1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined as always 3 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: by my trusted colleague West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you 4 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: here from socially distant locations at lambeau Field and West. Unfortunately, 5 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: we are discussing yet another loss in an NFC championship 6 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,840 Speaker 1: game for the Green Bay Packers, this one twenty six 7 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at lambeau Field. And compared 8 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: to the other two that you and I have covered 9 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: together here on with Packers dot Com, I know we 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: also both covered the one in Seattle six years ago. 11 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: Um in uh when you had a different job. But um, 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: this one, this one hurts. This one, Uh, this one 13 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: really hurts everybody in the organization because it was all 14 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: lined up. The Packers got the first on by the 15 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: only team to get one. They're playing in January at home. 16 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: It's everything that they wanted and the combination of too 17 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: many mistakes early, not quite enough of a comeback late, 18 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: and they come up short once again. Yeah, it was 19 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: really frustrating game on so many levels. And I think 20 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 1: you can ask anybody in the locker room. I mean 21 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: We heard a lot of guys talk about it after 22 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: the game, just how disappointing this was, because this was 23 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: as as Taylor made and set up for green Bay 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 1: to make a Super Bowl run as any season that 25 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 1: I've covered, certainly you were there for two thousand ten 26 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: and and also seeing the run in two thousand and seven, 27 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: the last hurrah there Brett Farve. And it's difficult because, Okay, 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: in fourteen, green Bay got off to a good start. 29 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: They didn't finish drives, but they did get off to 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: good start, got all those picks off of Russell Wilson. 31 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: But the Seahawks were the lead dog. They were the 32 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: team that was sort of the team to beat, especially 33 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: in that stadium where they had been on a big 34 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: undefeated streaks, so there was sort of that aura around it. 35 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: Six team was run the table was really fun, a 36 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: huge emotional victory against the Dallas Cowboys that got them there. 37 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: But once they got there, they had so many injuries. 38 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: You know, Jordy Nelson playing with a flak jacket on. 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: I mean, like those it was just a bizarre game 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: San Francisco they lost to him earlier in the season. 41 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: They went back pretty much the same recipe really weren't 42 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: in that game. This game, they were in it until 43 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: the bitter end. And that's what makes these losses difficult. 44 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: And the fact that you know, and you and I 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: talked about it, Mike, more than we could ever uh 46 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: really describe. They had to play clean football. They didn't. 47 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,399 Speaker 1: They couldn't turn over the football. They need to run 48 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: the football. That there were all these things that needed 49 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: to happen. They need to pressure Tom Brady, and it 50 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: just didn't happen consistently enough. And you know, there's there's 51 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: when you have a loss like this and there's so 52 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: many eyeballs on it, people point to specific coaches and 53 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: specific players and they try to make scapegoats, but the 54 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 1: reality is the Packers didn't do enough as a football 55 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: team to win this game and unfortunately for them, for 56 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: the fourth straight time falling in an NFC Championship matchup. Yeah, 57 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: I think the thing that gets the most frustrating when 58 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: you look at it, and when you look at it 59 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: in the larger context of these last couple of trips 60 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: to the NFC Championship game is in two thousand sixteen, 61 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: when the Atlanta Falcons were the better team, they played 62 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: like it in two thousand and nineteen when the San 63 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: Francisco forty Niners were the better team, they played like it. 64 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: I believe the Green Bay Packers were the better team 65 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: going into Sunday. I think the Packers are a better 66 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the Packers didn't 67 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: play like it. And you have to play like it 68 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: to do that to to win it. And we had 69 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: talked heading into the postseason West this was all about 70 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: for the Green Bay Packers, this was all about b 71 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: who you are right, And they did that against the 72 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Ramps because they converted on third down, they 73 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: converted in the red zone, they didn't turn the ball over. 74 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: All of those things. Well, what happened against the Tampa 75 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: Bay Buccaneers gold to go possessions that came up short. 76 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: You had a couple of turnovers that led to fourteen points. 77 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: The other way, they didn't stay balanced on offense. Matt 78 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: Lafleur admitted to getting away from the running game at 79 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: some at some crucial moments, you know in goal to 80 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: go after Jayre Alexander got a couple interceptions that were 81 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: part of the comeback. Just all these things that you 82 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: point to and say, you know, the Packers didn't follow 83 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: the be who you are mantra in in order to 84 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: win the game. And uh and unfortunately that's that's what happens. 