#619 Packers Unscripted: Chicago coming up

The Packers are four and one, the Bears are three and two, so Green Bay cann't take a two game lead on the rest of the NFC North with a victory, or the Bears can tie things up with a victory over the Packers to make both teams four and two so far. Chicago, they took a couple on the chin from the Rams and the Browns, two pretty good teams, but they've also up victories over the Bengals, the Lions, and most recently the Raiders, where we saw that Chicago

defense really seemed to be hitting its stride. The Chicago defense. I think it's funny how this goes Mike. The years changed, the coaches occasionally changed, there's different quarterbacks. As long as I've basically been an adult, Chicago has had some really good defenses and that is very much the case this year. We you know, we shoot a lot of videos here, We do a lot of content for Packers dot Com. But I'm not gonna sit here and just try to

pair him. I'm gonna talk about what Larry Mcarreon talked about our three Things video that we did that we taped just before this. This is, without a doubt the best defense screen based seeing pound for pound for pound at all three levels. But what impresses me the most is the consistency across the board. It's not just one thing that they do particularly well as a unit. They're executing in all major categories. Now, certainly the sacks are

what jump off the page. A number of years ago, Ryan Pace made his you know, quintessential move, the one the highlight real move, getting Khalil Mack Mac again off to a five sacks season this year. But Robert Quinn was a really interesting acquisition for him. Quinn has been around for a long time now and he's been one of these guys that can have years where he has three sacks, he can have ten sacks. He's obviously appearing to be on one of those ten sack type seasons

right now. Four and a half to this point eighteen. For the Bunch, they have good guys in the defensive interior. Real Kuan Smith is elite, you know now also in that conversation with Fred Warner and these guys. As far as the best middle linebacker in the game, Green Bay has their work cut out for him. Offensively, A lot of question marks right now for the Bears. Defensively, this

team is going to compete with basically everyone. Yeah, it's interesting when you look statistically at this Bears defense, there are a lot of similarities in terms of the stats, the numbers where they rank compared to the Bengals defense, which the Packers just faced. I think what sets this Chicago defense apart a little bit from the Cincinnati defense

is the big names and the big time everywheremakers. When you're talking about Khalil Mack, Robert quinn Um, Roquan Smith in the middle of the defense, Eddie Jackson safety on the back end, who's made a ton of big, game changing type of plays throughout his career. This is a this is an experience unit. And even as much as some of the names change here and there, on the Bears defense, they always seem to have a core of four or five or six guys that have been together

for some certain period of time. And that's why they're able to maintain a certain level of consistency with how they played defense. And a lot of it is at the linebacker position. Mike, I remember a number of years ago, I want to say, maybe it was two thousand fifteen. I know, I was still at the Press Gazette Danny Trevathan when they went out and signed both him and Drill Freeman. Those were two big marquee guys that they were sort of rebuilding their defense with with Vic Fangio

going in there. Now Freeman didn't work out. Trevithan absolute lee did. I mean, every single year we're talking about him. But then they've augmented it, as you mentioned with ro Kuan Smith, a sideline to sideline linebacker, guy that has a hundred of you know, tackles every single season, is making plays, is constantly around the football. They kind of had a little bit of a transitional period at the cornerback position. But you've seen that sort of solidify itself

now over the past year as well. And the fact of the matter is, Mike, when you have an overall unit that can defend the run, well, it's going to open up the rest of the field for your playmakers. Eddie Jackson has been in kind of an interesting spot since Adrian Amos left, but he seems to be settled down a little bit more now as well. It's a it's a four quarter battle with the with the Bears

every time you see them. And for the Green Bay Packers, after having some really solid offensive performances, I know it didn't maybe translate as much to the scoreboard, but four and sixty six total yards of offense last week, this is gonna be a real test for that unit and seeing exactly what they can do against one of the NFL's truly elite defenses. Yeah, I think the Packers certainly liked way they moved the ball up and down the

field against Cincinnati's defense. It is a matter of translating that now against another formidable defense. But finish more of those drives with points, get in the red zone and finished with some touchdowns and uh and the Packers feel like they can be in in a in a good position against a defense like this. On the flip side of things, Justin Fields is the big story for the Chicago Bears offense, right They traded up in the draft to select him in the first round. We all knew

