think is going to be a big 292 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 1: part of the foundation for this defense still moving forward. Yeah, 293 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: and he also remember what was asked of him after 294 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 1: Week nine, Right, Uh, that was the biggest travesty This 295 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: whole thing is we didn't get to see what him 296 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: and Rashaan Gary could do, right, Yeah, we only got 297 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: a half season of that. But when Gary goes down 298 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: it with all due respect to Kingsley, Nigbari, Jonathan Garvin 299 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:50,119 Speaker 1: and eventually Justin Hollins coming it was Preston like everybody 300 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: is going to look at their pass rush uh challenges 301 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 1: on a week to week basis and planned for that 302 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: being the top edge rusher. Uh. And if you think 303 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: about it, for so long, he was always the compliment nary, 304 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: consistent guy that's playing off another pass rusher. Well, this 305 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: year the Packicks didn't have that benefit, and I thought 306 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 1: he actually brought his game up to another level, was 307 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: more impactful during the second half of the season when 308 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: Gary wasn't available. So uh, certainly an accountable player that 309 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: is going to be a part of this thing for 310 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: years to come. Down Green Band, All right, now, you 311 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: can't pick the obvious, which is Keishaan Nixon. But who's 312 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: your special team's m v P aside from Nixon? Who 313 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: is you know, clearly the obvious choice here. But so 314 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: this is like picking you know, m v P number 315 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: two on special team And what's funny? Can I just 316 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: make one little comment about Nixon before we do that? 317 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: It's if we were really picking one Kishan Nixon's obviously 318 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: yet But everybody's going to talk about the kickoff returner thing. 319 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: Keishaan Nixon, what him and Ruby Ford brought his flyers 320 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: the first two months of the season that changed the 321 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: tenor of Packers punt coverage. There were a lot of 322 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: years there where if the punter is not placing the 323 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: ball correctly, there's a big opportunity for a return there. 324 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: I thought both of those guys, they gave them no 325 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: room to operate within All that being said that that 326 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 1: was that those two guys in that in those positions 327 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: and what they were doing was was a big part 328 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: of the culture change on special teams. I think is 329 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: what you're getting my guy is going to actually be 330 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: down Levitt though the other guy they brought in last year. Now, 331 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: Levitt was not without flaw as a player this season, 332 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: but it was that conversation I had with Kenny Clark 333 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: mentioning how him and Nixon they changed the culture of 334 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: special teams. You saw it so many times this year, Mike, 335 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: the way that Levitt approached coverage teams, the way he 336 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: approached some of those grittier aspects of this thing. Guys 337 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: like he he approached that phase of the game like 338 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: it was the offense at the twenty yard line with 339 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: two minutes to go, and you gotta punch this thing. 340 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 1: And he approached it like a defense on the goal line. 341 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 1: He had an energy level at that position that I 342 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: thought helped bring along your your Turek Carpenters. You're in 343 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: it gains your Isaiah McDuffie's who ended up leading the 344 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: Packers and coverage tackles this year. You bring in I got, 345 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: you know, so many different players throughout the course of 346 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,239 Speaker 1: this year that that ended up making an impact. And 347 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: I thought it really started with them bringing in Lovette 348 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: right before the beginning of training camp. Yeah, my pick, 349 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 1: my pick in this category obviously not being able to 350 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: pic NICs, and I certainly like Levitt as a choice 351 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: as well. This is going to be kind of an 352 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: odd pick, but I'm gonna pick Pat o'donnaldco. No, I'm 353 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: gonna pick Pat o'donald. And it's not because he had, 354 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: you know, a Pro Bowl season as a punter. Um 355 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: you know, he was certainly solid. There weren't any you know, 356 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: major issues in the punning game by any means, But 357 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: I felt like Pat O'Donnell was the guy, maybe more 358 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 1: than anybody else between the white lines who settled everything 359 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: down with the field goal operation and how everything had 360 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: gone so wrong with the field goal operation in one. 361 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: There weren't those issues in two, And it seemed almost 362 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: from the very beginning of the season with O'Donnell as 363 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: the holder, experienced guy done it for eight years and 364 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: Cargo or whatever it was, and he pat O'Donnell helped 365 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: get Mason Crosby back to being Mason Crosby and not 366 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: the guy we saw in two that you could tell 367 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 1: was was rattled and bothered by all of the issues 368 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: that were going on with with the operation as a whole. 