1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 2: Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my partner 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: in crime, Weston Hodkowitz. We're coming to you hear from 5 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 2: our studios at lambeau Field to talk about Wes. A 6 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 2: playoff clinching victory for the Green Bay Packers seventeen to 7 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: nine over the Chicago Bears, the last game at lambeau 8 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: Field for this season, but not the last game of 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 2: the season for the Packers because they now have the 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: number seven seed, they will be playing in the wild 11 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 2: Card round, taking a nine to eight record into the playoffs. 12 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 2: Hang on, here we go. 13 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 3: Here we go, buddy, I'll tell you a little story here, 14 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 3: a little story time with Wes hod to start the show. 15 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 3: All right, Last year, my good friend Rob Dmofski. For 16 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 3: as much crap as I give him, I actually watched 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 3: his son Hogan during his run up to the state 18 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 3: championship with the the Peer boys basketball team. Went to 19 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 3: all the tournament series games and they were lucky enough 20 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 3: and fortunate enough to win the Division on state title 21 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 3: at the Coal Center. When I got done, I said 22 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: to myself, man, I wish I would have enjoyed it more. 23 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: I was just so nervous. 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 3: And then after the game ended on Sunday, I got 25 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 3: the same feeling like it was like I didn't want 26 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 3: to talk to anybody. Our boss, Duke Bobber in the 27 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 3: last two minutes of the game, was trying to tell me, hey, 28 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 3: you know, this is what's happening with the Rams right now, 29 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 3: this is what's going on with the forty nine ers, 30 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 3: and I was like, nothing, I want to hear nothing. 31 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 3: I want this game to be over. I want the 32 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 3: Packers to advance and then we could talk about everything 33 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 3: else later. 34 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 2: Yep. 35 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 3: But as I've stepped back from it, we're now two 36 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 3: days after the fact of this game. What a fun 37 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 3: football game that was from the Green Bay Packers, the 38 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 3: way that Jordan Love performed, to have Aaron Jones with 39 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 3: his third consecutive one hundred yard game, and then certainly 40 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 3: Dontavian Wicks being the latest receiver to step up for them. 41 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 3: The Green Bay Packers. So many times, Mike, the Chips 42 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 3: have been down, they've needed to rally, and they did 43 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 3: it once again, and they got the three victories they 44 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 3: needed to, as you said, get themselves back in the postseason. 45 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, when you look at this game, it all starts 46 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: with how Jordan Love performed. And we've always you know, 47 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: we've wondered because not that there haven't been big games, 48 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 2: but you always wonder when it's a first time starting quarterback, 49 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: how is he going to respond when the pressure is 50 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: really on, when you have to perform. Jordan Lov went 51 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: out last week at US Bank Stadium in a do 52 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: or die game and showed what. 53 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: He's made of. 54 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,679 Speaker 2: And he showed even more I thought against the Chicago 55 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: Bears that was an absolute tour to force performance. Twenty 56 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: seven out of thirty two, three hundred and sixteen yards. 57 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: He goes over four thousand yards on the season, a 58 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 2: one twenty eight point six passer rating against the defense that, 59 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 2: as we had talked about all last week, had been 60 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: allowing only fifteen points per game, and quite frankly, Wes 61 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: I wrote about this mentioned this in a couple of 62 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,560 Speaker 2: the things that I wrote. I thought the Packers completely 63 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: dominated this game in every facet except the scoreboard. They 64 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: didn't score as many points as they should have the 65 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: fact that this game ended seventeen to nine. I'll give 66 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: the Bears some credit. They certainly made some plays that 67 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: made some things difficult on the Packers, But it felt 68 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,799 Speaker 2: to me like the Packers were just stopping themselves and 69 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,799 Speaker 2: not being able to put this game away offensively until 70 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: the final drive to be able to kill the last 71 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: six minutes eight seconds. You're backed up on your own 72 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: six yard line in a one possession game, six minutes 73 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 2: and eight seconds, four first downs. The Packers put the 74 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: