October 26, 2025 • 41 mins
The FANs Dave Sinykin breaks down the Packers game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time for Packers Preview again. Bu'm talking about the
pack k 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, Willie and win in the.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
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 the head cheez
himself Dave Sinecon.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Good morning Packer Fans, and welcome to the week eight
edition of Packer Preview on the Sports Leader and the
home of the Vikings KFA. N I am Dave sinekon
uh getting you sets for a monumental one twelve hours
and change from now. When when Old signed with the Steelers,
we circled this one and said, this is the game
of the season. It's finally here. It's Sunday Night football
(01:07):
Packers at Steelers, Packers v. Rodgers, the team of the
sixties against the team of the seventies, and we get
that long awaited matchup between one of the greatest to
ever sport, the Green and Gold going up against the
pack tonight Aaron Rodgers and most likely his only appearance
against Green Bay. It's as good as it gets. Great
to have you with us for this next hour as
(01:28):
we get you set for this big one, along with
Brett Blakemore steering the ship from the studio. I'm actually
a couple hours a few hours south the names Iola,
hanging out with my son and my wife, so hopefully
not irritating the person across the wall from me this
early in the morning, but hopefully they're Packer fans if
I've woken them up. This is a ross a series
(01:52):
that goes back to nineteen thirty three. Packers won the
first nine in this series, and the reason I bring
that up is the Steelers will be wearing their original
uniforms from nineteen thirty three tonight. They are god ugly.
They look like bumblebees. And the interesting bit of trivia
is this is the only time we'll have two teams
(02:13):
meeting both wearing yellow helmets since these teams met back
in nineteen fifty four. It's not going to be maybe
esthetically pleasing, but it should be a great matchup. Brett
Blake Moore, as we bring you in this morning, Aaron
Rodgers on the other side. He was very vocal this
week trying to make us all believe this game is
not about revenge. He's looking forward to seeing some of
(02:35):
the Cats that are on the other side. There's only
seven players left from the twenty two season, his last
year in Green Bay. It's not like he's got a
ton of familiar faces. I do believe him to an extent.
I don't think it's revenge. I do know that it
would mean more to him than anything to beat Green
Bay and not to the thirty second team on his
belt and join an exclusive club of quarterbacks including Tom Brady,
(02:57):
Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre that beat all
thirty two teams. They'll need to do it tonight, likely
his only chance. You're a guy young, a lot younger
than I am. That basically your whole life as the
Packer fan revolved around Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback. So
I'm curious how you're feeling about this matchup tonight.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
Yeah, it's it's a little weird and good morning. I
think we might get spared from the yellow versus yellow helmets.
I think they might be wearing their white helmets tonight
on the road, I believe. I think it is a
little weird. It's I don't think he's going to have
that red hot fire in his eyes like he did
against the Jets Anger and that's been a talking point
(03:38):
on the station forever.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Is Darius Smith coming to the Vikings.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
He's going to be mad to play against the Packers
two times a year, you know, we hear it all
the time. I'm not sure it's going to be to
that level, but it'll certainly be motivated in hill of
a chip on his shoulder. And also it's going to
be a very different edition of Packer Preview because in
the pre show meetings, neither one of us are very confident,
and that's pretty rare for us.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So we see about that point.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, yeah, it's a good point. And this feels nothing
like Brett Favre against the Packers, right, Obviously, the whole
thing that went down there, it's entirely different, I think
by all accounts. Obviously, Rogers was beyond irritated when the
Packers drafted Jordan Love, but it sounds like if you
talk to Jordan Love, he's got nothing for love about
the way Rogers treated him and helped guide him along
(04:24):
the way. Clearly Rogers learned from what Farv put him
through and was sure not to do the same to
Jordan Love. So I do respect that Rogers did handle
things the right way on some accounts, at least with
the players. Obviously, he's he's never going to be totally
thrilled with the organization. But you know, even said this week,
I look forward to retiring as a packer, like when
when this season ends. It sounds like he's going to
(04:45):
hang it up and he wants to do that, you know, formal,
I'm retiring as a green Bay packer thing. So that
tells you that there's no extreme bitterness. I'm sure he
wish things had ended differently. He would have liked to
play his entire career in Green Bay, but that's not
the way it always works. Yeah, you mentioned we're not
overly optimistic about this one. It's for me, you know,
(05:08):
talent wise, roster to roster, I think Green Bays a
much more talented roster than Pittsburgh. I don't like the spot,
I don't like the timing. I don't like facing a
Steelers Mike Tomlin team coming off an embarrassing performance. They
always seem to write the ship after a bad game,
and they have had extra time obviously after the Thursday
night game in Cincinnati where they allowed Joe Flacco to
(05:30):
carve them up to hear about how lousy their defense is.
And it just feels like they're gonna get right, and
certainly I think Rogers teammates are going to rise up
and do everything they can to try to get him
a win against his former team. You know, a lot
of the NFL, we always say it's not who you play,
it's when you play them. I don't think Green Bay
is playing Pittsburgh as at a particularly advantageous time for
(05:53):
an organization that when they're home underdogs with Mike Tomlin,
when they're backstore against the wall and they're up in
front of the country, they always seem to put their
best foot forward. And I expect to see the bets
from the Steelers tonight.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, I would agree.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
I think earlier this week I have said Packers are losing,
like I'm confident. If they're gonna lose, it's not gonna
look good. I think I've cooled off to the point
where it's gonna be tough. That's where I'm at is.
It's gonna be really tough to get a win. I'm
not confident they're gonna lose, but it they couldn't get
off the field the defense against Jacoby Persaid and Joe
(06:28):
Flacco twice. Now, Flacco has since gone to put on
other good performances, but it's like you have an offense.
We've seen it against the Purple and other teams. They're
willing to just two step, drop, throw the ball and
get so that negates the pass rush of Micah Parsons
and Rashan Gary, and you're not pressing these receivers to
give them time to get those little quick slants and
(06:49):
quick passes off. It's just it feels like a day
where Rogers is just gonna dink and dunk all the
way down the field and eat up eight minutes several
times tonight, and that sucks.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, there's certainly a chance of that. I'm curious to
see if Halfley does change some of his tendencies. We'll
talk about the challenge of the Packers defense against the
Steelers as we move along in this hour. Not only
were you Brett blakemore not alive the last time Green
Bay won a game in Pittsburgh, I'm not sure your
mom was either. You got to go back to nineteen seventy,
(07:19):
the last time Green Bay won a game in Pittsburgh.
Bart Starr was your quarterback at the time, So that
gives you a sense that things have not been real
easy in Steel City. For the pack they are seven
to nine all time in Pittsburgh, but yeah, it's been
fifty five years since they've won one. So that bit
of history goes into the feelings we have about this
(07:40):
place and this game tonight. Let's talk about injuries and
where teams sit. Steelers are pretty healthy, getting that sort
of mini by after the Bengals game. The one key
player to watch is their center Zach Fraser, who's questionable
with a calf injury. They're not great on the offensive
line as it is. That's why Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator,
(08:01):
has dialed up a game plan to get rid of
the ball quickly so Rogers doesn't face a lot of heat.
But if Fraser's out, that does open up things in
the middle for the Packers, who should get back a
key member of their defense, Devonte Wyatt, listed is questionable
but return to practice. It does sound like he'll make
his return and I do think he is a key,
key part of this defense. There's just not much proven
(08:24):
behind Devontae White. Even Warren Brinston, who's looked okay, is
questionable with a hamstring injury as well. So those two
are among the five or six questionable players. It includes
kicker Brandon McManus, who continues to deal with that quad injury.
They kept Lucas Havesick on the roster for another week.
There are two kickers on the roster. I assume we
(08:45):
will get Haversick again this week and then we'll see
what McManus's status is going forward. But you know, we
don't do a lot of reviewing Brett on this program.
We have the Packer Review podcast now for that, For
those of you that haven't found it, Monday morning, Brett
and I were recording a Pack of Review podcast every week.
You can find it on the iHeart app just search
(09:06):
Pack of Preview. It'll be there for you usually by
mid morning or so on Monday. But the kick Lucas
Haersik mate heading into halftime last Sunday when the Pack
was down ten and got the ball with seven seconds
left and made some made a play, made some yardage,
got into somewhat field goal range sixty one yarder and
(09:27):
Haversik knocked it through. That had to get the attention
of this organization, like, wait a minute, what do we
have with this guy. He's twenty six, he hasn't missed
a kick in two games. He goes on the road
and in a tough spot there and nails a kick.
It does make you think a little bit about what
Green Bay might do.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
All our little connectivity issues here, but we'll continue things
on Pack of Preview.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Around the corner, talk about the offense.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
The only reason I have any optimism at all for
this game is for the offense, the way they can
move the ball against the defense.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
More Pack of Preview.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Now tell all the people across the USA, I love
my green Babe, who won the first superpos ever played.
I love my Green Bay.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Packer. Previous brought you by jtr Rup in Riscussa.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
It's not quite as big as LA. We had something
I don't have, and we're gonna sealing.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Factors go through Go.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Pop. We're Backett's Packer Preview. I'm the fan, apologize for
the Wi Fi issues at my hotel, and lovely names IOWA.
Hopefully we're past those and we'll have clear sale the
rest of the way. Because it's a big one. We
have lots to get to this hour, getting you set
for Packers v. Rogers, the four to one and one
Packers against the four and two Steelers, a couple of
division leaders going at it in late October, and of
(11:12):
course the big storyline, Aaron Rodgers against the pack for
the first and potentially only only time. I was going
through the Packers' injuries and I didn't get to the
wide receivers yet, because we do have some issues on
that front. Green Bay, well, first of all, we know
that Dantavian Wicks is out tonight. Lucas VanNess also still
(11:32):
out with his injury, but Matthew Golden popped up on
the injured list late with a hip injury. He is questionable,
which is unfortunate on this primetime stage as he's starting
to spread his wings a little bit. We'll have to
wait ninety minutes before kickoff see if he is active.
