November 9, 2025 • 44 mins
The FANs Dave Sinykin breaks down the Packers game against the Eagles at Lambeau.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for Packers Preview again. Bum talking about the
pack k N the Super Bowl. We're gone win again,
according to your host David Sinnecon will win on the road,
but we'll win at home. But Willie then win.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
In the US Bank Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Mike's fans can call it, but you've got the balls
the Packers Preview Show.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Welcome to year thirty of Packer Preview on the Fan,
now live from the KFA and studios.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
The head geees himself Dave Sinakon.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Good morning, Packer Fans, and welcome to the week ten
edition of Packer Preview on the Sports Leader and the
home of the Vikings k F A N. I'm Dave
Sinecon joined by Brett Blake Moore. As we we hope
you got the memo that we are starting at eight today.
We'll be back at seven the rest of the month.
But with the Gophers on their there's no Gopher rewind
this morning, so we get the coveted eight o'clock hour
(01:05):
to kick off the NFL coverage on the Home of
the Purple today. And we are facing a bit of
adversity as we head into week ten. Are we not
coming off? I'm calling it the most disappointing loss of
the Matt Lafleur era. There's certainly been more heartbreaking, painful
losses that were much more meaningful in January, But for
(01:27):
what all this represented? As the pack came into the
Panthers game on top of the NFC, off the stirring
wind in Pittsburgh, to lay the egg they laid against
the Panthers stings and to add injury to insults. Of course,
the loss of Tucker Craft will be felt for the
rest of this season. It changes completely what this offense
can be and what it wants to be. We'll get
(01:48):
into all of that today. We're not going to live
this hour looking back at the Panthers game, but we
certainly will address it, and then we will put all
eyes forward to the big Monday Nighter Packer Eagles lambeau
Field tomorrow night. Chance for some redemption after a couple
of losses to the Eagles last season, and a chance
(02:09):
to maybe, if not flip the narrative, change the narrative
back to yes, the Packers can compete with the best.
It's funny how we're sort of reversing the storyline from
a year ago, right, couldn't beat the good teams last year,
but beat up on the SOSO teams. This year, the
Packers have stumbled against the SOSO teams, but have looked
(02:29):
very good against the not elite teams perhaps, but the
very good teams. They have faced. A big challenge awaits
when the Eagles come to town tomorrow night. For the
pack it's been about consistency or a lack thereof. So far,
one week they look great, the next week, who are
these guys? Head coach Matt Lafleur addressed that earlier this week.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
I think that's the challenge, Like I said, every week,
can you play up to your level?
Speaker 6 (02:54):
And can he do it consistently?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
I mean that consistency is the greatest measurement of performance.
Any team can go out there and do it one time,
but can you put repeat performances out there? And unfortunately
for us, you know, I don't think we've done that.
So the other thing that I don't think we've done
a great job of is just playing a complete game.
In all three phases, there's been moments of really good
(03:18):
stuff and then there's been moments of really bad stuff.
So I think it's like I said, there's a really
good football team in all three phases. It's a great
challenge for us and hopefully we can go out there
and play our best ball.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yes, that would be a good thing.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
We quickly looked back at what we saw last Sunday,
just a weird, head scratching game. From the opening drive,
Packers take it into the red zone and then save
Anne Williams fumbles and it was that sort of the
storyline of the day. Right, eight possessions in the game,
they never punted the ball, yet they scored just thirteen points.
It's difficult to accomplish that. But when you turn the
(03:57):
ball over on downs or just turn the ball over,
or you miss a field goal from forty four yards,
that's what happens, and the Packers did just enough to
allow the Panthers to gain confidence as the game went along.
Brett Blake Moore, what bugged you most? Was it the
one for five performance in the red zone? Was it
the run defense? Was it the lack of pass protection
(04:18):
for Jordan Love? Was it the fourth and eighth decision
by Matt Lafleur, which I know you agreed with at
the time, So it's not going to be that for you,
But it.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Bugged the heck out of me. It does now too.
Were good. I'm glad you came around.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
What bugged you the most besides the final score last week?
Speaker 7 (04:35):
I mean, is there a rite an option for all
of the above, because I think I think they're all
worth mentioning. I would say it's probably the play calling,
and I think, you know, it's just so inconsistent, and
it's almost not playing scared but just not playing to
make a mistake and playing two safely at times, and
then you know the opposite way, where sometimes it's too
(04:55):
reckless and we just don't have that balance. I can
think back to the Dallas game where it was trying
to really be aggressive and ended up costing them on
the stripsack, and that turned the game around. Trying to
be too aggressive on the fourth and eight, but then
playing really scared and doing these screens and little pitches
and trying to get too cute. So I would just
like to see, you know, in that Pittsburgh game, Lafleur said,
(05:18):
I just let Jordan Love go because I saw he
was on fire, and it worked out and you got
twenty straight completions because just let him drop back and pass.
I think that's where you're at your best. Obviously Love's
got to be better too. An excusable pick, but overall
the stats and metrics are still really good. So I'd
say let him cook and improve the play calling.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, I'm with you. I think calling it scared play
calling is fair. It's what it feels like, all these
little screens when they get into the red zone, and
to savean Williams on you know whatever, third and three,
just either run the football or you know, put the
ball in your quarterback's hands. He's proven he can make
great decisions, so I think it's take the training wheels off.
Sometimes it's like the the sphincter gets a little tight
(05:55):
for Matt Lafleur and he just doesn't, you know, just
doesn't let it fly. And it's weird because, as you say,
you do see him take shots and him be the
opposite of conservative. But we didn't see that last week,
and I think the whole team kind of fed off
of that. Yeah, it was an ugly performance from start
to finish. We crumple it up, we throw it away,
and we realize that we're going to look back at
(06:17):
that one perhaps as one that man look at where
we are in the standings, and look, look where we
could be if you just win that game. And again
the fourth and eight decision, forget about just overall, what
do you do down seven early fourth quarter? You're facing
a fourth and eight inside the red zone?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What do you do?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Normally you just automatically take the points. But to compound
the issue for Lafleur was just remember what happened. You know,
they were completely out of sorts. The receivers had no
idea how to line up. Love is trying to get
everybody in position. They have to burn a time out
at this point, so now he's got a couple minutes
to think about it, like, all right, wait a minute,
and am I making the right call here? And he
still tries to run something on fourth and eight And
(06:55):
it was an absolute disaster. So it was a failure
by the coaching staff. Players did not perform. And if
I'm looking back at what really bugged me the most,
just getting beat up front on both sides of the
ball by a Carolina Panthers team that was not a
good pass rushing team, did not have a great offensive line.
They were down two or three starters, yet they dominated
up front on both sides of the ball and that's
(07:17):
just not acceptable. And here comes Philly, and the fan
has learned the competition's got a bit stiffer. As the
Eagles come in off of their by virtually healthy, rested,
and ticked off that this is the team that tried
to cancel their tush push and they want to send
a message. I wouldn't be surprised if on first and ten,
first time they get the ball they run a toush push,
(07:39):
just a yeah, it'll.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Be second to nine. We don't care.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
We'll give it to Saquan and get eight on second down.
But just to throw it in your face we're gonna
tush pushy on first down wouldn't shock me. It's the
thirty third straight year the Packers will play a game
on Monday Night Football. They've won their last six home
games on Monday Night Football. They've also hosted the Super
Bowl champion now three times in the last four seasons.
(08:03):
Of course, as we know, they lost twice to the
Eagles last year to open the season and to close
the season. But they've been very good in prime time
two to zero to one, averaging thirty four points per game.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And overall, you.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Know, they're eighteen and six at home against Philly twenty
seven and seventeen is the all time series Packers lead
against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have not looked like the
dominant Super Bowl champion throughout most of the season. They've
been kind of up and down. Their offense has not
been very good until their most recent game against the
hapless Giants. The Packers get to play those hapless Giants
(08:38):
next week. Let's hope they continue to be hapless when
Green Bay heads to met Life next Sunday afternoon. But yeah,
just hasn't been that same dominant team, and Philly knows it,
understands it. Hollie Roseman, one of the best front office
guys in the league, realizes, all right, if we're not
going to score as many points maybe as we thought
this year, let's make sure the defense is a little better.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
No, GM was more active, perhaps than Howie Roseman as
the trade deadline approach. They added three players, two that
will make an instant impact. Former Dolphins pass rusher Jalen
Phillips joins that linebacker group in the three four. He's
very good when healthy. He has not been great this season,
but he joins a very talented defense and is a
(09:20):
big time addition for them. They also traded for the
Jets cornerback Michael Carter. They go about four deep now
with really good corners. I'm not sure what that's like.
My organization doesn't seem to value cornerbacks like those guys do.
Those two guys will make an immediate impact, of course.
They also added Jay r Alexander before the trade deadline
for a cup of coffee from the Baltimore Ravens. Jaiiir
(09:42):
was buried on the depth chart. The little play he got,
he looked nothing like the cornerback we remember.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I don't know. I'm sure they'll throw him out tomorrow
night just to be at Lambeau.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
But I don't expect him to make a great impact
unless they suffer some injuries. Let's talk about injuries for
the Pack, much more hanged up than Philly. No Lucas
van Ness for a fourth straight game. Matt Lafleur was
asked a bit about that, because if if you thought
he was gonna miss four games, you put him on ir,
and they didn't do that, so they wasted a roster spot.
(10:12):
That foot injury, Lafleour admitted, has taken longer to heal
than they thought. It sounds like he's getting closer. I
don't think it's imminent though. I don't think he'll be
back next week, but maybe maybe he's back following that,
when Green Bay begins that string of three straight division games,
it would be nice to put lucasvan Nest back out there.
He was off to a really nice start to this season.
(10:33):
Packers did lose Nate Hobbs last week to a knee injury.
Sounds like a couple of weeks, you know, for me,
that might be additioned by subtraction. Carrington Valentine has been
a much more effective outside cornerback for this team. Hobbs
is really a slot corner. The slot corner spot is
huge against Philly. We will get to that. Javon Bullard
will man that position. Hobbs on the bench for a
(10:54):
couple of weeks with the knee injury. Four questionable Packers
in this game. Maybe the most concerning is Matthew Golden,
whose shoulder injury had him limited Wednesday. No, I think
he missed practice Wednesday, then he was limited Thursday, and
then he missed practice Friday. I think I'm one day
off because everything's a day later on a Monday night
(11:14):
football game. My point being the final practice day, Golden
did not practice.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
So I've got limited Thursday, did not practice, Friday, did
not practice Saturday.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It is so soon.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Doesn't look like Matthew Golden's gonna be able to go
Monday night. That's obviously disappointing. With Tucker Craft out, everybody
has to step up. Things have to look different, and
we will talk about how the offense changes without Tucker Craft.
