1 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 2: Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 3 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: I am like Spofford, joined as always by my trust 4 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: and colleague Wes Hodkoitz. We're coming to you Hear from 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 2: our studios at Lambeaufield to preview Sunday's Packers Bears showdown. 6 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 2: It will be at Soldier Field in Chicago, a noon 7 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 2: Central time. 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: Kickoff and west. 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: Before we dive a little bit deeper into this four 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 2: and five Chicago Bears team, a quick. 11 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: Update on the. 12 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: Health department for the Packers. Quarterback Jordan Love, a full 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 2: participant in practice on Wednesday, took all of the reps. 14 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: That was certainly good news to hear. Jay r, Alexander, 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 2: Evan Williams, Josh Myers all back at practice on Wednesday 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: after missing the last game against the Lions before the bye. 17 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: Colby Wooden defensive lineman, second year pro. He was the 18 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,399 Speaker 2: only player on the Packers current active roster who did 19 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 2: not practice on Wednesday. He has a shoulder injury. By 20 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: all accounts, at least so far, the bye week did 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 2: some good for the Packers as far as their injury report. 22 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 3: You missed the biggest one of all Michael Tucker Craft 23 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 3: no longer in the red non contact jersey Tucker Klaft 24 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 3: Craft will once again be unleashed on the Packers defense 25 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: in practices after having to take off him here the 26 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 3: last couple months. But you know, all joking aside, I 27 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 3: felt like it was a reason why I ended up 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 3: doing my Thursday morning story. I mean, this was what 29 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 3: everybody was waiting to see. You know, you saw Evan Williams, 30 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 3: you sat jyr Alexander, you sat Josh Myers going into 31 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 3: the Lions game. Jordan was dealing with what he was 32 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 3: dealing with. How are they going to look on the 33 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 3: other side of this thing? I thought Wednesday's practice obviously 34 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 3: was very positive. Nobody's making any promises. Evan Williams wasn't, 35 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 3: Josh Myers wasn't at his locker, But it does sound 36 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: like there's optimism there that all those guys are making 37 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 3: the progress you want to see. And even more than that, Michael, 38 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: I just look at a team that did so many 39 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 3: things well in the first half of the season despite 40 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 3: some not a huge rash of injuries, but like nagging 41 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 3: things at bad positions where you don't want to have 42 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 3: nagging things right when you think about the quarterback issues 43 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,399 Speaker 3: green Bay went through, when you think about the secondary 44 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: and some of the things they've had to navigate to 45 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 3: getting back a guy like Evan Williams, with how well 46 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: he's played in the first half of the season, what 47 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 3: that could do for the Packers. We saw the domino 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 3: effect of Josh Myers not being out there, Elton Jenkins 49 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 3: having to move in, different communications set up up front. 50 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: I just feel like what we saw is Green Bay 51 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: getting closer to being healthy, which means them getting closer 52 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 3: to being comfortable within their assignments, and from there, hopefully 53 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 3: the Packers can continue to fly here in the second half. 54 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we'll see how things play out for the 55 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: rest of the week. Obviously, Thursday's practice is always a 56 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: big indicator because they put the pads on. It's really 57 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: more of the full contact practice the one time they 58 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 2: do that during the week. So we'll keep our eye 59 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 2: on that injury report as the week unfolds. The opponent 60 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: this week, the Chicago Bears. We talked about a little 61 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 2: bit on our last show. This is a team that 62 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: was one play away from being five and two and 63 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: feeling really, really good about itself. The Hail Mary goes 64 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 2: the wrong way for Chicago. In Washington, they lose to 65 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: the Commanders, and there's there's been some kind of what 66 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 2: you call it a hangover effect, whatever you want to say. 67 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: The last two Bears performances have just been complete duds. 68 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: They've gotten, you know, handled quite easily, to be brutally honest, 69 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: by the Arizona Cardinals and by a struggling New England 70 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 2: Patriots team that has now led to a change at 71 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: offensive coordinator. Shane Waldron is out and Thomas Brown is 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: in as offensive coordinator for Chicago. And you know, I'm 73 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: not sure exactly how much is going to change with 74 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: the with the Bears offense. I think you have to 75 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: be kind of ready for some unscouted looks. You have 76 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: to be ready for some tendency breakers. If I'm Thomas Brown, 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 2: I'm coming into this game against the Packers saying, you know, 78 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 2: our rookie quarterback is having his struggles, our pass protection 79 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: unit is having its struggles. As the Bears gave up 80 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: nine sacks to the New England Patriots. The running back 81 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: is the best friend in those situations, the running game. 82 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: I think