1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,799 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spafford, joined by my 3 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: partner and everything Packers, Wes Hodkoitz. Coming to you hear 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: from our studios at lambeau Field, Wes. The Packers are 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: coming off of a sixteen to three loss at Minnesota 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: to end the regular season. But this game was not 7 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: about the scoreboard. It wasn't about the final result. Packers 8 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: weren't playing to win. They were playing for health in 9 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs. That was the priority. The vast majority of 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: the starters rested did not play, but they were also 11 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: looking to see who amongst the reserves were going to 12 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: get a lot of snaps in this game, more than 13 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,519 Speaker 1: they would get in a normal game, who might be 14 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: able to help the Packers in the playoffs. And I 15 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: think there's one name you and I both have kind 16 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: of on the tip of our tongue who made a 17 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: little bit of a case for himself that he may 18 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: see some play action. 19 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: I was super impressed by Trayvon Diggs in this game. 20 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 2: I could not believe this guy on four day's notice 21 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: comes in to lambeau Field the facilities and has to 22 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 2: learn this playbook and goes out on the football field 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: at US Bank Stadium and holds his own was talking 24 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 2: to him after the game. He mentioned the plan was 25 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 2: to play first quarter, maybe into the second quarter, and 26 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 2: he said by the time that came around, he wanted 27 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 2: to play the whole game. He just enjoyed being out there. 28 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 2: He enjoyed having fun playing football again. Like Matt Lafleur 29 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 2: said afterwards, we'll have to see exactly how the secondary 30 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,679 Speaker 2: shuffles out, who's going to be playing where. But I 31 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: thought Diggs made a really strong case for himself that 32 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: he can help the green Bay Packers this season. 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: Yeah and oh yeah, by the way, just a few 34 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: days after arriving, we're going to line you up across 35 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: from Justin Jefferson, right. Not that he was good lined 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: up across from him on every snap, but that was 37 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: part of Digg's assignment in terms of getting acclimated to 38 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: Green Bay's defense. I'll be very interested to see how 39 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: this plays out with green Bay secondary. We talked last 40 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: week about how the injuries have hit the cornerback position hard. 41 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: You lose Nate Hobbs and Kamal Haddn't essentially for the 42 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: rest of the season. In that game against Baltimore and 43 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: Trayvon Diggs suddenly falls into your lap, gives you another 44 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: option with Keishawn Nixon, with Carrington Valentine. So we'll see 45 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: how the Packers ultimately do that. I thought another guy 46 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: who now it's not as though he hasn't played, but 47 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: I thought another guy who acquitted himself quite well and 48 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: could see himself in certain situations on the field in 49 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: the playoffs would be the rookie edge rusher Baron Surrell, 50 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: fourth round draft pick out of Texas. He just he 51 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: looked I think, more explosive off the ball in terms 52 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: of having a large volume of snaps in this game. 53 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: He looked more explosive off the ball than maybe we've 54 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: seen throughout the course of the season. And I think 55 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,839 Speaker 1: that's a guy who might get a chance to show 56 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: something in the postseason. 57 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 2: I hope he does. Because Baron Serell had as many 58 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: tackles in this game as he had this season, eight tackles. 59 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: He gets the sack of I believe at that point 60 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: it was Max Brosmer, and the fact is Michael, actually no, 61 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,559 Speaker 2: it was still Jefferson. I can't remember. 62 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: Macarthy, McCarthy I can't remember who. It was, a zero 63 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: yard sack a little bit off of a scramble and 64 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 1: got him down before he crossed the line of scrimmage. 