#575 Packers Unscripted: High-stakes showdown

And you take a look at this Bears season five and one, a six game losing streak, now a three game winning streak, trying to make it four to slip into the postseason. It's been a hard team to figure out, but it is a team that is playing really well right now. It's a team we've learned a lot about two I think, and the course of the season has worn on the Chicago Bears have gotten back to what

they do well. For a long time, Mike, it seemed like they were trying to become something that they weren't, and I think that kind of factored into the decision and moved to Nick Foles and go away from Mitchell Troubinsky, but they also went away from the run game at that time. They also weren't getting the tight ends as

involved as they have in the past. And when Troubinsky came back and in his big comeback game was against Green Bay, it didn't go completely how he wanted it to, but that was a building block, and I think one thing that they found out in that matchup was the fact that all Right, David Montgomery was a guy that we invested into a number of years ago. They had to maneuver without him mid season. Then they were trying

to use Cordell Patterson in that running back role. Since Montgomery has returned, he's averaging twenty almost twenty four touches per game. Now they've established the running game again, they're

putting up points. And I know a lot of Packer fans are quick to point out the competition that they've done that against is not elite in terms of the NFL rankings, but it's production nonetheless, And for the Chicago Bears, they're feeling much better about themselves going into this matchup today then I think they did a month ago into

lambeau Field. Yeah, it's interesting heading into this one. I mentioned this when I did our weekly Three Things video with UH with Larry McCarn yesterday, that you look at that first Bears Packers matchup and the Bears first handoff in that game was to David Montgomery and he busted a fifty seven yard run. And it's that sort of became a turning point in a lot of ways for both of these teams. Because for the Bears it reminded them, hey, David Montgomery needs to be a big part of this

offense moving forward. And yes, they did not beat the Packers that night. They ended up blowing a late lead the following week against the Detroit Lions, but they figured out that David Montgomery the role that he needs to have in order to be successful. That fifty seven yard run I think was a big part of that. On the Packers side of things, the Packers run defense has

been quite good since that fifty seven yard run. It was sort of like that was the final kick in the teeth or whatever you want to call it for the run defense to get things turned around. And the turnaround came to fruition UH in some respects with the performance against Derrick Henry last week. So as you head into this week seventeen matchup and Soldier Field, the Bears run game and the Packers run defense is going to

be front and center here. Yeah, And as much as we'll talk about the Bears and where they went and offensively, the fact that they're in a better rhythm now than they were a month ago, the Packers defense is in a much different position today than it was back in November, and a big reason for that is how well they've defended against the run. To some extent in his scheme, it is being able to just fit your gaps and and be in the right position at the right time.

But Mike, I've really been blown away, especially these last three weeks, the number of players, individuals who have stepped up their games here in these this final stretch of the season. Chris Barnes moving in as the mic linebacker, the every down guy, that's been the right adjustment for this defense. I think you're getting more and you're the

first one to point this out. I think you're getting more out of Christian Kirksey, and that will roll playing more on nickel situations and then also being able to incorporate Kamal Martin that rotations actually I think worked out pretty well for them. But Dean Lowery, Kenny Clark, both of those guys have been playing at an elite level.

The outside linebackers have been very gap sound understanding their assignments, where Shawn Garry has been a big part of that as well, and certainly the safety stepping up and making plays when they have to. All of those things bode well for Green Bay and a lot of lessons were learned when they ruptured for that fifty seven yard carry against Montgomery. And the green Bay has they've seen Montgomery,

they know what this guy can do. And if you go back and listen to all the unscripteds we've been doing for the past three years now, I've continued to toot the horn for him that this guy's a guy that must be respected. Now he's over a thousand yards on the season. I think there's only what five running backs that have already achieve eve that Mike he is a top of the line running back who must be respected.

