1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is my 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: partner in crime, West Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field and West. The NFC 5 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: Divisional playoff game Saturday night at lambeau Field will pit 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: the Packers against the San Francisco forty Niners. This will 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: be the ninth postseason meeting between these two franchises. It 8 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: is a rematch of Week three of the regular season. 9 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: It's a rematch of the twenty nineteen NFC Championship game, 10 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: just a couple of seasons ago. Your thoughts on the 11 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: fact that the forty Niners are the opponent we've been 12 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: waiting for, Well, I give the forty Niners credit because 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: they gave me the most watchable game over the weekend. Absolutely. Absolutely, Hey, 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: it's great. I loved it. From the standpoint of this 15 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: is you look for those type of you couldn't have 16 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: gone wrong. It would have been cool to see them 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: get matched up with maybe some teams they haven't seen 18 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: in the playoffs recently, but it's been the forty nine 19 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: is a lot more often than not over the last 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: ten years. So the fact that you get another one 21 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: of these battles, obviously the little Floor Shanahan connection, the 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: connections between these coaching staff, these players. It's gonna be 23 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: an exciting matchup on Saturday night at lambeau Field. I'll 24 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: tell you the difficult thing of watching that game unfold though, 25 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: is and this is just West Hotkowitz, this is West 26 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: Hawkwits the human being. I'll be honestly, I felt for 27 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy. I felt for the Cowboys. I felt I 28 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: know a lot of people will be like crying for 29 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: the Cowboys. That's that's an interesting concept, but I I 30 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: just I really respected the team they put on the 31 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: field this year. They have a lot of really young, 32 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: exciting talent. If they would have been able to get 33 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: that match up with, you know, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: I thought that that would have been an amazing rematch 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: to get. But this is how the Chips fell. The 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: greenmy Packers get to welcome the San Francisco forty Niners 37 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: a lambau Field for a chance to go to the 38 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: NFC title Game. Well, that Niners Cowboys game on Sunday 39 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: afternoon was just another example It was obviously the best 40 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: game of the six wild card games on what was 41 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,799 Speaker 1: not such a super wild Card weekend as it turned out, 42 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: but that being the best game, it was an example 43 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: of you just you never know what might happen in 44 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: these playoff contests, and you never know how much the 45 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,360 Speaker 1: little details are going to matter. Right when it comes 46 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: down to Dak Prescott and you know the official needs 47 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: to spot the ball before you can do the spike 48 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: and all that. The Cowboys thought they had enough time 49 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: to put themselves in a position to take a shot 50 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: at the end zone. It didn't work out. The clock 51 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: ran out on him. I do think, I do think 52 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: the officials did everything right really in that situation, given 53 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: how frantic it was and that and that the Cowboys 54 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: really didn't execute it properly. That's the boy, That's the 55 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: bottom line. I would feel me be a little a 56 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: tinge more sympathy for the Cowboys, And I feel no 57 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: sympathy at all for that organization in any way, shape 58 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: or form, no matter what. But if that had been 59 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: a trying to get a field goal situation or you know, 60 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: whereas they still we're going to have to throw a 61 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: to thirty yard touchdown pass on on the final play 62 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: the game not impossible, certainly greater odds than a hail Mary, 63 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: which is why they ran the play that they did, 64 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: why they decided to to take that chance running Prescott 65 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: up the middle. But um, the details matter, is my point. 66 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: And whether you're talking about the Cowboys with all the 67 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: penalties that they had in that game, which certainly benefit 68 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: of the forty Niners, the forty Niners showing how much 69 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: you can control a game in the postseason, and then 70 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: suddenly one interception, a turnover, completely changes the momentum of 71 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: the game and flips it and the Cowboys down to seven. 72 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: The Niners have the ball, it's looking totally bleak for Dallas, 73 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: and then suddenly they're rallying and they give themselves a 74 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: shot at the end of the ball game. You just 75 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: never know how these games are gonna go. That game, 76 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: more than anything, showed me how important it is to 77 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: get off to a fast start. San Francisco did that. 78 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: They got down the field, they scored points. Deebill Samuel 79 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,159 Speaker 1: is just uh a lightning bug. I mean, just what 80 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: he can offer to an offense as a pass catcher 81 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: in the backfield. It's like a super you know, like 82 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: size version of like what Randall Cobb was doing in 83 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven, two thousand twelve. I mean, just how 84 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: he impacts that San Francisco offense. You saw how far 85 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: he's come and exactly why he is an All Pro. 86 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: But for San Francisco to get the points, get the 87 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: stops early. When a game is as tight as that is, Mike, 88 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 1: and it goes down to the wire, that's where penalties 89 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: start to show themselves. That's where misfundamentals start to show themselves. 