1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my trusted 3 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: colleague West Hodkowits were coming to you here from our 4 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: studios at lambeau Field and West and our first show 5 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: back from our little hiatus. Earlier this week we covered 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: a lot of the old news, everything that we had 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: to catch up on from the off season. But here 8 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: right away show number two, breaking news, breaking news, fresh 9 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: news to talk about. And what I am talking about 10 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: is the two thousand nineteen Packers schedule. It dropped on 11 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: Wednesday night. League wide, everybody found out all of the wends, 12 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: having known all of the what's in the wares since January. 13 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: But the two thousand nineteen schedule is out. There's a 14 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: there are some unique elements to the way this lays 15 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: out for the Packers for the coming season, for Matt 16 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: Lafleur's first season as a head coach. Where do you 17 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: want to start with this? Well, let's start at the start, Michael. 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: The Green Bay Packers will travel to start the hundredth 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: season of the NFL against the Chicago Bears. But right 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: after that matchup, come back to lambeau Field for three 21 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: straight home games, and as it works out, five of 22 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: their first seven will be played at lambeau Field. Two 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: back to back games against the NFC North to kick 24 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,960 Speaker 1: things off. And it's really interesting you talked about the 25 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: unique intricacies of this this whole schedule. Two to start 26 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: against the division, three to end against the division. You 27 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: have to beat your division teams to be able to 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 1: succeed the Packers. It's gonna play into getting off to 29 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: a fast start, and it's gonna play into finishing strong. 30 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: And I think ultimately that's what the NFL wanted to 31 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: go for when they made some of the changes that 32 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: they did with the schedule and number of number of 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: years ago. But it is quite coincidental to see so 34 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: many NFC North matchups fall right at the beginning of 35 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: right at the end. Yeah, the book ends to this 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: schedule are what jump out at me. You only have 37 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: six division games. Your division games make up roughly your 38 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: schedule six out of sixteen. But for the Packers here 39 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: you start with two and you end with three. That's 40 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: five of your six division games that are at the 41 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: polar opposites, you know, at at the beginning and the end. 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: I just think that's a really unique alignment. Now, the 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,359 Speaker 1: Packers had something similar to this in two thousand and sixteen, 44 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: it wasn't quite the same. The ending was the same, 45 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: with three straight division games to finish The beginning of 46 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: this season, if you remember, started with that trip to Jacksonville, 47 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: and then back to back division games after that. But 48 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: what I will say is that when you look at it, 49 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: you look back to the Packers. They won the game 50 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: in Jacksonville, they split those first two division games, so 51 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 1: they were two and one out of the gate, and 52 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: then obviously the three at the end. We're part of 53 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: the run the table as the Packers made that run 54 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: into the playoffs. Really winning those division games that year 55 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: is what allowed the Packers to survive of a pretty 56 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: bad mid season slump when they lost four straight games 57 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: through late October and into into mid November. If you 58 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: can win your division games in this league West, it 59 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 1: gives you at least a little bit more wiggle room, 60 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: a little bit more of a buffer zone. And I 61 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: just think that you know, those two at the beginning 62 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: and the three at the end are really the games 63 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: that could define this season for Green Bay. Well, I'm 64 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: glad it's only episode two back from the hiatus, but 65 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: I'm able to say the Mike Spofford, let's be a 66 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: real moment of the week. It's so true, though, Mike. 67 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: When you get three games to close the season against 68 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: the division, you for the first one to point it 69 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: out to me when the schedule came out. It immediately 70 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: makes you think back to two thousand sixteen and how 71 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: that run, as incredible as it was, it doesn't reach 72 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: its fulfilled stage unless they get those three division games 73 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: to to sneak into the playoffs and then keep the 74 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: magic going once they got there. So that is something 75 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: that definitely sticks out to me. But it also is 76 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: gonna be tough Week sixteen, you're going into US Bank Stadium. 