1 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted in 2 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four. A happy new year out there from 3 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 4 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague Weston Hodkowitz. Coming to you hear 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: from our studios at Lambeufield and West here to talk 6 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 1: about a big victory for the Green Bay Packers. It 7 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: came on Sunday Night football at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. 8 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: Thirty three to ten was the final score over the Vikings. 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: And the bottom line is this. The Packers have gotten 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: themselves to eight and eight. They are in a position 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: where it is win to get in to the postseason. 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: And when this team was two and five, when this 13 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: team was three and six, when this team was six 14 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 1: and eight, this situation is the best you could possibly 15 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: ask for. That the Packers got themselves back in the race, 16 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: they got the help they needed, and now it's in 17 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: their hands. 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 2: I was looking over the Internet before I popped in 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: here to shoot on scripted. We do that sometimes from 20 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 2: time to time, as my former colleague Pete Doherty say, 21 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: I'm going to read the Internet for a minute, and 22 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: what I saw was NFL bringing up the graphic of 23 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: the AFC playoff picture and the NFC playoff picture and 24 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,279 Speaker 2: to see the green Bay Packers back into that number 25 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: seven spot after everything they went through. I think Matt 26 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 2: Lafleur had some very poetic words after that win over 27 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,279 Speaker 2: the Carolina Panthers in the locker room. He mentioned how 28 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: they all count the same and you have to keep 29 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: yourself alive. Green Bay did. That was not their best 30 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,279 Speaker 2: performance in Carolina, but conversely to some of their poorer 31 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: performances this season, they got the win and how quickly 32 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: things can change over a one week span of time. 33 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: They going into US Bank Stadium and Michael if I 34 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: would have closed my eyes at several moments of that game, 35 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: other than the fact that there was tons of fans 36 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 2: around me with the open air press box, in some 37 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: ways almost felt like a game at lambeau Field. Yeah, 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: the energy in there after the first quarter, The way 39 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 2: the Packers performed probably pound for pound, the best game 40 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: Green Bay has played this season. It was not perfect, 41 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: but when you look at how efficient the offense was 42 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 2: fourner and seventy yards, you look at the defense getting 43 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 2: two takeaways in the first half and converting those into 44 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: thirteen points. I felt like the Green Bay Packers made 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 2: a statement that we are very much still alive in 46 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: this thing, and with getting a little bit of help 47 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: from the Pittsburgh Steelers, now are in control their own destiny. Yeah. 48 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: It truly is a week to week league, and that 49 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: just gets proven over and over again. As you said, 50 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: everybody was wondering, Okay, just where is this Packers team? 51 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: The offense is doing all right, but the defense seems 52 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: kind of shaky. You barely escape Carolina, the team that 53 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: would have the number one draft pick next season if 54 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: not for the fact that they already traded it to 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: the Bears. And then, as we talked about last week, 56 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: you're thinking the Rams and the Buccaneers are the two 57 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: teams really on the rise here in the end, and 58 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: the Buccaneers completely fall flat in a big division game 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: for them, and the Rams nearly get beat on the 60 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,839 Speaker 1: road against a Giants team, a Giants team that beat 61 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: the Packers about a month ago, and and the Rams 62 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: would have lost that game if a former Packers kicker, 63 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: Mason Crosby had been able to make a kick, or 64 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: if the Giants could have just gotten him a little 65 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: bit closer instead, of leaving him with a fifty four yarder. 66 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:29,360 Speaker 1: But all that aside, this game against the Vikings really, 67 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: for me, it just it showed that Jordan Love is 68 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: not done taking steps forward. I thought he, you know, 69 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: for the venue, you know, primetime, under the lights, what 70 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: was at stake for the Packers. I thought Jordan Love 71 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: was absolutely outstanding in this game. I mean he still, yes, 72 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: he had a couple of throws he would like to 73 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: have back, you always do, but one hundred and twenty 74 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: five passer rating, three touchdowns. I believe now his passer 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: rating over the last seven games is approaching one hundred 76 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: and ten. It's like one away or one o nine, 77 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: something like that. And he was absolutely masterful in this game. 78 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: And actually, my what you might have Missed piece that 79 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: is now up on the Packers' website has a handful 80 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: of clips of just of how Jordan Love was getting 81 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: all the information you needed at the line of scrimmage, 82 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: getting you know, the right protection calls and everything to 83 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: set everything up for the Packers to succeed. And it 84 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: just it felt like maybe other than you know, the 85 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: missed fourth and one throw to bow Melton, which was 86 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: really really close, it felt like after the initial three 87 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: and out in this game, the Packers offense was just 88 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: in a rhythm and wasn't going to be stopped. 89 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's funny even that Melton play. I mean, 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 2: he had a little bit of pass rush in his face, 91 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 2: kind of an off platform throw, and after that happened, 92 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 2: I was sort of thinking to myself and it was funny. 