WEBVTT - #629 Packers Unscripted: Matchup in Minnesota 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:10.440 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:10.480 --> 0:00:13.520 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 0:00:13.600 --> 0:00:15.880 partner in crime, Wes hod Kuitz, were coming to you 0:00:15.960 --> 0:00:19.119 here from our studios at lambeau Field to talk Packers 0:00:19.360 --> 0:00:22.760 Vikings West. The two NFC North rivals will square off 0:00:22.800 --> 0:00:26.560 for the first time in one It is a Sunday 0:00:26.880 --> 0:00:32.120 noon Central time kickoff at us Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. 0:00:32.159 --> 0:00:35.480 And when you look at this Minnesota Vikings season, thus 0:00:35.520 --> 0:00:38.879 far a four and five football team. But those are 0:00:38.920 --> 0:00:42.440 honestly the last numbers that I look at because a 0:00:42.479 --> 0:00:44.320 lot of things we've heard about this team. I'll give 0:00:44.360 --> 0:00:45.919 you a little bit of a rundown on how their 0:00:45.920 --> 0:00:48.440 season has gone. One is that they have had at 0:00:48.520 --> 0:00:51.400 least a seven point lead at some point in every 0:00:51.440 --> 0:00:55.000 ballgame they have played this season. They've only had one 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:58.680 of their nine games decided by more than seven points. 0:00:59.560 --> 0:01:04.960 They have three walkoff losses to walk off victories, and 0:01:05.080 --> 0:01:07.760 of those five games decided on the last play, three 0:01:07.800 --> 0:01:11.640 of them have been in overtime. So make of that 0:01:11.720 --> 0:01:14.440 what you will. To what I take from it is 0:01:14.480 --> 0:01:18.600 that whatever that one lost record is for the Minnesota Vikings. 0:01:18.640 --> 0:01:23.120 This team strikes me as one that literally is capable 0:01:23.240 --> 0:01:26.680 of beating anybody in the NFL at any given time, 0:01:26.880 --> 0:01:29.200 and that's what the Packers are going up against on Sunday. 0:01:29.240 --> 0:01:31.959 I just love the phrase walkoff loss. I mean, that 0:01:32.040 --> 0:01:34.200 is the true You talk about walkoffs, that is a 0:01:34.240 --> 0:01:36.920 walk off and you drop it at at this time expires. 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.760 But no, I said it earlier this week, Mike, you 0:01:39.800 --> 0:01:43.400 had to edit it. The Minnesota Viking scare the living 0:01:43.480 --> 0:01:46.440 daylights out of me, because if you take away the 0:01:46.480 --> 0:01:49.400 records and you say, okay, the leading seven times in 0:01:49.400 --> 0:01:51.880 in nine games, or leading by seven and nine different games, 0:01:52.280 --> 0:01:55.040 you know the fact that they've had this inconsistency, the 0:01:55.040 --> 0:01:56.800 fact they've had these games right down to the wire. 0:01:57.040 --> 0:01:59.760 If you just showed me their offensive statistics, if you 0:01:59.840 --> 0:02:02.680 just showed me what they've done defensively, I'd be like, Yeah, 0:02:02.680 --> 0:02:04.480 this is a seven and two, six and three type 0:02:04.480 --> 0:02:08.360 ball club. Kirk Cousins is having a remarkable season sixty 0:02:08.400 --> 0:02:10.959 eight percent completion percentage. And we know, Mike, we've seen 0:02:11.080 --> 0:02:13.320 enough of Kirk Cousins over the last ten years. When 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:15.840 his touchdowns are at eighteen and his interceptions are at 0:02:15.880 --> 0:02:18.840 two that's when you know he's playing Captain Kirk type football, 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:22.280 and he has remarkable offensive weapons to work off of 0:02:22.400 --> 0:02:26.320 right now. I mean the triad there of Delvin Cook 0:02:26.440 --> 0:02:29.400 and Adam Feeling and obviously Justin Jefferson, who's going to 0:02:29.480 --> 0:02:31.480 be the best of that bunch. From that really talent 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:35.079 to two thousand, twenty receivers class, that has given him 0:02:35.120 --> 0:02:38.400 an incredible opportunity in terms of being able to direct 0:02:38.480 --> 0:02:41.720 this Vikings offense. But at the same time, they are 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:44.440 four and five, they are in a position again where 