Inside the North: Lions defense is reeling & a Bears-Vikings showdown awaits

0:00Hey, I arrived almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to D-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more, I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get D-Mobile. So many reasons to join D-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com Fastest based on analysis by Uclos Beat Distant Intelligence data of national speed score results in incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026.

1:00Woop! Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster, and feel healthy. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stage, and cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. People say I got you all the time. Dad say to their kids the first time they ride a bike. Friends say to other friends when they buy them lunch. It's a good thing when someone's got you. It's especially good when someone's got you with important things like your health. And that's where we share it's got you. We got you with a massive nationwide network of over a million doctors. Which means you can likely keep your current doctor you know and trust. We got you with affordable prices that can save individuals of the $5,000 annually compared to traditional insurance and save families even more.

2:02And we've got you with over 68,000 CVS care mark pharmacies across the country. If you're tired of over-priced health insurance bills, come visit us at WeShareHealth.org or call 1-888-WeShare. Other smart Americans are making the switch every day. In a world filled with companies that cost you. It's nice to have one that's got you. We share health. We got you. And now it's time for Inside the North, presented by 5-Hour Energy. A show dedicated to the team you love and the teams you love to hate. In a legendary black and blue division, starring former Chicago head coach Dave Wonstett. Caleb knows you offense. God, they were emotional and shifted. Former Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby. Is it worth investing getting that guy? Because this front four is not going to get it done right now. Minnesota legend Chad Greenway. You started to see us draft different types of defensive players to fit a system where you're going to have to drop in cover.

3:03You got to blitz and pressure. That's the type of player that's going to thrive in this defense. Former Detroit lineman T.J. Lane. Jared Goffs, you know, hitting his drop back and guys are still 15 yards down the field with their back turned to him. And then it's kind of like, okay, like where's my guy? Right. And now here's your host from the score in Chicago, David Haw. Welcome to inside the North, the weekly show looking at one of the best divisions. If not the best division in the NFL brought you by 5-Hour Energy. I'm David Haw for Odyssey Sports and the score 104.3 in Chicago. I'll be joined weekly by Dave Wonstett of the Bears. T.J. Lane on the Lions. Mason Crosby on the Packers and Chad Greenway long time linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. All right, let's get right back into it where we stand in week two as we prepare for those games. Starting with the team, the hour, it has two games under its belt. We two finished Thursday night. Not the way the Lions would have wished 41, 31 losers to the bills to even their record to one and one T.J. Lane. What went wrong against Buffalo?

4:04How is the mood in Detroit because they start one and one. But I imagine according to some people, if you look at social media, it feels like 0 and 2. Yeah, it kind of does. And I think there's a lot of I don't think there's panic going around this fan base or the team by any means, but. You know, when you look at the defense in the last six quarters that these guys have played, including overtime, you've allowed 72 points in the last, you know, 80 minutes that football and that's. That's a pretty alarming number and I think everybody would agree with that. I think there's a lot of concern about the defense. What do they have to do? Do they need some help? Do they need to change some things that they're doing personnel. Wizers, comatically, because there's do that game last night. Listen, if you would have told me Josh Allen's going to have a great game at the start of, you know, a new stadium there in high market Buffalo and the fans that they have and the Lions are going to, you know, run into a bus. I probably wouldn't have disagreed with you last week, but there was way too many miscommunication errors and simple things that happened where Josh Allen is good enough already to beat you with some, you know, great runs or great throws, but if you're leaving guys wide open.

5:17Man, I don't care who the quarterback is that anybody could do that Mason, you know, Mason could throw a 40 yard touchdown pass, you know, with some of those coming me. I'm not going to ask you, but I'm just saying it wasn't it wasn't like a Josh Allen just beat him because he's that type of guy. It was a lot of communication errors. And I think that, you know, they their lines are just not playing good complimentary football right now, meaning where, you know, hey, the defense is struggling. Okay, offense. We got to get off to a fast start or hey offense is struggling. Hey defense. We got to go get a stop. There have been times throughout the first couple games where, you know, both sides of the ball done that, but they haven't done it consistently enough and and that's a reason. I think, you know, honestly, like you mentioned, Dave, they're probably feeling pretty lucky right now to be one in one with this with this long weekend off and have a chance to kind of, you know, reset a little bit, take a look in the mirror and figure out what they need to do better. Defensive numbers are glaring 30 or more points have been squirting lines now in five of the last eight games 63 first downs through the first two games. That's a second most in NFL history.

6:26Besides Aiden Hutchinson who had the strip sack in the fumble. Is there anybody else coming through what do you do is a personnel is a scheme combination of both. I think it's a combination of both. I think that first of all, they're high paid players Aiden Hutchinson, Olimic Neal, Jack Campbell, you know, they need to step up in some of those big moments and make plays. Obviously injuries aren't an excuse, but they are a factor in the personnel that you put out there. Obviously, we know they're missing Brian branch and Kirby Joseph and with Terry Arnold went through this offseason, let him go. Those are three of your four starting guys, you know, from this team last year and you're kind of patch working it right now to try to find the best fits. You know, offensive line, they were down three starters on the offensive line yesterday as well. So it's not an excuse, but it's hey, we have to find the right combination of guys that can play consistent enough to get play at the level of the expectation. That the Detroit Lions have and they just they they they've hit some hiccups and I know it's week two and the hardest thing is to not overreact, but to just keep facts facts and the facts are.

