It's a short week for the Packers and

the Falcons. Two teams desperately

trying to find some continuity.

You are Locked on NFL Crossover, part of

the Locked On podcast network,

your team every day.

>> Welcome inside a locked on crossover

edition. Locked on Packers, locked on

Falcons. I'm Peter Bicowski with Aaron

Freeman from Locked On Falcons. And

Aaron, we've got a lot to talk to in

this matchup. Uh, two teams that have

not looked great uh to varying degrees

through the first two weeks of the

season, but the Falcons going to get a I

I don't their preferred starter coming

back. I don't really even know how to

deal with Michael Penn. Like, what how

are we how are we talking about this?

>> We are going with preferred starter for

the time being until we hear otherwise.

That's basically what we're rolling

with.

>> So, like he's he's coming off a major

injury. This is I feel like we have to

we have to start here because this is a

big deal. Um it it was so bad from a

quarterback standpoint that Falcons fans

are in the stadium with signs saying,

"Please play Jack Strand," which is just

like that is a dark that is the seventh

circle of hell of quarterback hell. Um,

and so now you have a quarterback, lot

of talent, big arm I believe over the

last handful of seasons among qualified

starters, the highest average depth of

target among those quarterbacks. So, he

is going to want to sling the rock and

that has just been a part of this

offense that has not been available to

them.

>> That is definitely true, Peter. And um I

think it's going to be fascinating to

see what the Falcons game plan is going

to be. Do they kind of ease Michael

Pinnick into this and want him to kind

of just manage the game and keep the

offense on schedule? Or are they going

to show us that he is the preferred guy

because they will lean into what he

potentially does best, which is push the

ball down the field, he likes to push

the ball down the field. Part of the

reason why last year did not go the way

that Falcon fans thought it would go

with Michael Penn taking over for Kurt

Cousins was he wasn't necessarily

hitting those throws uh down the field.

Some of that is owed on their Falcons

wide receiver core, not necessarily

living up to the billing uh from the

previous year. But, you know, will we

see this Falcon offense kind of unleash

Michael Penn? I think is is going to be

the big question this week.

>> Yeah, I was going to ask you uh because

you you almost said uh who Michael

Pennix is, but we don't really know who

Michael Pennix is, right? Like we we

this is what start number 13 for him.

>> Yes. So, like what what can we say about

what he is and isn't at this point? I'm

I'm not even sure we can make any strong

statements about it other than he's

injuryprone. We know that for damn sure.

>> Yeah, that's that's about the only thing

we we do know about Michael Penn. And I

think that's why it has been so much

sense of urgency to get him on the field

as much as possible this year to sort of

see what he is, right? The Falcons

obviously made a very polarizing, let's

say, uh, to put it kindly pick when they

selected him after paying Kurt Cousins

two years ago. Uh, and now, you know, it

led to one regime that wound up making

that selection and put staking their job

on Michael Penn's ability, uh, getting

fired and now a new regime is coming in.

Uh, and they don't have that same sort

of loyalty. So, if Michael Pinnix is not

performing over the next couple of

games, they do have Tua back in the

fold. Tua did return to practice uh

suffering an oblique injury and sort of

there will be a pivot point if Michael

Pinnix does not perform at this point

that he will not be given the long leash

unless he goes out there and performs.

>> Yeah, and that's the that's the

dichotomy I think that the Falcons are

facing, right? Like this is a

quarterback who wants to push the ball

down the field, but to your point, is he

going to feel comfortable doing that?

Are the Falcons going to feel

comfortable asking him to do that?

Because he is coming back off a serious

injury. He's had ser I mean this is I

think his fourth serious lower body

injury. I think he's tore I think he

tore his ACL three times in college. Am

I am I right about that?

>> Two ACL tears in one knee. This one is

the first one in whichever knee. I can't

remember which one. He had two season

ending shoulder injuries.

>> Anytime you have to use more than like

one finger to count ACL injuries, you

have a problem here. So, uh

unfortunately for for Penn, who is is a

player who when he's at his best, like

when he gets hot, he can rip the ball

all over the field. Like it is fun to

watch him. Drake London is kind of the

perfect receiver for him, right? Like

just just give Drake London a chance to

go up and get it. Kyle Pittz, the same

sort of thing. A vertical, you know,

weapon in that way, but can also do some

things underneath.