77 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: The following week you have to go into Ford Field 78 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 1: that have now closed this regular season at ford Field 79 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: in three of the last four seasons, so that's no 80 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: easy task. But getting the Chicago Bears in Green Bay 81 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: in December is always a positive thing. And you know, 82 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: quite honestly, if you're gonna play at Soldier Field, you 83 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: might as well do it in week one. So I mean, 84 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: you're able to get that one out and if you 85 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: win that game, you set the tone for the season. Yeah, 86 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 1: you had mentioned the five of the first seven being 87 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: at home. You look at it, it's actually five out 88 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: of six home games after the road opener at Chicago 89 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: in that Thursday night kickoff game. This is uh And 90 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 1: I mentioned this in in my story on our website 91 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: on Wednesday night. This is something that just screams opportunity 92 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: for a first year head coach to have a whole 93 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: run of home games early in the season, to to 94 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: get things off on the right foot, to get whatever 95 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: continuity and flow that you need to your offense, your 96 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: new system, with your two time m v P quarterback, 97 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: all of that. The beginning of this sets up I 98 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 1: don't and I'm not saying the opponents don't matter, but 99 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: I'm not even looking at the opponents necessarily. In those 100 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: five games, five home games in a span of six 101 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: weeks before Halloween, that's when you've got to make some 102 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,359 Speaker 1: hay right exactly, And I mean things are gonna change, 103 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: players are gonna get hurt, rosters are gonna look different. 104 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: But the thing is is that you don't take away 105 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: the home game from that equation, and you can't under 106 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 1: you can't understate how important overstate how important that is 107 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: to be able to have that kind of opportunity, And, 108 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: to be quite honest with you, Mike, not that any 109 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: road game is easy, but if you look at Soldier 110 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: Field in a T and T stadium, those aren't the 111 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: most daunting stadiums that Aaron Rodgers has ever walked into. 112 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: He's had to share success in those locations as well. 113 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: So while yeah, that's going to be a challenge going 114 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: into US Bank, it always has been a challenge going 115 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: into Ford Field, the Packers actually have some pretty good, 116 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, fertile ground to build this season upon. So uh, 117 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 1: the biggest thing that I'm looking forward to is you 118 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 1: get the Thursday night game out of the way right away. 119 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: That's Week four against Philadelphia. You get it at home. 120 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: You obviously are gonna get that little bit of a 121 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: mini break after the first game against the Bears. You 122 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: do need to win these games. If you if you 123 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: start slow, your your schedule starts to look kind of daunting. 124 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,679 Speaker 1: But that being said, is if you can start fast, 125 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: it really sets up the season nicely with the Week 126 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: eleven bye week, you know, being able to kind of 127 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: you know, have some more balance to it than they 128 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: have in previous years. Yeah, and I want to get 129 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 1: to that that back half of the schedule in a 130 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: minute here at West But before I forget the powerful 131 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: noise canceling technology that helps NFL coaches block out eight 132 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,240 Speaker 1: tho screaming fans can get you closer to the music 133 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: you love. Learn more at www dot bows dot com, 134 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: slash Packers, Bows the official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, 135 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 1: and at Homer. Here in the stands, we all know 136 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 1: that Green Bay fans give it their all and that 137 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: takes a lot of energy. So grab a warm bowl 138 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: of Campbell's Chunky Soup. It's meaty goodness fuels the great 139 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: the Packers fans everywhere try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. 140 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: Just visit your local supermarket and asked for Campbell's Chunky Soup, 141 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: Official sup partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, looking 142 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: at the back half of the schedule, after you have 143 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: that run of five home games in six weeks, you're 144 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: getting close to Halloween. You look at you look at 145 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: the back half. They're actually three different back to back 146 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: road game stretches. Now, the first one of those is 147 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: awfully daunting to go back to back at Kansas City 148 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: and at Los Angeles the Chargers. Those are the two 149 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 1: teams that the New England Patriots beat in the playoffs 150 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: back to back to get back to the super Bowl. 151 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: Those were two of the last four teams standing in 152 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: the a f C last year to play them on 153 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 1: the road back to back. You're talking about a matchup 154 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: of two m vps, Rogers and Mahomes, and then two 155 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: quarterbacks who are headed to the Hall of Fame in 156 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: my opinion, and Rogers and Philip Rivers. That's gonna be 157 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: a really really interesting one to punch, so to speak. 