1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined by the one and only 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowits were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field West. It's Friday, our final show of 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: the week as Packers Seahawks the NFC Divisional Playoffs Sunday, 6 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: five pm Central Time. Kickoff at lambau Field is almost 7 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: upon us and we will definitely get to our end 8 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: of the week keys to Victory a little bit later, 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: But I want to touch on a couple of other subjects. First. One, 10 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: we've spent a lot of this week talking about the 11 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: young guys on this Packers roster who are gonna be 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: making their playoff debuts, and the messages they've gotten from 13 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: the veteran players about how to handle the emotions, about 14 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: how to just have the right perspective coming into a 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: new situation, so to speak. But we've also heard from 16 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: the same veterans talking about guys like Aaron Rodgers and 17 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: Brian Bulaga and Tremont Williams about how special this opportunity 18 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: here is where the Packers went thirteen and three, got 19 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: a first round by you've put yourself two games from 20 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl. You're getting at least one of those 21 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: here at home against the Seattle Seahawks. And uh, they 22 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: really do have an appreciation for just how special this 23 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: chance is and they don't want to let it go. 24 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: And I love the fact that I wrote about this 25 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: on Packers dot Com for one of our stories this week. 26 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: What I love is they all have three very different stories. 27 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: When you look at Rogers Bolaga in Tremont Williams, Yeah, 28 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: starting off with Tremon this is a guy that left 29 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: for five years. Uh. We talked so much about the 30 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: NFC Championship game and how that game ended, and it's funny. 31 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: He was asked the question again this week if that 32 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: moment sticks with them, the end of that game sticks 33 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: with him, and Allway said, doesn't stick with me at all, 34 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: because if you understand anthing about Truman, Williams won. He's 35 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: played over two NFL games at this point. But more 36 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: than that, I mean he went and had another career. Basically, 37 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: he went and was in Cleveland for two years. He 38 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: was in Arizona after it almost looked like maybe that 39 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: was gonna be the end, and he comes back to 40 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: Green Bay and it's been two seasons with Green Bay 41 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 1: and now he's back in the postseason. And he said 42 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: this week that it's an opportunity not just to avenge 43 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: something from two thousand four teen, but it's giving him 44 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: a chance to write a different ending to his time 45 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: in Green Bay. That means the world to him. It means, 46 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: you know, for him to be thirty six years old 47 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: and still playing at the high level that he is, Uh, 48 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: that's an incredible accomplishment. Bolaga. Here's a guy that was 49 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: the youngest player in NFL history to start is Super 50 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: Bowl at twenty one years old and nine months or 51 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: whatever it was at right tackle, and now here he 52 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: is in year ten, one of the most veteran players 53 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: on this team and getting a chance to get back 54 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 1: into a run. And I remember asking him this after 55 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: Miami or Minnesota excuse me, And the question was again 56 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: of him this week, what that two years? How you 57 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: just appreciate things a little bit more when you've gone 58 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: to the playoffs seven years in a row or whatever 59 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: it was, and then suddenly you don't go for two years. 60 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: That's that's an incredible thing to be able to have 61 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: this opportunity again. It really speaks to him and his 62 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: leadership and how he's approached this thing to be able 63 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: to do it. Interesting slip of the tongue you had. 64 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: They're saying money instead of Minnesota. By the way, I 65 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: just thought i'd throw that. There's a little bit of 66 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: a it's a little bit of remember that one if 67 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks here well, And with regard to 68 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers too, he had he had some very interesting 69 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: comments at his locker after Wednesday's practice, and one of 70 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: those that obviously stood out was he was asked about, Okay, here, 71 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: you know, been out of the playoffs for a couple 72 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: of years, You're back in the postseason, a chance to 73 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: get to a second super Bowl. Everybody talks about the 74 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: legacy and all that, especially with a guy who's built 75 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: a Hall of Fame career to this point. And he 76 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: was asked to well, how much is how much is 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: that second super Bowl, a second championship on your mind? 78 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: And he said, it's on my mind every day, you know, 79 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: I mean, and he's just he was just being honest 80 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: now in saying that. He's not saying it it's it's 81 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: like an overwhelming thought or anything like that, Like it 82 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: doesn't it's not a burden or it doesn't drag him down, 83 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: so to speak. But it just speaks to when an 84 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: opportunity like this comes along, how much that how much 85 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: that is top of mind for a player like Aaron Rodgers. 