I feel like the pieces fit the style.

The question is the efficiency.

We saw Bejon, I mean, Bejon was the

offense in week one.

>> Yes.

>> Unbelievable. Um, he was relatively

efficient still last week in a blowout

win. I mean, averaged four and a half

yards a carry. It's not like he was bad.

Um, there is some talent along this

offensive line. Where where does that

part of the offense stand right now?

We'll get to the defense, but like this

is a team, Aaron, for for my audience,

they have not been in the red zone this

year in two games. Like, that is

impossible. And yet, here we are. Uh,

and so, uh, what's what's going on

there?

>> Yeah, it's been bad, Peter. Uh, I don't

know if you know this, but, uh, for the

Packers fans out there, it's been

terrible. Just imagine, you know, I

don't even know if Packers fans can

relate to this because I don't think

it's ever been as awful as it's been in

Atlanta the these first two weeks. Um,

yeah. So,

>> sorry for laughing. I really am.

>> No, it's you can only laugh through the

pain. That's what Falcon fans have

experienced over the last decade. Um, I

think, you know, you're right with the

pieces that they have. They were able to

get Bejian going, but he was the only

thing they got going. They finally got

Drake London going last week and and

kind of this week it's like, "Okay,

Kyle, KP, you are we going to get the

the three-headed monster going for this

offense?" Because if it's just a twoman

show,

>> you know, Drake and Bejian are very

good, but I don't know if they're good

enough single-handedly to beat the

Packers if it's just those two guys. And

so, somebody else has to step up for

this offense uh this week. And and Kyle

Pittz is the $18 million man, and he's

kind of the guy that should be that guy.

So, the big storyline for the Packers,

and I want to I want to directly tie

this into the Falcons here, is what's

going on with this offensive line. We

found out on Tuesday Zack Bakabo is

going to miss the entire season. He he

fully tore the Patella that he partially

tore last year, which raises questions.

Did he come back to soon? Was he 100%.

All of those things. Um he suggested

that the MetLife turf did not help. And

we know that that has been an absol We

joke about the turf monster. That has

been an actual turf monster. Yes. Ever

since they put that in the ground, it

has been haunted.

>> Two two years ago, three Falcons

offensive linemen went down on that

Metife turf.

>> Yeah, they need to put like they had

grass in for the World Cup. Just leave

the grass for crying out loud. Um any

anyway, um David Baktiari for the

Packers also hates the Metife grass. Um

so that's they're going to be playing on

grass on Thursday. That's the good news

there. But that means Anthony Belton is

going to get the start at right tackle.

former second round pick. Jordan Morgan

making his third start at left, I guess

technically his fourth start. He played

at left tackle against the Vikings, but

like as the preferred starter, his third

start. Jagger Burton probably going to

be making his first NFL start. He's a

fifth round rookie. Shawn Ryan is his

third start as the preferred starter at

center. And Jacob Monk probably making

his third start as the preferred starter

at right guard against a Falcons front

that is missing its two best players on

the edge, but has gotten some pretty

good productivity along the interior

from players who I don't think the

average fan has any idea who these guys

are.

>> Well, I know Packers fans know one guy.

His name is Zadarius Smith.

>> Well, not an interior player, but Yeah.

>> Yes. Yes. But, uh, he he's been kind of

the the lead dog in this pass rush for

this Falcons front

>> and been pretty good, right? Yes, he's

been two and a half sacks through two

games, been their most reliable pressure

guy, but this is an attack front with

the Falcons. And as you mentioned, not a

lot of household names. I know Packers

fans are a little bit familiar with

Gervon Dexter from his days with the the

Bears, but Brandon Doris, Mason Smith,

some of these guys that have been highly

drafted players that have, you know,

flashed some things in the past are

really kind of putting it together this

season for the Atlanta Falcons and

they're just kind of playing, you know,

we're going to stop the run on the way

to the quarterback and they've been able

to get after both quarterbacks that

they've faced so far this season. And I

I'm expecting them to have to do it

again this week against Jordan Love.

>> How How exactly are they doing it

though? Because this is not a high blitz

team, but they've been I think they're

seventh in pressure according to NextGen

stats. So what what are they doing that

has been so effective despite not having

the household names?

