1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague West and hot Cooitz for coming 4 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: to you here from socially distant locations at lambeau Field 5 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: and West. I say, as always, but I was the 6 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: one actually missing the other day. Big props to Larry 7 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: mccairn for filling in. It sounded like you guys had 8 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: a pretty good time recapping that Chicago game. Oh, we 9 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: most certainly had a good time. But Mike kind of 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 1: like if you look at Chris Barnes and Christian Kirksey 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: when you lose that Mike linebacker no pun intended, and 12 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: I have to move into that seat. It's a different 13 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: world sitting in that seat. I gotta give you a 14 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 1: lot of credit for how you're able to orchestrate the 15 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: whole thing. We're trying to get through it the best 16 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: we could. I feel like we put a good show together. 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: Larry obviously is a legend, was incredible to get some 18 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: of his thoughts and but being after all these episodes 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 1: that that incredible streak that you had of doing unscripted, 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: it finally ended and I had to step into the 21 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: driver's seat. I'm not saying the car didn't get a 22 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: little dinged up, but it definitely got back to the house. Well, 23 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: streaks are there to be broken, and uh, but I 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: am back now and all is good. So so we 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: will move forward before I do forget though. Our show 26 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: brought to you by Serious x M, NFL Radio Channel eight, 27 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: the only radio outlet dedicated to the National Football League 28 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: seven days a week, three days a year. Well, as 29 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: I said, you and Larry certainly recapped the regular season 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: finale against the Bears, which got the Packers the number 31 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: one seed. So I think we should just take this 32 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: episode with the Packers on the playoff by and take 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: a look at this wild card weekend that is coming 34 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: up here in the NFL Super wild Card Weekend as 35 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: the NFL is calling it now, because there are six 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: games instead of just four. I'm not sure if the 37 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: Super wild Card weekend carries over into future years when 38 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: this is what it's going to be presumably all the 39 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: time now, but that's a conversation for another day. The 40 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: Packers are awaiting their opponent in the divisional round. It 41 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: will be one of four teams Washington, Tampa Bay, the 42 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Rams, or the Chicago Bears. And here's here's 43 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: the thing, West, I'm not sure how you mentally process things. Okay, 44 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 1: this is how I have mentally processed. This is how 45 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: I have mentally processed in the simplest uh structural way possible. 46 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: How this is going to or how to understand this 47 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: scenario for the Packers. The Packers will get the lowest 48 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: remaining seed in the divisional round, so mentally I work 49 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: from the bottom up. The lowest seed is the seven 50 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: seeded Bears, so if they win, if they beat the Saints, 51 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: that they come to lambeau Field. The six seeded team 52 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: is the Los Angeles Rams, So if the Bears lose 53 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: and the Rams win, the Rams come to lambeau Field. 54 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: If the seven and the six both lose, the Bears 55 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: and the Rams both go down, then the Packers get 56 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: the winner of the four or five game, which is 57 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: Washington versus Tampa Bay. Does that make sense? You got 58 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: all that? It makes perfect sense? And it was funny 59 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 1: trying to diagnose this as much of a difficult time 60 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: as I had during paths of the playoffs, trying to 61 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: figure out all the different versions of how this week 62 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: could play out. It's been kind of interesting because what 63 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: I've realized when you got past all the minutia is 64 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: that really there could be four different, very cool matchups. 65 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: I really don't think I wrote this an insider inbox. 66 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: I don't think there's a bad game in the bunch 67 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: from a pure football fandom perspective. They all have storylines, 68 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: they all have history, and there's everything that makes it 69 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: uh to be a compelling sort of scenario. The one 70 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: thing that gets me though, is the fact that this 71 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: is the first time the Green Bay Packers have been 72 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: in a position like this where not necessarily that that 73 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: you're getting the bottom of the barrel. All these teams 74 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: could win, There's no question about that, but it really 75 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: is waiting for everything to come to Green Bay as 76 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: opposed to kind of chasing a little bit heading into 77 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: the postseason. And that is the benefit of a thirteen 78 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: and three season and obviously getting that number one seed 79 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: in the NFC. Well, the tricky thing as far as 80 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: figuring out whom the Packers will be facing. As I said, 81 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: I start from the bottom up with the Bears being 82 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: the seventh seed. But what gets tricky about it is 83 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: that the Bears are playing last of the three NFC 84 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: games over the weekend. So regardless of what happens in 85 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: those two games on Saturday, which is Rams and Seahawks 86 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: and Washington versus Tampa Bay, the Packers still won't