1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside the 3 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: one and only Western Hot Cowitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: here from our studio at lambeau Field West. The Packers 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: begin the second half of the season on Sunday at 6 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: lambeau Field a noon Central time kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 7 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: A six and two team against a one and seven team. 8 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: And we won't necessarily talk about those records, but we 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: might as well get right into it here. Offensively, defensively, 10 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: I'll let you start where you want to. What do 11 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: the Packers need to do to win this game? Well, 12 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: they need to be able to protect the quarterback. And 13 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,480 Speaker 1: what I mean by that is Jacksonville only has eight 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: sacks on the season. You're not anticipating a heavy pass rush. 15 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: But for Green Bay, I really think that this game 16 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: really boils down to is if Aaron Rodgers is time 17 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: to work, the Packers likely are going to be able 18 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: to roll in this one. I just think that's where 19 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: the tempo is gonna get said. I think that's where 20 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: the tone is going to happen, and Jacksonville I mean 21 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: it was so recently, Mike, they were saying, you know, Saxonville, 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: there was so much energy and enthusiasm about that unit, 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: and it just hasn't been there this season. Josh Allen, 24 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: as I pointed out on Tuesday's show, you know, he 25 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: does have two and a half sacks here in the 26 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: last three games, but that's all he has this season. 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's been kind of he had a 28 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 1: slow start, then had an injury. You know, Miles Jack 29 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: has had some stuff as well. So you know, you 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: wrote a story on Packers dot Com looking at Davante 31 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: Adams and and Aaron Jones both being back on the 32 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: field now, not one or the other, both of them, 33 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: if you get that one to combination. Going again for Rogers, 34 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: with what they've been doing offensively and especially the way 35 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: they've started games this season, I just think if green 36 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: Day imposes their will in those first couple of series, 37 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: that could be enough to at least set the tone 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 1: for the rest of that game. Yeah. I think a 39 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: big part of this game, because as we know, this 40 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: is a game the Packers should win if they play well, 41 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: they play their game. I think the start of the 42 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: game is crucial here because you don't you don't want 43 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: to let the Jacksonville Jaguars think they can hang around 44 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: and and and make a game of this. Frankly, this 45 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: is a game. This is a game that the Packers 46 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 1: should be able to win comfortably. I'm not saying it's 47 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: going to be some college blowout like to six, That's 48 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: not what I'm saying. But in the NFL, you know 49 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: what a comfortable win feels like. And that's really what 50 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: the Packers should do here. And I think if they 51 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: I mean Packers have scored on their opening possession all 52 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: eight games so far this year. Obviously, you want to 53 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: keep that going, make it nine, get control of the 54 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,839 Speaker 1: game in the first quarter. Don't really let the Jaguars 55 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: think that this rookie quarterback Jake Luton is going to 56 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: come into lambeau Field and upset Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. 57 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 1: And I think Green Bay will be in good shape, 58 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: you know. And the one thing that stands out to 59 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: me too, And you look at Jacksonville this season, they've 60 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: scored points in the first quarter over eight They're averaging 61 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: three points a game in the first quarter. Now they've 62 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: gotten better. I mean they put up sixty. In the second, 63 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: they're still getting outscored their seventy one to sixty, but 64 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: a sixty four to twenty four deficit out of the gate. 65 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: I think that kind of speaks to the issues they've 66 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: had early on in games. So if Green Bay is 67 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: able to again go out and be able to do 68 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: some of the things they've done through their first eight 69 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: games of the season, I just think it sets the 70 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: dominoes up for the rest of the thing to go. 71 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 1: How Matt Lafleur and Mike Petton would wish it to be, Yeah, 72 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,119 Speaker 1: I thought it was. It was interesting asking questions yesterday 73 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: the story that you mentioned that I wrote about Aaron 74 