0:02:44.440 --> 0:02:46.760 their backs are kind of against the wall in week eleven, 0:02:47.240 --> 0:02:50.040 and while it very easily is going to be a 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:51.760 conference in which you're going to see an eight and 0:02:51.840 --> 0:02:55.240 nine team make the playoffs, the Minnesota Vikings are still 0:02:55.240 --> 0:02:57.200 trying to state their case as far as being one 0:02:57.200 --> 0:02:59.400 of the conference's best teams. So the Green Bay Packers 0:02:59.440 --> 0:03:03.600 cannot take yeah. Absolutely, and and this is what I've 0:03:03.600 --> 0:03:07.040 said an inbox as well. This game as far as 0:03:07.200 --> 0:03:09.720 the as far as the NFC North and particularly the 0:03:09.720 --> 0:03:14.840 Minnesota Vikings are concerned, this game determines whether Minnesota has 0:03:15.280 --> 0:03:18.840 a realistic path to to a division championship, to catching 0:03:18.880 --> 0:03:21.800 the Packers in the North or will the Vikings just 0:03:21.880 --> 0:03:24.000 be relegated the rest of the season to fighting for 0:03:24.040 --> 0:03:26.120 a wild card spot. That's really what it comes down to. 0:03:26.160 --> 0:03:29.079 The Packers are three and a half games up. If 0:03:29.080 --> 0:03:31.120 the Packers win this game, they would go four and 0:03:31.120 --> 0:03:33.440 a half up on Minnesota with only six to play. 0:03:33.600 --> 0:03:36.000 The math isn't too hard to figure out there. But 0:03:36.040 --> 0:03:39.720 if the Vikings win, they suddenly get within two and 0:03:39.760 --> 0:03:43.400 a half of the Packers, and from Minnesota's perspective, they 0:03:43.400 --> 0:03:45.760 start looking at it like, Okay, well, then if we 0:03:45.800 --> 0:03:47.720 win when the Packers are on there by, we pick 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:49.680 up another half. That puts a set to if we 0:03:49.720 --> 0:03:52.080 pick up one game somewhere else, that gets us to 0:03:52.160 --> 0:03:55.960 one and then we're coming to lambeau Field on January two. 0:03:56.600 --> 0:03:58.840 They could steal the division. Champe like, that's what I'm 0:03:58.880 --> 0:04:02.080 talking about. The path. The path is there for Minnesota 0:04:02.160 --> 0:04:04.240 in a lot of ways. But they have to win 0:04:04.280 --> 0:04:07.000 this game in order to try to create that pack. Yeah, 0:04:07.000 --> 0:04:09.360 and the Packers have to play whack a mole. I mean, 0:04:09.520 --> 0:04:12.960 they're lack of Viking. They come up here, you have 0:04:13.000 --> 0:04:14.600 to be able to knock them back down. Now, this 0:04:14.680 --> 0:04:16.040 is not going to be easy. They're not going to 0:04:16.120 --> 0:04:18.360 be going into those friendly complines that they were last 0:04:18.400 --> 0:04:21.320 year when it was a completely empty you know, US 0:04:21.360 --> 0:04:24.200 Bank Stadium and the you know, the people over at 0:04:24.240 --> 0:04:26.440 the Vikings. They couldn't actually pipe in the noise because 0:04:26.440 --> 0:04:28.320 there were no fans to actually make it look like 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:30.880 they were the ones generating it. Be that as it may. 0:04:30.920 --> 0:04:34.360 I digress now, I I kid, I kid, but nobody, 0:04:34.440 --> 0:04:37.080 that crowd is going to be energized. They are going 0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:39.640 to want to be able to push their football team. 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:43.000 And it is the biggest rival that they've had in 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:46.280 the last you know, ten twenty years now. So I 0:04:46.360 --> 0:04:49.000 expect an enthusiastic game and energetic game. And from the 0:04:49.000 --> 0:04:52.560 Packers perspective offensively, you know, this is going to be 0:04:52.560 --> 0:04:54.159 a tough one. They have to be able to get 0:04:54.200 --> 0:04:57.400 this thing going in that environment despite probably not having 0:04:57.400 --> 0:05:00.919 Aaron Jones and you know, potentially Aaron Rogers playing in 0:05:00.920 --> 0:05:03.400 this game without practice this week. Yeah, and when you 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:06.400 look at when you look at all the very impressive 0:05:06.440 --> 0:05:09.719 things Matt Lafleur has done in two and a half