85 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 1: It was looking like they might pull off a miracle 86 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: comeback down to ten early third quarter after the second 87 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: turnover gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers another touchdown. The Packers 88 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: get back within five points three possessions in the fourth quarter, 89 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: two of them down by five, another one down by eight, 90 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: three possessions needing a touchdown, couldn't get it. And uh 91 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: and unfortunately it's the second straight year where where the 92 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: Packers and and Matt Lafleur in his very successful tenure 93 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: here early on as the Green Bay Packers head coach, 94 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: it ends at the same painful stage. Yeah. And it 95 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: was funny to the games in which Tampa Bay won 96 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 1: this year, it was what fourteen of them or something 97 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: like that, something crazy. Uh. Tom Brady had thrown three 98 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: interceptions in those games. He throws three interceptions in this 99 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: game alone, all in the second half. And if you 100 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: would have told me back to back to back interceptions 101 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: by Amos by jyr Alexander, by jyr Alexander again. Uh, 102 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: and in Green Bay would still come up on the 103 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: losing end. I don't know if I would have believed you, 104 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: But you know, the biggest moment there one they got 105 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: off to a slow start again, um, which was actually 106 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: kind of turned on its head from the first matchup 107 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 1: with Tampa Bay where they actually got off to pretty 108 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: fast start, but then the second quarter was was a grind. 109 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,599 Speaker 1: And then I mean, ultimately, Mike, you can get takeaways, 110 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: you can get turnovers, but when the Buccaneers get two 111 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: of them and convert those into fourteen points and Green 112 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: Bake gets three and only gets six out of it, 113 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: that ultimately was the difference in this game. And and and 114 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: I tweeted it when they got the ball back with 115 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: too fourteen, I believe it us who are to seventeen 116 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: to go in the in the half, I'm like, well, 117 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: this is their chance to double up, and unfortunately, through 118 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: a series of events there it ends up being the 119 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: Buccaneers who doubled up on them, and and we're able 120 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: to to get that eight team point lead that wasn't insurmountable. 121 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: I was saying that the entire time I saw Aaron 122 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,080 Speaker 1: Eagler mentioned it too. There was a lot of ballgame left. 123 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: There's a lot of time left. There's twenty seven minutes 124 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 1: left at that point. Uh, and Green Bay did get 125 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: their offense back on the tracks a little bit. But 126 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: with a game like this, it's the NFC title game, 127 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: you're playing a really good competition, regardless of how they 128 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: got there. Uh. Yeah, you can't put yourself in those positions. 129 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: And for good to Green Bay Packers, it was just 130 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: enough of uh, you know, I don't want to not errors, 131 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: but I mean it just it was enough mistakes that 132 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: ultimately lead to them coming up one game short of 133 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: of their ultimate goal. Yeah. I mean, you couldn't ask 134 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: for more of a nightmare sequence than what happened at 135 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: the end of the first half and beginning of the 136 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: second half. As you mentioned, the Packers win the coin 137 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: toss and her because you like to have that opportunity 138 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: to potentially double up, well, it ends up backfiring twice 139 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: on them because the Buccaneers take the opening kickoff, go 140 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: down and score and have a lead. Um. But then 141 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: when you do have the chance to double up on 142 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: either side a halftime it it it burns you both 143 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: ways because Rogers throws an interception. Unfortunately, then the Buccaneers 144 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: hit the touchdown over the top on the last play 145 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: of the first half, than Aaron Jones fumbles and they 146 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: get a goal to ghost situation and they and they 147 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: punch it in. I believe it was only about seventy 148 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: five seconds of clock time between those two touchdowns. And uh. 149 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: And when a team gets fourteen points off of two 150 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: turnovers that quickly and you end up losing the game 151 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: by five, that just that just makes it that much 152 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: harder to swallow. It really does. Yeah, And it's that 153 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: and again getting back to my original premise when we 154 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: open the show, it's it isn't just one specific player. 