that Andy Dalton was a temporary placeholder. We didn't know how long it would last. He ended up getting hurt fairly early in the season. So this is Justin Fields offense now. And you know he he took his lumps against the Cleveland Browns, sacked whatever it was, eight or

nine times I think in that game. The Bears I believe they ended up changing play callers after that or they they've made some changes with within the offensive coaching staff, and um, you're starting to see the growth in the progress from Fields that you would expect from from a high first round draft pick like that. Um, they're dealing with David Montgomery and their number one running back being injured right now, but Damian Williams has stepped in. He

looked pretty good against the Raiders last week. From what I saw, this is uh, this is an offense that doesn't want to put everything on Justin Fields. But the defenses that play against Chicago want to try to put as much on Justin Fields as you can, because that's the formula against young quarterbacks, right is to make those guys, put those guys in situations that maybe they haven't faced before, and try to force the one or two mistakes that

can change a game. Well, the big line that really came out during the preseason was Fields saying that you know, nothing's really too big for him. He feels like the game wasn't too fast. But I think you're seeing those first couple of times he's been on the field. There is a different flow of a game. There is a lot different variables when you're facing you know, NFL caliber

defenses with with playmakers, you know, strewn throughout. Losing Montgomery is a difficult one because, Mike, how many times have you and I've done this show over the last three years where I've said, when they run the ball, when they established David Montgomery, they're able to really get into

a flow offensively. I felt like when they came up short, it didn't matter if it was Mitchell Robinski, it didn't matter if it was Nick Foles, it didn't matter who the quarterback was, but when they failed to get Montgomery going, when he's having these ten carry twenty eight yard days, it was making life difficult on everybody else. This year,

they you know, they have weapons. Alan Robinson one of the league's top receivers in my opinion, highly underrated guy, and Darnell Mooney is actually leading them in receiving yards this year. A young up and coming guy who's starting to make a name for who the Packers have already you know seen before and his his production. Cole Commet was a big pick for them. They have guys that can catch the football, but the issue so far this year has been whether it's fields or Dalton getting the

ball in those guys hands. Losing Montgomery is a big step back where but they do have Damien Williams, and if you know anything about Williams story, this is his third NFL team. He's been a little bit of a journeyman, but he was really critical to Kansas City super Bowl pushed two years ago what he had to be the featured back. He's been comfortable in that role before. Khalil Herbert also comes in sixth round pick this past year, so they do have guys that can run the football.

It's just gonna be a question when you don't have the dual threat of Montgomery, what is the trickle down effect on that, not only with this offense but also with Justin Fields trying to get comfortable and steering this ship. Yeah, absolutely, and I think it certainly helps the Packers because the Bears have now made this transition to Williams with Montgomery going out. It helps the Packers to have that film from the Raiders game and how the Bears used Williams

and everything. Because the offense does look a little different there. There are some changes being made there, so the Packers hopefully won't be surprised by anything in that regard. But by the same token, when you're talking about a young first round draft pick who's learning the game and the progress that he is, you know how this goes west. The playbook starts to get bigger and bigger and bigger

week after week. There are things that the Bears are gonna run with Justin Fields as they progress through this season that are going to be brand new, that are going to be unscouted, and that's going to be happening in week nine, ten, eleven, and twelve. With with the Chicago Bears and justin fields because the more he learns and the more comfortable he gets, then the more they

will put on his plate. So the Packers really they have to be ready for almost anything offensively from statistically from a Bears offense that is at or near the bottom of the league in in a number of categories. And and uh and obviously the Packers are dealing with with their share of injuries on the defensive side of

the ball. But but you know, I think the biggest thing everybody's gonna be watching in this game is going to be what Aaron Rodgers in this offense does against this Bears defense, because because the Bears are going to be relying on their defense more than ever. Well, and we have to see this offensive line is gonna look like for Green Bay. Right on Wednesday, they got back Elton Jenkins. That was a big plus for them. Limited in practice, but also Josh Myers being cleared to return

