1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague West Hodkowitz, and yes we are 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: back on zoom. We have made the decision that talking 5 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: through masks for twenty minutes is not ideal. And while 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: this will be a challenge as well, we've done this before. 7 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: I am in the studio. West is actually across the 8 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: hall in our boss's office of all places. Um, but Weston, 9 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: how are you doing? The Packers five over the Chicago Bears. 10 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: Green Bay now eight and three with five regular season 11 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: games to go. Well, I resent that, Mike, because I 12 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: was hoping you would say that this was my office. 13 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: Then all the years out there thinks, so I'm some 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: kind of big shot here that I can just, you know, 15 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: slink into my office and do my thing. Uh No, 16 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: you're you're right, though, I mean, this is the type 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: of performance I think Green Bay needed on so many levels. 18 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: Now was it perfect? No, But offensively they imposed their 19 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: will on Chicago. Now you can't tell that story without 20 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: mentioning a Keem Hicks was not involved in this game. 21 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: But he goes back to something Mike Patton said last week, 22 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: I mean nobody was sending any sympathy cards, and Green 23 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: Bays was dealing with some of their injuries earlier this 24 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: season either, So for Green Bay to come out and 25 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: play the way they did, get off to the start 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: they did, and then carry that into the second half 27 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: a big victory. I think when you look at all 28 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: three phases of this game, a better performance and the 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 1: type of response they needed after a tough loss there 30 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: in Indianapolis. Yeah. Absolutely. You could see right from the 31 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: get go that this Bears defensive front was missing a 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: Chem Hicks, big number ninety six there in the middle, 33 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: and with the way the Packers were running the ball 34 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: on the opening series of the game, you just could 35 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: see the confidence in the running game growing the commitment 36 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: to it from Matt Lafleur. The Packers had a run 37 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: pass balance throughout this game, and not just from a 38 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: play calling perspective, but from a production perspective, because Aaron 39 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 1: Jones and Jamal Williams combined for a hundred and sixty 40 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: three rushing yards. Jones had ninety, Williams had seventy three. 41 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers through for just two eleven, but through for 42 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: four touchdowns, had a passer rating north of a hundred 43 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: and thirty. Talk of him obviously being right in the 44 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: thick of the m v P race here as December 45 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: rolls around. So this Packers offense did everything it needed 46 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 1: to and uh, and you know, really kept the Chicago Bears. Really. 47 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: The Bears are now on a five game losing streak, 48 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: tied for second place with the Minnesota Vikings in the 49 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: NFC North at five and six, and the Packers have 50 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: a three game lead in the division with five to play, 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: which is about as big as stranglehold as you could 52 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: have with December arriving. Yeah, no, you're right. And there 53 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: was a phrase that David Botr used in his post 54 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: game made the availability on Sunday. He called it attitude football. 55 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: That's what this game was going to be about. Uh, 56 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: in Green Bay did it. It was a balanced, complimentary approach. 57 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: They found some early adversity again. Corey Linsley has to 58 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: exit with the knee injury. That sounds like it's going 59 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: to keep him out for a little while here. And 60 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: Elton Jenkins, much like against the Colts, he has to 61 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: slide in that center in the train doesn't stop Lucas 62 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 1: Patrick battling through a toe injury. The Packers end up 63 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: sounding like they rested him at the end of that game, 64 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: But he just keeps his nose to the grindstone. Uh. 65 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: In the have a guy like John Runyon, a mystery liable, 66 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: as Aaron Rodgers called him, stepping up again at left guard. 67 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: So on the offensive front, they did what they needed 68 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: to do in this game to be able to push 69 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: the ball in the middle of the field. The Packers 70 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: did a little bit more of their inside zone concepts. 