WEBVTT - #636 Packers Unscripted: Battle in Baltimore 0:00:00.520 --> 0:00:11.040 Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 0:00:11.039 --> 0:00:14.040 Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford, joined by my 0:00:14.120 --> 0:00:16.680 partner in crime, Wes Hodkowitz, were coming to you here 0:00:16.720 --> 0:00:20.360 from our studios at lambeau Field West. The Packers are 0:00:20.360 --> 0:00:23.959 headed to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. It is 0:00:24.000 --> 0:00:29.000 a Sunday three pm Central Time kickoff flexed from an 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:32.000 original noon kickoffs, so if you have the schedule from 0:00:32.040 --> 0:00:35.080 the beginning of the season, be aware that this game 0:00:35.159 --> 0:00:39.600 was moved into the late afternoon time slot. The Baltimore 0:00:39.680 --> 0:00:42.800 Ravens West. This is a team much like just a 0:00:42.800 --> 0:00:45.360 few weeks ago, and we're talking about the Minnesota Vikings, 0:00:45.400 --> 0:00:49.000 although the Ravens are in much better playoff position fighting 0:00:49.000 --> 0:00:51.680 for a division title. But this is a team that 0:00:51.720 --> 0:00:54.520 has been in a ton of close games, nine one 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:58.000 score games so far this season. They've lost three of 0:00:58.040 --> 0:01:01.440 their last five, but their last two losses back to 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:04.400 back have been by a total of just three points 0:01:05.400 --> 0:01:09.520 um and uh their last four games have have all 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:11.760 been decided by one score or less. This is a 0:01:11.760 --> 0:01:14.600 team that has played a lot of games the full 0:01:14.640 --> 0:01:17.040 sixty minutes all the way to the wire. And that's 0:01:17.040 --> 0:01:18.720 what you kind of have to expect here with the 0:01:18.760 --> 0:01:21.080 Packers going to Baltimore Sunday. Yeah, I mean, I think 0:01:21.080 --> 0:01:23.600 the iconic image of this season to this point has 0:01:23.640 --> 0:01:25.880 been you know, John Harbor and Lamar Jackson and just 0:01:25.959 --> 0:01:28.160 the number of times they've embraced after some of these 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:30.959 absolute nail biers that they've been playing throughout the course 0:01:31.000 --> 0:01:32.720 of the year. And you know, you go back to 0:01:32.760 --> 0:01:35.240 training camp and in the off season program, they had 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:37.760 about forty eight different running backs go down with season 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:40.880 ending injuries. Um, I mean DeVante Freeman I think as 0:01:40.880 --> 0:01:43.520 their leading runner this year and he wasn't even on 0:01:43.560 --> 0:01:46.000 a team there for a while, aside from the quarterback 0:01:46.080 --> 0:01:48.920 jack Aside from the quarterback, absolutely, but I mean they're 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:51.559 running back, but they still have a lot of weapons, 0:01:51.600 --> 0:01:54.280 whether it be Hollywood Brown, Mark Andrews Is you know, 0:01:54.360 --> 0:01:56.720 making a bid now to be probably considered among the best, 0:01:56.760 --> 0:01:58.840 if not the best tight end of the game, especially 0:01:59.200 --> 0:02:01.320 coming into his own and after he got that contract, 0:02:01.760 --> 0:02:04.360 and defensively, they just do what they always do. So 0:02:05.240 --> 0:02:07.400 the question all week, Mike is going to be the 0:02:07.400 --> 0:02:10.000 health of Lamar Jackson, where he's at with the with 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:12.000 the ankle injury, how much he's gonna be able to do, 0:02:12.000 --> 0:02:13.720 how much they're gonna have to change the game plan. 0:02:13.840 --> 0:02:17.160 But I think when you're as battle tested as Baltimore is. 0:02:17.520 --> 0:02:19.920 I was asked the question insider inbox, who are these 0:02:19.960 --> 0:02:22.839 four teams are you most concerned about down the stretch. Yeah. 0:02:22.840 --> 0:02:24.600 I get why people would say the Browns. They just 0:02:24.680 --> 0:02:27.560 beat Baltimore, But to me, it really is the Ravens 