90 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: That's where you know Randy Gregory getting a holding penalty 91 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: against the tackle for Dragon, an offensive lineman to the 92 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: ground just out of nowhere comes into play, and a 93 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: few plays before that, Neville Gallimore does the hands to 94 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: the face on the center I believe it was Alex 95 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: mac the center for the forty Niners. Gives the forty 96 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: Niners an automatic first down when maybe they would have 97 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: had to pump the ball with more time on the clock. 98 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: All those things added up to the situation that Cowboys 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: were in in the final moment. In my takeaway from 100 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: that game, once it was over, independent of just the 101 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: fact that the San Francisco forty Niners prevailed was that 102 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: this is one of the things that has made Matt 103 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: Lafleur's team so successful in green Bay. Yes, he's a 104 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: brilliant offensive mind. Yes you have a you know, three 105 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 1: time potentially now four time m v P quarterback. You 106 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: have playmakers on both sides of the ball. But green 107 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 1: Bay plays discipline. They don't make stupid mistakes. You're going 108 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: to have penalties, and you're gonna have things you don't 109 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: agree with, but are they going to be egregious type 110 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: stuff that is just so visibly obvious to the officials 111 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: they couldn't help but throw the play. That's where the 112 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: Cowboys really got themselves into trouble in this game. And 113 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: if you're winning by two touchdowns, doesn't matter if you're 114 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: if you have a you know, you're commanding in your 115 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,280 Speaker 1: offense is clicking, you can overcome it. They didn't do 116 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,679 Speaker 1: enough of the those things in this game, and Kyle 117 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: Shanahan and the way they have those guys coached up 118 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: in San Francisco were able to take advantage of it. 119 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,479 Speaker 1: Despite the fact, yeah Nick Bosa going out with the concussion, 120 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: Fred Warner being banged up, they still made it work. 121 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: And this is a team that is very accustomed to 122 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: having to overcome that type of adversity. Well, it's interesting 123 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 1: because if there's one thing that the forty Niners have 124 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: told me watching watching a good portion of of their 125 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: games the last two weeks, is that the Packers have 126 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: to be ready for a full sixty minute battle. And 127 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 1: I know that that's a cliche and whatnot for the playoffs, 128 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: but my point is, two weeks ago against the Rams, 129 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: the forty Niners were down seventeen to nothing with their 130 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: playoff hopes, with their season on the line, and they 131 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: rallied back from that and got that game to overtime 132 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: and ended up pulling it out. Then in the wild 133 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: card game, they start out like gangbusters and jump on 134 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: top of the Cowboys thirteen to nothing. Nothing's going right 135 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: for Dallas, and yet the forty Niners still ended up 136 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: having to you know, grind out some first downs and 137 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: and nearly got the first down that they needed to 138 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: not give Dallas the one, the one final chance. But 139 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 1: this uh, this forty Niners team, nothing's gonna make them blink. 140 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: And that's that's one of the things that that I 141 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: think has been a trademark of of Matt Lafleur's teams 142 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: in his three years here in Green Bay, They've had 143 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: a lot of down to the wire games. A lot 144 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: of them have gone their way, some of them haven't. 145 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: But these Packers have been and especially this year, have 146 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: been tested late in ball games with down to the 147 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: wire finishes. This forty Niners team is exactly the same way. 148 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: These two teams are not going to flinch in the 149 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: fourth quarter on Saturday Night. It's going to be a 150 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: sixty minute, drag out battle all the way to the end. 151 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: There's a reason these two got to the final four 152 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: here in the NFC, and and the forty Niners are 153 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: like the light version of the Packers. The Packers got 154 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: the number one seed in the by because since Week 155 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: two include week one, but since Week two, they found 156 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: a way to win close matchups and they did it 157 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: all season long, with the exception of one game. San 158 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: Francisco got off to a