WEBVTT - #383 Packers Unscripted: One last chance 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:20.840 Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.880 --> 0:00:24.960 I am Mike Spofford sitting alongside my trusted colleague West Hodkuits. 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:27.960 We're coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 0:00:28.040 --> 0:00:30.280 Field and West. It's our final show of the week 0:00:30.400 --> 0:00:35.919 as we preview Packers Jets Sunday noon Central time kickoff 0:00:36.360 --> 0:00:39.559 from the Big Tin Can in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 0:00:40.360 --> 0:00:42.560 And at the end of the week here that means 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:45.519 keys to victory. So with the Jets at four and 0:00:45.600 --> 0:00:48.879 ten the Packers at five, eight and one, where do 0:00:48.880 --> 0:00:50.760 you want to start with? But make it real easy 0:00:50.840 --> 0:00:53.400 for you, Michael, Okay, The Green Bay Packers need to 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:56.320 stop Sam Donald. They need to pressure Sam Donald. They 0:00:56.360 --> 0:00:58.040 need to be able to take away the football from 0:00:58.040 --> 0:01:00.800 Sam Donald. The big reason why year one, he's a 0:01:00.880 --> 0:01:03.840 rookie quarterback. That's what the game's like in the NFL. 0:01:04.560 --> 0:01:07.360 Even these guys that are going to have really bright careers, 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:09.959 we know how difficult it is making that jump from 0:01:09.959 --> 0:01:13.959 the college level to the NFL. Donald's numbers are pretty 0:01:14.040 --> 0:01:16.880 distinctly different when you look at the games in which 0:01:16.920 --> 0:01:19.319 they won with him as a starting quarterback. They are 0:01:19.360 --> 0:01:21.360 three and one right now with him if he's gone 0:01:21.400 --> 0:01:24.080 over an ad passer rating, they are o N six 0:01:24.080 --> 0:01:26.479 with him as a starting quarterback when they fall beneath that. 0:01:27.120 --> 0:01:30.360 Fourteen touchdowns, fifteen interceptions on the season, fifty six point 0:01:30.440 --> 0:01:34.839 seven accuracy on his passes, so it's been a trying 0:01:34.920 --> 0:01:37.880 season for him as they try to find themselves offensively. 0:01:38.160 --> 0:01:41.640 They obviously already lost Isaiah Kwel for the season. He's 0:01:41.640 --> 0:01:45.000 out um. Offensively, they're trying to find themselves in as 0:01:45.000 --> 0:01:48.200 an identity. It seems like they're getting back home with 0:01:48.320 --> 0:01:50.520 Robby Anderson and being able to get him going again. 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:53.120 But at the end of the day, the numbers are 0:01:53.160 --> 0:01:55.040 what they are. They don't lie. The Packers need to 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:57.240 be able to take away the football from Sam Donald. Yeah, 0:01:57.240 --> 0:02:00.200 and I think the Packers have to be careful in 0:02:00.280 --> 0:02:02.960 the sense of we've been talking all week long about 0:02:03.040 --> 0:02:06.120 the Packers motivations and wanting to finish strong and guys 0:02:06.200 --> 0:02:09.520 wanting to be the pros that they are. I think 0:02:09.520 --> 0:02:12.240 the Packers have to be careful not to us underestimated 0:02:12.320 --> 0:02:17.320 just how motivated this Jets tea could possibly be. Because 0:02:18.240 --> 0:02:20.720 when you talk about Sam Donald, this is a rookie 0:02:20.760 --> 0:02:24.240 quarterback who no matter what the Jets record is, he 0:02:24.400 --> 0:02:27.520 is taking the field every single time to prove I 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:29.960 am the future of the franchise. I am the leader 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:32.880 of the franchise. I need to live up to what 0:02:33.200 --> 0:02:37.240 this organization has invested in me with that very very 0:02:37.320 --> 0:02:41.080 high draft pick from last spring. And we saw last 0:02:41.120 --> 0:02:43.920 week the Houston Texans fell asleep a little bit. They 0:02:43.960 --> 0:02:48.760 got they got a sizeable lead, couple score lead, fell 0:02:48.840 --> 0:02:51.000 off the pace, so to speak. The Jets came all 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:52.639 the way back on them and took the lead. Now 0:02:52.680 --> 0:02:55.240 that that was potentially a loss that would that would 0:02:55.320 --> 0:02:59.240 damage Houston's you know, playoff seating, playoff picture and everything. 