Christian Watson also questionable tonight, activated off the pup list yesterday.
(11:56):
Green Bay cut tight end Ben Simms, who's a nice player,
and maybe we'll get back on the practice squad if
he clears waivers and know they like him. But Watson
appears poised to make his twenty twenty five debut tonight,
and Brett, I'd have to assume he's on a pitch count.
We're not going to get a full compliment of Christian Watson,
but he could if he could be out there and
(12:16):
show that speed, do the blocking thing he does so well,
maybe they run a couple of gadget plays. I know
you're excited to see him back. The Packers can't wait
to have him back. Both of their speed merchants are
still a little gimpy, one fighting through an injury and
one obviously coming back from one. I think we're all
excited about what this offense might be, you know, three
four weeks from now, when they're both hopefully one hundred
(12:38):
percent and give this offense the kind of speed in
multiple places that they haven't had in a long time.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Well, I believe they could have activated if they want
him to, could have activated him on Monday. So there
really was no reason to activate him unless he's planned
to some extent tonight. So you have to think at
the very least like twenty snaps probably for him, But
when he's fired, and he probably won't be for being realistic,
but when he's firing on all cylinders, it just adds.
(13:05):
Even if he's just a decoy to you know, spread
the defense vertically, he just does that so well. He's
a great blocker. He provides a different thing, a different
flavor for this offense that they haven't had, and I
think it would open up a lot of you know, again,
we're gonna harp on the Matthew Golden when's he come
out party? You know, when's that happening. It's probably just
(13:27):
gonna be a short, you know, gradual increase. But I
think Watson comes back just helps everybody.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Yeah, I do too. I have a feeling they'll do
a lot of the testing of the field conditions tonight
to maybe determine how much Watson plays. Much has been
made about the turf at Akrosher Field, which got destroyed
early this season because the University of Pittsburgh plays there too,
and I guess they had like three or four home
games early and just destroyed the field. So they replaced
it a couple of weeks ago. It's a similar turf
(13:54):
that we have at Lambeau. The Browns were very vocal
about the conditions, and they were in Pittsburgh a few
weeks ago. They've since changed the SOD. Hopefully it's not
an issue, but that is something to watch when you've
got a player coming off in ACL If those field
conditions are not how they like them, that might impact
how much he plays. As far as Golden goes, I've
(14:15):
been pretty vocal this week that I want him targeted more.
That he was targeted three times in the first series
last week, caught all three balls, and then was targeted
one more time the rest of the game and he
made that catch. So four targets, four receptions. I understand
that Tucker Kraft Romeo Dobbs that those are the guys
you are going to lead the target parade for this offense,
(14:36):
but I think it's time to take the training wheels off.
Golden has shown you that he does provide an element
that this offense does not have. And he's got everything.
He's got the hands, they're oute running, the speed, he's
got something that stresses a defense. And you know, I'm
not asking for the moon here, Brett. I'd like to
see six seven targets a game for Matthew Golden because
he has been very productive when they've looked his way
(14:58):
so far. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Completely, It's just it comes back to the age old.
Is that how we do things in Green Bay?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Is that how.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Lafleur operates, you know? And is there such a thing
as targeting him more? They could scheme up, you know,
the classic lafloor jet sweep to him or a screen
to him, and that's a designated worth throwing to Golden,
But there's a lot of times in those concepts, I
feel like they just go wherever the read entails and
(15:25):
where whatever the defense gives them.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
So it's hard for me.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Like you know, when you watch the local team here,
like they throw to Justin Jefferson no matter what. Like
they're they're throwing him and forcing the ball to him,
which is great because he's JJ. Do we want to
see that with Golden to that extent, Maybe maybe not,
but he definitely has the talent to be able to
handle it if they do.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, No, I don't. I don't anticipate them ever being
that released this season, being that kind of a receiver
that gets those targets. But you know, you got an
offense without two of your top receivers as it is.
It just feels like the time is right now to
lean on him a little bit until Watson's one hundred percent,
till Jayden reads back, and now suddenly there's four or
five targets that all look appealing for Jordan Love, who
(16:06):
comes into Tonight's game as sort of the second story, right,
I mean, it's all about Rogers tonight. Love has been
better than any quarterback in football on Sunday Night Football.
He's undefeated, He's three to zero to one, the tie
obviously a few weeks back. He's got the highest passer
rating of any quarterback who's ever played Sunday Night football
who started at least four or five games, eleven touchdowns,
(16:27):
no picks, passer rating of about a buck twenty. He
shines on Sunday Night. And I do think the Packers
are going to have to lean on him because this
Steelers defense, which has a lot of familiar names, a
lot of very talented players, they are very susceptible to
the explosive play that's been their achilles heel so far
(16:47):
this year. They give up the third most explosive plays
in football. They missed tackles to a degree that only
one other team misses more tackles than they do. You
saw what Jamar Chase did basically played catch with Joe
Flacco last week. Their secondary's got big names, Jalen Ramsey,
Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior. These are guys we know
(17:08):
they're not playing great, especially Darius Slay, who got benched
for a bit in that Bengals game. So it just
so happens. Green Bay is among the best in the
NFL when it comes to explosive plays, and I think
that's what you have to lean on is yes, it
starts with Josh Jacobs, and if Pittsburgh's able to stop
the run, that allows that pass rush to peel their
(17:30):
ears back. And that's the strength of this defense is
their pass rush. They still have TJ. Watt, they still
have talent guys like Nick Herbig and Alex high Smith
and Cam Hayward, a lot of guys who are getting
long in the tooth, but they get after the quarterback.
They're sixth in the league in pressure rate. They do
a good job in the red zone, their fourth best
(17:50):
defensively in the red zone, but as I say, they've
given up the third most explosive plays. They misstackles. Their
twenty eighth and yards given up. There are big plays
out there for Jordan Love tonight. That's why, man, it'd
be fun to have Watson and Golden because those are
your big play merchants, not the dobs and maybe Heat
and obviously the tight ends can't have their night too.
(18:11):
But it's weird to say that you can beat a
Pittsburgh Steelers defense with explosive plays. But that's the recipe tonight.
You're gonna lead on Jordan Love tonight to find some
openings in the middle of that field where they are softest.
And Jordan Love's always delivered. On Sunday Night Football, I
think NBC goes in to night the stories around Aaron Rodgers.
(18:33):
I think they'll be talking about Jordan Love's performance. I
expect a really strong night from now. I see a
really good night. Whether it's enough, we'll get to that,
but I think Love's going to do his part. He
shines on Sunday Night.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Brett Well, and that's the crux of the Jordan Love
argument that you and me are on the side of Well.
The guy shines, and he's cold blooded, and the guy
makes game saving play after play, drive after drive, week
after week, and it seems like no one else sees it.
They just you know you and a Rex Ryan on ESPN.
When the games on the line, he'll throw a pick.
It's just statistically not true, just not a thing. The
(19:08):
only reason that I was so headstrong and the Packers
are losing this week, We're losing. It's going to be ugly.
And then I've kind of changed a little bit too.
It's a toss up. Leaning Steelers is because I think
the Packers can move the ball in this defense. I
think I have the stack correct from when the game
preview for Vikings pregame, I think the Steelers got to
Flacco two times out of like forty four pass attempts
(19:31):
or something like that. The pressures were not all there,
and I feel like the Packers usually have a good
game plan for a you know, Miles Garrett's a whole
different animal, but usually, like against Hutchinson week one, they
have chips, they have plans for a pass rush. I
think this offense can really move the ball. The problem
is if they're going to get the ball all that
much from their defense.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah, you know, TJ. Watt's as good as it gets.
He is dealing with an injury. He was limited earlier
in the week. He practiced fully Friday, but he's been
dealing with a hip, so you know he's not one
hundred percent. Yeah, you talked about Miles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson,
and t J.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Watt.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
We talked about the fact that Green Bay was going
to meet up against the top pass rushers. You know,
they got their own in Micah, but those other three
guys are probably right on his level. And Watt always
you figure as a Wisconsin kid and Milwaukee kid gets
up for Packer games. But you know, the nice thing
for Green Bay is they've got their preferred starters back
on the offensive line for the third straight week. It
(20:24):
looks like Zach tom is a guy that can can
handle his business against t J. Watt. He did it
a couple of years ago. Didn't make Wat a menace
in that game. So I think what I'm most curious
about on the offensive line is will Rashid Walker hold up.
He's given up the most pressures of all the Packers linemen.
You know he's holding on to that job by a thread.
(20:45):
Pending free agent Jordan Morgan I think is waiting in
the wings. Maybe even Anthony Belton gets a shot. I
don't think Rashid Walker is the left tackle on this
team next season, and I don't know how long he'll
hold on to his job, and then tonight's important for him.
He's the best case scenario is he does his work,
he's the left tackle the rest of the season. They'll
likely leaving free agency. Green Bay gets a nice compick,
(21:07):
wishes him well and moves somebody up along the depth
chart to become the new left tackle. But the offensive
line being healthy, getting better still. Think Elton Jenkins is
trying to find his way at center a little bit.
He's been sort of up and down. That's to be expected.
But having those preferred starters back means everything. And we'll
give the Packers a chance in a hostile environment on
(21:29):
a tough spot to handle their business. So I think
that's a really positive sign for Jordan Love and the Packers' offense.