369 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: So um again, you know the I thought, I thought, 370 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: what I thought. What O'Donnell did just as a just 371 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: as a calming presence in in that area was was 372 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: really impactful. And twenty four punts inside the twenty this 373 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: year too. For him, there weren't the typical kind of 374 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: shanks that have been sort of plagued in Green Band. 375 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: I mean, they were able to win the field position 376 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: battle a lot of times because of what him and 377 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 1: the Flyers were doing. Yeah, yeah, I agree, all right, 378 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 1: last one of this type for you, And again this 379 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: is where you don't get to pick Christian Watson because 380 00:18:49,880 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: he's the obvious choice rookie of the year. It's probably 381 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: the quietest that's ever gotten on Packers unscripted. Like I said, 382 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: I didn't, I didn't. I didn't give it because it's 383 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: easy to say kuway Walker. It's very easy to say 384 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: kway Walker. But I want to give a special acknowledgement 385 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: to Romeo Dobbs in this opera, in this chance, because 386 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: while Dobbs coming back from the ankle in Drew was 387 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: tough that first month of the season, Romeo Dobbs had 388 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 1: to be a lot more veteran of a player than 389 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: what Green Bay really had ever asked from a rookie. 390 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 1: Alan Lazard was dealing with the ankle and even you 391 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: know he had you had, you know, Sammy Watkinson's a 392 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: pull in the hamstring. They really leaned on Romeo Dobbs 393 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: the first two months of the year and that that 394 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: performance he had in Tampa Bay, Michael Agreement. If he 395 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: doesn't have three catches for seventy three yards in that 396 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:54,239 Speaker 1: touchdown early, Packers probably don't win that game. He I 397 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: think it is just his consistency level. I think there 398 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,640 Speaker 1: was probably that rookie wall a little bit he hit 399 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: the ankle did not help in in Detroit. Yeah, I 400 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: mean he ended up missing a solid month of and 401 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: and and that's the thing when you're talking about rookies too, 402 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: it's not just missing a month of games, it's missing 403 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: all those practice reps along the way as well. Romeo Dobbs, 404 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,240 Speaker 1: to me, did not look like the same player when 405 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 1: he came back from the ankle injury is the one 406 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: we saw before. Because what I will remember most about 407 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: dobbs rookie season where those two catches in Buffalo, and 408 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: I know that that game ended up in a loss. 409 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: Those two catches, the one in the end zone, which 410 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,359 Speaker 1: was actually right below us where the press box was 411 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: in Buffalo. We had a tremendous view of that touchdown catch, 412 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 1: and then the other one that was along the far sideline. 413 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: Those are the types of players that you just kind 414 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: of go, wow, this is this is a rookie playing 415 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: on the road in a primetime game and he's able 416 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: to do something like that. And again, unfortunately, he wasn't 417 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: really the same guy after the ankle injury when he 418 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: came back. But I still think there's a lot of 419 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: promise there with with Romeo totally and and also in 420 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: credit goes again and you might talk about it, but 421 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: you know quay Walker, the way he came out and 422 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: played as a first round pick. The thing was, though, 423 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: is he did have deve Andre with him there at 424 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: the beginning. There was a lot of stretches for Romeo Dobbs, 425 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: I mean it was him and Smart to rate like 426 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: these young guys had to play a lot more than 427 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: what I thought they were going to. I thought it 428 