WEBVTT - #365 Packers Unscripted: Miss in Minnesota 0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:19.560 M Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 0:00:19.600 --> 0:00:23.840 I am Mike Spofford, joined alongside my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz. 0:00:23.880 --> 0:00:27.080 We're coming to you here from our studios at lambeau Field, 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:30.440 back from another late night flight west from US Bank 0:00:30.520 --> 0:00:34.879 Stadium in Minneapolis, where the Packers unfortunately still could not 0:00:35.200 --> 0:00:38.920 put together a road victory to seventeen the final score, 0:00:39.000 --> 0:00:43.360 this time against the division rival Minnesota Vikings. And in 0:00:43.400 --> 0:00:47.640 a lot of ways, uh, a repeat of the game 0:00:47.640 --> 0:00:50.960 in Seattle in terms of the offense starting quickly, putting 0:00:50.960 --> 0:00:53.600 points on the board early in the game, and then 0:00:54.000 --> 0:00:57.680 things just became this monumental struggle to add to what 0:00:57.760 --> 0:01:00.600 you what you had done and alter really the home 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:02.720 team prevails. Yeah. One of the quiet things that's sort 0:01:02.720 --> 0:01:05.319 of changed after the bye week is the fact that 0:01:05.360 --> 0:01:08.080 the Packers have gotten off to some really strong starts 0:01:08.400 --> 0:01:11.840 when you look at l A to some extent New England, 0:01:12.560 --> 0:01:15.680 but the last two weeks against Seattle and Minnesota, really 0:01:15.840 --> 0:01:18.520 firing out of the gate right away, but just not 0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:20.960 able to sustain that. And that's almost in stark contrast 0:01:21.080 --> 0:01:23.560 to the first half of the season where it was 0:01:23.600 --> 0:01:26.600 sort of the slow starts were the slow starts were 0:01:26.600 --> 0:01:28.440 bogging the team down, and then you're trying to make 0:01:28.480 --> 0:01:31.200 these rallies in the fourth quarter and everything. It's it's 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:33.680 been a it's been a shift in in the way 0:01:34.080 --> 0:01:36.520 these games have gone. But certainly since the bye week, 0:01:36.600 --> 0:01:39.280 a lot of the same story keeps happening, and a 0:01:39.280 --> 0:01:41.039 lot of guys in the locker room afterwards, as I'm 0:01:41.040 --> 0:01:43.760 sure you heard with Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers at the 0:01:43.760 --> 0:01:46.600 podium just lamenting the fact that they're just really can't 0:01:46.600 --> 0:01:48.480 have they haven't been able to put their finger on 0:01:49.040 --> 0:01:51.760 what they need to do to be able to sustain 0:01:51.800 --> 0:01:54.240 that momentum throughout four quarters. Because when you look at 0:01:54.280 --> 0:01:56.920 that first quarter in a vacuum, Mike, you know, Aaron 0:01:57.000 --> 0:01:59.560 Rodgers six of eight for seventy one yards and a touchdown. 0:02:00.040 --> 0:02:03.400 You get down Davante Adams involved early on, he catches 0:02:03.440 --> 0:02:05.840 his tenth touchdown of the year, Aaron Jones had I believe, 0:02:05.880 --> 0:02:08.959 forty three total yards. Everything seemed to be pointing up 0:02:09.040 --> 0:02:11.639 for them, and then you get to that second half 0:02:11.680 --> 0:02:14.080 and I believe the stat I dug up in my 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:17.600 locker room report was that they had I think it was, 0:02:18.000 --> 0:02:20.880 oh man, was it sixty total yards in the next 0:02:20.919 --> 0:02:23.440 sixth series or something like that. What I remember looking 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:25.440 at and writing on the plane as we were coming 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:29.919 back is they had six consecutive possessions where they did 0:02:29.960 --> 0:02:33.280 not cross Minnesota's forty yard line, basically six and none 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:36.160 of the possession started any worse than the twenty five 0:02:36.200 --> 0:02:39.240 than your own twenty five. So sixth straight possessions not 0:02:39.360 --> 0:02:42.520 in bad field position, but nothing gets across the opponent's 0:02:42.520 --> 0:02:45.440 forty yard line. So they never really six straight drives, 0:02:45.440 --> 0:02:50.480 never even threatened to score. And that's what's gonna happen. 