WEBVTT - #363 Packers Unscripted: View of the Vikings 0:00:00.720 --> 0:00:20.880 Hi, everyone. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:21.000 --> 0:00:24.080 I am Mike Spofford. He is West Hot Couits. We're 0:00:24.120 --> 0:00:27.159 coming to you here from our studios at Lambeufield. I 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:29.040 got the point that time, and you've got two points, 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:31.760 two points instead of the camera. All right, Well, West, 0:00:32.320 --> 0:00:36.120 we are another day closer to Packers Vikings Sunday Night 0:00:36.159 --> 0:00:40.200 football from US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The Packers third 0:00:40.200 --> 0:00:43.040 consecutive road game that will be in prime time, which 0:00:43.120 --> 0:00:46.080 I don't know if that's ever happened before, but New England, Seattle, 0:00:46.159 --> 0:00:50.159 now Minneapolis. So let's take a closer look at this 0:00:50.320 --> 0:00:52.959 Vikings team. They're just one game ahead of the Packers 0:00:53.000 --> 0:00:55.800 at five four and one. Packers are four five and one, 0:00:56.440 --> 0:00:59.600 both teams right now trailing the Chicago Bears in the 0:00:59.720 --> 0:01:01.800 NFL See North, and the Vikings coming off of a 0:01:01.880 --> 0:01:05.920 primetime loss to those first place Bears at Soldier Field 0:01:05.959 --> 0:01:09.880 in Chicago last Sunday Night, a game in which Minnesota's 0:01:09.880 --> 0:01:14.080 offense really struggled to get anything going against that Chicago defense. Well, 0:01:14.080 --> 0:01:16.160 it goes back to what I've always said, Michael, with 0:01:16.280 --> 0:01:18.240 this game, you never know how it's going to play 0:01:18.240 --> 0:01:20.360 out at the beginning of the year. I think you 0:01:20.440 --> 0:01:22.640 and I could probably roll back, Marvin can bring up 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:25.680 the past on scripted episodes. We thought it was gonna 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:28.120 be the Packers and Vikings one too for the division 0:01:28.160 --> 0:01:31.679 and maybe the loser that being a wild card team. Uh. 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:33.880 And you see how the season plays out. The Chicago 0:01:33.920 --> 0:01:36.320 Bears have really come on. I mean offensively, they're doing 0:01:36.360 --> 0:01:38.720 what they have to do to take care of business. 0:01:39.240 --> 0:01:43.760 The Vikings are different in that watching them sort of 0:01:43.800 --> 0:01:47.160 struggle a little bit with this Kirk Cousins era has 0:01:47.200 --> 0:01:48.920 kind of caught me off guard a little bit. Their 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:51.840 thirty feet right now against the UH with the with 0:01:51.960 --> 0:01:55.720 the run. Offensively, Uh, you're getting the performances you want 0:01:55.720 --> 0:01:58.200 to get out of you know, Stefon Diggs and Adam Feeland. 0:01:58.200 --> 0:02:01.680 But offensively it's then you know, kind of hit or 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:04.720 miss for them. Defensively, that's the same defense. They're still 0:02:04.760 --> 0:02:08.160 making plays. But I don't know if I don't want 0:02:08.200 --> 0:02:10.200 to say it's been a disappointment, because I wouldn't say that. 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.880 We see how difficult it is to find solid quarterback 0:02:12.919 --> 0:02:15.840 play in the NFL. But I think if anything, this 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:18.080 season has kind of showed that Kirk Cousins is human 0:02:18.520 --> 0:02:20.880 in that expectations for as sky high as they were 0:02:20.880 --> 0:02:23.880 going in the season, they always have to be adjusted. Yeah, 0:02:23.919 --> 0:02:26.440 And I think the injury early in the season to 0:02:26.560 --> 0:02:29.040 Dalvin Cook, I think really changed the outlook for this 0:02:29.120 --> 0:02:31.280 offense because I think you and I were both thinking, 0:02:31.400 --> 0:02:35.359 you know, Dalvin Cook coming back from the injury from 0:02:35.400 --> 0:02:37.160 a year ago, he was really going to be a 0:02:37.160 --> 0:02:40.560 centerpiece of this offense. And nothing against Lottavius Murray who 0:02:40.680 --> 0:02:45.119 filled in right very well, but Dalvin Cook is more 0:02:45.160 --> 0:02:48.440 of that game breaker textually in the in the running 0:02:48.440 --> 0:02:50.600 game that they haven't had. And I just I think 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:54.639 if this Vikings offense gets Dalvin Cook going again like 0:02:54.720 --> 0:02:57.200 they had him going last year before he got hurt 0:02:57.280 --> 0:03:00.400 with case Keenum at quarterback, I think this Vikings offense 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:03.280 could really take off. So you say, yes, their thirty 0:03:03.320 --> 0:03:05.680 one in the league against the run, It sounds kind 0:03:05.680 --> 0:03:07.200 of crazy, but I think one of the keys for 0:03:07.240 --> 0:03:09.520 the Packers is going to be to keep them there, 0:03:09.560 --> 0:03:12.120 to not let Dalvin Cook get going, because to me, 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:14.840 that's just gonna make Kirk cousins life so much easier. Well, 0:03:14.840 --> 0:03:17.000 and that's what kind of surprises me about the offense 0:03:17.080 --> 0:03:18.720 this year from Minnesota. I think there's a lot of 0:03:18.720 --> 0:03:21.520 people that would agree. I would hope most would agree 0:03:21.520 --> 0:03:23.880 that Kirk Cousins is an upgrade over the kind of 0:03:23.960 --> 0:03:27.120 quarterback triangle that they had last year. There. Uh, and 0:03:27.240 --> 0:03:29.560 yet you look at what they did with case Keenum 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:32.440 in Latavius Murray in the offense in some ways is 0:03:32.480 --> 0:03:35.560 a little more effective with basically the same offensive line. 0:03:35.600 --> 0:03:38.600 So it's weird how season to season there isn't always 0:03:38.600 --> 0:03:42.200 that consistency. There's still adjustments that happened in the game changes. 0:03:42.720 --> 0:03:44.600 That being said, Mike, if you would have told me 0:03:44.640 --> 0:03:47.720 at the beginning of the year, injuries, no injuries. Dalvin 0:03:47.760 --> 0:03:50.160 Cook has fifty carries for a hundred and ninety nine 0:03:50.240 --> 0:03:53.320 yards three point six yards per carry. Seventy of those 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:55.280 came on one run, right, he had the one big 0:03:55.320 --> 0:03:57.720 seventy yards. Like, it's incredible that he did have that 0:03:57.800 --> 0:04:00.160 one breakthrough run. But yet the yards per carrey are 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:02.920 that low. As you said, though, when you pointed out perfectly, 0:04:03.400 --> 0:04:06.280 the Packers can't rest on their laurels there. He's still 0:04:06.280 --> 0:04:08.360 going to be a supreme matchup for them, and Mary 0:04:08.480 --> 0:04:11.040 still gives them a really good change of pace, and 0:04:11.120 --> 0:04:14.480 it adds to a pretty on paper, a pretty balanced 0:04:14.480 --> 0:04:16.560 offense when they're taking care of the football. Yeah. I 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:19.400 think was the Digs in their receiving corps who missed 0:04:19.440 --> 0:04:22.240 a game or two somewhere recently. I can't remember exactly 0:04:22.279 --> 0:04:26.760 which which games he missed. It was the Detroit game. Yeah, 0:04:26.839 --> 0:04:29.520 So I mean with him being back, I saw him 0:04:29.560 --> 0:04:32.400 catching a lot of underneath balls against the Bears in 0:04:32.440 --> 0:04:34.479 that game last Sunday night. He put up a pretty 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:37.040 good game, but didn't have any of those game breaking 0:04:37.080 --> 0:04:38.680 type of plays, and I think a lot of that 0:04:38.800 --> 0:04:41.000 was because they just could not get the running game 0:04:41.080 --> 0:04:45.159 going against that Chicago front. The Bears. The Bears defensive line, 0:04:45.360 --> 0:04:49.720 really defensive front set the tone in that game. You 0:04:49.760 --> 0:04:53.440 mentioned Minnesota's offensive line. I think this is a unit 0:04:53.520 --> 0:04:55.440 that is going to be out for a little bit 0:04:55.440 --> 0:04:58.840 of redemption here against the Packers, because that's the unit 0:04:58.920 --> 0:05:01.640 that's taking a lot of he in the Minneapolis media 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:04.760 right now for the let down at Soldier Field and 0:05:04.760 --> 0:05:07.120 and how it took the offense until the