#682 Packers Unscripted: Breakdowns in Buffalo

game from previous weeks. The Packers got off to a terrible start, fell behind fourteen nothing seven at the half, and that was just way too big a hole to try to climb out of against a team that I believe is going to represent the a f C in the Super Bowl. Whether they do or not, they are a bona fide Super Bowl contender in the Buffalo Bills.

You can't play from behind against that bunch. No, And it was the big comment that a lot of guys in locker room, including Rasul Douglas, talked about afterwards, is that you can't spot a team like that points. I mean in the way that it went for Green Bay. Two was probably the most frustrating because once again the defense got a three and out right off the bat. I mean, but you know, even the Packers were able to move the ball a little bit, but then they

hit those dull drums. In those dull drums last a quarter and a half and second half started, they were able to turn the tide a little bit, but offensively. In Matt Lafleur touched on Monday, this was a game where Green Bay ran the ball really well, They controlled the time of possession, they actually won the turnover battle. But what was the biggest issue. Too many explosive plays allowed and the Bills being able to generate points basically

off all those explosives. Yeah, I think for me, you know, you always look at these games, and it really is true that games in the NFL come down to a handful of place all the time, right, And there's certainly that that handful for me, off the top of my head. The Packers have two fourth downs, two four and shorts that are in Buffalo territory where they get stopped come up short. That was potentially taking points off the board

early in the game. You get Buffalo in a third and fourteen when the Bills are in scoring territory and Josh Allen's able to get out of the pocket, scrambled for twenty yards, puts them in uh, you know, first and goal, and then they ultimately score touchdown. That's a four point play because it's a touchdown ends up being a touchdown instead of a field goal. And then the Packers getting a touchdown wiped out on the offensive past

interference call on Robert Tunyan. That's another four point play because the Packers end up settling for a field goal on that drive instead of getting a touchdown. Those are

the types of things that that add up. It's it's always it's those handful of plays that you look that you look back at with regrets, where yes, even though the Packers were down seventeen and they were down multiple scores as they were trying to come back the entire second half, it's those key plays that happened along the way that that just make that hill so much harder

to climb. Yeah, and and for the Green Bay Packers, I mean, when you fall behind to seven and the second half starts and they're able to you know, you're gonna get the ball, You're gonna have some opportunities. But the problem is when you are in a position where you are playing from behind against a defensive again of that caliber, against an offense of that caliber, it makes you make difficult decisions. Case in point, Buffalo is really prodigious for being able to defend the run out of

their nickel defense. Well, why does that matter? It matters because it makes it so that you're not able to run as much, maybe two minutes, as you would being down three scores going into the second half. You know, the Packers ran the ball really well, but they kind of had to make an unaccustomed, uh difficult sort of change a pace comeback where you're running the ball a lot. You're emphasizing that because again you're giving what the defense is.

You know, you're taking what they're giving you, but it puts you in a position where the clock is your enemy for the entire second half. There were a lot of good things that happened in this game for green Bay. I look at it, you know, and then being eleven point dogs or whatever it was, green Bay looked feisty. They they you know, played to the whistle. You saw how competitive this was, how much you know, it got a little chippy between the two teams. This was not

a team that was lying down by any means. But the problem is, Mike, because I illustrated our inbox inside your inbox column, Packers could have been six and one, seven and oh going into this game. They might still have been the dogs going into this just based on the way that Buffalo has been playing and how they've won these games, especially at home. But when you lose to Washington, when you fall in the second half in London and dropped that game against the Giants, you have

to find a way to get these games back. And for the Packers, as far as consistency was concerned being able to move the ball through the air, there were not enough of those little things that happened in this game to be able to pull off that upset. Yeah. I like what you said though about the Packers sort

of the fight and the dog, so to speak. That the Packers showed and and I think that I think that showed up because the Packers were running the ball and they were taking it to the number one rushing defense in the league. Yes, Buffalo was playing both of its safety's back, but that's what they've done all season,

and they've still stopped the run. They've been the best run defense in the league, and the Packers piled up two hundred and eight yards on the ground, a hundred and ninety seven of them from Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon, with Jones leading the way with a hundred and forty three yards. The number of seven eight nine yard runs coupled with you know, I believe it was a twenty seven yard run by Dill in, a thirty two yard run by Jones. You had some other eleven and thirteen

yard runs sprinkled in there the Packers. The Packers showed their fight by lining up and really trying to just run it right at them. And I think if there's, if, if there's a silver lining that you take out of this game, that's what it is. Because the Packers showed they can run the ball against a really good run defense. They can build they can build their offense around that.