0:02:50.840 --> 0:02:53.679 And you look at the Minnesota Vikings. It was so funny, Mike, 0:02:53.720 --> 0:02:56.480 because you know, I was watching that first quarter developed 0:02:57.320 --> 0:03:01.120 and you know, Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense just, 0:03:01.280 --> 0:03:04.200 you know, it looked, it looked difficult. I mean, they 0:03:04.320 --> 0:03:06.480 just were not in sync at all. Yeah, those first 0:03:06.520 --> 0:03:10.040 two possessions from Minnesota, they look like they were struggling. Yeah, 0:03:10.040 --> 0:03:13.880 Alexander Jay Alexander ends up blocking Adam Feeling like three 0:03:13.919 --> 0:03:16.640 yards back into Stefan Pigs on what was a bubble 0:03:16.680 --> 0:03:19.880 screen for a ten yard lost in overall, it just 0:03:19.919 --> 0:03:22.240 looked like, Okay, well, maybe this is finally the Packers 0:03:22.280 --> 0:03:23.840 day to be able to put one of these things 0:03:23.880 --> 0:03:25.600 together and get a much need to win on the road. 0:03:26.000 --> 0:03:29.079 But I give a lot of credit to Kirk Cousins 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:33.520 and Adam Feeling did get going eventually. Stefon Diggs has 0:03:33.560 --> 0:03:35.880 been a big possession receiver against the Packers for the 0:03:35.920 --> 0:03:38.960 last three years. I mean, that's been his game. And 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:40.600 while green Bay did one of the things that you 0:03:40.600 --> 0:03:42.440 and I talked about in the lead up to this 0:03:42.880 --> 0:03:44.760 and being able to make sure that the thirty first 0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:47.760 ranked rushing offense looks like the thirty first rank rushing offense. 0:03:48.360 --> 0:03:50.200 Kirk Cousins had another big day through the air three 0:03:50.680 --> 0:03:54.520 two yards, three touchdowns, dy nine point five passer rating, 0:03:54.800 --> 0:03:57.000 and with the Packers struggling to get anything going until 0:03:57.000 --> 0:04:00.240 the final drive of that game, just wasn't enough. Yeah. 0:04:00.240 --> 0:04:01.640 I mean, if you want to look at this game, 0:04:01.680 --> 0:04:04.880 in a game that there were no interceptions and no fumbles, 0:04:04.880 --> 0:04:06.520 and we had talked all week long about how the 0:04:06.560 --> 0:04:09.320 Packers really needed to win the turnover battle, and winning 0:04:09.360 --> 0:04:12.000 the turnover battle in Minneapolis is how you beat the 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:14.920 Vikings in their place. Neither team had a fumble or 0:04:14.920 --> 0:04:19.119 an interception. Statistically, the game came down to third down West. 0:04:19.160 --> 0:04:22.640 The Vikings were seven out of fourteen they converted, the 0:04:22.640 --> 0:04:24.960 Packers were two out of ten. You look at the 0:04:24.960 --> 0:04:29.880 first the Packers first two touchdowns, they scored on two 0:04:29.920 --> 0:04:34.000 of their first three possessions. On the opening touchdown drive, 0:04:34.080 --> 0:04:36.039 they had one third down, it was a third and one, 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:38.800 it was converted. Then they had a third down they 0:04:38.800 --> 0:04:40.640 didn't get and they punted. And then on the second 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.159 touchdown drive, no third downs at all. Everything was either 0:04:43.200 --> 0:04:45.640 first and tent or second and short. So you have 0:04:45.720 --> 0:04:48.680 fourteen points on the board, but you've only faced two 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:51.360 third downs. You converted one of them. The Packers then 0:04:51.400 --> 0:04:54.760 went on this run of seven consecutive third downs that 0:04:54.880 --> 0:04:58.040 they did not convert, and that has been the problem 0:04:58.120 --> 0:05:00.600 on offense all season long. Only one of them, if 0:05:00.640 --> 0:05:03.200 I recall, was a was a third and long after 0:05:03.360 --> 0:05:05.280 they took the delay a game on a third and eight. 