86 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he knows, he knows as well as anybody 87 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: that a second Super Bowl as a quarterback puts you 88 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 1: in a different category from so many other quarterbacks who 89 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: have that ring. And he's obviously got one. He's looking 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: for number two, and he knows this this is a 91 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: different this is a different team. He hasn't had to 92 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: be m v P quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the Packers 93 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: to go thirteen and three. And he's also been fine 94 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: with that. He's when he talks about accepting the roles 95 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: and everything, he's done that himself as well. Now that 96 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: being said, we all know if if Aaron Rodgers can 97 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: find a little bit of that m v P magic 98 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: that we saw back in back seasons like that, that 99 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: could go a long way here for the Packers in 100 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: in the month of January and uh, and we'll just 101 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 1: have to see if he can, if he can summon it, 102 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: because he could make this really special. Yeah, you're absolutely right. 103 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: And so many points that you make, they are incredibly 104 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: vailed and true. And and I go back to a 105 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: couple of things with Rogers, because when you cover this 106 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: team long enough, you remember Aaron Rodgers years old. Um, 107 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: certainly you remember him at seven when he won a 108 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: Super Bowl, and the perspective that those years have given him. 109 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: I always it's funny because we talked so much about 110 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 1: beast mode, right with Marshawn Lay, there's a zen mode 111 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers that I've noticed over the years, and 112 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: more often than not, when he's in that kind of 113 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: really deep reflection, he starts playing some of his best ball. 114 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,680 Speaker 1: And I think it's just that overall awareness and and 115 00:05:57,920 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: he's not going to get too higher, too low. He's 116 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: gonna understand what's in front of him and what the 117 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: team must accomplish to get to their goals. And he's 118 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: very in tune with the fact that two more wins 119 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: here gets him back to a Super Bowl, gets this 120 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: team back to a Super Bowl in a chance to 121 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: compete for the biggest prize of them all. So they're 122 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: not really too concerned right now what's happened or what 123 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: the stats are. As Rogers said at this point in 124 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: your career, when you get to my age and when 125 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: you're sitting in this chair, you just want to win championships. 126 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 1: That's the thing that he's looking to put up on 127 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: the shelf right now, and he has a great opportunity 128 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: to do it with this roster. You've heard him and 129 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: it was right there he was sitting next to Larry 130 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: McCarron in the studio a couple of days ago. Outlying 131 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: this year and what has made this team special. Rogers 132 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: has said countless times this is one of the most 133 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: fun seasons he's had, just based on the way that 134 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: this team has come together, whether it was your Marcedes 135 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: Lewis's or your Al Lazars who come out of nowhere 136 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: to become a big part of this roster. Those relationships 137 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: in in personalities that that really goes a long way 138 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: for a football team in realistically, Mike, all it takes 139 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: is one game to find your stroke, to find where 140 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: you are and what you want to do. And I 141 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: just I feel I get this feeling going into this 142 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: game that we're just going to see the best version 143 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: of Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, well that that would really be 144 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: That would really be something because as We've talked about 145 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: the Packers defense kind of re establishing itself down the stretch, 146 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: the special teams finding a return game late in the season. 147 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: The Packers offenses, i wrote about last week, has been 148 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: on the verge so many times in the last month, 149 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: crossing the fifty yard line but not coming away with points. 150 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: Been on the verge of putting up so many more 151 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: points on the board that if they can take that 152 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: extra step, that's what you're looking for from this Packers 153 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: offense in the month of January. And the big line 154 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: that Rogers said it was to Larry is that whatever 155 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: it takes unwilling to do for this team to win. 156 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: And it's I'm not saying that's going to go on 157 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: a T shirt or end up above his locker and 158 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: seashells or anything like Relaxed did, but it is that 159 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: is this team. It's whatever it takes to get that win. 