But as both Matt Lafleur and Aaron Rodgers said after the game, you also you still have to be able to push the ball down the field through the air at the crucial moments, and that's what the Packers need to find. As Romeo Dobbs continues to play, as Samari tour A, who got his first NFL touchdown, and Dobbs made a couple of spectacular catches in this game. Dobbs looked like the Dobbs that we saw in training camp.

Every day. He was making plays like that in training camp, and I know the fans don't get to see that unless you're there at practice. We were seeing him making those kind of plays every day in camp, which is why we were talking about him so much. And he made two of those um against Buffalo on Sunday night.

So there are some of those signs moving forward. But the Packers are also still dealing with the injuries that receiver Lizard missed the game, Cobb is still on I R. And Christian Watson, who was going to be a big part of this game plan, um ends up taking a helmet to helmet shot on the opening possession of the game, and uh and he exits with a cushion, And fortunately

it sounds like Watson is okay. But that was a big blow for this offense with what they had built into the game plan for the rookie Watson well, first and foremost, looking at from a humanistic standpoint, so relieving to hear that Christian Watson is doing fine, because anytime you see a guy go down in the middle of the field, and unfortunately you and I've seen it too many times over the last ten years. Um, your your heart kind of gets up in your throat a little bit.

And you know, they had the backboard out there for a second. I mean, obviously they're trying to diagnose what's going on here and making sure his neck is fine. To see him pop up and then to get that report from Matt Laflora. As disappointed as Dobbs was out, or excuse me, Watson was afterwards, it was great to hear that he's doing okay. You said, Dobbs looked like he did during training camp. I'm gonna go even one

step further. I felt like all those receivers at the end of the game started looking like themselves in training camp again. Samory to point Dobbs was the star from the off season program on Samori to ray made some incredible plays in training camp to be able to work off schedule with Rogers there and get down field open for that touchdown. Even Rogers said a week earlier he had one catch for four yards. But Rodgers in this offense, they liked the things he was doing with the opportunities

he got. You know, Jason v Abel, the Packers receivers coach, even said, you know after his first play where he went out there and just executed his assignment, was involved in a past play, but executed his assignment. How excited that young man was about it. And then also a Marie Rogers, I know things have been kind of rough here at times for him as a punt returner. I think the last two weeks he's shown you what he can offer and what we've seen at times from him

as a receiver. He's a confident young receiver and being able to make that play down the sideline, pretty simple go route, you know, just trying to get up on top of the defense. He made the catch when it was put right on him. He showed he He is also showing he's a reliable blocker as absolutely running game as well. That's another thing that is going to regardless of where things are on special teams. Right now with a Marie Rogers, he's starting to earn himself more playing time.

Obviously tour a too off schedule play as on you know late in the fourth quarter there with Rogers, the one the throw was a little short and you know, he was almost able to get it on the dive coming back to the ball um, but that one was incomplete.

But he makes essentially a route adjustment UM and uh, you know, sees it the same way Aaron Rodgers does and boom thirty seven yard touchdown because he adjusted his route into the void in the coverage and he was wide open and Rodgers was totally comfortable just letting it rip right. So those are the kinds of things, Those are the kinds of things that you like to see. And we'll see, we'll see what happens moving forward. Unfortunately, the Packers are three and five and starting to get

behind the eight ball here a little bit. Two games under five UM for the first time under Matt Lafleur, which I think in some respects we we we need to tip a cap of respect to that that Matt Lafleurs in his fourth year as head coach, the middle of his fourth year as head coach, and it's the first time we're talking about the Green May Packers being two games under five. But that said, Packers also dealing with UM or dealt with in the game some other injuries.

