1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 3 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: trusted colleague Weston hod Kowitz. We're coming to you Hear 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: from our studios at Lambefield to talk Packers Dolphins West. 5 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 1: It will be a Christmas Day noon Central Time kickoff 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: from hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. We all know 7 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: what the implications are for the Packers. The Packers have 8 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: to keep winning and do some scoreboard watching on Saturday 9 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: on the flight down to Miami. And we'll talk about 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: those the games that impact that a little bit later 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: in the show. But you look at this Dolphins team 12 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: in two and it has been a team of streaks. 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: They began the season with three straight wins, then they 14 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: lost three straight games, then they won five in a row. 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: Now they head into this Christmas matchup with a three 16 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: game losing streak. Not to say that they're necessarily playing 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: poorly in this three game losing streak, but it was 18 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: a three game road gauntlet at San Francisco, at the 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: l A Chargers, at Buffalo they came up short all 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: three times. And that now with the Dolphins going from 21 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: eight and three to eight and six. They're fighting for 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: their playoff lives in the a f C. Very interesting 23 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: situation that Dolphins find themselves in because after this game 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: against Green Bay, they are traveling to the New New 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: England Patriots and then they finish up the season verse 26 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: hosting the Jets. So as much as we're talking about 27 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: the Packers and their run here towards the end of 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: the season, the Dolphins have very similar implications with this 29 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: whole run. The part of it that is the most 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: fascinating to me though, is, and we've talked about it 31 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: a couple of times throughout the week and the coverage 32 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: with Matt Lafleur and some of the players, this is 33 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: a different team at hard Rock Stadium. Uh. They're five 34 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: and one on the season and that only loss was 35 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: the game in which they did not have to uh 36 00:01:54,440 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: available to them. So the the explosivity of this offense, 37 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: a running game that Green Bay is very familiar with 38 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: with Raheem Mostart, and by all indications it sounds like 39 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: Jeff Wilson will be back this week. Tyreek Hill is 40 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 1: one of the most dynamic receivers in this league, and 41 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,839 Speaker 1: Jalen Waddle is a real nice up and comer for them. 42 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: I was a hundred and fifty wrong, Mike Um, and 43 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: I'm not ashamed to say it. I was. I had 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: some real questions when they acquired Hill about whether or 45 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: not this offense a new head coach to UH, they 46 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: were gonna be able to keep him happy and also 47 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: make sure that Jalen Waddle gets his touches. Mike Gasecki 48 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: hasn't really been the same type of receiving threat he's ben, 49 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: So it's not like everybody's flourishing. But for both of 50 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: those two receivers to be the only two in the 51 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: NFL right now with a thousand yards, this is a 52 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: stiff test for Green Bay going down into South Beach well. 53 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: And what's impressive about the numbers that Hill and Waddle 54 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: it put up. And credit to Mike McDaniel, the first 55 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: year head coach of the Dolphins, because you said it. 56 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: There were a lot of questions as to how they 57 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: were going to make this work offensively, and as Matt 58 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: Lafleur has told us this week, having worked with Mike 59 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: McDaniel UM as an assistant coach at at UH, you 60 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: know previous stops in UH in La Fleur's NFL career. 61 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 1: Hill and Waddle, they aren't just over a thousand yards. 62 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: I mean, Tyreek Hill is over fifteen hundred yards with 63 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: three games left to go in the regular season. And 64 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 1: he's already over a hundred receptions with three games left 65 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: to go. Jalen Waddle, this is the amazing thing. He's 66 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: over eleven hundred yards receiving any and on just sixty 67 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: two receptions. The guy is averaging eighteen yards per catch. 68 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: In this day and age of of the you know, 69 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: the quick game, the bubble screens and this and that 70 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,839 Speaker 1: for a wide receiver in the current NFL, the way 71 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 1: passing games are designed to be averaging eighteen yards a 72 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: catch for an entire season is phenomenal. I mean, you 73 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: just don't see that. That's a you know that that's 74 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: sort of in the James Lofton category from back in 75 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: the in the nineteen eighties when he was in his heyday. 