WEBVTT - #378 Packers Unscripted: Handful of keys 0:00:00.840 --> 0:00:21.160 Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:21.160 --> 0:00:24.960 I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my trusted colleague West 0:00:25.000 --> 0:00:27.680 hod Kuitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 0:00:27.720 --> 0:00:30.800 at lambeau Field West. It's almost here. Packers and Bears 0:00:30.840 --> 0:00:34.680 will kick it off Sunday noon Central Time at Soldier Field, 0:00:34.760 --> 0:00:37.559 just off Lake George Drive on the south side of Chicago. 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:40.680 Our last show of the week, and that means keys 0:00:40.680 --> 0:00:44.040 to victory. I've got actually a fairly lengthy list of 0:00:44.120 --> 0:00:46.760 keys to victory here. So where do you want to 0:00:46.760 --> 0:00:50.479 see a Santais? Where do you want to start with 0:00:50.520 --> 0:00:52.760 this one? Well, I'll start off with the fact that 0:00:52.760 --> 0:00:54.560 I need to get a lot of Christmas shopping done 0:00:55.080 --> 0:00:58.200 on Saturday evening down the Miracle Mile. There you go. 0:00:58.280 --> 0:01:00.160 You gotta check off some things in that regard. It's 0:01:00.160 --> 0:01:01.600 a good place to do it. A long way to 0:01:01.640 --> 0:01:05.000 go yet, uh No, But I think the biggest key, 0:01:05.040 --> 0:01:07.920 and Mike Petton said it flat out when he was 0:01:07.959 --> 0:01:11.480 at the podium on Thursday night, was whoever wins the 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:14.319 turnover differential is going to win this game. And yeah, 0:01:14.400 --> 0:01:17.000 you can flash back to some previous episodes of the 0:01:17.040 --> 0:01:18.920 Friday's keys of victory, and a lot of times it 0:01:19.000 --> 0:01:23.360 is the takeaways. But when you look at how prestigious 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.640 so far this season the Bears have been at taking 0:01:26.640 --> 0:01:29.200 away the football, proficient I think was the word. I 0:01:29.240 --> 0:01:32.640 was trying to go for prodigious, prodigious works too, all 0:01:32.720 --> 0:01:35.640 those works other than what I actually said, But no, 0:01:35.760 --> 0:01:38.280 I mean just how efficient they've been and being able 0:01:38.319 --> 0:01:41.360 to take away the football and then in some regard 0:01:41.440 --> 0:01:44.679 for the most part, protected win that battle. That's what's 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:46.120 allowed them to be nine and four. So if the 0:01:46.160 --> 0:01:48.160 Packers are going to be able to stand up to that, 0:01:48.480 --> 0:01:50.560 if they're going to be able to challenge the Bears 0:01:50.840 --> 0:01:53.200 to to pull off what I think people are considered 0:01:53.240 --> 0:01:54.720 to be an upset, even though they do have eight 0:01:54.720 --> 0:01:57.800 consecutive wins at Soldier Field. You need to be able 0:01:57.840 --> 0:02:00.680 to win that. So Mike Petton and his dfense they 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:03.600 understand that. And Jaire Alexander was asked about this in 0:02:03.640 --> 0:02:05.800 the locker room. Like you know, is so much being 0:02:05.840 --> 0:02:08.560 made about the Packers offense against the Bears defense, But 0:02:09.000 --> 0:02:11.680 there's a Packers defense too that's very hungry to take 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:13.720 the football away and kind of build on some of 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:16.400 that momentum that they started against the Falcons. Well, and 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:18.560 it's funny because when you look back at the recent 0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:21.040 history here of the Packers and Bears, I'm talking the 0:02:21.120 --> 0:02:25.480 last decade or so, every game, and there have been 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:28.640 plenty of highly competitive games, but you can almost point 0:02:28.680 --> 0:02:34.000 to a turnover play or turnover like play as a 0:02:34.120 --> 0:02:36.880 turning point in the game. I mean, I'm thinking obviously 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:39.960 the NFC Championship. B J Rodgie gets the pick six, 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:43.400 