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: Jones and Davante Adams being on the field at the 75 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: same time together. You look at these first eight games, 76 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: it's only happened three and a half games out of 77 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: eight that the two of them have been on the 78 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: field together, and only only for two games since Week two. 79 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: So the Packers are hoping that they get into a 80 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: stretch here where both of those guys are on the 81 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: field together. And I thought Adams explained it from the 82 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: challenge of the defense side of the ball. I thought 83 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: he explained it really well. In terms of deciding what 84 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: to do with your safeties. If you're gonna play you 85 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: know what they call cover two or too high, keeping 86 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: both safeties back, that's how you take away the big 87 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: play in the passing game. But it makes it a 88 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: lot harder to clamp down on Aaron Jones because if 89 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: he makes if he gets a hole and makes one 90 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: linebacker miss, suddenly you know you can have an explosive 91 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: run of fIF yards the flip side. If you're only 92 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: gonna play single high safety because you want that other 93 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 1: safety down in the box to prevent those explosive runs 94 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: by Aaron Jones, Suddenly, Davante Adams and Marquis Velde scant 95 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: Link for that matter, can be big problems because you're 96 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: gonna have a lot of harder time taking away the 97 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: deep passing place. So when the Packers have and again 98 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: I'm not taking anything away from Jamal Williams and what 99 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: he did in the backfield and everything, but we know 100 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: we've heard it from the coaches and the players. When 101 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones is out there, he just brings a different 102 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: element to this offense. And now that he and Davantae 103 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: Adams are both healthy and hopefully we'll be playing together regularly. 104 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 1: I think that's the sign that this offense can can 105 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: you know, kick it up another name. You and I 106 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: discussed it on Tuesday, but it bears repeating. I mean, 107 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: when you look at Aaron Jones, you're not gonna look 108 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: at his box score from the forty Niners game and 109 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: be completely blown away. And he was fifteen carries, maybe 110 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: fifty eight rushing yards. Not one of the ones that 111 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 1: he's going to put up on his mantle. But the 112 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: fact was just watching the way that San Francisco and 113 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: Robert Sala had to defend them at the beginning of 114 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: that game, as opposed to if they would have had 115 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: a practice squad player like Dexter Williams back there, or 116 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: you know, Tyler Irvin who hasn't played a traditional backfield 117 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: running back role this season. The game changed with Jones 118 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: doing that. The other thing is to Mike, you mentioned 119 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: it with the Cover two game that defensive coordinators have 120 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: to play. If you give Aaron Jones a hole, Uh, 121 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: the yardage that he takes out of that is just 122 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: He's He's the type of running back that if you 123 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: give him four, he's gonna find eight. And it's just 124 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: his shifting nous, the way he can knife through the 125 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: line in the biggest positive for Green Bay was coming 126 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: out of that game. Even there were questions about the 127 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: calf going in, there were no questions about it coming out. 128 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: He was a full participant on Wednesday. The Packers would 129 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: hope that, you know, through the Thursday and Friday good 130 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: to go. In addition to the fact that Jamal Williams 131 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: now is off the COVID list after being held there 132 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 1: precautionarily and not being able to play against the forty, 133 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: So all those things together, especially depending on what happens 134 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: with Alan Lazar this week or whenever he's able to 135 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: get back onto the field. It's been sort of this dark, 136 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: hazy time for the Packers offense, but yet there's still 137 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: a top ten unit and now they're getting all their 138 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: weapons back. Yeah. Absolutely well on the defensive side of 139 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: the ball. For me, this game comes down to one 140 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: thing that the Packers need to do in my mind, 141 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: and it is eliminate the big plays. And I say 142 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: that because when you have a rookie quarterback coming in 143 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 1: here like Jake Luton, the last thing you want to 144 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: do is let him do what he did at the 145 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: beginning of the Houston game, which has hit a seventy 146 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: yard touchdown pass right out of the gate, and that 147 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: big play kept Jacksonville in that game the entire way, 148 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: and they end end up, you know, losing a close 149 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: one there at the end. With a rookie quarterback, more 150 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: than any other type of signal caller for the opposing offense, 151 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 1: you want to make him have to put together a 152 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: ten twelve third team play drive in order to get 153 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: points because rookie quarterbacks are going to make mistakes. If 154 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: you give up the big chunk plays and he can 155 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: get points on a three or four play scoring drive, 156 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: that makes his job a heck of a lot easier. 157 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: The more you can stretch him out and make him 158 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: earn it all the way down the field, the greater 159 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: chance that a mistake is going to happen, and then 160 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: you hope for the Packers defense to pounce on a turnover. 161 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: We'll look at that game against Houston, right, I mean, 162 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: his one touchdown passes a seventy three yard bomb to 163 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: DJ Sharks. So I mean, these are those type of 164 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: plays that can really tell the football game if you 165 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: let them. The thing that I think we learned the 166 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: most with this offense and with Luton in particular, is 167 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: that you don't want to discount or discredit anybody. I 168 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: kind of pose the question off of you know what 169 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna be reading this Saturday, UH to 170 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: Jerry Gray, the Packers defensive backs coach, about what this 171 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 1: process is like getting ready for a rookie quarterback. What 172 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: kind of you know, what do you tell your guys 173 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: as far as defending them or what kind of opportunities 174 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: would have been there? And he takes a very baseline 175 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: approach at it. The way he kind of laid it 176 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: out was well, at some point Tom Brady was a 177 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: rookie sixth round pick two our first year, second year 178 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: player too. There were defenses that undoubtedly took him for 179 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: granted and he made them pay. You got to prepare 180 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: like you're seeing the starting quarterback of an NFL team 181 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: and not really care about what the rest of the 182 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:40,959 Speaker 1: you know, the box score says or the bio says. 183 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: They have to be ready because otherwise you're gonna get 184 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: burned in Green Bay depending on if Gire Alexander plays 185 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:47,959 Speaker 1: in this game. As he's working his way through the 186 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: concussion protocol right now you might be going in with 187 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: Josh Jackson and Kadar Holman as you're starting boundary cornerbacks, 188 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: your perimeter cornerbacks. So the main focus has to be 189 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: on what Green Bay is doing now so much about 190 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 1: what Jacksonville is going to give them, because if you 191 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: focus too much and you take for granted what Jacksonville 192 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: is gonna throw at you because they're, you know, one 193 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: in seven and they have all these things working against them, 194 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: that's where you get burned. Yeah. Absolutely, And you hope, obviously, 195 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 1: as we talked about on our last show that the 196 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: defense getting the two turnovers against the San Francisco forty 197 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: nine last Thursday ups the season total of takeaways from 198 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: four to six. You hope that maybe that's the start 199 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: of some momentum here on defense too, to generating those 200 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: takeaways that were such a big part of the defense's 201 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: success in Now you're facing another rookie quarterback, not not 202 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: that Mullins was. Mullins was not a rookie, but was 203 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,920 Speaker 1: a backup quarterback. You're facing another backup quarterback here this 204 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: week that certainly the Packers on the defensive side of 205 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: the ball would like to generate a couple of more 206 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:53,520 Speaker 1: turnovers and and see if they can set a certain 207 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: standard for how they're going to play and the ways 208 00:09:57,679 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: in which they can take the football away and try 209 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: to carry that through the second half of the season. Yeah, 210 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: and and this is where it has to start. We're 211 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: in the third quarter now, this is where Green Bay 212 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: is gonna have this game against Jacksonville and then everything 213 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: ramps up. Indianapolis has the best defense in the NFL 214 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: right now. Statistically, Chicago is no slouch either, even though 215 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: they've had a couple of games going against them. Philadelphia 216 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: always beats this plays this team tough and beat them 217 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,680 Speaker 1: the last time. That game was actually at lambeau Field. 