But the Packers defense, because of how they've rebounded the second half of the season, has worked its way into the top yard in total defense is in the top seven. Now. I believe in passing defense in their run defense has vastly improved, but that's only as good as your last performance. And Greenway needs to get one more marker here to show that this is a different unit. They can play gaps sound, they can play fundamental before they move into

that postseason. Yeah. Absolutely, and you have to believe with what we've seen of the Bears offense as as has been mentioned, it wasn't exactly against a murderers row of defensive opponents over the last few weeks. But as you said, production is production, and the Bears have figured out what

it takes to be successful. So I you know, even if the Packers run defense starts the game the way they did against Derrick Henry, I think we're going to see the Bears stay committed to that run with David Montgomery, you know, unless this becomes you know, a twenty point, you know, three score deficit or something like that. I think the Bears are going to stay committed to the run for as long as they can in order to try to pull this one out. And Mike, everybody knows

that's head home right now. They understand that you are an exceptional racquetball player, one of the best in green Bay, maybe the four counties surrounding Brow County as well, if we want to push it out there. You and I both know if you would go down to the y m c A and you play five straight games and maybe you play some West hot quits is maybe you play some enhancement talent guys that you can beat up on. Mike Spofford is gonna walk out that day feeling pretty

darn good about himself. Now, if you go in there and maybe you play some of the top guys in the country at racketball, you don't do so hot, You're not gonna feel that good about yourself. It doesn't matter the fact that the Bears maybe haven't beaten the top of the line defenses here with their offensive scheming, their thirty plus points per game since Lazar took back over the play since has has taken over the play calling from Mattnegie. The fact of the matter is they feel

confident now. There is some momentum again, and this is a momentum driven sport. Jimmy Graham, as well as much maligned as I know he is sometimes at the Packers fan base two touchdowns last week, I mean they are being able to find ways to win on offense, and you and I all week long, like we've discussed this, you cannot look past the Chicago Bears. I understand that was a big win for Green Bay. It was the

most complete performance of the season. But if you don't respect the threat that the Bears present, you're gonna be walking out of Soldier Field disappointed on Sunday night. Yeah. Absolutely, I mean I think it's it's the reality checks somewhat. And as as I say all the time, as we say all the time, it's a it's a week to week league, right, And if it were as easy as playing as well as the Packers played last Sunday night against Tennessee, of course they would play like that all

the time. But it doesn't just because they did it against Tennessee against a very good team, you know, under the lights, the prime time, all of that, it doesn't mean you're just going to show up and play like that again. By the same token, the Packers performance back in Week five or six, whatever it was against Tampa Bay not a good performance for Green Bay, but they didn't go out and play like that every week either. That's just that's just not how it works. So you

can't assume things. You can't take things for granted. And you said it was momentum. Momentum in this league is real. And the Bears were headed the wrong way with six consecutive losses. Everyone was talking about are they gonna blow the whole thing up and start over? Suddenly they win three straight. They're still in the playoff hunt, looking to get back to the postseason after winning the NFC North two years ago. And uh, and you just can't. You

just can't count them out. I do want to get to our sponsor business here though, before I forget so serious. X M NFL Radio channel is the only radio outlet dedicated to the National Football League seven days a week, three hundred sixty five days a year. And Packers fans score up to five hundred dollars for your devotion to the pack when you open a pack is checking account from Associated Bank. Learn more Associated Bank dot com backslash

Packers Go. And you understood where I was going at with that racquetball analogy, right, because because I wasn't just putting you over as a superb racketball player. It also, I mean, this is week seventeen, man, it doesn't matter who the Bears beat. It doesn't matter if they pass your eye tests as a fan or they don't. They beat those teams, they succeeded, they won offensively in those matchups, and they're ready for this test that Green Bay presents.

They're going to be. It's a lot different ballgame winning, succeeding putting points on the board than being shut down in the way you're gonna look at that thing mentally. So that's why I just I've said all along this week, I just feel like Green Bay and they have. I mean, Matt laflour is saying all the right things, but you just gotta respect that because I think in some areas of the fan base, the way I've seen on Twitter and on iron Boxing, you know, submissions, I'm glad the

fans aren't playing this game. I'm it's positive that it's the that locker room. Yeah, I agree. I just I get the sense that there are a lot of assumptions out there, not from within this building, but outside this building. There are a lot of assumptions that the Packers are just going to show up and play exactly like they played against Tennessee in Chicago. Doesn't have a chance, You can't you can't assume that the Packers could do that.

