1 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. He is my 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: trusted colleague Weston Hodkoitz. We're coming to you here from 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: different locations at Lambeufield, and since our last show Wes, 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty three Green Bay Packers schedule was released, 6 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: We've had a few days to process it and digest 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: it and figure out what we think of it. So 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: I'm just going to toss it to you right away. 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: When you first saw this seventeen game slate, eighteen week 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: schedule for twenty twenty three, what struck you? 11 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 2: We're going back on the road again to start the season. 12 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: That was the number one thing that struck me. I mean, 13 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 2: I don't know what Matt Lafleur is going to have 14 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 2: to do to be able to get a Week one 15 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: opener at lambeau Field, but hey, there's two ways to 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: look at this, right The one way I look at 17 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 2: it is I just felt like it would have been 18 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: the perfect opportunity your starf the Jordan Love era, Let 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: the young man have a moment at Lambelefield, something that 20 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 2: would be bigger than just a game. You know if 21 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 2: he would have opened the season here, but you know, 22 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 2: we know how these schedule simulations go, how complicated they are. 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 2: So instead, Packers are going back to back weeks on 24 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: the road, which is the third time in franchise history 25 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 2: that they'll have played Week one and Week two away 26 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 2: from Green Bay. The other two were nineteen twenty four 27 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: in twenty sixteen. So a big challenge opening up in 28 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: Chicago and then going up and having to travel to Atlanta. 29 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: Two potentially very dynamic and potent rushing offenses that the 30 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: defense is going to have to be ready for. But 31 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 2: from Jordan Love's perspective, he'll get the opportunity for the 32 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 2: first time to lead the Packers out of the tunnel 33 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,559 Speaker 2: at Lambelefield in Week three against New Orleans. By and large, 34 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 2: I think it's a pretty balanced schedule, But that was 35 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: the only thing silently I was rooting for. I did 36 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: want to see a Week one opener at Lambelefield, just 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 2: because it's been so long since we've had one. 38 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is pretty remarkable that now this will be 39 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: Matt Laflour's fifth season as the head coach of the 40 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: Packers and he still will have yet to open a 41 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: season at Lambellfield, going down the road once again. I 42 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: think if the Packers get a twenty twenty four opener 43 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: at Lambeau, I think the league should just Matt Lafleur. 44 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: Let Matt Lafleur call all the shots, the opponent, the day, 45 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: the time of the game, the act for the pregame 46 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: concert out in the parking lot, Like Matt Lafleur should 47 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: just get to call all the shots for his first 48 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: season opener at home whenever that does occur. But the 49 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: other thing, that the other thing that struck me to 50 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 1: right away, and this is where you wonder how this 51 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: kind of stuff happens. And I'm not, by no means 52 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: suggesting any kind of conspiracy, but it is incredibly ironic 53 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: to me that exactly one year after the Packers explicitly 54 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: did not want the Week six by right after the 55 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: London game in Week five because they felt it was 56 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: too early in the season, and then in response to 57 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: turning that down, the league gave the Packers the latest 58 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: possible bye last year in Week fourteen. That now in 59 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, the Week six by, Oh, there, it 60 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: is the one that you turned down last year because 61 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: you felt it was too early in the season, but 62 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: that's how that's how this thing goes. The Packers are 63 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: going to have some significant rest opportunities early in the 64 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: season because you have a Week four game on a 65 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: Thursday night, so you get some extra time off there. 66 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: You actually go from a Thursday night to playing on 67 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: Monday night in Week five at Las Vegas, so a 68 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: break there between those two games, and then after the 69 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: Week five game, you have your full bye week. So 70 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: those rest opportunities the Packers are going to have to 71 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: take advantage of that, you know, get the team healthy, 72 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: get everybody geared up, because then after that Week six by, 73 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: that's a lot of football to take you to the 74 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: end of the season. 75 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 2: I didn't jump on the NFL conference call they were 76 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: going to make a media availability to discuss the schedule creations. 