93 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 2: In the locker room after its bow, Melton was lamenting 94 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 2: the fact that he still didn't catch that he felt 95 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: like he still could have gotten that ball. 96 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I thought. I thought that was one where yes, 97 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: the throw could have been better, it also could have 98 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: been caught. You know, it was. It was one of 99 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: those that kind of goes both ways. 100 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, But what I was thinking about efforts, I'm like, 101 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: you watch an average NFL game, and I watched a 102 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: lot of football this weekend while waiting for this one 103 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: quarterback play doesn't look as efficient on a week two 104 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: week basis as Jordan Love made it look in that 105 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: much pressure in Minnesota, both figuratively and literally. 106 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 107 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, he saw a lot in this game, and yet 108 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: he made the throws he needed to make, and he 109 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 2: did it routinely. It's not a situation now where well, 110 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: there's too many incompletions or why is he throwing these 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 2: deep balls? It's starting to turn into more Oh wow, 112 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:38,720 Speaker 2: how many consecutive completions were there? How many plays has 113 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: he made? And particularly you know, I wrote that story 114 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 2: last week about the goal to goal situations and the 115 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: way that he commands the line of scrimmage when there's 116 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 2: points on the line is probably something that I think 117 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: has really impressed me this year. Him having thirty touchdown 118 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: passes thirty four scores on the season. That's not an anomaly. 119 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 2: This guy knows how to put points on the board. 120 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: And in a game like this against the Minnesota Vikings, 121 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 2: who were starting a rookie fifth round pick at quarterback, 122 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 2: Jordan Love really did look like the veteran and his 123 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 2: team played like that. 124 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think I think Love's touchdown pass total is 125 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: now up to like third in the league, you know, 126 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: right now. There's a lot to be said for that. 127 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: And what's impressed me the most about Love as well 128 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: when you look at how things have gone the last 129 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: couple of months, is he is making it work no 130 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: matter who is out there. The Packers have had injuries 131 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: at the perimeter positions running back, tight end, wide receiver 132 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 1: all throughout the season, and there were a lot of 133 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: struggles early. But now that Jordan Love has hit his 134 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: stride and really gotten this offense into a groove, you know, 135 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: it didn't matter that Dontavian Wicks was a late scratch. 136 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: You know, they were hoping maybe he'd be available, but 137 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: then he wasn't. You know, Christian Watson's been out for 138 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 1: multiple weeks now. Jaden Reid has been in and out 139 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: of the lineup with injuries. Luke Musgrave the Packers are 140 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: still maybe hoping to get him back, but he's not 141 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: back yet. It hasn't mattered because Jordan Love makes it 142 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: work with whoever whoever's out there. Read before he had 143 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: to leave the game at halftime with what appears to 144 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: be kind of a recurrence of the chest injury or 145 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: something got reaggravated there. He catches two touchdowns. He breaks 146 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: Sterling Sharp's rookie record for receptions, a record that had 147 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: stood around here for thirty five years. Bo Melton thrice 148 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: elevated now from the practice squad to the active roster, 149 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: and now he's been signed to the active roster. He 150 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 1: becomes the first Packers receiver with a one hundred yard game, 151 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: catches the deep shot from Sean Clifford at the end 152 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: there to get over one hundred, and then the little 153 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: engine that could, so to speak, as we talked about 154 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,679 Speaker 1: last week, Aaron Jones is in the backfield, just crank 155 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 1: it out yards one hundred and twenty rushing yards again. 156 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: The Packers went into the game in Carolina with not 157 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: a single one hundred yard rushing or one hundred yard 158 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: receiving performance this season, and now in the last two 159 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: games they have three of them. Jones has been over 160 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: one hundred yards rushing twice and now Melton goes over 161 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: one hundred yards receiving. The guys that are around Jordan 162 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: Love have elevated their games right along with Loves. In Jones' case, 163 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 1: it was a matter of getting healthy. We've seen Aaron 164 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: Jones do all this before. But all those other guys, 165 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: their games are you know, their arrows are pointing up 166 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: the same way. Jordan Loves is well. 167 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: And just like I wrote a story because spoiler alert, 168 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 2: the tight Ends are going to be featured on the 169 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: Game Day program on Sunday. I wrote this story on 170 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: Josiah Deguara and the tight Ends and you know Tucker 171 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 2: Kraft everything he's done over three hundred yards receiving now 172 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: in the season, two touchdowns that all happened, and really 173 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 2: this whole second half of the season too, since you 174 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 2: know Luke Musgrave got hurt and believe that was the 175 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: Chargers game right at the last rated kidney. And now 176 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 2: you suddenly have the stat that Tom Fanning from our 177 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 2: communications staff was pumping out about how Craft is now 178 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 2: what the seventh rookie tight end since nineteen seventy to 179 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: have four straight games of forty four plus catches and 180 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: forty five plus receiving yards. Yeah, I mean, just uncommon production, Mike. 181 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: You don't always get that from NFL tight ends period, 182 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 2: regardless of whether or not you're a rookie. But bringing 183 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 2: it back to your initial point there, one, if you're 184 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 2: gonna be down all these receivers, if you're gonna be 185 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: down all these playmakers, Aaron Jones is the guy you need, 186 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: and he's been that guy back to back games. First time. 187 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 2: He's had one hundred plus rushing yards and back to 188 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,080 Speaker 2: back games since the end of the twenty nineteen season. 