0:02:27.560 --> 0:02:29.840 because they almost are kind of like an enhanced version 0:02:29.880 --> 0:02:32.519 of the Minnesota Vikings, where they found ways to win late, 0:02:32.720 --> 0:02:35.680 and they found ways to win creatively. Yeah, and I'm 0:02:35.680 --> 0:02:38.760 with you in terms of that question about these last 0:02:38.840 --> 0:02:41.520 four games, and I say it's I say it's the 0:02:41.760 --> 0:02:43.840 It's the Ravens, not only because it's the one right 0:02:43.880 --> 0:02:45.920 in front of the Packers, but because this is a 0:02:45.919 --> 0:02:47.840 game on the road. And I take nothing away from 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:50.800 the Browns the Vikings, who obviously beat the Packers, but 0:02:50.880 --> 0:02:52.960 the Packers are gonna get those teams at home. This 0:02:53.040 --> 0:02:55.200 is a game. This is a game the Packers have 0:02:55.280 --> 0:02:57.520 to go on the road against a team that is 0:02:57.760 --> 0:03:00.640 that is fighting for a division title, fighting for playoff 0:03:00.680 --> 0:03:04.160 positioning in the a f C. And as you said, 0:03:04.200 --> 0:03:08.160 the biggest question is regarding quarterback Lamar Jackson. When you 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:12.359 look at the statistics with regard to this Ravens team, 0:03:12.400 --> 0:03:14.840 they're one of the top rushing offenses in the league 0:03:14.840 --> 0:03:17.239 and one of the top rushing defenses in the league. 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:21.040 The offensive side comes with the caveat that Lamar Jackson, 0:03:21.040 --> 0:03:24.840 their quarterback, is their leading rushers. So now the expectation, 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:27.080 it sounds like, is that he is going to play 0:03:27.160 --> 0:03:30.000 on Sunday, But you just don't know with that ankle 0:03:30.720 --> 0:03:33.160 how close to a percent he will be or how 0:03:33.200 --> 0:03:36.200 far away from a percent he might be in terms 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:39.960 of the running and the scrambling or designed runs or 0:03:40.000 --> 0:03:42.040 those kinds of things that are built into their offense. 0:03:42.680 --> 0:03:45.680 But on the defensive side, this is a legitimate, top 0:03:45.800 --> 0:03:48.840 level run defense, and I think that's what's gonna cause 0:03:49.760 --> 0:03:53.160 going to create a major challenge for the Packers, because, 0:03:53.480 --> 0:03:55.400 as I continue to say on this show and in 0:03:55.520 --> 0:03:59.240 our Insider Inbox column, this Packers offense is at its 0:03:59.280 --> 0:04:02.960 best when and it first goes through Aaron Jones and 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:05.440 a J. Dillon, and the Packers don't want to get 0:04:05.480 --> 0:04:08.680 into some sort of just a straight drop back passing 0:04:08.680 --> 0:04:10.920 game against this defense. You've got to be able to 0:04:11.000 --> 0:04:14.280 run the ball even against the top rushing defenses, and 0:04:14.280 --> 0:04:16.200 that's going to be the challenge on something it's such 0:04:16.200 --> 0:04:20.480 a veteran name defense, Like there's just so many guys. 0:04:20.520 --> 0:04:22.280 You break it down and you look at who's playing 0:04:22.320 --> 0:04:24.240 for them. I mean Calias Campbell, who, in a lot 0:04:24.279 --> 0:04:26.560 of ways, I almost kind of consider him to be 0:04:26.640 --> 0:04:29.680 like the defensive version of Mercedes lewis a guy that 0:04:29.760 --> 0:04:31.760 the years passed and he just finds a way to 0:04:31.839 --> 0:04:34.080 keep getting it done and playing at a really high level. 