WEBVTT - #759 Packers Unscripted: Here comes Chicago 0:00:06.920 --> 0:00:10.239 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:10.280 --> 0:00:14.080 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 0:00:14.240 --> 0:00:16.840 by my partner in crime, Weston Hadkowitz. We are coming 0:00:16.840 --> 0:00:20.160 to you here from our studios at Lambeufield to preview 0:00:20.640 --> 0:00:23.880 Sunday's win to get in game for the Green Bay Packers. 0:00:23.880 --> 0:00:26.279 It will be against the Chicago Bears. It will be 0:00:26.320 --> 0:00:29.760 a three to twenty five pm Central Time kickoff televised 0:00:29.800 --> 0:00:32.680 on CBS. Jim Nantz, Tony Romo. I think this will 0:00:32.720 --> 0:00:34.960 be the first time those two will be doing a 0:00:35.000 --> 0:00:40.600 Packers Bears games. I think so interesting the way that 0:00:40.680 --> 0:00:43.479 sets up, and very interesting the way this season for 0:00:43.600 --> 0:00:46.559 the Chicago Bears has gone. We will preview this opponent 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:51.000 thoroughly here on today's episode, Wes. The Chicago Bears started 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:55.080 out the season zero to four and looked like they 0:00:55.080 --> 0:01:01.440 were going absolutely nowhere, and suddenly they are surging at 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:03.520 the end of the season. Not only are they four 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:06.160 and two in their last six games to get to 0:01:06.240 --> 0:01:09.280 seven and nine at this point, but those two losses 0:01:09.319 --> 0:01:12.520 in their last six games, they had double digit leads 0:01:13.040 --> 0:01:16.480 in the fourth quarter over two playoff teams in the 0:01:16.560 --> 0:01:20.000 Lions and the Browns and they let those games get away, 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:24.080 or the Bears are this close to being on a 0:01:24.120 --> 0:01:26.640 six or a seven game winning streak here. I said 0:01:26.680 --> 0:01:30.000 it in Monday's Insider Inbox. I may have even said 0:01:30.040 --> 0:01:33.200 it on our last show. I think the Chicago Bears, 0:01:33.200 --> 0:01:36.560 based on how they're playing right now, is the best 0:01:36.600 --> 0:01:40.720 team that the Packers have faced since the Kansas City game. 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:42.560 And I would agree with that in a lot of 0:01:42.600 --> 0:01:45.720 regards because they're the most well balanced and when you 0:01:45.800 --> 0:01:48.960 look at where this offense has been and I can't 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:53.240 give you the exact breakdowns of what Justin Field's stats are, 0:01:53.320 --> 0:01:56.240 what this Offensi's output was in the first half of 0:01:56.280 --> 0:01:57.960 season when they had him and then when they finally 0:01:58.000 --> 0:02:01.120 got him back. But they're just to be more swagger 0:02:01.400 --> 0:02:03.920 with the Bears offense right now. Juice Herbert is coming 0:02:03.960 --> 0:02:06.280 off his first I think one hundred yard games of 0:02:06.320 --> 0:02:09.280 the season back to back weeks, if at the very 0:02:09.440 --> 0:02:11.480 least the first time he's had him back to back 0:02:11.480 --> 0:02:15.760 weeks here this year, and then DJ Moore has come alive. 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:17.880 I mean, this isn't the same situation as the first 0:02:17.919 --> 0:02:21.040 month of the season, where there were these demonstrative actions 0:02:21.080 --> 0:02:25.600 after plays and visible frustration. The guy's a thirteen hundred 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:28.040 yard receiver. He had a two hundred yard game this season, 0:02:28.639 --> 0:02:32.000 and you know, the Bears offense is really flowing. But 0:02:32.040 --> 0:02:33.880 I'll tell you what, Mike and we will previewed both 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:37.600 sides of these, you know, the football here. But Montes 0:02:37.720 --> 0:02:40.960 Sweat in that trade, Ryan Poles took some flak there 0:02:41.000 --> 0:02:43.160 at the trading deadline for acquiring him because it's like, 0:02:43.200 --> 0:02:45.360 what are you doing? Where's the season