1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston Hodkowits were coming to you 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: here from our studios at lambeau Field to preview Sunday 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: Night football West. It will be Packers Bills from Buffalo 6 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: in prime time at high Mark Stadium. Though I know 7 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: you still like to call it the Ralph, which you 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: did on our Three Things yesterday. So what used to 9 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: be known as Ralph Wilson Stadium is where the Packers 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: will face the Bills on Sunday Night. It's a Buffalo 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: Bills team that is five and one coming off a 12 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: bye week, looking every bit the Super Bowl contender they 13 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: were touted as before the season began. And when you 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: look at this team West, it all starts at quarterback 15 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: with Josh Allen, who is squarely in the conversation for 16 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 1: the m v P. As we near the midway point. 17 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: He is, and we're going to discuss all the Bills 18 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: and how good they are in here a second. But 19 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw the renderings of that 20 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: stadium that they have that they perspectively put together. Actually, 21 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: they just came out. I think like either yesterday we 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: just saw it. It's it's pretty nice. These NFL stadiums, 23 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: bro I mean, we haven't been able to get to 24 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: Sofa yet or Allegiance, but they're they're pretty It's pretty 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: wild the way these things are developing. And it's and 26 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: this is why you do it, right. I mean, the 27 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills have never been hotter, at least during my 28 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: adult life, maybe going back to when I was in 29 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: elementary school. I mean, this team and what they have, 30 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: they are so complete, and they play they feed off 31 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: each other so well. I mean, that's what all the 32 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: best championship teams do, right. It wasn't just that Aaron 33 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: Rodgers was at the peak of his powers in two 34 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: thousand eleven and twelve and ten. It was they had 35 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: all this emerging talent around him. It's that they had 36 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: a defense that was as solid as what Buffalo has offensively. 37 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: I always loved telling the story two thousand eighteen, when 38 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: we were still doing our pregame show out at lambeau 39 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: Field before the games, Josh Allen whacked me in the 40 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: calf with a ball. Uh. That's that's where he was 41 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 1: at his rookie season and in warmups he like threw 42 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: a ball and it missed the receiver and hit me 43 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: literally and almost bruised my calf. I mean that's how 44 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: hard it was thrown. And now you look at him 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 1: and this is one of the I mean, this guy 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: is going to be a factor in the National Football 47 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 1: League for the next fifteen years. I mean, he is 48 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: the crown jewel of that draft class. There's a lot 49 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: of great quarterbacks that year, but when you look at 50 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: where he has steered the Buffalo Bills, it's all on 51 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: his shoulders. Yes, Stefon Diggs is fantastic. Um, you know, 52 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: Gabe Davis is coming on. Defensively, Von Miller's brought a 53 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: lot to that defense. But Josh Miller or Josh excuse me, 54 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: Josh Allen is the show and and you're seeing why. Yeah. Well, statistically, 55 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: Josh Allen seventeen touchdowns, four interceptions, a one oh nine 56 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: point one passer rating, which is can in the league, 57 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: just barely below Patrick Mahomes, though Josh Allen one the 58 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: head to head with Patrick Mahomes very recently. Here. The 59 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: other interesting interesting thing, of course about Alan statistically is 60 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: he's actually Buffalo's leading rushier. He has two fifty seven 61 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: rushing yards, which is one more than Devin Singletary and 62 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: actually ten fewer attempts. And when Josh Allen has a 63 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: five point five yard average per rushing attempt, and you 64 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: know that there are several minus one kneel downs, you know, 65 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: into that calculation whether it's a designed run or a 66 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: scramble when Josh, when Josh Allen takes off and runs, 67 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: there's a very good chance it's a chunk play, uh, 68 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, an explosive type of play for this Buffalo offense. 