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:01.520 They got their act together in time to still and 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:05.880 come back and win the game. But these rookie quarterbacks, 0:03:05.880 --> 0:03:07.880 and I don't care if you're talking about Josh Rosen 0:03:07.919 --> 0:03:10.480 and Arizona who the Packers saw a few weeks ago, 0:03:10.680 --> 0:03:13.119 or Sam Donald. Here with the Jets, this is going 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:16.160 to be a motivated club, even though all the writing 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:18.359 is on the wall that their head coach is probably 0:03:18.400 --> 0:03:21.200 out the door. Um the Jets are. The Jets are 0:03:21.240 --> 0:03:23.119 out to play every week, and they're out to beat 0:03:23.160 --> 0:03:25.960 you because because they are playing for the future with 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:28.240 this quarterback. Well, and this is what I'm most interested 0:03:28.280 --> 0:03:30.359 to see. What Donald going into this game is a 0:03:30.440 --> 0:03:33.799 fact that statistically he's coming off a good performance against 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:37.720 the Texans thirty eight passing for two fifty three, two touchdowns, 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:41.760 no turnovers in that ball game for him, that's a 0:03:41.800 --> 0:03:44.320 real solid effort against a playoff team. Yeah, that was 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:46.280 only the third time this year he's not had a 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:50.119 turnover in a game, So that that's a great performance. Now, 0:03:50.160 --> 0:03:52.880 how do you follow that up after you lose that game? 0:03:53.520 --> 0:03:56.160 Does that further motivate you to be able to come 0:03:56.160 --> 0:03:58.560 out now you're you know, defend your home turf after 0:03:58.600 --> 0:04:01.200 you gave one up last week? Or is that kind 0:04:01.200 --> 0:04:03.320 of a backbreaker. You can see those things go either 0:04:03.360 --> 0:04:05.880 way for them. Definitely the big thing that they're going 0:04:05.920 --> 0:04:07.760 to have to do that they lacked last week because 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:10.040 they they have to be able to establish a running 0:04:10.040 --> 0:04:11.600 game and they've just not been able to do that 0:04:11.640 --> 0:04:15.240 without Crowel. So for the Packers perspective, you're coming off 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:19.000 a really solid performance despite not having Kenny Clark, Mike 0:04:19.080 --> 0:04:20.960 Daniels and all your the rest of your starters on 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:24.239 that defensive line. They did a really solid job against 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:26.640 Jordan Howard and company. They have to build upon that. 0:04:26.839 --> 0:04:30.360 So I think that seeing that specific, we can talk 0:04:30.440 --> 0:04:32.200 until we're blue in the face about Aaron Rodgers and 0:04:32.279 --> 0:04:34.840 Davante Adams and what this offense could do against their defense. 0:04:34.920 --> 0:04:37.719 But I think this game ultimately will be decided and 0:04:37.760 --> 0:04:40.680 how Mike Petton making his return to New York, how 0:04:40.760 --> 0:04:44.760 his unit really stands up to what the Jets offer offensively. Yeah, 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:48.320 and when I look at this from a bigger picture perspective, 0:04:48.400 --> 0:04:51.000 and you know, we've talked about obviously the Packers trying 0:04:51.040 --> 0:04:52.919 to get their first road win of the year, not 0:04:53.240 --> 0:04:55.960 end the season winless on the road, and all of 0:04:56.000 --> 0:04:58.119 that and what that can mean for the young guys, 0:04:58.200 --> 0:05:00.560 especially the rookie class. In the locker room, we discussed 0:05:00.600 --> 0:05:03.080 all of that. You know, really for the Packers, it 0:05:03.160 --> 0:05:08.800 comes down to avoiding those lulls in the game, those 0:05:08.960 --> 0:05:11.560 those down spots. Now, every game is