going? Why do 0:02:45.400 --> 0:02:49.320 we need another defensive player? And Sweat has been exceptional 0:02:49.400 --> 0:02:50.240 and I think and. 0:02:50.240 --> 0:02:52.600 The assignment to a big contract extension right after they 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:54.600 acquired him, that was the whole point of getting him. 0:02:54.639 --> 0:02:57.680 It wasn't necessarily for this year. It was they saw 0:02:57.960 --> 0:03:00.959 Montes Sweat as a as a bill block for their 0:03:01.000 --> 0:03:03.119 defense for the future, and he's in the fold long 0:03:03.200 --> 0:03:03.720 term for them. 0:03:03.720 --> 0:03:07.320 And watching how Washington's defense is completely folded after oh 0:03:07.360 --> 0:03:07.799 my gosh. 0:03:08.240 --> 0:03:11.840 Yeah, and they traded Chase Young as well from Washington's. 0:03:11.280 --> 0:03:13.720 But I mean, man, sweat is Sweat ended up being 0:03:13.760 --> 0:03:15.880 the guy, yeah, you know, for Young being the second 0:03:15.880 --> 0:03:19.680 overall pick. So, but all that stuff together, Chicago's feeling 0:03:19.720 --> 0:03:22.480 really good about itself right now and Justin Fields. And 0:03:22.520 --> 0:03:25.320 you heard the cries out at Soldier Field last week, 0:03:25.360 --> 0:03:29.320 people saying we want Justin. This is a huge dress 0:03:29.360 --> 0:03:31.960 rehearsal to see if Justin Fields is going to be 0:03:32.000 --> 0:03:34.679 the Chicago Bears quarterback in twenty twenty four. 0:03:34.800 --> 0:03:38.200 Yeah, there's certainly a lot of noise in that direction. 0:03:38.360 --> 0:03:42.320 I personally think it would be foolish for the Bears 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:45.080 to hinge a decision like that on this one game, 0:03:45.280 --> 0:03:47.280 like win or loss, or how he performs in this 0:03:47.320 --> 0:03:48.119 particular game. 0:03:48.320 --> 0:03:50.680 Four interceptions could make you change that idea. 0:03:50.920 --> 0:03:54.560 Yeah, well, or you know, I mean, I just I 0:03:54.560 --> 0:03:57.200 don't think you ever hinge anything on one game when 0:03:57.240 --> 0:04:00.880 it's a decision of that magnitude. That being said, Justin Fields, 0:04:01.280 --> 0:04:03.400 he's the leading rusher on this team six hundred and 0:04:03.480 --> 0:04:07.680 thirty rushing yards, and you know, obviously part of the 0:04:07.720 --> 0:04:09.680 game plan will be to contain him. I think you 0:04:09.760 --> 0:04:11.800 have to try to make Justin Fields beat you from 0:04:11.800 --> 0:04:15.240 the pocket. That being said, you brought up Dj Moore 0:04:15.360 --> 0:04:19.000 ninety two catches, thirteen hundred yards, eight touchdowns, Cole Kamet 0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:22.479 seventy catches, six hundred and seventy eight yards six touchdowns. 0:04:23.120 --> 0:04:25.720 Nobody else for the Bears has really done much of 0:04:25.800 --> 0:04:27.920 anything in the passing game this year. It has been 0:04:28.000 --> 0:04:31.040 those two guys and certainly DJ Moore being the clear 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:37.000 number one target for Fields and the other thing. I 0:04:37.040 --> 0:04:39.800 give credit to Fields, and we'll talk more about the 0:04:39.839 --> 0:04:41.960 defense because I think that is really what is fueled 0:04:41.960 --> 0:04:45.040 this turnaround for the Bears, but Fields has also protected 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:47.520 the ball much better. The Bears over their last seven 0:04:47.560 --> 0:04:51.080 games are plus eleven in turnover margin. They've gone from 0:04:51.120 --> 0:04:55.359 minus two I'm sorry, minus nine on the season to 0:04:55.480 --> 0:04:59.400 plus two in basically the last two months. That's hard 0:04:59.440 --> 0:05:02.760 to do. And yes, the Bears defense is certainly taking 0:05:02.800 --> 0:05:06.360 the ball away, but justin Fields and that offense, they're 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:10.279 protecting it as well. And I think I think it'll 0:05:10.320 --> 0:05:12.360 be very interesting to see what the Packers do here 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:15.240 because you have jay R Alexander coming back from suspension. 