And Josh Jacobs. Again, it starts with him, and he
was not his healthy self last week. He was on
a pitch count in the first half. Matt Lafleur talked
about it. Apparently Jacobs was irritated that he wasn't getting
the reps. He felt he was just fine but I
(21:52):
think the fact that they were careful and he was
able to hit the end zone a couple times in
the second half where they needed to most. He is
all systems go hundred percent. And again it starts with
him tonight. Once that running game is working and effective,
then the passing game opens up and the pressure and
the defense from Pittsburgh can't just look at this as
a passing team. They got to deal with and respect
(22:14):
Josh Jacobs, who Brett quickly becoming my favorite Packer. I
don't know if you saw the locker room scene afterwards
when he got a game ball and just talked from
his heart about what it means for him to be
a part of this team. It's hard, and you know
what his history was and a tough you know, growing
up as a kid, they had it tough. And the
fact that he's come out and become such a successful
(22:35):
player and sounds like a successful and positive human being,
it's great stuff. And I thought it really kind of
warmed the herd seeing him speak like that after the game,
knowing that wasn't one hundred percent, but he did everything
he could to give everything, and again glad he's on
the Packer's side.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Yeah, you didn't think we'd get such a great guy
after Aaron Jones, who we loved both as a human
and a running back.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
They'll do, but Josh Jacobs is right there, if not more.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
He's a class guy in a really really good running
back in the heart of his prime. So and as
far as the offensive line goes like this is a
feel take and not so much a statistics take, I
feel like even with the injuries, they haven't really been
that big of a problem. I haven't been sitting and
watching any man. This line has not given love anytime,
Like you know, I feel like maybe it's scheme, but
(23:24):
I just feel like maybe maybe the Browns game was
the one where he got pressured a little more. Obviously
they were, but I feel like they haven't been a
glaring hole. I think we could pick up, you know,
through the defense and the special team's way more significant
issues than the offensive line, which has been mostly unnoticed
and fine.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
In my opinion, I agree that it's not been a
great run blocking unit so far, and I don't know
if that's they're just not great, or if Aaron Banks
hasn't been healthy and Jordan Morgan's finding his way and
Jenkins in a new position, that the run blocking hasn't
been great, and if it's not good tonight, it's an
issue because Pittsburgh's twenty fourth against the run. You can
run on this Pittsburgh defense. And again, if you're not
(24:01):
effective running the ball, then Tomlin and company is gonna
send the blitz. They blitzed at a rate second most
in the league. Jordan Love, like many quarterbacks, is not
great against the blitz. So the best defense against the
blitz is to not put yourself in a situation where
they know you're gonna pass and they're gonna come after you.
So it all starts with the running attack with Josh Jacobs. Tonight,
(24:24):
all right, let's pause here, I'll come back. We'll look
at the other side of the ball, Packers defense against
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense and more Nuggets. Getting
u set for the game of the year, I guess.
I mean. Look, we've got we got Monday Night football
with Philly in a couple of weeks. We've got Thanksgivy
Day against Detroit. We got Lamar Jackson coming into Detroit.
We got two left with the Bears and Vikings. Schedules,
(24:46):
media and fun, but nothing like Aaron Rodgers against the
pack And that's tonight and we're getting you ready for it.
It's Packer Preview. I'm a fan, Dervis And soon the
boats come joined the fun.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
All right, come on, let me pack yo yo, because
they let me.
Speaker 7 (25:12):
Let me.
Speaker 9 (25:13):
Let me say, look, you guys just agree, remember that
just in case we had to face.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
We are back as Packer Preview on the fan, getting
you set for the big one. Packers b Rogers, Packers,
Steelers Tonight Sunday Night Football at NBC. You can actually
hear the game on KFA N as well. Tonight Joined
in progress following the Timberwolves game. If you're out and about,
you can find it there. I'm one hundred point three FM,
the home of the Purple. Of course, the Purple have
already played. I guess you could call it a game.
(25:47):
I didn't go so well. No Vikings game today, Packers
on the fan. Later tonight, Packers entered this game, mister
Blake Moore for one and one, one of just two
teams in the NFL with one loss through Week seven,
joining the Indianapolis Colts from the AFC Green Bay. Currently,
as we sit here today, the top seed in the NFC,
the second choice via the odds to get to the
(26:09):
Super Bowl, behind the Detroit Lions, ahead of the Eagles
and Rams. They are the fourth favorite to win the
Super Bowl right now, behind the Chiefs, Lions, and Bills.
Yet most of pacrination is not real confident, not real
pleased with the performance through six games, and I think
a lot of that goes to shuffling along, scuffling along
(26:30):
against mediocre competition, not putting their foot on the necks
on teams that you feel like they should, especially the
way the season started through two weeks. But the reality
is they're sitting here with one loss. We know the
schedule is going to get tougher, even Carolina next week
at home. It should be an easy one, but they're
a little plucky as well, so things get tricky as
(26:52):
we move into November. But if we step back, every
team's got issues, every team's not happy with certain elements.
The fact that this team is sitting here on top
of the NFC through six weeks and haven't come close
to playing their best football maybe since Week one or two,
I think should give everyone hope that if they stay
healthy and kind of get their act together, patch some
(27:14):
of the leaks on defense, certainly we've seen those of late,
and get that offfense healthy and a little more explosive.
I think everything's right there for them.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
Yeah, completely agree. It is fun to be thanks to
the tie to be the number one seed. It is
also funny that the Packers for one and one in
the one seed, the Bears four and two out of
the playoffs entirely.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
That is funny.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
You know, even with the playoff odds according to NFL,
if they lose the Packers today, it's still a seventy
six percent chance to make the playoffs, but you probably
get knocked as it stands today, you'd probably get knocked
out of the playoffs entirely if they lose today, which
thinks going from the one seed all the way and
that's just how tight the NFC is right now, and
you need more matchups to happen. I'm not worried long
(28:02):
term about this team as far as this season goes.
I think the defense and the things I'm about to
harp on with this defensive segment I think can be fixed,
and you know, Christian Ponder easily correctable down the stretch.
I think they can improve and they have the talent
to be them, you know, as far as number one seed,
let's dream, why not? But right now it's not good
and the defense cannot get off the field. They can't
(28:24):
get turnovers. I think the only time they got pressure,
and the only reason they got turnovers was because the
Cardinals had to start throwing the ball further down the
field in desperation. That's when Mica kind of activated. Oh
he activated all game though. To be fair, I just
I'm very worried about the current state of this Packer
defense because it just seems like they can't get off
the field.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Yeah, and we'll get to that matchup in just a second.
I just want to dive quickly into the fact that
trade deadline is coming up Tuesday at three o'clock. Don't
know that the Packers will be active, whether buyers or sellers.
There are a few players whose names have been bandied about,
like King le Bare and by my forgetting our tight end,
(29:05):
Luke Musgrave perhaps being targeted by some teams as well.
I think it's more likely if Green Bay makes a move,
it's to add something for me, and I think for
most people, if they can find a cornerback, they can
play on the outside. I think I would look in
that direction, maybe a defensive tackle because Wyatt's knee has
been baki. But I think when you look at the defense,
(29:26):
Nate Hobbs, to me, was a villain last week. He
has really struggled to find his place on this defense.
I know he's been dealing with the injury and he
missed a bunch of training camp, and we'll give him
a little time, but he looks nothing like an outside cornerback,
and he wasn't one with the Raiders. He was a
slot corner. But Green Bay has a slot corner and
Javon Bullard who they really like. So they've got Hobbs
(29:47):
playing outside opposite Nixon, and the Cardinals targeted him, and
you know Aaron Rodgers will target him tonight. I am
of the opinion that Carrington Valentine should be the starting
cornerback unless they swing and move times snaps have decreased,
They've fallen off a cliff. You only got out there
for three plays last week after playing a lot earlier
in the season and doing very well at outside corner.
(30:10):
So I don't know if it's a matter if we
just paid this guy. We got to see what he
can do. I don't think Nate Hobbs is an outside cornerback.
Valentine's fine, But if they can find somebody on the
outside this week, I'll give up a late pick, maybe
trade a player. I'd be on board for a cornerback.
Where are you on the trade market, whether you think
they should be active buyers sellers? Where are you at
(30:31):
with that?
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Yeah, I'm in complete lock set with you.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I don't know if for Suell Douglas is still out there,
just anybody they can get on the outside. Because Nate
Hobbs has been a problem lately. Maybe he can turn
it around. Maybe it's you know, he can improve over time.
But when you're a veteran who's been in the league
for that long and you're getting burnt up and toasted
like he has been the last couple of weeks, it's
hard to come back from that. And I think Valentine's
(30:54):
been fine. Nixon has been, for the most part, really good.
The secondary as far as you know, McKinney and Williams
and Bullard have been fined. They haven't jumped off the
page like they did last year, but they haven't been
a glaring issue. I think when you're going against a
guy like Rogers who loves to find the weak link
and just pick on him over and over. We sow
(31:15):
it my entire life. We sought that's a huge problem.
We think that we have a week link in naketops.
So that's where I would go for I think the
offense is for the most part fine. It would have
to be something defensively unless you want to get a
special team specialist gunner who can actually make a tackle
on a kickoff coverage.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Yeah, or find a return guy that somebody is willing
to part with for nothing and suddenly you've got someone
you can count on. We'll see. It's probably more likely
the Packers sit this one out, but the trade deadlines Tuesday,
so after this game tonight, the next day and a
half or so, we'll see if anything gets whispered that
that something might happen. Let's talk about the defense facing
Aaron Rodgers tonight again. Only seven players left on the
(31:56):
roster from the last time Aaron Rodgers sported the Green
and Gold, and not too much on the defensive side
of the ball, where Shaun Gary stands out as a
guy that was a member of this team with Rogers.
