1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is the one and only 3 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. I want to start today's 5 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: show picking up sort of where we left off yesterday 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: with regards to Mason Crosby, because what will go down 7 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,919 Speaker 1: in his career as one of the more emotional, one 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: of the more memorable games of his career for everything 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 1: that went into it. In the bigger picture, turns out 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: there was a little bit more to the story. And 11 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about is that forty seven yard field 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: goal in the snow on the slick field in the 13 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: second quarter, which at the time extended the Packers lead 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: over the Giants. It was actually outside the rain that 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: had been communicated to the head coach for where the 16 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: line was, the line of scrimmage the Packers needed to 17 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: get to, and yet Mason Crosby gave the head coach 18 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: the thumbs up. He's like, all right, I got this, 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 1: and he went out and nailed it. Yeah, it's incredible 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: if you take away everything else we discussed and what 21 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: he was dealing with off the field. Just in terms 22 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: of the actual mechanics of a field goal operation. It's 23 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: challenge because the conditions that Crosby kicked in before the 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: game had changed, and they when he came home up 25 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: was completely different than what he was dealing Within the 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: second they had rain and I think it one of 27 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 1: the reporters tweeted out, I mean, he had made from 28 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: fifty three, but it was raining then in the field, 29 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: was you know clear well by the time he went 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: out there in the second quarter for this actual forty 31 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: seven yard that that counts. Uh. Now, he was dealing 32 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: with the snow on the field. It's a field, turf 33 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: conditions and everything else that was happening at the time 34 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 1: with the wind and whatnot, and Crosby nails it. It's 35 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: one of those things that when you look at thirty 36 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: one to thirteen, eighteen point difference and score, it doesn't 37 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: seem like that big of a uh you know, a play, 38 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: so to speak. But again, as you kind of illustrated 39 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: when you go back to that moment, it was a 40 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: pretty critical time for the Packers to get three points 41 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: on the board, to get some production there, and Crosby, 42 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: as he always has done, came through. Well. Certainly when 43 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: you look at the fact that in the third quarter 44 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 1: of the game was seventeen to thirteen, those three points 45 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 1: were crucial at that time. He had just to sort 46 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: of give everybody the details of it. What had been 47 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: communicated to Matt Lafleur was that the target line going 48 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: in that direction, with the conditions and everything, they had estimated, 49 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: the Packers needed to get to the twenty seven yard line, 50 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: which would be a forty five yard field goal. That 51 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: was the range the Packers had fourth down. It was 52 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: either fourth and eight or fourth and ten. I'm not 53 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: sure exactly, but they're on the twenty nine yard line. 54 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: They were two yards two yards out, and Matt Lafleur 55 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: said in his press conference on Monday, he said, well, 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: I at least wanted to ask him, because if he 57 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 1: didn't feel comfortable, he wasn't going to send him out 58 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,799 Speaker 1: there to try it. But he asked him, He said, hey, Mason, 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: can you get it there? And Mason gave him, gave 60 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: him the thumbs up, and went out there and made 61 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: the kick. And obviously he made all four of his 62 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: extra points from the thirty three yard distance. But here's 63 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: my question for US. I was trying to think about this. 64 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: Crosby had those two fifty plus yard field goals in 65 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: Dallas in the playoffs, right, he had an overtime winner 66 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: against San Francisco. Last year, he had a chip shot, 67 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: you know, last second win one against Detroit. This year, 68 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: he had that big forty eight yard or in the 69 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: NFC Championship in Seattle that got that game to overtime 70 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: after the Packers had blown the lead. He kicked a 71 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: walk off game winner in the first game of his 72 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: NFL career in two thousand seven. I'm trying to figure out, like, 73 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: where where does this forty seven yard or in the snow? 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: No it wasn't the fourth quarter. No it wasn't the 75 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: game winner. But with all of the circumstances surrounding it, 76 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: with his family and everything that has gone on over 77 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: the last several months, I'm trying to, you know, figure 78 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: out where where to rank this one. I think it 79 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: goes somewhere in the top five or six of his 80 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: career um. And I don't even know if he would 81 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: necessarily have an answer to that question, but it's an 82 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: interesting one for a guy with a very decorated career. Yeah, 83 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'd put it on the Mount 84 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: rushmore because you look at that NFC Divisional game in Dallas, 85 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: those two those two kicks back to back, you know, 86 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: late in the fourth quarter, those were three kicks as 87 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: it turned out, because of the one that was the 88 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 1: time