terrible start for what their 159 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: expectations were for this season, not trending in the right way. 160 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: The questions about Garoppolo. They're losing three four straight games 161 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: in a row. They never found a way to solve 162 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: Seattle for some reason this season. It didn't work out 163 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: for them, but down the stretch, look at what they've done, Mike. 164 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: They beat Cincinnati, they beat the l A Rams, they 165 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: lost a competitive game to the top seed in the 166 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: a f C and tennesseeat and the other thing too 167 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: that Green Bay has to keep an eye open this 168 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 1: never ending carousel running backs. What was the number one 169 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: thing that the San Francisco forty niners were missing in 170 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: Week three? They did they didn't have a back. You know, 171 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 1: Trace Sermon was handling that role, but realistically they weren't 172 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: able to run the ball. Garoppolo had to throw up more, 173 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: they had more turnovers, They weren't able to be able 174 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: to protect the football. The Packers won that game late 175 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: being able to get Elijah Mitchell going here in the 176 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: second half of the season. The way he's played since 177 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: mid November. It's a stark difference with how this team 178 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: performs with Kyle Shanahan's offense. When they have a running 179 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: back they can go to. Mitchell's been that guy. You 180 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: look at that wild card matchup Dallas could not run 181 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: the ball. San Francisco was really committed to it. With 182 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: throwing in the wrinkles with Samuel that was a difference. Yeah, 183 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: it seems a difference from Week three as well as 184 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: far as looking back at that first matchup between the 185 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: Packers and forty Niners. This year, the forty Niners have 186 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,599 Speaker 1: gotten in my opinion, they've gotten more and more creative 187 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: and versatile with the way that's that they use Deebo Samuel. 188 00:09:32,679 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: The Deebo Samuel that the Packers are going to see 189 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field on Saturday night is a different type 190 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: of weapon than the one that they saw back in 191 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: Week three. And you combine that with the emergence of 192 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: the young running back in Elijah Mitchell. Where As you 193 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: said the forty Niners did not have as reliable a 194 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: ground game back in Week three, this is a this 195 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: is a really different offense that the Packers are going 196 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: to that the Packers are going to have to face 197 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: and and uh, it may not be as easy to 198 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: get the turnovers that that the Packers did back in 199 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 1: Week three that put them in command in the early 200 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: stages of that game. Well, and the other thing that 201 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,840 Speaker 1: separated them from Week three is Brandon aiyuk Is is 202 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: playing at a really high level. You got off to 203 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: a really slow start this season, was starting to really 204 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: look like okay was last year sort of a mirage there, 205 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: like is this guy is still going to be able 206 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: to perform at this level? And then he was able 207 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: to corral himself. And when you see what they can 208 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: do down the field with him and George Kittle and 209 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: then being able to have all these wrinkles with Samuel, 210 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: it creates a lot of different looks. And if you 211 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: ultimately look at it, what is the hallmark of this 212 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 1: version of the West Coast offense that Kyle Shanahan runs. 213 00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: It's a lot of running, and it's a lot of deception, 214 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: and it's a lot of play action build off of 215 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: the run. They want to get the defense's eyes moving, 216 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: they want to get their feet and standing still. They 217 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: want to be able to maximize those chances and be 218 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: able to hurt you for big plays. That's where I 219 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: think the biggest difference is. Now. That being said, well 220 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: we'll talk about some of the defensive stuff and these 221 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: other aspects of it, but a lot of Packer fans 222 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: are working themselves into a tizzy over this, and the 223 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: way that you and I are talking right now probably 224 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 1: isn't helping things. But the one thing I've been kind 225 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: of trying to just bang into people's heads this week. 226 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: Is there was a reason the Packers were the number 227 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: one seed. A lot of the things San Francisco does well, 228 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: the Packers do them well too. A lot of the 229 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: things that they can do in terms of their offense 230 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: when it's working well, Green Bay actually probably does better 231 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: in terms of the explosivity standpoint. This is going to 232 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: be a good game, but there's a reason why the 233 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: Packers are favorite in it so that they have to 234 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: play to their capabilities. They have to play smart, they 235 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: have to play discipline, they have to protect the football. 