1 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers unscripted from 2 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am like spoffor joined by my 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: partner and everything Packers, Wes Hodkins. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: hear from our studios at lambeau Field to preview Wes 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: Packers Bears two point zero. We just previewed this game 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: two weeks ago. So this one, as one of my 7 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: favorite musical artists of all time would say, Saturday night's 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: all right for fighting, Like, let's go Soldier Field Saturday Night, 9 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: Packers and Bears. First place in the NFC North on 10 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: the line once again. I want to start because we 11 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: don't need to obviously go over everything with regard to 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: the Bears. Again, we just did that two weeks ago. 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,599 Speaker 1: I want to get your kind of your overview of 14 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: this game and the matchup. I have some thoughts to 15 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: share as well, and then we're going to dive right 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: into keys to Victory. So what is your your sort 17 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: of overarching perspective on this matchup coming up Saturday night. 18 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is a talented Bears team that has played 19 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 2: well at home this season, and I thought there wasn't 20 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: a lot to pull out of that game against Cleveland. 21 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: But the one thing that I really stuck to was 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 2: Ben Johnson had those guys ready to play in some 23 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 2: pretty bad conditions. The fact that they didn't just get 24 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: up on the Browns and Coasts, the fact that they 25 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 2: finished the way they did it in that weather and 26 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: that temperature. You could tell how hungry this team was 27 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: to not only get that tenth win of the year, 28 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,000 Speaker 2: but also bounce back from that loss against Green Bay. 29 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: And I'm sure with Micah Parsons now officially being done 30 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: for the season, the Bears are going to feel like 31 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 2: the Packers are, you know, the wounded animal here that 32 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: they could potentially get one up on. But the other 33 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: thing that stood out to me too with that win 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: over Cleveland was I mean, I think there's been a 35 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: regression there with Cleveland's defense to a certain extent from 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 2: the unit that the Packers face back in September. 37 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 38 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, But the Bears did kind of what they did 39 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,640 Speaker 2: against green Bay too, in that they don't break like 40 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: these big long runs I think DeAndre Swift's longest run 41 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: with seventeen yards, but they again moved the chains appropriately. 42 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 2: We'll get into the keys to victory, but the fact 43 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: is is that this is gonna once again be down 44 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 2: to third and manageable winning in the situational phases of 45 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: the game, and for the Bears having as disappointing of 46 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 2: a loss as that was against Green Bay here at Lambeau, 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: I don't think you really could look for a better 48 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: get right opportunity than the one they had against the Browns. 49 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that fell into place nicely for Chicago. Meanwhile, 50 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: the Packers, after the big victory over the Bears, had 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,639 Speaker 1: to go on the road, long road trip and play 52 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: you know, one of the best teams, if not maybe 53 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: the best team in the AFC out in Denver. I've 54 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: been thinking about this a bit, Wes that I'm going 55 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: I said this in my live MIDWEK chat on Wednesday 56 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 1: because it just sort of came to me in the moment, 57 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: and the more I thought about it, the more I 58 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: sort of have the the courage of my convictions to 59 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: say this year. So I'm gonna say it again on 60 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,679 Speaker 1: this show. I think this game, for a number of reasons, 61 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: is the toughest game the Packers will play to date 62 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,959 Speaker 1: this trip to Chicago, and the number of reasons one 63 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: is what we've just been talking about that coming off 64 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: of the game at lambeau Field, which the Packers won. 65 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: It was a big victory. But the Bears certainly did 66 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: not leave Green Bay with their tail between their legs 67 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 1: or anything like that. They knew they were right there. 