game away with their offense on the field. I thought 75 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 2: it was a nice reward for the defense to not 76 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 2: have to go back out on the field after a 77 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 2: pretty solid performance from Joe Berry's crew. 78 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 3: Well, and what a way for the defense to leave 79 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 3: the field right with Carl Brooks's sack pushing the Bears 80 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: out of field goal range, out of scoring range, they 81 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 3: had to punt the ball despite being down eight points 82 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 3: with six minutes to go. 83 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then they don't get the ball back. 84 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it ended up it was fourth and twenty two 85 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 2: or something. I mean, yeah, in any almost any kind 86 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: of normal down in distance on four town, the Bears 87 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: are probably not punning that. 88 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 3: Football because if you get a three and out, you 89 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: get the ball back ninety seconds later, two minutes later. 90 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 3: But Green Bay did not allow that to happen. Michael, 91 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 3: I want to talk to you about that six minute drive. 92 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 3: I want to talk about how good Green Bay has 93 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,960 Speaker 3: been in four minute situations this season. But before I 94 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 3: do that, I just want to expand on the Jordan 95 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 3: Love piece, because you're right, there was some adversity that 96 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: hit this team in this game, and it was not 97 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 3: being stopped on third down. It was the miss forty 98 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 3: one yard field goal. It was the missed opportunity right 99 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 3: before halftime when the clock ran out. It was Jordan 100 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 3: Love trying to extend for a first down on a 101 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,679 Speaker 3: scramble and then fumbling the football right every time though, 102 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 3: when there could have been a moment for Jordan Love 103 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 3: to falter, to wilt, he came back and in so 104 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 3: many ways this game against the Bears reminded me of 105 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,799 Speaker 3: what we saw from him against Kansas City. This kid 106 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 3: does not blink. Yeah, he is calm, he's collected, and 107 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: he made some incredible throws throughout, including on that six 108 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 3: minute drive to finish the thing in some key situations 109 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 3: as well. 110 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, the third down conversion throws to Jayden Reid 111 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 2: on the third and two and the Packers are still 112 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 2: inside their own twenty yard line. Then he you know, 113 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: steps up, buys some time and finds Tucker Craft on 114 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 2: the third and eight, where there was still enough time 115 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: there for the Bears. If the Packers are punting there 116 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: they don't convert on third and eight, there's still enough 117 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 2: time for the Bears to possibly go down and tie 118 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: up the football game. He hits Kraft and then Aaron 119 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: Jones finishes it off with the with the final first 120 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: down that allows them to then kneel it out. Jones, 121 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 2: as you said, his third straight hundred yard game, and 122 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: this one came against the number one rushing defense in 123 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 2: the NFL. Really impressive, what now, really impressive what Aaron 124 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: Jones has done down the stretch. And we've talked so 125 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: much about about how much he's meant to this offense, 126 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:51,480 Speaker 2: but for him to average five yards of carry against 127 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: one of the top run defenses in the NFL, and 128 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: you've made these statistical comparisons before his longest run was 129 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: seventeen yards. It's not as though that averag was skewed 130 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: by a forty or a fifty yard run that he 131 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 2: busted out somewhere. Those are great when they happen, but 132 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: when you're looking at the big picture and you're averaging 133 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 2: five yards of carry and you didn't even have a 134 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: carry longer than seventeen yards. That just shows how consistent 135 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: that production has been upfront by the offensive line opening holes, 136 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 2: the tackles that Aaron Jones can break, making guys miss. 137 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: He is at the top of his game right now, 138 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 2: West and we hadn't seen that really since Week one 139 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: when the hamstring first you know, went out on him 140 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 2: crossing the goal line at Soldier Field. Aaron Jones is 141 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: at the top of his game and that has helped 142 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: this offense get to the top of its game. 143 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 1: One hundred percent. 