WEBVTT - #373 Packers Unscripted: Fresh start 0:00:00.800 --> 0:00:21.200 Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:25.000 I am Mike Spofford. Right over there is Wes Hodkowitz. 0:00:25.040 --> 0:00:28.320 Were coming to hear from our studios at lambe Field West. 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:31.280 It's the end of the week. Joe Philbin's debut as 0:00:31.320 --> 0:00:33.400 interim head coach of the Green Bay Packers will be 0:00:33.479 --> 0:00:38.320 Sunday at noon Central kickoff at lambeau Field Packers versus Falcons. 0:00:38.960 --> 0:00:41.720 And with this being our final show leading up to 0:00:41.760 --> 0:00:45.639 this contest, it is keys to victory times. So where 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:47.800 do you want to start? You know, it's funny, Mike, 0:00:47.800 --> 0:00:49.960 there's so many places you could start, And you and 0:00:50.000 --> 0:00:53.080 I have pontificated so many times in these episodes of 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:56.200 Unscripted on what the Packers need to accomplish, what they 0:00:56.200 --> 0:00:59.440 need to do. But to me, I actually think it's 0:00:59.480 --> 0:01:03.000 more mental at this point. It's being able to kind 0:01:03.000 --> 0:01:07.080 of overcome the circumstances of the week, rally together and 0:01:07.360 --> 0:01:10.119 you know, pursue a common goal in terms of trying 0:01:10.120 --> 0:01:13.360 to pick up a much needed victory here against I 0:01:13.440 --> 0:01:17.000 still maintain a pretty good Atlanta Falcons team. I've said 0:01:17.000 --> 0:01:18.920 it all week long, Like when you look at the 0:01:18.920 --> 0:01:21.000 parallels between the season the Packers have had in the 0:01:21.000 --> 0:01:23.720 season the Falcons have had. There's a lot there in 0:01:23.840 --> 0:01:27.200 terms of the injuries, in terms of the adversity, close losses, 0:01:27.760 --> 0:01:30.480 um not being able to play full four quarters in 0:01:30.560 --> 0:01:32.800 both teams have found themselves in the situation they're in 0:01:32.800 --> 0:01:34.959 at this point of the season. So, for my money, 0:01:35.520 --> 0:01:37.240 the biggest thing I think the Packers need to do 0:01:37.280 --> 0:01:41.120 into this type of game is I think on paper, 0:01:41.160 --> 0:01:45.520 there is a big advantage for them with the ground game. 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:49.840 Aaron Jones what he's been doing. If you feed him 0:01:49.880 --> 0:01:53.680 the football and you can defend against Tevin Coleman in 0:01:53.720 --> 0:01:56.240 the worst ranked run offense in the league, I think 0:01:56.280 --> 0:01:59.360 that's a big thing for the Packers to accomplishment accomplished 0:01:59.360 --> 0:02:03.240 in this game. Control the pace, control the down in distance, 0:02:03.640 --> 0:02:05.800 get a victory. Last week, I said it on our 0:02:05.840 --> 0:02:11.079 Final Thoughts video spoiler alert that game against Arizona Mike, 0:02:11.120 --> 0:02:13.800 they did a really good job of bottling up David Johnson. 0:02:13.800 --> 0:02:16.800 They did. He averaged three point two yards per carry. 0:02:16.840 --> 0:02:20.280 But that third quarter, whether it was the end around, 0:02:20.280 --> 0:02:23.000 whether it was Josh Rosen scramble, or whether or not 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:25.280 it was also Edmunds getting a couple of pictures. Chase 0:02:25.440 --> 0:02:27.560 Edmunds kind of snuck in there and and made some 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:29.760 things happen. A hundred and one rushing yards in that 0:02:29.840 --> 0:02:32.080 quarter alone, and that kind of allowed the Cardinals to 0:02:32.120 --> 0:02:34.840 get some momentum in their sales. Packers got to win 0:02:34.880 --> 0:02:37.839 the ground game in this game. Yeah, speaking of Chase 0:02:37.960 --> 0:02:40.399 Edmonds and the Arizona Cardinals. So I'll throw this back 0:02:40.440 --> 0:02:43.200 at you. Is there some you know, with the Vonte 0:02:43.200 --> 0:02:45.800 Freeman on injured reserve Tevin Coleman is the number one 0:02:45.880 --> 0:02:48.040 running back right now for the Falcons. Is there some 0:02:48.080 --> 0:02:50.520 other guy that we're not paying attention to who could 0:02:50.760 --> 0:02:53.079 have an impact on Sunday? Like last week? I mean, 0:02:53.480 --> 0:02:57.160 Smith is the I believe the undrafted rookie that's behind Coleman. 