189 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: The offense just typically isn't structured like that, but they've 190 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: needed to feed Jones the last couple of weeks, and 191 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 2: they did it again on Sunday. Aj Dillon has to 192 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: go out with the stinger. That meant more Aaron Jones 193 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: late in the four minute offense situations. I thought he 194 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 2: thrived in that. But the last thing before I turn 195 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: it back over to you is bow Melton. Because I've 196 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: written about it, I've talked about it. I know you 197 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 2: and I have had discussions about this. I have so 198 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 2: much respect for this young man and you saw the 199 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 2: way he carried himself when he came in the building 200 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 2: line last year, just looking for an opportunity. Really super 201 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 2: quick guy, little bit undersized, right, but kind of in 202 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 2: that same sort of area as Jaden Reid in terms 203 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 2: of his measurables. He doesn't make the roster. The Packers 204 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 2: do draft three receivers. A lot of questions there about okay, well, 205 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 2: where exactly a you're going to fit into this thing? 206 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: Right? 207 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 2: He stuck around. He stayed on the practice squad. He 208 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 2: wasn't active for the first two and a half months 209 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 2: of the year, and then in a situation like this 210 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: where not only does he have to be a starter 211 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,719 Speaker 2: for the first time, his career. Not only is he 212 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 2: a part of the offense when they lose Jayden Reid, 213 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: he was one of their biggest playmakers in the second half, 214 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 2: just moving the chains, not even explosive plays. That's what 215 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 2: this thing's all about. And when you hear guys like 216 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: Aaron Jones and Adam Stenovitch, the offensive coordinator, talk about 217 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 2: how deep this room is, the fact they've done that 218 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,839 Speaker 2: in a complete overhaul in the last two years, that's remarkable. 219 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 1: Michael, Yeah, it absolutely is. You look at what Melton 220 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: has done. As you say, he was an inactive on 221 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: game day, on the practice squad for the bulk of 222 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: the season, and now here the Packers are in a 223 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: playoff push and Jordan Love is looking for bow Melton 224 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: on third down. He's looking for bo Melton when the 225 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 1: blitz is in his face because he knows where Melton's 226 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: route is going to be, and he's going to put 227 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: the ball out there and let him go get it. 228 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: Melton also gets his first NFL touchdown, and you actually 229 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: had the list in your Insider Inbox column on Tuesday. 230 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: Seven players this season have caught their first NFL touchdown 231 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: from Jordan Love. I mean, that's remarkable in itself. I 232 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: can't even I don't even know how you put together 233 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: or how you figure out the list or whether that's 234 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: some kind of a record or not. But where the 235 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: Packers are and we'll see what happens this week. Obviously, 236 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: you know they were running some tests on Jaden Reid 237 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 1: with him having to leave the game, and he was 238 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: obviously on his way to one hundred yards receiving. He 239 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: had eighty nine with two touchdowns at halftime. You know 240 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: he was going to get his one hundred yard game, 241 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: but unfortunately had to leave. We'll see what his status is. 242 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,680 Speaker 1: We'll see don Tavian Wis, We'll see about Christian Watson 243 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: and Luke Musgrave here in this must win game coming 244 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: up against the Bears. But and this is this is 245 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: what I wrote about on the bus ride slash plane 246 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 1: ride back after the game for my rapid reaction piece, 247 00:12:22,920 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: because the question you and I are getting the most 248 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: is what is the difference between the Packers being in 249 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 1: that must win game in Week eighteen at home against 250 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 1: the division rival last year where it was Detroit and 251 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: they were playing well, and now it's the same situation 252 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: this year another division rival in Chicago, who is playing well. 253 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: And we'll talk more about the Bears on our on 254 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: our next episode. So what's what's the difference? And to me, 255 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: the difference is where the Packers offense is and it's 256 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: what Jordan Love is doing. Last year, yes, the Packers 257 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: got on a run late in the season, but the 258 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 1: red zone problems, the gold to go problems were not 259 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: fixed the Packers where they were getting a bunch of 260 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 1: turnovers on defense, but then the offense was still kicking 261 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: field goals. You know, the Packers' special teams got the 262 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 1: touchdown against Minnesota on the Nixon return and a pick 263 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: six by Darnell Savage. They were racking up a bunch 264 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: of points. It wasn't the offense that was doing it. 265 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,680 Speaker 1: And those problems on the Packers offense last year reared 266 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: their ugly head when the season was on the line 267 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,920 Speaker 1: against the Lions. This Packers offense in twenty twenty three 268 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: is in a completely different place with completely different personnel 269 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: than the Packers had a year ago. And so for 270 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: me like that, that's what makes going into this game 271 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 1: feel so different from Week eighteen last year. 272 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, and you I mean you hit it. That's the 273 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 2: one A one b That is the biggest part. I 274 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 2: think when you talk about the offense and where things 275 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 2: are at, the only thing I will build off of that. 276 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 2: I'll just say this. The Packers in twenty twenty two 277 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: were a more veteran team that got better as the 278 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 2: season were on. They got better in the month of December. 