0:05:05.320 --> 0:05:07.040 It was third and thirteen and they took a sack. 0:05:07.080 --> 0:05:09.800 But other than that one, they were all you know 0:05:09.960 --> 0:05:12.479 in that third and seven, third and eight, you know 0:05:12.680 --> 0:05:15.599 or less, you know, those those manageable down and distances, 0:05:15.640 --> 0:05:18.720 and for whatever reason, and I can't answer it. I'm 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:22.080 not an excess nose guy. I've never designed a football play, 0:05:22.160 --> 0:05:25.240 I've never coached the game. I don't know what is 0:05:25.279 --> 0:05:28.240 wrong on third down, but it's what is killing this 0:05:28.360 --> 0:05:32.160 offense because you can't just rely on scoring touchdowns by 0:05:32.160 --> 0:05:34.240 never getting in third down. They've done it a couple 0:05:34.240 --> 0:05:36.680 of times. They've had some nice drives where you don't 0:05:36.680 --> 0:05:38.760 even get the third down. You're moving smoothly, but if 0:05:38.800 --> 0:05:42.239 you cannot convert at least on a semi consistent basis 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:44.600 on third down in this league, you will lose. Yeah, 0:05:44.640 --> 0:05:46.960 it's tough, and I think the thing that stood out 0:05:46.960 --> 0:05:48.960 to me the most in this game was the fact 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:52.039 that it was in more third and manageable situations, much 0:05:52.080 --> 0:05:54.359 like the Seattle game right, and prior to that, it 0:05:54.440 --> 0:05:57.120 was that, Okay, you're getting in third and deep and 0:05:57.320 --> 0:05:59.760 you know the probability as as you go a yard 0:05:59.800 --> 0:06:02.360 back it continues to fall. So, I mean, it's too 0:06:02.360 --> 0:06:05.520 somewhat understandable. But when you get into those third and fourth, 0:06:05.560 --> 0:06:09.080 third and five situation, yes they're not you know, I 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:12.000 don't want to say automatic, but typically those are where 0:06:12.040 --> 0:06:13.360 you have to find a way to be able to 0:06:13.400 --> 0:06:15.960 push the football. The thing I think that surprised me 0:06:16.000 --> 0:06:19.800 the most about this performance is seventeen carries for seventy 0:06:19.800 --> 0:06:22.440 two yards with Aaron Jones four point two yards per 0:06:22.480 --> 0:06:25.120 carry against the fifth point run defense in the league. 0:06:25.240 --> 0:06:28.320 Aaron Jones had been effective and they fed him. Davante Adams, 0:06:28.320 --> 0:06:30.200 while he did have a lull in the middle of 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:33.040 that game, had some big plays, ends up going over 0:06:33.040 --> 0:06:36.640 a thousand yards late in the fourth quarter. Equinimius st. 0:06:36.640 --> 0:06:39.120 Brown steps up in the first half, had three catches 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:42.920 for fifty three yards. They had individuals rise to the 0:06:43.000 --> 0:06:45.719 challenge in this game. But I just think of that 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:48.920 second and third quarter in particular, especially in the third 0:06:49.000 --> 0:06:50.680 quarter when they got the ball and a chance to 0:06:50.720 --> 0:06:54.360 potentially march down the field and reclaim the lead after 0:06:54.440 --> 0:06:56.479 Dan Bailey had two mess field goals of the second 0:06:56.560 --> 0:07:00.240 quarter and they just they weren't able to get to 0:07:00.279 --> 0:07:02.799 execute them. Yeah, I mean, obviously the game the game 0:07:02.839 --> 0:07:05.520 turned on the possession in the third quarter where the 0:07:05.520 --> 0:07:08.360 Packers are on their own forty four yard line. They 0:07:08.360 --> 0:07:11.400 have third and one. Aaron Jones gets stuffed on third 0:07:11.400 --> 0:07:13.440 and one. Packers decided to go for it. It It was 0:07:13.480 --> 0:07:16.040 that he actually got what three quarters of a yard 0:07:16.120 --> 0:07:19.200 or whatever on third and one, so it's fourth and inches. 0:07:19.720 --> 0:07:21.880 Packers decided to go for it. There's a little bit 0:07:21.920 --> 0:07:25.280 of a of a snaffoo with the play clock, and 0:07:25.360 --> 0:07:28.559 McCarthy thought the officials should have reset the play clock, 0:07:28.600 --> 0:07:30.840 and they didn't do it. So the Packers burn a 0:07:30.920 --> 0:07:33.640 time out, but they still stick with going for it 0:07:33.680 --> 0:07:36.640 there on fourth and one, and and Aaron Jones gets stuffed. 