#572 Packers Unscripted: Still in command

Packers totally dominated the first half of play, then couldn't quite get things going in the second half, but did enough to to hang on to win, and Green Bay is still in control of that number one playoff seed in the NFC. Well, first and foremost, Mike, you want to talk about winning games looking good while you win games? Asked the law Angelos, Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers about what it means to win games in the National Football League and not have a letdown against a team that maybe

you shouldn't be on the same level with. It doesn't happen. There's only thirty two teams. There's so much parody these type of things happen occasionally for the Green Bay Packers. A really fast start on Saturday night. Offensively, honestly, I even tweeted about it, wrote about it in our live updates. They moved the ball at will on that opening series. The forty six yard run by Aaron Jones really breaking

things open. Whatever Carolina was doing, they couldn't stop Aaron Rodgers in this offense, and that sort of carried through for the next quarter and a half. But they did put the clamps down. They mixed up some of their coverages, they packed more guys into the box, really loaded the line of scrimmage, and most importantly, we're able to get pressure with the four man rush against the Packers offensive

line that has been so stout this season. Despite all of that, the defense kind of was able to pick up where the offense left off and got a huge defensive stop on the goal line. Chris Barnes, as I joked about on Twitter, but umboing that ball away from Teddy Bridgewater as he tried to dive over the end zone.

Kevin King returns that forty eight yards. The Packers end up generating a touchdown off that a huge four team points swing there, potentially for Green Bay, and in the second half they got three and els when they needed them. They got the final stop with fifty seconds to go

when they needed it. I thought this was a performance the defensive front and defense in general could really build off of, while offensively given the Packers a chance to reflect on what happened in those last two quarters and in what needs to be corrected now going into this

game against Tennessee. Yeah, I think we saw just how smooth and efficient this Packers offense can be when it's running the football like it was in the first half, and not just the forty six yard run by Aaron Jones, but there were chunk plays against the should say with the ground game that uh, you know, we're just making things easy for this Packers offense and making life easy for Aaron Rodgers. So then the question is, okay, where did things go wrong? And as always, it's not just

one thing ing. I think it started with the Packers dropping some passes. Al Lazar drops one at the end of the first half on the the Jared Cook Dallas playoff, you know, reprise of of that great play, but the passes dropped by the sideline. Packers don't get some points there at the end of the first half. Davantae Adams drops a slant early in the second half that would

have converted a first down. Aaron Rodgers talked about a clearly missed hands to the face on Lucas Patrick that, um, you know, that would have given the Packers an automatic first down to continue drive. Then Matt Lafleur admitted he got away from the running game. Aaron Rodgers got away from it a little bit too, with trying to throw those run solution to horizontal throws to Davante Adams. Packers didn't stick with the run, so all these things started

to add up two. Then the offense, not being as as smooth and efficient, did put together the one drive with the big third down conversion to al Lazard on the shallow cross that got the field goal from Mason Crosby. Another clutch kick by Crosby fifty one yards outdoors in the cold that that was not an easy kick by any means, but it rescored the Packers to score lead and that ended up being enough to hang on. Yeah.

The one thing I really loved about this performance, starting with off the offensively, what groom he was able to do Aaron Jones a hundred and fourteen total yards of offense in the first half. That was the most by a Packers running back going back to two thousand sixteen when Ty Montgomery had that huge game against the Chicago Bears, and then before that, it hadn't been done since two thousand and four, so really got off to a fast start.