76 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: So and obviously then you know, you mentioned Mostard, who 77 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: hasn't had a huge workload necessarily for the Dolphins. But 78 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: lo and behold, the guy is averaging four point nine 79 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: yards per carry. He's still he's still lighten it up 80 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: as well. And then Gisicky doesn't have the big numbers, 81 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: but he's got four touchdowns this year despite everything that 82 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: that Hill and Waddle are doing in the passing game. 83 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: So this is a and you know I've been I've 84 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: been saying this all week long. This is no disrespect 85 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: to the Philadelphia Eagles, this is no disrespect to the 86 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys, other teams the Packers have played this year. 87 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: I think this is the the biggest challenge the Packers 88 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: are gonna face defensively all season long. These guys, these 89 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: guys are dangerous, They're explosive, they can score from anywhere 90 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: on the field. And somebody has to explain to me 91 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: how to a Tago Vloa, as the leading fan vote 92 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: getter in the Pro Bowl and with the number one 93 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: passer rating in the league at one oh seven point eight, 94 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: somehow is not on the a f E roster for 95 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: the Pro Bowl games. Somebody has to explain to me 96 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: how that has happened. But whatever chip he may or 97 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: may not be carrying on his shoulder with regard to 98 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: that snub heading into this week to a especially having 99 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: come back from from a couple of scary moments with 100 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 1: the head injuries to us having a whale of a season. 101 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: It was the thing. I was writing our story on 102 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers and his media scrum on Wednesday, and I 103 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: had asked him about Tega the Law, and it was 104 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: interesting in that I was going to go in there 105 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: and I was just gonna take for granted that he'd 106 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: been in the Pro Bowl. As I was getting ready 107 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: to basically press him in my story, the guy's leading 108 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: the league and passer rating. How is the number one 109 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: passer rating quarterback in the league? Like not on a 110 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl ros. There's a lot of players and coaches 111 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: out there that must not have felt very strongly about it. 112 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: But goodness, whatever the case may be. I mean, you 113 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 1: listen to them talk. The way he carries himself. He 114 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,039 Speaker 1: was like that at Alabama, He's been like that in Miami. 115 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: And and here's the most exciting thing if you're a 116 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: Dolphins fan, I think Mike McDaniel the best compliment I 117 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: can pay him is he basically replicated the blueprint that 118 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: San Francisco used, and he did it in year one. 119 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: Um a good offensive line, tarn Armstead. You know, as 120 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: much as we talked about David baktr In the thirteen draft, 121 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: tarn Armstead was just as good of a pick one 122 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: round earlier for the New Orleans Saints. He comes to Miami, 123 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: he now makes a Pro Bowl in his first year there. 124 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: That that running offense with mostart in now Wilson. After 125 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: the acquisition, you know, alec Ingold was coming off an 126 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: a c L injury. I don't know what happened. Well, 127 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: there's a lot of things that happened. But with the 128 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: Raiders non tendering all these guys, Ingold got non tenure, 129 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: Nixon got nontendered, Keshan Nixon, and in Ingold has been, 130 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,840 Speaker 1: you know, one of the better fullbacks in this league 131 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: and is playing kind of that Kyle us Chick role 132 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: for this offense where he's not going to show up 133 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: a lout of a statu sheet, but he's going to 134 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: be a part of this game plan um. And then 135 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: having the two receivers that they have. I love the 136 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: way that those pieces have fit together for Miami. Now, 137 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: the one thing about this, as you said, is it's 138 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: been a streaky team. They've had off weeks, they've had 139 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: on weeks, but their strength of schedule and their strength 140 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: of victory have been pretty impressive. And as much as 141 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: you can point to that three game losing streak, they 142 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: took care of business against Houston and Cleveland before that, 143 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: and those aren't necessarily teams that a lot of you 144 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 1: know clubs have had success, you know, beating them by 145 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: two scores this season. Yeah, absolutely, and the uh and 146 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: give the Dolphins credit to I think we mentioned this 147 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: on our last show, how they they went into Buffalo 148 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: in Buffalo weather in prime time last weekend, with you know, 149 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: the cold, the snow started flying in the second half 150 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: and all that kind of stuff, and they were they 151 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: were right there against the Buffalo Bills with with a 152 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: lead in the fourth quarter, um end up losing on 153 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: a on a walk off field goal to a Buffalo 154 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: Bills team that is looking to wrap up the number 155 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: one seed, number one playoff seed in the a f C. 156 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: So defensively though, here for the Dolphins, there are certainly 157 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: guys to watch out for. They acquired Bradley Chubb to 158 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: help out with with the pass rush. I believe Melvin 159 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: Ingram is another one of their pass rushers, a guy 160 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: who's hopped around to some different teams, but he's he 161 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,720 Speaker 1: remains productive. But the bottom line West. This Dolphins defense 162 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: is twenty three in the league and yards allowed tied 163 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: for twenty six in the league, and points allowed. It's 164 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: a defense that can be had. It's a defense that 165 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: that has given up its share. And with the way, 166 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: with the way the Packers offense has turned a corner 167 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: here the last month in terms of getting healthier at 168 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: the perimeter positions, the you know rookies more the rookie 169 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: receivers in particular, and then Zack tom at left tackle 170 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: coming along and uh and making this making this unit 171 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: more productive in a unit that would have scored thirty 172 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: plus again on Monday night had it not been for 173 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: you know, taking a knee on the one yard line 174 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: there in the last two minutes. Packers offense, you're moving 175 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 1: out of the cold. Now. It's gonna be fifty something 176 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: degrees or whatever down in Miami. Um, certainly it'll be 177 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 1: a fast track for the Dolphins. But the Packers have 178 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: to take advantage of of these um, you know, ideal 179 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: conditions so to speak for Green Bay's offense and UH 180 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: and and have a big time game because it's it's 181 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: going to be difficult to stop these Miami Dolphins from scoring. Yeah, 182 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: it will be. Uh, the most fascinating part about the 183 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: Dolphins though, as you touched on the defense, I don't 184 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,839 Speaker 1: mean to be disrespectful when I say this, but it's 185 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,680 Speaker 1: a very meat and potatoes unit. Uh. It is a 186 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 1: unit that has not taken the ball away much this year. 187 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: I mean, Xavien Howard the number one positive thing you 188 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: can say at him, much like you know Ji Alexander here. 189 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: He is a traditional shutdown Durrell Reava's type cornerback. Teams 190 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: just don't want to throw at him. And you know, 191 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: he only has one pick on the season. The Dolphins 192 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: as a team only have seven interceptions on the year. 193 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: Despite as impressive as they've been, I think they're minus 194 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: two in the turn over margin this year. You know, 195 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,079 Speaker 1: end up credit largely goes to toa on that there 196 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 1: haven't been a lot of giveaways. You know, three of 197 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: their what do they have fifteen? Yeah, fifteen giveaways this here. 198 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: Three of those came from Teddy Bridgewater in his appearances. 199 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: So it's been an offense and a defense that have 200 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: played together, but necessarily defensively haven't been you know, an 201 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: inspiring unit. Also a statistic that Larry Mcaron brought up 202 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 1: to me when we were doing our three Things video yesterday. 203 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: That I was not aware of is the fact that 204 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,680 Speaker 1: the Dolphins are right near the bottom of the league 205 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:39,480 Speaker 1: and kickoff return yardage allowed in terms of you know, average, 206 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: So there's a potential opportunity there for Keishaw Nixon as well. 207 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: The whole point, and I'm trying to draw with this 208 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: is the Dolphins are a very good football team. They 209 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 1: are dynamic, they can shut teams down, they can win 210 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: in multiple ways, and they're very creative with Mike McDaniel 211 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,880 Speaker 1: at the helm. But it is not an insurmountable hill 212 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: to climb. And I think that's why is the week 213 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: is sort of progressed and the Packers have been healthier, 214 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: you know, the tide has slowly turned a little bit 215 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 1: back into I think maybe the Packers getting more of 216 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: an opportunity and seen as having a shot in this game. 217 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: But ultimately, Mike, I think it ultimately does come down 218 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: to the mono explosive plays that the Dolphins generate offensively, 219 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: and how many of those are running through hill and waddle. Yeah. Absolutely, 220 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: I want to get to uh some keys to victory 221 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: and go into more detail on that in a minute, 222 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 1: But first some sponsored business. Serious x M NFL Radio 223 00:11:30,080 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL 224 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: news that true football fanatics need seven three six, And 225 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like our 226 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, 227 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: all paired with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. 