1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford. He is my trusted colleague West 3 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: hod Koos. We're coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field, and I'm sure you're all tuning in 5 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: to listen to us talk about the Packers trades of 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: Ha Ha, Clinton, Dix in Time Montgomery. But you know what, West, 7 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: I'm throwing you a curveball because we haven't heard from 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: g M Brian gudacun store head coach Mike McCarthy at 9 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: the time we're taping this episode. We haven't gotten reaction 10 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: from the locker room, which we will get after Wednesday's practice. 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: So because I think the discussion of the trades will 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: be better after we get all of that, I want 13 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: to postpone that until tomorrow's show. So I want to 14 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: focus today's show on this opponent for the Green Bay 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: Packers Sunday Night football in Foxborough. It's the New England Patriots. 16 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: And I'll tell you what. These two teams only face 17 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: each other once every four years. Tom Brady and Aaron 18 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 1: Rodgers have faced each other only once. This is gonna 19 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: be a special game. It really is, and and uh, 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick was asked about that matchup, and in terms 21 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: of the best quarterback you know, games he's ever been 22 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:28,199 Speaker 1: a part of. He wasn't going to play the game 23 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: of like ranking it or saying where it fits. But 24 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: you can tell how much respect he has for Aaron Rodgers, 25 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: how much respect he has for Mike McCarthy, and really 26 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: respecting as a true historian of this game, given his 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: father's uh, you know ties to football as well, his 28 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: appreciation for what this ultimately is and how rare it is. 29 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: I made the analogy in inbox this week. It really 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: is an eclipse in the NFL of two of the 31 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: greatest forces of this generation of of football meeting and 32 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 1: they only cross path atsid only they only come into 33 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: each other's orbit every four years guaranteed. So for this 34 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: matchup to go out to Gillette Stadium, I don't know 35 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: if you saw the Lebron James and Lebron James with 36 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: the Michael Jordan's Yeah commercial. All that was missing from 37 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: that commercial was Lebron James. But even Hollow James played 38 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: it up to but yeah, they were the same number. 39 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: I think a lot of people consider them in this 40 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 1: right now, one A, one B in terms of the 41 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: greatest quarterbacks of this uh, of this current NFL. It's 42 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: gonna be fun to watch. Yeah, Well, I think back 43 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: to that game in at lambeau Field, West. I know 44 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 1: you were covering the team beat reporter for the Press 45 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: Gazette at that time. I personally felt that was one 46 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: of the best regular season games I've ever seen. It 47 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: was the best I've ever at lambeau Field. Um. When 48 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: you think about you had Durrell Reeves against Jordy Nelson, 49 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: you had Nate Soldier against Clay Matthews. You had obviously 50 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: Brady and Brady and Rogers. Unfortunately, it should have been 51 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: a preview of the Super Bowl that year. Unfortunately that 52 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: didn't happen. You had these two coaches, Mike McCarthy Bill 53 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: Belichick with Super Bowls on their resume. UM, and as 54 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 1: we all expected, it was a four quarter game, came 55 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: right down in the last couple of minutes. The Packers 56 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: end up pulling out a really, really big victory that 57 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: showed the type of team they had that season. But 58 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: here we are four years later in the New England Patriots. 59 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: About a month ago, we were hearing the usual thing 60 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: we hear about the Patriots once they lose a game 61 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: or two in September, that all Brady and Belichick they're 62 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: on the downside. It's not gonna happen, and the dynasty 63 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: is finally over. Well, since that lost to the Detroit Lions, 64 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: they actually lost two in a row. They lost the 65 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: rematch of the a f C Championship to the Jacksonville 66 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: Jaguars in Week two. Then they lost on the road 67 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: on Sunday Night Football at Ford Field to the Detroit Lions. 