WEBVTT - #569 Packers Unscripted: Digging in on Detroit 0:00:00.720 --> 0:00:14.480 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:14.480 --> 0:00:17.800 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 0:00:17.840 --> 0:00:22.000 by my partner in crime, Western Hodquits were coming to 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:27.960 hear from separate rooms at lambeau Field and West PM. 0:00:27.960 --> 0:00:30.720 A game that was flex to the late afternoon time slot. 0:00:30.720 --> 0:00:35.040 It will be Packers Lions on Sunday from Ford Field 0:00:35.479 --> 0:00:37.959 in Detroit. One thing that I've had a hard time 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:40.080 keeping track of, so I'm gonna start the show by 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:44.360 throwing this at us. The Detroit Lions have been shuffling 0:00:44.400 --> 0:00:47.400 around their offensive weapons, running backs, wide receivers and what 0:00:47.440 --> 0:00:49.720 not due to injury throughout the year. Can you give 0:00:49.800 --> 0:00:55.640 us the latest on exactly where Matthew Stafford's collection his 0:00:55.720 --> 0:00:59.240 supporting cast stands here heading into Sunday. Yeah, it's really 0:00:59.280 --> 0:01:01.480 interesting when you get down because it seems like no 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:04.200 matter what year it is, there's always some difference. There's 0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:07.640 always a change with the backfield. And this year everybody 0:01:07.640 --> 0:01:10.480 just figured, Okay, DeAndre Swift, he's the draft pick. They're 0:01:10.480 --> 0:01:13.560 gonna run with this guy, and unfortunately he's had some injuries. Well, 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:15.960 then lo and behold, it's not Carrie on Johnson. It's 0:01:16.000 --> 0:01:18.039 not some of these other running backs that have come through. 0:01:18.040 --> 0:01:21.120 It's Adrian Peterson, of all people, has emerged as his 0:01:21.160 --> 0:01:23.240 primary running back. Now we got to see what Swift's 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:25.200 availability is going to be this week. He was limited 0:01:25.200 --> 0:01:28.720 on practice on Wednesday, so maybe he's back in the 0:01:28.720 --> 0:01:31.839 cards of former high school teammate of Packers rookie guard 0:01:32.000 --> 0:01:35.280 John Runyon. But if not, Adrian Peterson has been the 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:37.320 guy in the backfield for Detroit. And it's funny that 0:01:37.360 --> 0:01:39.920 it works out like this too, because it was was 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:42.480 talking with Jerry Montgomery, the Packers defensive line coach on 0:01:42.520 --> 0:01:44.520 Wednesday night. He even said, he's like, if you look 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:46.480 at him, he looks like he has juice. Again. He 0:01:46.520 --> 0:01:47.880 looks like, if you didn't know, you would think he 0:01:47.920 --> 0:01:49.760 was a second or third year player in this league 0:01:50.080 --> 0:01:52.880 just based on the way he's running. But the other 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:56.240 aspect of this is the the skill position players for Detroit, 0:01:56.720 --> 0:01:59.720 and this year you've seen t. J. Hockenson really become, 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:04.200 uh the number one target, the big receiver, reliable player 0:02:04.280 --> 0:02:06.680 in this Detroit Lions offense amidst all the injuries with 0:02:06.760 --> 0:02:08.600 Kenny Galladay, who at the time in which we're taping 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:11.200 this still as yet to practice. And then obviously Marvin 0:02:11.280 --> 0:02:15.040 Jones Jr. Daniel Mendola. There are weapons there on the perimeter, 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:18.280 but it's really Ben Hockinson, the former first round pick 0:02:18.360 --> 0:02:20.360 that has emerged is really the big playmaker in this 0:02:20.400 --> 0:02:24.560 offense from Matthew Stafford. Yeah, Hockinson definitely seems to have 0:02:24.560 --> 0:02:26.919 have come on here in his second season, a former 0:02:26.960 --> 0:02:31.640 top ten draft pick, and this offense, the passing offense 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:34.720 definitely looks different without Kenny Golladay out there. And he's 0:02:34.720 --> 0:02:36.680 been out for quite a while now for the Lions. 