0:02:58.120 --> 0:03:00.200 He is. I mean, he made the roster and he's 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:02.240 you know, he did some really good things in the preseason. 0:03:02.240 --> 0:03:04.560 He's only averaging three point two yards per carry though, 0:03:04.639 --> 0:03:07.120 So but to your point, I'm glad you brought that 0:03:07.200 --> 0:03:09.280 up because last week you and I did not say 0:03:09.360 --> 0:03:12.200 Chase Edmonds name was, and he ended up being kind 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:14.600 of the game breaker. He was. He was the difference 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:16.200 in the game early as far as if you point 0:03:16.200 --> 0:03:18.640 to one individual player, but if you talk to you 0:03:18.639 --> 0:03:22.440 know Tan quinn uh and and certainly you know Steve Sarkisian. 0:03:22.520 --> 0:03:25.960 Their their offensive coordinator, Tevin Coleman is the back, he's 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:27.560 the guy, and that they want to get the ball 0:03:27.600 --> 0:03:29.960 two more. They haven't been able to do it. And 0:03:30.000 --> 0:03:31.960 I think it's not they don't need to live with 0:03:32.000 --> 0:03:34.560 the run. I view this offense that the Falcons have 0:03:34.639 --> 0:03:36.240 right now in a very similar light to some of 0:03:36.240 --> 0:03:39.640 the better ones they had before Freeman Ware. Okay, you 0:03:39.680 --> 0:03:41.720 don't just have a guy that's gonna just burn you 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:45.120 for yards. You're gonna count on your perimeter weapons. But 0:03:45.200 --> 0:03:47.080 that being said, they need to be able to lessen 0:03:47.120 --> 0:03:48.600 the load a little bit on Matt Ryan because a 0:03:48.640 --> 0:03:50.760 lot has been on his shoulders this season. Yeah, I'm 0:03:50.760 --> 0:03:54.400 with you as far as the Packers defensive keys go 0:03:54.680 --> 0:03:57.160 in this game. And and I'll just expound on it 0:03:57.200 --> 0:03:59.160 a little bit in that when I look at this 0:03:59.200 --> 0:04:02.200 Falcon's offense, as we've talked about all week long, you've 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:04.880 got Julio Jones, You've got Mohammed Sanu, you've got the 0:04:04.960 --> 0:04:08.160 rookie Calvin Ridley who's leading them in touchdown receptions. Tevin 0:04:08.200 --> 0:04:10.560 Coleman still can be a productive guy. Matt Ryan was 0:04:10.600 --> 0:04:14.680 an m VP just two seasons ago. I think the Packers. 0:04:15.040 --> 0:04:17.440 What you really have to be on guard here if 0:04:17.520 --> 0:04:20.360 you're the Packers is the big play defensively. And when 0:04:20.400 --> 0:04:24.040 you look at the Arizona game last week, Cardinals had 0:04:24.160 --> 0:04:27.080 five explosive plays of I believe it was twenty three 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:29.479 yards or more, all of them in the second half. 0:04:29.520 --> 0:04:32.320 First half, the Packers defense was fine, and I believe 0:04:32.360 --> 0:04:34.359 four of the five in the second half. We're in 0:04:34.360 --> 0:04:36.960 the third quarter, Like you said, that's when the game 0:04:37.000 --> 0:04:40.880 got away from from the Packers defensively. Suddenly the chunk 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:44.080 play started happening. You could feel the momentum shift and 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:46.400 then kind of with all that pressure that was on 0:04:46.480 --> 0:04:50.520 the Packers with everything on the line, and and ultimately 0:04:51.200 --> 0:04:53.200 Green Bay wasn't able to come through at the end. 0:04:53.279 --> 0:04:56.680 So I think limiting the explosive plays is really going 0:04:56.720 --> 0:04:59.600 to be a key in this game. I still can't 