1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz. 3 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: Were coming to you here from our studios at lambeau 4 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: Field and West. It's almost time Packers Patriots Sunday Night football, 5 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: Brady Rogers, Foxborough, Gillette Stadium, big one for both teams. 6 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: And uh, it's our last show of the week and 7 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: that means Keys to victory. So do we just start 8 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: with which number twelve plays better or and then turn 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 1: the cameras offers there more to talk about. It was 10 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: funny because I mentioned this in our Final Thoughts video 11 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: to Jamal Williams was asked in the locker room on 12 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: Wednesday about, you know, trying to come out on top 13 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:01,279 Speaker 1: of this and what it means to be a part 14 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: of the you know, the Brady versus Rogers game. How 15 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: infrequently this has happened in NFL history, and Williams said, 16 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: I just love the answer. He said, you know, my 17 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 1: job is to make sure the green twelve beats the 18 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: Blue twelve. That's his only focus going into this thing. 19 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: But certainly you think of all the Markey matchups, right 20 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: We love icons, we love celebrity athletes. We love being 21 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: able to watch something on television or be a part 22 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: of something that even if you don't have an affiliation 23 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: to the rivalry, if even if you're not a Packers 24 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: fan or a Patriots fan, you want to watch Aaron 25 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: Rodgers and Tom Brady play football and against each other 26 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: in that's setting Sunday Night football. It doesn't get any 27 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: better than that. So, yeah, from looking at a much 28 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: needed victory standpoint, though, Packers need Aaron Rodgers to be 29 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: on his a game, They need this offense to be 30 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: moving the football because you know, on the other side 31 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: of things, while Mike Patton does have a history against 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick, there's only so much you can do to 33 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: some extent with what Brady is able to accomplish and 34 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 1: what James White has been doing in this season. So 35 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: you gotta get your points, you gotta get your production. 36 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: You have to consistently move to football, and you need 37 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: to finally get out of there with a road victory. Yeah, 38 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: the Packers definitely need a road victory. Oh and three 39 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 1: on the road so far this year, and uh, you know, 40 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: some ugly performances. Frankly in Washington Detroit Packers best performance 41 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: of the season, whole more road for my money in 42 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: Los Angeles last week just came up a little bit 43 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: short it. They need to repeat it West, They need 44 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: they need to play like that again. You need to 45 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: prove that how you played in Los Angeles last week 46 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: is a better reflection of who you are than what 47 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: went on the first six games and all the up 48 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: and down and the roller coaster in the inconsistent play 49 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: prior to the bye week. This is a This is 50 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: a huge opportunity for the Packers. Obviously a win would 51 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: get them back above five, but more so it's about 52 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: continuing and building on what you did last week because 53 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: they established a level of play that we hadn't seen 54 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: for a four quarter game. My point was, I said 55 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: this during the Packers pregame radio appearance that I did. 56 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: I thought you need to go one and one in 57 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: this stretch. I thought, you need to steal one of 58 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: these games. Whatever you know term you want to use, 59 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: Packers came close last week. But I gotta be honest 60 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: with you, Mike. I think if the Packers can go 61 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: into Gilette Stadium and get a victory over Tom Brady, 62 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick and what I think a lot of people 63 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: are considering to be the front runner in the a 64 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: f C right now for potential Super Bowl birth and 65 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: still have that performance in your back pocket against the Rams, 66 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: while disappointing, I think that gives you a huge jolt 67 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: of the momentum now into the second half, into this 68 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: third quarter of the season. Because the thing is, Mike, 69 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: is that you do get the Miami Dolphins at home 70 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: after this, and yeah, you're going on the road, you're 71 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: playing in Century Link on short rest against Seattle, but 72 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: you know, the Seahawks have been up and down to 73 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: the real big gauntlet that the teeth of this stretch 74 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: that they're in was the Rams and the Patriots. You 75 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: can go into the reasons why, I think everybody at 76 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: home knows. They don't need us to say it. But 77 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: if you're able to be able to pick out a 78 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: victory here, if you're able to knock off the Patriots 79 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: who are writing a five game winning streak into this matchup, 80 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: it changes the narrative very quickly. Yeah, and let's let's 81 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: be honest, it's been a bit of a tumultuous week 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: around here. At a really really tough loss in Los Angeles, 83 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: a lot of turmoil obviously over how it ended. The 84 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: trading deadline comes on Tuesday, and to establish veterans on 85 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: this team are shipped out for a number of different reasons. 