out was called. But yes, but you know, for 89 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: him to make it, that had huge implications for the 90 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: Packers to get to an NFC championship game. If Mason 91 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: Crosby the Packers make the Super Bowl in two thousand, 92 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: in the you know, in fifteen, whatever you wanna call it, 93 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: that would have been a high notebook item. That would 94 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: have been a sidebar. Oh my goodness, Crosby making that kick. 95 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: No one ever talks about it in terms of difficult 96 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: and he and he was five for five that day 97 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: as well. A couple of those were short ones, but 98 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: he had a couple of long ones that day in Seattle, 99 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: including the forty order right at the end to tie 100 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: it and three in the first half right to get 101 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,279 Speaker 1: the sixteen and nothing. But yeah, Packers that you know, 102 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: they need to rely on their kicker that day, and 103 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: their kickers stepped up. Here's so many times you hear 104 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: a team draft a left tackle, and they always use 105 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: the phrase your this is a guy that can be 106 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: a left tackle for a decade, twelve years. You know 107 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: this is gonna be your franchise. You can plug them 108 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: in there. You're not gonna think him out again. You 109 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: think about, you know, going back over the years with 110 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: the Chad Clifton's although that was a second rounder, Brian Blaga, 111 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: you're set. No one ever discusses a lot what it 112 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: means to have a kicker who can just be put 113 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: in there for ten fifteen years and you don't have 114 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 1: to think about it. I think you saw this here 115 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: with the New England Patriots, what they're dealing with right now. 116 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: Stephen Giskowski gets hurt earlier in the season, and then 117 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: you know they're in a position where they're recycling through 118 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: all these different kickers because you know, they're just aren't 119 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: that many guys, Mike, that can do it at that level, 120 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 1: that have the leg talent ability and act or see 121 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: and then on top of that, have this iron clad 122 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: reserve to be able to just tone everything out and 123 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: do to the job and execute it under just incredibly 124 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: pressure packed situations. And we're talking about guys here, Mike 125 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: that play ten snaps a game, eight snaps a game. 126 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: Most of their day is spent sitting on the sideline 127 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: waiting for a chance to impact the football game, positively 128 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: or negatively. You also, I go back to Adam Venytaria 129 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: earlier this season when he was really struggling and we 130 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: sort of intimated that, okay, he might just retire. He's 131 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 1: forty seven, whatever it is now this is maybe it 132 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: colts winter and said, no, we need here even despite 133 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: some of the things are struggling and we need you, 134 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: and he's and he's still he's still struggling. He's still 135 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: trying to battle, battle through some things and help out 136 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: that team that's trying to make the playoffs. But someone 137 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: mentioned an insider inbox lately like, hey, it does it? 138 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: Is it just me? Or does it seem like there's 139 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: more miss kicks this here? There really are. I've not 140 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: done the full research yet. I'm looking forward to the 141 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: end of the season, once all the chips are down 142 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: to really look at it compare. But at first glance, 143 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: there is a huge disparity between how many kickers were 144 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: over last year and how many are well doing underneath 145 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,239 Speaker 1: this year. Fortunately for Green Bay, despite everything that Mason 146 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: has been going through this year, he's having a career 147 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: year right now. He hasn't had the most field goal attempts, 148 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: but to make, he hasn't had as many as he's 149 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: had in other years, but his percentage is certainly way up. 150 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: To make fourteen and fifteen is really key. And I 151 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: want to make this point too quickly. A lot of 152 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: people and I'm not gonna name names here, and it's 153 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 1: not just local media's nationally they're very quick to write, Hey, 154 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: Crosby has bounced back after an inconsistent two thousand eighteen season. 155 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: I take a major objection to that. He had one 156 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: god awful, terrible, got to forget about a game, and 157 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: he had brutal game. It was one of four, one 158 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 1: of five on field goals, and then he miss an 159 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: extra points extra point as well. Yeah, if you take 160 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: week six, and I tweeted this during the game, if 161 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: you go back and you go from week six on, 162 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: he's thirty three of thirty six and his last kicks 163 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: he actually managed to get his field goal percentage up 164 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: to when you missed that many kicks in a game. Yea, 165 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: that is not an easy thing to do. Crosby did 166 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: it thirty five years young, and he's still going at 167 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: it here for Greenbay. Yeah, And I tell you I've 168 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: said it an insider inbox. A couple of times kickers 169 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: you can rely on. And not every kicker is going 170 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: to make all the kicks. You get that part of it. 171 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: But a kicker you can rely on and have confidence 172 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: in is worth his weight in gold in this league. 