7:36This defense is playing at an unsustainable level to be a playoff level team and you just can't let up that many points. You can't let up that many yards. You cannot be that bad in situational football, whether it be third down or the red zone. The other team has 500 yards of offense, but you keep them to, you know, three or four field goals in the red zone. You're going to give yourself chance to win. You can't let up touchdowns in those key moments. So I think it's a bit of, you know, they they've got a long weekend here to kind of reset and look at those things and take a deep dive on more self scout. What are we doing that is hurting this team and and find some ways to fix things and I think they still feel at this point that they have the right people in place to to be able to find those solutions, but we'll see. Go off and say question. Jameer Gibbs is on pace for I think 480 touches. I don't think that's sustainable. Why is he carrying such a heavy load and who's going to help if he doesn't. Well, I think he's carrying such a high load right now because and even going back to last week against the Saints, they he's the focal point in that offense. Everybody knows that. You obviously have Almanar, you have Samo Porta coming off an injury. I think they're slowly kind of working back Sam into the game plan. But, you know, when you got into that game, it's 21 nothing against the Saints. It's like, OK, maybe this is an opportunity to get some other guys some touches and take the take the load off a little bit. And then the defense completely collapse. You know, and we're in a dogfight.

9:01And now we need our best players on the field, right? We have to do we have to do what we have to do in those certain moments you have to be able to adjust on the fly. I don't think that the plan is to give Jameer Gibbs, you know, 30 35 touches a game because that's I think we all know it doesn't matter who you are. This is nothing against Jameer Gibbs. He's in tremendous shape and he's a phenomenal athlete, but that that's going to wear on you, you know, come November and December when you're in these games that you got to grind out. But I just don't think that they have anybody that they really trust right now behind him. And that's that's unfortunate. See, only Valky was that guy in the Saints game. He had a few touches. You know, the other night against Buffalo and and and make some good plays, but you know, some simple mistakes in there where I don't think that I say a Pacheco was supposed to be that guy, right? Pacheco was supposed to be that guy. They signed. Hey, we're going to give you a, you know, eight to 12 carries a game come in and take the load off Gibbs. He's obviously going to be available. We don't know how long they said it was a pretty significant injury. So I think that, you know, throughout the next 10, 10 days or so before they play play the next game.

10:09They're going to have to find somebody that can help take that workload off of your mere gifts because he's he's he's taken a lot of shots. And I know it's early in the season where everybody's body's feeling pretty good right now. But when you get into those December games. Man, these these these shots that you're taking in September and in October are going to start to add up. Let's go to Chad, Chad Greenway. Chad. So the Minnesota Vikings, they come in after a big surprise. The Packers did not know what hit them in the second half and the Packers are a team that Brian Flores came after 80% of the time. How do you explain the way that the Vikings responded to the Packers and what happened in the second half of that game? That game was definitely one of those ones where boy, you left the mark Vikings 39 Packers 22. A good way to go into Chicago. Yeah, not indicative of how the game flow went. I'd love to ask Mason. I couldn't wait for the show to see what you thought about taking three points off the board. I just got to hear. I just got to hear your opinion there. Well, you know, we broke it down this week and talking about it. Had he made that extra point.

11:13You don't take that off the off the board, right? So going up eight versus going up nine with if you had made that extra point earlier in the game. Might have been a huge difference maker. I don't mind it even as a kicker. I know, you know, give me all the points. I've scored all those points, but I don't mind it. I did not love the play. I just did not love. I didn't love a naked, cubie sneak. No, we didn't spread them out. Didn't do anything. It just it just was a. It was not an inspiring play. So Chad, I bet you would have been tired. If you blitzed 80% of the time whenever you were there in Minnesota, I don't ever remember y'all doing that whenever you were there. Oh, man, I sat back in Tampa to most of my career and just, you know, Ben, but don't break second and eight. Make a tackle run up and get her done. Man, 80% is crazy. I mean, it's not sustainable at the end of the day. I mean, you're going to come into Chicago in a really crazy environment home and opener and you're going to do with one of the best offenses of football.

12:14And I don't know that I believe 59 points is the average for Chicago. Right. I mean, game one is game one. As we all know, you don't really know who you are. Tell, you know, game three, game four, especially in this day and age of the NFL where you don't really play in the preseason. You're going to see some defenses are going to be behind just from tackling space, understanding angles, getting guys in the ground. But at the end of the day, said, come down to how do you rush Caleb Williams? And I think that to make this a lot easier is you have to be able to stop the run and you gotta be able to stop the two headed monster that is the running game over there, plus Caleb Williams getting thrown into it. So if we can't stop the run defensively, it's going to be a long, long game on the Viking side, but I hope we can get it done. Portabac situation, Kyler Murray knocked out with concussion. He will not play against the Bears. Carson went steps in and really looked pretty competent for a guy that maybe came into camp thinking he was going to be the third quarterback. He now is the starter against the Bears. He played against the Packers. He was smart because Justin Jefferson, what do you do? You look for him to touchdown catches entire last season.

