September 25, 2025 • 29 mins
Mike and Wes preview the upcoming road trip to face the Cowboys, looking at the matchup of Green Bay’s offense vs. Dallas’ defense (:54), the Packers’ O-line seeking a bounce-back performance, the player storylines involving Micah Parsons and Kenny Clark (12:16), and Green Bay’s keys to victory (15:55). They also look around the league at other key Week 4 contests (22:44).
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from
Packers dot Com. I am like Spafford, joined by my
partner and Everything Packers, Wes Hodkwitz. Coming to you here
from our studios at lambeau Field to preview Sunday Night
Football West. It will be the Packers against the Cowboys
down at at and T Stadium in Dallas, Green Bay.
Two to one. The Cowboys are one and two, having
(00:29):
played a tough game against the Eagles in Week one,
a overtime shootout against the New York Giants in Week two,
and then as we talked about on our last show,
they kind of ran into a desperate Chicago Bears team
in Week three and took it on the chin at
Soldier Field. So Dallas is one and two to this point,
(00:50):
and I think the biggest question marks, the two biggest
question marks heading into this game, one on each side
of the ball. For Dallas. One is what will the
offense look like without Ceedee Lamb, who is injured? And
two are the Cowboys going to get this defensive thing
figured out? Because their defense right now is really struggling.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And then obviously there's the questions now with Trayvon Diggs
if he's going to be available for them with the
knee injury, right, I mean, Jadavian Clowney is now there.
I think there were some talks about he'll probably be
suited up for this one the first time. That was
sort of their signing in the aftermath of the Micah
Parsons trade. A lot and you wrote about it to
(01:30):
an extent. A lot is going to be made this
week out of Micah Parsons, and I made a little
bit out of Kenny Clark as well. But for me,
more than anything, I think this is about the Packers offense,
and it's about Green Bay trying to get going here
against a Dallas defense that was really going through it
on Sunday against Chicago right now, thirty second in the
(01:50):
NFL dead last and passing defense. They're struggling to rush
the quarterback, pressure the quarterback, and the post Micah Parsons era.
Kenny Clark, to his credit, has nine pressures right now,
which is tied for eleventh in the NFL. But that's
their their leading guy. He also that one sack that
Kenny got in the opener is also their team lead
right now. So for the Packers, coming off of that
(02:12):
performance against a very difficult, very tenacious Cleveland Browns defense,
our response is needed. And if there was ever a
get back game on paper, this is set up like
that for green Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I mean this. I agree with you that this
game is going to be all about green Bay's offense
because the numbers jump out at you. I mean, the
Cowboys only have four sacks as a team. Defensively through
three games, they just have one interception. The opposing quarterback
rating is one twenty five point three. That's what they
(02:44):
are allowing to opposing quarterbacks. Those quarterbacks being Jalen Hurts,
Russell Wilson who has since been benched, and Caleb Williams
of the Bears. So and we're hearing, of course, lots
of talking green Bay about, Okay, how do you get
the running game going with Josh Jacobs and the struggles there.
(03:07):
This game is going to be about green Bay's passing
offense because it's going to be the passing offense that
is going to open things up for Josh Jacobs. The
Cowboys have been vulnerable to the pass, particularly to the
big play. They've given up a lot of explosive plays defensively.
I expect the Packers to come into this game in
full attack, aggressive mode offensively, and they are going to
(03:31):
They are going to make the Cowboys stop the big play.
I think matt Lefuller is going to go after him well.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And you and I answered a lot of questions this
week about Jordan Love and the Packers offense, but one
of the statistics that still is out there for Green Bay,
and it's a pro football focused step. But when it
comes to big play throws, nobody's made more of them
this season than Jordan Love. The Packers had a ton
of explosive plays in those two first two games. Maybe
didn't score as much as Packers would have liked, but
(04:00):
effectively were able to move the football. Last week, in
addition to not scoring, they really struggled to move the
football the running game. For Josh Jacobs to be held
to thirty yards and sixteen carries, that is so not
really even indicative of the type of running back he
is or how productive Green Bay has been on the ground.
Maybe they haven't always had those big explosive plays, but
(04:20):
they've found ways to push the pile three four yards
even when necessary of the yards weren't there, That didn't
happen against Cleveland. And one of the things I had
so much respect for the Browns about that I didn't
understand until I watched him is when you hear single high,
it's like, Okay, this is a feast or famine type defense. No,
they are just that good in that fast at getting
pressure on the quarterback that they can play those games
(04:40):
in the secondary. Dallas is not that defense, especially in
this current construct, without Micah Parsons there. As much as
Parsons has added to Green Bay's scheme, it took something
big away from Dallas's. Because that's honestly, in all due
respect to Brian Schottenheimer and everybody there, they planned the
entire offseason eventually to have Mike Persons out there, and
they don't have him right now. So this is this
(05:03):
is a tough spot for them to be in as well.
But for the Packers standpoint again, you and I will
do these previews and we'll talk about the opponent. But
for me, out of all these games we've covered so far,
this one really is about green Bay and what the
Packers have to do here that they didn't accomplish in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, and it's it's a it's a bounce back game
for green Bay's offensive line. And from a health standpoint,
you know, Zach tom was not at practice on Wednesday,
Aaron Banks not at practice on Wednesday. We'll see exactly
what shakes out with green Bay starting lineup and who's
going to be playing where. But but regardless of the who,
(05:40):
it's a bounce back game for green Bay's offensive line.
The way things went in Cleveland. You know, I get,
I admit I get a little tired of all of
the criticism that I read from the fans and the
insider inbox about, you know, all the green Bay offensive line.
It's this huge problem, like what's going on? Like did
you watch the two games of the season against the
(06:02):
Lions and against the Commanders. Green Bay's offensive line did
exactly what it needed to do to win those games.
The unit had a bad game, it doesn't mean it's
a bad unit. It doesn't mean the Packers have suddenly
have all kinds of problems because they had one bad
Sunday in the first road game of the season. Now
that being said, they've got to turn it back around
the other direction. I'm expecting to see an offensive line
(06:25):
a lot more like the one we saw against Detroit
a lot more like the one we saw against Washington,
even if a starter to you know, there were two starters.
Those two starters were missing against Washington. The Packers offensive
line didn't miss a beat there, and that was no
slouch of a commander's defense, So go ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Elton Jenkins talked to his locker on Wednesday, and in
addition to the fact that he has a very big
assignment coming up against Kenny Clark, doups of those two
guys practicing against each other, particularly in training camp, right
when they're really going good on good and you're trying
to kind of hone in yourself and sharpen the iron there.