69 00:03:48,120 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: And that's what makes them makes them so tough to 70 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: stop because Josh Allen doesn't have to get rid of 71 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: the ball to make a big play. Yeah. And the 72 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: weird thing about this whole situation the Packers have been 73 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: and regardless of the skid they've been on, is the 74 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: quarterbacks they're playing. At some point in time, these qbs. 75 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: I guess remember when for so many years you were 76 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: telling Aaron Rodgers, you gotta make sure you slide, you 77 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: gotta make sure you get down. And now Green Bay 78 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: is going through this gauntlet of Daniel Jones, Taylor Heineke, 79 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: and now Josh Allen. These guys have never even heard 80 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: of the you know idea of sliding. I mean they 81 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: are going to Josh Allen is gonna throw his shoulder 82 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: into you. Uh. Even Kenny Clark talked about it as 83 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,559 Speaker 1: locker on Wednesday. He's like Big Ben, but he's more 84 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: fleet afoot like. He He has the size, but he 85 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: also has a lot of athleticism too. He's going to 86 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: create big plays. He's going to do with his feet, 87 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: He's gonna do with his arm. Stefon Diggs has been 88 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: I mean when you talk about Mike with trades happen 89 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: in the National Football League and all there's winners and losers. 90 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: The Bills, Scott Stefon Diggs, the Vikings got Justin Jefferson, 91 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: and those two guys have just completely ascended in their 92 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: own respects in these avenues. Gabe Davis is actually on 93 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: my fantasy team right now. Seven and a half yards 94 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: per catchy at the NY eight yard touchdown last week. 95 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 1: There are a lot of threats the Packers will have 96 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 1: to neutralize to be successful at the Ralph. Well, you 97 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: look at and I want to talk about these receivers 98 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: a little bit too, because you look at Stefon Diggs 99 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: six games now Buffalo has played, as we mentioned, coming 100 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: off of a bye week. In six games, Stefon Diggs 101 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: has forty nine catches, six hundred and fifty six yards 102 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: and six touchdowns. I mean the math there says he's 103 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,119 Speaker 1: on pace for you know, a hundred and twenty five 104 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: plus receptions like eighteen hundred plus yards and uh, you know, 105 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: seventeen t d s. I mean he is, he is 106 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: on pace here and they're early going for an absolutely 107 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: monster year. And then as you said, you have to 108 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: deal with Gabe Davis as well, who only has fourteen 109 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: catches on the year, but four of those have gone 110 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: for touchdowns as you mentioned in ninety eight yard touchdown, 111 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: which has boosted his average on those fourteen receptions to 112 00:05:55,120 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: twenty seven and a half yards per catch. This this 113 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 1: isn't This is an offense that can that can gash you. 114 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: They can make the big play at any time. And no, 115 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: they don't have much of a running game. As I mentioned, 116 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: Josh Allen is the team's leading rusher. But they are 117 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: so dangerous because of Alan's dual threat ability and because 118 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: of these receivers, and you throw in a tight end 119 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,559 Speaker 1: like Dawson Knox, who can make a lot of things happen. 120 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: This is a this is a tough unit to handle. 121 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: And you know, you know, going into Buffalo in prime 122 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 1: time under the lights, with Aaron Rodgers coming to town 123 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: for the first time in eight years, the Buffalo crowd 124 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: is going to be I mean, it's it's the atmosphere 125 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: in that place is going to be, uh, something else 126 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 1: for for just a regular season, fol And we don't 127 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: need to revisit two thousand fourteen and that that matchup there. 128 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: But the one thing, it's the only time I've ever 129 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: been at Landmark Stadium. Uh, I'm just gonna let that 130 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:02,880 Speaker 1: go throughout the entire show. No, it's the first time 131 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: I've been to Buffalo since that game. And that day 132 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 1: it was Kyle Orton, who has been signed that year 133 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: to play quarterback. Their season was pretty much, for the 134 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 1: lack of a better term, over, I mean, they were 135 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: right or hovering around if I remember right, and the 136 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: feeling in that stadium was not one of jubilation. It 137 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: was pretty melancholy up until the end when they ended 138 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: up actually winning the game. This is gonna be a 139 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: lot different. Sammy Watkins, the former Buffalo Bill was talking 140 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: about this. He's like, when when the Bills are good, 141 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: when they're winning football games, it's like a college town atmosphere. 