77 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: To me, the bye weeks were about as quizzical in 78 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: nature as I think they've ever been. You mentioned last 79 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: year the Packers didn't want the Week six by, which 80 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: would have been the earliest in twenty twenty two. This 81 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 2: year it's actually the second one, though There'll be four 82 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: teams that'll be on buy in Week five, which is 83 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 2: you and I discussed in some of our videos last 84 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 2: week will be the inverse of what happened last year 85 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 2: with the Packers, where they had to play three thirteen 86 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: straight in a row and then finish the game this 87 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: season with four games. This year, there'll be four teams 88 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: that will play four games, and then we'll have to 89 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 2: finish with thirteen in a row to end the regular season. 90 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: That's a gauntlet, man. I mean when the Packers, or 91 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: not the Packers, but when the NFL came up with 92 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: this idea that they were going to add the seventeenth 93 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: regular season game, I was really hoping that that would 94 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: mean that we would see more buys in the dead 95 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: center of the season. Well, as it turns out, this year, 96 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: there's no Week eight byes at all. Not really sure 97 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: everything that goes into those decisions, But so as weird 98 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 2: as it says to say, well the Packers got a 99 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: Week sixt fi, it could have actually been a lot 100 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: worse for them. They could have been stuck and saddled 101 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,720 Speaker 2: with that Week five by And the fact of the 102 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: matter is, and I think what Matt Lafleur discussed with 103 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 2: Larry mccaern when breaking down the schedule was you just 104 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 2: look for the areas where you're going to be challenged, 105 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 2: and certainly the one of the biggest challenges will be 106 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 2: that opener against New Orleans and then coming back four 107 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: days later in playing a Detroit Lions team that I 108 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 2: think a lot of people in the NFL have huge 109 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: expectations for on Thursday Night football. The other end of it, though, 110 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 2: that I think does work to green Bay's advantage, is 111 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: when you look at the balance of it. After the bye, 112 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 2: you have two home games against Minnesota and the Los 113 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 2: Angeles Rams. Aside from that early stretch there against Chicago 114 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: and the Falcons, you don't have to play back to 115 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 2: back weeks on the road until Christmas Eve against Carolina 116 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 2: and then also New Year's Eve against Minnesota, which is 117 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: really just a puddle jump over to the Twin Cities. 118 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: So it's very difficult for me to say that this 119 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 2: was a poorly laid out schedule for green Bay because 120 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: I actually feel like the balance is there. It's just 121 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: that first month that I think green Bay is going 122 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 2: to have to overcome and the win lost column, and 123 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: also from an injuries perspective, trying to stay as healthy 124 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 2: as possible. 125 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with you. I certainly agree with you there. 126 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: The other thing that that really struck me about the 127 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 1: schedule is what I wrote about I talked about it 128 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: in some of our videos on the website last week 129 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: as well, is the I guess I would say the 130 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: the even brighter spotlight than normal that is on the 131 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: Division games here in Jordan Love's first season as the 132 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: starting quarterback. Because your opener Week one is at Chicago, 133 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: then Jordan Love's first home Division game is against Detroit 134 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: on Thursday Night Football, so a primetime opportunity there. His 135 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: first start at ford Field in Detroit will be on 136 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:48,120 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving Day, where if Detroit lives up to the expectations 137 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: of where a lot of people think that franchise is heading, 138 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: that could be one of the one of the biggest 139 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: Thanksgiving games at ford Field in quite some time. And 140 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: then you're Jordan Love's first trip as the starting quarterback 141 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: into the noisy confines of US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis 142 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: will be in primetime on New Year's Eve in week seventeen. 143 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: And then in week eighteen, you know, the one that's 144 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: listed as TBD against the Chicago Bears. If there's anything 145 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: at stake, if there's anything at stake for either team 146 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: in that game, there's a good chance that that finds 147 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: a prime slot, either as a National three twenty five 148 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: game or maybe even in primetime. They're Packers and Bears, 149 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: so the division games are always important. They are. They 150 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: are the shortest, most efficient, most impactful way to carve 151 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: out a path to the postseason for your team. But 152 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: the extra spotlight that is on those division games here 153 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: and Jordan Love's first season is pretty significant. 