1 00:00:01,160 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spoffer, joined by my 3 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: trusted colleague West Hodcoitz. We're coming to you hear from 4 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: our studios at lambeau Field. As you can see, we 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: are wearing masks. And just to clarify, the NFL has 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: issued strict protocols for all players team employees for the 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: rest of the season. So because we are NFL employees 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: and we are working in an NFL facility, we're going 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: to follow those protocols. We will see how this goes 10 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: west and perhaps come up with a more workable solution 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: as the stretch run continues here for the Packers. But 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: that stretch run did not start off the way Green 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: Bay wanted. A very difficult thirty to thirty one overtime 14 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: loss in Indianapolis. So much went right in the first half, 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: everything went wrong in the second half, and hill about 16 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: the last eight five seconds or so, and uh, the 17 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: Packers walked away from Lucas Oil Stadium with a with 18 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: a tough one to swallow. Yeah, it's funny too, because 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: I remember two thousand twelve. I didn't cover that game. 20 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: I was I covered he did. I covered it from 21 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: the comfort of my my living room, and I saw 22 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: that stat about I forget who it was. I wish 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: I could give the proper attribution to the outlet that 24 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: had it. But basically, Rogers when he's up by fourteen 25 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: and a halftime, like it's some some ridiculous record he has. 26 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: It's like a hundred and twenty and four Packers are 27 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: in those games, and two of those losses were at 28 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 1: Lucas Oil Stadium, with this most recent one being on Sunday. 29 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is. It doesn't matter who 30 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: the quarterback is. If it's Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck, 31 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 1: Jacoby Brissett and now obviously Phillip Rivers, those games are 32 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: always tough, and it was tough again. I thought Green Bay. 33 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: It was funny. Someone mentioned an insider in box like, well, 34 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: they got to start faster. They started just fine that 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: first half when according to a plan, they put up 36 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: twenty eight points on the top ranked defense in the 37 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: National Football League. And the problem was, though they have 38 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 1: six offensive plays in the third quarter, they don't really 39 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: get their wheels turning again until late in the fourth. 40 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: In when you go up against a team like you 41 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: know the Colts and Frank Reich and what they can 42 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: do offensively, and certainly they're so well familiar with Philip Rivers. 43 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: If you give them that much leeway, they're going to 44 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: claw their way back, and they were able to do 45 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: that on Sunday. I think the biggest takeaway from this 46 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: game when you try to just analyze NFL football in general, 47 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: is when you hear coaches and players use the phrase 48 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 1: complementary football. This is the type of game they're talking about, 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: because in the first half, complementary football was the Packers 50 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: were capitalizing on indies turnovers and scoring touchdowns. The Packers 51 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: defense was stopping the Colts after the Packers had turnovers. 52 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: That's what complementary football is. In the second half, when 53 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: the defense gives up along to the offense, can't go 54 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: three and out, um, when the opposing team has had 55 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: a large comeback and gotten the score back to even 56 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: you can't fumble a kickoff like That's where complementary football 57 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 1: goes around. You have to have the different phases of 58 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: your team working and supporting each other when things go 59 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: well when things go poorly, and the two halves, as 60 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur said after the game, it was a tale 61 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: of two halves and the really the definition of complementary 62 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: football in the good way and in the bad way 63 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: for the Packers on on this long afternoon. And it's 64 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: funny too, because why did they succeed in the first 65 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: half because of complementary football. You know, they got point 66 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: four teen points off a turnovers. The offense was really 67 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: moving the ball well. I thought the game plan that 68 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: Matt Laflour and the coaches came up with was exceptional. 