fourth quarter 0:05:07.120 --> 0:05:09.280 when they were kind of in desperation mode before they 0:05:09.320 --> 0:05:12.480 really started to move the ball with any consistency. So 0:05:12.839 --> 0:05:15.440 this Vikings offensive line, they're going to be back home, 0:05:15.760 --> 0:05:19.479 you know, in their own elements. And uh Packers. The 0:05:19.520 --> 0:05:22.960 Packers defensive front, yes, they're banged up. Mike Daniels is 0:05:22.960 --> 0:05:25.599 not in there. This isn't the same defensive front that 0:05:25.640 --> 0:05:27.760 the Bears have. But that's where the Packers have to 0:05:27.800 --> 0:05:30.280 try to control this ball game. You have to because 0:05:30.279 --> 0:05:33.280 I mean, you've seen in the past what what you 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:35.920 know Cook can do when he's healthy and be effective 0:05:35.960 --> 0:05:38.800 against teams, And honestly, the Mattavious Murray has been doing 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:40.640 it for the last five six years, whether it goes 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:43.039 back to his time with the Raiders or now in 0:05:43.120 --> 0:05:46.120 the second part of his career with the Vikings. Both 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:48.400 of those guys have the capabilities of breaking it and 0:05:48.600 --> 0:05:51.800 also moving the chains just down in distance and doing 0:05:51.839 --> 0:05:54.320 the small things to be effective out of the backfield. 0:05:55.120 --> 0:05:57.760 The biggest thing I think that plays into, though, the 0:05:57.800 --> 0:05:59.880 desire to need to stop them, is because it does 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:04.239 somewhat limit the downfield passing game. Then of the Vikings, 0:06:04.240 --> 0:06:06.360 we've seen it against the Packers in the past two 0:06:06.400 --> 0:06:08.839 when they're able to move the ball and get those 0:06:08.839 --> 0:06:12.040 favorable second and third down situations. That's when you start 0:06:12.080 --> 0:06:14.000 to see digs go on, Margo routes, That's when you 0:06:14.000 --> 0:06:18.000 start to see at field having the deep crossers. So 0:06:18.080 --> 0:06:19.800 you have to be on your your game from that 0:06:19.839 --> 0:06:22.480 regard and and you know otherwise, you know, it kind 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:25.479 of reminds me, Mike a little bit um your baseball guy. 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:27.560 I used to be a baseball guy where you know, 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:29.880 you'd play a certain team, let's just say the Cardinals, 0:06:29.880 --> 0:06:32.599 for example, and you could kind of visualize who's gonna 0:06:32.640 --> 0:06:34.400 be at first, who's gonna be at second, who's going 0:06:34.440 --> 0:06:37.080 to be the outfield. It's such a consistent group, and 0:06:37.120 --> 0:06:38.640 you know where they're going to be in the batting order. 0:06:38.680 --> 0:06:40.640 I look at the Vikings in the very similar light. 0:06:40.720 --> 0:06:42.760 Offensive and defensive. You know you're gonna have to deal 0:06:42.760 --> 0:06:47.200 with Kyle Rudolph and just the multitude of options they have. Now, again, 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:51.000 is there you know that Tyreek Hill or just a 0:06:51.040 --> 0:06:54.560 guy that completely strikes fearing you. Maybe yes, maybe no. 0:06:54.680 --> 0:06:56.760 It's a lot of possession receivers in that offense. But 0:06:56.839 --> 0:06:59.480 that being said, you can't allow them to get go 0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:01.320 on because a feeling two has had some really big 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:03.760 games against this team. Yeah, well, Theeland had was at 0:07:03.800 --> 0:07:08.119 eight consecutive games to start the year with one yards. 