December 24, 2024 • 32 mins
Mike and Wes discuss the victory over the Saints, highlighting the Packers’ depth on defense in pitching a shutout (2:48), reviewing the injury situation (7:27), and examining the offensive performance (12:03). They also look at the playoff picture (15:07), preview the upcoming matchup against the Vikings (18:13) and discuss Green Bay’s keys to victory (22:45). Finally, they lay out how the Packers can get the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs (29:16).
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Hi everybody, Merry Christmas and welcome to another edition of
Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spoffer,
joined by the one and only Wes Hodkowitz. Coming to
you hear from our studios at lambeau Field Short week
holiday week. Kind of a double duty episode here, like
we did with the Thursday games earlier this season, we
(00:37):
need to recap a Packer's victory and look ahead to
a big game coming up next week. West will start
Monday Night Football thirty four to nothing. The Packers take
care of business against the Saints clinch their playoff spot
in the NFC. Quite frankly, New Orleans was just overmatched
in this one, and it seemed pretty obvious by about
(00:57):
the early portion of the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah. Really, with all the respect to the Saints, I mean,
it was the first two Packers offensive possessions that just
sort of told you what this game was going to be.
Like twenty seven plays, fourteen points. The Saints counter with
nine plays, zero points. And while Green Bay's offense, you know,
at times, there was fits and starts, after the first
two quarters, they just never really gave the Saints any
(01:22):
room for hope. The Saints looked like a team that
was starting their backup quarterback with a backup running back,
with backup receivers. Fortunately, some injuries on the offense as well.
I think what was the most impressive to me, though,
was the way that Green Bay built this game plan
and the execution of it was exactly what you wanted.
(01:47):
I was talking with bow Melton in the locker room
afterwards and he mentioned how you know on film they
saw defensively they were giving up a lot of yards
on the edges, so they ran some stuff outside for
Josh Jacob. They got their sweeps going with the receivers.
The end to round game, you end up having nine
different ball carriers in this game for green Bay, first
(02:08):
time they've done that since nineteen fifty three. Three running
backs end up with touchdowns, the first time that's happened
since two thousand and nine.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Tossing in the Tucker Craft quarterbacks neque to pick up
a first down there early in the ballgame.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Two three for three now on the year for Tucker
in those instances. So and I think, again conversation I
had afterwards with Don Tavian Wicks, the Packers still feel
like they'd haven't played their best football game. Yet they
still felt like there were things they didn't do particularly
well in this game. But when everything was on the table,
this is a team that clinches its spot in the postseason.
(02:41):
The New Orleans Saints fall to zero to five on
this year when Derek Carr is not starting under center
for them, and everything was sort of what it was.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yeah, you mentioned the running game, just setting the tone
for green Bay. Josh Jacobs once again goes over one
hundred combined yards. As far as the rushing and the
receiving put together, again, he was just a physical presence
out there, breaking tackles, stiff arming a Pro Bowl safety
there in Tyron Matthew down by the goal line. The
(03:09):
Packers end up scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions,
the first time in four years that Green Bay has
done that in a game. Three possessions, three touchdowns to
start the game, and at the time that the score
was twenty one to zero, the New Orleans Saints had
twenty one total yards of offense. Defensively, the Packers were
on their way to a shutout, the second shutout of
(03:30):
the Matt Lafleur era, joining the twenty twenty one shutout
of the Seattle Seahawks, but also the first shutout in
the NFL in twenty twenty four, which I had no
idea that was the case until after the game when
that started to circulate, I did not realize that there
hadn't been a shutout in the NFL this season. The
Saints limited to just one hundred and ninety six total yards.
(03:52):
The Packers get two turnovers defensively. Keishawn Nixon gets a
strip sack on a blitz coming off the slot, and
then Zane Anderson gets an interception on a ball that
a rookie quarterback is going to learn from, you don't
throw that pass. Zane Anderson, to his credit, his first
career interception, making his first start in place of in
(04:14):
place of Evan Williams, who was I guess sort of
a late scratch in a sense where he popped up
on the injury report on Saturday. But again I think
when you look at that, you look at what Zane
Anderson did. You mentioned both of Green Bay's backup running
backs scoring touchdowns in this game. The Saints were really
banged up, but the Packers just showed they have so
(04:36):
much more depth than New Orleans does. I mean the
Packers depth in this game was just far superior to
anything the Saints could put on the field when their
starters weren't available, and the final results showed it well.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Rob Damowsky had this tweet two I think it was
citing ESPN stats at info. The Saints got inside the
thirty yard line.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
The ESPN stats in both and got it cracks me.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Usually I always say Demo ski stats. Well, I actually
credited appropriately this time. That's the Saints got into the
thirty yard line of the Packers twice, and both times
they end up turning over the football. The Dante Pettis
pass for twenty yards was probably the best one that
Rattler threw in this game. And then the next play,
as you said, Zane Anderson leaps in front of that pass.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think I think Rattler was starting to feel himself.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
He was too much.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
After that, he makes a great play. He steps up
in the pocket, kind of throws a jump pass to
convert a third and seventeen. Heck of a play. You
tip your you tip your head to the kid. Then
he's you know, then he's out there thinking he's you know,
John Elway, you know, rolling out to the right, throwing
back across the field to the left, and Zane Anderson
gets you know what, not only his first interception, Well,
(05:43):
it might be the easiest one he'll ever have in
his career.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But you know what, We were talking with Zaane about
this afterwards, and he didn't say this, but I was
thinking that those are the interceptions you got to make
in this league. Yeah, when a quarterback puts it out there,
and a guy like Zane Anderson, who had a few
reps at safety this week, and then Evan Williams goes
down on Friday with the quadricep with draws for practice
or was limited in practice, can't go in this game.
(06:06):
He's suddenly making his first NFL start. It can't always
be Xavier McKenny. It can't always be Orshaun Gary or
Kenny Clark or Edger and Cooper. Sometimes it's Karenton Valentine
getting his first pick. Sometimes it's San Anderson getting that pick.
And I'll give credit to Rattler with this too. If
you look at his statistics this year when he's been
out there for the Saints, there's a pretty big dichotomy
(06:28):
between when they're in a two minute offense and the
production he's had and when they've been running their standard set.
They got back into that two minute rhythm and it
seemed like you said, he was kind of feeling himself again,
and that could have been a major turning point, you know,
in terms of being able to double up potentially have
other opportunities present themselves. Green Bay did not allow that.
They did not allow them at the end of the half.
They did not allow them in that situation to have
(06:49):
any opportunity to come back in this thing. Keishawn Nixon
afterwards was talking about it. Jeff Hafley, You know, this
was never the goal to go in and have like, Okay,
we're gonna shut out the Saints. But this is a
testament to those guys stepping up. Greenbay had plenty of
injuries on their side of the ball to defensively halfway,
I feel like this defense has been working towards this
(07:10):
and with this shutout and with as you said, one
hundred ninety six total yards allowed, Greenmay now sixth and
total or six and scoring defense seventh and total defense.
When you look at the balance and the complexity of
a seventeen game season, when you face an opponent like this,
the green Bay Packers did exactly what they were supposed
to do.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, the green Bay's defense is definitely uh trending upward.