0:05:15.680 --> 0:05:17.800 Do you line him up on Dj Moore and say, 0:05:17.800 --> 0:05:20.520 all right, twenty three, that's your guy, you know, or 0:05:20.880 --> 0:05:23.159 do the Packers take a different approach with it. I'm 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:25.480 not sure what Green Bay is going to do, but 0:05:25.600 --> 0:05:28.160 it is but it is very clear that you can't 0:05:28.240 --> 0:05:31.320 let justin fields run around back there and you can't 0:05:31.400 --> 0:05:32.920 let Dj Moore get loose. 0:05:33.080 --> 0:05:36.080 Yeah, it's almost I joked about this an insider inbox. 0:05:36.160 --> 0:05:38.680 If you could just recreate what they did in Week one, 0:05:38.880 --> 0:05:41.520 everything would be great. Yeah, But obviously we're in a 0:05:41.520 --> 0:05:43.279 different part of the season. Both of these teams have 0:05:43.360 --> 0:05:45.479 grown in our different units going into this one. But 0:05:45.960 --> 0:05:47.920 you look at that opener, Mike, in addition to them 0:05:47.960 --> 0:05:50.120 getting an early turnover on downs, in addition to them 0:05:50.120 --> 0:05:54.120 turning over the football Kuaywalkers intercept your return for a touchdown. 0:05:54.279 --> 0:05:57.760 R DJ Moore had twenty five receiving yards on two catches. 0:05:58.040 --> 0:06:01.120 Juce Herbert had twenty seven rushing yards nine carries. The 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:04.200 Bears weren't able to get much going until like garbage 0:06:04.200 --> 0:06:07.240 time in that game. It was like sixty thousand people 0:06:07.279 --> 0:06:10.960 down to like three thousand by the time that game ended. Now, 0:06:11.040 --> 0:06:12.880 the one thing I will say, because you want to 0:06:12.920 --> 0:06:15.680 give Chicago its props, but at the same time, also 0:06:15.760 --> 0:06:18.360 not act like you're facing the seventy two Dolphins here. 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:21.760 When you do look at their wins. It was Carolina, 0:06:21.960 --> 0:06:25.760 it was the Miami or Minnesota Vikings, an impressive win 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:29.000 over Detroit, at home after they almost beat them on 0:06:29.040 --> 0:06:31.400 the road, and then it was Arizona and then it 0:06:31.440 --> 0:06:35.360 was Atlanta. They haven't really beaten any big time playoff 0:06:35.360 --> 0:06:36.080 teams during this. 0:06:36.080 --> 0:06:37.599 Stretch, Yeah, except for the Lions. 0:06:37.680 --> 0:06:38.360 Except for the Lions. 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:40.320 They knocked off the Lions, and frankly should have swept 0:06:40.360 --> 0:06:42.200 the Lions should have beaten them both times. 0:06:42.480 --> 0:06:45.039 But what's funny to me, and what is very interesting 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:47.359 for this matchup is this is an opportunity for the 0:06:47.360 --> 0:06:50.400 Green Bay Packers to show we are a playoff team. 0:06:50.680 --> 0:06:53.200 We aren't like these other squads. We're going to be 0:06:53.200 --> 0:06:55.680 able to get to that ninth win and that's where 0:06:55.680 --> 0:06:59.039 the real challenge lies. But as you said, Michael, more 0:06:59.080 --> 0:07:01.240 than anything, it starts with justin Fields. You want to 0:07:01.240 --> 0:07:02.680 make him a pass or you don't want to allow 0:07:02.760 --> 0:07:04.640 him to beat you with his legs and trying to 0:07:04.680 --> 0:07:07.320 keep as many bodies as possible on DJ Moore. That's 0:07:07.320 --> 0:07:09.800 the one aspect of this, especially if Darnell Mooney is 0:07:09.840 --> 0:07:13.720 not back from the concussion yet, you can devote resources 0:07:13.760 --> 0:07:15.840 to DJ Moore and play your hand with a lot 0:07:15.840 --> 0:07:17.840 of these other guys. It's not what the situation was 0:07:17.920 --> 0:07:19.640 last week against Minnesota. 