1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted Social 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: Distancing Style from Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, 3 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: joined as always by my trusted colleague West hod Kuwitz, 4 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: coming to you from our home office is nowhere near 5 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: the banks of the Fox River, but West the Packers 6 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: schedule for is out, and so we will spend this 7 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: episode pontificating about said schedule. When you saw it, what 8 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: was your first impression? Very interesting and it's it's funny. 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: I mentioned this during our three Things videos and I 10 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: don't want to just keep, you know, parroting myself here, 11 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: but that's the thing that always strikes me. You can 12 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,599 Speaker 1: do these things a hundred times, you can do all 13 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: these different types of schedules, there always ends up being 14 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: some kind of weird thing that happens that's never happened 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: before that you didn't realize until you look at this schedule. 16 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: I think fact I think it was what Jacksonville in sixteen, 17 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: that was the first time the Packers had like back 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: to back road games to start a season in like 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: nine seven years. Crazy this one. It's a very small 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: little factoid in it. Obviously a lot of questions still 21 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 1: out there about what's going to happen. But the creep 22 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,919 Speaker 1: Ba Packers have never opened the season at Minnesota before, 23 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: lo and behold, here we are in two thousand twenty 24 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: first time, and what for fifty nine years for the 25 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: Minnesota vikings openers. They're gonna host the Green Bay Packers 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: and an opener at least scheduled too. So that's part 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: of it. I love about the you know, you get 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: you look at the schedule and you try to figure 29 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: out different little things and factoids and weird stuff that happens. 30 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: And there's your one, because I tell you right now, Mike, 31 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: if you it all started when I was looking through it, like, okay, 32 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: when was the last time the Packers started the season Minnesota. Oh, 33 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: it hasn't happened before. Well, and the Packers certainly this 34 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: was to be expected. The Packers have the maximum five 35 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: prime time games at least at this point in terms 36 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: of how this schedule lays out, and you know, the 37 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: flex scheduling late in the year, you know, things can 38 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: change and all that. But a couple of things about 39 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: that that struck me. One is that, of course, the 40 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: Packers trip to New Orleans is once again in prime 41 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 1: time Aaron Rodgers has played against Drew Brees at the 42 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: Superdome in New Orleans twice two thousand eight, two thousand 43 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: and fourteen, both times in prime time, so of course 44 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: this one's in prime time again. But the one that's 45 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: not in prime time is Aaron Rodgers against Tom Brady 46 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: down in Tampa. I don't know what deal with the 47 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: devil Fox Sports made here West, but I am telling 48 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: you I was absolutely convinced that game would be in 49 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: prime time Rodgers against Brady, but Fox somehow managed to 50 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: prevent that game from going to either NBC or ESPN 51 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: for a prime time slot. It's a late afternoon, it'll 52 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: obviously be the National Sunday doubleheader down in Tampa. And hey, 53 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: from a work stand point, I'm not complaining because road 54 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: games in prime time are the hardest for us. Flying 55 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: back in the middle of the night, trying to write 56 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: our stories and update the website on the plane at 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: you know, to three in the morning. It's not fun, Okay, 58 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: So I'm not complaining from a work standpoint that this 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: game is not in prime time. I'm just stunned that 60 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: it's not in prime time. Well, and like Mike, look 61 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: at it. This way to right New Orleans in Green Bay, 62 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: you expect that to be in prime time Atlanta and 63 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: Green Bay. Okay, the history there with Matt Ryan, potentially 64 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,119 Speaker 1: in prime time San Francisco, that's been a big rivalry 65 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: here as of late Chicago Tennessee. If you would have 66 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: laid out all five of those primetime games and then 67 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: also through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in there, I would 68 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: have said, whatever combination that those five are gonna be, 69 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: the Buccaneers are gonna be at one of those permutations. 70 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: And they weren't to see a three Central start time 71 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,839 Speaker 1: for that matchup. It blew me away because in two 72 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: thousand and eighteen we were raw. You know, you don't 73 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: get these opportunities to to see Rogers and in in 74 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: Brady very often, and here's one that just falls into 75 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: everybody's lap. And unfortunately for the Green Bay Packers and 76 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: I think a lot of national people fans, they're not 77 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 1: going to get that in primetime. My guests would be 78 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: is you know, I'm the Fox would end up throwing 79 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: that into a national spotlight. Yet even if it is 80 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: at three, yeah, I think it absolutely will be there. 