#385 Packers Unscripted: One to go

up the season for both of these squads. Our midweek show will take a quick look at the Detroit Lions, and then I want to get to some of those playoff implications around the rest of the league here for weeks seventeen that I talked about on our previous show. Want to make sure we get to that. But Detroit five and ten, the Packers are six eight and one. The Lions under first year head coach Matt Patricia, definitely

a season of ups and downs. Early on, they beat the New England Patriots, they beat the Green Bay Packers both at Ford Field. Was looking like Matt Patricia might be putting something together in his inaugural season. That has not been the case, and since then, quite frankly, we've seen general manager Bob Quinn there and Patricia making a lot of roster moves, trading some guys moving on from other guys. They seemed to be in the process of trying to mold a roster that Matt Patricia wants to

work with going forward. Do you think that's a fair

assess I think that's a pretty fair assessment. It seemed to me, you know, they got that win over the Packers, and they came back and beat the Dolphins after their by and they were writing the thick of things and what was appearing to be a very uh, you know, even NFC North playoff picture, but now losers of seven of their last nine last week, a really tough performance when you look at you know, them coming out against the Vikings trying to you know, make a little bit

of a statement. Matt Stafford only throws for a hundred and sixteen yards. Uh. They really struggle to get things one on the ground game. And it's been you know, kind of a difficult, tumultuous last two months for the for the Lions, trying to find their footing in this thing. They jumped on the Vikings nine to nothing. They were in complete control of the game for the first quarter and a half, even close to the first two full quarters.

The Vikings end up getting a touchdown late in the second quarter and then hit the Hail Mary at the end of the first half to take the lead. The nine to nothing advantage for Detroit was gone, and then they just it was like they had nothing left in the second half. Yeah, And to be honest with you, Mike, I think the big thing that they're dealing with you talked about. You know, they made some of those trades.

They traded Golden Tate earlier this year. That's the one everybody's still talking about as the one that had the biggest impact on this offense and on Matthew Stafford at quarterback and everything. Well, because how many times, Mike, after the retirement of Calvin Johnson did you and I discuss how Golden Tate was kind of one of the guys

that helped them develop a new offensive identity. Absolutely, and he was also I give a lot of credit, I believe, correct me for wrong your Martin Mayhew was the one

that actually signed him, if I'm wrong on that. I can't remember for sure about that, but I always thought that for for wide receiver, it's such a mixed bag when you go out and you try to sign a free agent wide receiver because you never know what you're gonna get a lot of times those guys best years already behind them, because the Davante Adams year old type receivers just don't hit free agency and they don't they

don't tratch the market. Golden Tate did and he had a better second half of his career with Detroit than he did on the first half of it with Seattle. And now, I mean, they look like they have a real stud in Gala Day Kenny Date Gallada, that he's going to be a guy that could be their number

one receiver for years to come. But I think right now in the interim there's just been a dearth of playmakers there and then losing carry On Johnson as well, really hurting that ground game which appeared to finally start finding itself. That's what I was gonna say, is they seem to be getting their footing with that ground game with Carrie on Johnson. They've been working for years, I mean, since the whole concussion issue, a job at Best who they had invested in as a as a running back

of the future and all that. They seem to have found that with Johnson, but he goes on the shelf with an injury, and then and then you have Stafford, as you said, one bona fide target. Marvin Jones Jr. No slouch either, but just without golden tape, there's just not enough variety there, it seems for Matthew Stafford to really find the groove that we've seen him in before. And interestingly here West I looked this up quickly before

we sat down to tape this show. Detroit Lions actually going for their fourth consecutive victory over the Packers in this rivalry. Last time the Lions beat the Packers four consecutive times slash eighty three, thirty five years since that happened. So the Packers hoping that that doesn't happen, and that streak of the Lions not taking over the rivalry so to speak, that that doesn't happen on Sunday. Yeah, that's

the number one thing here. The Packers at a time in which you know, they went twenty some years, six years Jason Hansen's whole career without ever losing at lambeau Field to the Lions now trying to avoid losing their fourth straight to Detroit. The one storyline to kind of follow Marvin Jones Jr. Went on injury reserve a few

weeks back. So the Packers, Well, my apologies I missed that, no, but I mean, the only point I'm trying to illustrate there, He's been a real thorn in this defensive side for a number of years in that big play threat has not been there again, one of the things that I think is kind of hurt their offense and being able to get the downfield passing game going hundred and sixteen yards passing on Matthew Stafford. You just you never see those kind of numbers. Yeah, you don't. And uh, we'll

see what happens here going forward with Detroit. Your thoughts on where they are defensively because matt Patricia coming from the defensive background with the New England Patriots, everything along those lines. Darius big play slave, We've talked about him a lot. He is definitely a guy to to pay attention to out there. But again, a side of the ball that still looking for that identity as well. I think it really is because I mean you look at

their leading sackers right now. It's Omara Okawa. I can't pronounced that, and then Devin Kennard ziggy ansa never was able to get on track this year. He ended up on a reserve. That's right. They franchise tagged Ansa, didn't they And yeah, just things didn't come together. Tough year

for him. He's also had a really strange way of it, and that I mean, if you look at his career stats here, Michael uh the way his career has gone eight sacks, seven and a half, fourteen and a half two in thirteen games twelve last year and then four and seven before he was I rd after that Arizona game. So yeah, I mean, it's it's just been a difficult situation with them trying to find their identity. They've gotten

a buy. I think there is some talent in that defense, but it's just overall, especially with some of the issues they've had on offense, just not been able to overcome it. Yeah, alrighty, Well, Packers fans be sure to stop in at your local quick Trip, pick up your Packers cup today and get eighty nine sent refills on your Cafe Cruba coffee. All right.