144 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: I mean, when you look at three straight games of 145 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 3: one hundred yards rushing and the Packers winning all three 146 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 3: of those games, that's really as easy as it boils 147 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: down to. When you're getting production like that from Aaron Jones, 148 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 3: it shows twenty and one now in the regular season 149 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 3: under Matt Lafloor, when Aaron Jones gets at least one 150 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: hundred total yards twenty one and two all time underneath 151 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 3: Matt Lafloor. In those circumstances, this guy is looking as 152 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 3: fresh as he's looked all season. Yep, he's looking fast 153 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 3: he's looking powerful, and while he was very explosive in 154 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 3: that win against Minnesota, he actually came back and you 155 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 3: could have told me that was Jerome Bettis by the 156 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 3: way that he was moving piles, keeping his feet moving, 157 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 3: looking like a guy that is really trying to pull 158 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 3: this team on his back to get them back to 159 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 3: the playoffs. 160 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: Nobody wants it more than him. 161 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 3: And as I tweeted, you probably didn't see it because 162 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 3: you were doing the live blog, but I took that 163 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 3: old grinch, little meme, jiff, whatever you want to call it. 164 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 3: When his heart is kind of busting out of the frame, 165 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 3: he's trying to get the sled from falling down the hill. 166 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 3: That's Aaron Jones. 167 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 168 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: He puts it all out there. 169 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 3: And at a time in which they did not have 170 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 3: aj Dillon at all, he wasn't even in the cards 171 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 3: because of the stinger, this thing needed to be on 172 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 3: his shoulders, and he. 173 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: Was the bell call that the Packers needed him to be. 174 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I want to talk about this defensive effort 175 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: because I certainly don't want to overlook it, but I 176 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: want to go back and make one more point about 177 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: Jordan Love because because my favorite, my favorite sequence when 178 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: you talk about the no blink and the response to adversity. 179 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: Jordan Love fumbles the ball away on the scramble, the 180 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: Bears recover. It's fourteen to six. The Bears drive and 181 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: kick a field goal and get to within fourteen to 182 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: nine early in the fourth quarter. It's a game the 183 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,160 Speaker 2: Packers are absolutely dominated. But yet there's most of a 184 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 2: quarter left to play. You're only up by five points. 185 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 2: Anything can happen. The very next play, his very first 186 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 2: snap after fumbling the ball on the previous possession, what 187 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 2: does Jordan Love do? Play action bootleg to the left, 188 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: fires it downfield for Jaden Reid, hits him in stride, 189 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,719 Speaker 2: big play, fifty nine yards down the field and the 190 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: Packers are in position to get points again. He just 191 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: lets it all hang out there. I mean, that fumble 192 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: was critical and could have completely shifted the momentum of 193 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 2: this game. And what did Jordan Love do. He went 194 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 2: out and just took it right by and just didn't 195 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 2: let the only turnover of the game, didn't let it 196 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: bother him. And that's something that, as Matt Lafleur said 197 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 2: after the game, you can't teach, you can't coach that 198 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: kind of stuff that's just in him. That's who he is, 199 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: and we've just seen we've seen it start to come 200 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 2: out more and more as this Packers offense has had 201 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 2: more and more success. 202 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 3: I've said it for three years, Michael, whether it's just 203 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 3: the way he handled being behind Aaron Rodgers or how 204 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 3: he's handled becoming the starting quarterback the Green Bay Packers, 205 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 3: Jordan Love has just completely aced this test. He has 206 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 3: been at every part of his career. Now in year four, 207 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 3: he has been the player the Packers have needed him 208 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 3: to be. Year one was all about learning, Year two 209 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 3: is about showing strides. Year three was showing he could 210 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 3: do it. 211 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, and year four is. 212 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 3: Proving that he is a bona fide NFL starting quarterback. 213 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 3: And before we pivot to the defense, I just want 214 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 3: to mention this quickly. Aaron Jones, everything he did on 215 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: the run, five catches on five targets, Dantavian Wicks, you 216 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 3: look at his stats, six on seven. Bo Melt steps 217 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 3: up again with another five catches. The Packers lose Romeo 218 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 3: Dobbs in the first driving this game has to go 219 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: to the hospital to get observed for that chest injury. 