I thought it, you know, especially with Jamal Williams going out with the thigh injury, it showed you that down the stretch here, if there is a game where you need to lean on Aaron Jones, he can handle that workload and honestly probably should have had a few more opportunities, even though he still carried the ball with twenty times for a hundred and forty five yards and the touchdown

in that victory. But also when you mentioned the the adjustments that they made, I I was listening to Matt Leflour. I thought one thing that was very interesting too that he mentioned as yes, getting away from the you know, too many run solutions and things of that nature, but also the fact that this happens in the National Football League, where the Packers go into a game thinking that if they get the ball to their playmakers in the open field,

they're gonna be able to just naturally break tackles. Based on what Carolina has put on film. The Panthers tackled very well in this game. They probably played a little bit better than what Green Bay was expecting at the second level, and that narrowed some of those opportunities. But you have to find the reaction to that. You have to be able to sort of figure out the next

step to that. So I mentioned an insider in box because somebody was saying, Hey, is it better to have a performance like this going into a game against Tennessee where you know what you gotta correct, as opposed to you know you lose and now you're kind of doubting yourselves. I think Matt Lafleur and this coaching staff and that obviously that locker room is so shown so much maturity that I don't think it's based on a win or a loss in terms of how they respond the following week.

They're gonna be able to take the good with the bad and the bad with the good and make the necessary adjustments. So I feel like showing like this, if green Bay can put its best foot forward in the second from what they learned in the second half, UH, specifically that third quarter where they only were able to

get off six plays. I believe that is really I think could bode well for them going up against a Tennessee team this week that, while has a very scary offensive weapon and and Derrick Henry and the you know, second or third best total offense in the league, defensively, has given up a lot of big plays, has not had a lot of sacks, has struggle to get pressure on the quarterback. Green Bay has a very tough opponent

coming up this week. But I think some of the things that happened with this offensive performance against Carolina doesn't necessarily indicate that they're gonna struggle in the same ways against the Titans. Yeah, this upcoming matchup with Tennessee another primetime game. It will be Sunday night, UH at at

lambeau Field under the lights. You're talking about two of the best offenses in the league, you know, bottom line, whether you want to say the Packers are driven by Aaron Rodgers, the Titans are driven by Derrick Henry, lots of other parts. Ryan Tannehill having a great season at quarterback, A J. Brown aformaable receiver Corey Davis. The Packers obviously have Davante Adams and Aaron Jones and all of those weapons.

Seems like it's shaping up as a game where both of these teams are gonna want to try to keep that other team's offense off the field. It's going to be about when your offense is on the field, you want to control the clock, control the ball, and maybe limit the possessions for those guys on the other side. It's it's going to be it's gonna be a really interesting clash. Two teams that are both headed to the

postseason and uh and are both certainly considered Super Bowl contenders. Yeah, and you look at the aspect of this thing with Derrick Henry. His breakout season in the National Football League came when Matt lafloor Is his offensive coordinator back in two thousand and eighteen, and he hasn't stopped since then. And this season fourteen games the Titans have played, nine of them, he's gone over a hundred yards only once

or twice. He's been held underneath sixty. I mean, he is going to get his touches and he is going to get his yards, and that's why ball, security, time of possession, being able to control the clock I think is more so than any other game this year for Green Bay is gonna be so so important. But for green Bay is run defense. I thought this was another performance that they could build on. They they now they

weren't facing Christian McCaffrey on Saturday night. I'm not gonna make any illusions that this was the top flight, you know, offensive juggernaut that that the Panthers have been the last few years on the ground. But Mike Davis is a very respectable running back and does a lot of the same things that they aren't shifting the scheme to to make it work for him. He's had to adjust to what they like to do with their running back in

Green Bay. If you look at that game, you look at the Philadelphia game and obviously Detroit, the last fifty four carries against skill position players only two four rushing yards allowed. Now, Derrick Henry is a different puzzle to solve, but you feel differently about this Packers run defense that then maybe you did after they gave up that big play against the Bears and David Montgomery. They have hit

their stride a little bit. I think Dean Lowery and Kenny Clark are playing some of their best football the year right now. And if Chris Chris Barnes really is okay coming off of that eye injury that he exited with on Saturday night, Uh, I think you're seeing that defensive front at front seven really kind of gel and and become the unit green Bay felt they could be. Yeah, well that that group is going to get its biggest test of the season, that's for sure, with Derrick Henry

coming in to lambeau Field on Sunday night. As far as the playoff picture is concerned, once again, some things went Green Bay's way over the weekend, namely that the New Orleans Saints lost at home to the Kansas City Chiefs. So where things sit right now, the Packers on top of the NFC at eleven and three, the Saints and the Seahawks right behind at ten and four. What that means West is the Packers can clinch the number one