0:07:36.960 --> 0:07:40.200 Minnesota has a short field and that actually then becomes 0:07:40.560 --> 0:07:44.000 the first of two consecutive short fields, two possessions in 0:07:44.000 --> 0:07:47.480 a row from Minnesota that started in Green Bay Territory. 0:07:47.560 --> 0:07:50.080 The second one then because of a you know, the 0:07:50.160 --> 0:07:52.920 sack on third and thirteen, the good pump return a 0:07:52.960 --> 0:07:56.360 special team's penalty adds five yards. Minnesota, with those two 0:07:56.400 --> 0:07:59.360 possessions in Green Bay Territory, gets ten points, a field 0:07:59.360 --> 0:08:02.760 goal and a touch down, and um, you know it's 0:08:02.800 --> 0:08:04.680 a it's a two score game at that point, and 0:08:04.680 --> 0:08:06.840 and the Packers just they never closed it within one 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:09.120 score until there were two minutes left in the ballgame. Yeah, 0:08:09.120 --> 0:08:11.240 it was interesting listen Aaron Jones talk in the locker room, 0:08:11.240 --> 0:08:15.120 because it almost sounded like he lamented more, uh, you know, 0:08:15.160 --> 0:08:17.440 the fourth down play than the third down one, even 0:08:17.480 --> 0:08:19.320 though he did have some positive yards on third down. 0:08:19.600 --> 0:08:21.360 The fourth down one, it just was the one where 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:23.920 he felt like there was a chance to be able 0:08:23.920 --> 0:08:26.360 to penetrate that line and just wasn't able to get there, 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:28.720 whereas the third down one. You know, he just you know, 0:08:28.760 --> 0:08:31.280 he credited them for making a good defensive play to 0:08:31.360 --> 0:08:34.920 be able to bottle that up. Be that as it may. Yeah, 0:08:34.920 --> 0:08:36.560 when when you look at being able to give the 0:08:36.559 --> 0:08:39.400 short field there to the Vikings, what they're able to 0:08:39.400 --> 0:08:42.160 do off of it, I thought the Packers defense responded 0:08:42.160 --> 0:08:46.400 pretty well to adverse situations once again. Certainly they still 0:08:46.440 --> 0:08:48.400 have not been able to get that takeaway or at 0:08:48.480 --> 0:08:50.720 least that string of takeaways. And I think, you know, 0:08:50.760 --> 0:08:52.839 you and I were discussing are almost required to be 0:08:52.880 --> 0:08:55.880 able to beat the Vikings in that venue. But you know, 0:08:55.880 --> 0:08:58.040 they got a couple of three notes early on, They 0:08:58.080 --> 0:09:01.120 got one after the break and halftime. Uh, Kenny Clark 0:09:01.160 --> 0:09:04.280 had a big sack on third and seven. Then obviously 0:09:04.320 --> 0:09:06.440 there was the muff punt. They get the ball back 0:09:06.440 --> 0:09:09.360 and actually hold their ground there with the Vikings going 0:09:09.600 --> 0:09:11.679 you know, on fourth down instead of kicking the field goals, 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:14.280 so there were in Dean Lowry also had a sack 0:09:14.320 --> 0:09:15.760 that knocked him out of field goal range as well 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:18.920 at one point, so in a vacuum, the defense was 0:09:18.960 --> 0:09:21.280 able to step up again in the face of some injuries. 0:09:21.320 --> 0:09:24.440 But you know, it is what it is. You know, 0:09:24.480 --> 0:09:26.760 the Vikings are playing in their venue. They have those 0:09:26.760 --> 0:09:30.520 perimeter weapons that they have. I think Jr. Alexander did 0:09:30.559 --> 0:09:33.360 an exemplary job for the most part against theland, but 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:35.160 there's still things that they're gonna be able to scheme 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:37.800 up with him to free him up. And and obviously 0:09:37.920 --> 0:09:39.600 him and Diggs both had a big day for them 0:09:39.760 --> 0:09:42.400 and Kirk Cousins through the air. Yeah, already, West, a 0:09:42.440 --> 0:09:44.600 little bit of sponsored business here quickly the Green Bay 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:47.400 