154 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 2: No doubt in the fact that there will be that 155 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: Thursday night game on Thanksgiving against the Lions. Packers then 156 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 2: will have that mini by before hosting Kansas City. There 157 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 2: no circumstances can you envision a way in which that 158 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: won't be a challenging matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions. 159 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 2: A lot goes into these schedules, but I think for me, 160 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: the idea that the Packers won't actually play now we 161 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: know how quickly these things can change. We saw it 162 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 2: last year with it with how competitive New York's both 163 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: of the New York teams ended up being Washington. But 164 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: the Packers won't actually play a team coming off a 165 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: playoff appearance until Week eight against Minnesota, and we've already 166 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: seen some of the Vegas lines out there on the vikings, 167 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 2: you know, putting their win lost total right around maybe 168 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 2: seven or eight. So it is going to be very 169 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 2: back heavy where the challenges potentially lie there for green Bay. 170 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 2: But as it always was the case, whether it was 171 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, Jordan Love, Brett Hunley, whoever, it 172 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 2: comes down to winning in the division. And I think 173 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: with the last couple of seasons where the Packers kind 174 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 2: of got tripped up was in some of those division matchups, 175 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 2: whether it was against Minnesota or last year, you know, 176 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: losing both of them to the Lions. Certainly, you know, 177 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 2: Matt Lafleur still has yet to lose game to the Bears. 178 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: So that will be critical both beginning the season and 179 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 2: ending the season for green Bay. But to have two 180 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 2: Thursday night matchups against the Lions after everything that Detroit did, 181 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 2: after you know, really this feeling that hey, they've been 182 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 2: building every single year. Dan Campbell has been in the 183 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: Motor City. Though for as much as there's gonna be 184 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 2: Kansas City and there's gonna be you know, justin Herbert 185 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles, it's gonna sound kind of monotonous. But 186 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: for as many times as the Packers have played the Lions, 187 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,439 Speaker 2: especially to end the season, they've played a couple of 188 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: playing games against them, those two matchups against them both 189 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 2: in Week four and then at the end of the season. 190 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 2: I think are really going to have a lot to 191 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 2: do with where their season goes. 192 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, I agree with you one hundred percent. And 193 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 1: there's a lot of talk in Detroit, of course about 194 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: where that team is headed. They got pegged for Week 195 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 1: one to play the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City 196 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: Chiefs in prime time, the type of game that the 197 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: Detroit Lions normally do not get selected to play, and 198 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: that is how they are opening their twenty twenty three season. 199 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: So there will be a lot of attention on Detroit, 200 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: and I agree with you, a big spotlight on those 201 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: Green Bay Detroit games, those two NFC North matchups this year. 202 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: I want to take care of a little bit of 203 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: sponsor business here. West Sirius XM. NFL Radio delivers hard 204 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news that 205 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: true football fanatics need twenty four to seven, three sixty 206 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 1: five and Ed cousin subs. We have something for everyone, 207 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: like our Wisconsin cheese curds, Mac and cheese, golden fries, 208 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 209 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: sub and a bowl cousin subs fifty years of better. 210 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: All Right, I just a'll throw out a couple of 211 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: questions to you. We've touched on a few of these 212 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: highlights already, but when it comes to the opponent you 213 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: are most looking forward to seeing visit Lambellfield and the 214 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 1: road trip for the Packers in twenty twenty three that 215 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,840 Speaker 1: you are most looking forward to? What are your selections? 216 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 2: Well, Las Vegas is the biggest road trip on my schedule. 217 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 2: I'm sure it's that way for a lot of Packer fans. 218 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,959 Speaker 2: First time the Packers will be at a Llegiance Stadium 219 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 2: that's going to be absolutely huge. Also, the storylines there 220 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: with DeVante Adams in the history with the Green Bay Packers, 221 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,400 Speaker 2: that will kind of right itself. I'm sure it'll drive 222 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 2: the narrative that week. But placing it on Monday Night Football, 223 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 2: I feel is also a really good spotlight for that matchup. 