know 87 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: their opponent until that Bears Saints game is finished, because 88 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: if the Bears win, then that is the opponent. If 89 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: the Bears lose, then it's whichever one of those possibilities 90 00:04:55,480 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: has still survived from Saturday into Sunday. So it will 91 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: be a long weekend in terms of actually knowing which 92 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: team the Packers will wind up playing. But looking at 93 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: these three games in the NFC collectively, it feels like 94 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: west that the Seattle Seahawks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and 95 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: the New Orleans Saints are all considerable favorites in this game, 96 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: in these games. But this is the NFL and this 97 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: is the playoffs, and to think that all three of 98 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: those games are just going to fall into place the 99 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: way people expect, maybe it will happen that way, but 100 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: you know what, there's a darn good chance that it won't. 101 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,480 Speaker 1: There's always every year there's something that's going to surprise you. 102 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: And in real. Like I mentioned just a second ago, 103 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: all of these teams have a chance to win because 104 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: they're all here for a specific reason. You can even 105 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: hate on Washington if you want, but the reality is 106 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 1: they've had one of the best most consistent defenses in 107 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: the National Football League all season. For all of the 108 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: various issues they've had on the offensive side of the ball. 109 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: That's why they immerse arged out of the NFC East. 110 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: That's why they still have a puncher's chance. I feel 111 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: in this game against Tampa Bay. The Rams game is 112 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: interesting to me because there are so many questions for 113 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: l A on their offensive side of the ball, whether 114 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: it be injuries or the COVID nine team list. But defensively, 115 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: you have Aaron Donald in Jalen Ramsey and that that 116 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: unit going up against Russell Wilson, who, while it has 117 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: been an effective, productive offense this season, has had some takeaways, 118 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,119 Speaker 1: has had some giveaways, and have found their way through 119 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: some games after you know, kind of having some setbacks. 120 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:36,839 Speaker 1: So I think they're a you know, a live dog. 121 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: You could say in this matchup, the toughest road to 122 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: travel for anybody is going to be Chicago, because you're 123 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: taking on a New Orleans Saints team that while they 124 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: have had some COVID issues now themselves the last week, 125 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: defensively they're a powerhouse. They're playing on their own turf. 126 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: And offensively, not only do you have Drew Brees back, 127 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: but you're seeing how they use Taysom Hill his multiple 128 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: role again. Now that raises back in the lineup, that 129 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: is going to be a really difficult puzzle for the 130 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: Bears to solve in that two verse seven matchup. The 131 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: first one, Yeah, I think, what when I look at 132 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: it from the perspective of the favorites versus the underdogs, 133 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: I am with you in the sense that I think 134 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: we're on the same page here. What gives all of 135 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: these underdogs a legitimate chance is not just because this 136 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 1: is the NFL, but all three of these underdogs have 137 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: legitimately good defenses. You mentioned the Rams, that combination of 138 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: Aaron Donald in the pass rush and Jalen Ramsey as 139 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: the number one cover corner to potentially take away one 140 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: of your top receivers. And now, obviously the Rams and 141 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: the Seahawks have already played a couple of times. Jalen 142 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 1: Ramsey has seen plenty of DK metcalf over the course 143 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: of the year. But it's an it's another matchup. It's 144 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: going to be a star studded one in that respect. Washington. 145 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: I mean, look at when does Tom Brady lose in 146 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: the playoffs when the pass rush gets to him and 147 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: Rex his offense right, Washington has a pass rush. Now. 148 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: They have a lot of other limitations offensively that you 149 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: know Alex Smith for the tremendous comeback season that he 150 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: has had, Washington is somewhat limited an offense. They're not explosive, 151 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,119 Speaker 1: they aren't going to scare anybody, but that pass rush 152 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: can keep any team, any Washington team in a game 153 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: um against against the potentially high powered offense. And then 154 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: the Bears. We all know about the Bears defense now. 155 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: They are banged up a little bit here going into 156 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: this game with New Orleans. When they played the Packers 157 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: last week, two of their top three cornerbacks were out 158 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: and then they lost Roquan Smith, the star young inside linebacker, 159 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: during the game. We don't know how healthy the Bears 160 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: defense is going to be going down to New Orleans. 161 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: I think that's a big thing to watch because if 162 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: I recall West, the Bears in the Saints played during 163 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: the regular season and it was an overtime affair. Certainly 164 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: New Orleans offense did not overwhelm Chicago's defense in any 165 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: respect in that ballgame. No, they didn't. As you pointed 166 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: out my defense. Yes, that is where the tone is 167 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,000 Speaker 1: going to be set. But realistically, and all three of 168 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: those games, the other aspect I look at is can 169 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: you get your running game to help your quarterback? Can 170 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 1: you have David Montgomery come out and be successful against 171 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,920 Speaker 1: one of the best defenses in the National Football League? 