0:07:08.160 --> 0:07:11.840 He's cooled off a little bit. You know, obviously he 0:07:11.960 --> 0:07:14.440 can't keep that up forever. He's cooled off a little 0:07:14.440 --> 0:07:16.680 bit production wise, but as you said, he's had some 0:07:16.720 --> 0:07:19.240 big games against the Packers. You know, he and Diggs 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:22.800 both made huge plays in the fourth quarter at lambeau 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:25.240 Field when when the Vikings made that come back to 0:07:25.320 --> 0:07:28.560 get the game here in Week two into overtime, which 0:07:28.600 --> 0:07:32.080 which ultimately ended in a tie. UM Feeling is a 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:35.840 feeling is a guy that that's earned a ton of respect, uh, 0:07:35.920 --> 0:07:38.800 not only around the league, but certainly within the NFC 0:07:38.880 --> 0:07:41.240 North and UH and the games he's had against Green Bay, 0:07:41.240 --> 0:07:43.360 the Packers are gonna have to They're gonna have to 0:07:43.360 --> 0:07:45.320 clamp down on him better than they have. The one 0:07:45.360 --> 0:07:47.440 thing I like about the Packers secondary this though, it's 0:07:47.440 --> 0:07:49.760 almost a different group than what they saw in that 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:52.680 week too game. You know. You also, depending on if 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:55.400 Bishop Brillan is available, he's now in their Devon Houses 0:07:55.440 --> 0:07:58.400 on injury reserve. I really really want to see that 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:00.920 matchup between if it works out to e Gyr Alexander 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:04.240 against Adam Feeland, because I mean, there had there's been 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:08.120 some flexibility that they've had to do. You know, Alexander said, 0:08:08.400 --> 0:08:10.560 in a perfect world, he enjoys playing the slot more. 0:08:10.880 --> 0:08:13.040 He's fine doing either. He feels he can be a 0:08:13.040 --> 0:08:15.640 Pro Bowl type player at either spot, but he just 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:17.880 enjoys being involved in the game. Weren't getting a chance 0:08:17.920 --> 0:08:20.320 to make some plays. As Tremont Williams always likes to say, 0:08:20.320 --> 0:08:22.080 we're near on a boundary, it kind of gets lonely 0:08:22.080 --> 0:08:25.480 out there. Alexander likes the action, and I just think 0:08:25.520 --> 0:08:27.120 seeing him in Cineland could be really I think it's 0:08:27.120 --> 0:08:28.760 gonna be a really good matchup for years to come. 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:30.720 But if you could get that, if you get enough 0:08:30.760 --> 0:08:33.079 guys healthy to have that potentially play out in this game, 0:08:33.120 --> 0:08:35.160 I think that'd be really big for Mike Petten's defense. Well, 0:08:35.200 --> 0:08:37.160 we saw in the Week two game here at lambeau 0:08:37.240 --> 0:08:41.480 Field when the Packers had Kevin King on stefanigs how 0:08:42.160 --> 0:08:45.199 the Packers defense was really really tough that day for 0:08:45.320 --> 0:08:47.640 about three quarters. And then when Kevin King left the 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:49.720 game and they had to start shuffling some things around 0:08:49.720 --> 0:08:53.160 in the secondary, suddenly Minnesota's offense took off. So we'll 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:55.560 see as the week goes on. What what the word 0:08:55.600 --> 0:08:58.240 is with Kevin King in his ability to stay step 0:08:58.280 --> 0:09:00.080 for step with Digs in that game. I thought it 0:09:00.160 --> 0:09:02.760 was so key. I mean, it's still out of all, 0:09:02.880 --> 0:09:05.480 like if I took the top ten passes, defense or 0:09:05.520 --> 0:09:08.240 interceptions for the year so far, even though it wasn't 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:10.319 a pick that that play where he goes stride for 0:09:10.360 --> 0:09:13.520 stride with him down the far sideline with no help 0:09:13.600 --> 0:09:16.079 whatsoever over the top, it's just go, there's your man, 0:09:16.160 --> 0:09:18.920 Go make a play and unfortunately end up pulling out 0:09:18.920 --> 0:09:21.079 of that with a groin injury shortly after that. But 0:09:21.440 --> 0:09:23.199 I've been saying it since day one. When you look 0:09:23.200 --> 0:09:25.840 at King's size and his speed MIC and the fact 0:09:25.880 --> 0:09:28.200 that he can play the boundary position against some really tall, 0:09:28.320 --> 0:09:32.200 lengthy athletic receivers, he is exactly what you need in 0:09:32.240 --> 0:09:34.000 two thousand and eighteen to to be able to defend 0:09:34.040 --> 0:09:36.920 against them. Yeah, alrighty, well quickly West a little sponsored 0:09:36.960 --> 0:09:41.440 business the powerful noise canceling technology that helps NFL coaches 0:09:41.480 --> 0:09:44.520 block out eighty tho screaming fans can get you closer 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:48.160 to the music you love. Learn more at www dot 0:09:48.240 --> 0:09:52.600 bos dot com. Slash Packers Bows the official headphones of 0:09:52.640 --> 0:09:55.080 the Green Bay Packers. Okay, defensive side of the ball 0:09:55.120 --> 0:09:58.160 for the Minnesota Vikings, they've had some guys in and out. 0:09:58.200 --> 0:10:00.480 Everson Griffin is back in now after are missing a 0:10:00.480 --> 0:10:04.040 lot of time for some personal reasons. Anthony Barr. It 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:07.080 sounds like maybe he's coming back this week after missing 0:10:07.440 --> 0:10:11.119 um some games. You know, your mainstays in there, Kendrick's, 0:10:11.360 --> 0:10:14.440 Harrison Smith, Davier Rhodes. I mean this this is still 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:17.440 a pretty darn good unit. And the guy who's really 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:20.079 the kind of striking fear and everybody is that pass 0:10:20.160 --> 0:10:22.840 rusher Daniel Hunter. What's he up to now? Eleven and 0:10:22.880 --> 0:10:25.600 a hal half second most right now? Yeah, I mean 0:10:25.640 --> 0:10:29.480 he's he's been racking him up this year. Um, interesting 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:31.959 story behind him, just because he's a guy who came 0:10:32.000 --> 0:10:34.520 into the NFL without a whole lot of fanfare, but 0:10:34.600 --> 0:10:38.240 yet he's developed into quite the productive pass rusher. Yeah. 0:10:38.240 --> 0:10:41.120 And this is what I've always respected about Mike Patton's defense, 0:10:41.120 --> 0:10:43.680 whether excuse me, Mike Zimmer's defense, although I do respect 0:10:43.679 --> 0:10:46.280 Pattens too, going back to either whether it was with 0:10:46.320 --> 0:10:48.520 his time with Cincinnati or now these last four or 0:10:48.559 --> 0:10:52.480 five years with Minnesota, it's never just one guy. Certainly 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:54.959 Everson Griffin's been on a good run and when everything's right, 0:10:55.320 --> 0:10:57.560 you know, he's a very effective player. But it's not 0:10:57.679 --> 0:11:00.520 just one guy. He always has somebody else that's EPs up, 0:11:00.880 --> 0:11:03.440 and Hunters really became that player over the last two 0:11:03.480 --> 0:11:05.720 and a half seasons. And as you mentioned, I don't 0:11:05.720 --> 0:11:07.280 know if there was a lot of fanfare with him. 0:11:07.320 --> 0:11:09.840 He wasn't one of these, you know, Harrison Smith, you know, 0:11:09.920 --> 0:11:14.079 first round all eyes on him type prospects. But what 0:11:14.160 --> 0:11:16.360 he's been able to do and the impact he's been 0:11:16.400 --> 0:11:19.080 able to make has been pretty incredible. And especially Mike 0:11:19.120 --> 0:11:21.200 when you say the eleven and a half sacks, much 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:23.599 like Feeland, I mean he had this first six or 0:11:23.679 --> 0:11:26.440 seven games, seven games with at least one sack, and 0:11:26.440 --> 0:11:28.679 then had three and a half against Detroit in that day. 0:11:28.720 --> 0:11:31.720 I believe Matthew Stafford got taken down ten times. Ten times. Yeah, 0:11:31.720 --> 0:11:35.320 that was a new, a new Vikings record. They sack 0:11:35.400 --> 0:11:37.920 Stafford ten times. When you think about back to the 0:11:38.000 --> 0:11:41.080 days of the Purple People leaders and all that, I know, 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:44.640 sacks maybe weren't an official statistic back then, but to 0:11:44.679 --> 0:11:47.600 think that this Vikings defense set the franchise record for 0:11:47.640 --> 0:11:49.920 sacks in one game with ten. That that's saying something. 0:11:49.920 --> 0:11:51.800 It was something else. And And like I said, to 0:11:51.880 --> 0:11:54.400 be able to a third round pick in two thousand fifteen, 0:11:54.520 --> 0:11:57.439 six ft five, two sixty pounds, be able to get 0:11:57.480 --> 0:12:01.120 that kind of impact a very really critical thing. And 0:12:01.679 --> 0:12:03.920 you know, because you're gonna get your first round picks. 