with that finger injury. He was a full participant. You know, I think I don't think there's any question Josh Myers can play through a finger injury. It was just the thing with the doctors making sure that he's safe to do so that everything is on the up and up there. But to be a full participant in practice Wednesday probably tells you the Packers are gonna have their starting center back. Jenkins is such an interesting piece though, because Josh Naiman

has done an exemplary job at left tackle. But you know, Robert Quinn, with the way he's playing right now, that's a tough ask. You know, Billy Turner is already gonna have his hands full with Khalil Mack. He's seen that assignment before. I imagine Mac will be moving around as well. But Elton Jenkins is really the Swiss Army knife here, and I mean he can It isn't just a jack of all trades. I mean it's a king of all trades here. This guy can play at a Pro Bowl

level everywhere if he is good to go. As Adam Stanovich said on Wednesday night when he was talking with the media, they've already had the conversations about where this guy should go, where he should fit. Hope to have that decision in place by Friday. If again, things are looking like Jenkins is gonna play. But man, it is a luxury, but it also creates a lot of questions for you because you have an all pro pro bowled caliber type offensive lineman that can basically play any of

the five positions. Yeah, and if the Packers are looking at keeping him on the left side, whether it be left tackle or left guard, which has been his traditional position, if we can call hit that for him as a as one of these you know, all everything versatile guys. As you said, Niman has played well, and the Packers in the as the weeks have progressed with Nieman. They they've left him one on one a little bit more often.

You know, Yes, you're gonna always gonna give him help in certain situations, but certainly not as much help as there was back in his first start against San Francisco right, but then at left guard, John Runyon is not not exactly been a slouch out there by any means. So it's it's a good problem to have, right as as the saying goes, because the Packers aren't looking at this is was like, alright, great, we're getting Elton Jenkins back.

We can get so and so out of them. That's not how they're looking at this, because the guys who have stepped in have done a whale of a job. Do you know who John Running reminds me of, And no it's not his father, But do you know who he really reminds me of? Evan Smith or Evan Dietrich Smith. To two Packers fans right there, E d. S was not a guy that I think in a training camp setting, you're just gonna sit there and be like, Wow, look at that guy. He's just man handling everybody. I think

even Adam Stanovich talked about a little bit. You know, maybe training camp wasn't what John wanted it to be. But when Rogers even mentioned that too that you look at the preseason film and what was going on in August and you kind of wondered, is is John Running really going to be ready to play this year? Well, then they need him. His number gets called, and whether you call him a gamer or whatever phrase you want

to use, he stepped in and performed. There is something about when that whistle gets blown in the game matters. I think this goes back to last year with the hundred and sixty kind of relief snaps that he had

to play at various positions because of injury. There is something about when that whistle gets blown where something clicks with him and I was so impressed when they you know, I know, everything happens where a guy gets hurt like like Lucas Patrick does, and then Running goes in here like okay, well this is just the passing the torch. Lucas Patrick is a darn fine football player too. He

proved that last week. But the fact is is, I thought Running answered a lot of questions in that one week stint there for for Lucas when he's going to concussion protocol that I think we were looking to see answered back in August. The guy can play, so Mike. It was the number one thing from the time that Marv, you know, matt Arvan threw on the cameras for our first unscripted in the summer. I said it, this offensive line, it's the deepest of it which I've covered yet. I'm

not saying it's the most talented. I'm not saying that they have the most Pro bowlers. But the fact is is they can go so deep at so many of these positions. They've had to rely on it for three weeks too, you know, these last three weeks to kind of extem the tide without Elton j Akins. But man, if they can get guys healthy. There's just there's so many different directions of Packers can go with the offensive

line and they're all positive. Yeah, And for everyone wondering about David baktr at this stage, obviously he it will be eligible to return to practice off the pup list next week. There hasn't been any official word as to whether he will start practicing or not, but he is

eligible to to begin practicing next week. So that's a story we'll be following as well after this Chicago Bears, absolutely, and the fact that we are five games in the season, the Packers are four and one and you and I aren't sounding off red alarms here on top of everything because of David bac Terry not being on the field. Most definitely this this offense improves with them. I think the run offense especially reproves once he's back on the field.