But it doesn't look like Jordan Love will have Matthew
Golden tomorrow night. He should have don Tavian wisback. Though
Wicks practiced all week, He's missed the last couple of
games with the calf injury. He is trending toward playing.
(11:46):
I think he'll be out there. He's gonna need to
be more of a factor on this team. And this
is a guy I really thought in his third year
might kind of like a La DeVante Adams, not to
his level, but maybe third year things click because he's
got all the things you want in a wide receiver.
He just hasn't had an opportunity and it hasn't stayed healthy.
But with the injuries with the pass catchers, maybe Wix
(12:08):
becomes more of a factor. Saveon Williams is also questionable
with a foot injury. That's three receivers if you're keeping track,
all questionable for this game. Williams again, they're using him
as a gadget guy. He can catch the ball, like
if he's out there, throw the ball. Put him as
a receiver too. He's big, he's a big target. They're
obviously not real confident yet that he's ready to handle
(12:30):
those responsibilities. We'll see if he's even out there Monday night.
Questionable with a foot injury and then right tackles. Zach
Tom with a back is questionable by all accounts. I
assume he is going to go. I think that back
is something he's going to have to deal with all season.
It's just one of those nagging issues. You know, he'll start.
I think hopefully he'll finish. Obviously, you want him out
(12:50):
there against the Philadelphia Eagles and beyond, so hopefully as
Zach Tom is good to go. The Eagles, they're down
one starter, center Cam Jurgens will miss this game.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
That's a big.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Loss for them, but it's the only loss otherwise. The
The Eagles are healthy, rested off the buy uh and
ready to maybe take out some of their push push
frustration on the Green Bay Packers in prime time. While
we come back, let's talk about the Packers offense now
without Tucker Craft. What that changes, what the Eagles defense
(13:22):
presents as a challenge because the Packer is going to
have to score some points against the champs.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
We're back right after this.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Well, I'm proud to be a Packer fan, the best
football fans and all the lands dot Packer fan.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it's a Packer fan the Packer Breevy, brought to
you by j J rufin.
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Stream.
Speaker 8 (13:49):
Good morning, this is basic shock the game myself Sunday
at Lambeo worst game live I've ever seen. Everything was bad,
the uniforms were bad. We got beat up on both
sides the ball. I'd like to see the Packers do
something to spark the offense. And to do that, I
like to see maybe the Packers so at Combo look
at the Eagles defense and that will help change things around.
(14:11):
So we need to do something to get the game
one and go back go.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
It is Packer Preview on the fan. We are getting
you set for Packers Eagles Monday Night football. Thanks today
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callback on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You've got up to.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Thirty seconds to give your thoughts on the pack and
we will happily play them during this program. Packers have
lost their most explosive playmaker for the season. Now, buzz
kills don't come any bigger than that. As a football fan,
you just kind of cross your fingers every week and
hope your main guys can get through it so you
can watch them play. Because there is nobody more enjoyable
(14:51):
to watch on this Packer roster than Tucker Kraft. And
to go down a week after the coming out party
in Pittsburgh is just salt in the wounds. It was
a non content injury. The greatest fears were realized towards
Acl done for the season. Monday morning was his twenty
fifth birthday when he got the word that he was
officially lost for the season. And as you know, you
(15:11):
don't just plug in Luke musk Grave and say here's
your chance, baby, you're the new tight end one. We're
not going to change anything. You just do what Tucker did.
That's not who Luke musk Grave is. He's not a full,
complete tight end. He is a wide receiver in a
tight end's body, and they certainly do need to use
him and try to get the best out of him.
(15:32):
For me, that's sending him downfield. He's not a guy
that's going to break tackles like Tucker Craft is. He's
not a guy who's gonna block for you like Tucker Crafted.
You're gonna see more John Fitzpatrick. You're gonna see Josh Wiley,
former Titans tight end who they added to the roster,
getting a chance. But it is an opportunity for Luke
musk Grave to say, yeah, I was drafted a round
ahead of Tucker Craft. You did think highly out of me.
(15:55):
My injury history maybe gave a lot of teams pause,
and they've given the Packers pause couple of seasons. He
has a hard time staying on the field, but Brett blakemore,
he does have an opportunity to show why they drafted
him in the second round. As I said earlier, though
it's not about plugging him in. The offense must change
a bit. What would you like to see the offense
morph into with Tucker Craft and Street close.
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Yeah, basically you're going to have to split Tucker Craft's
ability between Musgrave and Fitzpatrick because you're gonna get the blocking,
or not the full blocking at the full effect, but
you're going to get the blocking element from Fitzpatrick would
have been Ben Sibbs had they put van Ness on
ir like they maybe should have, and then you're gonna
get the receiving ability, hopefully to an extent, from Musgrave.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I'm high on Musgrave.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
I have been for years, so I'm not all doomingm
Obviously it sucks, and Tucker Craft is a much more
complete tight end than he is, there's no doubt about it.
But I still like Musgrave a lot. I think he
adds something to the offense when they utilize him. I
can think of a couple massive catches. He had one
in Dallas in that playoff game. The guy is good
when given the opportunity. So they can morph into more
(17:03):
of an air raid, you know, more of a West
Coast style than the RD are, and use him more
as just a bigger wide receiver. I'm okay with that,
and I think we'll fit in just fine.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Interesting challenge against a Philly team that's really good across
the middle, really good linebackers, really good cornerbacks. I'm guessing
Cooper dejen will get a good look at at Luke
Muskrat out of the slot on Monday Night. But you know,
to me, for this offense to really click, it's still
about upfront. And I think the biggest disappointment overall for
this team this season for me, has been the play
(17:32):
of the offensive line, which we thought was going to
be a strength. I mean, they attacked that position the
last year or two right in the draft, first round
pick Jordan Morgan, a year ago, second round pick Anthony Belt.
In this past year, the thought was, let's get bigger, beefier,
more physical. Let's spend seventy seven million dollars on Aaron Banks.
Let's Jettis and Josh Myers at center, and move Elton
(17:52):
Jenkins in there. And now we've got five guys we
really like, maybe six, maybe seven if you count those
young guys we've draft early, and it just isn't working now.
Part of it's been injuries and the lack of cohesion.
They haven't been out there together, but they haven't been
great where they have been. And overall so far, the
old line nineteenth in pressures allowed, twenty fourth in yards
(18:14):
per carry. That's the biggest gripe. The running game has
not looked anything like the running game we saw a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Part of it's Jacobs has been banged up of late.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
But mostly it's he's getting hit before he gets through
the line.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
He's just not finding holes.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Seventeenth in yards before contact, twenty seventh and explosive run rate.
It just isn't happening. They're not getting those big runs yet.
Matt Lafleur's calling games as if it's still the effective
running attack that they expected going into the season. They
have been good at preventing sacks their fourth and sack
rate they're eighth, and avoiding stuffed runs behind the line
(18:52):
of scrimmage. But there's just nothing happening. And that's you know,
as you guys know, Matt Lafleur comes from the Kyle
Shanahan tree. It all starts with the running game. That
opens up play action. That's where Jordan Love cooks. And
if you can't make play action a part of your offense,
that takes away a huge weapon. So very frustrating offensive
line play for this team this year. Not too late
(19:14):
to turn it around. They've got the five preferred starters
healthy and ready to go, and they'll have to deal
with a pretty staunch front line for the Philadelphia Eagles,
led by Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. In the middle
of those big, beefy former SEC Georgia guys are as
good as it gets. It's a really good three to
(19:34):
four defense run by Vic Fangio. They like to play
just what Carolina played because Carolina's defensive coordinator is a
protege of Vic Fangio. Two shells you, two safeties, deep,
light boxes. We don't think you're gonna be able to run.
We're not gonna let you beat us deep. You can
dink and dunk and eventually you're gonna make a mistake
or two. That was the recipe that cooked the pack
(19:55):
last week because they made more than a mistake or two.
They made a ton of mistakes. So the offense will
look different. They're gonna still rely on Josh Jacobs. I
feel like they're gonna keep him on the field more
Monday Night, he's gonna not I don't think you'll see
as much Emmanuel Wilson against Philly. I think Jacobs is healthier,
and they've sort of been putting him on a bit
(20:16):
of a pitch count the last couple weeks, knowing that
A we're in November now, this is when you want
to lean on Jacobs and B you can move the
ball on the ground. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, they are
sixteenth in rushing yards allow. It's their middle of the pack.
They're actually eleventh in passing yards allowed, and they don't
sack the quarterback much. They're twenty six. They don't have
(20:39):
that stud pass rusher. That's not what they're great at,
but they do make things difficult. And Zach Bond, who
was the steal of free agency last year, hasn't been
quite the effective tackling machine that he was a year ago.
This Philly team, if you've paid attention, they just they haven't.
They're six and two, right, I mean, if they win
Monday Night, they're no worse than the top seed or
(21:00):
record is the top seed in the NFC. But they
just haven't looked like that dominating team that scares you.
So there is a chance for Green Bay to match
them point for point. And you know, Christian Watson rounding
into form, Romeo Dobbs is going to be relied on
more than ever. We're still I think a few weeks
away from Jayden Reid. It sounds like week thirteen fourteen,
(21:21):
maybe Thanksgiving, maybe after the long break. It's the week
after Thanksgiving for Jayden Reid. But that's going to unlock
things in the run game as well. It's obviously a
challenge when you're going up against a team like the
Philadelphia Eagles, but again, it.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Starts with la floor.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It starts with call plays that puts your quarterback in
the best position and allow him to win or lose
the game. I'll take my chances with Jordana Love. I
just felt like the training wheels were on last week,
which just seems really strange after the performance he put
on in Pittsburgh. This has to be a night where
Jordan Love cooks and Brett He's been fantastic and primetime
(22:00):
Jordan Love. We've talked about his Sunday Night record. He's
really good on Monday nights as well. For whatever reason,
you know, this is a kind of a line in
the sand game. Green Bay is a point and a
half favorite, so it's basically a toss up. By the way,
green Bay now will be the only team in the
NFL to have been favored in every game this season,
(22:20):
which is a bit stunning. And just think about what
they will look like after this game. Right you beat Philly,
they're six two and one. They may not be the
top seed in the NFC, depending on what Seattle and
Tampa Bay do today, but they'll be right there. They'll
still lead the North as they do this morning. We're
all doom and gloom, but they're leading the North right now.
They are the fourth seed. If the playoffs started today,
(22:43):
they would host the La Rams, which that'd be a
bit meaty at lambeau Field, but we do own the Rams.