the Packers have to be ready for a healthy, 83 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: healthy dose of DeAndre Swift coming at him in this game. 84 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. The tough thing was as I 85 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 3: was looking back at that game against New England and 86 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 3: where they came up short. Certainly the nine sacks jump 87 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 3: off the page and we're not going to sit here 88 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 3: and you can listen to Chicago media as far as 89 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 3: who's all the blame for that. But you know one 90 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 3: thing that I think has really hurt this team when 91 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 3: I look at them on paper is the fact that 92 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 3: Braxton Jones has been banged up. Darnell Wright has been 93 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 3: banged up. Those are your two bookends on the offensive line. 94 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 3: They've had a lot of change on the interior offensive 95 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 3: line there, and it just seems like they haven't been 96 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 3: able to get into much of a rhythm. And I 97 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 3: covered this on Insider inbox Er this week, where I 98 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 3: feel like, when you're building a team and you have 99 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 3: a new quarterback, a young quarterback, you have to build 100 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 3: from the inside out. And in no disrespect to Chicago 101 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: or what they're doing, but I mean they kind of 102 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 3: built from the outside in. It feels like, now that 103 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 3: being said, DeAndre Swift was a move they needed to make. 104 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: You're gonna lose David Montgomery. You're gonna lose some of 105 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 3: those proven assets in your backfield. You have to find 106 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 3: a way to be able to make up for that. Swift. 107 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 3: To me, he's been okay this year. I thought last 108 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 3: year he was sensational. I thought he really It made 109 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 3: it look like both them and the Lions made the 110 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 3: right moves with how they did their running back situations. 111 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 3: But this year it's been a little bit harder running. 112 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: But that being said, he does have a fifty six 113 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 3: yard touchdown. He is the lead back. There is no 114 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 3: committee there. This is the guy, and he's been able 115 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 3: to stay healthy for the most part in that role 116 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 3: in Chicago. And when you're talking about as much as 117 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 3: everybody will talk and discuss about unscouted looks and trick 118 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 3: plays and all these other things, the number one thing 119 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: that I would imagine the Bears are thinking right now 120 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 3: is how can we make life easier on Caleb Williams. 121 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 3: And to your initial point, that goes back to the 122 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: wrong game and getting in favorable down in distance. 123 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: I think so too. 124 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: I think that's I think that's what this Bears offense 125 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,920 Speaker 2: is going to start to focus on to really help 126 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: out Caleb Williams, the number one. 127 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: Overall draft pick. 128 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: As far as the passing game goes, he's certainly spread 129 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 2: the ball around quite a bit. Roma Duneesa, DJ morricle comet. 130 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 2: All these guys have produced. Nobody really stands out as 131 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: necessarily like the go to guy for Caleb Williams, which 132 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 2: I think is a good thing for a young quarterback. 133 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: But the Bears need to find something to hang their 134 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: hat on offensively, to really to be the foundation of 135 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 2: what they're going to do and who they're going to be. 136 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 2: And I think whatever that is going to be, I 137 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: think it's going to start this week against the Packers 138 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: because of this big if now at offensive coordinate, there's. 139 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,440 Speaker 3: Just no explosiveness to the offense, is what my initial 140 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 3: thing has been. Again that's not a criticism, it's just 141 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: the facts. I mean, they just they have a bunch 142 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 3: of guys that have caught the ball. Nobody's had that 143 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 3: big game breaker. I think their longest catch of the 144 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: year is forty seven yards and it wasn't even a touchdown. 145 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 3: I mean, like, they haven't had those explosive type plays 146 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 3: that I think sometimes can really help boost a young 147 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 3: quarterbacks confidence and Because of that, they are what is it, 148 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 3: the thirty first ranked third down offense in the National 149 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 3: Football League. It's just been tough sledding offensively, trying to 150 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 3: find some consistency there. Now, that being said, I want 151 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 3: to make this clear because I know we'll transition here 152 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: shortly to the defense. But the Chicago Bears are four 153 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: and five. They lost threes in a row here now 154 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: coming out of the buy they are still undefeated this season. 