0:02:36.760 --> 0:02:41.239 He's he's been he was developing into such a reliable 0:02:41.320 --> 0:02:43.919 deep threat for Matthew Stafford, the guy who could take 0:02:44.000 --> 0:02:46.120 the top off the defense. Now we'll have to see 0:02:46.400 --> 0:02:48.440 if Detroit is going to get him back on Sunday 0:02:48.720 --> 0:02:50.800 or by the end of the season, but that offense 0:02:50.840 --> 0:02:54.000 has definitely missed him. Going back to Peterson, though, I 0:02:54.080 --> 0:02:55.919 tell you, if you just if you just turn on 0:02:56.000 --> 0:02:59.120 the film of that game winning touchdown at Soldier Field 0:02:59.200 --> 0:03:00.960 last week when he ran it in from about the 0:03:01.000 --> 0:03:03.800 five yard line, that really did look like the Adrian 0:03:03.840 --> 0:03:06.760 Peterson of old. That was like the high knees the 0:03:06.840 --> 0:03:09.560 power like you know, get out of my way kind 0:03:09.600 --> 0:03:12.960 of Adrian Peterson run that gave gave the Lions that 0:03:13.040 --> 0:03:18.200 big victory in Chicago. So well with regard to this, uh, 0:03:18.320 --> 0:03:20.880 this Lions offense, Let's get right into the keys to 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:24.320 victory for the Packers on the defensive side. What's it 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:27.600 going to take? What are the keys for Green Bay 0:03:27.639 --> 0:03:31.040 to notch win number ten in Detroit on Sunday? It 0:03:31.080 --> 0:03:33.480 starts with Matthew Stafford. And I think when you look 0:03:33.520 --> 0:03:35.760 at the ups and downs that Detroit has had this season, 0:03:35.800 --> 0:03:37.960 a lot of it is tied into how Stafford has 0:03:38.000 --> 0:03:39.640 played and if he's been able to get them out 0:03:39.640 --> 0:03:42.440 of certain predicaments. I think, but you know, Daryl Bevel 0:03:42.520 --> 0:03:45.560 taking over this offense now, obviously a guy with former 0:03:45.600 --> 0:03:50.440 ties not only to the Packers but also University of Wisconsin. UM, 0:03:50.480 --> 0:03:52.440 there seems to be a little bit more energy now 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.960 that typically does happen with with inter raim coaches. But 0:03:55.080 --> 0:03:58.000 last week, if that's any indication, they were not afraid 0:03:58.040 --> 0:04:01.160 to sling the ball and and Stayford has the capability 0:04:01.160 --> 0:04:03.400 at any given time to go off for fourner and 0:04:03.400 --> 0:04:06.200 two passing yards like he did last week, and the 0:04:06.240 --> 0:04:08.480 other aspect of this too is how quickly he gets 0:04:08.480 --> 0:04:10.840 the ball out green Bay. You know when when you 0:04:10.840 --> 0:04:13.000 face these type of quarterbacks that that are kind of 0:04:13.000 --> 0:04:15.680 those quick gun slingers, uh, that that can generate a 0:04:15.680 --> 0:04:17.760 lot of power, a lot of speed at at a 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:20.040 short time frame. Green Bay has had trouble with them 0:04:20.040 --> 0:04:22.360 in the past. We talked about, you know, Drew Brees 0:04:22.440 --> 0:04:24.640 and Philip Rivers. And it's not just the current incarnation 0:04:24.680 --> 0:04:26.799 of this defense, it's going back to the Dom Caper's 0:04:26.800 --> 0:04:30.080 era too. So being able to pressure Stafford, being able 0:04:30.120 --> 0:04:32.000 to get the ball out quickly and probably generate a 0:04:32.080 --> 0:04:34.440 turnover two I think is critical in this because, like 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:37.160 I mentioned before, whether it's Hawkinson who has put up 0:04:37.160 --> 0:04:38.960 a lot of yards recently, but it's actually been five 0:04:39.000 --> 0:04:42.039 or six weeks since he's had a touchdown. Marvin Jones Jr. 0:04:42.080 --> 0:04:44.640 You know the history of him between with the Packers 0:04:44.640 --> 0:04:47.000 over the last four or five years. Um, there are 0:04:47.040 --> 0:04:49.120 guys that that definitely can still hurt you, and and 0:04:49.279 --> 0:04:51.880 packers need to be aware of that and make sure that, 0:04:52.320 --> 0:04:55.120 um they don't allow Stafford to get comfortable. They had 0:04:55.120 --> 0:04:57.160 seven sacks last week. You got to keep that pressure 0:04:57.200 --> 0:05:00.200 up this week. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, you know, we know 0:05:00.360 --> 0:05:02.719 we've seen Matthew Stafford plenty over the years, and I 0:05:02.760 --> 0:05:04.640 have a lot of respect for him as a quarterback. 0:05:04.960 --> 0:05:07.000 But if there's the one way that you can get 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:09.920 him off his game, it is to put pressure on him, 0:05:09.920 --> 0:05:13.159 because he becomes a risk taker. When he's under pressure. 0:05:13.160 --> 0:05:14.880 He will try to force things, he will try to 0:05:14.920 --> 0:05:18.360 make things happen. And sometimes he makes some incredible throws 0:05:18.480 --> 0:05:21.039 and some great plays that you know, your your jaw 0:05:21.120 --> 0:05:24.320 kind of hits the floor. Other times he pays for 0:05:24.400 --> 0:05:26.880 taking those risks and and they come back to bite him. 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:29.200 And that's why he's, you know, throwing the number of 0:05:29.200 --> 0:05:31.360 interceptions that he has in his career because he likes 0:05:31.400 --> 0:05:33.760 to take chances, and so you you get him to 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:37.279 take chances by putting him under duress, especially in third 0:05:37.320 --> 0:05:39.960 down situations. So the other thing I would say with 0:05:39.960 --> 0:05:43.440 regard to the Packers defense, anytime you face Matthew Stafford, 0:05:43.440 --> 0:05:46.320 you have to be ready to play four quarters. And 0:05:46.680 --> 0:05:50.640 just ask the Chicago Bears. Stafford put together a nineties 0:05:50.640 --> 0:05:54.000 six yard touchdown drive with less than four minutes to 0:05:54.040 --> 0:05:56.680 go last week at Soldier Field to start that comeback 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:59.120 for the Lions to come back and beat the Bears. 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:02.440 Matthew staff for just never considers himself out of a game. 0:06:02.520 --> 0:06:05.760 He's always he's going to come at you for four quarters. 0:06:05.800 --> 0:06:08.920 And and we've seen the Packer defense. You know, yes, 0:06:08.960 --> 0:06:10.880 they were up big, and we had talked about all that, 0:06:10.920 --> 0:06:13.480 but there were a couple of letdowns in the in 0:06:13.520 --> 0:06:16.039 the Bears game late there was the letdown on the 0:06:16.080 --> 0:06:18.839 fourth and eight teen against the Eagles. Those are the 0:06:18.920 --> 0:06:22.479 kinds of the setbacks in the fourth quarter that you 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:26.200 can't afford to have those against Matthew Stafford because because 0:06:26.240 --> 0:06:28.480 then that is what gets him going and gets him 0:06:28.480 --> 0:06:30.400 in a rhythm, and then and you know, the next thing, 0:06:30.440 --> 0:06:32.120 you know, you're back is against the wall trying to 0:06:32.160 --> 0:06:34.440 stop him from getting the game winning touched down. Yeah, 0:06:34.440 --> 0:06:36.600 it is a very interesting thing that the Packers find 0:06:36.600 --> 0:06:39.040 themselves in a situation that they find themselves in right 0:06:39.040 --> 0:06:41.279 now because there have been those lapses. But at the 0:06:41.320 --> 0:06:44.000 same time, you know, the pass rush generating as much 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:46.920 pressure as they did early on in that game, responding 0:06:46.960 --> 0:06:49.520 at an appropriate time to where you look at it, 0:06:49.560 --> 0:06:51.360 and Philadelphia is able to get down to the thirty 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:53.080 yard line. There I believe was in the first half 0:06:53.240 --> 0:06:55.080 they get back to back sacks and force them to 0:06:55.160 --> 0:06:57.880 end up hunting. Darniell Savage has three picks in the 0:06:57.960 --> 0:07:00.760 last two games. They have the trio of a your Alexander, 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:04.080 Kevin King and Shandon Sullivan all available now, which is 0:07:04.120 --> 0:07:06.120 you know, they had to do some juggling. So there's 0:07:06.120 --> 0:07:10.080 been these really stark differences between when Greenby's offense or 0:07:10.080 --> 0:07:12.960 defense has really looked dominant in moments where they they've 0:07:12.960 --> 0:07:16.560 had difficulty getting