That's been a series that has gone Green Bay's way
of late. But point being, you get really so negative
after a loss like that, and rightfully so, when you're
thirteen point five at home against a team that you
know you should beat. The other hand, you know gets
(23:05):
lost in it because Carolina came in off a forty
to nine loss. They were without their quarterback that game.
That was their stinker game. They had won three straight
before last week, and they're now five and four. I
mean that they are not like it's not like you
lost to the Browns. You know, it's not like you
lost to the Raiders. This is not a terrible team,
but you were a double digit favorite for a reason.
(23:26):
And as I said earlier, for me, it was the
most inexplicable loss of the Matt Lafloor era, because you
just if you are a serious Super Bowl contender, you
do not lose that game at home to the Carolina Panthers,
and you don't shoot yourself in the foot over and over.
So here's your chance to wipe that all away. Have
good vibes again and again. You know, gonna be on
(23:47):
a short week after Monday night, going on the road.
It's gonna be big favorites in New York, and it's
gonna be another chance to worry about a trap game
or a letdown game. Because following the Giants game, Vikings,
Lions Bears, Oh my, you know that's three straight division games.
So you know, a wind, Tom and I would be stirring.
It would make us feel so much better about this team.
(24:10):
But I'll spend the week worrying about all right, can
they can they still get up for the Giants team?
I just I don't trust this team yet to stack
wins and that maybe take teams lightly.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
Yeah, this is the best opportunity you could ask for.
After such a deflating, terrible loss to a team that
has a twenty five percent chance to make the playoffs.
When it comes to NFL dot com, it's that's what
you would want, is a big primetime game against a
good team at home, where I mean social currency doesn't
count for anything more in the standings, but that would
(24:43):
earn back your social currency as far as the media
and fans and the respect levels of this team. But
it also what does count is confidence and you know,
momentum going forward. So I think it's a perfect opportunity
if they can get it done. But the problem is
it's a huge task ahead of them with all the
stars in talent. They're defending world champs so and they
lost him twice last year, so the work's definitely cut out.
(25:06):
But it's a great opportunity and loves good in prime time.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
If they struggle offensively, if there are more people questioning
Matt Lafleur's play calling decisions, the drumbeat is going to
get louder, like we've seen a lot of it this week.
Should Matt Lafleur give up play calling duties. You see
that a lot when an offense is struggling in their
head coach is the play caller. I don't think they should.
I don't know who you hand the clipboard to. I
(25:28):
don't really want Andy Stenovich calling plays. You know, he's
an old line coach that he's the o C. But
do we really know beyond being a good old line
coach who's not getting his old line to play ro
well this year, is he a guy that's a brilliant
play caller. I just don't know that they have that
guy on the roster. So I'm not going to be
you know, all right, Well we struggle this. This offense
doesn't look like it should it should be. It's probably
(25:50):
Lafleur's fault. Let's give it to somebody else. Laflour has
to figure it out. He's been doing this, the fan
has learned for what seven eight years now.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, he only has missed the playoff one time, So
the whole body of work is still really good for Laflora.
And I mean, even if you go back, he was
a genius last week against the Steelers. So I think,
you know, when it comes to that NFL roller coaster,
we get it the most in this sport than any other.
It's just stepping off, throwing up and then moving on
and getting on the next week.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Coach exactly should mention that Brandon McManus will kick for
the Packers.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
That was in question this week.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Kind of weird messaging from Lafleura and Bisacia this week.
You had Lafleur say it's a competition. We're gonna let
him both kick this week and see who we feel
comfortable with when the week of practice is up. Bisaci
is asked late in the week, He's like, McManus is
my kicker. I don't know what you're talking about. He's healthy,
he looks good.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
He's our guy.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
So they need to get on the same page when
it comes to messaging to the media, to the fans.
I don't hate the decision. I'm concerned about McManus, who
is looked nothing like the reliable kicker we brought in
last season. And maybe it is the calf injury.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
He's not right.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
You got to figure that's it. But we don't have
time to wait for his caf to get healthy. There's
another kicker that, by the way, made a sixty one
yard kick, the longest in Packer's history, when he was
filling in for McManus.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
And he's still on the roster.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
You are wasting, in quotes, a roster spot with a
second kicker, and you can't do that much longer, especially
with the injuries piling up. So I'll be curious to
see how things go. Monday night is the least short
if he misses a kick, do we see Haversick out?
Is he going to be active? Obviously that's the first question.
I'm guessing they don't make Havesick active. But if they do,
(27:34):
if you see the inactive list come out and he's
not listed, to me, that tells you the leash is short,
and they're keeping open the possibility that if McManus struggles
Monday Night, they're not going to be afraid to put
Haris Ack in. He's missing kicks every week the game.
The kick last week may have cost the Pack the game.
You know, that changes everything if he makes that kick.
So that's just an interesting subplot to watch. I hope
(27:56):
he's fine. I hope he does just great and we
put the Haversick era in the in the history books.
But I'm not so sure. I still think there's a
chance that the kicking position is unsettled.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
If you're hurt you're hurt. There's no shame in just
saying I'm hurt.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
You know, my calf muscle, my quad muscles, nut's going,
I'm pulling everything.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I just can't go right now. Yeah, there's no shame
in the well.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
He's afraid that he'll get replaced and it'll be all over,
which I understand, but hey, that's football.
Speaker 7 (28:20):
But at the cost of potentially costing Green Bay games.
Like that's just to me, that goes to Bisacia and
La Floor, Like that's coaching malpract If he's hurt, you
can't play him out there, no matter how much he
says it. So it's just I'm not sure I want
to jump ship yet because I just don't know how
much it's the injury or he's just bad currently, because
we've seen him be really good and really consistent and
(28:43):
win games for us against Houston. I can think of
his first game with the squad last year. So it's
hard for me to just throw that all out, throw
the baby with the bathwater. But he can't be playing
if he's hurt. That's just that's the end of it.
He's missed six kicks in six games. You know that
is going to cost you. When when it's all said
and done, well pause here, we'll come back. The challenges
(29:03):
for the Packers defense against the sometimes explosive Eagles offense.
We'll hear from Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Haffley about the Toushbush,
which might be mentioned once or twice tomorrow night.
Speaker 9 (29:15):
Tell all the people across the USA, I love my
gream Baypacker who won the first superpos ever played. I
love my cream Bayer.
Speaker 10 (29:32):
Good Lord day from Maple Grove calling in, Will this
be a game where Jeff Haffley can may have to
put together some exotic, blitzed packages and defenses loaded to
disrupt Philadelthius offense.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
That would be my question. Let's get a prediction. We're
gonna get back on track. We're gonna win this thing.
Thirty one twenty seven Go Packer, twelve sixty five Lombardi guy.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Going back to the game last week against Carolina, when
the Packers needed to drive, it was a very short,
compressed passing games and unfortunately that's the type of passing
game they're going to have to have again, but more
vertically this week against Vick's defense. So with that being said,
(30:19):
this could be a very boring offensive game with very
few explosive plays by the Packers.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
Thanks for checking in, guys, one about the defense, one
about the offense. We'll dive into both of those. Appreciate
you guys to check it in today as we return
for Packer preview. Getting you said for Packers Eagles Monday
night football off subject A little bit saw this on
X during the break certainly caught my eye and Adam
Schefter tweet I don't know if you've seen this.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Michaeh.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
Parsons trade to the Packers in August included a poison
pill that the Cowboys inserted to block.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
A deal in the near future to the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
The previously unreported poison pill condition states that the Packers
decide to trade Parsons to a team in the NFC East,
and the Eagles did try to trade for Micah over
the summer, then the Packers would owe Dallas It's twenty
twenty eight first round pick. Sources involved in the trade
toll ESPN. So don't think Green Bay plans on trading
Michael Parsons be ok. If they decide to, let's just
(31:29):
make sure it's not to the NFC East because it'll
cost an additional number one draft pick. Just kind of
an interesting nugget unearthed. Michael Parsons coming off his least
productive game as a NFL player. He had zero pressures
against an offensive line that was missing three starters. It's
a head scratcher. It's I know he gets a lot
of attention and all of that, but that doesn't usually
(31:52):
stop Parsons from having an effect on the ball game.
It was just one of those games where everything was
a little bit pear shaped, and I expect a much
more productive Micah Parsons, who has had terrific games against
the Philadelphia Eagles, despite the fact that they have world
class tackles I Melita and Lane Johnson.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
They are very good on the edges.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
But I expect Michaeh Parsons to bounce back against what's
been a kind of a resurgent Eagles offense. They've scored
sixty six points the last two weeks. Their last game
was against the Giants, who could do nothing to stop
sa Kwon Barkley, who had had a very pedestrian season
up until that game where he had one hundred and
fifty yards. Before that Giants game, Saquon Barkley was averaging
(32:35):
three point three yards per carry. He averaged five point
seven a year ago. So he has not been the productive, dangerous,
game breaking running back that he was a year ago,
but he certainly showed signs of it.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Make no mistake.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
If the Packers are going to beat the Philadelphia Eagles,
Sakuon Barkley cannot run wild. And you have no way
to wonder whether Jeff Halfley understands that.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Is well, we couldn't take.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
Our whole team.
Speaker 11 (33:01):
You know, I believe run defenses, and maybe I can
simplify this a little bit. Playing good run defenses about
you know, guys doing their job. Is a front together,
is a back end together. But it's about staying square.
It's about taking away space. Okay, It's about guys not
turning their shoulders and running up the field and not
(33:23):
doing their job.
Speaker 6 (33:23):
Because if one guy does that, this back is good.
Speaker 11 (33:26):
Enough to hit a crease and go and be gone,
like he kind of was at the end of the
game on that one when it was four minute mode
and we're kind of being ultra aggressive, right.
Speaker 6 (33:34):
But you have to take away space, and to do that,
guys got to.
Speaker 11 (33:37):
Play square, and they got to use their hands and
they got to stay in their gaps and then at
the same time they got to be ready to tear
off blocks together and make plays. And you want to
make the running back stutter his feet right and not
just give him a vertical charge. You want to make
him hesitate a little bit so then we can use
our speed and go after him and go get them.
And that's hard to do every play because they're so
big and strong up front, where it's going to take
(34:00):
phenomenal effort and technique and fundamentals and the details, which
I thought we were kind of off a little bit
last week, which maybe woke us up a little bit
to how detailed we're going to have to be in
this game to play against him, this back, in this
offensive line, but stayin square, getting off blocks, taking away space,
make them running back stop and start his feet setting
edges right, because if this back does get an edge
and you don't make him stop his feet, he's gone.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
You know, he's the premiere running back in this league.