But he also mentioned afterwards talking to the Packers' offensive line,
(07:05):
Elton Jenkins is the first one to step up. In
addition to his group media interview and then also talking
with Jason Wildy afterwards. You know, Elton wasn't happy with
how he performed, and he wasn't happy with how the
offensive line performed. He went to those guys afterwards after
the game and told them, you guys all got to
go home and look in the mirror and be critical
of yourself and what we put on tape today because,
(07:25):
as you often talk about, when you do that, when
that type of stuff happens, teams learn how to attack you.
It's about how green Bay, now as a whole, bounces back.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Now.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
The one thing those guys won't do, they won't make excuses.
That was a very disadvantageous position that the Packers offensive
line got put into. You are facing arguably the best
pass rusher in the National Football League. You're thinking, Zach
Tom might be able to get through this thing, and
you lose them after one play. Tom will see what
happens with the oblique. It sounds like he didn't reaggravate it,
which is positive. But again, there's this game. There's the
(07:56):
buy trying to get him right, Aaron Banks, the groin injury.
We'll see what happens there. So those are two big
holes that the green Bay Packers have to fill. But
at the very least, assuming neither of those guys go
and went Thursday's practice or Friday's practice, the Packers will
have an opportunity to kind of figure out what their
best five is and proceed with that now into this game.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, and on the other side of the ball, despite
the Cowboys one to two record. You can't look past
the fact that Dak Prescott's completing seventy one point four
percent of his passes. He's thrown for eight hundred yards
in three games, which is no small feat. But as
I mentioned at the top, Ceedee Lamb, the number one
wide receiver and Prescott's favorite target, is out and the
(08:39):
Cowboys also will be missing one of their starting guards
in Tyler Booker, who who also is on the shelf
for a couple of weeks. One of the things that
jumped out at me looking at Dallas's offensive statistics is
tight end Jake Ferguson. He's got twenty seven catches in
three games. Now, he's not going to necessarily continue that,
(09:02):
but he's on pace for like one hundred and fifty
catches over the course of the season. He's catching nine
passes per game on average, and he could be a
guy that Prescott looks for even more if that's possible
with with Ceedee Lamb not available. So that's something that
that the Packers need to keep an eye on. And
uh and the Cowboys have a new running back as well.
(09:26):
They got Javante If I'm saying Williams Javonte now refresh
this old guy's memory. He was with Denver second round
right second round draft pick with the Denver Broncos. So
he's there, he's their new belcow running back, and you
know he's he's a guy who's who's been there and
(09:47):
done that in this league, even though he's still pretty
young and UH certainly with UH seeing as much as
well as the Packers have played against the run, seeing
those couple of explosive runs that Quin Shaw Quin Shawn
Judkins excuse me, ripped off against the Packers in the
second half in Cleveland, the Cowboys may be looking to
(10:08):
do something there. So for all to talk about what
this means with Green Bay's offense against Dallas' defense and everything,
I don't want to overlook the other side of things
because even without Ceedee Lamb, Dak Prescott is still a
guy who a lot of times finds a way.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
In first and foremost, I mean Javonte Williams, I would
say is actually one of the best free agent signings
we've seen so far. One year, three and a half
million dollars. He had some down years there and he
was trying to get things right again. Dallas, you know,
one of the hallmarks man. We talk about the Packers'
ability to develop offensive lineman Dallas, especially with the way
that they build their offensive line. They've had a lot
of success with plug and play guys. This has gone
(10:47):
back for a decade now. I think a Darren McFadden
going down there. Obviously, DeMarco Murray having the run that
he did. Ezekiel Elliott, without a doubt, was a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
In his time.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
But for Williams to go there and be this productive
one thing they really struggled with last year. They did
not have a running game at all during Mike McCarthy's
last year, and that really affected them. Once Dak Prescott
was gone, they needed to get that right. They felt
like they could get that right, and this was sort
of a mid level market signing and it's worked out
for him so well. Already has three touchdown runs as
well this season. Jake Ferguson is fascinating because he has
(11:17):
twenty seven catches for six point eight yards per catch.
But that being said, he's already at his forty percent
threshold for where he was at last year in receptions.
I think he had fifty four or something like that
last year. Pretty darn near close to half of it already,
so Packers will have to find a way to neutralize him.
And George Pickens is the new weapon. So even if
cdee Lamb isn't out there, and he is a handful,
(11:38):
he's one of the very best in this game, Dak
Prescott still has guys to work around. And now that
Prescott's back, he's put the hamstring injury behind him. The
yards per play and the explosive plays haven't been there
so far for Dallas. When you look about you look
at his yards per passing play, I think it's in
the six to eight range. Then you go over to
their opponents which is almost like nine point eight. Yeah,
(12:00):
yards per play. So defensively they're gashing a lot, but
offensively they've been really, you know, pretty efficient so far.
Fourth in the league right now in total yards. But
they've also had turnovers too that.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I've hurt them.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah. Well, the storylines that of course we've been talking
about with the players. You mentioned it before. Micah Parsons
will be returning to Dallas sort of that unexpected homecoming
because a month ago he wouldn't have thought this was
in the cards necessarily, and now the Packers and a
bunch of guys in Green Bay, particularly Elton Jenkins, are
(12:34):
going to go head to head with Kenny Clark, one
of their favorite former teammates and mainstay here. You have
a story on our website about the whole Jenkins and
Clark matchup. I have a story on the website about
Micah Parsons and what he had to say about the homecoming.
So I don't want to belabor that. But everything that
(12:54):
I heard, and you found some comments that Kenny Clark
made to the Dallas media and whatnot, I can't say
I've been surprised at all by anything I've heard from
any of the players kind of you know, involved in
all this. I mean, I got the sense from Micah
Parsons that he just wants the he just wants the
game to get started, because he feels like, once once,
once the ball is kicked off, it's it's a football game.
(13:16):
It's not about him being back in Dallas and all
of that anymore. And I think, you know, once Elton
Jenkins and Kenny Clark kind of you know, lockhorns for
a couple three plays, you know, in the early portion
of the game, then that part kind of goes away.
As well, because it's just another opponent, right, So yeah,
that seems to be the way everybody's approaching it.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yeah, And I mean Kenny said, Kenny might have set
a record for saying needing to go one to zero
in a nine minute interview. That was his focus is that,
And he was great. He's like Kenny always is, very humble,
very affable. You can tell that the Dallas media has
already taken to him down there, and but this ultimately
is about trying to win this game. The one thing
(13:58):
I thought was really interesting that Kenny said though he
was legitimately shocked and he was really surprised. He had
heard the rumblings that they potentially could be acquiring Michael Parsons.