13:19He had two on Sunday in the opening of the Packers. How did Carson went? How was he able to stabilize that offense and make it work? Yeah, I mean, I thought he was the best guy in training camp. The two days I went out there. I thought he looked smooth. I thought it consisted. The ball was coming out on time and to the right spots. And I think the nice part about JJ getting going early in the first week was now the Bears have to account for him. You always account for him. Yes. But you got to put extra attention on slowing him down. So he's not going to wreck the game. And by doing that allows us to hopefully get someone on ones with Addison with Hawkins in the middle of the field. We have other weapons. Big loss. I think in Jordan Mason going down this week more physical running back that we want to try to use and get to. I do think that's going to play a factor here. But reality is Carson went. So good enough to win the NFL. You got to get right the good people around him. And he's been as a great backup. Can he go into soldier field and win? That's a whole other animal. Let's hope we can get it done. But it's going to take it from every facet. And we're going to have to get some turnovers and takeaways from that great offense.

14:20Mason, let's bring you in because obviously we know how things went for the Packers. You wonder how they recover from this. How difficult of a week has it been in a town that really hasn't won a football game in a very long time. Yeah, TJ, you want to talk about their offensive line or do you want me to? You got it. I mean, I've talked enough about this week. I don't want to keep piling on. All right. Yeah, you know, it was it was weird, right? That first half, I mean scored 19 points. Big explosive plays. If you had looked at that stat line at the end of the game and your Jordan love has 387 yards, Christian Watson, 137 receiving yards. I mean, the stats were fine. The Viking stats weren't out of this world on offense. They just that pressure was so relentless. And the Packers offense did not adjust in that second half. I needed to come out with an adjustment before it was too late. And I think that's what we talked about so much this week was the lack of adjustment before you got behind and before it was too late.

15:27And then just feeding Jordan love to the wolves there and that those last three series injuries are obviously a factor. There's no micro Parsons. It's not going to be it's not going to be the case that can be the case for a while. And then just to say, I mean, I think that's the key to the fact that I'm not going to be able to do that. Obviously, Josh Jacobs absence has it hurts the offense. But you look at overall Mason six stray losses, a negative 69 point differential in the fourth quarter. Since last week 15, how how does it getting from out of the floor in Green Bay? Because this is something that you wonder how are they going to be able to turn this around. Talking about turning around in week two is always always tricky. I know we're looking at the overlap from last year and unfortunately how this game ended. It was very similar to that Chicago game how they lost games down the stretch last year. So and they're kind of an approved mode. They're in a proven mode where they have to go out this weekend. They have to go week to week and improve that they are making adjustments and making changes and getting better.

16:29Are you going to just miraculously get better on the offensive line? I don't know about that. But you're going to have to put a scheme together and do something to take some pressure off of them and not get your quarterback killed because if Jordan love gets hit 15 times a game is pressured like that is having to rely on big plays to do anything on offense. It's going to be a long road for this team. So I thought the defense played okay. Special teams had some sparks. Obviously young kicker made a huge kick. So I think overall they have a path towards success. But I think it's time. Matt LaFour needs to prove that he is this offensive coach, this guy that can put an offense together score points and really kind of dominate in that space. Or are they going to have to find a new identity and kind of chase after something else over there. They got to find some mental toughness to their Mason just to add on. I mean. And you know what that's like. Well, for sure, but it's more communication. I think even coach LaFour said during the week where we can have these breakdowns. We cannot misidentify the defense.

17:37And I know Brian Flores is defense can be confusing. But you know, hey, we've at least have to block the four defensive linemen and one linebacker. That's what the offense lines responsible for. Or let the running back kind of scan and then the quarterback, you got to know where the weak spots are, but they've got to find that mental toughness when things start getting hard. You know, hey, how can we, how can we hit that counter punch and that's something that I think the packers have been lacking. I get to chime in because I'm the only guy on this panel that has played for multiple NFC North. That's right. You can go on. Let's go back to Chicago Dave wants to come on in and talk about the Bears identity after scoring 59 points. There was everything went well offensively, but it all started with the ground game up front when you have Monungai, you have Deandra Swift and you have that offensive line. They set the table for everything else to happen. They did and things are good in Chicago. So good that people were buying me coffee now in the morning going to shows.

18:39I tell you how bad it was not long ago, fellas. It was about 615 in the morning. I was walking up Michigan Avenue dark. And I was going to do a show at NBC for the news and a guy walks by me and says, once said you and those F and F and bears. And I stopped at 615 and I look up and down Michigan Avenue and there's two people on Michigan Avenue me and him. And I said to myself, wow, things are bad. Now they're buying me coffee. People are so happy around here. I'll tell you what they're looking at. They're looking at Green Bay and they don't they think Matt LaFlore going back to when he had a 16 point lead at the half against the Bears and came out and threw it nine times in the road. And a shotgun and lost again. They don't they're feeling good. And then Detroit. I think it's deja vu from a year ago.