68 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: They had an opportunity at the end to get the 69 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: tying or possibly winning touchdown if they had gone for two. 70 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: They felt like they came into Green Bay with a 71 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: plan and they executed, and they just came up a 72 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: little bit short. So the Bears left green Bay very 73 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: very confident, as you said, they had it fell into 74 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: place for them. They had to get right game against 75 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Browns. They were at home last week and 76 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: basically by the end of the first quarter out in Denver, 77 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: the Bears were all sitting at home with their feed up, 78 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: resting and getting ready for this short week not having 79 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,360 Speaker 1: to travel again. They get the game at home on 80 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: Saturday night, coming off of a blowout work quite frankly, 81 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: I think most of the players on the Browns gave 82 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: up by the end of the first quarter. They didn't 83 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: want to be out there in the freezing wind, chills 84 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: and the crappy weather off Lake Michigan. There. Meanwhile, the 85 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: Packers played a full sixty minute, knockdown, drag out game 86 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: against a great team and then left Denver with a 87 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: whole bunch of injuries, the biggest one being to Micah Parsons, 88 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: a lot of uncertainty with regard to Zach Tom and 89 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: Evan Williams. Things are looking in a positive direction for 90 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: Christian Watson as far as him being able to come 91 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: back and play in this game. But you add it 92 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: all up, and then for the Packers, it's a short week, 93 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: just like it is for the Bears. But the Packers 94 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: are the team going on the road to play the 95 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 1: division rival. And then on top of all that, this 96 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: literally is the biggest game at Soldier Field since the 97 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: double doink in the playoffs seven years ago. The Bears 98 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: have not hosted a game of this magnitude for seven years. 99 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: The crowd in Chicago is going to bring it on 100 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: Saturday night the Packers. The Packers are in a really 101 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: tough spot here with everything that has gone on, all 102 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: the circumstances that are surrounding this game. I think this 103 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,960 Speaker 1: is the biggest challenge that the Packers have faced as 104 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: far as an individual game. The biggest challenge they have 105 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: faced to date in the twenty twenty five season. 106 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 2: I like you put that statement together, that monologue, that 107 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: take as some people might say, and I will offer 108 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 2: this up as well. While I do not disagree with 109 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: a single thing that you said there, this is also 110 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 2: a massive opportunity because for the Green Bay Packers on 111 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 2: this is going to be their most difficult test of 112 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 2: the season. But after this, you're coming home against the 113 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 2: Baltimore Ravens and then you're finishing the year at Minnesota. 114 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: We'll see where things are at. For Minnesota, they looked 115 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: better last week, but they are what their record says 116 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: they are right. For the Chicago Bears, this is a 117 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: gauntlet coming up. They've had some softballs throughout the course 118 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 2: of this year, but they've kind of peaked towards the 119 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: end of the season, as you would want a team 120 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: that's going to compete for a division title, in a 121 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: playoff spot and with championship aspirations to peak. But they 122 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 2: get Green Bay at home, then you got San Francisco, 123 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: then you got the Detroit Lions at home, and the 124 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 2: Lions are going to have all to play for here 125 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 2: down the stretch. Very possibly the Bears. For as much 126 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 2: as this is a pivotal game for the Green Bay Packers. 127 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: The Chicago Bears have everything they work for on the 128 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 2: line as well on their side of things, and that's 129 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: what leads to these high stakes matchups and the reason 130 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 2: why this game was put in Saturday night primetime on 131 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 2: Peacock because this is what everybody wants to see. They 132 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: want to see division the longest rivals here in the 133 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: National Football League going head to head in competitive football. 134 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: And like you said, it's been a few years since 135 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: it's kind of laid out this way. The Bears have 136 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: been trying, clawing, scratching to get themselves back into contention. 137 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 2: They felt like getting Caleb Williams was the first piece, right, 138 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: they go and hire Ben Johnson as the second piece, 139 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: and here they are at already double digit wins at 140 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: his first year as head coach, and he laid down 141 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: the gauntlet last offseason saying that he enjoys beating the Packers. 142 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 2: He enjoys beating Matt Lafleur. Now you got to back 143 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: that up. So I think the narratives, the storylines, it's 144 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 2: all there in this matchup. But for as challenging as 145 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 2: this opportunity is for the Green Bay Packers. It is 146 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 2: an opportunity regardless, and I am very, very excited to 147 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: watch that playout on Saturday. 