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: And they've done it all season. This is a supreme 161 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 1: test that they have on Sunday. Seattle's won a lot 162 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,119 Speaker 1: of the games is a very similar way, but there's 163 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: a confidence there when you've done it the way they've 164 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: done it all year, that you know what we can 165 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: do it again. Yeah, Well, one other topic I want 166 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: to touch on before we get to Keys to Victory, 167 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 1: and I promised that we will get there. But in 168 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: the midst of all of the playoff hoop law this 169 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: week and the divisional game being here in Green Bay 170 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: and on the horizon first time in five years the 171 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: Packers are hosting this round of the playoffs, we've actually 172 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: neglected to discuss another big piece of news, which is 173 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: that former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has been hired 174 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: by Jerry Jones to coach the Dallas Cowboys and um, 175 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: a move that that seemed to happen very quickly over 176 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 1: the weekend and then was announced a little bit earlier 177 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: this week and made official by Dallas and Mike McCarthy 178 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: getting a five year contract. First of all, congratulations, hats 179 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: off to Mike McCarthy. I wish him well. I'm really 180 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: glad he's getting another opportunity to coach in the NFL. 181 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: I think we knew that this would this would happen, 182 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: and uh, I'm really really interested too to watch him 183 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: work from afar with a team that is that's in 184 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: good shape, a roster that's in very good shape, and 185 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: the expectations to move forward quickly are there. What are 186 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: your thoughts on on McCarthy landing the job in Dallas 187 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: without a shadow of a doubt he landed the best 188 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: free the opening in terms of position question, I think 189 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: when you when you walk into a situation, you know, 190 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 1: much like Matt Lafleur did last year, where you have 191 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 1: the quarterback in place and you have the running back 192 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: in place and a lot of talent around those two players, 193 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: good things can happen. And I think you can even 194 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 1: see and just listen to him talking to his news 195 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: conference how energized he is to work with the young 196 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: quarterback again like Dak Prescott in trying to help him, 197 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: you know, ascend to that next level that I think 198 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: a lot of people feel like he has that potential 199 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 1: to actually accomplish. And then for him, you know, he 200 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: was here for as long as he was and accomplished 201 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: so much in Green Bay, and I think as years 202 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: where on, more and more people will appreciate those accomplishments 203 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,559 Speaker 1: because there was a lot of winning that happened in 204 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: the tooth thousand tens and McCarthy had a lot to 205 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: do with that. For him to get another chance with 206 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: another iconic franchise. I think it's a tremendous opportunity for 207 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: him and their family. You could tell how much it 208 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: meant to him so to mean to be able to 209 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 1: get another shot at this. I think it's gonna be 210 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: really cool. And as I tweeted afterwards in my congratulations 211 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,679 Speaker 1: to him, the National Football League is much better with 212 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy coaching in it, So it's no question back 213 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 1: here and interested to see what he puts together for 214 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:28,559 Speaker 1: a staff. Well, a couple of things that I think 215 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: are pretty cool. One is that with the change that's 216 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: gone on in the NFC East, that division now has 217 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: three coaches who have been to Super Bowls, with Ron 218 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: Rivera taking over Washington, Mike McCarthy taking over in Dallas, 219 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,079 Speaker 1: and then obviously Doug Peterson, who won a Super Bowl 220 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: with Philadelphia. So suddenly there's a powerhouse lineup of coaches 221 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: in the NFC East, which was, you know, considered essentially 222 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:54,320 Speaker 1: the worst division in football in two thousand and nineteen. 223 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: So that's very interesting. The other thing, and I was 224 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 1: I had this conversation briefly with Rob Demovski this week 225 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: from ESPN, who you and I have both known for 226 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: a long time. We both worked with him in previous 227 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:10,560 Speaker 1: places in our careers. You know, how many guys get 228 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,559 Speaker 1: the opportunity to manage the Yankees and the Dodgers for 229 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: the coach the Lakers and the Celtics. I mean, Mike 230 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: McCarthy has coached the Packers and now he's going to 231 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: coach the Cowboys. I mean this, this is this is 232 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: really really unique in history. I think it's a tribute 233 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: to him and the presence that he commands and his 234 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: accomplishments and the demand that there is out there for 235 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: a coach of his of his caliber, and Jerry Jones 236 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: saying he felt it was just very fortuitous that a 237 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: coach like McCarthy was available at this moment for the 238 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys with where their team is. But when you 239 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 1: think about, as you said, iconic franchises, the fact that 240 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy now in his career, is going to have 241 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: coached the Packers and the Cowboys, I just think that's 242 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: really cool. It is it's really cool. And again, it 243 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 