155 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 3: When their offense scores over twenty points. Yeah, defensively they 156 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 3: can play with anybody in the league. It's just been 157 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 3: a grind trying to find ways to generate offense and 158 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: twenty three straight drives now whatever it is without a 159 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 3: touchdown or passing touchdown. I mean, there is a lot 160 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 3: of bad mojo feeling around this team right now. But 161 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: that being said, an opening driver, you go down the 162 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: field and you score, it changes everything, especially when you 163 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 3: make a change on the coaching staff. So my message 164 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 3: this week has been you got to treat this team 165 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 3: just like you treated the Detroit Lions. You have to 166 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 3: have your antennas up. You got to think about them 167 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,119 Speaker 3: as not just an opponent, an obstruction from your seventh 168 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 3: win but you got to get NFC wins, You got 169 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 3: to get division wins, and it starts with the Chicago 170 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 3: Bears and keeping this winning street going under Matt Lafleur 171 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 3: at Soldier Field. 172 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there's I think there's a perception out 173 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: there amongst Packer fans because the Bears are struggling so much, 174 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: especially on offense, they can't get things going with Caleb 175 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 2: Williams and all that, there's there's this perception that you 176 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 2: know that if the Packers, you know, they get themselves 177 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: healthier on offense, they get rolling, that that they can 178 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,719 Speaker 2: go into that they can go into Soldier Field and 179 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 2: just and steamroll the Bears. Here, you look at this 180 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: Bears defense and that's simply not going to be the case. 181 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: I mentioned this an Insider Inbox. I mentioned it on 182 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 2: our Three Things video with Larry yesterday. This Bears defense 183 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 2: has allowed more than twenty one points only once all season, 184 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 2: and that was to the Arizona Cardinals the game right 185 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: after they hail Mary. This is a defense that's taken 186 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 2: the ball away sixteen times. They have eight interceptions, they 187 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 2: have eight fumble recoveries. That's only a few takeaways behind 188 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 2: the Packers. It's only a few takeaways off of the 189 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 2: league lead across the board. Two big things situationally where 190 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: this defense is really really tough. They are seventh in 191 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 2: the league in third down percentage allowed. I believe it's 192 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 2: around thirty three percent, only allowing third down conversions a 193 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 2: third of the time. And this is the best statistically, 194 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 2: the best defense in the league in the red zone 195 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 2: in terms of the low percentage of touchdowns allowed. And 196 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 2: that really becomes a very interesting thing in this matchup 197 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: because while the Bears are the top ranked team in 198 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: red zone defense, the Packers are near the bottom twenty 199 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 2: ninth in the league in red zone offense. So there's 200 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:01,599 Speaker 2: a lot to look at here from situational and a 201 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 2: statistical matchup between the Packers offense and the Bears defense. 202 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 2: One significant injury, safety Jaikwon Brisker, has already been ruled 203 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 2: out for this week. He's in the concussion protocol in Chicago. 204 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 2: They've already said he's out this week. 205 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: He won't be playing. 206 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 2: That's a big loss because he's, you know, kind of 207 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: one of those free ranging safeties. He can play deep, 208 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 2: he can attack the line of scrimmage. He's all over 209 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 2: the field. He won't be out there, but this Bears 210 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: defense is not to be trifled with. These guys can play. 211 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 2: They've really there's really only been one game and that 212 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 2: was the game against the Cardinals. The final score I 213 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 2: believe was twenty nine to nine. That's really the only 214 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 2: game where the Bears defense did not give Chicago a 215 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 2: legitimate chance to win the football game. 216 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know a couple of things that go 217 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 3: into this one. I guess that means we'll probably see 218 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 3: Jonathan Owens on Sunday perhaps. Think as far as the 219 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 3: backup there, I know they have some younger guys as well. 220 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 3: But here's all I want to say about this, because 221 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 3: this came up this week because obviously Mattiberflu's he's been 222 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 3: under He's in the hot seat, people, he's under the microscope. Yep, 223 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 3: whatever idiom you want to use on that. I want 224 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 3: to say, the Chicago Bears are doing something right. Because yes, offensively, 225 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 3: it's not been what you wanted. But when you have 226 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 3: a defensive head coach and your team's not performing the 227 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 3: way you wanted to perform, I feel like you gain 228 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,920 Speaker 3: nothing from letting that defensive coach go in the middle 229 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 3: of a season, if their unit, the area that they 230 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 3: specialize in, the area that they master in, if that 231 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 3: unit's performing. The Bears have done that this season. I mean, 232 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 3: you look at what the Jets are going through right now. 233 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 3: Not only did you lose your head coach, I felt 234 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 3: like they lost their defensive identity. They when they let 235 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 3: you know, Robert Salad go absolutely the Bears are committed 236 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 3: to a long term plan. Here. They're going to be 237 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 3: some strikes and some balls, and you're gonna have to 238 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: some swings and misses. But defensively, Matti Aberflu's coming here 239 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 3: from Indianapolis. It's been everything you would expect the defense 240 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 3: to be. They just haven't won enough and they haven't 241 00:11:56,679 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: done enough offensively. But that being said, the unit, why 242 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 3: they got off to their fast start, it was because 243 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: of defense and special teams. It was because they were 244 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 3: finding ways to win those close matchups. They lost that 245 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:10,960 Speaker 3: the last few weeks, but that doesn't mean it can't 246 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 3: come back. So seeing and it's a very diverse group. 