#441 Packers Unscripted: Moving quickly

look at this Philadelphia Eagles team. And the first thing that I see is a one and two record, But when you look at the games, this is a team that very easily could be three and oh, just like Green Bay absolutely in a very uneven statistical breakdown of them if you really look at it. I alluded to this and some of the other content we've done. I mean, when you look at how they're defending the run, but

they're giving up the yards against the past. You know, Carson Wentz and the offense have been kind of beat up, but then he's leading these comebacks to make things interesting. Um, their run game hasn't been what they wanted to be. They've been injured at receiver, but yet they still feel dangerous right there, and Sprowls came back. There's just so many different little sectors of this offense and defense that

make them really truly dangerous. And the other thing too, that always stands out to me about these Thursday games this is about is random in terms of what you're gonna get of any other time you're going to see on a schedule. Game plans are important, philosophies, momentum is important, but a lot of times, as Tremont Williams and some of these guys said in the locker room, this week

comes down who's just a fresher team. That's the battle both of these teams are waging right now with the way they're approaching their practice schedule both last week and into this week. And you know, to some extent there's some randomness to this, but the Packers are trying to dot their eyes and cross their teas and hope that, you know, they can be the healthier, more productive team

on Thursday night. Yeah. Well, the Ells all season long, through these first three games, they've had a hard time getting out of the gates, so to speak. You look at their score by quarters, they've been outscored fifty to twenty three in the first half of games, but they've outscored their opponents to seven in the third quarters. So they've been a team that comes out of the locker room at halftime. I think they've been down in every

game at half time. If I'm not mistakes, they've been down in every game, but they come out of the locker room at halftime and make their charge at you. And it was enough to beat Washington in Week one with the big second half comeback. They fell short against the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions, but had opportunities right in the final moments of both of those games with big pass plays from Carson Wentz and the ball

slipping through the receiver's hands. And that's why I say this team, this team is so close to being three and oh. And this is where this is where I consider a team dangerous. And I know the Philadelphia Eagles are banged up on defense, They're dealing with a lot more injuries than even the Packers are. But this is a team that a lot of people predicted would be right in the mix all season long in the NFC

playoff picture. They do have a lot of talent on the roster, and they have players obviously who just a couple of years ago went through a Super Bowl run when a team like that is is one and two and looking to avoid being one and three at the quarter pole, which would be a tough spot to come back from. This is a team you gotta watch out for, no doubt about it. And it's funny too you're mentioning

those games where they could have been three. No, you could probably argue that the worst game they've had this year is the one that they won against Washington right out of the gates, with how slow they started in the comeback they had to mount. I thought they played Atlanta really tough, especially given the circumstances with their personnel. Wentz had to go out Josh McCown, who was retired like a month ago. Well he's in that quarterback and

that was on the road in a primetime exactly. We know what that's like in that stadium with how difficult it can be there. But to Sean Jackson has been beat up. They lose Ronald Darby to the hamstring this past weekend. So you know, Doug Peterson, we haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but I'm really interested to hear his thoughts on exactly how they're approaching this week and and just trying to get them as

themselves as healthy as possible. Because the other thing that's very interesting about them defensively, as I mentioned their second A league against the run, but they've given up the fourth most amount of yardage and you know they've been beat up in the secondary. So exactly how they're able to respond to those conditions, it's gonna be really you know, I think that's gonna be the biggest thing with who's gonna end up prevailing in this contest, And for the

Packers perspective, it's going to be defending the run. You know, they've they've given up some yards the last two weeks to their credit, outside of the seventy five yard or to Delvin Cook. They haven't given up a lot of game breakers, but guys have consistently moved the ball against them. Now you're gonna see Miles Sanders, You're gonna see Jordan Howard who has a history against Green Bay, and then you got the scat back there and Darren Sproles who

has been doing it for twelve thirteen years now. So even though they are banged up, the point I'm trying to illustrate his Carson Wentz is enough of a magician. Easy for me to say magician that there's still sometimes able to pull a rabbed of their hat. And Doug Peterson's as creative as they come in terms of offensive play callers. Yeah. Well, a couple of years ago when Wentz really came into his own, I guess I would say.

And unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to lead the Eagles on that playoff run, but he was potentially headed to an m v P Award that year. If he hadn't blown out his knee, he might have he might have won the m v P. But the thing that's always struck me about him is he has he has the mobility to get away from the past rush and make plays on the run, but when he is in the pocket, he's almost like a Ben Roethlisberg, and that he's tough to bring down. I mean this this this

is a quarterback, you know, a young guy. Obviously it helps to be in his early twenties like he is to be able to play like this. But uh um, but this is just a tough stimmer at quarterback, and and they are dealing with injuries. That receiver you mentioned, DeShawn Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey has been out, so they've been relying on Nelson Agailor and the tight end Zach Ertz and Arts as a guy, I think you could be

a tough matchup here. But Carson Wentz I tell you, I've oh, I've been impressed with him since he came into the league, and he's just a guy that strikes me. I don't care what defense he's going against, and the Packers are playing really good defense right now, but he's the kind of guy who's capable of a three and fifty yard, three touchdown game anytime because he's just got

that kind of talent. Yeah, and that I think that's really the truest sign of an elite quarterback in this league is if you can win when maybe your weapons aren't what they need to be. You think of two thousand and fifteen with Aaron Rodgers and the run they got on, and you're playing a playoff game with James Jones, Jeff Janis and Jared Aberdare the top three that you were thinking you were gonna have at the top the beginning of the two thousand fifteen season. You know, Wentz

is in a pretty predictive similar spot right now. You look at the injury report, they estimated that Elshan Jeffrey to be limited with the calf. Deshaun Jackson still a d MP, looks like he might be a couple of weeks away. Zach Ertz is the guy. I mean, he's he hasn't been off to that that fire you know, fast start that he was last year when he had over a thousand yards or whatever the final stats were. But he's a guy that they are going to threaten

in the middle of the field with Nelson. Aghilar has been up and down throughout his career these four seasons. We saw it in two thousand and sixteen. I think he was kind of in the doghouse a little bit going into that game in Philadelphia, but he's re emerged. He he was able to kind of bring his game back together and be the player they thought he could be when I believe he was a first round pick

for them a number of years ago. So for once his perspective, you need you need to have guys you're throwing too, you need to be able to find playmakers on the field. But his ability to work off script and make things happen, it's one of the reasons why Philadelphia has been able to play these close games the last few weeks when maybe personnel wise, everything wasn't really

working in their favor. Yeah, And what jumps out to me on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles when I think about you think about that defense they had when Nick Foles took over at quarterback and they made the Super Bowl run. To see that this defense, if I was reading the stat sheet right, they only have two sacks and I believe three takeaways, yes, three three, three takeaways through the first three games. That's that's almost stunning.

Much like we're talking about the Vic Fangio defense last week with the Broncos, and that defense still doesn't have any sacks or takeaways because Packers did an outstanding job protecting Aaron Rodgers, and Aaron Rodgers did an outstanding job protecting the football. But this is this is an Eagles defense. When you're talking about Fletcher Cox and some of these pass rushers, Brandon Graham, guys like that that they have, Boy, you would think you would think they're ready to bust

out in some way. Two sacks and three takeaways in three weeks is not what they're expecting out of this unit. Fletcher Cox, his quiet start is probably I don't want to see the most concerning but alarming for this defense. I mean they need at that position. It's gonna happen that you're gonna go through laws. They just can't expect, you know, defensive tackles to just routinely put up a

sack every game. He's a big player though, but three tackles, no sacks here through the first three for them, they need more from that spot because if you really look at it, kind of like the Packers were last year, little bit, that's where their pressure actually kind of starts is inside and then they work to their to their ends. But yeah, trying to get more pressure there is going to be a big thing. And as I said before, I mean with the secondary they only have three picks.

They're sort of working through some new things. You know, Andrewson Dajo now plays in that secondary. To get back to the defensive tackles, Tim Journ again has been out with the foot, so again working through some stuff early on here, and then also trying to see you know, Brandon Graham now in this tenth season, you know where is he at at this point of things. There's a

lot of questions that they have to answer. But as you and I both know, the defensive coordinator there, Jim Schwartz, has been entrenched there for a number of years, incredibly creative with what he brings to the table rest of play caller on defense, no question about it. Yeah, So all those things kind of work in their favorite and they're always you know, there is randomness to these matchups.

So this is a situation where if you don't really stay up on your keys, you know, that's where Fletcher Cox starts to make that impact. So the Packers aren't taking these guys lightly, regardless of what the records are. Yeah, I want to make one or refer to one element on special teams here too as well, because you made reference yesterday to the fact that the Packers really weren't able to show anything with the kickoff return game and the new guy Traymont Smith because of Brandon McManus's leg.