0:04:59.640 --> 0:05:02.479 figure out how an offense with all of these weapons 0:05:02.800 --> 0:05:05.640 has gone four consecutive games and not even reached twenty 0:05:05.680 --> 0:05:08.400 points on the scoreboard. I know I watched a chunk 0:05:08.440 --> 0:05:12.400 of a good portion of that Thanksgiving night game when 0:05:12.440 --> 0:05:15.479 the Falcons were down in New Orleans and they moved 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:17.400 the ball up and down the field like crazy. They 0:05:17.440 --> 0:05:19.480 just every time they were it seemed like every time 0:05:19.480 --> 0:05:21.400 they got in the red zone they had a turnover, 0:05:21.480 --> 0:05:23.720 somebody coughed it up, or Matt Ryan threw a pick 0:05:23.839 --> 0:05:26.880 or something crazy would happen that you know, they drive 0:05:26.920 --> 0:05:29.119 the ball sixty six five yards and then come away 0:05:29.120 --> 0:05:31.720 with nothing, not even a field goal because of the turnovers. 0:05:31.760 --> 0:05:34.800 So that's been part of it in this four game 0:05:34.880 --> 0:05:37.120 stretch for them. But still four straight games with this 0:05:37.240 --> 0:05:40.000 offense not scoring twenty points. I'm just gonna be honest 0:05:40.000 --> 0:05:41.720 with you, and this is this is not a knock 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:45.680 against the Packers defense, but I'm nervous that this Falcons 0:05:45.720 --> 0:05:47.960 offense is ready to explore. Well, it's a good point 0:05:48.040 --> 0:05:50.240 you raise, because that one of the things I said 0:05:50.240 --> 0:05:52.480 in this game is I felt like this is where 0:05:52.560 --> 0:05:54.520 the Packers offense does need to come to life a 0:05:54.600 --> 0:05:56.760 little bit. I think the Packers defense can do a 0:05:56.800 --> 0:06:00.320 really solid job against Atlanta and still give up some points. Now, 0:06:00.720 --> 0:06:02.480 the one reason why I think the run game is 0:06:02.520 --> 0:06:04.479 so important in this is, if you know, what the 0:06:04.480 --> 0:06:06.720 conditions being in the twenties or whatever, it's gonna be 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:09.880 like on Sunday morning. If if you're not able to 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:11.919 run the football, it makes a lot more difficult to 0:06:11.920 --> 0:06:15.239 get the vertical passing game going, specifically for a dome 0:06:15.400 --> 0:06:18.839 oriented team, a team from the South like Atlanta like 0:06:18.880 --> 0:06:21.880 the Falcons. So I think that's gonna have a big bearing. 0:06:21.880 --> 0:06:23.400 I think it's gonna be very important that this game 0:06:23.480 --> 0:06:25.760 is played at lambeau Field and not down at the 0:06:25.760 --> 0:06:29.080 Mercedes Benz Dome, so uh that I think that's gonna 0:06:29.080 --> 0:06:31.320 be critical. But at the same time, as you sort 0:06:31.320 --> 0:06:33.200 of pointed out, when you look at these weapons right now, 0:06:33.400 --> 0:06:35.400 Austin Hooper can hurt you in the scene, he can 0:06:35.480 --> 0:06:38.440 hurt you underneath. Kelvin Ridley kind of went through a 0:06:38.560 --> 0:06:40.680 lull as I mentioned earlier this week, but it seems 0:06:40.680 --> 0:06:42.520 like he's kind of gaining his fire back again. I 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:44.120 think he's gonna be a problem for teams in the 0:06:44.200 --> 0:06:47.120 NFC for years to come, along with Julio Jones in 0:06:47.720 --> 0:06:50.600 Mohammed san News, you know, a very good, solid possession 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:53.440 receiver in that mix as well. So I am sure 0:06:53.480 --> 0:06:55.160 that they're gonna have a game plan for this. I 0:06:55.200 --> 0:06:57.760 know what they're they're gonna be expecting to do. They 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:00.000 are the fifth ranked pass offense in the league compared 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:02.039 to you know, the issues that they have had with 0:07:02.080 --> 0:07:05.440 the run. So the Falcons they play football one way 0:07:05.560 --> 