172 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: Cam Akers is back. Can he get back into a 173 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: groove and maybe take that those reins and be able to, 174 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: you know, get the run game going again for the 175 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: Rams with all the issues that they have at quarterback 176 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: right now, with injuries and most importantly Mike, I don't 177 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,199 Speaker 1: have specific statistics. I don't have anything I can cite 178 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,239 Speaker 1: for you, but this Washington team is different when Antonio 179 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: Gibson is healthy and he's on the field. You saw 180 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: what happened when he left. They still won some games, 181 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: but it was a lot more difficult. That defense and 182 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: that running game gives them a chance in this game 183 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 1: against Tampa. All that being said, I think if you're 184 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: the head coach of any of these three teams that 185 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: are favored this weekend, you tell your guys to do 186 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,439 Speaker 1: what you do, take care of what you take care of, 187 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: and are gonna be able to come up victorious because 188 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: pound for pound the teams again that our favorite in 189 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: this even though Tampa obviously has the lower seed than Washington, 190 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: they're there for a reason and they were able to 191 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: do that for a reason. I think that's why these 192 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:18,680 Speaker 1: games are all going to be somewhat close. But everything 193 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: being equal, as you said, things can change, but you 194 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: do see the path to victory there for these teams 195 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: that have the decided advantage. Yeah, well, it is the playoffs, 196 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: and you just never know exactly how things are going 197 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 1: to unfold, whether you're talking about ten years ago a 198 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: six seeded Packers team that runs it all the way 199 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: to the Super Bowl Championship, or last year a nine 200 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: and seven Tennessee team that gets into the playoffs and 201 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: suddenly makes a run knocks out the number one seed. 202 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: Baltimore actually has a lead in the a f C 203 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: Championship game over Kansas City before their hot streak kind 204 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: of ran out on them. So you just never know 205 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: how these things are gonna go. The flip side of 206 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: it is, sometimes things fall as a spected. Last year 207 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: in the NFC, the one and the two seeds were 208 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,720 Speaker 1: San Francisco and Green Bay, and they ended up facing 209 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: each other for the NFC title. So, uh, sometimes it 210 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 1: falls the way you might think, and other times you 211 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: just have no idea. The other storyline to watch two. 212 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: As much as people always like to get on these 213 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: teams that have losing records entering the postseason, they actually 214 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 1: have a pretty good return on investment here the last 215 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: few seasons, whether it was Carolina winning a playoff game 216 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: at seven eight and one six years ago, where you 217 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: go back to John Schnyder and Pete Carroll right at 218 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: the beginning of this thing being I think sex six 219 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: and nine are seven and nine in winning a playoff 220 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 1: game back and I want to say, was that two 221 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: thousand nine or two thousand and ten. It has happened before, 222 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:43,080 Speaker 1: and they can you know that that if you don't 223 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 1: take those teams seriously when they're playing on their home turf, uh, 224 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: that that that can come up not looking so well 225 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: for you. Yeah, well, we will see how things unfold 226 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: and exactly which opponent will be coming to lambeau Field 227 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: next week, and we also don't know yet the official 228 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 1: day and time of that divisional round game. It will 229 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: be either Saturday or Sunday. I'm guessing just based on 230 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: the whole TV thing and all that, that the Packers 231 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: will either get the Saturday night prime time slot or 232 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: the late Sunday afternoon one on divisional weekend. But again 233 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: we will have to see. That has not been announced yet. 234 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: I do want enough Saturday night games, by the way, 235 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: we can put that thing on Sunday. I'll be just 236 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: we've had We've had enough night games this year. I 237 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 1: think it's been six primetime games out of sixteen for 238 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: the Packers. So yeah, those are certainly more challenging for 239 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: us from a work perspective, but we will roll with 240 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:38,199 Speaker 1: whatever punches are thrown at us. Yeah, I do want 241 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: to get your thoughts on the the a f C games, 242 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: because while I started talking about the NFC matchups looking 243 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: at three teams that look like rather significant favorites or 244 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:52,959 Speaker 1: clear favorites that you would think would win those games. 245 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: When I look at Indie against Buffalo, Baltimore against Tennessee, 246 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: and Cleveland against Pittsburgh, it feels like all three of 247 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: those games are absolute tossups, coin flips. They could you know, 248 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: like there there. It doesn't feel like anyone in the 249 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: a f C other than Kansas City, which has the 250 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: buy in the number one. Other than it feels like 251 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: no one in the a f C is really a favorite. 