173 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: Just just look at where the Carolina Panthers are right now. 174 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: Because Fry missed the twenty eight yard or in New Orleans, 175 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: they end up losing on a last second field goal 176 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: the other way, and then they blow a fourteen point 177 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: lead to Washington at home last week, and the Panthers 178 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: season is pretty much over there now. They're now five 179 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 1: and seven, having lost to the Packers, the Saints, and 180 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: the Redskins, all very very late in the game where 181 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: for a lot of reasons they couldn't pull things out. 182 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: But I just I think that twenty yard missed kick 183 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: by Fry at the super domin New Orleans just just 184 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: took all the life out of Carolina. Was was that 185 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: friar sly? Oh, I'm sorry, okay, I was sicking. Was 186 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: there another kicker that they had too, and if they did, 187 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: you're right in going into that game against Green Bay. 188 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: That was one of the things that I had written 189 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: in one of the preview copy and with some of 190 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: the things we were discussing, he was working through some 191 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: things there. And here's the thing, Mike, that position it is. 192 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: I don't want to like start throwing out like you know, 193 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: golf cliches and tin cup and things like that, but 194 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: that's okay. I like, yeah, But like the chili differ 195 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: references in terms of you have that first one that 196 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,560 Speaker 1: goes wrong, you kind of laugh it off, and you 197 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 1: get the second one that goes wrong and you start 198 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: to look in the mirror. The thing that I love 199 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: about Mason Crosby and that's what it has allowed him 200 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: to stick around this long and execute as well as 201 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: he has because coming out of Colorado he had a 202 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: massive leg right that's why he was a sixth round pick. 203 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: But it's the mental fortitude, in disposition and mentality to 204 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: go out day after day trust your process. And he 205 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: talks about that a lot. It's not it's more than 206 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: a cliche. That's the truth. Trust your process. That's what 207 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: allowed him to get through two thousand twelve, which is 208 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: eons ago now and go on to have really successful 209 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: and then be in a position. Now we'll see how 210 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: this all shakes out. But I think you can make 211 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: a really good case. You know, this could be his 212 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: best case right now for a Pro Bowl type season. Yeah, 213 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: I would. I think is having a great year in Arizona. 214 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: But I mean I would, I would love. I would 215 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: love to see that happen for Crosby. And it cracks 216 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: me up when people always continue to mention two thousand 217 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: and twelve with him, because he's now actually kicked more 218 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: seasons since then than he did leading up to that, 219 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: that off year in two thousand twelve. But I totally 220 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: agree with you about last year as well, that people 221 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: point that as an off year. No, it was. It 222 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: was a bad game. And yeah, since then, the guy 223 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: has been rocks On. Yeah, I mean, if you throw, 224 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: I mean Brett for one of his luckiest things ever 225 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: when he threw in a set than interceptions against the Ram, 226 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: the Rams all those years ago in the playoffs. That 227 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: was six of them. Actually, yeah there, that wasn't during 228 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: the regular season. It didn't count, right, it doesn't. It 229 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: doesn't count towards the record that he holds anyway, but 230 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: could continue. But in terms of what his season would 231 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: have looked, right, Yeah, that's unfortunate thing for Mason. Doesn't 232 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: happened when it did. But if you look at it, Mike, 233 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: up until two thousand and twelve, he was escalating every 234 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 1: year improvement, improvement, improvement, had his best season in two 235 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: thousand eleven statistically struggles and twelve, and then refound found 236 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: himself came out better for it. On the other side. Yeah, 237 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: absolutely well. I mentioned Carolina losing to Washington this past week, 238 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: and we will talk a lot more about Washington on 239 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,079 Speaker 1: tomorrow show as we start to preview Sunday's game at 240 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: lambeau Field. But we do need to, as I promised 241 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: on yesterday show, we would get to where things sit 242 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: in the NFC as far as the whole playoff picture. 243 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 1: Coming off of Monday Night football, the Seattle Seahawks beat 244 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings whale of a football game, um May 245 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: in game really very entertaining. Seattle gets the win. Seattle 246 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: improves to ten into the Vikings fall to eight and four, 247 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: so the Packers are back to their one game lead 248 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: over Minnesota in the NFC North. A few consequences to 249 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: this as far as um the Packers and and the 250 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: picture are concerned. As far as the big picture goes, 251 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: Seattle now technically is leading the NFC West. They're tied 252 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: with San Francisco at ten and two, but they beat 253 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: them in the one head to head game to this point, 254 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: which actually, if you do that whole if the season 255 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: ended today, which I always think it's kind of silly 256 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: because it doesn't. But for the purposes of discussion, the 257 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: ten and two forty Niners are actually the five seed 258 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: because they would be a wild card at this stage 259 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: of things. And the other thing that this result does 260 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 1: for the Packers, not that you want to think of 261 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 1: it in this terms, because you're shooting for the moon. 262 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: You're going you're trying to get get into the playoffs, 263 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,719 Speaker 1: get the best seed you can. But the Packers can 264 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: actually win the NFC North without having to beat Minnesota again. 