0:07:07.720 and that's airing it out. At least that's been their 0:07:07.720 --> 0:07:10.840 offense this year without Freeman. So it's gonna be very 0:07:10.880 --> 0:07:13.680 important for the Packers if they have Bishod Brelan available, 0:07:14.240 --> 0:07:16.280 if they can get some of these secondary you know, 0:07:16.360 --> 0:07:18.360 you know you're not gonna have Kevin King, but get 0:07:18.440 --> 0:07:21.720 some of these defensive backs healthy. They're gonna need to 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:23.920 be able to play a full four quarters because they 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:25.960 will test you whether or not they're successful or not 0:07:26.040 --> 0:07:28.160 as one thing, but the Falcons will test you with 0:07:28.200 --> 0:07:30.280 Matt Ryan's arm. Yeah. Well, you mentioned this is a 0:07:30.320 --> 0:07:33.119 game that the Packers offense definitely needs to get going, 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:34.920 and I want to get to that as soon as 0:07:34.920 --> 0:07:37.360 I take care of some sponsored business. 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With regards 0:08:13.120 --> 0:08:17.040 to the Packers offense again spoiler alert. I said this 0:08:17.120 --> 0:08:19.800 on our final Thoughts video that will be posted on 0:08:19.800 --> 0:08:22.600 the website, which we taped just before we sat down here. 0:08:23.320 --> 0:08:26.880 If there's one thing that the Packers you would like 0:08:27.000 --> 0:08:30.000 to see them start to straighten out offensively with Joe 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:32.400 Philbin now taking over his interim head coach and all 0:08:32.480 --> 0:08:35.280 the changes that have gone on, it's got to be 0:08:35.360 --> 0:08:39.040 on third down. You have to start converting third downs 0:08:39.080 --> 0:08:42.560 on some more consistent level. And I went back through 0:08:42.559 --> 0:08:44.520 the numbers. I'm going to share these with you because 0:08:44.559 --> 0:08:48.040 it's to think that this is what the Packers offense 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:51.120 is done through twelve games with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback 0:08:51.640 --> 0:08:55.440 is almost mind boggling on third down. Only one game 0:08:55.520 --> 0:08:59.200 this season have the Packers converted fift or better on 0:08:59.280 --> 0:09:01.839 third down one out of twelve games. It was against 0:09:01.880 --> 0:09:04.320 Buffalo eleven out of nineteen, which is a lot of 0:09:04.320 --> 0:09:06.959 third downs in one game, but eleven out of nineteen 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:10.120 that day against the Buffalo Bills. But not only have 0:09:10.240 --> 0:09:14.280 the other twelve games are the other eleven out of 0:09:14.320 --> 0:09:18.880 the twelve all been below, but only three of them 0:09:18.960 --> 0:09:23.000 west have the Packers even been within one third down 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:27.600 conversion of getting to there was a six out of fourteen, 0:09:27.640 --> 0:09:29.760 a six out of thirteen, and a four out of ten. 0:09:30.320 --> 0:09:32.559 Those are the only three where you look at the 0:09:32.640 --> 0:09:34.920 numbers and go okay, if they had converted just one more, 0:09:35.360 --> 0:09:37.959 they would have been at least at fifty percent. That 0:09:38.040 --> 0:09:41.640 leaves eight of the twelve games where you're not even 0:09:41.679 --> 0:09:45.920 within one conversion of hitting the fifty mark. And and 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:48.720 the worst has been the last three games, eight out 0:09:48.720 --> 0:09:51.000 of thirty five collectively in the last three games for 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:55.800 twenty three percent. It almost defies belief that that this 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:59.839 Packers offense could struggle that much on third down for 0:10:00.200 --> 0:10:03.360 this long And if there's one thing that whether it's 0:10:03.480 --> 0:10:06.040 this Sunday or through these last four games the last 0:10:06.080 --> 0:10:09.439 month of the season, you want to see the third 0:10:09.440 --> 0:10:13.240 down offense look like it can. It has something it 0:10:13.240 --> 0:10:15.680 can hang its hat on and something that will create 0:10:15.760 --> 0:10:18.440 some consistency. Yeah, I'm actually gonna jump over you there. 