81 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: But the other the other thing that really struck me 82 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: when I first saw the schedule. West the Packers by 83 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: is scheduled for Week five, so sort of your first 84 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: quarter of the season weeks one through four. But then 85 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: the game at Tampa Bay Rodgers versus Brady starts the 86 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: post by stretch, and that actually becomes sort of a 87 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: gauntlet here for the Packers through the middle portion of 88 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: the schedule because after the game at Tampa Bay, the 89 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: Packers are going to play three teams that were playoff 90 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: teams in twenty nineteen consecutively in a span of just 91 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: twelve days. You go on the road to he Houston, 92 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: you come home to play Minnesota. The second game with 93 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: the Vikings is done by November one, which is another 94 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: thing to me that's weird about the schedule that by 95 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 1: the midway point, essentially the Packers and Vikings are done playing. 96 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 1: So that's odd. But at Houston, then Minnesota, and then 97 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 1: at San Francisco on a Thursday night, So in a 98 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,799 Speaker 1: span of twelve days, including a four hour West coast 99 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: trip on a short week, you're playing three teams that 100 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: made the playoffs in nineteen. That's going to be I 101 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: don't like to call things make or break because that 102 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: early in the season. Nothing's necessarily make or break, but 103 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: we're gonna find out a lot about the green Bay 104 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: Packers as they navigate that portion of the schedule. In 105 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: my opinion, Yeah, and it's very interesting and you laid 106 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: it out there perfectly in terms of what the Packers 107 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: are potentially going to be up against. The other thing 108 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: I keep going back to is, yeah, you have that 109 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: Thursday night game against San Francisco, a lot of bad 110 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: memories there for green Bay. You do come home and 111 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: you get Gardner Minshew likely in the Jacksonville Jaguars, but 112 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: then you're going to Indianapolis, and then who is waiting 113 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: for you there. It's Philip Rivers, one of the big 114 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: thorns in the Packers side here over the last ten years. 115 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: So uh, there are It's gonna be a big challenge. 116 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,640 Speaker 1: And I think when you look at the true story 117 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: of the schedule and the way it lays out, it 118 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: goes back to what I was saying before. I mean, 119 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: last year they kind of hit a gauntlet too there 120 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: in the middle of the season. This is where you 121 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: get challenged, this is where you're grit and determination really 122 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: gets stressed. And it's going to be a make or 123 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: break moment, I think for the Packers at times working 124 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 1: through that. The other thing that is interesting because I 125 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: know there were some reports out there about Okay, they're 126 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: gonna put all the division games and in the last 127 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: month of the season, and they're gonna load things up 128 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: depending on all this. The fact that both of the 129 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: Minnesota games ended up getting you know, put into the 130 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: first eight weeks of the season, that's very interesting because 131 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: the last few years, there's been a lot of mark 132 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 1: key matchups between those two teams late in the year, 133 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: and now here they are two teams that have been 134 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: i would say the most consistent performers in the NFC 135 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: North and really the conference in general over the last 136 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: five ten years, and now you're gonna knock both of 137 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: these out in the first two months of the season. 138 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: That's very interesting to seek that play out the way 139 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: it fits. Yeah, and I don't want to sound like 140 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: somebody who's complaining here, but the Packers, and the Packers 141 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: are not the only team to have this happen to them. 142 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: I think, you know, this Thursday night game at San Francisco, 143 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: having teams having to travel across multiple time zones on 144 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: a short week to play a Thursday night game. That 145 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: to me, that is such a disadvantage for the road team. 146 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: You know, the Packers did it a couple of years ago, 147 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: having to go to Seattle to play a Thursday night game, 148 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: and the Packers were actually winning that game, if I'm 149 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 1: not mistaken, at the end of the third quarter, and 150 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: then in the fourth quarter, you know, Seattle took over 151 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: and ended up pulling that out in front of their 152 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: home fans. I this travel, the travel type of thing 153 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: on a short week, you would just think that more 154 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: of those would be either a division game or something 155 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: that's just you know, a sixty minute, ninety minute flights 156 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: something like that, a four hour flight on a short week. 157 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,119 Speaker 1: The Packers are gonna come off that second game against 158 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: Minnesota on November first, on a Sunday afternoon, and then 159 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: on Wednesday afternoon they're taking a four hour flight to 160 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 1: the West Coast to get ready to play the San 161 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: Francisco forty Niners in an NFC Championship rematch. From the 162 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: logistical part of it all, to me, that that's the 163 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: one thing that I look at is like, wow, that 164 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: is going to be something incredibly difficult for the Packers 165 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: to overcome. Outside of later season Thanksgiving games, Packers have 166 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: played a lot of meaningful ones in my time on 167 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: the beat. But conversely, in my years of covering the 168 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 1: NFL and covering the Green Bay Packers on a day 169 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: to day basis, I don't think I've ever learned anything 170 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: about them in a Thursday night game in this structure. 