He didn't. He was floored when he found out. He said,
he was downstairs with his he had just gotten home
from practice. He was with his daughter and Brian Gudikun's
the same GM that was just give him a fist
bump a couple hours earlier at practice that same day,
(14:20):
was calling to let him know that this trade had
gone through and Kenny was the player.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Now.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
The one thing that I think is the ultimate credit
to Kenny is the Dallas.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Cowboys wanted him badly.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
This wasn't just oh, we we're gonna trade two first
round picks and we got to throw somebody else in
to make the money work. No, I mean the Cowboys
really felt like he was. I think there's been a
little bit of a caricature with it with the Jerry
Jones stuff, but the personnel department there really valued what
he brings as a defensive tackle and they've really struggled
with the edge rush. But inside he has a good
(14:50):
one too going early on. But for him, it is
about this game. He said, you know, they were asking him,
are you gonna go get some hugs before and He's like,
I'm there to be hugged, but I'm not going to
go pursue it. I mean, if people want to come
up to me and talk and chat, that's great, but
I have a job to do and that's ultimately what
he wants to be able to get done. And Michael Parsons,
as you were part of that discussion, I thought had
(15:11):
some really salient points and that, Yeah, it's a lot
of talk, and it's a lot of headlines and it's
a lot of narratives going into this thing. But once
that ball is snapped. He has a job to do.
He hopes that people down in Dallas love him. He
hopes that people appreciate what he gave. But he doesn't
need any like type of like circumstances or celebrations or
(15:32):
He's not.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Worried about the scoreboard tribute thing that Jerry Jones said
is not going to happen the way it's happened in
Dallas for Emmett Smith and and for Ezekiel Elliott when
they came back, and he's like and he's like, I'm
not worried, you know, he's It's the last thing on
his He wants to play it. Frankly, he just wants
to play the football.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Thank you for saving me. I can't think of the
word tribute there.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Well, we've already touched on a few things, but when
it comes to keys to victory in this game, to
kind of boil it down to, you know, the one
or two bullet points, where are you at on this one?
Speaker 2 (16:05):
For the Packers, Packer's got to run the ball, Mike,
you gotta run the ball one way or another. They
got to find a way to get this thing going.
I think Josh is when you're it's not like Cincinnati.
I don't know if you saw those statistics that are
going on in Cincinnati right now. I forget the back's name.
I mean he's like negative fifty four yards before contact.
I mean basically, the defensive front is in the backfield
before he can even get moving. But Jacobs has had
(16:27):
a hard time finding some wiggle room, and he's faced
some really good defenses too. There's some really strong opponents
that he's gone up against. But with defenses wanting to
throw an extra guy in the box. And Kenny even
said it in his address with the media, I mean
that is where everything starts for green Bay. If Josh
Jacobs starts running, if Tucker Kraft, as Kenny also pointed out,
if those two start getting going and inside, everything opens
(16:48):
up for Green Bay in the passing game. So they
have to be able to run the football and then
honestly to build off of that. And I hope I'm
not stealing anything from you because I'm talking a lot here.
But Jordan Love getting back the horse, and you mentioned it,
he did that after the interception. He led them down,
put them back in scoring position. But Jordan Love may
have played one of his best games in that wild
(17:10):
card game against Dallas a year and a half ago.
This is critical now for him to be able to
put everything that happened in Cleveland behind him, refocus and
just get this offense humming. Yeah, Packers are still looking
for that first thirty point game on paper, thirty points
allowed so far per game for Dallas. It's set up
for green Bay to have success.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yeah, And that's why to me, what rises to the
top for me here is that the Packers need to
finish drives in this game. Because I expect this matchup
green Bay's offense against Dallas' defense. I expect the Packers
to be able to move the ball and to be
able to move the ball really consistently. But you and
I have seen plenty of games where you can have
(17:50):
a team that's moving the ball, you can be racking
up all kinds of yards, But then if you can't
finish drives and you're settling for field goals, then you're
not maximizing on those opportunities that you're creating for yourself.
And I do expect the Packers to be able to
move the ball into rack up yards, but they've got
to finish the drives to rack up the points as well.
I mean the Packers have won. As we know, the
(18:14):
Packers have not lost in at and T Stadium since
that place was built. It's a six game winning streak
that started with Super Bowl thirty five, sorry super Bowl
forty five, excuse me, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then
the last five games have been against Dallas down there.
The Packers have won them all. What really jumps out
when you look at the scores of those games is
(18:35):
that the Packers have averaged thirty six and a half
points in those six victories in that building. They go
in there and they score points, and that needs to continue.
And I think this is an opportunity for Green Bay
to do that. On the flip side. Defensively, I just
think it's about making Dak Prescott uncomfortable. And because I
(19:00):
don't know about you, but I always feel like when
I if I'm watching the Cowboys on television, their offense
always looks different at home versus when it's on the road,
and when no matter what the statistics say, necessarily Dallas
at home to me is always still a very dangerous
offense with Dak Prescott at the controls. And I think
it's incumbent upon the Packers Parsons and company pass rush wise,
(19:24):
where Shan Gary's got the four and a half sacks
already so far this year. They need to make They
need to make Prescott uncomfortable, and I like green Bay's chances.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Honestly, I think for green Bay's defense, I'm glad you
brought that up. If they can sack Prescott and they
can turn the ball over, those are the only two
things that we're missing from Cleveland. I don't care if
it's fumble. People are asking about the force fumbles and
the emphasis on that they haven't gotten the force fumbs yet.
I don't care if it's a force fumble. I don't
care if it's a fumble. I don't care if Dak
Prescott catches the ball, lays it on the ground and
invites them to pick it up. However you get the football.
(19:55):
Just being able to make those type of game changing plays,
that's what changed the tie to that Browns game. As
much the Packers is disappointing, that was for green Bay
to lose that way. One takeaway absent the end of
the first half. I'm talking about a drive killing takeaway
would have I think put things in green Bay's favor.
They didn't get it. The other thing, I just want
to mention very quickly, and you know this better than anybody.
(20:17):
Their nineteen nineties green Bay Packers could not get past
the Dallas Cowboys. That table has flipped. However, Packer fans
thought of the Seattle Seahawks in the early twenty tens,
the San Francisco forty nine ers, now some of these
teams that have stood in the way at Green Bay,
the Packers have been that force for the Dallas Cowboys.