228 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 1: Cousin Subs fifty years of better. All right, well, you 229 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: you hinted at it already as far as a key 230 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 1: to victory here, and I do think it absolutely comes 231 00:11:55,280 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: down to limiting the explosive plays that this my emmy 232 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: offense is going to generate. And I think not the 233 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: only factor, but one of the key factors in limiting 234 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: explosive place for this Packers defense is going to be tackling. 235 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: You're not necessarily going to be able to prevent Jalen 236 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: Waddle and Tyree Hill from getting the football. Mike McDaniel 237 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 1: is is creative enough, savvy enough, he's going to find 238 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: a way to get his guys the ball one way 239 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: or another. But we saw what happened in Philadelphia when 240 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: the Packers didn't tackle, well, they had twenty plus miss 241 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 1: tackles in that that primetime game out in Philly and 242 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:37,960 Speaker 1: play you know, plays that were you know, four or five, six, 243 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: seven yard plays were rupturing into twenty and twenty five 244 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: yard games for Jalen Hurts and company. There the real 245 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 1: danger with these guys is miss tackles can turn a 246 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: five yard play into a touchdown from anywhere on the 247 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: field because as soon as they get loose and they 248 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: get up to top speed, it's almost impossible to catch them. 249 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: So the tackling, I think is is going to is 250 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: going to be key. The Packers certainly have tackled much 251 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:07,320 Speaker 1: better since the Philadelphia game, which was the big let 252 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: down in that category, and it needs to continue and 253 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: perhaps reach you know, its peak level against weapons like this. Yeah, 254 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: and and it is. It's an interesting mix with what 255 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: Miami brings to the table because as dynamic as those 256 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: two receivers are, and that's what the offense largely runs through. Uh, 257 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: you know, both Wilson since he jumped on board in 258 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: Miami and Mostart have had their moments too as runners. 259 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: Uh Wilson a couple of weeks ago was the lead 260 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 1: back had over a hundred yards. Last week, Mostard had 261 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,840 Speaker 1: hit his best game of the season when Wilson was 262 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: out with the hip injury. Yeah, they relied on him 263 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: in that in that cold and Buffalo and he delivered 264 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: for him and Mike. If there was every you bring 265 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: up the point of of the tackling issue, if there 266 00:13:49,679 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: was ever a player that the Green Bay Packers are 267 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: going to face that it reminds you that how much 268 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: you need to be disciplined, how much you need to 269 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: put a hat on a hat. It is Raheem Moster 270 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: who had, you know, the biggest game in his career 271 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 1: against Green Based several years ago, the thing that kind 272 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: of put him on the map after He's not just 273 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: a guy in that Kyle Shanahan offense. This is a 274 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: legitimate number one type back. So Packers can't take any 275 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: of this for granted. What I'm most fascinated to see, 276 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: and you can call it a key to victory, you 277 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: can call it a three thing, whatever you want, is 278 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: the decisions the Packers are going to have to make 279 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 1: in this game on how they defend Miami. How much 280 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: resources are spent to the two you know, you know 281 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: receivers Jr. Alexander can obviously shadow somebody if you need 282 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: them to you, you know, can mix up the zone coverages. 283 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: That's all gonna be up to Joe Berry and Jerry 284 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: Gray and how they want to approach it. But you 285 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: can't be so overcommitted to that that it then leaves 286 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: you light in the box against that running game. They 287 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: can hurt you either ways. There's gonna be some I 288 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: candy that that McDaniel's offense is gonna throw at him. 289 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: That ultimately, I think when you look at keys to victory, 290 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: when you look at how do the Packers win this 291 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: game defensively, it starts there. Yeah, and it will be 292 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: interesting to see how the Packers go about to fending 293 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: things because I still think as as as great a 294 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: season as two has had, he's still he's still a 295 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: young quarterback. And generally the approach against young quarterbacks is 296 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: too is to constantly be mixing up, mixing up coverage. 