1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spoffer, joined by my 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: trusted colleague Weston Hodkowitz, were coming to you here from 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: our studios at lambeau Field here to talk about a 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: Packers victory West and an impressive one on the defensive 6 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: side of the ball, a sevent team to nothing shut 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: out at lambeau Field of the Seattle Seahawks. And we've 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: been talking all season long about how this defense, the 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: arrow keeps pointing up, the unit just keeps ascending, and 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: in some ways you don't know how much further you 11 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: could have ascended. After a really impressive performance, although in 12 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: a loss in Kansas City against Patrick Mahomes, but this 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: defense topped itself once again. I can't believe that stat 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: I saw afterwards. I wish I could give proper credit 15 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: to the first person to point this out. Is a 16 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: stat though, that Kyler Murray trick Mahomes and then having 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: Russell Wilson three Elite Pro Bowl All Pro type players 18 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: and the Packers held those three guys to one passing 19 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: touchdown in those matchups. I mean, it was one of 20 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,120 Speaker 1: those deals where I know some people at halftime when 21 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: I made a remark about how this is the first 22 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: time the Packers have shut out an opponent in the 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: first half, dating back to that game against Buffalo and eighteen, 24 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: which also ended up being the last shutout, and some 25 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: people are like, don't say anything, You're gonna jinxit, YadA, YadA, YadA. 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: I'll tell you what, Mike, this is one of the 27 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: first times I think I can remember on the beat 28 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: where I don't think there was any worry of a jinx. 29 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: I don't think there was any worry of a let 30 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 1: up the Packers. The way they were playing, the confidence 31 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: in which they were playing, with the speed and tenacity 32 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 1: that they were playing with. Defensively, they were the best 33 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: unit on the field once again, not just for the Packers, 34 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: but either team. And it's been that way now for 35 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: a number of weeks. And to have the injuries and 36 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: the losses, and we'll talk about some of that here shortly, 37 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: with the some of the more hits the defense took, 38 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: they still keep moving forward in their ranked third right 39 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: now in total yards and scoring uh and really looking 40 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: like the unit the Packers need them to be to 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 1: make a championship run. Yeah. Absolutely, And it was funny. 42 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: I was for those of you who don't entirely understand 43 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: our game day process. During the game, while things are 44 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: going on, Wes is writing what we call the quarter 45 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: by quarter updates on the website. I am doing the 46 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: live blog as the game gets towards the end, and 47 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: West is writing the fourth quarter update. I am getting 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: ready to write a TOPP or what we call the 49 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: top to your quarter by quarter updates that we can 50 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 1: post right when the game ends of the final score 51 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: and statistics and whatnot. My whole point of explaining this 52 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 1: is that I was following live on g S. I 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: s the total yards for the Seattle Seahawks in the game. 54 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: On that final desperation drive, they just crossed over two 55 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: hundred yards. Then Preston Smith gets a fourteen yard sack 56 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: and drops them below two hundred yards, and it was 57 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: looking like it would be a one ninety something game. 58 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: But then they get a sixteen yard pass on the 59 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: fourth and forever, so they barely get over two d 60 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: total yards on the last play of the game. And 61 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: that just that just speaks volumes to what this Packers 62 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: defense was doing. And the crux of it really was 63 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: what turned this from a solid defensive performance into a 64 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: great one. Were the two interceptions in the second half. 65 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,119 Speaker 1: It's three to nothing and Russell Wilson makes an ill 66 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: advised third down throw in the red zone to the 67 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: end zone and Kevin King gets the interception there. And 68 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: then when the Seahawks are in a little bit more 69 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: of a desperation mode that tend to nothing, he tries 70 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: to take a deep shot into double coverage to lock it. 71 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: Adrian Amos gets that interception on the deep ball in 72 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: the end zone. Those two turnovers, really, then is what 73 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: allowed the Packers to stretch this out and take away 74 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: any drama of what was looking like it could be 75 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: a down to the wire game when it was just 76 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: three nothing at halftime. Well, and to tell you the 77 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: strength of this defense in addition just the mental fortitude 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 1: and to be able to rally the way they have 79 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: around each other. It's a fact that we talked about 80 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: in the preseason. They have playmakers at all three levels, 81 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: and with the installation of Davandre campbellt inside linebacker, there 82 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: really isn't a weak spot right now for this defense. 