#440 Packers Unscripted: Three straight

a house state. Just to clarify, but we won't get into all that college affiliation, but there was we're all kind of congregated around that area, and the question was you know, kind of came up, like, you know, there's only a few of these teams that are left on defeated at this point. And you can also throw out the stats. I know you brought it up about a week or two ago. Matt Lafleur three and O as

a head coach the rest of the first year. The first time head coaches in the league right now something like to eighteen and one, there's only two, only two other victories from first time head coaches so far through the first three weeks of the season. So what does that tell you? It tells you it's difficult to win in this league. So regardless of the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows, consistency and setbacks, the only thing that ultimately matters in the grand scheme of things

is whether or not you won the game. The Packers have had some learning moments, they've had some dominant moments, and they're three and o to show for it. Yeah, well, then to sixteen victory over the Denver Broncos Sunday at lambeau Field is what got the Packers to three and oh.

And when you look at this game West, it is absolutely the classic, a number one grade, a example of what timely impact plays on defense due because defensively, the Packers gave up some long drives, some clock consuming drives. They couldn't get off the field on third down in some instances. But at the end of the day, the three turnovers, two of which led to touchdowns for the offense, the six sacks a few of those that stopped drives

in their tracks. Timely impact plays on defense is the name of the game, and that's exactly what this Packers defense did to the Broncos. So you're right, they did give up too many yards. The running game through Denver was very impactful throughout the day. I mean, they didn't have that big break, but they were able to move the ball and they won short yard situations. But two things stood out to me with this one. They gave up green Bay did They gave up two explosive plays

in this game. So what does that mean. It means that in the other cases, you mostly were making Denver work for their yards. So what happens when they work for the yards, it's more plays, which creates more opportunities for a takeaway. And when the defense got those opportunities, as have through the first two weeks of the season, they capitalized on them. That was the biggest telltale sign of this victory is they won three to nothing in

the turnover battle. Offensively, they were able to again shut out Vaughan Miller Bradley Chubb in that pass rush. Third straight game without a sack, not an easy thing to do. Not a turnover Broncos defense either for the third straight game. So defensively, it allowed Green Bay to control the tempo

from that, and so many guys stepped up. Preston Smith his second three sack game of his career, um tying a career highs and Darius Smith had two sacks, including the final one of the game, which is Smith was saying the locker room, I mean that could have basically been anybody, Kyler, Fakral, Kenny Clark. There are so many different guys that were involved in that play. And that's the exciting thing about this defense is there's just so many guys around the ball that are trying to get

after this thing. Takeaways Galore Jr. Alexander strips the ball away from Noah Fan to tight end. Uh. You know, never tell Jaire alex Inder that he's undersized. He'll prove you wrong every time. Darniell Savage gets his first career pick upon review, Rashawn Gary gets his first career sack.

I just think when you're talking about total defensive performances, and in Preston Smith discussed this in the locker room, you're not talking about, okay, that the secondary stepped up, but the defensive line didn't play that well, or the linebackers were good, but the secondary wasn't where they need to be. They're playing complete eleven man football and it's along to win games like this. Yeah, for me, the timing of some of these plays was absolutely perfect for

Packers in the game situation. And what was happening You mentioned Alexander's great strip um almost simultaneous strip and recovery of the ball from Noah Fan That's a completion to the rookie tight end from Iowa on a third down that is for a first down. He's across the marker, he has it. Alexander rips the ball away from him. You rewind the clock a little bit, the score is ten to ten. You're late in the second quarter. The

Broncos have the ball. They've put together a couple of long clock consuming drives in the first half already, and Green Bay just had a three and out offensively right, and the Broncos at the end of the first half are looking to potentially take the lead, and they're getting the ball coming out of halftime. So it's a crucial point in the game. And what happens, strip sack of