297 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: You don't want to get into certain patterns, you know, 298 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: and and and in the process of mixing up coverages, 299 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: you don't want to always be playing, you know the 300 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: same thing on third and six. You know, you don't 301 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: you don't want to get into into those kind of 302 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: patterns that that he can decipher that being said, lots 303 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: of teams have tried lots of things against this offense, 304 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: and and uh and and Ta has has sliced and 305 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: diced a lot of a lot of defenses on the 306 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: offensive side of the ball. I think it just it 307 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: just comes down to efficiency, because the Packers are going 308 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: to need to put up a good number of points, 309 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: I believe, in order to win this game. But by 310 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: the same token, you don't necessarily want it to become 311 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: a shootout. UM, So it comes down it comes down 312 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: to being efficient offensively where you're getting the points you 313 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: need to make, but potentially shortening the game at the 314 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: same time. You you had talked on our last show 315 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: about over the last couple of games, how the Packers 316 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: have had numerous scoring drives of ten plus eleven plus plays. 317 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: Those are the kinds of drives the Packers need to continue. 318 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: They need they need to finish them and punch them 319 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:22,920 Speaker 1: all into the end zoner as many of them as 320 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: they can. But those are the kinds of drives that 321 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: the Packers need because if you get into you get 322 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: into a game, you get into a game with the 323 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: Dolphins where you're upwards of you know, fourteen fifteen sixteen 324 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: possessions over the course of four quarters. Against these guys, 325 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: they're gonna be really really hard to keep up with. 326 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: But if you can, if you have some longer drives, 327 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: limit the number of possessions, shorten the game in that 328 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: sense a little bit, then umum, you know, then I 329 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: like the Packers chances to to hang around and give 330 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: themselves a shot. That's probably why I fell so much 331 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: in love with that performance against the Rams. It wasn't 332 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: about the opponent, it wasn't about the fact that Packers 333 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: need to win that game. It was that that finally 334 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: felt like Matte floor football again. That the Rams only 335 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: ran forty five offensive places. Uh, you know, and the 336 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: Packers have been on the other side of that Cole 337 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: times where you're you're you're looking at the offensive film 338 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: and you're going, we only we only ran fifty plays. Well, 339 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: no wonder, this guy only had this many touches and 340 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 1: this guy only had this many because we didn't run 341 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: enough plays. Yeah, and thirty seven minutes over thirty seven 342 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: minutes in terms of their time of possession to run 343 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: out the clock. It was quintessential Packers football. This matchup 344 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: I look at well, first off, getting a J. Dillon 345 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: back is a huge side of relief because it sounds 346 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: like even you know, Aaron Jones dealing with some stuff 347 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: right now with the knee. So at least to have 348 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 1: both of those guys available so it doesn't have to 349 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: fall on one specific guy. You tip your cap to 350 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,280 Speaker 1: Patrick Taylor the way he finished that game for Green Bay, 351 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: but the way that you know AJ has been running 352 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: the ball, specifically in the red zone these last few weeks, 353 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 1: these last few games, has been very encouraging. But I 354 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: look towards the Christian Watson thing. I look towards Alan Lazard. 355 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: I looked towards this this sort of you know, weaponry 356 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: that Green Bay has built throughout the course of the 357 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: season too to come up big in this thing. Watson 358 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: changes the way defenses attack this offense, and there's a 359 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: multitude of ways to use them. And I know there's 360 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: some some film buffs out there that we're already putting 361 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 1: out film talking from the last game of here were 362 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 1: opportunities where Watson could have been even more involved, if 363 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: he would have been the primary target, if he would 364 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: have been the hot read on things that that's the 365 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: exciting thing to me, and how they want to use things. 366 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 1: You know, the ultimate credit to this young man is 367 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: how much Jalen Ramsey was covering him, you know last week. 368 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: I mean, teams have taken notice and offensively for the Packers, 369 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: I think with Aaron Rodgers feeling a little bit better, 370 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: this is feeling like the green Bay Packers offensive old again. 