247 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 3: I think fourteen different guys that have a sack this season. 248 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 3: You talk about you know, Tremaine Edmonds in the middle 249 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: of that defense. They've always had really good linebacker played there, TJ. 250 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:25,079 Speaker 1: Edwards, one of their team captains. 251 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:29,439 Speaker 3: Yes, and the fact that you know Montes sweat that 252 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 3: all this conversation between him and the Packers in the 253 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 3: back and the fourth and the rivalry he's talking about, 254 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 3: it is what it is when the game gets played. 255 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 3: But you can tell these guys are motivated to play it. 256 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 3: So I just think it's it's a matchup where the 257 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 3: Green Bay Packers have to take the threat seriously. You 258 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,079 Speaker 3: have to put points on the board, you have to 259 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 3: protect the football, you have to play clean. But more 260 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 3: than anything, the opportunities that are presented to make the 261 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 3: Bears question what they're doing. Those are the times where 262 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 3: you really have to pounce because they aren't going to 263 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 3: last their and if they get the wind in their 264 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 3: sales in this matchup, particularly early on at their home 265 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 3: stadium against the Green Bay Packers, a place team they 266 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 3: have not beat since the Mike McCarthy era, they they're 267 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 3: gonna be feeling themselves. 268 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, And there's a there's a lot of curiosity with 269 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 2: regard to the fan base as well as the players 270 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 2: in the locker room as to just maybe what what 271 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: the offense can do with with the changeup at coordinator, 272 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 2: emphasizing some different things, some tendency breakers, you know, all 273 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: that kind of stuff. And as you say, especially when 274 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 2: you're playing at home, if you start to get the 275 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 2: win in your sales a little bit, it doesn't matter 276 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: who the opponent is on the other side, the Bears 277 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 2: are going to start feeling like that team that was 278 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 2: four and two and on the verge of being five 279 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 2: and two, not the team that has that you know, 280 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 2: has really struggled these last couple of weeks and seeing 281 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 2: their season start to slip away. 282 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 3: And I want to make sure I bring this back 283 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: full circle because the point I'm trying to make with 284 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 3: all my assessments here is Thomas Brown was the offensive 285 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 3: coordinator for Carolina Panthers last year. He was the guy 286 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 3: that had to go in there and they had to 287 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 3: try to devise a game plan for Bryce Young against 288 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 3: the Packers, and they nearly won the game. Young had 289 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 3: one of the best games of his career. To this point. 290 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 2: Carolina probably wins that game if Carolina gets the ball back, 291 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 2: you know, or just gets the ball back ten seconds sooner, 292 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 2: I mean literally another ten seconds on the clock, and 293 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: Bryce Young might have beaten the Packers in that game. 294 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 3: And why did it happen? Why did it play out 295 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 3: that way? Because the Packers did not put Away Young 296 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 3: in that offense. Early on, they got they made some 297 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 3: explosive plays, they had some big plays late, and then 298 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 3: they almost came close to Vietnam. So though, those are 299 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 3: all the things you have to keep in mind. But yeah, 300 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 3: there's a lot of different traps and things you have 301 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 3: to be cognizant of in this matchup with the Chicago Bears. 302 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 3: But more than anything, getting back to your initial point, 303 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 3: the Bears have not scored a lot lately, they have 304 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 3: not had a lot of success. They had an absolute 305 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 3: awful way to lose a football game against Washington. Yep, 306 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 3: you have to make sure you keep them down. 307 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, a little bit of sponsor business here. West 308 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 2: Sirius XM NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up 309 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 2: to the minute NFL news. The true ball fanetics need 310 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 2: twenty four to seven, three sixty five And at Cousins Subs, 311 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 2: we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese cards, 312 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 2: mac and Cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 313 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 2: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin 314 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 2: subs fifty plus years of better all right, keys to victory. 315 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 2: We've are obviously suggested. Hint today, Oh I got plenty more? 316 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,040 Speaker 2: What I have plenty more? Okay, we haven't even scratched 317 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 2: the surface yet, Brev. 318 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: All right, go ahead. 