gonna have its 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:14.520 ups and downs, but the whole key is is to 0:05:14.640 --> 0:05:17.200 not let those, you know, those down moments for the 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:20.000 team affect you too much. And all you have to 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:23.480 do is look at last week's game against Chicago, late 0:05:23.520 --> 0:05:26.120 second quarter the scores seven to three. The Packers have 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:28.600 the ball. They have second and three deep in their 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:32.640 own territory, looking to get a first down and then 0:05:32.680 --> 0:05:35.440 go into two minute mode and potentially get you know, 0:05:35.560 --> 0:05:37.640 either a touchdown and take the lead by half or 0:05:37.760 --> 0:05:39.800 maybe get a field goal get it to seven to six. 0:05:40.920 --> 0:05:43.520 From second and three. You have an incomplete pass and 0:05:43.560 --> 0:05:45.520 a run on third and three that comes up short. 0:05:45.560 --> 0:05:48.120 You pump the ball back to the Bears, and then 0:05:48.960 --> 0:05:51.160 at the same time the offense is just let you down. 0:05:51.200 --> 0:05:54.039 The defense lets you down and allows a touchdown drive. 0:05:54.120 --> 0:05:56.400 So instead of seven to six, you're down fourteen to 0:05:56.520 --> 0:05:59.159 three at the half. The same thing happened in the 0:05:59.160 --> 0:06:02.719 fourth quarter. The Packers get the turnover, it's a tie game, 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:06.880 but the offense goes three and out a huge letdown. Well, 0:06:06.920 --> 0:06:09.920 then the defense also has a letdown right after that 0:06:10.000 --> 0:06:13.080 as well and allows to go ahead touchdown drive. And 0:06:13.480 --> 0:06:16.720 so it's it's these it's these lulls in things that 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.800 last for just a few minutes, one possession here or there, 0:06:19.839 --> 0:06:22.600 but they kind of end up becoming connected. And then 0:06:22.640 --> 0:06:26.359 that's how the Packers always find themselves behind, playing with 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:28.640 their backs against the wall, so to speak on the road. 0:06:29.440 --> 0:06:31.880 You've got to find a way to stem the tide 0:06:31.920 --> 0:06:34.599 in those situations, whether it's converting on that third down 0:06:34.600 --> 0:06:37.000 on offense to keep the ball, or if the offense 0:06:37.080 --> 0:06:39.159 goes three and out, the defense has got to go 0:06:39.200 --> 0:06:40.840 out there and get the three and out and get 0:06:40.880 --> 0:06:43.159 the ball right back. And those are the kinds of 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:45.560 things that have just that have plagued this team away 0:06:45.600 --> 0:06:49.120 from lambeau Field all season long. You'd like to see 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:52.479 them get through a road game without having one of 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:55.840 these significant dips in play where the momentum just completely 0:06:55.880 --> 0:06:58.680 shifts to the other team. Yeah, And I mean you said, Mike, 0:06:58.760 --> 0:07:00.880 you can take a number of different examples from this 0:07:00.960 --> 0:07:03.359 season with the Packers and when they've struggled with this. 0:07:03.400 --> 0:07:04.800 But I mean, I really do go back to that 0:07:04.880 --> 0:07:07.000 third quarter against Chicago and that you know, they just 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:10.040 were able to get up, They had an answer, They 0:07:10.400 --> 0:07:13.120 looked good where things were heading after that Mason Crosby 0:07:13.200 --> 0:07:16.760 field goal, get some points after the half, and then 0:07:16.920 --> 0:07:19.000 you know, and then you also get the Jamal Williams touchdown. 