0:07:19.240 --> 0:07:22.400 Yeah, Well, I think, honestly, what becomes an even bigger 0:07:23.000 --> 0:07:25.160 challenge for the Packers, and what I think is really 0:07:25.160 --> 0:07:28.520 the more intriguing matchup in this game is a Packers 0:07:28.560 --> 0:07:30.760 offense that is very much on the rise. We've seen 0:07:30.800 --> 0:07:34.120 Green Bay against a couple of pretty good defenses in 0:07:34.160 --> 0:07:37.320 Carolina and Minnesota, put up thirty plus points back to 0:07:37.320 --> 0:07:39.920 back weeks after not hitting the thirty point mark since 0:07:40.000 --> 0:07:42.880 Week one, all the way back in Chicago at the 0:07:42.880 --> 0:07:46.760 beginning of the year. But this Bear's defense. Wes I 0:07:46.800 --> 0:07:49.880 brought up these statistics in our three Things video. When 0:07:49.920 --> 0:07:52.000 the Bear started the season zero to four, they were 0:07:52.040 --> 0:07:55.280 allowing thirty four point three points per game. Their last 0:07:55.320 --> 0:07:58.000 five games, in which they've gone four and one, they've 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:02.200 allowed fifteen point two points per game. Nineteen points per game. 0:08:02.280 --> 0:08:04.920 Difference from the stretch at the beginning of the year 0:08:04.920 --> 0:08:06.360 to now this stretch at the end of the year. 0:08:06.400 --> 0:08:08.440 I don't know if I've ever seen a shift that 0:08:08.600 --> 0:08:12.360 big within one season by a given unit. They've risen 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:14.960 all the way to first in the league against the run. 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:18.800 They are twelfth overall in yards allowed, still twentieth in 0:08:18.880 --> 0:08:20.640 points allowed. But I think a lot of that has 0:08:20.680 --> 0:08:23.640 to do with what was going on at the beginning 0:08:24.040 --> 0:08:27.480 of the year. Montes Sweat has six sacks for the 0:08:27.480 --> 0:08:30.000 Bears since he joined them at the trading deadline at 0:08:30.000 --> 0:08:31.640 the end of October. He has twelve and a half 0:08:31.680 --> 0:08:35.439 on the season, six of them with Chicago. A couple 0:08:35.440 --> 0:08:37.679 other statistics that jump out to me. One is the 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:41.800 Bears have twenty two interceptions, which is the highest total 0:08:42.559 --> 0:08:47.040 in the league. They have three different players with four interceptions. 0:08:47.080 --> 0:08:51.080 The cornerback Jalen Johnson, rookie cornerback Tyreek Stevenson, who is 0:08:51.120 --> 0:08:54.720 the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, whereas Jordan 0:08:54.800 --> 0:08:57.240 Love is the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week, 0:08:57.400 --> 0:08:59.920 and then the third guy with the four interceptions is 0:09:00.040 --> 0:09:03.440 Tremaine Edmunds. And I think what we've seen, and I 0:09:03.440 --> 0:09:05.800 shouldn't say we've seen, I think what has happened with 0:09:05.840 --> 0:09:08.640 this Bears defense is very much what Matt Lafleur said 0:09:08.760 --> 0:09:11.360 in his Wednesday press conference after practice when I asked 0:09:11.440 --> 0:09:14.400 him about this Bears defense is it's a group that 0:09:15.240 --> 0:09:19.559 has just settled in and played together and figured some 0:09:19.760 --> 0:09:22.160 things out. You look back at the beginning of the season, 0:09:22.559 --> 0:09:26.360 Tremaine Edmunds, TJ. Edwards. Those were brand new guys, free 0:09:26.360 --> 0:09:29.440 agents that they brought in to play linebacker. You had 0:09:29.640 --> 0:09:32.000 Stevenson was a rookie, a second round pick out of 0:09:32.000 --> 0:09:35.480 Miami at cornerback. They were fitting trying to fit in 0:09:35.600 --> 0:09:39.240 all of these different pieces. Defensively, this unit has really 0:09:39.240 --> 0:09:41.240 really come together. And when I look at the twenty 0:09:41.240 --> 0:09:44.480 two interceptions number and as I mentioned, plus eleven for 0:09:44.640 --> 0:09:47.120 the Bears in turnover margin in the last seven games, 0:09:47.880 --> 0:09:50.560 Packers have done a really good job protecting the football 0:09:50.600 --> 0:09:53.160 for the most part this year. It is absolutely paramount 0:09:53.200 --> 0:09:53.680 in this game. 0:09:53.800 --> 0:09:58.000 Absolutely, And what I find most startling about the Bears 0:09:58.080 --> 0:10:01.839 these days is looking specif those inside linebackers, if I may, 0:10:02.440 --> 0:10:08.600 for years, the Bears developed incredible Pro Bowl linebackers, Oh yeah, routinely, 0:10:08.679 --> 0:10:10.040 even after Brian R. Lacker. 