319 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 3: Oh you can continue talking if you want. 320 00:15:28,520 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 2: No, that's all right, I'll throw I'll toss it over 321 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:31,840 Speaker 2: to you. What's at the top of your list. 322 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 3: Packers have to run the football in this game. They 323 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 3: have to run it well. When you look defensively at 324 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 3: what Chicago where they've struggled this season, it's been against 325 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: the run. Now again, there's a couple of chunk games 326 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 3: in there. I think that have added that up. But 327 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 3: it's not just the fact they're twenty fourth and rushing 328 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 3: defenses here. It's a fact they're twenty eighth in yards 329 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 3: per carry almost five yards per carry allowed this season. 330 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: Which means you can stay ahead of the sticks as 331 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: long as you're not committing penalties, right, bingo, what's its name? 332 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: Oh? 333 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: I mean that's the fact. I mean, when you are 334 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 3: able to control the line a scrimmage the way that 335 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 3: the Packers have when they've been successful this season, I 336 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 3: feel like the blueprint is there. So many people are 337 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 3: gonna make this about Jordan Love. He's a full participant, 338 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,240 Speaker 3: He's getting all his practice reps. Everything's hunky dory in 339 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 3: that regard. Josh Jacobs is a third leading rusher in 340 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 3: the National Football League right now this season at this point. 341 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 3: Getting him going, getting manageable down in distance and then 342 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 3: executing when you get in the red zone, I think 343 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 3: is going to be absolutely paramount. In Michael, I don't 344 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 3: want to steal any of your stuff. I know you're 345 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 3: gonna have plenty of points here too. But the fact 346 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 3: of the matter is the Chicago Bears gave up nine 347 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 3: sacks last week. Yeah, Green Bay Packers have made some 348 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 3: significant changes with their defensive front. I'm very interested to 349 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 3: see exactly who the personnel is going to be in 350 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: those third down rush packages. Will we see more Aaron Moseby. 351 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 3: Could Brenton Cox Junior be involved in that? Where is 352 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 3: Rashaan Gary going to be? Hey, Eddrian Cooper is playing 353 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 3: really well, Maybe he gets involved in this thing, whatever 354 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 3: the case is. You know, Evan Williams talked about this 355 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: at his locker on Wednesday. You know, Caleb's gonna run 356 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 3: a little bit, you know, he's going to try to 357 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 3: extend place. But that's also an opportunity if you've plaster 358 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 3: to potentially make up play. Yeah, Packers have to be 359 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 3: able to execute in that regard. 360 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, what rises And I certainly agree with all of 361 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 2: those as keys to Vic, Thank you, no disagreement there whatsoever. 362 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: For me? 363 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 2: What rises to the top of my list? I go 364 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:17,199 Speaker 2: back to the situational discrepancy that we talked about before. 365 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,679 Speaker 2: The Bears are the number one red zone defense in 366 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 2: the league. Statistically, the Packers are the twenty ninth ranked 367 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 2: red zone offense in the league. Pretty amazing, quite frankly, 368 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 2: that the Packers are ninth in the league in scoring yep, 369 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 2: yet twenty ninth in the league in red zone it 370 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 2: tells you how many opportunities the Packers have left out 371 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: there and how close, as we talked about on our 372 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 2: last show, how close the Packers are to seeing this 373 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 2: offense really hit full gear and hit full stride. I 374 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: think this game comes down to can the Packers finish drives? 375 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 2: Because I think with Josh Jacobs, with the balance that 376 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 2: the Packers generally have on offense, they will be able 377 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 2: to move the football against the Chicago Bears. But when 378 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,480 Speaker 2: they get into scoring territory, are they going to be 379 00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 2: able to finish drives against the number one red zone 380 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 2: defense in the league and get the ball in the 381 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: end zone or are they going to be relegated kicking 382 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,920 Speaker 2: field goals all day? Yep, if the Packers, and you're 383 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:17,240 Speaker 2: not going to finish every single drive. But obviously you 384 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 2: know if you're in the red zone, if you're in 385 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: the red zone four times, there's a huge difference on 386 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: the scoreboard between going three for four in the red 387 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,239 Speaker 2: zone and going one for four in the rest right, 388 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 2: and that really becomes the difference in where I think 389 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 2: this game gets. 390 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 3: It's funny too you mention that because if you want 391 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 3: to look at the glass, not that that was glass 392 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 3: half empty, but the other aspect of it, when you 393 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,879 Speaker 3: talk about the discrepancy between these two teams, it is 394 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 3: the explosive plays. Now I don't have the true media 395 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 3: stats in front of me, but when you talk about 396 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 3: how many yards Green Based produced, how many points they 397 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 3: still produce, it's because the explosive plays they've had a 398 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,880 Speaker 3: lot of times have also led to touchdowns, whether it's 399 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 3: that drive or whether it's the play itself. Yeah, they've 400 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: been able to extend for that, and that's where Chicago 401 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 3: has struggled this season. So bring it back to what 402 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 3: I was talking about with the defense and what they 403 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 3: have to do against the Bears, not allowing those plays 404 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 3: to rupture, playing well in front of them, and making 405 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 3: sure that you're making the tackles that you have to make. Certainly, 406 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 3: there's gonna be a lot of different factors and variables 407 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 3: that can played into this outcome and how they're gonna 408 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 3: win it. But there's a lot of things that Green 409 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 3: Bay does significantly better than the Chicago Bears. They need 410 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 3: to be able to carry that over into this matchup. 