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:21.120 But then you get into the fourth quarter and things 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:22.600 start to get away from you a little bit. You 0:07:22.640 --> 0:07:24.160 start to stall out a little bit. You get back 0:07:24.200 --> 0:07:26.680 to back three and notes and you saw how that 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:28.960 change the course and the tide to that football game 0:07:29.000 --> 0:07:31.680 for the Packers and then conversely where the Bears were 0:07:31.720 --> 0:07:35.120 able to really separate. And to further my point, when 0:07:35.120 --> 0:07:37.720 you have the second three and out on offense, then 0:07:37.760 --> 0:07:40.080 your special teams lets you down and allows the long 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:42.360 punt return that sets up more points for the Bears. 0:07:42.360 --> 0:07:45.800 It just seems like it seems like the letdowns, the 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:50.000 letdowns compound themselves because they happen in multiple phases at 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:53.320 the same time, and that's how the other team seizes 0:07:53.400 --> 0:07:55.800 it and uh, and it's really the biggest reason the 0:07:55.800 --> 0:07:57.480 Packers have not been able to win a road game. 0:07:57.720 --> 0:07:59.880 Davante Adams talked about it after the game too. There's 0:07:59.880 --> 0:08:02.880 just something about in that third quarter sometimes early fourth 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:04.760 where you know, even though they had some really big 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:07.679 comebacks earlier in the season, during those times the second 0:08:07.720 --> 0:08:09.720 half of the season, it's just been a grind for them. 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:12.240 So yeah, if you're able to maintain that, I think 0:08:12.320 --> 0:08:14.760 that's gonna be really pivotal for the Packers in this matchup. 0:08:15.000 --> 0:08:17.160 And also the standpoint of it, I'm not taking anything 0:08:17.160 --> 0:08:19.280 away from the Jets, but they know what their season is, 0:08:19.520 --> 0:08:21.840 they know what their record says, So there is a 0:08:21.840 --> 0:08:24.400 gut check on their sideline as well to see exactly 0:08:24.400 --> 0:08:26.200 how much they're going to be up for this game, 0:08:26.520 --> 0:08:28.560 knowing some of the questions that may linger with their 0:08:28.600 --> 0:08:32.400 own coaching staff. So I think in this specific instance 0:08:32.440 --> 0:08:34.760 that this third quarter, some of those stalls, some of 0:08:34.760 --> 0:08:37.840 those those momentum swings, could really be tied to just 0:08:37.960 --> 0:08:40.880 simply which team once it more. And the Packers they 0:08:41.000 --> 0:08:43.319 they've outlined it, they've talked about it. They know where 0:08:43.320 --> 0:08:45.760 they're coming up short. They have to execute better on it. 0:08:46.080 --> 0:08:47.800 They have two more chances to do so at this 0:08:47.840 --> 0:08:50.840 game and then Detroit. Yeah, the and as we've talked 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:53.600 about also all year long, this is a Packers team. 0:08:53.720 --> 0:08:56.880 I can't I can't remember a Packers team I've covered 0:08:57.400 --> 0:08:59.880 that didn't win two games in a row at so 0:09:00.120 --> 0:09:03.000 point during a season. And these last two games now 0:09:03.000 --> 0:09:06.360 are the last opportunity to do that. This team has 0:09:06.400 --> 0:09:09.600 not been able to put together a winning streak of 0:09:09.600 --> 0:09:13.120 any kind. Um, you know, a solid, fairly solid record 0:09:13.160 --> 0:09:18.199 at home, your five five, one and one at lant Field, right, Um, 0:09:18.240 --> 0:09:20.080 and we all know that one loss was it was 0:09:20.120 --> 0:09:23.520 an inexcusable one. But this team has one its share 0:09:23.520 --> 0:09:25.720 of games at home. But when you can't went on 0:09:25.760 --> 0:09:27.319 the road, you're not gonna be able to put together 0:09:27.760 --> 0:09:30.760 a winning streak. So you definitely like to see that 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:35.680 um before this one wraps up. Um. You mentioned the 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:38.840 just quickly eyeballing it. It looked like two thousand five 0:09:38.920 --> 0:09:41.160 was the last time they didn't and that was and 0:09:41.200 --> 0:09:43.920 that was a four and twelve season, which also was 0:09:43.920 --> 0:09:46.959 was the last time the Packers changed head coaches. So um, 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:52.600 so that's yeah. You mentioned the Packers young defensive line 