>> Yeah, it's, you know, it's it's about

get off. That's what really what it is.

Uh that's what their coaching staff

preaches. Get off the ball. Don't think

if you think you stink. Uh they have a

lot of phrases. Um, you know, just

>> I know some Bears fans like that, but go

ahead.

>> Se ball, get ball. And, you know,

they've been able to use selective

blitzes at times. Um, but, you know,

it's a lot of stunts. It's a lot of

twists. It's it's ways to try to create

one-on- ons for each one of their guys

and and those guys have been going out

there and winning them.

>> All right, we got more matchup talk

coming up on a crossover Thursday.

Locked on Packers, locked on Falcons.

Welcome to the most rewarding NFL season

ever. Only on FanDuel. How rewarding are

we talking? More rewarding than a

touchdown with time expiring. More

rewarding than an 18-point comeback.

Maybe even more rewarding than an

offensive lineman catching a touchdown.

This season, FanDuel is making the

excitement go beyond what happens on the

field with the allne FanDuel Rewards

Club featuring exclusive offers,

surprises, and more. This season,

FanDuel is making the excitement go

beyond what happens on the field with

the allnew FanDuel Rewards Club

featuring exclusive offers, surprises,

and more. Every week, check the FanDuel

app to see what's waiting for you. How

about more rewarding than the Packers

offensive line keeping Jordan Love clean

for an entire game? How about more

rewarding than the Falcons if you're a

Falcons fan actually getting into the

red zone? Make this the most rewarding

season ever with FanDuel. Visit

FanDuel.com to get started. The NFL is

full of games you plan for all year, but

sometimes the best memories come from

the games you almost missed. Game time

makes it easy to find tickets to NFL

matchups you want to see. With prices

that include fees, so you know your

total cost upfront, you can browse

games, see a panoramic view from your

seat before you buy, and get tickets in

just a couple taps. Plus, zone deals let

you choose the section and let game time

choose the seats to help you save even

more. Whether it's a rivalry game, a

matchup featuring a player you must see

in person, or an underdog ready to make

some noise, game time, makes getting to

the game simple. Think about a game on

the schedule you absolutely don't want

to miss. How about a rematch with the

Minnesota Vikings? How about Monday

Night Football against the Dallas

Cowboys when Micah Parsons could be

back? How about using game time to get

you there? Get your friends together,

get your tickets, and tell them it's

game time. Download the Game Time app,

create an account, and use code locked

on for $20 off your first purchase.

Terms apply. again. Create an account

and use code locked on for $20 off.

So Aaron, uh, what when you sit down to

to break down what you're you're looking

at this week from a Falcons standpoint,

what is the first thing that that you're

trying to look for in terms of whether

it's a matchup, whether it is a facet of

the game where you're just sort of like

this this is the thing that I am laser

focused on seeing in this football game

because it's going to ultimately

determine what happens here. Well,

obviously a big part of that

conversation is what does this offense

look like? And at this point in time,

it's kind of just kind of a big mystery

because we don't know what Pennix is

going to be. We're still trying to

figure out what the identity of this

offense under offensive coordinator

Tommy Reese, under new head coach Kevin

Stfansky is. And so for me, a lot of the

offensive stuff is just kind of a we'll

see. So, the one thing that I kind of

tend to focus in is something that I'm a

little bit more familiar with that I is

a little bit more of a known commodity,

which is the Falcons defense. We talked

about the pass rush um earlier. Uh and I

think that pass rush is going to be

pivotal for this Falcons defense against

this Packers offense. I know they

haven't quite had the success uh running

the football and throwing the football

as they want. um in the first two games

of the season. The Falcons are

notoriously a get-Right team for a lot

of football teams around the NFL. So,

you know, that doesn't bode particularly

well, but if they can avoid uh allowing

the Packers to hit their stride uh this

week, it's going to take that pass rush

because they lost AJ Terrell

on IR four weeks out. He's their best

corner. You know, going up against

matchups like Matthew Golden, Christian

Watson, speedy guys like those guys.

That's what AJ Terrell specializes in.

and Mike Hughes, their number two

corner. CJ Henderson, their number three

corner.

>> Packers familiar with Mike Hughes from

his time in Minnesota.