142 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's what that's like. I mean, you 143 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: and I are going to see it when we're pulling 144 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: up on the buses. Maybe there'll be someone going through 145 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: a table. We're not sure, but yeah, our our buses 146 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: sort of go because I've I've been there for two 147 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: games two thousand and six and two thousand and fourteen, 148 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: and the buses that take us from the hotel of 149 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 1: the stadium we go through like these neighborhoods. It's it's 150 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: it's the most similar to Green Bay and of any 151 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: place in the NFL where you're going through these neighborhoods 152 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: and you're seeing people with with their you know, their 153 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: tailgate parties in their driveway, in their yards, you know, 154 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: cars being parked, you know, collecting twenty bucks here and 155 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: there or whatever. That's that's what it's like. And our 156 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: our our buses go right through that. So yeah, I'll 157 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: be watching to see if what what sort of Shenanikins 158 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: are happening, especially with it being a night game where 159 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: folks are going to have all day to get ready 160 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: for this one. But what I really like to about 161 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: the Bills offensively is so you look at a guy 162 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: like Devin Singletary, and Singletary is not a guy that 163 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: everyone's like, oh well, this is a big, you know, 164 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: huge threat, but for what the Bills want to do, 165 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: he compliments it perfectly because he can run. But he's 166 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: also their second leading pass catcher in terms of the 167 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: number of receptions. Um they drafted Zack Moss he's involved 168 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: in that too, But I mean Singletary is the guy 169 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 1: that kind of compliments the whole thing, and there's just Mike. 170 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: You just don't see a lot of weaknesses across the board. Now, 171 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 1: the Packers are gonna do a lot of things right, 172 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: but you know, Jamison Crowders on this roster obviously, I 173 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: think Jake Kumro is going through some injury stuff right now, 174 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: but that they are veteran, they are versatile, and certainly 175 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: when you have those type of playmakers at the quarterback 176 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: position and guys that can be game records down the field, 177 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: like Digs and like Gabe Davis, that there's a lot 178 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: that Green Bass to account for for sure. And on 179 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball. This is this is 180 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: the unit that has ranked number one in the league 181 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: in both yards allowed and points allowed. A lot of 182 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: statistics certainly jump off the page. Von Miller with six sacks, UM, 183 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: the young guy Russo has four, Those two guys with 184 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: with ten combined. Jordan Poyer in the back end has 185 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: four of this this uh, this defense is ten interceptions 186 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: on the season. UM. A huge challenge for a Green 187 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: Bay offense that is continuing to try to find itself 188 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: to clean up the mental mistakes as well as the 189 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: physical mistakes, settling in with a new offensive line. Obviously, 190 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: the Packers are banged up at receiver. We don't know 191 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: who all is going to be available at wide receiver 192 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: for for Sunday night just yet. UM. This is UH, 193 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: this is this is a tremendous challenge because because this Buffalo, 194 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 1: this Buffalo defense, they they got von Miller for a reason, right, 195 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,439 Speaker 1: They knew, they knew they were close, but they felt. 196 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: You know, when you when you get knocked out of 197 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: the playoffs by allowing in essence, by allowing a field 198 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: goal to extend a game in twelve seconds or thirteen 199 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: seconds or whatever it was, you're like, all right, we 200 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: need to get a finisher on defense. Von Miller is 201 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: that guy that that when that defense needs a big 202 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: time pressure or a sack or uh you know, strip sack, fumble, 203 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: whatever it is, they're counting on Miller to deliver it. 204 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: In so far this season he has. Yeah, and Miller 205 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: really has been I don't want to start throwing out 206 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 1: like Reggie White type comparisons, but when you look at 207 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:49,319 Speaker 1: where he has gone in the impact he's had, he's 208 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: really been like that that finishing piece from a lot 209 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: of these really good defenses around the National Football Certainly, 210 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 1: certainly was for the Rams, helping them win the Super 211 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: Bowl last year, and certainly, I mean, we don't need 212 