You know what's concerned me a little bit is the
run defense has been so good throughout the year, but
last week they sprung some leaks against you know, not
very talented running attack. I mean, the Cargos were down
(32:18):
with their third running back and he was busting out
seven eight yard runs on first down. That's not something
we've seen this defense give up so far this season,
and that that can't happen tonight. They do not have
a talented stable of running backs in Pittsburgh. Jalen Warren
has been good. Kenneth Gainwell had a career day against
the Vikings, but he's basically just a third down guy
(32:40):
that comes in for a series here and there. It's
about Jalen Warren, who is, you know, an average running back.
He split time the last few years with Najee Harris
has a bigger role. He's very good though at breaking tackles.
Both he and their star receiver DK Metcalf are great
after the catch, in the top ten in the league
at yards after the catch. So Green Bay's defense has
to be fundamentally sound. Get those guys on the ground
(33:02):
once they have the ball. It's not an explosive running attack.
By any means. But just like the pack with Jacobs,
if Warren's having success tonight, that makes Aaron Rodgers job
immeasurably easier against a Packers defense if he's in second
and threes and third and ones and that sort of thing.
So it starts with making sure Jalen Warren doesn't break tackles,
break big runs, and allow that offense to be multi dimensional.
(33:27):
Where I'm concerned tonight about this passing attack, Brett is
the tight end position. Green Bay is i think the
second worst defense in the league against tight ends. You
knew that Trey McBride was going to be targeted a
million times last week he was, yet he was open
twice in the red zone for touchdowns with nobody near him.
Nate Hobbs got toasted once on I think the second
(33:50):
McBride touchdown. If you watch the Steelers last game, he
was featuring his tight ends. They got a nice two
headed attack and John Neus Smith and Pat Fryermuth. You
can already hear the crowd screaming youth tonight. I know
it's going to happen. It's National Tight Ends Day. I
don't know if the teams care too much about that,
but I know that the broadcast crew will mention it,
and I have a feeling that Aaron Rodgers is going
(34:13):
to look early and often for his tight ends because
the book is out. That's how you attack this Packers defense.
They've given up. I think the average line for the
tight ends they face this year is like six yards,
six catches, eighty yards and a touchdown week in week
out to the tight end position. And yes, DK metcalf
is the star of the passing game, He's the guy
(34:34):
you got to watch. But I'm telling you right now,
Jean hu Smith, Pat Friarmth, those guys are going to
be featured early and often because if I was scheming
against the Packs defense, that's where I would look as well.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
Well, let me turn in and ask a question, then,
who do you blame for that? I mean, is that
a linebacker corps? Is it a cornerback corps? Is it
a coverage and scheme problem? I mean where do you
point the blame of why can't the Packers? I mean
McBride's a whole different monster, you know, And I think
I don't know if either of the tight ends tonight
(35:05):
are going to be featured to that level just because
that's their offense, that's their number one guy basically in Arizona.
Who do you blame? Why can't the Packers cover tight ends?
And who gets the most of the blame. Yeah, it's
a fair question.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
I mean, when you're asking the question, I see edgri
and Cooper getting beat a lot. He's still I think,
learning how to deal with that. I think it's a
scheme thing. I think you have to put your when
you're facing a trade McBride, you've got to put a cornerback,
whether it or a safety. You've got to give a
guy that job, like all right, make sure that trade
McBride does not just destroy us. Whether it's Bullard, whether
(35:40):
it's you know, Evan Williams, somebody needs to be given
that task. And I just think Halfley has to adapt
a little bit. When teams are just torching your tight end,
torching you with their tight ends. You know, not a
lot of teams feature their tight ends, but we're seeing
more and more. For those of follow fantasy football, you
know it too, there's been a lot of tight ends
(36:01):
stepping in. Look at the Chargers kit against the Bikes
the other night. Suddenly the Chargers offense is going through
their tight end. It stresses defenses that are maybe more
concerned about that star receiver. Man, there's this Dk Metcalf again.
He and Rodgers have developed a really nice chemistry. Remember
they made the big trade with Seattle. They replaced George
Pickens with Metcalf. He's really the only wide receiver that
(36:24):
you have to worry about. I'm sure Nixon will have
a lot of attention on Metcalf. It's a great matchup tonight,
but Rodgers is got wildly enough to know that if
it's not there with Metcalf, you know, he'll find other guys.
And just I worry about John new Smith tonight. I
just I have a feeling he's going to blow up
in a big way. And I'm curious to see how
(36:44):
the Packers defense deals with that if it happens early,
how they make adjustments, and can the Packers pass rush
get to Aaron Rodgers you harped down it early. Rogers
is getting rid of the ball in two point sixty
three seconds. That's the third fastest of any quarterback. He
and Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, have kind of figured
out a way to unlock all the forty two year
(37:05):
old Rogers at his best, he can still move a
little bit. We've seen him run a little, but he
doesn't want to move around too much. He wants to
get rid of that ball. And tight end can be
your best friend when you're worried about Micah Parsons on
one side, where seauan Gary and the other maybe DeVante
Wyatt up the middle. Look, the Packers are like nothing
more that the plant Aaron Rodgers a few times tonight,
(37:27):
But that game plan offensively for Pittsburgh is going to
be we dare you too, because if you can't get
to him in a couple seconds, good luck, because the
ball is already going to be out of his hands.
That's worked for Pittsburgh. But when they moved to that
kind of quick moving offense like that, they have been successful.
Rodgers is twelve so far this season in the tenth,
I should say, in passer rating, fourteen touchdowns, five picks.
(37:50):
He hasn't been great, but he's been better than he
looked with New York, certainly the last couple of weeks.
And obviously the variable tonight is he is going to
be super Bowl debated to put on his best foot
on in prime time against his team. And if you
don't think you're gonna see vintage Rogers tonight, I don't
know what to tell you. What do you what do
you think ultimately we're going to see tonight, Brett.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
I think we're gonna see, well, one of two options.
Either you're going to see a blowout in the fashion
of the Steelers and they just think and dunk the
entire way down the field. Because this is this matchup
and not so much a personnel matchup, but this just
a scheme matchup. Just feels like a problem for me
where he gets the ball out quick, and that's been
(38:31):
something that the Packers have struggled with. They they tend to,
you know, it's not Joe Barry levels of backing off,
but it's backing off more than I thought, uh Halfley's
defense would. It just feels like they're begging. And if
the pass rush can't get there and it neutralizes that,
then I think we're in for a long day because
you know, like I've said a couple of times, they
(38:51):
couldn't get off the field against Jacoby Brissett. They couldn't
get off the field against Joe Flacco no matter what
they did, and they just gave up these big long
even if they hold in net a field goal. Eventually
you take the offense off the field for eight minutes
and they get the ball a handful of times in
the first half. You know, it's hard to build a
rhythm and get that chemistry going. I think the only
way that the Packers comfortably win is if they get turnovers.
(39:14):
Five picks is a lot for Rogers at this point
in time in the season. Usually that's maybe an end
of season's tat for him, maybe not against with the Jets.
If they can force a fumble, I mean, I know
this is the classic cliche. Turnovers, you know, change games.
If they can punch out a ball, if they can
get a strip sack, if they can get a pick
or a tip pick, anything to get the offense back
(39:35):
on the field. Because I'm confident the offense can move
the ball. I just don't think they'll be out on
the field all that much because Rogers is that good.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
Yeah. I Rashan Gary flipped the game last week with
the forced fumble. It was the first one of the
season for the defense and just the third turnover. You're right,
I mean, that changes everything. If they can get the
ball out. But you said it early and I could
not agree more. Jeff Haffley plays zone primarily, That's what
this team does, but they have corners that are physical
that to play man coverage. I like to press at
(40:02):
the line, and this feels like the kind of game
where you have to do some of that. I mean
not all night long, but you have to sprinkle in
when they're in passing situations to Pev Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine,
whoever's out there. Try to mess with the rhythm of
these receivers, make him work to get off the line,
make it difficult for Rogers to get rid of the
ball in under three seconds. If he's got time to
(40:22):
just pick his place, he's going to find him. Nobody
understands how to attack a defense in football better than
Aaron Rodgers. So does Halfley change his tendencies get those
corners up with the line to try to mess with
those receivers and make it difficult for them to get
out into their breaks. That's huge. I don't know that
we're going to see it, but I sure would like
to see it. I share your pessimism, and it's again
(40:45):
mostly just about the spot. The Steelers as a home
underdog off of their worst performance of the season, embarrassing
defensive performance. Have been hearing about it for ten days.
They bounce back under Mike Tomlin. He wins as a
home underdog. The stats are crazy. Very few coaches have
the kind of record he has when he can rally
his troops kind of in raw, raw fashion, like he
(41:08):
can get his guys to respond to bad performances. And
I think the Packers are going to be in for
the good Steelers tonight. They're gonna have to look like
a different team than they've looked like on the road
so far this season. They have to put their best
foot forward in this spot, on this stage. And as
we said, they've been very good in primetime, especially on
Sunday Night football. They've been very good against the AFC.
(41:29):
Matt Lafleur's twenty and ten won eight of his last nine.
The turnover margins plus twelve against the AFC. Maybe it
goes that way, but I've got the Steelers twenty four,
Packers twenty three. Read my preview at Zone coverage dot com.
I just think it's a tough one tonight. Surprise me.