The the only real negative coming out of this big
Monday Night win for green Bay was was the health
Department finding out that Evan Williams, for one on the
defensive side, the rookie safety, it sounds like he could
be out at least through the end of the regular season,
Matt Lafleur saying hopefully he can be back for the playoffs,
(07:50):
but it sounds like he will be down at least
for a little bit, and then a lot of concern
just because of the uncertainty at the moment with Christian
Watts and who. On one of those end a rounds
in the red zone, he ends up just awkwardly getting
landed on while he's out of bounds by a Saints
defender and seems to have reaggravated something from his knee
(08:15):
from a little bit earlier this season. He tried to
come back into the game, wasn't you know, wasn't having it.
Had to shut it down at the time that that
we're taping this episode. There may be some some testing
and whatnot going on We'll see if Matt Lafleur later
today has an update just some where things are with
with Christian Watson. But really the you know that that
(08:38):
injury situation and finding those kinds of things out as
as the Packers are trying to make a push here
for the best playoff seed possible. That was certainly concerning.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Well, what hurt the most was talking to you know,
hearing Christian speak after the game, the fact that he
felt like there were things he could have done to
try to turn on the burners a little faster, maybe
get to the end zone, maybe score on that end
around where then you're not in a position where you're
having two defenders hit you on the sideline. Yeah, it's
those small plays. I know. It's something that a lot
(09:09):
of guys have talked about in the past. It's something
that you know, Mercedes Lewis always used to talk about.
It's not just injuries, it's the positions that you end
up in that cause injuries. And unfortunately for Christian that's
what happened on that play. A credit to his toughness,
he did try to go back out there. It wasn't
responding the way he wanted it to. He did say
on Tuesday they were going to get some you know,
(09:30):
get that checked out. See where things are again the
end to rounds in this game, and the sweeps were
so critical. I thought to building that early momentum. Whether
it was Christian two for twenty three I think, which
was over span of maybe three or four plays, Bo
Melton had one for fourteen, Jaden Reed does it constantly.
They were able to stretch the Saints and make them
(09:52):
run and I just felt like those long, meticulous drives,
a seventeen ninety six yard touchdown drive that eats up
almost nine minutes or whatever it was off the clock,
those things are just demoralizing for defense, and Green Bay
had that early on. Unfortunately they finished this game though
without number nine on the field.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
It did seem like and I think it was one
of the players you quoted in one of your postgame
stories talking about and it might have been Melton who
said that they noticed the Saints weren't necessarily chasing the
guys going in motion, So that sort of set the
stage for all right, Well, then, yeah, you try the
end around, you try the jet sweep kind of stuff
to see if you can get the edge, and you
(10:31):
wonder just how much of that is a function of Okay,
they're not going to chase the motion guys, because Josh
Jacobs is back, They're ready to ramp the ball down
your throat. So if the Packers are seeing that and
reading that, and then they can make the adjustments. I mean,
for the Packers to have one hundred and eighty eight
rushing yards in this game and Josh Jacobs had sixty
nine of them, yes, you know, I mean that says
(10:52):
something about the variety and the way they can go,
the way they can go about it as things move
a little.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It was telling too they opened the game and the
two RB package, but it was Jacob's and Reid and
I feel like as this thing goes on that it's
going to be a very important look for them. Now
they've done those type of things before, but think about it.
They open up in that look read I believe motioned
out and on the next play they could still stick
with eleven personnel and Read now is out as a
(11:19):
receiver and you can go back to a one back set.
That's the type of stuff the defenses are going to
have to account for. The Packers have put that on
film now and now going into the playoffs. That's another
feather in the cap. When Jacobs leaves the game, Emmanuel
Wilson and Chris Brooks are doing two backpackages together. Brooks
gets his first NFL touchdown after he gives up that
(11:39):
one against Jacksonville. Emmanuel gets his in the fourth quarter.
For as much as we've talked about Josh Jacobs this
season and him being the bellcow, green Bay showed in
this game when he does go, you know, they shut
him down basically after they get to twenty four to
nothing that they have other guys they can turn to.
I think that's going to be you know, you know,
(12:00):
for the versatility and the complexity of this scheme.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Yeah, no doubt about it. And certainly a shout out
to the offensive line here for green Bay, not only
the way those guys paved the way for the rushing
yards and with the variety of ways the Packers are
running the ball. But Jordan Love doesn't get sacked once again.
This was a defense, as we had talked about a
lot last week. They had eight sacks the previous week
against Washington. Jordan Love doesn't get sacked once. The Packers
(12:26):
up to now four games in the last four games.
The only sack of Jordan Love was the opening offensive
play in Detroit on that Thursday night game. Not a
you know, crazy good game for Jordan Love, but certainly
he was efficient enough, made some plays. You know, he
was just a little bit off target on some downfield throws,
(12:46):
but really only put the ball in Harm's way once
where the Saints had a chance at an interception off
of deflection that didn't happen. So it became another turnover
free game for green Bay. And I mean, you know,
when you get up on a team twenty one to nothing,
it's all about just limiting, if not eliminating your mistakes
on offense. Because as we saw last week, it's you know,
(13:09):
the unfortunate fumbled by Josh Jacobs that suddenly got Seattle
back into a game when green Bay was in total command.
That type of mistake didn't happen in this game, So
the Packers stayed in command and the defense just the
defense just rode it out against an offense that didn't
have enough playmakers to turn too well.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
And then, as you said, Mike, three straight scoring drives
to open this thing, ten for sixty three, seventeen for
ninety six, six for sixty seven. You don't have that
type of production if A you're not protecting the football
obviously in b if you're having penalties that are knocking
you backwards. Green Bay avoided those two things, which were
sort of the buggaboos, right or whatever you want to
call them. Yeah, sort of the hiccups there in the
first half of the year for them, I felt like
(13:49):
that was huge. And then also the offensive line to
be able to be in a position now where there's
six times this year over fifteen games, Jordan Love has
not been sacked. I believe that is the most since
two thousand and four, if I remember reading Tom notes
notes correctly.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Yeah, the great, the great Tom Fanning note postgame notes list. Yeah,
We're just got some great stuff in there.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And to be able to do that against that front
and while still running the ball that well, yeah, you're right,
it wasn't the virtuoso passing performance. But at the same time,
we can't sit here in ridicule that when you and
I spent so much time talking and spilling so much ink,
as a lot of the beat did, about how this
defense had really made a lot of changes since Darren
(14:32):
Rizzy took over they've done a lot of more positive things.
I think Green Bay just hit him with some big
shots early on. Yeah, it ended up not being as
cold as I think everybody was fearing with refrigerator talk
and all that stuff. But our freezer.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, the walk in, the walk in freezer walkthroughs.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
But let's be honest. You're a dome team going from
about as celt as you can go in the continental
of the United States to right around the most northern
point at least in the National Football League, and you're
playing on Monday Night football and the Packers get up
twenty one to nothing on you. Yeah, it's how you
draw it up if you're green Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Absolutely, Well, the victory puts Green Bay at eleven and four.
Due to the results on Sunday, the Lions beating the Bears,
the Vikings beating the Seahawks, the Packers cannot win the
NFC North. The chances are very slim anyway. Now it
is official the Packers will be a wild card in
the NFC playoffs. So from here it's about the positioning. Well,
(15:29):
the Packers get the five seed, the sixth seed, or
the seventh seed. Currently Green Bay is in the sixth spot.
But Washington, which got a big win a last second,
last minute touchdown pass by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to
beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington is right on Green Bay's heels.