19:39You know, I mean, except now it's the defense of guy and I drafted Calvin Shepherd. He played for me a Buffalo. And I don't know is he ready? Isn't he ready? All I can tell you is Jimmy Johnson. When we were building that Super Bowl team, he always had a philosophy. If guys are wide ass open, it's a problem with the coaches. Okay. If guys are making plays and they're getting out jumped. Then we got I got to get you better players. That's what a youth always said. And and then this week, obviously with Carson Wentz in there. I mean, Bear Pan's are feeling good. You mentioned the running game, David. You know, it doesn't take Ben Johnson long. I mean, everybody talks about all. Carson loved them didn't catch a pass. You know, there was no touch. Don's the burden and a dunes a so the three big guns didn't score. And I'm watching the tape and they're and Caroline is playing a two deep. They're playing two safety. So there everybody says they were double covered.

20:39They were playing you know a two D zone and they did have somebody over the top. The minute Ben Johnson saw that he handed that ball off and handed it off 41 times or whatever it was. And so I mean, I look at Caroline and say, you know, you made a decision schematically. And obviously Ben Johnson was good enough to take advantage of it. So things are feeling good. The defense is a little bit of I don't know. I say it's a mess because it's really no different last year. You guys know this. The bears defense was tied for the most passes given up over 20 yards last year. They give up 23 of them guys. So they really weren't very good on defense last year, except they led the NFL and takeaways turnovers with 33. So they, you know, they again, they got three turnovers. You know, I don't know how they how it happens, but they did. So that's looks like it's going to kind of be their M O again scrap around on defense.

21:39This week will be real interesting, real interesting because I know the bears don't want to get their tight end. I mean, they don't want Minnesota's tight end Hawkins and getting matched up against TJ Edwards. TJ's buying up. He's a little older. So I would expect the bears to go man coverage and bring that safety down the rookie lock him on, you know, hot and just take a chance and see if we can play man and see if Carson Wednesday make a play. That's worth a deeper look at that match up between the bears and the Vikings as well as the Packers and the Jets and talk about what the Lions do now one and one up in Detroit. We come back on inside the North brought you by five hour energy. Hey, all right. Almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just rep the video call uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat. And of course still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone all at once. Yep story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network.

22:47Okay, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fastest based on analysis by Uglospeed Test Intelligence, data of national speed school results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster and feel healthier. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stage and cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time.

23:54People say, I got you all the time. Dad say to their kids the first time they ride a bike. Friends say to other friends when they buy them lunch. It's a good thing when someone's got you. It's especially good when someone's got you with important things like your health. And that's where we share his got you. We got you with a massive nationwide network of over a million doctors, which means you can likely keep your current doctor you know and trust. We got you at affordable prices that can save individuals up to $5,000 annually compared to traditional insurance and save families even more. And we've got you with over 68,000 CVS care mark pharmacies across the country. If you're tired of overpriced health insurance bills, come visit us at WeShareHealth.org or call 1-888-WeShare. Other smart Americans are making the switch every day in a world filled with companies that cost you. It's nice to have one that's got you. WeShareHealth, we got you. It's David Hoffa Draft Kings. The weight is over. Football is here. So was Draft Kings. Draft Kings is now live in all 50 states.

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26:01and T.J. Lang. And here's your host, David Haw. Welcome back to inside the North, brought to you by five hour energy. I'm David Haw from the Hawn Payton Show in Chicago and Odyssey Sports. Now head to head battle in the division. We've got the Vikings coming into Soldier Fields Sunday against the Bears. Both teams one and two. We've got the two. I'm going to know Kiley Murray will not play as we said. Chad Greenway. You have been in the situation before coming in the soldier field. You have some fond memories of doing that when you look at this challenge ahead. Brian Flores, again as we discuss, he'll come after you between 70 and 80% of the time. Can he afford to do that against the quarterback as resourceful and whose mobility is a weapon like it is for Caleb Williams? Yeah, I think this is a problem this week. Community 80 if for blitz and 80% of the Vikings. I mean, it's one thing to be aggressive. It's one thing to go after a quarterback, but Caleb Williams ability to escape to spin out to really test the edges of your defense is going to be fully on display

27:03and you got to be really smart with how you do it. And you got to you got a cage Russian. You got to get guys high keepments had the pocket and then even then he has a capability so good. So you play man coverage behind that. You're really in for a long day. I think I think Josh Mattellus is a guy that could maybe sit in that middle spy on him, but then you're taking a guy to coverage. So there's a lot of decisions to be made by B flow here this weekend to see can he can he make can he kind of put together a plan that can control Caleb Williams. But you said it coach. I mean the end of the day if we can't stop the run, we're going to have all sorts of problems. And I think that's the one thing that people talk about with Ben Johnson is his ability to identify a weakness identify a gap or a hole and exploit it. And I think it's going to be one of the best coaching matchups in the league this year where we're about to see this really good defense with Brian Flores is creativity is really to show multiple fronts multiple looks and then give you something different. I expect him I know last year the two different games in the one game he blitzed over 6% and second game he blitzed 20% is kind of the tail

28:05of what does he see what is he going to react to and then how much in game adjustments going to happen. But I'm really looking to see if the interior defensive line can hold up against this package or this bears run game. Sorry because it's really good and it's not get enough attention for how good it is and then you add Caleb Williams is a rusher it's a real issue in coach. Honestly if they if they play man coverage in the back end. You're right can Carson went to make that play and make the throw. You have the guys you can create space and get open but can he can we trust him to make those throws in that moment. That's what's going to come down to Ben Johnson made an interesting comment this this week and Caleb said it. He told Ben told him to get ready. This is a mental warfare and he's kind of referring to the 80% towel just you know and Ben made a big point about this I talked to a guy up or two days ago and he made a point said hey guys in the first half. Minnesota gave up 100 almost 200 yards offense and two test times.