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:12.559 Yeah, I mean they traded away Roquan Smith to the 0:10:13.160 --> 0:10:14.040 Baltimore Ravens. 0:10:14.040 --> 0:10:16.560 And it's just very interesting to me that they it 0:10:16.640 --> 0:10:19.480 started right around when Vic Fangio was there. Where then 0:10:19.520 --> 0:10:22.559 they started, Okay, now we're gonna start signing inside linebackers. 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:24.319 Maybe we're not developing them the way we used to. 0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:26.559 We're gonna start signing them. They obviously did get Roquan 0:10:27.080 --> 0:10:30.000 but then they went back to this blueprint of bringing 0:10:30.000 --> 0:10:33.560 in inside linebackers veterans and having them at the core 0:10:33.600 --> 0:10:36.960 of the defense. Different gms have done it, different defensive 0:10:36.960 --> 0:10:39.200 coordinators have done it, but Chicago's had a lot of 0:10:39.200 --> 0:10:42.359 success with it. And with TJ. Edwards and Tremaine Edwins 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:45.120 together building, you know, two guys with over one hundred 0:10:45.160 --> 0:10:48.760 tackles each this season, I think it kind of got 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:51.480 back to the roots of this defense. Sweat made a 0:10:51.480 --> 0:10:53.200 lot of sense for them because that was the only 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:55.280 thing they were truly lacking. They just didn't have a 0:10:55.280 --> 0:10:57.800 pass rusher. They didn't have an edge rusher. And he's 0:10:57.880 --> 0:11:00.400 more than just a guy that's going to rush off 0:11:00.400 --> 0:11:03.000 the edge. I mean, he's a pretty complete defensive end. Yeah, 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:05.079 but they needed somebody that was gonna be able to 0:11:05.120 --> 0:11:07.920 dial out the pressure a little bit. Because Jalen Johnson 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:11.599 is an incredible cornerback. Yeah, Eddie Jackson has been a 0:11:11.679 --> 0:11:13.960 pro bowler in this league before, and as we're learning 0:11:13.960 --> 0:11:18.640 now with this young man Stevenson, Tyreik Stevenson, they seem 0:11:18.679 --> 0:11:20.959 to have found another guy that can be a perimeter threat. 0:11:21.000 --> 0:11:23.560 For them. So it's a pretty complete unit. And I 0:11:23.720 --> 0:11:26.480 tip my hat to Ryan Poles because they've basically done 0:11:26.559 --> 0:11:28.840 this in a little over a span of a year 0:11:29.000 --> 0:11:30.720 and how they've remade this whole thing. So while you 0:11:30.720 --> 0:11:32.920 have a lot of veteran presence there, they had to 0:11:32.960 --> 0:11:34.720 sort of grow together and I think you're starting to 0:11:34.720 --> 0:11:35.000 see that. 0:11:35.280 --> 0:11:37.160 Yeah, And there are a lot of there are a 0:11:37.200 --> 0:11:39.720 lot of statistics with regard to this Bears defense that 0:11:39.760 --> 0:11:42.560 in some respects you throw out the window for the season. 0:11:43.000 --> 0:11:45.320 They are still last in the league in sacks per 0:11:45.360 --> 0:11:49.280 pass play. Yeah, And to me, that just tells you 0:11:49.400 --> 0:11:52.679 how much they struggled to get after the quarterback until 0:11:52.679 --> 0:11:55.240 Montes Sweat came on the scene for them and has 0:11:55.240 --> 0:11:57.600 been a presence in the pass rush the last couple 0:11:57.679 --> 0:12:00.239 of months. They're also twenty ninth in the league still 0:12:00.559 --> 0:12:04.040 in third down efficiency on defense. Again, to me, that's 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:07.360 a reflection of just how much they were struggling before 0:12:07.400 --> 0:12:11.000 they really before they really got things going here down 0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:14.199 the stretch. So you know, when you talk about other 0:12:14.280 --> 0:12:17.000 than protecting the football, when you talk about keys, you know, 0:12:17.080 --> 0:12:20.520 keys to victory on on offense here for Green Bay, 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:23.360 I think it's you know, as much as you as 0:12:23.440 --> 0:12:25.880 much as you have to respect the Bears defense and 0:12:25.880 --> 