279 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 2: They played more like a teamment football. This Packers team 280 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty three is better because of progression and 281 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,959 Speaker 2: because of players that were in roles early on that 282 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 2: maybe they weren't quite ready for in the first couple 283 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: of weeks of the season now being catalysts to their 284 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: specific phase. And then much like all these seasons. I 285 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 2: know we'll pivot here shortly into the defense, I'm sure, 286 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: but you look at a guy like Corey Ballentine and 287 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 2: go back to Rasseul Douglas and these guys, and again 288 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 2: going back to bow Melton. These guys that maybe when 289 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 2: you had your first fifty three at the beginning of 290 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: the year you were set in your depth charts at 291 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 2: home or trying to figure out, okay, what is going 292 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 2: to be the chain of command With the way these 293 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: things are schemed up. They aren't the guys that you 294 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: were really having written down and sharpie as Okay, these 295 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 2: are the core players. But over the course of a season, 296 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: when your roster is fifty three players, when you can 297 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 2: only dress forty eight on game days, you have guys 298 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: that are suddenly thrust into positions. They could be a rookie, 299 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 2: they could be a fifty year player, but they own 300 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 2: that and they become invaluable to what you're doing. And 301 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: that's ultimately what you need. Michael. It's progression, veteran and 302 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 2: young player alike. 303 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, on the defensive side of the ball, you 304 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: brought up you brought up Corey Ballentine, and the Packers 305 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: also went with Carrington Valentine, those two who were integral 306 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,239 Speaker 1: to the Packers, you know, kind of getting things going defensively. 307 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: In November, they ended up being the guys on Sunday 308 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 1: Night in Minneapolis because j R. Alexander was suspended for 309 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: the one game and then Eric Stokes had a recurrence 310 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: of his hamstring injury prior to the trip to Minneapolis 311 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: and he was placed on injured reserve. His season is over, 312 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: So the Packers went back to CV and CB as 313 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: they are known in the locker room, you know, against 314 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and kJ Osbourne and you 315 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: know what ends up happening. Justin Jefferson is held to 316 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: five just for fifty nine yards. Jordan Addison has a 317 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: twenty yard reception but that's about all that he does, 318 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: and kJ Osborne doesn't even catch a pass snaps. Yeah, now, 319 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: a lot of that, A lot of that is, you know, 320 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: was the Vikings problems at quarterback, and you know they 321 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: made the move to go to Jaren Hall, the rookie 322 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: fifth round pick. He was going to make his second 323 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: NFL start. Kevin O'Connell just desperate to find a quarterback 324 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: who is going to protect the football. And as you 325 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: mentioned much earlier in the show, the Packers end up 326 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: getting two turnovers in the first half. Both of those 327 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 1: get turned into touchdowns. The first one, I thought, in 328 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: particular was was just enormous. It was an off target 329 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: throw to the tight end kind of underneath, and because 330 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: it was off target, the tight end deflected with his 331 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: hands and Ballentine was there to get the pick and 332 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: just whatever it was a player two later, boom, Jayden 333 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: Reid is in the end zone and the Packers turn 334 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: a three to nothing game into attend to nothing game 335 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: and all these questions suddenly are on the Minnesota sideline, like, oh, 336 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:06,040 Speaker 1: maybe this guy can't protect the football either. We just 337 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: had another turnover led to points for the other team. 338 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 1: There was a real shift I felt in the building 339 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: and just in the field of things, which is what 340 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: I thought would happen if they could get a turnover 341 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: early from Jaron Hall and it played out that way. 342 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: Then they get another one at the end of the 343 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: first half, turned that into another touchdown, and suddenly you're 344 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: up twenty points at halftime. 345 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 2: And here's the thing that was really important about that 346 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 2: opening sequence too. No disrespect to what the Vikings did, 347 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,640 Speaker 2: because I understand it. You have a rookie fifth round 348 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 2: pick out there. You're not going to dial up a 349 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 2: lot of exotic stuff. You want to get him comfortable, right, Well, 350 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: what happened. It was the sixteen year old that's out 351 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 2: there for his first driver's ED class. I guess he'd 352 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 2: be fifteen year old. Yeah, and you're driving ten miles 353 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 2: an hour and you back into the pole. That's what happened. 354 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 2: Because that Johnny Mont passed. That was about as basic 355 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 2: as it gets. They tried to get a little tricky 356 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 2: because they saw the Packers had their base personnel. They 357 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: tried to motion it into an empty set, but that's 358 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 2: just the basic underneath, brought basically to the tight end 359 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: and it sales high to him and Corey Balentine made 360 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 2: a fantastic, fantastic play on that because it's those ones 361 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 2: that look so simple, Mike, that oftentimes will fall through 362 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: defensive back's hands. They put their hands on their helmet and. 363 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 1: You go on to second down the old tip drill, right, 364 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: It's like you have to be able to react, keep 365 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: your eyes on the ball, you know, keep your wits 366 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: about you. And and Balentine was able to get his his. 367 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 2: First which I thought this was important too because he 368 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 