29:06Do you think they tuck your tail? Do you think they went home and said okay I'm not going to blitz anymore we can't handle it. Brian Floyd's came back to second half and he brought it. He gave up three points. They got two sacks and they won the game so you know it's he not going to back away you made a good point against the Bears last year they did only pressure 25% I think it was 25% of the time so he he's doing that. You know the interesting thing we're talking about the run game the run game. I was with north Turner Dallas and we were at the Cowboys and then Norvis Mopfens coordinator at the Dolphins and Norve would like and TJ really I appreciate this play. If you ignore thought you were going to blitz he would run the tail back Conner. You know block everybody down pull back side guard attack or tight end whoever kick out and here we go and this thinking was we're just going to wash everybody down but we're going to run the ball and we hit a gas it's going to be a home run so.

30:08Yeah that's it's going to be interesting to see what Ben does you know what type of runs and how many compared to the passing game I know that Chicago I don't think Ben will be influenced by the fans but they are dying for a dunze and they're dying for. Bird and obviously their number one guy Colson Loveland who now those guys were really factors last week so that's a big talk here in time is we got to get these guys the ball so to be interesting to see does he run it with some type of different scheme or does he just line up and and so we're going to throw it in crossing rods and fix and all that stuff had you think that they're going to take a chance in isolating somebody on Colston Loveland that is a it's a walking mismatch because this is a guy who did not catch a pass and they still scored 59 points but if you're aggressive and you put somebody on an island with him he can get open like a wide receiver. I think there's too many weapons out there I need you have too much to think about to worry about

31:08one specific guy can't you kind of look at the offense on the biking side too is like when you have you have a quarterback and Caleb Williams it can run you have you have too running backs it can hurt you have receivers on the outside that can hurt you if a tight in the middle that if you isolate can beat you so offensively there's weapons so you know to the point is is can we trick you can we trick you in to make mistakes can we show you something that looks like a blitzer or or look and then drop out of it and get to something else and maybe give Caleb Williams a look that he hasn't seen and and maybe he throws up all to us and we can get the turn over I think the reality is if we get behind early I think you're going to see an aggressive offense early from Chicago coming at you maybe go maybe throwing a deep ball early trying to see what the bike is going to do and make him react they want to keep that 59 point momentum going get that crowd into it and this is not a biking team must be honest with Carson well when since it's going to play from behind very well it worked last week because of maybe some mistakes and some errors in coaching down the road with green Bay and of course it paid off because be flow state aggressive but you stayed in the game the pat or the Bears

32:09want to put this thing away early and they could definitely do it if they have a good first quarter. I was just going to say in two in 10 seconds that they get to have a plan on offense Minnesota to play a little bit of keep away and I'm just not talking about running the ball there in Jones I mean Joe Montana Steve Young back in the day I'm dating myself they won a lot of Super Bulls were the longest deepest ball it was thrown to Jerry Rice was 20 yards they were ball control passing game with the run I think there's got to be a plan for Minnesota I would be expecting those high percentage throws moves the change and keep the clock running I mean you don't want to give the ball back the bend real quick. All right now let's go ahead and packers in the jets out in the metal lands the packers are winless of jets are want to know did not see that one coming Geno Smith added for the jets Mason Crosby is this the game where the packers get into the winning column for the first time in a long time.

33:10Well that's a hope and I think that's an expectation you know if they go out to met life and lay an egg and and don't show well and and unfortunately if it goes the way that these last six games have gone especially the last two I think there's going to be a lot of questions there you know around this coaching staff around what what's going on in Green Bay but you know I know everyone on this panel is really happy right now because the packers are a little down because it's been a little while so like smile right now because they they find a way to to work it back. I know TJ your torn at at times but you know I was looking at the I think Geno Smith like he is a he's a type of guy I mean he had five in completions last game very very solid managing type quarterback he's had success against Jonathan Ganon's defense when Ganon was there at Arizona so he kind of knows what's what's going to be coming at him and then they're going to run the ball so my concern is if the packers go and

34:10start making big plays like they did against Minnesota early and all of a sudden the jet start controlling the clock control in the clock and we find ourselves in the similar situation that we're in last week that's going to be really telling for this team if all of a sudden you're up you know ten points in the third quarter can they find a way to close out the game and if I'm if I'm La Flore if I'm a competitor and I'm like I'm going out to win I almost want it to be that situation I want to get get a lead and then just say like all right we're going to finally close the team out we're going to find a way to take this thing to the fourth quarter and win a game with that lead and so I I have the packers win in this game I think they're going to go out there they're going to rebound I do not think Aaron Glinn's going to blitz the same way that the Vikings did so hopefully we can maybe establish a little bit of the run game get Jordan love to just find some more easy completions not just have to rely on that big big passing game to go out there and score points. Geno Smith he was 4-0 against