those stops, particularly on third down. So 0:07:17.400 --> 0:07:19.520 that's where Stafford is gonna challenge you, and honestly, that's 0:07:19.520 --> 0:07:21.560 also where Peterson is gonna challenge the Packers. Can't be 0:07:21.640 --> 0:07:24.160 in a lot of third and short situations. That's been 0:07:24.200 --> 0:07:25.920 a bad recipe for them this year. That's been a 0:07:25.920 --> 0:07:28.160 bad formula. You look at their statistics when it's third 0:07:28.200 --> 0:07:30.600 and six, third and seven and on. They've actually performed 0:07:30.640 --> 0:07:33.480 pretty uh, you know, pretty well this season throughout the 0:07:33.480 --> 0:07:35.040 course of the year. But it's in those third and 0:07:35.160 --> 0:07:37.600 three unless where they've had a hard time kind of 0:07:37.600 --> 0:07:39.720 holding the fort. But you look at the performance Dean 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:43.000 Lawry had last week. Kenny clark Um the the inside 0:07:43.000 --> 0:07:45.520 linebackers I think get more comfortable as they've gotten healthier, 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:49.000 and also the infusion of Rashawn Gary in to this defense. 0:07:49.240 --> 0:07:51.920 You're seeing what this group is going to look like 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.440 down the stretch and potentially what the pieces are going 0:07:54.480 --> 0:07:56.640 to be in place for a postseason run. King's Leakiki 0:07:56.680 --> 0:07:59.680 having another two sack performance last week, But you need 0:07:59.720 --> 0:08:02.400 to dring it together consistently, so that starts with the 0:08:02.480 --> 0:08:04.400 run game and making sure that Adrian Peterson is held 0:08:04.400 --> 0:08:07.120 in check, and beyond that, not allowing Matthew Stafford to 0:08:07.160 --> 0:08:09.960 make those big connections downfield. Yeah, you mentioned the third 0:08:10.000 --> 0:08:12.160 and long. I think statistically, if you look at third 0:08:12.160 --> 0:08:14.360 and seven plus, the Packers had one rough game in 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:17.800 that category this year, was that Indianapolis. But even including 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:20.520 that third and seven plus, the Packers are are one 0:08:20.560 --> 0:08:23.000 of the top, if not the top defense in the 0:08:23.120 --> 0:08:25.640 NFL in terms of in terms of getting those those 0:08:25.680 --> 0:08:28.720 third down stops. So on the offensive side of the ball, 0:08:29.280 --> 0:08:32.439 this is the highest scoring offense in the NFL and 0:08:32.480 --> 0:08:35.760 the Green Bay Packers against one of the highest scoring 0:08:35.880 --> 0:08:38.840 defenses in the NFL. That Detroit has really struggled on 0:08:38.840 --> 0:08:41.200 the defensive side of the ball and when I see 0:08:41.240 --> 0:08:45.160 that big a disparity heading into a matchup like this, 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:47.480 the first thing that always comes to my mind is 0:08:47.640 --> 0:08:50.840 then just protect the football. Because the way the way 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:54.959 this Detroit Lions defense, you know, can swing the game 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:58.000 and to and to get Green Bay out of its 0:08:58.040 --> 0:09:00.360 own rhythm offensively is to turn the ball over. The 0:09:00.360 --> 0:09:02.840 Packers have to protect the football, and I think if 0:09:02.840 --> 0:09:05.640 they do that, West, I think this Packers offense should 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:07.480 be able to score enough points to win this game 0:09:07.520 --> 0:09:09.760 at Ford Field. Yeah. And and then the second there 0:09:09.880 --> 0:09:11.720 has just been such an issue for them this season, 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:14.240 the Lions that is, and and you know Darius Slay 0:09:14.280 --> 0:09:16.719 there there for so many years they're shutdown cornerback, while 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:19.080 as we saw last week, now he's with the Philadelphia Eagles. 0:09:19.600 --> 0:09:21.760 And you know, Jeff Akuda was supposed to be the 0:09:21.760 --> 0:09:23.680 guy that's gonna be the one picking up that torch. 