0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:56.800 and what it did against Chicago, especially against the run game. 0:09:56.800 --> 0:09:58.760 We had talked earlier this week. There were really only 0:09:58.840 --> 0:10:01.400 two running players that has had that kind of that 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:03.800 kind of got away from him all the other all 0:10:03.840 --> 0:10:07.520 the other running plays the Bears attempted in that game, 0:10:07.520 --> 0:10:10.680 and the Packers really stood up to them. I think 0:10:10.720 --> 0:10:14.400 this game, as you alluded to earlier, because the Jets 0:10:14.440 --> 0:10:16.360 have struggled so much to get any kind of a 0:10:16.440 --> 0:10:18.679 run game going, this one kind of does come down 0:10:18.720 --> 0:10:21.440 to getting after the quarterback. Doesn't You've you've you've got 0:10:21.600 --> 0:10:24.520 to you've got to hurry Darnald you've got to get 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:26.920 him off the spot, as they say. Now, he's athletic, 0:10:27.000 --> 0:10:29.000 he can run, he can he can make plays on 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:31.319 the run, get out of the pocket and throw the ball. 0:10:31.760 --> 0:10:36.120 But um, I don't see the Jets necessarily being able 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:38.880 to establish a real reliable run game the way the 0:10:38.880 --> 0:10:41.600 Packers are playing run defense right now, this game really 0:10:41.679 --> 0:10:44.000 is going to fall into Donald's hands. And then what 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:46.840 the Packers do upfront to disrupt him, Well, I just 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:49.080 looking quickly the last two games for the Jets, So 0:10:49.160 --> 0:10:51.599 two weeks ago two point eight yards per carry that 0:10:51.640 --> 0:10:53.520 actually ended up being in a win for them over 0:10:53.559 --> 0:10:57.320 the Bills. Uh. And then last week only two point 0:10:57.440 --> 0:11:01.080 nine on the ground. Uh. McGuire with only two point 0:11:01.200 --> 0:11:05.400 three yards per carry on eighteen attempts for forty two yards. Donald, 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:07.800 like I mentioned before, he has some scrambling ability to 0:11:07.960 --> 0:11:10.040 he can he can sprinkle that in there. But I 0:11:10.080 --> 0:11:13.360 don't think it's the same level that Josh Allen has. 0:11:13.440 --> 0:11:15.600 I think it's more out of you know, having to 0:11:15.640 --> 0:11:17.480 do so when the play breaks down, as opposed to 0:11:17.480 --> 0:11:20.400 Alan who uses as a legitimate arsenal and his his 0:11:20.600 --> 0:11:23.280 uh you know, array of weapons. So yeah, it's gonna 0:11:23.320 --> 0:11:25.400 be an interesting match for the Packers, certainly, when I 0:11:25.440 --> 0:11:27.680 think when you drafted, at least when I drafted my 0:11:27.679 --> 0:11:29.480 fantasy football, they get to be in the year everybody 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:31.120 thought it was Kroll. Well, I thought it was gonna 0:11:31.120 --> 0:11:33.720 be Ballal Powell hasn't worked out for them. They've had 0:11:33.760 --> 0:11:36.120 to go through a litany of injuries and different things here. 0:11:36.520 --> 0:11:38.199 So Yeah, to be honest with you, I don't know 0:11:38.280 --> 0:11:40.199 much about McGuire, but that's been their guy here the 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:42.959 last couple of weeks, only averaging three point three yards 0:11:42.960 --> 0:11:45.680 per carry on the season. Uh So still looking for 0:11:45.720 --> 0:11:47.600 a breakout there, Packers hoping they can hold him off 0:11:47.600 --> 0:11:50.840 for another week. Yeah, Packers run game. On the flip 0:11:50.880 --> 0:11:54.280 side of things, Jamal Williams looks like he'll be the 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:57.199 bell cow guy, the number one guy here, which is 0:11:57.240 --> 0:12:00.560 a role that he performed in a year when he 0:12:00.600 --> 0:12:04.600 was called upon. Had some really solid performances against Pittsburgh. 0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:06.960 I remember on the road the home game against Tampa 0:12:07.000 --> 0:12:12.120 Bay was very solid, very productive there. Um one of 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:15.240 his backups. An interesting story to uh to tell here. 