69 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: They opened the game and a five receiver set, an 70 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: empty backfield set, and they get the ball downfield the 71 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: Davante Adams. They tried to find ways to find one 72 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: on one opportunities and it just seemed like even at 73 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: the end of the first half, I mean, being able 74 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: to get the ball back and then you know, put 75 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: some more points on the board. They made some big 76 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: plays from a lot of guys across the board. But 77 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: just at halftime even you know, they even did they 78 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: stopped the Colts on that first possession, but then they 79 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: go three and out and then Indianapolis just starts running 80 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: the ball. They're having more success and third down situations 81 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: they can't get off the field on fourth down. And 82 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: and obviously they work their way back into this. But 83 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: the big thing and the message that Aaron Rodgers sent 84 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 1: after the game and that he has he has a 85 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: lot of confidence in this team. He feels like they 86 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: have what they need to get where they want to go. 87 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: And I think that that might sound like a quarterback 88 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: trying to prop his team up, but it really was. 89 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: I mean, the energy was where they wanted it to be. 90 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: That was a much more energetic team than the one 91 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: that beat the Jacksonville Jaguars a week earlier. They had 92 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: done a lot of the but the problem is now 93 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: you're playing a six and three team. Now you're playing 94 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: a team that really has some blood on its teeth 95 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: here and wants to, you know, carve out a division 96 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: championship in a competitive com prince. And you've got to 97 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: be able to play four quarters and you can't turn 98 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: over the ball four times. Yeah. Absolutely, And and that's 99 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: what Matt Lafleur emphasized on Monday was the Packers need 100 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: to when you play these good teams, you have to 101 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: be able to play a four quarter football game. They 102 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: played a one quarter football game in Tampa Bay and 103 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 1: kind of got smacked after that. They played a really, 104 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: really good two quarters in Indianapolis, but that's not enough. 105 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: And even with Aaron Rodgers almost pulling out, you know 106 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: the miracle at the end, I'll be honest with you. 107 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: After that second pass to Davante Adams got the Packers 108 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: into the red zone to the fifteen yard line with 109 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: about forty seconds on the clock. I thought Rodgers was 110 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: gonna pull the thing out. I thought he was gonna 111 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: get the ball in the end zone with maybe ten 112 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 1: or fifteen seconds left, and and the Packers were going 113 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 1: to walk out with a victory. No, no overtime necessary. Unfortunately, um, 114 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: they did have to settle for the field goal. The 115 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: game went to overtime. As everybody knows, Marquis Valdes Scantling 116 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: fumbled the ball on the second playoff overtime, erasing what 117 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: was a tremendous play from with Aaron Rodgers launching the 118 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: pass out of his end zone on third and ten 119 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: and Valdes Scantling coming down with it at midfield amidst 120 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: three defenders, gave the Packers the chance to get the 121 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: game to overtime. Um, just uh, you know, it's one 122 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: of those things you you walk away, you walk away 123 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 1: just just scratching your head. And as I think you've 124 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: pointed out in our Insider Inbox column, the human element 125 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: of this game you can't get away from. Great things 126 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: can happen and crappy things can happen. And that's just 127 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: the way this game goes. Some Yeah, and it does, 128 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: and it it's it's Corey Lindsley and Aaron Rodgers who 129 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: have been together for seven years having a bumbled, you know, 130 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: fumbled exchange. H Lindsley then leaves with a back injury. 131 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: You don't know how much that was affecting him early 132 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: on in that game. Darius Shepard, who's in for Tyler 133 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 1: Irvine who had the rib injury against the Jaguars, he 134 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: has a fumble on a kickoff return, and certainly Marquez 135 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: Valdes scantling, which has been a big topic of conversation 136 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: this week. He had so many plays in that game, Mike, 137 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 1: that is the reason why the Packers were able to 138 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: get into over time, whether it was blocking, whether it 139 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: was drawn. The d p I for fifty one yards 140 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: against Rocky Scene and then you know the forty seven 141 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: yard catchy just touched on, and then there's the fumble. 142 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: It's the miss blocking you know there with you know, 143 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: Robert Tonyan and Alan Lazard in front of them. They've 144 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: been so good all year long on those screens, being 145 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 1: able to give the receiver an opportunity to get up field. 