171 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: And it's one of the reasons why I know you 172 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: were a big pro wrestling fan when you were a kid, 173 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: as was I. Uh here, here's the thing. You have 174 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 1: your flagship shows, right if you're a pro wrestling company. 175 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: Those are the ones that you get the ratings on. 176 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,599 Speaker 1: Those are the ones that everybody's eyeballs are glued on. 177 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: But then you also have the smaller shows where it's 178 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: maybe an hour and it's a lot of the you know, 179 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: the lower card wrestlers on there. For whatever reason, the 180 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: NFL a few years ago decided, you know what, We're 181 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: gonna not only start taking these Thursday night games the 182 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 1: lower you know show, We're gonna start putting prime time 183 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,200 Speaker 1: matchups in there. And I think that's robbing the league 184 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: and it's robbing teams of seeing really good, high caliber football. 185 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,840 Speaker 1: I've taken issue with that, I go back to what 186 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 1: you were saying. I think that these should be games 187 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: where there isn't as much spotlight on the talent there 188 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: there isn't you know, gonna be the Packers versus the 189 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: forty nine Ers, a rematch of the NFC championship for 190 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: the Packers versus Seattle, their biggest rival out of the 191 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: division over the last ten years. Let's get back to 192 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: like getting you know, some matchups between the Packers and 193 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: the Lions, or or you know some of these teams 194 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: that Jacksonville j boars. I don't understand. It's Thursday night football. 195 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: There's no other game in town other than trying to 196 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: showcase superstars. I don't understand they need to have those 197 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: teams always facing off against other. You have that on 198 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 1: Sunday night football, you have that Monday Night football. I 199 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: get there television contracts going to that, but I also 200 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: think that's a real shame because the Packers very easily 201 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 1: could win that game. You don't know how these Thursday 202 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: night games go. A lot of weird stuff can happen, 203 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: but I never really felt like after one of those games, 204 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: I've learned really that much about either team because of 205 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: just how strange the circumstances are in which they have 206 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: to play that game. Yeah, and when you look at 207 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: the way the schedule finishes up for the Packers, it's interesting, 208 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: and of course you know who knows what's going to 209 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: happen with the dates and how this actually falls. But 210 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: if you look at Thanksgiving, once you get past Thanksgiving, 211 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: the Packers are playing four of their last six games 212 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: at home at lambeau Field, and then one of the 213 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:40,320 Speaker 1: two road games is the finale at Chicago. So that 214 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: sets up, if everything falls into place, that sets up 215 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 1: as a lot of cold weather football for the Green 216 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,239 Speaker 1: Bay Packers, down the down the stretch and hey Wes, 217 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 1: for the first time, and however many years, the Packers 218 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: are not playing the Lions in Week seventeen, the NFC 219 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: North finale is against somebody else, and it's going to 220 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 1: be at Soldier Field this time. With all due respect 221 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: to the Lions. And there's been some memorable games over 222 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: the last four years. I am so second tired of 223 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: that regular season finale. We went for a while there, Mike, 224 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: where it was like every year it was a different 225 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: NFC North team that they were facing. Yeah, they were. 226 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,679 Speaker 1: They would rotate it and that they got into this 227 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: stretch because not only, of course then has it been 228 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: Packers Lions for you know, a handful of years in 229 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 1: a row, but that means it's also been Vikings Bears 230 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: for the last however many years in a row. So 231 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: there it. You know, it eliminates the variety, you know, 232 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: not just for a couple of teams, but for a 233 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: couple of others as well. So it's just been strange. 234 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: But yes, the Packers Week seventeen will not be against Detroit. 235 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: It will be at Chicago against the Bears. Yeah, and 236 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: before they got into this run of facing the Lions 237 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: every year. It also those were really meaningful games. How 238 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: many of those games might reflects from the Packers versity 239 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: NFC North into prime time. When you think of two 240 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 1: thousand thirteen, the last time they played the Bears at 241 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: Soldier Field, the pro is out the regular season, it's 242 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 1: one of the most memorable games that I've ever covered, 243 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: and how that one ended. Certainly the matchups that they 244 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: had with my Minnesota Vikings as well, so at least 245 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: to see some fresh blood thrown in there, a little 246 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: bit different type of matchup, type of narrative. I'm all 247 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: for it. It would be great to get some of 248 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 1: these at lambeau Field. It seems like they're traveling quite 249 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: a bit here to close up the regular