>> You know, they struggle against me.

Xavier Legette cooked Mike Hughes on a

on a deep post last week uh that set up

a score right before halftime that kind

of put that game away uh and gave

Carolina a 20 to3 lead and and and they

never looked back from that point in

time. Uh and sort of these are the types

of receivers that these two corners can

struggle with. uh and sort of how do the

Falcons deal with that? And again, it

goes back to if they can get reliable,

consistent pressure, then that can at

least throw Jordan Love off his game so

he won't be able to hit those guys down

the field.

>> Well, and that has been the problem for

the Packers, right? They they they

cannot protect Jordan Love and have not

been able to. And and in the run game,

you know, you you mentioned their

inability to run the ball as effectively

as they would like to. Josh Jacobs, of

course, on the commissioner's exempt

list at the moment. We're waiting to to

see or hear what the situation is with a

suspension uh forthcoming, you know,

whether whatever they say. He's

currently serving a suspension. Like,

let's call it what it is. He's not

playing and therefore is suspended at

the moment. Um and Jordan Love called it

out on Tuesday. He said, "Look, guys are

not blocking the right guys. We need

just need to ID these guys. It's not

like we're getting, you know, beat a

bunch of times. We need to block the

right guys." And part of that is

continuity. like they've started like

every single offensive lineman that was

active on Sunday had to play Aaron. At

one point in the game, they were

discussing Tucker Craft having to play

right tackle because Jacob Monk was

injured and they'd already lost Aaron

Banks and Donovan Jennings in the game.

And it looks like Banks and Jennings are

not going to be ready for Thursday

night. So now it's Jagger Burton who for

the record should have been starting at

left guard probably from the beginning

or at the very least if Aaron Banks

would have been healthy at right guard.

I don't know why Donovan Jennings ended

up being the starter. It doesn't make

any sense to me. I don't trust this team

to like I I I wouldn't trust them to buy

my groceries. This offensive line

coaching staff and and offensive

coordinator. It just I I do not I it's

unthinkable that this is where they are.

It has been a habitual problem for this

staff deploying offensive lineman. They

once sat Zack Tom in favor of Jake

Hansen and Royce Newman in Minnesota in

2022. Like it was ridiculous. Zack Tom

now Zack Bakawle. Um, and so I I I don't

I don't know what to think of all of

that. And that's that's the problem. Um,

if they could block the right guys, they

have some talented running backs. Um,

Caleb Johnson looked good in limited

work last week. Hit a couple explosive

plays. Matt Lafler said after the game,

he's earned more opportunities. Who got

the first play of overtime for the

Packers? Caleb Johnson. And he ripped

off an explosive run. So when they

blocked it up, you know, they they have

some opportunities there. Marshon Lloyd.

I don't know. Marshall Lloyd runs like

he's got he forgot to put his contacts

in. I don't I don't really know what's

going on there. Um I thought he had

decent vision at USC. He does not look

like he has a good feel right now. But

remember, speaking of the offensive line

that has not played, Marshon Lloyd is

playing his basically his third NFL

game. Um he had as many snaps as you and

I through his first two years in the

NFL. A couple more, but really literally

only a couple more. And so like he's

he's a rookie basically and he looks

like a rookie out there. Um so flipping

to the other side, I I think this game

to me comes down to explosive plays and

the Packers are the number two explosive

play defense in the NFL behind only the

Seahawks. Um and look, Bejian Robinson

can can create explosive plays. He

almost single-handedly beat the Packers

in 2023 with a couple moves um in the

open field and he took Joe Barry to the

woodshed in the fourth quarter. He and

Desmond Ritter, good god.

>> Good times.

>> Good times.

>> That's what Michael Pennix, Drake

London, Kyle Pittz, Bejan, like that's

the that's the thesis, right? That's the

the thesis of this offense is create

explosive plays. And to me, if the

Packers can prevent explosive plays,

it's to me it's just can they can this

team be e efficient enough underneath

staying patient running the ball.

Packers defense is a top three run

defense right now in the NFL. They've

been very very good from light boxes.