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: to talk about fifteen and what he did on those 213 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: Denver Broncos teams. But the craziest part of this deal 214 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: for the Bills is they're doing all this without Micah Hyde. 215 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: Mica gets that neck injury earlier in the season, he's 216 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: done for the year. Everybody for so long, they've been 217 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: talking about how Poorer and Hide are probably one of 218 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: the best, if not the best safety combination the National 219 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: Football League right now, both how they play off of 220 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: each other and really their ball hawking skills. I feel like, 221 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: especially with dealing with some of his own injuries. Uh, 222 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 1: this has only brought out the best and Jordan poy 223 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: are four interceptions on this season. Uh. We hear so 224 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 1: often from Packers players, from coaches marrying the pass rush 225 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: to the past coverage. That's what a good defense does, Miamire, 226 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: I should say Buffalo does all of it. Third in 227 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: the league, I think in takeaways, lead the league with 228 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: ten interceptions. I let Miami slip out of my mouth 229 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: there because I was gonna say the only team that's 230 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: had success, the only team that's beaten them, and again 231 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: it was a barn Burner type game, was the Dolphins. 232 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: They didn't do it by running the ball well against them, 233 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: They barely ran the ball at all. They did it 234 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: by not having turnovers. The few explosive plays they had, 235 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: they scored on all of them, and they made the 236 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: most of their red zone opportunities. The same thing has 237 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: to happen for the Packers to be successful against this defense, 238 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: right and what and what Miami did in that game, 239 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: because statistically, that game, the one game Buffalo lost this year, 240 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: was lopsided in a number of statistics. In favor of 241 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: the Buffalo Bills. The number of plays, the yards, everything, 242 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: and it wasn't a big turnover fest. But the other 243 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: thing that Miami, the other thing that Miami did is 244 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: Miami's defense continued to rise up in the red zone, 245 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: backed up against the goal line, whatever the case might be. 246 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:45,079 Speaker 1: Miami's defense made key plays at key times. And so 247 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: all of these, all these plays and yards and everything 248 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: that Buffalo piled up, the Bills weren't able to, uh 249 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: to convert those into enough points to pull out a 250 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: game that they that they otherwise dominated up and down 251 00:12:56,760 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: the field. So, um that that was my next question 252 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: to you with regard to what what are the keys? 253 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: What are the keys to victory here? I think another 254 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: another category that sticks out is that Buffalo offensively is 255 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: number one in the league on in third down conversions 256 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: um third out conversion percentage. Green Bay defensively is number 257 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: three in the league. But as we've seen, you know, 258 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: we had talked about a couple of the third and 259 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,599 Speaker 1: longs that were converted in London by the Giants that 260 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: sort of turned the tide in that game. And then 261 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: the second half last week against Washington where whether it 262 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: was third and short or third and long. The Packers 263 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: just couldn't get off the field. Washington converting a lot 264 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: of third downs in that second half. So we've seen 265 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: Green Bay have some struggling moments in that regard, and 266 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: uh um, you know, you get it's going to be 267 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:53,079 Speaker 1: difficult enough in some respects to get a big play 268 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: offense like the Buffalo Bills into a lot of third downs. 269 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: But if the Packers get them into third down, they're 270 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: gonna have to They're gonna have to get off the 271 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: field that way. I mean for the green Bay Pratt Packers, 272 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: you ask about how they win this game. To me, 273 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: there's three things that this is going to boil down 274 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: to it. It It is the third down defense. They need 275 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:13,720 Speaker 1: that to hold true in this game, as you mentioned 276 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: third right now in the National Football League. It is 277 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: their red zone defense, their six right now in the 278 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: National Football League. If the Bills do get into deep territory, 279 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 1: you need to find ways to keep them out of 280 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: the end zone because they're not going to