Two former division rivals square off as Green Bay hosts Tampa Bay
It is a “Battle of the Bays” as the Packers get ready to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Noon Central Time on Sunday.
The Packers are 6-7 after falling 24-22 on the road to the Giants on Monday Night Football. The Bucs are also 6-7 after winning 29-25 at Atlanta this past Sunday.
Baker Mayfield has guided TB to a division lead after 13 games. Mike Evans continues to get it done and is still a major threat whenever he is on the field. They aren’t a strong running team, but the Packers are second to last (only Denver is worse) at rush defense. They need to bounce back from that disappointing performance at the Meadowlands and give the ball back to their offense.
Jordan Love didn’t have a horrible game on Monday night, but he did throw an interception for the first time in 4 games. TB is one of the worst teams at giving up passing yards, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Love. Let’s bounce back and have a great day on offense.
Special teams let the Packers down on Monday night. With the cold weather here, we are going to need them to be much better. Keisean Nixon can be a dynamic returner, but he needs to understand that sometimes it’s just better to fall on the ball and just let the offense take over from there.
This isn’t the 1990s with Brett Favre and Warren Sapp exchanging big plays, and it isn’t even these last several years with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady on opposing sidelines. This is still a great matchup whenever these teams get together, especially for those of us who remember them getting together at least twice a year during the old NFC Central days.
Both teams still have a lot to play for. Both are in the playoff race, and TB is leading their division in a 3-way tie with Atlanta and New Orleans. The Packers didn’t lose their position in the playoff picture after their loss to the Giants, but it made things much tighter for them moving forward.
The good and bad news is that the Packers have a short week after their game against the Giants. It’s good because they have a chance to get back onto the field sooner, but that also works against a team a lot, especially traveling after a Monday night.
After wins at Detroit and at home vs Kansas City, this game against the Giants was a setback, but they have a chance to turn things back in the right direction. Wherever you will be, let’s cheer the team to victory this Sunday afternoon!
Get Loud Lambeau!
Go Pack Go!
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