158 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: As far as back to back road, well, the Kansas 159 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: City game, certainly, I really like it from the standpoint 160 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: of We heard Aaron Rodgers talk late last season. He 161 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: wasn't trying to compare himself to Patrick Mahomes at all, 162 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: but he said, you know, he sees a lot of 163 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: his game in Mahomes, And to be honest with you, 164 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: I think that's the type of game that a lot 165 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: of quarterbacks now this next generation are really going to 166 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: have to adapt to. Being able to create, being able 167 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: to audible, being able to use your feet, having a 168 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: magnificent arm. He has from all these different angles, you know, 169 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: arm angles and all that kind of stuff, throwing with 170 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: his left hand when he needs to. I mean, there's 171 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: just so many different things that play into making him 172 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: an m v P quarterback. So they see that first encounter, 173 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: it made perfect sense to throw it in Sunday night football. 174 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: It will be a challenging game, but there are some 175 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: questions with Kansas City, what is their defense gonna look like? 176 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: They've had a lot of changes on that side of 177 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: the ball. L A is going to be just a 178 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: really unique experience because they're gonna be playing in a 179 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 1: thousand seats soccer stadium. Um, you and I still haven't 180 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,880 Speaker 1: been able to do the research this. You estimated it 181 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: might have been the Snowball, the last time the Packers 182 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: have played in front of fewer than thirty thousand people. Yeah. 183 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 1: That uh, And for those are not sure what I'm 184 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,479 Speaker 1: referring to there, that's the Steve Young Tampa Bay Buccaneers 185 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: game at lambeau Field. I believe it was was the 186 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: year of it, and I think the announced attendance for 187 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: that game was somewhere in the twenty thousand range, and 188 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: there may have only been you know, seven to nine 189 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: thousand people who actually came to lambeau Field that day. 190 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: But but yeah, I can't. It really will be interesting 191 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: doing the research on that to see how long it's 192 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: been since the Packers played in front of such a 193 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: small crowd. Yeah, and it's gonna be a cool experience. 194 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: But you also would anticipate with us going to you know, 195 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: last year, you and I traveling out to l A 196 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: for that game against with the Packers, and in the Rams, 197 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 1: we said it all along going into that thing, that yeah, 198 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: that's gonna probably be a pretty favorable Packer crowd, and 199 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: I think it's still exceeded my expectation did people in there, 200 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 1: and there was quite a few times where Jared Goff 201 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: had to go to a silent count. So, Philip Rivers, 202 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: we know the challenges that the Charges have had building 203 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: their fan base now in l A. It's gonna be Uh, 204 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: both of them are incredibly difficult matchups. I don't want 205 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,679 Speaker 1: to undersell that, but there are opportunities there. And if 206 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,839 Speaker 1: you get through that run of three straight a f 207 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: C opponents, you know, the things start to line up 208 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: a little better for you. Yeah, you're talking Arrowhead Stadium 209 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 1: on a Sunday night and then potentially a lot of 210 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: Packers fans trying to pack that that soccer stadium dignity 211 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: Health Systems part or something. Yeah, you're talking about to 212 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: two really really interesting atmospheres, very different in their own right, 213 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: but but really interesting road atmospheres. And then the other 214 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: part of this to West is that, obviously with all 215 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: the home games early in the season, you're gonna have 216 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: to deal with a lot of road trips on the 217 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: back end. Now, the Kansas City Los Angeles back to 218 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: back starts a stretch of the Packers playing four of 219 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,120 Speaker 1: five games on the road. They also have another back 220 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: to back road swing to San Francisco and to New 221 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: York to play the Giants. But what actually helps the 222 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: Packers this year, which they didn't get last year when 223 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 1: they had to play four road games in a span 224 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: of five weeks, which is really when the season kind 225 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 