2: gets that first pick. This is a guy that's been 369 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 2: in the National Football League. This is his fifth season 370 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 2: in some shape or form, with four different clubs. He 371 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:38,119 Speaker 2: gets his first pick. You talk about a confidence boost 372 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: for a young guy that found out on Saturday that 373 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 2: he'd be starting because of the injury to the hamstring 374 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,639 Speaker 2: issue with Eric Stokes, right, you're drawing Justin Jefferson. He 375 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 2: gets that pick early. He's playing physical, he's jamming at 376 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 2: the line of scrimmage. He gets two pass deflections while 377 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 2: Jefferson is in his coverage the Packers, I thought, when 378 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 2: you talk about marrying your pass rush with your secondary, 379 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 2: fourteen quarterback hits and four sacks, seven passes defense including 380 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 2: the interception, Packers finally played complimentary on both sides that 381 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 2: they had to weather some injuries to do it. Yeah, 382 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 2: but my goodness, Michael, I thought that that was an 383 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 2: encouraging performance as well. 384 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, the fourteen quarterback hits was really pretty astounding, and 385 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 1: I believe it was nine different nights, nine different players. 386 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 2: I lied to Presston after the game, I said it 387 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 2: was thirteen. It was nine. Oops. 388 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, that's still pretty remarkable. And the Vikings did 389 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,239 Speaker 1: end up switching quarterbacks. Haul got benched at halftime. They 390 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: went with Nick Mullins. The other really big key moment 391 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: for the defense was that opening possession for the Vikings 392 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: in the second half. The score is twenty three to three. 393 00:19:45,240 --> 00:19:47,960 Speaker 1: Mullins is taking the Vikings down the field, and you 394 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: could tell immediately he just had so much better feel 395 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: for the timing of the Vikings offense. You know, he 396 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: hits Jefferson, he hits Addison like they're on the move 397 00:19:58,119 --> 00:19:59,920 Speaker 1: and they're looking to get a touchdown, which would have 398 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: been the score twenty three to ten. Middle of the 399 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 1: third quarter. The game is far from over at that point, 400 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: but the Packers get him in fourth and four from 401 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: the nine yard line, and you know, O'Connell passes on 402 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: the field goal like twenty three to six. He's not 403 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: interested in that. He wants to get this game to 404 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: twenty three to ten. And the Packers defense, you know, interestingly, 405 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 1: you know, in my opinion, for as aggressive as we 406 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: saw them in various situations like the slot blitz with 407 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: Keishaw Nixon on first and twenty, they threw a six 408 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: man pressure at Jaren Hall on just a basic like 409 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: second and six call, you know, and that's when Kuay 410 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: Walker gets his sack. When he makes ty Chandler with 411 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: on the blitz pick up the fourth and four at 412 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: the nine yard line. Packers just played it straight four 413 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: man rush, you know, man to man coverage, safety help, 414 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,160 Speaker 1: which turns into a very effective double team on Justin 415 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: Jefferson and Quay Walker is spying Nick Mullins to where 416 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: when Mullens steps up, he's got nowhere to go. Walker 417 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: is a shoulder into him that makes that throw really 418 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: tough and the defense gets off the field. The score 419 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: is still twenty three to three. I thought that was 420 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: a big moment there, because in that building, that touchdown 421 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: happens middle of the third quarter and it's twenty three 422 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,680 Speaker 1: to ten. A lot of things could have looked different. 423 00:21:14,720 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 2: I mean, you just had to listen. I mean, the 424 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,520 Speaker 2: Vikings fans at that point were just looking for a 425 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:22,920 Speaker 2: reason to cheer, and they got it. And I looked 426 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 2: at the clock, I'm like, okay, fourteen and change left. 427 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 2: Stranger things have happened. But it was at that point 428 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 2: that then the Packers' offense locks back down. Thirteen plays 429 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 2: ninety one yards, they eight eight minutes off the clock 430 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:35,639 Speaker 2: in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, it was 431 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 2: the thirteen plays fifty four yards and eight seven to 432 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 2: fifty five off the clock. 433 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, for a field goal. 434 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 2: They just didn't blink. Yeah, And I thought that was 435 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: so critical because Mike, that's where again people were ripping us, me, 436 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 2: everyone a couple of weeks ago, a week ago about 437 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: the Matt Lafleur stepp into the podium in Carolina and 438 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 2: taking ownership for the offense going three and out twice 439 00:21:58,119 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 2: in the fourth quarter at the time in which Screen 440 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 2: Bay defense was really struggling. Yeah, people like, why is 441 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 2: he throwing the offense under the bus. Because one, he's 442 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 2: the play caller, that's the part that he's overseeing. That's 443 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 2: kind of accountability. I can spell it for if you 444 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,239 Speaker 2: need me to. But the fact is is that you 445 00:22:12,280 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 2: can when you have answers and you give up points, 446 00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 2: whether it be an advisory, you know, adversity defense situation, 447 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 2: you get up, you you're able to eat eight minutes 448 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 2: off the clock as opposed to turning the ball over 449 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: fifty five seconds later to the defense to the opposition, 450 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 2: that's what makes all the difference in these games. It's 451 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 2: when you pick each other up. Yeah it was a 452 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 2: muff punt. Yeah, mistakes were made. The offense came right 453 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 2: back and responded. Green Bay never let the momentum get 454 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: back in Minnesota's favor, And Michael, that's an important lesson 455 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 2: to learn. If not for this winning you're in game 456 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 2: on Sunday against Chicago, once you get into the postseason, 457 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 2: if you're so lucky, those are the type of things 458 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:52,840 Speaker 2: that in your mind as a team, as a coach, 459 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 2: as a player, you have to be respect respective to 460 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 2: responsive to and trying to you know, have a response 461 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 2: in those moments. 