265 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:12,680 Speaker 1: If the Packers beat Washington, Chicago and Detroit, they will 266 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: be NFC North champs. The Packers are at the stage 267 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: now where if they get to twelve wins, whether it's 268 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: by winning the other three or whether it's by beating 269 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: Minnesota along the way. However, the Packers get to twelve wins. 270 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: Twelve wins wins the NFC North for green Bay right 271 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: now because of the tiebreakers. Yeah, and here's I'm not 272 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: trying to actually just regurgitate the win, you know, want 273 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: to know, let's focus on this week mentality. But the 274 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: reason I say that is because the Packers did what 275 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: they were supposed to do against the Giants, they need 276 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: to replicate that again now against Washington. Absolutely that has 277 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: to happen. But that Bears game is looking a lot 278 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: different now with the way that they're starting to pull 279 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: themselves together. If you get a Keen Hicks back for 280 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: that game, that is a big, big boost for their defense, 281 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: and then you're gonna have a test are going into Minnesota. 282 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: But the reason I want to bring that up is 283 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 1: I like the way this aligns for green Bay. You 284 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,080 Speaker 1: get a chance here against the Giants, and if you 285 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: take care of business against Washington to get yourselves on 286 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 1: a winning streak to start feeling good about yourself, then 287 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: you're gonna have a step up in competition, as it 288 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: looks like on paper right now with Chicago, and then 289 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: you're gonna go another step versus Minnesota. And then you 290 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: see where the chips are and then go into Detroit, 291 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: hopefully in a situation where you can either tie some 292 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: things up or if everything else works out, okay, maybe 293 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: you're looking to kind of do a mini run the 294 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: table here going into the playoffs. Whatever the case may be, 295 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: Minnesota still is incredibly dangerous. Now. The thing that stood 296 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: out to me in this game, other than just a 297 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: jackal and hide first half and second half performance. For 298 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: whatever reason, and I don't know if it's the offensive line, 299 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly what the construct is. They are 300 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:53,800 Speaker 1: having a difficult time getting the run game going in 301 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: these last three two or three games. So much attention 302 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: is put on Kirk Cousins and they are going to 303 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 1: beat that storyline to deaths Monday night thing. We're gonna 304 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: be hearing about that all the way leading up to 305 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: that December twenty three game at US Bank Stadium. And yeah, 306 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: I mean, Kirk Cousins got to get tired of that. 307 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: And here's the thing. He needs to play better. No question, 308 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: there were mistakes made down the stretch, but if Minnesota 309 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: can't get Dalvin Cook going here and we got to 310 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: see what the status is with his injury and this 311 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 1: clavical and everything that's going on. You can only put 312 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 1: so much of this on cousin shoulders. I've been trying 313 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: to say all year long, and I know there's a 314 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: lot of Vikings fans that watch the show, but I've 315 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: been trying to say all year long, Kirk Cousins is 316 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 1: a good, great quarterback in this league. Much like the 317 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: kicker conversation. There aren't a whole lot of guys on 318 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: the level of Kirk Cousins, but he has flaws. N 319 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: nine per of the quarterbacks in this league at any 320 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: given time have flaws, and the problem for Minnesota is 321 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: when they lose when he struggles, they just don't have 322 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: the people picking them up. I thought in the first half, 323 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: you saw that. I thought when they got the forced 324 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: fumble and returned for a touchdown, I think it was 325 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: a fumble, right, would you call that it was an interception? 