Aaron Rodgers makes the tackle on Brian Urlacker when he 0:02:43.440 --> 0:02:46.000 throws the interception in Urlacher looks like he might be 0:02:46.000 --> 0:02:49.440 going ninety plus yards for a touchdown. Two thousand thirteen, 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:52.320 remember the ball came out and everybody stood there looking 0:02:52.360 --> 0:02:54.480 at it, and Jared Boykin picked it up and ran 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:57.800 it in for a touchdown for the Packers. Um the 0:02:57.880 --> 0:03:02.840 opener this year, Kyle Boller has uh the ball an 0:03:02.840 --> 0:03:05.120 interception basically hit him right in the chest. He doesn't 0:03:05.160 --> 0:03:07.800 hold onto it. The Packers drive for the winning touchdown 0:03:07.840 --> 0:03:11.799 with Randall Cobbs. So this game, it's gonna have one 0:03:11.800 --> 0:03:13.600 of those type of plays you just know what, you 0:03:13.720 --> 0:03:16.200 sense it, you feel it, you hope it goes the 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:18.360 Packers way. Yeah, that's why I put on, you know, 0:03:18.400 --> 0:03:22.239 one of my inbox efforts this week, expect the unexpected, 0:03:22.320 --> 0:03:24.919 because something always happens, and it isn't necessarily leaving those 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:28.000 game changing plays. It's Clay Matthews being an inside linebacker 0:03:28.040 --> 0:03:30.679 and that being a turning point in the Packers season. Uh, 0:03:30.680 --> 0:03:33.160 It's it's being able to utilize some of these weapons 0:03:33.160 --> 0:03:35.920 in different ways. I think that's what I'm most interested 0:03:36.000 --> 0:03:38.680 to see, and we saw small parts of it against 0:03:38.720 --> 0:03:41.320 the Falcons. The fact that they ran back to back 0:03:41.360 --> 0:03:43.680 screenplays with Aaron Jones that you know that they were 0:03:43.720 --> 0:03:46.040 willing to do some of the things they did offensively 0:03:46.360 --> 0:03:48.720 to build some momentum early on and let those offensive 0:03:48.720 --> 0:03:52.360 linemen get settled. You have to be unpredictable, without question. 0:03:52.440 --> 0:03:54.320 But I do think there's a lot of those things 0:03:54.320 --> 0:03:56.400 that they learned in that matchup against Atlanta that can 0:03:56.400 --> 0:03:59.360 carry over into this game against Chicago and what they 0:03:59.440 --> 0:04:01.360 like to do in the trenches and and you know, 0:04:01.640 --> 0:04:04.320 they do not pressure. They obviously pressure, but they do 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:07.600 not blitz a lot. Dick Fangio has confidence with Khalil 0:04:07.640 --> 0:04:09.600 mac being in that defense that they're going to be 0:04:09.640 --> 0:04:12.240 able to get home with four guys. That allows the 0:04:12.280 --> 0:04:15.160 secondary to to make plays, to be able to not 0:04:15.280 --> 0:04:18.440 sacrifice another one of those bodies. That is, if you 0:04:18.480 --> 0:04:20.920 go back to those San Francisco teams, Mike that were 0:04:20.960 --> 0:04:23.760 really good in the early two thousand tens, That's what 0:04:23.880 --> 0:04:26.680 Vic Fangio's group did exceedingly well, and they had tremendous 0:04:26.680 --> 0:04:29.200 linebacking helped to do it. And now you can kind 0:04:29.200 --> 0:04:31.400 of start seeing the Bears building that with ro Kwan 0:04:31.480 --> 0:04:34.800 Smith and with having a veteran there like Danny Trevathan. 0:04:34.880 --> 0:04:37.680 So yeah, I think this game really ultimately is going 0:04:37.720 --> 0:04:39.880 to be one in the trenches, both on the Packers 0:04:39.880 --> 0:04:42.120 side of things and also you know, with the Bears 0:04:42.120 --> 0:04:44.800 being able to you know, hold your spot. Yeah, I 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:48.720 think the the key other than obviously just blocking guys 0:04:48.760 --> 0:04:51.320 and having that communication and everything it takes up front 0:04:51.320 --> 0:04:54.760 to protect Aaron Rodgers, I think the other factor that 0:04:54.880 --> 0:04:57.400 is going to protect Aaron Rodgers if the Packers can 0:04:57.480 --> 0:04:59.800 establish some kind of a running game with Aaron Jones, 0:04:59.880 --> 0:05:02.480 with Jamal Williams. I know, the Bears are number two 0:05:02.480 --> 0:05:04.600 in the league against the run. They're ranked in the 0:05:04.680 --> 0:05:09.599 single digits and lots of categories defensively this season. But 0:05:09.720 --> 0:05:12.560 when when I look at what I saw of the 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:15.400 Rams against the Bears last Sunday night, and the fact 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:18.320 that that game was close. Chicago's offense was not lighting 0:05:18.360 --> 0:05:21.560 anything on fire, but the Rams they never got Todd 0:05:21.600 --> 0:05:24.160 Gurley going, and in my opinion, they just they didn't 0:05:24.440 --> 0:05:26.760 stick with him long enough. They put the game in 0:05:26.839 --> 0:05:30.280 Jared Goff's hands. He ends up throwing four interceptions and 0:05:30.279 --> 0:05:33.520 and the turnovers were far and away the difference in 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:36.400 that game. I think the Packers are gonna have to 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:38.719 find a way to run the ball. They're gonna have 0:05:38.760 --> 0:05:40.680 to be stubborn about it. That's gonna be the best 0:05:40.680 --> 0:05:43.160 way to protect your quarterback and in the long run, 0:05:43.240 --> 0:05:47.080 to protect the football from this turnover crazy defense. Yeah, 0:05:47.120 --> 0:05:50.159 and all year long, Mike, we talked about Jamal Williams 0:05:50.200 --> 0:05:52.960 and Aaron Jones, how they work in tandem with one another. 0:05:53.040 --> 0:05:54.839 I think this game is really going to be important 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:57.479 for both of those players. I think early on you 0:05:57.480 --> 0:05:59.479 could I think it wouldn't surprise me at all if 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:02.280 you see Mama Williams get some play early on, help 0:06:02.320 --> 0:06:04.720 out those offensive lineman. If you're looking to establish the 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:07.680 quick passing game, we know what he can do both 0:06:07.720 --> 0:06:10.720 as past protection and also along with catching the ball. 0:06:11.200 --> 0:06:13.760 I absolutely loved and I know there's probably some fantasy 0:06:13.760 --> 0:06:16.120 football owners out there that had some heart attacks in 0:06:16.160 --> 0:06:18.599 the first half with Aaron Jones and how he was utilized. 0:06:19.080 --> 0:06:21.120 But I just love what they did with him in 0:06:21.160 --> 0:06:24.520 that game because when it was Aaron Jones time they 0:06:24.560 --> 0:06:26.880 featured him, I think it was twenty touches on forty 0:06:26.880 --> 0:06:30.000 two offensive snaps coming out a halftime. They really were 0:06:30.040 --> 0:06:32.120 able to change the pace with being able to get 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:34.400 him involved, get him an open space, allow him to 0:06:34.440 --> 0:06:37.440 make plays, and yet still being able to get the 0:06:37.480 --> 0:06:40.920 best out of Jamal Williams. Jamal Williams is gonna have 0:06:40.920 --> 0:06:42.400 to do a lot of chipping in this game, you know. 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:45.080 And the question was asked Brian Angeliqio, the Packers tight 0:06:45.160 --> 0:06:47.000 ends coach, about how much his guys are gonna be 0:06:47.040 --> 0:06:49.839 involved in the blocking. They very well could be, you know, 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:52.520 mar cites Lewis is a great UH player to have 0:06:52.600 --> 0:06:55.559 in your in your toolbox. But at the same time, 0:06:55.600 --> 0:06:57.640 I think this is where Jamal Williams is going to 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:00.760 really be important. Being able to pick up the free blitzers, 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:04.159 being able to you know, establish himself there to allow 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:06.880 Aaron Rodgers to get comfortable. If Aaron Rodgers gets comfortable, 0:07:07.080 --> 0:07:09.280 if he has over a hundred passer rating in this game, 0:07:09.360 --> 0:07:11.520 I think the Packers win it. Honestly, I truly do, 0:07:11.920 --> 0:07:14.120 because when you look at it from Mitchell Trubisky side 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:17.120 of things, every time