Packers get ready for game day with the powerful noise 0:09:47.480 --> 0:09:51.520 canceling technology of Bows Quiet Comfort thirty five headphones. To 0:09:52.480 --> 0:09:56.200 learn more at www dot bos dot com. Slash Packers 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:00.240 Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers. We'd 0:10:00.240 --> 0:10:02.280 be remiss here, West if we didn't mention a little 0:10:02.280 --> 0:10:05.800 bit of history being made by Packers wide receiver Davante 0:10:05.840 --> 0:10:08.880 Adams in this game. As disappointing as the final result was, 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:12.440 but as you mentioned earlier, he goes over a thousand 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:15.719 yards for the first time in his career. Um He 0:10:15.840 --> 0:10:19.800 also gets his tenth touchdown reception of the season, which 0:10:19.800 --> 0:10:23.599 gives him three consecutive seasons now with double digit touchdowns, 0:10:23.600 --> 0:10:27.040 and he becomes the first Packers receiver to do that 0:10:27.240 --> 0:10:31.640 since Sterling Sharp back in the early nineties ninety four, 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:34.640 those first three years with Brett Farve at quarterback and 0:10:34.920 --> 0:10:38.360 Davantae Adams still has five games to go. I'm I'm 0:10:38.440 --> 0:10:41.079 very interested to see because of where his numbers are 0:10:41.240 --> 0:10:44.000 and with with five games remaining to play and knock 0:10:44.040 --> 0:10:47.720 on what he remains healthy this year so far, certainly 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:51.079 where this season for him as a Packers receiver might 0:10:51.200 --> 0:10:53.839 end up in the team's record books, because it's got 0:10:53.840 --> 0:10:55.680 a chance to rank way up there. Yeah, it's gonna 0:10:55.720 --> 0:10:57.720 be up there, you know, assuming he stays on the 0:10:57.720 --> 0:10:59.720 field one way or another. He's just been that consistent 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:01.920 out the course of the season. The Packers have needed 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:04.040 that too, you know, with Randall cob now missing six 0:11:04.080 --> 0:11:06.280 of the last eight geron way Allison ended up on 0:11:06.360 --> 0:11:08.640 I R and then having a lot of rookie receivers 0:11:08.679 --> 0:11:11.480 and Jimmy Graham dealing with the thumb injury. Davante Adams 0:11:11.520 --> 0:11:14.240 has been the constant through all of that. Seventy seven 0:11:14.280 --> 0:11:16.480 catches now on the season, a d and twenty two yards, 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:19.520 ten touchdowns. As you explain, Mike, but I know it's 0:11:19.520 --> 0:11:21.679 gonna be a very little consolation to him. If you 0:11:21.720 --> 0:11:26.000 know him, he is an incredibly competitive individual. The wins 0:11:26.000 --> 0:11:27.800 and the losses are ultimately the thing that are going 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:32.160 to drive him. But what he's doing to try to 0:11:32.200 --> 0:11:35.240 give this offense a chance. You go to that fourth quarter, Mike, 0:11:35.360 --> 0:11:38.440 the thirty six yard catch along the sideline against Savior Roads. 0:11:38.480 --> 0:11:42.120 That's what gave them that explosive play they needed, got 0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:44.520 him over a thousand yards on the season. Aaron Rodgers 0:11:44.559 --> 0:11:46.839 also had him open in the end zone on the 0:11:46.840 --> 0:11:48.320 play that they ended up having to settle for the 0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:52.720 Mason Crosby field goal. Just not able to connect. His footwork, 0:11:52.760 --> 0:11:56.800 ability to gain separation and any portion in any version 0:11:56.840 --> 0:12:00.640 of the road tree is impressive. And seeing where he 0:12:00.679 --> 0:12:02.560 takes this thing in the final month of the season. 