1: doesn't happen every day because even some of the great 244 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: coaches who have come through and have had success, one 245 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: or two of those ops might not have been really 246 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: seen as like high profile jobs. I mean, these are 247 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: two of the best, if not the best jobs in 248 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: football right now when you look at the opportunity, the resources, 249 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 1: and obviously the history of both of those franchises. To 250 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: your first point, I agree with you too. It's very 251 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: interesting to see what's happened with the NFC East. Yeah, 252 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: it reminds me a lot of when Joe Gibbs came 253 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: out of retirement to go back to Washington and you 254 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: had Gibbs, you had Tom Coughlin, you had Andy Reid, 255 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: and then Wade Phillips, I believe at the time, was 256 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: the head coach of the Dallas Covils. So to see 257 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of those powerhouse sort of coaches go in there. Obviously, 258 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 1: Joe Judges is kind of unproven at this point. Yeah, 259 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: he's the he's the new kid on the block, so 260 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: to speak. Yeah, but but I think there is a 261 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: lot of star power there. And obviously they're trying to 262 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: pull that division back up because I think everybody can 263 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: pretty much agree it was the poorest division in two 264 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen, and you know, they want to get it 265 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: back up to what they feel as a higher level. Yeah, 266 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 1: and we'll see it may not take long with those 267 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: guys in charge of of those franchises. Um all right, well, 268 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: Packer Seahawks is almost upon us here West and we 269 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: do need to discuss keys to victory. I know we 270 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: touched on a lot of different angles with regards to 271 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: this matchup throughout the course of the week. So as 272 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: far as what's it going to take for the Packers 273 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,359 Speaker 1: to win this game and advanced to the NFC Championship, 274 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 1: where do you start? I'm gonna start on the ground, Mike. 275 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: It was the first column that I wrote this week 276 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: within Box. It has to start on the ground. You 277 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: have to get Aaron Jones going and Jamal Williams going. 278 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 1: It's not optional this week. I just think when you 279 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,959 Speaker 1: look at the real there's so many statistics that are 280 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: so similar between these two teams, except when you look 281 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: at the ground games. Right now, Marshawn Lynch is an 282 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: incredibly accomplished running back. He has some questions to answer 283 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: after not playing football for the better part of the 284 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 1: last year. Travis Homer same thing, being a six round rookie. 285 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: On the other side here, Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams 286 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: have been the bell co backs for this team for 287 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: three years now. Aaron Jones had a career defining season. 288 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: Jamal Williams has played very well when he's had his 289 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: opportunities as well. Packers are seven and oh this season. 290 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: They are undefeated. When either of those guys goes over 291 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: a hundred yards rushing, you need to be able to 292 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: establish that to win this football game, because it's not 293 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: just about the ground game. It's not just about what 294 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: the weather might be like on Sunday. It's also the 295 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 1: consideration of game management and time management. I feel like 296 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: this is a game in which possessions are going to 297 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: be at a premium and you want to protect the football. 298 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: If those two guys produce and do just that and 299 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: protecting the football, I feel pretty strongly that the Packers 300 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: stand to win this ball game. Yeah. I have certainly 301 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: no argument with that as a top priority and a 302 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: key to victory. You went back to something you said 303 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: at the beginning of the week, so I'm going to 304 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: do the same thing. I remember sitting on my couch 305 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: working on the Monday Insider inbox after right after the 306 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: Seattle Philadelphia game finished up on Sunday, and of course 307 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 1: the questions are coming in Okay, what's it going to 308 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: take for the Packers to beat the Seahawks? What do 309 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: they have to focus on? And I sort of just 310 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: off the top of my head jokingly said, you know, 311 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: these are my A B c's and I'm gonna call 312 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: them the w M c's of this game. And that's Wilson, Metcalfe, 313 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: and Clowney. To me, those are the three guys that 314 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 1: you have to focus on if you're the Packers in 315 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: order to come out victorious. Here. With Russell Wilson, it's 316 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: the obvious. You can't let him or not necessarily can't 317 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: let him, but you have to be ready for him 318 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: to extend plays. You have to be ready to defend 319 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: plays for eight, nine, ten eleven seconds if that's what 320 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: it takes, and you can't let him just take off 321 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: and scramble for fifty yards a crack because those are 322 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: backbreaking type of place dk metcalf he single handedly almost 323 