462 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, well we'll take a look at that playoff picture 463 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: here in a moment. But first, some sponsor business Serius 464 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: XMNFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the 465 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: minute NFL news that true football fanatics need twenty four 466 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: to seven, three sixty five and ed cousin subbs. We 467 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: have something for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese curds, mac 468 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with 469 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs 470 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: fifty years of better. All right, the playoff picture. The 471 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: reason this became a win to get in game for 472 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:38,119 Speaker 1: the Packers, they actually before the game kicked off in Minneapolis, 473 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: the Packers knew that they were, you know, two wins 474 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 1: to get in. Beat the Vikings, beat the Bears in. 475 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 2: You're in. 476 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: Because the Pittsburgh Steelers went to Seattle out on the 477 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 1: West Coast and played a whale of a game against 478 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: the Seahawks and cooled off what had looked like potentially 479 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: a surging Seahawks team, or at least a Seahawks team 480 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: that was pulling off these fourth quarter comeback and potentially 481 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: building some momentum there. The Steelers get that win, it 482 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: puts the Packers back in control of a wild card spot. 483 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: So now the Packers get to win over the Vikings. 484 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: Now they need they need to win over the Bears, 485 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 1: and the possibilities are. The possibilities are essentially this and 486 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: possibly as soon as tomorrow. At some point later this week, 487 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,679 Speaker 1: I will have a path to the Playoffs piece on 488 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 1: the website laying out as legibly as I can all 489 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 1: the different possibilities here for the Packers. But the simplest 490 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:36,880 Speaker 1: way to look at it is this. The Packers, if 491 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: they win, they can get either the six or the 492 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 1: seven seed, and they would be going to either Detroit, 493 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 1: Philadelphia or Dallas. So it's two possible seeds, three possible destinations. 494 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,680 Speaker 1: That's where things sit with one game to go. 495 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 2: If you'd be so kind, and I am putting you 496 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 2: on the spot, okay, if you want to tell me, Wes, 497 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 2: it's not the time for that, would you be willing 498 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 2: to explain why exactly Green Bay at eight and eight 499 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 2: holds the advantage for the seven seed because you have 500 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,360 Speaker 2: two other teams sitting in that spot right now. Seattle 501 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 2: is the eighth seed, and then the ninth seed is 502 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 2: New Orleans. That's simple enough because I think between them all, 503 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 2: Seattle and Green Bay are both what is it six 504 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,199 Speaker 2: and five in the conference? New Orleans is five and 505 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 2: six correct? Common opponents are both three and three between 506 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: Green Bay and Seattle. 507 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: Correct. 508 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 2: Where did the Packers have the edge there? 509 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 1: The tiebreaker? The reason the Packers have the edge is 510 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: the tiebreaker is down to strength of victory. So I 511 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: can give you those numbers if you like, and when 512 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:36,160 Speaker 1: you get and when you get this late in the season, 513 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: it's very difficult for the strength of victory to shift 514 00:25:40,680 --> 00:25:44,199 Speaker 1: as significantly as it would need to shift for the 515 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: Packers to get overtaken in that regard. So that's what 516 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: it comes down to, is the packer's strength of victory, which, 517 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 1: by the way, I'll just say this, that's how they 518 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,239 Speaker 1: got in on the tiebreaker in twenty ten when they 519 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: got the number six seed. But we'll save that story 520 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:02,440 Speaker 1: press another day. 521 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 2: Maybe Seattle could just lose it. We don't even have 522 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 2: to worry about it. 523 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:08,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, but but yes, it gets it gets pretty It 524 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:11,160 Speaker 1: gets pretty deep into the end of the tiebreaker situation 525 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: where where the Packers are in control. There is a 526 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: scenario whereby the Packers could lose to the Bears and 527 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,200 Speaker 1: still get the number seven seed. But you don't want 528 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: to hang your hat on that because it's it's like 529 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of games, a handful of games that 530 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:29,399 Speaker 1: would have to go the other way. I'm just saying, 531 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: I'm just saying, Okay, but yes, it's strength, it's strength. 532 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 2: You can put the playoffs about that. 533 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:38,720 Speaker 1: It'll be It'll be in there. Yeah, it'll be in there. 534 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: Just so every just so everybody knows, I will say this. 535 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: It's literally the Packers are going to need at least 536 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 1: three other games to go their way in order to 537 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: get in if they lose to the Bears. The most 538 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: important thing is if you beat the Bears, you don't 539 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: have to scoreboard, watch it all done. That's where you're at. 540 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, And and to go back to the original thesis 541 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 2: statement of this episode, the fact that Green Bay has 542 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 2: got itself back in this position again, Mike, a team 543 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 2: that was what two and five, three and six a 544 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 2: lot of times. I mean, they traded Rasul Douglas. You're 545 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: really wondering exactly which direction this season's going to turn. 546 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,520 Speaker 2: And they found momentum. They got their two biggest wins 547 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 2: of the season back to back with the Lions and 548 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 2: the Chiefs. They tripped after that, they had to reset 549 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:22,199 Speaker 2: a little bit, but to be able to get the 550 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 2: wins over Carolina and then come back and go into 551 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 2: Minnesota and do that back to back on the road. 552 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 2: I don't care what Carolina's record is. It's still tough 553 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 2: to play in a different road environment and to be 554 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: at eight and eight with a young football team I 555 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 2: think at one point the youngest maybe still the youngest 556 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 2: in the. 557 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,200 Speaker 1: National Football League, I would imagine. 