1: of unraveled, is that the Packers bye week is in 226 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: the middle of that. So even though it's four road 227 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: games in a span of five games, it's over a 228 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: span of six weeks because you're gonna have a week 229 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: off in there as well. I think that is going 230 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: to help the Packers navigate through this really tough stretch 231 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 1: of road games with just the one home game over 232 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: over a long span. I think you counted fifty six 233 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:37,079 Speaker 1: days that the Packers are only going to have one 234 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: home game, but having the bye week mixed in there 235 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: is going to be a big assist, still better than 236 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: what Tampa Bay has. Did you see that run? They 237 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: have seven weeks they will not be playing at home 238 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: at all, that their one home game is the London 239 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: is the London game, and then I think they also 240 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: have a bye week mix in there too, But then 241 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: they're they're playing like six and seven on the road. 242 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: It's a crazy schedule. But in regards to the Packers, 243 00:11:57,880 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: you know the other thing that worked out well and 244 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: it's first time they've caught the week eleven by since 245 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: the NFL started doing that in two thousand eleven. But 246 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,959 Speaker 1: more importantly, it comes after a noon game against Carolina. 247 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: Now we'll have to see exactly how Matt Floor wants 248 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: to handle that bye week, but that is a picture 249 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 1: perfect opportunity for players that are healthy to pack their 250 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: bags and head home for a week. Yeah, immediately after that, 251 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: you don't have a long trip coming back. You're not 252 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: coming back from London or anything like that. You play 253 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: the noon game, you're done by three. You know you 254 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: have some time to rest and recuperate. A perfect timing 255 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: if you're going to have a stretch like that where 256 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: you only have one home game to be able to 257 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: have a noon game as it's scheduled right now, and 258 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: then right on the back end of that half the 259 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: buy yeah, a chance to get out of dodge and 260 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: put your feet up for a few days and and 261 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: get ready for what the Packers are hoping is going 262 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: to be a stretch run of their final six games. 263 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: And then you look at the other back to back 264 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: road game. The third one of the group is the 265 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: Week sixteen Week seventeen and actually only six days apart 266 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: with being at Minnesota in week week sixteen on a 267 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: Monday night and then turning around and going to Detroit 268 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: for Week seventeen for the regular season finale. That's a 269 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,439 Speaker 1: really interesting back to back. You're talking about a cold 270 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 1: weather team like the Packers finishing this finishing the regular 271 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: season with back to back road games. Now that will 272 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: be coming off of meeting number two hundred historically between 273 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: the Packers and the Bears, which will be at lambeau 274 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 1: Field Week fifteen mid December. I think that's one to 275 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: really look forward to. But finishing back to back in 276 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: December in domes, you know, kind of a unique situation 277 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 1: as well. So I was sitting at my house after 278 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 1: I got done Wednesday night, I'm enjoying a nice sparkling water, 279 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: and I was thinking to myself, and I'm curious to 280 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: hear your thoughts on this. If you're the Green Bay Packers, 281 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: would you rather have to go to Minnesota and week 282 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: sixteen or go in week two and go back to 283 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: back on the road in the NFC North to start 284 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: the season, but then have the Vikings at lambeau Field 285 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:52,599 Speaker 1: in week sixteen? Which one do you think would have 286 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: been better? I guess for me, my immediate reaction as 287 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: always to have those indoor teams come outdoors in December, 288 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: I think, I think so that would have been worth 289 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: it to you. Yeah, it would have been. It would 290 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: have been to me. But but yeah, to think about 291 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: going at Chicago and at Minnesota out of the gate 292 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,080 Speaker 1: one two year to two big division rivals like that, 293 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: that would have been an awfully, awfully daunting start. I 294 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: think it falls somewhere in between, because the worst scenario 295 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: would have been having to go to Minnesota in week seventeen. 296 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,720 Speaker 1: Let's say that game gets flex that fan base is 297 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: gonna be eccentric. Well, at least in this case, you 298 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: get them in week sixteen. You need to take care 299 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 1: of business. You need to get a win there. They 300 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: haven't gotten enough of those in Minnesota lately. But then 301 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: if things go well, okay, we'll see what the Lions 302 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: look like in two thousand nineteen. But they've had success there. 