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:25.840 He's had his own struggles this year and now dealing 0:09:25.880 --> 0:09:28.760 with the shoulder injury. He didn't practice on Wednesday. So 0:09:28.800 --> 0:09:32.040 there's just been a lot of different maschinations of this defense. 0:09:32.360 --> 0:09:35.480 You know, Tray Flowers that signing hasn't in that same offseason, 0:09:35.480 --> 0:09:37.960 and the Packers got the Smiths. The trade Flowers signing 0:09:37.960 --> 0:09:41.400 hasn't really been the same productive tool in terms of 0:09:41.400 --> 0:09:44.120 pass rush that that the that the Lions wanted, and 0:09:44.160 --> 0:09:47.560 he's dealt with injuries now too, So Green Bays standpoint is, 0:09:47.559 --> 0:09:49.280 you just got to focus on what's in front of 0:09:49.280 --> 0:09:53.000 you here. Davante Adams is on a historic streak. He 0:09:53.040 --> 0:09:55.800 has an opportunity to break a tie right now with 0:09:55.920 --> 0:09:58.440 Don Hudson before I even tell you what that's for. 0:09:58.600 --> 0:10:01.200 Anytime you're talking about break a tie with Don Hudson, 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:05.720 you're talking about all time great streaks here in Packers history. 0:10:06.000 --> 0:10:08.800 He's looking for his eighth receiving touchdown and consecutive game, 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:11.120 which would be a franchise record. He's already over a 0:10:11.160 --> 0:10:13.840 thousand yards of this season. With all the questions that 0:10:13.920 --> 0:10:15.800 Detroit has in the secondary, and a lot of these 0:10:15.800 --> 0:10:18.480 same questions lingered in Week two as well, I just 0:10:18.520 --> 0:10:20.960 think that this is a game where Aaron Rodgers really shines. 0:10:21.240 --> 0:10:24.360 The Packers offensive line has allowed thirteen sacks this season 0:10:24.400 --> 0:10:27.480 through twelve games, on pace for the fewest during Rogers 0:10:27.480 --> 0:10:30.320 tenure as a starting quarterback. You give him time, you 0:10:30.360 --> 0:10:32.920 get the running game going, you start off fast and 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:36.280 continue that streak of really powerful second quarter performances. The 0:10:36.320 --> 0:10:39.040 Packers are outscoring their opposition two to one in the 0:10:39.040 --> 0:10:41.600 second quarter this season. I just think there are so 0:10:41.640 --> 0:10:44.960 many different snowballs that could really build up for Green Bay. 0:10:45.400 --> 0:10:47.680 But before we get away with just canning them that 0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:50.240 tenth win of the season, Davante Adams, a lot of 0:10:50.240 --> 0:10:53.160 these guys talked about it. They've been in some knockdown 0:10:53.240 --> 0:10:56.520 drag wars in Detroit here over the last five years. 0:10:56.679 --> 0:10:59.480 Doesn't matter what the what the records say, doesn't even 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:02.559 matter what that The situation is. They've had to find 0:11:02.559 --> 0:11:05.440 ways to win these games late. So you have to 0:11:05.440 --> 0:11:08.160 be ready to play that type of ballgame, especially for 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.120 a Lions team that you know, seems to have a 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:12.920 little bit more pepping at step with Daryl Bevo running things. Yeah, 0:11:13.000 --> 0:11:16.360 Matt Lafleur has has simply been pointing to his three 0:11:16.440 --> 0:11:19.120 games thus far as the head coach of the Packers 0:11:19.160 --> 0:11:21.840 against the Lions in terms of in terms of what 0:11:21.880 --> 0:11:23.480 the Packers have had to deal with. It had to 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:26.720 come from behind every time, even in what turned into 0:11:26.760 --> 0:11:29.720 a runaway victory in Week two earlier this year, the 0:11:29.720 --> 0:11:32.240 Packers were down fourteen to three after the first quarter. 0:11:32.280 --> 0:11:34.360 The offense, you know, was starting a little bit slow, 0:11:34.440 --> 0:11:37.120 the defense was starting slow and uh and you had 0:11:37.240 --> 0:11:39.360 you had to rally there. And we all know last 0:11:39.440 --> 0:11:42.600 year the Packers never had the lead with any time 0:11:42.640 --> 0:11:45.200 on the clock in either of those games, kicking a 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:48.520 walk off field goal to UH to emerge victorious in 0:11:48.559 --> 0:11:51.320 both of the matchups with the Lions in twenty nineteen. 