71 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: I think that was the right adjustment. As the game 72 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: wore on, the stretch plays and the pitches started to 73 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: work a little bit better with the outside stuff. But overall, Um, 74 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: when you look at that first series, I just thought, 75 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: with having Alan Lazard back as a blocker and you're 76 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: seeing Econemius a Brown step up. Now, Um, Marcedes Lewis 77 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 1: gets career catch. So many different little factors played into this. Uh. 78 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, I think a 79 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: lot of it started with what they were able to 80 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: do in the trenches. Yeah. Absolutely, I was surprised. I mean, 81 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: with with what Chicago's defense normally does and the way 82 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: that unit normally plays, what the Packers were able to 83 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: do between the tackles, as you said, with the inside zone, 84 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: running up the middle, moving the line of scrimmage, and 85 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: again chem Hicks was out. And as I mentioned in 86 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: Insider Inbox, when you're missing a big time performer, whether 87 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: it's on offense or defense, usually the first game that 88 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: that player is out is the toughest one to make 89 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: the adjustments. And and the Bears really just didn't look 90 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: ready for number ninety six not to be there for 91 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 1: their defense, and and the defense was on its heels 92 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: pretty much the whole game. On the defensive side of 93 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: things for the Packers, the biggest development was getting three 94 00:04:56,680 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: turnovers three takeaways from quarterback Mr Rubinsky, two interceptions by 95 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: second year safety Darnell Savage, a sack strip fumble caused 96 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: by Zadarius Smith which was scooped up by Preston Smith 97 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: and taken in for a touchdown. Those three takeaways. Packers 98 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: are starting to get that cranked up a little bit 99 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: in the takeaway category. They now have twelve on the season. 100 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: Eight of those twelve have come in the last four games. Now, 101 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: there's still a long way from their total of twenty 102 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: five from last year's regular season, but eight in the 103 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: last four games. The Packers will take that and hope 104 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: that that continues here through the final month of the 105 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: regular season. Well, and that was the funny thing in 106 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 1: this right in terms of you know, three weeks ago, 107 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: we were talking over and over again about, hey, kN 108 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: Green they start to get some of those takeaways that 109 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: were so prevalent last year. UH, and can they find 110 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: a way to be able to create and generate big 111 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: place Mitchell Trubisky his first game back after some time 112 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: missed with the shoulder injury. Before that even benched UH 113 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,600 Speaker 1: in favor of Nick Foles. You wanted to be able 114 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: to create some opportunities in this game, and I thought 115 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: they did that. I thought Darnell Savage, before suffering that 116 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: back injury on his second pick, put together one of 117 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: his better performances of his Packer's career. UM and it 118 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: was funny. I asked him about that first interception that 119 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: he made in the end zone, which was an ill 120 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: advised throw from Trubisky. There's no question about that. A 121 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: first intent throughout their own at the Green Bay thirty eight, 122 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: I believe at that point thirty six, and he airs 123 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: one out and it's funny Savage mentioned if you go 124 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: back and watch, there was a play much like that 125 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: against Minnesota where the Vikings on the opposite side of 126 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: the field ran a similar concept from the slot with 127 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: Adam Feeling. Feeling shakes him with an inside move and 128 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: goes back out to kind of complete sort of a 129 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: skinny kind of corner route and Savage loses him and 130 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: he catches the touchdown pass. That was late in that game, 131 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: the Bears tried to run the same concept to the 132 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: right side of the field. This time you saw Savage 133 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: flip his hips appropriately, was able to track the ball, 134 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: showed some really good center field skills there and pull 135 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: it down. And then he made another fantastic catch later 136 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: on and again a sort of an ill advised throw 137 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: from Trubisky into triple coverage. But really the biggest story 138 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: to me in this game was the defensive front. Now, 139 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: they gave up the fifty seven yard run to David 140 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,679 Speaker 1: Montgomery right off the bat. That's not what you're looking for, 141 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: but they didn't quit there. They forced that to a 142 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: field goal. And then in the second quarter, Preston and 143 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: Zadarius Smith combining on a strip sack and a fumble 144 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: recovery for a touchdown. These are the type of plays 145 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: that when the Packers were really humming last season, uh, 146 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: their momentum driving plays and and those are the type 147 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: of things that I think has been missing this season. 148 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: They have actually done a fantastic job of avoiding explosive plays. 