0:10:18.440 --> 0:10:20.679 I'm gonna say there's actually something else this team needs 0:10:20.679 --> 0:10:23.240 to do over the last month of the season. Over that. 0:10:23.440 --> 0:10:25.599 I'm gonna touch on that in one second. Leave that 0:10:25.600 --> 0:10:27.400 as a little bit of a teaser, But to your 0:10:27.400 --> 0:10:30.120 original point, it's a great point. And it's incredible when 0:10:30.160 --> 0:10:32.920 you look at the stats with the amount of consistency. 0:10:33.400 --> 0:10:35.080 You don't want to use that word, but just how 0:10:35.160 --> 0:10:37.120 much of a struggle it's been for the Packers to 0:10:37.160 --> 0:10:39.240 be able to convert those and and it's just been 0:10:39.280 --> 0:10:42.160 so against what this offense has done over such a 0:10:42.200 --> 0:10:44.839 long period of time. That's why it stands out so much. 0:10:44.880 --> 0:10:47.199 And earlier this season it made sense because they were 0:10:47.240 --> 0:10:49.280 in a lot of third and long situations, and and 0:10:49.559 --> 0:10:52.040 and Aaron Rodgers talked about it, Mike McCarthy talked about it. 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:55.800 When you get in third and nine plus, it changes 0:10:55.840 --> 0:10:59.160 the game. It reduces your window for what you can 0:10:59.200 --> 0:11:01.800 put up on your call sheet, the advantage switches to 0:11:01.840 --> 0:11:04.360 the defense. There no question. The bigger issue I think 0:11:04.360 --> 0:11:07.160 has been more recently when it's been these intermediate third 0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:08.920 and you know, third and five, third and six is, 0:11:08.960 --> 0:11:10.880 and even down to third and three, third and four. 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:13.319 As I mentioned on one of the shows early this weekend, 0:11:13.320 --> 0:11:15.240 it was sort of a tongue in cheek reference I 0:11:15.280 --> 0:11:17.160 made with Madden, where you just have that one play 0:11:17.200 --> 0:11:19.120 that you call against your buddy and you know that 0:11:19.120 --> 0:11:20.679 you're gonna be able to move the ball on him. 0:11:21.480 --> 0:11:23.360 I obviously I am joking, and you can't be that 0:11:23.440 --> 0:11:25.720 simple about it. But the Packers in the past have 0:11:25.800 --> 0:11:27.560 had those plays that they hang their hat on. They've 0:11:27.600 --> 0:11:29.160 had those plays that you know, if you need to 0:11:29.160 --> 0:11:30.800 get five yards, you're gonna be able to do it 0:11:30.880 --> 0:11:33.080 this way. They just haven't been able to find that 0:11:33.160 --> 0:11:35.480 this season. But to the other point, I want to 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:38.160 make even more than third downs, even more than run defense, 0:11:38.200 --> 0:11:41.400 even more than anything else, the biggest goal and objective 0:11:41.440 --> 0:11:44.040 I have for this team in this game. Let's just 0:11:44.080 --> 0:11:47.000 have some fun. Because here's the thing, Mike. Last week, 0:11:47.120 --> 0:11:50.560 whether it was offense, defense, special teams, everything, the Packers 0:11:50.600 --> 0:11:53.760 played that game like a team not wanting to lose, 0:11:54.320 --> 0:11:56.120 knowing that they needed to win it to be able 0:11:56.160 --> 0:11:58.840 to get on a run here, but not really playing 0:11:58.920 --> 0:12:02.840 that way. It just wasn't quite where it needed to be. Well, 0:12:02.920 --> 0:12:05.079 let's be honest. Now we know what the stats are, 0:12:05.120 --> 0:12:07.000 we know what the percentages are for the Packers to 0:12:07.080 --> 0:12:08.840 make the playoffs. I think you win out there's a 0:12:09.720 --> 0:12:12.319 chance you make it. Go out there and just have 0:12:12.400 --> 0:12:15.280 some fun. Play