So, they've been able to walk that that

magic line of play light boxes but

defend the run. They've been a very

tough defense through two weeks. Aaron,

>> yeah, I I think you're right with the

explosive plays. I I ju I don't see the

Falcons winning a 20 to7 game. I I don't

um I feel like Green Bay is going to put

up points in this game. Uh you know,

hopefully not as many as the Carolina

Panthers did last week, but um you know,

I do

>> I was thinking as many as the team that

played the Carolina Panthers in week

one. No,

>> no, they're not going to score 50.

>> That would that would that would be nice

for Packers fans. It wouldn't be nice

for me.

>> But um yeah,

>> I wonder what the most a team has ever

scored on Thursday. I feel like we don't

usually see super highscoring th I guess

last week we had a super high scoring

Thursday game.

>> You're right. Yeah, Thursday games are

always wonky, aren't they? They're just

like when you when you think it's going

to be a scoring fest, it's like a seven

to nine game or something like that. And

then when you

>> We should not be playing on three days

rest. It's just stupid. And the Packers

play on two days rest, they play a

Wednesday game. Um and and then is that

coming off their buy? It doesn't matter.

But like either either way, a Wednesday

game is a joke. Like what are we doing?

Come on. Yeah. Anyway, um that that

would that's the other part of this that

I think is fascinating. Aaron, Michael

Pennix named the starter. Cool. They're

not going to practice this week.

>> They they they gave him reps LA they

split reps with Cooper Rush last week

with the idea that Pennix could play

this week and sort of that's what

they're betting on. But as you know,

Peter, like

what are you going to get when you don't

practice? Like it's just one of those

things, you know, especially for a

player that is playing his first

football game in what 10 months since

mid November. So, you know, you just

really don't know. That's why I said

earlier it's just like I have no idea

what to expect from this offense. Well,

okay. So, uh the offense has been bad.

We'll we'll see, I guess, like right TBD

on all of this. Um from from a Stfansky

standpoint, you mentioned we don't

really know what this offense looks

like. Like, can you paint a picture to

what you think it like ideally would

look like?

>> I I think they're trying to be what they

were in Cleveland when it was Nick Chub

running the crap out of the football and

then, you know, uh, you know, Amari

Cooper and David and Jooku and like

that's kind of what that offense, I

think, is what they're trying to be,

being this three-headed monster, you

know, using a lot of tight ends, being

play action heavy. haven't done a ton of

play action stuff so far. How much of

that is on playing Cooper Rush and Jack

Strand? How much of that is they're just

not really committed to it? So, those

are questions.

>> You think you'd want to get the play

action game with backup quarterbacks

going? Like, that would be a a cheat

code for you. No.

>> Yeah, that's what I've been saying for

the last two weeks, Peter, but

apparently the Falcons don't think that.

But, you know,

>> Packers are in the same spot. They have

used an unusually low number of

playaction dropbacks. I think part of it

And tell me if you experience this in in

your uh football watching. I I we have

this idea as analysts because we're

dorks and buying computers that hey, you

know, play action is supposed to be one

of those things that helps your

offensive line. You don't have to run it

effectively. You just have to scheme it

effectively.

It doesn't seem like coaches believe

that at all because I know Matt Laflur

has said multiple times, not multiple

times, over and over, they'd like to be

able to run the ball better to get into

play action. and he doesn't seem to

believe that it actually helps the

offensive line. If anything, he seems to

be less likely to call it if he doesn't

believe in his offensive line. And I I

don't know who's right there. I'm just

like I it seems to me that that's why at

least in the case of the Packers,

they've decided we don't trust this

offensive line enough to let Jordan Love

turn his ball or turn his back to the

defense and get the ball out. And so

that's why they've said we're not doing

that. Kind of like the Bengals, right,

with Joe Burrow. like you just let's

shotgun everything in front and let's

figure it out. That's not how the

Packers want to play though. So, I don't

know, man. I really don't.

>> Yeah, we could do a whole separate

podcast about this, but I remember in

2022 when Arthur Smith was calling the

Falcons offense, he was like, "Oh, we're

definitely calling play action as much

as humanly possible because it helps our

offensive line and not expose their

weaknesses and pass protection." And I

agree with you. It it does feel like a

lot of other coaches don't necessarily

believe in that. Um, and you just kind

of wonder and and then when they do dial

up play action, it's a lot of max

protect. It's a lot of seven and

eightman protections for those reasons.