65 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: He got his first full sack that he had a 66 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: half sack earlier this season. He mentioned that was a 67 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 2: goal of his. And then he also showed the extra 68 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: effort play when Brenton Cox Junior got the strip sack 69 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: of Brosmer late in the game. They're in the red 70 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: zone and here comes Baron Currell picking that thing up. 71 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: Talking to him afterwards, he mentioned he saw the end zone, 72 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: but what he didn't see was, you know, Brenton Cox, 73 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: Lane on the matt were there before him and he 74 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: trips over him. But these are the moments, as you 75 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: and I talked about that you wanted to see in 76 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: this game. You wanted to see young guys step up. 77 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: I felt Baron Surrell did that. I thought Brenton Cox 78 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 2: obviously did that three quarterback hits in this one. But 79 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 2: then also Colin Oliver, who was a guy that didn't 80 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 2: play all season long, he had the hamstring injury. This 81 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: was the first time he'd ever been in NFL game. Yeah, 82 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: and when people made this baby Mica comparison, and obviously 83 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 2: he doesn't want any part of that. He understands we're 84 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 2: talking about a guy that's probably an All Pro this season, 85 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: you know, multiple time Pro bowler. But when you see 86 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: the extra effort in the way that that kid strained, 87 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: the way that he chased down the quarterback, that the 88 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: speed to power that he possesses for a guy that 89 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: is his size, I was super impressed by it. So, yeah, offensively, 90 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: there was a lot going on there for green Bay. 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 2: It wasn't the most productive fruitful day you've ever seen. 92 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: But defensively for green Bay resting virtually everybody except for 93 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: Evan Williams and Javon Bullard, for what that defense put 94 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 2: out there, I was super impressed. 95 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I thought I thought the Packers defense really held 96 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 1: its own against whether it was McCarthy or Brosmer. McCarthy 97 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: himself out of the game early in the third quarter. 98 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: It sounded like that hairline fracture in his hand was 99 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: starting to bother him, and so he took himself out. 100 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: They went to brozem Or the rest of the way. 101 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 1: But if you had told me that essentially a whole 102 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: lineup of reserves on defense was going to hold the 103 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: Vikings to one touchdown. You take that. That's a pretty 104 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: darn good effort defensively. Offensively, the Packers were a bit overmatched. 105 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: I think that that might even be an understatement. I mean, 106 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: Brian Flores was Yeah, he was still throwing the blitzes 107 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: at Clayton Tune on third down, and the Vikings were 108 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 1: playing the defense that they've played down the stretch here, 109 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: and with a lot of substitutes on the offensive line, 110 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: not your best receivers out there. Clayton Tune, your number 111 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:53,320 Speaker 1: three quarterback, was trying to handle all that while also, oh, yeah, 112 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: you have to go silent count because you're on the 113 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: road in a dome and all that kind of stuff. 114 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 1: It was a rough day for Green Bays offense, no 115 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: two ways about that. But health for the playoffs was 116 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: the priority, and the Packers came out of this game. 117 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: There were only two injuries being discussed. One Bo Melton 118 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: appeared to injure himself. They announced it as a knee 119 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: injury on punt coverage. We haven't really gotten an update 120 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: on exactly where Melton is. Heck of a tackle though, Yeah, 121 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: it was a heck of a tackle, yeah for sure. 122 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: The other one was late in the game, Javon Bullard 123 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: exited the game with a knee injury, but then he 124 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: told reporters in the locker room that he was fine. 125 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: He just got it hyper extended a little bit, so, 126 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: you know, so that's why he didn't go like running 127 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 1: off the field, because he needed to just get it 128 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: checked out first. But he felt he was fine after 129 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: the game. Not something that that necessarily is gonna is 130 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: gonna factor in. 131 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,040 Speaker 2: So it was a big one though, because they don't 132 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: have a backup there anymore. Yeah, because Nate Hobbs is out. 133 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 2: He's the backup Nickels. So I think everybody was kind of, 134 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,559 Speaker 2: you know, having their Adams applein their you know, throat 135 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 2: a little bit. Okay, well, what exactly is gonna happen 136 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: with this? But yeah, he did say afterwards he was 137 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 2: feeling fine. We've seen it. The guy played through a 138 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: fractured heel last year during the playoffs in Philadelphia. Wanted 139 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 2: to be as healthy as possible to give his best performance. 