there's been a few examples of it, 0:07:17.160 --> 0:07:19.200 but most times when they've had to get into a 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:23.080 shootout type situation, that's where the Bears have been vulnerable. Well, 0:07:23.120 --> 0:07:25.520 you mentioned you looked up the stat on a show 0:07:25.560 --> 0:07:28.280 earlier this week that the Bears defense is allowing an 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:32.720 average of opposer passer rating in the low seventy four. 0:07:32.880 --> 0:07:35.200 So I mean, if Aaron Rodgers can actually hit triple 0:07:35.240 --> 0:07:37.880 digits in in passer rating, I'm with you. I like 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.840 the Packers chances here. And um, I'll just say I 0:07:40.920 --> 0:07:43.200 think the fantasy owners have to get off this whole 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:45.600 Aaron Jones thing. The guy's had a rushing touchdown in 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:48.280 five consecutive games. He's getting the job done for you 0:07:48.400 --> 0:07:51.440 if if he's if he's on your fantasy team. And 0:07:51.480 --> 0:07:53.880 I just point that out because I posted a story 0:07:53.920 --> 0:07:57.800 on our website last night the Packers record all time 0:07:57.840 --> 0:08:00.920 record for consecutive games with the rushing touchdown in seven 0:08:01.320 --> 0:08:04.679 Paul Horning nineteen sixty. Aaron Jones is at five games 0:08:04.760 --> 0:08:07.480 right now. He has six rushing touchdowns in those five games. 0:08:07.760 --> 0:08:10.320 The last guy to have a streak of six was 0:08:10.400 --> 0:08:13.360 Ryan Grant back in two thousand and seven. So Aaron 0:08:13.440 --> 0:08:16.200 Jones is on a nice little run here. And but 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:18.720 that being said, the Bears have only allowed four rushing 0:08:18.760 --> 0:08:22.160 touchdowns all season. They had only allowed two up until 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:25.000 Thanksgiving and Lea Garrett Blunt for the Lions had to 0:08:26.080 --> 0:08:29.160 but then the Lions still lost that game. So, um, 0:08:29.560 --> 0:08:31.520 a lot of a lot of different things here that 0:08:31.520 --> 0:08:34.960 that need to go right for the Packers. And and 0:08:35.120 --> 0:08:37.520 another point I want to make, and I mentioned this 0:08:37.640 --> 0:08:40.520 on our Final Thoughts video which we shot just before 0:08:40.880 --> 0:08:44.040 we sat down here to turn on the cameras, I 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:47.200 don't think the Packers can afford even though they came 0:08:47.200 --> 0:08:49.520 back from twenty to nothing in Week one against this 0:08:49.600 --> 0:08:51.760 Bears defense, I don't think you can go to that 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:53.720 well again. I think you've got to get off to 0:08:53.760 --> 0:08:56.040 a strong start. I think you need to play with 0:08:56.080 --> 0:08:59.360 the lead. When I look at when I look at 0:08:59.440 --> 0:09:02.480 this Bears defense. They're not going to give up another 0:09:02.640 --> 0:09:05.280 twenty point lead to the Green Bay Packers. I don't 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:07.959 see that happening twice in one season. And the flip 0:09:08.040 --> 0:09:11.600 side of it is, we've had our skepticism, if if 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:14.760 you will, with regards to Mitch Dubinsky and this offense, 0:09:15.160 --> 0:09:17.880 I don't think this Bears offense is necessarily built to 0:09:18.000 --> 0:09:21.720 come from behind. Now. The Packers have had their struggles 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:23.520 on the road. They had a lead in the second 0:09:23.559 --> 0:09:25.920 half at Los Angeles, but that was the Rams. They 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:27.920 had a lead in the second half at Seattle, well, 0:09:27.960 --> 0:09:30.880 that was the Seahawks and Russell Wilson. If you can 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:33.280 have a lead in the second half here a soldier 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:37.000 field and really put the game in Mr. Rubinsky's hands 0:09:37.040 --> 0:09:38.960 the way the Packers are covering