They certainly could, and that's what they wanted. That's what they wanted, and we'll talk about that next Monday if that's the case. But but you can't you can't assume that that is going to happen. To recap the scenarios here, obviously, if the Packers win this game, they get the number one seed and the only first round by in the NFC playoffs. The Packers can also get the number one seed if the Seattle Seahawks lose to the San Francisco

forty Niners. The Bears are in a similar situation in terms of, you know that one other game that could impact them if the Bears win. If the Bears beat the Packers, they are in the playoffs as a wild card. The Bears can also get a wild card if the Los Angeles Rams can beat the Arizona Cardinals. But the Rams are without their starting quarterback and without one of their top receivers in Cooper Cup, so that's going to be a tough one for the Rams. I think the

Bears are. The Bears are certainly looking at this as they've got to win this to get in and hey, if you're the Packers, here's the thing. If you don't win this game and you don't get the number one seed, you will be either two or the three seed. If the Bears are in the playoffs, they will be either the six or the seven, which would create a possibility of having to play the Bears right away again next

week in the wild card round. It could happen. So from green based perspective, it's like, well, you can either knock the Bears out now or you might have to knock him out again next week. So sort of like

why wait around, right? And I think that's sort of what Matt Lafleur has been getting at this week when he's been saying this is a playoff mentality game for the Packers, not just because the number one seed is at stake, but if you don't take care of the Bears, you might have to try to beat them again in six or seven days. Yeah. And the big reason that you end up pushing that message home, guys, is you've earned this opportunity. Mike. It's week seventeen. The Packers reported

for camp on July. It's currently as we're taping this New Year's Eve. Everything you've invested in the last five months has been to be in a position to have the number one seed, to get the buy heading into the playoffs. And it's right there for you, man, thirty one minute flight down, thirty one minute flight back. If you take care of business in between. You have a direct path from green Bay, Wisconsin to Tampa Bay, Florida. Tampa Florida. Sorry, a direct as the crow flies path

to the super Bowl that runs through this stadium. You don't want to waste that opportunity. Yeah, absolutely, Well. We talked obviously a lot about the running game for the Bears, the run defense for the Packers. What are some other keys to victory here for Green Bay that jump out at us as far as what the Packers have to do on either side of the ball in order to emerge victorious and lockdown that number one seed. The Keen

Hicks factor. I mean, last time that the Packers played them, there was that question all week long if Hicks was going to be ready. The Bears ended up designed to sit him out, and I thought that had a direct correlation, not necessarily on the outcome of the game, but definitely the way that Green Bay was able to assert themselves and scoring forty one points against the defense. I still think I has a lot of playmakers. There's been some question about Eddie Jackson this year. I saw and in

his level of play. I haven't followed the Bears enough to be able to comment on that, but when you look at that front and Kyle Fuller is one of the top cornerbacks in this league, I really respect what he brings to the table. And and obviously there you know, we everyone knows the story there with Green Bay and

whatnot with him. So I just feel like the Hicks factor is going to give them a boost in this one, in addition to the fact that he's one of the most disruptive, if not underrated, defensive lineman in the National Football League. Yeah. Absolutely. I mean I said it back in week twelve when it happened, and I've been saying it this week as well, that you could see the Bear the Packers completely exploited the absence of a Chem Hicks right from the get go in that first matchup

with the Bears. I believe it was within Aaron Jones first four carries of that game, he had runs of fourteen, nine and eight yards that were between the tackles. The Packers took advantage of the fact that Hicks wasn't in there.

