1 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by the 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: one and only Weston Hodkowitz. We're coming to you here 4 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: from our studios at Lambellfield to talk Packers Giants Monday 5 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: night football. It's coming up from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: New Jersey and West This Giants team not having the 7 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: season that they envisioned. After an impressive run to a 8 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: playoff spot and chalking up a playoff victory last year 9 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: on the road in Minneapolis, the Giants started this season 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: two and eight. They are now four and eight after 11 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: back to back victories heading into their bye week. They 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: are now coming off the bye when they face the 13 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: Packers at home on a Monday night. Not the year 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: that they were looking for, but a team that with 15 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: these back to back victories heading into their buy you 16 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: wonder if they're starting to figure something out. 17 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,039 Speaker 2: Not easy to win in the National Football League, and 18 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: the fact that the Giants have won back to back 19 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: games for the first time this season. The big message 20 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: that I had in our insider inbox calm this week 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 2: was the Packers have to proceed with confidence and caution. 22 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: This is not the time to start overlooking opponents. The 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 2: greevad Packers don't have that benefit. When you're six and six, 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 2: you got five games to go, and you need every 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 2: single one of these victories possible to improve your situation, 26 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: to potentially make a playoff spot, and then maybe even 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 2: try to improve that positioning in the postseason. Yet, you 28 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 2: can't take anybody for granted. I think Tommy DeVito has 29 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: given this team some life. I know it was a 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 2: little bit of controversy earlier this week with the decision 31 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: that hey, Tyrod Taylor's back, but they want to still 32 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: run with DeVito. Yeah. I think that's the right call. 33 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: I respect Tyrod. He's had a tremendous career. Maybe they 34 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: have to go back to him at some point. But 35 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: when you've won back to back games, I know what 36 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: the opposition was. I know it wasn't they didn't beat 37 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 2: the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs, But there's 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: a little bit more swagger in this team, and it 39 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: was a team that has been struggling to have confidence lately. 40 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 2: And if you have somebody that you feels odd hand, 41 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 2: you might as well ride him. Yeah. 42 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: Well, one of the things that was certainly detrimental to 43 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: the start that the Giants got off to was when 44 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: running back Saquon Barkley had to miss I believe it 45 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: was three games back in late September, mid October, sort 46 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: of in that range. When he came back from that injury, 47 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: he got on a pretty good run. He averaged about 48 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: ninety rushing yards per game for a stretch of five 49 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: games until the Patriots kind of shut him down that 50 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: last game before the Giants bye week. But he was 51 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: up there, you know, four and a half yards per 52 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: carry over a stretch of five games there. But this 53 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: offense has been They've struggled to protect their quarterbacks, whether 54 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: it's been Daniel Jones or Tyron Taylor or Tommy DeVito. 55 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: They're also missing one of their downfield threats and tight end, 56 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: Darren Waller, who is injured and it sounds like he 57 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: will not be back for the game on Monday night 58 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: against the Packers. You look at this from the Packers' perspective. Defensively, 59 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: you absolutely cannot let Saquon Barkley get going. You have 60 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 1: to make this what has been a struggling passing game 61 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 1: for the Giants. You have to make them turn things 62 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,519 Speaker 1: over to that struggling passing game and try to beat 63 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: you that way. 64 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the number one key to victory in this thing. 65 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: And I know we'll talk about that later. But with 66 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: Saquon Barkley, when you talk about that season they had 67 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: a year ago, a lot of that I had to 68 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: do with Barkley, and it had to do with it 69 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,119 Speaker 2: as much as I know Daniel Jones got the contract 70 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: and everything, Saquon Barkley is the one that ultimately pushed 71 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: into the postseason with his play throughout the course of 72 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: that year, kind of reminding everybody of what this guy 73 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: is capable of when he's healthy. Unfortunately for him, as 74 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: you talked about, wasn't healthy earlier this season, but showed, 75 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: you know, against the New York Jets he could still 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: be a belkow who touches the ball thirty plus times. Yeah, 77 00:03:58,240 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: in some of the you know, two weeks ago that 78 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: win over Washington to receiving touchdowns, again reminding you of 79 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 2: what this guy is capable of in space. And the 80 