seasons. Obviously, 0:05:09.920 --> 0:05:12.360 the Packers getting a win last week and once again 0:05:12.400 --> 0:05:16.000 avoiding a two game losing streak um for the duration 0:05:16.000 --> 0:05:18.640 of Matt Lafleur's tenure as head coach probably ranks as 0:05:18.640 --> 0:05:21.240 the number one most impressive thing. But the next one 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:23.640 on the list for me is the fact that he's 0:05:23.680 --> 0:05:26.880 only lost one division game thus far as head coach 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:29.560 of the Packers, and that one loss was just a 0:05:29.760 --> 0:05:32.480 shade over a year ago early November last season, when 0:05:32.520 --> 0:05:36.360 Minnesota came into lambeau Field, Dalvin Cook went crazy two 0:05:37.160 --> 0:05:40.320 six yards combined rushing and receiving four touchdowns and the 0:05:40.440 --> 0:05:44.400 Vikings got a victory there. So you know, the Packers defense, 0:05:44.400 --> 0:05:47.039 they know everything there is to know about Dalvin Cook 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:49.680 and how important he is. But then when, as you 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:52.960 pointed out, Kirk Cousins through nine games has only two 0:05:53.000 --> 0:05:56.320 interceptions on the season. He's playing maybe some of the 0:05:56.320 --> 0:05:59.160 best football of his career, if if not overall, even 0:05:59.200 --> 0:06:02.840 maybe even better than uh than in Washington when he 0:06:03.240 --> 0:06:08.360 led Washington to a playoff berth there. So um and 0:06:08.400 --> 0:06:10.200 as you said, on the offensive side of the ball 0:06:10.240 --> 0:06:13.599 for the Packers, still trying to figure some things out. 0:06:13.600 --> 0:06:16.279 The Packers are gonna have to deal with, presumably the 0:06:16.320 --> 0:06:19.119 absence of Aaron Jones here at least in the short 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:23.760 term and Aaron Rodgers as of Wednesday not practicing because 0:06:23.760 --> 0:06:27.200 of because of the toe injury, and the Packers took, 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:29.520 as we talked about on our last show, took really 0:06:29.600 --> 0:06:32.760 until the fourth quarter before the offense really started to 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:35.240 find its rhythm and and be able to finish the 0:06:35.320 --> 0:06:39.720 drives that that it got going. This Uh, this Packers 0:06:39.720 --> 0:06:42.520 offense went into US Bank Stadium last year and really 0:06:42.560 --> 0:06:45.600 lit the place up. And but as you said, the 0:06:45.640 --> 0:06:47.360 crowd is gonna be there. This is gonna be a 0:06:47.440 --> 0:06:50.200 much bigger challenge in that regard for Green Bay's offense 0:06:50.240 --> 0:06:53.560 with all of that noise. Um, this is uh, this 0:06:53.640 --> 0:06:56.120 is this is an exciting one. This is an exciting 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:58.800 one to look forward to here because of the the 0:06:58.839 --> 0:07:01.480 intensity and what's on line and also seeing, you know, 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:03.960 the biggest thing and you kind of touched on a 0:07:04.040 --> 0:07:06.520 little bit in your story this week on Packers dot 0:07:06.520 --> 0:07:10.080 Com is the contrast between Aaron Rodgers taking out a 0:07:10.120 --> 0:07:13.240 Mike Zimmer defense. Now we have to see exactly where 0:07:13.240 --> 0:07:15.280 things were at with Anthony Barrow was doing some quick 0:07:15.320 --> 0:07:17.520 research here to see if he actually was practicing. He 0:07:17.600 --> 0:07:20.080 was limited on Wednesday after he missed last week's game 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:23.120 with that persistent knee injury he's basically dealt with since 0:07:23.120 --> 0:07:26.000 the beginning of the season. You know, Daniel Hunter already 0:07:26.000 --> 0:07:28.920 went down there, like there are some some hits that 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:31.360 they've taken. But you know, if Harrison Smith is back 0:07:31.440 --> 0:07:34.480 and he's feeling okay coming off the COVID list, Eric 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:37.800 Kendricks is by far one of the most underrated