0:12:03.920 --> 0:12:05.520 But being able to find these type of guys, being 0:12:05.559 --> 0:12:07.600 able to find the Adam feelings of the world, as 0:12:07.640 --> 0:12:09.200 we've seen with some of these Packer teams in the 0:12:09.200 --> 0:12:12.160 past that have really excelled. It's those type of players 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:14.640 that can put a defense or an offense over the top. Yeah, 0:12:14.640 --> 0:12:16.920 and when you're talking pass rush, we all know that 0:12:17.800 --> 0:12:20.640 the pass rush for a team playing at home, when 0:12:20.679 --> 0:12:23.760 the defense is at home is always different than on 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:26.480 the road. And U and the Packers offensive line obviously 0:12:26.559 --> 0:12:28.000 is going to have his hands full. You get the 0:12:28.040 --> 0:12:31.199 noise going, the offense has to go to the silent count. 0:12:31.200 --> 0:12:34.240 Those pass rushers just they have that I wouldn't even 0:12:34.280 --> 0:12:36.480 say it's a half a second, it's a it's a 0:12:36.480 --> 0:12:39.400 fraction of a half of a second that they get 0:12:39.440 --> 0:12:41.439 a little bit of a jump that you don't necessarily 0:12:41.440 --> 0:12:44.240 get when you're playing on the road as a pass rusher, 0:12:44.280 --> 0:12:46.520 and uh and it it makes it makes the task 0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:49.679 of protecting a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers that much tougher. Yeah, 0:12:49.760 --> 0:12:51.720 and it's gonna be interesting to the thing. I'm looking 0:12:51.720 --> 0:12:54.400 forward to watching this matchup. So obviously Trey Wayne Xavior 0:12:54.480 --> 0:12:56.839 Rohads they're the one too. They've been that way for 0:12:56.840 --> 0:12:58.640 a number of years. But they lost my cues for 0:12:58.640 --> 0:13:01.719 this season. Yeah, so seen exactly how they match up there. 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:03.240 I had to be honest with you, I'm not is 0:13:03.240 --> 0:13:05.880 it mostly been Mackenzie Alexander handling the slot. I'm not 0:13:05.920 --> 0:13:08.000 even entirely. I know he's been playing a lot more 0:13:08.080 --> 0:13:10.480 obviously since Hughes went out, but I don't know they 0:13:10.480 --> 0:13:12.880 handle that sub package. But anyway, Hughes, that was kind 0:13:12.880 --> 0:13:14.800 of seen as that was going to be his spot, 0:13:14.960 --> 0:13:17.319 and he was looking pretty good there early on this season, 0:13:17.320 --> 0:13:20.280 and he was drafted in the first round specifically to 0:13:20.360 --> 0:13:23.120 be that guy for them this season, to to add 0:13:23.480 --> 0:13:26.520 add that one extra top line you know, cover corner 0:13:26.559 --> 0:13:28.880 type guy. Yeah. So whereas in the past, you know, 0:13:28.920 --> 0:13:31.520 they've been so deep at so many positions, they still 0:13:31.559 --> 0:13:34.280 are relatively speaking, but they've had to really at at 0:13:34.320 --> 0:13:36.880 all three major spots, have had to dig a little 0:13:36.880 --> 0:13:38.679 bit deeper into that depth chart than they have the 0:13:38.720 --> 0:13:41.120 past few seasons, at least to the naked eye. Yeah, 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:44.440 and for all the disappointment in some ways that is 0:13:44.440 --> 0:13:46.920 surrounding the Vikings because they did come in with Super 0:13:46.960 --> 0:13:49.360 Bowl hopes and yet here they are at five four 0:13:49.360 --> 0:13:51.520 and one, there in second place in their own division, 0:13:51.960 --> 0:13:54.560 Minnesota is still looking at this, at least I would 0:13:54.600 --> 0:13:57.400 imagine they are from Mike Zimmer's point of view as, Hey, 0:13:57.559 --> 0:14:00.200 we're right in this thing. You beat the Packers, get 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:02.720 to six four and one, you have another shot at 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:04.760 the Bears because the Bears are coming to your place 0:14:04.920 --> 0:14:07.760 in December, all that kind of stuff. The Vikings are 0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:09.720 looking at it is, Hey, we still have everything right 0:14:09.760 --> 0:14:11.920 in front of us. Who cares about these four losses 0:14:11.920 --> 0:14:14.760 in one tie. Let's let's take care of business at 0:14:14.800 --> 0:14:17.439 home and get rolling and get ourselves another shot in 0:14:17.480 --> 0:14:20.560 the playoffs like last year. So as much as they're 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:23.880 disappointed with what happened on Sunday night at Soldier Field, 0:14:24.120 --> 0:14:25.600 this is a team that is going to be fired 0:14:25.640 --> 0:14:28.640 up and ready to go especially want to defend their 0:14:28.640 --> 0:14:31.320 home turf after losing two games. They're already this season. 