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:36.080 I think there's a number of times people have kind 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:37.920 of written him off and he's just come right back 0:04:37.920 --> 0:04:39.640 and showing I can still be this player well into 0:04:39.720 --> 0:04:43.200 my thirties. You know, Justin Houston is playing for them, 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:46.719 um justin meta book, I can I'm never pronounced his 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:49.279 name right, but I mean, you know, and then Patrick 0:04:49.360 --> 0:04:51.839 Queen is the big guy that was you know, obviously 0:04:51.839 --> 0:04:53.960 gonna probably to some Packer fans always going to be 0:04:53.960 --> 0:04:56.839 in the back of their mind based on how draft 0:04:56.880 --> 0:04:59.160 played out. Not a ton of sacks, but I mean 0:04:59.200 --> 0:05:01.320 in terms of just what they've been able to do, 0:05:01.720 --> 0:05:05.479 uh in forcing teams into long down and distances, and 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:08.400 obviously being able to control the tempo up front. It's 0:05:08.400 --> 0:05:11.160 a challenging unit and I feel like Matt Lafleur really 0:05:11.200 --> 0:05:13.080 summed it up perfectly. He said it on Monday and 0:05:13.080 --> 0:05:16.280 he kind of reiterated again on on Wednesday. They will 0:05:16.360 --> 0:05:19.040 challenge you in both sides of the ball with schemes 0:05:19.080 --> 0:05:21.800 that no one else really does. I mean nobody else does. 0:05:21.839 --> 0:05:26.000 Obviously offensively what Lamar Jackson can do, and even the backup, 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:28.599 whether it was r G three before or now Tyler Huntley, 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:33.120 since that torch was passed from Joe Flacco to Jackson, 0:05:33.560 --> 0:05:36.000 they've committed to this is the face of our offense. 0:05:36.040 --> 0:05:37.680 This is how we're going to operate. It doesn't even 0:05:37.680 --> 0:05:40.520 matter if Lamar is available or not. And defensively, there's 0:05:40.560 --> 0:05:42.799 just been such a big blueprint there that's been built 0:05:42.839 --> 0:05:45.480 for the better part of two decades that they continue 0:05:45.520 --> 0:05:48.080 to hang their hat on. So certainly a team that's 0:05:48.080 --> 0:05:50.360 going to be very interesting to face for my money, 0:05:50.640 --> 0:05:52.320 and not that we're gonna get into, you know, keys 0:05:52.320 --> 0:05:54.920 of victory yet, but it really comes down to the 0:05:54.960 --> 0:05:57.880 mistakes Jackson's made with the football this year and defensively 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:01.520 finding ways to make plays against because when you look 0:06:01.520 --> 0:06:03.960 at Baltimore's defense, there's just not gonna be a lot 0:06:03.960 --> 0:06:05.480 of big plays to be had. It's just not the 0:06:05.520 --> 0:06:09.560 way they operate. Yeah, I think from the Packers defensive perspective, 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:12.719 the really interesting challenge that's created in this game is 0:06:13.960 --> 0:06:17.760 that combination, assuming Lamar Jackson does play, the combination of 0:06:17.839 --> 0:06:20.520 Lamar Jackson with that tight end. Mark Andrews is having 0:06:20.560 --> 0:06:23.159 a big time year. I think he's around seventy five catches, 0:06:23.240 --> 0:06:25.919 nine some yards, whatever it is. But the reason I 0:06:25.960 --> 0:06:29.520 mentioned those two guys in tandem is because we're getting 0:06:29.520 --> 0:06:32.120 asked by lots of fans and insider inbox. Okay, so 0:06:32.320 --> 0:06:34.760 Lamar Jackson is going to do all this running around like, okay, 0:06:34.800 --> 0:06:37.520 don't you just put a spy on him? Right? Okay, 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:41.120 So that's one potential solution, and one guy who could 0:06:41.160 --> 0:06:44.200 be a spy would be Devandre Campbell, you know, the 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:47.200 guy in the middle of the Packers defense. But then 0:06:47.240 --> 0:06:50.159 who's covering the tight end, who's covering Andrews. If you're 0:06:50.160 --> 0:06:54.120 going to spy the quarterback with your best inside linebacker, 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:57.240 that's the challenge I think with regard to this Ravens 0:06:57.240 --> 0:06:59.520 defense and It's one of the reasons that Mark Andrews 0:06:59.560 --> 0:07:02.400 has really come into his own and become one of 0:07:02.440 --> 0:07:05.119 the most productive tight ends in the league because there's 0:07:05.120 --> 0:07:08.159 a there's a matchup issue here with how you how 0:07:08.240 --> 0:07:11.360 you try to contain Lamar Jackson and keep an eye 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:13.800 on him with all of his running around, but