productive 0:07:37.800 --> 0:07:41.560 inside backers in this league. There are so many weapons 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:44.560 still at Zimmer's disposal, but that as much as we 0:07:44.600 --> 0:07:47.560 talk about this offense and the improvements that they've made 0:07:47.560 --> 0:07:50.120 and the playmakers that they have available to them, it 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:52.360 really does come down to this defense and how Aaron 0:07:52.440 --> 0:07:55.040 Rodgers counteracts that. Now, Rodgers has had a fair amount 0:07:55.040 --> 0:07:58.200 of success during Zimmer's time in Minnesota, but certainly these 0:07:58.280 --> 0:08:00.960 guys have a long history going up against each other, 0:08:01.040 --> 0:08:04.200 so seeing kind of one of my biggest things to 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:06.040 look at. I don't know if i'd exactly call it 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:08.200 a key to victory, but it's just the double a 0:08:08.320 --> 0:08:11.000 gap stuff that Zimmer always likes to run. You know, 0:08:11.000 --> 0:08:12.960 we'll have to see what happens with David box tr 0:08:13.040 --> 0:08:16.400 He didn't practice on Wednesday, He didn't practice last Friday. 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:18.720 So if Elton Jenkins has to go at left tackle again, 0:08:18.960 --> 0:08:22.240 then it's John Runyon, it's Lucas Patrick, and it's Roy Snuman. 0:08:22.400 --> 0:08:24.360 Are going to kind of be the guys responsible for 0:08:24.400 --> 0:08:27.880 defending against that double a gap looks, understanding their responsibilities, 0:08:27.880 --> 0:08:31.240 their discipline, and not allowing Minnesota to play those games. 0:08:31.600 --> 0:08:33.800 That's gonna be a pretty big cat and most type 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:36.800 game that, especially if Elton Jenkins isn't involved there, they 0:08:36.840 --> 0:08:38.800 have to be cognizant of where those linebackers are going 0:08:38.880 --> 0:08:41.240 to be. Yeah, Rogers numbers over the course of his 0:08:41.360 --> 0:08:45.280 career against Mike zimmer defenses. It's it's pretty interesting because 0:08:45.920 --> 0:08:48.800 it started out. Rodgers was oh and two against zimmer 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:52.000 defenses when Zimmer was the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. The 0:08:52.040 --> 0:08:54.560 Bengals beat the Packers in both two thousand nine and 0:08:54.640 --> 0:08:59.760 two thousand thirteen. Rogers had passer ratings sub eight five 0:09:00.600 --> 0:09:04.520 in both of those losses. But then Mike Zimmer gets 0:09:04.520 --> 0:09:08.720 the head coaching job in Minnesota in team and since then, 0:09:09.240 --> 0:09:12.520 Aaron Rodgers has twenty four touchdown passes and just three 0:09:12.559 --> 0:09:17.760 interceptions against Zimmer's defenses. Now, Minnesota hat still has four 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:22.640 wins and a tie in that time frame. But Rogers, 0:09:22.800 --> 0:09:26.320 Rogers has performed pretty well overall for as challenging as 0:09:26.400 --> 0:09:30.480 Zimmer's defenses are. And the guys were talking. Davante Adams 0:09:30.520 --> 0:09:33.280 talked about it, Rogers talked about it, Lafleur talked about it. 0:09:33.400 --> 0:09:38.520 The um Harrison Smith and what he means to that 0:09:38.559 --> 0:09:42.280 Minnesota defense just in terms of trying to decipher, Okay, 0:09:42.320 --> 0:09:46.200 where is where is he and what is he doing? 0:09:46.920 --> 0:09:50.280 And it's easier said than done because because there there 0:09:50.320 --> 0:09:52.400 are times that it's just really hard to figure out 0:09:52.400 --> 0:09:55.880 exactly what Smith is up to out there on the field. Well, 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:58.960 and this isn't the Xavier Rhodes type defense anymore. You know, 0:09:59.040 --> 0:10:01.080 Trey Waynes has gone on and they've had a lot 0:10:01.080 --> 0:10:03.920 of turnover at the cornerback spots and unfortunately for them, 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:07.840 also some misdraft picks as well. The constant through all 0:10:07.840 --> 0:10:11.520 of that, including the station next to Harrison Smith, has 0:10:11.559 --> 0:10:14.840 been you know, the multiple time Pro Bowl veteran there. Uh, 0:10:14.960 --> 0:10:17.400 Xavier Woods is incredibly talented safety. I've been high on 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:19.200 him since he came out in college. I thought that 0:10:19.240 --> 0:10:20.960 was a really savvy pick up for them. He's kind 0:10:20.960 --> 0:10:24.280 of solidified that spot next to Uh, next to Smith. 