83 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: And you know, you look at a guy like Adriannams, 84 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: I just feel like He's the one that's sort of 85 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: really epitomizes this entire unit. He's an unheralded, rather spaff 86 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: soft spoken individual that is just so darn consistent. I 87 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: even think about that pass again, it's in garbage time, 88 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: but they were in that zone concept the prevent defense there. 89 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: I think it was to lock it. He was trying, 90 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: Wilson was trying to hit along the sidelines, and Adrian 91 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: Name is covering basically half the field, comes over right 92 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: by the pylon and breaks up a past that otherwise 93 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: might have been the touchdown. Uh. Not a big play 94 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: in terms of the grand scheme of things in victory, 95 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: but that's what kept Seahawks off the board. That's what 96 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: kept those numbers close to yards of offense him in 97 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 1: in the talent of Darnell Savage on the back end, 98 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: the way the umbrella of that thing. Uh, that's been 99 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: a big lynch pin here for this defense. But even 100 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: before that, you know, I made this comment in inbox, Mike. 101 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:11,919 Speaker 1: I don't know what you thought about it, but Preston 102 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: Smith gets that sixteen yard sack. I think it was 103 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: it was this huge fourteen yards late in the game. 104 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: I understand that that's a garbage time type sack. But 105 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,119 Speaker 1: the way Preston Smith played that entire type of that game, 106 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: he really didn't have the statistics to really show the 107 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: impact that he had made, the pressure that he had generated, 108 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: some of the other plays that he helped create. That's 109 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: the thing about this year's defense. There's not gonna be 110 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: a lot of guys where you look at the cornerbacks 111 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: and be like, Okay, who's the stud right now. It's 112 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: not gonna be a lot of Okay, where's the all Pro. 113 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: It's just eleven guys when they're on the field playing 114 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 1: as one, and it has the Packers with you know, 115 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: their best defense right now statistically in a decade. Yeah, 116 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: I think it's interesting because because I had made a 117 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: point of this an insider inbox as well, when you 118 00:05:55,560 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: talk about the sort of those steady influences, the understated 119 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: you know, not the raw, raw guys, but but the 120 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: leaders on this team to the defensive captains here are 121 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: Adrian Amos and Kenny Clark. And you won't find two 122 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: guys who at the same time can be so valuable 123 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: to what their unit is doing, but in a lot 124 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: of ways get so little recognition for it, and they 125 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: also don't really care necessarily about getting that recognition, and 126 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: I think that that says a lot about them. And 127 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: and as as I said an inbox, that's not to 128 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: take anything away from the larger personalities like as a 129 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: Darius Smith or j Alexander who has also been they've 130 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: also been captains on this defense. And I'm not trying 131 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: to to disparage their way of going about things at all. 132 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,359 Speaker 1: But with those two guys in particular, Amos and Clark 133 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: both being captains on this particular defense, and the way 134 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: these guys are are are going about things, UM really 135 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: stands out to me. This team now wes for the 136 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: season eighteen points per game allowed, which as you said, 137 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: I think is third in the league. Now since Week one, 138 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: the thirty eight to three loss to New Orleans, since 139 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: week one, it's fifteen point eight points per game. That's 140 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: just remarkable. What um, what this group is doing. And 141 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: now they will have some additional challenges. You just mentioned 142 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: the type of game Preston Smith had and and then 143 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: capping it off with a sack to get something big 144 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: in the statistical column. Well, the pass rush here, Whitney Merciless, 145 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: it looks like a very significant injury to his biceps, 146 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: and then Rashawn Gary also leaving the game with an 147 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: elbow injury. There's still some evaluation going on there. We'll 148 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: see what what ultimately the deal is with Gary's injury, 149 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: but this pass rush is going to be relying even 150 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: more on Preston Smith than it already has here going forward, 151 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: and Jonathan Garvin too. You know the second rounder, excuse me, 152 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: the second year player was the seventh rounder last year 153 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: and a young man that is still only twenty two 154 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: years old and has had to really grow up quickly 155 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: in this defense. It's after being a healthy scratch for 156 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: half the season last year, he's suddenly been thrust in 157 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: a rotational role. That's the way this thing has gone. 158 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: What hurts the most about there's a couple of reasons 159 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: that the merciless injury hurts that game, especially with some 160 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: of the injuries they were dealing with on the defensive