This is a game of attrition. Injuries are a fact of life.
Some teams nosedive into irrelevancy when starters go down.
Some tread water.
Then, there’s the Detroit Lions. GM Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the entire pro scouting staff scan the veteran market better than anyone in the league. As a result, they’re 12-1 and in line for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Detroit’s stunning resourcefulness was on full display in a 34-31 win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football.
Here on the Ty & Bob Pod, we discuss the group Campbell calls the “Northern Savages.” The likes of wideout Tim Patrick, defensive lineman Pat O’Connor, linebacker David Long Jr., safety Jamal Adams keep giving the team valuable snaps.
It’s a different approach than the one taken by Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst in Green Bay since 2005.
What a game. These two clubs may meet again at Ford Field.
What went right? What went wrong? We examine the game in full. Look closely and you’ll see a burgeoning hatred between these teams, too.
At the top of the show, we begin with the Minnesota Vikings blasting the Atlanta Falcons — and the wide talent gap at quarterback. Kirk Cousins is regressing. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell were proven 100 percent correct again in holding the line. Now, there should be no doubt: Sam Darnold is the team’s quarterback of the present and the future. He was excellent.
In Chicago, Matt Eberflus is gone. Yet things managed to somehow get worse for the Bears against the San Francisco 49ers. A culture-builder is needed.
And stick around for a classic “McGinn Memory.” My co-host shares stories about the most outspoken player he ever covered.
Audio is above. Video is below.
Full episodes are always available to Go Long subscribers.
Miss our Monday AM column? You can read that here.
ICYMI:
Share this post