be punting 281 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: a ton. There's going to be plays that they are 282 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: going to extend. They're going to have ten play twelve 283 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: play drives. Do you generate turner takeaways off of that, 284 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: Are you able to stop them and force them to 285 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: send the field goal unit on yeah, and hey for 286 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: fourth and three from the forty five yard line. Sean 287 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: mcdermot's going forth most of the time. I mean, it's 288 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: it's not just the third down defense. You have to 289 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: be ready for them to for them to roll the 290 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: dice on fourth down to exactly and then obviously that's 291 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: something Green Bay is gonna have to take into account. 292 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: And realistically, it comes back to what happened last week 293 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: with Taylor Heineke. The Packers again, as I mentioned on 294 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: two Day's show, they had twenty nine pressures according to 295 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: Pro Football Focus, whatever it was nine quarterback hits or 296 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: sit whatever that number was. Maybe it was even more 297 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: than that one sack. Uh. The Packers have to be 298 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: able to finish plays pressure contain be smart about it. 299 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: That was another thing Kenny Clark and Dean Lawry Boll 300 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: talked about knowing your rush lanes, making sure that Alan 301 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: doesn't leak out because the dangerous thing about him is 302 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: he can make every throw from every point of the field. 303 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: He'll throw across the hashes if he has he sees 304 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: the opportunity. But he also is not afraid to talk 305 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: the ball and run it. That's where green Bay has 306 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: to be able to hold up. And also I know 307 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: it's been a grind for green Bay with the run 308 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: defense so far this season seven or whatever it is 309 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: in the league right now. Making sure that Singletary doesn't 310 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: get a lot of production, making sure that Alan doesn't 311 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:50,920 Speaker 1: leak out. You do want to make sure that you're 312 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: forcing this thing to the past, because to me, green 313 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: Bay it's been They've been in this drought with takeaways 314 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: and turnovers that I think can only last so long. 315 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: You can only get your hands on so many passes 316 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: before those things finally start getting caught. They need takeaways 317 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: in this matchup. Yeah, absolutely, and and and Buffalo has 318 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: given the ball away ten times so far this year. 319 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: That ranks, you know, around the bottom third of the 320 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: league in terms of the giveaways. And we had talked 321 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: on our last show about how the Packers had they 322 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: got the big pick six, they almost had another defensive 323 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: score if not for the penalty, but they had opportunities 324 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: for other turnovers. And you get your hands on the ball, 325 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: you've got it. You've got to cash in on it. 326 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: You can't let those chances get away. On the offensive side, 327 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: as I talked about before, the Packers are trying to 328 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: figure themselves out there, trying to clean up the mental mistakes, 329 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: the physical mistakes the Packers just offensively, especially against the 330 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: number one defense in the league. You've got to play 331 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: as clean of football as you can play. The mental 332 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: errors that Aaron Rodgers is talking about of the plays 333 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: that they're running, have a mental error by somebody, a 334 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: missed assignment by somebody that can't continue. The physical mistakes, 335 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: the drop passes, the poor technique that leads to holding calls. 336 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 1: Those are the Packers simply have to have to clean 337 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: up everything to give themselves opportunities against a against a 338 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: Buffalo defense. Because what's going to help what's going to 339 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: help you out the most against Josh Allen is too, 340 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: is to create a game with fewer possessions. Right, you 341 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 1: can't let Josh Allen take the field thirteen or fourteen times. 