558 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 2: So that's a real testament I think to the job 559 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 2: that Matt Lafleur does, and that spins me into my 560 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 2: last point I wanted to make about this game because 561 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 2: I wrote about an insider inbox. He will never take 562 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,879 Speaker 2: credit for this, he would probably hate me even talking 563 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,360 Speaker 2: about it, But I thought Matt Lafleur had an absolutely 564 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:59,160 Speaker 2: exceptional day calling plays against Minnesota. In the first half 565 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,800 Speaker 2: when the Packers to get into a rhythm, he did it. 566 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,919 Speaker 2: In the second half when they need to concoct some 567 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 2: twelve minute offensive plays, it seemed like they were able 568 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:11,560 Speaker 2: to do it. And for Green Bay, you talk about 569 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,160 Speaker 2: coaches or players all the time, but coaches too. Everybody 570 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 2: wants to peek here when you get into the postseason. 571 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 2: So or in that final run, I should say, so, 572 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,439 Speaker 2: it was an exciting game to be a part of. 573 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 2: And now, as we'll preview later this week, taking down 574 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 2: the Chicago Bears, trying to make this thing really count 575 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 2: because if you don't get a job done there and 576 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 2: we just wasted a lot of breath. 577 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's and that's exactly what Matt Lafleur. In fact, 578 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: he said it twice at the podium in between he 579 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 1: was interrupted by the eleven o'clock hour, where about somebody, 580 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:42,760 Speaker 1: a bunch of people in a nearby room were like 581 00:28:42,840 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: watching the ball drop in New York City or whatever, 582 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: and they were counting down like three two, like Matt 583 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: Laflour's in the middle of a press conference answer. But 584 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 1: he said twice in that press conference that it doesn't 585 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: mean anything if the Packers can't take care of business 586 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 1: on Sunday and beat the Bears in it in and 587 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: take advantage of this opportunity, an opportunity that they did 588 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,560 Speaker 1: not get last year. They did not, excuse me, an 589 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: opportunity they did not cash in on us last year. 590 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 1: A couple other things just to talk about with regard 591 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: to the playoff picture, the number one seeds and the 592 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: first round bys in each conference are clinched. San Francisco 593 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: forty nine Ers are the one seed in the NFC, 594 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: the Baltimore Ravens are the one seed in the AFC. 595 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: Those clubs will get will have the first weekend of 596 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs off and to themselves as far as the 597 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: rest of the NFC goes. The Packers kind of jousting 598 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: with the Rams for the six and seven spots. The 599 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:46,200 Speaker 1: Rams are in and if they win their game against 600 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 1: the forty nine ers, and who knows what the forty 601 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: nine ers are going to do personnel wise, because it's 602 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: essentially an exhibition game for them. But if the Rams win, 603 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:57,280 Speaker 1: they get the six and then the seven is the 604 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: only one excuse me, let to be determined. Dallas and 605 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: Philadelphia is still battling each other for the UH for 606 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: the NFC East. And here's what I figured out, Wes. 607 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,360 Speaker 1: As long as the Dallas has the tiebreaker right now 608 00:30:16,360 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: on the Eagles, they have the same record. Dallas has 609 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: the tiebreaker based on this record. 610 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 2: That sorry, I said Dallas is also good. 611 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: Yes, they're they're they're quite good, and Philadelphia is not 612 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: playing very well right now. 613 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:31,840 Speaker 2: That was kind of the subtle thing I was gonna. 614 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, the the Cowboys and Eagles are tied, Dallas has 615 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 1: the tiebreaker as long as either the Eagles or the 616 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: Cowboys win this week. The winner of the NFC East 617 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: is the two seed, and the loser drops to the five. 618 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: The runner up in the NFC East is getting the 619 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: five seed. It will be a wild card going on 620 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 1: the road regardless. The Detroit Lions are pretty close in 621 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: a sense to being locked into the three seed, except 622 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 1: there is one scenario where the Lions jump up to 623 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: the two, and that is that if the Cowboys and 624 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,040 Speaker 1: the Eagles both lose and the Lions beat the Vikings, 625 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: then the Lions would actually vault to the two the 626 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: NFC East winner, which in that case would be Dallas. 627 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: If the Eagles and Cowboys both lose, Dallas would be 628 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:20,880 Speaker 1: the three seed and then the Eagles would be the five. 629 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: So those are the various permutations. Obviously, whoever wins the 630 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: NFC South, which could be any of three teams, the Buccaneers, 631 00:31:28,520 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: the Saints, and the Falcons all have a path. The 632 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 1: Buccaneers are the ones in control, but they all have 633 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 1: a path to winning the NFC South, which would be 634 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: the four seed and the Buccaneers and Saints. Whoever doesn't 635 00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,720 Speaker 1: win the NFC South is still looking for a bunch 636 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: of help to maybe get a wild card. But again 637 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: that's where when you're the Packers, you're looking at it 638 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,040 Speaker 1: as we are the ones in control. Just win your 639 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:56,959 Speaker 1: game and get in and it doesn't matter what all 640 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 1: those teams in the NFC South. 