35:12Jonathan Ganon defenses when he was in Seattle and they were playing the Cardinals so that's a something to keep an eye on. Also do you put any validity in that Aaron Glenn might have a good working knowledge based of going against Matt LaFour offense from his days in Detroit as a defense coordinator. Yeah and you know I don't think that that hurts ever whenever you have experience but you know at the same time you know the floor seen his defenses as well so hopefully the plan is I just even if if you don't feel confident because you don't have just Jacobs like they have to try to establish a run game. You have to get the ball on the ground you have to control that clock because I think Matt LaFour is best offense is our clock man like you're controlling the clock and you you have a lot of time of possession he's not a guy that's going to run a lot of time and you know you're going to play the ball out there and he's going to play in the game and not a lot of that is that no huddle not you know all of that so honestly a game like last game a game like the game in Chicago when they jump up on somebody

36:13it's almost not the way he wants to play offense he wants to control that clock and plot along and find a way to win late. So yeah I think I think Aaron Glenn is probably just licking his chops trying to figure out you know how he's going to attack this offense of front how he's he's going to be looking and seeing his old teammates. How is he going to beat them on the past rush to try to get to Jordan? And again, I told you, this Vikings, in that Vikings game, it's misleading. I think our defense played pretty well for the most part. They were just on the field for so much of that game. Packers, I think they didn't even have a three minute drive in those first three quarters. And so they just wore out the pressure and all this stuff. And then they got stuck in tough situations where the Vikings started in their own red zone. So I think this Packer's defense is going to be a lot better than maybe the point line showed in the Vikings game. And I hope they can go out there and met life and prove that they're a better team

37:14than they showed in the second half of the game last week. All right, let's move into Detroit, TJ Lang. Wondering you don't have a game. You already played week two against the bills. We talked about that loss. Are there questions being asked about whether Dan Campbell did the right thing and moving Penae Suel from right tackle where he was the best in football to the left side where he did struggle a little bit against the bills? No, I don't think there's questions being asked. And I think Penae has handled this like a pro. And I think he'd probably be the first guy to tell you. He is so countable in his game where he could have 70 plays, 69 great ones and maybe one bad one. But that's all he wants to talk about is the one bad one. I obviously, you know, there's still room to grow. But I think that just there's been so much volatility and change with that offensive line. Not only throughout the first couple of games, but in all of training camp, they had so many different moving pieces, you know, with Ju Skrugg's playing left guard.

38:15And then, you know, Ben Bart was out. He was with an referee. They weren't really happy with Christian Mahogany at the start of camp. They were throwing a lot of different guys next to you. And that could throw the chemistry off a little bit to where, hey, I'm not really sure. I'm not really 100% comfortable yet with the guy next to me. And that can kind of change your mindset a little bit. At, you know, a couple of rough plays, I think there was one sack fumble in that same game. It wasn't his fault. They're running back, ran right into his back and threw him off of his pass block that led to a sack fumble, which I don't know if you guys saw that. I don't know how that got overturned because the ball clearly backwards with the line. And can't play, but we'll take it. We've been on the other side of a lot of these calls that it had been against us. I don't know what the ruling was, but we'll take it. But no, I'm not worried about Penaiso. I am worried about, however, the depth of their offensive line right now, because when you look at some of the guys that started this past Thursday against the bills,

39:16Ben Bart was a guy who was supposed to be a depth piece. Ju Skrugg's was supposed to be a depth piece. Larry Boram was supposed to be a depth piece. Those guys all started in that game in week two. So if you get a Blake Miller back healthy, there's some hogging back healthy. We know Ken and Aze is gonna be out for a little bit of time on that piece. But can the guys that for the next call it three or four games step up and just find a way to create some sort of solid offensive line and just find a way to win games? I think that you kind of treat that as like the trade deadline. Where are you getting three guys back? Or five weeks? All right, when we come back, we'll wrap things up with some predictions and some parting shots right here and inside the North brought you by five hour energy. Hey, all right, it's almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped a video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat, and of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone.

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42:20in a world filled with companies that cost you. It's nice to have one that's got you. WeShareHealth, We Got You. New Shoes, New Clothes, Brand New Grade. Switched a Verizon to make sure their tech keeps up. This back to school season buy or bring any Android phone and get a Samsung Galaxy tablet on us. Get your kids ready for the school year without breaking the bank. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an Android phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post-paid service plan required. 3.2999 tablet device payment purchased with new mine on $20 per month tablet plan for 36 months required. Less $330 tablet per month credit applied over 36 months additional taxes fees in terms of apply. Compact, capable, surprisingly roomy. Always forward with Kia. My apartment garage in Los Feliz was clearly designed by someone who never had to open a car door. That's where my Kia Salto's just fits. With room for work bags, yoga mats, groceries, and whatever I accidentally buy at the Rose Bowl flea market. Small SUV, real cargo room. I've got turbocharged power and all-wheel drive for the days LA decides to be more mountain than city.

