WEBVTT - #364 Packers Unscripted: What's required 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:20.640 Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:20.800 --> 0:00:24.040 I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my trusted 0:00:24.079 --> 0:00:26.840 colleague West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our 0:00:26.880 --> 0:00:30.960 studios at lambeau Field. Hope everybody had a happy Thanksgiving 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:32.879 and wes our final show of the week and that 0:00:32.920 --> 0:00:37.000 means keys to victory Here Packers Vikings Sunday Night football 0:00:37.200 --> 0:00:42.400 US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis, the rematch of week 0:00:42.440 --> 0:00:46.519 two which ended in a nine overtime tie. Both of 0:00:46.560 --> 0:00:49.400 these teams need a victory here. West, I know the 0:00:49.479 --> 0:00:51.680 Vikings are one game ahead of the Packers in the standings, 0:00:51.760 --> 0:00:54.000 but both teams looking at this in a lot of 0:00:54.040 --> 0:00:56.320 respects as a must win. Where do you want to 0:00:56.360 --> 0:00:58.320 start well, first off, Mike, I want to start off 0:00:58.320 --> 0:01:01.200 with that tremendous Thanksgiving dinner that I had. It's my 0:01:01.280 --> 0:01:03.120 favorite holiday. I don't know if you know. That's my 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:06.600 favorite holiday as well. Trains, planes and autmobiles. Always watched 0:01:06.600 --> 0:01:10.600 that every year. Tremendous time, great office, awesome moments with 0:01:10.600 --> 0:01:13.560 the family. But now we're back to football and the 0:01:13.600 --> 0:01:16.400 Green Bay Packers have any credibly important game coming up 0:01:16.440 --> 0:01:21.120 here with the Minnesota Vikings. My biggest key for this 0:01:21.160 --> 0:01:24.760 particular game all revolves around Aaron Rodgers, because, if you 0:01:24.800 --> 0:01:28.920 go back Mike, the last two encounters with the Vikings 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:33.440 have both been surrounding Aaron Rodgers and in his situation 0:01:33.520 --> 0:01:36.600 and how things are at with him, this rivalry and 0:01:36.600 --> 0:01:38.720 how it's been kind of brewing over the years with 0:01:38.800 --> 0:01:41.080 the Vikings and Mike Zimmer and sort of the mental 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:44.160 chess match that these two teams have been playing. It's 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:49.080 always interesting to see the juxtaposition of how the Packers 0:01:49.160 --> 0:01:52.840 offense attacks the Vikings and if you have Aaron Rodgers 0:01:52.840 --> 0:01:55.680 for a full sixty minutes, what that does in terms 0:01:55.680 --> 0:01:58.480 of being able to challenge Mike Zimmer's scheme. I just 0:01:58.520 --> 0:02:00.080 think that this is the type of game that if 0:02:00.120 --> 0:02:02.200 you can get Rogers going, if you can get Davante 0:02:02.240 --> 0:02:06.200 Adams going, being multiple like they've been recently, with Adams 0:02:06.240 --> 0:02:08.320 not allowing a defense to really know where he's going 0:02:08.360 --> 0:02:10.560 to be on any given play, Packers are gonna have 0:02:10.600 --> 0:02:12.959 a lot of success. Aaron Jones is gonna be a 0:02:13.000 --> 0:02:14.359 big part of it too. You have to be able 0:02:14.400 --> 0:02:16.000 to develop the run, you have to be able to 0:02:16.040 --> 0:02:19.200 challenge him in the trenches. But I think the Packers 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:21.440 if they're to walk out of us Bank Stadium with 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:24.000 a victory on on Sunday night, Aaron Rodgers has to 0:02:24.000 --> 0:02:26.080 be a big part of it. Yeah, he definitely does. 0:02:26.120 --> 0:02:27.880 And maybe this is one of those games like we 0:02:27.960 --> 0:02:30.560 talked about a few weeks ago with the Rams game 0:02:30.639 --> 0:02:33.240 for instance, where this maybe is the type of game 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.280 Aaron Rodgers has to be the best player on the 0:02:35.280 --> 0:02:37.640 field in order for the Packers to win. When you 0:02:37.639 --> 0:02:41.280 look at Packers Vikings history in Minneapolis West, whether you're 0:02:41.280 --> 0:02:44.240 talking the games at the Metrodome or the last couple 0:02:44.280 --> 0:02:47.320 of games at us Bank Stadium, it seems to always 0:02:47.320 --> 0:02:50.080 come down to protection of Aaron Rodgers from that pass 0:02:50.160 --> 0:02:53.880 rush of the Minnesota Vikings that is awfully, awfully good 0:02:53.880 --> 0:02:56.800 and a pass rush that sacked Matthew Stafford in us 0:02:56.840 --> 0:03:00.720 Bank Stadium ten times um just a few weeks ago. 