2022 NFL Week 3: Packers vs. Buccaneers Preview & Prediction

 As we begin, let us acknowledge that the Packers did what they needed to do last weekend: beat Da Bearz at Lambeau Field in their home opener. Yay. As Elvis would say: TCB, baby! Takin' care of business!

Which leads us to today when the Pack takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the late afternoon heat and humidity of Florida. Ewww. Plus, that Tom Brady QB guy. Double ewww.

The Preview

This game is being hyped, as expected, as perhaps the last meeting between two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Brady and Aaron Rodgers. This is likely Brady's last season and as for Rodgers, who knows? But as much as fans are interested in this aspect of the game, this is a contest in which the defenses may have more of an impact than the offenses. Who'd ever imagine saying that in a Brady vs. Rodgers game? But here we are.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers hoping to improve today on his record

vs. the Buccaneers against whom he is just 2-4, 1-3 in Tampa.

(Photo by Jason Behnken, AP)

Tampa's defense is arguably the best in the NFL right now. The Packers' defense was expected prior to the season to be a Top 5 defense. A bit of the air in that balloon went out in the opening loss to the ViQueens. Last weekend's game vs Chicago helped a bit, but still a lot of missed tackles. But, after all, it was Chicago so we can't read too much into that, can we?

The Bucs offense, despite being led by Brady, will be down a few receivers today: Mike Evans is suspended, Chris Godwin is out for the third straight week and Julio Jones is questionable. The running game also isn't quite at full strength, according to reports. Brady isn't as mobile as he once was and without his usual weapons, the Packers defense should have the upper hand. Should.

The Packers offense is still a work in progress. The O-line got RT Elgton Jenkins back last week. This week, word is that LT David Bakhtiari will play today. We'll see how well he is able to hold up against the Bucs defense in his first game back after his long ACL recovery. Rushing will be a challenge against this defense which, in normal times, one would look upon as a cue to rely on the pass. Except that the Pack is also down a few receivers right now. The team placed Sammy Watkins on the IR, a place where he has, unfortunately, spent a good portion of his once-promising career. This is a game where Rodgers may need to rely more on TE Robert Tonyan and work on building his trust with his rookie receivers, particularly Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson. And if the Pack can get RBs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon touches out of the backfield that can help open things up a bit, too.

The Pack will need to control the clock today, avoid turnovers and special teams mistakes, and — cliche as it is — make the plays they are supposed to make. Oh, and pressuring and getting at least one turnover against Brady and the Bucs' offense would help a great deal, as well.

The Prediction

This is projected by the oddsmakers as a relatively low-scoring game with the over-under set at 42. Tampa is favored by 1-1/2 points.

To us, this seems almost like a pick 'em type game. Both teams have question marks, both teams have great QBs, but the Bucs are at home. In the heat and humidity (it's supposed to feel like 101 degrees F right about time of kickoff...and that's not even the on-the-field heat), Tampa players should be more well adapted to the conditions. Not the frozen tundra, but rather the sweltering swamp.

As much as we hope the outcome is otherwise, we see this one going the way of Tampa Bay in a close one. (Please let us be wrong!)

We're calling it Buccaneers 20 - Packers 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 Season NFC Championship: Packers vs. Buccaneers

I took a deep breath as I began writing this preview and prediction, Packers fans. Because while we have all shared dreams of heading to the Super Bowl this season, and winning it, of course, there remains one little detail that needs to be taken care of first: beating the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a really good defense that dominated the Pack in the teams' first meeting earlier this season. (Deep breath...)

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and his offense will need to up their game today against

a Buccaneers defense that dominated them in the earlier meeting this season.

(Photo by Mark LoMoglio, AP)

Obviously, the main storyline is that of quarterback Aaron Rodgers vs. quarterback Tom Brady. And this will no doubt play itself out throughout the course of the game, perhaps down to the very last play.