seed with just one more victory. But it isn't as simple as, oh, they just need to beat either Tennessee or Chicago. It's not quite that simple because the only way the Packers can clinch the number one seed this week with a win over Tennessee is if Seattle also loses to the Rams. If Seattle beats the Rams, then the Packers will have to win at Chicago in week seventeen in order to clinch the number one seeds. So

it doesn't take victories in both games. But it's not quite as simple as oh, they just win one or the other and they get it. What we do know is if they beat Chicago in week seventeen, the number one seed is green Bay's, regardless of what happens against Tennessee. I love that you're my coworker, that ye're the one that handles all this stuff, because somebody asked me that an inbox too, and also on Twitter. Uh, what what

are the scenarios? What are the different machinations here that that could lead to the Packers getting the number one seed? I'm like, ask Mike Spofford, he has you covered. But you're absolutely right. I mean, you boiled it down as simple as you could. If the Rams coming off a very tough loss, mind you to the Jets can bounce back and beat Seattle, which I think we've kind of seen already in the NFC West. Any of those four

teams can beat anybody on any given week. But if that happens, green Bay takes the field on Sunday night knowing that they have an opportunity to clinch the on seed, which would be the first time, like since two thousand and seven season for the Green Bay Packers. I mean,

what a remarkable achievement that would be. And now with only having one by per conference, the the emphasis, the importance, the value of that week off really is heightened in the fact that the Green Bay Packers could have their own way to having this thing go through lambau Field

on the way to Tampa. That's huge. Yeah, I'm just gonna correct you though the Packers had the number one seed in two thousand but the last last the Packers hosted the NC championship game was two thousand seven, So you just got you got your data just a little bit a little bit mixed up there, But yes, this

that's what the Packers are after. The Packers are after getting the number one seed, which is the only first round by in the playoffs this year, then you have one home game to win in order to be able to host that conference title game, and the Packers have not hosted a conference title game since Brett Farve's final game in a Green Bay Packers you a form back in at the end of the two thousand seven season in January of two thousand eight. So I appreciate that.

That's what I was going for, Mike, and then I ended up flobbing it. That's okay, that's okay. Well, so those that's the playoffs scenario for the Packers here with with two weeks ago. It's um um. It's not as simple as you think, but yet it's not overly complicated either. And as you said, I think the biggest thing everybody's gonna be watching that late afternoon game on Sunday Seattle

against the l A. Rams. If the Rams win that game, the Packers are coming out of the tunnel saying, hey, we can clinch the number one seed right here, and then the Packers can essentially make the week seventeen game against the against the Bears irrelevant if if things fall the correct way. What I want to mention this too, if I can so the Green Bay Packers that the Pro Bowl was announced on Monday night, seven green Bay Packers are going to That was that was next on

my list here. It was, but seven Packers are going to the Virtual Pro Bowl this year for a team that so many people thought didn't have uh the talent or the ability or last year was a fluke. Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City and then Bolt. I think it's Baltimore, right, all four tied with seven teams going to seven players going to the Pro Bowl this year. Uh, it's just first time since two thousand and eleven the Packers have had that many uh players selected upon first

initial balloting. It seems like there's been so many years where Baltimore has gotten that many. Seattle has been a big favorite. To see Green Bay finally get that respect and the fact that hey, maybe the Green Bay Packers are actually pretty darn good and that it just isn't an anomaly. Yeah, it's it's a it's a playoff picture that's shaping up, and maybe Green Bays starting to get

some of the respect it deserves. Yeah. Well, as far as those seven Pro Bowlers are concerned, will rattle through them. Here Aaron Rodgers earns his ninth Pro Bowl selection, which ties the franchise record held by and you can help me here, Brett Farve and Forced Gregg Force Gregg I believe yes, So Rogers tied for the most Pro Bowl