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:03.720 And I'm not just talking about the broken collar bone 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:06.320 from last year, but when US Bank Stadium opened, in 0:03:07.680 --> 0:03:11.120 a couple of sack fumble type situations that that really 0:03:11.400 --> 0:03:13.359 hurt the Packers in that game. And we all know 0:03:13.880 --> 0:03:16.399 the you know in the Metrodome, which I actually think 0:03:16.480 --> 0:03:19.240 was an even louder stadium than US Bank Stadium. But 0:03:19.480 --> 0:03:21.519 when the Vikings would kind of get that defense in 0:03:21.560 --> 0:03:26.000 that pass rush cranked up, the Packers would would really struggle, 0:03:26.280 --> 0:03:30.000 even with Brett Farvett quarterback over the years. So, um, 0:03:30.000 --> 0:03:32.720 protecting Aaron Rodgers is a real key here. And it's 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:35.280 see and it seems that that the majority of the 0:03:35.600 --> 0:03:38.240 pressure and I'm not trying to lay blame on any individuals, 0:03:38.240 --> 0:03:40.440 but the majority of the pressure Aaron Rodgers seems to 0:03:40.520 --> 0:03:44.360 face lately is interior pressure. It's the guy's coming up 0:03:44.360 --> 0:03:46.720 from the inside and then he's just not able to 0:03:46.800 --> 0:03:49.920 quite escape to the outside like he's done so many 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:52.560 times in the past. And I know, setting a solid 0:03:52.600 --> 0:03:55.440 pocket against that pass rush is way easier said than done. 0:03:55.840 --> 0:03:58.560 But as much as Aaron Jones needs to run the 0:03:58.600 --> 0:04:00.360 ball and all that, I think it's starts. It's I 0:04:00.360 --> 0:04:02.720 think it starts with trying to establish a solid of 0:04:02.720 --> 0:04:04.680 pocket as you can for Roger. Yeah, I think it's 0:04:04.720 --> 0:04:07.080 a great point, Mike, And it's interesting you bring that up, because, yeah, 0:04:07.120 --> 0:04:08.960 it's something the Packers have faced, but it's something the 0:04:09.040 --> 0:04:11.400 NFL in general has had to deal with here in 0:04:11.520 --> 0:04:15.320 terms of defensive coordinators now dialing up more packages for 0:04:15.400 --> 0:04:18.120 the A gaps for you know, being able to challenge 0:04:18.160 --> 0:04:21.720 teams at their stress points inside. Zimmer has been one 0:04:21.720 --> 0:04:24.000 of the guys that have been one of the innovators 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:26.280 at doing that. But also you look at the Aaron 0:04:26.320 --> 0:04:28.200 Donalds of the world now at fourteen and a half 0:04:28.240 --> 0:04:31.240 sacks on a season out of the defensive tackle in 0:04:31.320 --> 0:04:34.240 Wade Phillips scheme. I was trying to think even you know, 0:04:34.240 --> 0:04:36.120 when you think back to all the years that Phillips 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:38.160 has been a defensive coordinate, if he's had a defensive 0:04:38.160 --> 0:04:42.200 tackle be that productive in his system. Kenny Clark in 0:04:42.279 --> 0:04:44.960 Green Bay right now on the stretch that he's on 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:48.600 going back to last December, around ten sacks. Now at 0:04:48.640 --> 0:04:52.520 that point, that's where defenses are really making a big 0:04:52.560 --> 0:04:55.880 push to to get after the quarterback. Now, the Vikings 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:57.839 are a little bit more traditional. You have your Lynnville 0:04:57.920 --> 0:05:00.200 Joseph there that's that's mostly there to be a run 0:05:00.240 --> 0:05:02.599 stuff for to be a clogger, but they still run 0:05:02.680 --> 0:05:04.719 concepts with the double a gap stuff that is going 0:05:04.800 --> 0:05:07.440 to really challenge you inside. So yeah, when you look 0:05:07.440 --> 0:05:11.400 at Corey Lindsley and you know, with Byron Bell, Lane Taylor, 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:13.720 whoever that running back is going to be back there 0:05:13.760 --> 0:05:16.680 with Aaron Rodgers. In terms of the past protection, all 0:05:16.720 --> 0:05:18.520 of it has to be on point because there's so 0:05:18.520 --> 0:05:20.760 many different ways that the Vikings can attack you. Yeah, 0:05:20.800 --> 0:05:23.960 and when when you talk about, obviously, how the Packers 0:05:24.000 --> 0:05:25.960 are going to attack this Vikings defense, you want to 0:05:25.960 --> 0:05:28.719 see Aaron Rodgers have a smooth and an efficient day 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:30.520 and all of that. But I'm gonna throw a couple 0:05:30.560 --> 0:05:33.159 of stats at you here, West. I looked up the 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:36.839 last three times the Vikings have been beaten at US 0:05:36.880 --> 0:05:40.080 Bank Stadium three times over the last two seasons or 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:42.320 season and a half, whatever you wanna call it. Detroit 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:45.120 in Week four last year, and then Buffalo in New 0:05:45.240 --> 0:05:48.719 Orleans this season. Not a one of those three teams 0:05:49.400 --> 0:05:51.600 had three hundred yards of offense in that game to 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:55.800 beat Minnesota. But you know what happened. The turnover margin 0:05:55.920 --> 0:05:59.640 collectively in those three games was eight to one, and 0:05:59.720 --> 0:06:04.000 the three teams scored thirty four points total off of 0:06:04.040 --> 0:06:07.160 those eight turnovers. That's how you beat Minnesota at US 0:06:07.200 --> 0:06:10.520 Bank Stadium. You protect the ball, you win the turnover battle, 0:06:10.720 --> 0:06:14.200 and you turn those turnovers into points. That's the formula. 0:06:14.520 --> 0:06:16.159 The Packers have done it before, They've done it to 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:18.480 other teams. They need to do it on Sunday night. 0:06:18.520 --> 0:06:20.320 It's funny too. And you and I talked about earlier 0:06:20.320 --> 0:06:23.000 this season with that Bill's game, how that played out, 0:06:23.040 --> 0:06:25.760 because you look at the score and it just looks 0:06:25.800 --> 0:06:28.279 like a total blowout, but then you look at the 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:30.560 box score in the stat sheet and it was a 0:06:30.600 --> 0:06:33.040 pretty even ball game. It's not like, you know, I 0:06:33.040 --> 0:06:34.560 don't know if it was Jared Allen in that game 0:06:34.640 --> 0:06:36.560 or not, but it's not like l Shaw McCoy. It's 0:06:36.560 --> 0:06:39.359 not like they just have this huge offensive explosion. It 0:06:39.480 --> 0:06:41.880 was just taking advantage of some opportunities that the Vikings 0:06:41.880 --> 0:06:44.599 gave them very early in that game, and then sort 0:06:44.600 --> 0:06:47.839 of you know that right out, kind of like you 0:06:47.880 --> 0:06:49.920 and your dad on the golf course in the back night. 0:06:50.080 --> 0:06:51.920 I mean, you got a couple of stroke lead on him, 0:06:51.960 --> 0:06:53.880 You're just playing safe. You don't want to give that up. 0:06:54.480 --> 0:06:56.960 That's what that game reminded me of. And at the 0:06:57.000 --> 0:06:59.560 same time, it's also what I think to a certain extent, 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:02.640 took that crowd out of it a little bit. I'm 0:07:02.800 --> 0:07:04.880 we're going to get a unique perspective on this mike, 0:07:04.920 --> 0:07:08.919 because last Thursday we were able to be in Century 0:07:08.960 --> 0:07:12.040 Link and now this weekend we're going to be in 0:07:12.200 --> 0:07:15.640 US Bank. Yeah, I'm really interested to see if I 0:07:15.680 --> 0:07:17.880 can tell a tangible difference in the noise level, because 0:07:17.880 --> 0:07:20.040 it's always been kind of considered one to one A 0:07:20.160 --> 0:07:23.560 one B in terms of the noise pollution you have 0:07:23.640 --> 0:07:26.520 to deal with. And it's a good point you bring up, because, Yeah, 0:07:26.640 --> 0:07:29.000 I don't think US Bank Stadium is as loud as 0:07:29.000 --> 0:07:31.840 