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 2: greenwad Packers have to have their intentas up for that 81 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: because the fact of the matter is the Giants offensively 82 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: as much as everyone's been so focused on the Jets, 83 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: the Giants have really struggled on offense this season. Two 84 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: in New York, I think second the league right now 85 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: in scoring off or second to last in league excuse me, 86 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: in scoring offense, in dead last and total yards. They 87 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: have not been able to move the ball effectively. Defensively, 88 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: we'll talk about that in a second. There's been some 89 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 2: positives there, but offensively it's been pretty lethargic. They haven't 90 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: had a lot of guys step up in the passing game. So, yeah, 91 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 2: if you're the Green bit Packers, it starts with Saquon Barkley, 92 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 2: starts with pressuring de Vito, and from there allowing your 93 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: secondary to handle the rest of it. 94 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: Again, we've talked obviously over the last couple of weeks 95 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: about how important these fast starts have been for the 96 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: Packers and how detrimental that was earlier in the season 97 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: when it was taking so long for the offense to 98 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: get going. This New York Giants team wes scored sixteen 99 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: points in the first quarter the entire season. Yeah, you know, 100 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, the Packers were at twenty 101 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: points in the first quarter through ten games but this 102 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: is now sixteen points for the Giants through twelve games 103 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: in the first quarter. If you want getting off to 104 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: getting off to a good start on the road, you know, 105 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: in a primetime game. This is this is a big 106 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,359 Speaker 1: time opportunity for the Packers to do that and to 107 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: keep the Giants struggling in the early portions of games. 108 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: Well and pressuring the quarterback here too, right, I mean, 109 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: when you're looking at these numbers that they've given up 110 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,559 Speaker 2: this so far the season, what DeVito's already been sacked 111 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 2: twenty eight times? I mean, is this I didn't even 112 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 2: know if it was this extreme. They have sixty nine 113 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: sacks allowed? Is that my reading that? Right? I mean, 114 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 2: I don't know that's actually a number. I did not 115 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 2: look so so Daniel Jones thirty. I knew Divito was 116 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 2: already at twenty eight because that's been a big thing. 117 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 2: But Daniel Jones sacked thirty times, Divito sacked twenty eight times, 118 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: and then Tyrod Taylor was sacked ten times. My goodness, 119 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: I mean, it shows you why we were talking about 120 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 2: the people talking and mentioning that the issues they've had 121 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 2: in pass protection. Evan Neil this week, I know that's 122 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 2: been another big topic in New York and what's happening 123 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 2: at right tackle. But be that as it may, you 124 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,559 Speaker 2: can't take it for granted. For Shan Gary's pressuring, well, 125 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: Prescott Smith is pressuring, well, you have to be confident 126 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: going in this matchup. You have to show that we 127 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 2: are the team that has won three in a row. 128 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 2: Now we're the team that has won four of our 129 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 2: last five and we are turning a corner. But you're 130 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: doing it on there couturf yep, and you're doing it 131 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 2: against an opponent that obviously has a little bit more 132 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: of a hunger along with them after this recent uptick. 133 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, on the defensive side of the ball, it's 134 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: it's almost the opposite in a sense, because defensively against 135 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: the pass, this is a team you have Caveon Thibodeau 136 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: with eleven sacks eleven of the team's twenty one. He 137 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: actually has more than half of their sacks. But you 138 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: have Thibodeaux with eleven, you have Dexter Lawrence with four. 139 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: That guy is a beast in the middle of any 140 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: defensive line. They have twelve interceptions against the pass, two 141 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: of them are turned for touchdowns. Opposing quarterbacks have just 142 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 1: an eighty three point four passer route against them on 143 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: the season. But the flip side of it is they 144 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: haven't been able to stop the run. They're giving up 145 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: four point eight yards per carry on the season. They've 146 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: allowed eighteen rushing touchdowns. They've allowed more rushing touchdowns than 147 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: passing touchdowns defensively, which almost is unheard of in this 148 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: day and age of the NFL. So again, like the statistics, 149 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: the blueprints sort of lays itself out that you pound 150 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: the ball with aj Dillon, you make them stop the run, 151 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: which they've struggled to do. It ought to open some 152 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: things up for Jordan Love. But at the same time, 153 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,119 Speaker 1: you have to be cognizant of protecting the football because 154 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: twelve interceptions is no small number. These guys have taken 155 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: it away. They're fifth in the league in third down defense. 