148 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I am too, And I want to clarify as well, 149 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: just because I said I believe this is the Packers' 150 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: toughest test, biggest challenge to date in the twenty twenty 151 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: five season. I will say from what I have seen 152 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: and I have heard around this building over the last 153 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: few days, there is no lack of confidence that amongst 154 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: these players, amongst these coaches, that they can make the 155 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: adjustments needed without Micah Parsons, that if certain guys can't play, 156 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: that they have the depth they are going to go 157 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: out there and put themselves in a position to be 158 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: able to win this game. There's no lack of confidence 159 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: for as big a challenge as this is. One other 160 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: quick clarification, I believe you said Peacock the game is 161 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: on Fox on Saturday night. I think Peacock game is 162 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: next week against Baltimore. Just so that our listeners and 163 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: viewers don't get confused, Hey, it's that time of year 164 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: around here, folks. We're we're just trying to stay afloat. 165 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: But with that, Wes, let's move right into unless maybe 166 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: I should just take care of some sponsor business here first, 167 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: and I'll let you catch a terrible error. 168 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 2: So we got all these Saturday games now that we're playing, 169 00:08:58,960 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: it's on eighties five. 170 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: You know what day of the week it is. We 171 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: got the holidays coming up. Like this, it works like 172 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: if you roll that, we're all over the place. 173 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 2: Man if Handa would roll that back in the studio, Like, 174 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 2: I'm so confident when I'm saying, like I'm making this 175 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 2: big point like this game on people, Why did I 176 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: even say that I should just stopped at prime time? 177 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, just all right. We gotta pay some bills, folks, 178 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: and I need to let him recover for a couple 179 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: of seconds. 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Welcome 193 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: back to Packers' Unscripted WES is still in recovery mode, 194 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: but we need to move on very quickly here too. 195 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: The keys to victory and there are a lot of 196 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: them that we laid out two weeks ago WES for 197 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: the first matchup between these two teams, and I think 198 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: a lot of them aren't going to change as we 199 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: continue this discussion here. But what rises to the top 200 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: of the list for you. 201 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 2: I don't want to steal your Thunder because you're the 202 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 2: one that originally mentioned this this week, but if you're asking, 203 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 2: and we're going to start this conversation on what the 204 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: biggest key to victory is, it's about how the Packers attack, contain, 205 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 2: and control Caleb Williams in this game. It is I 206 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 2: mean this is the guy that the Bears have been 207 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: looking for at the quarterback position. But he's still young 208 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 2: and he's made mistakes. He made a few mistakes in 209 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:05,839 Speaker 2: that game against Green Bay in addition to how it ended, 210 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 2: but even prior to that. Yeah, but you saw it, man, 211 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: when he was extending plays, when he was moving out 212 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,439 Speaker 2: of the pocket. There are those Aaron Rodgers type attributes 213 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,679 Speaker 2: to his game and his ability to create magic off 214 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: of a scramble play. This is going to be a 215 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 2: guy the Packers are going to have to contend with 216 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: for the next ten years. I truly believe that. I 217 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 2: think he is the dude that they've been looking for. 218 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 2: But at the same time, it's not like this unstoppable force. 219 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 2: I mean, when you look at the completion percentage this year, 220 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 2: when you look at some of the mistakes he has made. 221 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 2: This is still a young guy coming into his own. 222 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 2: So the Packers have to be smart with how they 223 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 2: rush him, because if you let the play, if you 224 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 2: get guys behind him and you're letting him have that 225 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 2: advantage in terms of personnel, he's going to hurt you. 226 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 2: He can extend plays with his feet when he's scrambling. 227 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 2: I think the pass rush is going to be really important. 