But the Detroit Lions ran a kickoff back a hundred yards for a touchdown against these guys. And this is what's always interesting to me because when something like this happens, it's like, Okay, you know, how how much is Sean Meninge, the Packers special teams coordinator, what's he looking at on the film and maybe what they can take advantage of or is it the fact that because they gave up a hundred yard kickoff or turn, they're going to get

it short up. Now, whatever the weakness was, it cost him. It essentially cost him a game and giving up a special teams touched on when you end up losing by three points and uh, you know so I don't know. I do know that that if Traymont Smith gets an opportunity here, um, I think Menea will probably let him take a shot, you know, not if he catches one, you know, say two yards three yards in the end zone, it's like, okay, let's let's see if these guys can

cover or not. And I think, honestly, Mike, it usually goes one way or the other. It isn't just okay, you know, they you're just routine, your average, you're on the line. If you give up a return like that, typically it ends up being okay, you really get everybody together and pull that unit and re emphasize some things, or it's sometimes a red herring for what is going to happen with it. I think back, honestly too, when the Packers gave up that kickoff return against Indianapolis a

number of years ago. I'm not trying to paint that is that was sort of the you know well, I mean, in some extent it was sort of the the beginning of the end for that in it that season, they just never were really able to be consistent enough, and then it kind of leaked over into a couple more seasons. So kickoff returns are so important right now in this version of the NFL because you don't get as many attempts as you used to, as many bites at the apple, right,

the opportunities are rare because of the touch back. And it's on both sides, Mike. It's the kickoff returners making the most of those chances, and it's the coverage units when you don't have all of those reps making sure that you stay in your lanes and you find ways to contain the returner when the ball does come out. Yeah, interesting story there, It's like, and why I've always remembered this,

I don't know. But back in the nineties, the Wisconsin Badgers had a kicker, John Hall, who just for four years he booted every single kickoff, like into the stands. You know, for four years the Wisconsin Badgers kickoff return team almost never had to tackle or cover anybody. First game after John Hall had graduated and moved on to the NFL, the opening kickoff of the season, and I believe it was Syracuse runs it back for a touchdown against Wisconsin. I mean, that's but you know, that's an

old story. But it's the example of when you don't when you're not getting the reps in game, sometimes you just never know what's going to happen. And and kickoff returns, especially early in the season, are really sporadic because when the weather is good, the ball is flying and there are a lot more touchbacks. And then you get later in the season and perhaps there will be more chances

down the road. And honestly, I'm really intrigued to watch Trey Smith's philosophy with what he likes to do, because he brought out thirty three kickoffs last year and that that's a pretty big number for two thousand and eighteen in the NFL, averaging two per game over if you if you count that, what is he looking for? What is Sean manningat comfortable with because even though we're three games into this yet, we've really yet to see anything

from the returners. Um. And I don't mean that in terms of like being disparaging to you know, the capabilities of them, just we just haven't seen it yet. There haven't been many kickoff returns that have come out, there haven't been very many punt returns yet. All things that are going to be you know, maybe potentially on display

lambou Field on third. Yeah. Well, I want to get back to a couple of things with regards to the Week three results in the NFL, because there was one development that can be very important to the NFC as a whole and to how things will potentially impact the packers down the road. And what I'm talking about is the New Orleans Saints, with Teddy Bridgewater as their backup quarterback now their starter for the next five to six weeks whatever it's going to be, going into Century Link

Field and beating a two and oh Seahawks team. Um, this is this is potentially a really key development here in the NFC playoff picture because if if Teddy Bridgewater can do what the Saints are hoping and play like he did against Seattle on the road. This New Orleans Saints team could really be something when it gets Drew Brees back well. And here's the thing that really stood out about that game is that Russell Wilson didn't make

many mistakes. They did lose a fumble from Chris Carson, but you know, he played pretty relatively flawless football to keep his team in that game and you know, try to get a big victory at home. Teddy Bridgewater didn't blank he you know, as a backup quarterback, I don't care who you are. You could have been Aaron Rodgers in two thousand six or you could be Teddy Bridgewater. Now that is a difficult spot to be thrown into.

You look at Mason Rudolph in his first start with Pittsburgh, has a pick, they lose the football game, I mean just didn't go their way that day. Bridgewater did exactly what he needed to do to steer that offense. Because there are a lot of playmakers there. When you look at Alvin Kamara and certainly Michael Thomas, that the multitude of weapons he has to work with our ample. So

his ability to step back into that saddle. He's played a lot of football He started a lot of games in this league already, but he's gone through a lot over the last two and a half years. And this is a guy. Not to interrupt you, sorry, but this is a guy who would have a playoff victory or at least one playoff victory on his resume if not for Blair all. You know, duck hooking the twenty seven yard or on the frozen University of Minnesota field there

against ironically Seattle, but uh but yeah, Bridgewater. Before everything happened with his knee, this was a guy whose arrow was clearly pointing up in this league. And you gotta remember to Mike. New Orleans has invested a lot into him over the last two years. They traded I believe a third round pick to the Jets, who had signed him as an unrestricted free agent. You don't see that very often. Never played for the Jets in a regular season contest, he ends up coming over and then they

go and resign him again this offseason. I don't know how many millions have been invested into him at this point, but New Orleans sees a lot in him. Sean Payton sees a lot in him, and the Saints do have a question whether it's tomorrow, next year, or in four years from now where they're going to have to replace