Pro Bowl selections now in franchise history. Davante Adams gets his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, which is the longest streak for a Packers wide receiver since James Lofton back in the nineteen eighties. Aaron Jones and Jayre Alexander and Elton Jenkins all get their first Pro Bowl nods. And then we have the Darius Smith getting his second consecutive here

in his two years with Green Bay. And then David baktr E, the four time Pro Bowler, a sorry, four time All Pro now the three time Pro bowler um at at left tackle. And here here's the thing. West. I know a lot of Packers fans out there like, well, what about Corey Lindsley and what about Robert Tunny in perfectly good arguments for either one of them to be named to the Pro Bowl. But I'll say a couple

of things. First, when you have seven guys make the Pro Bowl, you can't be complaining about the guys who I'm sorry, you just don't get to complain when you

get at seven on the list. First off. But the other thing, the other thing I'll say is that I do think in some respects that Elton Jenkins might have taken Corey Lindsley's spot, if that makes sense, because I think Elton Jenkins got a lot more recognition around the league than a normal second year player would because of starting at different positions, And when these assistant coaches are looking at film and preparing for the Packers and even

preparing for other opponents, but seeing the Packers on film, and they're saying, hey, look at this seventy four. He's lining up at center, he's lining up at tackle, he's lining up at guard. This guy's got you know, got it,

you know, getting it done everywhere. I think in some ways that that, and then combined with Corey Lindsley getting hurt here late in the year, I think that might have that might have impacted Lindsley's chances to get a Pro Bowl because let's be honest here, You're not going to get three of your five offensive line starters named to one Pro Bowl team? Is that really realistic? So

so I throw that out there. But but the other thing I will say, with Tony in leading all NFL tight ends with ten touchdown receptions and I'll be honest that you know, I would certainly take Tony In over Evan Ingram, who was one of the NFC tight ends who made the list. I think Tongans had a better season. I just don't think there's any argument there. So that's my that that's that's me saying my piece. As far as the Pro Bowl, now you can go. It was a good piece to Mike Tony In. So here's the

thing with the Tongan argument. It's almost like you didn't expect him to be here yet, but then when you see what the criteria was to actually be a Pro Bowl tight end this season, Robert Tonyan was a Pro Bowl tight end and and unfortunately the tough thing is, you know, George Kittle goes down with the injury, you don't have the traditional stalwarts, mind you, that you have at that position. So this really was a great opportunity

for him to do it this year. And when you match up the statistics with Evan Ingram, I mean, it just does It's not even close. I think it was. ESPN had Ingram down for eight drops this year. They don't have Tony In for one. Tongan had ten touchdowns. Ingram has one Ingram had a really fine rookie season a number of years ago. But I don't know if the name recognition really follows it the way that that maybe it should. Uh Tonyon, though it is what it is.

I'm sure if you asked Robert, he doesn't really care. He wants to just win as many games as possible and get a Super Bowl ring. Elton Jenkins probably is one of the most deserving players of it in the entire National Football League, the first player that has started at center, tackle, and guard for the Green Bay Packers

since the merger in seventy uh. The fact that he's the first second year offensive lineman to get selected to the Pro Bowl in sixty eight years, Mike, since your family favorite Darryl Tetuk made this made the Pro Bowl team in y two. And the fact that Elton Jenkins has played center the past two weeks without there being any hiccups. There weren't any bad snaps. He seems to fit naturally. The guy can start at any position that the Green Bay Packers need him to. He happens to

be a roll A Bowl caliber left guard. But when he filled in at right tackle and the opener looked fine when he did it against UH San Francisco, a left tackle in the middle of the season looked fine. In at center, he's looked just fine. It is a shame that Corey Lindsley has gone seven seasons without being selected to one Pro Bowl. But Elton jenkins Man has been remarkable. And I have to say, though, Mike you mentioned, is it realistic for three guys from the same offensive

line to get the Pro Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys made a cottage industry out of it in the two thousand ten, so I would be nice to see Green Bay get a little bit more of that respect. Yeah, I hear that with regard to the Cowboys, and certainly this year they just had a bunch of first round picks. That's the only different Yeah, that's that's the other thing too. But you know, but also this year we aren't going to see the you know, injury replacements and this and that.