In the first meeting, Rodgers threw 2 of his 5 interceptions during the regular season, including a pick-6. He was sacked, if memory serves, 4 times, and was under pressure most of the game. And that was with LT David Bakhtiari. Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles had the Pack's offense out of sync. It was unquestionably the Pack's worst game of the season.

Hopefully, lessons will have been learned. The Packers also need to take advantage of being at home in Lambeau Field. Granted, there may only be a fraction of the number of fans present that would otherwise be there in non-Covid times, but you can be sure all those present will represent Packer fans around the world who are there in spirit today.

In addition to a stout defensive line, the Bucs linebackers are fast. Hopefully, the slower turf — especially in the winter weather of Green Bay — will slow them down a bit.Thankfully, the full complement of the Packers running backs will be available, as will the receiving corps. When opportunities for runs and especially catches are present they need to be made; no drops or turnovers that could take the momentum away and flip the game to Tampa's favor. The Bucs defense is a takeaway machine and, in last week's win over the Saints in New Orleans, their 3 takeaways wound up leading to 21 points ... and, ultimately, the win. The Packers can't allow that to happen today or they could be this weekend's Saints.

As for the Packers defense against the Bucs offense, the defense must hold down the rushing game that serves to open up the passing game for Brady. He doesn't really need any help in that regard, does he? The defense also needs to get to Brady...quickly. While Rodgers is known for how quickly he can get the ball out, Brady is no slouch either. The Pack will need to get pressure on Brady and keep it on, while the D-backs and linebackers will need to be as tight as glue on Tampa receivers.

The Packers defense has been getting better and better over the last half of the season. They've got some mojo going. And a few days ago, Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine made the entire defense watch the replay of last season's NFC Championship game loss to the 49ers, where they played more like the Little Sisters of the Poor than the Green Bay Packers. The effect on those who were part of that defense, which was nearly all of those present, was as desired, according to reports: they were embarrassed, upset...P-O'd. Good. Perhaps that will be a motivator today.

The opportunities to play in championship games with the right to go to the Super Bowl on the line doesn't come along that often. The Pack will have now played in 2 in a row, the fifth in Rodgers career with only 1 winning trip to the Super Bowl to show for all the effort.

With Aaron Rodgers having one of his best season's ever and likely securing his third MVP award, and at age 37, we don't know how many of these opportunities will be there in the future for a Rodgers-led team. As the late Hall of Fame LB and Packers coach Kevin Greene said to a young Clay Matthews during the last Packers' Super Bowl win, "It is time." Indeed.

The Prediction

The Packers have received roughly the home field advantage spread of 3-1/2 points. The over-under has gone up from 51 to 52 or 53 depending upon your info source.

We don't expect the weather to be that much of a factor in today's game. Snow has already fallen this morning. No snow is predicted during the game. Temps will range from about 29° F at kickoff to 25° F at the end of the game. Winds are expected to be light and not a factor. Brady played all his career except this year for a cold weather team, and played his college ball at Michigan, so this weather will have no impact on his game. We can only hope it might have an effect on some of his teammates.

We expect this to be a hard-fought game by the two top teams in NFC. The Packers have experienced heartbreak in their last three trips to the NFC Championship with Rodgers at the helm. With the bad taste of last year's loss in mind (made fresh by Pettine's video session for the defense), and with knowledge gained from the earlier loss in Tampa, we expect the Packers to continue their winning ways today.

We're calling it Packers 31 - Buccaneers 27.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Week 7: Packers vs. Texans Preview and Prediction

A quick look back ...  

Oops.

Before we look at the upcoming game against the Texans in Houston today, we need to acknowledge that things didn't go as planned in last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, did they, Packer fans? After rushing out to a quick and relatively easy 10-point lead, the Pack proceeded to give up 38 unanswered points. An ugly performance on both sides of the ball that saw the Pack fall from the ranks of the undefeated and, for a time anyway, cede first place in the NFC North to Da Bearz (ewwwww!).