Elton Jenkins sort of a last minute decision was unable to go, got his foot stepped on in practice late last week, ended up being questionable on the injury report, and then when inactives were announced ninety minutes before kickoff,

that foot was just not good enough to go. So rookie Zach tom who made his first NFL start at left tackle in Washington the previous week, Um steps in and starts at left guard for Jenkins, and on the defensive side, Davandre Campbell exits with a knee injury, and then the Packers also lose uh fellow inside linebacker Quay Walker to an ejection a lack of discipline there on the sideline, which which was very upsetting for Matt Lafleur and and certainly put this defense in a bind. I

give credit to Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson. They went in there as the two inside linebackers. It wasn't as though there were some you know, glaring weakness or gaping holes or anything like that in terms of how they played.

But losing Deveandre Campbell sounds like it's not a long term injury, which is good news, But losing Deveandre Campbell is uh, you know what was a big blow to this defense because we saw in Washington and Quay Walker to that extent to those two guys played really really well in Washington, and then now when you really needed him against against an offense like the Buffalo Bills, you

didn't have either guy. Yeah, and and unfortunate for for Campbell where he makes such a big game breaking play, you feel like that could really be the ascent for him on the season. And then and then he gets knocked out by that injury. I don't want to say, you know you You mentioned Isaam McDuffie, the performance he had, and Eric Wilson, who has been here for less than a month, certainly played a lot of football in this league and alot of defense. Was a sixteen game starter

from Minnesota number of years ago. But uh, going in there and only giving up three points in the second half, it sounded like there was maybe one call that was he was a little late getting in, but for the most part, being able to relay that defense and then play the positions um critical for what Green Bay was able to do in the second half. Another another young guy that started to prove himself in training camp in in the preseason this year and Isaiah McDuffie had to

step in there in a tough situation. Credit to him, he handled it well. Yeah, And you know, you look at the situation with Walker and I was in the locker room and was one of the first ones to kind of to get into the breach so to speak, when we get in there, and quite to his you know, I give a lot of respect for the young man

and how he handled it. It was very emotional. But sat in his locker and waited for the media to get in there, you know, talk to the media for about two and a half minutes and then kind of was overcome by emotion and I couldn't continue, so to speak. Um, But his big thing was, and you can read the stories, you can see all that stuff, but the understanding of how he fits into this puzzle and that it's not

just him, it's his football team. And this was the perfect example of why you can't put yourself in that situation because the worst case scenario is realized when deve Andre Campbell has to go out of the game. Isaiah McDuffie originally goes in as the will next to Campbell, and then suddenly he's in the micro role when when Walker is unavailable. So those are the type of things that you have to do because the thing that's underrated Mike is you know, Quays had to take a couple

of shots on the chin this year. It's a rookie getting used to it. But when he's moving and he's playing instinctually, he gets sidelined to sideline fast and he can collapse and fill u There's been a lot to like about his rookie season so far, and the Packers need him on the field. Gyr Alexander said it after the game he talked to him about He's like, you know, you just gotta you gotta be able to keep your emotions in check because we need you out there. We

need you. You're one of the best players on this defense and we're not the same without you. Yeah, here's the question I want to ask you with regard to the defense, because we talked about obviously with the running game, what that showed offensively, hopefully something to look forward to. We're seeing the rookie receivers continue to develop despite a four game losing streak, which is not fun for anybody. But here's my question with regard to the defense. Last

week in Washington. We saw the pick six by Campbell. We saw a fumble six that was unfortunately overturned by a penalty. Other interception opportunities they didn't quite come up with. Against Buffalo, Josh Allen got a little careless with the ball. In the second half, the Packers got two interceptions. There was actually another I think it was on the very first drive, that opening three and out. Alexander had a