371 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: They're still trying to get back to that thirty point threshold. 372 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones had kind of smirk on his face after 373 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: the game when talking about being that close to it. 374 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: But you know, they're right there. So that if you know, 375 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: you do have some offensive success on Miami side, green 376 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: Bay could potentially be able to match that firepower. Yeah, 377 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: you mentioned that matchup with Ramsey against Watson Monday night 378 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: against the Rams. So I'm curious what you think do 379 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: the do the Dolphins put Howard on Watson and and 380 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: and and let that let that go one. I mean, 381 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: there are different ways you can do this, right because 382 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: because some teams take the approach of yep, we're putting 383 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 1: our number one guy on their number one guy. Other 384 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: teams take the approach when you're talking about man coverage. Essentially, 385 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 1: zon zone is a whole different idea. But other teams 386 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: take the approach of you know, no, we're gonna put 387 00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,239 Speaker 1: our number two guy on the number one guy and 388 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: have the safety help over the top most of the time, 389 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: and then put our number one guy on their number 390 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,119 Speaker 1: two guy and ask him to cover that guy without 391 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,919 Speaker 1: any help at all and be the shutdown guy on 392 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: the other side of the field. So there are different 393 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 1: ways to go about it, and I'm curious to see 394 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: with with a an all pro talent like Xavian Howard 395 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: and an emerging star in Christian Watson, how the how 396 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: the Miami Dolphins go about this. Yeah, I am too, 397 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: because the thing about Howard is he's been one of 398 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: the best corners of this league for the last three years, 399 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 1: but he's also probably one of the league's best up secrets. 400 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 1: You don't hear a lot of love for him when 401 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: you're talking about you know, guys like jayre and guys 402 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: like Jalen Ramsey are a little bit more boisterous right 403 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: in terms of the national scene. So to be honest 404 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: with you, I really don't know how. You know, traditionally 405 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: week to week Miami lines him up. But but that's 406 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: a decision they're gonna have to make. And how they 407 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: want to go about attacking this thing. It's not the 408 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: deepest secondary in the league, so maybe potentially you see 409 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: that kind of versatility there and maybe he's he's tracking 410 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: around some guys. But you know, all that being said, 411 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: I I really think this comes back to the Packers 412 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: being and the Packers and you know last week the 413 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: mix of the run and the past and the consistency 414 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: of it um two back to back games, Mike, where 415 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: they've had three scoring drives of eleven or more plays. 416 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: That that speaks to the efficiency the offense. That speaks 417 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: to the ability to protect the football, and it speaks to, 418 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: you know, just being able to have success again. And 419 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:55,159 Speaker 1: I think that can be demoralizing for a defense and offensively, 420 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: I think it can remind Green Bay once again, as 421 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers talked about it is locker on Wednesday. You know, 422 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: when you're not having success, when you're not winning, you 423 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: sometimes forget what that feels like a little bit in 424 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: Green Bay now has a little bit of that momentum 425 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: on their side. Yeah, we hear all the time. Explosive 426 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: plays often lead to points, right well, when you can 427 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: still score points in this league without necessarily getting a 428 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 1: bunch of explosive plays. It speaks to it speaks to 429 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: the execution, it speaks to the sharpness of everything that 430 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 1: you're doing on offense. So whether the Packers can hit 431 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: can hit the big plays or not limiting the Dolphins 432 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: in that regard, I think is a key to this game. 433 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: And uh, and whatever it takes, whatever it takes on 434 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: offense to to continue doing what they're doing. I want 435 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: to get your thoughts before we go on a very 436 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 1: interesting weekend, Um can can I? Can I edit that 437 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,960 Speaker 1: a little bit? Yeah? A very interesting Saturday. Yeah, Yeah, 438 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: that's what I love about the way the NFL set 439 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: this up. We've got the Christmas Day games, right if 440 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: you like. If you ranked all the games, Packers is 441 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: by far the most compelling one against the Dolphins. Yeah, 442 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,120 Speaker 1: a lot, a lot of a lot of people will 443 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: be tuned into pack Chris Dolphins, and then the other 444 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: the other two on Christmas late afternoon and evening will 445 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: just kind of be like on the TV in the background. 