224 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,319 Speaker 2: Very interested to see. How you know, Jordan Love, He's 225 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: going to get a taste to some of these these 226 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: primetime matchups right off the bat. As we mentioned, Lions 227 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:28,079 Speaker 2: on Thursday Night football, coming right back against the Raiders 228 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 2: the following week. That's where the national eye really comes 229 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 2: on to you and seeing what you have to offer. 230 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 2: And I'm very intrigued to see how the Packers handle 231 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: that type of moment. Aaron Rodgers always seemed to embrace him, 232 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 2: you know, when you would have the you know that 233 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 2: that national you know, he always talked about the romanticism 234 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 2: that's kind of involved with you're the only television game, 235 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 2: You're the only NFL game that everybody's watching. To be 236 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 2: in the you know, Las Vegas first time, you know, 237 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: you and I will get a chance to be in 238 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 2: a new stadium in a while that we haven't been to. 239 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 2: That's very intriguing to me. And then certainly I'm going 240 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 2: to steal the other good one here, which is that 241 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: December third matchup against Kansas City. As you've outlined so 242 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 2: many times before already an Inbox and a lot of 243 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: our other stories on Packers dot Com, it'll be the 244 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,040 Speaker 2: first time Patrick mahomes in theory, if you can stay 245 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 2: healthy here, we'll be making a start at lambeau Field. 246 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 2: One of the things I led Inbox with last week 247 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: was just how special those moments are because especially when 248 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 2: it's a cross conference team that I mean, maybe now 249 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: there's more of an opportunity than there was before for 250 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: those guys to come over and play road games. It's 251 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 2: not just once every eight years anymore because of that 252 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: cross conference matchup, but still it's very rare that you're 253 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 2: going to see Patrick Mahomes in this type of stadium. 254 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 2: I want to say, Tom Brady only played here what 255 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 2: two or three times, So that's something I think all 256 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: Packer fans will have on their calendar because it's a 257 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: game that's a little bit more than just the win 258 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: and the loss. It's also what it represents, knowing that 259 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 2: you're probably watching one of the a player that will 260 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 2: go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. 261 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's one of the things I always look at 262 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: with regard to the opponents coming to Lambeofield is particularly 263 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks, the guys that the guys that everybody talks about. 264 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 1: And Patrick Mahomes be making his first trip to Lambe Field, 265 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: and Justin Herbert for the Chargers, another young up and 266 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: coming quarterback in the AFC, He'll be making his first 267 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: visit to Lambe Field on that Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. 268 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: So those are those are some interesting ones to look 269 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: forward to. And I totally agree with you as far 270 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: as a road trip Las Vegas. It's it's not just 271 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: the Packers obviously have have never played in Vegas. It's 272 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:31,199 Speaker 1: the DeVante Adams and you know, presumably matched up against 273 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: Jay R Alexander and uh and And for me personally, 274 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: there are only two current in use NFL stadiums that 275 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: that I have at which I have not covered a game. 276 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: Las Vegas is one. The other is Sofi Stadium in 277 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. So I get to chalk another one off 278 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,679 Speaker 1: my list. Until Buffalo builds its new stadium and all 279 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: the other new ones start getting built in then yeah, 280 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:55,200 Speaker 1: then then there'll be more that uh that I'll that 281 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: I'll still need to visit. Here's a thought that just 282 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: occurred to me though, and and I I'm dead serious 283 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: that this just occurred to me all, you know, late 284 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: last week looking over things. I didn't realize this, but 285 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: in his first season as a starting quarterback, I'm counting 286 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: I'm counting four stadiums at which Jordan Love could get 287 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: a victory in which stadiums in which Aaron Rodgers never 288 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: got a victory as the quarterback of the Packers. And 289 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: I'm talking about Atlanta, which is the new Mercedes Benz 290 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: Stadium in Atlanta. Obviously, Rogers won, you know, a big 291 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,600 Speaker 1: playoff game at the Georgia Dome, but lost once in 292 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: the regular season once in the playoffs in Atlanta's new stadium, 293 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: Las Vegas. We just mentioned that the Packers have never 294 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:48,080 Speaker 1: played there. Denver, the road game at Denver. Rogers only 295 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: played one game, one regular season game in Denver in 296 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen. Lost that one. That was when Peyton Manning 297 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: was quarterbacking the Broncos, and the Broncos eventually. 