236 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 1: But this is a winnable game if you meet the 237 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: challenges that San Francisco is going to present, specifically on 238 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: the offensive side of the ball. Yeah, it's the nature 239 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: of the beast when you get a first round by 240 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: right and and this is what I talked about it, 241 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: I think on the show last week, if not on 242 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: the show, certainly an inbox that when you're the team, 243 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: it used to be multiple teams getting the buy in 244 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: the conference. Now it's just the one. When you're the team. 245 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: When you're the team that's getting the buy, you're going 246 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,080 Speaker 1: to be facing a team that is coming off of 247 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: its biggest victory of the season, because there are no 248 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: bigger victories out there than playoff victories. And in the 249 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: forty Niners case, they happen to be coming off of 250 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,560 Speaker 1: back to back big victories because they had to win 251 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,679 Speaker 1: in their regular season finale just to get that wild 252 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: card spot. Now they won their wild card game. But 253 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: it's the nature of the beast. You know, the Packers 254 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: got the buy you're gonna be facing a team that 255 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: that that got a big win or two to get 256 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: to this point. But the forty Niners are coming to 257 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 1: lambeau Field. It sounds like it's going to be cold. 258 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: Not not super frigid, not you know, crazy cold, but 259 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: it sounds like it's going to be cold. I think 260 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: that raises some I think that raises some interesting questions 261 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: with regard to Jimmy Garoppolo's hand, with regard to Garoppolo's 262 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,839 Speaker 1: sprained shoulder, which now which now we found out about 263 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan saying that that Garoppolo is dealing with a 264 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 1: little bit of a shoulder issue, his his throwing shoulder. 265 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 1: And then of course, the other the other news from 266 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: their side is what will be the hell of Nick 267 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 1: Bosa coming off of the concussion from the game against 268 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: Alice and Fred Warner Um, the star inside linebacker who 269 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: injured his ankle. I will say when when Warner went 270 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: down on the field, that looked a lot worse than 271 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: an ankle injury, So um, good for him that that 272 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,839 Speaker 1: that it wasn't a you know, one of these major, 273 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: major serious injuries. We'll see what the news is. Right 274 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 1: now as we're taping this, the news is pretty positive 275 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: for the forty niners with regard to those injuries. It 276 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: sounds like they are expecting to have both Bosa and 277 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: Warner available on Saturday night. But we'll just have to we'll, we'll, we'll, 278 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 1: we'll have to see how close to the Bosa one. 279 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: Did make me kind of raise an eyebrow though, because 280 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: it's like I thought this was like an independent neurologist, 281 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: so I mean, maybe he's already been cleared, but otherwise 282 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: I thought that was really interesting that they were already 283 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: like kind of like, yeah, he should be should be okay. 284 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: But be that as it may. Jordan Willis is still 285 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: working through the high ankle sprain, so he could potentially 286 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: be out. Um again, we'll get to that later. In 287 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: the week. But the thing I have my ons Garoppolo. Uh, 288 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: he talked and was pretty honest in terms of the 289 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,120 Speaker 1: media and what he's dealing with and and how it's 290 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: changing his mechanics and his throwing motion, and obviously the 291 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:14,199 Speaker 1: challenges that get presented in colder weather with that ligament issue. Uh, 292 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: that is going to there. There was several times Mike 293 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: in that game against Dallas where you know, they could 294 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: have put maybe the figurative dagger to steal a Wayne 295 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: Larvy term into the Cowboys and he just wasn't able 296 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: to make that throw, was it wasn't where it needed 297 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: to be, or that one that ended up being overthrown 298 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: over to Ayuk. I believe it was on the third 299 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: down that was a third and long. He had opportunities 300 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: and they just couldn't be able to connect. Seeing what 301 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: the limitations are with that are going to be really 302 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: interesting to watch. But ultimately you and I both know this, Mike, 303 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 1: They're gonna try to run the football. We saw it 304 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: in the nineteen championship game. They've seen it every time 305 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: the Packers have played Kyle Shanahan over the last five years. 306 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: They are going to want to impose their will in 307 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: the trenches, and that's where the Packers have to step 308 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: up to the challenge. Kenny Clark arrested, Dean Lawrie arrested. 309 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: You hope that Devandra Campbell's doing okay with that elbow 310 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: injury after getting a chance to rest a little bit. 311 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: If they get moving fast sideline to sideline, it can 312 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: be stout in their gaps. This is a totable, totally 313 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: winnable game for green Bay to be able to control that. Yeah, 314 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: I do think the forty Niners u UM are going 315 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: to be absolutely committed to the running game for sixty minutes. 