0:12:03.600 --> 0:12:05.600 He's just such a big part of this offense. Now 0:12:05.679 --> 0:12:08.640 he is the playmaker of this offense. He saw Jordy 0:12:08.720 --> 0:12:11.280 Nelson do it for a number of years. Davante Adams 0:12:11.320 --> 0:12:13.920 is the guy now, he is the man and for 0:12:14.000 --> 0:12:15.640 him now to be one of nine guys I think 0:12:15.640 --> 0:12:18.199 over a thousand yards on the season. I believe the 0:12:18.240 --> 0:12:20.920 only receiver in the NFL with ten touchdowns in each 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:23.160 of the past three seasons. Now, if I have that correct, 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:26.200 it's impressive what he's done in all facets of the 0:12:26.200 --> 0:12:28.640 game and all you know, areas of the field. Yeah, 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:31.240 you mentioned the thirty six yard catch down the sideline 0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:33.120 in the fourth quarter. That could end up being an 0:12:33.120 --> 0:12:36.640 incredibly costly play for the Minnesota Vikings because we saw 0:12:36.760 --> 0:12:40.840 Xavier Rhodes, a great cornerback, really impressive player, and a 0:12:40.880 --> 0:12:42.839 guy that that I have a lot of respect for 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:45.440 and I enjoy watching him. I enjoyed watching that Davante 0:12:45.440 --> 0:12:47.880 Adams Xavier Rhodes matchup. They were going head to head 0:12:48.280 --> 0:12:51.200 all game long, but Rhodes came up with what looked 0:12:51.240 --> 0:12:54.320 like a pretty bad hamstring injury, you know, not really 0:12:54.360 --> 0:12:58.079 able to walk off the field. Um, all that smoothly 0:12:58.360 --> 0:13:01.640 after that happened, and I talked about it last year West, 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:04.160 I mean, I really felt in the playoffs for Minnesota. 0:13:04.440 --> 0:13:06.439 I know they got the great miracle play to beat 0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:09.559 in New Orleans, But in that NFC Championship against Philadelphia, 0:13:09.840 --> 0:13:11.640 when Xavier Rhodes was kind of in and out of 0:13:11.640 --> 0:13:13.640 the game with an injury, and then ultimately when he 0:13:13.720 --> 0:13:16.400 left that game, at like, Minnesota's defense just didn't look 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:19.320 the same. And you just wonder. Minnesota is six four 0:13:19.320 --> 0:13:20.839 and one, they're right in the thick of it here 0:13:20.880 --> 0:13:22.760 for the playoffs. But if Rhodes is out for any 0:13:22.760 --> 0:13:25.280 extended period of time, that's gonna make it a lot 0:13:25.360 --> 0:13:28.080 tougher on this defense because he he really really is 0:13:28.280 --> 0:13:30.559 a top notch player. So I used to cover preps, 0:13:30.679 --> 0:13:32.319 you know what the press is that I did too, 0:13:32.360 --> 0:13:34.160 And I was young at that time, and I didn't 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.120 really fully understand what it felt like to have a 0:13:36.160 --> 0:13:38.920 soft muscle injury. So, you know, somebody in track and 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:41.240 field or something like that would sustain a hamstring injury, 0:13:41.240 --> 0:13:42.920 and I would always be like, oh, you know, they'll 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:45.920 people look tape it up and wrap it up and go. 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:49.080 And over the years, as you get older and as 0:13:49.120 --> 0:13:51.080 you but you're around more of these things, you understand 0:13:51.200 --> 0:13:54.480 how difficult those injuries are particularly in the lower body. 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:57.160 The thing that's scary as far as Rhodes, and this 0:13:57.200 --> 0:14:00.080 is obviously just speculatory at this point, but speculator of 0:14:00.640 --> 0:14:04.480 is the fact that his how much he struggled to 0:14:04.520 --> 0:14:08.200 get off the field. Guys can have a strainer, tear 0:14:08.240 --> 0:14:10.280 their hamstring and walk fine off the field. They just 0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:12.640 can't explode when they're trying to get in and out 0:14:12.640 --> 0:14:14.079 of the routes or when they're trying to come off 0:14:14.080 --> 0:14:17.640 a break as a cornerback. Rhodes really looked rough in 0:14:17.720 --> 0:14:19.920 that moment, So we'll have to see exactly