298 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 2: Seventy seven passing yards in that one. Yeah, Packers, they 299 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: got a hand. 300 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: It to him and that was and that was in 301 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: prime time too. 302 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 303 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: So, and then the other one is is Pittsburgh because 304 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: Rogers actually only played one game at Hinsfield in Pittsburgh, 305 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: lost it to Ben Roethlisberger on a last play of 306 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: the game touchdown pass back in two thousand and nine. 307 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 1: And then in twenty seventeen when the Packers returned to Pittsburgh, 308 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: Rodgers was injured and Brett Hunley was the starting quarterback Bret. 309 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 2: Brett Huntley probably had his best game of his career. 310 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: That Yeah, that was. That was actually that was and 311 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: and the Packers ended up losing that game on a 312 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: walk off field goal if I recall correctly. That was 313 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: another primetime another primetime matchup. So just interesting the way 314 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: things fall that that Jordan love in his first year there, 315 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: because Aaron Rodgers has won a lot of games, of 316 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: course all over the NFL, but there are four stadiums 317 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: on this on this road slate for the Packers in 318 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three where Rogers never won a game, and 319 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: and Jordan Lovell have an opportunity to chalk those off 320 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: his list right away. 321 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, And again it's about sort of being able to, 322 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: you know, leave your mark a little bit and kind 323 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 2: of put your foot down and show what type of 324 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 2: quarterback you are. You know a lot of the stories 325 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: I wrote this week, Mike, and you know some of 326 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 2: the things that you're touching on too with Andras Carlson 327 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 2: is just the transition that this entire roster is going over. 328 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: I mean, the fact that you're going to have right now, 329 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 2: you have ten receivers on the team between the ages 330 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: of twenty one and twenty six, not one of them 331 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 2: with more than one accrued season two new rookie tight 332 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 2: ends obviously a very veteran backfield, but seeing this offense 333 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 2: kind of come together and develop its identity behind Jordan 334 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 2: Love is going to be so important, and also how 335 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 2: they handle the week to week challenges that the NFL 336 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 2: schedule presents. It's going to start right off the bat. 337 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 2: I mean, even you look at the preseason, you know 338 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 2: you're traveling to Cincinnati, and then you're going to be 339 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 2: going up against New England and then also closing against Seattle. 340 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 2: It's going to be the type of year where you're 341 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: really going to have to figure out what this path 342 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: is going to be if you're Matt Lafleur, and how 343 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: you're going to go about utilizing Jordan Love and how 344 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 2: you're going about deploying starters in these matchups. It's a 345 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 2: lot different than a lot of other years where I 346 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,680 Speaker 2: think it would just always kind of become a foregone 347 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 2: conclusion of what your plan is going to be with 348 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 2: Aaron Rodgers, So just seeing from week to week how 349 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: you handle those challenges that that's probably gonna be the 350 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 2: most exciting aspect of the schedule regardless of what the 351 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 2: real layout was. 352 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and we should based on past history, we should 353 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: within the next couple of weeks have the dates and 354 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,200 Speaker 1: the times nailed down with regard to the preseason games. 355 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,600 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur has mentioned that there are negotiations going on 356 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: to have a team practice here in Green Bay with 357 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: the Packers for a couple of days during training camps. 358 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: So we'll see how We'll see how all of that 359 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,680 Speaker 1: shakes out as well. So, oh, the other, the other thing, 360 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: the other thing to mention too before we go. We 361 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: talked about that Week eighteen game against the Bears, which 362 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: is the which is the TVD and if that game, 363 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 1: because the game at Chicago is a three twenty five kickoff, 364 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: if the Week eighteen game Packers Bears at lambeau Field 365 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: does not end up in primetime, that will actually end 366 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: one of the longest streaks in NFL scheduling history. The 367 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: Packers and Bears have played a primetime game at least 368 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: once in seventeen consecutive seasons, and that streak is actually 369 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,120 Speaker 1: in jeopardy of ending here if Packers Bears in Week 370 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 1: eighteen is not a primetime game. But you know what, 371 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: it would be pretty cool if it did become a 372 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: primetime game, not only because of the streak, but because 373 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: that would mean something really, really big is on the 374 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,719 Speaker 1: line there in Week eighteam between those between those rivals, 375 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: So that would be that'll be something to watch as 376 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: the stretch run unfolds here in December and January. 