149 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: Near the end of Don Caper's tenure. That was something 150 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: that was really haunting them a little bit, was that 151 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: they just they couldn't stop the sixty and seventy yard 152 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: or They've done that, and they made teams go the 153 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: full length of the field. But in order to really 154 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: capitalize on that, you need to be able to take 155 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: the football away. They did that and as you mentioned, 156 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: now eight takeaways in the last month. Well, I think 157 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: I think the biggest thing for the for the Packers 158 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: defense other than the turnovers, when you look at this game. 159 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: You mentioned the fifty seven yard run early by David Montgomery. 160 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: I'm no XS and OS expert. It looked to me 161 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: like the Packers were just completely misaligned like that, whether 162 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: it was the first level, the second level, the the 163 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: the the alignment in terms of the gaps and everything 164 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 1: was just wrong, and the seas parted in the middle 165 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: and Montgomery was off to the races, but the Packers 166 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: defense rose up and stopped that drive and held the 167 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: Bears to a field goal, so the Packers still had 168 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: the lead after one possession. There After that, I thought 169 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: Green Bay's defense clamped down on the run fairly decently. 170 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: And the other the other good sign that Matt Lafleur 171 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: talked about Monday in his zoom, which he actually did 172 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: from his house because the team facilities closed Monday and 173 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: Tuesday by NFL mandate. But um he he talked about 174 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: the defense in the third quarter because the Packers had 175 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,839 Speaker 1: the lead at halftime. The Bears had scored right before 176 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: the end of the first half to get it to 177 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: seven to ten, and then the Bears were getting the 178 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: all coming out to start the third quarter, and that's 179 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 1: where the Indianapolis game got away from the Packers. The 180 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: defense started to give up the drives, you know, then 181 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: the offense couldn't really answer, and the whole the whole 182 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: game started to go south. Packers defense in the third quarter, 183 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: they give up one first down right off the bat, 184 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: but then force a punt. Then the next possession Savage 185 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 1: gets his second interception. Then the possession after that is 186 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: another three and out for the Bears and then this 187 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: game was over. Um. The Packers defense did what it 188 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 1: had to do coming out a halftime, and that was 189 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: a good sign considering what had happened the previous week 190 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: in Indie. Well, what's the best way to kind of 191 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: waste a really good first half. It's allowing the opponent 192 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: to double up. And unfortunately for the Green Bay Packers, 193 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,679 Speaker 1: they haven't. Luck hasn't been on their side. And relates 194 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 1: to the coin toss this season, I think m Olivia 195 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: Rehiner from the Press Becazette Journal Sentinel she had that stat. 196 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: I think they're three three and eight this year. I 197 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: think on the opening coin toss. They lost again on Monday. 198 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: Now Tim Boyle had nothing to do with that. It 199 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: was not his call. It was the Bears that did that. 200 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: But by the deferral process, I mean in the Bears 201 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: receiving it in the second half, they went down and 202 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,560 Speaker 1: they put up some points. The game kind of changes 203 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: on its axis if if you allow them to score again. 204 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: But in this particular case, they came out, they got 205 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 1: the back to back sacks. They were able to really 206 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: kind of stying me them as long as they needed to. 207 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: Now I know you and I going through Insider Inbox, 208 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: there were some fans that were displeased about the fourth quarter. 209 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: Um Matt Lafleur said, it's definitely a balance between wanting 210 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: to make sure that you are somewhat aggressive yet and 211 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: still you know, dialing up some of your blitz packages 212 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: and making life difficult on the quarterback, but at the 213 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: same time not wanting to give up those explosive plays. 214 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: My only challenge to people, and I wrote about this 215 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: on Tuesdays, that if you want to take issue with 216 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: what happened on that that run by Montgomery, or maybe 217 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: some of the yards per play that the Bears had 218 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: in the first three quarters, that's perfectly fine. We can 219 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: have that conversation. There's a lot of people sort of 220 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: losing themselves here about that fourth quarter. It's not prevent 221 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: defense because you're trying to stop them from scoring. Certainly 222 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: that is ultimately the goal, but it's prevent because you're 223 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:02,680 Speaker 1: trying to stop the explosive plays Green Bay. Although you 224 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: want to be able to either get the fourth and 225 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: eleven stop or get the Kevin King interception in the 226 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: end zone, the big game there is making sure that 227 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: you force the Bears to use their time outs, you're 228 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: forcing them to eat the clock. Chicago had to do 229 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: both of those things, and it's one of the reasons 230 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: why Green Bay was able to come out with a victory. 