218 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: So yeah, you can't take anything, you know, just thinking that. Okay, 219 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: well we're six and two now, we got a big 220 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: win against the forty Niners. Now we'll just press forward. 221 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: You have to build on what they did against the 222 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: forty Niners offense, defense, and special teams, and it starts 223 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: on Sunday against Jacksonville. All right, Well, quickly hear what's 224 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: a little bit of sponsored business serious x M NFL 225 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: Radio Channel eight is the only radio outlet dedicated to 226 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: the National Football League seven days a week. Sixty five 227 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 1: days a year, and Packers fans be sure to gear 228 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: up for game day. Open a Packers checking account from 229 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: Associated Bank and score a fifty dollar Packers Pro Shop 230 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: gift card. Learn more at Associated bank dot com. Backslash 231 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: Packers All Rights. I want to get your thoughts here 232 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: on a handful of other games this week in the NFL, 233 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: because there are some interesting ones to discuss, and actually 234 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: I want to start with the one that's going on 235 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: tonight as we tape this on Thursday morning. Thursday Night 236 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: Football will be the Indianapolis Colts at the Tennessee Titans, 237 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 1: a big matchup in the a f C South, the 238 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: two top teams in the a f C South, both 239 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 1: of whom are on the Packers schedule in the second 240 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: half of the season, and next week the Colts being 241 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: that opponent now they will be coming. They will be 242 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: coming back to Lucas Oil Stadium, but off of the 243 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 1: mini by with the weekend off, just like the Packers 244 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: are now after playing on a Thursday night. But this 245 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: will be an interesting one here with as you said, 246 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: top defense in the league as far as yardage goes, 247 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: one of the top in terms of points allowed, with 248 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: the Colts against a against the Titans team that certainly 249 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: they they've had a couple of hiccups, but since uh, 250 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: you know, last December and into January, this is a 251 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: Titans team that has played with anybody and everybody, and 252 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: they've they've established themselves as a real formidable force in 253 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: the a f C. Yeah, and I think over the 254 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: last few years now, we've started to actually appreciate I 255 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: think more and more Mike Vrabel isn't just an underrated 256 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 1: coach anymore. He's quickly becoming one of the best coaches 257 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,599 Speaker 1: in the league, and especially on the defensive side of 258 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: the ball with what they've implemented there the last few 259 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: seasons and some of the changes that they've made. This 260 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: is a gut check game for Indianapolis, though, because while 261 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: they sit at five and three and they haven't lost 262 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,839 Speaker 1: back to back games all season, it always seems like 263 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: when they take one step forward, they just take another 264 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: step back and they're still stuck in neutral Philip rivers 265 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 1: this season ten touchdowns, seven interceptions only I think seven 266 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,199 Speaker 1: points six yards per pass yards per attempt this year, 267 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 1: so a little bit down in that regard. They also 268 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: need to figure out what their running game is right now? 269 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: Is it Jonathan Taylor, is it Jordan Wilkins Who's going 270 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: to be the face of that in the second half 271 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: of the season. So I think, much like how we've 272 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: been learning more and more about the Bears, positive and negative, 273 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: I think this is gonna be a real checkpoint on 274 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: the cold season as well. And from the Titans perspective, 275 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: it's a wide open top of that conference right now. 276 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:08,679 Speaker 1: Everybody has a shot at that top seed and there's 277 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: basically five teams that all that could arguably be the 278 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: top seeds. So uh, it's a kind of a taking 279 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 1: bit care of business sort of matchup for them and 280 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: seeing if Derrick Henry can keep doing what he's been doing. Yeah. Well, 281 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: as far as uh these a f C NFC matchups, 282 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: which the Packers in Jacksonville is obviously one of those, 283 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: the most interesting one on the schedule Buffalo traveling out 284 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: west