146 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: This is one play where black Man makes a really 147 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: solid kind of knife through and puts the pressure on 148 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: Valde scantling there and the ball comes out. It's just 149 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: those type of moments that when you're in a close 150 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: game ultimately decided, but it isn't one specific player. That's 151 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: the one message that Matt Lafleur sent and it's the 152 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: one message, frankly I've been sending with some of our content, 153 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: is that, you know, we always look at how things end, 154 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: but if you flip things, if the fumbled exchanges at 155 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: the end, the narrative changes. If the kickoff return is 156 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,119 Speaker 1: at the end, the narrative changes. If the forty seven 157 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: yard pass on third and one that ultimately forces over 158 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: time is at the end of the game and you 159 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 1: win it, it changes the narrative. But it's just the drama. 160 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: It's what makes this game so great. It's why you know, 161 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: people tune in because that game Mike on Sunday is 162 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: a game you and I have never seen before in 163 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: everything that's ever been played, the amount of games that 164 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: we've covered, I've never covered a game like that before 165 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: against the Colts. And unfortunately there's a winner and a loser, 166 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: and there's heroes and their scapegoats, and it's just the 167 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: way people process things. It's the way they compartmentalize it, 168 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: and it's the reason in ultimately the way that stories 169 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: and what not has written up for the following week. Yeah, 170 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: we'll quickly hear West before I forget serious. X M 171 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: NFL Radio Channel is the only radio outlet dedicated to 172 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: the National Football League seven days a week, three and 173 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: sixty five days a year. And Packers fans be sure 174 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: to gear up for game day. Open a Packers checking 175 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: account from Associated Bank and score a fifty dollar Packer 176 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,479 Speaker 1: Pro Shop gift card. Learn more Associated bank dot com 177 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: backslash Packers all right from the postgame comments, West, I 178 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,439 Speaker 1: and I wrote my my postgame editorial about this hearing 179 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: from Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafleur. Now, as you said, 180 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: they weren't just trying to to pump their team up. 181 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: I really believe that Aaron Rodgers and Matt Lafleur were 182 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 1: being honest when they said how much better they felt 183 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: about the team. Everything through the week, the preparation, the 184 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: energy and practice, it carries over to the game, and 185 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: certainly the way the first half went. Now things went sideways. 186 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: There's no two ways about that. And the Packers have 187 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: to figure out a way in these big games against 188 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: good teams, whether it's the forty and twenty nineteen, the 189 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Indianapolis Colts in when things start 190 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: to go sideways, you've got to figure out how to 191 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: how to get things back on track a little more 192 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 1: quickly than they have. They never did against Tampa Bay. 193 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: They obviously got something right at the end of the 194 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 1: fourth quarter in India, but you have to be you 195 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: have to be able to turn it sooner. But in 196 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: the bigger picture, they feel better about this team then 197 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: they did a week ago coming off of the Jacksonville victory. 198 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: And we know winning is the bottom line. What you are, 199 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: what your record says you are, that's what it is. 200 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: But the Packers have six more games here in the 201 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 1: regular season. They're obviously fighting for an NFC North title, 202 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: fighting for the best playoff spot they can get in 203 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: the NFC, and the outcome was not what they wanted. 204 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: But I firmly believe, and I wrote about this, the 205 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: Packers are were a better team coming out of Lucas 206 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: Oil Stadium than they were when they went home from 207 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: lambeau Field after the victory over the Jaguars. They're a 208 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: better team a week later. I really believe that, because 209 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: here's the thing about wins and losses. Right, if you win, 210 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: everybody talks about how great things went, even if some 211 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: things go wrong. Ultimately, the biggest story is where they succeeded. 212 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: Marcus Valdis Scantling having a career high hundred forty nine 213 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 1: yards in that game, the first receiver in Packers history 214 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: since I think it was was a boy Carol Dale, 215 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: to have over a hundred and thirty yards or whatever 216 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: it was on less than for for or less fewer catches. 