then 0:07:13.880 --> 0:07:18.200 deal with with that matchup at tight end, because you know, 0:07:18.440 --> 0:07:21.440 not to say that that Adrian Amos or Darnell Savage 0:07:21.440 --> 0:07:23.760 couldn't cover Lamar Jackson, but you're talking about a big 0:07:23.800 --> 0:07:27.000 size difference there and and then a bigger target for 0:07:27.200 --> 0:07:29.320 Lamar Jackson to throw the ball at. And this is 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:32.240 where it goes back to the ankle and how much 0:07:32.280 --> 0:07:33.880 is that going to restrict him? What is going to 0:07:33.960 --> 0:07:37.680 be his flexibility within the pocket? You know, I don't 0:07:37.680 --> 0:07:39.480 want to use that just a traditional You got to 0:07:39.520 --> 0:07:41.360 force him be a pocket pastor because I feel like 0:07:41.440 --> 0:07:43.680 Lamar Jackson doesn't get enough credit there when he has 0:07:43.720 --> 0:07:46.040 to play that way. I think he can play really well, 0:07:46.360 --> 0:07:48.680 but his biggest strength is what he can create in 0:07:48.720 --> 0:07:52.440 allowing his playmakers downfield to to create some big plays. 0:07:52.800 --> 0:07:55.000 You look at the way they've built this thing, Mike, Yes, 0:07:55.120 --> 0:07:58.480 it is about Andrews, but Hollywood Brown was drafted for 0:07:58.480 --> 0:08:00.960 a reason, Sammy Watkins was brought in for a reason. 0:08:01.200 --> 0:08:03.400 You know, Rashad Bateman just is coming off his first 0:08:03.480 --> 0:08:05.880 hundred yard game now that he's back from the groin injury. 0:08:06.160 --> 0:08:08.000 And Devin Duverney, who the Packers are gonna have to 0:08:08.000 --> 0:08:11.280 contest without special teams, also can be a dynamic playmaker 0:08:11.320 --> 0:08:14.480 for them. They are a home run hitting offense. They 0:08:14.480 --> 0:08:17.280 aren't a team that's necessarily gonna be like, Okay, Freeman, Murray, 0:08:17.280 --> 0:08:19.000 we're gonna set you up. We're gonna just run the 0:08:19.000 --> 0:08:20.480 ball a couple of times, try to get in third, 0:08:20.520 --> 0:08:23.280 manageable and create. No, they're gonna just throw the script 0:08:23.320 --> 0:08:26.600 at you from the very beginning, especially sometimes as you mentioned, 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:29.040 seven hundred plus yards already this year on the ground 0:08:29.080 --> 0:08:32.160 for Lamar Jackson. They are going to look to hit 0:08:32.240 --> 0:08:35.400 you with big shots. And that's where I feel like 0:08:35.960 --> 0:08:38.160 finding out what that first quarter looks like and what 0:08:38.280 --> 0:08:41.080 the game plan that the Ravens are gonna devise is 0:08:41.120 --> 0:08:43.560 really going to be telling, because again, as I wrote 0:08:43.600 --> 0:08:46.640 an inbox this week, only the Ravens really know what 0:08:46.720 --> 0:08:49.320 Jackson can do right now, how limited he truly is 0:08:49.360 --> 0:08:51.640 he would be. I know he left the game in 0:08:51.679 --> 0:08:53.400 the walking boot, but Mike, you and I saw it 0:08:53.720 --> 0:08:56.120 for an entire season. We saw Eddie Lacy or a 0:08:56.200 --> 0:08:58.880 half season in two thousand thirteen. Every day in the 0:08:58.880 --> 0:09:00.679 locker room was in a walking boot. But then on 0:09:00.720 --> 0:09:04.320 Sundays he was good to go. So you never really 0:09:04.320 --> 0:09:06.199 it can be too quite sure. But the fact of 0:09:06.240 --> 0:09:08.520 the matter is, no matter how you boil it down, 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:10.800 it's a boult Lamar Jackson and the Packers how they 0:09:10.880 --> 0:09:13.760 defend him preseason in two thousand nineteen. A couple of 0:09:13.760 --> 0:09:15.840 those guys in this defense we're here for that, they 0:09:15.840 --> 0:09:18.000 saw him for two series. They saw how dynamic he 0:09:18.040 --> 0:09:20.640 can be. Yeah. Absolutely, and you mentioned it as well. 0:09:20.720 --> 0:09:24.080 Special teams John Harbaugh, as we all know, he cut 0:09:24.120 --> 0:09:26.079 his teeth in this league as a special teams coach. 