68 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: They were one and two. Well, all they've done is 69 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: rip off five wins in a row, one of them 70 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: a shootout forty to forty victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, 71 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: who many are considering the best team in the a 72 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: f C. Right now. The New England pay Chreots are 73 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: six and two right in the middle of all of this, 74 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 1: including a road win at Soldier Field over a Bears 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: team that gave them all they could handle. Yeah, and 76 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: the scary thing is too, is that Tom Brady is 77 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: getting back into his groove again. It looks like I mean, 78 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: there were a couple of turnovers early in the season, 79 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: but for the most part, you look at these last 80 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: three games he's played, um and I know there weren't 81 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: any touchdown passes against Buffalo, but they did what they 82 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 1: needed to do to win that game in some adverse 83 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: situations and circumstances. The fun thing about where the what 84 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I really appreciate about the Patriots is I'd say over 85 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: the last ten years there's probably three, maybe four times 86 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: where in September the national media tries to pick up 87 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: on that narrative. I remember there was a couple of 88 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: years ago, what was that, maybe three or four years 89 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: ago they're talking about, Is this that for Brady? Is 90 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: he finally finally going down? The attempts, the attempts to 91 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: bury this dynasty are are starting to pile up here 92 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: because it's it's been it's been attempted, and no one's 93 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 1: been successful. But then and then at the end of 94 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: the year, they're the FC represents end of it begin 95 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 1: more times than not in the Super Bowl. Uh, it's 96 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: a great matchup with the Packers for a number of reasons. 97 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: You look at the weapons that they have. I know 98 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick told the you know New England media this week, 99 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: you know he wants more depth at running back. Obviously, 100 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: Cordurel Patterson ended up being their running back on Monday Night. Uh, 101 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: Sony Michelle missing that game, James White giving them an option. 102 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 1: But I really do like to this point of the 103 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: season that one to punch, considering they lost Jeremy Hill 104 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: for the year, that Michelle and then with with James White, 105 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: we know what he's done for so long, and then 106 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: the weapons on the boundary. Uh, they went and got 107 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: Josh Gordon. I know there was some issues there this 108 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: week with him and potentially missing meetings reportedly, but there 109 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: are a lot of things that the Packers have to 110 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: take into account. But conversely, when you look at the 111 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: Packers weapons against this defense, there's potentially yards to be 112 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: gained there too. So I think this just has the 113 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: makings of what could be a really classic Aaron Rodgers 114 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: Tom Brady shoot up. Yeah. I I watched the most 115 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 1: I've watched the Patriots this year was the Packers around 116 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: the bye week, and that was when the Patriots went 117 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: to Soldier Field in Chicago to play the Bears. I 118 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 1: watched a good portion of that game, and what I 119 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: saw was a Patriots defense still kind of trying to 120 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: find itself. They really had trouble with Mitr Drobisky. They 121 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: didn't account for his scrambling Mitsch Drobisky running the ball 122 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: was really a key factor for the Bears in that game, 123 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, West the Bears very well could have 124 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 1: and maybe should have pulled that game out if not 125 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 1: for two special teams touchdowns by the Patriots. Cordorrell Patterson. 126 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: He can still do it in the return game, Canny man, 127 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: is he dangerous? He took one to the house against 128 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: Chicago that really started to turn that game around. And 129 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: then they were and then they blocked a punt that 130 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: they returned for a touchdown against the Bears. Chicago ends 131 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: up losing that game by seven. Hail Mary comes up 132 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: one yard short of the goal line. And uh, you know, 133 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 1: that was potentially a second NFC North team that that 134 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: could have beaten the New England Patriots. But um, what 135 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 1: I see is a defense that isn't quite up to 136 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: the standard we've seen of Belichief defenses so far, and uh, 137 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: and an offense that frankly, with the injury to Sony Michelle, 138 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: they're trying to, you know, figure some things out, and 139 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: they've had to deal with Rob Gronkowski missing some time 140 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: and all that. So it's not the it's not the 141 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 1: Patriots in the in the quote unquote sense of the word. 142 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: But they're still the Patriots. They are and in the 143 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: way that they're structured. I mean, you look at that 144 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: game against Kansas City, which for my money to this 145 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: point now eight weeks into the season, is still the 146 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: best game that was probably played this year. I watched 147 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: basically in an its entirety with Patrick Mahomes and the 148 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: shootout that they found themselves in against Brady. But the 149 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: thing that's interesting about Brady a lot like with Aaron Rodgers. 