line. 161 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: That game was the first time, Mike, that you and 162 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: I have seen and maybe over a month, maybe two months, 163 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: where the Packers started running their dime with three outside 164 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: linebackers again, they were using Preston Smith, they were using 165 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: Rashawn Gary as down three tech linemen or using Garry 166 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: as a rover. They got away from that because they 167 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: just didn't have the bodies for it. But Merciless, the 168 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: way he was playing, enabled them to get back in 169 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: those packages. It sounds, and Merciless had lined up inside 170 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: on on an occasion as well, a lot of versatility 171 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: there and that was sort of that spot they were 172 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: missing without Zadarius Smith. That was a role that he 173 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: had played before his back injury. And the thing that 174 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: hurts the most is I felt like I tweeted this 175 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: as I was leaving the building on Monday. Merciless really 176 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 1: felt like that Eric Walden signing for this defense, he 177 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: felt like it was, okay, you need help, but outside Rusher, 178 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 1: here's a guy that can can bring something. And he 179 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: seemed like he was a really steady locker room guy. 180 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 1: We only got to talk to him once, but obviously 181 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: you hear what people say about him down in Houston. 182 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: He's a you know, admirable, you know, type of locker 183 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: room dude. And for that injury, and as soon as 184 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: you and I saw it, Mike, and when you see 185 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: him curled up like that, and then you understand it's 186 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: the biceps. We've seen enough of those type injuries. Your 187 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: your your stomach kind of drops a little bit. The 188 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: hope would be based on the reports we've seen so 189 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: far as that the Packers might have avoided a big 190 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 1: injury with Rashawn Gary. Got to see all that shuffles 191 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: out yet. But the fact is is that Gary has 192 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: been such an integral part of this defense. He's leading 193 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: them in sacks right now. This season, he's gotten the 194 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: uptick in playing time and he's really responded with those snaps. 195 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: The Packers need him and you know, knock on wood 196 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: at some point maybe the next two months, Saidarius Smith 197 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: is back in the fold. Two. Yeah, we'll have to 198 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 1: see how that goes. Rashaan Gary with five and a 199 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: half sacks, I believe on the season, which is hops 200 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: on the team. So before we shift gears to the 201 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: offense west some sponsor business Serious x M NFL Radio 202 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL 203 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: news that true football fanatics need two seven, three six 204 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: and at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like 205 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac and cheese, golden fries and 206 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub 207 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: in a bowl. Cousins subs. We believe in better. All right. Offensively, 208 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: the Packers did indeed get quarterback Aaron Rodgers back off 209 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 1: of the COVID list, and he played despite not having 210 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: essentially practiced for the previous two weeks. Um and give 211 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 1: some credit to Seattle's defense, that's uh, that's no slouch 212 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: of unit, especially when it comes to uh to what 213 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: that group does in the red zone. But the Packers 214 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: were having some trouble finding their footing on offense. A 215 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: missed field goal early that took some points off the board. 216 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: But this offense, as we had talked about last week, 217 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: it went through the running backs Aaron Jones, A J. Dillon, 218 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 1: combining for more than two hundred rushing and receiving yards, 219 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 1: adding up those yards from scrimmage. But now things could 220 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: shift in at least for the next game or two. 221 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: Most likely are going to shift even more heavily to 222 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,440 Speaker 1: A J. Dillon because Aaron Jones is now out with 223 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: a knee injury, though it sounds like it's only going 224 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: to be a short absent. Yeah, and that's you know, 225 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: as Metal even said on Monday, you know, the hope 226 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: is they avoided you know, kind of a you know, 227 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: a bullet there, Aaron Jones, you saw it. I understand 228 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: his rushing yards where they're at right now. But in 229 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: terms of the pass catching, you saw it. With those 230 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: two catches he had over the span of three plays, 231 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: bolt him over twenty yard explosives. The way he can 232 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: energize this offense with his play style, what he can 233 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 1: create when he's in space, it's incredible. A J. Dillon 234 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: For a guy who was kind of maligned a little 235 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: bit as a pass catcher coming out of Boston College, 236 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of that was just due 237 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: to the fact he didn't really do it and this 238 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: their system. What a revelation this guy has been. I 239 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 1: mean that fifty yard or the reason that was so impressive. 