220 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: Is allowed to come back but doesn't doesn't play in 221 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: the rest of the game, and it didn't matter. Jordan 222 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 3: Love was Jordan Love and the guys around him. I 223 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: think there's so much to be said for how these guys, 224 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 3: when they're given their opportunity, respond to his leadership. And ultimately, 225 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 3: when you have a game where Daniel Wheeland doesn't have 226 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 3: to punt once, feels that momentum down in and down out. 227 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, And what Dontavian Wicks did in this game was 228 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,319 Speaker 2: just emblematic of how things have gone for this offense 229 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,599 Speaker 2: with the perimeter weapons all season long. He'd missed the 230 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 2: last game and a half. He exited at halftime against 231 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 2: Carolina on Christmas Eve after catching a touchdown pass. He 232 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 2: misses one and a half games. He comes back and 233 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: he scores two touchdowns, gets both of Jordan Love's touchdown passes. 234 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 2: And for those who haven't seen it, I would encourage 235 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,480 Speaker 2: them to check out your story The Key to the 236 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: Game story that was posted on Sunday night, Dontavian Wicks 237 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 2: playing with heavy heart that game on Sunday. The date 238 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 2: was the date of the birthday of one of his 239 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 2: three Virginia football teammates. That was murdered in that tragic 240 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 2: shooting in Virginia before Dantavian Wicks came to the NFL. 241 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 2: So please check out that story. You found out about that. 242 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 2: Wix was talking about it at his locker after the game. 243 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 2: Really good story and just definitely worth the read. 244 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 3: Well, and to understand what he went through and what 245 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 3: that football team went through last year. It's something that 246 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 3: they're going to carry with them the rest of their lives. 247 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 3: And you can go on Virginia's page. They still have 248 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 3: the emblem with the V and acknowledging and remembering the 249 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 3: three players. In this case, Lavelle Davis Junior was the 250 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 3: one that unfortunately lost his life in that would have 251 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 3: been twenty two years old on Sunday. And as you know, 252 00:11:49,760 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: Dantavian talked about afterwards kind of playing through him, living 253 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 3: through him a little bit there and after his second 254 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 3: touchdown mentioned he did go to the sideline and cried. 255 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 3: You know, just an emotional evening. But my goodness, this 256 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 3: fifth round pick. When you saw all those stats he 257 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:07,319 Speaker 3: put together his junior year, breaking Herman Moore's last season record. Yeah, 258 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 3: you're understanding more and more why this guy is the 259 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 3: player that he's become here in a very short amount 260 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 3: of time. Yeah. 261 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, well, we do need to shift gears to the defense. 262 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 2: And I'll just start with this. We us. If you 263 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 2: had told me all the discussion in previewing this game 264 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,439 Speaker 2: and everything last week talking about what the Bears were 265 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 2: going to have to do in order to keep the 266 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: Packers on their heels and possibly ruined Green Bay season, 267 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 2: if you had told me that the Packers were going 268 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 2: to hold Khalil Herbert and Justin Fields to a combined 269 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 2: fifty five yards rushing between those two guys, I would 270 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: have said, the Chicago Bears are going to have a 271 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 2: really hard time winning this game. And that's exactly what went. 272 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: Down on twenty carries slash scrambles. 273 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 3: It's not like it was a situation where the Packers 274 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 3: got up and the Bears just had to start throwing, right. 275 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 3: They tried, They tried their darnedest, but they couldn't get 276 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 3: a single carry of more than nine yards in this game. 277 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:02,200 Speaker 3: And it was a full attention to a detail approach 278 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 3: match with a natural aggressiveness that I thought was really 279 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 3: integral to this thing. Kenny Clark mentioned it. They ran 280 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 3: a lot of inside stunts with their defensive tackles. You'll 281 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 3: see that a lot with edge rushers, just trying to 282 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,520 Speaker 3: confuse the tackles a little bit. But when you do 283 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 3: that in the interior, it's just trying to muddy things up. 284 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:19,720 Speaker 3: It's trying to get bodies moving, it's trying to close 285 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: up gaps. 286 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, Carl Brooks has become outstanding at that. He throws 287 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: his body into multiple offensive linemen, as you say, to 288 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 2: muddy things up, to muddy the waters, and that's created 289 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 2: opportunities for sacks. I actually have the video of a 290 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 2: couple of those in in what you might have missed 291 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 2: piece that's on the website if you want to check 292 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 2: out those clips. I mean, Kenny Clark and Carl Brooks 293 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: are becoming quite the tandem when they get that stump 294 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 2: call in the middle. 