0:10:24.320 --> 0:10:27.600 But those corners and how they're excuse me, those safeties 0:10:27.600 --> 0:10:29.120 and how they're able to utilize them, I think have 0:10:29.240 --> 0:10:31.800 really helped kind of keep things a little bit more 0:10:31.840 --> 0:10:35.200 simple for what they've done at the cornerback position. Bashad Berylan, 0:10:35.280 --> 0:10:38.520 former Packer, was signed this offseason, but he's been dealing 0:10:38.559 --> 0:10:41.480 with some injury stuff. So Smith, if he's back, I mean, 0:10:41.480 --> 0:10:43.920 that is such a big thing for this defense and 0:10:43.960 --> 0:10:46.640 how they're able to kind of operate. Yeah, it's interesting. 0:10:46.760 --> 0:10:49.920 So I almost like to draw the analogy with regard 0:10:49.960 --> 0:10:53.120 to a baseball team where defensively always look okay, how 0:10:53.120 --> 0:10:55.319 does the team look up the middle, shortstop, second base, 0:10:55.400 --> 0:10:58.160 center field. You look at Minnesota up the middle and 0:10:58.200 --> 0:11:01.040 it's Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, and Harrison Smith. And those 0:11:01.080 --> 0:11:03.400 are the guys who have been there for for a 0:11:03.440 --> 0:11:07.400 really long time. Some sponsor business here West Serious x 0:11:07.559 --> 0:11:10.400 M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to 0:11:10.440 --> 0:11:14.559 the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need seven 0:11:14.960 --> 0:11:18.000 three six and at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone, 0:11:18.040 --> 0:11:20.600 like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese Golden Fries, 0:11:20.640 --> 0:11:23.400 and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or 0:11:23.480 --> 0:11:26.720 sub in a bowl. Cousin subs. We believe in better 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.440 all right, So down to the brass tacks here West 0:11:29.520 --> 0:11:32.840 keys to victory for the Packers on Sunday in Minneapolis. 0:11:32.880 --> 0:11:35.000 Where does it start for you? Last week, Mike, the 0:11:35.000 --> 0:11:37.280 Packers were able to turn over the football against the 0:11:37.320 --> 0:11:39.680 team that doesn't turn over the football. I think that 0:11:39.800 --> 0:11:41.880 is gonna be a very similar game plan for them 0:11:42.040 --> 0:11:44.840 going up against Minnesota. So easily it would be easy 0:11:44.880 --> 0:11:48.000 to talk about the explosive plays, minimizing the big games, 0:11:48.080 --> 0:11:50.760 especially in the run game, with the way that they 0:11:50.760 --> 0:11:52.880 can gas you there. But I do believe if you 0:11:52.960 --> 0:11:55.480 look back and the matchups they've had against Kirk Cousins, 0:11:55.520 --> 0:11:58.000 when they're able to get some turnovers, when they're able 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:00.360 to get some interceptions, that has been to what has 0:12:00.400 --> 0:12:03.200 set the table for them offensively. You hope that Green 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:04.800 Bay is going to be able to figure this thing out. 0:12:04.920 --> 0:12:06.760 You hope that with another week in the books, even 0:12:06.800 --> 0:12:08.760 if they aren't able to be on the practice field together, 0:12:09.000 --> 0:12:11.719 Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams in that backfield are going to 0:12:11.760 --> 0:12:14.240 be able to push the ball down field. But defensively, 0:12:14.240 --> 0:12:16.040 it's been what they set the tone for green Bay 0:12:16.040 --> 0:12:19.000 the last couple of weeks. Obviously did that against Seattle 0:12:19.040 --> 0:12:20.800 and you know, one of their best performances of the 0:12:20.800 --> 0:12:24.440 past decade. I feel like, if you're able to generate pressure, 0:12:24.840 --> 0:12:27.079 and obviously you know this is a different type of quarterback, 0:12:27.080 --> 0:12:29.720 you're not You're no longer facing Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray. 0:12:30.360 --> 0:12:32.240 You're you're facing Kirk Cousins. Was a little bit more 0:12:32.240 --> 0:12:34.760 of a stationary object. But still he's very savvy, can 0:12:34.800 --> 0:12:37.360 get the ball out and he likes the high percentage opportunities. 