But they've been able to do this without box Tr. They did it through. They got to an NFC Championship game without um last year. And to be able to be four and one at this point, man, that's just such an incredible testament to Stanovich, Luke Buckus and the job that those guys have done to be able to get him this far. Yeah, no question about it. Well, I want to get to some keys to victory here,

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All right, Keys to victory here for the Packers. What is foremost in your mind that the Packers need to do to come back to Green Bay with a five and one record? Finished drives? I mean it really to me? Is that simple? Four sixty six total yards offense against the Bengals defense last week? A really good, versatile, deep Bengals defense. Yeah, the they were able to do so many big explosive things in that game, but it's just a matter of getting inside the twenty and being able

to get back into the end zone. And they showed that they can do it. I mean the back shoulder fade which looked to be kind of a run solution. They're kind of an adjustment that they made two for Rogers and in Devonte to do that single coverage the only receiver really out on a route on that play. It shows you that everything is on the table for them, it's just a matter of executing it. And then secondary I want to just mention, I mean the Packers being

able to establish the run the way they did. I know it still wasn't picture perfect. I know they have higher aspirations, especially you know, just in those first down situations, being able to get five, four or five yards again more manageable second and third downs, But the variants that they're using right now with Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon, this is the recipe, Mike. I mean, I think it makes Dylon better. I think he's showing that he's ready

for a bigger role. But at the same time, you also have a guy like Aaron Jones who becomes that much more really destructive. I feel when he's able to kind of have someone playing off him, that's such a different contrasting style. I go back to that fifty seven yard run that he had in the last week. Von Bell made the right call. He had the gap open that b gap and Aaron Jones just made a miss.

And when you're seeing different looks like that throughout the course of the game, and now you're you're seeing the power of Dylan and now you're seeing the finesse and the slashing ability of Aaron Jones, that's difficult to diagnose when you're not seeing it. Down after down after down, hundred and eighty eight total yards of offense, a week after coming up a hundred and nineties six yards of

total offense. Those two running backs, Mike, they are pivotal playmakers in this Packers scheme, and if they can get them going again against this front, that's what opens up the past, the run pass action, that's what opens up the jet motions. All the dominoes start to fall. If you can move the football against Chicago. Yeah, that's where I think it comes down to. Offensively for the Packers.

You have to be able to run the football with a certain level of effectiveness against the Bears, because you need to be able to have an action passing game. You need to be able to keep that defense honest and honor the run, because if you turn this into a straight dropback passing game, the league leading eighteen sacks, the nine and a half sacks that that Quinn and Mac have combined for so far. That's where you get.

You get in trouble um because because they know they can just come after you in in a straight drop back game. On the other side of things, I think as much as as much as Packer fans want to see, you know, Preston Smith and Rashawn Gary and Kenny Clark and these guys you know, start racking up sacks like the Bears have been doing, this is not the game you necessarily do that. Aside from the statistics from Justin fields in the Cleveland game, this is about containing this

young man, right. It's yes, you rush to pressure to contain, but not necessarily to sack because if you get out of that, if you get out of your rush lane, if you get a little bit too creative, then he has that escape lane and and he can make you

pay with his legs. And the Packers need to they need to stop the run, put as much of this game on justin fields, like I said before, But then keep him in the pocket and make him throw the ball, because if he starts running around and he's back in his columbus Ohio days, you know then then you know all bets are off at that point, because that's that's

how this kid became a first round pick. And this is probably one of the quieter, like six ranked defenses you're gonna see in the National Football League what Green Bay has done so far. Obviously, there are still things to improve. They are not a finished product. But with having an inside linebacker like Devander Campbell, having interior pass rush like they got last week where it wasn't just Kenny Clark, it was Dean Lowry and t J. Slayton

and Kingsley Kiki making plays. That's really the recipe here because as talented as those outside edge rushers are, Mike, we know the quickest way to be able to disrupt a quarterback is north and south as the crow flies right towards the quarterback. That's where where Clark has come up so big for them. That's where they're looking to get more from the defensive front. And the great thing about it is, you're absolutely right, you gotta see in