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: wrecked the Philadelphia Eagles season. He had the long touchdown 324 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: that gave the Eagles the two score lead I means 325 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 1: gave the Seahawks the two score lead over the Eagles 326 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: in the second half, and then he had the big 327 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: third down catch at the end of the game that 328 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: salted it away hundred and sixty yards receiving for a 329 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 1: rookie in his first playoff game. DK metcalf is coming 330 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: into lambeau Field riding high and with all kinds of 331 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: competent confidence for a young player. And then you saw 332 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: what Jadavian Clowney has done in some big games for 333 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: the Seahawks. We talked about the overtime win on Monday 334 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: Night Football against San Francisco about a month or a 335 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: month and a half ago, and then you saw what 336 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: Clowney was doing against the Philadelphia Eagles. Packers have to 337 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: get this guy blocked. They have to limit his impact 338 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: in the game. Those are the three guys to me 339 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: that this this entire game revolves around. As much as 340 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: I agree with you about Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams 341 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: and obviously we'd love to see Aaron Rodgers find some 342 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: of his past magic and all of that that we've 343 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: talked about, those are the three guys for Seattle. If 344 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: we're not talking so much about those guys on Monday, 345 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: then I think we're talking about a Packers victim exactly. 346 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: And that's the thing that's a credit to Russell Wilson, 347 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: it's one of he's he's one of the It's the 348 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: reason why he's one of the absolute best from his 349 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: era right now at quarterbacks, because when the chips are 350 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: down and you lose players and there's injuries, you have 351 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: to work through things. He finds ways to make guys stars. 352 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: And I think you've seen with DK Metcalf, a guy 353 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: that was, as I've said before, I mean, was as 354 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: scrutinized as any prospect as I can remember coming out. 355 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:11,160 Speaker 1: Everybody tried to pick this guy apart John Snyder, Pete Carroll, 356 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: and eventually Russell Wilson said, you know what, this guy 357 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: can play football and he can help us. And I 358 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: think you've seen him in certain points of this season, 359 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: including that game against the Eagles, really be able to dominate. 360 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: You cannot let him do that if you eliminate those 361 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,840 Speaker 1: explosive plays that Philly couldn't. I think that's where things 362 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: didn't get really difficult on Russell Wilson, him and Tyler Lockett. 363 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, those are one A and one 364 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: B in terms of where I think the attention needs 365 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: to be pointed towards. The more you stop the run, 366 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: the more you pressure Wilson from up front. All of 367 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 1: that factors into making sure it's a long afternoon forum. 368 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,240 Speaker 1: But at any given time, he can scramble out, he 369 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,159 Speaker 1: can extend to play, and he can find a receiver. 370 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: For a deep game, you have to plaster the coverage. 371 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: You have to be on top of that. You have 372 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: to make sure that the safety coverage is where you 373 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: needed to be to make sure that Wilson doesn't have 374 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: that avenue to escape well. And I think explosive plays 375 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: become such a big part of this. And all you 376 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: have to do is look back at last weekend in 377 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: you know, wild card weekend. The only way the New 378 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: Orleans Saints were even in that game in the first 379 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: half with the Minnesota Vikings was because of one big 380 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: play that they hit when Taysom Hill fired the fifty 381 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,359 Speaker 1: yard passed down the field. How did the Vikings end 382 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: up pulling it out in overtime? The big pass down 383 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: the field to Adam Feeling that the Saints couldn't stop it. 384 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: It ended their season, right. I already mentioned the big 385 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: plays DK Metcalf made against the Eagles in the other 386 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: NFC Wild Card game. Defensively, if you limit explosive plays 387 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: and make teams go the hard way, make them take 388 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: the long way down the field, you know, and you've 389 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: talked about this as well, the way the way the 390 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: Packers have defended in the red zone this year. You 391 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: like your chances to keep to keep that point total 392 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: low if you're not giving up the big chunks of 393 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,719 Speaker 1: yard Yeah, And that's where it goes back to some 394 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,879 Speaker 1: Dom Campers always talked about too. The more plays you 395 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 1: force an offense to to actually go to score a touchdown, 396 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: that's more opportunities to take away the football and his 397 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: more opportunities to stop a drive. If you don't have 398 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: those big chunk yardage. There's a big reason why he 399 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: always talked about too, with defensive penalties and an unnecessary roughness, 400 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: those fifteen yards go a long way and upping the 401 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 1: percentage chance of that team scoring offensively if you're able 402 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: to not only make them go the long way, which 403 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: the Packers have at times, and it's one of the 404 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: reasons why I feel like they're defensive backs doubled their 405 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: interceptions from seven a year ago to fourteen this year, 406 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:33,959 Speaker 1: and whatever ended up being eighteen seventeen eighteen is an 407 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: entire defense. It was making sure that they don't have 408 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: those easy, big play chunk yardage to set up touchdowns. 