228 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: But I also think the secondary, the plaster at the 229 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: second level. There's so many things that play in this 230 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: and Green Bay also needs to contain their running game 231 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,120 Speaker 2: to the best that they can to try to make 232 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 2: Caleb Williams one dimensional. Sou If the Packers in this game, 233 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:15,440 Speaker 2: my big headline thing if if Jordan Love has a 234 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: better passer rating at the end of this game than 235 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:18,839 Speaker 2: Caleb Williams, I think the Packers win. 236 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that's I think that's fair. And what 237 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: you said about Williams is definitely spot on in terms 238 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: of the need, the need to contain him. I mean, 239 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: we saw it. I didn't see this so much last 240 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: year in in Caleb Williams rookie year, as much as 241 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 1: I saw it a couple of weeks ago. There is 242 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: there is a stronger zip and a confidence and a 243 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: conviction on his throes when he's outside the pocket versus 244 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: when he's inside the pocket. There's just and I'm not 245 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: saying he's a terrible quarterback in the pocket. I'm just 246 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: saying when you watch it, there's there's less conviction, there's 247 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: less less self assuredness in terms of what's going on 248 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: out there. When he gets outside the pocket and sort 249 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: of gets to play this loose and free games, that's 250 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: where he's in his comfort zone. And then when he's 251 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: in his comfort zone, he's letting it rip. I mean, 252 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: that ball is coming out with authority. He's putting it 253 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: right where he wants to. Mean, when I think back 254 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: to the one from where we were in the press box, 255 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: it was when the Bears were going from right to 256 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: left and he scrambled to his right and then put 257 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: that ball along the sideline for Cole Comet down towards 258 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: the towards the pylon on the far side of the field. 259 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: That was an incredible throw. I mean, yeah, and it's 260 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: the kind of throw that we don't necessarily see him 261 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: make from the pocket. It's the kind of throw he 262 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 1: has the confidence and the conviction to make outside the pocket. 263 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 1: So I'm with you on everything there. And yes, the 264 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: Packers need to contain the running game better. As we 265 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: talked about two weeks ago. You can't let the Bears 266 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: live in third and two and third and three all 267 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: day by just cranking out four and five yard runs 268 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: all the time. So that's another piece of this. Here's 269 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,920 Speaker 1: the one though, that I want to come back to 270 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: because having already gone through this first Packers Bears matchup 271 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: and you see how it plays out, and then everything 272 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 1: that's changed with Green Bay with the injuries and now 273 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: Parsons won't be a part of things, etc. Etc. It 274 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: still comes back to against this defense, you have to 275 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: protect the football. You can't lose sight of that. Because 276 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: the Bears got the one turnover early against the Packers, 277 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: the interception in the first quarter from Jordan Love, then 278 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: the Packers protected the ball after that. Well, then what 279 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: did they do last week against Cleveland? They got three 280 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: interceptions of Sherde Sanders and the Browns were never in 281 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 1: the football game. Right. This is a defense that absolutely 282 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: thrives on taking the ball away. But it's a defense that, 283 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: in my opinion, and the Packers proved it two weeks ago, 284 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: continues to be vulnerable to yards and points if they 285 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: are not taking the ball away. The Packers put up 286 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: four touchdowns against them and had a turnover and a 287 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: pair of three and outs. They left a fair amount 288 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: out there, even with putting twenty eight on the board 289 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: against the Bears the first time. But you're not going 290 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: to be in a position to do that again if 291 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: you have any turnover issues, and the Packers are coming 292 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 1: off of a game in which they did turn the 293 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: ball over two times and it was the Packers' first 294 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 1: multi turnover game there in Denver in quite a while 295 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 1: for this offense. 296 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 2: Excellent points all around, and to build on that too 297 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 2: a little bit. When you're looking at defensive keys to victory. 298 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: Packers have to finish better. They've actually started these first 299 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 2: halfs they've had this season. There's not really time to 300 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 2: dive into this stuff, but I mean, how many times, 301 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 2: Mike have you and I come in here on a 302 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 2: Tuesday and talked about punt, punt, punt, takeaway punt, punt, 303 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 2: field goal, punt. Like the Packers in the first half 304 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 2: have been able to control a lot of these games. 