(15:51):
So as the Packers head into this game this week
against the Minnesota Vikings over there in Minneapolis at US
Banks Stadium, dreen Bay is trying to win that game
to give itself a chance at the five seed, But
a loss would put Green Bay in danger of possibly
falling to the seven seed depending on what Washington does
(16:11):
over these last couple of weeks. So there's still a
lot to be sorted out as to exactly how this
playoff picture is going to take shape. But the big thing,
the big thing for green Bay is you've got a
chance to be the top wild card. You have a
chance to get to the five seed, and the only
way you can keep that chance alive is to go
beat Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
One hundred percent the Philadelphia game, I said this an
insider inbox, and I understand the defense kind of were on.
I just thought that was a pitiful performance at the
end of that game by the Eagles. You lose your
starting quarterback. They did not adjust well after that offensively
and then defensively and special teams wise, you just collapse
under the weight of that final sequence. Jake Elliott took
(16:55):
care of business. The rest of that team really didn't.
And for them, I mean, that's again, I keep going
back to what happened last year. I understand they're not
in the doldrums that they fell into, but you're riding
kind of an emotional high after the Lions finally blink
and then you give it right back right exactly. But
on the other side of that thing, Jaden Daniels is
legit man. He is a real playmaker. And I thought
(17:17):
he was cool, calm and collected down the stretch to
be able to take what Vic fangils giving him, take
what the Eagles are giving him, and then when he
had to make the play to win the game, he
did it.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah. And you want to know, just you know how
slim the margins are in this league? Right the Washington Commanders.
They've won a game on a hail Mary against Chicago,
and they've won a game with a touchdown pass with
what was it less than ten second five second, five
seconds left against Philadelphia. That is the difference between Washington
being ten and five versus eight and seven, and they're
(17:49):
very in very good playoff position to get a spot
whereas they'd be. They really have their backs against the
wall heading into the into these last two games. So,
as I said with Green Bay, it's a matter of
can can the Packers get up to the five seed?
Can they stay out of the seven seed? Where exactly
are they going to fall there? On the flip side,
(18:09):
the Packers opponent this coming week, we'll move ahead to
that game. Talking about the Minnesota Vikings. They are thirteen
in two. They are tied with the Detroit Lions at
thirteen into atop the NFC North, the Lions having won
the first head to head meeting between the two of them.
But Minnesota is looking at the old control your own
destiny thing. The Vikings are looking at if they can
(18:31):
beat the Packers, and they can beat the Lions in
the last two games, they are the number one seed
and they have a first round by guy. So Minnesota
has has a ton going forward here. There's you know,
there are a lot of different a lot of different
ways that this that this can shake out. But boy,
it just got flex to three twenty five pm next
(18:52):
Sunday at US Bank, which was certainly expected and it
should be a wail of a game on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Guys are championing at the bit for this one in
the Packers' locker room. Yeah, obviously, losing those back to
back to the Lions, that hurts, but they haven't forgotten
about what happened with the Vikings here either.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And twenty eight to nothing in the second quarter, you know,
and and the Packers did everything they could to try
to come back, end up losing thirty one to twenty nine.
But yeah, that is a game you can just you
can tell by the way the guys, you know, Jordan
Love was talking about it at the podium, guys were
talking about in the locker room. Those guys remember, yep,
this for it was way back in Week four, but
(19:29):
they remember this first game with the Vikings, and Jordan
Love said it, they feel like they owe these guys,
and it's it's it's a short week. It's a tough week.
You got the holiday and everything like that. Minnesota had
the short week last week, had to go out to Seattle.
They won a big game on a short week with
a late touchdown pass by Sam Darnold. Packers are in
that position. Now the challenge here late in the season
(19:52):
with a big game on the road.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
And I'm going to give the Vikings some advice and
they could take it and not take it. They're obviously
not even watching. But Sam Donald's your quarterback. He is,
He's the quarterback today. He should be the quarterback next year. Yep,
and beyond.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I think he's proven it.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
If you want to muff that, go ahead, be my guest.
And I understand you drafted JJ McCarthy. But after all
this conversation this week about what happened with Atlanta with
Kirk Cousins and then they're benching him and potentially moving
on for him, they're already these things being leaked out
that they're going to cut him before Penix even plays
in a game. Pennox obviously performs admirably to be able
(20:32):
to beat a big leaguered New York Giants team.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Well, it helps when the Giants give the Falcons two
defensive touchdowns in the game. That always helps a rookie
quarterback making his first start.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
But I digress, But the real thing here should be
the Minnesota Vikings made a really savvy signing one year,
ten million dollars they get Sam Darnald, he continues this
renaissance of his career and is still I believe he
won't win it, but I think he is legitimately in
the conversation for MVP because when it hasn't been Aaron Jones,
and at times it hasn't been Justin Jefferson, Donald has
(21:04):
been the thing that has kept this thing together. It's
why they're at thirteen wins right now. I don't think
this is as much of a debate is what people
are making it out to be. I think JJ McCarthy,
especially with all the knee injuries, you let him sit,
You let him figure out what's gonna happen with his career.
But you could absolutely not let Sam Donald. If you're
the Packers, go ahead, But I mean if you're the Vikings,
(21:24):
I don't think there's any way you could let him
out of the building. And they're playing inspired football, I
think it's gonna be a real tough test. Matt Lafuller
talked about the challenges now on a short week, after
having all that time that led up to the Saints game,
Now you're on a short week going into US Bank Stadium,
a place that is going to be rocking and rolling.
And for the Packers, a team that will have to
go on the road, whether five, six, or seven, this
(21:46):
is a great litmus test for where you are entering
winning season.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yeah. Absolutely, yeah. I think with the Sam Donald quarterback situation,
it's sort of the bird in the hand thing, right,
I mean, how do you do't with everything that he
has done? I don't know how. You just say, Okay, Sam,
thanks for the memory. Now go with the guy we drafted. Like,
I mean, they're thirteen and.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Two negotiations that probably end up getting kind of serious,
but they're third line and two with one of their
losses to another team that's also thirteen and two by
the way.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I mean, so yeah, I'm totally I'm totally with you there.
I want to get to our keys to victory here,
but I should take care of some sponsor business before
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(22:38):
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Minnesota Vikings, we know all about them. We don't need
to well, don't need to go through the ABC's of
Sam Donald, Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, TJ. Hockinson, Brian Flores
(22:59):
in that defense, all the crazy looks and crazy blitzes
and fake blitzes and everything else. It sounds like Harrison
Smith is going to be back from his injury. You know,
he's always been a nemesis for Green Bay in the
back end there at safety for Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
A lot of things you can line up.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
As the as keys to victory. What's at the top
of the list for you?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Well, and it's the reason in my opinion, Kevin O'Connell,
is that near the top of the list for Coach
of the Year. A lot of the same threats that
we're there in that first matchup with the Vikings are
still there. Andrew van Ginkel has been fantastic, Yeah here
for them, eleven sacks on the year. Blake Cashman has
belve battles some injuries, but he had a twelve sack
performance against Seattle I feel like he's been a big
(23:39):
difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively,
Justin Jefferson the best receiver in the National Football League.
Green Bay has to find an answer for that. Is
Jyry Alexander going to be available? Is he not going
to be available? If that's the case, what combination of
defensive backs and approach and scheme are you going to
utilize to minimize him, to try to contain him, and
(24:02):
certainly trying to get Sam Darnold off his rhythm and
offensively protect the football. I said six different things there, Mike,
But if you go back to the unscripted we did
two three months ago, it's probably the same exact thing
I said back then. You know what you're getting with
the Vikings. You know what their defensive look is going
to be, like, the Packers have to be able to
(24:24):
weather that, and they, as you said earlier, need to
respond better in the first two quarters to keep up
with that pace.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, And you know me, I always I base a
lot of things, a lot of conversations off of what
teams have done most recently and seeing seeing how Justin
Jefferson in a lot of ways kind of took over
that game in Seattle. I mean, the Seahawks just couldn't
handle no. And in a lot of ways, it felt,
(24:51):
even though the Seahawks did have a lead at one
point in the fourth quarter, the way Seattle had been
struggling dealing with Jefferson, it felt somewhat inevitable that Justin
Jefferson was going to beat them, and ultimately he did.