0:09:26.160 --> 0:09:29.920 The Baltimore Ravens have always traditionally been one of the 0:09:29.960 --> 0:09:33.800 better special teams units in the league. The Packers struggling 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:37.199 mightily in that area, as we know. I'll say this, 0:09:38.240 --> 0:09:44.320 remember back after the Packers victory over Washington and the 0:09:44.360 --> 0:09:47.760 defense let Taylor Heineke, the Washington quarterback, run around a 0:09:47.800 --> 0:09:50.240 little bit too much and the following on a short week. 0:09:50.280 --> 0:09:52.080 The following week, the Packers were gonna have to face 0:09:52.160 --> 0:09:55.760 Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, and I said, sometimes sometimes 0:09:55.800 --> 0:09:58.679 you get the reminder, you know, you get kind of 0:09:58.760 --> 0:10:01.240 you get kind of that kick in the pants with 0:10:01.280 --> 0:10:04.600 regard to, you know, letting something get away from you. Now, 0:10:05.600 --> 0:10:09.560 the Packers, Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, these running, 0:10:09.600 --> 0:10:12.040 you know, scrambling running quarterbacks, they've done a pretty good 0:10:12.080 --> 0:10:14.360 job and I think the game against Washington was the 0:10:14.400 --> 0:10:17.720 type of reminder they needed. Now. Special teams have been 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:19.719 an issue in a lot of different areas throughout the 0:10:19.800 --> 0:10:23.360 year for the Packers. But maybe at some point you 0:10:23.480 --> 0:10:25.760 gotta hit rock bottom and then you've got to face 0:10:25.840 --> 0:10:28.560 a team that is going to throw everything they've got 0:10:28.600 --> 0:10:31.000 at you in that phase because they're really really good 0:10:31.040 --> 0:10:33.600 at it to get you where you need to be 0:10:33.679 --> 0:10:36.319 in that phase. Maybe this is this is the right 0:10:36.400 --> 0:10:39.400 kind of challenge for the Packers to uh to get 0:10:39.440 --> 0:10:41.120 ready for the stretch run and to be where they 0:10:41.160 --> 0:10:44.480 need to be. It's so much credit in New England 0:10:44.480 --> 0:10:47.080 for their special teams and the core special teamers that 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:49.720 they've had for a number of years, you know, drafting 0:10:49.760 --> 0:10:52.720 the long snapper, all that stuff, right, I really feel 0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:55.079 like people forget just how good of a special teams 0:10:55.120 --> 0:10:58.680 coordinator John Harbaugh was before he became of the Ravens, 0:10:58.720 --> 0:11:01.240 you know, more than a decade ago. And in some 0:11:01.280 --> 0:11:05.160 ways he's also committed himself to a core group of 0:11:05.160 --> 0:11:07.800 special teamers, one of whom is Anthony Levine, who was 0:11:07.840 --> 0:11:11.320 with the Packers a long time ago. I remember talking 0:11:11.360 --> 0:11:13.240 to him in the in the auxiliary locker room when 0:11:13.280 --> 0:11:14.880 he was trying to make the team as an undrafted 0:11:14.880 --> 0:11:17.199 free agent. He's been a core guy for them now 0:11:17.240 --> 0:11:20.640 for a decade. You know, justin Tucker, for my money, 0:11:20.760 --> 0:11:22.800 the best kicker in the game right now, who I think, 0:11:22.840 --> 0:11:24.679 But if you know, if he can keep the longevity 0:11:24.720 --> 0:11:26.480 side of it up, I think he's gonna be end 0:11:26.520 --> 0:11:28.199 up being right there with that Invent Terry and these 0:11:28.240 --> 0:11:30.760 other greats in terms of just what he's the span 0:11:30.800 --> 0:11:34.760 of his career and what he's accomplished. You know, Sam Cook, Uh, 0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:39.240 you know the record that Mason Crosby has right now 0:11:39.280 --> 0:11:42.959 for kickers with consecutive games played, Cook is the one 0:11:43.000 --> 0:11:44.920 that stands in front of him with how many games 0:11:44.920 --> 0:11:47.640 in a row. He's played for the Baltimore Ravens, So 0:11:47.679 --> 0:11:50.760 they're all across the board. They're stolid, and DuVernay is 0:11:50.800 --> 0:11:55.439 sort of the the catalyst to all this um kickoff 0:11:55.440 --> 0:11:57.720 return wise was probably not a lot that's gonna stun you, 0:11:57.760 --> 0:12:00.720 but fourteen and a half yards per return on punts. Yeah, 0:12:00.960 --> 0:12:03.800 and especially coming off of what happened last week, you've 0:12:03.800 --> 0:12:05.800 gotta imagine that the