0:12:37.520 --> 0:12:40.280 Get pressure on him, get a takeaway or two. I 0:12:40.320 --> 0:12:42.600 think green Bay is able to escape there with a victory. Yeah. 0:12:42.600 --> 0:12:46.960 And I think offensively, even though you don't have Aaron Jones, 0:12:47.720 --> 0:12:50.560 a j Dillon, Patrick Taylor being the one to I 0:12:50.600 --> 0:12:53.319 think I think the Packers still need to especially with 0:12:53.400 --> 0:12:55.800 the noise and everything in that building, the Packers need 0:12:55.840 --> 0:13:00.400 to stay committed two running the offense through the run backs. 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:02.560 And that doesn't necessarily mean they have to run the 0:13:02.600 --> 0:13:06.280 ball thirty times or whatever, but it's it's using Dylan 0:13:06.320 --> 0:13:09.400 and Taylor in the passing game and keeping that defense, 0:13:09.480 --> 0:13:12.480 honest with the run and just and and staying as 0:13:12.520 --> 0:13:15.160 balanced as possible. We you know what it's like. I mean, 0:13:15.200 --> 0:13:18.240 all the games that I covered that I covered Packers 0:13:18.360 --> 0:13:22.640 Vikings in the Metrodome and now in in US Bank Stadium. 0:13:22.720 --> 0:13:26.080 The last place you want to be against the Minnesota 0:13:26.160 --> 0:13:29.079 Vikings in their place is you know, third and six 0:13:29.200 --> 0:13:32.040 or worse right, because that's when that's when the noise 0:13:32.080 --> 0:13:34.760 gets crazy. They're gonna come after you. Your playbook is 0:13:34.800 --> 0:13:36.960 limited because they know you're not handing the ball off 0:13:38.040 --> 0:13:40.440 that that's where the running backs are the ones who 0:13:40.520 --> 0:13:42.280 need to set the tone here for Green Bay to 0:13:42.400 --> 0:13:45.240 keep that Minnesota defense on us. And I'm excited to 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:47.040 see it too because a lot of times, you know, 0:13:47.200 --> 0:13:49.240 and God bless him, it's been fun to watch Aaron 0:13:49.320 --> 0:13:51.080 Jones a lot over the years. He's pay a lot 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:53.720 of huge plays for this offense. But this isn't gonna 0:13:53.720 --> 0:13:56.240 be the Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon type offense. 0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:58.320 This is gonna be thunder and thunder. I mean, you 0:13:58.320 --> 0:14:00.480 have a J. Dillon who really brings that at six. 0:14:01.679 --> 0:14:04.160 But Patrick Taylor is a big guy himself, six to 0:14:04.400 --> 0:14:07.560 two twenty. I mean, he packs a punch. I thought, 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:09.920 once you saw him get right with the ankle and 0:14:09.960 --> 0:14:11.440 he was able to get through a couple of soft 0:14:11.440 --> 0:14:15.760 tissue injuries, the guy really showed a lot during camp Kylan. 0:14:16.280 --> 0:14:18.440 It was just sort of a great situation for Green Baby, 0:14:18.440 --> 0:14:20.760 because I thought Kylan Hill came in improved that this 0:14:20.760 --> 0:14:22.360 guy had a lot more than just being a seventh 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:24.600 round pick. But through the first two weeks a camp, 0:14:24.680 --> 0:14:26.640 I thought Patrick Taylor might actually have a real chance 0:14:26.640 --> 0:14:29.520 at being that number three back. A couple of fumbles 0:14:29.520 --> 0:14:32.560 happened during the preseason, but overall, I think if you 0:14:32.560 --> 0:14:35.240 see Patrick Taylor for five ten carries in this game, 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:37.320 you're gonna be kind of impressed by what you see 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:40.000 because there's a lot there. And if it hadn't been 0:14:40.000 --> 0:14:42.840 for that injury at at Memphis that basically sidetracked two 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:44.800 years for him, I think this is a guy that 0:14:44.840 --> 0:14:48.000 definitely had the pedigree to get drafted. Yeah. Absolutely. You 0:14:48.040 --> 0:14:50.200 look at to me, I look at Patrick Taylor, and 0:14:50.560 --> 0:14:53.360 we've seen you know, they're they're all running backs of 0:14:53.400 --> 0:14:55.360 all shapes and sizes in the NFL, right, and the 0:14:55.400 --> 0:14:58.400 Packers have Aaron Jones who's a certain style and type 0:14:58.400 --> 0:15:00.800 and you have a j Dillon who's another style and type. 0:15:01.640 --> 0:15:03.640 If you were just to you know, punch into a 0:15:03.680 --> 0:15:06.680 computer what an NFL running back is supposed to look like. 0:15:07.000 --> 0:15:10.080 Patrick Taylor is what physically that guy looks like. And 0:15:10.360 --> 0:15:13.600 I'm excited to see six ft two and then he 0:15:13.640 --> 0:15:15.960 put a pair of klats on him. He's an imposing game. 0:15:16.360 --> 0:15:18.520 I'm excited to see what what he might be able 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:20.840 to do with this opportunity. As much as the Packers 0:15:20.880 --> 0:15:24.160 obviously want Aaron Jones back in this offense as soon 0:15:24.200 --> 0:15:28.560 as possible elsewhere around the league West, I'll just do 0:15:28.600 --> 0:15:30.520 a quick rundown here and then I'm gonna get to 0:15:30.520 --> 0:15:34.560 the game. I know that you want to talk about. UM. 0:15:34.680 --> 0:15:38.160 The Chicago Bears coming off of their bye week. I 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:41.760 believe they are hosting the Baltimore Ravens, so an interesting 0:15:41.800 --> 0:15:46.080 cross conference matchup there. UM Arizona is at Seattle for 0:15:46.080 --> 0:15:48.800 those who want to pay attention to that other team 0:15:48.800 --> 0:15:51.680 that's at eight and two atop the NFC with Green 0:15:51.720 --> 0:15:54.440 Bay Tampa. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't play until Monday night. 0:15:54.440 --> 0:15:57.160 They'll be hosting the New York Giants. Really interesting one 0:15:57.200 --> 0:16:01.360 with Dallas playing at Kansas City, especially with the Chiefs 0:16:01.400 --> 0:16:04.240 and Patrick Mahomes offensively kind of waking up last week 0:16:04.360 --> 0:16:08.600 the big forty point performance against the Raiders. But the game, 0:16:08.720 --> 0:16:11.400 I know you've got your eye on west and it 0:16:11.560 --> 0:16:16.200 is the Detroit Lions at the Cleveland Browns. If if 0:16:16.920 --> 0:16:20.840 former Packers backup quarterback Tim Boyle does get the start, 0:16:20.880 --> 0:16:25.080 if Jared goff In that oblique injury um prevents him 0:16:25.160 --> 0:16:28.760 from playing, Tim Boyle will get his first NFL start 0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:32.240 for Detroit. And I know you're excited about it. I 0:16:32.280 --> 0:16:35.720 would never wish injury upon anyone, first and foremost. Fortunately 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:37.440 for golf, it's just snow bleak. It sound like it 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:41.000 was a significant, long term deal. But when I saw 0:16:41.040 --> 0:16:43.600 the report pop out, I think Kyle Miniki, a lot 0:16:43.640 --> 0:16:45.800 of the beat writers from Detroit, we're talking about how 0:16:45.920 --> 0:16:48.840 Boyle is going to get the first team reps this week. 0:16:49.720 --> 0:16:52.680 I'll tell you what, Mike. The only thing I'm asking 0:16:52.720 --> 0:16:55.760 for for Tim Boyle's an opportunity. And the reason I 0:16:55.840 --> 0:16:58.880 say that is because the guy had the most disastrous 0:16:58.920 --> 0:17:01.560 college career you've bay sicily he could ever have, and 0:17:01.800 --> 0:17:05.159 after it, he still wanted to play professional football and 0:17:05.240 --> 0:17:07.480 in his three years with the Green Bay Packers, he 0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:10.960 proved that he has what it takes to compete at 0:17:11.040 --> 0:17:13.560 this level. I love the fact he's been able to 0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:17.160 rewrite his story and if he gets that opportunity, I've 0:17:17.200 --> 0:17:19.560 said this since the beginning. I understand why they did 0:17:19.560 --> 0:17:22.320 the trade. I understand why they got Jared Golf back 0:17:22.320 --> 0:17:26.119 as a compensation. But