I think, if you're the Packers, and I know the
game is never this simple, and you know Hockinson and
Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones and all these guys can
hurt you, I just don't think you can let Justin
(25:14):
Jefferson beat you. You have to make Sam Donald go
somewhere else in order to beat you, and UH and
the and the best way to UH to deal with
Sam Donald the course is to try to disrupt him.
I think the Packers have been on a pretty good
run defensively at not letting quarterbacks get comfortable. Jared goff
(25:35):
in that Thursday night game in Detroit, he certainly had
a level of comfort, but he was also running a
game plan with all these screens and just getting the
ball out right away, and and Ben Johnson wasn't gonna
let the Packers defensive front disrupt you know, what he
was trying to do offensively, the uh, what the Packers
(25:55):
can do to try to, you know, get Sam Donald
out of a rhythm or prevent him from getting into
a rhythm, I think potentially goes a long way.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
In forty five sacks this year for Donald, when the
pressure has been there, that's been a key. But as
you said, Mike, we can you know, you tip your
cap to TJ Hockinson, you tip your cap to you know,
Jalen Naylor and all these other people that they have.
But realistically it comes down to three weapons for the Vikings.
Jefferson at the top of the list, Jordan Addison and
what he's done is the complimentary piece in Aaron Jones
(26:25):
notching another thousand yard season, appearing like he's put some
of the issues that he had earlier this season injury
wise behind him. Still a factor in the passing game
as well. Those have been the three outlets for Donald.
Hockinson's not had a fantastic year, it still doesn't have
a touchdown this season, So the Packers want to try
to keep that trend going. Some of the things that
you would think of when you think of how spread
(26:47):
out they are on the offense, it still comes back
to that trio and I feel like, if you take
away or you contain some of those threats, that's where
you're ultimately going to have success. In addition to the
fact that Jordan Love in this Packers offensive line have
to manage the Brian Flora's defense and the looks and
the misdirection and the pressures. One reason Jordan has gotten
(27:07):
into this rhythm that he's been in he has not
been pressured a ton, and I feel like that's that's
really when he's at his best. He's back there, he's
standing tall, he's looking downfield looking to make a play. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I don't pretend to be an expert on the Vikings
and their defense and what Brian Flores is doing, but
the times that I've watched the Vikings this year, there
are moments where you see, whether it's Gino Smith of
the Seahawks, or Kyler Murray or the Cardinals, even you
know other quarterbacks as well. Suddenly an opposing offense will
(27:41):
put together a drive on the Vikings, get the ball
in the end zone, and you're like, oh, well, is
the Vikings defense you know, showing some vulnerability. One of
the things that I think makes the Vikings defense so
tough is that they don't give up scores on like
back to back possession yet like they give up they
they'll give up a score, but then the next one
(28:03):
they're very likely getting a three and out. Like they
just they have this way. They have this way of
bouncing back, making adjustments, making things difficult on you after
you've had some success. And when you look at what
the Packers have done starting the Seahawks game with back
to back touchdowns, starting the Saints game with three consecutive touchdowns,
getting on any kind of a scoring run like that
(28:24):
is going to be very difficult. But if the Packers
can do it, if you truly can get a Brian
Flores defense on its heels by scoring on consecutive possessions,
I think that's the type of thing that can that
can set the tone, particularly with the Vikings plan at
home and the home crowd and the noise on third
down and all that that Jordan Love and company will
(28:46):
be dealing.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
And as much as I've talked about Love, this is
about Josh Shakups and the fact that the Packers were
able to take some reps off of him in the
second half, I think is going to be key. They
are facing the number two ranked run defense in both
yards allowed in yards per carry. The Vikings are twenty
ninth against the pass. I mean it is feast or
famine with what they offer you and what they present
(29:07):
to you. So being able to get a run game
going because of what the Vikings want to do is
they want to get you in third and long and
want you to make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Yeah. Absolutely. To lay out the proper scenario for those
who are wondering, okay, have been talking about the Packers
could get the five to six or the seven. How
can the Packers get the five seed? Really, the path
to doing it is for the Packers to win out,
to beat the Vikings and the Bears, and then in
(29:38):
week eighteen for the Lions to knock off the Vikings
and give Minnesota another loss. Because then the Packers would
end up tied with the Vikings. There would be a
series of tie breakers that eventually would go Green Bay's
way in the way of common opponents, where they because
of the Packers win over the Rams and the Vikings
having lost to the Rams, that would give green Bay
(29:59):
the five seed over Minnesota. In that scenario.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
The tricky thing.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Is that if the Packers beat the Vikings this week,
and if the Lions beat the forty nine ers, the
Lions have the one seed wrapped up.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
It's over.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
The Week eighteen game against the Vikings will not matter
to the Detroit Lions. Now. Dan Campbell has said he's
always gonna play his guys at Sarah.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Well, we'll just see.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
The Detroit Lions have never been the number one seed,
you know, looking at a buy and it is a
team that is awfully banged up, and are they really
gonna risk, you know, injuring anymore guys. So that's the
tough thing for green Bay is that as much as yeah,
you feel like you can go into Minnesota, you know,
potentially get a big win, look at trying to get
the five seed, but then you need the Lions to
beat the Vikings. And if the Vikings lose this week
(30:46):
and the Lions win, then the Lions aren't playing for anything.
So we'll just have to see. That's nothing the Packers
can control. All they can control is go to Minnesota,
try to get a victory, and see where the chips fall.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Here's where I feel like Campbell tipped his hand a
little bit on Monday, though. There is a scenario where
the Lions could know that nothing that happens against the
forty nine ers could affect this by Monday night football
because they'll have already seen what happened with the Packers
and the Vikings. He said, that doesn't matter. He's still
playing his guys on Monday night football. It's still full
steam ahead. Now would he take that approach in Week eighteen?
(31:19):
I don't know, right, but he said if that game
doesn't matter and everything comes down to that last game
against the Vikings, he's still playing his guys against the Niners,
which I thought was interesting. Now again, will he do that?
Is it? Al bravado, you're playing Monday night football? What
do you do? I don't know, but damn Campbell, I.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Guess I didn't. I didn't even realize that the Detroit
game this week was Monday.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Money Night football. So there's a scenario. Don't ask me
to figure all this out, but there's a scenario where
that game could win or lose against the forty Narrows
have no impact on what happens for their Week eighteen games. Sure, Vikings,
sure so, but Dan Campbell said it's still full steam
ahead as he is wont to do.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Yeah, that would, that would That's what I'm brandicked from
Dan Campbell. We will just have to see how everything
unfolds and with that we'll call it a wrap on
this edition Packers Unscripted. But folks, the home of the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft is right here in Green Bay,
so don't miss any draft action coming April twenty fourth
through April twenty six of twenty twenty five. That's officially
(32:16):
only four months away. Wes.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Visit green Bay dot.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Com slash Draft twenty five for more information. And with that,
we would like to wish you a merry Christmas here
from the desks at Packers Unscripted and be sure to
follow all of our coverage of the team and Sunday
afternoons big game at us Bank Stadium in Minneapolis against
the Vikings. We will have it all for you on
Packers dot com for Wes, I Mike, thank you for
(32:41):
tuning in everybody. We will see you next time.