217 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: That that just becomes a narrative. A game like this, 218 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 1: where it's a highly competitive affair against a team that 219 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: is very well going to end up finding itself in 220 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: the playoffs and maybe even entitled contention that but you lost, 221 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,200 Speaker 1: So there's a negativity that's involved with that too, and 222 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: that's fine, that's football. But where Matt Lafleur, if you 223 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: listen to what he says and what Aaron Rodgers says. 224 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: There's another game seven days from now against the Chicago 225 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: Bears team that has lost four of its last five. 226 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: Following that, you're also at home against a Philadelphia Eagles 227 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: team that, while leading the NFC East right now, has 228 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,080 Speaker 1: three wins on the season. There's the Detroit Lions coming 229 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: down the line. They're having their struggles. You know, Carolina 230 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: Panthers just shut out the Lions, but they've been in 231 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: a bad spot for a lot of this season without 232 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: Christian McCaffrey. I think you to look at Tennessee. That's 233 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: gonna be a dog fight you close the season against 234 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: the Bears. This thing still lines up well for Green Bay. 235 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: And the reason I wrote an Insider Inbox this week 236 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: that Matt Lafleur stays even keeled. The reason why Aaron 237 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: Rodgers stays even killed. The reason why they point to 238 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 1: the locker room is because that's how you avoid losing 239 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: back to back games. That's how you avoid being able 240 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 1: to let that negativity sort of permeate through your mindset 241 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: and end up affecting you in the next game. The 242 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: Packers have to play well for the same reason why 243 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: they were able to play well against the San Francisco 244 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: forty Nights. They have to be able to find that 245 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: response and this is going to be a big week 246 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,880 Speaker 1: for that. Yeah. And and that's the thing. As much 247 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: as this is a bottom line business, when you're the 248 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: head coach, when you're the quarterback the leadership on this team, 249 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 1: as you move forward with so many games left to 250 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: go and so much left to be decided, you can't 251 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: get hung up on letting a game get away. And yes, 252 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: the Packers let a game get away that they should 253 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: have had. They should have been leaving Indianapolis with a 254 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: big win and something to really hang their hat on. 255 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: It didn't happen. But if you get hung up on 256 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,559 Speaker 1: the final result, you lose sight of the fact that 257 00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 1: the Packers were taking it to the number one defense 258 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: in the NFL and and having their way with them 259 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: throughout the first half. Now, at the end of the day, 260 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: the complimentary football did not work out in the second 261 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: half in order to close out the victory, but there 262 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: were a lot of things the Packers did well in 263 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: this game. The defense getting two turnovers in the first half. 264 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: We haven't seen that in a while. The offense capitalizing 265 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 1: on those we're seeing now. Granted, Corey Lindsley is now 266 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: out with an injury. We will see what happens there. 267 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: But Alan Lazard got back into the mix. So the 268 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: Packers are hoping here for the stretch run, you're going 269 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: to have Davante Adams, Alan Lazard, Marquis Valda Scanling as 270 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: your top three wide receivers moving forward. You want to 271 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: see obviously Aaron Jones, Jamal Williams, maybe get Tyler Irvin 272 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: back here hopefully at some point down the stretch. There's 273 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: a long there's a long way left to go here. 274 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: And the bottom line is this game coming up on Sunday, 275 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football at lambeau Field Packers against the Bears, 276 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: and we'll talk about this in our next show later 277 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: this week as well. The swing here in this game 278 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: is monumental because the Packers will either beat the Bears 279 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: and go up by three gays in the NFC North 280 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: with five to play, which puts you in the catbird seat, 281 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:08,559 Speaker 1: no question about it, or the Bears will win and 282 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,440 Speaker 1: cut the deficit to one game. With five games to play, 283 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: and the Bears knowing that they get the Packers at 284 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: Soldier Field in week seventeen. You have to move on 285 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,360 Speaker 1: from this Indianapolis Colts game because this game against the 286 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: Chicago Bears on Sunday night, and I would argue it 287 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: would still be almost just as big even if the 288 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: Packers had eaten Indianapolis because of the division opponent. It's 289 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: the one you are fighting fighting with. And the Bears 290 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: for all of their struggles going from five and one 291 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: to now five and five with a four game losing streak, 292 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: they're coming off there by this is their chance to 293 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: reset and come out rested and ready to go against 294 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: the team that they're chasing. And do you know what 295 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: the percentage chances are the Packers will even see the 296 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: Colts again this season, that both of these teams would 297 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: find themselves both in the Super Bowl, it's pretty minute. 