411 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, you need to you need to be you 412 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 2: need to be who you are and uh and the 413 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:26,400 Speaker 2: Packers know they have the thing, they have the things 414 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: that they need to clean up and all that. But really, 415 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 2: as much as we've talked about the changing offensive coordinator 416 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: and how good this Bears defense can be and everything, 417 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 2: this this still just is It's one of those games 418 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: that strike strikes me where this is this is about what. 419 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: The Packers do. 420 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 3: One hundred percent of Bears do. 421 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 2: If the Packers bring their bring their a game and 422 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 2: play like it the Packers are the better team. They've 423 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 2: proven it over the long haul so far this season, 424 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: and if they do that, they should be able. 425 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: To win this game. 426 00:19:54,880 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 2: Looking around the league, Week eleven, elsewhere in the NFC NO, 427 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: Minnesota is at Tennessee. Jacksonville is at Detroit. So those 428 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 2: are a couple of NFC North versus AFC South matchups. 429 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna be holding my breath on either one 430 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 2: of those. Quite frankly. Jacksonville playing with Mac Jones again 431 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 2: at quarterback. They couldn't do Diddley squad on offense against. 432 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 3: Diddley pooh, I think is the what's that is the 433 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 3: expression Diddley pooh oh? Okay, well, I forget Who's Diddley 434 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 3: squad is the one I grew up with. So I'm 435 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 3: just I'm not holding my breath on on either one 436 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:30,919 Speaker 3: of those games. I mean, it will be interesting to 437 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 3: see Minnesota going on the road back to back weeks 438 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 3: now with all of you know, last week they went 439 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 3: to Jacksonville, couldn't score touchdown and Sam Darnold through three interceptions, 440 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 3: so well, their offense, you know, get something going more 441 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,679 Speaker 3: in a positive direction against Tennessee or not, but it 442 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 3: is interesting though that if I believe it comes down 443 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 3: to if the Vikings and the Lions win these two games, 444 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 3: the NFC North, the NFC North versus AFC South will 445 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 3: be all done after this weekend, and if the Vikings 446 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 3: and the Lions win these games, the final tally will 447 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 3: be fourteen and two. Wow. 448 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 2: The only to this point, the only AFC South versus 449 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 2: AFC South beating the NFC North is that both Houston 450 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 2: and Indianapolis beat Chicago and Tennessee should have too, and 451 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,720 Speaker 2: Tennessee should have beaten Chicago. Dude, you know what's hilarious 452 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 2: about that now that you think, yeah, possibly fourteen and 453 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 2: two if the favored teams, the Vikings and the Lions 454 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 2: win this week. 455 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 3: So you're telling me the NFC North is done with 456 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: the season series at the AFC South this week after 457 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 3: this weekend, and this is the first time the Bears 458 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,320 Speaker 3: are playing an NFC North opponent, correct? Yeah? Is this? 459 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 3: They did a number on that schedule that the. 460 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 2: Schedule this year is just it's it's bizarre. It's bizarre 461 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: in a in a number of ways. But aside, huh 462 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 2: from that, the other this is a really really interesting 463 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 2: win this week eleven schedule in the NFL because it 464 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 2: is the first time from what I read, it is 465 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 2: the first time since the league merger that in Week 466 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 2: eleven there are three games where all six of the 467 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 2: teams have seven or more wins in Week eleven playing 468 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 2: each other. And it starts tonight, starts on Thursday Night 469 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 2: Football with Washington at Philadelphia, and then continues on Sunday 470 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 2: with Baltimore at Pittsburgh and Kansas City at Buffalo. So 471 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 2: these are some major, major mid season matchups here. And 472 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 2: of course Packers fans are going to have, you know, 473 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:38,479 Speaker 2: their eye on Packers Bears, and that's where our attention 474 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 2: will be. But this is quite the slate of games 475 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 2: for one week in the NFL, well. 476 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 3: In Washington, Philly. Man, you were talking about it last 477 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 3: week on the show. I mean the fact that we've 478 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 3: got these really pivotal, critical division matchups here on Thursday 479 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 3: Night Football. One, it's obviously I agree with you, it's 480 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,800 Speaker 3: the way to go. But two, it really raises the 481 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 3: stakes because you're looking at Washington now where hey, dude, 482 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 3: there's seven and three. I will not disrespect that record. Obviously, 483 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 3: I've sat up here before and I've talked about Jayden 484 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:07,199 Speaker 3: Daniels and everything, that. 485 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: They were an eyelash from being eight and two because 486 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 2: they were right there with a chance to beat the 487 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 2: Steelers last week. 488 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 3: They absolutely were. But the part of it that I 489 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:16,880 Speaker 3: thought was really interesting when I was breaking it down, 490 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 3: because you know, I'm sophisticated, I have NFL gsis and everything. 