the Metrodome. I think the Metrodome, but long, far and 0:07:31.880 --> 0:07:34.320 away was the loudest stadium I've ever been, and I 0:07:34.360 --> 0:07:36.600 wore noise canceling headphones the first time I had to 0:07:36.640 --> 0:07:40.000 cover a game there. But at the same time, it's 0:07:40.000 --> 0:07:42.280 still a venue that the packers have to deal with 0:07:42.400 --> 0:07:44.960 and and you know, kind of persevere through. Yeah, for me, 0:07:45.000 --> 0:07:48.880 as far as the loudest ones, the Metrodome and the 0:07:48.920 --> 0:07:51.920 Superdome in New Orleans have always been, have always have 0:07:51.960 --> 0:07:54.040 always been the ones that are right up there for me. Now, 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:58.040 as far as outdoor century Lincoln Seattle takes the cake there. 0:07:58.080 --> 0:08:00.200 As far as an outdoor I can't even think of 0:08:00.240 --> 0:08:03.920 any outdoor stadium that has ever struggled as loud as 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:06.200 that one. But um, you know how that gets measured, 0:08:06.240 --> 0:08:08.920 you know, leave that to the scientists as to exactly 0:08:08.920 --> 0:08:12.080 which one is louder. But I know my ears have 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:14.720 really hurt come in games coming out of the Metrodome 0:08:14.720 --> 0:08:17.080 and the Superdome over the years. Superdome, Mike, I've only 0:08:17.120 --> 0:08:19.800 been there once and it was obviously at the very 0:08:19.840 --> 0:08:21.400 top of the building. Do you think that's because the 0:08:21.440 --> 0:08:23.120 press boxes open air at the top. Do you think 0:08:23.120 --> 0:08:25.160 it's that loud on the field too, I've never Really 0:08:25.760 --> 0:08:28.280 that's a really good question, because, yeah, the press box 0:08:28.360 --> 0:08:30.679 being an open air press box at the top in 0:08:30.840 --> 0:08:33.880 the Superdome, you know that you're really catching all the 0:08:33.920 --> 0:08:36.719 noise because it's just reverberating off the roof and and 0:08:37.080 --> 0:08:40.240 so you know, I don't know, but players teams that 0:08:40.400 --> 0:08:42.760 you know, have talked about playing there as as a 0:08:42.840 --> 0:08:46.560 road team in New Orleans. They definitely, they definitely say 0:08:46.600 --> 0:08:48.400 that the noise is a fact. Yeah, and the Packers 0:08:48.440 --> 0:08:50.200 are going to have to manage that this weekend and 0:08:50.240 --> 0:08:54.480 being able to, you know, effectively get off to a fast, 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:56.920 consistent start. I think when you've looked at these matchups, 0:08:56.920 --> 0:09:00.480 and again this goes back to the Heyday two of 0:09:00.480 --> 0:09:02.720 of some of these Packer teams playing in that environment 0:09:02.760 --> 0:09:05.640 with the Minnesota Vikings, it's all about trying to get 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:06.839 off to a fast start, and if you can get 0:09:06.840 --> 0:09:09.240 a takeaway in that first quarter and produce points off 0:09:09.240 --> 0:09:10.959 of it, it's going to set you up for the 0:09:11.000 --> 0:09:12.760 rest of the game. Yeah, well, I want to get 0:09:12.760 --> 0:09:15.120 back to that point in just a second. But Packers 0:09:15.200 --> 0:09:17.680 fans be sure to stop in at your local Quick 0:09:17.679 --> 0:09:20.240 Trip and pick up your Packers cup today. Get eighty 0:09:20.360 --> 0:09:24.920 nine cent refills on your Cafe Cruba coffee. All season long, 0:09:25.200 --> 0:09:27.600 you talked about the fast start West. We've seen the 0:09:27.640 --> 0:09:31.440 Packers do it in Los Angeles, tend to nothing lead 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:35.000 in Seattle fourteen to three lead, but they haven't been 0:09:35.000 --> 0:09:37.280 able to sustain it. Obviously. You know, when you're on 0:09:37.320 --> 0:09:39.960 the road, you're gonna get you're gonna get that comeback, 0:09:40.000 --> 0:09:43.559 you're gonna get that shift of momentum from the other team. 0:09:43.600 --> 0:09:46.760 And really in both instances, the Packers handled it. They 0:09:47.320 --> 0:09:50.240 limited it. You know, they fell behind, but not behind 0:09:50.240 --> 0:09:51.920 by too much, and they were able to stay in 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.600 the game right until the end. So as important as 0:09:55.600 --> 0:09:57.760 important as a fast start is, and you certainly don't 0:09:57.760 --> 0:10:00.440 want to get behind by multiple scores when you're on 0:10:00.480 --> 0:10:04.120 the road in a venue like this. But the Packers 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:07.319 are just are due to play a fourth quarter, aren't they? 0:10:07.360 --> 0:10:09.600 At some point here this fourth quarter thing is going 0:10:09.679 --> 0:10:12.520 to come together because there's too much talent on the field. 