West I mentioned on our show the day before Christmas that we needed to talk about what happened in Week sixteen in the NFL and how that sets up for Week seventeen with some of these playoff implications, and we might as well stay right in the NFC North because the Minnesota Vikings, they are the ones in control of their destiny, so to speak, with regards to the last open playoff spot in the NFC. If the Vikings can beat the Bears, they host the Bears on Sunday three

Central time kickoff. There. The Vikings win that game, they are back in the playoffs. If they lose, And if the Philadelphia Eagles win on the road in the Nation's Capital against Washington, they defending Super Bowl champs will squeak into that final playoff spot. The other five spots in the NFC are decided. Seattle's clinched a wild card, the Cowboys clinched the NFC East, the Bears obviously clinched the NFC North, and then you have the Saints and the

Rams right now at the top of things. How do you see this uh playing out here in the NFC. Who do you think is going to get that last wild card spot? Here's what I love about the NFL, Michael, how many times have you heard me say this? Over are this two and a half almost three full years of us doing this show. Last year, you had the Philadelphia Eagles the Minnesota Vikings vying to go to the Super Bowl right right, trying to stay on that road

make all their dreams come true. And now in a matter of ten months later, eleven months later, here they are trying to get that number six wild card spot in the NFC. It's just it's it's what the game's all about in terms of parody and competitiveness and how you cannot count your eggs year to year. You always

must let them hatch in a new season. But the fact that again it's Nick Foles the miracle man, and the Eagles trying to make this comeback happen after what has been a tough up and down season for them, and then the Minnesota Vikings trying to hold on to the top of the bow of the ship uh and and see if they can keep this thing above water

before the postseason. The difficult thing for the Vikings though, they got to go up against one of the biggest surprises the NFL and the Chicago Bears, so the work does not get any easier for them. But the fact of the matter remains, this is the type of team that you have to beat if you want to make a run in the playoffs, let alone being able to get the playoff bid. This is gonna be a big

game for them and seeing what their chances really look like. Well, and it appears that the Bears will be playing to win this game because the NFL sets up the schedule in week seventeen so that games that are dependent on others for playoff fortunes and whatnot kick off at the same time. They try to do that as much as possible and the Bears. If the Bears win and if the Rams lose, the Bears can get the number two seed and a first drawn by So Chicago has plenty

to play for. Even though the Bears have already clinched the f C North, they're not just gonna roll over, I don't think against the Vikings here. And obviously the Bears handled the Vikings pretty well in Chicago in a primetime game just a few weeks ago. But then what a game in Philadelphia last Sunday between the Eagles and

the Texans. The back and forth there in the fourth quarter, Nick Foles, Deshaun Watson, some of the players Deshaun Watson was making for Houston to to keep the Texans in it. And the Texans may have blown their first round by in the a f C and given that to the Patriots, the Texans, um, they will they will win. If I'm not mistaken. They are the a f C South champion. Yeah, they've won the a f C South, but um, what

a game in Philadelphia the way that one finished. The Eagles stay alive and uh and now and you mentioned the two teams in the NFC, only one of them is going to get. Two teams playing for the conference championship last year, only one will be in the playoffs. Same thing in the a f C. The Jacksonville Jaguars

totally out of it at this point. But a team that was what do they what do they say down in Jacksonville like a whistle on a fumble away from going to the super Bowl because they thought they had the Patriots beat if that fumble return doesn't get called back and all of that. Now the Jaguars are a five win team and and looking up at a whole bunch of other teams that are fighting forward in the a f well, and this is what I love about,

especially at a f C South the last few years. Uh, You know, Houston has had to go through a lot, including one torn e c l from Deshaun Watson. Uh to to still make these runs and to still be a team that now has made the playoffs and what three the last four years. But then you look at the Indianapolis Colts now taking on the Tennessee Titans. One

of those teams is going to the playoffs. The Colts a year ago a Siberia almost with without Andrew Luck and in so much up and down and just craziness how being there a lot of turmoil in that organization was going for and you see how a franchise quarterback can kind of just calm all of that. And now underneath Frank right, the offensive mind that that helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to the Promised Land a year ago, well,

now suddenly they're back in the playoff chase. Um, you look at Tennessee, who has scratched and clawed to make this happen. I mean, again, by no means has this been an offensive juggernaut under Marcus Mariota. No disrespect to them, but they've just they've had to find ways to win. And Derrick Henry has become a top running back in