what he did. 0:14:19.920 --> 0:14:21.400 I have a lot of respect for him. He was 0:14:21.480 --> 0:14:24.280 phenomenal on the conference call talking about that match up 0:14:24.320 --> 0:14:27.400 with Davante Adams last week. The excitement there for both 0:14:27.440 --> 0:14:29.680 of those parties matching up with each other basically every 0:14:29.680 --> 0:14:32.000 single play. So yeah, you definitely don't want to see 0:14:32.000 --> 0:14:34.080 a go down like that. Yeah, alright, West, Well at 0:14:34.120 --> 0:14:36.520 Homer here in the stands, we all know that Green 0:14:36.560 --> 0:14:38.160 Bay fans give it their all and then that takes 0:14:38.200 --> 0:14:40.600 a lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl of 0:14:40.680 --> 0:14:43.400 Campbell's chunky soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of 0:14:43.440 --> 0:14:46.840 Packers fans everywhere tried the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:50.520 Just visit your local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup. 0:14:50.920 --> 0:14:54.480 Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, West, 0:14:55.080 --> 0:14:58.000 Here's where the Packers are four six and one after 0:14:58.160 --> 0:15:02.680 eleven games. The Chicago Bears, after their win on Thanksgiving 0:15:02.720 --> 0:15:05.560 with their backup quarterback, give them credit. They are eight 0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:10.200 and three. So for all practical purposes, the division is 0:15:10.240 --> 0:15:12.440 out of reach. Your three games back in the lost 0:15:12.480 --> 0:15:15.760 column to the division leader. With with five games to go, 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:19.840 the Packers essentially to have any shot at the playoffs, 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:21.840 they have to win out. They have to win all 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.440 five games. They have to get to nine six and one, 0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:26.760 And the math is pretty simple in the sense that 0:15:26.800 --> 0:15:28.680 if you look at it right now, there are four 0:15:29.000 --> 0:15:32.720 second place teams, including the Vikings, there are four second 0:15:32.760 --> 0:15:37.160 place teams in the NFC that have six victories. If 0:15:37.360 --> 0:15:40.360 two of those teams get to ten victories, it's over 0:15:40.400 --> 0:15:43.120 for the Packers because that's two wild card spots that 0:15:43.240 --> 0:15:46.240 the Packers can't break into. With the nine six and 0:15:46.280 --> 0:15:49.880 one record, now, it's crazy to talk about winning five 0:15:49.960 --> 0:15:52.080 straight with a team that hasn't won on the road, 0:15:52.120 --> 0:15:53.960 and they haven't won two games in a row all 0:15:53.960 --> 0:15:57.480 season long, let alone thinking about trying to win five 0:15:57.520 --> 0:16:00.400 in a row. But the reality is, that's all as 0:16:00.400 --> 0:16:03.360 Packers fans that anybody has to hang onto right now. 0:16:03.400 --> 0:16:05.680 That's all the locker room has to hang onto. It 0:16:05.800 --> 0:16:08.280 is one week at a time. But if that's all 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:10.240 you have to hang onto, then you might as well 0:16:10.320 --> 0:16:12.440 hang onto it and look at the situation for what 0:16:12.480 --> 0:16:15.280 it is. And the Packers have to run it here 0:16:15.480 --> 0:16:18.320 and they're gonna have to get some help so that nine, 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:20.520 six and one will be good enough. I did if 0:16:20.520 --> 0:16:22.080 you go back a couple of weeks ago, I actually 0:16:22.120 --> 0:16:23.880 did say. I thought, with the way that this wild 0:16:23.880 --> 0:16:26.160 card was shuffling out with and how much parody there is, 0:16:26.200 --> 0:16:29.080 that nine and six and one could potentially, you know, 0:16:29.160 --> 0:16:31.880 get in over a nine and seven team. I think 0:16:31.920 --> 0:16:33.960 it's possible there's a nine win team in the playoffs. 