43:22The all-new Kia Salto says built for the way your life actually moves. Find your way forward at Kia.com. Kia, movement that inspires. Let's get back to more inside the North, presented by Five Hour Energy. Pricking down this week's matchups in the Black and Blue division. Welcome back to Inside the North, brought to you by Five Hour Energy. Time now to go around our panel. Predictions, party shots, whatever you want to say. Let's start with Chad Greenway, Upper Minnesota on the Vikings Chad. What do you think's gonna happen Sunday at Soldier Field? Well, I mean, I was so close to calling last week, perfect. I mean, we were up 10. I called it by 10. We had to score another touchdown, unfortunately, and kind of blow my prediction out of the water and go by 17. It is what it is. It can't be perfect. But let's say, going to Soldier Field, going to Soldier Field to challenge, this Vikings, current Vikings team has gone there six years and are all and gotta win. Now again, this is a different Bears team. This is a different setup. I'm not gonna say that. But one thing that I think bears land in the Bears country,

44:24all my in-laws down in Jolie at will of is Tukaki, right? 59 points in the first game. You can get a little bit over your skis. You have an aggressive defense coming in. I like us in a controlled game, 24-21, kick a field goal in it at the end, and walk out of Soldier Field 2-0. And I just love saying that to you guys on here right now. I can't wait to hear what Coach has to say about that. But listen, the only way we can win this game is by controlling the tempo and taking the air of the ball for Caleb Williams. So it's gonna take a few effort, need to get a couple turnovers on the road. And hopefully they cut the grass this week. So JJ can run fast. They haven't cut the grass since August 4th. I think Dave, Dave, or the Bears 2-0. I'm never. Probably a little bit confident. I'll be honest with you, just because that's where Ben is. Ben's, he's making predictions. But I just think that this is gonna be one

45:24that Dennis Allen, having no one here and being up there and sitting with him and camping, he wants to pressure. Not crazy, not like Brian Floyd's, but 30% pressure. We didn't get that last week. I think this week he is gonna do it some because of Carson Wentz. And I think he's gonna force Carson into some bad plays. And then I think the Bears win this game at home. I mean, this stadium will be, it's always loud here, but they're really pacing it this year. It's a lot of excitement. And I just think turnover will be the game. Whenever you say turnovers, that was the lifeline of the Bears defense. I don't see that changing. Dave, as a coach, when you look at the Friday injury port in week two, I know it's early, but when you see nobody listed on the injury port, you gotta feel like that's a rarity. And that's also something that not every team is dealing with right now. The Bears are fully healthy.

46:26Yeah, they are. And there was concern about two or three players, offensive linemen, you know, do I know right early in the week, but when you win, those injuries heal so much quicker. You know, when you're having a, when you're having a, no, seriously, when you're having a bad year and you're off to a, and players don't feel like, I don't know if we can, you know, not that two day injury all of a sudden is a week. So I think everybody, I think everybody's feeling it right now. They look around the division. They see the green base struggling. They see the Detroit struggling. They see Minnesota with a backup quarterback. You know, there's no reason why they shouldn't be very confident and very excited. All right, Mason, how confident are the packers going into the metal lands and play the jets? You know, I hope they're going in with a mentality of kind of a back against the wall, right? Like whenever we'd go into games

47:27and you know, you got to get hit in the mouth the week before, and we had, we had leadership. Whenever I played with TJ Lang, whenever you, you know, Aaron Rogers, the guys that we had in that building, it was a mentality of, we're going to go out and prove it. We're going to fight for one another and we're going to, we're going to hold that G up to the best of our ability. So I hope that this team has some fight. I just want to see them finish a game, fight, protect their quarterback, and that doesn't just mean protecting him by blocking the guy in front of it. Like they, I want to see some fire and some juice from this team this week. And that, that comes in so many different ways. So I just hope they go out there to the metal lands, they're in met life, and you just see an energy that was different than the second half of last week. You, you felt like all of a sudden that overwhelming pressure from that Minnesota Vikings team wore on that, that packer's side line, from their body language, their looks, like just how their, their energy went down. So I, I need to see that from this team.

48:29And, and, and if they can go out there and they just fight for one another, play for that G on their helmet, they can go out there and get a win against the Jets because until the Jets stack enough successes, they're still the Jets. And they, they also have to prove that they, they were a better team this year. And, and the packers, pedigree there has, has proven to have more success in the previous years than, than the Jets have. High scoring game, you got six field goals or how they get, how they gonna win this game. What's the score? Six field. Let's hope not. Let's hope that they can actually punch in the red zone. Now, I mean, that's another big factor for them is, you know, they, they could not score in the red zone. So, hopefully you can find some touchdowns, let that young kicker just gets used to kicking some extra points. And, yeah, man, again, this, this panel, feeling good right now is the packers, you know, lose a game. Everybody's pretty excited. You know, coach, coach one sat walking around Chicago, getting free coffees. I mean, Caleb calling out, Caroline is a big fan for, saying they had a good

49:31defense when he scored 59 points on them. I mean, there's some arrogance in that point. Wait, 16 point lead and nine passes in the shot down in a row. Come on, Mason. You're saying, Mason, I'm, yeah. You got three in the last, what, 20? So, yeah, y'all, y'all enjoy those and we'll see what it looks like here in a couple of weeks. I can't wait for that one. TJ Lang, you got the last word and you can predict both games that you want. I just, I mean, I, I love the banter back and forth. I'll be honest and Mason and Chad probably don't want to hear this, but coach, you're going to love it. I go, kind of, there's the hell out of me a little bit. And even you mentioned without even getting, you know, a doons a in some of those other playmakers involved, they still put up almost 60 points. Dave, when you've been Johnson and you come out, you're, you're thinking that all right, you scored 59 points. What is realistic for you to take the Bears offensively against the Vikings soldier field? And, and do you think that he does have to worry about getting a little bit too aggressive?