Speaker 11 (34:24):
So it's going to take a team effort, detail, good coaching,
but what an awesome challenge ahead of us to try
to do it again against the Super Bowl champs.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Good listen to Halfley talk all day. I really could.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Run defense has been a problem in the games the
Packers have not won, and it was a problem last
week when the Panthers presented really one offensive player to
worry about, ric o'donald, and he ran for one hundred
and thirty yards. Packers run defense gave up one hundred
and sixty three, nearly five yards of carry after the
game is a top five run defense the exit of
the game as the eleventh ranked run defense. It looked
(34:56):
really good early in the season. And maybe getting Kolby
Wooden back, which will to put next to Devontae Wyatt's
going to make a big difference. They're really high on Wooden.
He's got a nickname. Whenever you give a defensive lineman
and nick name, they're calling him the general. I think
that's a good sign that they're seeing good things from
Kolbe Wooden. So maybe that's a help, but it's obviously
a huge challenge to keep Sakwon Barkley in check. Green
(35:18):
Bay did a pretty good job in both games against
Philly last year. There might have been a player too
where he broke one, but overall Barkley the Packers made
things a little bit difficult for Sakwon Barkley, so it
starts with him obviously. If he's cooking, it opens everything
up for Jalen Hurts, who, yes, is still a factor
with his legs. Green Bays equipped now to stop running quarterbacks.
(35:38):
Not as worried about that as I've been in recent years,
but he is going to know that the Packers are
playing in zone defense. He's going to lean on DeVante
Smith and Dallas Goddard. Those are their zone breakers in
the middle of the field. That'll be the challenge for
Green Bay. I don't feel like AJ Brown will have
a giant game. He's more of a man guy, and
(36:00):
I not that you know, putting Carring's in Valenton on
AJ Brown is going to make me feel fantastic. But
he held his zone against DK Metcalf, another big, physical receiver,
and I feel okay about that matchup. What I'm worried
about is Smith being a real factor in this game.
He's sort of woken up the last couple of games
and got her too. Has been a favorite target of
(36:21):
Jalen Hurts of late, and Packers have really struggled defensively
against tight ends this season.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
But it begins to me.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
With the run defense, it has to look a lot sharper.
You can't let say Kwon Barkley run loose. This is
a team that's averaging just nineteenth when it comes to
yards per play on the ground, they're twenty fourth and
yards per game. As an offense, they have gotten stronger
of late. As I mentioned where they're really strong as
in the red zone. They're eighty five percent. They're the
(36:50):
number one red zone offense and football Packers are the
twenty fourth in red zone defense.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
That's not great.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
And on the other side, it's just as bad the
Eagles defense. It's only allowed three red zone touchdowns all year.
We talked about green Bay struggles last week, just one
for five in the red zone. So I feel good
about this Packers defense tomorrow night. I do think they
are going to rebound. Of course, what we're all going
to be wondering about is, you know, if they get
(37:18):
into third and one and fourth and one, how many
times will they roll out the Tousch push, the play
that green Bay led the charge to get eliminated. It
irritated the Eagles that the Packers made that move. Of course,
green Bay was nudged by the league to do it.
They're kind of the sacrificial lamb, like why don't you guys,
and we'll support you, and it came close. I still
think it might be a play that gets thrown out eventually.
(37:41):
I hate the play. I don't think it's football. I
don't think you should be able to push your quarterback forward.
But it's in the league and it's going to happen.
I don't think they'll start the game with a touchbush.
I wouldn't put it past Nick Sirianni. But back to
Jeff Haffley. He talked about the challenges of trying to
defend the toushbush.
Speaker 11 (37:57):
What you start to do is when you start to
see crossover and you start to see other people run it,
you start to save those clips and try to figure
out who's doing it best and are there ways that
people have stopped it and then or what you're seeing
or there are other things you can think of outside
the box to stop it right, which is really hard
to do. I mean, I think the success rate is
(38:18):
incredible and they've done such a good job mastering it,
but you certainly you can't just go into the game
and say, I mean.
Speaker 6 (38:25):
We don't have a plan. So we have to have
a plan.
Speaker 11 (38:28):
I think looking at other ways that teams have tried
to defend it, we've gotten other ideas and we have
some outside the box ideas, and you know.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
We're going to try our best to stay out of
that situation. But if we get into it, then we
have a plan and we'll try to execute it.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Yeah, it's a very difficult play to stop. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
I think the best way to stop it is to
make sure you don't put the Eagles into third and
fourth and one, because they are virtually unstoppable. But curious
to see. As you talked Tobut, we have some things
we want to try and outside the box. Outside the box,
so melvin'sti ever tried this before? Yeah, it is what
I mean. I don't know where you are with the
toush push. It doesn't keep me up at night. I
don't think it's fun to watch. I don't think it's entertaining.
There was a game with the Eagles where they ran
(39:07):
out like six times. I thought, like in a role
earlier this year, and it's it's hideous to watch, but
you know it's legal. The fan has learned it is
a legal play in the NFL and Jalen Hurts in
that offensive line know how to execute it. So it'll
be a big talker because of the you know, the
conflict between the two organizations in the offseason. Let's just
hope it doesn't become a major talker and it's a
(39:28):
big play that turns the game tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
And very well. Could I wanted it gone? I agree
with you.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
I don't think it's football, and I think we're more
likely to get it gone in this offseason just because
of all the Now they've got to closely officiate it
and it could be off sides, they have to watch
for false starts, and it's just so muddy of a play.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
Now.
Speaker 7 (39:47):
I think the teams that were on the fence of
voting for it are probably going to be flipped. So
I think this could be it as far as a
Green Bay Philly Tush push matchup, barring a playoff matchup.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
So yeah, I'd like to see that. Yeah, that would
be nice. I'd be all for that.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
It's a supreme challenge, right for this team to try
to bounce back from that performance, to respond to some adversity,
because you know, every team deals with it. Every team's
had bad losses this year. It sort of goes with
the territory. How do you respond the week after to
lose two straight at lambeau Field in the middle of
the season as they enter the meaty part of the season.
(40:25):
Maybe after next week's game, we all know what the
last seven look like. Five division games plus games against
Denver and Baltimore. I mean, there are no gimmeis coming
up the rest of the year. You could say the
Giants look kind of like a gimme, but that's what
we thought last week. So this is the time to
respond and start to strut a little bit and hopefully
get healthier, because the offense is going to need some
(40:48):
pieces with the loss of Craft, and they're gonna need
to score points. Tomorrow Night mentioned it top of the show.
They're averaging thirty four points a game in prime time
this season. The offense, for some reason click when the
lights are on, and they're probably going to need close
to that on Monday Night against a pretty good Eagles defense,
but one that has been able to be gotten so
(41:10):
far this season. So Brett Blake more, as you think
about this game, one that we circled when the schedule
came out, Monday Night football the Super Bowl Champs in
town November. I mean I walked up to my car today,
it's like twenty degrees. It's it feels like football weather,
and it will tomorrow night. Temperatures in the thirties at Lamba.
It doesn't feel like a weather game though. Not windy,
(41:30):
no precipitation, just chilly as you'd expect in early November
in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
What do you expect to see from our boys on
Monday night?
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Yeah, it'll be the first game where it's really a
cold game at Lambeau this season. After the tie to
the Cowboys, my initial thoughts was, let's get through the
next four games Bengals, Cardinals, Steelers, Panthers, and get back
to me and see where we're at, and we'll have
more answers.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
At that point. I really don't have answer some more
data points at this point.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
I mean, they went three and one, which is if
you would have told me that, I would be like,
all right, we probably lose to the Steelers and we're fine.
That's not how it played out. But they still went
three and one. I just still have more questions. So
I guess my prediction for the game is twofold. If
we see the Packers at their best, I think they
can compete, if not win this game, probably barely. It'd
(42:20):
be a three to maybe seven point game in green
Bay favor. If we see the worst of the Packers,
they have no chance and their Saquon's going to run
all over them and it's going to be a disaster.
So it just depends on which Green Bay decides to
show up, how they tackle a soft zone, because they
could not do it last week at all. So it's
just do we see Jeckyll, do we see high do
we see prime Packers, or do we see you know,
(42:42):
floundering Packers. Will find out, but that's really the determinant
because I think it could go either way.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
I expect we may to be trailing at halftime. Green
Bay's been a really slow starting offensive team, and on
the flip side, Philly's one of the best teams in
the first quarter and in the first half. So I
expect to be trailing at halftime. And like we saw
in Pittsburgh, is there a chance to flip the script
in the second half? And I don't think we'll see
that production we saw in Pittsburgh necessarily, but I do
(43:08):
think that Matt Lafleur is going to put the ball
in Jordan Love's hands, and I think Kristan Watson will
find the end zone. I think they're gonna have to
lean on him. As we mentioned three questionable wide receivers.
I don't think Matthew Golden goes. I do think Wis goes.
Savianne Williams is not really a factor, but it does
begin with the play of the offensive line, and it's
a huge challenge against that front four Philly. If you
(43:31):
struggle against the backups for Carolina, good luck right against Philly,
you're going to have to play at an entirely different level.
I just get the sense that's who this Packers team is,
for better or for worse. This is a team that
plays up or down to the level of its competition,
which can be maddening as a fan because you see
the highs and you know they're there, but you also
see the lows like we saw last week. I do
(43:52):
think somehow Green Bay pulls this one out come from
behind fashion. I'll have my blog up by this afternoon
at zone coverage dot com. You can read it later
today or tomorrow. I'm right now going to say come
from behind twenty seven to twenty six Packer victory, So
technically they don't cover the one and a half points spread,
(44:12):
but I do think they're going to find a way
to somehow look like an entirely different team that we
saw last week and respond to that adversity, get a
w improved to six to two to one, and then
get set for a short week against a team you
should beat handily, and we'll see if they're up for
that challenge against New York before the three division game
gauntlet begins with the vikings, the final, the previous, the
(44:36):
final next week at lambeau Field, twenty seven to twenty
six Packers, find a way to get it done against
the Super Bowl champs.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
I know you can't wait. I can't wait.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
We get almost thirty six hours to wait. But enjoy
your football today and get set for a big one
at lambeau tomorrow night. Thank you for listening for Bret
Blake Moore, I'm Dave Sinecon and as always, go packed
It's time for Packers Preview again. Bum talking about the
pack k N the Super Bowl. We're gone win again,
according to your host David Sinnecon will win on the road,
but we'll win at home. But Willie then win.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
In the US Bank Stadium.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Mike's fans can call it, but you've got the balls
the Packers Preview Show.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Welcome to year thirty of Packer Preview on the Fan,
now live from the KFA and studios.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
The head geees himself Dave Sinakon.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Good morning, Packer Fans, and welcome to the week ten
edition of Packer Preview on the Sports Leader and the
home of the Vikings k F A N. I'm Dave
Sinecon joined by Brett Blake Moore. As we we hope
you got the memo that we are starting at eight today.