231 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: Maybe not as dominating in terms of what it looked 232 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: like on the scoreboard, but certainly a victory nonetheless. Yeah, 233 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: and Matt Lafleur looked at really two plays on Chicago's 234 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: last two touchdown drives there in the fourth quarter that 235 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 1: that he really lamented, one being the fourth and eleven 236 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: on the Bears first touched on drive. If the Packers 237 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: get the stop there on fourth and eleven, uh, you know, 238 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: you're talking about massive substitutions. You can get everybody out 239 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: of the game and all that, and the game is 240 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: definitely over. So he really regretted that one. And then 241 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 1: at the end of the second Bears touched under if 242 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:52,320 Speaker 1: Kevin King had an interception in his hands were in 243 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: the end zone, and you know this game, this game 244 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: ends up for seventeen, not fort if King just catches 245 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: the ball, and now that's you know, la Fleur talked 246 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: about that it was a three takeaway game for the defense. 247 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: They definitely had opportunities for more. So that's hopefully a 248 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: good sign moving forward. But you set it west. The 249 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: Packers didn't give up any big plays the Bears took. 250 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: I believe it was somewhere around nine and a half 251 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: to ten minutes on the clock in scoring those two 252 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,839 Speaker 1: touched on drives. Well, if you're down forty one to 253 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: ten late in the third quarter and you're gonna burn 254 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: nine and a half to ten minutes of what's remaining 255 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: in the game to get two touchdowns when you're down 256 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: by thirty one points, you know, as the team that's 257 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: in the lead, you'll take that. You're not gonna sweat 258 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: that too much. And and yes, the Packers wish they 259 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 1: had gotten the stop on fourth and eleven or gotten 260 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 1: the turnover where that was in their hands. It didn't happen, 261 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: So it ends up forty one five. But okay, forget 262 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: about it. You move on now to the Philadelphia Eagles. 263 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: And before I forget in our new old slash new setup, 264 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: I need to make sure to take care of our 265 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: sponsor business here serious x. NFL Radio Channel eighty eight 266 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: is the only radio outlet dedicated to the National Football 267 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: League seven days a week, three d sixty five days 268 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: a year, and Associated Bank Folks has a new promotion. 269 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: Packers fans score up to five hundred dollars for your 270 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: devotion to the pack when you open a Packers checking 271 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: account from Associated Bank. Learn more at Associated bank dot com. 272 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: Backslash Packers All right, West. As I mentioned before, the 273 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: Packers have a three game lead in the NFC North 274 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: with five games to go. You can't ask to be 275 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 1: in a better position than that. Looking at the larger 276 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 1: picture in the NFC, there are three teams right now 277 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: in the NFC with eight or more wins. The New 278 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: Orleans Saints are nine and two. The Packers and the 279 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 1: Seattle Seahawks are both eight and three in the race 280 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,240 Speaker 1: for that number one overall seed, which is going to 281 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: be the only one that gets a first round by 282 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. Here's the interesting thing, West, I took 283 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: a look at all of the remaining schedules for these 284 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: three teams at the top of the NFC. Each team, 285 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: as of right now has only one game left on 286 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: its schedule against a team that is above five hundred. 287 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: None of these teams has a loaded schedule down the 288 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: stretch as far as those above five hundred teams. The 289 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: Saints have to play the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers, 290 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: as everyone knows, they're playing the Tennessee Titans right after Christmas. 