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:19.600 The Packers recently claiming Capri Bibbs, if I'm saying that correctly, 0:12:20.120 --> 0:12:25.959 off waivers from Washington, a running back from the Chicago area, 0:12:26.160 --> 0:12:28.959 went to a couple of junior colleges, ended up at 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:32.480 Colorado State University, made his way into the NFL's an 0:12:32.559 --> 0:12:37.800 undrafted player. The Packers now his third NFL team, but 0:12:38.880 --> 0:12:41.360 um not a Bears fan growing up in Chicago, a 0:12:41.480 --> 0:12:44.240 Packers fan. Tell us the story that you got from 0:12:44.320 --> 0:12:46.600 him in the locker room this week, Yeah, pretty interesting one. 0:12:46.640 --> 0:12:48.920 That's also kind of cool as uh, Bibbs actually has 0:12:48.920 --> 0:12:51.480 a Super Bowl ring too. He ended up getting one 0:12:51.520 --> 0:12:55.160 with the practice squad most of that season, but did 0:12:55.200 --> 0:12:57.960 manage to get one. And he's this is actually his 0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:01.000 fifth NFL season, only three in terms of you know, 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:02.960 a crude seasons, but he's been in the league since 0:13:02.960 --> 0:13:05.439 two thousand and fourteen, and this year had been pretty 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:08.480 effective with Washington, had been you know, over I believe 0:13:08.480 --> 0:13:13.400 it was over two hundred total yards on in four touchdowns. 0:13:13.800 --> 0:13:16.960 So you know, he was obviously disappointed. And when last 0:13:17.000 --> 0:13:18.400 week they told him he was going to be getting 0:13:18.400 --> 0:13:20.200 his release, they wanted to go another direction with their 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:22.960 running game and exposed him to waivers. As it turns out, 0:13:23.000 --> 0:13:24.840 the Green Bay Packers claimed him, and if she just 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:27.120 getting a chance to talk to Bibbs. I knew some 0:13:27.160 --> 0:13:29.600 other beat writers that covered him, and they talked very 0:13:29.600 --> 0:13:31.960 glowingly about him and just how extroverted he is and 0:13:32.000 --> 0:13:34.360 how much of a conversation is he is. But I 0:13:34.400 --> 0:13:37.040 mean him going into his background with the Green Bay Packers, 0:13:37.600 --> 0:13:39.400 to be honest with you, Mike, and eight years doing this, 0:13:39.480 --> 0:13:41.480 I don't know if I've covered anyone that's been as 0:13:41.480 --> 0:13:43.600 big of a Packers fan as this guy is. And yeah, 0:13:43.640 --> 0:13:46.000 I mean this is a kid who was as a teenager, 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:48.760 as a as a grade schooler, even was walking the 0:13:48.760 --> 0:13:51.360 streets of Chicago wearing his Packers game. I mean it 0:13:51.440 --> 0:13:53.440 takes some guts. Yeah, a mile and a half going 0:13:53.480 --> 0:13:55.760 to school every day, he said, wearing a Packers because 0:13:55.800 --> 0:13:58.079 his mom the first game she ever went to was 0:13:58.120 --> 0:14:01.080 a Packers game. She became a Packers fan, raised him 0:14:01.080 --> 0:14:03.520 as a Packers fan, and he told this amazing story. 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:06.760 You know, he was a huge Brett Farve love that 0:14:06.800 --> 0:14:08.760 whole era. He was a little bit after Super Bowl 0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:11.640 thirty one, but he knows of the allure of Farve. 0:14:11.800 --> 0:14:14.560 So two thousand seven comes around, this is like his 0:14:14.640 --> 0:14:16.800 first big chance that you know, then making the Super 0:14:16.840 --> 0:14:19.600 Bowl and he's sitting in their house on that night, 0:14:19.680 --> 0:14:23.840 January two thousand and eight, and he's watching this game. 0:14:23.840 --> 0:14:26.120 And he's a big football player. He loves football, and 0:14:26.240 --> 0:14:27.560 he's like, you know what, I want to feel what 0:14:27.600 --> 0:14:31.000 the players feel. So what does he do? He shuts 0:14:31.040 --> 0:14:34.480 off the family's heat, opens up the windows, takes his 0:14:34.560 --> 0:14:36.520 shirt off and sitting there and shorts in front of 0:14:36.520 --> 