We'll be back at seven the rest of the month.
But with the Gophers on their there's no Gopher rewind
this morning, so we get the coveted eight o'clock hour
(01:05):
to kick off the NFL coverage on the Home of
the Purple today. And we are facing a bit of
adversity as we head into week ten. Are we not
coming off? I'm calling it the most disappointing loss of
the Matt Lafleur era. There's certainly been more heartbreaking, painful
losses that were much more meaningful in January, But for
(01:27):
what all this represented? As the pack came into the
Panthers game on top of the NFC, off the stirring
wind in Pittsburgh, to lay the egg they laid against
the Panthers stings and to add injury to insults. Of course,
the loss of Tucker Craft will be felt for the
rest of this season. It changes completely what this offense
can be and what it wants to be. We'll get
(01:48):
into all of that today. We're not going to live
this hour looking back at the Panthers game, but we
certainly will address it, and then we will put all
eyes forward to the big Monday Nighter Packer Eagles lambeau
Field tomorrow night. Chance for some redemption after a couple
of losses to the Eagles last season, and a chance
(02:09):
to maybe, if not flip the narrative, change the narrative
back to yes, the Packers can compete with the best.
It's funny how we're sort of reversing the storyline from
a year ago, right, couldn't beat the good teams last year,
but beat up on the SOSO teams. This year, the
Packers have stumbled against the SOSO teams, but have looked
(02:29):
very good against the not elite teams perhaps, but the
very good teams. They have faced. A big challenge awaits
when the Eagles come to town tomorrow night. For the
pack it's been about consistency or a lack thereof. So far,
one week they look great, the next week, who are
these guys? Head coach Matt Lafleur addressed that earlier this week.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
I think that's the challenge, Like I said, every week,
can you play up to your level?
Speaker 6 (02:54):
And can he do it consistently?
Speaker 5 (02:56):
I mean that consistency is the greatest measurement of performance.
Any team can go out there and do it one time,
but can you put repeat performances out there? And unfortunately
for us, you know, I don't think we've done that.
So the other thing that I don't think we've done
a great job of is just playing a complete game.
In all three phases, there's been moments of really good
(03:18):
stuff and then there's been moments of really bad stuff.
So I think it's like I said, there's a really
good football team in all three phases. It's a great
challenge for us and hopefully we can go out there
and play our best ball.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yes, that would be a good thing.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
We quickly looked back at what we saw last Sunday,
just a weird, head scratching game. From the opening drive,
Packers take it into the red zone and then save
Anne Williams fumbles and it was that sort of the
storyline of the day. Right, eight possessions in the game,
they never punted the ball, yet they scored just thirteen points.
It's difficult to accomplish that. But when you turn the
(03:57):
ball over on downs or just turn the ball over,
or you miss a field goal from forty four yards,
that's what happens, and the Packers did just enough to
allow the Panthers to gain confidence as the game went along.
Brett Blake Moore, what bugged you most? Was it the
one for five performance in the red zone? Was it
the run defense? Was it the lack of pass protection
(04:18):
for Jordan Love? Was it the fourth and eighth decision
by Matt Lafleur, which I know you agreed with at
the time, So it's not going to be that for you,
But it.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Bugged the heck out of me. It does now too.
Were good. I'm glad you came around.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
What bugged you the most besides the final score last week?
Speaker 7 (04:35):
I mean, is there a rite an option for all
of the above, because I think I think they're all
worth mentioning. I would say it's probably the play calling,
and I think, you know, it's just so inconsistent, and
it's almost not playing scared but just not playing to
make a mistake and playing two safely at times, and
then you know the opposite way, where sometimes it's too
(04:55):
reckless and we just don't have that balance. I can
think back to the Dallas game where it was trying
to really be aggressive and ended up costing them on
the stripsack, and that turned the game around. Trying to
be too aggressive on the fourth and eight, but then
playing really scared and doing these screens and little pitches
and trying to get too cute. So I would just
like to see, you know, in that Pittsburgh game, Lafleur said,
(05:18):
I just let Jordan Love go because I saw he
was on fire, and it worked out and you got
twenty straight completions because just let him drop back and pass.
I think that's where you're at your best. Obviously Love's
got to be better too. An excusable pick, but overall
the stats and metrics are still really good. So I'd
say let him cook and improve the play calling.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Yeah, I'm with you. I think calling it scared play
calling is fair. It's what it feels like, all these
little screens when they get into the red zone, and
to savean Williams on you know whatever, third and three,
just either run the football or you know, put the
ball in your quarterback's hands. He's proven he can make
great decisions, so I think it's take the training wheels off.
Sometimes it's like the the sphincter gets a little tight
(05:55):
for Matt Lafleur and he just doesn't, you know, just
doesn't let it fly. And it's weird because, as you say,
you do see him take shots and him be the
opposite of conservative. But we didn't see that last week,
and I think the whole team kind of fed off
of that. Yeah, it was an ugly performance from start
to finish. We crumple it up, we throw it away,
and we realize that we're going to look back at
(06:17):
that one perhaps as one that man look at where
we are in the standings, and look, look where we
could be if you just win that game. And again
the fourth and eight decision, forget about just overall, what
do you do down seven early fourth quarter? You're facing
a fourth and eight inside the red zone?
Speaker 2 (06:32):
What do you do?
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Normally you just automatically take the points. But to compound
the issue for Lafleur was just remember what happened. You know,
they were completely out of sorts. The receivers had no
idea how to line up. Love is trying to get
everybody in position. They have to burn a time out
at this point, so now he's got a couple minutes
to think about it, like, all right, wait a minute,
and am I making the right call here? And he
still tries to run something on fourth and eight And
(06:55):
it was an absolute disaster. So it was a failure
by the coaching staff. Players did not perform. And if
I'm looking back at what really bugged me the most,
just getting beat up front on both sides of the
ball by a Carolina Panthers team that was not a
good pass rushing team, did not have a great offensive line.
They were down two or three starters, yet they dominated
up front on both sides of the ball and that's
(07:17):
just not acceptable. And here comes Philly, and the fan
has learned the competition's got a bit stiffer. As the
Eagles come in off of their by virtually healthy, rested,
and ticked off that this is the team that tried
to cancel their tush push and they want to send
a message. I wouldn't be surprised if on first and ten,
first time they get the ball they run a toush push,
(07:39):
just a yeah, it'll.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Be second to nine. We don't care.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
We'll give it to Saquan and get eight on second down.
But just to throw it in your face we're gonna
tush pushy on first down wouldn't shock me. It's the
thirty third straight year the Packers will play a game
on Monday Night Football. They've won their last six home
games on Monday Night Football. They've also hosted the Super
Bowl champion now three times in the last four seasons.
(08:03):
Of course, as we know, they lost twice to the
Eagles last year to open the season and to close
the season. But they've been very good in prime time
two to zero to one, averaging thirty four points per game.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And overall, you.
Speaker 4 (08:16):
Know, they're eighteen and six at home against Philly twenty
seven and seventeen is the all time series Packers lead
against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have not looked like the
dominant Super Bowl champion throughout most of the season. They've
been kind of up and down. Their offense has not
been very good until their most recent game against the
hapless Giants. The Packers get to play those hapless Giants
(08:38):
next week. Let's hope they continue to be hapless when
Green Bay heads to met Life next Sunday afternoon. But yeah,
just hasn't been that same dominant team, and Philly knows it,
understands it. Hollie Roseman, one of the best front office
guys in the league, realizes, all right, if we're not
going to score as many points maybe as we thought
this year, let's make sure the defense is a little better.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
No.
Speaker 4 (08:59):
No, GM was more active, perhaps than Howie Roseman as
the trade deadline approach. They added three players, two that
will make an instant impact. Former Dolphins pass rusher Jalen
Phillips joins that linebacker group in the three four. He's
very good when healthy. He has not been great this season,
but he joins a very talented defense and is a
(09:20):
big time addition for them. They also traded for the
Jets cornerback Michael Carter. They go about four deep now
with really good corners. I'm not sure what that's like.
My organization doesn't seem to value cornerbacks like those guys do.
Those two guys will make an immediate impact, of course.
They also added Jay r Alexander before the trade deadline
for a cup of coffee from the Baltimore Ravens. Jaiiir
(09:42):
was buried on the depth chart. The little play he got,
he looked nothing like the cornerback we remember.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I don't know. I'm sure they'll throw him out tomorrow
night just to be at Lambeau.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
But I don't expect him to make a great impact
unless they suffer some injuries. Let's talk about injuries for
the Pack, much more hanged up than Philly. No Lucas
van Ness for a fourth straight game. Matt Lafleur was
asked a bit about that, because if if you thought
he was gonna miss four games, you put him on ir,
and they didn't do that, so they wasted a roster spot.
(10:12):
That foot injury, Lafleour admitted, has taken longer to heal
than they thought. It sounds like he's getting closer. I
don't think it's imminent though. I don't think he'll be
back next week, but maybe maybe he's back following that,
when Green Bay begins that string of three straight division games,
it would be nice to put lucasvan Nest back out there.
He was off to a really nice start to this season.
(10:33):
Packers did lose Nate Hobbs last week to a knee injury.
Sounds like a couple of weeks, you know, for me,
that might be additioned by subtraction. Carrington Valentine has been
a much more effective outside cornerback for this team. Hobbs
is really a slot corner. The slot corner spot is
huge against Philly. We will get to that. Javon Bullard
will man that position. Hobbs on the bench for a
(10:54):
couple of weeks with the knee injury. Four questionable Packers
in this game. Maybe the most concerning is Matthew Golden,
whose shoulder injury had him limited Wednesday. No, I think
he missed practice Wednesday, then he was limited Thursday, and
then he missed practice Friday. I think I'm one day
off because everything's a day later on a Monday night
(11:14):
football game. My point being the final practice day, Golden
did not practice.
Speaker 7 (11:18):
So I've got limited Thursday, did not practice, Friday, did
not practice Saturday.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It is so soon.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
Doesn't look like Matthew Golden's gonna be able to go
Monday night. That's obviously disappointing. With Tucker Craft out, everybody
has to step up. Things have to look different, and
we will talk about how the offense changes without Tucker Craft.
But it doesn't look like Jordan Love will have Matthew
Golden tomorrow night. He should have don Tavian wisback. Though
Wicks practiced all week, He's missed the last couple of
games with the calf injury. He is trending toward playing.