Hi everybody, Merry Christmas and welcome to another edition of
Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spoffer,
joined by the one and only Wes Hodkowitz. Coming to
you hear from our studios at lambeau Field Short week
holiday week. Kind of a double duty episode here, like
we did with the Thursday games earlier this season, we
(00:37):
need to recap a Packer's victory and look ahead to
a big game coming up next week. West will start
Monday Night Football thirty four to nothing. The Packers take
care of business against the Saints clinch their playoff spot
in the NFC. Quite frankly, New Orleans was just overmatched
in this one, and it seemed pretty obvious by about
(00:57):
the early portion of the second quarter.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah. Really, with all the respect to the Saints, I mean,
it was the first two Packers offensive possessions that just
sort of told you what this game was going to be.
Like twenty seven plays, fourteen points. The Saints counter with
nine plays, zero points. And while Green Bay's offense, you know,
at times, there was fits and starts, after the first
two quarters, they just never really gave the Saints any
(01:22):
room for hope. The Saints looked like a team that
was starting their backup quarterback with a backup running back,
with backup receivers. Fortunately, some injuries on the offense as well.
I think what was the most impressive to me, though,
was the way that Green Bay built this game plan
and the execution of it was exactly what you wanted.
(01:47):
I was talking with bow Melton in the locker room
afterwards and he mentioned how you know on film they
saw defensively they were giving up a lot of yards
on the edges, so they ran some stuff outside for
Josh Jacob. They got their sweeps going with the receivers.
The end to round game, you end up having nine
different ball carriers in this game for green Bay, first
(02:08):
time they've done that since nineteen fifty three. Three running
backs end up with touchdowns, the first time that's happened
since two thousand and nine.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Tossing in the Tucker Craft quarterbacks neque to pick up
a first down there early in the ballgame.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Two three for three now on the year for Tucker
in those instances. So and I think, again conversation I
had afterwards with Don Tavian Wicks, the Packers still feel
like they'd haven't played their best football game. Yet they
still felt like there were things they didn't do particularly
well in this game. But when everything was on the table,
this is a team that clinches its spot in the postseason.
(02:41):
The New Orleans Saints fall to zero to five on
this year when Derek Carr is not starting under center
for them, and everything was sort of what it was.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yeah, you mentioned the running game, just setting the tone
for green Bay. Josh Jacobs once again goes over one
hundred combined yards. As far as the rushing and the
receiving put together, again, he was just a physical presence
out there, breaking tackles, stiff arming a Pro Bowl safety
there in Tyron Matthew down by the goal line. The
(03:09):
Packers end up scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions,
the first time in four years that Green Bay has
done that in a game. Three possessions, three touchdowns to
start the game, and at the time that the score
was twenty one to zero, the New Orleans Saints had
twenty one total yards of offense. Defensively, the Packers were
on their way to a shutout, the second shutout of
(03:30):
the Matt Lafleur era, joining the twenty twenty one shutout
of the Seattle Seahawks, but also the first shutout in
the NFL in twenty twenty four, which I had no
idea that was the case until after the game when
that started to circulate, I did not realize that there
hadn't been a shutout in the NFL this season. The
Saints limited to just one hundred and ninety six total yards.
(03:52):
The Packers get two turnovers defensively. Keishawn Nixon gets a
strip sack on a blitz coming off the slot, and
then Zane Anderson gets an interception on a ball that
a rookie quarterback is going to learn from, you don't
throw that pass. Zane Anderson, to his credit, his first
career interception, making his first start in place of in
(04:14):
place of Evan Williams, who was I guess sort of
a late scratch in a sense where he popped up
on the injury report on Saturday. But again I think
when you look at that, you look at what Zane
Anderson did. You mentioned both of Green Bay's backup running
backs scoring touchdowns in this game. The Saints were really
banged up, but the Packers just showed they have so
(04:36):
much more depth than New Orleans does. I mean the
Packers depth in this game was just far superior to
anything the Saints could put on the field when their
starters weren't available, and the final results showed it well.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Rob Damowsky had this tweet two I think it was
citing ESPN stats at info. The Saints got inside the
thirty yard line.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
The ESPN stats in both and got it cracks me.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Usually I always say Demo ski stats. Well, I actually
credited appropriately this time. That's the Saints got into the
thirty yard line of the Packers twice, and both times
they end up turning over the football. The Dante Pettis
pass for twenty yards was probably the best one that
Rattler threw in this game. And then the next play,
as you said, Zane Anderson leaps in front of that pass.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I think I think Rattler was starting to feel himself.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
He was too much.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
After that, he makes a great play. He steps up
in the pocket, kind of throws a jump pass to
convert a third and seventeen. Heck of a play. You
tip your you tip your head to the kid. Then
he's you know, then he's out there thinking he's you know,
John Elway, you know, rolling out to the right, throwing
back across the field to the left, and Zane Anderson
gets you know what, not only his first interception, Well,
(05:43):
it might be the easiest one he'll ever have in
his career.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
But you know what, We were talking with Zaane about
this afterwards, and he didn't say this, but I was
thinking that those are the interceptions you got to make
in this league. Yeah, when a quarterback puts it out there,
and a guy like Zane Anderson, who had a few
reps at safety this week, and then Evan Williams goes
down on Friday with the quadricep with draws for practice
or was limited in practice, can't go in this game.
(06:06):
He's suddenly making his first NFL start. It can't always
be Xavier McKenny. It can't always be Orshaun Gary or
Kenny Clark or Edger and Cooper. Sometimes it's Karenton Valentine
getting his first pick. Sometimes it's San Anderson getting that pick.
And I'll give credit to Rattler with this too. If
you look at his statistics this year when he's been
out there for the Saints, there's a pretty big dichotomy
(06:28):
between when they're in a two minute offense and the
production he's had and when they've been running their standard set.
They got back into that two minute rhythm and it
seemed like you said, he was kind of feeling himself again,
and that could have been a major turning point, you know,
in terms of being able to double up potentially have
other opportunities present themselves. Green Bay did not allow that.
They did not allow them at the end of the half.
They did not allow them in that situation to have
(06:49):
any opportunity to come back in this thing. Keishawn Nixon
afterwards was talking about it. Jeff Hafley, You know, this
was never the goal to go in and have like, Okay,
we're gonna shut out the Saints. But this is a
testament to those guys stepping up. Greenbay had plenty of
injuries on their side of the ball to defensively halfway,
I feel like this defense has been working towards this
(07:10):
and with this shutout and with as you said, one
hundred ninety six total yards allowed, Greenmay now sixth and
total or six and scoring defense seventh and total defense.
When you look at the balance and the complexity of
a seventeen game season, when you face an opponent like this,
the green Bay Packers did exactly what they were supposed
to do.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Yeah, the green Bay's defense is definitely uh trending upward.
The the only real negative coming out of this big
Monday Night win for green Bay was was the health
Department finding out that Evan Williams, for one on the
defensive side, the rookie safety, it sounds like he could
be out at least through the end of the regular season,
Matt Lafleur saying hopefully he can be back for the playoffs,
(07:50):
but it sounds like he will be down at least
for a little bit, and then a lot of concern
just because of the uncertainty at the moment with Christian
Watts and who. On one of those end a rounds
in the red zone, he ends up just awkwardly getting
landed on while he's out of bounds by a Saints
defender and seems to have reaggravated something from his knee
(08:15):
from a little bit earlier this season. He tried to
come back into the game, wasn't you know, wasn't having it.