the league over the last month of the season. So and they had to win last weekend with Blaine Gabb because Mariota gets hurt, and now there's questions about whether Mariota can play in this Sunday night game. Colts and texts, Colts and Titans, excuse me being flexed to the Sunday night game for Week seventeen, because it's a de facto playoff game. The winner is in the postseason, the loser is out of the postseason. And yeah, a f C

playoffs start on Sunday night. Well in one of the things that was the best about this year, Mike, for me is that I love quarterbacks in the NFL. I love franchise quarterbacks. I love named quarterbacks. The NFL is better with Andrew Luck in it, no doubt. I thought a lot was missing, especially in that division last year when you didn't have Watson, you didn't have Luck. It

just it didn't have the same verve to it. So being able to see him come back and not have any issues with the shoulder, not have any problems with the throwing the football, and just get back to his form, I think he's reminding of people of the type of player he is and in what he brings to this league, and the fact that he also has kind of negated some of the you know, I don't want to call him reckless run plays, but he's been smarter about what

he's done outside the pocket. Um, I'm really excited. I wish, like I said a couple of weeks ago, I wish the Packers were in this playoffs this year because it's a really exciting group and I don't think there's one team right now absent maybe, as we've said, the Saints at home that just you just look at them as the de facto favorite. Um. I'm just excited to see what comes out of it, because I really think one of these five or six seeds could end up making

a run. Yeah. Well, and what you just said about the a f C South with Deshaun Watson and Andrew Luck getting back into the mix, that's is maybe as big a reason as any that the Jacksonville Jaguars had their backslide because that division completely changed. The Jaguars have some issues of their own, obviously, and then you mentioned the Saints, and I'm with you. I think it's gonna be really difficult for anybody in the NFC to go into New Orleans. They have the number one seed locked

up now to beat New Orleans in the postseason. But yet we just saw last Sunday West the Pittsburgh Steelers, no slouch of a team. They actually had that game, they should have won it. They gave it away. I mean two crucial fumbles in the second half, a very questionable decision on a fake punt on fourth and four or fourth and five in their own territory, which gave the failure of that gave Drew Brees the short field to allow the Saints to take the lead late in

the game. And now you're looking at Pittsburgh Steelers team that their playoff hopes are kind of on life support. Here. The Steelers need to win, They need the Browns to beat the Ravens, or a Pittsburgh team that almost and probably should have beaten the best team in the NFC might not even get in the dance. It's amazing. And the fact that the Ravens again have sort of risen from the dead now with Lamar Jackson as their quarterback. And what a performance by that defense against the Chargers

in Los Angeles last Saturday night. Yeah, death Taxes and the Ravens Deans. I mean, it just that's the way they're wired. And and to see how they've kind of come, you know, arguably playing as well as any unit in the NFL right now. And then I think you also got to credit the Ravens. You know, a guy like Gus Edwards, undrafted free ages that nobody even knew about.

Alex Collins was the running back. They had Buck Allen there, and then Gus Edwards comes out of nowhere, has a hundred yard game, and then he becomes a featured back. I mean, they just have found ways to win. And I think we'd be lying if we said that they aren't maybe the most entertaining team in football now with Jackson at quarterback, with what he brings to them, the multiple, multiple dimensions that he adds. Yeah, it's it's interesting and that this we it was boiling down to this the

entire time. It was gonna come to this with as much parody as we've seen in the NFC, the a f C across the board this year. You're gonna have some drama going into Week seventeen, and and you know, honestly, that's that's the best part that's what makes this game special. Yeah, that's the way it That's the way it should be.

And I know there aren't a whole lot of playoff implications on the line in the early games when the Packers and the Lions play and those other noon Central kickoffs on Sunday, but it's gonna be a lot of drama, a lot of action, a lot of scoreboard watching starting at three five on Sunday after well, and here's the biggest thing with this Packers lines game. We'll talk about it with our Keys to Victory on Friday, but the fact of the matter is the Packers are trying to

finish this thing. Get on a two game winning streak to end the year. Go seven, eight and one, go three and one. Underneath your interim head coach on the other side of the coin, Matt Patricia, is trying to build a culture. He's trying to change things there. He's trying to make this team his own. They need to

win this game. You cannot end the season if from the Lions perspective throwing a hundred and sixteen yards in the air against Minnesota and then you know, get punched in the mouth against the Packers and feel good about yourself going to the off season, so there is not a playoff spot on the line. One of the few times in recent memory that the Packers have played a Week seventeen game that statistically in the win lost column

is meaningless. But there's still a lot on the line here for the Packers, trying to show that Okay, we came back, we rallied against the Jets, and now we can be that offense again for full sixty minutes against the Lions. Yeah, and as you said, the Detroit Lions trying to avoid losing eight out of ten to end their rookie head coaches season. So yeah, lots more to talk about as the week continues here on Packers Unscripted, But but for now, excuse me, we will call it

a wrap on this edition. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot Com on Twitter. He's at west Hot, I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, See you next time, BA