0:14:31.360 --> 0:14:34.680 They only lost one last year up until obviously you know, 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:37.640 the final stretch. But uh, that being said, I I 0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:40.880 just I look right now, Michael, at this thing. Uh 0:14:40.920 --> 0:14:43.560 you know, they had the inexcusable loss to Buffalo, but 0:14:43.560 --> 0:14:45.800 otherwise they're in a very similar boat to the Packers, 0:14:45.800 --> 0:14:48.280 and that you know, a close loss in l A. 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:51.520 You lose a close one to Chicago. Uh, you know, 0:14:51.560 --> 0:14:53.840 they they They've had some very competitive games over the 0:14:53.880 --> 0:14:56.240 course the season, ten point lost to New Orleans. They 0:14:56.320 --> 0:14:58.000 just have not been able to get over the hump 0:14:58.040 --> 0:15:02.040 in those. So yeah, this is a I always am nervous, 0:15:02.040 --> 0:15:03.760 and I don't like saying must win games, but I 0:15:03.760 --> 0:15:05.600 think you can pretty much agree the Packers are in 0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:09.360 that scenario right now. Considering this as a division opponent, 0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:11.840 you're this close in the race. I think the win 0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:13.360 like this is really going to be able to cut 0:15:13.440 --> 0:15:16.680 catapult either team into that fourth quarter of the season. Yeah, 0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:19.600 you're right, it is. It's kind of a potential launching pad, 0:15:19.720 --> 0:15:22.320 so to speak, for either team. Because from Minnesota's point 0:15:22.320 --> 0:15:24.240 of view, as I said, if they get to six 0:15:24.320 --> 0:15:26.680 four and one, and they know that Chicago is coming 0:15:26.680 --> 0:15:29.600 to their place later in the season. They'll feel like 0:15:29.640 --> 0:15:31.440 they're right where they want to be from the Packers 0:15:31.440 --> 0:15:34.320 point of view. Win and get to five five and one, 0:15:34.360 --> 0:15:36.560 and you have two home games coming up after all 0:15:36.600 --> 0:15:38.960 of these wrote, you know, four road games in five 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:41.160 weeks and and all the struggles on the road. If 0:15:41.200 --> 0:15:43.120 you can snap those struggles on the road and get 0:15:43.120 --> 0:15:44.920 a win and you're coming back home for two games, 0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:47.720 then you feel like you can thrust yourself right back 0:15:47.760 --> 0:15:51.440 into the conversation. So, um, one other thing, Um, Actually 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:53.760 I should take care of some sponsor business. Let's do that, 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:56.240 all right at Homer Here in the stands, we all 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.000 know that Green Bay fans give it their all and 0:15:58.040 --> 0:15:59.960 that takes a lot of energy. So grab a warm 0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:03.120 bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the 0:16:03.120 --> 0:16:06.760 greatness of Packers fans everywhere tried the delicious classic chicken 0:16:06.760 --> 0:16:10.200 noodle soup. Just visit your local supermarket and ask for 0:16:10.240 --> 0:16:15.160 Campbell's Chunky Soup, Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, 0:16:15.280 --> 0:16:18.400 before we go today, I do want to preview a 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:22.600 little bit the Turkey Day of Football Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving 0:16:22.760 --> 0:16:26.000 Triple Header a really interesting slate of games in that 0:16:26.160 --> 0:16:30.520 all three games are not only NFC strictly NFC teams, 0:16:30.560 --> 0:16:33.480 but they're all division matchups. You have the Chicago Bears 0:16:33.520 --> 0:16:36.440 going to Detroit in the early game, you have the 0:16:36.440 --> 0:16:39.840 Washington Redskins going to Dallas for the late afternoon game. 0:16:39.960 --> 0:16:42.840 And then I forget the location, but it's Falcons and Saints. 