on the back end, 0:09:39.040 --> 0:09:42.440 even without Kevin, even with Kevin king On injured reserve 0:09:42.520 --> 0:09:44.920 and and not able to play, I like Green based 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:48.080 chances here, but you've got to have a lead because 0:09:48.200 --> 0:09:51.000 I don't like being on the road and trying to 0:09:51.040 --> 0:09:53.440 come from behind against a defense like this, well, and 0:09:53.480 --> 0:09:55.640 against the defense like this that's already had that hand 0:09:55.679 --> 0:09:57.800 played against them. And in mind you it was at 0:09:57.880 --> 0:10:01.360 lambeau Field, but they are very theme, Mike. I think 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:03.960 it was James Camping who mentioned I think Sam Acco 0:10:04.080 --> 0:10:06.640 is the only one that isn't actually in this lineup 0:10:06.720 --> 0:10:09.160 right now that's out with injury. And then now obviously 0:10:09.200 --> 0:10:11.480 Bryce Callahan too, you can add him to that. But 0:10:11.520 --> 0:10:14.360 for the most part, all those guys that were on 0:10:14.400 --> 0:10:19.320 the field and they're still there. So yeah, they it's 0:10:19.360 --> 0:10:21.360 the you know, fool me once kind of deal here. 0:10:21.480 --> 0:10:23.880 So I think for the Packers, if you're able to 0:10:23.920 --> 0:10:26.280 come out early, get that just like they did against 0:10:26.320 --> 0:10:28.680 the Falcons, you know, put some points on the board 0:10:28.679 --> 0:10:31.280 with that first series, get a touchdown early on in 0:10:31.840 --> 0:10:34.280 you know, show that you're gonna hold your ground. I 0:10:34.320 --> 0:10:35.560 think one of the things, and I don't have all 0:10:35.559 --> 0:10:36.840 the stats in front of me, Mike, but if you 0:10:36.880 --> 0:10:38.840 look at this eight game winning streak the Packers have 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:41.480 been on in Chicago a lot of times, it has 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:44.080 been a product of getting off two super fast starts 0:10:44.120 --> 0:10:45.679 that when I think they had I want to say 0:10:45.720 --> 0:10:49.280 it was two thousand sixteen, We're yeah, Kristin Michael had 0:10:49.280 --> 0:10:51.960 the forty two yard touchdown run one of the reasons 0:10:52.000 --> 0:10:53.640 the Packers won that game, and We're able to hold 0:10:53.679 --> 0:10:56.000 off the Bears was because of how fast they started 0:10:56.320 --> 0:10:58.520 and being able to you know, get points early on 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:00.920 and then kind of stem the tide. Yeah, the Packers 0:11:00.920 --> 0:11:03.400 were up I believe seventeen in that game. The Bears 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:05.200 had a big rally and got it tied, but then 0:11:05.320 --> 0:11:07.480 Rogers had the ball last hit the big play and 0:11:07.800 --> 0:11:09.840 got the win. And that's what you expect. Though, when 0:11:09.840 --> 0:11:12.120 the team's playing at home, much like the Packers did 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:14.600 when they rallied in Week one, they're gonna have the 0:11:14.640 --> 0:11:16.760 wind in their sales. They're going to be able to 0:11:16.800 --> 0:11:19.120 mount a comeback. So that's why you want to have 0:11:19.160 --> 0:11:22.520 everything tilting your way in those first thirty minutes. The Packers, though, 0:11:22.520 --> 0:11:24.400 the thing that's been really interesting is that if they 0:11:24.400 --> 0:11:26.480 do find themselves in that situation. Again, I'm not saying 0:11:26.520 --> 0:11:29.880 necessarily four point comeback, but the one thing that this 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:32.400 season has taught them at seven five, seven and one 0:11:33.000 --> 0:11:34.960 is the ability to play down the stretch and the 0:11:34.960 --> 0:11:37.360 ability to have the two minute offense go. It's been 0:11:37.360 --> 0:11:40.320 the most consistent phase of this team. So if you're 0:11:40.360 --> 0:11:42.400 able to stay within earshot, if you were able to 0:11:42.440 --> 0:11:44.719 get up by a touchdown, the Packers have shown an 0:11:44.720 --> 0:11:47.800 ability to win these close games in spite of some 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:49.640 of the things that