A lot of people laughed about that that show they
(20:37):
did on Netflix where Jerry Jones is talking about how
devastating that loss was last year when they were or
two years ago when they were the number one seed,
in the number two seed or twof seed the first
two to seven game, how difficult that was to take
because you got to remember, Dallas has lost some absolute
killers to green Bay. When you go back to twenty
(20:59):
fourteen and the des Brian catch no catch, that Packers
have been a thorn in their side. So when Brian
Schottenheimer says, I don't care if we have Tyler Brooker,
I don't care if we have CD Lamb we have
enough to beat the Green bit Packers. You best believe
you're gonna get Dallas's best effort.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Yeah, absolutely, I think I think the Packers are going
to get Dallas's best shot because yeah, and certainly that
fan base that is going to be filling that stadium,
I do think there will be a decent contingent of
Packers fans there. But that fan base remembers the twenty
fourteen Divisional game, the twenty sixteen Divisional game which was
in Dallas, the twenty twenty three wild Card game which
(21:36):
was in Dallas. That those those fans remember those games
and they will be they'll be out for blood, so
to speak, in this one. So we do need to
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dot com slash Wonders. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted, All right,
(22:42):
Wes Elsewhere around the league. In Week four, we'll start
with the NFC North Minnesota Vikings are against the Pittsburgh
Steelers in Dublin, So we get to wake up in
our hotel room Sunday morning in Dallas and turn on
NFL Football. Yeah, eight thirty eight Central time kickoff if
you're so inclined. Cleveland is at Detroit, so that Browns
(23:04):
team that just knocked off Green Bay now goes into
Ford Field. And then the Bears, coming off their first
win of the season, go to Las Vegas to take
on a Raiders team that is struggling a bit. I
think the Bears have a great opportunity to get to
two and two and kind of erase their zero and
two start. But any thoughts you have on those NFC
(23:26):
North matchups.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Well, I mean, it's funny, man, we're back to Aaron Rodgers.
It's right, and not that some fans stop, but I
mean this is this is a big one. I mean, Minnesota,
that was a huge response. I thought every team in
the NFC, it's again, it speaks to the strength of
the division. When they've all been punched in the mouth
so far, each one of them is bounced back. I
(23:48):
already made my point known on Tuesdays show about Chicago
and how I felt like they played against Dallas and
that was the right response the Vikings to lose Aaron
Jones and JJ McCarthy and then look that good in
that game and Carson Wentz and I mean probably the
best you know videos, memes, highlights, you know those old
clips of him in the stadium at the Metrodome with
(24:08):
the you know, the Vikings jersey on, you know, as
a North Dakota kid being over there and he going
to those games. Now he's the quarterback. I mean, that's
that's what the NFL is all about. But that being said,
Pittsburgh and that defense that has been built to win
a championship. This year has to come through. So that'll
be a fun one to watch. These Thursday night games
have been great. It's really fun to watch. I mean,
(24:29):
not necessarily the Dolphins one, but I mean, by and
large this season, these are This is a really high
stakes matchup. Seattle's feeling good about itself, Arizona was feeling
good about self. And you know, Marvin Harrison had some drops,
some mis cues, and now they lost James Connors.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
So yeah, both those teams, Seahawks and Cardinals for Thursday football,
they're both two and one. That's a big that's a
big game in the NFC West.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Huge, huge, huge, And uh you know the Seahawks too
have been working through some injuries there. So this is
a really good slate of game. I mean, you're gonna
talk about the whole thing here, but I mean there's
there's a couple mismatches. Again, Buffalo gets matched up against
New Orleans and three zero and three. Yeah, but then yeah,
I mean Philly in Tampa. I mean, like Jacksonville has
(25:13):
impressed some people. They get to face the forty nine ers,
the Colts and the Rams.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
I don't want to take your win.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
No, No, those were a couple of the ones that
I was gonna mention. You've got Philadelphia going up against
Tampa Bay. Here two three and o teams in the NFC.
That one is that one is down in Tampa. I
think a sneaky interesting game is Indianapolis at the Rams
with you know the Rams. The rams only loss was,
(25:40):
you know, blowing the big lead against Philadelphia and Indianapolis
is kind of the surprise of the league. I would say,
right now, off to that three and oh start. And
then speaking of surprises, I don't think at the beginning
of the season, either one of us would have said, oh,
Baltimore against Kansas City in Week four and both teams
are one and two, you know, so bar some sort
(26:00):
of you know, crazy overtime tie. I mean, either the
Ravens or the Chiefs is going to be one and
three one month into the season. That's certainly something.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Uh'll both be one two and one. Yeah, sorry, I
always gotta be that.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Guy, I know, but that's that's not a scenario anyone
necessarily envision. Now that being said, I think both the
Ravens and the Chiefs have played some played a tough
schedule you know, they've they've had you know, they've had
their opponents kind of.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
I just did what they need to do last week.
Ye first are tough?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, absolutely so. I it's it's a it is, it's
a it's a really interesting slate of games. I want
to get. I want to get your thoughts as far
as Philly going down to Tampa Bay. One of these
teams theoretically will be four and oh the other one
is going to drop to three and one. Which one
do you think stays undefeated?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think Eagles run through them.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
To be honest with you, Okay, I have a ton
of respect for what Todd Bowles is built there. There's
a lot of people that thought he was just going
to be that. You know, we've seen this so many
times where you have the air apparent and then they
just it just doesn't work out you when they succeed him.
I think Bowls has done a good job of taking
what Bruce arians built and has made it his own
now and showed that. You know, he did deserve that
opportunity to be a head coach again in this league.
But I just think Philly is so formidable right now
(27:11):
and they can beat you in so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Yeah, and it's a bad game.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
But yeah, and it's a bad time for Tampa Bay
to lose Mike Evans to a string injury too. You know,
I would have leaned toward Philadelphia in this matchup of
early unbeatens anyway, but then hearing that Evans is now
out and the Buccaneers don't have Chris Godwin, you know,
they still don't have all the all their other weapons back,
(27:36):
and now you lose a guy like Evans, that's really
going to put really going to put the pressure on
Baker Mayfield. And for all the magic he has worked
in the first three years of the season, I think
the magic runs out a little bit here in Week four.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah, and I'll never come him out. I mean, this
guy's incredible what he's been doing. He's proved me wrong
several times over over the years, including this season alone.
But it's also the most winnable division in football. So
it's like if they if they do find a way
to beat Philadelphia, that's a great way to put your
flag in the ground and say we're going to be
a contender this year. I just want to also a
couple of other things. I want to mention absolutely hate.
(28:09):
I'm using the word hate here the idea of starting
Jackson Dart this week, they're gonna make that switch with
the Giants. He's taken over under center. Russell Wilson is
going as the backup. Brian Davil said, that's gonna be
the way they're gonna do it the rest of the year.
They're going against. They are at home, but they're going
against the three to zero LA Chargers team. Next week
they play the Saints. If it was me, I think
(28:30):
I would have given Russ one more start here because
this isn't This game isn't going to changing thing. It's
a non conference opponent, and if the Chargers get after him,
that's not great. And then Cleveland and Detroit man is
a really really sneaky good game. It also shows you
the different levels of two and two teams sometimes, right,
like the Browns get to two and two, they're gonna
(28:51):
look like world beaters. Yeah, after knocking off Green Bay
in Detroit, no kidding, but with how the Lions offense
is playing right now, specifically that run game against this
uh Cleveland defense. Oh and by the way, it's coordinated
by Jim Schwartz.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Theater.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Yea cinema, Yeah, there we go. Well with that, we
will call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted.
Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the
team and all of our coverage of Sunday nights game
from Dallas. Wes and I will both be there and
we will have it all for you on Packers dot com.
For Wes, I'm Miike. Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Everybody.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
We will see you next time.
Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from
Packers dot Com. I am like Spafford, joined by my
partner and Everything Packers, Wes Hodkwitz. Coming to you here
from our studios at lambeau Field to preview Sunday Night
Football West. It will be the Packers against the Cowboys
down at at and T Stadium in Dallas, Green Bay.
Two to one. The Cowboys are one and two, having
(00:29):
played a tough game against the Eagles in Week one,
a overtime shootout against the New York Giants in Week two,
and then as we talked about on our last show,
they kind of ran into a desperate Chicago Bears team
in Week three and took it on the chin at
Soldier Field. So Dallas is one and two to this point,
(00:50):
and I think the biggest question marks, the two biggest
question marks heading into this game, one on each side
of the ball. For Dallas. One is what will the
offense look like without Ceedee Lamb, who is injured? And
two are the Cowboys going to get this defensive thing
figured out? Because their defense right now is really struggling.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And then obviously there's the questions now with Trayvon Diggs
if he's going to be available for them with the
knee injury, right, I mean, Jadavian Clowney is now there.
I think there were some talks about he'll probably be
suited up for this one the first time. That was
sort of their signing in the aftermath of the Micah
Parsons trade. A lot and you wrote about it to
(01:30):
an extent. A lot is going to be made this
week out of Micah Parsons, and I made a little
bit out of Kenny Clark as well. But for me,
more than anything, I think this is about the Packers offense,
and it's about Green Bay trying to get going here
against a Dallas defense that was really going through it
on Sunday against Chicago right now, thirty second in the
(01:50):
NFL dead last and passing defense. They're struggling to rush
the quarterback, pressure the quarterback, and the post Micah Parsons era.
Kenny Clark, to his credit, has nine pressures right now,
which is tied for eleventh in the NFL. But that's
their their leading guy. He also that one sack that
Kenny got in the opener is also their team lead
right now. So for the Packers, coming off of that
(02:12):
performance against a very difficult, very tenacious Cleveland Browns defense,
our response is needed. And if there was ever a
get back game on paper, this is set up like
that for green Bay.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah, I mean this. I agree with you that this
game is going to be all about green Bay's offense
because the numbers jump out at you. I mean, the
Cowboys only have four sacks as a team. Defensively through
three games, they just have one interception. The opposing quarterback
rating is one twenty five point three. That's what they
(02:44):
are allowing to opposing quarterbacks. Those quarterbacks being Jalen Hurts,
Russell Wilson who has since been benched, and Caleb Williams
of the Bears. So and we're hearing, of course, lots
of talking green Bay about, Okay, how do you get
the running game going with Josh Jacobs and the struggles there.
(03:07):
This game is going to be about green Bay's passing
offense because it's going to be the passing offense that
is going to open things up for Josh Jacobs. The
Cowboys have been vulnerable to the pass, particularly to the
big play. They've given up a lot of explosive plays defensively.
I expect the Packers to come into this game in
full attack, aggressive mode offensively, and they are going to
(03:31):
They are going to make the Cowboys stop the big play.
I think matt Lefuller is going to go after him well.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
And you and I answered a lot of questions this
week about Jordan Love and the Packers offense, but one
of the statistics that still is out there for Green Bay,
and it's a pro football focused step. But when it
comes to big play throws, nobody's made more of them
this season than Jordan Love. The Packers had a ton
of explosive plays in those two first two games. Maybe
didn't score as much as Packers would have liked, but
(04:00):
effectively were able to move the football. Last week, in
addition to not scoring, they really struggled to move the
football the running game. For Josh Jacobs to be held
to thirty yards and sixteen carries, that is so not
really even indicative of the type of running back he
is or how productive Green Bay has been on the ground.
Maybe they haven't always had those big explosive plays, but
(04:20):
they've found ways to push the pile three four yards
even when necessary of the yards weren't there, That didn't
happen against Cleveland. And one of the things I had
so much respect for the Browns about that I didn't
understand until I watched him is when you hear single high,
it's like, Okay, this is a feast or famine type defense. No,
they are just that good in that fast at getting
pressure on the quarterback that they can play those games
(04:40):
in the secondary. Dallas is not that defense, especially in
this current construct, without Micah Parsons there. As much as
Parsons has added to Green Bay's scheme, it took something
big away from Dallas's. Because that's honestly, in all due
respect to Brian Schottenheimer and everybody there, they planned the
entire offseason eventually to have Mike Persons out there, and
they don't have him right now. So this is this
(05:03):
is a tough spot for them to be in as well.
But for the Packers standpoint again, you and I will
do these previews and we'll talk about the opponent. But
for me, out of all these games we've covered so far,
this one really is about green Bay and what the
Packers have to do here that they didn't accomplish in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yeah, and it's it's a it's a bounce back game
for green Bay's offensive line. And from a health standpoint,
you know, Zach tom was not at practice on Wednesday,
Aaron Banks not at practice on Wednesday. We'll see exactly
what shakes out with green Bay starting lineup and who's
going to be playing where. But but regardless of the who,
(05:40):
it's a bounce back game for green Bay's offensive line.
The way things went in Cleveland. You know, I get,
I admit I get a little tired of all of
the criticism that I read from the fans and the
insider inbox about, you know, all the green Bay offensive line.
It's this huge problem, like what's going on? Like did
you watch the two games of the season against the
(06:02):
Lions and against the Commanders. Green Bay's offensive line did
exactly what it needed to do to win those games.
The unit had a bad game, it doesn't mean it's
a bad unit. It doesn't mean the Packers have suddenly
have all kinds of problems because they had one bad
Sunday in the first road game of the season. Now
that being said, they've got to turn it back around
the other direction. I'm expecting to see an offensive line
(06:25):
a lot more like the one we saw against Detroit
a lot more like the one we saw against Washington,
even if a starter to you know, there were two starters.
Those two starters were missing against Washington. The Packers offensive
line didn't miss a beat there, and that was no
slouch of a commander's defense, So go ahead.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Elton Jenkins talked to his locker on Wednesday, and in
addition to the fact that he has a very big
assignment coming up against Kenny Clark, doups of those two
guys practicing against each other, particularly in training camp, right
when they're really going good on good and you're trying
to kind of hone in yourself and sharpen the iron there.
But he also mentioned afterwards talking to the Packers' offensive line,
(07:05):
Elton Jenkins is the first one to step up. In
addition to his group media interview and then also talking
with Jason Wildy afterwards. You know, Elton wasn't happy with
how he performed, and he wasn't happy with how the
offensive line performed. He went to those guys afterwards after
the game and told them, you guys all got to
go home and look in the mirror and be critical
of yourself and what we put on tape today because,
(07:25):
as you often talk about, when you do that, when
that type of stuff happens, teams learn how to attack you.