316 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: I mean, barring and I would say even even if 317 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: the Packers get out to a start, say like the 318 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: Rams did against the Niners a couple of weeks ago, 319 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: and it's say it's seventeen to nothing in the second 320 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: quarter or something like that, are not just going to 321 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: trash their running game and turn the game over to 322 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: Garoppolo and throw throw throw in the cold at lambeau Field. 323 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: The Packers, regardless of how this game starts, good or bad, 324 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 1: the Packers are going to have to be prepared to 325 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: defend the run. Mitchell and Samuel and whatever other tricks 326 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: and play actions and motions and everything that that Kyle 327 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: Shanahan's gonna draw up for this one. They're gonna have 328 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: to be prepared to defend that for sixty minutes. And 329 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: I think, going back to the other point about Garoppolo, 330 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: hearing the news now about the sprain shoal or and 331 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: and as you said, he wasn't really able to to 332 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: put that dagger in the Cowboys there in the second half. 333 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: It makes me think that the sprain shoulder is almost 334 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: more of an issue for him in the hand because 335 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: two weeks ago against the Rams, that eighty eight yard 336 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 1: drive that they needed to tie the game and get 337 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: it to over time, he made three laser like throws 338 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: where you wouldn't think anything was wrong with him at all, 339 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: that there was no issue with the hand whatsoever. Now 340 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: we're hearing about this, this sprain shoulder thing coming out 341 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: of the Dallas game, it sounds to me like that 342 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: might be more of an issue than uum than the 343 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: hand thing that's been talked about for the last several weeks. 344 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: What did you think of what I wrote about them 345 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: seeing amenros st Brown against Detroit and how that could 346 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: be kind of maybe an entree here to seeing Samuel. 347 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 1: There are different types of players, but with you know, 348 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: Samuel carry the ball boy was eleven twelve times last week. 349 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: I mean he had the ball a lot in the backfield. 350 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: It was. It was a tough outing there in that 351 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: regard for what they did versus the trick plays whatever 352 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 1: you wanna call him, that Detroit ram But I'll tell what, Mike, 353 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: the Packers haven't seen a whole lot of that this 354 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: year other than really seeing Samuel in Week three. I 355 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: felt personally like that actually was a pretty good tune up, 356 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: at least getting them an idea of what the risks 357 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: are there in terms of the steaks if you don't 358 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,399 Speaker 1: properly defend against. I think I think it can I 359 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: think it can be certainly from uh, I guess what 360 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: I would say from the the eye discipline standpoint with 361 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,959 Speaker 1: the defense to not you can't get too distracted because 362 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: for all of the motions and tricks that you know 363 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: that that the Lions employed in that in that Week 364 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: eight team game, the Niners, the Niners do the motions 365 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: and and the fakes and all this to get you distracted. 366 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: They do it play after play after play, right, So 367 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: from an eye discipline standpoint where I don't think a 368 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: guy like aman Ross st Brown prepares you for someone 369 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: like Samuel Is because Samuel is so hard to tackle. 370 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: He he, I mean, his his yards after the catch 371 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: was like first in the league, right in terms of 372 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: per per reception um in the NFL this year. And 373 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,360 Speaker 1: you you have you have to be sound with your 374 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: tackling on him, because he will break tackles, he will 375 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: slip away, he will get the extra yards to to 376 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: move the chains and turn turn good plays into explosive plays. 377 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: And and that's uh, that's something the Packers are are 378 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: certainly going to have to deal with on Saturday night. Um, 379 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: a little bit of sponsor business here. West Serious x 380 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to 381 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,120 Speaker 1: them in the NFL News that true football fanatics need 382 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: seven three six And at Cousin Subs, we have something 383 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, 384 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,959 Speaker 1: golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 385 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs we believe 386 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: in better. I'm gonna I'm gonna do a sponsorship business. 