86 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: If you can come out of Gillette Stadium with a 87 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: big victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots, all of 88 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: the tumult, if you want to call it, that just 89 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: gets shoved that much farther into the review mirror and 90 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: that much more quickly, and you're moving on with where 91 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 1: you hope to be headed in. It's the first step 92 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: towards getting into what you hope to be a new 93 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: direction in terms of being able to build up some 94 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: consistently consistency, get some back to back wins together, feel 95 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 1: what it's like to be on a winning streak again. 96 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: That's what you're looking for, And to be honest with yeah, 97 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: I don't think this is the week where you know, 98 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: Davante Adams mentioned a number of weeks ago where hey, 99 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: you know, we don't want to have a heart attack 100 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: every time. This still might end up being one of 101 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: those games. I think you have to be ready for that. 102 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 1: But if you come out on the winning side of that, 103 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: then maybe there's a chance to start. You see the 104 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: top of the hill and you start to see in 105 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: the decline from there, so you know, being able to 106 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: you know, get the wheels spinning a little bit, not working, uh, 107 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: you know, and trying to scratch and claw your way 108 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: to some of these victories, find a way to start 109 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: making things happen. Because Mike, you and I have talked 110 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: about it for a number of weeks. Now, once the 111 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: calendar churns to December, things change, records change, You're starting 112 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: to get more of these teams at home. You're starting 113 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 1: to get these teams that aren't necessarily playoff contenders at 114 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: this point. That is going to be the big catalyst, 115 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: I think towards trying to get the Packers to make 116 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: a push at the end of the season. But you've 117 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: got to get the work done now. You gotta get 118 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: some wins in November. First off, And uh, let me 119 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: throw a question at you West, all right, and I 120 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: think both agree that. And you brought up Eddie Lacy 121 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: from the game here against the Patriots and Belichick's defense. 122 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: You and I both agree that Aaron Jones is going 123 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: to play a very big role offensively in this game. 124 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: So My question for you is, does Aaron Jones get 125 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: his first one yard rushing game of this season on 126 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: Sunday night? Oh Michael, you put me on the spot. 127 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: Um gosh. And I don't usually like to have no 128 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: sound on this show, so I'm trying to think here 129 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: where the let's look here once. I want to give 130 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: you an intelligent answer. The Patriots are fourteen right now 131 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: and run defense giving up a hundred and five yards 132 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: per game. I'm gonna say no still, but I don't 133 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: necessarily mean that is a bad thing, if you know 134 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. I think if the Packers can get 135 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,719 Speaker 1: another fifteen touches out of Jones and he has ninety 136 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: rushing yards, that's still a really good day for this 137 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: offense because I think we're still going to see a 138 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: lot of Jamal Williams in this game as well. What 139 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,679 Speaker 1: I do like, though, and I talked to Jones about 140 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: this week, and in hearing some of Jamal Williams comments, 141 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: is that there's a little more clarity to this situation 142 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 1: now they know there's two guys. And yeah, no disrespect 143 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: to Tray Carson, he's up on the fifty three man 144 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: roster too. But in a matchup like this and him 145 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: coming in on a short week after being on the 146 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: practice squad. It's going to be Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams. 147 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: That isn't a secret. I think that clarity is going 148 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: to help them in the long run because if you 149 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 1: look at their their styles of being a running back, 150 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: they really do complement each other really well. When you 151 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: look at the thunder lightning approach, that's what they can 152 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: potentially be. Now, whether or not that equates to a 153 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: hundred yard contest, I can't say that definitively, but I 154 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: will give you what I What I will add is 155 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: that if the Packers are going to win this game, 156 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones needs to be a big part of it. Yeah, 157 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: I agree with that. I think Aaron Jones needs needs 158 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: to definitely be a big part of the offense. And 159 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: I'm gonna throw another thing at you that I think 160 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: is somewhat the hidden narrative of this game that will 161 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: lot of people are ignoring. And obviously it's it's about 162 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: Brady and Rodgers and the Belichick well almost but going 163 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: against the Belichick defense and and Mike Patton and his 164 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: history against the Patriots and what the Packers maybe do defensively. 165 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: I think special teams is gonna play a huge role 166 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: in this game. And I can rattle off all kinds 167 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: of reasons, but but what's that? But you go back, 168 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: go back to the two thousand ten, the Matt Flynn 169 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: game at Gillette Stadium. A seventy yard kickoff returned by 170 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: an offensive lineman for the Patriots that set up a 171 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: touchdown was a huge play in that game. The Patriots 172 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,959 Speaker 1: this season, as I mentioned earlier this week, two special 173 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: teams touchdowns that Soldier Field to beat a Bears team 174 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: that really did go toe to toe with them offensively 175 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: and defensively. But a kickoff returned for a touchdown by 176 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: Cordrell Patterson and a block punt returned for a touchdown 177 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: by New England special teams and the Patriots win that 178 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: game by seven. The Packers have had their issues on 179 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,040 Speaker 1: special teams on the road this year. It was a 180 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: bad day on special teams in Detroit, very costly and 181 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: a loss to the Lions, and a couple of really 182 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: key mistakes down the stretch against Los Angeles last week 183 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: that that cost the Packers a shot at what what 184 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: could have been a really big road victory. So do 185 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: the Packers. Whoever the kick returner is that replaces Time Montgomery, 186 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: Does that guy make a big play? Do the Packers 187 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: down a punt inside the five yard line once or 188 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: twice like the Rams did to the Packers last week? 189 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: Something like that. Cordorrell Patterson did fumble a kickoff in 190 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: Chicago before he had the runback for the touchdown that 191 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: set up a score for the Bears. So do the 192 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: Packers special teams make a play like that and get 193 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: a turnover somewhere along the line. I think something like 194 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: that has to happen. The Packers cannot keep losing the 195 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: battle on special teams, especially in these road games. They've 196 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:51,839 Speaker 1: got to hold up their end and give them an 197 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: edge at some point here. You know what I like 198 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: the most about Bill Belichick because you know, sometimes Mike 199 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: he gets sort of a bad rap uh. You know 200 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: people they show that the news conferences in New England. 201 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: He says two or three words. It feels very ters. 202 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: But he's a very He's one of the smartest guys 203 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: who's probably ever walked this earth when it comes to 204 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: professional football, for one. But he is really analytical about 205 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: how he breaks things down. On these conference calls, and 206 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:18,839 Speaker 1: I was a part of one of those this week 207 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,599 Speaker 1: with the opposing team media. Now, if you want to 208 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: ask him about Chris Hogan or if Patterson is going 209 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: to be in the running of running back again this week, 210 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: he's not going to answer those questions. But what was 211 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: really interesting is getting back to your point about special teams, 212 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: is how much it means to him. And I know 213 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: he has some family ties of special teams. That was 214 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: sort of where his roots were as well. But for 215 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: so many people it's a forgotten phase. It's the Okay, 216 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go up and get some cheetos and I'll 217 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: come back and then it'll be first down. But for Belichick, 218 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: he was breaking down the formations that ron Zook uses 219 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: on punts. He was talking about the different amount of 220 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: personnel that they roll out. It is a very important 221 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 1: focal point to him, and I think it stands to 222 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 1: reason why they've consistently been one of the top performers 223 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 1: year in a year out in that phase, despite how 224 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: many accolades their offense and defense and those coaches get. 225 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 1: For Belichick, though, going into this matchup, what's interesting is 