156 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: When they get you in third down, they can make 157 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: life difficult for you, and that's when you have to 158 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: be conscious of protecting that ball. 159 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 2: It's the wink Martindale's defense. We've had so much, you know, 160 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: said so much about him over the years, and I 161 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: know people, despite the numbers, really hold him in high regard. 162 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 2: Out there in New York of what he's done there, 163 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 2: and it's been this feast or famine kind of unit 164 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,120 Speaker 2: so far this season. But Keevon Thibadeau is a guy 165 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: that I was super impressed with. I joked. I remember 166 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 2: with the draft, I was like, man, if somehow he 167 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 2: would have fallen to green Bay, what a great pick 168 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 2: that would have been. With him coming out with the 169 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: green and gold suit from orgon green and yellow suit 170 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 2: from Oregon, I've been perfect for green Bay. But the 171 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 2: guy has eleven of their twenty one sacks so far 172 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: this season. He is their pressure force there. Dexter Lawrence 173 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 2: is coming off I think the first game he's ever 174 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: missed of his career with the hamstring. It sounds like 175 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 2: from what Brian Dabble said that he will be back 176 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: for this one or it's trending that way. Yeah, maybe 177 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: he didn't practice on Tuesday, But they have some legit 178 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 2: playmakers on that side of the ball, and as you said, 179 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: if they do when the opportunities that they get where 180 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 2: they do stop the run and they get you in 181 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 2: third downs, they get off the field for green Bay 182 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 2: standpoint though, especially coming off offor rmans like they had 183 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 2: against Kansas City. I don't know what the status is 184 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: going to be with Aaron Jones here, but you have 185 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 2: to be able to go north and south on this team. 186 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: You have to be able to set that up because 187 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 2: if you do, it makes everything easier for Jordan Love, 188 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 2: it makes everything easier for this Packers offense. And the 189 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: opportunity is there, you have to execute on it. 190 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, I mean Thibodeau. Thibodeau is a guy who 191 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: he was I guess, you'd say, taking a lot of 192 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,319 Speaker 1: criticism as a rookie because he was such a high 193 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: draft pick and didn't really burst on the scene the 194 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: way everybody everybody was hoping for in New York. But 195 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: you're seeing that guy develop. He's a he's a tough 196 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: customer on the edge. He's racking up the sacks this year, 197 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: and I don't think I don't think we've seen the 198 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 1: best of Dexter Lawrence this season, because man, I mean, 199 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: I know you and I talked about it last last winter. 200 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 1: He was he was an absolute force in that playoff 201 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: game when they went into Minnesota and beat the Vikings 202 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: in the wildcard round. And that's the that's the Dexter 203 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: Lawrence you have to prepare for bad hamstring or not, 204 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: because he's capable. He's capable of causing all kinds of 205 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: problems in the middle of that defensive line. 206 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 2: And I mean it shows you how tough and durable 207 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: this guy's been too, that he went this long, and 208 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: I mean for that to be what took him down 209 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: a hamstring to an interior defensive lineman, that tells you 210 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 2: it's not that was not a happy day for him. Yeah, 211 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 2: that is a pretty significant deal to sideline a defensive 212 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 2: lineman because a lot of times I remember Mike Daniels 213 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: dealt with it for a stretched during one of his 214 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 2: seasons too. If there's one position where sometimes you can 215 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,080 Speaker 2: overcome the hamstring, it tends to be the interior stuff. 216 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,439 Speaker 2: But it took him down. If he's back out there, 217 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 2: I mean, that does another game changer for them. They 218 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: just are a very opportunistic bunch and if you look 219 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 2: at the games in which they've won this season, it's 220 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 2: been executing. It's been finding those ways to sort of, 221 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to say manipulate, but being able to 222 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: capitalize on some of the mistakes the opposing offense is doing. 223 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 2: Green Bay needs another clean ball game to come out 224 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: on this one. 225 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's certainly where the Packers offense has been trending, 226 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: and you want that trend to continue in that direct. 227 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 2: By the way, I did the look up the stats 228 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,959 Speaker 2: here quick, I apologize I didn't do my research. Fully, 229 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 2: I knew the Giants offensive line has had some issues 230 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 2: this season. Sixty nine sacks allowed for the Giants. The 231 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 2: next closest is Washington at fifty eight, and then the 232 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 2: much maligned New York Jets offensive line fifty one. So 233 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:18,560 Speaker 2: it kind of gives you an idea of how far 234 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 2: in front the Giants have been so far this season 235 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: as far as pressure on the quarterback. And honestly, that's 236 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 2: kind of been a recurring theme for them the last 237 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: few seasons. 