140 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: But yeah, I mean, if that's what ended up coming 141 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: out of this game, you know, I felt like Packers 142 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: can consider that a pretty solid day. 143 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I think Matt Lafluur talked after the game, 144 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: I mean, it's all time will tell and we'll see 145 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: if this if this was the right approach for Green Bay. 146 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 1: But he prioritized health with what happened in Week eighteen 147 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: last year. When you lose Christian Watson not only obviously 148 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: for the playoffs, but for half the season this year 149 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: to a major injury. Jordan Love had also banged his 150 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: elbow in that Week eighteen game last year, and he 151 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: obviously was able to play against the Eagles in the playoffs. 152 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: But those are just the risks that Matt Lafleuur didn't 153 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: want to take. And I think ultimately the Packers are 154 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: going into Chicago. It'll be Saturday night in the wild 155 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: Card Round at Soldier Field. I think the Packers are 156 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: going into Chicago health Wise. You can't argue that health wise, 157 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: they're in a better spot than they were in last year. 158 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: At this time, it's. 159 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: Been three months, Mike, since they've had their buy. The 160 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 2: Packers had to create an opportunity for themselves to take 161 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 2: a breath, to get a breather, to allow these guys 162 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: to let their bodies heal. And when you see Josh 163 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: Jacobs and Jordan Love, and you know, obviously, you know 164 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: their linebackers and kway Walker and Edren Cooper all getting 165 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: a chance to be just a healthy scratch, you know, 166 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: Xavier McKinney being a healthy scratch and then not having 167 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 2: to really go too far into the depth chart. Jayden 168 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 2: Reid replaced Bo Melton after he got injured, but wasn't 169 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 2: really getting banged up, wasn't really taking those hits. That's 170 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 2: a major win, I feel like for the Green Bay Packers. 171 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 2: And I know we'll talk here in a second about 172 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: the Chicago Bears and how that final game played out 173 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 2: for them, But the Bears played everybody. They went for 174 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 2: the win. They went to clinch the number two seed 175 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 2: on their own, regardless of what happened with Philadelphia. But 176 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: what that means is the Bears put all their starters, 177 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 2: not necessarily at risk, but they took those bumps and 178 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: bruises and everything like that. The Packers had a chance 179 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,040 Speaker 2: to recalibrate. And now here we are in a short week. 180 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 2: It's a Saturday night matchup. Packers won't practice on Tuesday, right, 181 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 2: They're only going to have two days of practice where 182 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 2: they'll be traveling on Friday, but they're now coming off 183 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 2: this pseudo buy that they created for themselves. In a 184 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 2: season in which the NFL keeps making this longer and 185 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 2: longer and longer, the Packers had to find a way 186 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 2: to kind of create that barrier. I felt like they 187 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 2: did that. Inasmuch as people talk about momentum and winning 188 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 2: football games, that's awesome. You want to win as many 189 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: football games as possible. The fact is, on Christmas Day 190 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: the Lions, you know, falling to the Minnesota Vikings that 191 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 2: clinched a playoff spot for Green Bay with two games 192 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 2: left to go, the Packers have not been able to 193 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 2: get out of these games without injury. Here. It seems 194 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: like over the last month, twenty three transactions last week 195 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: needed to get through this game here against Minnesota. So 196 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 2: for the Packers to be in this spot right now, 197 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,599 Speaker 2: given all the various circumstances and permutations of how this 198 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 2: could have out, I think like Matt Floor gave his 199 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 2: team the best opportunity possible to try to get on 200 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:07,199 Speaker 2: a run. Now. 201 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely I agree with you, and you mentioned, you know, 202 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: the NFL keeps making the season longer, et cetera. And 203 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: the Packers had their bye. The NFL doesn't necessarily give 