0:11:51.400 --> 0:11:54.720 So I'll throw in another note with regard to the 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:58.079 Davante Adams streak you mentioned. He's tied right now with 0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:01.360 Don Hudson for a touchdown reset option in seven straight games. 0:12:01.559 --> 0:12:04.680 There are only two other players in franchise history who 0:12:04.720 --> 0:12:08.720 have a touchdown rushing or receiving in seven consecutive games, 0:12:08.760 --> 0:12:11.040 which is the team record, and you're talking about amand 0:12:11.120 --> 0:12:16.240 Green and Paul Hornig and Hudson obviously, So Davante Adams, 0:12:16.240 --> 0:12:18.880 now tied with all those guys, could could put himself 0:12:18.880 --> 0:12:21.720 in first place on that list. And I've got a 0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:24.800 bunch of other, you know, potential milestones for Davante Adams 0:12:24.800 --> 0:12:27.760 and Aaron Rodgers that I posted on on our website 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:30.200 in a story on on Wednesday evening. So if you 0:12:30.200 --> 0:12:32.000 want to check that out a lot of things to 0:12:32.080 --> 0:12:34.840 follow here over the last four games of the regular 0:12:34.880 --> 0:12:38.920 season for for these two offensive superstars for Green Bay. Yeah, 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:40.920 and and and if you throw on robertsani in the 0:12:40.960 --> 0:12:43.240 street that he's on and I touched on an insider 0:12:43.280 --> 0:12:45.880 inbox on Thursday, the fact that you know he's a 0:12:45.920 --> 0:12:50.079 few touchdowns away now from matching Paul Kaufman's franchise record 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:52.200 for touchdowns in a season by tight end that's thirty 0:12:52.240 --> 0:12:54.560 seven years old. There are so many different things, and 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:56.480 that's how you know you're having a special season when 0:12:56.480 --> 0:12:59.480 those type of accolades start to mount up and really 0:12:59.520 --> 0:13:02.120 start to come to the forefront of things. Rogers, there's 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:04.640 still a number of marks that he's chasing this season, 0:13:04.679 --> 0:13:06.840 in addition to now I believe being the only quarterback 0:13:06.920 --> 0:13:10.200 with five seasons of at least thirty five touchdown passes. 0:13:10.640 --> 0:13:14.000 Just some incredible marks and Mike, before we pivot over 0:13:14.040 --> 0:13:16.520 to some of these matchups this weekend, one off the 0:13:16.520 --> 0:13:19.320 field mark that the Packers also added Corey Linsley, this 0:13:19.440 --> 0:13:23.079 year's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Congratulations to 0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:26.000 uh to Corey, him and his wife Anna. They have 0:13:26.040 --> 0:13:29.120 done some fantastic work in the community over the last 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:30.880 few years. And if you look at the list of 0:13:30.880 --> 0:13:32.839 guys who have been up for that award in the 0:13:32.920 --> 0:13:36.640 last six season, some really high character, high value people, 0:13:37.040 --> 0:13:38.840 and uh, Corey gets at his name to that list 0:13:38.880 --> 0:13:43.480 as well. Yeah, absolutely, congratulations to Corey and and his wife. Unfortunately, 0:13:43.520 --> 0:13:46.000 Corey on injured reserve right now. The Packers hoping to 0:13:46.040 --> 0:13:48.439 get him back before the end of the season and 0:13:48.880 --> 0:13:51.080 uh and get him back in action. But uh, but 0:13:51.160 --> 0:13:53.839 certainly that that's you know that Walter Payton Man of 0:13:53.880 --> 0:13:56.439 the Year. Every team nominates one and then the league 0:13:56.480 --> 0:13:59.959 selects uh some finalists and then one winner when it's 0:14:00.000 --> 0:14:02.240 all said and done. But even within an individual team, 0:14:02.280 --> 0:14:04.400 if if there's an off the field award that that 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:06.960 the players really do pay attention to it, it's that one. 0:14:07.000 --> 0:14:10.920 And and hats off to uh to Lindsley there um well. 