446 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: I'm not sure how closely people are gonna be paying attention. Ye, 447 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay in Arizona, they might be getting a run 448 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: for their money with It's a wonderful life. I'm not sure, 449 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: but but hey, to your point though, it is a 450 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: great slate of games this weekend, a lot of um, 451 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, playoff implications, and I will let you lead 452 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 1: me through the dance from there. Well, the interesting thing 453 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: from the Packers perspective, when you're looking at you know, 454 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: doing the scoreboard watching and the teams that the teams 455 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: that you want to get some help, you'd like to 456 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 1: see certain teams lose. Detroit, Seattle, the Giants, and Washington, 457 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: all of them are on the road, all of them 458 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: with um potentially difficult matchups. Detroit is at Carolina, Seattle 459 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: is at Kansas City, the Giants are at Minnesota, and 460 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: Washington is at San Francisco. This lines up pretty well 461 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: for potentially for the Packers to get the help they 462 00:22:56,920 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: need and then to be heading to hard Rock Stadium 463 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: on Sunday morning going, you know, all right, we you know, 464 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: we really are in this thing. If we can, if 465 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: we can get this victory, and then be heading back 466 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 1: to Green Bay knowing that they're you know, to home 467 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: games left with a chance to uh to finish the 468 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: regular season above five. So, Detroit Seattle Giants commanders, what 469 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on some of those games. First things first, 470 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 1: when I was working on my story for today on 471 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: the Packers dot Com, I found that fascinating when you 472 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: look at New York Times, if the Packers win out, 473 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: they have them at making the playoffs. UHIVET eight actually 474 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: has it all the way up to seventy. So it 475 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: is interesting just by controlling what they can control, green 476 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 1: Bay actually does have still what I would consider to 477 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:41,719 Speaker 1: be higher odds than I would have anticipated, you know, 478 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: even a week ago. But all that being said, I 479 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: love the matchup between Detroit and Carolina because Detroit is 480 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: finally kind of getting a taste of its own medicine. 481 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: The Panthers are one of these teams that, while they 482 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: are technically still in the playoff hunt due to the 483 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: you know, just the atrocity of that division, Panthers are 484 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: a team that can play with anybody and lose the anybody. 485 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: They They'll play anybody tough the way that they've acted 486 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 1: this season. The Minnesota Vikings, man, it's such a weird 487 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: matchup because they're coming off a win, but I still 488 00:24:10,040 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: feel like there's so much for them to prove, and 489 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: if you if you lose a game, like this to 490 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: the Giants. Suddenly you're not feeling so great about where 491 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: you're at heading into this final stretch because that's a 492 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,440 Speaker 1: team that you very easily could see in the playoffs 493 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: and potentially lose to the Commanders in forty. Certainly that 494 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: goes without saying that's a huge game, the biggest game 495 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,640 Speaker 1: in terms of the Packers situation, but Philadelphia in Dallas, 496 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: because you and I have had this conversation about what 497 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: do you do with Jalen Hurts, what do you do 498 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,159 Speaker 1: with these starters if it gets to week eighteen, and 499 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 1: maybe it doesn't matter. Well, now he's dealing with the 500 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: shoulder spring, so Gardener sounds like playing. He's not Gardner. 501 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: Minshew's starting that game, Nick Sirianni I was talking about 502 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: before we popped in here. So now it becomes a 503 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: question of, Okay, whatever happens in this game happens, obviously, 504 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,879 Speaker 1: But if he ends up getting healthy here with the sprain, 505 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: do you want him sitting a month before he plays 506 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: a playoff game? Like in a weird backdoor kind of way, 507 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: if Green Bay makes a run here, maybe this ends 508 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 1: up working out to their advantage, because yeah, Jalen Hurts 509 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 1: not playing against a game against another playoff team, it 510 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:22,720 Speaker 1: doesn't really matter. But as we know, the Philadelphi Eagles 511 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,160 Speaker 1: have one coming up down the pipe that that will 512 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: have implications for Green Bay. Yeah. Absolutely. And and the Cowboys, 513 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: if I'm not mistaken, the Cowboys have four losses, is correct? Okay? 514 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: So essentially the ah the Philadelphia Eagles can clinch the 515 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: number one seed with one more victor, correct, Is that right? 