shot at an interception there in the first quarter. I'm wondering, is is the worm starting to turn, so to speak, with regard to turnovers with this Packers defense? Is it something? Is it something that's potentially pointing in the right direction that can help to uh, that can help this defense start to generate some momentum and play the way it wants to. The reversal of fortune started on the Douglas pick because for whatever reason, Greenby has not had those

opportunities this year. Now, Aaron Rodgers, you and I get spoiled watching him play the position. He doesn't make a lot of you know, dumb decisions with the football in terms of basically throwing it to the opposition. For whatever reason, Greenby has faced us lou of backups of slow of unproven guys, but they haven't really gotten those opportunities despite the fact there's been a decent amount of pressure on

the opposing quarterback. Finally, Alan scrambles out of the pocket and just makes a completely ill advised pass to Resul Douglas. The difficult thing about defensive back position because everybody likes to rip on oh well, that's they play cornerback for a reason. Well, they're also not the intended target. It is difficult when the opponent is not trying to get you the football and you have an opportunity in that

moment to be able to grab it. You need to do it the best do it, but it's not a given. But for whatever reason, Green Bay just is really those opportunities, the ones where you're just playing your position and you get the ball. Those haven't happened this year for the most part, so that was good to see from douglass case. Of course, the ball gets turned back over to Buffalo on the very next play and then Alexander makes a play on a ball. They start getting that stuff figured

out a little bit. That was good to see because you're not going to play Josh Allen every week. You're going to see guys that aren't of that m v P type ILK that are in that kind versation with a legitimate Super Bowl contender. That's where you want to see these turnovers and takeaways start to happen, because if you're able to generate big plays off of them, I've said for a while, Mike, I felt like this defense, that's the only thing that's been missing. They got to

defend the run better. They need to be able to get out of those four minute offensive situations better. But if they're able to take away the football, I still feel like the talent is there that they're going to

be able to let that snowball a little bit. Yeah, I mean, those are the types of things we want to watch here moving forward as as the Packers try to Now, you know, the goal is to is to climb yourself back to five hundred at some point here right and then and then see where things stand and see if you can make a run late in the season.

Still nine games left to go, So two games below five hundred doesn't put you out of anything, but it does, uh, it does put you behind, you know, the eight ball a little bit because because you just can't let you can't let any more losses keep piling up here, four in a row, first time in six years the Packers of have have been in this position. Yeah, and got to get to work. I mean, we'll we'll preview Detroit on Thursday a little bit. But you know, people are

gonna look at that as a one win team. And then you look at the way they've played at Ford Field. I mean they came within three points of being the only team that you know has beaten the Philadelphia Eagles this year. I mean that's that's the level of which they've played at home. Now, they've had some injuries, they've had some setbacks, but it is like that there is something about that environment that they've been able to carry over that has not been there for them on the road.

Now that being said, green Bay's perspective, and I think this is the hardest thing right for the Packers, is that you played Buffalo so tough. You you did things well in that game. You ran the ball well, you dedicate yourself to the run a little bit more, and it helped open up some passing place. Well. Now on Sunday at noon Central time, you got to go back from scratch again. You have to go back out there

and earn it. Over those four quarters. Nothing that you did in that game that went well is going to carry over, so to speak. You have to be able to reset the Packers if there was ever a time for them to play as close to four quarter football as you can. This is the one you need, because it doesn't get any easier. Mike when you look at

the schedule over the next month. Yeah, I think you make a good point there, because we're going to talk all week about how well the Packers ran the ball two eight rushing yards against the number one rushing defense

in the league. But when that ball is kicked off in Detroit on Sunday, the Packers have zero rushing yards and you have to earn every single one of them and re establish that and prove that the way Aaron Jones and a J. Dillon and all those blockers and the way they ran the ball in Buffalo was not was not just some sort of one off or some sort of flute, that this is something that can be

the foundation of this offense moving forward. As this receiving corps continues to be in so much flux in terms of the injuries and availability and and UH and young players finding their way. So this defense Mike and Detroit has been gashed routinely this year, thirty second in the league right now in total yards their past defense. They just made some changes with their I think their cornerbacks coach. This is also a weak. We don't know who the receivers are going to be at this point in time,