204 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: convenient bye weeks, right. The Packers had their buy way 205 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: back in week five, it was after only four games, 206 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: and so then they were playing thirteen consecutive games without 207 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: a week off. If the Packers had had their buy in, 208 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 1: you know, week eleven or week twelve, the approach to 209 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: Week eighteen might have been very different. So all of 210 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: that factored into how Green Bay went about it. And 211 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 1: just so the fans understand, the starters, the vast majority 212 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: of the starters did not play, did not see any 213 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: action in Minnesota. But it's not as though they've just 214 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: been sitting around doing nothing. You have to understand Matt 215 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: Lafleur scheduled the practice week last week. There was a 216 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: there was a division of duty, so to speak. There 217 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: was a portion of practice that was devoted to the 218 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 1: starters on offense, going eleven on eleven against the starters 219 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: on defense what they call the ones versus ones, and 220 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 1: so it was not scout team work. It was it 221 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 1: was simulating real game action, Matt Lafleur's call and plays, 222 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 1: Jeff Hafley's calling, defensive scheme, and they were going at 223 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: it for multiple practice periods last week. Then the other 224 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: part was taking Clayton tune in the offense and the 225 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: guys who were going to play on defense and having 226 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,079 Speaker 1: them do some scout team work and to try to 227 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: get ready to play on Sunday. So it was using 228 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: using the practice time that they had last week with 229 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: the starters, and from talking to the guys in the 230 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: locker room, it sounded like those were some pretty intense 231 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: practice periods, Like the coaches, I think asked those guys, hey, 232 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: all right, we've told you you're not going to be 233 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: playing on Sunday, so let's use this to tune up 234 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 1: to get ready. But when it's practice, you're not putting, 235 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: you're not out there with the injury risk because you're 236 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: not tackling to the ground, the quarterbacks getting hit, you know, 237 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: all these kinds of things. So you're reducing the injury 238 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: risks greatly obviously in practice. So that was the plan 239 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: last week, and now this week they find out the 240 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 1: game is on Saturday night in Chicago at Soldier Fields, 241 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:15,959 Speaker 1: so you set up the schedule. It sounds like Tuesday 242 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: is a walk through mostly like a mental day and everything, 243 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: and then they're going to have the two days of 244 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: practice on Wednesday, and Thursday to get ready before jumping 245 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: on the plane on Friday. So this has all been 246 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: this has all been very carefully planned out since the 247 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: lost to Baltimore and the injuries that came along with 248 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: that and whatnot. We'll find out soon enough here exactly 249 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: where things are with the Packers' health. We'll probably find 250 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: out actually more on Wednesday when they actually have the 251 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: first practice in terms of who's out there or who's 252 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,079 Speaker 1: limited and whatnot. But yeah, this was all about getting 253 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: the team in the best possible position health wise to 254 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: reset and to regroup and to put your best foot 255 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 1: forward in the playoffs, because the Packers weren't able to 256 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: do that last year, right, And Matt Lafleur's goal was 257 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: to be able to do that this year and then 258 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: see if it makes a difference. 259 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 2: And look at what happened just a year ago with 260 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 2: Kansas City, Right, they played Miami that first game, that's 261 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 2: stream game on Saturday night Football, and a lot of 262 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,599 Speaker 2: it was resting guys, and then suddenly you get to 263 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 2: the playoffs and next thing you know, they're back in 264 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 2: the Super Bowl once again. There's fourteen teams. Now there's 265 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 2: twelve that are going to play this upcoming weekend. Everybody 266 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 2: has a shot at this thing. Yep, Packers have lost 267 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 2: a lot this season, but what have they gained along 268 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 2: the way? That's what the question is ultimately going to 269 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 2: be now that these games are win and advance, lose, 270 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 2: go home. So I just feel like this team has 271 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 2: gained so much experience when you go back to two 272 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: years ago going into Dallas, becoming the first seven seeds 273 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: since the expansion to win in the wild card weekend round, 274 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 2: pushing teams the way that they've pushed him San Francisco, 275 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 2: even last year, for everything that happened in that opening 276 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 2: series against Philadelphia, the way that they hung in there 277 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 2: against what ended up being the eventual Super Bowl champion. 