And that, you know, if you design a

great, you know, route concept, two

twoman route concept, it can work. But

if no one gets open, you're just kind of

checking the ball down is kind of

defeating the purpose of play action and

sort of Yeah, I don't know what coaches

truly believe because you have some

coaches that very much believe that play

action is our cheat code and then other

coaches I think are just kind of like,

well, it's something else that we also

do, but it's not necessarily something

that's going to define our offense.

>> Yeah, I think Matt Laflur thinks it's a

cheat code, but just only under certain

circumstances. And I just I don't I

don't know if I agree. All right, we'll

get to the keys to victory for the

Packers and the Falcons. Thursday Night

Football next.

A new football season brings some big

questions. Who makes the playoffs? Who

wins their division? Who takes home the

title? Khi, America's number one

prediction market platform, lets you

trade those predictions in a live

market. Will the Packers beat the

Falcons this week? Well, confidence is

rising. It was just trading at 71%. Now

it's trading at 72%.

The earlier you get in and the higher

that number gets, the more value you're

getting because Khi is trading in a live

market with your peers, meaning there's

no house. And as the probabilities

change, you can buy in and out of your

position. Trade the draft pick, the

game, and more on Koshi. Download

Kouchy. Use code lockdown to get $25

when you trade 25. Khi

Koshi trade. What's next? Must be 18

years or older. Restrictions and

eligibility requirements apply. Event

contract trading involves risk and may

not be suitable for all investors. Koshi

products are not available in all

jurisdictions. Prices, values, and

available markets may differ from those

mentioned. For more information, seek

kelshy.com/regulatory.

A quiz on your phone and a box at your

door isn't a clinic. When it comes to

men's health, things like energy, sleep,

drive, and how you feel dayto-day

deserve more than a questionnaire. Game

Day Men's Health is a real in-person

health clinic with more than 430

locations across the US and Canada. Men

can meet face tof face with a licensed

clinician, get labs drawn in the office,

and receive initial results in as little

as 15 minutes. Game Day looks at the

full picture, your symptoms, and your

lab results before developing a

treatment plan. And because they

continue testing and evaluating, care

can be adjusted over time based on your

data. It's easy to chalk up changes in

energy or sleep or sex drive or even

difficulty keeping weight off to getting

older or being busy. Having a place

focused specifically on men's health can

make it easier to actually get those

concerns evaluated and understand what's

going on. Book your complimentary test

and consult at gamedaymen'shealth.com.

All right, Aaron, it is that important

time to decide the keys to the victory

for our each each of our teams, if I

could speak. Um, what is the key to

victory for the Atlanta Falcons?

>> Uh, you know, it's the old cliche

turnovers. They're they're bad. And when

you lose the turnover margin,

>> it's bad, you know,

>> you know, uh, and if you win the

turnover margin, it's good. Um, and uh,

>> you know, we've talked about some of the

other things. Are they going to be

aggressive pushing the ball down the

field? Are the Fal is the Falcons

defensive line going to be able to

dominate the line of scrimmage given

some of the issues that the Packers have

up front? But at the end of the day, if

the Falcons just keep giving the ball

away to their opponent, then, you know,

all of that is just kind of a waste of

time. You know, it's like, oh, it's

great, awesome, but you're not going to

win a football game if you're uh, you

know, not protecting the football. And

that goes back to what we said earlier.

Are they going to be that conservative

offense with the goal of we don't want

to turn the ball over, we're just going

to lean on Bejian and and you know, easy

passes or are we going to be aggressive?

And I think that's going to be a big

question for this team.

>> Uh this is a bit of an aside, but

because I I I know you like think about

these sorts of questions. I I want to

ask you this. I I once worked on a piece

where I talked to a lot of people about

why bad teams and I don't know the

Falcons are like that bad, but why bad

teams play like everyone else. Like why

if you know you stink, like if you're

the Miami Dolphins this year, why not

just get crazy with the way that you

play, why not try why not go why not try

and play tempo every down? Why not do

what Brian Flores is doing and blitz

136% of the time? Like why not try those

sorts of things? And it's always crazy

to me. It It's insane to me that the

Falcons would even consider playing

conservatively. like your season is over

if you don't win either this week or

next week. And I understand you're

playing on a short week, but like isn't

doesn't the game plan have to be we have

to create explosive plays or we can't

win. Like that that seems like that

would be how I would approach every

single game. Like let we need to throw

it deep 10 times to Drake London or Kyle

Pittz or we can't win.