0:14:40.840 the television, embracing the moment like the Packers had to 0:14:40.880 --> 0:14:44.240 embrace it in a negative one degree kickoff here at 0:14:44.320 --> 0:14:47.760 lambeau Field. Just an amazing story. He did mention his 0:14:47.800 --> 0:14:50.640 family was not too pleased about that, but he told 0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:52.400 him it's time to cheer for the Packers. That's what 0:14:52.440 --> 0:14:55.040 I'm gonna do. But it's amazing listening to him because 0:14:55.040 --> 0:14:57.680 I mean, he talks so fervently about Sam Shields and 0:14:57.760 --> 0:15:00.080 Nick Collins and you know, and how he wanted to 0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:02.400 go up to Clay Matthews after the game in Washington 0:15:02.440 --> 0:15:04.080 asked for his jersey and didn't really have the guts 0:15:04.080 --> 0:15:06.720 to do it. Hesitated, and then Matthews was gone. His 0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:09.360 two favorite quarterbacks of all time are far Vin Rogers, 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:11.360 and it was interesting for a guy that has won 0:15:11.360 --> 0:15:13.920 a Super Bowl, has been in the locker room with 0:15:13.960 --> 0:15:17.160 Peyton Manning and and has really became good friends with 0:15:17.200 --> 0:15:20.080 Adrian Peterson this year, Vaughan Miller. The list goes on 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:22.280 and on of these all pro Hall of Fame type 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.680 players he's played with. And it's not nothing against Clay 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:27.600 Matthews and a Rogers, but these are the guys that 0:15:27.720 --> 0:15:30.240 really have him with his jaw on the floor and 0:15:30.400 --> 0:15:32.760 uh yeah, Now now he knows there's a big opportunity here. 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:35.160 He has a number twenty two jersey. He finally has 0:15:35.200 --> 0:15:37.800 his first Packers jersey with his name on it, and 0:15:37.880 --> 0:15:39.720 he knows what's on the line here the next two weeks. 0:15:39.800 --> 0:15:42.040 Jamal Williams is the featured back. He knows it's his 0:15:42.120 --> 0:15:46.000 job to spell him, but that's it. Danny Vitally, the fullback, 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:48.240 is the other guy. Otherwise, if they need to change 0:15:48.240 --> 0:15:50.720 the pace, it's Bibbs and Bibbs who's going to be 0:15:50.720 --> 0:15:52.400 a free agent at the end of the season. He 0:15:52.440 --> 0:15:55.040 said he's ready for the opportunity if it presents itself. Yeah, 0:15:55.040 --> 0:15:57.520 you can't help but smile and laugh a little bit. 0:15:58.040 --> 0:16:01.000 Thinking back to that two thousand seven and FC Championship 0:16:01.120 --> 0:16:03.440 against the New York Giants. The windshills are in the 0:16:03.480 --> 0:16:07.400 minus twenties. Here at lambeau Field, the the enduring image 0:16:08.040 --> 0:16:11.520 is that red face of Tom Coughlin, you know. And 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:15.240 when I think about that, and here this teenage Packer 0:16:15.360 --> 0:16:22.080 fan fan, how old teenage Packer fans sitting in Chicago 0:16:22.960 --> 0:16:25.560 without a shirt on, with the windows open and the 0:16:25.560 --> 0:16:28.240 heat shut off in the house. And what did you say? You? 0:16:28.240 --> 0:16:32.200 You looked it up on in Chicago that night. So 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:35.400 a touch warmer than it was in Green Bay, but 0:16:35.520 --> 0:16:37.800 not a whole heck of a lot. What would mon 0:16:37.920 --> 0:16:40.080 Possofford have done if you would have did that back 0:16:40.120 --> 0:16:43.520 in the day. Um, yeah, you'd have been watching the 0:16:43.520 --> 0:16:46.120 game outside on the radio or listening to the instant 0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:49.160 the instant the heat would have been shut off. It 0:16:49.200 --> 0:16:51.400 would have been turned right back. Here's the part of 0:16:51.400 --> 0:16:53.200 it that I love. Though he didn't turn off the heat, 0:16:53.240 --> 0:16:55.680 he opened up the wind. So it's like, not only 0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:57.480 do you for you give up the heat that you 0:16:57.520 --> 0:16:59.800 had in the house, You're you're just letting it out. Yeah. 