0:10:12.520 --> 0:10:15.400 This coaching staff is too experienced and has had plenty 0:10:15.440 --> 0:10:18.160 of success. I just I think this fourth quarter thing 0:10:18.240 --> 0:10:20.079 is going to get straightened out, and it needs to 0:10:20.120 --> 0:10:23.480 get straightened out now to keep this season alive in 0:10:23.520 --> 0:10:25.640 the sense it's it's a great point you make, and 0:10:25.679 --> 0:10:28.600 I think if you took it in segments, right, if 0:10:28.640 --> 0:10:31.440 if I just put a blindfold and ear muffs over 0:10:31.480 --> 0:10:34.480 your head for six months, the last six months, and 0:10:34.520 --> 0:10:38.080 I brought you out today and I said, okay, it's 0:10:38.080 --> 0:10:41.400 week twelve. Aaron Rodgers is nineteen touchdowns and one interception. 0:10:41.840 --> 0:10:44.680 Aaron Jones is averaging six yards of carry. Davante Adams 0:10:44.679 --> 0:10:46.840 is on pace to have a franchise record for receiving 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:50.800 yards and receptions, and Kenny Clark has as many sacks 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:54.040 as he has at this point. What's the Packers record? 0:10:54.400 --> 0:10:55.960 I think you'd say it would be better than four 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:58.240 or five and one. You get those type of performances. Now, 0:10:58.240 --> 0:11:00.079 we know that's not how this game is played. We 0:11:00.120 --> 0:11:02.360 know that is not how this life has lived. You 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:06.320 need complete performances. You have children, right, not breaking any 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:08.840 news here, when when they were smaller, did you ever 0:11:08.880 --> 0:11:11.160 take them to needlese pottery places at all where you 0:11:11.200 --> 0:11:13.679 like paint the plate you get like a plate you 0:11:13.760 --> 0:11:16.600 ever seen? You know, my nephews are really big on that. 0:11:16.920 --> 0:11:19.400 And there's one thing I've learned from doing that. You 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:21.480 can do a really good job for an hour and 0:11:21.559 --> 0:11:23.880 a half painting it, making look really nice, and you 0:11:23.880 --> 0:11:26.280 put it in a little you know, fire thing and 0:11:26.600 --> 0:11:29.720 it looks great. But if you if you smudge it 0:11:29.760 --> 0:11:33.280 at the beginning, it's tough to overcome it. And if 0:11:33.280 --> 0:11:35.320 you do something at the end or you drop it, 0:11:35.320 --> 0:11:37.520 it's tough to overcome it. It It doesn't matter what happens 0:11:37.520 --> 0:11:39.319 in the middle. Not enough time to fix it, not 0:11:39.520 --> 0:11:41.400 just trying to fix it. So I look at the 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:43.880 Packers right now, and you can play really good football, 0:11:44.000 --> 0:11:47.640 You can play fifty minutes of really good football. But 0:11:47.720 --> 0:11:50.040 if that beginning isn't where it needs to be, and 0:11:50.120 --> 0:11:52.560 that ending isn't how you need to finish, You're not 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:54.920 going to get the result you want. I think that's 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:56.720 been one of the things for the Packers this year 0:11:56.760 --> 0:12:00.280 that as a team, they've been trying to overcome into 0:12:00.360 --> 0:12:03.960 your original point three and a half minutes ago. You're right, 0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:08.480 if they can get their finger on it, they're right there, 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:11.880 because this isn't Philadelphia, in the in the Saints, and 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:14.360 and they're just getting blown out of the water everywhere 0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:16.920 they're playing. The Packers have been right in these things, 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:18.839 but to beat those teams might to be on that 0:12:18.920 --> 0:12:21.360 upper echelon. You have to do it for sixty one minutes. 