295 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, and then Kenny was able to get his seven 296 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: now up to seven and a half sacks on the 297 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 3: season off of that, the Packers just it was perfect, man. 298 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 3: They only allowed four plays of more than sixteen yards 299 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: in terms of just the explosiveness passing wise, by not 300 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: allowing Herbert to get going, it neutralized everything the Bears 301 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 3: wanted to do offensively. Back to back games for Herbert 302 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 3: with over one hundred yards rushing, green Bay kept him 303 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 3: to twenty eight on twelve. Yeah, justin fields. We talk 304 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 3: about all the time, he's gonna get his yards. This game, 305 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 3: he did not get his yards. And while they didn't 306 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 3: turn over the football, while they played relatively clean, there 307 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 3: was just nothing spectacular about what the Chicago Bears offered. 308 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 3: And then when they would get into the third and 309 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 3: long situations, they could not stay on the field. 310 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: Green Bay. 311 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 3: Again, for everything they've been through over the last month, 312 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 3: I felt like that was one of the strongest defensive 313 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 3: performances they've had this season. 314 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, five sacks of justin fields, and more importantly, four 315 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 2: of those five on third down. You know, timing is everything, right, 316 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 2: you get a sack on third down, that's how your 317 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 2: defense gets off the field. The Bears. If I'm not mistaken, 318 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 2: the Bears had six possessions in this game, and all 319 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 2: six of them they crossed the fifty yard line at 320 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 2: some point on each of those drives. Packers defense rows 321 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 2: up in the moments that it needed to. I mean 322 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 2: to have six possessions by the opponent that crossed the 323 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 2: fifty yard line and there are only nine points on 324 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: the board. Three field goals, one of those being the 325 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 2: the you know, the doink, the deflection that goes in. 326 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: Uh. 327 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 2: This was this was a game. This was a game 328 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 2: that that the Packers defense was big in the clutch, 329 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: in the big, in the big moments to keep the 330 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 2: points off the board. And you hope that that's something 331 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: that can continue because you know, we'll talk a lot 332 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 2: more about Green Bay and Dallas and the big matchup 333 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 2: in the wild card round coming up on Sunday. Two 334 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 2: offenses that are going to move the ball a heck 335 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 2: of a lot, and it already looks like a game 336 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 2: that's probably going to be decided in the red zone. 337 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: Who's going to be able to finish drives and who's 338 00:15:45,520 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 2: going to settle for field goals. The Packers defense can 339 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 2: can keep this up and force a couple of field 340 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 2: goals that could be the difference in the game. 341 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 3: And my last point on this because you need it all. 342 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 3: You need to have the pressures, you need to have 343 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: the sacks, you need to have the defensive line contributing 344 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 3: the way they did. You're gonna need a bottle up 345 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 3: Tony Pollard. But Michael, there's a two time All Pro 346 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 3: cornerback that was back on the field on Sunday for 347 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 3: Green Bay. The shoulder injury appears to be behind him. 348 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,000 Speaker 3: The issues that led to the suspension appear to be 349 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 3: behind him, and jyr Alexander to me, looked like he 350 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 3: was having. 351 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: Fun again out there. It was it's going to take 352 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: some time. 353 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 3: It's going to take some time to get his win 354 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: back and feel, you know, feel the way he wants 355 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 3: to feel to be out there. But when you're talking 356 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 3: about a test like DJ Moore in what the explosive 357 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 3: possibilities are of the Bears offense, now you're ready for 358 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 3: ceedee lamb, You're ready for these challenges that Dallas is presenting. 