Ravens are going to be really 0:12:05.840 --> 0:12:09.720 looking to maximize those opportunities. And Mike, how many times 0:12:09.720 --> 0:12:11.640 do we say it, It's not just special teams. It 0:12:11.679 --> 0:12:13.440 can be on offense, it can be on defense. If 0:12:13.480 --> 0:12:17.000 you put something on film that isn't great, that doesn't 0:12:17.000 --> 0:12:19.480 look good for you, the opposition is going to look 0:12:19.520 --> 0:12:21.640 to attack it. So green Bay has to be prepared 0:12:21.679 --> 0:12:24.920 for that, because what the raven saw last week that's 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:27.839 gonna be something has them lock in their chops. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, 0:12:28.000 --> 0:12:29.680 I want to get to our keys to victory in 0:12:29.720 --> 0:12:32.000 this game, but first a little bit of sponsored business. 0:12:32.040 --> 0:12:35.840 Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and 0:12:35.960 --> 0:12:39.160 up to the minute NFL news that true football fanatics 0:12:39.160 --> 0:12:43.080 need seven three six and at Cousin Subs, we have 0:12:43.160 --> 0:12:46.480 something for everyone like our Wisconsin cheese kurts, mac and cheese, 0:12:46.800 --> 0:12:49.400 golden fries, and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite 0:12:49.400 --> 0:12:52.960 sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin subs. We believe 0:12:53.000 --> 0:12:54.920 in better. All right, We've already touched on a few 0:12:54.960 --> 0:12:59.199 things obviously, but boil it down to your top priority 0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:03.040 or maybe or two priorities. West keys to victory here 0:13:03.040 --> 0:13:05.960 for the Packers to come back from Baltimore at eleven 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:10.000 and three, just win the turnover battle. It is that simple. Uh. 0:13:10.120 --> 0:13:12.360 Baltimore is a team that doesn't take the ball away 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:14.400 a whole lot, and they give the ball away more 0:13:14.400 --> 0:13:16.760 than the average team. I think they're twenty nine right now, 0:13:17.280 --> 0:13:21.160 about like minus eight or nine in terms of net differential. Uh, 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:23.800 that that has to be the key. As stout as 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:26.400 Baltimore is in a lot of these phases, they're kind 0:13:26.400 --> 0:13:29.200 of unspectacular in that way. There isn't, you know, the 0:13:29.240 --> 0:13:32.200 big plays to to be made defensively, So that's pretty 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:35.280 remarkable that they're actually that far in the whole internover 0:13:35.360 --> 0:13:38.400 margin for the season. Yet they are right there to 0:13:38.400 --> 0:13:40.920 to potentially win a division title in the a f C. 0:13:41.080 --> 0:13:44.120 Nor they're really the only team that's kind of contending 0:13:44.280 --> 0:13:47.720 right now. That has a differential that's that low. Washington 0:13:47.880 --> 0:13:50.280 is in the mix, but mostly for a wild card spot. 0:13:50.360 --> 0:13:53.360 Cincinnati is also in that division with them, they're in 0:13:53.400 --> 0:13:55.440 that lower third as well, but otherwise you're kind of 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:57.280 down there with the Detroits and the New York Jets 0:13:57.320 --> 0:14:00.199 of the world. So that I feel like that's so 0:14:00.240 --> 0:14:02.640 whether it is Jackson or maybe if you see Tyler Huntley, 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:04.640 either one of those guys, I think you gotta pressure them. 0:14:04.640 --> 0:14:05.960 You've got to get the ball out, and when you 0:14:06.000 --> 0:14:08.160 get opportunities, you have to make a play on the 0:14:08.200 --> 0:14:11.000 ball because if you don't make the Ravens respect that, 0:14:11.320 --> 0:14:12.880 it is going to be a heck of a long 0:14:12.920 --> 0:14:16.360 afternoon in Baltimore. Yeah. Absolutely for me. For me, the 0:14:16.480 --> 0:14:19.280 keys to this boiled down to two things I already mentioned. One, 0:14:19.320 --> 0:14:20.960 you've got to find a way to run the ball 0:14:21.000 --> 0:14:24.560 against a really really good rush defense. You've got to 0:14:24.600 --> 0:14:26.040 find a way to run it. You've got to you've 0:14:26.040 --> 0:14:28.040 got to stick with it even if it's not working. 