491 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 3: The strength of victory for Washington is one of the 492 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 3: worst of the National Football League. It's three thirty eight. 493 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 3: I guess it's yeah, no, it only twenty three wins 494 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 3: against the opponent that their opponents have won. This is 495 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 3: a big moment for Washington to show that they can 496 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 3: play with one of the upper echelon teams and credit 497 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,120 Speaker 3: to Philadelphia the way that they've kind of been able 498 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,920 Speaker 3: to pull themselves back together, pull itself back together after 499 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 3: how last year unfolded. They're proving once again that they 500 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 3: are still not to be trifled with and that NFC 501 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: East and absolutely the part that I didn't know all 502 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 3: the ins and outs of it when you were explaining 503 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:57,959 Speaker 3: some of those statistics with the seven and eight win 504 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 3: teams playing each other. When I first looked at this 505 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,119 Speaker 3: sc this week, what I thought was most interesting is 506 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 3: how much teams are paired against each other a similar record. 507 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 3: Really Detroit and in Jacksonville's the only like really huge difference. 508 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 3: I mean when you look at Kansas City Buffalo, but 509 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 3: even there's like five and four playing four and five teams. 510 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 3: I mean there's a lot on the line in terms 511 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 3: of stakes for a week eleven matchup, and certainly Green 512 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 3: Bay is a part of that. You're trying to, you know, 513 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,560 Speaker 3: extend themselves out from the Bears and also keep themselves 514 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 3: in contention there with their other two NFC North adversaries. 515 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, well in those in those big matchups with teams 516 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 2: with seven plus wins. Two of those our division games 517 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 2: Washington at Philadelphia in the NFC East, Baltimore at Pittsburgh 518 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 2: in the AFC North. That's one that'll have a lot 519 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 2: of eyes on it. You know, Russell Wilson has taken 520 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: over at quarterback for the Steelers and and you know 521 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 2: that team keeps winning and then a lot of eyes 522 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,560 Speaker 2: I believe it's I'm assuming it's you know, kind of 523 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 2: the game in the national window the Kansas City, Kansas 524 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 2: City is at Buffalo. What do you think do you 525 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: think Kansas City stays undefeated or do the Bills hand 526 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 2: the Chiefs their first loss. The Kansas City has been 527 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 2: they've been riding right out of the edge. And not 528 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,359 Speaker 2: just block field goal last week, but we've seen in 529 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 2: other games, you know they I mean, it was overtime 530 00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 2: against Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football the week before. 531 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,119 Speaker 2: They've had other games earlier in the season that just 532 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 2: that came right down to the end. And no apologies, 533 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 2: Kansas City is finding ways to win, and you take 534 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 2: nothing away from him, but they have been on the 535 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:31,959 Speaker 2: edge and you have to feel like one of these teams, 536 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 2: and maybe it's Buffalo this weekend, is finally going to 537 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 2: knock them all. 538 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 3: They're on the edge of glory. And I'll tell you 539 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 3: what I think Buffalo wins. That's my pick for this one. Okay, 540 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 3: not that I often offer predictions, but that is what 541 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 3: I'm thinking. But here's the thing that's funny about it. It 542 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 3: doesn't matter. Kansas City is the closest thing. I've said 543 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 3: this for a while now. They're the closest thing to 544 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 3: an NCAA basketball team where it's like the regular season 545 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 3: is the regular season. Yeah, they'll win the you know 546 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 3: SEC or whatever the ACC and then it's all about 547 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 3: how good are you entering the tournament? Last year was 548 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,440 Speaker 3: another example of that. You know, Packers ended up beating 549 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,200 Speaker 3: them in December here at Lambeufield, but they just kept building. 550 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 3: That's what New England did during its dynasty, and that's 551 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 3: what Kansas City is doing. 