238 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, they they they found they definitely found something last 239 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: season with getting Daniel Jones on the move and even 240 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: with some design runs and whatnot, and and but but 241 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 1: that part of things it didn't come together for them. 242 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: You know, they took the they took it whatever, it was, 243 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 1: forty to nothing, you know, on the chin, right right 244 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: out of the gate Week one against the Cowboys, and 245 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: it just seemed like that was a that was a 246 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: blow that they that they haven't really recovered from. And 247 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: but again, to me, when you look at this game 248 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: from the Packers' perspective, Saquon b Sekon Barkley is the 249 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: guy that you're most concerned about, especially because the Packers 250 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: run defense throughout the course of the season has been 251 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: so up and down. Yeah, there have been games where 252 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: the Packers have played the run really really tough, but 253 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: we also know there are three games this season where 254 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: the Packers have allowed two hundred plus rushing yards and 255 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: obviously they've lost all three of those. Those are three 256 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: of the six losses on the Packers ledgers. So obviously, 257 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: when we start talking keys to victory, which we might 258 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: as well do right now, stopping Saquon Barkley ranks at 259 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: the top of the list. But the other one for me, 260 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: just knowing what we see in the numbers and what 261 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: we've seen from this Giant's defense, is that is that 262 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: the Packers need their own ground game to be to 263 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: be reliable and productive throughout all four quarters of this game. 264 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: You don't want to just get into a drop back, 265 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,560 Speaker 1: a straight drop back passing game against the secondary with 266 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: all those picks and against two pass rushers like Thibodeau 267 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: and Lawrence. 268 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: No, you can't do it. And I feel like with 269 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 2: green Bay and looking at some of these statistics for 270 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 2: the Giants sixteen hundred and thirty three rushing yards allowed 271 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: so far this season, as you mentioned, the eighteen touchdowns, 272 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 2: four point eight yards per carrie, which I believe is 273 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 2: thirtieth in the NFL for most yards per carry allowed. 274 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:18,320 Speaker 2: It does sort of set the blueprint there for what 275 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 2: has to happen in these games. And honestly, it's gonna 276 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 2: sound kind of dumb, it's gonna sound very basic, but 277 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 2: it really comes down to just scoring points. The Giants 278 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 2: are zero and five this year when they've given up 279 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 2: over thirty points. When you're not scoring, it's hard to 280 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,679 Speaker 2: win those type of shootout games. And I think from 281 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 2: green Bay standpoint, when you're protecting the football and you're 282 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 2: running the football, well that is that's as simple as 283 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 2: it gets in terms of what you need to do 284 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 2: to execute this game. More headlines are going to be 285 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: about Jordan Love Now the guys eight touchdowns, no picks 286 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 2: the last three games. You know, people are throwing them 287 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: out there is one of the young up and coming 288 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 2: quarterbacks now funny how quickly a month can change things 289 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 2: in the eyes of the national pundits. But I think 290 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 2: it's mostly about the hole and Green. Let's just be honest, Mike. 291 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 2: On paper, in recent results, they are the better football team. Yes, 292 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: you can't allow yourself to make the mistakes that kind 293 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: of haunted them earlier this season. You come out fast, 294 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: you sustain that. I think the path to victory is there. 295 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I thought it was very purposeful on the 296 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: part of Matt Lafleur when he addressed the media on Monday, 297 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: and it's one of the reasons I wrote about it. 298 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: The story was actually posted Wednesday on our website. You 299 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: can go check it out with regard to some of 300 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,600 Speaker 1: the things with the Packers defense, because as impressive as 301 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: it was and holding Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City 302 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: Chiefs to nineteen points as a result, you will take 303 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: any day of the week and twice on Sunday, as 304 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: they say. But he made a point of emphasizing that 305 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: there were a couple of instances against Isaiah Pacheco where 306 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: the Packers had called a single safety defense, meaning that 307 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 1: one of the safeties was down in the box as 308 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: an extra run defender to help against the run. But 309 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: then the guys, the guys didn't fit the gaps properly, 310 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: and Pachecko, against a defense designed to stop the run, 311 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: was able to get an explosive and gash them. I 312 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: think he specifically mentioned that on Monday because Saquon Barkley 313 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: is coming up, and because the Packers are going to 314 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: I think bring an extra run defender into the box 315 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: quite a bit against Barkley in this game on Monday night. 