326 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: The ball was deflected a couple It was deflected a 327 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: couple of times, but then it was picked off before 328 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: it hit the ground. Yeah, that's where the turning point 329 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: was for me in that game. I thought, Okay, Minnesota, 330 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: this is what they need, and then they come out 331 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: flat in the second half. Seattle is dangerous, and they 332 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: challenged Russell Wilson to throw from the pocket. He accepted 333 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: that challenge and did a lot of damage during those 334 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: last thirty minutes. Yeah, I took two things out of 335 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 1: that Minnesota Seattle game. One is that I think both 336 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: of those teams who will be playing in January, and 337 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: both of them will be very tough outs in January, 338 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: no question about it. The other thing is that I don't, yes, 339 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: it has it has major impact in the standings, the seatings, 340 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: the records and all that kind of stuff. The fact 341 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: that Seattle won the game, I don't put a whole 342 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: lot into Okay, Seattle one and they're just better than 343 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: Minnesota because for a couple of reasons. One, it was 344 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 1: a primetime game on the road for the Vikings, which 345 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: just asked the New England Patriots going down to Houston, 346 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: primetime games on the road, asked the Packers going to 347 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: San Francisco. Those are the toughest games in this league 348 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: to win when you have to be on the road 349 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,879 Speaker 1: at night. But the other thing I'll say is just 350 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: look at the way that game went west. That game 351 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: was completely dictated by the turnovers. Minnesota gets the pick six, 352 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: They're in control of the game. The second half, Dalvin 353 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: Cook fumbles, Cousins throws a pick, Seattle gets all the 354 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: momentum and starts going the other way, and Seattle's on 355 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 1: the verge of putting that game away, and DK Metcalf 356 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: fumbles and all of a sudden, Minnesota then starts to 357 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: rally and ends up with a shot at the bit 358 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,879 Speaker 1: at the comeback at the end that that game was. 359 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 1: That game just screamed how huge turnovers are in the 360 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 1: NFL and how they affect games, because it was just 361 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: going back and forth that way. And that's the one 362 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: thing I will say about the Packers. And you talk 363 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: about flaws, I know the Packers have their flaws. They 364 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: have their flaws on both sides of the ball. But 365 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: the thing that they have done so well this year 366 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: is offensively they have they have protected the football and 367 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: defensively they have taken it away. And that is a 368 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: way that you can win any game you have to 369 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: play in this league. And that's what the Packers are 370 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: going to take with them into the stretch run and 371 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: hopefully into January into the postseason, is that they are 372 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 1: a team that way more often than not, wins the 373 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: turnover battle, and uh and you know that's that, that's 374 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: why this is that this is the greatest anything can 375 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: happen league. Yeah, it is, Mike. And the thing that 376 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: I think sometimes fans get blindsided by. And I don't 377 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: understand why, because it's been two years since the Packers 378 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: have really played winning football. You are nine and three 379 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: right now. You are a good team with flaws. There's 380 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: a huge difference right now and this thing being a 381 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: great team with some flaws as opposed to being a 382 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: bad football team. There are bad football teams on every 383 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: channel every Sunday. You have to be thankful for where 384 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: you're at in the way this is Mike. If you 385 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: line up, if you take away all the team names, Okay, 386 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put them all up on your whiteboard. You 387 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,679 Speaker 1: take away all the team names, you put down the 388 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: last five four or five games here on the schedule 389 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: for all those teams which schedule are you taking In 390 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: a lot of cases, you're taking Green Bays. When you 391 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: look at what New Orleans is dealing with, when you 392 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 1: look at what Seattle has coming up, and when you 393 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: look at San Francisco, and then by the way, you 394 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: got the Rams trying to factor into all this as well, 395 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 1: and they can, and they kept themselves very much in 396 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: the thick of things with a win over Arizona and 397 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 1: the fact that Minnesota lost. The Rams are not only 398 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: one game behind the Vikings and and two games behind 399 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: the Packers at seven and five. They're lingering. They have 400 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: they have a tough schedule, but they are the defending 401 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: conference champson if they get go and look out. Yeah, 402 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: And this is where I think, for Green Bay's sake again, 403 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to just preach this one and no thing. 404 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: I don't want to know. Fans sometimes get tired of that. 405 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: But if you just control what you can control in 406 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: front of you, if you can get to twelve and four, 407 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: thirteen and three. I wrote this an inbox this morning, 408 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: good things are going to happen for you. It's just 409 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 1: all gonna line up. I mean, those seas are going 410 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: to part. Now. You need a little bit of help 411 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: to get in the buy conversation. But Wins has you 412 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: in that orbit. And it starts and continues on Sunday 413 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: against Washington, Sunday against Washington, And as you say, it 414 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: will be one at a time and we will get 415 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: to our discussion in Washington on tomorrow show, and a 416 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,399 Speaker 1: little more detail. For now, we will call it a 417 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to 418 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team on packers 419 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: dot com, subscribe to us, like us on iTunes and 420 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: other podcast services, and check out the Packers YouTube channel 421 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,160 Speaker 1: for West. I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See 422 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: you next time.