226 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: that you're right, it is those small things. It's the 227 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: punt returns. It's you know, guys like Matthew Slayter that 228 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: have been perennial Pro Bowl type players because they do 229 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: all the little things right. It's about being able to 230 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 1: maintain an established field position. None of that is lost 231 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: on Belichick and it's why he doesn't overlook it. For 232 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: the Packers. Getting back to your original point, they need 233 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: to do a better job there. They have to clean 234 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: things up depending on who the kickoff returner is going 235 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: to be, depending on who the punt returner is going 236 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: to be. There are a lot of things that they 237 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: need to shore up on that side of things because 238 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: they're just not going to give you a lot of opportunities. 239 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: They're going to be able to capitalize. They execute and 240 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: all three phases very efficiently. Packers need to be able 241 00:11:56,920 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: to turn that a little bit and make sure that 242 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: they don't of that away as an advantage to New England. 243 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: And in his Friday news conference, Mike McCarthy even reference 244 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: to Bill Belichick and his special teams when he was 245 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 1: the head coach at Cleveland, which is sort of the forgotten, 246 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:12,560 Speaker 1: you know, era of his as a head coach when 247 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: things didn't go so well before he got to New England, 248 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: but he had that reputation with regards to special teams, 249 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: you know, all the way back then. So I think 250 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: it's uh. I think it's going to play a big 251 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 1: role in this game. Defensively for the Packers. We saw 252 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 1: last week how all the different pressure packages that Mike 253 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: Petton threw at the Rams. Most of the time it 254 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: was a five man pressure. It wasn't like some sort 255 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: of all out blitz, you know, a zero blitz, no 256 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: safety coverage, you know, any of that, But it was 257 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: it's always about which five guys are coming, you know, 258 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: and and disguising you know who, who's coming, who's dropping 259 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: into coverage, all that kind of stuff. It seemed to 260 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: get Jared Goff off his game certainly through the first quarter, 261 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: quarter and a half he was he was really struggling. 262 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: The coverage was there. The Packers were getting home and 263 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,839 Speaker 1: getting sacks when the coverage was holding up. You're not 264 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: necessarily going to be able to do that to Tom Brady. 265 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: He's going to have quicker answers to what he sees 266 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: because he's seen it before. He's going to know exactly 267 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,200 Speaker 1: where he's going with the ball. So defensively, what is 268 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: the key to this game for the Packers? Do you 269 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: think there are three keys? For me? One? You do 270 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 1: need to be able to get pressure. You can't just 271 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: let him sit home and feel comfortable and move inside 272 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: the pocket. As Mike Petton said, you can talk all 273 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: you want about his you know, mobility outside the pocket, 274 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 1: but inside the pocket there's no wasted motion. He makes 275 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: everything count and he's a shifty guy, even at forty 276 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:48,079 Speaker 1: one years old, so you can't allow him to get comfortable. 277 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 1: I don't care if it equates the Saxon outs. He's 278 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: only been sacked eleven times this year in what dropbacks 279 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: it's gonna it's gonna be difficult to sack up, but 280 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: you need to make sure that you make the pocket 281 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 1: warm and not allow him to get into a rhythm 282 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: in that way. My second point is this is a 283 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: big game for the secondary. I don't think there could 284 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: have been a bigger opportunity for Gyro Alexander to really 285 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: get into a rhythm, get into a flow, and get 286 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: some confidence than what he did with against the Rams. 287 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: He said, even going back to Louisville, he didn't have 288 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: five pass breakups in a game He also mentioned that 289 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: if he has five pass the defense, he wants to 290 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: make sure that one of those at least an interception too. 291 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: He wasn't happy about that aspect of it. Kevin King 292 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: what they do with Trumon Williams that is going to 293 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: be an important focal point for this and what the 294 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: Patriots are able to do downfield and underneath. Mike. I 295 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: don't know how they're going to defend James white but 296 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: the Packers have to have an answer there. I don't 297 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: know if it's like Martinez. I don't know if it's 298 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: Germaine Whitehead or Josh Jones or who exactly, maybe one 299 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: of the