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:13.840 With regard to the rest of the slate in the 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:17.720 NFL in Week fourteen and how it impacts the Packers, 0:14:18.520 --> 0:14:22.080 the official scenario is this, the Packers can clinch the 0:14:22.160 --> 0:14:25.240 NFC North with a victory and with a loss by 0:14:25.240 --> 0:14:29.240 the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers also can clinch a playoff 0:14:29.280 --> 0:14:33.360 spot with a victory and either a loss by the Rams, 0:14:33.560 --> 0:14:37.840 a lost by the Cardinals, or strangely enough, a victory 0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:40.600 by the Seattle Seahawks. Now, I have not figured out 0:14:41.160 --> 0:14:43.920 exactly where that I mean, and I don't like to 0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:46.200 admit when I can't figure the stuff out West, You 0:14:46.240 --> 0:14:49.280 know that, Like I dig into the numbers, and I 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:52.560 I haven't had the time nor the energy to really 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:55.600 try to understand how a Packers win and a Seahawks 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:59.920 win actually clinches a playoff spot for the Jets. Jets. 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:02.960 It has something to do obviously with that NFC West 0:15:03.000 --> 0:15:05.640 and those three teams that are bunched so closely in 0:15:05.840 --> 0:15:09.080 in in the NFC West. But anyway, I would still 0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:11.880 in my path the playoffs. I'm not advising Packers fans 0:15:11.920 --> 0:15:14.560 to root for the Seahawks to win, because we're going 0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:17.000 to be talking about the seeding positions. I think in 0:15:17.040 --> 0:15:19.480 the playoffs and the Seahawks getting losses is what's going 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:22.400 to help the Packers with the with the seeding of things. 0:15:22.440 --> 0:15:26.720 But with that, we'll start with right away the Thursday 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:30.200 night game. The Patriots are at the Rams. The Rams 0:15:30.240 --> 0:15:34.120 looking to keep the pressure on those Seattle Seahawks in 0:15:34.280 --> 0:15:37.280 the race for the for the NFC West title. So 0:15:37.360 --> 0:15:39.960 that one has an impact on on Green Bay right 0:15:39.960 --> 0:15:43.120 away here Thursday night. Yeah, it's typically I'll be honest 0:15:43.160 --> 0:15:46.000 with you, Thursday evenings if I'm not writing or working 0:15:46.080 --> 0:15:49.160 or taking care of my son, I personally just like 0:15:49.240 --> 0:15:51.120 to kind of get away from football those nights. This 0:15:51.160 --> 0:15:53.320 one will be a point in viewing for me, though. 0:15:53.360 --> 0:15:55.560 I think you're looking at two teams that, while their 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:58.640 records do seem different, they're both chasing a very similar 0:15:58.640 --> 0:16:00.880 goal and they've gone about it the same way. Um. 0:16:00.960 --> 0:16:02.840 The Patriots have been up and down, there's no question 0:16:02.840 --> 0:16:04.120 about it. But I think when you look at the 0:16:04.120 --> 0:16:07.200 way they've sort of overachieved in some people's eyes this year, 0:16:07.480 --> 0:16:10.320 it's it's pretty underrated what they've been able to accomplish 0:16:10.360 --> 0:16:12.160 and in being able to at least get to this spot. 0:16:12.520 --> 0:16:14.560 I know there's some even some overtures right now out 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:16.840 of the New England area that Bill Belichick should be 0:16:16.920 --> 0:16:18.680 up for Coach of the Year. Too bad, that guy 0:16:18.760 --> 0:16:21.400 never gets enough credit for what he does in the league. Um, 0:16:21.440 --> 0:16:23.800 But looking at the rams side of things, this is 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:26.840 a critical game. You're seeing them right there, not only 0:16:26.920 --> 0:16:29.520 just for this, you know, the playoff spot, trying to 0:16:29.520 --> 0:16:31.320 get back in the postseason, but they're in the running 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:33.360 now for a division title if they can make this 0:16:33.400 --> 