641 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we'll preview those matchups soon enough, but I 642 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 2: mean Tampa would need almost like a well we'll see 643 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 2: how it goes. But I mean I think they got 644 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: Carolina this week, right, I mean they do try to 645 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 2: take care of business there. 646 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 1: They do. Their quarterback has some sore ribs though apparently 647 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: oh so, yeah, Baker Mayfield not one hundred. 648 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 2: Percent, So Kyle Trask is the backup? 649 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: There might be Yeah, I haven't looked at it. 650 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 2: But to get back to this past weekend though, we'll 651 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 2: have plenty of time to preview. I mean, it was interesting. 652 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 2: I was sitting in my room on Sunday afternoon, I'm like, man, 653 00:32:26,920 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: the Packers aren't getting much help. The Bears were pretty 654 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 2: much the only ones that wanted to play ball there 655 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: in the early half of things, and obviously we were 656 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 2: going to see them Sunday. With how talented they are 657 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 2: and where they've been sort of building towards a much 658 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 2: better team than the Atlanta Falcons without a doubt. It 659 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 2: doesn't matter if it was a snow game Shoulder Field. 660 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,280 Speaker 2: I think they win that one anywhere, Yeah, just based 661 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 2: on where Atlanta's at. 662 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they beat them by twenty. Yeah, that was 663 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: a convincing victory. 664 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was really something else. I think there was 665 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 2: we want justin chance afterwards at Soldier Field. I mean, 666 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 2: people were psyched up for it, the NFL, E, NFC 667 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 2: East other than McCarthy, and what they did on Saturday 668 00:32:58,800 --> 00:33:02,040 Speaker 2: night was just tripping itself. An embarrassing weekend for them. 669 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 2: I mean the Giants, I mean, people want to put 670 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 2: that thing at Mason's foot, Fine, no pun intended, but 671 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 2: like everything New York did in the final five minutes, 672 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,520 Speaker 2: that game was just a head scratcher. Philadelphia completely falls 673 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 2: apart in a Also, they have a. 674 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: Two touchdown lead at home against the Arizona Cardinals with 675 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:23,520 Speaker 1: so much to play, for the division title, the playoff seeding, 676 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: all of it, and their defense just completely falls apart 677 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: against against the Cardinals. Kyler Murray goes nuts, James Connor 678 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: goes nuts, and the Eagles get the winning touchdown with 679 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 1: thirty seconds on the clock or whatever it was. And 680 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:40,959 Speaker 1: the Eagles take an absolutely devastating loss. A team that 681 00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:44,240 Speaker 1: was ten to one and looking like it was headed 682 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: for the one seed in the first round by is 683 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: now possibly going to be relegated to the five seed 684 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: and going on the road for the wild card run. 685 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:55,280 Speaker 2: And they played like that. I mean, everyone wants to 686 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 2: talk about this much maligned defense, but the offense hasn't 687 00:33:58,120 --> 00:33:59,120 Speaker 2: really been you know. 688 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: Yeahckers no and and And you're right about that because, 689 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 1: as I say, a two touchdown lead at halftime against 690 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 1: the Cardinals, one of those touchdowns was a ninety nine 691 00:34:09,640 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 1: yard pick six by the Eagles defense. So you're right 692 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: in that the Eagles offense was not exactly setting the 693 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:15,520 Speaker 1: world up. 694 00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:17,759 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I mean, we'll see what all becomes of that, 695 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: but yeah, fortunately for Green Bay, it all came down 696 00:34:20,080 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 2: to Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin sent of a nice box at cheese. Maybe, 697 00:34:25,120 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 2: uh some what is it wedding gifts. 698 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: Well, did you did you see did you see the 699 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,919 Speaker 1: note from your from your junior reporter friend that Yeah, 700 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:35,840 Speaker 1: I put I put it in. I put it in 701 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: an insider inbox on Monday morning. Your junior reporter friend 702 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:42,920 Speaker 1: from Pittsburgh missed that one. He lived, He and his 703 00:34:42,960 --> 00:34:47,080 Speaker 1: family like, they live near Mike Tomlin, and they prior 704 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,279 Speaker 1: to the Steelers trip to Seattle, they delivered a box 705 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: of chocolates to Tomlin's house, essentially asking h asking them, 706 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 1: asking the Steelers to beat the Seahawks for the Packers 707 00:34:58,120 --> 00:35:02,840 Speaker 1: lo and behold. Anyway, the note in the insider inbox 708 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 1: was for you, because you know the young man. But 709 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:09,040 Speaker 1: I felt compelled to post it in my column because 710 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: it really struck. 711 00:35:09,719 --> 00:35:11,480 Speaker 2: A Well, here's the other thing. I was going on 712 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 2: about three hours of sleep, and I probably missed that 713 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:15,880 Speaker 2: one while I was paging through the column on Tuesday. 714 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 2: But either as Monday, I don't even know what day 715 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:20,320 Speaker 2: the week is anymore, Michael. 716 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, these night games get to us at. 717 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 2: I've been struggling with it. But hey, I'll tell you what, Pittsburgh, 718 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:28,720 Speaker 2: you know, I hope them they can make a run here. Obviously, 719 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 2: they got a tough challenge coming up this weekend, but 720 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 2: the Green Bay Packers bottom line got back to where 721 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 2: they need to get to and now we'll see what 722 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 2: they can do with it. 723 00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. We will preview this Packers Bears Week eighteen showdown 724 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: on our next episode, but for now we'll call it 725 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: a rap. On this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 726 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:48,439 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team, all 727 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:52,200 Speaker 1: the playoff news and scenarios and possibilities, everything you want, 728 00:35:52,239 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: reviewing the Vikings game, previewing the Bears. We've got it 729 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: all for you on Packers dot com. For Wes, I'm Miike. 730 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in everybody. We will see you 731 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 1: next time.