342 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: So the way you do that is by is by 343 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 1: getting back to and you had mentioned this an insider inbox, 344 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: getting back to winning the time of possession. The Packers 345 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: need to convert on third down move the chains shorten 346 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,920 Speaker 1: the game in the sense of in the sense of 347 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 1: not putting your defense out there as many times against 348 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: a guy like Josh Allen. There's a there's so much 349 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: that the Packers need to clean up offensively, but at 350 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: some point they're going to do it. And and when 351 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: they do it, we're gonna gonna see it. We're gonna 352 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: know what it looks like and uh, and we're gonna 353 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 1: see a team that's gonna give itself a much better 354 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: chance to win regardless of the opponent, compared to what 355 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: we've seen the last couple of weeks. Exactly and offensively, 356 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: maximizing your opportunities first down, being able to move the ball, 357 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: get first downs, being able to actually generate big plays 358 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: organically in not having to force them. That was the 359 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:24,719 Speaker 1: other thing you. You had made a comment in in 360 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,639 Speaker 1: box earlier this week about the about the second and longs, 361 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: and I went I went back and counted from the 362 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: Washington game, and if I counted correctly, I counted six 363 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: different times in the game the Packers were in second 364 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: and ten or more. Six times second and ten or more. 365 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: You can't live that way on offense. It's just that 366 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 1: that that's just that's not a way you can survive 367 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: in this league. It doesn't mean it doesn't mean you 368 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,679 Speaker 1: have to be in second and two all day, but 369 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: you need to be in second and six and second 370 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: and five most of the day to give yourself a chance, 371 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: because if you're in a position, god forbid, I think 372 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,439 Speaker 1: there's even a couple of second and if you're in 373 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: that spot, that's not how you generate a fifty five 374 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: yard pass play to Sammy Watkins. You generate those type 375 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: of opportunities sitting in third and short, sitting in second 376 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: and manageable, being able to give the defense a lot 377 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: to consider and how they want to defend you. That's 378 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: going to be paramount in this game. And if I 379 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: may to throw in, it's not just offense and defense. 380 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: Special teams is going to have a big part to 381 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: play in this too. Time of possession in the field 382 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: situationally is going to be critical. Uh Isaiah McKenzie is 383 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: one of the best kickoff returners Nobody in the National 384 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: Football League really ever talks about. Uh is a dynamic guy. 385 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: If he's able to take it out of the end zone. 386 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: Jamison Crowder has been doing it for so long in 387 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: the National Football League, has been so consistent in that 388 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: way a guy that maybe hasn't broken one for touchdown 389 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: yet this year on punts, but has been able to 390 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: give them an extra eleven twelve twenty yards off their 391 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: punt returns. Green Bay has to be able to win 392 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,400 Speaker 1: the time of possession and has to win the field position. 393 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: I think those are the two small things in this 394 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: matchup when you talk about little details that are really 395 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 1: going to be looming over this game and making it 396 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: making the Packers not be the ten point dogs, and 397 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:09,800 Speaker 1: everyone thinks they are pro proving that they still are 398 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl contender. A month ago everybody believed them 399 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: to be. Yeah. Absolutely, I agree with you. Some sponsor 400 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: business here West Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard 401 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,440 Speaker 1: hitting analysis and up to the NFL news that true 402 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: football fanatics need seven three six And at Cousin Subs, 403 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,679 Speaker 1: we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese Kurds, 404 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,800 Speaker 1: mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 405 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin 406 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: Subs fifty years of better. And I gotta stop myself 407 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: on the Jamison crowter thing. I knew I messed up 408 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 1: on that one because Carter actually is on injured reserve 409 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: right now, so he's for a few weeks. Oh, I didn't. 410 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: I didn't realize. I forgot about As soon as I said, 411 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:50,719 Speaker 1: I was like, that doesn't sound right to me. But 412 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 1: they do still have to worry about Isaiah mackenzie though. Yeah, Um, 413 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: we we're walking on a tight rope here, Mike. We 414 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: we do it live, right, That's right, we do it live. 415 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: That's a part of the story. Um. Wanted to get 416 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: your thoughts on a few other games around the league 417 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: in Week eight in the NFL. These are the ones 418 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: when I was glancing at the schedule