0:12:28.320 where they are and what they're doing. If you're the 0:12:28.360 --> 0:12:30.360 Packers and the way you've been playing lately, you just 0:12:30.520 --> 0:12:32.599 you just say, hey, we've got to We've got to 0:12:32.679 --> 0:12:35.319 keep doing what we're doing. We just whatever is called, 0:12:35.360 --> 0:12:37.600 we have to execute it at the level that we've 0:12:37.640 --> 0:12:40.800 been executing it and it shouldn't matter that much what's 0:12:40.840 --> 0:12:43.559 going on on the other side. And because that's the 0:12:43.600 --> 0:12:46.360 way the Packers have played these last couple of games, frankly, 0:12:46.400 --> 0:12:49.320 that's how they've they've looked on offense since the since 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:52.160 the Giants game. I mean, I know, the Buccaneers game 0:12:52.240 --> 0:12:54.680 was all about, you know, the all the breakdowns on defense. 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:58.120 The Packers offense actually did pretty darn well against a 0:12:58.280 --> 0:13:01.680 good Buccaneers defense in that game, but just couldn't keep up. Obviously, 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:04.640 I think since the Giants game, the Packers' offense has 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:07.480 been operating at a really, really high level, and they've 0:13:07.480 --> 0:13:10.120 got to find a way to maintain that against I 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:12.959 think the best defense, the best defense they've faced in 0:13:13.040 --> 0:13:13.640 quite a while. 0:13:13.800 --> 0:13:16.080 Yeah, And it's a great point you raised there, because 0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:18.080 I think for Green Bay what's going to be very 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:21.559 interesting this week is seen exactly what this offense is 0:13:21.600 --> 0:13:23.040 going to look like and who's going to all be 0:13:23.080 --> 0:13:26.600 available in very few instances? Could I say the Packers 0:13:26.640 --> 0:13:29.400 having a debt, what an injury report that's nearing twenty 0:13:29.440 --> 0:13:32.840 I think somewhere around there. Yeah, that it actually somewhat 0:13:33.080 --> 0:13:36.640 benefits them because now you have Christian Watson back at practice, 0:13:36.679 --> 0:13:40.120 Now you have Jaden Reid back at practice, don Tavian Wicks, 0:13:40.800 --> 0:13:42.960 There's going to be a multitude of guys that could 0:13:42.960 --> 0:13:45.360 potentially be in the cards for Green Bay. I'm envisioning 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:49.280 on Friday afternoon several questionable players going into this matchup. 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:49.680 Yep. 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:52.760 And it's up to Chicago to account for that. So 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:55.319 in addition to the fact that we have Luke Musgrave 0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:57.280 now and what would be his what third week of 0:13:57.280 --> 0:14:00.200 being able to practice, So it's a lot of things 0:14:00.200 --> 0:14:03.640 for Chicago to consider. And with as much as Green 0:14:03.679 --> 0:14:06.439 Bay has had to grind and fight through injuries, they 0:14:06.480 --> 0:14:09.600 are starting to get relatively healthier in terms of just 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:13.120 the body count being on the field. In that way, 0:14:13.200 --> 0:14:16.160 you wonder how much Matt Lafleur his coaching staff if 0:14:16.200 --> 0:14:18.880 they feel Okay about certain guys what they can build 0:14:18.880 --> 0:14:23.360 off of that, because Jalen Johnson super talented, Stevenson super talented. 