It's about how green Bay, now as a whole, bounces back.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Now.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
The one thing those guys won't do, they won't make excuses.
That was a very disadvantageous position that the Packers offensive
line got put into. You are facing arguably the best
pass rusher in the National Football League. You're thinking, Zach
Tom might be able to get through this thing, and
you lose them after one play. Tom will see what
happens with the oblique. It sounds like he didn't reaggravate it,
which is positive. But again, there's this game. There's the
(07:56):
buy trying to get him right, Aaron Banks, the groin injury.
We'll see what happens there. So those are two big
holes that the green Bay Packers have to fill. But
at the very least, assuming neither of those guys go
and went Thursday's practice or Friday's practice, the Packers will
have an opportunity to kind of figure out what their
best five is and proceed with that now into this game.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, and on the other side of the ball, despite
the Cowboys one to two record. You can't look past
the fact that Dak Prescott's completing seventy one point four
percent of his passes. He's thrown for eight hundred yards
in three games, which is no small feat. But as
I mentioned at the top, Ceedee Lamb, the number one
wide receiver and Prescott's favorite target, is out and the
(08:39):
Cowboys also will be missing one of their starting guards
in Tyler Booker, who who also is on the shelf
for a couple of weeks. One of the things that
jumped out at me looking at Dallas's offensive statistics is
tight end Jake Ferguson. He's got twenty seven catches in
three games. Now, he's not going to necessarily continue that,
(09:02):
but he's on pace for like one hundred and fifty
catches over the course of the season. He's catching nine
passes per game on average, and he could be a
guy that Prescott looks for even more if that's possible
with with Ceedee Lamb not available. So that's something that
that the Packers need to keep an eye on. And
uh and the Cowboys have a new running back as well.
(09:26):
They got Javante If I'm saying Williams Javonte now refresh
this old guy's memory. He was with Denver second round
right second round draft pick with the Denver Broncos. So
he's there, he's their new belcow running back, and you
know he's he's a guy who's who's been there and
(09:47):
done that in this league, even though he's still pretty
young and UH certainly with UH seeing as much as
well as the Packers have played against the run, seeing
those couple of explosive runs that Quin Shaw Quin Shawn
Judkins excuse me, ripped off against the Packers in the
second half in Cleveland, the Cowboys may be looking to
(10:08):
do something there. So for all to talk about what
this means with Green Bay's offense against Dallas' defense and everything,
I don't want to overlook the other side of things
because even without Ceedee Lamb, Dak Prescott is still a
guy who a lot of times finds a way.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
In first and foremost, I mean Javonte Williams, I would
say is actually one of the best free agent signings
we've seen so far. One year, three and a half
million dollars. He had some down years there and he
was trying to get things right again. Dallas, you know,
one of the hallmarks man. We talk about the Packers'
ability to develop offensive lineman Dallas, especially with the way
that they build their offensive line. They've had a lot
of success with plug and play guys. This has gone
(10:47):
back for a decade now. I think a Darren McFadden
going down there. Obviously, DeMarco Murray having the run that
he did. Ezekiel Elliott, without a doubt, was a pro bowler.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
In his time.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
But for Williams to go there and be this productive
one thing they really struggled with last year. They did
not have a running game at all during Mike McCarthy's
last year, and that really affected them. Once Dak Prescott
was gone, they needed to get that right. They felt
like they could get that right, and this was sort
of a mid level market signing and it's worked out
for him so well. Already has three touchdown runs as
well this season. Jake Ferguson is fascinating because he has
(11:17):
twenty seven catches for six point eight yards per catch.
But that being said, he's already at his forty percent
threshold for where he was at last year in receptions.
I think he had fifty four or something like that
last year. Pretty darn near close to half of it already,
so Packers will have to find a way to neutralize him.
And George Pickens is the new weapon. So even if
cdee Lamb isn't out there, and he is a handful,
(11:38):
he's one of the very best in this game, Dak
Prescott still has guys to work around. And now that
Prescott's back, he's put the hamstring injury behind him. The
yards per play and the explosive plays haven't been there
so far for Dallas. When you look about you look
at his yards per passing play, I think it's in
the six to eight range. Then you go over to
their opponents which is almost like nine point eight. Yeah,
(12:00):
yards per play. So defensively they're gashing a lot, but
offensively they've been really, you know, pretty efficient so far.
Fourth in the league right now in total yards. But
they've also had turnovers too that.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I've hurt them.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Yeah. Well, the storylines that of course we've been talking
about with the players. You mentioned it before. Micah Parsons
will be returning to Dallas sort of that unexpected homecoming
because a month ago he wouldn't have thought this was
in the cards necessarily, and now the Packers and a
bunch of guys in Green Bay, particularly Elton Jenkins, are
(12:34):
going to go head to head with Kenny Clark, one
of their favorite former teammates and mainstay here. You have
a story on our website about the whole Jenkins and
Clark matchup. I have a story on the website about
Micah Parsons and what he had to say about the homecoming.
So I don't want to belabor that. But everything that
(12:54):
I heard, and you found some comments that Kenny Clark
made to the Dallas media and whatnot, I can't say
I've been surprised at all by anything I've heard from
any of the players kind of you know, involved in
all this. I mean, I got the sense from Micah
Parsons that he just wants the he just wants the
game to get started, because he feels like, once once,
once the ball is kicked off, it's it's a football game.
(13:16):
It's not about him being back in Dallas and all
of that anymore. And I think, you know, once Elton
Jenkins and Kenny Clark kind of you know, lockhorns for
a couple three plays, you know, in the early portion
of the game, then that part kind of goes away.
As well, because it's just another opponent, right, So yeah,
that seems to be the way everybody's approaching it.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yeah, And I mean Kenny said, Kenny might have set
a record for saying needing to go one to zero
in a nine minute interview. That was his focus is that,
And he was great. He's like Kenny always is, very humble,
very affable. You can tell that the Dallas media has
already taken to him down there, and but this ultimately
is about trying to win this game. The one thing
(13:58):
I thought was really interesting that Kenny said though he
was legitimately shocked and he was really surprised. He had
heard the rumblings that they potentially could be acquiring Michael Parsons.