552 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,920 Speaker 2: And I think what and not to go on too 553 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,440 Speaker 2: much of a tangent in the AFC, but I think 554 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 2: what was most impressive about Kansas City's run to the championship, 555 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 2: to the Super Bowl Championship last year is that they 556 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: weren't just. 557 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: Playing at Arrowhead. No. 558 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 2: In the playoffs, they had to go to Buffalo, they 559 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 2: had to go to Baltimore. They were winning those playoff 560 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 2: games on the road in order to get there. And 561 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 2: again that's where it sort of does become like they're 562 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 2: the NCAA tournament team where it doesn't matter if they 563 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 2: end up with a one seed or a four seed 564 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 2: or a six seed or whatever. They're going to be 565 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,160 Speaker 2: formidable in the postseason because they've been there and they've 566 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 2: won those kinds of games in any condition, in any location, 567 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 2: And you're right, and they're for all the attention that's 568 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 2: going to be on this Buffalo Kansas City matchup, it's 569 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 2: probably just a preview of another matchup coming up in January. 570 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,199 Speaker 2: To question of then where is that game going to be? 571 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 3: Which is That's the only question that Josh Allen and 572 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 3: Sean McDermott they have to answer, is that is that question? 573 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,959 Speaker 3: Because Kansas City has been the final boss, it's been 574 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 3: the final boss for the entire league, but definitely Buffalo 575 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,359 Speaker 3: because Buffalo. We were talking beforehand about how Houston and 576 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,880 Speaker 3: the bumfill era would run into Pittsburgh and Buffalo keeps 577 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 3: running into Kansas City and it just cannot get through it. 578 00:27:24,480 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 3: Now that being said, for them being nine to zero, 579 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:30,439 Speaker 3: the Chiefs still have a lot of issues when you 580 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 3: look at they have been dinged up everywhere on the offense. 581 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:35,719 Speaker 3: I mean, now they brought in DeAndre Hopkins and they 582 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,960 Speaker 3: made moves to try to augment that. But this is 583 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:42,360 Speaker 3: another example I feel like of proving why Patrick Mahomes 584 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 3: is a perennial MVP contender because he is lifting that 585 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 3: football team up with the way he's playing, in addition 586 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 3: to a very talented defense. But for me, for that reason, yes, 587 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 3: the eyes will be on that game, and certainly it's 588 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:58,040 Speaker 3: for the right reasons, but I think Baltimore and Pittsburgh's 589 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,240 Speaker 3: probably the one I have my my most interest in 590 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: because Mike Tomlin's doing what he does and Russell Wilson 591 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 3: is resuscitating his career after people like myself question whether 592 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 3: or not there was anything left in the gas tank. 593 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 3: The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of issues now on defense, 594 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 3: but they still got Lamar Jackson, So it's like seeing 595 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,080 Speaker 3: how all that interacts. That's what's fun about this time 596 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 3: of the year, because, yeah, all these teams are going 597 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 3: to be in the playoffs, but these are where you 598 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 3: kind of put your your flag in the ground and say, 599 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 3: I should be the one that's out front of this thing. 600 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 2: Right And when you're talking these divisional matchups, that not 601 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 2: to say that anything's going to be decided in week eleven, 602 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 2: but a game that is going to have a big 603 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: influence on who wins a division versus who You're talking 604 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 2: about the difference between maybe a one or two seed 605 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: and being a five seed, right, because that's just how 606 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 2: the that's how the numbers break down, and how the 607 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 2: structure of the playoffs breaks down with the four division 608 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 2: champions being one through four. 609 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 3: And that's what the longer I cover this league, the 610 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:56,640 Speaker 3: more you'll see it am I writing, the more you'll 611 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 3: hear me say it on the show, whether it's September 612 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 3: or December. Now in January, you have to keep stacking 613 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 3: those wins, because how often is it? Mike. We'll be 614 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 3: doing the same thing here with the Packers in week 615 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 3: seventeen and eighteen, hopefully talking about okay, playoff positioning, getting 616 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 3: in seeding, buys, all this type of stuff, and it 617 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 3: all comes back to these games that you play in 618 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 3: week eleven. Yep, that at the time feel like you're 619 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 3: just trying to get one win, but in reality have 620 00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 3: a much much more important purpose. 621 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, well, it should be a good one in Chicago. 622 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 3: And the yeah, good one in Green Bay. 623 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 2: Two before we go April, the countdown to the twenty 624 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 2: twenty five NFL Draft in Green Bay has begun. Mark 625 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 2: your calendars for April twenty four through April twenty six 626 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 2: of twenty twenty five, and visit green Bay dot com 627 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 2: slash Draft twenty five for more information. With that, we'll 628 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 2: call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 629 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 2: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 630 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 2: team and everything from Sunday's big game against the Bears 631 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:53,120 Speaker 2: at Soldier Field. 632 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: Wes and I will be there. We will have it. 633 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:57,080 Speaker 2: All for you on packers dot com. 634 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: For Wes, I'm Mike. Thank you for tuning in. Everybody. 635 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: We will see you next time.