(11:46):
I think he'll be out there. He's gonna need to
be more of a factor on this team. And this
is a guy I really thought in his third year
might kind of like a La DeVante Adams, not to
his level, but maybe third year things click because he's
got all the things you want in a wide receiver.
He just hasn't had an opportunity and it hasn't stayed healthy.
But with the injuries with the pass catchers, maybe Wix
(12:08):
becomes more of a factor. Saveon Williams is also questionable
with a foot injury. That's three receivers if you're keeping track,
all questionable for this game. Williams again, they're using him
as a gadget guy. He can catch the ball, like
if he's out there, throw the ball. Put him as
a receiver too. He's big, he's a big target. They're
obviously not real confident yet that he's ready to handle
(12:30):
those responsibilities. We'll see if he's even out there Monday night.
Questionable with a foot injury and then right tackles. Zach
Tom with a back is questionable by all accounts. I
assume he is going to go. I think that back
is something he's going to have to deal with all season.
It's just one of those nagging issues. You know, he'll start.
I think hopefully he'll finish. Obviously, you want him out
(12:50):
there against the Philadelphia Eagles and beyond, so hopefully as
Zach Tom is good to go. The Eagles, they're down
one starter, center Cam Jurgens will miss this game.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
That's a big.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
Loss for them, but it's the only loss otherwise. The
The Eagles are healthy, rested off the buy uh and
ready to maybe take out some of their push push
frustration on the Green Bay Packers in prime time. While
we come back, let's talk about the Packers offense now
without Tucker Craft. What that changes, what the Eagles defense
(13:22):
presents as a challenge because the Packer is going to
have to score some points against the champs.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
We're back right after this.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Well, I'm proud to be a Packer fan, the best
football fans and all the lands dot Packer fan.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
And it's a Packer fan the Packer Breevy, brought to
you by j J rufin.
Speaker 6 (13:46):
Stream.
Speaker 8 (13:49):
Good morning, this is basic shock the game myself Sunday
at Lambeo worst game live I've ever seen. Everything was bad,
the uniforms were bad. We got beat up on both
sides the ball. I'd like to see the Packers do
something to spark the offense. And to do that, I
like to see maybe the Packers so at Combo look
at the Eagles defense and that will help change things around.
(14:11):
So we need to do something to get the game
one and go back go.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
It is Packer Preview on the fan. We are getting
you set for Packers Eagles Monday Night football. Thanks today
for shockape for checking in. You too can leave a
callback on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You've got up to.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Thirty seconds to give your thoughts on the pack and
we will happily play them during this program. Packers have
lost their most explosive playmaker for the season. Now, buzz
kills don't come any bigger than that. As a football fan,
you just kind of cross your fingers every week and
hope your main guys can get through it so you
can watch them play. Because there is nobody more enjoyable
(14:51):
to watch on this Packer roster than Tucker Kraft. And
to go down a week after the coming out party
in Pittsburgh is just salt in the wounds. It was
a non content injury. The greatest fears were realized towards
Acl done for the season. Monday morning was his twenty
fifth birthday when he got the word that he was
officially lost for the season. And as you know, you
(15:11):
don't just plug in Luke musk Grave and say here's
your chance, baby, you're the new tight end one. We're
not going to change anything. You just do what Tucker did.
That's not who Luke musk Grave is. He's not a full,
complete tight end. He is a wide receiver in a
tight end's body, and they certainly do need to use
him and try to get the best out of him.
(15:32):
For me, that's sending him downfield. He's not a guy
that's going to break tackles like Tucker Craft is. He's
not a guy who's gonna block for you like Tucker Crafted.
You're gonna see more John Fitzpatrick. You're gonna see Josh Wiley,
former Titans tight end who they added to the roster,
getting a chance. But it is an opportunity for Luke
musk Grave to say, yeah, I was drafted a round
ahead of Tucker Craft. You did think highly out of me.
(15:55):
My injury history maybe gave a lot of teams pause,
and they've given the Packers pause couple of seasons. He
has a hard time staying on the field, but Brett blakemore,
he does have an opportunity to show why they drafted
him in the second round. As I said earlier, though
it's not about plugging him in. The offense must change
a bit. What would you like to see the offense
morph into with Tucker Craft and Street close.
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Yeah, basically you're going to have to split Tucker Craft's
ability between Musgrave and Fitzpatrick because you're gonna get the blocking,
or not the full blocking at the full effect, but
you're going to get the blocking element from Fitzpatrick would
have been Ben Sibbs had they put van Ness on
ir like they maybe should have, and then you're gonna
get the receiving ability, hopefully to an extent, from Musgrave.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
I'm high on Musgrave.
Speaker 7 (16:41):
I have been for years, so I'm not all doomingm
Obviously it sucks, and Tucker Craft is a much more
complete tight end than he is, there's no doubt about it.
But I still like Musgrave a lot. I think he
adds something to the offense when they utilize him. I
can think of a couple massive catches. He had one
in Dallas in that playoff game. The guy is good
when given the opportunity. So they can morph into more
(17:03):
of an air raid, you know, more of a West
Coast style than the RD are, and use him more
as just a bigger wide receiver. I'm okay with that,
and I think we'll fit in just fine.
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Interesting challenge against a Philly team that's really good across
the middle, really good linebackers, really good cornerbacks. I'm guessing
Cooper dejen will get a good look at at Luke
Muskrat out of the slot on Monday Night. But you know,
to me, for this offense to really click, it's still
about upfront. And I think the biggest disappointment overall for
this team this season for me, has been the play
(17:32):
of the offensive line, which we thought was going to
be a strength. I mean, they attacked that position the
last year or two right in the draft, first round
pick Jordan Morgan, a year ago, second round pick Anthony Belt.
In this past year, the thought was, let's get bigger, beefier,
more physical. Let's spend seventy seven million dollars on Aaron Banks.
Let's Jettis and Josh Myers at center, and move Elton
(17:52):
Jenkins in there. And now we've got five guys we
really like, maybe six, maybe seven if you count those
young guys we've draft early, and it just isn't working now.
Part of it's been injuries and the lack of cohesion.
They haven't been out there together, but they haven't been
great where they have been. And overall so far, the
old line nineteenth in pressures allowed, twenty fourth in yards
(18:14):
per carry. That's the biggest gripe. The running game has
not looked anything like the running game we saw a
year ago.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Part of it's Jacobs has been banged up of late.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
But mostly it's he's getting hit before he gets through
the line.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
He's just not finding holes.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Seventeenth in yards before contact, twenty seventh and explosive run rate.
It just isn't happening. They're not getting those big runs yet.
Matt Lafleur's calling games as if it's still the effective
running attack that they expected going into the season. They
have been good at preventing sacks their fourth and sack
rate they're eighth, and avoiding stuffed runs behind the line
(18:52):
of scrimmage. But there's just nothing happening. And that's you know,
as you guys know, Matt Lafleur comes from the Kyle
Shanahan tree. It all starts with the running game. That
opens up play action. That's where Jordan Love cooks. And
if you can't make play action a part of your offense,
that takes away a huge weapon. So very frustrating offensive
line play for this team this year. Not too late
(19:14):
to turn it around. They've got the five preferred starters
healthy and ready to go, and they'll have to deal
with a pretty staunch front line for the Philadelphia Eagles,
led by Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. In the middle
of those big, beefy former SEC Georgia guys are as
good as it gets. It's a really good three to
(19:34):
four defense run by Vic Fangio. They like to play
just what Carolina played because Carolina's defensive coordinator is a
protege of Vic Fangio. Two shells you, two safeties, deep,
light boxes. We don't think you're gonna be able to run.
We're not gonna let you beat us deep. You can
dink and dunk and eventually you're gonna make a mistake
or two. That was the recipe that cooked the pack
(19:55):
last week because they made more than a mistake or two.
They made a ton of mistakes. So the offense will
look different. They're gonna still rely on Josh Jacobs. I
feel like they're gonna keep him on the field more
Monday Night, he's gonna not I don't think you'll see
as much Emmanuel Wilson against Philly. I think Jacobs is healthier,
and they've sort of been putting him on a bit
(20:16):
of a pitch count the last couple weeks, knowing that
A we're in November now, this is when you want
to lean on Jacobs and B you can move the
ball on the ground. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, they are
sixteenth in rushing yards allow. It's their middle of the pack.
They're actually eleventh in passing yards allowed, and they don't
sack the quarterback much. They're twenty six. They don't have
(20:39):
that stud pass rusher. That's not what they're great at,
but they do make things difficult. And Zach Bond, who
was the steal of free agency last year, hasn't been
quite the effective tackling machine that he was a year ago.
This Philly team, if you've paid attention, they just they haven't.
They're six and two, right, I mean, if they win
Monday Night, they're no worse than the top seed or
(21:00):
record is the top seed in the NFC. But they
just haven't looked like that dominating team that scares you.
So there is a chance for Green Bay to match
them point for point. And you know, Christian Watson rounding
into form, Romeo Dobbs is going to be relied on
more than ever. We're still I think a few weeks
away from Jayden Reid. It sounds like week thirteen fourteen,
(21:21):
maybe Thanksgiving, maybe after the long break. It's the week
after Thanksgiving for Jayden Reid. But that's going to unlock
things in the run game as well. It's obviously a
challenge when you're going up against a team like the
Philadelphia Eagles, but again, it.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Starts with la floor.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
It starts with call plays that puts your quarterback in
the best position and allow him to win or lose
the game. I'll take my chances with Jordana Love. I
just felt like the training wheels were on last week,
which just seems really strange after the performance he put
on in Pittsburgh. This has to be a night where
Jordan Love cooks and Brett He's been fantastic and primetime
(22:00):
Jordan Love. We've talked about his Sunday Night record. He's
really good on Monday nights as well. For whatever reason,
you know, this is a kind of a line in
the sand game. Green Bay is a point and a
half favorite, so it's basically a toss up. By the way,
green Bay now will be the only team in the
NFL to have been favored in every game this season,
(22:20):
which is a bit stunning. And just think about what
they will look like after this game. Right you beat Philly,
they're six two and one. They may not be the
top seed in the NFC, depending on what Seattle and
Tampa Bay do today, but they'll be right there. They'll
still lead the North as they do this morning. We're
all doom and gloom, but they're leading the North right now.
They are the fourth seed. If the playoffs started today,
(22:43):
they would host the La Rams, which that'd be a
bit meaty at lambeau Field, but we do own the Rams.
That's been a series that has gone Green Bay's way
of late. But point being, you get really so negative
after a loss like that, and rightfully so, when you're
thirteen point five at home against a team that you
know you should beat. The other hand, you know gets
(23:05):
lost in it because Carolina came in off a forty
to nine loss. They were without their quarterback that game.