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:27.040 But the thing Green Bay has really been quietly developing 0:14:27.040 --> 0:14:28.880 here as an offense that you can't just kind of 0:14:29.000 --> 0:14:31.520 zone in on two guys. It's going to be the 0:14:31.520 --> 0:14:34.600 whole entree that you're going to be challenged with. 0:14:34.800 --> 0:14:36.520 Yeah, and when you look back at the first game 0:14:36.560 --> 0:14:38.960 of the season, it's just another example of just how 0:14:39.040 --> 0:14:41.360 long ago it was and how different everything is. The 0:14:41.360 --> 0:14:44.720 Bears will certainly be the Bears will certainly be prepared 0:14:44.840 --> 0:14:48.680 for the two big explosive plays Aaron Jones made against 0:14:48.720 --> 0:14:51.040 them at Soldier Field. There was the throwback screen that 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:53.680 he took down the sideline almost for a touchdown. Then 0:14:53.720 --> 0:14:56.880 there was the one on one matchup with the linebacker 0:14:57.680 --> 0:15:00.640 that he took the short throw and took the distance 0:15:00.800 --> 0:15:04.000 for a touchdown there. But you know, Christian Watson wasn't 0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:06.960 on the field in week one, Dontavian Wicks wasn't getting 0:15:06.960 --> 0:15:08.760 a whole lot of snaps. We'll see if he comes 0:15:08.760 --> 0:15:12.480 back this week. Jayden Reid was certainly a part of 0:15:12.560 --> 0:15:14.760 things in Week one, but I think we've seen we've 0:15:14.760 --> 0:15:17.000 seen him certainly become a bigger part of things. The 0:15:17.040 --> 0:15:20.360 Packers tight ends Tucker Craft, you know, he was an 0:15:20.400 --> 0:15:22.920 afterthought back in week one, and look what he's doing 0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:25.040 for the Packers now. And we'll see you he played 0:15:25.080 --> 0:15:28.120 three I remember three snaps? Is that what it was? Yeah? So, 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:32.400 and we'll see if if Luke Musgrave actually gets cleared 0:15:32.400 --> 0:15:35.560 to come back in any kind of a role this week. 0:15:35.640 --> 0:15:38.280 He is, he is out on the practice field on 0:15:38.320 --> 0:15:41.120 a limited basis. There's there's just there's so much about 0:15:41.160 --> 0:15:44.360 both the Bears defense and the Packers offense that it's 0:15:44.400 --> 0:15:46.720 almost like, you know, other than those couple of Aaron 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:48.880 Jones plays, I don't even know if there's anything on 0:15:48.920 --> 0:15:51.520 the film from week one that's worth looking at for 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:53.960 either of these teams as far as those two sides 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:54.280 of the ball. 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:56.560 Yeah, because I mean even David Bakti is not out 0:15:56.560 --> 0:15:58.600 there right like he was in Week one when he 0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:02.440 had some uh, you know, very funny and photogenic moments. 0:16:03.200 --> 0:16:06.480 What's your field? But hey, this is what it's all about. 0:16:06.480 --> 0:16:09.080 Michael and I wrote in our Insider Inbox column on 0:16:09.600 --> 0:16:12.520 Thursday that when the NFL made the switch and they 0:16:12.520 --> 0:16:15.600 wanted to end division games on the season. Yeah, that'd 0:16:15.600 --> 0:16:19.800 be the finale of these. They wanted hy drop. I 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:23.640 can't speak today, Michael high drama moments. Yeah, and that's 0:16:23.640 --> 0:16:26.480 what you're getting in things like this. Yes, Chicago Bears, 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:30.200 I think of like no chance to make the playoffs 0:16:30.240 --> 0:16:31.240 now right, I think they've got that. 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:32.440 Yeah, they've been eliminated. 0:16:33.160 --> 0:16:36.440 But green Bay, much like last year with Detroit, everything 0:16:36.520 --> 0:16:38.200 is still out for them and you just need to 0:16:38.240 --> 0:16:40.960 win and get in and that's what makes it fun. 0:16:41.480 --> 0:16:46.360 In Week eighteen, Yeah, well, we've mentioned containing justin fields. 