359 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: If there was. 360 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 3: Ever a time for number twenty three to be back 361 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: on the field for the Green Bay Packers, this is 362 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 3: the time. This is in twenty twenty one. He's not 363 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 3: coming back to play eight snaps and dime. They need 364 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 3: him out there as much as possible. Yeah, and I 365 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 3: feel like this is definitely the leap, the step, the 366 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 3: propelling propellanation, if I may call it that, but no, 367 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 3: but just just the impat for what could be something special. Yeah, 368 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: and I'm excited to see what Gayer can do with 369 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 3: that opportunity. 370 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you on that one 371 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 2: hundred percent. A little bit of sponsor business here West 372 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 2: Sirius XM NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up 373 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 2: to the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need 374 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 2: twenty four to seven, three sixty five and that Cousin subs. 375 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 2: We have something for everyone, like our Wisconsin cheese curds, 376 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 2: mac and cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 377 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 2: with your favorite sub or sub and a bowl Cousin 378 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 2: Subs fifty years of better. 379 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 1: You're not gonna say anything about a new fancy mic stand. 380 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 2: I was, I was gonna. I was gonna let you 381 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 2: talk about that with sipping coffee out of it. 382 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 3: I'm really excited about these things. Look at the cool logo. Yeah, 383 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 3: we got some more swag here. I'm very excited to 384 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 3: be drinking my morning coffee out of this moving forward. 385 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 2: There you go. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I 386 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 2: will still display. 387 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 1: You could get hot apple cider, that's true. I could. 388 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 2: You're right, You're right, I could well. Looking at the 389 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 2: playoff picture, the packers are the seven seed in the NFC, 390 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 2: they will travel to face the number two seed Dallas Cowboys, 391 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 2: who wrapped up the NFC East Division title with a 392 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 2: blowout victory over Washington. Pretty much what we expected there. 393 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: So the seven versus the two is Green Bay at Dallas. 394 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:14,120 Speaker 2: That will be three thirty pm Central Time kickoff from 395 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 2: AT and T Stadium. Just to run down the way 396 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 2: the rest of the playoff picture looks, the Detroit Lions 397 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 2: are the three seed. They will host the six seed 398 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 2: Los Angeles Rams. Tampa Bay wins the NFC South as 399 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 2: the four seed, they will host the five seed Philadelphia Eagles. 400 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 2: San Francisco is the one seed with the lone by. 401 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 2: That's how the NFC looks right now. Just your any 402 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 2: of your thoughts and we'll speak maybe on more the 403 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 2: specific matchups on our next show heading into the weekend, 404 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: but just your thoughts on how kind of things shook 405 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 2: out in the NFC and the placement that everyone fell into. 406 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 3: This isn't just for product placement. I'm gonna do this 407 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 3: one more time to Mike Tomlin to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 408 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 3: because if Pittsburgh doesn't get the job done against Seattle. 409 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: The Green Bay Packers aren't in the. 410 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 3: Playoffs, right, Everything that could have went against Green Bay 411 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 3: for the most part. 412 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: By that, I think I actually have to drink right 413 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: when I toasted. 414 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, you should, you should. 415 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 3: But things didn't go well in terms of how last 416 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 3: year everything fell Green Bay's direction, it didn't go that 417 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:18,640 Speaker 3: way this year. 418 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. 419 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 3: The one difference maker was Pittsburgh picking up that victory 420 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,439 Speaker 3: because Seattle was able to eke out their win. So 421 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 3: you had Seattle, New Orleans and then also New Orleans 422 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 3: by proxy of Tampa Bay. 423 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: All those teams ended up with nine wins. 424 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,480 Speaker 3: The Green Bay Packers need to win a football game 425 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 3: to keep themselves in it, and because of that, it 426 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 3: was nice to see Pittsburgh also get. 427 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: The number seven seed over in the AFC side of things. 