298 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: You can't worry about what went wrong against the Colts. 299 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: Now you have to learn about a run defense second half? 300 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: What was the issue there? Why were they able to 301 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: move the ball the way they did? Why defensively were 302 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: we not able to get home? Why offensively did we 303 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: end up going three and out. You have to do 304 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: all that kind of self figure out the issues on 305 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: special teams too, because especial Packers are losing the field 306 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: position battle even without the turnover, Packers are losing the 307 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: field position battle these last couple of weeks and they've 308 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: got to get that straightened out. And that's something that 309 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: during the first month of the season they were doing 310 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 1: really well. Exactly. You have to get back to that. 311 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: But the reality is is that the teams that they're 312 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: facing here are the ones that ultimately impact how far 313 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: they're going to be able to go, how this this 314 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: whole format is going to play out with the postseason. 315 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: And the thing for Green Bay is that if you 316 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: beat thanks to Mike McCarthy and in the you know, 317 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys against Minnesota, if you take care of 318 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: business now against Chicago, hand them their fifth loss in 319 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: six games, you are suddenly in a commanding lead at 320 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: eight wins heading into the month of December. In this division, 321 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: you get to ten wins, then you start looking at 322 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: the seating. That's the only thing you can do right 323 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: now and for you know, for everything else that's gone wrong, 324 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: for as crazy as this season has been and and 325 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: everybody in the NFC, and we're gonna talk about it 326 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: here in a minute, but all these different scenarios that 327 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: have played out in teams that has been like, Okay, 328 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: they're grabbing the reins on this thing. The Green Bay 329 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,480 Speaker 1: Packers have a tough opponent coming up at the end 330 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 1: of the season against Tennessee and they get them at 331 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: home after a game at home against Carolina. So like 332 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: in terms of the second half of the season, it's 333 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: lined up really well for them. We talked about this 334 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: in May when or June when the schedule came out. 335 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,520 Speaker 1: This final stretch is going to be important. And if 336 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:33,600 Speaker 1: you're able to execute, if you win at home, if 337 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 1: you take care of what you need to take care of, 338 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: you're not really too concerned about the intraconference games against 339 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: you know, the Colts and in even Houston to some extent, 340 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: that are played on the road. No, it's about the 341 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: NFC matchups, about winning at home, and if you do that, 342 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: you're still in the thick of this thing in this race. Yeah, absolutely, 343 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: Well elsewhere around the NFC. We'll touch on a few 344 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 1: games briefly here before we sign off. The New Orleans Saints. 345 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: They kept their winning streak alive despite the absence of 346 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: Drew Brees. Taste Hill steps in as the starting quarterback. 347 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 1: He holds down the fort and that New Orleans Saints 348 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: defense west is playing as well as any defense in 349 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: all of football right now. Quite frankly, um, the Saints 350 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: have put themselves in position now at eight and two. 351 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: They know they know they've got a backup quarterback that 352 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: can that can win football games, and they will wait 353 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: to see when they can get Drew Brees back and 354 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: keep that defense playing at a high level. I wanted 355 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: to tweet this, I never did because it just in 356 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: sites rage from Packers fans, But because you have to 357 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: take the motion out of it. You also have to 358 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 1: understand that if Taysom Hill was still under control of 359 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:37,760 Speaker 