240 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: It wasn't like he had to make He's made better 241 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: catches over the course of the year. But to throw 242 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: an underneath pass to a running back and have that 243 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: running back turned it into a fifty yard game down 244 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: the sideline of making three guys miss or breaking their tackles, 245 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: breaking their will. Uh that that was a huge play. 246 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: You saw how amped up Davante Adam Scott after it, 247 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: given the big shove to him after the play. This 248 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: young guys come a long way, and the Packers knew 249 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: that this was going to be a part of his 250 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: maturation process. When you lose Jamal Williams, someone that was 251 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: as steady as they go at the running back position, 252 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 1: they knew they were going to need A. J. Dillon 253 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: to step up. It wasn't gonna be carries a game 254 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: with Aaron Jones, and I think he's done that in 255 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: an exceptional way. And you'll also give credit to Aaron 256 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: Rodgers too. I mean it was his first game back, 257 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: you know, as mattal Floor pointed out, he hadn't really 258 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:57,120 Speaker 1: practice at all in two weeks, not only because of 259 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:59,080 Speaker 1: the COVID week, but then also the week before that 260 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: they were on the short you know schedule going up 261 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: against Arizona, so they really never even practice. It was 262 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: just all walk through type stuff. So Rogers managed the 263 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: situation and when they needed big explosive plays down the stretch, 264 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: as Rogers said, all three of them were compliments and 265 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: courtesy of A J. Dillon. Yeah, absolutely, what I liked 266 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: what I like best about this game, And I mentioned 267 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: this also an inbox because whether you're talking about the 268 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 1: score being three to nothing after three quarters or the 269 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: score being twenty four after three quarters. What I liked 270 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: about this game is when your offense can put together 271 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: two drives and score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, 272 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: and your defense doesn't give in and gets a second 273 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: turnover and simply doesn't allow the opponent to ever generate 274 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: any kind of momentum. Whatever the score is after three quarters, 275 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,760 Speaker 1: you play like that in the fourth quarter on both 276 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: sides of the ball, You're gonna win a lot of 277 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: football games in this league. And that's something as much 278 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: as as much as those first three quarters offensively, it 279 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: was it was frust rating. The Packers had some opportunities 280 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: to score, mistakes were made, things didn't go their way. 281 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: They finished this game the way you want to finish 282 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: any football game, regardless of what the score is going 283 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: into the fourth quarter. And I think that bodes well 284 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 1: here as we're starting to hit, you know, getting closer 285 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: and closer to what we could call the home stretch 286 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: with Thanksgiving and the Packers by week now just around 287 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: the corner. Well, and you know, and and O b J. 288 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: Made his decision right he went to the Los Angeles Rams. 289 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: It is what it is there isn't gonna be this big, 290 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: you know, type of hero coming over the mountain. That's 291 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: gonna just add even more plays in this offense. The Packers, 292 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: if they're going to get where they want to offensively, 293 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: it needs to be the young guys. It needs to 294 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: be guys stepping up. A J. Dillen has been a 295 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,080 Speaker 1: big part of that. I think he's probably been the 296 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: most improved player. I think would be easy for everyone 297 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: to say in his second year here, with this offense 298 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: and with Aaron Jones being gone here for a minute, 299 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: this is gonna be a big test for him, not 300 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: only against you know, this upcoming opponent in Minnesota with 301 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: all the challenges that Mike Zimmer defense presents, but also 302 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: historic really one of the best defenses in the league, 303 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: and the Los Angeles Rams over the last three or 304 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: four years they're gonna have to battle as well. So 305 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: I think the exciting aspect of this is you do 306 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: hope you're getting Aaron Jones back, and obviously you hope 307 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: that you know that's going to happen in December when 308 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: you really want to get the run game going. But 309 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: this is the trial by fire that I think A. J. 310 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: Dillon really needs and see if, okay, can this guy 311 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: be the every down back we needed to because with 312 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: all due respect to Patrick Taylor, that was his first 313 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: NFL carries on Sunday. So I got the ball twice 314 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: there in the in the fourth quarter, giving Dilon a 315 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: little bit of a break. Yeah, you want to get 316 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: the you know, more backs involved, but realistically this is 317 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 1: going to be a one back offense you would think 318 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: for a couple of weeks here. Yeah. Absolutely. The The 319 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:41,880 Speaker 1: one thing that will be interesting to see to me, 320 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: sort of one of those little earth things that that 321 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: people can forget about is that with Aaron Jones being 322 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: out and a J. Dillon now taking the Lions, share 323 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: the snaps at running back that pass protection in the backfield. 