Packers send Aaron Holme packings it's a great one. It's
less than twelve hours away, Enjoy it and go pack
It's time for Packers Preview again. Bu'm talking about the
pack k 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, Willie and win in the.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
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 the head cheez
himself Dave Sinecon.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Good morning Packer Fans, and welcome to the week eight
edition of Packer Preview on the Sports Leader and the
home of the Vikings KFA. N I am Dave sinekon
uh getting you sets for a monumental one twelve hours
and change from now. When when Old signed with the Steelers,
we circled this one and said, this is the game
of the season. It's finally here. It's Sunday Night football
(01:07):
Packers at Steelers, Packers v. Rodgers, the team of the
sixties against the team of the seventies, and we get
that long awaited matchup between one of the greatest to
ever sport, the Green and Gold going up against the
pack tonight Aaron Rodgers and most likely his only appearance
against Green Bay. It's as good as it gets. Great
to have you with us for this next hour as
(01:28):
we get you set for this big one, along with
Brett Blakemore steering the ship from the studio. I'm actually
a couple hours a few hours south the names Iola,
hanging out with my son and my wife, so hopefully
not irritating the person across the wall from me this
early in the morning, but hopefully they're Packer fans if
I've woken them up. This is a ross a series
(01:52):
that goes back to nineteen thirty three. Packers won the
first nine in this series, and the reason I bring
that up is the Steelers will be wearing their original
uniforms from nineteen thirty three tonight. They are god ugly.
They look like bumblebees. And the interesting bit of trivia
is this is the only time we'll have two teams
(02:13):
meeting both wearing yellow helmets since these teams met back
in nineteen fifty four. It's not going to be maybe
esthetically pleasing, but it should be a great matchup. Brett
Blake Moore, as we bring you in this morning, Aaron
Rodgers on the other side. He was very vocal this
week trying to make us all believe this game is
not about revenge. He's looking forward to seeing some of
(02:35):
the Cats that are on the other side. There's only
seven players left from the twenty two season, his last
year in Green Bay. It's not like he's got a
ton of familiar faces. I do believe him to an extent.
I don't think it's revenge. I do know that it
would mean more to him than anything to beat Green
Bay and not to the thirty second team on his
belt and join an exclusive club of quarterbacks including Tom Brady,
(02:57):
Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre that beat all
thirty two teams. They'll need to do it tonight, likely
his only chance. You're a guy young, a lot younger
than I am. That basically your whole life as the
Packer fan revolved around Aaron Rodgers as the quarterback. So
I'm curious how you're feeling about this matchup tonight.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
Yeah, it's it's a little weird and good morning. I
think we might get spared from the yellow versus yellow helmets.
I think they might be wearing their white helmets tonight
on the road, I believe. I think it is a
little weird. It's I don't think he's going to have
that red hot fire in his eyes like he did
against the Jets Anger and that's been a talking point
(03:38):
on the station forever.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Is Darius Smith coming to the Vikings.
Speaker 5 (03:42):
He's going to be mad to play against the Packers
two times a year, you know, we hear it all
the time. I'm not sure it's going to be to
that level, but it'll certainly be motivated in hill of
a chip on his shoulder. And also it's going to
be a very different edition of Packer Preview because in
the pre show meetings, neither one of us are very confident,
and that's pretty rare for us.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
So we see about that point.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Yeah, yeah, it's a good point. And this feels nothing
like Brett Favre against the Packers, right, Obviously, the whole
thing that went down there, it's entirely different, I think
by all accounts. Obviously, Rogers was beyond irritated when the
Packers drafted Jordan Love, but it sounds like if you
talk to Jordan Love, he's got nothing for love about
the way Rogers treated him and helped guide him along
(04:24):
the way. Clearly Rogers learned from what Farv put him
through and was sure not to do the same to
Jordan Love. So I do respect that Rogers did handle
things the right way on some accounts, at least with
the players. Obviously, he's he's never going to be totally
thrilled with the organization. But you know, even said this week,
I look forward to retiring as a packer, like when
when this season ends. It sounds like he's going to
(04:45):
hang it up and he wants to do that, you know, formal,
I'm retiring as a green Bay packer thing. So that
tells you that there's no extreme bitterness. I'm sure he
wish things had ended differently. He would have liked to
play his entire career in Green Bay, but that's not
the way it always works. Yeah, you mentioned we're not
overly optimistic about this one. It's for me, you know,
(05:08):
talent wise, roster to roster, I think Green Bays a
much more talented roster than Pittsburgh. I don't like the spot,
I don't like the timing. I don't like facing a
Steelers Mike Tomlin team coming off an embarrassing performance. They
always seem to write the ship after a bad game,
and they have had extra time obviously after the Thursday
night game in Cincinnati where they allowed Joe Flacco to
(05:30):
carve them up to hear about how lousy their defense is.
And it just feels like they're gonna get right, and
certainly I think Rogers teammates are going to rise up
and do everything they can to try to get him
a win against his former team. You know, a lot
of the NFL, we always say it's not who you play,
it's when you play them. I don't think Green Bay
is playing Pittsburgh as at a particularly advantageous time for
(05:53):
an organization that when they're home underdogs with Mike Tomlin,
when they're backstore against the wall and they're up in
front of the country, they always seem to put their
best foot forward. And I expect to see the bets
from the Steelers tonight.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, I would agree.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
I think earlier this week I have said Packers are losing,
like I'm confident. If they're gonna lose, it's not gonna
look good. I think I've cooled off to the point
where it's gonna be tough. That's where I'm at is.
It's gonna be really tough to get a win. I'm
not confident they're gonna lose, but it they couldn't get
off the field the defense against Jacoby Persaid and Joe
(06:28):
Flacco twice. Now, Flacco has since gone to put on
other good performances, but it's like you have an offense.
We've seen it against the Purple and other teams. They're
willing to just two step, drop, throw the ball and
get so that negates the pass rush of Micah Parsons
and Rashan Gary, and you're not pressing these receivers to
give them time to get those little quick slants and
(06:49):
quick passes off. It's just it feels like a day
where Rogers is just gonna dink and dunk all the
way down the field and eat up eight minutes several
times tonight, and that sucks.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Yeah, there's certainly a chance of that. I'm curious to
see if Halfley does change some of his tendencies. We'll
talk about the challenge of the Packers defense against the
Steelers as we move along in this hour. Not only
were you Brett blakemore not alive the last time Green
Bay won a game in Pittsburgh, I'm not sure your
mom was either. You got to go back to nineteen seventy,
(07:19):
the last time Green Bay won a game in Pittsburgh.
Bart Starr was your quarterback at the time, So that
gives you a sense that things have not been real
easy in Steel City. For the pack they are seven
to nine all time in Pittsburgh, but yeah, it's been
fifty five years since they've won one. So that bit
of history goes into the feelings we have about this
(07:40):
place and this game tonight. Let's talk about injuries and
where teams sit. Steelers are pretty healthy, getting that sort
of mini by after the Bengals game. The one key
player to watch is their center Zach Fraser, who's questionable
with a calf injury. They're not great on the offensive
line as it is. That's why Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator,
(08:01):
has dialed up a game plan to get rid of
the ball quickly so Rogers doesn't face a lot of heat.
But if Fraser's out, that does open up things in
the middle for the Packers, who should get back a
key member of their defense, Devonte Wyatt, listed is questionable
but return to practice. It does sound like he'll make
his return and I do think he is a key,
key part of this defense. There's just not much proven
(08:24):
behind Devontae White. Even Warren Brinston, who's looked okay, is
questionable with a hamstring injury as well. So those two
are among the five or six questionable players. It includes
kicker Brandon McManus, who continues to deal with that quad injury.
They kept Lucas Havesick on the roster for another week.
There are two kickers on the roster. I assume we
(08:45):
will get Haversick again this week and then we'll see
what McManus's status is going forward. But you know, we
don't do a lot of reviewing Brett on this program.
We have the Packer Review podcast now for that, For
those of you that haven't found it, Monday morning, Brett
and I were recording a Pack of Review podcast every week.
You can find it on the iHeart app just search
(09:06):
Pack of Preview. It'll be there for you usually by
mid morning or so on Monday. But the kick Lucas
Haersik mate heading into halftime last Sunday when the Pack
was down ten and got the ball with seven seconds
left and made some made a play, made some yardage,
got into somewhat field goal range sixty one yarder and
(09:27):
Haversik knocked it through. That had to get the attention
of this organization, like, wait a minute, what do we
have with this guy. He's twenty six, he hasn't missed
a kick in two games. He goes on the road
and in a tough spot there and nails a kick.
It does make you think a little bit about what
Green Bay might do.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
All our little connectivity issues here, but we'll continue things
on Pack of Preview.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Around the corner, talk about the offense.
Speaker 5 (09:53):
The only reason I have any optimism at all for
this game is for the offense, the way they can
move the ball against the defense.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
More Pack of Preview.
Speaker 6 (09:59):
Now tell all the people across the USA, I love
my green Babe, who won the first superpos ever played.
I love my Green Bay.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Packer. Previous brought you by jtr Rup in Riscussa.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
It's not quite as big as LA. We had something
I don't have, and we're gonna sealing.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Factors go through Go.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
Pop. We're Backett's Packer Preview. I'm the fan, apologize for
the Wi Fi issues at my hotel, and lovely names IOWA.
Hopefully we're past those and we'll have clear sale the
rest of the way. Because it's a big one. We
have lots to get to this hour, getting you set
for Packers v. Rogers, the four to one and one
Packers against the four and two Steelers, a couple of
division leaders going at it in late October, and of
(11:12):
course the big storyline, Aaron Rodgers against the pack for
the first and potentially only only time. I was going
through the Packers' injuries and I didn't get to the
wide receivers yet, because we do have some issues on
that front. Green Bay, well, first of all, we know
that Dantavian Wicks is out tonight. Lucas VanNess also still
(11:32):
out with his injury, but Matthew Golden popped up on
the injured list late with a hip injury. He is questionable,
which is unfortunate on this primetime stage as he's starting
to spread his wings a little bit. We'll have to
wait ninety minutes before kickoff see if he is active.