Joe Flacco in the pocket. Rashaan Gary falls on the ball. Actually, a Broncos offensive lineman had a great chance to recover that and save that for Denver, he wasn't able to. Preston Smith not only knocked the ball out of Flacco's hands, but kind of prevented that lineman from covering, and the ball still squirted out. Rashan Gary falls on on the

five yard line. The Packers get a touchdown there before half, and then that possession coming out after halftime is when Alexander gets the strip and recovery the turnover there and the Packers end up getting another touchdown. So from that ten to ten point when you're looking at the Broncos maybe having the back to back possessions to establish something in and take the lead in the game, those possessions turned into a to ten lead for the Packers because

of the two turnovers in the offense capitalizing. The timing of it, to me was astounded. Yeah, and just you know Green Bay gets that takeaway. The offense starts at the Denver five yard line. I mean, just an incredible situation to be asked. The Gyro Alexander play he runs, he ends up being brought called down. But then the next play right after that, Danny vidally twenty seven yards of the one yard line. Two plays later, Aaron Jones goes in for the touchdown fourteen points off turnovers in

a eleven point victory. I mean that shows you how important those key moments are. And just to touch on really quickly with Preston Smith, because we lump him and Zadarius Smith together, and rightfully so. Their lockers are close together, they play the same position, they signed the same offseason, they have a history together, and certainly they're very friendly.

Buddy buddy, But Preston Smith, I've been saying this, you can I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, but I've been saying this since the summer that so many eyeballs were on Zadarius Smith after the season he had in Baltimore and where the defense that he was coming from. Preston Smith was kind of the somewhat understated player that the Packers had signed. But I felt from the beginning this guy fit exactly what Mike Petton wanted to do defensively, and he talked a little bit about that.

I also appreciate that it was very refreshing to hear him say when he's asked why he came to Green Bay, it was the best offer on the table. That's the starting point, right. It's like that for anybody in any walk of life. I don't care for a professional writers something else here. Yeah, but then he said, you know the way I was going to be used the conversations we had here, and he just feels like this defense is bringing out the best in his capabilities. Mike, he

has four and a half sacks and three games. He had four sacks last year his career high as eight. And it isn't just the sacks. It's the fact that he has an interception. It's the fact that he has forced that fumble. He is finding ways to get after the quarterback and make plays whenever he's around the football. And for the Green Bay Ackers outside linebackers here to have seven and a half sacks from those two guys specifically at this point, yeah, oh my gosh, what a

way to pace a defense. Yeah, no question about it. And I'll go back even to the timeliness factor. Even earlier in the game, the Packers start out with a touchdown on a free play. Marquis Valde scantling sprints down the field. Um von Miller, I believe it was jumped off sides for the Broncos forty yard touchdown, Packers around the board seven nothing. Broncos immediately sixty yard kickoff returned the other way. They are across midfield there in position

to answer right away. Defense not only gets a three and out, but on the third down, Preston Smith gets the sack to thwart that drive and suddenly that sixty yard kickoff return is rendered null and void immediately by the defense never started at the green bay forty three on that series. I mean, they need ten yards to get in range for Brandon mcmennis for a field for a field goal, and they're there on the board. And then later in the first half, the Broncos put together

a drive. The Packers maybe catch a little bit of a break when a holding penalty downfield on Emmanuel Sanders wipes out a touchdown run. Now Jr. Alexander was pretty animated on the field. That's something had happened there that he had gotten grabbed. So whether Alexander really was held that badly or just sold it to the officials, the Broncos had to work a little extra hard to get into the end zone. And then what happens on a third and short in the red zones and Darius Smith

gets the sack and forces the field goal. So the timing, the timing of these plays, I mean, you know how it is West you get a sack on third down, it ends a series. You get a sack on first down, the defense still or the offense still has a chance to convert there. I mean, the timing of these plays is is um is really what's making the difference because there were some lapses on defense um in this game.