loose. You have a new guy in 0:12:15.280 --> 0:12:17.400 that seat. And Joe Philbin and Joe Philbin talked to 0:12:17.440 --> 0:12:20.240 the media on Friday morning and he said, you know, 0:12:20.320 --> 0:12:23.440 play calls are very important, but it's also about players 0:12:23.480 --> 0:12:25.560 going out there and believing in what they're doing in 0:12:25.679 --> 0:12:28.480 playing the game. That's what I look for the most 0:12:28.480 --> 0:12:30.960 in this game. I'm not saying to get away from 0:12:31.000 --> 0:12:34.120 your fundamentals or not be disciplined. All that stuff factors 0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:35.559 into it. But I just think one of the things 0:12:35.679 --> 0:12:38.160 during this this five out of six stretch the Packers 0:12:38.200 --> 0:12:41.360 have struggled with, they just haven't had fun. I think 0:12:41.400 --> 0:12:43.000 that's something I want to see in this ball game. No, 0:12:43.120 --> 0:12:45.600 I'm with you. I think the emotional aspect of this 0:12:45.640 --> 0:12:48.480 game is going to be very interesting to watch because 0:12:48.480 --> 0:12:50.040 I think as you and I were in the press 0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:52.720 box on Sunday, the Packers had to put together that 0:12:53.640 --> 0:12:56.160 yard touchdown drive, you know, to tie up the game 0:12:56.200 --> 0:12:59.120 and have a chance against the Cardinals, and you could 0:12:59.160 --> 0:13:02.040 just feel it was there was so much tension in 0:13:02.080 --> 0:13:05.120 the building because because of the opponent and because of 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:07.720 everything that had been going on. And then when the 0:13:07.760 --> 0:13:10.920 Cardinals end up retaking the lead, now you've got to 0:13:11.000 --> 0:13:13.520 drive down again and try to get some more points 0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:15.440 to try to extend the game. And there was just 0:13:15.520 --> 0:13:18.439 there was this incredible tension in the building and and 0:13:18.600 --> 0:13:21.040 I'm with you, it's it's it's time. It's time to 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:24.200 forget about the playoffs, whatever the percentages are, and if 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:26.800 you can run it and all these other dominoes can fall, 0:13:26.840 --> 0:13:29.720 and it's time to forget about all that. It's time 0:13:29.720 --> 0:13:32.480 to get the ball with five minutes to go and 0:13:32.520 --> 0:13:34.520 you need some points to win the game, and to 0:13:34.640 --> 0:13:36.760 just say all right, this is it. It's like we're 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:39.600 we're in the backyard. This is recess at school. Let's 0:13:39.679 --> 0:13:42.679 let's go out and have some fun and do what 0:13:42.720 --> 0:13:44.760 we do and not worry. I mean, yes, you want 0:13:44.800 --> 0:13:48.080 to win the game, but not worry about the consequences. 0:13:48.120 --> 0:13:51.120 And and you know, I mean somebody makes a big play, hey, 0:13:51.160 --> 0:13:53.199 get fired up about it. Not like, oh good, it's 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:54.920 a good thing. We move the chains there, boy, you 0:13:54.960 --> 0:13:57.280 know we still got I mean, I agree with you. 0:13:57.320 --> 0:13:59.920 I think there's a I think there's a potential emotional 0:14:00.040 --> 0:14:02.959 aspect to this final month of the season. If you're 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:05.840 going to carry anything over into next year, it's for 0:14:05.880 --> 0:14:07.920 all these guys in this locker room. However, many of 0:14:07.960 --> 0:14:09.600 them are going to be here and not be here, 0:14:10.800 --> 0:14:12.440 but for all these guys in the locker room to 0:14:12.480 --> 0:14:14.839 just get back to having fun play in the game again. 