That was their stinker game. They had won three straight
before last week, and they're now five and four. I
mean that they are not like it's not like you
lost to the Browns. You know, it's not like you
lost to the Raiders. This is not a terrible team,
but you were a double digit favorite for a reason.
(23:26):
And as I said earlier, for me, it was the
most inexplicable loss of the Matt Lafloor era, because you
just if you are a serious Super Bowl contender, you
do not lose that game at home to the Carolina Panthers,
and you don't shoot yourself in the foot over and over.
So here's your chance to wipe that all away. Have
good vibes again and again. You know, gonna be on
(23:47):
a short week after Monday night, going on the road.
It's gonna be big favorites in New York, and it's
gonna be another chance to worry about a trap game
or a letdown game. Because following the Giants game, Vikings,
Lions Bears, Oh my, you know that's three straight division games.
So you know, a wind, Tom and I would be stirring.
It would make us feel so much better about this team.
(24:10):
But I'll spend the week worrying about all right, can
they can they still get up for the Giants team?
I just I don't trust this team yet to stack
wins and that maybe take teams lightly.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
Yeah, this is the best opportunity you could ask for.
After such a deflating, terrible loss to a team that
has a twenty five percent chance to make the playoffs.
When it comes to NFL dot com, it's that's what
you would want, is a big primetime game against a
good team at home, where I mean social currency doesn't
count for anything more in the standings, but that would
(24:43):
earn back your social currency as far as the media
and fans and the respect levels of this team. But
it also what does count is confidence and you know,
momentum going forward. So I think it's a perfect opportunity
if they can get it done. But the problem is
it's a huge task ahead of them with all the
stars in talent. They're defending world champs so and they
lost him twice last year, so the work's definitely cut out.
(25:06):
But it's a great opportunity and loves good in prime time.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
If they struggle offensively, if there are more people questioning
Matt Lafleur's play calling decisions, the drumbeat is going to
get louder, like we've seen a lot of it this week.
Should Matt Lafleur give up play calling duties. You see
that a lot when an offense is struggling in their
head coach is the play caller. I don't think they should.
I don't know who you hand the clipboard to. I
(25:28):
don't really want Andy Stenovich calling plays. You know, he's
an old line coach that he's the o C. But
do we really know beyond being a good old line
coach who's not getting his old line to play ro
well this year, is he a guy that's a brilliant
play caller. I just don't know that they have that
guy on the roster. So I'm not going to be
you know, all right, Well we struggle this. This offense
doesn't look like it should it should be. It's probably
(25:50):
Lafleur's fault. Let's give it to somebody else. Laflour has
to figure it out. He's been doing this, the fan
has learned for what seven eight years now.
Speaker 7 (25:57):
Yeah, he only has missed the playoff one time, So
the whole body of work is still really good for Laflora.
And I mean, even if you go back, he was
a genius last week against the Steelers. So I think,
you know, when it comes to that NFL roller coaster,
we get it the most in this sport than any other.
It's just stepping off, throwing up and then moving on
and getting on the next week.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Coach exactly should mention that Brandon McManus will kick for
the Packers.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
That was in question this week.
Speaker 4 (26:23):
Kind of weird messaging from Lafleura and Bisacia this week.
You had Lafleur say it's a competition. We're gonna let
him both kick this week and see who we feel
comfortable with when the week of practice is up. Bisaci
is asked late in the week, He's like, McManus is
my kicker. I don't know what you're talking about. He's healthy,
he looks good.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
He's our guy.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
So they need to get on the same page when
it comes to messaging to the media, to the fans.
I don't hate the decision. I'm concerned about McManus, who
is looked nothing like the reliable kicker we brought in
last season. And maybe it is the calf injury.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
He's not right.
Speaker 4 (26:59):
You got to figure that's it. But we don't have
time to wait for his caf to get healthy. There's
another kicker that, by the way, made a sixty one
yard kick, the longest in Packer's history, when he was
filling in for McManus.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
And he's still on the roster.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
You are wasting, in quotes, a roster spot with a
second kicker, and you can't do that much longer, especially
with the injuries piling up. So I'll be curious to
see how things go. Monday night is the least short
if he misses a kick, do we see Haversick out?
Is he going to be active? Obviously that's the first question.
I'm guessing they don't make Havesick active. But if they do,
(27:34):
if you see the inactive list come out and he's
not listed, to me, that tells you the leash is short,
and they're keeping open the possibility that if McManus struggles
Monday Night, they're not going to be afraid to put
Haris Ack in. He's missing kicks every week the game.
The kick last week may have cost the Pack the game.
You know, that changes everything if he makes that kick.
So that's just an interesting subplot to watch. I hope
(27:56):
he's fine. I hope he does just great and we
put the Haversick era in the in the history books.
But I'm not so sure. I still think there's a
chance that the kicking position is unsettled.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
If you're hurt you're hurt. There's no shame in just
saying I'm hurt.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
You know, my calf muscle, my quad muscles, nut's going,
I'm pulling everything.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
I just can't go right now. Yeah, there's no shame
in the well.
Speaker 4 (28:16):
He's afraid that he'll get replaced and it'll be all over,
which I understand, but hey, that's football.
Speaker 7 (28:20):
But at the cost of potentially costing Green Bay games.
Like that's just to me, that goes to Bisacia and
La Floor, Like that's coaching malpract If he's hurt, you
can't play him out there, no matter how much he
says it. So it's just I'm not sure I want
to jump ship yet because I just don't know how
much it's the injury or he's just bad currently, because
we've seen him be really good and really consistent and
(28:43):
win games for us against Houston. I can think of
his first game with the squad last year. So it's
hard for me to just throw that all out, throw
the baby with the bathwater. But he can't be playing
if he's hurt. That's just that's the end of it.
He's missed six kicks in six games. You know that
is going to cost you. When when it's all said
and done, well pause here, we'll come back. The challenges
(29:03):
for the Packers defense against the sometimes explosive Eagles offense.
We'll hear from Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Haffley about the Toushbush,
which might be mentioned once or twice tomorrow night.
Speaker 9 (29:15):
Tell all the people across the USA, I love my
gream Baypacker who won the first superpos ever played. I
love my cream Bayer.
Speaker 10 (29:32):
Good Lord day from Maple Grove calling in, Will this
be a game where Jeff Haffley can may have to
put together some exotic, blitzed packages and defenses loaded to
disrupt Philadelthius offense.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
That would be my question. Let's get a prediction. We're
gonna get back on track. We're gonna win this thing.
Thirty one twenty seven Go Packer, twelve sixty five Lombardi guy.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
Going back to the game last week against Carolina, when
the Packers needed to drive, it was a very short,
compressed passing games and unfortunately that's the type of passing
game they're going to have to have again, but more
vertically this week against Vick's defense. So with that being said,
(30:19):
this could be a very boring offensive game with very
few explosive plays by the Packers.
Speaker 4 (30:34):
Thanks for checking in, guys, one about the defense, one
about the offense. We'll dive into both of those. Appreciate
you guys to check it in today as we return
for Packer preview. Getting you said for Packers Eagles Monday
night football off subject A little bit saw this on
X during the break certainly caught my eye and Adam
Schefter tweet I don't know if you've seen this.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Michaeh.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
Parsons trade to the Packers in August included a poison
pill that the Cowboys inserted to block.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
A deal in the near future to the Eagles.
Speaker 4 (31:06):
The previously unreported poison pill condition states that the Packers
decide to trade Parsons to a team in the NFC East,
and the Eagles did try to trade for Micah over
the summer, then the Packers would owe Dallas It's twenty
twenty eight first round pick. Sources involved in the trade
toll ESPN. So don't think Green Bay plans on trading
Michael Parsons be ok. If they decide to, let's just
(31:29):
make sure it's not to the NFC East because it'll
cost an additional number one draft pick. Just kind of
an interesting nugget unearthed. Michael Parsons coming off his least
productive game as a NFL player. He had zero pressures
against an offensive line that was missing three starters. It's
a head scratcher. It's I know he gets a lot
of attention and all of that, but that doesn't usually
(31:52):
stop Parsons from having an effect on the ball game.
It was just one of those games where everything was
a little bit pear shaped, and I expect a much
more productive Micah Parsons, who has had terrific games against
the Philadelphia Eagles, despite the fact that they have world
class tackles I Melita and Lane Johnson.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
They are very good on the edges.
Speaker 4 (32:11):
But I expect Michaeh Parsons to bounce back against what's
been a kind of a resurgent Eagles offense. They've scored
sixty six points the last two weeks. Their last game
was against the Giants, who could do nothing to stop
sa Kwon Barkley, who had had a very pedestrian season
up until that game where he had one hundred and
fifty yards. Before that Giants game, Saquon Barkley was averaging
(32:35):
three point three yards per carry. He averaged five point
seven a year ago. So he has not been the productive, dangerous,
game breaking running back that he was a year ago,
but he certainly showed signs of it.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
Make no mistake.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
If the Packers are going to beat the Philadelphia Eagles,
Sakuon Barkley cannot run wild. And you have no way
to wonder whether Jeff Halfley understands that.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
Is well, we couldn't take.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
Our whole team.
Speaker 11 (33:01):
You know, I believe run defenses, and maybe I can
simplify this a little bit. Playing good run defenses about
you know, guys doing their job. Is a front together,
is a back end together. But it's about staying square.
It's about taking away space. Okay, It's about guys not
turning their shoulders and running up the field and not
(33:23):
doing their job.
Speaker 6 (33:23):
Because if one guy does that, this back is good.
Speaker 11 (33:26):
Enough to hit a crease and go and be gone,
like he kind of was at the end of the
game on that one when it was four minute mode
and we're kind of being ultra aggressive, right.
Speaker 6 (33:34):
But you have to take away space, and to do that,
guys got to.
Speaker 11 (33:37):
Play square, and they got to use their hands and
they got to stay in their gaps and then at
the same time they got to be ready to tear
off blocks together and make plays. And you want to
make the running back stutter his feet right and not
just give him a vertical charge. You want to make
him hesitate a little bit so then we can use
our speed and go after him and go get them.
And that's hard to do every play because they're so
big and strong up front, where it's going to take
(34:00):
phenomenal effort and technique and fundamentals and the details, which
I thought we were kind of off a little bit
last week, which maybe woke us up a little bit
to how detailed we're going to have to be in
this game to play against him, this back, in this
offensive line, but stayin square, getting off blocks, taking away space,
make them running back stop and start his feet setting
edges right, because if this back does get an edge
and you don't make him stop his feet, he's gone.
Speaker 6 (34:22):
You know, he's the premiere running back in this league.