Christian Watson also questionable tonight, activated off the pup list yesterday.
(11:56):
Green Bay cut tight end Ben Simms, who's a nice player,
and maybe we'll get back on the practice squad if
he clears waivers and know they like him. But Watson
appears poised to make his twenty twenty five debut tonight,
and Brett, I'd have to assume he's on a pitch count.
We're not going to get a full compliment of Christian Watson,
but he could if he could be out there and
(12:16):
show that speed, do the blocking thing he does so well,
maybe they run a couple of gadget plays. I know
you're excited to see him back. The Packers can't wait
to have him back. Both of their speed merchants are
still a little gimpy, one fighting through an injury and
one obviously coming back from one. I think we're all
excited about what this offense might be, you know, three
four weeks from now, when they're both hopefully one hundred
(12:38):
percent and give this offense the kind of speed in
multiple places that they haven't had in a long time.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Well, I believe they could have activated if they want
him to, could have activated him on Monday. So there
really was no reason to activate him unless he's planned
to some extent tonight. So you have to think at
the very least like twenty snaps probably for him, But
when he's fired, and he probably won't be for being realistic,
but when he's firing on all cylinders, it just adds.
(13:05):
Even if he's just a decoy to you know, spread
the defense vertically, he just does that so well. He's
a great blocker. He provides a different thing, a different
flavor for this offense that they haven't had, and I
think it would open up a lot of you know, again,
we're gonna harp on the Matthew Golden when's he come
out party? You know, when's that happening. It's probably just
(13:27):
gonna be a short, you know, gradual increase. But I
think Watson comes back just helps everybody.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Yeah, I do too. I have a feeling they'll do
a lot of the testing of the field conditions tonight
to maybe determine how much Watson plays. Much has been
made about the turf at Akrosher Field, which got destroyed
early this season because the University of Pittsburgh plays there too,
and I guess they had like three or four home
games early and just destroyed the field. So they replaced
it a couple of weeks ago. It's a similar turf
(13:54):
that we have at Lambeau. The Browns were very vocal
about the conditions, and they were in Pittsburgh a few
weeks ago. They've since changed the SOD. Hopefully it's not
an issue, but that is something to watch when you've
got a player coming off in ACL If those field
conditions are not how they like them, that might impact
how much he plays. As far as Golden goes, I've
(14:15):
been pretty vocal this week that I want him targeted more.
That he was targeted three times in the first series
last week, caught all three balls, and then was targeted
one more time the rest of the game and he
made that catch. So four targets, four receptions. I understand
that Tucker Kraft Romeo Dobbs that those are the guys
you are going to lead the target parade for this offense,
(14:36):
but I think it's time to take the training wheels off.
Golden has shown you that he does provide an element
that this offense does not have. And he's got everything.
He's got the hands, they're oute running, the speed, he's
got something that stresses a defense. And you know, I'm
not asking for the moon here, Brett. I'd like to
see six seven targets a game for Matthew Golden because
he has been very productive when they've looked his way
(14:58):
so far. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:59):
Completely, It's just it comes back to the age old.
Is that how we do things in Green Bay?
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Is that how.
Speaker 5 (15:05):
Lafleur operates, you know? And is there such a thing
as targeting him more? They could scheme up, you know,
the classic lafloor jet sweep to him or a screen
to him, and that's a designated worth throwing to Golden,
But there's a lot of times in those concepts, I
feel like they just go wherever the read entails and
(15:25):
where whatever the defense gives them.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
So it's hard for me.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
Like you know, when you watch the local team here,
like they throw to Justin Jefferson no matter what. Like
they're they're throwing him and forcing the ball to him,
which is great because he's JJ. Do we want to
see that with Golden to that extent, Maybe maybe not,
but he definitely has the talent to be able to
handle it if they do.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
Yeah, No, I don't. I don't anticipate them ever being
that released this season, being that kind of a receiver
that gets those targets. But you know, you got an
offense without two of your top receivers as it is.
It just feels like the time is right now to
lean on him a little bit until Watson's one hundred percent,
till Jayden reads back, and now suddenly there's four or
five targets that all look appealing for Jordan Love, who
(16:06):
comes into Tonight's game as sort of the second story, right,
I mean, it's all about Rogers tonight. Love has been
better than any quarterback in football on Sunday Night Football.
He's undefeated, He's three to zero to one, the tie
obviously a few weeks back. He's got the highest passer
rating of any quarterback who's ever played Sunday Night football
who started at least four or five games, eleven touchdowns,
(16:27):
no picks, passer rating of about a buck twenty. He
shines on Sunday Night. And I do think the Packers
are going to have to lean on him because this
Steelers defense, which has a lot of familiar names, a
lot of very talented players, they are very susceptible to
the explosive play that's been their achilles heel so far
(16:47):
this year. They give up the third most explosive plays
in football. They missed tackles to a degree that only
one other team misses more tackles than they do. You
saw what Jamar Chase did basically played catch with Joe
Flacco last week. Their secondary's got big names, Jalen Ramsey,
Darius Slay, Joey Porter Junior. These are guys we know
(17:08):
they're not playing great, especially Darius Slay, who got benched
for a bit in that Bengals game. So it just
so happens. Green Bay is among the best in the
NFL when it comes to explosive plays, and I think
that's what you have to lean on is yes, it
starts with Josh Jacobs, and if Pittsburgh's able to stop
the run, that allows that pass rush to peel their
(17:30):
ears back. And that's the strength of this defense is
their pass rush. They still have TJ. Watt, they still
have talent guys like Nick Herbig and Alex high Smith
and Cam Hayward, a lot of guys who are getting
long in the tooth, but they get after the quarterback.
They're sixth in the league in pressure rate. They do
a good job in the red zone, their fourth best
(17:50):
defensively in the red zone, but as I say, they've
given up the third most explosive plays. They misstackles. Their
twenty eighth and yards given up. There are big plays
out there for Jordan Love tonight. That's why, man, it'd
be fun to have Watson and Golden because those are
your big play merchants, not the dobs and maybe Heat
and obviously the tight ends can't have their night too.
(18:11):
But it's weird to say that you can beat a
Pittsburgh Steelers defense with explosive plays. But that's the recipe tonight.
You're gonna lead on Jordan Love tonight to find some
openings in the middle of that field where they are softest.
And Jordan Love's always delivered. On Sunday Night Football, I
think NBC goes in to night the stories around Aaron Rodgers.
(18:33):
I think they'll be talking about Jordan Love's performance. I
expect a really strong night from now. I see a
really good night. Whether it's enough, we'll get to that,
but I think Love's going to do his part. He
shines on Sunday Night.
Speaker 5 (18:44):
Brett Well, and that's the crux of the Jordan Love
argument that you and me are on the side of Well.
The guy shines, and he's cold blooded, and the guy
makes game saving play after play, drive after drive, week
after week, and it seems like no one else sees it.
They just you know you and a Rex Ryan on ESPN.
When the games on the line, he'll throw a pick.
It's just statistically not true, just not a thing. The
(19:08):
only reason that I was so headstrong and the Packers
are losing this week, We're losing. It's going to be ugly.
And then I've kind of changed a little bit too.
It's a toss up. Leaning Steelers is because I think
the Packers can move the ball in this defense. I
think I have the stack correct from when the game
preview for Vikings pregame, I think the Steelers got to
Flacco two times out of like forty four pass attempts
(19:31):
or something like that. The pressures were not all there,
and I feel like the Packers usually have a good
game plan for a you know, Miles Garrett's a whole
different animal, but usually, like against Hutchinson week one, they
have chips, they have plans for a pass rush. I
think this offense can really move the ball. The problem
is if they're going to get the ball all that
much from their defense.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah, you know, TJ. Watt's as good as it gets.
He is dealing with an injury. He was limited earlier
in the week. He practiced fully Friday, but he's been
dealing with a hip, so you know he's not one
hundred percent. Yeah, you talked about Miles Garrett, Trey Hendrickson,
and t J.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Watt.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
We talked about the fact that Green Bay was going
to meet up against the top pass rushers. You know,
they got their own in Micah, but those other three
guys are probably right on his level. And Watt always
you figure as a Wisconsin kid and Milwaukee kid gets
up for Packer games. But you know, the nice thing
for Green Bay is they've got their preferred starters back
on the offensive line for the third straight week. It
(20:24):
looks like Zach tom is a guy that can can
handle his business against t J. Watt. He did it
a couple of years ago. Didn't make Wat a menace
in that game. So I think what I'm most curious
about on the offensive line is will Rashid Walker hold up.
He's given up the most pressures of all the Packers linemen.
You know he's holding on to that job by a thread.
(20:45):
Pending free agent Jordan Morgan I think is waiting in
the wings. Maybe even Anthony Belton gets a shot. I
don't think Rashid Walker is the left tackle on this
team next season, and I don't know how long he'll
hold on to his job, and then tonight's important for him.
He's the best case scenario is he does his work,
he's the left tackle the rest of the season. They'll
likely leaving free agency. Green Bay gets a nice compick,
(21:07):
wishes him well and moves somebody up along the depth
chart to become the new left tackle. But the offensive
line being healthy, getting better still. Think Elton Jenkins is
trying to find his way at center a little bit.
He's been sort of up and down. That's to be expected.
But having those preferred starters back means everything. And we'll
give the Packers a chance in a hostile environment on
(21:29):
a tough spot to handle their business. So I think
that's a really positive sign for Jordan Love and the Packers' offense.