252 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: And even though Kansas City is favored and rightfully so, 253 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: a dominant season that they had really on both sides 254 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,319 Speaker 1: of the ball. All four you know, these four teams 255 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: that you mentioned right off the bat, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Tennessee 256 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: and Baltimore. If you flash forward to a month from 257 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: now and you just put me in a box and 258 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: pull me back out and say one of those teams 259 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: is in the Super Bowl, I believe you they both. 260 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 1: They all four of those teams have stood up at 261 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: times and have really looked good. And I think you're 262 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: seeing Baltimore start to a little look a little bit 263 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: more like itself. Obviously a two thousand yard rusher Derrick 264 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 1: Henry in the month of January. You cannot count out 265 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 1: the Titans, just asked last season, But the one I 266 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: have my eye on the most is Josh Allen and Buffalo. 267 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: And I made this point in Insider inbox too. They've 268 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: arrived now they don't have to talk about that lengthy 269 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: playoff drought that they they're back and they've been back. Now, 270 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: can you actually start to win? Can you start to 271 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,719 Speaker 1: make an imprint? Because the moves they made last offseason, 272 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: Mike Stefon Diggs and some of these transactions that came along, 273 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: they didn't make them because oh yeah, we want to 274 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: be able to just get back to the playoffs. They 275 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: wanted to win, they wanted to win a super Bowl. 276 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: They feel like they got the best quarterback of that 277 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: draft class, and they have been able to come out 278 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: and I think really show that the way that Josh 279 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: Allen plays that position, it enhances things and it really 280 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: does complement the weapons that they have on the offensive 281 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: side the ball. Somebody had asked me this an inbox too. 282 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: Who's under more pressure this week? Is it Lamar Jackson 283 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: showing that he's still the m v P quarterback, that 284 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: he's still the guy everybody thinks he is in Baltimore? 285 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: Can he win a playoff game? Or is it Alan? 286 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,160 Speaker 1: And I still feel like it's Alan because the Buffalo 287 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: is trying to make a run after years of not 288 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 1: being relevant Baltimore when they're playing and they're playing well, 289 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: they can make this thing. They can get back to 290 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: the Promised Land. But it's that question if Baltimore can 291 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: Buffalo excuse me, can finally regain itself and they have 292 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: a tough team to do it against in the Colts 293 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: in the first round. And then quickly, just to touch 294 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: on Pittsburgh and Cleveland kind of a mismatch matchup right now, 295 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,800 Speaker 1: you don't really know what you're gonna see on Sunday 296 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: with the COVID issues that Cleveland has, the reports. I 297 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: think Alex Van Pelt is gonna be calling plays for 298 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: them on Sunday. And then you have Pittsburgh, who really 299 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: tripped and fell and is trying to get up after 300 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 1: making what appeared to be a run at an undefeated season. 301 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: So they're still in this too. But those first four 302 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: teams that I mentioned, those are the ones I have 303 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: my eye on because I think any of them could 304 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: very easily get on a run. Yeah, I think so. 305 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: To the the the Indie Buffalo matchup right off the 306 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:46,240 Speaker 1: bat really intrigues me because you have sort of, you know, 307 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: the old guy at quarterback in Philip Rivers. This might 308 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: be his last legitimate shot to get to a super 309 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: Bowl in his career. And then on the other side, 310 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: you mentioned Josh Allen for Buffalo, and the word that 311 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: I continue to use with regard to Josh Allen when 312 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: I do get a chance to watch the Buffalo Bills 313 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: play is fearless. This kid just looks like he plays 314 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: the game with no fear at all, and he's fun 315 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: to watch in that respect. And the Buffalo Bills have 316 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: put together an offense to pair with what has been 317 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: and what had been developing prior to Allen's arrival, as 318 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 1: as a pretty solid defense. So I personally think if 319 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: I were to pick one team that has the best 320 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: chance of knocking off the Chiefs as the defending Super 321 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: Bowl champs and and the and the number one seed 322 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: and the favorite right now in the a f C, 323 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: I think Buffalo maybe has the best shot at that. 324 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I say that I don't 325 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: count the Colts out at all this weekend in in 326 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: that opening playoff game, the other next one Baltimore Tennessee, 327 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: a rematch of last year's Division A Round game where 328 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: Baltimore was the one seed, had the by was fourteen 329 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: and two and Tennessee came in and punched him in 330 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: the mouth, so to speak with Derrick Henry and surprised him. 331 