0:14:15.000 --> 0:14:17.840 And and uh, I hope they find it, even even 0:14:17.880 --> 0:14:21.320 if it comes in defeat, whatever it is. Hopefully it 0:14:21.360 --> 0:14:23.480 comes in a victory, but get back to having fun. 0:14:23.560 --> 0:14:25.680 I'm totally with you. And it's one of these games too. 0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:27.480 There's no reason why this shouldn't be one of the 0:14:27.480 --> 0:14:29.960 more entertaining games of the Packers season, just based on 0:14:30.000 --> 0:14:32.640 the way that dan Quinn's team has built, what Matt 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:34.880 Ryan can do, what Aaron Rodgers does when those two 0:14:34.920 --> 0:14:37.440 guys are on paper against each other. This is the 0:14:37.520 --> 0:14:40.840 fourth the third straight time the Packers are playing the 0:14:40.840 --> 0:14:44.320 Falcons at lambeau Field in the month of December and 0:14:44.360 --> 0:14:47.000 week fourteen. I believe that's what the status think about 0:14:47.040 --> 0:14:53.920 those that I forgot and now right and think about 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:59.240 some of those other games. The shootout in ten was 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:02.840 the shootout, was the Matt Flynn was the Matt Flynn 0:15:02.880 --> 0:15:04.640 game that came right down to the young The Packers 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:06.960 won by a point and stayed in the hunt before 0:15:07.040 --> 0:15:10.480 Rodgers came back. Outside of probably that NFC title game 0:15:10.520 --> 0:15:13.480 in sixteen, to be fair, have had some really competitive, 0:15:13.560 --> 0:15:16.200 fun matchups. I want to see that come to life. 0:15:16.200 --> 0:15:18.680 Atlanta the regular season game in sixteen. I know the 0:15:18.680 --> 0:15:21.320 Packers lost down in Atlanta, but what was it thirty 0:15:21.360 --> 0:15:23.520 three to thirty two or something like? I mean, you're 0:15:23.520 --> 0:15:25.240 talk I mean at that time, Ryan was on his 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:27.600 way to the m v P. But we're still looking 0:15:27.600 --> 0:15:29.760 at two quarterbacks out there on Sunday who have a 0:15:29.760 --> 0:15:32.560 combined three m v P awards and uh and have 0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:34.840 accomplished a lot in this league. And and yeah, I 0:15:35.160 --> 0:15:36.760 just I hope it's a fun game to watch and 0:15:36.840 --> 0:15:38.600 for everything that gets made out of you know, Mike 0:15:38.720 --> 0:15:41.400 McCarthy and some of the offensive struggles that game against 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:44.960 the Falcons two years ago during the regular season, that was, 0:15:45.000 --> 0:15:46.760 to my money, still one of the best games that 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:49.400 he called one of the best games Aaron Rodgers put together, 0:15:49.600 --> 0:15:52.920 considering how few weapons were available to them at receiver. Yeah, 0:15:52.960 --> 0:15:54.800 with what the Packers had to deal with that day 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:57.920 roster wise, and looking at who was on the inactive 0:15:57.960 --> 0:16:00.720 list that day, ninety minutes in act, that was a 0:16:00.720 --> 0:16:03.080 whale of a football game. It wasn't really fun football game. 0:16:03.120 --> 0:16:04.800 So that's what I'm hoping for in this I just 0:16:04.880 --> 0:16:07.960 think that the way everything is built for the Packers, 0:16:08.000 --> 0:16:10.760 just play like you have nothing to lose at this point, 0:16:10.800 --> 0:16:13.360 because it really is. I mean, you're gonna be able 0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:15.560 once the season is over. The chips will fall where 0:16:15.600 --> 0:16:18.440 they made a new coaching staff or however is developed. 0:16:18.920 --> 0:16:21.400 All those things will be figured out in January and 0:16:21.600 --> 0:16:24.440 February and March. Right now, though you have four weeks. 0:16:24.480 --> 0:16:25.920 And then the other aspect of this too is we 0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:28.200 talked about on yesterday's show. There's a lot of young, 0:16:28.280 --> 0:16:29.960 hungry guys on this team that are gonna want to 0:16:30.000 --> 0:16:32.080 show this is what I can do. This is my moment. 