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: was going to be Lazard, Watkins and Cobb for the 429 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 1: first you know, two months of the year, and then 430 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: you start bringing along the rookies. The rookies had to play, 431 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: and I was impressed by the fact that Dobbs didn't 432 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: turn away from that. Yeah, and I'm going to take 433 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: this opportunity as far as picking a Rookie of the 434 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,120 Speaker 1: Year to to give a shout out to another young man, 435 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: and that's Zach tom On the you know, the fourth 436 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 1: round pick, fourth round pick out of Wake Forest. The 437 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: Packers asked him to The Packers asked him to play 438 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,199 Speaker 1: pretty much anywhere on the offensive line except center. I 439 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:48,120 Speaker 1: think you know, he didn't play, Yeah, he didn't play. 440 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:49,960 Speaker 1: He didn't play that in a game. But but he 441 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: did have to be the backup to Josh Meyers there 442 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: and and just so many times, and we talked about 443 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: it on this show at different times during the year 444 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: that he that he was thrown in kind of on 445 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 1: a now because of an injury or because of you know, 446 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: the example of of David Bactieri being a late you know, 447 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: late game scratch or you know, last minute scratch for 448 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: the game out in out in Washington. Um Zach Tom. 449 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: Zach versatility is a big buzzword that you hear, especially 450 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: at draft time, and it was and and it surrounds 451 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: a lot of offensive lineman that the Packers draft, and 452 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: this young man lived up to it in his rookie year, 453 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 1: doing everything that the Packers asked him to do. And 454 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: I think he can. He's potentially wherever they decided to 455 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: play him, wherever he settles in, you know, as as 456 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,920 Speaker 1: more of a full time player somewhere down the road. 457 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 1: I think Zach Tom has a chance to be a really, 458 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: really big part of the foundation of this offensive line 459 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 1: going forward. He's a young man who's already proven a 460 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 1: lot um in a in a rookie season in which 461 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: he wasn't really a full time starter. I just love 462 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: his footwork, I love his balance, I love his poise. 463 00:22:57,720 --> 00:22:59,879 Speaker 1: The only thing, as Aaron Rodgers said mid season, and 464 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:01,400 Speaker 1: it's just he just needs to get on a little 465 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: bit more weight, yeah, which knowing the end, and he 466 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: certainly looks like he has the body to be able 467 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: to he's a tall kid. Yeah, but it just it 468 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: was the playing left tackle after they planned the whole 469 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: week of Okay, Yosh is finally going to be a 470 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: right tackle in Washington, and then you don't have Dave, 471 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: so he has to play left tackle. You look, even 472 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:20,680 Speaker 1: last week he goes in at right tackle these last 473 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: couple of games because of the stinger that Josh Naiman 474 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: was dealing with. He never blinked in any of those instances, 475 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: and I think that boards really well for that young 476 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: man's upside. Yeah. Well, I want to shift gears here 477 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: in a minute, but before that, some sponsored business here. 478 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: West Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis 479 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 1: and up to the minute NFL news that true football 480 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: fanatics need seven three sixty five and at Cousin Subs, 481 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: we have something for everyone, like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, 482 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: Mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 483 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin 484 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: subs fifty years of better. Can I do one last 485 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: stat really fast? I was just looking over the staff pages. 486 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: Keishaw Nixon had eleven punt returns this year. He didn't 487 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: fair catch one, well, of course, not with with no 488 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: with no fair catches, not a not a one of them. 489 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: That that that that statistic probably more than the kickoff 490 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: return yards and the fifty plus returns on kickoffs all 491 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: those that he had. That statistic probably tells you more 492 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: about Keisha Nixon than that anything else. Eleven put returns, 493 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 1: not a single fair catch. That's a good one. I 494 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: like that. I'm glad you brought that up. Um before 495 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,160 Speaker 1: we go, I do want to get your thoughts on 496 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: wild Card weekend