409 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: And then okay, if they do get into the red zone, 410 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: how do you respond in those moments? How do you 411 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: defend the short field? Packers were as good as anybody 412 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: in the league at that this year, especially responding to 413 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: responding to adversity defensive situations. So all that has to 414 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: hold true because defensively in the red zone, Packers hold 415 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: a huge advantage statists, pticularly over the Seattle Seahawks. They 416 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: have to maintain that. Yeah, if the game comes down 417 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: to between the twenties and if you hold true to 418 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,360 Speaker 1: how you played in the regular season, the Packers definitely 419 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: have the edge there. And as far as explosive plays 420 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: the last month of the season, with the exception of 421 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,960 Speaker 1: the first half in Detroit when Detroit hit the Packers 422 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: on a few big ones. Other than that first half 423 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: in Detroit, the last four or five games of the 424 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: regular season, the Packers defense really did clamp down in 425 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: the big plays. They weren't letting those get away from them. So, um, 426 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: before we go, we do have to talk about the 427 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: other games because this is gonna be one heck of 428 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: a weekend of NFL football, much like last weekend was. 429 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: We'll start in the a f C on Saturday night 430 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: the Tennessee Titans and Beast Mode too. Maybe in Derrick Henry. 431 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: That guy is a load man. I'm telling you he's 432 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,720 Speaker 1: He's taking his Tennessee Titans in that ground game into 433 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 1: Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and that Ravens offense. What 434 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: do you think of that one? It's funny for a 435 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: game with Lamar Jackson. I actually don't think he's the 436 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: number one key to victory in this I think ultimately 437 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: any chance that the Titans have to win this game 438 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: depends on whether or not Derrick Henry cannot be tackled 439 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,720 Speaker 1: within five yards of the line of script, right Because 440 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: the New England Patriots couldn't do that. Despite everything that 441 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: their statistics said this this year and how they defended 442 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: the run, they couldn't get them down within four or 443 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: five yards of the line of script. They couldn't. And 444 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: once the Titans finally just started dedicating themselves to that, 445 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: even though it didn't score a bevy of points, they 446 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: just were able to get the production they needed to 447 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: seal that and they were. They were limiting Tom Brady's 448 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: opportunities by simply ball control and pounding that run and 449 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: wearing out New England's defense as the game went along. Yeah, 450 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: this is what I refer to as the Larry Johnson 451 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:38,920 Speaker 1: game plan. I just feel like this guy has to 452 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: have thirty five thirty six carries again for the Titans 453 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: to be able to win this because otherwise the Baltimore 454 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 1: Ravens have so many different ways they can beat you. 455 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: You know, my feelings on the Titans defense very strong. 456 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: I like it across the board, very balanced, but Lamar 457 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 1: Jackson stresses used in ways that no other team stresses you. 458 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 1: And then by the way, once you queue in on him, 459 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: well then that's when you have mark Ingram and everything 460 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: that they do with the rest of their running backs. 461 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,160 Speaker 1: It's a really difficult offense to stop for four quarters. 462 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: Can the Tennessee Titans, with the structure of their offense 463 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: right now, keep pace with that? It's a big question. Yeah, 464 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: I think it is a very big question. And when 465 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: you talk about trying to keep pace, I think the 466 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:19,280 Speaker 1: same question arises with regards to the Houston Texans going 467 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: to Arrowhead State, even to face the Kansas City Chiefs. 468 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes. That Kansas City offense, you know, they are 469 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: capable of putting up forty forty plus at any given time. 470 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: The Houston Texans got off to a terrible start in 471 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: the wild card game. They rallied with a huge second half. 472 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 1: They were able to stay alive with an overtime victory. 473 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: What do you think here of Houston going to Casey? 