I think, maybe even more lapses than we then we had seen, just in terms of the Broncos being able to basically convert about down. They were. They were efficient on third down, they had a ton of third and short because they're running game was working so well. But when you can make plays on defense at the right time, boy, it it not only makes a difference in the game, but it just it energizes the team. It fires up the sideline, it fires up everybody else. And uh, and

that that was the difference in this ball game. Yea. And I want to just touch on as you were illustrating with Jaire Alexander a little bit. I don't I don't like being hyperbolic. I don't know how many times I've said that in this show, but I really truly don't. But to me, I think that this is one of his best games, if not his best game in the uniform. The reason I say that is one, obviously, Emmanuel Sanders

had two catches for ten yards. That's you know, the null and void point you start with with them across the field. But too, Packers had some problems tackling at various intervals in this game, and it bit them. I mean, there was some a lot of the big plays that came off of miss tackles. J Alexander had seven tackles. I think six of them were solo for a little guy, I'm sorry I shouldn't say little, but for a defensive back he does back for a guy that is not

Sadarius Smith. For him to be able to make the open field tackles he did was impressive. His two p bus were impressive. And he's just a menace man that

That's just he is a menace out there. So even when Fant gets that catch, he comes back and he rips the ball away from this is a guy that probably has what eighty pounds fifty you know, seventy pounds on jire Alexander, he should care and I just think that mindset so regardless if you're Kenny Clark, there's a Darius Smith or Preston Smith having that type of mindset.

That's why two years old, we keep saying, jaire, Alexander is gonna be a player in this league because he hasn't even scratched the surface yet of what his true ability is. Yeah, Well, before we shift gears to talk about the offense a little bit, Wess select Cousin Subs locations are now offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your favorite sub, they're delivering right to you when you order online at Cousin Subs dot com. Cousin Subs we

believe in better. Okay, offensively, I mentioned another fast start. You get a touchdown on the opening drive. Aaron Rodgers, as he is known to do, takes advantage of the free play, throws the ball deep and Valdes Scantling comes down with it for a forty yard touchdown. There were again some lulls offensively in this game, but then, much like the Minnesota game the previous week, in the fourth quarter, the Packers needed to put together a drive. In the

Minnesota game. It was just to kill clock in this game. It's a one score game that I believe the Packers took over with thirteen and a half minutes on the correct in the fourth quarter, and they drained more than half the quarter. Seven minutes, forty one seconds come off the clock. Very methodical drive, eleven plays fifty one yards overcame a delay of game penalty along the way, and got into a pretty reasonable range for Mason Crosby to kick a forty one yard field goal and make this

a two score game. When the offense had to do something when they when the unit had to produce, it produced, and Aaron Rodgers is I don't want to stay frustrated because he's not. He's looking for more out there. Matt Lafleur is looking for more. Everybody knows this offense is

capable of more. But when you can put together drives in the fourth quarter when you absolutely have to have them, that's at least as you're trying to work out some of this other stuff, that's at least something you can hang your hat on unequivocally, because I don't did you ever see that thirty on winning time, Reggie Miller, That's what these moments are about it's winning time. It's time for you to kind of get yourself together, even if you might have a couple of punts in a row,

and find something to build upon. And the other thing I loved about that drive was how many times have you and I seen an inbox or heard from fans like, well, why don't they just give Aaron Jones the balls thirty five times a game and just keep running him. Jamal Williams is a top of the end running back in this league. And what I mean by at especially as

the fact that he's a well rounded football player. And there's a reason why you hear matt Le talked about he wants to balance off the reps because while Williams and Jones have different strengths, you saw in this game why Jamal Williams is going to play in the NFL for a long time. In addition to the fact that he's sort of that Reggie almost Reggie the Edgar Bennett mutter, just seems like whenever the conditions kind of get Junkie out, he he always seems to step up in that situation.

I think he had nine touches for fifty six yards in the second half, But it was that ten yard catch he had on third and five when that was a gotta have at moment for this offense to convert there when they had been having some problems in that capacity that you see it. He's just he's a he's a sure, confident pass catcher, he's a good pass protector. He just gives you every dimension that you want out of a running back that you can play on any down.