303 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: They've been in that situation before having to win to 304 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: get in in two thousand and sixteen. There, so at 305 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: least do a lot of those veteran players in the 306 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: roster with all that experience to go back off of. Yeah, 307 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: that's one of the other things that's interesting about this 308 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: when you look at the road trips. The Packers are 309 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: going to Dallas, Uh, they won Super Bowl forty five 310 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:01,480 Speaker 1: in that building. Matt Flynn had the big comeback in 311 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: they had the divisional playoff victory down to the wire 312 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: to beat the Cowboys in the in the NFC playoffs, 313 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: and then seen Rogers has the comeback, the final drive 314 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 1: to complete the comeback at the end. That's one of 315 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: those where the Cowboys are gonna be looking at the 316 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: Packers coming in and saying, all right, enough of this, 317 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: you know, it's it's time to to to, you know, 318 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: stop the Packers from winning in our house here. But 319 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 1: then the flip side of it is the Packers are 320 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: heading to us Bank at the end of the season 321 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: for what could be a really really big game with 322 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: a lot of implications and a building where the first 323 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: three times the Packers have gone there it has not 324 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: gone well at all, three losses. Obviously an injury to 325 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: Rogers in that building a couple of years ago. So 326 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: you know, from that standpoint, there's a couple of narratives 327 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: to these road games on the schedule that will be 328 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,200 Speaker 1: that will be kind of fun to talk about when 329 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: the time comes, and not to make light of anything, 330 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: but I also go back to two thousand seventeen and 331 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: the Rogers injury, and everyone thinks so much about Rogers, 332 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: and rightfully so, but it was almost just a comedy 333 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: act after a while. I remember them talking about what 334 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: the training room looked like because I believe, you know, 335 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: Quentin Rollins left that game. I think Lane Taylor might 336 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,440 Speaker 1: have left that game. It just was one guy after 337 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 1: another there afterwards. So, yeah, the Packers historically, I go 338 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: back to my first few years on the beat. Yeah, 339 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: they had a rough outing in two thousand twelve, but 340 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: for the most part, you know, they had they did 341 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,440 Speaker 1: find ways to have success in the Metrodome. They're trying 342 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: to find a way now to be able to build 343 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: that momentum in the new location. The biggest thing, though, Mike, 344 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: no matter how you cut it down, no matter how 345 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: you slice it, you and I can talk right until 346 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: we run out of oxygen in this room. But the 347 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: biggest key for the Packers is they have to win 348 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: on the road. We know the story in two thousand 349 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: and eighteen, they win all that time. They finally ended 350 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: up beating the Jets, but they had to come back 351 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: to do it. That's why I've said repeatedly this offseason 352 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: since the Packers found out that they're going to open 353 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: in Chicago, there's no better way to just cleanse yourself 354 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: of all of that than to come out beat the 355 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: defending nf Senor champion and start to turn around your fortunes. Yeah, 356 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: I totally agree with you. One last thing before we 357 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: wrap up here, West Okay, we've talked about the division games, 358 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: the Pat Mahomes games, the soccer stadium game and all that. Okay, 359 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: what of these games that we haven't necessarily spent a 360 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: lot of time on, is, in your mind sort of 361 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,200 Speaker 1: the sleeper game, the one to the one that that 362 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: maybe is going to have some bigger implications when it 363 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: rolls around than maybe we think right now. We'll see 364 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: about the implications because we don't know what the forty 365 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: Niners are gonna look like this year. But I really 366 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: think the Packers traveling there, Kyle Shanahan taking on his 367 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: former protege in Matt Lafleur. Matt Lafleur will be matching 368 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: wits with his one of his best friends not in 369 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: this business, in this world, in Robert Sala, who is 370 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 1: the defensive coordinator for the forty Niners. He'll be making 371 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: his calls. The floor will be making his call. Sal 372 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,159 Speaker 1: is the guy that got him in the door with 373 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: Gary Kubiak the Houston Texans. So to me, I mean, yeah, 374 