278 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 2: This team is young. They were once again for the 279 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 2: third straight year, the youngest team of the National Football League. 280 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: But they are experienced. They have an entire twenty twenty 281 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 2: two in twenty twenty three draft class that have been 282 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 2: through these trials and tribulations. Now, and what I'm most 283 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: excited about is, you know, a lot has been made 284 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: about well two and a half weeks now that Jordan 285 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 2: Love hasn't played. Jordan Love is not a rookie quarterback anymore. 286 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: He's an experienced twenty seven year old quarterback. He knows 287 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: what this offense is. He's been steeped in it. This 288 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 2: is the only thing he's been schooled. And he's had 289 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 2: the same play caller now for six years. So it's 290 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 2: not about Okay, do you play him late in the season, 291 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 2: da not. What does the concussion do in terms of 292 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: his availability and is he missing time? If Jordan Love 293 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 2: is healthy, the Green Bay Packers have a shot, and ultimately, 294 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 2: I think they dedicated themselves to those principles and they'll 295 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 2: get put to the test now the third time, Michael, 296 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 2: it's crazy. Third time, this storied rivalry, the most heralded 297 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: rivalry in NFL history. It's only the third time the 298 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 2: Packers and Bears are meeting in the playoffs. Yeah, and 299 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 2: it's gonna happen at Soldier Field, and for Packer fans 300 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 2: and for everybody in that locker room, this is a 301 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 2: massive opportunity. Yeah, I'm excited to watch it. 302 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: I want to talk more about that as well, with 303 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: regard to the rivalry and everything that's gone into it 304 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: this season, but we do need to pay some bills first, 305 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: So let's hear a quick word from our sponsors. 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Pit Boss Grills available at minards. 316 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: Hey Packers fans, we always knew Lambeaufield was a wonder, 317 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: but now it's official. Learn more about all the wonders 318 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: of Wisconsin at Travel Wisconsin dot com slash Wonders. Welcome 319 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: back to Packers Unscripted. All right, Wes, you mentioned it's 320 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: the third time the Packers and Bears will have met 321 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: in the postseason. Nineteen forty one was the first at 322 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: Wrigley Field the Western Division Playoff Western Conference Playoff. Excuse me, 323 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: the Bears won that twenty ten NFC Championship game at 324 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: Soldier Field. The Packers won that on their way to 325 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl title. Obviously, what I like about the 326 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 1: way this fell because we talked last week that neither 327 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: one of us was going to spend any energy rooting 328 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: for whether the Packers would get the Eagles or the 329 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: Bears as far as the first round opponent. But what 330 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: I like about the way this fell is now, the 331 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: Packers are going to walk back out on a Soldier 332 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 1: Field three weeks after they let a big game get 333 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 1: away from them, a game that they know they controlled, 334 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: that they were in command of the game, and it 335 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: simply got away down the stretch. Just three weeks later, 336 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 1: they get to go back and try to avenge what happened. 337 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:24,919 Speaker 1: And this Packers team, in my opinion, is going to 338 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 1: walk out of that tunnel at Soldier Field firmly believing 339 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 1: that they're the better team and they're going to win 340 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: the game. That's going to be the mindset. I don't 341 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: there's no other there's no other mindset to take based 342 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: on how they played against the Bears in the regular season. 