And in this game, when it maybe it wasn't coming together for Aaron Jones like it did last week, the offense turned to Jamal Williams and he stepped up. They turned Danny Vitally and he stepped up. You need to have options to have a sustainable offense throughout the season. I think that's the one positive I've gleaned from these first three weeks overarching with the offense is that when somebody needs to rise to the occasion, somebody usually does. Yeah,

and you alluded to it earlier. Not only did the Packers shut out Von Miller and Bradley Chubb that match up on the edges that we were talking about all week, but Aaron Rodgers made a big point to mention in his postgame press conference that he basically wasn't touched all day, said he only got hit once and it was on the wheel route to Danny Vitality that got the offense down to the one yard line after the Alexander turnover.

Otherwise Rogers was not touched. And I'll be honest, I mean, we will talk about this a little bit more going forward with the Packers on a short week here in Philadelphia, coming in for your thirty five year old quarterback to go to the podium after a game like that against a pretty decent Denver Broncos defense and to physically feel pretty good because his offensive line did such an exemplary job of keeping him, keeping him clean on a rainy day, and not not just the no sacks, but but the

limited contact that he had. I think that could really be a big factor here on a short week heading into this, uh, this Philadelphia game on Thursday night. It's a huge factor because we're gonna talk about the Eagles enough here in the next couple of days, but that is a banged up unit right now, and they lost some more guys in that game against the line to deal with. For the Packers not to have at least to this point in time in which we're shooting this.

Any big injuries going into this game now against the Eagles is going to be huge. But for Rogers, I mean, what can you say about the offensive line and the protection unit. He drops back thirty times, He's only hit once, and that one hit was on a completion, a twenty seven yard completion. I've always found that interesting with cute quarterback hits. Yes he was technically hit, but it was an explosive place, So I'd never quite understand why they

credited as such. If it's like, okay, you pressure him into an incompletion. I get that, but that's another story for another day. But David Box, tr Brian Bulaga, Elton Jenkins coming in, he had a false start early but being able to settle in there at left guard with Lane Taylor, and now on I R. They just there were so many different guys that just were not baited into anything. I saw some of the stunts that Miller was running, Billy Turner's picking that up. I just it

was such an incredible performance in that regard. It was very understated in this but the fact that Rogers was upright, the fact that his jersey was clean, as he said on a muddy night, um that that is absolutely huge, especially in a short week. Yeah, well the Packers again for the third straight week. We're talking about a lot of issues that the Packers need to work out because it's, I guess the simplest way to say it is, it's

a lack of consistency on offense. They they just haven't been able to put together an extended stretch of you know where you're talking three or four drives in a row where everything is really clicking. I mean, nobody's gonna you know, Rogers alluded to wanting to click for sixty minutes. I don't know if there's any offense in the league that really can you know, be in full gear, full speed ahead for sixty minutes. That's really hard to do.

But the Packers are there there in this mode right now where the offense is kind of is kind of in fits and starts. I mean, things will look pretty good, you drive down and you get a field goal or something like that, but then the next couple of possessions things aren't going right. Rogers was, you know, throwing some balls away when you know plays that they were trying to set up. Things just weren't materializing, and so it's like, okay, you know, live to live, to play another down. You're

winning the game. You don't need to be in a desperation mode to move the ball there. But there were some things that that clearly didn't look good on offense, and and Rogers, you know, maybe just maybe getting a tad impatient, and that he wants this to start coming around and doing it on a short week now, you know, who knows what's going to happen on Thursday night. But Rogers feels very confident in the potential of this offense.

But he said after the game that it's getting time to where the potential needs to start matching the performance, and that hasn't happened, sure, right, because I mean you're almost at the first quarter pole right going through this thing, so I mean you need to be able to start finding your identity. Truman Williams said it about the defense. He wasn't really willing to, you know, make any big, high arching, uh you know, proclamations about the defense. He

wants to see one more game. The offense is on the same side of that coin, trying to see what they are now going into October. The thing you gotta understand about Aaron Rodgers. He's seen a lot of football. He's gonna have eye expectations. You and I remember two thousand eleven and two thousand fourteen intervals where they just threw the ball, you know, they rolled the ball out