387 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: Oh it's not really sponsorship it's mostly just being a 388 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: good teammate. Okay, I got this Packers Everywhere. I was 389 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:46,760 Speaker 1: gonna comment about the new sweatshirt. Then I was I 390 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: wasn't sure if you wanted me to make a big 391 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: deal of it. You can, you can if you want. Okay, 392 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: all I'm saying is, have I have some great friends 393 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 1: in our fan engagement department. They're actually giving these away. 394 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: If you go on the Packers Everywhere, at Packers Everywhere, 395 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: so show accounts on I believe Instagram and Twitter, you 396 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: like it, you're retweeted. I think you're entered to win these, 397 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: and that goes through if you're watching this on Friday. 398 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: I'm sorry you already lost, but I think it goes 399 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: to like ten am Central Time on on Wednesday. Okay, 400 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 1: if you want to look cool like me, hey, you 401 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: might want to enter too. Maybe I should. Yeah. That 402 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: looks pretty that that looks pretty good. Very comfy right now? Yeah, 403 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: all right, all right, Well, we have another show this 404 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: week in which we can get a little dig a 405 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: little bit more into the Keys to Victory and whatnot. 406 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: We'll have a couple of days of media access, hearing 407 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: from coaches and players and whatnot. Get a sense of 408 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: of the landscape here in Green Bay heading into this game. 409 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: I wanted to get your other thoughts before we go 410 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: today about the rest of wild Card weekend, very little 411 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:49,440 Speaker 1: of which was was dramatic at all. UH. Cincinnati Cincinnati 412 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,160 Speaker 1: in Las Vegas came down to a really good goal 413 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,199 Speaker 1: to go, a goal to gost situation there with with 414 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: the Raiders in Cincinnati the Bengals. Hats off to the 415 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: Bengals that franchise get its first postseason victory in thirty 416 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: one year. I think thirty one is that the number 417 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: thirty one years UM and UH certainly sets up some 418 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,959 Speaker 1: interesting matchups in the a f C with with the 419 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 1: Bengals traveling to the top seeded Titans, and then UH 420 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: in the other divisional round you have a rematch of 421 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: last year's a f C championship game with the Buffalo 422 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: Bills going to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs 423 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: and and UH. As I mentioned in Inside or in 424 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: Box earlier this week, Josh Allen has done some really 425 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: cool things, some really great things in the playoffs and 426 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: and you know, kind of resurrected a Buffalo franchise that 427 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 1: was down in the dumps for a while the next 428 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: step for Josh Allen is to win a postseason game 429 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,199 Speaker 1: on the road, and this is a this this is 430 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 1: his next opportunity in Kansas City. Still isn't perfect. Like 431 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: that's the thing. Like, as as much as they dominated 432 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: the Steelers, they still made quite a few mistakes in 433 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: that game. Well, if they're playing i mean, quite frankly, 434 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: if they're playing any offense except Pittsburgh's, the way that 435 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: first quarter and a half went in Kansas City on 436 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: Sunday night, the Chiefs are in trouble. You can't start 437 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: a playoff game like that. I mean they were, you know, 438 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,120 Speaker 1: they got in gear and Pittsburgh's offense never really did 439 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: until it was too late. But but boy, you play 440 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: a quarter and a half like that, Um, you're asking 441 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: to get knocked out of the post. Yeah, and in 442 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: remarkable the way that that ended up playing out, and 443 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: they got their stuff together. Certainly they're very explosive and 444 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: and hey, Jeric McKinnon, man it almost he's not on 445 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,199 Speaker 1: the same level as a Garrison Hurst, But man, you 446 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: feel good for that kid. I mean two years he 447 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 1: basically missed completely with injuries and he ends up kind 448 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: of being this filling guy with Edwards Hilaire being hurt 449 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: and just he looks explosive, he looks I mean I 450 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 1: was I've always been a Jerrick McKinnon fan, even going 451 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: back to his days with the with the Vikings, So 452 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:55,199 Speaker 1: I was happy to see that. But certainly, you know, 453 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 1: you look at the way Kansas City plays and Mahomes 454 00:21:58,359 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 1: is as talent as there are in the nf fell 455 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: right now, but he takes chances. Man a couple of 456 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: times running thrown across his body, across the hashes downfield, 457 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: he will take chances. I just I want to see 458 00:22:10,119 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 1: what Micah hide and poor Yeaut, what what those guys 459 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 1: do against that that look. That being said, uh, I 460 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: have to talk about the Cincinnati Bengals really fast, because 461 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:23,479 Speaker 1: I had visions of like the Vontes perfect issues at 462 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: the end of that Pittsburgh game where they came so 463 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,399 Speaker 1: close to winning a game with with Marvin Lewis what 464 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: was that like probably five or six years ago, and 465 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: it was and I was like, man, is are the 466 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: Raiders going to find a way to pull this thing 467 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: away from them? And and just the