305 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 2: For the most part, it's been the second half where 306 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: offenses have gotten rolling. Caleb Williams and the Bears got 307 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: rolling in the second half. It took the key Shawn 308 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 2: Nixon interception at the end to be able to finally 309 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 2: stymy them a little bit. Last week, bo Nick starts 310 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: getting rolling in the third quarter and Green Bay isn't 311 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 2: able to finish it. So much was focused on Micah 312 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 2: Parsons and the injury, and understandably so, this guy is 313 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: one of the best players in the National Football League. 314 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: But there were numerous chances for the Packers to actually 315 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 2: get back in that game, to win that game day 316 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 2: on both sides of the ball. They didn't take care 317 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 2: of it. So the Packers did get some stops late, 318 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: so credit to them on that. But when the momentum turns, 319 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 2: you have to find a response. A lot of times 320 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 2: it ends up being a takeaway, but as we saw, 321 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 2: it can be Kingsleyannigbari making a heads up play down 322 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 2: the line of scrimmage and getting a runner down on 323 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: third and short. Yea, those are the type of moments 324 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 2: that Green Bay is going to need in this one 325 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 2: if they're going to prevail. 326 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think I think you're right on there. 327 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 2: In addition to the fact, that's also what would best 328 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 2: solve the crowd issue, because we've seen in my time 329 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 2: on the beat, how many times have we gone in 330 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 2: there where those the beginning of that game, it is rough, 331 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,640 Speaker 2: it is rowdy, people are rocking, yeah, and then it's 332 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: down to pin droppingly quiet. When things don't go that way, 333 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 2: The Packers got to take them out of it. 334 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean you remember Matt Lafleur's first game as 335 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: head coach. It was that Thursday night kickoff opener twenty nineteen, 336 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 1: and the Bears, you know, brought out their their anthem 337 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: singer who just like belts it out, you know, from 338 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: like start to finish, and they kind of do the 339 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: whole the old Chicago Stadium for the Blackhawks games where 340 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,399 Speaker 1: the crowd is just kind of roaring along while the 341 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 1: anthem is being sung. Like that's kind of what I'm 342 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: thinking they're going to do on Saturday night. Because the 343 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: magnitude of this game, and as I said, this is 344 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: the biggest game in Soldier Field in seven years, they 345 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: haven't had a game to get this hyped about, to 346 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: get this excited about. Yes, the twenty nineteen opener was 347 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: a big one, but it was just week one at 348 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: the end of the day, right, this is a game 349 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 1: with so much on the line, and it's a it's 350 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: an environment the Packers are going to have to deal with. 351 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: That being said, I thought the Packers dealt very well 352 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: with a tough environment in Denver until the injury started 353 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 1: to hit and things started to kind of go the 354 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: wrong way, and that'll be really the big test in 355 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: this one for Green Bay is it's going to be 356 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,919 Speaker 1: a game of ebbs and flows when the game starts 357 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: to shift the other direction and the Bears start to 358 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: get some things going their way. Can the Packers stem 359 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: the tide? Can they stop it? Can they flip it 360 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: back around? Because that's what did not happen against the Broncos. 361 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,959 Speaker 1: Looking at the big picture as far as the standings, 362 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: the Bears are ten and four in the NFC North, 363 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: the Packers are nine to four and one, basically right 364 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,199 Speaker 1: where we were two weeks ago, where the Packers are 365 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: a half game back and they can vault ahead of 366 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: the Bears into first place with a victory. If the 367 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 1: Bears get the win, the Bears would be a game 368 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: and a half up on the Packers with just two 369 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: games left to go, and they would absolutely be in 370 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 1: the driver's seat for the division title. From the Packers 371 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: overall playoff perspective, to get a spot in the dance 372 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: in the tournament, as they say, the Packers need one 373 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 1: victory and they need one loss by the Detroit Lions. 374 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 1: So that will put a lot of eyeballs on Sunday 375 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 1: when the Packers are not playing on Detroit, the Lions 376 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are coming off of 377 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: a short week, they had the Monday night victory over Miami. 