155 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: All the eyes are gonna be on Scottie Miller's touchdown, 156 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: the ridge that was involved with that, Kevin King being 157 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: in in in coverage against him. But you also think 158 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: about a couple of plays earlier where Will Redman has 159 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: a chance at you know, just a lob ball that 160 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: Brady throws and could have easily been picked off. It 161 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: looked like you see the replay, would have been picked 162 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: off and it goes through his hands. It's that decision 163 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: from the buck side, because there are two teams on 164 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: the field. It's the decision for the Bucks to go 165 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: back to the sideline and decide, you know what, we're 166 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: gonna try for this thing. Um. And then certainly coming 167 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: out of the second half, the hit that Jordan Whitehead 168 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,440 Speaker 1: laid on Aaron Jones legal hit, good hit, Uh, pops 169 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: the ball out. Jones unfortunately gets injured on the play. 170 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: They get the ball at the eight yard line, and 171 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: you just I I just kept going back through my 172 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: head over and over again that it's like that was 173 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: fourteen points. Uh, those two instances in a game in 174 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: which um, the Buccaneers only ended up scoring thirty one. 175 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: So uh again, It's just it's a disappointing end to 176 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: a special year. And I think that's what makes these 177 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: more and more difficult. When you put together a team 178 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: like they did. And obviously there were a lot more 179 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: injuries this year than there were in but you have 180 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: a team that you feel can compete for Super Bowl. 181 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: I know the New Orleans Saints had teams like that 182 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: the past few years, Minnesota Vikings, There's been some good squads, 183 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: but that margin for error, that that thin line of 184 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,479 Speaker 1: greatness is so so thin. And for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 185 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: it's a huge opportunity that they have now going up 186 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: against Kansas City for the Super Bowl Championship. Actually, but 187 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 1: that one too, um serious. X M NFL Radio channel 188 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: is the only radio outlet dedicated to the National Football 189 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: League seven days a week, three d sixty five days 190 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: a year. Um. Well, it wouldn't be a an NFL 191 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: playoff game and a close game without some controversy involved, 192 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: and we're gonna go there. Huh Well, I'll just I'll 193 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: just say there's there's been there's a lot of discussion 194 00:09:56,640 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 1: obviously about the past interference call at end when it 195 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: looks like the Packers are going to get a defensive 196 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: stop and Rodgers is maybe going to get another shot 197 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,840 Speaker 1: down by five points, the flag comes out for d 198 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,160 Speaker 1: p I when lots of stuff had been let go 199 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: throughout the course of the game, including on the ball 200 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:22,479 Speaker 1: that what that Um Murphy bunting for the Buccaneers intercepted 201 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: Um where it looked like he had held Alan Lazard. 202 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: The Bucaneers get an interception which then they turned into 203 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 1: the Scotty Miller touchdown. So you have all of that, 204 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: you have, um, the discussion about Matt Lafleur's decision on 205 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: fourth and goal to kick the field goal and send 206 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: his defense back out there rather than go for it 207 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: on fourth and eight. There was some miscommunication or I 208 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: should say more of an opportunity an opportunity a lack 209 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: of opportunity to communicate between the quarterback and the head 210 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: coach there, because they were clearly on different pages in 211 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: terms of what the decision was going to be UM 212 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 1: in that situation. And uh and and you know, Packers 213 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: kind of get caught because yeah, it'd be great to 214 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: call time out and think about it, but then you 215 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: want your time outs for when you go back on defense. 216 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 1: So all of that, you know, ultimately lead to Packers 217 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: put their defense back on the field, and it looked 218 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: like the strategy was going to work. UM, But then 219 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: the flag comes out. UM. The only other than the 220 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: I believe, other than the helmet shot on Davante Adams, 221 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: that was the only flag on anybody in a defensive 222 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: secondary the entire game. And it comes with it. It 223 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: comes with a minute and a half, a minute and 224 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: a half left in the game. And look, I'm I'm 225 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: not one to say I'm just gonna say this. You 226 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: look at you look at the replay. It was a penalty. UM, 227 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: But it was the type of penalty that hadn't been 228 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,679 Speaker 1: called all game long. And I think that's what makes it, 229 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: that's what makes it tough from from the Green Bay side. 230 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: And that's why you saw Matt Lafleur as upset as 231 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: he was. That's why you heard what Aaron Rodgers said 232 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: after the game, just just said, Hey, the way the 233 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: game had been, the way the game had been called, 234 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: you know, they were letting them play. But as we 235 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: as we always say, the Packers shouldn't have let it 236 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: come down to that. And uh, and you know, you 237 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 1: put the game in the referees hands and and you 238 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: just have to you have to take whatever is delivered. 239 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 1: And the Packers didn't like what was delivered. Yeah, that's 240 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 1: a good way of putting it, Mike. And and it's 241 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: I hate talking about officiating because there you can't you 242 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: can't win because you know, we're wearing g's and everything. 