in the field. The Packers scored seven points. Uh that's that's the optimum situation, but it's always not always realistic. For the NFL, they're trying to find just that galvanizing. I don't use galvanizing because that got thrown around last year a lot. But they're just trying to find that consistency factor that they're looking for. And I see it. I mean you look at you know, some of the plays, whether it was a drop past here, they're the ball

slipping onto Roger's hands and kind of sailing over. I think it was Geronimo Allison in a potential third down situation. I mean, there are are opportunities Robert Tany going down the sideline, the ball just a couple of yards out of his reach. You see where those moments are, and they're just trying to find those and grab those. But more than anything else, I just think it's going to be about this team kind of finding a rhythm, getting out to a fast start, which they've done the last

two weeks, but then winning the third downs. There were two and nine again on third downs in this game. So whether it is getting to third and short or just converting when you need to, those are the type of plays I feel like are what can be sort of the gateway to opening up what they're looking for. Yeah, well, quickly before we go here, Wes, I want to get your impressions on other things that you saw in Week three in the NFL, because as we're taping this, the

Chicago Bears will be playing on Monday Night Football. But don't look now West. The NFC North collectively with one game left to go in the first three weeks. With the Bears playing at Washington on Monday Night, the NFC North is eight two and one. Yeah, not too bad for a division that no one ever seems to give any credits to, right, h Before I get into I just want to make one point. You said it during

our periscope. I want to give you credit for this because it's the last chance I'll be able to say it. I was touting Okay, uh was it? Truman Smith Trumon tramont I can never get that right. I was saying, it was just, you know, big debut, possibly a kickoff. Retorney. You said Brandon McManus is gonna be there. That may get negated. It did. You didn't get a chance to

see him in that capacity. So as far as this week, I want to give you credit for that because I don't think we're gonna get a other chance to mention that. Uh Detroit man, I mean, and they're finding ways to win right now. Uh. They still really don't have a consistent running game. Matthew Stafford through for two and one yards, but they were opportunistic. They capitalized when opportunities presented themselves, and they beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road, which

is not easy to do. Minnesota bounced back. I just I think this whole division is going to be something to really follow this year. There's a reason why I keep bringing it up. But there's a reason why Aaron Rodgers said he thought there could be four teams in the NFC North for top ten defenses. It just really looks like the way that things are going right now. To me, for my money, I think it can still

be the best division in football this season. I think Detroit is one of those teams that's really hard to figure out right now, frankly, because they should have beaten Arizona in Week one, they let a big lead get away, they end up with an overtime tie. The Chargers went into Detroit and missed a couple of field goals and had a slew of other mistakes that kind of handed a game to Detroit. And then yesterday against against the Eagles.

Um and we'll talk more about Philadelphia moving forward. But the Eagles block a field goal at the end of the game, and then a deep pass down the field, the Philadelphia receiver has a chance to make a play in his and to put Philadelphia in position to win, and he drops the ball and Detroit walks out of

Philadelphia with a three point victory. And and the Lions are undefeated at two oh and one, and the Philadelphia Eagles on the flip side, two weeks in a row, a dropped past late in the fourth quarter costs them big time. And the Eagles are coming to lambeau Field that one and two looking to avoid being one and

three at the quarter pole of their season. Eagles are kind of finding themselves in the same situation they've been in the last couple of seasons, where they just kind of get off to these slow starts and then they're suddenly playing catchup again. But again, you can't take you really can't overlook that opponent. I mean, you see exactly the different areas that they can be effective. They're doing a great job of defending the run right now, but yeah,

they're twenty nine against the past. You know, you look at and they're banged up, and they're banged up. Carson Wentz, you know, has been up and down. They're trying to find a consistent presence with the passing game and their running game has had a slow start out of the gate. There's a lot to dissect with this matchup, and we'll get into it later this week, but I just think this game, with the Packers sitting at three and o and the Eagles at one and two, there's a lot

to be learned about both teams. Yeah, there's some other reflections I want to get to on week one, but we'll do that tomorrow when we discuss the Eagles also in a little bit more depth, But for now, we will call it a wrap on this at aition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team on packers dot com, subscribe to us, like us on iTunes and other podcast services. 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. M