378 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,920 Speaker 1: The Lions are playing for their season, you know, playing 379 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 1: for their playoff lives here. But this is a really 380 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: interesting again, much like Green May and Denver last week, 381 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: Pittsburgh and Detroit AFC versus NFC matchup two teams with 382 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: a lot to play for late in the season, and 383 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 1: from a Packer fan perspective, it's like, Hey, cheer for 384 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: your old quarterback Aaron Rodgers to take it to an 385 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: old division rival. 386 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 2: Did you have a chance to watch Monday Night's game 387 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: against Miami. 388 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: I did not. 389 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 2: Okay, maybe you saw some of the highlights. I'm sure 390 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 2: a lot of people that watch unscripted do. Aaron Rodgers 391 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 2: looks like he's having a lot of fun out there. 392 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: Yeah. 393 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 2: And it wasn't just the postgame interview and him, you know, 394 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 2: doing the Monday Night Football and all that stuff. It 395 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 2: was watching his mannerisms on the field. One thing about 396 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 2: seeing Aaron Rodgers play quarterback for twenty years and covering 397 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 2: him for a decade, like I was able to and 398 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 2: you even longer is you know his idiosyncrasies, and when 399 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 2: he's on the field, people make certain things about the 400 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 2: way he responds to stuff and they make headlines out 401 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: of it. It's really about watching the small things with him, 402 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:28,640 Speaker 2: not necessarily to understand when he's upset, but when he's 403 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 2: really happy. That was about his joyous as I think 404 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 2: I've seen Aaron Rodgers playing football, maybe going back to 405 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: his time in Green Bay. He just he looked like 406 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: a guy that was just enjoying and living in every 407 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 2: bit of the moment. And I don't know what the 408 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 2: situation is. I know he had the risks there. I 409 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 2: don't know how his body's feeling, but that seemed like 410 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 2: a turn back the clock kind of performance against Miami. 411 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: So that being said, now he's going up against the 412 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 2: Detroit Lions team that defensively has a lot of questions 413 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 2: to answer after what happened against the Rams. YEP. I 414 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 2: think I'm not going too far out on a limb 415 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 2: saying this, and I don't want to go as far 416 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 2: as saying that the lines are a shell of themselves, 417 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 2: but it just seems like in every area where they 418 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 2: were really good last year, they're just a little bit 419 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 2: less right offensively, they're just not quite as potent Defensively. 420 00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 2: Some of the issues they had at the beginning of 421 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 2: the Dan Campbell era have sort of resurfaced in i 422 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 2: think explosive plays now. They have a lot of injuries, 423 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 2: particularly in the secondary. 424 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, they've been They've been banged up on defense all year. 425 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: That has definitely been an issue for them. 426 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, And just basically the scene I'm trying to set 427 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 2: here is when you look at the way that Rogers 428 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 2: is playing in the relationships he's formed Mark ouizvelde Is 429 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,120 Speaker 2: Scantling is with Pittsburgh now and had a touchdown last week. 430 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 2: I mean, it's just that there's an explosive element to 431 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 2: this team and they also understand what's at stake for 432 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 2: them and trying to outpace Baltimore here for what likely 433 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 2: will be the only spot in the playoffs that the 434 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 2: you know, the AFC North will be afforded, right, Yeah, 435 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 2: I mean yeah, so yeah, I think it's going to 436 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 2: be fantastic to watch and just seeing exactly what Rogers 437 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 2: can do during this final stretch of what will or 438 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 2: will not be his final year in the NFL. 439 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it feels like on the other side, it 440 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,880 Speaker 1: feels like Pittsburgh's defense has just sort of been through 441 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: this up and down Loller coaster type year. And and 442 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:15,159 Speaker 1: I disagree with you a little bit. As far as 443 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,920 Speaker 1: the Lions on the offensive side, I think offensively they're 444 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:23,360 Speaker 1: still as dangerous and as explosive and potent as they've been. 445 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: It's just there there's so much pressure on their offense. 