in the NFL. Who cares? Come on 497 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: with no? I'm kidding, yeah, let's talk about Smith. Well, 498 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: that that was That was where I was going to 499 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: start the two games on Saturday, Seattle at San Francisco, 500 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: Chargers at Jaguars. The second one far more compelling to me. 501 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: Justin Herbert against Trevor Lawrence in the playoff game, both 502 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 1: of these young quarterbacks making their playoff debut. Who's if 503 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 1: I'm not mistaken, Herbert's hasn't been in the playoffs yet, 504 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:05,680 Speaker 1: has he? Because they got because they lost the one 505 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: to the Raiders at at the end of the season 506 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: last year, So that that young quarterback matchup is uhum 507 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: is as good as it gets. As far as Seattle 508 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: at San Francisco, you know, I think I said this 509 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: on our last show. The way things turned out, um, 510 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: I really wish the Detroit Lions were going to San 511 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,679 Speaker 1: Francisco because I'd be just interested to see what a 512 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: Lions team that finished the season eight and two in 513 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: their last ten games might be able to do against 514 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: a Niners team that's one ten straight. And it's absolutely 515 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: on a roll here heading into the post. I am 516 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: with you on that, but I actually take the opposite 517 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: of you on this with Seattle. I'm really excited Seattle 518 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: made it because while they kind of faded late where 519 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: the Lions got on this big resurgence, the Seahawks were 520 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: the better team throughout the course of the year, from 521 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: Week one to Week seventeen. And and it's not just that, 522 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 1: it's the fact that Kenneth Walker you know, as an 523 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 1: Offensive Player of the Year or a Rookie Year candidate. 524 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 1: And the fact that Geno Smith threw for four thousand 525 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 1: yards at a hundred passer rating. You and I, Mike, 526 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:06,680 Speaker 1: if you go back. I don't know if it was 527 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: the bye week episode or when we talked about it, 528 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:10,439 Speaker 1: but we were asking, you know, is he gonna be 529 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: able to stay on this track here? Is he gonna 530 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: be able to keep this up? He did. He put 531 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: it together for an entire season. And I love these 532 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: stories because this is what makes the NFL great. There 533 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: are so many times where you you'll see a veteran 534 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: quarterback or you'll see a veteran player he kind of 535 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,919 Speaker 1: sticks around and sticks around. You're like, how is this 536 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: guy still here? How is he still doing this? Mike? 537 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: Do you remember some of the narratives around Gino Smith 538 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 1: when he'd have to go away? When Russell Wilson was down, 539 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people said some pretty nasty things about him. 540 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: When they made the decision to trade him, a lot 541 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: of people are like, seriously, you're going to the season 542 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: with Drew Lock and Geno Smith? Are you guys crazy? 543 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: And he proved them wrong. And the fact that it's 544 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: Seattle who was the front runner in the NFC West 545 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: to start this year versus the San Francisco forty Niners 546 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: that finished the way they did. I'm actually really excited 547 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 1: for that matchup. And and again, I don't know what 548 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:02,440 Speaker 1: the ratings are going to be Saturday night. I don't 549 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 1: know how many people are paying attention to Jacksonville Jaguars. 550 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: They were a fun football team to watch a little bit. 551 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: I got to see him, Christian Kirk. I will keep 552 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: saying it over and over again. I was a hud 553 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,440 Speaker 1: wrong on him in their decision to sign him and 554 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 1: give him the money they did. Uh, Doug, Doug Peterson, 555 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: Dude Again, anytime you think that the head coach doesn't 556 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: matter the National Football League, look at what the Jacksonville 557 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,640 Speaker 1: Jaguars did this year. It was a big, big reminder 558 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 1: of what head coaches can do. Yeah. The little bit 559 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: that I got to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars this year, 560 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: I was really really impressed with Uh, Trevor Lawrence's arm 561 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 1: and his fearlessness. Like this, I mean this kid, lets 562 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,040 Speaker 1: it rip as as the old saying goes, and and 563 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: quite frankly is reminiscent to me of what I started 564 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: to see with Justin Herbert in the Chargers last year. 565 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: A young quarterback with a really good arm who was 566 00:27:57,480 --> 00:28:00,119 Speaker 1: not afraid to let it fly, I mean, and that 567 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 1: that's uh. I think that's a really really intriguing young 568 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: quarterback matchup for opening round of the postseason. And credit 569 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: to Peterson man the thing that I think was one 570 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: of his undoings in Philadelphia, he corrected it. In Jacksonville. 