Had to shut it down at the time that that
we're taping this episode. There may be some some testing
and whatnot going on We'll see if Matt Lafleur later
today has an update just some where things are with
with Christian Watson. But really the you know that that
(08:38):
injury situation and finding those kinds of things out as
as the Packers are trying to make a push here
for the best playoff seed possible. That was certainly concerning.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Well, what hurt the most was talking to you know,
hearing Christian speak after the game, the fact that he
felt like there were things he could have done to
try to turn on the burners a little faster, maybe
get to the end zone, maybe score on that end
around where then you're not in a position where you're
having two defenders hit you on the sideline. Yeah, it's
those small plays. I know. It's something that a lot
(09:09):
of guys have talked about in the past. It's something
that you know, Mercedes Lewis always used to talk about.
It's not just injuries, it's the positions that you end
up in that cause injuries. And unfortunately for Christian that's
what happened on that play. A credit to his toughness,
he did try to go back out there. It wasn't
responding the way he wanted it to. He did say
on Tuesday they were going to get some you know,
(09:30):
get that checked out. See where things are again the
end to rounds in this game, and the sweeps were
so critical. I thought to building that early momentum. Whether
it was Christian two for twenty three I think, which
was over span of maybe three or four plays, Bo
Melton had one for fourteen, Jaden Reed does it constantly.
They were able to stretch the Saints and make them
(09:52):
run and I just felt like those long, meticulous drives,
a seventeen ninety six yard touchdown drive that eats up
almost nine minutes or whatever it was off the clock,
those things are just demoralizing for defense, and Green Bay
had that early on. Unfortunately they finished this game though
without number nine on the field.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
It did seem like and I think it was one
of the players you quoted in one of your postgame
stories talking about and it might have been Melton who
said that they noticed the Saints weren't necessarily chasing the
guys going in motion, So that sort of set the
stage for all right, Well, then, yeah, you try the
end around, you try the jet sweep kind of stuff
to see if you can get the edge, and you
(10:31):
wonder just how much of that is a function of Okay,
they're not going to chase the motion guys, because Josh
Jacobs is back, They're ready to ramp the ball down
your throat. So if the Packers are seeing that and
reading that, and then they can make the adjustments. I mean,
for the Packers to have one hundred and eighty eight
rushing yards in this game and Josh Jacobs had sixty
nine of them, yes, you know, I mean that says
(10:52):
something about the variety and the way they can go,
the way they can go about it as things move
a little.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It was telling too they opened the game and the
two RB package, but it was Jacob's and Reid and
I feel like as this thing goes on that it's
going to be a very important look for them. Now
they've done those type of things before, but think about it.
They open up in that look read I believe motioned
out and on the next play they could still stick
with eleven personnel and Read now is out as a
(11:19):
receiver and you can go back to a one back set.
That's the type of stuff the defenses are going to
have to account for. The Packers have put that on
film now and now going into the playoffs. That's another
feather in the cap. When Jacobs leaves the game, Emmanuel
Wilson and Chris Brooks are doing two backpackages together. Brooks
gets his first NFL touchdown after he gives up that
(11:39):
one against Jacksonville. Emmanuel gets his in the fourth quarter.
For as much as we've talked about Josh Jacobs this
season and him being the bellcow, green Bay showed in
this game when he does go, you know, they shut
him down basically after they get to twenty four to
nothing that they have other guys they can turn to.
I think that's going to be you know, you know,
(12:00):
for the versatility and the complexity of this scheme.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
Yeah, no doubt about it. And certainly a shout out
to the offensive line here for green Bay, not only
the way those guys paved the way for the rushing
yards and with the variety of ways the Packers are
running the ball. But Jordan Love doesn't get sacked once again.
This was a defense, as we had talked about a
lot last week. They had eight sacks the previous week
against Washington. Jordan Love doesn't get sacked once. The Packers
(12:26):
up to now four games in the last four games.
The only sack of Jordan Love was the opening offensive
play in Detroit on that Thursday night game. Not a
you know, crazy good game for Jordan Love, but certainly
he was efficient enough, made some plays. You know, he
was just a little bit off target on some downfield throws,
(12:46):
but really only put the ball in Harm's way once
where the Saints had a chance at an interception off
of deflection that didn't happen. So it became another turnover
free game for green Bay. And I mean, you know,
when you get up on a team twenty one to nothing,
it's all about just limiting, if not eliminating your mistakes
on offense. Because as we saw last week, it's you know,
(13:09):
the unfortunate fumbled by Josh Jacobs that suddenly got Seattle
back into a game when green Bay was in total command.
That type of mistake didn't happen in this game, So
the Packers stayed in command and the defense just the
defense just rode it out against an offense that didn't
have enough playmakers to turn too well.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
And then, as you said, Mike, three straight scoring drives
to open this thing, ten for sixty three, seventeen for
ninety six, six for sixty seven. You don't have that
type of production if A you're not protecting the football
obviously in b if you're having penalties that are knocking
you backwards. Green Bay avoided those two things, which were
sort of the buggaboos, right or whatever you want to
call them. Yeah, sort of the hiccups there in the
first half of the year for them, I felt like
(13:49):
that was huge. And then also the offensive line to
be able to be in a position now where there's
six times this year over fifteen games, Jordan Love has
not been sacked. I believe that is the most since
two thousand and four, if I remember reading Tom notes
notes correctly.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
Yeah, the great, the great Tom Fanning note postgame notes list. Yeah,
We're just got some great stuff in there.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
And to be able to do that against that front
and while still running the ball that well, yeah, you're right,
it wasn't the virtuoso passing performance. But at the same time,
we can't sit here in ridicule that when you and
I spent so much time talking and spilling so much ink,
as a lot of the beat did, about how this
defense had really made a lot of changes since Darren
(14:32):
Rizzy took over they've done a lot of more positive things.
I think Green Bay just hit him with some big
shots early on. Yeah, it ended up not being as
cold as I think everybody was fearing with refrigerator talk
and all that stuff. But our freezer.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, the walk in, the walk in freezer walkthroughs.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
But let's be honest. You're a dome team going from
about as celt as you can go in the continental
of the United States to right around the most northern
point at least in the National Football League, and you're
playing on Monday Night football and the Packers get up
twenty one to nothing on you. Yeah, it's how you
draw it up if you're green Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Absolutely, Well, the victory puts Green Bay at eleven and four.
Due to the results on Sunday, the Lions beating the Bears,
the Vikings beating the Seahawks, the Packers cannot win the
NFC North. The chances are very slim anyway. Now it
is official the Packers will be a wild card in
the NFC playoffs. So from here it's about the positioning. Well,
(15:29):
the Packers get the five seed, the sixth seed, or
the seventh seed. Currently Green Bay is in the sixth spot.
But Washington, which got a big win a last second,
last minute touchdown pass by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to
beat the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington is right on Green Bay's heels.
(15:51):
So as the Packers head into this game this week
against the Minnesota Vikings over there in Minneapolis at US
Banks Stadium, dreen Bay is trying to win that game
to give itself a chance at the five seed, But
a loss would put Green Bay in danger of possibly
falling to the seven seed depending on what Washington does
(16:11):
over these last couple of weeks. So there's still a
lot to be sorted out as to exactly how this
playoff picture is going to take shape. But the big thing,
the big thing for green Bay is you've got a
chance to be the top wild card. You have a
chance to get to the five seed, and the only
way you can keep that chance alive is to go
beat Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
One hundred percent the Philadelphia game, I said this an
insider inbox, and I understand the defense kind of were on.