150 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: If you give him the ball with a minute, two 151 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: minutes on the clock and you're down six, you're you're tied, 152 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: He's going to give you a chance to win that game. 153 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: He just does. He's seen it, he's been a part 154 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: of all of it. And the nice thing for them 155 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: too is now they do you know, there's we know 156 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: the classic thing with Belichick and how he shuffles the roster, 157 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: but there is the core. There's in nucleus. There's Rob Gronkowski, 158 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: Julian Edelman, the guys that have been in the trenches 159 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: with him for so long. Their offensive line knowing the 160 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: way that Brady runs that offense and what they expect 161 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: out of it. The biggest question for me is the defense, 162 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: because although Matt Patricia did get the job with the 163 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: with the Lions, and deservedly so, he was one of 164 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: the hot coaching candidates after last season. I mean, they did, 165 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: I think have the twenty ninth rank defense last year 166 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: in the NFL. There were some things that they were 167 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: working through. To me, they still don't have that Chandler 168 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: Jones type difference maker as a pass rusher. I like 169 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: the pieces that they have in the secondary, but I 170 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: think they're just there're a couple of playmakers short right now, 171 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: trying to find some guys that you can consistently rely 172 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: on to generate pressure. So that's gonna be the biggest adjustment. 173 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: But to to the original point that you made, there's 174 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: still the Patriots and it's still Tom Brady. You have 175 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: to put up points and you have to be aware 176 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: of that in the last final stretch of the game. 177 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: With Brady and Belichick and the way that they can 178 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: play those situations, it's it's tough to counter. Sometimes. Yeah, 179 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: if there's a if there's a statistic that kind of 180 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: jumps out at me that that's hard to really figure out. 181 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: It's what you mentioned about the pass rush. Because the 182 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: Patriots have played eight games, their defense has only twelve 183 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: sacks in eight games. That's not a lot. That's on 184 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: pace for only twenty four for an entire season, which 185 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: is a pretty low number. The flip side of it is, though, 186 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: they have a forty plus year old quarterback who's only 187 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: been sacked eleven times in eight games, which tells you 188 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: obviously Tom Brady wouldn't be playing into his forties if 189 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,559 Speaker 1: he had been taking tons and tons of hits over 190 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: the years. So he knows how to shift in the pocket. 191 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,839 Speaker 1: He's not a scrambler, but he knows how to how 192 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: to maneuver in the pocket, get rid of the ball, 193 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: and protect himself and still make plays at the same time. 194 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: This is it's interesting because so much is predicated in 195 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: games these days west on pass rush and on disrupting 196 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: quarterbacks and everything like that. You look at the you 197 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: look at the statistics with the Patriots and their their 198 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: games have been you know about quarterbacks on both sides 199 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: not necessarily being that disrupted. So um, if the Packers 200 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: can change that narrative a little bit. Maybe that's maybe 201 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: that's where you find an edge. I think it is, 202 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: and it's just the thing that stands out to me. Again, 203 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to paint this picture that the Patriots 204 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: can't affect Rogers and they can't do things to play 205 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: winning football. Certainly they can. They wouldn't be at this 206 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,560 Speaker 1: point in the season if they couldn't. But it's just 207 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 1: that they don't have an Aaron Donald and the Dominican 208 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: Sue type interior rusher. You don't really have the outside rushers. 209 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: To me, the best embodiment of that was when Chandler 210 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: Jones was there, and certainly they ended up trading him 211 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: to Arizona and he's gone on to have a really 212 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,319 Speaker 1: successful career there. But that's the one thing that, like, 213 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: I mean, we gotta remember that James Harrison started in 214 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl for them last year as an edge rusher. 