291 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: The Seattle Seahawks have a game left against the Rams. 292 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 1: But that being said, we all know you take nothing 293 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: for granted in this league, and there are some games 294 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: that that you know could certainly cause problems. And and 295 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: the Packers are gonna face the Philadelphia Eagles this week. 296 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 1: They'll be coming off a short week, but the Eagles 297 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: are basically going to be playing for their season now. 298 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: They just dropped out of first place in the NFC East, 299 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: that where all those teams are below five hundred. They 300 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 1: dropped out of first and they they're not gonna be 301 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: able to afford to to fall back any farther. So, 302 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: uh so, this Eagles game coming up for the Packers, 303 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: you look at that obviously. You also look at Carolina 304 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: down the road. If the Panthers get Christian McCaffrey back, 305 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: that Carolina game looks quite different and along the same 306 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: lines for those other clubs. The Saints have to play 307 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: the Falcons, who are playing some pretty darn good football 308 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: right now, even though they're below five hundred Minnesota Vikings 309 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: are on New Orleans schedule as well. The Vikings are 310 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: playing some pretty good ball and the Seattle Seahawks also 311 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: have a game left against the forty Niners who just 312 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: beat the Rams, and they're dealing with, you know, having 313 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: to play in a new location and practice who knows where. 314 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: So that's a whole crazy situation for San Francisco. But 315 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: the bottom line is these uh, these schedules are not 316 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: loaded for these for these teams, but yet there are 317 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: some games that could definitely sneak up on them. Yeah, definitely. 318 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: And don't tell the San Francisco forty Niners that they're 319 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: out of this thing yet. I mean, they still feel 320 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: like they can still find a way, maybe get healthy 321 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: and get on a run here late. Um. To your point, 322 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: it is interesting for Green Bay because certainly Christian McCaffrey 323 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: now dealing with the knee injury, Uh if he would 324 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 1: be back, you're looking at Christian McCaffrey and then Derrick 325 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 1: Henry the following week. That that's something no NFL run 326 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: defense wants to have to deal with, and also coverage 327 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: linebackers having to deal with it. From the standpoint of 328 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: of Christian McCaffrey. But the biggest lesson I think that 329 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: has been the takeaway this year. And you remember me 330 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: saying this a month or two ago. I felt since 331 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: the beginning that it's gonna be which team gets on 332 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: the biggest run here down the stretch, Which team gets 333 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 1: into the playoffs with three out of four wins or 334 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: three or four victories in a row. Uh, that's gonna 335 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: not only get you that number one seed, but I 336 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: just feel like, in a year in which parody has 337 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: been so prevalent in the NFC, especially at the top 338 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: of the conference, that it's really going to be not 339 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 1: necessarily the most complete team, but the teams that get 340 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: the hottest down the stretch that are gonna be the 341 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: ones going far. For Green Bays standpoint, we will talk 342 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: about this very shortly um later this week. About the 343 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles and the challenges that they present. I know 344 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: some people want to take them for granted, and certainly 345 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: the performance against Seattle was not onspiring, but they still 346 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: have weapons there that could hurt this team. When you 347 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: look at Miles Sanders, the fact that he's back now, Um, 348 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: the guy is still even though it was a quiet 349 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: performance against Seattle, Uh, the guy still is. You got 350 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: to be careful with what you know. These running backs 351 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: have been able to do. Just look at what Montgomery 352 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: did on ten carries or whatever it was last week. Um, 353 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 1: Travis Fulham is gonna be a guy that we're gonna 354 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: be talking about this week. Richard Rogers got another Hail 355 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: Mary catch that you don't want to take anybody for granted. 356 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: That's why you hear over and over and over again. 357 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure fans get sick of hearing it. I'm sure 358 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: to some extent media gets sick of hearing it. When 359 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: Matt la Fleur talks about worrying about this week, he 360 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: said after the game, I don't I couldn't even tell 361 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: you right away who we were playing the following week 362 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: because everything was so focused on needing this NFC North 363 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: wind over, a Bears team at that point was their 364 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: closest contender in that division. So I've I've always liked 365 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: the mantra, and you're certainly gonna start a path to 366 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 1: the playoffs here shortly. Mike McCarthy, as long as I 367 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: cover this team, as long as I cover the NFL, 368 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: I'm always going to go back to that that sort 369 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: of edict that he had of you win your division, 370 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: you win ten game games, that's when you can start 371 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: talking about what the outlook looks like for the playoffs. 