0:14:28.080 --> 0:14:31.080 You have to make them honor the run for four quarters. 0:14:31.360 --> 0:14:33.200 And the other thing to me, and this this goes 0:14:33.240 --> 0:14:36.000 to the special teams issue, is it's about field position. 0:14:36.640 --> 0:14:41.640 This Packers defense, if they have seventy five to eighty 0:14:41.760 --> 0:14:45.520 yards to defend, they're gonna be pretty darn good. You know. 0:14:45.880 --> 0:14:48.880 If the Bravens are getting the ball at the yard 0:14:48.880 --> 0:14:51.720 line the way the Bears were um on Sunday night, 0:14:52.280 --> 0:14:54.440 if you're losing the field position battle that way, that 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:57.200 that's gonna put this defense in a tough spot against 0:14:57.280 --> 0:15:00.840 Lamar Jackson and Mark Anderson and these other these other weapons. 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:02.880 So for me, it's running the ball and doing a 0:15:02.880 --> 0:15:05.920 better job in field position compared to the last game. Yeah. 0:15:05.960 --> 0:15:08.040 And then the other side of this too. You know 0:15:08.120 --> 0:15:11.240 Aaron Rodgers, and it's so simple to say that, but 0:15:11.280 --> 0:15:13.520 I mean, when you look at how he's played, I 0:15:13.560 --> 0:15:15.480 came up with that stat. I mean, anyone could have 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:16.760 come up with it, but it was something I drew 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:20.320 on my story last week fourteen passer rating night. Right now, 0:15:20.360 --> 0:15:22.680 in these four games where he's dealt with the toe injury, 0:15:22.720 --> 0:15:25.200 whatever is going on with that little toe, the little 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:27.560 foot massages or whatever he was the toe massages he 0:15:27.640 --> 0:15:31.960 kind of was joking about on McAfee show, it obviously 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:35.520 is working for him, and you hope whatever he's dealing 0:15:35.560 --> 0:15:38.360 at the pain. That's kind of you know, happening for 0:15:38.440 --> 0:15:40.800 him on game days. He's finding a way to get 0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:44.320 above it. And I think if he's able to sort 0:15:44.360 --> 0:15:48.120 of penetrate in dismantle this defense the way he did 0:15:48.200 --> 0:15:52.200 last week against Chicago, different challenge, different unit, But I 0:15:52.520 --> 0:15:55.080 think this team Green Bay being in the driver's seat now, 0:15:55.120 --> 0:15:57.880 everybody understands a sense of urgency here and I think 0:15:57.880 --> 0:15:59.880 you're going to see the best version of twelve. Yeah, 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:02.760 it's it's really remarkable. What uh And we probably haven't 0:16:02.760 --> 0:16:04.880 talked about it enough in some respects, but the job 0:16:04.920 --> 0:16:08.360 that Aaron Rodgers has done, the production that he has had, 0:16:08.440 --> 0:16:11.600 despite the fact that he's not practicing. I mean, he 0:16:11.640 --> 0:16:14.160 and Matt Lafleura and Nathaniel Hackett and Luke Getzy are 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:18.200 essentially putting together a game plan without Rogers really taking 0:16:18.240 --> 0:16:21.680 any full speed reps in in practice throughout the week. 0:16:21.760 --> 0:16:24.360 And yes, there have been slow starts and whatnot, but 0:16:24.720 --> 0:16:27.480 you know, um, imagine what I mean if they had 0:16:27.520 --> 0:16:30.000 actually gotten off to a fast start against the Bears, 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:32.360 with where that game went from the second quarter on, 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:34.960 I mean, what the offense might have might have done 0:16:34.960 --> 0:16:37.560 against Chicago last Sunday night. I do want to talk 0:16:37.600 --> 0:16:40.720 about some other games around the league that that are 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:44.160 in the playoff picture. But first, Packers fans, if