215 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: So I'm just really interested to see what this defense 216 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: looks like when you put it up against Aaron Rodgers, 217 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,439 Speaker 1: because you wrote about it with One Last Look and 218 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: some of these things that we've talked about the ways 219 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,679 Speaker 1: you have to defend him, the things that teams do, certainly, 220 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick is going to be aware of that and 221 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: how they need to, you know, contain him. But at 222 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: the same time he always has that counter move to 223 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: that as well. So that's the thing I'm excited about. 224 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick was effusive in his praise of McCarthy and 225 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: Rogers and seeing that chess match playoff, considering it's only 226 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: the second time we're getting it due to his I 227 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: believe it was the concussion in two. Yeah, Rogers had 228 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,200 Speaker 1: the concussion in Detroit the week before, and then it 229 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 1: was Matt Flynn on Sunday Night Football as a matter 230 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: of fact, against against Tom Brady. It's a great storyline 231 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: to watch. Um quickly though West here at Homer, here 232 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: in the stands. We all know that Green Bay fans 233 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: give it their all and that takes a lot of energy. 234 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 1: So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's 235 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. Try 236 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your local 237 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup, official soup partner 238 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, you mentioned the chess 239 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: match to me. When you talk about the matchups in 240 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: this game. What really intrigues me in terms of what 241 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 1: Mike Petton is going to do, and I honestly don't 242 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 1: know what his decision is going to be. But we 243 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: saw last week in Los Angeles that with the Packers 244 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: having their full compliment of cornerbacks healthy, they can cover 245 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: pretty well on the back end against a pretty explosive offense. 246 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: But here's the thing to me, the difficult matchups with 247 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: the New England Patriots. And I'm taking nothing away from 248 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 1: Chris Hogan Julian Edelman, top quality wide receivers, but it's 249 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: James White and Rob Gronkowski that become the really intriguing 250 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: matchups soon because you can't just take a cover guy, 251 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: you know, a cover corner at least not for the 252 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: bulk of the game, and put a corner on those 253 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: types of guys, because then not only are there some 254 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: certain matchup problems just within that itself, but then you're 255 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: way too vulnerable to the run because you're just you're 256 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: just too light up front to be able to stop 257 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,560 Speaker 1: the run if you flood the market with cornerbacks, so 258 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: to speak. So how Mike Petton decides to defend Rob 259 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: Gronkowski and James White. I think is is the crux 260 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: of this whole chess match. I agree with specifically to White, 261 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: because you know, Gronkowski has had to work through some injuries, 262 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 1: he's been quiet in certain strap just but White has 263 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: been really the constant for them since the first month 264 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: of the season. And I know, like I got, like 265 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: I mentioned early on with Belichick, they want to have options. 266 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: He loves to play matchup football. We've seen how they've 267 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: used those running backs in the past. He doesn't want 268 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: the opposing defensive coordinator to know who the weapons are 269 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: going to be, outside of what maybe Corey Dillon, uh, 270 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: you know, ten twelve years ago when they had him 271 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,680 Speaker 1: and he was a yard rusher. Otherwise, it's very largely 272 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,800 Speaker 1: based on whoever the hot hand is and who they 273 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: feel is gonna be the best matchup. That being said, 274 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: White is sort of evergreen and towards him how you 275 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: can use him, especially now in the NFL, So I 276 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: actually think it's been somewhat a positive for them that 277 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you don't want to lose Jeremy Hill for 278 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:42,560 Speaker 1: the year. You don't want to be in a situation 279 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: where guys are going down. But it has allowed White 280 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: to get more consistent playing time to have him become 281 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: more part of the offense. The guy's the leading receiver, Michael. 