316 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: And that's the biggest thing with the run defense. They 317 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: have to shore up. I mean, if you're gonna if 318 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: you need to sit back in certain situations to safeties, 319 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: the other team is going to be able to get 320 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: some runs that you know, the five and six yard 321 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: runs like those are going to happen. When you call 322 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: a defense to stop the run, you need to be 323 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: able to stop the run at the line of scrimmage 324 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: or within a couple of yards of the line of scrimmage. 325 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: And that's what the Packers have to do. They have 326 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: to get that short up, they have to get the 327 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 1: gap fits right. You have to tackle better than you 328 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: did against Pachecko and the Chiefs, And I think that's 329 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: the biggest emphasis defensively going into this game. 330 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a great point. I mean, Pacheco is a 331 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: different type of running back in Barkley, and that I 332 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 2: mean a lot of it. He doesn't have the size 333 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 2: of Barkley, but a lot of is based on expo 334 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 2: explosion and seeing how much he was running through contact. 335 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 2: Really just with pure speed. Barkley is going to be 336 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: a guy that's going to try to wear you down, 337 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 2: especially if he's fit for twenty five carries in this game, 338 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: it's going to be a four quarter battle in that way. 339 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: But and last year out in London, you know, obviously 340 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: the Packers had trouble with Barkley in the second half 341 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: is the game war on, It got harder and harder 342 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: to get him on the ground. And certainly the Giants 343 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: know what they did to be successful in London with 344 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: Barkley against the Packers last year. You know they're going 345 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: to turn back to that absolutely. 346 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 2: But yeah, looking at the Giants very quickly, thirty first 347 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 2: in the league and third down offense when you give 348 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 2: up that may sacks, that's not too big of a surprise. 349 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 2: Thirty point nine percent, thirty first in red zone offense. 350 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: So even when they've been getting down on drives, have 351 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: not been able to finish those off. And honestly, the 352 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: biggest stat that is just going to jump off the 353 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: page to you, nineteen points six percent sacks to pass attempts. 354 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 2: So basically, every five times your quarterback's dropping back. 355 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: He's getting he's getting sacked. 356 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 2: Pretty wild, Yeah, for sure. 357 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: Well, I'll take care of a little bit of sponsor 358 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: business here West and then we'll look elsewhere around the league. 359 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: Serious XM NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up 360 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: to the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need 361 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven, three sixty five. And at Cousin Subs, 362 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,679 Speaker 1: we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese cards, 363 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: mac and Cheese, golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired 364 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin 365 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:36,399 Speaker 1: Subs fifty years of better. 366 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 2: All right. 367 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: Two things to look at with regard to the NFC 368 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: playoff picture for this week. The first is what directly 369 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: involves the Packers, which is that all four of the 370 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: wild card contenders with the six and six records in 371 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: the NFC, all of them are on the road. The 372 00:17:55,359 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: Packers are at the Giants the Rams are at the Ravens, 373 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: the Vikings are at the Race, and the Seahawks are 374 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:06,400 Speaker 1: at the forty nine Ers. So any thoughts you want 375 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 1: to share on those other games. I think it's just 376 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: it's interesting when we talk about this cluster of teams 377 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: that are six and six, and I'm not including the 378 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,800 Speaker 1: Falcons because they're leading their division technically not in the 379 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: wild card chase. At the moment that all four of 380 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: them are on the road in the same week, everyone's looking, 381 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: everyone's looking to chalk up a road victory before coming 382 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 1: back home to friendly confine. 