571 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: They have Travis e t N. They fed Travis e 572 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: t N y James Robinson was traded. They didn't screw 573 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: around with it. They said, this is our running back. 574 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: And you're seeing how those two guys, those two clumps 575 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: and dudes have really played off of each other. Yeah. 576 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: Three games on Sunday, Miami at Buffalo, Giants at Vikings, 577 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: Baltimore at Cincinnati. UM, it's hard for me to picture 578 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 1: Miami since TWA is not back and they have to 579 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: go with Skyler Thompson. It's hard for me to picture 580 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: Miami giving Buffalo much of a game. Shout out though. 581 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: Hearing the news that Micah Hyde was back at practice, UM, 582 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,959 Speaker 1: they've opened the window for him to potentially be activated 583 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,920 Speaker 1: off of injured reserve. That that either maybe divisional round 584 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: or if the if the Buffalo Bills can advance to 585 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: the a f C Championship, there's a chance that Micah 586 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: Hyde could actually return this season. That kind of I 587 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: mean it, you know, fills my heart with some joy. 588 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 1: We both we both have our affinity for Micah and 589 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:12,360 Speaker 1: his time here. Um. But just just incredible news out 590 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:14,959 Speaker 1: of Buffalo, along with the course that Damar Hamlin has 591 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 1: been released from the hospital and now gets to continue 592 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 1: his rehab at home. Yeah, and DeMar Hamlin, certainly, we 593 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: continue to think about him and send positive vibes his way, 594 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: but you kind of forget that. I mean, Mica had 595 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: a pretty bad neck injury too earlier this year. That 596 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,160 Speaker 1: was kind of the original wake up called. The Bills 597 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: have taken so many hits at the safety position. Player 598 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: has been playing through some stuff too, so we'll see 599 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: if he plays or not. I don't know how that's 600 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: gonna work out. But but the fact that I was 601 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: worried when that injury happened Mica was gonna be done done. 602 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: So I mean to even have them potentially come back 603 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:48,480 Speaker 1: my season, that's pretty incredible. Well, the Giants and the Vikings, 604 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 1: they played a back and forth down to the wire 605 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: game on Christmas Eve one that we were watching on 606 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: our little TV screens on the flight to uh on 607 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 1: the flight to Miami came down to that sixty one 608 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: yard yield goal by Greg Joseph at the wire for 609 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: the Vikings to win it. Yeah, it's it's hard to 610 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:08,440 Speaker 1: it's hard to think of this, you know, rematch and 611 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: being so soon after after the first matchup, um being 612 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: really much different this This just feels to me like 613 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: a back and forth game that's that's probably gonna come 614 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: down to the last possession. And I think it's gonna 615 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:23,040 Speaker 1: come down to Daniel Jones too. If he protects the football, 616 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: I think the Giants have a really good shot in 617 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: this one. If he doesn't, if if Minnesota's defense makes plays, 618 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna be a tough, tough afternoon. Um. Here, the 619 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: thing that this kind of dovetailing is something I don't 620 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: want to talk about because we don't have the time 621 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: to talk about it. But probably one of my main 622 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: criticisms with the seventeen games schedule now, um is the 623 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: fact that we're getting a lot of these rematches and 624 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:48,560 Speaker 1: some of them were just played right and then and 625 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: the next one. Baltimore and Cincinnati just played last week 626 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: their division rivals. Um division rivals, and of course you 627 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: know Week eighteen or you know, regular season finales for 628 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 1: a long time now have been division games. And so 629 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: then if the playoff seating works out where you have 630 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: a division champ in a wild card and you know 631 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 1: they end up meeting again right away. Yeah, and and 632 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: like Dallas and Tampa, even though they're not the same division, 633 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: it feels like they've played each other forty eight times 634 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:16,320 Speaker 1: the last two seasons. Uh. Again, I don't want to 635 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:17,840 Speaker 1: turn into that kind of debate, but that that is 636 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 1: my only thing. I remember when you know, when you 637 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: had the twelve team won, you'd get some really interesting matchups. 