282 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: I mean, he's what fifty five catches. Gronk is next 283 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: with twenty nine. He is the guy that helps move 284 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: the chains for them consistently. And when you look at 285 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: Tom Brady in you know, you mentioned the offensive line 286 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:02,959 Speaker 1: and a huge credit to them and the way they've 287 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: adjusted over the last few years to be you know, 288 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,839 Speaker 1: developing a new front for him. It ultimately is on 289 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:09,679 Speaker 1: Tom Brady to get the ball all quickly when he's 290 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: forty one years old, to keep himself upright, and James 291 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: White is often the safety valve towards accomplishing that and 292 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: also dynamic once he gets the ball in his hands. Yeah, 293 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: and from the Packers side, I want to bring up 294 00:14:19,480 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: that game again because that one at lambeau Field. We 295 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: saw Mike McCarthy get very creative in that game with 296 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb and the way that he was used. That 297 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 1: game was a coming out party of sorts for a 298 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: rookie receiver named Davante Adams. Um what happened? So okay, Yeah, 299 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: so I'm really curious offensively, what the Packers are going 300 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: to do here because we've seen, you know, there is 301 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: a rookie receiver Marquez Veldez Scantling who's really starting to 302 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: come on here for the Packers. Does Mike McCarthy look 303 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: for a matchup with mvs against somebody in that New 304 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: England secondary like he did with Davante Adams, to try 305 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: to take advantage of to to to high light, so 306 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: to speak. Um So, a lot of a lot of 307 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 1: different things going on here. Obviously, the Packers, you know, 308 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: Davante Adams is going to be in that Jordy Nelson role, 309 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: but they don't have Darrell Rivas on the other side. 310 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: Nelson may obviously made a huge play against Darrell Revas 311 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: right at the end of the first half there. So 312 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: Adams is still going to have to do his thing. 313 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: But but it it is, it's it's it's the chess match. 314 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: It's finding those matchups, it's scheming things to get certain 315 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: guys one on one against certain guys. And that's what 316 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: both of these coaches are really really good. And if 317 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: you're going to beat the New England Patriots, you need 318 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: secondary players to emerge. Davantae Adams was that guy in 319 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: that two thousand four team matchup. I believe that was 320 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: his first career hundred yard game six catches for yards. Belichick, 321 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: when he was talking to the media or with the 322 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: Green Bay media on the conference call, said simply, yeah, 323 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: he killed us, and it was because they locked in 324 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: on Jordy Nelson and that allowed, you know, Randall cob 325 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: to have some opportunities to have Davantae Adams have a 326 00:15:57,160 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: breakthrough game. The Packers are going to need that again 327 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: in the matchup because now Davante Adams is the Jordy 328 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: Nelson threat in this offense. You're gonna need your Marquez 329 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: Valdes Scantlings to step up. You're gonna need to be 330 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: able to be creative with Randall cop with Jimmy Graham. Packers, 331 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: with getting healthier on the offensive side of the ball, 332 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 1: have their weapons wide open now, and that's where Mike 333 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: McCarthy can really get to work and making sure that 334 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: they maximize those and keeping the defense on its heels. Yeah. 335 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 1: All right, Well, you and I have some press conferences 336 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 1: to get to, so I think we're gonna sign off, 337 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: and I promise folks we will get to those trades 338 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: and all of that discussion on tomorrow's show, I will 339 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: mention this to give somebody to to what the palet 340 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: a little bit um and and certainly we'll talk about 341 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 1: the ramifications of the trades. If you go back to 342 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: two thousand and fourteen game, though, it was a heavy 343 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: dose of Eddie Lacy in that backfield. I'm not saying 344 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: that that's what it's gonna be with Aaron Jones, but 345 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: I do think if you're able to get in a 346 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: groove with a guy, especially now with just being Jones 347 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 1: and Jamal Williams in that backfield, could really help them 348 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: in terms of establishing the offense and allowing Aaron Rodgers 349 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: to really go to work. Yeah, you get them to 350 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: focus on the run. That's where the creativity with some 351 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: of the other perimeter players comes into play. Eddie Lacy 352 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: was so important in that game. I know he didn't 353 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 1: have a fifty sixty yard run, but he just he 354 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: was the guy that kept moving the chains for them. 355 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: They fed him in that game, and I think that 356 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: could be an opportunity for Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams 357 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: really shining this matchup. All right, Well, we will sign 358 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: off now because we've got a run on this edition 359 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our 360 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 1: coverage of the team on Packers dot com on Twitter, 361 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: He's at west hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers 362 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll 363 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: see you next time.