0:16:46.400 --> 0:16:51.080 We've mentioned Dj Moore and trying not to let him 0:16:51.120 --> 0:16:54.480 get loose, protecting the football on offense from this secondary 0:16:54.520 --> 0:16:57.200 that likes to get his hands on a lot of football's. 0:16:57.680 --> 0:17:01.200 Anything else from the keys to victory standpoint that stands 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:02.360 out to you right now. 0:17:02.120 --> 0:17:04.879 Stopping Khalil Herbert. It's the number one thing for me. 0:17:05.280 --> 0:17:08.119 As much as this is about fields and more, Herbert 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:10.480 is the guy that if you allow them to continually 0:17:10.520 --> 0:17:13.879 win down in distance, e'g in for a long afternoon 0:17:14.000 --> 0:17:16.720 and green Bay did an exceptional job. Other than a 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:21.280 a few runs that Fields leaked out for, they largely 0:17:21.320 --> 0:17:24.400 contain the run very well at Soldier Field in Week one. 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:27.800 This run defense has been through some trials and tribulations 0:17:27.840 --> 0:17:32.320 this season, no doubt. Isaiah McDuffie currently out with the concussion. 0:17:32.400 --> 0:17:36.040 But now you got Devandre Campbell back at practice. You 0:17:36.080 --> 0:17:38.600 know you're having to kind of mix and match here 0:17:38.600 --> 0:17:41.280 a little bit, but it seems to be you're getting 0:17:41.320 --> 0:17:44.160 closer to what would be your preferred starting lineup. Can 0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:46.800 you take advantage of that against this opponent. I think 0:17:46.800 --> 0:17:48.840 that's going to be really critical because the more that 0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:51.400 they are able to run with Juice Herbert, the more 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:54.399 it's going to stress the other things. Trying to make 0:17:54.400 --> 0:17:56.600 sure you limit the explosive plays with DJ Moore, which 0:17:56.600 --> 0:17:59.600 can happen not just on a go route. He could 0:17:59.640 --> 0:18:01.840 take anunderneath pass seventy yards if he wants to do. 0:18:01.960 --> 0:18:04.560 Yeah, and that's where for me. Sorry to interrupt you, 0:18:04.600 --> 0:18:06.800 but I but one thing that stands out to me 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:09.080 in this game as a key to victory, because there 0:18:09.119 --> 0:18:12.440 are certain games based on the way teams play and 0:18:13.240 --> 0:18:15.440 the way the Bears in particular, they like to throw 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:17.520 a lot of horizontal passes. They like to throw the 0:18:17.560 --> 0:18:22.080 bubble screens and and and all that sideways stuff. You 0:18:22.200 --> 0:18:25.720 have to tackle. You cannot let them break tackles. You're 0:18:25.760 --> 0:18:29.480 the tackling has to be on point because because as 0:18:29.480 --> 0:18:31.879 you just said, Dj Moore, DJ Moore can take a 0:18:31.920 --> 0:18:33.800 bubble screen at the twenty five yard line and go 0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:36.239 seventy five yards for a touchdown, and suddenly you're in 0:18:36.359 --> 0:18:37.000 big trouble. 0:18:37.119 --> 0:18:39.320 Yeah. Yeah, And so I think the more if you're 0:18:39.320 --> 0:18:42.600 able to slow down the run there early generate some 0:18:42.640 --> 0:18:46.120 more takeaways. Mike, how much time did I spend last 0:18:46.119 --> 0:18:48.280 week talking about how much Green Bay needed to get 0:18:48.320 --> 0:18:51.280 some takeaways and you saw the benefit of it in 0:18:51.320 --> 0:18:55.760 that first half against Minnesota with absolutely two touchdowns coming 0:18:55.760 --> 0:18:59.720 off of takeaways that were both deep inside Minnesota territory. 0:19:00.520 --> 0:19:03.800 That's the key, and you have to make sure that 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:05.800 I think a fast start will go a long way 0:19:05.840 --> 0:19:09.359 here as well, because as I was researching and you 0:19:09.400 --> 0:19:12.240 and I talked a little bit about on Wednesday, you know, 0:19:12.320 --> 0:19:14.600 Chicago hasn't given up a touchdown here and I think 0:19:14.640 --> 0:19:16.800 over a month in the first quarter, I don't even 0:19:16.800 --> 0:19:18.720 know if they've given up a points going back until 0:19:18.720 --> 0:19:20.639 maybe the Carolina game in the first quarter. 0:19:20.720 --> 0:19:22.399 So that's pretty amazing. 0:19:22.800 --> 0:19:26.280 Being able to set yourself up and get yourself going 0:19:26.320 --> 0:19:28.080