The Bucs defense had constant pressure on QB Aaron Rodgers throughout the game, leading to two uncharacteristic interceptions, two within three passes actually (including a pick-6 return), while the Pack's D let a non-mobile Tom Brady go by nearly untouched. The offense couldn't get going and the defense seemed lethargic and out of position constantly. Example: why was DT Kenny Clark dropping into coverage? Who knows. Either out of position or a badly designed scheme. But anyway, that's done. First loss of the season. On to Houston.

One of the things that has been in short supply this season for the Packers has been

turnovers. Here, safety Adrian Amos gets an interception last season against the Bears.

The defense needs to start generating takeaways. (Photo by Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The Preview

The game at Houston will pit a potentially explosive offense (Texans) against an actually explosive offense (Packers)...despite the latter not actually being so in last week's game, this year's Packers have been known to put up points. Thankfully, the Texans defense ranks at or near the bottom of the league in terms of defense, which sets things up nicely for the Packers to get back on track after the stumble against the Bucs.

Despite not having LT David Bakhtiari for today's game, perhaps not having RB Aaron Jones (supposedly a game-time decision), and going against all-world (and Wisconsin native) DE JJ Watt, this game sets up well for the Packers offense to put up points.

On the other side of the ball, the Packers defense — which clearly has some of its own issues to resolve — will be going up against the type of quarterback in Deshaun Watson that has typically given them fits over the years. Yes, a different year and set of players. But for the last few years, the same defensive coordinator and scheme. Watson is dangerous when flushed from the pocket. He will be hard to corral and sack. And if he is able to get around the end he can either open things up downfield for a pass or scamper to keep the chains moving.

The Prediction

The Packers come into this game (at the time of this writing) as 3-1/2 point favorites. The Packers need to get the running game going today to not allow Watt and company time and opportunity to get after Rodgers the way the Buccaneers did last week. As noted earlier, it's not clear at this time whether Jones will be active in the backfield today. So Jamaal Williams, A.J. Dillon and other backs, such as Dexter Williams just activated off the practice squad (perhaps a sign that Jones won't be available today), will have to carry the load. If they can do so successfully we should see the offense we saw in the first four games of the season, not the last one. Of course, it would help if the defense could generate a turnover or two, as well, something that they've only done three times in five games so far.

We're calling it Packers 34 - Texans 27.

Go Pack Go!!!

2020 NFL Week 6: Packers vs. Buccaneers Preview and Prediction

Hope you enjoyed the Week 5 Bye Week, Packer fans. Always a time to ... I dunno ... what does one do when the Pack isn't playing? A mystery to me still.

Seems like years ago — instead of just two weeks — we took down the Falcons at Lambeau Field by a score of 30-16. (By the way, our prediction, for those watching such things, and which you can find in the prior post here, was Packers 30 - Falcons 20 ... not bad, eh?)

Anyway, today we find our beloved 4-0 Green Bay Packers heading down to Tampa and a meeting with veteran QB Tom Brady and a very good 3-2 Tampa Bay team.

Two future Hall of Fame Quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers meet up today for

only the third time in their playing careers. (Photo by USA Today Network - Wisconsin)

The Prediction

The Packers are favored by 1 point going into the game. Earlier in the week, the Bucs were favored by 1-1/2 points. But as it became clearer that the Pack would be getting a few of their key players back today, chief among them WR Davante Adams, the odds changed.

We're not going to go into details today. Getting a bit late for that anyway. But we will say that the Packers will likely be challenged on both sides of the ball in ways they haven't been yet this season. And they certainly haven't faced Brady, who has been as magical over his career as has Rodgers in close games. With six Super Bowl wins to his credit he knows how to get things done. And understatement, to say the least. But Rodgers is looking like he hasn't in years, and with weapons galore — even against a stout Bucs defense — the odds favor the Pack going to 5-0 today.

That's why we're calling it Packers 34 - Buccaneers 30.

Go Pack Go!!!