I just thought that was a pitiful performance at the
end of that game by the Eagles. You lose your
starting quarterback. They did not adjust well after that offensively
and then defensively and special teams wise, you just collapse
under the weight of that final sequence. Jake Elliott took
(16:55):
care of business. The rest of that team really didn't.
And for them, I mean, that's again, I keep going
back to what happened last year. I understand they're not
in the doldrums that they fell into, but you're riding
kind of an emotional high after the Lions finally blink
and then you give it right back right exactly. But
on the other side of that thing, Jaden Daniels is
legit man. He is a real playmaker. And I thought
(17:17):
he was cool, calm and collected down the stretch to
be able to take what Vic fangils giving him, take
what the Eagles are giving him, and then when he
had to make the play to win the game, he
did it.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah. And you want to know, just you know how
slim the margins are in this league? Right the Washington Commanders.
They've won a game on a hail Mary against Chicago,
and they've won a game with a touchdown pass with
what was it less than ten second five second, five
seconds left against Philadelphia. That is the difference between Washington
being ten and five versus eight and seven, and they're
(17:49):
very in very good playoff position to get a spot
whereas they'd be. They really have their backs against the
wall heading into the into these last two games. So,
as I said with Green Bay, it's a matter of
can can the Packers get up to the five seed?
Can they stay out of the seven seed? Where exactly
are they going to fall there? On the flip side,
(18:09):
the Packers opponent this coming week, we'll move ahead to
that game. Talking about the Minnesota Vikings. They are thirteen
in two. They are tied with the Detroit Lions at
thirteen into atop the NFC North, the Lions having won
the first head to head meeting between the two of them.
But Minnesota is looking at the old control your own
destiny thing. The Vikings are looking at if they can
(18:31):
beat the Packers, and they can beat the Lions in
the last two games, they are the number one seed
and they have a first round by guy. So Minnesota
has has a ton going forward here. There's you know,
there are a lot of different a lot of different
ways that this that this can shake out. But boy,
it just got flex to three twenty five pm next
(18:52):
Sunday at US Bank, which was certainly expected and it
should be a wail of a game on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Guys are championing at the bit for this one in
the Packers' locker room. Yeah, obviously, losing those back to
back to the Lions, that hurts, but they haven't forgotten
about what happened with the Vikings here either.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
And twenty eight to nothing in the second quarter, you know,
and and the Packers did everything they could to try
to come back, end up losing thirty one to twenty nine.
But yeah, that is a game you can just you
can tell by the way the guys, you know, Jordan
Love was talking about it at the podium, guys were
talking about in the locker room. Those guys remember, yep,
this for it was way back in Week four, but
(19:29):
they remember this first game with the Vikings, and Jordan
Love said it, they feel like they owe these guys,
and it's it's it's a short week. It's a tough week.
You got the holiday and everything like that. Minnesota had
the short week last week, had to go out to Seattle.
They won a big game on a short week with
a late touchdown pass by Sam Darnold. Packers are in
that position. Now the challenge here late in the season
(19:52):
with a big game on the road.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
And I'm going to give the Vikings some advice and
they could take it and not take it. They're obviously
not even watching. But Sam Donald's your quarterback. He is,
He's the quarterback today. He should be the quarterback next year. Yep,
and beyond.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
I think he's proven it.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
If you want to muff that, go ahead, be my guest.
And I understand you drafted JJ McCarthy. But after all
this conversation this week about what happened with Atlanta with
Kirk Cousins and then they're benching him and potentially moving
on for him, they're already these things being leaked out
that they're going to cut him before Penix even plays
in a game. Pennox obviously performs admirably to be able
(20:32):
to beat a big leaguered New York Giants team.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Well, it helps when the Giants give the Falcons two
defensive touchdowns in the game. That always helps a rookie
quarterback making his first start.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
But I digress, But the real thing here should be
the Minnesota Vikings made a really savvy signing one year,
ten million dollars they get Sam Darnald, he continues this
renaissance of his career and is still I believe he
won't win it, but I think he is legitimately in
the conversation for MVP because when it hasn't been Aaron Jones,
and at times it hasn't been Justin Jefferson, Donald has
(21:04):
been the thing that has kept this thing together. It's
why they're at thirteen wins right now. I don't think
this is as much of a debate is what people
are making it out to be. I think JJ McCarthy,
especially with all the knee injuries, you let him sit,
You let him figure out what's gonna happen with his career.
But you could absolutely not let Sam Donald. If you're
the Packers, go ahead, But I mean if you're the Vikings,
(21:24):
I don't think there's any way you could let him
out of the building. And they're playing inspired football, I
think it's gonna be a real tough test. Matt Lafuller
talked about the challenges now on a short week, after
having all that time that led up to the Saints game,
Now you're on a short week going into US Bank Stadium,
a place that is going to be rocking and rolling.
And for the Packers, a team that will have to
go on the road, whether five, six, or seven, this
(21:46):
is a great litmus test for where you are entering
winning season.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yeah. Absolutely, yeah. I think with the Sam Donald quarterback situation,
it's sort of the bird in the hand thing, right,
I mean, how do you do't with everything that he
has done? I don't know how. You just say, Okay, Sam,
thanks for the memory. Now go with the guy we drafted. Like,
I mean, they're thirteen and.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Two negotiations that probably end up getting kind of serious,
but they're third line and two with one of their
losses to another team that's also thirteen and two by
the way.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
I mean, so yeah, I'm totally I'm totally with you there.
I want to get to our keys to victory here,
but I should take care of some sponsor business before
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(22:38):
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Minnesota Vikings, we know all about them. We don't need
to well, don't need to go through the ABC's of
Sam Donald, Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, TJ. Hockinson, Brian Flores
(22:59):
in that defense, all the crazy looks and crazy blitzes
and fake blitzes and everything else. It sounds like Harrison
Smith is going to be back from his injury. You know,
he's always been a nemesis for Green Bay in the
back end there at safety for Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
A lot of things you can line up.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
As the as keys to victory. What's at the top
of the list for you?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Well, and it's the reason in my opinion, Kevin O'Connell,
is that near the top of the list for Coach
of the Year. A lot of the same threats that
we're there in that first matchup with the Vikings are
still there. Andrew van Ginkel has been fantastic, Yeah here
for them, eleven sacks on the year. Blake Cashman has
belve battles some injuries, but he had a twelve sack
performance against Seattle I feel like he's been a big
(23:39):
difference maker on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively,
Justin Jefferson the best receiver in the National Football League.
Green Bay has to find an answer for that. Is
Jyry Alexander going to be available? Is he not going
to be available? If that's the case, what combination of
defensive backs and approach and scheme are you going to
utilize to minimize him, to try to contain him, and
(24:02):
certainly trying to get Sam Darnold off his rhythm and
offensively protect the football. I said six different things there, Mike,
But if you go back to the unscripted we did
two three months ago, it's probably the same exact thing
I said back then. You know what you're getting with
the Vikings. You know what their defensive look is going
to be, like, the Packers have to be able to
(24:24):
weather that, and they, as you said earlier, need to
respond better in the first two quarters to keep up
with that pace.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, And you know me, I always I base a
lot of things, a lot of conversations off of what
teams have done most recently and seeing seeing how Justin
Jefferson in a lot of ways kind of took over
that game in Seattle. I mean, the Seahawks just couldn't
handle no. And in a lot of ways, it felt,
(24:51):
even though the Seahawks did have a lead at one
point in the fourth quarter, the way Seattle had been
struggling dealing with Jefferson, it felt somewhat inevitable that Justin
Jefferson was going to beat them, and ultimately he did.