to face Arizona. Now, last week Seattle traveled across 285 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: the country to Buffalo to play the Bills and Buffalo 286 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 1: chalked up a big victory there. Now Buffalo is the 287 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 1: team that has to make the cross country trip, uh 288 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: down to the Southwest to Arizona. To face the Cardinals 289 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: from the NFC West. This is this is a really 290 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 1: interesting one because there's a there's a lot of a 291 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: lot of positive vibe, a lot of hype around the 292 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 1: Bills and Josh Allen and rightly so, but also Kyler 293 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: Murray and uh and the Arizona Cardinals. They're trying to 294 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: they're trying to, you know, stake their claim to some 295 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: territory here in a really tough NFC West division, and 296 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: this this one, there aren't there probably isn't a lot 297 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: of the country that's going to get to watch this 298 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: one in terms of the way the network stuff is uh, 299 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: you know, shaking out for this week. But this is 300 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: a really interesting matchup. It's great and it's funny. I 301 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 1: just got done talking about you know, he had sort 302 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: of an underrated coach in Mike Frabel. Then you've got 303 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: Sean McDermott with the Bills, and I mean he might 304 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: be the most underrated of all and the best might 305 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: be more impressed over the last handful of years, like 306 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: what he has done with with that with that Buffalo Bill, 307 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: especially during some years where the didn't have really a 308 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: set quarterback and yet they still found ways to win well. 309 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: Now they probably by all intensive purposes. In my opinion, 310 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: I think they got the best quarterback of that draft 311 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: class right now. I mean, Josh Allen is looking dynamic. 312 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: He can throw, he can pass, he can run, he 313 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: can basically do whatever they need him to do at 314 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: any given moment to win a football all game. Now, 315 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna be going up against an Arizona defense and 316 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: has had some questions to answer. But Cliff Kingsbury's offense 317 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,960 Speaker 1: with Kyler Murray at the controls, they can play with 318 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: anybody in the National Football League. And you look at Murray, 319 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: I think last week he was an up for NFL 320 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: Ground Player the Week with what he did with his feet. 321 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: When I mentioned Alan and being so multifaceted, Murray is 322 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 1: of that same bilk and even more importantly, that conference 323 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:27,960 Speaker 1: or that division. I should say, you have to win 324 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: every game that's in front of you. The Bills are 325 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: a massive test to being able to do that. Yeah, 326 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: that one's going to be going to be a good 327 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: one to follow. Another one to mention here within the 328 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: NFC West, that tough division we've been talking about. Seattle 329 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: is at the l A. Rams and as I mentioned 330 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: on our last show. The Rams are five and three 331 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: at the midway point, but four of their remaining eight 332 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: games they have two with the Seahawks and two with 333 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: the Cardinals. They have a lot in front of them 334 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: that they can if they can get on a run here, 335 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: they can take command of things. Seattle six and two 336 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: tied for the top record in the NFC right now 337 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: with the Packers in the Saints. But the Seahawks have 338 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: lost two of their last three after a five and 339 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: oh start, and they have a defense that statistically is 340 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: among the bottom of the of the league. They've got 341 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: problems defensively. This is a really really important one in 342 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: the NFC West because if Seattle wins this and gets 343 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: two games up on the Rams, you know, seven and 344 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: two versus five and four, things look really really different 345 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: for the Rams. But if the Rams get the win 346 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: six and three, they even themselves up with the Seahawks 347 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: at six and three. Whatever happens with Arizona against Buffalo, 348 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: that NFC, that NFC West starts to get even more complicated, 349 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 1: and Aaron Donald against that Seattle front too, and seeing, 350 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: you know what, what's the number one way to really 351 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: attack Russell Wilson collapse the pocket. He does it better 352 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: than anybody in the National Football League, So that aspect 353 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: of it is really intriguing. But you know, throw this 354 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: out there too. You also got to look at that 355 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: game between San Francisco now having to go to New Orleans, 356 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: so you know, we'll see how that works out for 357 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: the four Niners, They're still gonna be missing a lot 358 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: of people. This is a massive opportunity for either the 359 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: Rams of the Seahawks to really gain some traction with 360 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: the Cardinals having a tough competition with the Bills and 361 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: the Forts having to take care of arguably now the 362 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 1: hottest team in the NFL in the Saints, who I 363 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: think many left for dead as recently as three weeks ago. 364 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: So that just sort of tells you where this season 365 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: has gone. And yet for the for the Rams perspective, 366 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: this is what they were wanting to do after missing 367 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: the playoffs last year. Has come back and make a statement, 368 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: show that Jared Goff is still our quarterback, showed that 369 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: this offense can be successful in the post Todd Gurley era. 370 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: And they've done all that, I mean, and along with 371 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: the defense that's really difficult to sometimes solve. Yeah, no 372 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 1: doubt well, last one to get your thoughts on, and 373 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: this is the one that is the most pertinent as 374 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,120 Speaker 1: far as the Green Bay Packers are concerned. Monday Night football, 375 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings will be at Soldier Field to take 376 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,680 Speaker 1: on the Chicago Bears. And I've gone back and forth 377 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: a little bit with the with the readers and inbox 378 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: about this one. Because the Bears are five and four 379 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 1: the Vikings are three and five. So when you get 380 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: those records, you go, oh, well, you want Minnesota to 381 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: beat Chicago. But I'm not so sure. Because the Bears 382 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: were five and one, they have lost three in a row. 383 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: They have not solved any of their issues on offense. 384 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: That offense is still really struggling and trying to find 385 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: its footing. Meanwhile, the Vikings, after their one in five start, 386 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: they now have two straight wins over division opponents, beating 387 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: the Packers and the Lions in back to back weeks. 388 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook looks as unstoppable as any running back in 389 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: the league, similar to what Derrick Henry for the Titans 390 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:37,199 Speaker 1: was doing late last season. And here's the thing, Wes. 391 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: After this Monday night game at Chicago, Minnesota's next three games, 392 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:48,640 Speaker 1: Cowboys Panthers, Jaguars, three sub five hundred teams. Cowboys obviously 393 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: have have been, you know, playing the quarterback carousel with 394 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:55,400 Speaker 1: with their issues Carolina. There's still questions about Christian McCaffrey 395 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: and his health, and obviously Jacksonville we've been talking about 396 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: them this week. If minnesot To wins this game on 397 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 1: Monday night and gets to four and five, they very 398 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 1: very easily could be seven and five three more weeks 399 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: from now, and all of a sudden, everybody's saying nobody 400 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: wants to play the Vics, right, I mean that that's 401 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,520 Speaker 1: where this could be headed. Yeah, And the rumors of 402 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 1: Mike Zimmer's demise I've been greatly exaggerated, absolutely absolutely, you know, 403 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: and I've said it a million times on the show 404 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: over the last four and a half years. I have 405 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 1: so much respect for him because, yeah, you're right about 406 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:27,479 Speaker 1: Delvin Cook. I'm not going to disagree with any of that. 407 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: But statistically, I don't know how this is gonna end 408 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: up going down from Mike Zimmer's defense wise, but it 409 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: very well could end up being the best coaching job 410 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: he's done in Minnesota truly. I mean, with what they've 411 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: made work here, the last few weeks and now you've 412 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: seen sort of role players develop into more defined roles 413 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: in this defense. And I think it really comes back 414 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: to if you have a strong back end, if you 415 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: have linebackers that you're confident in, you can make the 416 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: other stuff work if you're flexible enough with it. So, uh, 417 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: it's a really interesting game in you have the Vikings 418 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: at three and five and the Bears at five and four, 419 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: and it almost feels like you could flip the records 420 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: just based on how the last three weeks it fell. 421 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: And for the Bears, I mean, this is this is 422 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: the moment They're going to be going into the by 423 00:20:10,960 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: here soon they have the Packers coming up on the 424 