0:12:21.760 --> 0:12:23.959 And right now the Packers are still trying to find 0:12:23.960 --> 0:12:26.280 that point. Yeah, and we saw after the bye week 0:12:26.760 --> 0:12:29.280 when you look at the road games, because on the road, 0:12:29.320 --> 0:12:31.360 obviously is where the Packers haven't won, and this is 0:12:31.400 --> 0:12:34.280 what needs to get fixed here with three road games left. 0:12:35.320 --> 0:12:38.199 It was the bad starts at Washington and at Detroit, 0:12:38.320 --> 0:12:41.240 just terrible starts to the games, fact Packers falling into 0:12:41.480 --> 0:12:45.840 three four score holes in those games. Mike McCarthy then 0:12:46.440 --> 0:12:48.480 talked about how when they came out of the bye week, 0:12:48.679 --> 0:12:52.000 started well against the Rams and against the Patriots, they 0:12:52.000 --> 0:12:55.480 were they were fine there, started strong against the Seahawks. 0:12:55.520 --> 0:12:58.640 The starts speak to your preparation, to your team's preparation, 0:12:58.760 --> 0:13:01.600 getting ready because so much of the beginning of the 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:03.800 game is the stuff that you've repped the most often 0:13:03.920 --> 0:13:06.600 during the week. So they got that fixed after the bye. 0:13:06.679 --> 0:13:08.599 They went from these terrible starts on the road to 0:13:08.679 --> 0:13:11.520 now starting much stronger on the road. So now it's 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:13.480 now it's just the other end of it. It's it's 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:17.000 getting things it's getting things fixed in the fourth quarter. 0:13:17.080 --> 0:13:19.440 And to me, I was asked a question this week 0:13:19.520 --> 0:13:22.600 in in Insider inbox. You know the old close only 0:13:22.800 --> 0:13:25.719 close doesn't count or only counts and horseshoes and hand 0:13:25.720 --> 0:13:28.400 grenades and all that kind of stuff. Well, the thing 0:13:28.520 --> 0:13:30.960 the thing that I said is that is that, yes, 0:13:31.000 --> 0:13:33.400 close doesn't count in the NFL. We know that there's 0:13:33.400 --> 0:13:36.400 no excuses for that. But what close does is it 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:39.720 tells a bunch of really competitive athletes in a locker 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:43.840 room that they know it's not some huge sea change 0:13:44.040 --> 0:13:47.360 that is needed in order to start having success. It's 0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:50.640 it's about it's about sharpen up the little things in 0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:54.560 your game personally and then be ready to make a 0:13:54.640 --> 0:13:58.440 clutch play in a clutch moment. That's what. That's all 0:13:58.480 --> 0:14:01.439 this that's all this team needs. One clutch play. Might 0:14:01.480 --> 0:14:04.560 have done it against the Rams, against the Patriots, um 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:08.280 certainly against the Seahawks, and it just didn't happen. But 0:14:08.400 --> 0:14:10.520 we know from what we've seen in the first three 0:14:10.600 --> 0:14:12.920 quarters of these road games, the talent is there for 0:14:12.960 --> 0:14:16.160 it to happen, absolutely, And I the I keep going 0:14:16.240 --> 0:14:20.520 back to that tunnel at l A Memorial Coliseum in 0:14:20.680 --> 0:14:23.120 Clay Matthews with his back up against the wall speaking 0:14:23.120 --> 0:14:26.040 of reporters and just saying that the most frustrating part 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:29.680 about this is you're playing down for down, point for 0:14:29.760 --> 0:14:32.040 point with the team like the Rams considered one of 0:14:32.080 --> 0:14:34.320 the top five, top three teams in the NFL right now, 0:14:34.480 --> 0:14:36.800 and look at what they did Monday night, right