446 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: They're being relied upon to go out and score forty 447 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,000 Speaker 1: points because the defense is so banged up and struggling 448 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 1: to that extent. But but you know, with that that 449 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: collection of weapons, you know, Gibbs and not having Laporta 450 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: is definitely, you know, an issue for their offense. But 451 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: Gibbs and Saint Brown and Jamison Williams and Jared Goff 452 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: at the controls and everything that offense. If the Lions 453 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: are somehow able to to get into the playoffs when 454 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 1: this is all said and done, that offense will be 455 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 1: a dangerous one to deal with. 456 00:22:56,040 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, Pittsburgh's defense I think twenty eighth right now in 457 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,840 Speaker 2: the NFL, So I mean that that is a massive opportunity. 458 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 2: It could be end up being a little bit of 459 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 2: a shootout there. So yeah, the one thing I'll say, 460 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 2: and you're absolute right about the weapons that the Lions have. 461 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 2: It's been watching the investment when you go back to 462 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 2: twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two, they built everything 463 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,719 Speaker 2: around that offensive line. In watching that kind of get 464 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: dinged up, and then's. 465 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: That's that's the one area because they still have the 466 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: tackles with Sewell and Decker, but that having to revamp 467 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,199 Speaker 1: that whole interior of the offensive line, and then it 468 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: sounded like Frank Ragnow was going to come out of retirement, 469 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: and then that didn't work because he failed the physical 470 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 1: and all that. The revamping of the interior of their 471 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,160 Speaker 1: offensive line has not gone the way they wanted, which 472 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: is partly also why I think there's been more of 473 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: Jamiir Gibbs and the outside running and less of the 474 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: David Montgomery like inside running because they don't they're not 475 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: as stout in between those tackles as they've been in 476 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: the past. One other game. I just want to get 477 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: your thoughts on quick because it is a big one. 478 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,360 Speaker 1: It is actually Thursday Night football, the first one of 479 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: this week's sixteen in the NFL. The Rams are at 480 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 1: the Seahawks. These two teams are tied for first place 481 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,840 Speaker 1: in the NFC West. The winner of this game is 482 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 1: absolutely in the driver's seat to get the number one 483 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: seed in the NFC and that first round by that 484 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: would come with it. It wouldn't be clinched by any means, 485 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: but the winner of this one that takes over first 486 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 1: place in that division is going to be sitting on 487 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: top of the conference and in control of their destiny 488 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: in terms of trying to nail down that number one seed. 489 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 1: We heard last night that the Rams had plane issues 490 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: and all this. They didn't get into Seattle until much 491 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: later than they wanted, so we'll see what potentially that means. 492 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: And DeVante Adams is doubtful for the Rams. I mean, 493 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 1: Puka Nakua is still having, you know, a whale of 494 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: a year in Matthew Stafford's you know kind of you know, 495 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: one of the top candidates for MVP and everything. But 496 00:24:55,920 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: your thoughts on this Rams and Seahawks matchup, because the 497 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: first time they met, statistically, the Seahawks kind of dominated 498 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: the Rams, but Sam Darnold turned the ball over a 499 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: bunch of times, and with the takeaways that the Rams 500 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 1: defense was getting, that's what allowed them to pull out 501 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: a close victory there when all the other stats were 502 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 1: heavily in favor of the Seahawks. Now the Seahawks are 503 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:21,800 Speaker 1: back at home for the rematch, and you know, I'm 504 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: very curious to see how this one plays out. 505 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, it's watching pukin Nakua work. And then 506 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 2: obviously you know Jackson Smith and jig But I mean 507 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 2: you're talking about two of the top up and coming 508 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:35,160 Speaker 2: receivers in this league, probably the guys if they stay healthy, 509 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:36,439 Speaker 2: and I are going to be talking about here in 510 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 2: five years as being the faces of the national football Yeah. 511 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 1: And I think, sorry to interrupt you, but we talk 512 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: about MVP race and whatnot all the time. Jackson Smith 513 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: JIGB is not being talked about in the MVP race. 514 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: But this is a guy who could be that offensive 515 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,239 Speaker 1: Player of the Year candidate in the NFL. I mean, 516 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 1: he's he's having that Christian McCaffrey type year from from 517 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: the past, from the forty nine ers, where you're not 518 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: talked about as the MVP, but everybody knows you are 519 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: a major, major piece to what your team is doing. 