243 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 1: We sound like Homer's and you know, and and so 244 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: our grapes and whatnot. But I mean, I can tell 245 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: you it was a poorly officiated game. I can tell 246 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: you that clip Blakman's crew. I don't think at any 247 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: point in that game had any real command over the 248 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: action on the field. UH six to go on the 249 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: third quarter was the first time a flag was thrown 250 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: the Lazard play. Alan did everything right. When he talked 251 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: to the media on Monday, did not say one thing 252 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: I owed about it. I think the closest we came 253 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: to someone actually discussing it was just Kenny Clark saying, well, 254 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: whether you're great with it or don't agree with it, 255 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: it was the call in the field. And then for 256 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: Paul Pleas Lusni or whatever that back judge's name was 257 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: um whatever, Perry Paganelli. Yeah, um, I mean take a picture. 258 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:18,280 Speaker 1: I'll last longer and it's just way twelve minutes and 259 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: then throw the flag. It is what is. You could 260 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: have made your job a lot easier, You could have 261 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: made everything a lot easier on you if you just 262 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: instantaneously react to it. Was the only flag to this day, 263 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:29,319 Speaker 1: I still think that was thrown on that play. He 264 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: missed the call earlier in the game. What I felt 265 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,719 Speaker 1: was probably defensive holding on Lazard ends up being a 266 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 1: pivotal moment because not only does Murphy Bunting get the pick, 267 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: it ultimately is what sets up the past. To Scottie Miller, 268 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 1: all that being said, the Green Bay Packers had countless 269 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: opportunities to win this game. They had countless opportunities to 270 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: bounce back from it. They didn't do that. But in 271 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: that juncture, after calling it the way that they did 272 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: the entire game, that is a difficult moment on a 273 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: third down to make the decision that now is the 274 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: time to do my job it. Yeah. Well, and you 275 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,679 Speaker 1: could hear after the game, and not just in the 276 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: comments about the officiating. We can move on from that, 277 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: but whether you're talking about, um, Matt Lafleur's voice, Aaron 278 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: Rodgers voice, the the pain, the disappointment, UM, the shock 279 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: in a lot of ways, not that the Packers, not 280 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 1: that anybody was assuming, Um, you know, the Packers are 281 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: gonna win the game. They were just gonna, you know, 282 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: go out there and win because it was at lambeau Field. 283 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: But when you're having the type of season the Packers 284 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: are having and things are falling into place, you are 285 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: planning on winning that game, and you are planning on 286 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: going to the super Bowl, and um, the you know, 287 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: as Rogers said, the suddenness, the abruptness of the ending 288 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: like that. When when that's the mindset that you're in 289 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: and even when you're down eighteen points and you start 290 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: rallying that whole sideline believe they were coming back to 291 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: win that game. They they believe they had it and 292 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: they had the opportunities to do it. Um, it's a 293 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: it's it's difficult, it's gonna make it's gonna make for 294 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: a long off season or for everybody involved, it's going 295 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: to be, you know, scrutinized up one side and down 296 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 1: the other, just like everything with Seattle was six years ago. 297 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: But um, but at the end of the day, the 298 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: Packers have had back to back trips to the NFC 299 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: Title Game. There's a lot to hang your hat on there, 300 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: and unfortunately you're just gonna have to keep waiting and 301 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: keep fighting to try to get back to a super Bowl. Yeah, 302 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: no question, And that is the tough thing because it's 303 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: not just exclusive to the Packers. There's a lot of questions. 304 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: I know Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills have had 305 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: an answer this week. It always happens this week this way. 306 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: I mean, whoever loses in the Super Bowl is going 307 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: to have a lot of questions and lingering things that 308 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to address. But I'm guessing just listening 309 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: to Matt Lafloor and the hurt and his voice on 310 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: Sunday night, it really is going to come back to 311 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 1: not running the ball enough down the stretch. You get 312 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: the two takeaways, it just leads to three straight passes 313 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: and in two three and notes and then getting down 314 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: to the four you know, between um that to the 315 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: eight yard line. Obviously the decision to go for two 316 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: same Brown not being able to catch that ball, and 317 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: then maybe that ultimately affected the way they approached the 318 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: end of that drive where they get down to the 319 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 1: eight yard line. But Mike, you and I have seen 320 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: it so much. We saw