have happened recently on the road. 0:11:49.640 --> 0:11:52.040 Their conditioned for it. So I think that's the number 0:11:52.040 --> 0:11:54.040 one thing I'm looking for in this matchup, particularly with 0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:56.200 Aaron Rodgers appearing to be in more of a rhythm 0:11:56.280 --> 0:11:58.320 last week, is if you can carry some of that 0:11:58.400 --> 0:12:01.040 over now against the Bears and maybe get off to 0:12:01.040 --> 0:12:03.400 the fast start that you finished with in Week one. Yeah. Well, 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:06.560 the bottom line is the Packers need to put together 0:12:06.640 --> 0:12:09.319 that four quarter game on the road, which hasn't happened 0:12:09.320 --> 0:12:12.040 so far. You look, you look back at every road game. 0:12:12.440 --> 0:12:16.760 Washington bad first half, Detroit bad first half, you know, 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:21.280 Minnesota bad second half, Seattle bad second half. Really, the 0:12:21.360 --> 0:12:24.280 Rams game was just the unfortunate turnover with two minutes 0:12:24.320 --> 0:12:27.240 to go, or the Packers are in the exact position 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:29.360 they wanted to be in with Aaron Rodgers with the 0:12:29.360 --> 0:12:31.320 ball in his hands, two minutes left and a chance 0:12:31.360 --> 0:12:37.240 to win. So these, uh, these road games, it comes down. 0:12:37.360 --> 0:12:40.400 It comes down to having to play a full sixty minutes. 0:12:40.400 --> 0:12:43.120 The Packers haven't done it yet, but we know that 0:12:43.160 --> 0:12:46.240 they're capable of it, and we all know the whole 0:12:46.240 --> 0:12:49.840 outlook on this season, hinges on this game. I mean, 0:12:50.320 --> 0:12:52.880 you win it, you stay alive, you have a chance. 0:12:53.040 --> 0:12:56.120 If you lose it, you're done. Yeah, and it's great. 0:12:56.160 --> 0:12:58.400 It's you're right. It's as simple as that. The one 0:12:58.440 --> 0:13:00.080 thing I think the Packers have to feel pret be 0:13:00.120 --> 0:13:01.800 good about going into this game, though, is you can 0:13:01.840 --> 0:13:04.440 look at it, Mike, pound for pound, this might have 0:13:04.480 --> 0:13:07.000 been their best performance of the year against the Falcons 0:13:07.040 --> 0:13:09.080 because you look at that game against Buffalo. Yes, they 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:11.920 shut out the Bills. We know what Aaron Rodgers said afterwards, 0:13:11.920 --> 0:13:14.280 how he felt about you know, where things were at 0:13:14.280 --> 0:13:17.840 and where they still needed to improve. Offensively, they weren't perfect. 0:13:17.960 --> 0:13:20.120 Rogers only through for d ninety six yards. It's not 0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:22.080 like they just lit up the Falcons and you know, 0:13:22.160 --> 0:13:26.079 dominated from the word go. But they were able to 0:13:26.160 --> 0:13:28.800 really dictate the tempo of that game. The Falcons scored late, 0:13:28.840 --> 0:13:33.400 but it didn't really matter second half. So I mean, 0:13:34.000 --> 0:13:36.400 if I'm Green Bay, if I'm Joe Philban and I'm 0:13:36.400 --> 0:13:38.719 sitting down with these guys this week, I'm reminding them 0:13:38.760 --> 0:13:41.760 not to get complacent, but also understand. And I wrote 0:13:41.760 --> 0:13:44.040 about it earlier this week and inside her inbox too. 0:13:44.440 --> 0:13:47.280 This is what you're capable of. This is the team 0:13:47.320 --> 0:13:50.200 we built and what we feel like can be in 0:13:50.280 --> 0:13:53.440 control of its own destiny. Now, a lot of things 0:13:53.480 --> 0:13:55.760 now need to go right for them. But I think 0:13:55.760 --> 0:13:57.520 when you go back to week one of the Packers 0:13:57.559 --> 0:14:00.199 being Super Bowl contenders, you thought about Davante at Is 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:03.240 having a breakout season. You thought about Aaron Jones and 0:14:03.280 --> 0:14:04.800 what he can do with the run game. You know, 0:14:04.920 --> 0:14:07.960 jyr Alexander being a promising first round draft pick. Aaron 0:14:08.040 --> 0:14:09.959 Rodgers said it as a locker room this week, Mike. 0:14:10.240 --> 0:14:12.360 There are so many pieces in place that he feels 0:14:12.360 --> 