but this is also weak. You feel like that area of the game has to come together to Yeah, and we'll definitely talk more about that on on Thursday show a little bit of sponsored business here West Serious x M NFL Radio delivers hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news that true football fanatics need two seven, three six and at Cousin Subs, we have something for everyone like our Wisconsin Cheese Kurds, mac and Cheese, golden fries,

and creamy shakes, all paired with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin Subs fifty years of better all right. Elsewhere in the NFC, just the quick rundown on where the top teams are. The Philadelphia Eagles with another impressive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kind of a blowout there in the state of Pennsylvania. Eagles are seven and oh, remaining the only undefeated team in the NFL. The Cowboys, Um, we're blowing out the Bears. Then it

got close, then they blew them out again. Um and uh So the Cowboys are six and two. The Minnesota Vikings are six and one, sitting atop the NFC North with a very comfortable lead. They beat the Arizona Cardinals in in a very back and forth game, but one in which the Vikings for the most part, um had the lead in the second half. And the uh It's interesting because as much as you know, people look at you know, surprise, the Packers are three and five, you're surprised.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are three and five. The defending Super Bowl champion l A Rams are below five hundred. Now the surprise on the other side has got to be the Seattle Seahawks. They are five and three with Geno Smith at quarterback, and they just handed the New York Giants their giants second loss of the season. The Giants still six and two, sitting in great shape, but they went out to Seattle and lost the Seahawks team by two touchdowns. The Seattle Seahawks and Pete Carroll Man,

they are. They are in a position nobody thought they would be in as we approached the midway point of the seasons. Certainly everybody that was kind of condemned them after the Wills and trade, right, I mean, you see how those two directions have gone so far. It was really fun listening to Pete Carroll uh at his press conference this week and was asked about it. This is the most fun he's had. You remember that this is a seventy year old man, oldest coach in the National

Football League, and he sounds like a kid. I mean, and to be honest with you, this what's happening with Gino Smith and even to some extent, what's happening with that land On Marcus Mariota right now? That's what makes this game fun because as much as it is about the guys that you put on the billboard for Sunday Night Football, it's those type of stories that I think are at the real heart of the National Football League. Now. Are the Seattle Seahawks a Super Bowl contender right now?

I don't think people would say that, but and you don't even know if they're going to be able to sustain it with with nine games left to go. I mean five and three, that's a great start for them, but with nine games left to go, their season could go in a gazillion different directions, just like the Pack. But with what that division was supposed to be this season, that they're even at the top of it right now

absolutely a strange little victory in and of itself. The other surprise I just want to touch on it really quickly is the Minnesota Vikings, because I know that the quote came out this past week. I believe it was from Justin Jefferson talking about how the league is kind of sleeping on them so far. I would still say rightfully. So. The reason why I say that is not to disrespect the Vikings, but they had a slew of changes this offseason. They haven't blown out anybody. I mean they're the biggest

victory was that Week one win over Green Bay. They haven't won any other games by two scores yet. I don't believe they've beaten anybody with a winning record. Obviously, if they're beating teams, they're handing losses to those teams are gonna have a harder time getting a winning record.

That being said, that is a fact they have not beaten a team that has a winning record in the NFL right now, Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, and then obviously Miami with the quarterback issues they had at that point in time. It is what it is now. That being said, you can only play the teams that are on your schedule. As things have been so difficult for the Packers. Things have lined up a little bit easier for the Vikings, but over the next few weeks, maybe not this Sunday,

but we will learn something about them. Buffalo, Dallas, Patriots and Jets coming up after that. So what does that tell you? It tells you the Green Packers if he gets some wins, three and a half games back or whatever it is in the division right now, that has to start this Sunday. It absolutely has to start Sunday in Detroit. And we'll talk more about that game on Thursday. For now, we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our

coverage of the team all week long. We'll have it for you on Packers dot Com. For West, I'm Mike. Thank you for tuning in, everybody. See you next time.