516 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: So by the same by the same token, the Cowboy 517 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: if the Cowboys beat If the Cowboys beat the Eagles 518 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: on Sunday, I believe it's a late afternoon. I think 519 00:25:56,600 --> 00:26:01,960 Speaker 1: that's the central kickoff. You're JNA Cowboys? Yeah, and I see. 520 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: And I didn't even like write all this down before 521 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: he came in here. This show is truly unscripted folk trust. Um. 522 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:13,239 Speaker 1: So the Cowboys looking to get within two games of 523 00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: that NFC East lead with two games to go, there, 524 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,479 Speaker 1: you know, their chances of getting a division championship as 525 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: opposed to a wild card, which is which would be 526 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: the difference between obviously a home game and being the 527 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,199 Speaker 1: five seed in the first round? Are are you know? 528 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 1: Hinging on every week? Here? And this Jalen hurts shoulder injury, 529 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: you know, kind of throws a wrench into where Philadelphia 530 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: wanted to be. I don't know, did did you see 531 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: the tackle when the Bears The Bears guy, you know, 532 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: tackled him and and his shoulder got driven into into 533 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: the ground there and and you know, it's the kind 534 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: of thing that can happen to any quarterback at any time. 535 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: But you raise, you raise a really interesting point because 536 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 1: all the Eagles have to do is win one more 537 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 1: game to clinch the number one seed. And Gardner Minshew, 538 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,479 Speaker 1: whether it's against the Cowboys or somebody else here in 539 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: the last two weeks of the regular season is certainly 540 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: is certainly capable of doing that. But then what's the 541 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: decision in terms of when to play Jalen hurts. If 542 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: you're going to get the one seed and then have 543 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: the buy and not be playing in the postseason until 544 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: the second weekend, um, it's it's going to be it's 545 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:23,160 Speaker 1: going to be very interesting to see, well the decisions 546 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: that are made and and and how this plays out. 547 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: For now, I think from the Packers perspective, you want 548 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,920 Speaker 1: the Cowboys to win that game. You want you want 549 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: the Cowboys because they're gonna be playing one of their 550 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,199 Speaker 1: NFC East rivals in week eighteen. You want the Cowboys 551 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 1: the Washington Football Commanders. They're playing Washington. You want the 552 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: Cowboys to have something to play for in week eighteen 553 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:47,240 Speaker 1: to potentially beat the Commanders if the Packers are are 554 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 1: on the run and trying to trying to steal that 555 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: seventh spot. That's the interesting thing in this equation is 556 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: that we can talk right now about Philly, but if 557 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: the Giants go into US Bank Stadium, which has not 558 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: been you know, a place where the Vikings have just 559 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: dominated everybody, the Giants go in there and win, and 560 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 1: enough things go their way, they can clinch a wild cards. Yeah, 561 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 1: then they can. They can clench it. You don't even 562 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: give up who about what happens in week eighteen with 563 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: the Philly or the Giants or whatever. The main thing 564 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,440 Speaker 1: then becomes Mike McCarthy becoming the Green Bay Packers best 565 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,480 Speaker 1: friend again, because then if they have if they beat Philly, 566 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: then they faced Tennessee and then that last one is 567 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: at Washington. And you know, Cooper Rush is a good 568 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: little quarterback too, so it isn't necessarily the end of 569 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: the world if he has to start that game, But 570 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 1: how many of the complimentary pieces is a Micah Parsons 571 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: playing in that game then, and then it kind of 572 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: becomes a question. Yeah, absolutely, those are kinds of Those 573 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 1: are the kinds of things that I hope we're talking about, 574 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,280 Speaker 1: because if the last two weeks of the regular season 575 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: are going to be at a high level of interest 576 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 1: for the Green Bay Packers, it starts with beating the 577 00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: Miami Dolphins on Christmas down in South Florida. So with 578 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: that we will call it a wrap on this of 579 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage 580 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 1: of the team and all of the coverage from Sunday's 581 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: Christmas Day game in Miami. We will have it all 582 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 1: for you on Packers dot com for Wes, I am Mike. 583 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,719 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in everybody. Merry Christmas to everyone 584 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 1: out there. We will see you next time.