383 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 2: Well, and before I just touch on that, as you 384 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:32,880 Speaker 2: mentioned with that Falcons game, the Packers aren't a point 385 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 2: right now that they just cheer for the Falcons to 386 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 2: win any opportunity they get. 387 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: Absolutely, you want the Falcons to win the NFC South, 388 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: so they are not in the wild card picture because 389 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: that's a team that you lost to head to head. 390 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 1: So if a tie breaker comes into play, you don't 391 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 1: want it to be against the Falcons. 392 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, So obviously from a Packers fan perspective, hoping for 393 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 2: them to hold serve there against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 394 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: Some interestingly difficult matchups though, I mean the Rams having 395 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 2: to go into Baltimore with the way that Baltimore is 396 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:01,360 Speaker 2: playing right now. Baltimore is another one of those teams 397 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 2: has gone through some adversity. They lose Mark Andrews, but 398 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 2: defensively have been continually be a tough unit to be 399 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 2: able to penetrate. 400 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: I think that's interesting too, because Matthew Stafford seems to 401 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,359 Speaker 1: have that Rams offense cranked quite a bit. The Rams 402 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: offense that the Packers faced with Brett Rippen at quarterback 403 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: and whatever. The Rams are in a completely different place 404 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: right now, but that Ravens defense is going to be 405 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: a big challenge for Stafford and Cup and Nikua and 406 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: those guys. 407 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 2: The fascinating thing too about the Rams is as much 408 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 2: as it's been built around Cup and Stafford, they are 409 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 2: just it's been like this since the beginning with McVeigh. 410 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 2: With the Rams too, they don't always prioritize the resources 411 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,959 Speaker 2: put into the running back position, but that offense is 412 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 2: completely different whenever they have a productive running back. With 413 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 2: Williams back in the lineup and doing what he's been doing. 414 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 2: The first game he had coming off of ir whatever, 415 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 2: he had one hundred and fifty rushing yards incredibly productive. Yeah, 416 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 2: and even though Nikoua and some of those guys have 417 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 2: been banged up a little bit, that sort of helped 418 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 2: them in that regard Seattle with a gut check game 419 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 2: now against San Francisco. 420 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean they played the Niners at home very recently, 421 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: obviously on Thanksgiving Night. Then they had to go on 422 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: the road for a Thursday night game at Dallas, and 423 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: then and then now they're hitting the road again to 424 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: go to San Francisco and playing the Niners for the 425 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 1: second time in three games. 426 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're desperately hoping you can get Kenneth Walker back 427 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 2: here and get him involved in that offense once again, 428 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: and certainly with Gino kind of wondering what you're gonna 429 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 2: get with him taking on a very stifling San Francisco defense. 430 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: But with the way that Christian McCaffrey is running the 431 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 2: ball brock Purty last week, I mean, I said it 432 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 2: on our last show. I mean, when you have a 433 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 2: quarterback that is playing the system the way he's playing it, 434 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 2: I think it's sometimes you overlook just how good Brock 435 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 2: Purdy has been as a quarterback in general. The kid 436 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 2: is doing all the right things to help that football 437 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 2: team win, and certainly that the forty nine ers when 438 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 2: you pressure him when he doesn't have Deebo Samuel Babel, 439 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 2: different football team. And then if I may just very 440 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 2: quickly to touch on this with Minnesota, this is kind 441 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: of almost as big of a Josh Dobbs sort of 442 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 2: heat check as anything else and seeing, okay, is this 443 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: going to be the guy for us? You're going up 444 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 2: against Vegas who has had their own issues, but you're 445 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 2: on their turf. The Vikings, I think probably desperately are 446 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: hoping that Dobbs can perform here and look like the 447 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 2: guy he was early on because otherwise now you're trying 448 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 2: to mount a playoff push with a quarterback controversy. So 449 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:33,479 Speaker 2: what and that's never a good formula. 450 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, And the Vikings are hoping that by sticking with 451 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: Dobbs and getting Justin Jefferson back from his injury, that 452 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,199 Speaker 1: that combination that those two can maybe find, you know, 453 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: find a way to click. And you know, really the 454 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,880 Speaker 1: bottom line for Minnesota is it's been the turnovers. When 455 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: they turn the ball over, they look like a bad 456 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: football team, and they struggle to get victories and they 457 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: look very poor in doing so when they protect the football, 458 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 1: that's a tough team to beat. I mean, and it's 459 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: been it's been one or the other with the Minnesota 460 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: Vikings so far this season. The other thing to look 461 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: at with regard to the NFC playoff picture, the big 462 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: game everybody's going to be watching, of course, is the 463 