1: the Packers, he wouldn't even be a Packer anymore. He 360 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: would have been traded by now if you look at 361 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: the number, the camp number he's pulling these days. But 362 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: there's no better story in football than Taysom Hill. Everybody 363 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: has made this about, oh, is he going to be 364 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: a great quarterback or is he just going to be 365 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: a bust? Is is Sean Payton a genius or Is 366 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: he just a maniacal you know, the guy that just 367 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: wants to just you know, throw chaos into the system 368 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: with Hill. But he's really not that good a player. No. 369 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 1: Taysom Hill finished every season at b y U injured 370 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: every year from beginning to end. His career was marred 371 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: by injuries. And it also so happened that he went 372 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: on a mission. He ends up going into the NFL 373 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,679 Speaker 1: at twenty seven years old. But the the health issues 374 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 1: is why the guy wasn't drafted. Everybody knew the talent 375 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: was there, nobody wanted to make the investment in him 376 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: because of his health and running quarterback, can he actually throw? No, 377 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: none of that. This guy has resurrected his career and 378 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: he's managed to stay healthy in the NFL. Taysom Hill 379 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: when he came into Green Bay. If he ends up 380 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: being in a Hall of Fame player, I will end 381 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: up telling the story. I was the first person to 382 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: interview him. We always do those undrafted stories. I sat 383 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: down with him in the Packers cafeteria. Man, does that 384 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: seem like fifty years ago right now? But I sat 385 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: down with him and I talked about his story and 386 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: and just how chaotic it had been and basically him 387 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: and his wife and the faith that they had that 388 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 1: eventually things would just go the right way for him. 389 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 1: People want to make this out to be a bigger 390 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: thing because it makes for a really good conversation on 391 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: you know, after and talk show. But the reality is 392 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: this is just a really good story and he proved 393 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: against the Atlanta Falcons, who are struggling this season, that 394 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: he can be a guy that can lead an NFL 395 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: football team. Me personally, if you can take the emotion 396 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: out of it, I just think it's a fantastic tale. Yeah. 397 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: A couple other things I want to touch on. An 398 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: interesting Monday Night result with the Los Angeles Rams flying 399 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 1: cross country to play at Tampa Bay on Monday Night 400 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 1: football and they knock off Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. 401 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: So the Rams trying to keep pace now in the 402 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: NFC West. There at seven and three, the Buccaneers fall 403 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: the seven and four. They're now two games back in 404 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: the lost column to the Saints as far as that 405 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,640 Speaker 1: NFC South goes. And I do want to mention also 406 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: what you brought up that the Dallas Cowboys went into 407 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: US Bank Stadium. How ironic is it that Mike McCarthy 408 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: gets his first win at US Bank Stadium as the 409 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: head coach of the Dallas Cowboys after losing three times 410 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: two thousands, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen as as the head 411 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: coach of the Packers when when Green Bay could not 412 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:06,280 Speaker 1: get a win in that new building for those first 413 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: few years. And I don't know if Mike had a 414 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: guy that was running sledgehammers for him or if they 415 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: just worked it with the equipment guys to stash that 416 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,719 Speaker 1: in some stuff. This they had this this sledgehammer Gallagher, 417 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: uh you know, watermelon smashing thing at the team meeting 418 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: at the hotel, and say he even he even commented 419 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,120 Speaker 1: that the hotel was concerned about getting everything cleaned up afterwards. 420 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: And and apparently that went okay. So hilarious is that though. 421 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: Isn't like he had to go to Fleet Farm to 422 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: go grab this thing. He had to bring it all 423 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: the way to Minnesota and he still did it, hey, 424 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: and it worked out for the Packers all right. Well. 425 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:39,360 Speaker 1: With that, the Vikings and the Lions both lose their 426 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,680 Speaker 1: both four and six, and as we said, the Bears 427 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: are five and five coming to lambeau Field on Sunday night. 428 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: With that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition 429 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our 430 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: coverage of the team on packers dot com for West, 431 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time.