520 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 2: And you don't become the top NFC fan vote getter 521 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 2: for the Pro Bowl, you know, and you're not a quarterback. 522 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 2: That's pretty impressive to you know, that's not coming out 523 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 2: of nowhere. So yeah, it's it's going to be a 524 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:20,399 Speaker 2: huge football game. And you've come to expect this with 525 00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 2: the NFC West in the month of December, there's been 526 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 2: numerous times where teams have been double digit wins having 527 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 2: to kind of vye against one another, not only for 528 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 2: the division title, but what sometimes has led to the 529 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 2: buy in the first round. So that that is going 530 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 2: to be great theater. The thing I like the most 531 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:37,240 Speaker 2: about this slate of games is I'm trying to hold 532 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,399 Speaker 2: off a sneeze. I think I'm going to be successful 533 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 2: is the fact that when you look at last week, right, 534 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 2: I remember I was saying, he was like, there are 535 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 2: so many quote unquote layup games with like the contending 536 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 2: teams like Chicago East and Cleveland. Yeah, every single team 537 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 2: that I think is in the playoff hunt has a 538 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 2: consequential football game this week. And I would even pair 539 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 2: that down to the Philadelphia Eagles, you know, going up 540 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: against Washington trying to get their sea and back on track. 541 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 2: They've had all these dud finishes, you know, in the 542 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 2: last few years they're trying to, you know, mount something 543 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 2: here to just close the door on that division. But 544 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 2: you got the NFC South the best two out of three. 545 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 2: It feels like with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Carolina 546 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,680 Speaker 2: Monday Night football. Suddenly now there's a consequential game there 547 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 2: for Philip Rivers and in the Colts, you know, going 548 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 2: up against what San Francis San Francisco. Yeah, over and 549 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,119 Speaker 2: over and over again. It's like every single one of 550 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: these dominoes that fall, this is what is going to 551 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 2: be in two weeks, not only setting the playoff field, 552 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,719 Speaker 2: but probably in a couple cases, determining who's in and 553 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:33,440 Speaker 2: who is out. 554 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's there's potentially a lot of shifting going on 555 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: in terms of the NFC playoff race, just with all 556 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 1: these matchups that are out there. In Week sixteen, you 557 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:46,680 Speaker 1: got a prediction Rams or Seahawks. 558 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: I'm gonna go with Seahawks in this one. And the 559 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 2: main reason for that is DeVante Adams, I mean, cooking 560 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:55,679 Speaker 2: a cool almost has twice as many receiving yards as 561 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 2: Vante Adams, but Davanta has fourteen touchdowns. Yes, he's the 562 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 2: red zone guy. He is. So if he's not available, 563 00:28:03,119 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 2: and with that defense that they've put together in Seattle. 564 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 2: As much as we talk about what Donald and Smith 565 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 2: and Jigbu and all these guys have built offensively, the 566 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 2: crux of this team and the reason why that decision 567 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 2: was made to hire McDonald was this is they wanted 568 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 2: that defense there. Yeah, and in a lot of ways, 569 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: it kind of reminds me of those Gus Bradley units 570 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 2: that were with the Seattle Seahawks in the early twenty tens, 571 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,879 Speaker 2: And I just feel like in this particular matchup, this 572 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:29,200 Speaker 2: one's gonna tilt towards the Seahawks favor. Yeah. 573 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: I think it kind of does too with the Seahawks 574 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: plane at home. But the one thing I will say 575 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: is that, and this is what was proven out in 576 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 1: the first matchup between these teams, is that the Rams 577 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: have an awfully good defense as well. 578 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 2: And they've got that thing back on track. 579 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. So that's the one piece of this that's definitely intriguing. 580 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: But we gotta go because we got all kinds of 581 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: other videos and recordings to do and everything today to 582 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: get through this short week before hopping on the plane 583 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:00,600 Speaker 1: to Chicago. So we're gonna call it rap on this 584 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of 585 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: our coverage of the team and of Saturday night's big 586 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: game from Chicago. We'll both be there. We will have 587 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 1: it all for you on packers dot com for Wes, 588 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 1: I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in. Everybody. We 589 00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 1: will see you next time.