343 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I remember being in that locker room a 344 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 2: couple of weeks ago and the guys sort of reiterating 345 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 2: that that they played him and beat them for fifty 346 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 2: eight minutes and they let it get away. Yeah, and 347 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 2: they did that without Micah Parsons, So it doesn't even 348 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 2: have to be this like magical thing like, Okay, well 349 00:17:52,320 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 2: you don't have Parsons, you can't win. No, the Packers 350 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 2: were that close to doing it. 351 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: And they did it without Jordan Love for a majority 352 00:17:57,720 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 1: of the game as well. 353 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely so. I love the fact that it's a forty 354 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 2: minute flight down there. The Packers do this road trip 355 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 2: every single year, the process, the preparation, this is nothing 356 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 2: foreign to them. They're going to be able to still 357 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 2: be on their regular clock, so to speak, with it 358 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 2: being an NFC North opponent. What I also love about 359 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 2: it is the Packers have had an unparalleled amount of 360 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,160 Speaker 2: success at Soldier Field. I think I saw the statistic 361 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: from our good friend Rob Damofski. I believe he maybe 362 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 2: source it to ESPN, but I think outside of the 363 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 2: Patriots and Jets, no team has won more since twenty 364 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 2: ten and they're opposing venue than the Packers have at 365 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 2: Soldier Field. Right, this is a place that has a 366 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 2: lot of positive vibes for Green Bay So when people 367 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 2: were asking us last week, do you want Philly? Do 368 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: you want Chicago? I always wanted Chicago. And I know 369 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:48,480 Speaker 2: there's a lot of Packer fans out there that are like, well, 370 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 2: it makes me nervous because what if they lose? But 371 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 2: what if you win? Right? I mean that's the way 372 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: I look at it. It's like the old Max for 373 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 2: stap In line about he doesn't think about losing, he 374 00:18:57,760 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 2: thinks about how do we win? 375 00:18:59,200 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? 376 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 2: Right? So I love that idea that you are the 377 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 2: number seven seed. What better way to announce your presence 378 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 2: right to knock off the NFC North champion, your vaunted rival, 379 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 2: then going into their stadium and taking them out in 380 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,919 Speaker 2: the wild card weekend. I feel like the Packers have 381 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 2: everything to play for right now. I feel like this 382 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 2: is the opportunity that they've wanted. Has this season gone 383 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 2: perfectly according to plan? Obviously not. The litany of injuries 384 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 2: the fifteen people on Injurieserve. It all speaks to the 385 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 2: challenges in the adversity that Greenbia has faced this season. 386 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 2: But they're still here. And for that game when you 387 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,400 Speaker 2: go back to Soldier Field, Yeah, the Bears pulled off 388 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 2: the comeback. They won the North. They did everything that 389 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: people wanted to see them do if you're a fan 390 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: in the Chicago land area. But realistically, all the Packers 391 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 2: loss was the opportunity to host this game. One way 392 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 2: or another, it was going to work out that it 393 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 2: was going to be these two teams playing each other. 394 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 2: The path is not easy, but it's not impossible. So 395 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: for Green Bay, I just I'm amped up. I think, honestly, 396 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 2: this is probably the most excited I've been for wild 397 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 2: Card Weekend during my entire time with Packers dot Com. 398 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: I just think that this is going to be something special. 399 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: It did feel like when we left Soldier Field a 400 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: few weeks ago. The game ends, you know, the chaos 401 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 1: at the end, with the late onside kick, the touchdown, 402 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: the overtime, the bomb for the winning TV. Soldier Field's 403 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 1: going crazy, the Bears are going crazy. You and I 404 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: do our usual divide and conquer. After the game, you 405 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 1: go to the locker room to talk to the players. 406 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: I go to the press conferences with the head coach 407 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:41,040 Speaker 1: and the quarterback. It felt like when we were getting 408 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: on the bus afterward to make our way with the 409 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: team back to the airport, fly back to Green Bay, 410 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:51,359 Speaker 1: late on that Saturday night, it felt like that wasn't 411 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 1: the last time we were going to be at Soldier Field. 