when they signed Tim Boyle and 0:17:26.240 --> 0:17:29.680 Jamal Williams, I said to you from that day, those 0:17:29.720 --> 0:17:33.040 are two really smart signings for them because as the 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.760 li Lions embark upon another rebuild, you're getting two consummate 0:17:37.760 --> 0:17:42.119 professionals who can can contribute in different ways. I really 0:17:42.160 --> 0:17:45.080 feel like, if Tim Boyle gets the opportunity, you're gonna 0:17:45.080 --> 0:17:50.680 see why. Michael Cohen, Andy Hermson, Herman, myself, we all 0:17:50.720 --> 0:17:53.440 were talking about the Laser Show for the last three years. 0:17:54.240 --> 0:17:56.560 I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know 0:17:56.600 --> 0:17:59.120 if the Lions are gonna win. Maybe Boyle could get 0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:02.119 Dan Campbell's first career of victory, but it's going to 0:18:02.200 --> 0:18:05.320 be exciting. He plays exciting football, and if it happens, 0:18:05.359 --> 0:18:06.800 we'll have to see. Maybe this will be all for 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:08.359 not but the fact that he's coming back off the 0:18:08.359 --> 0:18:10.760 thumb injury. I think could be a really unique opportunity 0:18:10.800 --> 0:18:13.480 for that That to me, To me, I mean, Tim 0:18:13.560 --> 0:18:17.959 Boyle's story is remarkable. As you said, he had a 0:18:18.080 --> 0:18:21.120 dumpster fire, so to speak of a college career. You 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:23.240 look at you look at what he did in college 0:18:23.240 --> 0:18:25.400 and you're like, how in the world would this guy 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:28.439 ever even get a look in the NFL? Right and 0:18:28.480 --> 0:18:30.679 now here he is potentially and again we don't know, 0:18:30.840 --> 0:18:33.800 perhaps Jared Golf will be healthy enough to play, but 0:18:33.880 --> 0:18:37.120 now he potentially has a chance to get Dan Campbell 0:18:37.760 --> 0:18:42.960 his first victory as an NFL head coach, UM before 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:46.280 a quarterback who has played in a Super Bowl gets 0:18:46.320 --> 0:18:50.000 that first victory with UM, the Lions having only a 0:18:50.040 --> 0:18:54.360 tie UM thus far aside from all the losses, they 0:18:54.359 --> 0:18:57.800 tied the Pittsburgh Steelers UM at Hines Field last week. 0:18:57.880 --> 0:18:59.880 So I just I think it would be I think 0:18:59.880 --> 0:19:02.400 it would be really really cool. He's fearless. If if 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:04.200 Tim Boyle were able to do that, you're You're right, 0:19:04.240 --> 0:19:08.800 You're absolutely right. And to come from where he's come 0:19:08.840 --> 0:19:11.240 from to where he is now, you have to be 0:19:11.320 --> 0:19:13.520 fearless and in the sense of you have to be 0:19:13.560 --> 0:19:15.800 able to you have to be able to absolutely ignore 0:19:16.600 --> 0:19:20.359 everybody who has said everything about you, like how is this? 0:19:20.560 --> 0:19:23.160 How why even give this guy a chance? Right? And 0:19:23.160 --> 0:19:26.159 and here he is? I it would be the the 0:19:26.200 --> 0:19:31.040 only the only negative from our perspective is that the 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:32.960 Lions and the Browns will be going on at the 0:19:33.000 --> 0:19:35.520 same time as Packers vikings, so we won't actually be 0:19:35.560 --> 0:19:37.360 able to find a way to watch the game. If 0:19:37.400 --> 0:19:40.560 if boil is indeed, I'd still find a way, all right, well, 0:19:40.680 --> 0:19:42.160 I might find a way to be able to check 0:19:42.160 --> 0:19:44.400 out something, but no, Yeah, unfortunately it's at the same time. 0:19:44.800 --> 0:19:46.280 It's too bad. This could have been the bye week, 0:19:46.359 --> 0:19:48.920 but you know, be that as it may. Again an 0:19:48.920 --> 0:19:52.040 interesting matchup and you've got to have storylines, especially with 0:19:52.119 --> 0:19:55.600 the Lions are trying to find something right now. Honestly, 0:19:55.720 --> 0:19:58.760 even if even if they clear golf, I don't think 0:19:58.760 --> 0:20:01.320 it would hurt them to still give to him a look. Yeah, 0:20:01.560 --> 0:20:03.680