377 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 2: No doubt it would kind of be sort of it'd 378 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 2: be too bad if it ends that way too, because 379 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 2: it's like the Week one game is America's game of 380 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 2: the Week three twenty five. I mean, there's going to 381 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 2: be tons of lights on it and attention drawn to it, 382 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,119 Speaker 2: even if it isn't necessarily at seven to fifty. But 383 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 2: all that being said, certainly everybody's felt like that's a 384 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 2: huge rivalry and the matchups that had been played in 385 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 2: that too, the one hundred season for both the Packers 386 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 2: and the Bears in the league, and you know some 387 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 2: of the you know, you think about how the thirteen 388 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,640 Speaker 2: season ended between Green Bay and Chicago and the play 389 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 2: in game winner take all for the NFC North and 390 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 2: the Randall Cobb touchdown, so many incredible moments, and it 391 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 2: would be nice if it does work out in the 392 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 2: week eighteen that Jordan Love's first year as a starter 393 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 2: in Green Bay kind of continues on that trajectory. Found 394 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 2: it very interesting you talked about it in one of 395 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:35,560 Speaker 2: our other videos that we did, actually, I think it 396 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:37,959 Speaker 2: was the Q and A. If it does end, it 397 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 2: ends in the same way it almost started where the 398 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:43,119 Speaker 2: Packers were actually playing Week one and Week seventeen at 399 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:45,600 Speaker 2: the time against the Bears. It just so happened that 400 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 2: that first year the game was flex back. 401 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that was the two thousand and six that 402 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: was the first year of flex scheduling, and in Week seventeen, 403 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: Packers Bears at Soldier Field was flexed into a primetime game, 404 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: and then that became the start of the streak which 405 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: is now at seven straight years of that rivalry, the 406 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: oldest rivalry in the NFL. Also then having at least 407 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: one primetime game every year. The other the other little 408 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: quirk that I wasn't aware of right away when we 409 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,800 Speaker 1: saw the schedule, but the for those who look closely, 410 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 1: the Week fourteen Monday night game for the Packers, which 411 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: is at the Giants, is listed as being televised on ABC, 412 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: and the reason for that is there are that Monday 413 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: night there are a few different Monday Nights during the 414 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:31,119 Speaker 1: course of the season where there are two games, but 415 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: it's not it's not a traditional double header Monday Night. 416 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:39,200 Speaker 1: It's actually two Monday Night games that overlap each other 417 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: a little bit in terms of the kickoff time. So, 418 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: and that happens to be one of them, the Packers 419 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: at Giants there in Week fourteen. There is I don't 420 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: I can't think off the top of my head what 421 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: the other Monday Night. Probably some West Coast game, yeah, 422 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: but there will be. There will be two Monday Night 423 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: games on that Monday, December eleventh, and the Packers are 424 00:20:57,760 --> 00:20:59,719 Speaker 1: one of the two. And that's why they are listed 425 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: as on being on ABC as opposed to the traditional 426 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: ESPN for Monday night football. So any other thoughts here 427 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: West before we go on the schedule. I know you 428 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: and I have to get to some news conferences with 429 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: the Packers assistant coaches, the coordinators are going to get 430 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: started here shortly, so we'll have that to talk about 431 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 1: on our next show. But anything else on the schedule 432 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: here before we wrap it up. 433 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 2: We are right at the midway point of the offseason program. 434 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 2: This is four weeks and basically middle of the next week, 435 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 2: so very interested to see how we play this thing out. 436 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 2: As you mentioned, we'll have assistant coachability this week, three 437 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: weeks of OTAs and then wrapping up with the mini camp. 438 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 2: We are taking steps slowly but surely towards the twenty 439 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: twenty three season, the beginning of the Jordan Love era, 440 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:46,200 Speaker 2: and the excitement is palpable. 441 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: It's definitely building as we get as we get closer 442 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: to the summer and the eventual start of training camp 443 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: in late July. But with that we will call it 444 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 1: a wrap on this edition of Packers' Unscripted. Be sure 445 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team on 446 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: packers dot com. You can follow it website, app, mobile, web, 447 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: all of it. It's a it's there for you. So 448 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: for Wes, I am Mike, thank you for tuning in. Everybody. 449 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: We will see you next time.