372 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 1: Screen Bays at eight and three. They're sitting at a 373 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: good spot right now, and they've set it a good 374 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: spot for most of this season. Now, can you get hot? 375 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: Can the defense show itself out? Special teams? We didn't 376 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: talk about it much, Mike, but special teams took a 377 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: big step forward in this game. I thought it was 378 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: the cleanest performance from Hunter Bradley and j. K. Scott. 379 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: And uh, soon enough, we'll be probably talking about some 380 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: other acquisitions Green Bay is gonna be making. But this 381 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: has been a season of attrition and from the very beginning, 382 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: green Bay, to my eye at least, has been one 383 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: step ahead of that. Yeah, well, as we as the 384 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: Packers get ready for the Eagles here, you mentioned some 385 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: of the skill players that Eagles have on offense, and 386 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: certainly Carson Wentz. You know, the statistics aren't there for him. 387 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: And this is a guy that I thought before he 388 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 1: blew out his knee in two seen, I thought he 389 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: was headed possibly for League m v P honors. He 390 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: was having a tremendous year. The issue with the Philadelphia 391 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,880 Speaker 1: Eagles offensively is the offensive line, and heading into their 392 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: Monday night game against the Seattle Seahawks, I believe the 393 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: statistic that ESPN had is the Eagles have used ten 394 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: different offensive line combinations now in their eleven games this season. 395 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: Now the Packers, they've weathered a lot of injuries on 396 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: the offensive line. We talked about how the shuffling around 397 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: the train keeps moving. The Eagles have not handled them 398 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: been able to handle those injuries as well, and and 399 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,159 Speaker 1: it shows up with with just a lot of inconsistency 400 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: in the offense and with Carson Wentz leading the league 401 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 1: in sacks. Defensively, this Eagles team has a lot of 402 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 1: big name players on defense. When you're talking Darius Slay 403 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: at corner, he had a rough night against DK Metcalf, 404 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,880 Speaker 1: but who hasn't had a rough night this year against 405 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: DK Metcalf. But you're looking at Fletcher Cox in the 406 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: middle of that defensive line. Jalen Mills, the cornerback on 407 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: the other side for the Eagles is a pretty good player. 408 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: I think this Eagles defense is going to present some 409 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 1: challenges to the Packers now. They need to they need 410 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: to rebound there on a short week, and as I said, 411 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: they've they had a chance to stay in first place 412 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: in their division that has slipped away. Now they have 413 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: to bounce back quickly. I think this Eagles defense is 414 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: really going to be an interesting story this week because 415 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: because the Packers are going to face some challenges from 416 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: a team that is sub five. Yeah, and when you 417 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 1: look at the games this season in which the Eagles 418 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: have been able to, you know, kind of have success 419 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:22,880 Speaker 1: and prevail it, a lot of it has been based 420 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: on their defense and being able to pick up its offense. 421 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,600 Speaker 1: That's sometimes the Eagles are such an interesting case study, Mike, 422 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: because you know, the running game really has not been 423 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,360 Speaker 1: consistent for him. It's just been kind of a question 424 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: over and over again of why we are where we 425 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: are right now, and how do we how do we 426 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: find a way over that hill? Because the NFC East 427 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: is right there for the taking, and even now it's 428 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: still there for the taking for the Eagles, what one 429 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: game out right now of that lead so or a 430 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: half game, whatever it works out to be with the tie, 431 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: A lot a lot on the line this week, Mike, 432 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: for both teams, it's gonna be interesting to see exactly 433 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: how green they respond specifically to seeing if they can 434 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: consider they can continue that efficiency that they show an 435 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: offense sable against the Chicago Bears team that was pretty 436 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: darn good going in. Yeah, no question about it. All right, 437 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 1: With that, we will sign off on this edition of 438 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: of I was about to say final thoughts were not 439 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 1: It sounded like final thoughts there for a second, but yeah, alright, 440 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,159 Speaker 1: we're back to Packers Unscripted and we are calling it 441 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: a wrap on this edition. Be sure to follow all 442 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com 443 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: for WES, I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. 444 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:26,400 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.