0:16:32.520 --> 0:16:34.760 You know, it doesn't just have to be Tyler Lancaster 0:16:35.000 --> 0:16:38.560 or you know, Kendall Donnerson. It is still Kenny Clark. Hey, 0:16:38.600 --> 0:16:40.920 can I finish off a Pro Bowl season? You know 0:16:40.960 --> 0:16:43.000 Davante Adams? Can I make a run at that record? 0:16:43.000 --> 0:16:46.080 Can Aaron Jones get a thousand yards running? You want 0:16:46.080 --> 0:16:48.480 to win games, you want to make the playoffs, you 0:16:48.480 --> 0:16:50.560 want to win a Super Bowl, but you also want 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:53.040 to challenge yourself as an individual to be better, to 0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:55.760 get the most audio. These are four great opportunities for 0:16:55.760 --> 0:16:58.000 this team to do that. Yeah, I'm with you there. Hey, 0:16:58.040 --> 0:17:00.160 before we go, let's just take a quick look at 0:17:00.160 --> 0:17:03.200 what else is going on in the NFL, because there 0:17:03.200 --> 0:17:05.800 there are some interesting matchups. Actually, and I'll just start 0:17:05.920 --> 0:17:09.000 right with the other games involving the NFC North because 0:17:09.040 --> 0:17:11.879 Sunday night football, hopefully you and I can get our 0:17:11.880 --> 0:17:14.520 work done and and get home, put a fire in 0:17:14.520 --> 0:17:17.760 the fireplace, and settle in for Bears against the Rams 0:17:18.280 --> 0:17:21.359 in Chicago. Gonna be a chilly night. I would imagine 0:17:21.640 --> 0:17:24.720 off off Lake Michigan there and uh and off of 0:17:24.800 --> 0:17:27.880 Lake Shore Drive on the south side of Chicago. An 0:17:28.000 --> 0:17:30.360 l A team coming into those kind of conditions. Ms. 0:17:30.440 --> 0:17:33.120 Traubinsky presumably going to be back after missing a couple 0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:36.080 of games for Chicago. Really interesting matchup on Sunday N 0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:39.080 see Vic Fangio's defense match up with that Offense's gonna 0:17:39.080 --> 0:17:40.919 be a lot of fun to watch, just with the 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:42.879 weapons that they have, the way they can pressure the 0:17:42.960 --> 0:17:45.800 quarterback to get after Jared Goff, I think is gonna 0:17:45.800 --> 0:17:48.320 be really exciting. And then even the Monday night games, 0:17:48.480 --> 0:17:49.760 that was the other one. I was going to mention 0:17:49.800 --> 0:17:52.800 Monday night football Minnesota and Seattle. I mean, Mike, I 0:17:52.840 --> 0:17:55.000 don't want to, you know, be labor what happened last 0:17:55.000 --> 0:17:57.280 week and how tough that was for the Packers. But 0:17:57.359 --> 0:17:59.200 one of the reasons why that game was so important 0:17:59.240 --> 0:18:01.919 was because the NFC North has some tough games coming up. 0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:04.680 Yet everything went pretty much the way you would want 0:18:04.800 --> 0:18:07.080 to go if you're the Packers. And and if the 0:18:07.080 --> 0:18:10.280 Packers were five six and one right now instead of 0:18:10.280 --> 0:18:12.639 four seven and one, a lot of and no I'm 0:18:12.680 --> 0:18:14.920 not just talking about the head coaching situation, a lot 0:18:14.960 --> 0:18:17.120 of things would look different because we wouldn't be talking 0:18:17.200 --> 0:18:20.119 about having so many dominoes that need to fall in 0:18:20.160 --> 0:18:22.359 order to make the playoffs. Everything would look different. But 0:18:22.960 --> 0:18:25.600 with where the Packers are right now, this this Viking 0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:28.080 Seahawks game is really intrigued. Yeah, and trust me, I 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:30.320 get it. The Packers season did not go according to plan. 0:18:30.400 --> 0:18:32.320 They made a coaching change for the first time in 0:18:32.400 --> 0:18:35.320 sixty five years during the season. But the thing that 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:38.399