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:45.880 It's in New Orleans, Okay, Falcons at Saints in the 0:16:46.000 --> 0:16:49.200 NFC South for the night game. All these have really 0:16:49.240 --> 0:16:53.200 interesting narratives because the Bears obviously in first place in 0:16:53.200 --> 0:16:55.960 the North, but they just played a Sunday night football 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:58.400 game and they have to kick it off at eleven 0:16:58.440 --> 0:17:02.040 thirties Central Time in Detroit on Thursday. Actually did the 0:17:02.080 --> 0:17:05.480 math there. Their turnaround time from end of game to 0:17:05.640 --> 0:17:09.440 start of next game is about twelve hours shorter than 0:17:09.480 --> 0:17:12.280 what the Packers had for the after the Miami from 0:17:12.320 --> 0:17:14.679 the Miami to Seattle. So they didn't have to take 0:17:14.720 --> 0:17:16.199 a cross country No, they don't have to take a 0:17:16.240 --> 0:17:17.960 cross they don't have to take a cross country flight, 0:17:18.000 --> 0:17:21.000 but twelve hours is twelve hours. And then you have 0:17:21.080 --> 0:17:24.240 the Redskins, who are down to their backup quarterback now 0:17:24.280 --> 0:17:28.080 with the horrible injury to Alex Smith unfortunately, and I'm 0:17:28.080 --> 0:17:30.320 not laughing about that. I'm laughing more about the Cowboys 0:17:30.320 --> 0:17:32.720 suddenly being in the middle of that division race. Yeah. Well, 0:17:32.760 --> 0:17:34.720 the Cowboys were two weeks ago, they were three and 0:17:34.800 --> 0:17:36.760 five and everybody was writing them off. And all of 0:17:36.800 --> 0:17:39.280 a sudden, they've won back to back games. The Redskins 0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:42.240 lose their quarterback and Dallas has a chance to uh 0:17:42.480 --> 0:17:44.960 to tie them for first and then uh the night 0:17:45.000 --> 0:17:49.359 game the Atlanta Falcons, if they pick up their seventh loss, 0:17:50.080 --> 0:17:52.600 it's I mean, it's pretty much all over for them 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:54.720 in terms of trying to make the postseason if if 0:17:54.760 --> 0:17:57.200 the best they can do is is nine and seven 0:17:57.240 --> 0:17:59.280 the way things look so and the New Orleans Saints 0:17:59.280 --> 0:18:01.360 are the team that nobody can seem to stay with 0:18:01.520 --> 0:18:03.840 right now. Yeah, it's gonna be an exciting day of games. 0:18:03.920 --> 0:18:06.880 I am really you know, I'm hoping we'll break here 0:18:06.920 --> 0:18:09.160 early enough to get home and you know, throw down 0:18:09.200 --> 0:18:12.040 some turkey and check these games out, you know, personally. 0:18:12.600 --> 0:18:15.399 In addition, you know, the narrative for the North is 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:17.320 going to be what it is in the the intrigue 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:18.680 is going to be there because of the Packers and 0:18:18.720 --> 0:18:20.520 the implications of it. Was the main reason why I 0:18:20.560 --> 0:18:22.440 was saying last week, I think you're kind of hoping 0:18:22.480 --> 0:18:25.639 for a Vikings win just based on the Bears. You know, 0:18:25.760 --> 0:18:27.840 even his short rest, they're still taking on a Detroit 0:18:27.880 --> 0:18:30.120 team that's trying to find themselves. How much how much 0:18:30.160 --> 0:18:32.240 do you think Detroit's I mean, Detroit got a pretty 0:18:32.280 --> 0:18:35.360 big win over Carolina at home on Sunday, a game 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:37.320 a lot of people needed it. A lot of people 0:18:37.320 --> 0:18:39.800 thought Carolina would walk into four field and just kind 0:18:39.800 --> 0:18:43.280 of keep rolling offensively, and that didn't happen. You know, Detroit, 0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:45.879