You know, the Pro Bowl roster is what it is and it's done. There aren't going to be all these other additions to UH to the list as there are in in normal years. So um So for that, um, as I think you mentioned in Insider Inbox, readers have mentioned is a little bit more of an exclusive honor this year because there aren't going to be as many guys who get that label of being a pro bowler

in so um. Well, before we go here, West will end. Unfortunately, on a sad note, the Packers former assistant coach Kevin Green Um at the tender age of fifty eight, passed away on Monday at his home in Alabama, very suddenly, very shockingly. Um something a loss that's being felt all around the NFL community. And he was the Packers outside linebackers coach for five seasons from two thousand nine to

two thousand thirteen. Was part of that coaching staff that won the Super Bowl in the two thousand and ten season. And I'll just say this about Kevin green I don't know if I have in all of my years, which is up to fifteen now, watching every training camp practice from the sidelines over there at Nichki Field, Hinkle Field, wherever it might be, I don't know if I've ever seen an assistant coach more passionate snap after snap, play after play in eleven on eleven drills in training camp.

I mean it could be the third stringers against the third stringers and if Kevin Green's guy beats the offensive tackle and gets a pressure on the quarterback, he was you know, he was all hooping and hollering and letting his guys know. I mean, this guy was fired up about every single thing that had to do with football and uh and certainly left us way too soon. What a remarkable human being, what a remarkable life, and just

a much passion that he lived with. And Dom Caper's Packers defensive coordinator for a number of years now with the Minnesota Vikings. I thought he said it probably as best as anybody could Um. As good of a player as he was, as much as he produced on the field, he was an even better player person off of it. Um left the game in two thousand thirteen, stepped away, watched his kids to grow and I in their formidable years. He wanted to be there for that. He came back

to coaching in two thousand seventeen. I don't know many people that were more passionate about their crap, uh than than Kevin Green. And I'll tell you this, Mike, you know, for a young guy wrote a little bit about this an insider inbox. But for a guy that was working his beat, for the first time. When we used to do those coaches interviews down in the hallway, you have

to put in your request for who you want. There were a few days there where it's just West hog Kowits and Kevin Green and little five ft eight West Hogwits. Kevin Green just a mountain of a man, former pro wrestler to UH in the off season, and he was always so respectable and and communicative and really loved his players. It didn't he loved coaching Clay Matthews. He was ever even more excited about seeing a development and in a you know, uh Andy Malumba or or Nate Palmer. He

was just rooting for all his guys. A couple of my favorite stories. It just got through this one in there quick. The end of the two thousand twelve season, after the memories there, the Packers end up falling in that UH that playoff game to the to the San

Francisco forty Niners. Colin Kaepernick has the game he had I Wes Hogkwits working at the Green Bay Press because that mustered up the confidence, maybe even a little bit of ill place confidence to ask Kevin Green if Dom Caper still had it and Kevin stared at me for no short of five seconds with this. You're saying like at some point he he lost it? Is that? Is that what you're asking me? And I thought I was

gonna die. I felt about three ft tall. But after that he gave a remarkable answer that was illuminative into why Dom system was successful for so long, and also the tight knit relationship that those two guys had. I don't even want to get into that street. I mean it was a father son type thing, the bond that they shared. And when Dom got that job at O nine, bringing Kevin in and was able to get his hands on Clay Matthews right off the bat, the relationship that

they formed. I only got two years with them. You got a couple more. But I would be hard pressed in all these years where I covered this team, you know, going on forward to find someone that was more energetic about coaching football and seeing improvement young men than Kevin Green was. So My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his wife Tara, who fought so hard for him to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Just the heartbreaking thing. Fifty eight years old, too young. Yeah, and Dom Capers was the man who introduced Kevin Green when he did get that Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and can'ton Ohio. In with that, we will 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 for West I Am Mike, thank you for tuning, and everybody to see you over stuff.