412 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: For as far as the twenty twenty five slash twenty 413 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: six season is concerned, I'm not surprised at all that 414 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: it turned out that way, and it feels like it 415 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: feels like it's fitting. I mean, the way the Packers 416 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: beat the Bears on the final play at Lamba with 417 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: the interception of Keishaw Nixon, and then the Bears beating 418 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: the Packers on the last play in overtime getting the 419 00:21:17,560 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: walk off touchdown. It's just fitting that these teams are 420 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: going to meet for a third time and decide, Okay, 421 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: who's the best team out of these two storied rivals 422 00:21:29,119 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: in the twenty twenty five season. Go out there and 423 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:32,159 Speaker 1: prove it. 424 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 2: And I just love the idea too that I was 425 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 2: talking about this and wrote about this. The NFC North 426 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 2: was so odd this year. I found that statistic yesterday 427 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 2: about how the Bears were the first team since the 428 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 2: NFL Central NFC Central was founded in nineteen seventy after 429 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,479 Speaker 2: the merger, the Bears were the first team that had 430 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 2: a losing record within the division but yet still won 431 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 2: the title. Right, there'd only been one other team that 432 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:56,119 Speaker 2: had a non winning season and done that. It was 433 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 2: Detroit in nineteen ninety three. What happened then? The Packers 434 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,239 Speaker 2: ended up knocking them off the playoffs. Yeah, so I 435 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 2: just feel like this is the true barometer now of 436 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 2: not necessarily who is the NFC nor champion that the 437 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:08,639 Speaker 2: Chicago Bears a the NFC nor champions, you give them 438 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 2: that respect, but who deserves to let their season move on? 439 00:22:12,720 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 2: Press on, move forward. Neither of these teams are perfect. 440 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 2: They both have their blemishes. You heard it after the game, 441 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 2: Ben Johnson was talking about he wasn't happy with the 442 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 2: way that his offense played against Detroit. 443 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: Right, they didn't score until the fourth quarter, So they 444 00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 1: were shut out for three quarters by the Lions. 445 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, so it's like, and now they're gonna have their 446 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 2: own adversary CJ. Gardner Johnson. I believe currently in the 447 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 2: concussion protocol they might be able to get back Kyler Gordon, 448 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 2: but they have a lot of their own things to 449 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:39,400 Speaker 2: deal with in their backyard. 450 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 451 00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 2: So who's gonna be the one that overcomes all this? 452 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: Who's gonna be the one that answers the questions that 453 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 2: have kind of lingered throughout the season. Whoever does is 454 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 2: the team that advances. Whoever does gets that final four 455 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 2: of the NFC. But for the Packers' standpoint, again, like 456 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 2: I just think that the way that they've been conditioned 457 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 2: and trained, and when you think back to this thing, 458 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 2: starting back in April with the off season program, everybody 459 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 2: knew what was at stake this season. Everybody knew what 460 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 2: the potential of this team was, and especially once Micah 461 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 2: Parsons entered the building, everything got revved up. Another notch. 462 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: Parsons isn't here for the rest of the year. Who's 463 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 2: going to be the guy that steps up. Maybe it 464 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: will be a Baron's real Maybe it'll be a Kingsley 465 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 2: and Igbari. Maybe it's a Trayvon Diggs in the secondary 466 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:19,959 Speaker 2: that makes that big play that the Packers have been 467 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 2: looking for. Yeah, this is legend making season. Now. This 468 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 2: is where guys go from just being a really good 469 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 2: football player, guy that people talk about, to be remembered forever, right, 470 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 2: the way that Nick Collins did, the way that James 471 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 2: Starks did, Tremon Williams, the list goes on and on 472 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: and on. So, yeah, it's gonna be a lot of fun, 473 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 2: and for the Bears, I think the pressure's on them, 474 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 2: I really do. I think this is a team that 475 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 2: caught some people off guard this year, but at the 476 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: same time, they've had extremely high expectations for years now 477 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 2: since they drafted Caleb Williams. What does it all mean? 478 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting you bring up the NFC North and 479 