He didn't. He was floored when he found out. He said,
he was downstairs with his he had just gotten home
from practice. He was with his daughter and Brian Gudikun's
the same GM that was just give him a fist
bump a couple hours earlier at practice that same day,
(14:20):
was calling to let him know that this trade had
gone through and Kenny was the player.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Now.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
The one thing that I think is the ultimate credit
to Kenny is the Dallas.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Cowboys wanted him badly.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
This wasn't just oh, we we're gonna trade two first
round picks and we got to throw somebody else in
to make the money work. No, I mean the Cowboys
really felt like he was. I think there's been a
little bit of a caricature with it with the Jerry
Jones stuff, but the personnel department there really valued what
he brings as a defensive tackle and they've really struggled
with the edge rush. But inside he has a good
(14:50):
one too going early on. But for him, it is
about this game. He said, you know, they were asking him,
are you gonna go get some hugs before and He's like,
I'm there to be hugged, but I'm not going to
go pursue it. I mean, if people want to come
up to me and talk and chat, that's great, but
I have a job to do and that's ultimately what
he wants to be able to get done. And Michael Parsons,
as you were part of that discussion, I thought had
(15:11):
some really salient points and that, Yeah, it's a lot
of talk, and it's a lot of headlines and it's
a lot of narratives going into this thing. But once
that ball is snapped. He has a job to do.
He hopes that people down in Dallas love him. He
hopes that people appreciate what he gave. But he doesn't
need any like type of like circumstances or celebrations or
(15:32):
He's not.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Worried about the scoreboard tribute thing that Jerry Jones said
is not going to happen the way it's happened in
Dallas for Emmett Smith and and for Ezekiel Elliott when
they came back, and he's like and he's like, I'm
not worried, you know, he's It's the last thing on
his He wants to play it. Frankly, he just wants
to play the football.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Thank you for saving me. I can't think of the
word tribute there.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Well, we've already touched on a few things, but when
it comes to keys to victory in this game, to
kind of boil it down to, you know, the one
or two bullet points, where are you at on this one?
Speaker 2 (16:05):
For the Packers, Packer's got to run the ball, Mike,
you gotta run the ball one way or another. They
got to find a way to get this thing going.
I think Josh is when you're it's not like Cincinnati.
I don't know if you saw those statistics that are
going on in Cincinnati right now. I forget the back's name.
I mean he's like negative fifty four yards before contact.
I mean basically, the defensive front is in the backfield
before he can even get moving. But Jacobs has had
(16:27):
a hard time finding some wiggle room, and he's faced
some really good defenses too. There's some really strong opponents
that he's gone up against. But with defenses wanting to
throw an extra guy in the box. And Kenny even
said it in his address with the media, I mean
that is where everything starts for green Bay. If Josh
Jacobs starts running, if Tucker Kraft, as Kenny also pointed out,
if those two start getting going and inside, everything opens
(16:48):
up for Green Bay in the passing game. So they
have to be able to run the football and then
honestly to build off of that. And I hope I'm
not stealing anything from you because I'm talking a lot here.
But Jordan Love getting back the horse, and you mentioned it,
he did that after the interception. He led them down,
put them back in scoring position. But Jordan Love may
have played one of his best games in that wild
(17:10):
card game against Dallas a year and a half ago.
This is critical now for him to be able to
put everything that happened in Cleveland behind him, refocus and
just get this offense humming. Yeah, Packers are still looking
for that first thirty point game on paper, thirty points
allowed so far per game for Dallas. It's set up
for green Bay to have success.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Yeah, And that's why to me, what rises to the
top for me here is that the Packers need to
finish drives in this game. Because I expect this matchup
green Bay's offense against Dallas' defense. I expect the Packers
to be able to move the ball and to be
able to move the ball really consistently. But you and
I have seen plenty of games where you can have
(17:50):
a team that's moving the ball, you can be racking
up all kinds of yards, But then if you can't
finish drives and you're settling for field goals, then you're
not maximizing on those opportunities that you're creating for yourself.
And I do expect the Packers to be able to
move the ball into rack up yards, but they've got
to finish the drives to rack up the points as well.
I mean the Packers have won. As we know, the
(18:14):
Packers have not lost in at and T Stadium since
that place was built. It's a six game winning streak
that started with Super Bowl thirty five, sorry super Bowl
forty five, excuse me, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then
the last five games have been against Dallas down there.
The Packers have won them all. What really jumps out
when you look at the scores of those games is
(18:35):
that the Packers have averaged thirty six and a half
points in those six victories in that building. They go
in there and they score points, and that needs to continue.
And I think this is an opportunity for Green Bay
to do that. On the flip side. Defensively, I just
think it's about making Dak Prescott uncomfortable. And because I
(19:00):
don't know about you, but I always feel like when
I if I'm watching the Cowboys on television, their offense
always looks different at home versus when it's on the road,
and when no matter what the statistics say, necessarily Dallas
at home to me is always still a very dangerous
offense with Dak Prescott at the controls. And I think
it's incumbent upon the Packers Parsons and company pass rush wise,
(19:24):
where Shan Gary's got the four and a half sacks
already so far this year. They need to make They
need to make Prescott uncomfortable, and I like green Bay's chances.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Honestly, I think for green Bay's defense, I'm glad you
brought that up. If they can sack Prescott and they
can turn the ball over, those are the only two
things that we're missing from Cleveland. I don't care if
it's fumble. People are asking about the force fumbles and
the emphasis on that they haven't gotten the force fumbs yet.
I don't care if it's a force fumble. I don't
care if it's a fumble. I don't care if Dak
Prescott catches the ball, lays it on the ground and
invites them to pick it up. However you get the football.
(19:55):
Just being able to make those type of game changing plays,
that's what changed the tie to that Browns game. As
much the Packers is disappointing, that was for green Bay
to lose that way. One takeaway absent the end of
the first half. I'm talking about a drive killing takeaway
would have I think put things in green Bay's favor.
They didn't get it. The other thing, I just want
to mention very quickly, and you know this better than anybody.
(20:17):
Their nineteen nineties green Bay Packers could not get past
the Dallas Cowboys. That table has flipped. However, Packer fans
thought of the Seattle Seahawks in the early twenty tens,
the San Francisco forty nine ers, now some of these
teams that have stood in the way at Green Bay,
the Packers have been that force for the Dallas Cowboys.
A lot of people laughed about that that show they
(20:37):
did on Netflix where Jerry Jones is talking about how
devastating that loss was last year when they were or
two years ago when they were the number one seed,
in the number two seed or twof seed the first
two to seven game, how difficult that was to take
because you got to remember, Dallas has lost some absolute
killers to green Bay. When you go back to twenty
(20:59):
fourteen and the des Brian catch no catch, that Packers
have been a thorn in their side. So when Brian
Schottenheimer says, I don't care if we have Tyler Brooker,
I don't care if we have CD Lamb we have
enough to beat the Green bit Packers. You best believe
you're gonna get Dallas's best effort.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Yeah, absolutely, I think I think the Packers are going
to get Dallas's best shot because yeah, and certainly that
fan base that is going to be filling that stadium,
I do think there will be a decent contingent of
Packers fans there. But that fan base remembers the twenty
fourteen Divisional game, the twenty sixteen Divisional game which was
in Dallas, the twenty twenty three wild Card game which
(21:36):
was in Dallas. That those those fans remember those games
and they will be they'll be out for blood, so
to speak, in this one. So we do need to
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(22:42):
Wes Elsewhere around the league. In Week four, we'll start
with the NFC North Minnesota Vikings are against the Pittsburgh
Steelers in Dublin, So we get to wake up in
our hotel room Sunday morning in Dallas and turn on
NFL Football. Yeah, eight thirty eight Central time kickoff if
you're so inclined. Cleveland is at Detroit, so that Browns
(23:04):
team that just knocked off Green Bay now goes into
Ford Field. And then the Bears, coming off their first
win of the season, go to Las Vegas to take
on a Raiders team that is struggling a bit. I
think the Bears have a great opportunity to get to
two and two and kind of erase their zero and
two start. But any thoughts you have on those NFC
(23:26):
North matchups.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Well, I mean, it's funny, man, we're back to Aaron Rodgers.