it, especially in the Rams 321 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: game when they get inside the tent, how you can 322 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: kind of chip away with the run. Jamal Williams did 323 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: a really solid job of that against the Rams down 324 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: the stretch. Uh, they didn't, they didn't. They didn't go 325 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: that direction here, they went with the passes. It is 326 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: what it is, and ultimately made the decision go for 327 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: the field goal. I think if you saw the statistics 328 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: I've seen a lot of the analysts mentioning, you know, 329 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: might have been ten percent either way in terms of 330 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: win probability there. It's just it's a difficult spot to 331 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: be in. Things will be questioned. But at the end 332 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: of the day, the Green Bay Packers, which just came 333 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: up five points short there of of being able to 334 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: figure out a way to way back down to Tampa. Yeah, 335 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: it's interesting, I think, and I think you and I 336 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 1: share the same perspective and that you know, we we 337 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 1: watch everything that goes on with this team. We we 338 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: remember moments and games and and you know, seasons, especially 339 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: when you're in the midst to them. You remember all 340 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: kinds of things inside and out. And you could just 341 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 1: tell certainly as as that first half was unfolding, and 342 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: certainly the way the first half ended, in the way 343 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: the second half began, it just felt like this completely 344 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: out of character game for the Green Bay Packers. It's 345 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: like the Packers are not This is not the two 346 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: thousand twenty Packers we're seeing out there. And it can 347 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: happen to anybody at any time. But when you get 348 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: into that out of character type of game in the playoffs, 349 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,280 Speaker 1: when it's a do or die, you know, win or 350 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: go home situation, it's really really hard to It's it's 351 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,160 Speaker 1: hard to recover from that, and the Packers tried, uh, 352 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: they fought, I mean to to be down eighteen points 353 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: against Tom Brady and intercept three passes and get a 354 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: couple of touchdowns and and keep that a one score 355 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:48,439 Speaker 1: game throughout the fourth quarter and give yourself a chance. 356 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: It doesn't make it, it doesn't make it any easier, 357 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 1: but it's it's just an even greater reflection in my 358 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: mind of how out of character so many other things 359 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: were that we're going on. Whether it's whether it is 360 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: a ending run, you know, not staying balanced on offense 361 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: when you know when you're in gold go or when 362 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,719 Speaker 1: you have a when you have a chance to settle 363 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 1: the game down. Just all of those things that the 364 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: Packers didn't look like the Packers in in a game 365 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: that that you need to be. You need to be 366 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: playing your best, and unfortunately they just they just didn't 367 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 1: bring their best on Sunday Now, And you feel for 368 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: the guys in the locker room, is is Aaron Rodgers 369 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:26,040 Speaker 1: said afterwards. You feel for Mercedes Lewis and and these 370 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: guys that were trying to make a run at this thing, 371 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: make a run of the ring, make a run at 372 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: playing in a Super Bowl. I mean even you know 373 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: Corey Linsley mentioned on Monday when he spoke to the media. 374 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: You know, him and David Baktari have talked for six 375 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: seven years now about wanting to to be able to 376 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: go to a Super Bowl together and and be part 377 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 1: of an offensive line that plays in that environment. And also, uh, 378 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: you do feel for the fan base because Wisconsin sport fans, 379 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: like you've seen a lot of those graphics here, They've 380 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:55,480 Speaker 1: had a lot of heartache the last ten years, especially 381 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: since the Packers won Super Bowl forty five, and whether 382 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: it was the Brewers, whether it's of Bucks two years ago, 383 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,880 Speaker 1: what there was a Bucks last year, um in the semifinals. 384 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just it hurts for these moments because 385 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: there's so much emotion involved and it's been building up 386 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: now after a lot of disappointments. So all you can 387 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: do is point to the future, point to the fact 388 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: that on February seven, the sixth, they're going to crown 389 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: a new Super Bowl champion. The seventh, everything swings back 390 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: over and Hope springs eternal and the Green Bay Packers 391 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: will put their best foot forward and trying to finally 392 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: bring that elusive championship back home in this an upcoming season. 393 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: Yeah alrighty well, we'll uh perhaps talk about the Super 394 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: Bowl fifty five matchup on our next show, but for now, 395 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: we're going to call it a wrap on this edition 396 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,159 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to continue following all of 397 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: our coverage of the team here on Packers dot com. 398 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: For Wes, I am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. 399 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: We will see you next time.