50:34Yeah, I don't know. Hopefully he won't go to, I mean, he wants your force in one. Where was it on a mining, minus 20 yard line guys? Ben, that's what I'm getting at. Yeah, that was a thing. Yeah. And, and, and I was told that he was just confident that their offensive line should block Carolina's defense. That's why he did it. But that aside, I think the Bears score 30 points. I really do. I think they get two turnovers and they score 30 points. And I don't see Minnesota scoring that many. Yeah, I think the under the underrated group here is this offensive line for the Bears that is not getting as much attention as maybe they need to. The interior of that line, a lot of continuity, smart guys in there, guys that know how to, you know, I love, I love Garrett Bradbury coming in and Ben Johnson's want to go get him because that's the guy that he wanted for Caleb Williams. I think that's really important to have a center in a quarterback that are so connected that way. And, and listen, I think it's going to be one of the biggest, one of the biggest parts of the season. And our interior defensive front has to match that

51:37for us to be a game. And I think you guys will appreciate this. Joe Tuney, nobody's one more games in the NFL than Joe Tuney has is coming into the league for the 16. Yeah, I was going to have it out. If I can call take back sees as representing the Lions, if I go to ever go to Chicago again, I'm going to grab Ben Johnson and put him in a bag and bring him back to Detroit. It gets. Yeah. It's just hasn't been the same here. Start in Detroit. You might, TJ, you might be going after you. You might be looking for your defense, the coordinator and that bag. We saw that. Oh, great. On today, coach, on, on trade, just straight. One for one. Yeah, great. Great. Great back and forth. We'll be continuing it next week. It'll be a great slate of games. TJ, enjoy the weekend and not having to watch the Lions. Bears and Vikings Sunday soldier field. Jets, hoist the Packers and the Packers. Go for their first victory season. And we'll be back next week to talk about all that happened in the week two before week three. Thank you to for listening.

52:38To the inside the North brought you by five hour energy for TJ Lange. Chad Greenway, Mason Crosby, and Dave Wantsett. I'm David Haw from the score in Chicago. We'll talk to you next week. Hey, all right. It's almost here. Are you ready? Just grabbing my shoes. That's what you said 10 minutes ago. I just wrapped the video call, uploading this giant file on my tablet, looking at my watch group and Nana's with the group chat. And of course, still lining up tonight's playlist on my phone. All at once? Yep, story of my life. That's why I switched to T-Mobile. They have the fastest 5G network. OK, multi-tasker. I see you. Honestly, I never imagined I could do all this at once. It's awesome. Say no more. I'm totally switching. My post is taking way too long to upload. That's a sign you've got to get T-Mobile. So many reasons to join T-Mobile. Find yours at T-Mobile.com. Fast to space on analysis by Uclav Speed Test Intelligence

53:41data of National Speed Score Results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for the first half of 2026. Whoop. Sleep better, train smarter, recover faster, and feel healthy. Understand and optimize your sleep. Get coaching and insights for every age, stay into cycle. Track over 140 habits. Get a 360 view of your training and workouts. Never miss a second of that with a wireless and waterproof charger. Expect all new features all the time. People say, I got you all the time. Dad say to their kids the first time they ride a bike, friends say to other friends when they buy them lunch, it's a good thing when someone's got you. It's especially good when someone's got you with important things like your health. And that's where we share his got you. We got you with a massive nationwide network of over a million doctors, which means you can likely keep your current doctor you know and trust.

54:43We got you with affordable prices that can save individuals of the $5,000 annually compared to traditional insurance and save families even more. And we've got you with over 68,000 CVS care mark pharmacies across the country. If you're tired of over-priced health insurance bills, come visit us at wesharehelp.org or call 1-888-WeShare. Other smart Americans are making the switch every day. In a world filled with companies that cost you, it's nice to have one that's got you. We share health. We got you. Heading back to campus, timed to upgrade your entire tech setup. Switch to Verizon, buy or bring a qualifying smartphone and get a smart watch and a tablet on us. That's all your essential gear for zero extra dollars. Ace your classes, track your fitness, and stream your favorite shows. Visit Verizon.com or your local store today. Bring an eligible phone or purchase a new phone with device payment on post-paid service plan required. Up to $6.49.99 watch and tablet device payment purchase with new line on $20 per month tablet plan and $15 per month watch plan for 36 months required.

55:44Less up to $650 per month credit applied over 36 months per device, additional tax fees in terms of supply. Compact? Capable? Surprisingly roomy. Always forward with Kia. My apartment garage in Los Feliz was clearly designed by someone who never had to open a car door. That's where my Kia Salto's just fits. With room for work bags, yoga mats, groceries, and whatever I accidentally buy at the Rose Bowl flea market, smallest UV, real cargo room, I've got turbocharged power and all wheel drive for the days LA decides to be more mountain than city. The all new Kia Salto says built for the way your life actually moves. Find your way forward at Kia.com. Kia, movement that inspires.