428 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, Seattle, as we had talked about Seattle pulling out 429 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:48,000 Speaker 2: those last minute victories with touchdowns against Philadelphia and Tennessee, 430 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 2: all of a sudden, they were, you know, they were 431 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,400 Speaker 2: the team that was that was keeping themselves in control 432 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 2: of their playoff fate until Pittsburgh made the long flight 433 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,679 Speaker 2: out to Seattle, and with Mason Rudolph at quarterback, that 434 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 2: pittsb offense is found has found something different. And as 435 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 2: you said, the Steelers, they're the seventh seed in the AFC. 436 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 2: They will travel to Buffalo game. Buffalo is the two seed, 437 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 2: having beaten Miami in the Sunday night football game to 438 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 2: end the regular season. So Buffalo ends up winning the 439 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 2: AFC East. Quite the game there though, too, because actually, 440 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 2: if Miami had won that game, it would have been, 441 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 2: based on the seeds a rematch the following week, Buffalo 442 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: would have been right back at Miami to play them 443 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 2: again in the wildcard round. Instead, Buffalo jumps up to 444 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 2: the two. They're gonna host Pittsburgh. Miami is the six. 445 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 2: They will go to three seed Kansas City, and then 446 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 2: Cleveland as the five seed, will travel to four seed Houston. 447 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 2: Houston ends up winning the AFC South with a big 448 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 2: victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night, and then 449 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 2: they watched the Tennessee Titans knock off the Jacksonville Jaguars 450 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,400 Speaker 2: to knock Jacksonville out of the division race and out 451 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,960 Speaker 2: of the playoffs. Houston's a division champ with the rookie 452 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 2: quarterback CJ. Stroud, the first year coaching Dimiico Ryans, and 453 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 2: they're hosting a playoff game in the AFC. 454 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 3: Yes, it's a great it's fun how the playoffs actually 455 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 3: lined up when you look in in terms of it. 456 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 3: And I felt like green Bay was a part of this. 457 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 3: I know I've talked ad nauseam about how I felt 458 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 3: like the playoffs would be better if green Bay snuck in. 459 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 3: I just feel like over Seattle, over New Orleans, there's 460 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 3: just more to like about that team. There's more upside, 461 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: there's more value. There's a reason why it's sitting in 462 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 3: the three twenty five slot on Sunday right. And while 463 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 3: you may not have household names as much yet with 464 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 3: Houston and some of these other squads, c J Stroud 465 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 3: being the rookie, being kind of the savior there of 466 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,199 Speaker 3: that franchise and playing the way that he played this 467 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 3: season and the way he played in that game. 468 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 2: That's that final drive, that final drive for that touchdown 469 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 2: to take the lead against Indianapolis. A couple of the 470 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 2: throws he made on that drive were just phenomenal, I 471 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,400 Speaker 2: mean absolutely unbelievable for a rookie to be making those 472 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: kind of plays with the season on the line, the 473 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 2: pressure that went with it. Really impressed by c J. Stroud, 474 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 2: and I got to believe he's the offensive Rookie of 475 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 2: the Year in the NFL. I think he probably had 476 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 2: it wrapped up before that game, but he left absolutely 477 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 2: no doubt that he should get that award. 478 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 3: But then you look at obviously there is the Deshaun 479 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 3: Watson factor between the matchup with Houston and Cleveland. I'm 480 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 3: sure stuff will be made of that this week. But 481 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 3: how cool is it that it's Joe Flacco who was 482 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 3: signed off the coach what less than a month ago, 483 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 3: just a little over a month ago, and then he 484 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,439 Speaker 3: didn't even play in Cleveland's finale because he was so 485 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 3: important to them in a game that didn't have. 486 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: Any additional meaning. 487 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 3: And then now he's going to lead the Browns, the 488 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 3: Cleveland Browns, the franchise that has not really had any 489 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 3: success since they were reintroduced into the NFL in nineteen 490 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 3: ninety nine. He's going to be the team to try 491 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 3: to mount a rally here with him, to try to 492 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 3: propel them to something special. And then, if I may 493 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 3: just quickly closing on the Dallas Cowboys, because this is 494 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 3: going to be a supreme test, I do think there 495 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 3: is a lot to like about this football team, But 496 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 3: I have continued to say, Michael Dallas is eight to 497 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:06,359 Speaker 3: no at home at at AT and T Stadium. I 498 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 3: believe that they were. They also undefeated last year at 499 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:10,919 Speaker 3: home as well. It might have gotten all the way 500 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 3: up there maybe right about that. 501 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: I don't recall specifically. 