0:14:14.720 confident about the future of this team. But it's also 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:17.079 the reason why they feel like going up against a 0:14:17.120 --> 0:14:19.760 team against like Chicago, they should have a chance to win. 0:14:19.960 --> 0:14:22.440 All right, one other question before we move on to 0:14:22.560 --> 0:14:24.480 some of those other things that need to go Green 0:14:24.520 --> 0:14:27.560 Bay's way. Randall Cobb. Does he make a big play 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:30.520 in this game? I think so. And the one reason why, 0:14:30.760 --> 0:14:33.360 certainly out of all these performances he's had and get 0:14:33.400 --> 0:14:35.640 Soldier Field, and he has had some tremendous ones, including 0:14:35.680 --> 0:14:39.280 two thousand thirteen, his biggest game of the season was 0:14:39.440 --> 0:14:41.840 that opener against the Bears. That was the most careery 0:14:41.920 --> 0:14:44.000 Artidge I think he's ever had in a contest. He 0:14:44.160 --> 0:14:47.560 looked like everything that Randall Cobb has ever been for 0:14:47.680 --> 0:14:50.280 this offense, and being able to create after the catch 0:14:50.320 --> 0:14:52.840 and just having that explosiveness to his game. Now he's 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:55.240 had to weather some of these hamstring injuries, but the 0:14:55.280 --> 0:14:57.720 fact that he was a full participant for the first 0:14:57.760 --> 0:15:00.360 time since he's been dealing with this on Thursday, I 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:02.560 think speaks to potentially what he could bring to this 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:05.680 ball game, especially without Bryce Callahan being available. I don't 0:15:05.680 --> 0:15:08.200 know exactly how the Bears are going to shuffle the 0:15:08.240 --> 0:15:10.240 cards there and what Vic Fianjo is gonna want to do, 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:13.160 but Callahan had been a big consistent role is that 0:15:13.240 --> 0:15:16.320 nickel cornerback, So you know, whether it's McManus or one 0:15:16.360 --> 0:15:19.040 of these other guys that step into that. I'm really 0:15:19.040 --> 0:15:21.200 looking for Randall Cob in this game to have a big, 0:15:21.280 --> 0:15:23.560 big performance. I'm not saying he needs to have two 0:15:23.600 --> 0:15:26.080 receiving yards again, but if he can be effective and 0:15:26.160 --> 0:15:28.720 draw that attention, that's when everything starts to open up 0:15:28.720 --> 0:15:30.520 for air, and he could be a key piece on 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:33.400 third down as the Packers try to try to build 0:15:33.400 --> 0:15:36.440 on a seven out of thirteen third down performance against 0:15:36.480 --> 0:15:39.200 the Falcons, which was something that had been a long 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:44.000 time coming. Okay, we we haven't dwelt dwelt dwell like hey, 0:15:44.040 --> 0:15:46.800 I said privilegious or something earlier, So you're good. We 0:15:46.880 --> 0:15:49.480 haven't spent a lot of time on all these other 0:15:49.520 --> 0:15:51.560 things that need to go green Bay's way and that 0:15:51.600 --> 0:15:54.480 already have gone green Bay's way to to stay alive 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:57.440 even to this point. But to recap it quickly, how 0:15:57.440 --> 0:16:00.520 do you get this all out? I have so Packers, 0:16:00.880 --> 0:16:03.200 all right, the Packers need to beat the Bears. We 0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:07.760 know that you're looking for Washington, Philadelphia, and Carolina each 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:11.680 to lose one more game. Now Washington has quarterback injuries 0:16:11.720 --> 0:16:15.240 like crazy, Philadelphia now dealing with a quarterback injury, and 0:16:15.320 --> 0:16:17.520 Carolina has to play the Saints twice in the last 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:20.960 three weeks. So each of those teams losing one more 0:16:21.000 --> 0:16:24.120 game looks pretty realistic for the Packers. The other thing, 0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:26.320 if the Packers beat the Bears and win out and 0:16:26.400 --> 0:16:28.760 can get to eight seven and one, you need the 0:16:28.760 --> 0:16:32.400 Minnesota Vikings to lose twice and their first one now 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:35.840 out of these last three weeks is at home against Miami. 