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: some of those funky statistics because I read a couple 480 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: of others that this is only the second time since 481 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: the advent of divisional play or I'm sorry, since I 482 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 1: believe it was the Super Bowl era, so you're talking 483 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,600 Speaker 1: the last sixty years, only the second time that all 484 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,959 Speaker 1: the teams in a single division finished above five hundred 485 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: and along with that, it's also only the second time 486 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: in the Super Bowl era that the last place team 487 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 1: in a given division finished with a better record than 488 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: the first place team in another division. Because the Carolina 489 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: Panthers are in the playoffs as the NFC South champion 490 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: at eight and nine, and the Lions and the Vikings 491 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: both finished nine to eight at the bottom of the 492 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: at the NFC North finished with a better record than 493 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: that division champion, So it's been it's been one of 494 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: those It's been one of those strange years. But as 495 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: we say every year, when it comes to the postseason, 496 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: it truly is a reset. It's a starting over. The 497 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: only thing that's been determined by the records at this point, 498 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: as you referenced earlier, is where the game is played. Yep, 499 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: that's really all that it is at this point. And yeah, 500 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks earned a first round by the Denver 501 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: Broncos did the same thing in the AFC, so they 502 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 1: get a little bit of an advantage. They don't have 503 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: to win a wild card game to get to the 504 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 1: next round. They're already there. But for everybody else, for 505 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: the other twelve teams playing on wildcard weekend, it is 506 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 1: absolutely a reset, a start over, and what have you got? 507 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: And I was listening to Dave Canellis's press conference to 508 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,280 Speaker 2: him talking the head coach of the Panthers, talking about 509 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: what's going on with them right now. They're an eight 510 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 2: win team that's in the postseason. And it doesn't matter. 511 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 2: Now there's fourteen teams with the shot at this thing. 512 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 2: Everybody is zero and zero. It's the question of whether 513 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 2: or not you can get to one to o after 514 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,679 Speaker 2: this weekend. So yeah, and for Packer fans, and you 515 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 2: can't just sit there and always grab onto history and 516 00:25:56,320 --> 00:25:58,239 Speaker 2: use that as just you're, okay, well, this is just 517 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 2: foretelling of everything that it's gonna happen. But between what 518 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 2: happened in twenty ten and what happened in twenty twenty three, 519 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:09,040 Speaker 2: if you can bind those two ideas, anything is possible. Right, 520 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:11,560 Speaker 2: You're gonna tell the twenty ten team that squeaked into 521 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 2: the playoffs got past Philadelphia, they were going to go 522 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 2: into Atlanta and just completely rout the Falcons the way 523 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 2: they did after the season, that Atlanta was in the 524 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 2: middle of right, you look at how people were so 525 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 2: high and mighty about Dallas and dak Prescott and the 526 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 2: weapons they had, and then the Packers shut them down 527 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 2: for three quarters for the most part, and Jordan Love 528 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,280 Speaker 2: played some of his best ball he's ever played in 529 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 2: that game. So yeah, it's gonna be a fun weekend. 530 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 2: And I can totally see why the NFL slotted the 531 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 2: Packers and Bears for this Saturday night time slot. I 532 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 2: think it's gonna be widely viewed and there's gonna be 533 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:43,919 Speaker 2: a lot of hype surrounding it, because again, when you 534 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 2: add in the factor, the pro wrestling hype factor, the 535 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 2: gimmick factor, the rivalry, the narratives, the game cells itself. 536 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, no doubt about it. Well, we will talk more 537 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: Packers Bears. We will talk more about the other matchups 538 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: in the NFC, in the AFC, everything with wild Card 539 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:02,959 Speaker 1: weekend on our next show. But for now, we're going 540 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 1: to call it a rap on this edition of Packers 541 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: on Script, and'd be sure to follow all of our 542 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,200 Speaker 1: coverage of the team here during wildcardweek on packers dot com. 543 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: For Wes, I'mmike. Thank you for tuning in everybody. We 544 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:14,920 Speaker 1: will see you next time.