And Josh Jacobs. Again, it starts with him, and he
was not his healthy self last week. He was on
a pitch count in the first half. Matt Lafleur talked
about it. Apparently Jacobs was irritated that he wasn't getting
the reps. He felt he was just fine but I
(21:52):
think the fact that they were careful and he was
able to hit the end zone a couple times in
the second half where they needed to most. He is
all systems go hundred percent. And again it starts with
him tonight. Once that running game is working and effective,
then the passing game opens up and the pressure and
the defense from Pittsburgh can't just look at this as
a passing team. They got to deal with and respect
(22:14):
Josh Jacobs, who Brett quickly becoming my favorite Packer. I
don't know if you saw the locker room scene afterwards
when he got a game ball and just talked from
his heart about what it means for him to be
a part of this team. It's hard, and you know
what his history was and a tough you know, growing
up as a kid, they had it tough. And the
fact that he's come out and become such a successful
(22:35):
player and sounds like a successful and positive human being,
it's great stuff. And I thought it really kind of
warmed the herd seeing him speak like that after the game,
knowing that wasn't one hundred percent, but he did everything
he could to give everything, and again glad he's on
the Packer's side.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Yeah, you didn't think we'd get such a great guy
after Aaron Jones, who we loved both as a human
and a running back.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
They'll do, but Josh Jacobs is right there, if not more.
Speaker 5 (23:02):
He's a class guy in a really really good running
back in the heart of his prime. So and as
far as the offensive line goes like this is a
feel take and not so much a statistics take, I
feel like even with the injuries, they haven't really been
that big of a problem. I haven't been sitting and
watching any man. This line has not given love anytime,
Like you know, I feel like maybe it's scheme, but
(23:24):
I just feel like maybe maybe the Browns game was
the one where he got pressured a little more. Obviously
they were, but I feel like they haven't been a
glaring hole. I think we could pick up, you know,
through the defense and the special team's way more significant
issues than the offensive line, which has been mostly unnoticed
and fine.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
In my opinion, I agree that it's not been a
great run blocking unit so far, and I don't know
if that's they're just not great, or if Aaron Banks
hasn't been healthy and Jordan Morgan's finding his way and
Jenkins in a new position, that the run blocking hasn't
been great, and if it's not good tonight, it's an
issue because Pittsburgh's twenty fourth against the run. You can
run on this Pittsburgh defense. And again, if you're not
(24:01):
effective running the ball, then Tomlin and company is gonna
send the blitz. They blitzed at a rate second most
in the league. Jordan Love, like many quarterbacks, is not
great against the blitz. So the best defense against the
blitz is to not put yourself in a situation where
they know you're gonna pass and they're gonna come after you.
So it all starts with the running attack with Josh Jacobs. Tonight,
(24:24):
all right, let's pause here, I'll come back. We'll look
at the other side of the ball, Packers defense against
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense and more Nuggets. Getting
u set for the game of the year, I guess.
I mean. Look, we've got we got Monday Night football
with Philly in a couple of weeks. We've got Thanksgivy
Day against Detroit. We got Lamar Jackson coming into Detroit.
We got two left with the Bears and Vikings. Schedules,
(24:46):
media and fun, but nothing like Aaron Rodgers against the
pack And that's tonight and we're getting you ready for it.
It's Packer Preview. I'm a fan, Dervis And soon the
boats come joined the fun.
Speaker 8 (25:00):
All right, come on, let me pack yo yo, because
they let me.
Speaker 7 (25:12):
Let me.
Speaker 9 (25:13):
Let me say, look, you guys just agree, remember that
just in case we had to face.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
We are back as Packer Preview on the fan, getting
you set for the big one. Packers b Rogers, Packers,
Steelers Tonight Sunday Night Football at NBC. You can actually
hear the game on KFA N as well. Tonight Joined
in progress following the Timberwolves game. If you're out and about,
you can find it there. I'm one hundred point three FM,
the home of the Purple. Of course, the Purple have
already played. I guess you could call it a game.
(25:47):
I didn't go so well. No Vikings game today, Packers
on the fan. Later tonight, Packers entered this game, mister
Blake Moore for one and one, one of just two
teams in the NFL with one loss through Week seven,
joining the Indianapolis Colts from the AFC Green Bay. Currently,
as we sit here today, the top seed in the NFC,
the second choice via the odds to get to the
(26:09):
Super Bowl, behind the Detroit Lions, ahead of the Eagles
and Rams. They are the fourth favorite to win the
Super Bowl right now, behind the Chiefs, Lions, and Bills.
Yet most of pacrination is not real confident, not real
pleased with the performance through six games, and I think
a lot of that goes to shuffling along, scuffling along
(26:30):
against mediocre competition, not putting their foot on the necks
on teams that you feel like they should, especially the
way the season started through two weeks. But the reality
is they're sitting here with one loss. We know the
schedule is going to get tougher, even Carolina next week
at home. It should be an easy one, but they're
a little plucky as well, so things get tricky as
(26:52):
we move into November. But if we step back, every
team's got issues, every team's not happy with certain elements.
The fact that this team is sitting here on top
of the NFC through six weeks and haven't come close
to playing their best football maybe since Week one or two,
I think should give everyone hope that if they stay
healthy and kind of get their act together, patch some
(27:14):
of the leaks on defense, certainly we've seen those of late,
and get that offfense healthy and a little more explosive.
I think everything's right there for them.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
Yeah, completely agree. It is fun to be thanks to
the tie to be the number one seed. It is
also funny that the Packers for one and one in
the one seed, the Bears four and two out of
the playoffs entirely.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
That is funny.
Speaker 5 (27:38):
You know, even with the playoff odds according to NFL,
if they lose the Packers today, it's still a seventy
six percent chance to make the playoffs, but you probably
get knocked as it stands today, you'd probably get knocked
out of the playoffs entirely if they lose today, which
thinks going from the one seed all the way and
that's just how tight the NFC is right now, and
you need more matchups to happen. I'm not worried long
(28:02):
term about this team as far as this season goes.
I think the defense and the things I'm about to
harp on with this defensive segment I think can be fixed,
and you know, Christian Ponder easily correctable down the stretch.
I think they can improve and they have the talent
to be them, you know, as far as number one seed,
let's dream, why not? But right now it's not good
and the defense cannot get off the field. They can't
(28:24):
get turnovers. I think the only time they got pressure,
and the only reason they got turnovers was because the
Cardinals had to start throwing the ball further down the
field in desperation. That's when Mica kind of activated. Oh
he activated all game though. To be fair, I just
I'm very worried about the current state of this Packer
defense because it just seems like they can't get off
the field.
Speaker 4 (28:44):
Yeah, and we'll get to that matchup in just a second.
I just want to dive quickly into the fact that
trade deadline is coming up Tuesday at three o'clock. Don't
know that the Packers will be active, whether buyers or sellers.
There are a few players whose names have been bandied about,
like King le Bare and by my forgetting our tight end,
(29:05):
Luke Musgrave perhaps being targeted by some teams as well.
I think it's more likely if Green Bay makes a move,
it's to add something for me, and I think for
most people, if they can find a cornerback, they can
play on the outside. I think I would look in
that direction, maybe a defensive tackle because Wyatt's knee has
been baki. But I think when you look at the defense,
(29:26):
Nate Hobbs, to me, was a villain last week. He
has really struggled to find his place on this defense.
I know he's been dealing with the injury and he
missed a bunch of training camp, and we'll give him
a little time, but he looks nothing like an outside cornerback,
and he wasn't one with the Raiders. He was a
slot corner. But Green Bay has a slot corner and
Javon Bullard who they really like. So they've got Hobbs
(29:47):
playing outside opposite Nixon, and the Cardinals targeted him, and
you know Aaron Rodgers will target him tonight. I am
of the opinion that Carrington Valentine should be the starting
cornerback unless they swing and move times snaps have decreased,
They've fallen off a cliff. You only got out there
for three plays last week after playing a lot earlier
in the season and doing very well at outside corner.
(30:10):
So I don't know if it's a matter if we
just paid this guy. We got to see what he
can do. I don't think Nate Hobbs is an outside cornerback.
Valentine's fine, But if they can find somebody on the
outside this week, I'll give up a late pick, maybe
trade a player. I'd be on board for a cornerback.
Where are you on the trade market, whether you think
they should be active buyers sellers? Where are you at
(30:31):
with that?
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Yeah, I'm in complete lock set with you.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I don't know if for Suell Douglas is still out there,
just anybody they can get on the outside. Because Nate
Hobbs has been a problem lately. Maybe he can turn
it around. Maybe it's you know, he can improve over time.
But when you're a veteran who's been in the league
for that long and you're getting burnt up and toasted
like he has been the last couple of weeks, it's
hard to come back from that. And I think Valentine's
(30:54):
been fine. Nixon has been, for the most part, really good.
The secondary as far as you know, McKinney and Williams
and Bullard have been fined. They haven't jumped off the
page like they did last year, but they haven't been
a glaring issue. I think when you're going against a
guy like Rogers who loves to find the weak link
and just pick on him over and over. We sow
(31:15):
it my entire life. We sought that's a huge problem.
We think that we have a week link in naketops.
So that's where I would go for I think the
offense is for the most part fine. It would have
to be something defensively unless you want to get a
special team specialist gunner who can actually make a tackle
on a kickoff coverage.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
Yeah, or find a return guy that somebody is willing
to part with for nothing and suddenly you've got someone
you can count on. We'll see. It's probably more likely
the Packers sit this one out, but the trade deadlines Tuesday,
so after this game tonight, the next day and a
half or so, we'll see if anything gets whispered that
that something might happen. Let's talk about the defense facing
Aaron Rodgers tonight again. Only seven players left on the
(31:56):
roster from the last time Aaron Rodgers sported the Green
and Gold, and not too much on the defensive side
of the ball, where Shaun Gary stands out as a
guy that was a member of this team with Rogers.