I think, if you're the Packers, and I know the
game is never this simple, and you know Hockinson and
Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones and all these guys can
hurt you, I just don't think you can let Justin
(25:14):
Jefferson beat you. You have to make Sam Donald go
somewhere else in order to beat you, and UH and
the and the best way to UH to deal with
Sam Donald the course is to try to disrupt him.
I think the Packers have been on a pretty good
run defensively at not letting quarterbacks get comfortable. Jared goff
(25:35):
in that Thursday night game in Detroit, he certainly had
a level of comfort, but he was also running a
game plan with all these screens and just getting the
ball out right away, and and Ben Johnson wasn't gonna
let the Packers defensive front disrupt you know, what he
was trying to do offensively, the uh, what the Packers
(25:55):
can do to try to, you know, get Sam Donald
out of a rhythm or prevent him from getting into
a rhythm, I think potentially goes a long way.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
In forty five sacks this year for Donald, when the
pressure has been there, that's been a key. But as
you said, Mike, we can you know, you tip your
cap to TJ Hockinson, you tip your cap to you know,
Jalen Naylor and all these other people that they have.
But realistically it comes down to three weapons for the Vikings.
Jefferson at the top of the list, Jordan Addison and
what he's done is the complimentary piece in Aaron Jones
(26:25):
notching another thousand yard season, appearing like he's put some
of the issues that he had earlier this season injury
wise behind him. Still a factor in the passing game
as well. Those have been the three outlets for Donald.
Hockinson's not had a fantastic year, it still doesn't have
a touchdown this season, So the Packers want to try
to keep that trend going. Some of the things that
you would think of when you think of how spread
(26:47):
out they are on the offense, it still comes back
to that trio and I feel like, if you take
away or you contain some of those threats, that's where
you're ultimately going to have success. In addition to the
fact that Jordan Love in this Packers offensive line have
to manage the Brian Flora's defense and the looks and
the misdirection and the pressures. One reason Jordan has gotten
(27:07):
into this rhythm that he's been in he has not
been pressured a ton, and I feel like that's that's
really when he's at his best. He's back there, he's
standing tall, he's looking downfield looking to make a play. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I don't pretend to be an expert on the Vikings
and their defense and what Brian Flores is doing, but
the times that I've watched the Vikings this year, there
are moments where you see, whether it's Gino Smith of
the Seahawks, or Kyler Murray or the Cardinals, even you
know other quarterbacks as well. Suddenly an opposing offense will
(27:41):
put together a drive on the Vikings, get the ball
in the end zone, and you're like, oh, well, is
the Vikings defense you know, showing some vulnerability. One of
the things that I think makes the Vikings defense so
tough is that they don't give up scores on like
back to back possession yet like they give up they
they'll give up a score, but then the next one
(28:03):
they're very likely getting a three and out. Like they
just they have this way. They have this way of
bouncing back, making adjustments, making things difficult on you after
you've had some success. And when you look at what
the Packers have done starting the Seahawks game with back
to back touchdowns, starting the Saints game with three consecutive touchdowns,
getting on any kind of a scoring run like that
(28:24):
is going to be very difficult. But if the Packers
can do it, if you truly can get a Brian
Flores defense on its heels by scoring on consecutive possessions,
I think that's the type of thing that can that
can set the tone, particularly with the Vikings plan at
home and the home crowd and the noise on third
down and all that that Jordan Love and company will
(28:46):
be dealing.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
And as much as I've talked about Love, this is
about Josh Shakups and the fact that the Packers were
able to take some reps off of him in the
second half, I think is going to be key. They
are facing the number two ranked run defense in both
yards allowed in yards per carry. The Vikings are twenty
ninth against the pass. I mean it is feast or
famine with what they offer you and what they present
(29:07):
to you. So being able to get a run game
going because of what the Vikings want to do is
they want to get you in third and long and
want you to make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Yeah. Absolutely. To lay out the proper scenario for those
who are wondering, okay, have been talking about the Packers
could get the five to six or the seven. How
can the Packers get the five seed? Really, the path
to doing it is for the Packers to win out,
to beat the Vikings and the Bears, and then in
(29:38):
week eighteen for the Lions to knock off the Vikings
and give Minnesota another loss. Because then the Packers would
end up tied with the Vikings. There would be a
series of tie breakers that eventually would go Green Bay's
way in the way of common opponents, where they because
of the Packers win over the Rams and the Vikings
having lost to the Rams, that would give green Bay
(29:59):
the five seed over Minnesota. In that scenario.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
The tricky thing.
Speaker 1 (30:05):
Is that if the Packers beat the Vikings this week,
and if the Lions beat the forty nine ers, the
Lions have the one seed wrapped up.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
It's over.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
The Week eighteen game against the Vikings will not matter
to the Detroit Lions. Now. Dan Campbell has said he's
always gonna play his guys at Sarah.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
Well, we'll just see.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
The Detroit Lions have never been the number one seed,
you know, looking at a buy and it is a
team that is awfully banged up, and are they really
gonna risk, you know, injuring anymore guys. So that's the
tough thing for green Bay is that as much as yeah,
you feel like you can go into Minnesota, you know,
potentially get a big win, look at trying to get
the five seed, but then you need the Lions to
beat the Vikings. And if the Vikings lose this week
(30:46):
and the Lions win, then the Lions aren't playing for anything.
So we'll just have to see. That's nothing the Packers
can control. All they can control is go to Minnesota,
try to get a victory, and see where the chips fall.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Here's where I feel like Campbell tipped his hand a
little bit on Monday, though. There is a scenario where
the Lions could know that nothing that happens against the
forty nine ers could affect this by Monday night football
because they'll have already seen what happened with the Packers
and the Vikings. He said, that doesn't matter. He's still
playing his guys on Monday night football. It's still full
steam ahead. Now would he take that approach in Week eighteen?
(31:19):
I don't know, right, but he said if that game
doesn't matter and everything comes down to that last game
against the Vikings, he's still playing his guys against the Niners,
which I thought was interesting. Now again, will he do that?
Is it? Al bravado, you're playing Monday night football? What
do you do? I don't know, but damn Campbell, I.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Guess I didn't. I didn't even realize that the Detroit
game this week was Monday.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Money Night football. So there's a scenario. Don't ask me
to figure all this out, but there's a scenario where
that game could win or lose against the forty Narrows
have no impact on what happens for their Week eighteen games. Sure, Vikings,
sure so, but Dan Campbell said it's still full steam
ahead as he is wont to do.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Yeah, that would, that would That's what I'm brandicked from
Dan Campbell. We will just have to see how everything
unfolds and with that we'll call it a wrap on
this edition Packers Unscripted. But folks, the home of the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft is right here in Green Bay,
so don't miss any draft action coming April twenty fourth
through April twenty six of twenty twenty five. That's officially
(32:16):
only four months away. Wes.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Visit green Bay dot.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Com slash Draft twenty five for more information. And with that,
we would like to wish you a merry Christmas here
from the desks at Packers Unscripted and be sure to
follow all of our coverage of the team and Sunday
afternoons big game at us Bank Stadium in Minneapolis against
the Vikings. We will have it all for you on
Packers dot com for Wes, I Mike, thank you for
(32:41):
tuning in everybody. We will see you next time.
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