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: Sunday night football game. It's Philadelphia at Dallas. Dallas is 464 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: one game behind the Eagles in the NFC East race. 465 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: But where this could potentially get really interesting, Wes is 466 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: if the Niners beat the Seahawks, if the Lions win 467 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: their game, and if the Cowboys beat the Eagles, you 468 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:43,439 Speaker 1: suddenly will have a four way tie for the number 469 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: one seed in the NFC with four games to go. 470 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 1: And not saying that that's what's going to happen, but 471 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 1: it's certainly very plausible that that's how that's where the 472 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: NFC playoff picture could be sitting after this week with 473 00:22:56,359 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: four teams at ten and three and four games to 474 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: go to decide who gets that number one spot, and 475 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 1: the first round by the only one now with that 476 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: only going to the top seed as opposed to the 477 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: first two like it used to be. 478 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, this is what the NFL wanted, right, 479 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 2: They wanted that type of battle not only for playoff 480 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,399 Speaker 2: you know, berths, but also the positioning to get that 481 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 2: number one seed. And if I'm mad a Eberflus in 482 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 2: Chicago right now, I'm reminding my football team of exactly 483 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: what we did to the Detroit Lions a couple weeks, 484 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 2: no questions, So that that's a game with a lot 485 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 2: on the line for them. Buffalo's trying to go to 486 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 2: Kansas City. I mean, I think that's a huge game 487 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,640 Speaker 2: for both of those teams for an entirely different reasons. Yeah, 488 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 2: it is a very compelling Week fourteen slate of games 489 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 2: that are going to have huge implications for how the 490 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 2: rest of this thing goes. But Dallas, you know, Mike McCarthy, 491 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 2: I saw the reports out there with the appendicitis. You 492 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 2: hope everything's going okay with him. What's his availability going 493 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 2: to be for that game against Philly? A lot to 494 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 2: keep your eye on here as the Green Bay Packers 495 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:58,200 Speaker 2: prepare for that game on Monday night. 496 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: Well, I had my emergency apendectomy last year on a 497 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 1: Wednesday night, and I was in the press box to 498 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: cover the game on Sunday, So Mike McCarthy Bert. I'm 499 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: just I'm kidding. I hope every time stood. I hope 500 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: everything is good with Mike and there. I mean, it 501 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: sounds like he is expecting to be able to be 502 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,879 Speaker 1: on the sideline on Sunday. So I don't mean to 503 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:21,959 Speaker 1: I don't mean to make to make light of it, 504 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: but if you went through it last year, it's not fun. 505 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: But obviously sitting up in the press box with my 506 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 1: laptop is a little different than being on the sideline 507 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: with the headset and calling plays and trying to trying 508 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: to you know, dodge three hundred pound guys making tackles. 509 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: And I mean, we've seen not to go off on 510 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: too big of as we've seen, we've seen some like 511 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: ugly sideline collisions in NFL games this year. Like people 512 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: got to start protecting themselves a little bit more like 513 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: this is this is getting out of hand. I just 514 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: I hate watching those moments in games where somebody just 515 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: very innocently, you know, on the sideline, a chain gang 516 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,479 Speaker 1: member or whatever the case might be, and uh and 517 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: they you know, they need medical attention and all this, 518 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 1: and it's like it's been happening too much in this league. 519 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it makes it hard for me to transition back, 520 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 2: but I'm going to force it anyway. Could you have 521 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 2: stood for three hours covering that game last year after 522 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 2: the appendectomy? 523 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I could have. 524 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 2: I could have. 525 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:14,240 Speaker 1: I could have stood. 526 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:15,680 Speaker 2: I mean if I took your chair away, and I say, 527 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 2: if you asked you asked. 528 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: Me to ask me to run down the sideline to 529 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 1: call a time out, you know when when when you've 530 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: got a bad look on offense or defense or whatever. No, 531 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't have been able to do that. But Stan standing 532 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 1: still a few days after, Yeah, I could have. I 533 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:32,600 Speaker 1: could have probably pulled that off. 534 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, but to your point, yeah, it's been it's been 535 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 2: very scary. You know that. I think that was what 536 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 2: one of the chain game guys last week got a 537 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 2: pretty bad deal. Yeah. 538 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,479 Speaker 1: Down in New Orleans it was the Detroit the Detroit 539 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:43,159 Speaker 1: New Orleans game. 540 00:25:43,200 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 2: Gotta stay heads up, very fast, very athletic, very big 541 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 2: human beings. 