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: you know very quickly as well. You've got to be 425 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,080 Speaker 1: able to get a win when you desperately need when 426 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: you're taking on a Vikings team that's really streaking here 427 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: into this third point of the season. Well, this will 428 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: be interesting with regard to Dalvin Cook because we've seen 429 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: him run rough shot over the Packers and the Lions 430 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: and back to back weeks. But this Bears defense, that's 431 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: another outfit entirely the and this will be on the 432 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: national stage on Monday night um, not on the you know, 433 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:39,640 Speaker 1: not on the fast track of of an artificial surface, 434 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:42,919 Speaker 1: but obviously that the grass surface didn't slow down Dalvin 435 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: Cook here at lambeau Field a couple of weeks ago. 436 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: My question to you then is, as I said, going 437 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: back and forth with Packers fans the readers in inbox, 438 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: as a Packers fan, which team do you root for 439 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: Monday Night? Who do you want to win this game? Yeah? 440 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,239 Speaker 1: I think it's probably the Vikings still, because I go 441 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: back to what I said a number of weeks ago. 442 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: I think it was at the San Francisco game before 443 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 1: the Packers played. I forget which one it was, which 444 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: example I use, but Green Bays at six and two, 445 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: if you take care of business against Jacksonville, you're seven 446 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,439 Speaker 1: and three. The Packers don't have to see the Vikings 447 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: again this season, unless it ends up being in the playoffs. 448 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: That is, that is the one factor here. The Packers 449 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: have to play the Bears twice, no games left against 450 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: the Vikings. If the Green Bay takes care of business 451 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: here and the Bears fall back to five and five, 452 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: you're now looking at a two game advantage here in 453 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: the NFC North with seven games to go, for green Bay, 454 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: I just I focus on what's in front of me, 455 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: not what's behind me. I totally get what you're saying, 456 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,479 Speaker 1: though you know the Vikings end up coming back up 457 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: in this race. You never know what could happen in December. 458 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,239 Speaker 1: But Chicago is the clear and present danger right now. 459 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: They're the team they're going to see at the end 460 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: of the month. They're the team that's closest to them 461 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: in the division. If you can knock them down another peg, 462 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: I'd like Green Bay's chances to be able to close 463 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: this division out. Maybe the best way to look at 464 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 1: it from a Packers fans perspective is that the Bear 465 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: and the Vikings can't both win. Somebody's got to lose 466 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: unless there's a tie. But we're not going to talk 467 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:09,240 Speaker 1: about we won't get into that. But yeah, I mean, 468 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: I'm glad this game is on Monday night because we'll 469 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:14,880 Speaker 1: we'll work, you know, cover the game on Sunday. We'll 470 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: put in our day after the game, work on Monday, 471 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,359 Speaker 1: and then it's like, Okay, go home and pop the 472 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 1: popcorn and get ready to watch. Is a good old 473 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: fashioned NFC North battle from Soldier Field. So no, it'll 474 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: be it'll be fun to watch. And again, I am 475 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,639 Speaker 1: interested to see how Dalvin Cook responds to this getting 476 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:33,200 Speaker 1: back onto that type of turf. And honestly, Mike, what's 477 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: the only thing that's held him back to this point 478 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:38,879 Speaker 1: in his career injuries? If he stays healthy here and 479 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: they keep feeding him a big workload, I mean, I 480 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: said it on Tuesday's show, I'll say it one more time. 481 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: He is in the running then suddenly for the best 482 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: running back title in the NFL. Yeah so, and I 483 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: think he I think mentally he's going to be saying 484 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: hey on Monday night football national television against the defense, 485 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: I can state my case. I can state my case 486 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:02,360 Speaker 1: for for that type of recognition, and the Packers will 487 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: be watching. They don't have to be a part of it, 488 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,680 Speaker 1: absolutely will be with that. We'll call it a wrap 489 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 1: on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow 490 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team and everything with 491 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: Sunday's game against Jacksonville. It'll all be for you on 492 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com for West, I'm Mike. Thank you for 493 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 1: tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.