you're 0:16:44.200 --> 0:16:48.320 looking for holiday gift ideas, team historian Cliff Crystal's book 0:16:48.360 --> 0:16:50.960 The Greatest Story in Sports is now available at the 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:54.520 Packers Pro Shop. The four volume hardcover books set tells 0:16:54.560 --> 0:16:57.720 the true complete story of the Packers first century, from 0:16:57.760 --> 0:17:01.080 humble beginnings to heartbreaks and triumphs. By air copy, online 0:17:01.560 --> 0:17:08.040 or in store today. Alright around the League West, here 0:17:08.080 --> 0:17:12.360 are the games involving the other NFC contenders that are 0:17:12.440 --> 0:17:15.439 up there in this mix. For U, for the number 0:17:15.440 --> 0:17:18.640 one seed, with the Packers currently sitting in the driver's seat, 0:17:18.640 --> 0:17:21.960 you have Arizona is at Detroit. Dallas is at the 0:17:22.000 --> 0:17:25.040 New York Giants. I think we both know both of 0:17:25.040 --> 0:17:27.959 those would be major upsets if the if the home teams, 0:17:28.000 --> 0:17:29.560 if the home teams were able to Troit trying to 0:17:29.600 --> 0:17:35.959 keep its playoff hopes alive. Okay, um, Seattle is at 0:17:36.000 --> 0:17:38.639 the l A Rams in an interesting one. They're in 0:17:39.040 --> 0:17:42.080 the NFC West. And then I believe it's going to 0:17:42.119 --> 0:17:46.320 be right after the Packers Ravens game, after the late 0:17:46.359 --> 0:17:48.879 Sunday afternoon window was over. The night game on Sunday 0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:52.639 as New Orleans at Tampa Bay. The Saints having beaten 0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:55.960 the Buccaneers. Um, they are responsible for one of Tampa 0:17:56.040 --> 0:17:59.280 Bay's three losses already the season. The Saints now going 0:17:59.359 --> 0:18:04.400 down to Ampa um looking for the season sweet but um, 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:07.320 your thoughts on any of those games that are involving 0:18:07.359 --> 0:18:10.879 the NFC contenders, this could be the one that gives 0:18:10.960 --> 0:18:14.520 the Bucks the biggest fit down this stretch. Maybe we 0:18:14.520 --> 0:18:17.000 were asked about the Packers and which one is concerning you, 0:18:17.040 --> 0:18:19.840 and there are some really intriguing matchups right for them. 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:22.280 I mean, when you look at this game, this is 0:18:22.320 --> 0:18:24.640 not a give me by any means against Baltimore team 0:18:24.640 --> 0:18:28.520 that is destined looks to be headed towards the playoffs. Yeah, 0:18:28.560 --> 0:18:30.600 you know you're gonna have Cleveland that's still in this thing. 0:18:31.040 --> 0:18:33.160 We know the challenge already with the Vikings. You saw 0:18:33.200 --> 0:18:34.960 it last month when they beat them, and we know 0:18:35.000 --> 0:18:36.840 the Vikings are going to be fighting for a wild 0:18:36.920 --> 0:18:39.440 card spot. And then Monday night they have Chicago, So 0:18:39.480 --> 0:18:41.000 I mean they're they're going to probably be in the 0:18:41.040 --> 0:18:42.840 thick of this thing as well. If if they are 0:18:42.840 --> 0:18:45.239 able to take care of business there. As far as 0:18:45.520 --> 0:18:48.320 the Bucks are concerned, it's not like that. Uh, this 0:18:48.400 --> 0:18:51.280 is probably their biggest test. I think things are really 0:18:51.320 --> 0:18:53.720 going in the wrong direction right now for for Carolina, 0:18:53.720 --> 0:18:56.840 and they get to see them twice. Uh, just seeing 0:18:56.880 --> 0:18:59.200 if there can be some tastom hill magic something there 0:18:59.600 --> 0:19:02.040 that could challenge Tampa, because otherwise they look like they're 0:19:02.080 --> 0:19:06.080 just steamrolling towards the playoffs right now. San Francisco and 0:19:06.119 --> 0:19:08.639 Atlanta is a really interesting game because I think you 0:19:08.640 --> 0:19:10.359 were the one that mentioned, I mean San Francisco the 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:11.960 team that I don't know if anyone really wants to 0:19:11.960 --> 0:19:13.879 play them right now, because you're never really can be 0:19:13.880 --> 0:19:15.400 sure what you're gonna get from them, but you also 0:19:15.400 --> 0:19:19.320