It's not going to be as easy this time. And I think in that respect that speaks to the commitment the Packers are going to need to have to the run game in this game in order to stay balanced, in order in order to keep this offense operating at that at that balanced deficient level, because Hicks is gonna make it harder to get six and seven yard carries

between the tackles. But you can't just give up on the run and and and completely turned to the past because we've seen we've seen good defenses, you know, give the Packers trouble when when they get away from the running game. So I think offensively, staying balance is going to be is going to be big in this game, and it's when we've seen the Packers offense at his best. On the other side, defensively, I'll throw out there too.

I say this every time the Packers go up against Mitch tru Whisky, and you can't let this guy run around and make plays with his legs because you know, is he the most prolific efficient passer in the league. No, he's he's not even close to that, frankly, but he is a guy who will scramble to the chains and get first downs. He will get out of the pocket and make plays on the run. You have to keep Mr True Whisky in the pocket and make him beat

you from there. Don't make him beat you where he's better, which is when he's on the move. In my opinion, Yeah, and he's a momentum quarterback. He's almost a definition of it. When things are going right, and he can be really difficult to stop. And when things are going wrong, well we've seen that over the last three years. What what

the you know after effect of that is. But things are going right for him right now, Mike, as I wrote an Insider inbox on Thursday, you look back to that game against Green Bay, he's right there as far as pass or passing completion percentage. I mean, he's he's been efficient and absence of a really terrible pass in Jacksonville, everyone talks about how he's throw into quadruple coverage and this was how could you have done that? They're playing

the Jacksonville Jaguars. What people don't really talk about is the fact that the Bears basically dominated the rest of the football game, and really that was the one bad moment. But that's the thing that ended up on social media, that's what ended up on ESPN. They don't really look at the fact that if not for that, uh, Trabinsky would have had a freaking forty passer rating or whatever it would have been. I mean, that was the one mistake that he made. It just happened that all the

eyeballs were on it. But that's the key to victory in this game too. He's gonna probably give the defensive secondary two or three chances at balls in this game. That's just the way he plays the position, especially if you can stop David Montgomery on early downs, like Green Bay was able to control the line of scrimmage against the Titans. If you're able to do that, that's where you want to get your bisky. You want to put this game in his hands. You want to make him uncomfortable,

you want to get after him. He was. He was hit six times in that game. Zadarius Smith has had a man ignitt for the backfield when he's back there during his you know, almost two full seasons in Green Bay. Now there is a path here. I keep I'm propping up the Bears. I'm not trying to present them as the Kansas City Chiefs right now, but there is a path for green Bay and I think that this is a game that they're obviously favored in and for good reason.

Packers have a good history at Soldier Field during Aaron Rodgers tenure. Is is the starting quarterback and Trabisky is only one one of his six games against green Bay. But that being said, you just need to find a way to pre able to pressure him and get a couple of takeaways. That's been the difference Mike. As much as green Bay has controlled and has avoided the explosive plays in recent weeks, the takeaways have been the biggest difference.

And when you have an offense that doesn't give it away like Aaron Rodgers and Matt with floor don't, good things are gonna happen. Yeah. And the one other aspect to this game all throw in there too is obviously special teams. We've seen the Packers have had. The Packers have had their hiccups on special teams over the last couple of months. There's no doubt about it. One of the best special teams performances the Packers had in this time was against the Bears. In that first meeting, Cordorrell

Patterson didn't get really anything going on kickoff returns. Bears didn't get much going on on punt return But traditionally the Bears have been the better special teams unit compared to Green Bay. That's a phase that not saying the Packers have to have to win the phase, but you can't let the Bears dominate that phase, which then would lead to dominating field position. Can't let that happen on stuffing.