You know what's concerned me a little bit is the
run defense has been so good throughout the year, but
last week they sprung some leaks against you know, not
very talented running attack. I mean, the Cargos were down
(32:18):
with their third running back and he was busting out
seven eight yard runs on first down. That's not something
we've seen this defense give up so far this season,
and that that can't happen tonight. They do not have
a talented stable of running backs in Pittsburgh. Jalen Warren
has been good. Kenneth Gainwell had a career day against
the Vikings, but he's basically just a third down guy
(32:40):
that comes in for a series here and there. It's
about Jalen Warren, who is, you know, an average running back.
He split time the last few years with Najee Harris
has a bigger role. He's very good though at breaking tackles.
Both he and their star receiver DK Metcalf are great
after the catch, in the top ten in the league
at yards after the catch. So Green Bay's defense has
to be fundamentally sound. Get those guys on the ground
(33:02):
once they have the ball. It's not an explosive running attack.
By any means. But just like the pack with Jacobs,
if Warren's having success tonight, that makes Aaron Rodgers job
immeasurably easier against a Packers defense if he's in second
and threes and third and ones and that sort of thing.
So it starts with making sure Jalen Warren doesn't break tackles,
break big runs, and allow that offense to be multi dimensional.
(33:27):
Where I'm concerned tonight about this passing attack, Brett is
the tight end position. Green Bay is i think the
second worst defense in the league against tight ends. You
knew that Trey McBride was going to be targeted a
million times last week he was, yet he was open
twice in the red zone for touchdowns with nobody near him.
Nate Hobbs got toasted once on I think the second
(33:50):
McBride touchdown. If you watch the Steelers last game, he
was featuring his tight ends. They got a nice two
headed attack and John Neus Smith and Pat Fryermuth. You
can already hear the crowd screaming youth tonight. I know
it's going to happen. It's National Tight Ends Day. I
don't know if the teams care too much about that,
but I know that the broadcast crew will mention it,
and I have a feeling that Aaron Rodgers is going
(34:13):
to look early and often for his tight ends because
the book is out. That's how you attack this Packers defense.
They've given up. I think the average line for the
tight ends they face this year is like six yards,
six catches, eighty yards and a touchdown week in week
out to the tight end position. And yes, DK metcalf
is the star of the passing game, He's the guy
(34:34):
you got to watch. But I'm telling you right now,
Jean hu Smith, Pat Friarmth, those guys are going to
be featured early and often because if I was scheming
against the Packs defense, that's where I would look as well.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
Well, let me turn in and ask a question, then,
who do you blame for that? I mean, is that
a linebacker corps? Is it a cornerback corps? Is it
a coverage and scheme problem? I mean where do you
point the blame of why can't the Packers? I mean
McBride's a whole different monster, you know, And I think
I don't know if either of the tight ends tonight
(35:05):
are going to be featured to that level just because
that's their offense, that's their number one guy basically in Arizona.
Who do you blame? Why can't the Packers cover tight ends?
And who gets the most of the blame. Yeah, it's
a fair question.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
I mean, when you're asking the question, I see edgri
and Cooper getting beat a lot. He's still I think,
learning how to deal with that. I think it's a
scheme thing. I think you have to put your when
you're facing a trade McBride, you've got to put a cornerback,
whether it or a safety. You've got to give a
guy that job, like all right, make sure that trade
McBride does not just destroy us. Whether it's Bullard, whether
(35:40):
it's you know, Evan Williams, somebody needs to be given
that task. And I just think Halfley has to adapt
a little bit. When teams are just torching your tight end,
torching you with their tight ends. You know, not a
lot of teams feature their tight ends, but we're seeing
more and more. For those of follow fantasy football, you
know it too, there's been a lot of tight ends
(36:01):
stepping in. Look at the Chargers kit against the Bikes
the other night. Suddenly the Chargers offense is going through
their tight end. It stresses defenses that are maybe more
concerned about that star receiver. Man, there's this Dk Metcalf again.
He and Rodgers have developed a really nice chemistry. Remember
they made the big trade with Seattle. They replaced George
Pickens with Metcalf. He's really the only wide receiver that
(36:24):
you have to worry about. I'm sure Nixon will have
a lot of attention on Metcalf. It's a great matchup tonight,
but Rodgers is got wildly enough to know that if
it's not there with Metcalf, you know, he'll find other guys.
And just I worry about John new Smith tonight. I
just I have a feeling he's going to blow up
in a big way. And I'm curious to see how
(36:44):
the Packers defense deals with that if it happens early,
how they make adjustments, and can the Packers pass rush
get to Aaron Rodgers you harped down it early. Rogers
is getting rid of the ball in two point sixty
three seconds. That's the third fastest of any quarterback. He
and Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, have kind of figured
out a way to unlock all the forty two year
(37:05):
old Rogers at his best, he can still move a
little bit. We've seen him run a little, but he
doesn't want to move around too much. He wants to
get rid of that ball. And tight end can be
your best friend when you're worried about Micah Parsons on
one side, where seauan Gary and the other maybe DeVante
Wyatt up the middle. Look, the Packers are like nothing
more that the plant Aaron Rodgers a few times tonight,
(37:27):
But that game plan offensively for Pittsburgh is going to
be we dare you too, because if you can't get
to him in a couple seconds, good luck, because the
ball is already going to be out of his hands.
That's worked for Pittsburgh. But when they moved to that
kind of quick moving offense like that, they have been successful.
Rodgers is twelve so far this season in the tenth,
I should say, in passer rating, fourteen touchdowns, five picks.
(37:50):
He hasn't been great, but he's been better than he
looked with New York, certainly the last couple of weeks.
And obviously the variable tonight is he is going to
be super Bowl debated to put on his best foot
on in prime time against his team. And if you
don't think you're gonna see vintage Rogers tonight, I don't
know what to tell you. What do you what do
you think ultimately we're going to see tonight, Brett.
Speaker 5 (38:11):
I think we're gonna see, well, one of two options.
Either you're going to see a blowout in the fashion
of the Steelers and they just think and dunk the
entire way down the field. Because this is this matchup
and not so much a personnel matchup, but this just
a scheme matchup. Just feels like a problem for me
where he gets the ball out quick, and that's been
(38:31):
something that the Packers have struggled with. They they tend to,
you know, it's not Joe Barry levels of backing off,
but it's backing off more than I thought, uh Halfley's
defense would. It just feels like they're begging. And if
the pass rush can't get there and it neutralizes that,
then I think we're in for a long day because
you know, like I've said a couple of times, they
(38:51):
couldn't get off the field against Jacoby Brissett. They couldn't
get off the field against Joe Flacco no matter what
they did, and they just gave up these big long
even if they hold in net a field goal. Eventually
you take the offense off the field for eight minutes
and they get the ball a handful of times in
the first half. You know, it's hard to build a
rhythm and get that chemistry going. I think the only
way that the Packers comfortably win is if they get turnovers.
(39:14):
Five picks is a lot for Rogers at this point
in time in the season. Usually that's maybe an end
of season's tat for him, maybe not against with the Jets.
If they can force a fumble, I mean, I know
this is the classic cliche. Turnovers, you know, change games.
If they can punch out a ball, if they can
get a strip sack, if they can get a pick
or a tip pick, anything to get the offense back
(39:35):
on the field. Because I'm confident the offense can move
the ball. I just don't think they'll be out on
the field all that much because Rogers is that good.
Speaker 4 (39:41):
Yeah. I Rashan Gary flipped the game last week with
the forced fumble. It was the first one of the
season for the defense and just the third turnover. You're right,
I mean, that changes everything. If they can get the
ball out. But you said it early and I could
not agree more. Jeff Haffley plays zone primarily, That's what
this team does, but they have corners that are physical
that to play man coverage. I like to press at
(40:02):
the line, and this feels like the kind of game
where you have to do some of that. I mean
not all night long, but you have to sprinkle in
when they're in passing situations to Pev Nixon, Hobbs, Valentine,
whoever's out there. Try to mess with the rhythm of
these receivers, make him work to get off the line,
make it difficult for Rogers to get rid of the
ball in under three seconds. If he's got time to
(40:22):
just pick his place, he's going to find him. Nobody
understands how to attack a defense in football better than
Aaron Rodgers. So does Halfley change his tendencies get those
corners up with the line to try to mess with
those receivers and make it difficult for them to get
out into their breaks. That's huge. I don't know that
we're going to see it, but I sure would like
to see it. I share your pessimism, and it's again
(40:45):
mostly just about the spot. The Steelers as a home
underdog off of their worst performance of the season, embarrassing
defensive performance. Have been hearing about it for ten days.
They bounce back under Mike Tomlin. He wins as a
home underdog. The stats are crazy. Very few coaches have
the kind of record he has when he can rally
his troops kind of in raw, raw fashion, like he
(41:08):
can get his guys to respond to bad performances. And
I think the Packers are going to be in for
the good Steelers tonight. They're gonna have to look like
a different team than they've looked like on the road
so far this season. They have to put their best
foot forward in this spot, on this stage. And as
we said, they've been very good in primetime, especially on
Sunday Night football. They've been very good against the AFC.
(41:29):
Matt Lafleur's twenty and ten won eight of his last nine.
The turnover margins plus twelve against the AFC. Maybe it
goes that way, but I've got the Steelers twenty four,
Packers twenty three. Read my preview at Zone coverage dot com.
I just think it's a tough one tonight. Surprise me.
Packers send Aaron Holme packings it's a great one. It's
less than twelve hours away, Enjoy it and go pack
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.