502 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: Whatever the case may be. 503 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 3: I even called them in one of the appearances I 504 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 3: did this week the greatest show on turf in twenty 505 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 3: twenty three. I am so excited to see this incarnation 506 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 3: of the Packers take on the Cowboys. And I understand 507 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 3: we will talk on this and we'll preview it on Thursday. 508 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:32,159 Speaker 3: But when people were talking through various scenarios of well, 509 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 3: could they go to Detroit? Could they go to Dallas? 510 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: Detroit would have been fun. The Packers have. 511 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 3: Already beaten the Lions at Ford Field this season, but 512 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,120 Speaker 3: independent of the Mike McCarthy discussion, to see the Green 513 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 3: Bay Packers now test itself against a team like the Cowboys, 514 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 3: I personally was kind. 515 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:47,880 Speaker 1: Of excited to see. 516 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 3: That's how the ball bounced when it was all said 517 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:50,680 Speaker 3: and done. 518 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, I am too. I just I think this, I 519 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 2: think this matchup is really something you're talking about. I 520 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 2: don't know exactly where what the statistic are where they 521 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,200 Speaker 2: are ranked in terms of the entire season. But you're 522 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 2: talking right now about about two offenses in the Cowboys 523 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 2: and the Packers that are playing as good an offensive 524 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 2: football maybe as anybody out there. Because I mean, you know, 525 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 2: don't be fooled by the Cowboys only scoring the twenty 526 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 2: points or whatever it was against the Lions when they 527 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,639 Speaker 2: beat them. I mean, see ceedee lamb. I think it 528 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:23,479 Speaker 2: was fumbled one through the end zone when they were 529 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,119 Speaker 2: going to get a touchdown there, and the whole fiasco 530 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,880 Speaker 2: with the tripping penalty probably cost them, you know, four 531 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 2: points there. So this is this Dallas team has one 532 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:35,439 Speaker 2: heck of an offense, and this Packers team is playing 533 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 2: as good at offensive football as any team in the 534 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 2: league right now in my opinion. 535 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:41,199 Speaker 3: And as I always tell anybody, if you are a 536 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 3: football fan, if you are a Packers fan, there is 537 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 3: no better time to be alive than in January when 538 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 3: you're one of the last fourteen teams left in this thing. 539 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 1: It's exciting. 540 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 3: It's exciting that the Packers and Jordan Love's first year 541 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,399 Speaker 3: as a starting quarterback have been able to make this 542 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,080 Speaker 3: jump and seeing how long this ride goes, if you 543 00:24:58,119 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 3: can take it all the way to Vegas, who knows. 544 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: But it is a fun thing to be a part of. 545 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 3: And when I opened the show and talked about my 546 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 3: kind of nerves and everything, it was mostly built out 547 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,000 Speaker 3: of the idea of story. 548 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 1: I felt like this team was good enough that this 549 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 1: should be the story. 550 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 3: It should be getting back to the Playoffs with this 551 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 3: particular team, Not when the receivers are two years older 552 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 3: or you have some other guys that are going to 553 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 3: be maturing from this young core. 554 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: No, right now. Seeing what this team, with all the. 555 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 3: Strides it's made since week one, where it can take 556 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 3: this thing now in January, that to me, Michael as 557 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 3: a writer, as a as a reporter, that's incredibly interesting 558 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 3: to track and I'm excited to see how this plays out. 559 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent, it's going to be a fun 560 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 2: week around here. But with that, we will call it 561 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: a rap on this edition of Packers Unscript. You'd be 562 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,600 Speaker 2: sure to follow all of our coverage of the team, 563 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 2: all the preview stuff leading up to Packers Cowboys on 564 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 2: Sunday from Dallas. We will have it all for you 565 00:25:56,240 --> 00:25:58,800 Speaker 2: on Packers dot com. For Wes, I'm Mike, thank you 566 00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 2: for tuning in. Everybody will see you next time. Mm 567 00:26:05,119 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 2: hmm