fifty 0:14:36.880 --> 0:14:40.320 four points. But you don't get it done. And unfortunately, 0:14:40.560 --> 0:14:42.640 it's not a it's not a fantasy league where it's 0:14:42.680 --> 0:14:44.520 the all play where you just get as many points 0:14:44.560 --> 0:14:46.600 as you get and that counts for the second or 0:14:46.640 --> 0:14:48.600 third most in the league. Now, if you play the 0:14:48.600 --> 0:14:50.520 best and you come up short, it's still a loss. 0:14:51.000 --> 0:14:53.120 So trying to rally back from that right now, I 0:14:53.120 --> 0:14:55.680 think that's the message. I think all week long the 0:14:55.720 --> 0:14:58.800 players have been talking about urgency in making sure that 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:01.360 they are right where they need to be preparation wise. 0:15:01.480 --> 0:15:04.360 I think we'll see all this game plays out, Mike. 0:15:04.400 --> 0:15:06.080 I'm not making any predictions on it, but I just 0:15:06.120 --> 0:15:08.080 think you're gonna see a lot of laser focus in 0:15:08.080 --> 0:15:11.080 this contest to make sure that the little things are tied. 0:15:11.240 --> 0:15:14.960 You know. Short up, everything is tied together, the teas 0:15:15.000 --> 0:15:17.760 are crossed, the eyes are dotted, and you come up 0:15:17.800 --> 0:15:20.200 with a complete performance. If you do that and as 0:15:20.200 --> 0:15:22.840 you mentioned earlier, get some of those takeaways, you're gonna 0:15:22.880 --> 0:15:24.640 get that win on the road that they've been seeking. 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:28.200 Alrighty quickly, here West, it's time to enter the Cousin 0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:30.280 Subs Best Seats in the House promotion. You and a 0:15:30.320 --> 0:15:32.200 guest could win a chance to kick back on the 0:15:32.240 --> 0:15:35.280 fifty yard line in style. Two pairs of lucky Packers 0:15:35.320 --> 0:15:37.800 fans will be chosen prior to each home game for 0:15:37.880 --> 0:15:41.240 this v I P experience. Enter daily now through December sixteen, 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:44.040 which is coming up soon. By completing the entry form 0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:47.480 and submitting for complete rules and eligibility go to Packers 0:15:47.480 --> 0:15:51.160 dot com slash best seats cousin subs we believe in better. 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:53.000 All right, I'm gonna throw one other thing at you 0:15:53.080 --> 0:15:56.720 here today West to sort of turn the narrative on 0:15:56.840 --> 0:15:58.680 its head a little bit. We're talking about the noise 0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:00.840 at US Bank Stadium, how off a place it can 0:16:00.880 --> 0:16:03.480 be to play. This is the Minnesota team that's five 0:16:03.520 --> 0:16:08.040 four and one. They came into this, their fan base anyway, 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:11.760 came into this with that Super Bowl or bust mentality, right, 0:16:12.560 --> 0:16:15.680 So five four and one, your rival, the rival Packers, 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:19.280 are coming in Minnesota, trying to stay above five and 0:16:19.360 --> 0:16:22.920 all that in contention for the NFC North title. If 0:16:22.920 --> 0:16:26.680 this game is tight late, is there any chance the 0:16:26.760 --> 0:16:30.640 crowd works against the home team where they get nervous, 0:16:31.080 --> 0:16:33.920 they get they get up tight a little bit? It could. 0:16:34.240 --> 0:16:36.160 I think if it's tight, they're still going to be 0:16:36.200 --> 0:16:39.720 in it because obviously that they're they're trying to, you know, 0:16:39.760 --> 0:16:42.080 really push them towards a sixth victory on the year. 0:16:42.160 --> 0:16:44.320 So I see them still work in their favorite But 0:16:44.360 --> 0:16:46.560 it would be interesting to see if you have a 0:16:46.600 --> 0:16:48.840 slow start in the first half, what that reception is 0:16:48.920 --> 0:16:51.320 like going into halftime. What happens if you come out 0:16:51.320 --> 0:16:53.040 in the third quarter and you have a three and out, 0:16:53.320 --> 0:16:56.480 and how they exactly react to that that I still 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:58.600 think