Speaker 11 (34:24):
So it's going to take a team effort, detail, good coaching,
but what an awesome challenge ahead of us to try
to do it again against the Super Bowl champs.
Speaker 2 (34:32):
Good listen to Halfley talk all day. I really could.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
Run defense has been a problem in the games the
Packers have not won, and it was a problem last
week when the Panthers presented really one offensive player to
worry about, ric o'donald, and he ran for one hundred
and thirty yards. Packers run defense gave up one hundred
and sixty three, nearly five yards of carry after the
game is a top five run defense the exit of
the game as the eleventh ranked run defense. It looked
(34:56):
really good early in the season. And maybe getting Kolby
Wooden back, which will to put next to Devontae Wyatt's
going to make a big difference. They're really high on Wooden.
He's got a nickname. Whenever you give a defensive lineman
and nick name, they're calling him the general. I think
that's a good sign that they're seeing good things from
Kolbe Wooden. So maybe that's a help, but it's obviously
a huge challenge to keep Sakwon Barkley in check. Green
(35:18):
Bay did a pretty good job in both games against
Philly last year. There might have been a player too
where he broke one, but overall Barkley the Packers made
things a little bit difficult for Sakwon Barkley, so it
starts with him obviously. If he's cooking, it opens everything
up for Jalen Hurts, who, yes, is still a factor
with his legs. Green Bays equipped now to stop running quarterbacks.
(35:38):
Not as worried about that as I've been in recent years,
but he is going to know that the Packers are
playing in zone defense. He's going to lean on DeVante
Smith and Dallas Goddard. Those are their zone breakers in
the middle of the field. That'll be the challenge for
Green Bay. I don't feel like AJ Brown will have
a giant game. He's more of a man guy, and
(36:00):
I not that you know, putting Carring's in Valenton on
AJ Brown is going to make me feel fantastic. But
he held his zone against DK Metcalf, another big, physical receiver,
and I feel okay about that matchup. What I'm worried
about is Smith being a real factor in this game.
He's sort of woken up the last couple of games
and got her too. Has been a favorite target of
(36:21):
Jalen Hurts of late, and Packers have really struggled defensively
against tight ends this season.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
But it begins to me.
Speaker 4 (36:28):
With the run defense, it has to look a lot sharper.
You can't let say Kwon Barkley run loose. This is
a team that's averaging just nineteenth when it comes to
yards per play on the ground, they're twenty fourth and
yards per game. As an offense, they have gotten stronger
of late. As I mentioned where they're really strong as
in the red zone. They're eighty five percent. They're the
(36:50):
number one red zone offense and football Packers are the
twenty fourth in red zone defense.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
That's not great.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
And on the other side, it's just as bad the
Eagles defense. It's only allowed three red zone touchdowns all year.
We talked about green Bay struggles last week, just one
for five in the red zone. So I feel good
about this Packers defense tomorrow night. I do think they
are going to rebound. Of course, what we're all going
to be wondering about is, you know, if they get
(37:18):
into third and one and fourth and one, how many
times will they roll out the Tousch push, the play
that green Bay led the charge to get eliminated. It
irritated the Eagles that the Packers made that move. Of course,
green Bay was nudged by the league to do it.
They're kind of the sacrificial lamb, like why don't you guys,
and we'll support you, and it came close. I still
think it might be a play that gets thrown out eventually.
(37:41):
I hate the play. I don't think it's football. I
don't think you should be able to push your quarterback forward.
But it's in the league and it's going to happen.
I don't think they'll start the game with a touchbush.
I wouldn't put it past Nick Sirianni. But back to
Jeff Haffley. He talked about the challenges of trying to
defend the toushbush.
Speaker 11 (37:57):
What you start to do is when you start to
see crossover and you start to see other people run it,
you start to save those clips and try to figure
out who's doing it best and are there ways that
people have stopped it and then or what you're seeing
or there are other things you can think of outside
the box to stop it right, which is really hard
to do. I mean, I think the success rate is
(38:18):
incredible and they've done such a good job mastering it,
but you certainly you can't just go into the game
and say, I mean.
Speaker 6 (38:25):
We don't have a plan. So we have to have
a plan.
Speaker 11 (38:28):
I think looking at other ways that teams have tried
to defend it, we've gotten other ideas and we have
some outside the box ideas, and you know.
Speaker 6 (38:36):
We're going to try our best to stay out of
that situation. But if we get into it, then we
have a plan and we'll try to execute it.
Speaker 2 (38:42):
Yeah, it's a very difficult play to stop. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (38:45):
I think the best way to stop it is to
make sure you don't put the Eagles into third and
fourth and one, because they are virtually unstoppable. But curious
to see. As you talked Tobut, we have some things
we want to try and outside the box. Outside the box,
so melvin'sti ever tried this before? Yeah, it is what
I mean. I don't know where you are with the
toush push. It doesn't keep me up at night. I
don't think it's fun to watch. I don't think it's entertaining.
There was a game with the Eagles where they ran
(39:07):
out like six times. I thought, like in a role
earlier this year, and it's it's hideous to watch, but
you know it's legal. The fan has learned it is
a legal play in the NFL and Jalen Hurts in
that offensive line know how to execute it. So it'll
be a big talker because of the you know, the
conflict between the two organizations in the offseason. Let's just
hope it doesn't become a major talker and it's a
(39:28):
big play that turns the game tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
And very well. Could I wanted it gone? I agree
with you.
Speaker 7 (39:34):
I don't think it's football, and I think we're more
likely to get it gone in this offseason just because
of all the Now they've got to closely officiate it
and it could be off sides, they have to watch
for false starts, and it's just so muddy of a play.
Speaker 3 (39:46):
Now.
Speaker 7 (39:47):
I think the teams that were on the fence of
voting for it are probably going to be flipped. So
I think this could be it as far as a
Green Bay Philly Tush push matchup, barring a playoff matchup.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
So yeah, I'd like to see that. Yeah, that would
be nice. I'd be all for that.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
It's a supreme challenge, right for this team to try
to bounce back from that performance, to respond to some adversity,
because you know, every team deals with it. Every team's
had bad losses this year. It sort of goes with
the territory. How do you respond the week after to
lose two straight at lambeau Field in the middle of
the season as they enter the meaty part of the season.
(40:25):
Maybe after next week's game, we all know what the
last seven look like. Five division games plus games against
Denver and Baltimore. I mean, there are no gimmeis coming
up the rest of the year. You could say the
Giants look kind of like a gimme, but that's what
we thought last week. So this is the time to
respond and start to strut a little bit and hopefully
get healthier, because the offense is going to need some
(40:48):
pieces with the loss of Craft, and they're gonna need
to score points. Tomorrow Night mentioned it top of the show.
They're averaging thirty four points a game in prime time
this season. The offense, for some reason click when the
lights are on, and they're probably going to need close
to that on Monday Night against a pretty good Eagles defense,
but one that has been able to be gotten so
(41:10):
far this season. So Brett Blake more, as you think
about this game, one that we circled when the schedule
came out, Monday Night football the Super Bowl Champs in
town November. I mean I walked up to my car today,
it's like twenty degrees. It's it feels like football weather,
and it will tomorrow night. Temperatures in the thirties at Lamba.
It doesn't feel like a weather game though. Not windy,
(41:30):
no precipitation, just chilly as you'd expect in early November
in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
What do you expect to see from our boys on
Monday night?
Speaker 7 (41:38):
Yeah, it'll be the first game where it's really a
cold game at Lambeau this season. After the tie to
the Cowboys, my initial thoughts was, let's get through the
next four games Bengals, Cardinals, Steelers, Panthers, and get back
to me and see where we're at, and we'll have
more answers.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
At that point. I really don't have answer some more
data points at this point.
Speaker 7 (41:59):
I mean, they went three and one, which is if
you would have told me that, I would be like,
all right, we probably lose to the Steelers and we're fine.
That's not how it played out. But they still went
three and one. I just still have more questions. So
I guess my prediction for the game is twofold. If
we see the Packers at their best, I think they
can compete, if not win this game, probably barely. It'd
(42:20):
be a three to maybe seven point game in green
Bay favor. If we see the worst of the Packers,
they have no chance and their Saquon's going to run
all over them and it's going to be a disaster.
So it just depends on which Green Bay decides to
show up, how they tackle a soft zone, because they
could not do it last week at all. So it's
just do we see Jeckyll, do we see high do
we see prime Packers, or do we see you know,
(42:42):
floundering Packers. Will find out, but that's really the determinant
because I think it could go either way.
Speaker 4 (42:47):
I expect we may to be trailing at halftime. Green
Bay's been a really slow starting offensive team, and on
the flip side, Philly's one of the best teams in
the first quarter and in the first half. So I
expect to be trailing at halftime. And like we saw
in Pittsburgh, is there a chance to flip the script
in the second half? And I don't think we'll see
that production we saw in Pittsburgh necessarily, but I do
(43:08):
think that Matt Lafleur is going to put the ball
in Jordan Love's hands, and I think Kristan Watson will
find the end zone. I think they're gonna have to
lean on him. As we mentioned three questionable wide receivers.
I don't think Matthew Golden goes. I do think Wis goes.
Savianne Williams is not really a factor, but it does
begin with the play of the offensive line, and it's
a huge challenge against that front four Philly. If you
(43:31):
struggle against the backups for Carolina, good luck right against Philly,
you're going to have to play at an entirely different level.
I just get the sense that's who this Packers team is,
for better or for worse. This is a team that
plays up or down to the level of its competition,
which can be maddening as a fan because you see
the highs and you know they're there, but you also
see the lows like we saw last week. I do
(43:52):
think somehow Green Bay pulls this one out come from
behind fashion. I'll have my blog up by this afternoon
at zone coverage dot com. You can read it later
today or tomorrow. I'm right now going to say come
from behind twenty seven to twenty six Packer victory, So
technically they don't cover the one and a half points spread,
(44:12):
but I do think they're going to find a way
to somehow look like an entirely different team that we
saw last week and respond to that adversity, get a
w improved to six to two to one, and then
get set for a short week against a team you
should beat handily, and we'll see if they're up for
that challenge against New York before the three division game
gauntlet begins with the vikings, the final, the previous, the
(44:36):
final next week at lambeau Field, twenty seven to twenty
six Packers, find a way to get it done against
the Super Bowl champs.
Speaker 2 (44:42):
I know you can't wait. I can't wait.
Speaker 4 (44:44):
We get almost thirty six hours to wait. But enjoy
your football today and get set for a big one
at lambeau tomorrow night. Thank you for listening for Bret
Blake Moore, I'm Dave Sinecon and as always, go packed
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