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:36.120 But the problem for the Packers right now is coming 0:16:36.120 --> 0:16:39.000 off of that loss to Seattle, then you lose to Minnesota, 0:16:39.120 --> 0:16:42.080 take away the division implications. That's a team right now 0:16:42.120 --> 0:16:44.280 that's the fifth seat. If the playoffs ended today or 0:16:44.280 --> 0:16:47.120 the playoffs started today. The season ended today. Um, the 0:16:47.160 --> 0:16:49.560 Cowboys have pulled themselves back into this thing. At six 0:16:49.560 --> 0:16:51.880 and five, you have the Carolina Panthers at six and five, 0:16:52.120 --> 0:16:56.280 the Eagles scratching and clawing their way past the Giants 0:16:56.480 --> 0:16:58.120 to go to five and six on the season. So 0:16:58.160 --> 0:16:59.880 there's a lot of bodies in front of them. At 0:16:59.880 --> 0:17:03.080 the point, I thought Brian Brian Blaga was phenomenal in 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:05.679 the locker room after the game, and it took a 0:17:05.680 --> 0:17:09.520 lot of ownership and you know, I thought, really explain 0:17:09.560 --> 0:17:11.120 where this team is at and that you know, there's 0:17:11.119 --> 0:17:13.720 still belief, there's still hope, there's still confidence in locker room. 0:17:13.760 --> 0:17:16.000 But it is what it is. And the focus for 0:17:16.040 --> 0:17:18.439 the Packers now, as much as it hurts to not 0:17:18.560 --> 0:17:21.120 have a win on the road, yet everything goes into 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.080 the Arizona Cardinals. The reality is your four zero and 0:17:24.160 --> 0:17:26.600 one at home, whatever the record is on the road. 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:29.840 If you don't win these two games over the Cardinals 0:17:29.880 --> 0:17:32.399 in the Falcons and keep that momentum going going forward, 0:17:32.760 --> 0:17:34.840 it doesn't matter what the outlook of the season is 0:17:34.840 --> 0:17:37.359 going into Soldier Field in two weeks, so three weeks. 0:17:37.680 --> 0:17:40.439 But be that as it may, Packers are what they are. 0:17:40.480 --> 0:17:42.600 The record is what it is, and now they need 0:17:42.640 --> 0:17:44.320 some help and they need to find some victories. They 0:17:44.320 --> 0:17:46.000 need to get on a winning streak. Yeah, they need 0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:48.720 to put together a winning streaky back to back home games. Now, 0:17:49.040 --> 0:17:50.960 this is the opportunity to do it. And if you 0:17:51.000 --> 0:17:53.000 win these back to back home games, then the next 0:17:53.040 --> 0:17:54.800 time you go on the road, you still got a 0:17:54.800 --> 0:17:57.080 fighting chance. And to make another point here, and we'll 0:17:57.080 --> 0:17:59.359 talk about the Cardinals later this week. But as I 0:17:59.400 --> 0:18:01.400 said before, the frustrating thing for the Packers as they've 0:18:01.400 --> 0:18:04.399 been in every single one of these games, six road losses, 0:18:04.440 --> 0:18:07.520 four of them within one score. The Cardinals got blown 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:10.840 out of the water on Sunday by the by the Chargers. 0:18:11.000 --> 0:18:13.280 And that's not the first time this year that's They've 0:18:13.280 --> 0:18:16.119 been really battling this season with some you know, some 0:18:16.200 --> 0:18:19.080 big things. So for the Packers perspective, you've got to 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:21.000 be able to flush it here these next two days, 0:18:21.320 --> 0:18:24.159 see who you have available from a health perspective, and 0:18:24.240 --> 0:18:27.520 pick up a win over Arizona Cardinals team that you 0:18:27.560 --> 0:18:30.680 should beat. Yeah, that's where things are right now. Yeah, 0:18:30.680 --> 0:18:32.720 and there are some injuries to deal with with the Packers, 0:18:32.720 --> 0:18:35.240 and we'll get to those if we get some updates 0:18:35.520 --> 0:18:37.639 for our next show. But with that, we're going to 0:18:38.359 --> 0:18:41.000 call it a day on this edition of Packers un Scripted. 0:18:41.040 --> 0:18:42.639 Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 0:18:42.680 --> 0:18:45.360 team on packers dot com on Twitter. He's still at 0:18:45.359 --> 0:18:47.800 west Hod, I'm still at Mike Spofford, and at Packers 0:18:47.880 --> 0:18:50.120 is still the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 0:18:50.520 --> 0:18:51.280 See you next time.