Minnesota is better than the records suggests. I think 0:16:58.600 --> 0:17:01.280 the Packers are better than the records. That just the 0:17:01.360 --> 0:17:04.119 one thing I don't want to say I've enjoyed, but 0:17:04.160 --> 0:17:06.199 I can't think of a better word about this, is 0:17:06.240 --> 0:17:09.879 that there's this perception outside of all in. Okay, the 0:17:09.960 --> 0:17:12.720 Vikings moved all in, they gave all this guaranteed money 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:15.280 to Kirk Cousins. You can go in all you want, 0:17:15.800 --> 0:17:18.320 but if you know anything about poker, that doesn't mean 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:20.760 you're winning the hand. It means all your chips are 0:17:20.800 --> 0:17:22.840 in the middle and here you are. You're making your 0:17:22.880 --> 0:17:26.160 move just from the Viking's perspective, and we'll see there's 0:17:26.160 --> 0:17:28.639 still a lot of season be played, But it doesn't 0:17:28.640 --> 0:17:31.240 all in doesn't guarantee anything. You're still going to have 0:17:31.280 --> 0:17:32.840 to go through your highs and lows of a season. 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:35.880 Kirk Cousins is still the quarterback he's been. I mean 0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:38.960 he's been was an incredibly effective passer for a number 0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:43.040 of years with Washington, but you know he also had turnovers. 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:45.719 They also didn't make the playoffs, at times, it's not 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:48.800 like it was just you know, the you know, fran 0:17:48.920 --> 0:17:51.040 Tarkington just came out of nowhere and he's thirty years 0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:54.080 old again and he's, you know, your franchise quarterback. This 0:17:54.160 --> 0:17:57.639 game is an imperfect game played by imperfect players, and 0:17:57.680 --> 0:17:59.879 it's about finding the closest thing you can get to perfect. 0:18:00.440 --> 0:18:02.240 That's the only thing about this I've enjoyed is just 0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:04.119 that this idea that if you go all in, it 0:18:04.160 --> 0:18:06.200 just means you're gonna win the Super Bowl. There's thirty 0:18:06.200 --> 0:18:09.040 one teams vying for besides you. Yeah, you know, it's 0:18:09.080 --> 0:18:11.040 just the reality of it. Yeah. One thought I want 0:18:11.040 --> 0:18:13.320 to get from you with regards to the other games 0:18:13.400 --> 0:18:16.159 on Sunday, I think there's an interesting one in the NFC, 0:18:16.280 --> 0:18:19.680 and that is Seattle at Carolina. Seahawks are five and five, 0:18:19.760 --> 0:18:23.200 Carolina is six and four, both of them essentially sort 0:18:23.200 --> 0:18:26.439 of wild card or nothing here because of the Rams 0:18:26.480 --> 0:18:29.760 and the Saints both running away with those division titles, 0:18:29.760 --> 0:18:31.720 but two teams that are obviously right in the thick 0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:33.960 of that wild card race. The game is in Charlotte. 0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:36.280 Who do you think who do you think wins this? Well, 0:18:36.359 --> 0:18:38.280 it's it's really interesting you bring this up because they 0:18:38.320 --> 0:18:40.800 both have that common opponent of Detroit, you know, and 0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:44.840 and how they've performed in those settings. For the Panthers, 0:18:44.880 --> 0:18:46.280 that was such I have to imagine it was such 0:18:46.280 --> 0:18:49.240 a demoralizing way to go down trying to go on 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:51.359 the road. And I get I've we've talked about it. 0:18:51.359 --> 0:18:54.640 I understood the thinking of Ron Rivera, but you came 0:18:54.720 --> 0:18:56.080 up short in a game that I think a lot 0:18:56.080 --> 0:18:58.880 of people felt you should win. So now you have 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:01.240 the Seahawks, who, you know, they got a little wind 0:19:01.240 --> 0:19:03.879 in their sales now after two straight wins, you know, 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:05.800