474 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: I think Casey needs to win this game. Uh. And 475 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: I know that sounds obvious because it's, you know, a 476 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: chance to get to the f C title game. But 477 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: I think there's a real feeling that this is a 478 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: team that has been special. They have arguably the league's 479 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: most complete young passer right now when you just factor 480 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,880 Speaker 1: in the air Raids style a Mahomes came from, and 481 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: how that has translated and how Andy Reid has effectively 482 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 1: built an offense around that at the NFL level. But 483 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 1: they need to take that next step, and to do that, 484 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to beat the Baltimore Ravens likely and 485 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: to get that opportunity, you have to be able to 486 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: take care of business against the Houston Texans. Texans were 487 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 1: really up and down against Buffalo I wanted to see 488 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: them be a little bit more consistent all three phases. 489 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: They didn't do that. It was a very erratic game 490 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: for for both teams. For both teams. But if you 491 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 1: have that kind of uh erratic behavior against Kansas City, 492 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:35,640 Speaker 1: They're gonna make you pay. Their defense is better this year. 493 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: Their offense, I think, with Mahomes at the wheel, is 494 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: as difficult to stop as any in the league. I 495 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 1: just feel like Kansas City they need to hold serve here. 496 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: They need to be able to defend their home field 497 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: and then have that matchup likely against Baltimore, and heck, 498 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: if Tennessee wins, then you should run this thing all 499 00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 1: the way. But I just feel like the way that 500 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:57,600 Speaker 1: Kansas City has been built, this is their time. Yeah. 501 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 1: I think uh the a f C for a while now, 502 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: and about halfway through the season, when Patrick Mahomes was injured, 503 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:06,960 Speaker 1: it was really looking like New England and Baltimore was 504 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: going to be the a f C championship. But then 505 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 1: as the Patriots offense kind of fell off a cliff 506 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,040 Speaker 1: at the end of the year, Mahomes came back in 507 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: Kansas City kind of found its mojo again. I think 508 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 1: now for the last month or so, the a f 509 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: C has been pointing to Baltimore in Kansas City playing 510 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: for a spot in the Super Bowl. So I think 511 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: that's where we are headed here. And I think that's 512 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: why I bring up Kansas City when I say it's 513 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: their time, because the Patriots are finally out of this thing. Yeah, 514 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,399 Speaker 1: this is your your gateway here. You need to go 515 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 1: through Baltimore to do it. But there is no Tom 516 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: Brady magic this offseason or this this this post season. Yeah, 517 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: it's Baltimore and it's Kansas City. Those two teams have 518 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: through that sixteen game regular season litmus tests. They have 519 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: defined themselves as the best teams in the a f C. 520 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 1: Need to prove it. Yeah. Well, the first game of 521 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: Divisional Weekend will be the other one that has obviously 522 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: the implications for the Packers, the Minnesota Vikings going on 523 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: the road late Saturday afternoon. They will take on the 524 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,040 Speaker 1: San Francisco forty Niners. We know the logistics west. If 525 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: the Vikings win, then the winner of Packers Seahawks is 526 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: going to be hosting the NFC championship game. If the 527 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:14,080 Speaker 1: forty Niners win, the winner of Packers Seahawks is going 528 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 1: to Santa Clara, California next week for the NFC Championship games. 529 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: So some weird things going on in Minnesota this week. 530 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 1: Stefon Diggs Mrs practice with an illness, Adam Feeling gets 531 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: his ankle cut up by a cleat or something and 532 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 1: has to have stitches. Just some weird stuff. And the 533 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 1: Vikings are on a short week coming off of an 534 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: overtime a big emotional win. The forty Niners have been 535 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: sitting back. They got their guys rested, They're getting Kwan 536 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:40,359 Speaker 1: Alexander back on their defense, which I think could be 537 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: significant here. What do you think of this matchup? Because 538 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: this other than obviously Packers Seahawks, which we've been which 539 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: we are so focused on, this is the one to 540 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: me that of the other three games that's the most intrigued. Oh, 541 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: it definitely is. Because now you've got the Minnesota Vikings 542 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: as everybody's underdog here trying to make a run at 543 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: this thing, and for as bizarre as their sees and 544 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: has been, what else would you expect this week going 545 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: into the NFC Divisional playoff game in Santa Clara. This 546 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: is exactly the way this thing is going to play 547 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: out for them. So for that reason, there's nothing on 548 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: paper that suggests the Minnesota Vikings should win this game 549 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 1: for all the reasons that you just pointed out, and 550 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 1: the fact that San Francisco is really healthy back to 551 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: being healthier, but there was no had no business winning 552 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: last week in the Superdome, at least the outside perception. 