542 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: And that's why you and I don't spend any time 543 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,119 Speaker 1: on the sideline. We just stay safe up in the 544 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: press box, not just because it's warm, but because we 545 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: we can protect ourselves up there. 546 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 2: I will never forget as we can close out the 547 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 2: show on this Uh. I believe it was twenty sixteen. 548 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 2: It wasn't it was was Was it after Farv got 549 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,720 Speaker 2: his NF I think it was after Farv got his 550 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,919 Speaker 2: Super Bowl. He was getting a Super Bowl ring at 551 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 2: lambeauf or not a superring, his the Hall of Fame ring. Yeah, 552 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 2: I think it was sixteen and they were doing the 553 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 2: halftime show. So I walked down early. I think I 554 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 2: was working for the Packers at that point. I think 555 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 2: you stayed up in the press box. I went down 556 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: early to cover the halftime thing with Farvre and I 557 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 2: spent the last five minutes of the first half down 558 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 2: on the field. And that experience of watching I think 559 00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:37,959 Speaker 2: Dallas was driving and so the defense was they had 560 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 2: their back to me, but they were getting into Green 561 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,560 Speaker 2: Bay territory and like Julius Peppers was out there and 562 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: like all these guys, and I'm like, it gave me 563 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,479 Speaker 2: a new appreciation not only for the speed of these guys, 564 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 2: but just how many monsters there are out there on 565 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,360 Speaker 2: the fields. It is startling. Yeah. 566 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: Or earlier, earlier in my career, both with the Packers 567 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: and when in the news paper business, there were moments 568 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: for different reasons where I would spend just brief periods 569 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,000 Speaker 1: on the sidelines. Maybe I was, you know, running digital 570 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,359 Speaker 1: cards for photographers or whatever the case might be. You 571 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: spend any time right on the sideline while the action 572 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 1: is going on in an NFL game, The speed of 573 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 1: the game, the power of the collisions, as you said, 574 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 1: the size of the players. I mean, it really hits 575 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 1: you when you are that, when you are that close 576 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: to it, you know, hits you, no pun intended. You 577 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 1: realize that, you realize that the game that you're watching 578 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 1: on TV looks and feels a heck of a lot 579 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: different when you are right down there on the grass. 580 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: And I've always you know, filed away those memories because 581 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 1: it is it is a different game. And you and 582 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: I both spent plenty of time on high school sidelines, 583 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: even college games sidelines perhaps here and there. In the NFL, man, 584 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: it's a whole different world. 585 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: And you might get a kid that that's a really 586 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:58,200 Speaker 2: good tackler. You might get a kid that's really fast, 587 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 2: Very rarely, at least in our part of the country. 588 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 2: Do you see the guy with the whole total package. Yeah, 589 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,080 Speaker 2: the probably the closest I came to that was Alec 590 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 2: Ingold over at Bayport, and he was just a quick, 591 00:28:09,240 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 2: kind of sized up quarterback. But it's just it's it's 592 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,760 Speaker 2: incredible to watch, and it gives your respect and profound 593 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,000 Speaker 2: admiration for what these guys do on a weekly basis 594 00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 2: to get themselves ready for it. I was tired enough. 595 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 2: It's Thursday morning. I think I finally came back today 596 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 2: as far as getting on my sleep schedule. And I 597 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 2: don't even have to do anything athletic. 598 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, now and and now we have to now we 599 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: have to do it again. And I don't know ones 600 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: are playing going to get back like three in the 601 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: morning or three thirty. 602 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 2: And I gotta shoot daily on Tuesday morning. 603 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: See, so yeah, well we'll we'll have to uh, we'll 604 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: have to readjust again next week. But hey, Packers are uh, 605 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: Packers are in the playoff chase, and that beats the alternative. 606 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 2: It's the best. It is the best thing to cover 607 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 2: December football when your team is in it. Yeah, it's 608 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 2: there's nothing like it. They even you can see the 609 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 2: article views, you know, the engagement on stuff. People are 610 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 2: just revd up for it. Yeah and yeah Greenmit, Packer's 611 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 2: got five more to go here, trying to get another 612 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,040 Speaker 2: one on Monday Night. 613 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: No question about it. With that, we'll call it a 614 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: rap on this edition of Packers Own Script To be 615 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage of Monday night's 616 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: game from MetLife in New Jersey. We will have it 617 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 1: all for you on packers dot com for Wes, I 618 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: am Mike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. We will 619 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: see you next time.