your RuSHA lines you can't overpursue. They do finally have an inside linebacker though, that can help fix some of

those mistakes. If they do happen, It's not the end of the world if a guy leaks out now, because as Campbell showed, he has sideline to sideline speed and he can tackle the open field and will And we'll see if Joe Barry employs a spy technique, whether it be Campbell or or somebody else, maybe it's Darnell Savage, who knows, But if there's a if there's a spy technique in certain situations where you tell your guys up front, go ahead and go after him, because we do have

the spy too, as you say, make up for that leak that that comes out of the pocket. And that's something that this defense really has not had in quite some time. And secondly, the number one thing I like if you're watching the game on Sunday, I like the

double a gap looks that Barry is presenting. We didn't see a lot of those the first few weeks of the season, but now on third downs there's some situations where they're keeping nickel personnel on the field and they're lining up both Campbell and or in Burke's right on east side of the shoulder of the center. That makes guys think a little bit, what is the look gonna be. Where are guys gonna go. We've seen them send both. We've seen them send one, we've seen them drop both.

That's one key little piece that I think is also resulting in why you're seeing more or in Burke's on the field right now too. Yeah. Absolutely, Well, before we go, just a couple of quick thoughts on some other games around the league, the ones that I should jot it down. The other one that has significant NFC North implications, Minnesota is at Carolina. The Vikings. It seems like at least every other week the game comes right down to the wire for them, sort of like what's been happening with

Green Bay. Carolina dealing with the Christian McCaffrey injury, and they've started to go the other direction a little bit, Sam Donald turning the ball over. They've gone from three and out to three and two. Your thoughts on the Vikings and the Panthers. It's a two different teams going in different directions. I mean, yeah, you don't want to go down to the wire like they did last week, but obviously you saw the enthusiasm in both Kirk Cousins and also Mike Zimmer after that win. Those could be

big moments. Mike I wrote a big old feature about Mercedes Lewis and how is twenty yard catch was really something that you know, energized the sidelines something like that, and Kirk Cousins busting out the whole How do you like that or you like that? Whatever the sign is, I don't know it's for the kids anyway, but it shows you that there is some enthusiasm there in Minnesota.

And as difficult it as is to be sitting at two and three, they also have to realize how close to four and one they are at the point and they know they know that. And Carolina is an interesting spot because well, they got off to a fast start. I think they caught a lot of people off guard. And I think maybe even some of those guys in their own locker room are you know, somewhat thinking, Okay, if we don't have McCaffrey, can we win? That's been

the question the last two and a half years. So a very interesting game all across the league, though, I mean, you want to talk about you've got Kansas City and Washington, A couple of the Packers upcoming opponents are facing off against each other. That was another one I wanted to mention too, because Arizona is at Cleveland. Arizona the only undefeated team in the league. Cleveland is three and two with with a very very tough loss on on their

ledger as well. But those are two teams the Packers are going to face here down the road as well. An interesting cross conference game there between the Cardinals and the brown Yeah. And then if you look at some of the other matchups, you know Seattle and in in uh Pittsburgh, a team the Packers a face one that they will be facing. Russell Wilson questions out there every week.

I'll say this every week we get on the show, that there always are compelling matchups, but there's different types of storylines that kind of trickling into these games, whether it be injuries, whether it be circumstances, a lot of cross conference type action. But again, for green Bay's standpoint, you're facing off against an NFC North rival. You have

a chance to improve to five and one. This is a critical, critical game for them, especially if you know Kansas City takes care of business the way I think a lot of people believe they should against Washington. Then you have Washington coming into green Bay next week with some more questions at four at two and four, So it's gonna be It's gonna be an exciting weekend of action for sure though. Yeah, absolutely Chargers in the a f C. Chargers and Ravens, two teams four and one

going ahead to head. So one of those two hottest quarterbacks in the game right now, Yeah, one of those teams gonna pick up lost number two here in the middle of October. But we gotta go, so we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team, all the coverage of the big game from Chicago on Sunday. We'll have it all for you on Packer dot com for West, I'm Mike. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. See you next time. H