Drew Brees. What a great audition for him these next couple of weeks with the weapons that they have in New Orleans, reminding everybody that, Okay, even if Drew Brees isn't on the field, this is a different team right now. We're a contending team and we feel cough in the

backup quarterback that we have. Yeah. Well, in looking at what happened on Monday night football in the Nation's Capital, the Chicago Bears went to Washington, jumped out to a twenty eight to nothing lead, and then held on from there. At the bottom line, West is the NFC North. Right now you have the three and o Packers, the two oh and one Lions, and then the Vikings and the Bears are both two and one and tied for last place with two and one records, and those two teams

are playing each other. I believe this coming Sunday, So either the pack sorry, either the Vikings or the Bears will be two and two after this week. But but the NFC North showing up strong here in the month of September, I don't know how many times I've said it on scripted over the last three and a half years, it's still to me the most criminally underrated division in football because I think so many people see the turnover at times the last three years with it in terms

of who's been the front runner in it. Certainly you haven't had a team since two thousand and ten win a championship about of it. But at the same time, I think people got to start paying attention to how many wild cards teams this division has produced over the last five or six years, and it's been every single one, every permutation that you have from this division in terms of the combinations that have went I truly believe, and

again we're gonna see how all the shuffles out. The NFC East looks like it could be a real contender. But I think there is a chance that this division produces three playoff teams. I really do think there is

that possibility. Because when you start a season like this, Mike, and you take care of business in your your you know, interconference games, your a f C games, you know there's a certain amount you're gonna have to lose within the division theoretically, but you know everybody's staying right on this and they've all responded. Chicago got punched in the face right away off the bat. They were at home. We saw what that atmosphere was like, people are flying high.

They had to mount a rally after that. They have. Minnesota did what they had to do against a bad team to come back and win that football game in Detroit after what could have been just a total gut wrenching tie where they lose that lead against Detroit. Yeah, against Arizona has responded so in in all those regards, I just think you're seeing what you need to see from these teams at this juncture, the season of maturity

inability to respond to some adversity. Yeah. I mean, I'm really interested to see how things are going to play out in this division as we go along. I'm already being asked in the Insider inbox with the Vikings and the Bears playing each other this week, Okay, as a Packers fan, like who do you who do you root for? Like, you know, who do you want to win? Who do

you want to lose? I guess my take at this point, the way things look right now, only three weeks in, I have to believe the best scenario for the Packers is for the Vikings and the Bears to split their two games. So that's kind of the way I see it right now. So if that's the case, then you kind of just hope for the home team to win, because the best odds for a split is for just the home teams to hold serve and and there isn't as big of a chance for a sweep in that series.

But in another five or six weeks we might be we might be singing a different tune. As far as how you want this to go, I have a completely different theory. I think you need the Minnesota Vikings to lose as many games as possible. It doesn't matter what happens with Chicago because Green Bay Packers have to go to U. S. Bank Stadium in Week sixteen. If that is a playoff atmosphere, if that's something that where division at ramifications, playoff implications are all out there, it's going

to be rocking. The Packers control their own destinies some extent and that they welcome Chicago to Green Bay in Week fifteen. So for I hadn't thought about it from that perspective that the because I've seen these questions with the remaining games the Packers have. You're right, the one is at home, the other is on the road against those two teams. If I'm if I'm a Packers fan, if I'm following this thing, I want Minnesota be completely demoralized.

I don't want them having any hope going in December, because, honestly, Mike, we know what it's like to play there when the games aren't with playoff implications, right, And the bottom bottom line is the Packers are oh and three in that building. And yes, that game is a long ways down the road. We're already talking about it too much, but we already get the sense that that's going to be a big game and the Packers haven't one there. The Packers one

in Chicago they won against Minnesota and Green Bay. They get a chance to get that other one back against Chicago at home, that Minnesota game, Mike, you know what that's always like there. So that's my perspective on things. No, I think that's an interesting take, And certainly with the Packers playing on Thursday night and the Vikings and the Bears going ahead to head on Sunday, I think a lot of Packers fans are going to be watching that ballgame. Absolutely,

that's the one to check out, all right. Well, with that, we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot com. On Twitter, He's at west Hod I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time.