0:16:36.400 --> 0:16:40.080 But the Vikings they fired their offensive coordinator. They're coming 0:16:40.080 --> 0:16:43.640 off of some really rough offensive outings. The Miami Dolphins 0:16:43.640 --> 0:16:46.680 are coming in at seven and six with their playoff 0:16:46.720 --> 0:16:49.080 hopes in the a f C very much alive, having 0:16:49.120 --> 0:16:52.680 just beaten the New England Patriots with the miracle final 0:16:52.720 --> 0:16:56.360 play double lateral whatever you wanna call it with Kenyan Drake. 0:16:57.440 --> 0:17:01.040 So what are your thoughts on this, my Ami? With 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:04.600 wild card hopes alive going into Minnesota, Minnesota making the 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.879 change at offensive coordinator here in the middle of December, 0:17:07.960 --> 0:17:09.800 what do you think? You know, It's an interesting stat 0:17:09.960 --> 0:17:13.880 I saw from the Dolphins PR team this week when 0:17:13.960 --> 0:17:16.400 Ryan Tannellhill has played. Do you know what the Dolphins 0:17:16.400 --> 0:17:18.600 record is the last sixteen games? If you over like, 0:17:18.640 --> 0:17:23.040 if you simulated a season sixteen games Ryan Tannehill, they're 0:17:23.080 --> 0:17:26.240 twelve and four. Kid. Yeah. Now they've had to weather 0:17:26.280 --> 0:17:28.440 a lot here, you know, with last year in the 0:17:28.520 --> 0:17:31.960 j Cutler experience, and in this year losing Tannehill again 0:17:32.000 --> 0:17:34.119 to that shoulder injury that held him out of the 0:17:34.160 --> 0:17:37.919 game against Green Bay. But the thing about Tannehill is 0:17:37.960 --> 0:17:40.399 it just seems like every time somebody's trying to count 0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:42.560 him out or move on to the next chapter. He 0:17:42.640 --> 0:17:45.159 always reminds everybody why he was their quarterback of the 0:17:45.160 --> 0:17:47.280 future in two thousand and twelve, even though now he's 0:17:47.280 --> 0:17:49.040 still third. You know, now he's thirty years old, he's 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:52.040 in the prime of his career. So I think it's 0:17:52.080 --> 0:17:56.159 definitely doable. The biggest thing on this schedule, and this 0:17:56.200 --> 0:17:57.840 is why I think if Joe Philbins talking to his 0:17:57.880 --> 0:18:01.240 team about any possible playoff in patitions is that you 0:18:01.359 --> 0:18:03.719 just got to win this game against the Bears. You 0:18:03.760 --> 0:18:05.840 win this game against the Bears, and everything opens up 0:18:05.880 --> 0:18:08.280 because even if the Vikings do hold off Minnesota or 0:18:08.320 --> 0:18:10.520 they do hold off Miami, they have to come back 0:18:10.560 --> 0:18:13.440 at the end of the season and beat Chicago. So 0:18:13.720 --> 0:18:16.200 I mean, this is for me, for for my money, 0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:21.119 seeing exactly how this plays out. I'm i am glued 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:23.280 to my seat because I think it is fully possible 0:18:23.280 --> 0:18:25.159 there's an eight win team that makes the playoffs. The 0:18:25.160 --> 0:18:27.200 Green They Packers just hope that they're the one. Yeah, 0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:29.520 it could be the Packers. It it certainly could be. 0:18:30.960 --> 0:18:33.760 My point being, if you're going to scoreboard watch at all, 0:18:34.160 --> 0:18:36.600 you don't it's not necessarily that you have to watch 0:18:36.720 --> 0:18:39.560 them all, but if you're going to scoreboard, watch the 0:18:39.560 --> 0:18:41.880 one to watch is what's going on in Minneapolis, because 0:18:41.920 --> 0:18:44.160 that's the one that really, as far as this week goes, 0:18:44.200 --> 0:18:47.480 has the biggest effect on the Packers. I believe, not 0:18:47.600 --> 0:18:50.280 that we want to think this way, but I believe 0:18:50.320 --> 0:18:54.600 the only way the Packers mathematically stay alive if they 0:18:54.640 --> 0:18:57.119 were to lose to the Bears is that Minnesota also 0:18:57.160 --> 0:19:00.600