>> Yeah. I remember back in 2013 when Julio

Jones got hurt and the Falcons also

didn't have Rody White during a stretch

of games and they were just dinking and

dunking and it worked when you had Julio

Jones and Rody White and Tony Gonzalez

one of those guys was going to be open

every single play and so you were pretty

reliably going to get 8 to 12 yards uh

you know anytime they break an explosive

every once in a while.

>> Yeah. And then you know Julio would do

Julio things. Um, but they were playing

that way with like Drew Davis and Harry

Douglas and and other guys and no

offense to those guys, but it's just

like, you know, what are we doing here?

And it baffled me then. And to see teams

still doing it in 2026, you just at a

certain point, you know, you do. It's

just kind of I think human psychology

where you're just like, I don't want to

step out on the line and get criticized

for playing fast and loose and we're

just going to stick to our fundamentals

and get back to the basics and do those

types of things. And, you know, that

leads you to less criticism than

necessarily throwing caution to the wind

and going forward on fourth down and

going for two and all those various

things. I just think it's it's a

conservative mindset that a lot of

coaches follow to get them to where they

are and then they don't really they're

too afraid to to veer from that.

>> At every level of football, the

innovation comes from teams that don't

have the talent. That is how every

innovation that has ever existed has

happened because they're like, "Shoot,

we don't have the we don't have the

bodies to beat this team. We got to try

something else." And all of a sudden,

they're like, "Wait, this works." And

then another team goes, "Wait, that

works. Let's try that." And then all of

a sudden, you know, we have a trend. And

I just I I feel silly bringing this up

this week. And I I again, I don't mean

to denigrate the Falcons, but it's just

one of the like to just to hear you say,

"Are they going to play conservative or

not?" I'm just like, it should not even

be a question. I I have the same feeling

with a backup quarterback. You can't

dink and dunk your way through a game

with a backup quarterback. You have to

create variance. Carson Wentz beat the

Packers because he took a shot to Justin

Jefferson and totally changed the game.

like you have to be willing to take

those plays down the field or or you

can't win. I'll take the flip side of

this though, Aaron. The Packers cannot

give up explosive plays if they make the

Falcons play conservative. I I just

think the talent disparity is such that

the Packers have the matchup advantages

at key places and and that they will

win. I think the fact that Lucas Vaness

has developed into a hell of a football

player. He was dominant last week. Um,

only Khil Mack in the last decade has a

game with nine tackles, one and a half

sacks, nine pressures. Like he was

outstand and that's against Armanu and

Olaf Fchanu. Those are not bums at

offensive tackle. He was also very good

against Brian O'Neal and and Christian

Derosaw the week before. He he has

changed this team. If you cannot give up

explosives, what the Packers have been

very good at, and you don't turn the

ball over, the one way an inferior

opponent and the Packers are six and a

half point favorites. Again, I'm not

trying to disrespect anybody. Packers

are six and a half point favorites for a

reason. Is you turn the ball over and

you give them short fields. The Vikings

scored twice inside the Packers five

because they turned the ball over. That

was the difference in that game. That's

how you lose by 19 instead of three,

which is what the margin would have been

before the turnover avalanche. So,

>> it's just it is imperative that that's

the way that that this goes for the

Packers if they want to win. The last

thing I'll add, special teams has been a

problem for the Packers. Um, that's

another way that you can go down to a

team that you you shouldn't lose to.

Guess what? Packer special teams have

been awesome through two weeks. Skyore

won them the football game last week.

Um, Trace Mack hit a 59 yarder in week

one, hit the gamewinner last week. This

looks like a much improved special teams

team uh for the Packers. So, um, it's

going to be fun. I think I genuinely

think the Falcons will look the best

they've looked on offense all year, even

if I think the Packers defense is much

improved. Aaron, um I I will I will uh

end on that uplifting note for your

audience.

>> Uh and we will be back more this week to

give you guys everything you need to get

you ready to come out of this game to

talk about what comes next. We're always

here for you on the Lockdown Podcast

Network to stay locked on Packers and

Locked on Falcons.