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: Baltimore just never got on track in that game, and 332 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 1: suddenly their fourteen in two season went up and smoked 333 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: on I believe it was a Saturday night and suddenly 334 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: they were they were out um and as you mentioned, 335 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,360 Speaker 1: Derrick Henry a two thousand yard season this time he's 336 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: the back to back NFL Russian King two years in 337 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: a row, UM and is coming off of a monster 338 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: game to help Tennessee win that that a f C 339 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 1: South last weekend. And then Cleveland at Pittsburgh the COVID issues, 340 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: I mean, everything going on with with Cleveland. Their head 341 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: coach won't be on the sideline, won't be able to 342 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: communicate with his team at all, as well as a 343 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: few other coaches as they go through that. And Pittsburgh 344 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: is really interesting to me because, as you mentioned, they 345 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: were eleven and oh, people were wondering, okay, are they 346 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: going to run the table, go sixteen and O and 347 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 1: head into the postseason. Well, then they lost three games 348 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: in a row. They're trailing by seventeen points in the 349 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: second half to the Indianapolis Colts at home. They have 350 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: a huge second half rally to pull out that game 351 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: win the a f C North Division championship. And then 352 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: even though in weeks seventeen they had an opportunity to 353 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: possibly get the two seed as opposed to the three, 354 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin said, this is what I think. He said, Hey, 355 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 1: our guys are tired. This has been a rough last month, 356 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,440 Speaker 1: month and a half. They sort of lost their bye 357 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: week even earlier in the season because of scheduling getting 358 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: shifted around. They Pittsburgh Steelers dealt with a lot of 359 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 1: things that were out of their control in terms of 360 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: how their season unfolded, and Mike Tomlin said, you know what, 361 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: We're gonna rest some of our key guys in week 362 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: seventeen because the rest and recovery is going to be 363 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: more important to making potentially making a playoff run than 364 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 1: whether they're the three seeds or the two seeds. So 365 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: they made that sacrifice. The Steelers are the three seed, 366 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: but now they get a division rival, a team they've 367 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: already played twice this year. That third matchup in the 368 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:42,920 Speaker 1: n f C North between the Browns and the Steelers 369 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,239 Speaker 1: will be the I believe that's the final game of 370 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: the weekend on Sunday Night football, so it should be 371 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: it should be one heck of a weekend. I'm looking 372 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: forward to it. Yeah, Town then one of the best 373 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: in the business, and obviously felt like this was the 374 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: right time to almost kind of simulated by a little 375 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: bit for his guys, for Roethlisberger. For what what, I'm 376 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: really intrigued about that matchup. There was a couple of things. One, 377 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: it seems to me that Pittsburgh, you know, James Conner 378 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: had dealt with injuries throughout the year, but it seems 379 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: like during the end of the season when he kind 380 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,400 Speaker 1: of slowed down a little bit, that's when the offense 381 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: sort of slowed down. I don't watch them weekend and 382 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 1: week out, so I can't give you a blow by blow, 383 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,480 Speaker 1: but that that did seem to be a parallel to me. 384 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,239 Speaker 1: So can they refine themselves? Can the defense get its 385 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 1: swagger back? And on the other side of the field 386 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: man for the first time in eighteen years? Coincidentally, the 387 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 1: team that they lost to Pittsburgh back in two thousand two, 388 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: they get a rematch with them now eighteen years later, 389 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: back in the postseason, and really again had kind of 390 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: a crossroads earlier this year and seemed to really have 391 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: found themselves. I think Baker Mayfield got his swagger back 392 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: to keep throwing that word out there. I like what 393 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: they've done with their backfield combinations. Obviously we know you 394 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: know J. C. Treader well, and how they've built up 395 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: that offensive line. So I think it's gonna be a 396 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: really competitive matchup. And again for Cleveland, this has been 397 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: the statement year you got back. That's awesome. Now, can 398 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: you win some football games and and show that you 399 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: know what this is a team that can be not 400 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,199 Speaker 1: only just a playoff contender, but can actually contend to 401 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: be in a Super Bowl. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, as I said, 402 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: it should be a fun weekend to watch some football. 403 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: I'm glad we get to kind of sit and relax 404 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:17,679 Speaker 1: for a couple of days and just take it all in. 405 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: We will have updates on Packers dot Com. As soon 406 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: as the Packers date and time and opponent and all 407 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: of that is known, that will be available on our website. 408 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: So with that, we'll call it a wrap on this 409 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of 410 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: our coverage of the team through the playoffs on packers 411 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: dot com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 412 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: See you next time.