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers. Great, you know the matchup that 375 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: we missed last year Popolo was injured and that Monday 376 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: night game at Lambe Field was c J. Bethurt So 377 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:06,520 Speaker 1: and and then the other thing. Uh, you know, Aaron 378 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: Rodgers has played historically pretty darn well in the San 379 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 1: Francisco area when he's you know, kind of buy his hometown, 380 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 1: had a pretty solid game whatever it was three or 381 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: four years ago. Now. Um, I just think there's a 382 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: lot of layers to that matchup, and we'll see what 383 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: the records are at that point. San Francisco, you really 384 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 1: don't know what to expect after the year that they had, 385 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 1: But h Kyle Shanahan and Matt le Floor close. I 386 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: think out of all the coaches that you talked to 387 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 1: and all the people that have said nice words about 388 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: La Fleur, Shanahan is the one that is sort of 389 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 1: that he's been most in lockstep with the entire time. 390 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:37,959 Speaker 1: And it'll be a good matchup. Yeah. The one I'm 391 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,880 Speaker 1: gonna say is the Carolina game in Week ten at 392 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: home at Lambou Field. And there's a few reasons for 393 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 1: that one. It's the one home game that's in the 394 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: midst of all those road games in the bye week 395 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: and everything we talked about before. Number two. It's not 396 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: every day that you get a quarterback matchup of two 397 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: guys who have won m vps in this league. So 398 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,360 Speaker 1: to see Aaron Rodgers against Cam Newton, I think that's 399 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: a that's a marquee matchup in and of itself. But 400 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: the third thing, the Carolina Panthers are in this pattern 401 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: west of every other year they're like, really darn good, 402 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: and it's always the odd numbered years, it seems with 403 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: Ron Rivera and that Carolina team. In two thousand fifteen, 404 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: they went to the Super Bowl, then they kind of 405 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: fall off. They come back in two thousand seventeen, it's 406 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen. The Panthers are coming off of a 407 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 1: non playoff season, and uh, if they follow their usual pattern, 408 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,159 Speaker 1: this is a Carolina team that I think is expecting 409 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: in a very tough division, the Saints and the Falcons 410 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 1: and all of that in the NFC South. But the 411 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: Carolina Panthers are expecting to be right back in the mix. 412 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: And if Cam Newton is healthy, there's no reason he 413 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: can't return to his m v P form either. The 414 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: biggest trend, the biggest tie in, the biggest parallel between 415 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,159 Speaker 1: when the Panthers have had their successful years and when 416 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: they haven't other than the odd number years, is Cam Newton. Right, 417 00:19:56,560 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: That's the constant, what Cam Newton are you going to 418 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: get in a given year. I still say, even you know, 419 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: he's getting a little bit older. When he's on, when 420 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: the accuracy is there, there's a few better in the 421 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: game than Cam Newton. The Packers have seen it several times. 422 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 1: He's a tough customer. But at the same time, when 423 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: he's not been healthy, when they've had issues with the accuracy, 424 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: it's a different ball game. Things look a little bit 425 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 1: differently that matchup how they defend Christian McCaffrey and and 426 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: the other thing is too, Mike. Let's be honest, both 427 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: of these teams had higher expectations for last year than 428 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 1: how things ultimately unfolded. Both of these teams want to 429 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 1: turn things around. That mid season checkpoint here at lambeau 430 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: Field is gonna be a big barometer as to figuring 431 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 1: out exactly the direction that those those seasons are going 432 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: for those two teams. Yeah, one to keep an eye 433 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: out for for sure. Well with that, um, I'll just 434 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: throw out there that starting next week we'll have another 435 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: show earlier in the week. We're going to try to 436 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: take a big overview of just where the Packers are 437 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: heading into this draft position. By Position. We have a 438 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 1: roster series that's being published on our website now every 439 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: day taking a look at the roster position by positions, 440 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: So check that out and come back and check us 441 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: out next week talking about it um, but for now 442 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 443 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 444 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com. You can subscribe to the 445 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: podcast on iTunes like us there as well if you 446 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: don't mind, follow him on Twitter at west Hot I'm 447 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 1: at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks 448 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: for tuning in, everybody, We'll see you next time.