excitement level to 468 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: do it in that place and the fans you could 469 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 1: not help but feel great for them. And they're a 470 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: real problem. I mean Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon running 471 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 1: the ball the way he was and and certainly you 472 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: look at jamaar Ches and just how talented he is. 473 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: And I've always been big on Tee Higgins. They have 474 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: a lot of ability, and I think they're gonna be 475 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: a tough out for one of these teams. So that 476 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: pass rush of Cincinnati's is no joke either. That that 477 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: that front, that front four, it's not It's not a 478 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: bunch of household names. And we talked about that when 479 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: the Packers went to Cincinnati. It's not a lot of 480 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: big names, household name type of guys, but they get 481 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: after the quarterback and and they make things difficult because 482 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: that that front four doesn't have to ask people to 483 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,359 Speaker 1: blitz all the time. And Sam Hubbard like there were 484 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: several times I'm like, oh, Trey Henderson is having a 485 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: good game. I'm like, oh no, that's Sam Hubbard. I mean, 486 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:26,959 Speaker 1: like they played really good football the rest of the games, 487 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: Mike there was I mean, Tampa Bay played out exactly 488 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 1: like I thought it would. I thought the end we knew, 489 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: we knew the Eagles the Eagles got a really bad 490 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: matchup going up against that Tampa Bay defense, and the 491 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,040 Speaker 1: game played out that way right from the start. I 492 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 1: think with regard to the you know, the Cardinals and 493 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: the Rams, we were all hoping for a better, more 494 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:48,199 Speaker 1: competitive game on Monday night. It just goes to show you. 495 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: I mean, this was a Cardinals team, as we all know, 496 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:54,400 Speaker 1: was seven and oh undefeated late October, facing the Packers 497 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: on a on a Thursday night, and the Packers handed 498 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,719 Speaker 1: them their first loss of the season. It's i the 499 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: way teams look in October is not how you end 500 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: up looking in January. In this league, you're always changing. 501 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: Teams are always changing, always evolving, and uh and the 502 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 1: Cardinals this year just kind of evolved in in the 503 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: wrong direction and they ended up being an easy out. 504 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 1: Quite frankly for the Los Angeles Rams. Hats off to 505 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford. He gets his first playoff victory after after 506 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: a trio of disappointments in Detroit. But quite frankly, Stafford 507 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:28,199 Speaker 1: didn't have to do a whole lot to win this 508 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: game because Kyler Murray just didn't challenge Los Angeles defense. 509 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,240 Speaker 1: And here's the thing, Like when the night ended, and 510 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: and certainly the Rams game was over at halftime, it 511 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: seemed like I actually would look back the schedule. I 512 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: was talking to our producer Matt Iveran about this morning. 513 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 1: I said, you know what, the eight teams that are 514 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: left before and each this is the way it should 515 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: have worked out. I don't feel like anybody got eliminated 516 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:51,159 Speaker 1: where it was like, oh, that's the Super Bowl favorite, right, 517 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: And maybe that has something to do with the parody 518 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: this year, but overall, in a year in which there 519 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: has been so many teams that have been ebbing and flowing, 520 00:24:57,520 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 1: it really does look to me, at least in the 521 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: second half of the season, and we got the most 522 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: consistent teams down the stretch to this divisional round of 523 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: the playoffs. So I'm fascinated to watch how it plays out. 524 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: The Rams I think are the best matchup. I don't 525 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:12,479 Speaker 1: know not to say that Arizona couldn't have had success 526 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:14,680 Speaker 1: against Tom Brady and Bruce Arians, and certainly there would 527 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 1: have been that storyline with that connection, but I feel 528 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: like the Rams in the Bucks, that's a game that 529 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:22,679 Speaker 1: should happen, and one of those teams there observingly, So 530 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: we'll go on to the NFC title game. We're eight 531 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: games away. I mean, there's eight teams left, you know, 532 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: and there's there's three games away from the biggest prize. 533 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 1: So it's gonna be fascinating to see how these games 534 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 1: play out. Rams Rams and Buccaneers met earlier in the season, 535 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 1: Packers and forty Niners met earlier in the season. Doesn't 536 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,880 Speaker 1: matter now because the season is on the line this weekend. 537 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: For everyone involved with that, we'll call it a rap 538 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: on this edition of Packers un Scripted. Be sure to 539 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: follow all of our coverage of the team here Divisional 540 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:51,880 Speaker 1: playoff week, we'll have it all for you on Packers 541 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:54,640 Speaker 1: dot com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in everybody, 542 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: and we'll see you next time.