season. But 250 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: be that as it may, it is it's an interesting 251 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: final stretch. A lot of cold weather games, a lot 252 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: of you know, tough and dirty Black and Blue division 253 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 1: type of matchups, so that that part of its Yeah, 254 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 1: one other thing to throw at you, Just to backtrack 255 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: a little bit, what do you think the player's opinion, 256 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: Because they don't care about our opinion, but what do 257 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,319 Speaker 1: you think the player's opinion would be of the week 258 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: five by It strikes me as the players would say, boy, 259 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: that's early. We wish it were, you know, maybe about 260 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 1: a month later or so. Too early? Uh yeah, And 261 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: in week four is the earliest I think that it 262 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,680 Speaker 1: can go right, And that's only three teams or four teams, 263 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: So to have it a week five, Packers did get 264 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: kind of lucky for a few years. It was in 265 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 1: that middle. Last year was very late part of the season. 266 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: That's typically more towards where you wanted to be at. 267 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: But I remember talking to t J. Lang and some 268 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: other guys about this past and you know how they 269 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: had mentioned when the schedule release came out, the only 270 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 1: thing that they really cared about. The only thing they 271 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: looked at was where that week, that bye week was 272 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: for them and where they're beginning their rest. Um, you 273 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 1: never know. I go back to two thousand thirteen, the 274 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: Packers had a week four bye and they weren't beat 275 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: up going into that that week four bye already. So 276 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: you never can be too heure how this season is 277 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: gonna lay out. But being in week five, that is 278 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: a little bit early. The closer it is to that September, 279 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: first week of October, that's typically not the way they 280 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 1: want us to get line up. I'm sure one way 281 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 1: the players will look at it is, you know, they 282 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: play their first four games, you get a buy, then 283 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: that second set of four ends on a Thursday night, 284 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: so then you kind of get a weekend off, the 285 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: little mini by like they like to talk about, and 286 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: then you head into the back half the you know, 287 00:13:55,880 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 1: games nine through sixteen without a break, and you know, 288 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: heading through that stress through November and December, as we said, 289 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 1: with a lot of cold weather on tap. You know, 290 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: it's a weird thing too. And I didn't put this 291 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: in the story that we're running on our website, and 292 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: I don't think you mentioned it in your column, but 293 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: the Green Bay Packers, like the whole thing on Thanksgiving 294 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: against the Lions. That's just gone by the wayside. It's delied. Yeah, 295 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: that the Packers will play the Lions in week two 296 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: at Lambeau and then they play in Detroit, uh in 297 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: in December, December thirteenth. I believe it is. So there 298 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: was a time there where every other year was Green 299 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: Bay Packers traveling to Detroit for those Thanksgiving matchups. Unfortunately, 300 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: for me it being my favorite holiday, I've been able 301 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 1: to keep my role at home here in the last 302 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: five years. There you go, there, you go. Well, one 303 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: other thing. Okay, So the Packers have the maximum as 304 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 1: in the original schedule, the maximum five primetime games. How 305 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: many primetime games do you think the Packers end up 306 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: playing on this schedule? Do you think anything gets flexed 307 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: or change? You think it ends up being six? Like, 308 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: what are your thoughts? It'll end up being six? It 309 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: always does. I've covered this long enough. I think I'm 310 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: the line and insider inbox at four and a half, 311 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 1: and realistically it ended up being north of that. For 312 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: how many would be on the schedule. You and I 313 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: could penciled this in the Packers. They're one of the 314 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: most iconic franchises in the league. I know that people 315 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: sometimes can think that's a cliche, but you can look 316 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: at the ratings and Aaron Rodgers era, going back to 317 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: the Brett Farve era, those two guys put butts and 318 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: couches to watch these matchups. So for that reason, I 319 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 1: think they'll have five and I think somewhere along the line, 320 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: wherever it might be, that they'll throw in that sixth 321 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: one because the back to the matter is that maybe 322 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: one of them as one of the season games and 323 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,320 Speaker 1: it's struggling, but there were so many other things happening 324 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: at that time that you understood it. If Aaron Rodgers 325 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: as healthy, if the Packers are in contention, they're going 326 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: to have the bright lights shining. Yeah, I absolutely agree 327 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: with you. Well, with that, we will sign off on 328 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: this edition of Packers Unscript and be sure to follow 329 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: all of our coverage, all of the ins and outs 330 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: of the schedule, videos, stories, everything is on the website 331 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: Packers dot com. Have a good weekend everybody for West 332 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: I am Mike. Take care. We will see you next 333 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 1: time m HM.