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:03.040 Exactly a really fun story, but just a really interesting 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:06.560 guy and and very motivated to show he belongs, he 0:17:06.600 --> 0:17:08.320 knows that this was a big year for him. He 0:17:08.359 --> 0:17:10.640 knows what comes after this in terms of free agency. 0:17:11.200 --> 0:17:13.359 He was looking up places where he could potentially go. 0:17:13.480 --> 0:17:15.119 He was hoping it would be Green Bay, and as 0:17:15.119 --> 0:17:18.200 it turned out, they gave him a two weekhead start. Alrighty, well, 0:17:18.240 --> 0:17:20.280 before we go here, West, let's take a quick look 0:17:20.320 --> 0:17:23.880 at what else is going on around the NFL here 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:27.000 in week sixteen. Actually in the a f C, A 0:17:27.080 --> 0:17:30.359 really interesting game on Saturday night that will beyond the 0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:34.040 TV when we're in our hotel rooms in I'll be 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:36.159 in New York City with the Oh you're gonna be 0:17:36.240 --> 0:17:38.919 partying it up on down and times I gotta go. 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:41.600 I have to. I've only been there twice and I 0:17:41.640 --> 0:17:43.919 blew it the first time we were there. Ahead, but 0:17:43.960 --> 0:17:48.080 that that Chargers versus Ravens Saturday night UM game with 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:50.960 a lot of playoff implications in the a f C. 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:55.480 Looking at things in the NFC coming up this weekend. 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:58.560 UM New Orleans Saints trying to hang onto that number 0:17:58.560 --> 0:18:00.480 one seed. They've got a big one at home against 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:03.200 the Pittsburgh Steelers. You don't see the Packers obviously playing 0:18:03.240 --> 0:18:05.360 the Jets. You don't see a whole lot of these 0:18:05.400 --> 0:18:08.480 cross conference games this late in the year, but Pittsburgh 0:18:08.480 --> 0:18:11.400 against New Orleans in week sixteen is definitely one to 0:18:11.400 --> 0:18:13.560 to keep an eye on. And then um by the 0:18:13.600 --> 0:18:17.760 same token Sunday night Kansas Kansas City at Seattle, another 0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:21.760 cross conference game between two teams jockeying for playoff position 0:18:21.800 --> 0:18:24.840 and their respective conferences. Some really interesting games on the 0:18:24.840 --> 0:18:27.040 slate this weekend in the NFL. Well, first off, how 0:18:27.080 --> 0:18:30.240 difficult was the Steelers schedule this year? I mean, my goodness. 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:32.520 They had to go through the gauntlet to get to 0:18:32.560 --> 0:18:34.359 eight five and one, and then they end up dropping 0:18:34.359 --> 0:18:36.320 that one two weeks ago everyone thought they should win. 0:18:36.359 --> 0:18:39.040 They bounced back, and now you've got to go down. 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:40.720 So you have to go to the super Dome in 0:18:40.760 --> 0:18:42.920 New Orleans, so the House of the Rising Sun. They're 0:18:42.960 --> 0:18:46.480 seeing if Ben Roethlisberg can work some magic. Uh. To 0:18:46.560 --> 0:18:48.840 be being honest, though, the game that intrigues me the 0:18:48.840 --> 0:18:52.200 most as Seattle, because they've been on this run. They 0:18:52.200 --> 0:18:54.720 were able mostly been able to get on this run 0:18:54.800 --> 0:18:57.680 since that law, since beating the Packers, but they stumbled, 0:18:58.000 --> 0:19:01.119 stumbled big time last week in Francisco, lost to the 0:19:01.119 --> 0:19:03.879 forty Niners for the first time in five years, and 0:19:03.920 --> 0:19:06.520 now suddenly, you know, two weeks to go, they're not 0:19:06.680 --> 0:19:09.840 exactly secure exactly they want to be. And now you've 0:19:09.840 --> 0:19:11.800 got Kansas City who's coming off of a loss. They're 0:19:11.800 --> 0:19:13.960 looking to avenge that and get some of their momentum back. 0:19:14.000 --> 0:19:16.080 I think those two games are gonna be really interesting. 0:19:16.119 --> 0:19:18.720