638 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 1: You'd get the Packers in Philadelphia that you didn't see 639 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: every day, You'd get Packers in Atlanta. So that's the 640 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 1: one downside of this. But um, all that being said, Uh, 641 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: certainly for the Minnesota Vikings feeling a little bit better 642 00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: about themselves after the Bears win, I got to see 643 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 1: what they can do against the Giants. Yeah, Baltimore and Cincinnati, 644 00:31:40,840 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: it's hard. I mean, the news is not sounding good 645 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:45,400 Speaker 1: for Lamar Jackson being able to come back. And while 646 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,200 Speaker 1: Tyler Huntley is is probably one of the better, if 647 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: not the best, backup quarterback, especially with the scheme in yeah, 648 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: in you know, in the league, he's you know, Baltimore. 649 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 1: Baltimore is going to be in this game. But but 650 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: for all the attention that's been on Buffalo and Kansas 651 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 1: City and the f C, and rightfully so, Cincinnati has 652 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 1: been playing some pretty darn good football down the stretch. 653 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: And I think the Bengals are going to be a 654 00:32:07,840 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: really really tough out in the a f C. And 655 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,760 Speaker 1: and if the if the Ravens don't have Lamar Jackson, um, 656 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: I think, uh, it's hard for me to see the 657 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: Bengals losing that game. Ravens got to stop the run. 658 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,720 Speaker 1: If they stopped the run, uh and not and not 659 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: allow them to kind of just get into their type 660 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:26,720 Speaker 1: of offense, they have a chance. If you see Joe 661 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 1: Mixon going off a little bit here, that's when then 662 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,240 Speaker 1: you know, Chase stuff starts to happen. That's when the 663 00:32:31,280 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: higg And stuff starts to happen. Yeah, Monday Night, Dallas 664 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: at Tampa Bay. Um, you know, a few weeks ago, 665 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: this is what was looking like was going to be 666 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:43,600 Speaker 1: you know, the five, the five versus four matchup, and 667 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:47,360 Speaker 1: and it looked like, you know, Dallas would be, um, 668 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: you know, would would be everybody's picked to win. I'm 669 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: not so sure anymore. I mean, I still think the 670 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: Cowboys are going to win this game, but but that 671 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:59,960 Speaker 1: that Dallas defense didn't look so good against Gardner Minshew 672 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:02,200 Speaker 1: when he took over for Jalen Hurts. And you know 673 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: that the game against Philly a few weeks ago. And 674 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: then I don't know what to make of Dallas's performance 675 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: last week. I mean, were they really trying to win 676 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: that game? They were playing their guys, but yet you 677 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 1: look at you look at how that game went, and 678 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: Washington was playing Sam Howell at quarterback. I don't know 679 00:33:17,560 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: what to make of the Cowboys right now. I just don't. 680 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,400 Speaker 1: And and and maybe, um, maybe you know, maybe I 681 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 1: should just say, you know what, it's the postseason. Everybody's 682 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: zero and zero move forward. But um, you know what's 683 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 1: your saying is valid. You can't go half measuring these things. 684 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: I think I learned that last year with Detroit and 685 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,120 Speaker 1: Green Bay. Either you're playing or you're not playing. Just 686 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 1: figure that part of it out. To me, that looked 687 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: like a Cowboys team that knew they had nothing to 688 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: play for in that game, didn't want to maybe get hurt. Yeah, 689 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: they kind of knew that Philly was gonna win and 690 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:48,200 Speaker 1: win the division because the Giants were resting their guys 691 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: because the Giants were locked into the sixth seeds, so 692 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 1: they it was like, yeah, they assumed, they assumed that 693 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:57,240 Speaker 1: Philly was going to win, so they were going to 694 00:33:57,320 --> 00:33:59,240 Speaker 1: be the five seed. But yet they were still playing 695 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 1: their guys, and like you say, either either you play 696 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 1: or you don't play right, and and that whole that 697 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,920 Speaker 1: whole situation was just strange. The problem for Tampa's I 698 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: think it's a really difficult matchup to for them, just 699 00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:11,799 Speaker 1: with you know, the fact that they can't run the 700 00:34:11,840 --> 00:34:15,400 Speaker 1: ball at all. Tom Brady had the quietest yard passing 701 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: year I think maybe the match Shobby or in Houston. 