The bizarre thing is, and this goes before Sean Menning goes here, and honestly probably goes before run Zoock to Green Bay always seems to do okay against Patterson, Like we'll spend the whole week talking about how dangerous he is and how much of a problem he causes teams in Green Bay I think absent and maybe one kickoff return during his time in Minnesota, I can't really remember. There was a hundred plus yard kickoff return at the at the Metro Dome and that was early was that

his rookie year? It was early in his career. I don't remember exactly which year, but yeah, other the other than that one. Yeah, the Packers knock on wood you know, have have done pretty well against it. So the point being, I mean, he's still a pro bowler. He still can

you know, hurt you in a lot of ways. But you just you have to be on your your your p's and ques here, just like last week the defense was against Derrick Henry because he could still have yards and still look really good statistically, but you just can't let him take over a game. It's just that that is the key against Patterson, and especially the way that the Bears use him now is sort of a backfield you know, time Montgomery, you know, get him in space,

kind of offensive target. Yeah, well, quickly before we go, just to get your thoughts a little bit on the playoff picture. We know in the NFC, as we've already talked about, the Packers are playing for the one seed. The Bears are fighting with the Cardinals and the Rams for two uh two potential wild card spots amongst those

three teams. I'd like your thoughts on what's going on in the a f C because there's a whole bunch of ten and five teams somebody is going to have is going to finish the season with ten wins and maybe eleven. If all of these ten win teams get victories and one of those either ten or eleven win teams is not going to make the postseason, how do you think this is going to shake out in the a f C on something? I mean, talk about high stakes too, right, Mike. I mean, Tennessee is trying to

get its first division title in twelve years. Cleveland, who was left out as a ten win team what was it thirteen years ago? Uh, they're trying to find a way to get in. And then you got the Indianapolis Colts, who just have to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars to get to eleven wins, but even if they do that, they're not necessarily guaranteed a playoff spot and hence becoming the biggest Mason Rudolph fans. Uh this side of whatever the

famous river is in Pittsburgh. That's escaping my name right now. Alleghany, thanks Mike, look at you. Of course one of us did well in geography, one of us didn't. Uh No, But that that's the interesting thing of how this season has worked out, especially from the Colts perspective, Mike. I mean that the fact that you know, you've beaten the Green Bay Packers and some of these teams, and yet even a win over the Jaguars doesn't necessarily necessarily necessarily

get you that playoff spot you're coveting. Uh And in the year in which we added the seventh spot for some teams, that might not even be enough. So yeah, a lot of drama, a lot of drama that is attached to other things, as we talked about earlier this week. So seeing how that a f C schedule, you know, kind of finishes out, and who's going to be able the ones that to punch their ticket into January, this

is going to be a really interesting week week of football. Yeah. Absolutely, And I'll just say this, I know the Colts are the team in the a f C that needs to win and get a little bit of help in order to get in. I'd like to see him get in. Just in case this is Philip rivers last season, I'd like to see him get one more shot in the playoffs.

Just just my own personal preference. I mean, the guy doesn't really get enough respect for the way he was able to dominate games throughout the course of his career. Now he's having to do it a little differently with the Colts now at thirty nine years old, uh than he did during his prime with the Chargers. But he's smart, he's efficient, and he he is the ultimate game. Right.

So many people want to throw comparisons to Farv. I saw even like people saying, like Josh Allen he could be like you know, far I think Rivers had the mentality that Farve had. He's going to find a way. He's gonna make mistakes, he's not gonna apologize for it, but he's gonna keep things exciting. And if you give him a defense. I mean that's probably the biggest thing in his career is when he had a defense, he won football games. And you know, we'll we'll see how

all this shuffles out. I gotta mention too before we get out, looking at the NFC race to to one last thing on the Bears. Yeah, if I'm Matt Niggie, I'm telling my guys this week, you are better than the Los Angeles Rams. You're better than them. They're they're just sputtering into the station right now. You're on the incline. So seeing how that that aspect of this works out as well, is gonna be something really interesting to follow because the Rams are hurting unit now, but they have

the advantage going into weeks seventeen. Yeah. Absolutely, well, it should be a great weekend of regular season finale football in the NFL. With that, we will call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and of Sunday afternoons Big Game from Chicago. Will have it all for you on Packers dot com for West I Am Mike. Thank you for tuning in, everybody, and we won't just see you next time. We'll see you next year. Happy

New Year, everybody. Take care,