324 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that A J. Dillon isn't any good 325 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: at it, That's not my point. Aaron Jones has become 326 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: exception as a pass blocking pass protecting running back with 327 00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: the Blitz pickups and the communication and everything like that. 328 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: That's uh, that's something that that will be worth watching 329 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: here with a J. Dillon because that's going to be 330 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 1: another area where as big as strides as we've seen 331 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: him making year two, he can take even more strides 332 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: in that area because we saw what Aaron Jones has 333 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: done over the first you know, three or four years 334 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: of his career to get to where he is now. 335 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: Big picture in the NFC, well, first, with regard to 336 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: the Division, the Packers stay three and a half games 337 00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: ahead of the Minnesota Vikings, and we'll talk more about 338 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: the Vikings on our next show with the trip to 339 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 1: Minneapolis coming up here next weekend. But as far as 340 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,000 Speaker 1: the top of the NFC, the Packers are right back there. Suddenly, 341 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: West one week after losing a game, losing your quarterback 342 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: and losing a game and all that, Green Bay has 343 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: eight into Arizona takes its second loss, not having its 344 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: quarterback against Carolina. Cardinals and Packers both eaten two. Packers 345 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: obviously have the head to head there Dallas a half 346 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: game back at seven and two. The Rams took their 347 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: third loss of the season on Monday Night Football. They 348 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 1: lose on the road at San Francisco, and in division 349 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:16,199 Speaker 1: game out West, the Rams are seven and three, and 350 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: suddenly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are six and three, having 351 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: lost two games on either side of their bye week. 352 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: They lose to New Orleans. Going into the by, they 353 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: come out of their by and lose at Washington. So, um, 354 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: it's all right out there for Green Bay right now. 355 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: The Lass at the Lass at Kansas City. We talked 356 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 1: about it, you know, in some respects it was a 357 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: missed opportunity considering all those results, the other results that 358 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: had happened um last week. While the Packers got some 359 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 1: more results in their favor this week, and they got 360 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 1: the win over the Seahawks and uh and and they 361 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:51,639 Speaker 1: vaulted themselves right back up where they want to be. 362 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: These seventeen games are not about who is the best 363 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: team in the NFL. It's about who's the most consistent team, 364 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: Who's gonna be the one that earns that first round 365 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: by Who's going to be the team proves that we 366 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: deserve to be considered the upper echelon entering the playoffs. 367 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: And the way I look at it right now, Mike, 368 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: as the Packers got four more division games, both of 369 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: which against the Minnesota Vikings they still have yet to 370 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: play this season. You win those, you run that table, 371 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: and then you kind of let those other chips fall 372 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: where they may with the remainder your nonconference stuff. And 373 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: then also this matchup coming up against the Rams that 374 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: puts you in the dance. And these next couple of weeks, 375 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: the Packers take care of business against the Vikings again, 376 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,199 Speaker 1: a team that we're going to talk about scares the 377 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: living daylights out of me, a team that cannot be overlooked, 378 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: a team that has been in every single one of 379 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 1: the nine games that's played so far, a team that 380 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: is a team that is four and five and is 381 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 1: just a whisker here. They're away from potentially being seven 382 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 1: and two, but it's real, but it's consistency. And the 383 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers at eight and two, have been an 384 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: incredibly consistent football team, despite the injuries, despite the potential distractions, 385 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 1: despite all that, and it has put them in a 386 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: position now to to be able to really claim the 387 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: top of this conference. It's gonna be a really exciting 388 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: final seven games of this season, and obviously it starts 389 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: on Sunday against the the Vikings in US Bank Stadium. Yeah, 390 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: the Packers will have an opportunity to go four and 391 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: a half up on the Vikings with only six to play. 392 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,439 Speaker 1: That would be considered the catbird seat if I'm allowed 393 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: to use the old cliche. But we'll talk more about 394 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: that on our next show. For now, we'll call it 395 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,440 Speaker 1: a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 396 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team. We've 397 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: got stuff for you every single day on packers dot 398 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. 399 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time.