702 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't remember a year like this. Word wait, 703 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: he threw for almost yards. But I just feel like, 704 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:29,640 Speaker 1: if you neutralize those weapons outside, even as bad as 705 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 1: Dallas played last week, you should still win this game. Yeah, 706 00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: I would think. So. I'm not saying they will, I'm 707 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 1: just saying they should last thing before we go. Who 708 00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:43,040 Speaker 1: do you think? What's your Super Bowl matchup? Who? Against whom? 709 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: There you got? All right? I've gone back and forth 710 00:34:46,280 --> 00:34:48,400 Speaker 1: on Buffalo, but I really feel like the Hamlin thing 711 00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,040 Speaker 1: is going to push them forward. I feel like they've 712 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 1: learned some stuff offensively. I'm gonna I'm gonna go with 713 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go with the Eagles and the and the Bills. 714 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 1: I think the Eagles are best team in a a 715 00:35:01,719 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 1: imperfect NFC. And if Jalen Hurts puts the shoulder behind him, 716 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:08,960 Speaker 1: if he really is okay in that regard, I just 717 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 1: think that they have enough weapons to kind of there's 718 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:14,400 Speaker 1: like a lot of gnats right in the NFC just 719 00:35:14,480 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: kind of kind of swapped them all away. If you 720 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 1: do that, you'll be fine. Um. I think that's probably 721 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,799 Speaker 1: the matchup. My matchup is gonna be is Buffalo and 722 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: San Francisco. I said weeks ago that I thought the 723 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:26,680 Speaker 1: forty Niners were were the best team in the NFC. 724 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 1: They're playing like it, and it doesn't seem like a 725 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:31,960 Speaker 1: whole lot has changed, even with brock Party taking over 726 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,760 Speaker 1: at quarterback. The Eagles getting jail and Hurts back certainly 727 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: makes me pause. But I'm just not sold on I'm 728 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,040 Speaker 1: just not sold on Philadelphia's defense based on what I 729 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: saw against the Packers, based on what I saw against 730 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,359 Speaker 1: the Cowboys. So I'm gonna go with San Francisco, even 731 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: with the rookie seventh round pick, the whole Mr. Irrelevant thing. 732 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,719 Speaker 1: At quarterback, I think the Niners. I think it's a 733 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: Niners and Bills in the Super Bowl. If you are 734 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 1: picking the Niners to make the Super Bowl, I'm going 735 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,520 Speaker 1: to throw you with an extra question. They make the 736 00:35:59,520 --> 00:36:01,640 Speaker 1: super Bowl, maybe even they win the Super Bowl, as 737 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 1: Brock pretty then you're starting quarterback moving forward. Probably not. Yeah, 738 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:08,880 Speaker 1: it's it's a Nick Foles, it's a Jeff Hostetler. I 739 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:14,880 Speaker 1: know that's probably too young. You weren't able to watch 740 00:36:14,920 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 1: that Super Bowl? Were you? Weren't You weren't. No, but 741 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:20,479 Speaker 1: I had processed trading cards. Okay, But yes, I think 742 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:23,560 Speaker 1: I to answer to answer your question, I think I 743 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: think it becomes one of those types of situations. I 744 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: don't think they just turn the keys over to Brock Porter. 745 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: How long that Leasha is next year for Trey Lanswering? Yeah, no, 746 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:34,360 Speaker 1: it that that's that's a valid question. Very valid question. 747 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:37,640 Speaker 1: All right, it has been fun. With that, we will 748 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 1: sign off on this edition of Packers unscripted, and actually 749 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:45,839 Speaker 1: we will be signing off somewhat indefinitely. We're calling this 750 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 1: our our season wrap up here, and just as the 751 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 1: show is unscripted, our return will be somewhat unscheduled. It 752 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: may happen because of breaking news, It may happen because 753 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 1: of other events going on. We will just have to see. 754 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 1: We're like your in laws. We just so to pop up. Yeah, 755 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 1: may during the during the off season, and we may 756 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:06,600 Speaker 1: just we may just pop into your computer screens or 757 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:10,400 Speaker 1: into your earbuds at random times. But I want to 758 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:13,880 Speaker 1: say thank you to everyone for for watching, for listening 759 00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:16,880 Speaker 1: all season long. We really appreciate the audience that we 760 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:20,600 Speaker 1: have for Wes. I am Mike. Thanks to all of you, 761 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: and we will see you next time.