553 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 1: So I don't know why, but like anything can happen 554 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, I just feel like Mike Zimmer's team, 555 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: for his high expectations they had certain during some of 556 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: these postseason runs. I think there's just a little bit 557 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: of freedom now that it's just nobody's expecting anything from us. 558 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: Let's go out there and let's shove it in their face, right, 559 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 1: So I can't wait to watch it. I think it's 560 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:47,440 Speaker 1: gonna be a great game. I love the way that 561 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: Kyle Shanahan plays offense. I love the way that they 562 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,400 Speaker 1: played in their strengths offensively. But ultimately, if you're gonna 563 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: pick a victor in this thing, I think it comes 564 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,480 Speaker 1: down to Robert Sala's defense and if they are able 565 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: to upfront with those six ft seven tackles right in 566 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: the middle of that defense, stop Delvin Cook. That's that's 567 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 1: the path here for the forty Niners to get to 568 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: an NFC title game. Well, I think if if there's 569 00:27:10,119 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 1: if there's any defensive coach in the league who on 570 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 1: a short week can figure out something XS and Ohs 571 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: wise to really challenge San Francisco's ground game and challenge 572 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: the George Kittle matchup. You know, the word out of 573 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: Minnesota is the Vikings are going to do everything they 574 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: can to make Jimmy Garoppolo be the guy that wins 575 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: the game, not George Kittle, not that three headed monster 576 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 1: in the backfield. The way they can run it and 577 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,879 Speaker 1: control the ball and control the clock and all that 578 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. And Mike Zimmer certainly has the personnel 579 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 1: to do it as well. You just wonder because we've 580 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:50,479 Speaker 1: seen how creative Kyle Shannahan can be. And you know, 581 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,040 Speaker 1: with the with the forty Niners now having a week off, 582 00:27:53,080 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: whereas the Vikings sort of gave themselves the week off 583 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 1: in Week seven team previously the forty Niners have had 584 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,480 Speaker 1: the week off. We'll see how Cree eight if they 585 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,000 Speaker 1: get and what counters they have for Mike Zimmer. This 586 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,719 Speaker 1: this umum, this this matchup could be could be just 587 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: be really really interesting start to finish. I still don't 588 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:13,199 Speaker 1: like the idea of challenging Jimmy Garoppole to beat you 589 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: Arizona did it twice in the span of three weeks, 590 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: and he did it both times. But what choice do 591 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:20,160 Speaker 1: you have? In a sense that you don't. But at 592 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 1: the same time, it's like this secondary this is this 593 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 1: is a huge moment for them. Yeah, and and not 594 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,360 Speaker 1: only just because of you know, if you want to 595 00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: put this on Garoppolo, it's also what do you do 596 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 1: in the moments where Dalvin Cook does get out of 597 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,160 Speaker 1: the backfield and he does get to the second level. 598 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 1: It's a great matchup and it is You're right, I 599 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: mean you have there's a pick your poison thing with 600 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 1: this offense, no question about it. But Jimmy Garoppol, I 601 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 1: think if we've learned anything about him in two thousand nineteen, 602 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:48,960 Speaker 1: what it needs to be on his shoulders. He's now 603 00:28:49,040 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: ready to be that guy, and he has some great 604 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,719 Speaker 1: weapons to do it. With George kittle be in at 605 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: the front of that line. It's gonna be a good 606 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: game seeing how Zimmer attacks them defensively. It's really fun 607 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: to watch. The one thing the one thing I liked 608 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: from what I heard is, I don't know if you 609 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: saw the Mike Zimmer's postgame speech in the nor I 610 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: thought I thought for him right away to say to 611 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,479 Speaker 1: his guys, Hey, remember a couple of years ago we 612 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: won a big, dramatic game, which was against the Saints 613 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: the Minneapolis Miracles said the next week, we went out 614 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: and played like garbage, basically against Philadelphia in the NFC Championship. 615 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,840 Speaker 1: He was reminding his guys right away, Hey, let's not 616 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: let that happen again, and that that team is pretty 617 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: other than the quarterback, obviously, that team is is in 618 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: a lot of ways the same team, and Mike Zimmer 619 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:35,480 Speaker 1: is gonna have his guys ready and for as much 620 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 1: as people want a dog on the NFC north Man, 621 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: once again, here we are in the NFC divisional round. 622 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: You have two teams from that division competing here to 623 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 1: get to the title game. Yeah it's not a bad division, 624 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah not at all. Well, we've gone a little bit 625 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: over time today, but it's the playoffs, so why not. 626 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: Right with that, we will call it a wrap on 627 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: this edition and this week of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 628 00:29:55,560 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the team and 629 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,480 Speaker 1: everything from Sunday Night's big game from land Will Field. 630 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: It'll all be there on Packers dot com. You can 631 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: subscribe to us, like us on iTunes and other podcast services, 632 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: and all kinds of great video content is out there 633 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: on the Packers YouTube channel for West I Am Mike. 634 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for tuning in, everybody. We will see you 635 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: next time.