It's right, and not that some fans stop, but I
mean this is this is a big one. I mean, Minnesota,
that was a huge response. I thought every team in
the NFC, it's again, it speaks to the strength of
the division. When they've all been punched in the mouth
so far, each one of them is bounced back. I
(23:48):
already made my point known on Tuesdays show about Chicago
and how I felt like they played against Dallas and
that was the right response the Vikings to lose Aaron
Jones and JJ McCarthy and then look that good in
that game and Carson Wentz and I mean probably the
best you know videos, memes, highlights, you know those old
clips of him in the stadium at the Metrodome with
(24:08):
the you know, the Vikings jersey on, you know, as
a North Dakota kid being over there and he going
to those games. Now he's the quarterback. I mean, that's
that's what the NFL is all about. But that being said,
Pittsburgh and that defense that has been built to win
a championship. This year has to come through. So that'll
be a fun one to watch. These Thursday night games
have been great. It's really fun to watch. I mean,
(24:29):
not necessarily the Dolphins one, but I mean, by and
large this season, these are This is a really high
stakes matchup. Seattle's feeling good about itself, Arizona was feeling
good about self. And you know, Marvin Harrison had some drops,
some mis cues, and now they lost James Connors.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
So yeah, both those teams, Seahawks and Cardinals for Thursday football,
they're both two and one. That's a big that's a
big game in the NFC West.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Huge, huge, huge, And uh you know the Seahawks too
have been working through some injuries there. So this is
a really good slate of game. I mean, you're gonna
talk about the whole thing here, but I mean there's
there's a couple mismatches. Again, Buffalo gets matched up against
New Orleans and three zero and three. Yeah, but then yeah,
I mean Philly in Tampa. I mean, like Jacksonville has
(25:13):
impressed some people. They get to face the forty nine ers,
the Colts and the Rams.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
I don't want to take your win.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
No, No, those were a couple of the ones that
I was gonna mention. You've got Philadelphia going up against
Tampa Bay. Here two three and o teams in the NFC.
That one is that one is down in Tampa. I
think a sneaky interesting game is Indianapolis at the Rams
with you know the Rams. The rams only loss was,
(25:40):
you know, blowing the big lead against Philadelphia and Indianapolis
is kind of the surprise of the league. I would say,
right now, off to that three and oh start. And
then speaking of surprises, I don't think at the beginning
of the season, either one of us would have said, oh,
Baltimore against Kansas City in Week four and both teams
are one and two, you know, so bar some sort
(26:00):
of you know, crazy overtime tie. I mean, either the
Ravens or the Chiefs is going to be one and
three one month into the season. That's certainly something.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Uh'll both be one two and one. Yeah, sorry, I
always gotta be that.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Guy, I know, but that's that's not a scenario anyone
necessarily envision. Now that being said, I think both the
Ravens and the Chiefs have played some played a tough
schedule you know, they've they've had you know, they've had
their opponents kind of.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
I just did what they need to do last week.
Ye first are tough?
Speaker 1 (26:29):
Yeah, absolutely so. I it's it's a it is, it's
a it's a really interesting slate of games. I want
to get. I want to get your thoughts as far
as Philly going down to Tampa Bay. One of these
teams theoretically will be four and oh the other one
is going to drop to three and one. Which one
do you think stays undefeated?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (26:48):
I think Eagles run through them.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
To be honest with you, Okay, I have a ton
of respect for what Todd Bowles is built there. There's
a lot of people that thought he was just going
to be that. You know, we've seen this so many
times where you have the air apparent and then they
just it just doesn't work out you when they succeed him.
I think Bowls has done a good job of taking
what Bruce arians built and has made it his own
now and showed that. You know, he did deserve that
opportunity to be a head coach again in this league.
But I just think Philly is so formidable right now
(27:11):
and they can beat you in so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Yeah, and it's a bad game.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
But yeah, and it's a bad time for Tampa Bay
to lose Mike Evans to a string injury too. You know,
I would have leaned toward Philadelphia in this matchup of
early unbeatens anyway, but then hearing that Evans is now
out and the Buccaneers don't have Chris Godwin, you know,
they still don't have all the all their other weapons back,
(27:36):
and now you lose a guy like Evans, that's really
going to put really going to put the pressure on
Baker Mayfield. And for all the magic he has worked
in the first three years of the season, I think
the magic runs out a little bit here in Week four.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah, and I'll never come him out. I mean, this
guy's incredible what he's been doing. He's proved me wrong
several times over over the years, including this season alone.
But it's also the most winnable division in football. So
it's like if they if they do find a way
to beat Philadelphia, that's a great way to put your
flag in the ground and say we're going to be
a contender this year. I just want to also a
couple of other things. I want to mention absolutely hate.
(28:09):
I'm using the word hate here the idea of starting
Jackson Dart this week, they're gonna make that switch with
the Giants. He's taken over under center. Russell Wilson is
going as the backup. Brian Davil said, that's gonna be
the way they're gonna do it the rest of the year.
They're going against. They are at home, but they're going
against the three to zero LA Chargers team. Next week
they play the Saints. If it was me, I think
(28:30):
I would have given Russ one more start here because
this isn't This game isn't going to changing thing. It's
a non conference opponent, and if the Chargers get after him,
that's not great. And then Cleveland and Detroit man is
a really really sneaky good game. It also shows you
the different levels of two and two teams sometimes, right,
like the Browns get to two and two, they're gonna
(28:51):
look like world beaters. Yeah, after knocking off Green Bay
in Detroit, no kidding, but with how the Lions offense
is playing right now, specifically that run game against this
uh Cleveland defense. Oh and by the way, it's coordinated
by Jim Schwartz.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Theater.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Yea cinema, Yeah, there we go. Well with that, we
will call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted.
Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the
team and all of our coverage of Sunday nights game
from Dallas. Wes and I will both be there and
we will have it all for you on Packers dot com.
For Wes, I'm Miike. Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Everybody.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
We will see you next time.
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