that jumped out 419 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: to me in terms of, uh, you know, I want 420 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: to kind of pay attention during the afternoon on Sunday 421 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: as Sunday night football approaches to see how these turn out. 422 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: Chicago is at Dallas, which looks like a much more 423 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: interesting game than it did before last week when the 424 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 1: before the Bears had beaten the Patriots on the road 425 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 1: in primetime. Arizona is at Minnesota, Arizona coming off of 426 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 1: a Thursday night win with this quote unquote mini by 427 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: Minnesota coming off of its full bye week. Obviously, the 428 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: Vikings with just one loss so far this year. San 429 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: Francisco is at the l A. Rams. One of the 430 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: Rams are three and three, the forty nine are three 431 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 1: and four. I don't think either team expected to be 432 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: in that spot. And now those two NFC West rivals 433 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 1: going head to head and then probably the what what 434 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: you would label the game of the biggest surprises in 435 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: certainly in the NFC at least, is the Giants, with 436 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: their six and one record, are at Seattle and the 437 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: Seahawks are at four and three in first place in 438 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: the NFC West. The only team in the NFC West 439 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: that is above five hundred, so Chicago, Dallas, Arizona, Minnesota, 440 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: San fran Rams and Giants Seahawks. What interests you there? Well, 441 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: seeing exactly where things are with Gino Smith is going 442 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: to be one of because this will be a big 443 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: test for him going up against that Giants defense. Yeah, 444 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 1: how clean they play, how dynamic they've been with not 445 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: a who lot of whole lot of household names. The 446 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: thing about Smith and you've got to see how long 447 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: these can go. We did plenty of stories over the 448 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: past of you know, Ryan Fitzpatrick, you know, had some 449 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: amazing runs and when you think about what he did 450 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: in Tampa for a time and in Miami, But can 451 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: you consistently do it? If Gino Smith can actually carry 452 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: this out through the course of the year, I don't 453 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: know if he would qualify as like a comeback Player 454 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,720 Speaker 1: of the Year type candidate, but you do start to 455 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: get some like rich Gannon type vibes from that. A 456 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: guy that got an opportunity and then had to sit 457 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:13,360 Speaker 1: a lot um And I think you give John Schneider 458 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 1: a lot of credit, you give Pete Carroll a lot 459 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 1: of credit, and certainly Gino a lot of credit that 460 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: this is a guy that was completely written off. And 461 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: when Russell Wilson got hurt a couple of years ago 462 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:24,200 Speaker 1: and he had to go in a lot of people 463 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: were mocking that. Um when they make the trade and 464 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 1: Drew lock comes over there and it's like, Oh, you're 465 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: gonna have Drew Locker Gino Smith and everyone laughs about it. 466 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,679 Speaker 1: Gino Smith has played really good ball this year. You 467 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: have to do it consistently. Seven games does not make 468 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: a season. But I'll tell you what, man, if he 469 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: goes and they hold court against the Giants, that that's 470 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: something you're really going to have to start to respect 471 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,640 Speaker 1: and acknowledge. I do also really quickly want to touch 472 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because as the Packers ready 473 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: for this matchup with Buffalo, the Buccaneers are at a 474 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 1: crossroads to three and four going up against a Baltimore 475 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 1: team that, to a certain extent, they've underachieved in some 476 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: people's eyes. To be sitting where they're at, that's a 477 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: kind of a big game for both of those teams, 478 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: and for Tampa playing at home. That's the one that's tonight, right, 479 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: That's the one I was looking at the slate of 480 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 1: sun so I missed that when I was football goes 481 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: And for anybody that listens this over the weekend, I'm 482 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: sorry we're wasting kind of your time here. But in 483 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: terms of Thursday I football, this is as big as 484 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,080 Speaker 1: those games get. Because you know, you had a lot 485 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: of injuries on both things. Mark Andrews didn't practice this week. 486 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:35,159 Speaker 1: I know, you know, Mike Evans, these are tough games 487 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:38,680 Speaker 1: to step into and there's big implications for both of 488 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: these squads. Yeah. Absolutely, With as far as as far 489 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: as the NFC North goes, the Bears three and four 490 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: with a chance, with a chance to get back to 491 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: five hundred on the road against the Cowboys, a Cowboys 492 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: team that now has Dak Prescott back, and Prescott is 493 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 1: playing in his second straight game coming back from his 494 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: hand injury, thumb injury, UM and UH Arizona being on 495 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: the road at Minnesota, I don't think anybody thought the 496 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,239 Speaker 1: Vikings would be five and one at this point. And 497 00:25:09,320 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: one thing that one thing that's always interesting to me 498 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 1: about Minnesota when they get in this position and now 499 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: this is a new regime, right, a new head coach, 500 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: new GM and all that, there are times there are 501 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 1: times that Minnesota has jumped out in front. The Vikings 502 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: have jumped out in front and UM and responded really 503 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: well and stayed there and made a run like they 504 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: did in twenty seventeen they got all the way even 505 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,960 Speaker 1: with case Keenum who was quote quote unquote backup quarterback, 506 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: getting all the way to NFC Championship game. There are 507 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: other times Minnesota has jumped out front and then has 508 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: not responded well to being the team everybody's chasing UM 509 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 1: in the NFC North and UH and and what has 510 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: been a gap early on has has closed. So I'm 511 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: curious to see now that they've They've had their bye week, 512 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: but now they have to go the rest of the 513 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: way without a break. Can the Vikings sustain it? And 514 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: uh um and an error own a team that very 515 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:03,720 Speaker 1: up and down and all that, but also as we know, 516 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 1: very dangerous with Kyler Murray and those offensive weapons. I 517 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:10,160 Speaker 1: think that's a really interesting matchup just to see where 518 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 1: where Minnesota is and how the Vikings maybe set the tone, 519 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 1: so to speak, to be the front runner in the 520 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: NFC North because hands down that's what they are right 521 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: now by a pretty good margin. Yeah, and this is 522 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 1: for the Vikings measure. This is that that cross conference, 523 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: you know, division game that's set up based on your 524 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: allotment last year. So these are two teams that I think, 525 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: in a lot of people's eyes underachieved last season, especially 526 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 1: with how things started for Arizona. So you're seeing with 527 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: two different directions. I think they've traveled to this point. 528 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,640 Speaker 1: But as you mentioned, the wild card in all this 529 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: is Murray because he's going to give the Vikings problems 530 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: considerations that they haven't really had a factory in yet. 531 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: When you look at the extended plays, when you look 532 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 1: at the creativity of the Kingsbury offense, That's where I 533 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: want to see how this thing shuffles out. Offensively, the 534 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: Vikings are dangerous, but there's so many known things about 535 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: that offense and in the way that Kirk Cousins plays 536 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: the position. Certainly the threat that Justin Jefferson presents their 537 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 1: backfield equation, but defensively is the one that I just 538 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 1: still you just wonder, you know, Patrick Peterson facing his 539 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,200 Speaker 1: old old team, is he still going to be able 540 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,600 Speaker 1: to capture you know, the phone youth there a little 541 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: bit that he's had at times in Minnesota. There's a 542 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: lot of things to consider in it, and certainly for 543 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: the Packers measure, looking at the Vikings and then also 544 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: seeing the Bears having a very competitive game against Dallas 545 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: after trading Robert Quinn this week, how is that defense 546 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: going to respond for Chicago. It's a very interesting point 547 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: right now for this division. Yeah, well, a lot of 548 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: interesting games to pay attention to on Sunday before the 549 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,439 Speaker 1: big kickoff in the evening from Buffalo for Packers and Bills. 550 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,679 Speaker 1: With that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition 551 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: of Packers on Script. He'd be sure to follow all 552 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 1: of our coverage of the team, will have everything from 553 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:57,520 Speaker 1: Sunday Night's game for you from Buffalo on Packers dot 554 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,480 Speaker 1: com for Wes, I am Mike, Thank you for tuning in, everybody, 555 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.