0:16:35.680 thing happen in a tough opponent that they have to 0:16:35.680 --> 0:16:38.040 go up against, in a New England Patriots team that 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:40.600 I thought last week really proved this isn't just about 0:16:40.600 --> 0:16:43.920 passing anymore. They can win in a lot of different ways. Yeah. Well, 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:46.480 as far as the games on Sunday in the NFC 0:16:46.640 --> 0:16:51.080 that will affect Green Bay and its playoffs standing, Minnesota 0:16:51.160 --> 0:16:54.560 is at Tampa Bay. Um obviously the Vikings trying to 0:16:54.960 --> 0:16:57.240 trying to stay alive in the division race, but also 0:16:57.400 --> 0:17:00.000 in the wild card race in general in the NFC 0:17:00.040 --> 0:17:03.000 S and Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay, as far as the 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:05.280 NFC South is concerned, is kind of in the same 0:17:05.320 --> 0:17:08.960 position as Minnesota. The Buccaneers are three games behind the 0:17:09.000 --> 0:17:11.800 New Orleans Saints with four left to play, so their 0:17:12.119 --> 0:17:14.399 chances for the division title don't look good, but the 0:17:14.440 --> 0:17:17.240 Buccaneers wanting to be right in that wild card race 0:17:17.280 --> 0:17:19.919 as well. You have Arizona at the New York Giants. 0:17:19.920 --> 0:17:23.000 I mentioned an Arizona loss, would you know potentially help 0:17:23.400 --> 0:17:26.440 Green Bay clinch a playoffs spot. The Giants a team 0:17:26.440 --> 0:17:28.600 on the rise right now. They're looking to get rook 0:17:28.760 --> 0:17:32.399 that not rookie but second year quarterback Daniel Jones uh 0:17:32.880 --> 0:17:35.720 back from injury, and uh the Giants looking to try 0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:40.120 to win that NFC East And then late afternoon Sunday 0:17:40.160 --> 0:17:42.560 going on at the same time as Packers Lions will 0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:46.200 be the Saints at the Eagles. The Eagles going with 0:17:46.320 --> 0:17:49.240 Jalen Hurts. It's been announced that that Carson Wentz will 0:17:49.280 --> 0:17:53.040 be on the bench and the young quarterback for Philadelphia 0:17:53.080 --> 0:17:57.000 will get his first NFL start. And UH, the Saints 0:17:57.080 --> 0:17:59.120 right now with the top record in the NFC one 0:17:59.160 --> 0:18:01.760 game ahead of the green Bay Packers, the Packers hoping 0:18:01.800 --> 0:18:03.840 to get a win, have the Saints get a loss, 0:18:03.880 --> 0:18:06.080 and then green Bay would be tied for that top 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:09.320 spot and have the head to head tiebreaker over New Orleans. Yeah, 0:18:09.359 --> 0:18:11.399 if green Bay can keep that to a two team 0:18:11.520 --> 0:18:14.480 race here down the stretch, that works to their advantage. 0:18:14.680 --> 0:18:17.040 This the thing that you look at these the way 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:18.800 this lays out right now in the NFC, there are 0:18:18.800 --> 0:18:21.560 two very different paths right now. If not no pun 0:18:21.600 --> 0:18:23.760 intended to your pass to the playoffs, but you have 0:18:23.840 --> 0:18:25.520 Green Bay. You want to talk about why it's so 0:18:25.560 --> 0:18:28.800 important on December tenth, the time we're taking taping this 0:18:29.040 --> 0:18:31.199 to be at nine wins, just look at how the 0:18:31.240 --> 0:18:33.320 rest of the NFC is sort of shaped out right now. 0:18:33.320 --> 0:18:35.960 There is a handful of teams between five and seven 0:18:36.040 --> 0:18:38.560 victories right now, you talk about Minnesota and Tampa Bay 0:18:38.640 --> 0:18:40.359 that very well could end up being for a playoff 0:18:40.440 --> 0:18:42.600 spot for one of those teams. Because you have Detroit 0:18:42.680 --> 0:18:44.640 that's still in the thick of this thing, even though 0:18:44.800 --> 0:18:47.399 weird as that says, You have Washington had five wins, 0:18:47.440 --> 0:18:50.000 you have New York Giants at five wins. There are 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:52.400 teams here that can work themselves back into a playoff 0:18:52.440 --> 0:18:54.480 picture here because of the seven seeds and the fact 0:18:54.560 --> 0:18:58.040 that nine wins quite possibly could get you into the 0:18:58.040 --> 0:19:01.280