cornerbacks. They need to be able to contain 300 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 1: him because if you let him run loose, a guy 301 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: that's on pace for a hundred and ten receptions this year, 302 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: he not necessarily gonna burn you, but he's going to 303 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: keep that chain moving. Sometimes it's just as worse he's 304 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: he's the chain mover, because he's he's not he's not 305 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: just the safety valve and all that, but he's he's 306 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: kind of the Mr. Clutch you know, for for Brady 307 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: out of the backfield, and Mike Petton mentioned it when 308 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: he spoke with the media on Thursday. You can come 309 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: up with bracket coverage is on a guy like Gronk 310 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: or on a guy like Chris Hogan or Julian Aidelman 311 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: in the slot, it's really hard to double team or 312 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: running back. You're you're going to be left with really 313 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: only one guy that you can assign to that running back. 314 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 1: And as you said, whoever it is, if it's if 315 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: it's Martinez, or if it's or In Burke's or if 316 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: it's one of the safety's, that guy has to be 317 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: on his p's and q's, so to speak, and be 318 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 1: able to tackle because when it's one on one like 319 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 1: that in space, one mis tackle can be the difference 320 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: between a five yard reception and a fifteen or eighteen 321 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 1: yard reception. So the Packers really need to be really 322 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: need to lock things down in that respect. And to 323 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: make one more point, one thing that Packer's defense didn't 324 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 1: accomplish last week was a takeaway. They need one here. 325 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: They need to be able to turn over the football. 326 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: And to keep in mind, I just want to put 327 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: out the stat Tom Brady seven interceptions and eight games 328 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: this year. Mike. I'm not trying to paint a portrait 329 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: that he's going under anything. But he's on pace for 330 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: his most picks right now since two thousand five. So 331 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: if he's given him away, if he's exposing the football 332 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: a little bit more, a guy like JayR Alexander, Kevin King, 333 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: those type of players need to make a play on 334 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: the ball. Yeah, you gotta get one for sure. Before 335 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 1: we go west, let's take a quick look at what 336 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: else is going on around the National Football League here 337 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: in week is a Week nine? Is that that's where 338 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: at already? Okay, UM NFC North Lions against the Vikings. 339 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: We've been talking before about how Lions Bears, Vikings. None 340 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: of them have played each other here as we've reached 341 00:16:42,240 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: close to the midpoint of the season. But here's the 342 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: first one. The Lions traveled to Minneapolis, UM Minneapolis or Minnesota, 343 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: I should say, coming off of that that tough home 344 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: loss to the Saints last week, they want to get 345 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: back on the right track. And the Detroit Lions kind 346 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: of in the position they've they seem to be in 347 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: on a regular basis every time they come up to 348 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 1: a division game, like when they played the Packers a 349 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: few weeks ago. If they get a win they're right there, 350 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: and uh and you know, an opportunity for Detroit as 351 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,440 Speaker 1: they as they head into a tough place to play 352 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 1: against the Vikings. I was saying, I mean again, you 353 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: know my stance on must win games, Michael, I'm not 354 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: a big fan of them. I don't I don't like 355 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: the terminology in week nine. But one of the reasons 356 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: why I think this game is so critical for the 357 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: Packers isn't necessarily because of just the what it does 358 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 1: for you, what kind of boost it gives you if 359 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: you beat the Patriots. It's also because this division, everybody's 360 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: just log jam right together. Going around the first turn. 361 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: You're trying to see exactly who's going to be the 362 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: team that kind of finally edges their nose out front 363 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: a little bit and get some momentum. Nobody's really accomplished that. 364 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: This week. You know, Mike Zimmer was talking about his 365 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: own team, and you know, he likes where they are. 366 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: He feels like, you know, they're starting to come into 367 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: their own a little bit. But you know, Matt Patricia, 368 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: they've had some good moments as well, and I have 369 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: to imagine the Airs are feeling pretty good about where 370 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: they're at. After sort of beaten, being sort of the 371 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: welcome matt for a lot of these teams will past 372 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: few seasons in the NFC North. So when you look 373 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: at this matchup with the Vikings in Detroit, it's very 374 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: interesting to me for two reasons. One, Vikings actually have 375 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: a chance to get up two games above five hundred, 376 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 1: start to feel a little good about themselves and potentially 377 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: being able to get on a run of their own. 378 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: The Lions are trying to prove that they aren't just 379 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: a five hundred or you know, seven and nine type team. 380 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: They want to prove that they can contend this year 381 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: when they hired Mat Patricia and the moves that they 382 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: made for the most part, I mean, you can debate 383 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: the golden tape thing, but for the most part, they 384 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 1: made those moves because they want to win now. So 385 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: whoever comes out in there, we know how tough it 386 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: is to play in that stadium. It's gonna really, I think, 387 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 1: help shape the the landscape of this division somewhat in 388 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 1: terms of, Okay, are we pulling everybody back together or 389 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: are the Vikings starting to to get out there a 390 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: little bit? Yeah. And the other one in the NFC North, 391 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,359 Speaker 1: this weekend the Chicago Bears hos sting, I believe the 392 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills. Um, no, sorry, the Bears are on the road. 393 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:08,879 Speaker 1: Oh sorry, they're playing the game is in Buffalo, but um, 394 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: but they are playing the Bills. So I'm gonna talk 395 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,719 Speaker 1: about how this is just a sure win for the Bears, 396 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,399 Speaker 1: because when I did that about a month and a 397 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: half ago with the Minnesota Vikings, the Buffalo bill shocked 398 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: everybody and smoked Minnesota and through the division into a tizzy. 399 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: So the Bears are gonna win this game going away, 400 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: no problem. We don't even need to talk. So you're 401 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: an expert out who's the Bills quarterback? Now? Do you 402 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: even know? Is Derek Anderson out right now? I think 403 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: they're I think they're going if and if Anderson. If 404 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 1: Anderson is not healthy, then I think they're going back 405 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: to Nathan Peter. They signed Matt Barkley too. I don't 406 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: know exactly what their thought process is there. How much 407 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: longer they're gonna be missing Josh Allen. But the Bills 408 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: are working through some tough things right now. If you're 409 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 1: the Bears, though, other than your terrific your preview there, 410 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: the Bears, they have to feel like they got to 411 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: get this thing done. Oh yeah, this Bill's team could 412 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: ultimately be the team that ends up deciding who wins 413 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: the division, I mean for the NFC North. So it's 414 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: gonna be fun to watch, all right. Um, any other 415 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: big games from the weekend, You've got your you know 416 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 1: the one that I'm kind of excited to see. Well, 417 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 1: for all the wrong reasons. Kansas City is playing Cleveland. 418 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: Will see how that works out. Seattle and in the 419 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: Chargers is really interesting to me. In addition, you can 420 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: we can talk about the Rams and Saints. Everybody knows 421 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: that story. But yeah, the Chargers feel pretty good about 422 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,960 Speaker 1: themselves right now. Philip Rivers is having one of the 423 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: best years of his career. Uh, they've been moving the 424 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: ball consistently, but we've seen Seattle start to get some 425 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: momentum going to in their favor. Russell Wilson is the 426 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: guy that is going to ultimately take that team as 427 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: far as they're going to get, and he's been playing 428 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: well recently. So Packers have them coming up here in 429 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: two and a half weeks. It's gonna be uh one 430 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: of those games I think. Before the Packers are on 431 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,919 Speaker 1: the field, to kind of keep an eye on to 432 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: see exactly where Seattle's at. Yeah, I think San Diego 433 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,440 Speaker 1: going into Seattle. As far as one of those cross competence, 434 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: it's it's an intriguing it's an intriguing matchup. And yes, 435 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: the Rams against the Saints, the top two teams in 436 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: the NFC, a Week nine game that very well could 437 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: decide some things as far as the playoff picture down 438 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: the road. Yeah, huge, I mean right now, just taking 439 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: it for what it is, this is one and two 440 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: in the NFC, so there's a lot of value in 441 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 1: that potentially being able to have that home game. So 442 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: all right, Well with that, we will call it a 443 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to 444 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team and of 445 00:21:20,119 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: sunday Nights big game from Gillette Stadium on Packers dot 446 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: com on Twitter. He's at West Hot I'm at Mike 447 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 1: Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 448 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.