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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have proven that past meetings don’t necessarily guarantee future results. Defeated by the New Orleans Saints twice in the regular season, the Buccaneers returned the favor in kind on Sunday, beating rivals NFC South at the Superdome to advance to the NFC Championship game.
The Green Bay Packers are hoping a similar dish of revenge can be served at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
In October, the Packers took a 10-0 lead, but then watched the Buccaneers score the last 38 points of the game to end a resounding loss in Week 6. The game was reversed by two interceptions from Aaron Rodgers , one of which came back for a touchdown. The Bucs scored 28 points in the second quarter and claimed the win in what ended up being the Packers’ worst overall performance in the regular season.
Here are all the important things you need to know about this first encounter between the Packers and the Buccaneers, and how they might apply now:
1 the passing game really struggled
AP Photo / Mark LoMoglio
The Packers have been terribly effective in the passing game for much of the year, but not in Tampa Bay. Even at the start, the attack relied on extended play and a few moments of improvisation to create the 10-0 lead. The Bucs ended up delivering five sacks in total while allowing just 2.7 yards per pass and just 107 yards per net pass. It was a dominant effort. Aaron Rodgers has been under pressure 18 times, a season high, according to Pro Football Focus, but he has also struggled with a goalless pocket, a rarity for the alleged MVP. Rodgers also completed just three passes for 10 yards and was 0 for 5 on attempts over 20 yards. Credit Todd Bowles and the Bucs for mistaking Rodgers for covers and pressuring him with blitzes at the right time. This time around, the Packers need to play better on time in the passing game.
2 turnovers keep the game going
AP Photo / Jason Behnken
The Buccaneers might have won the football game even without the takeaways, but steals on back-to-back possessions in the first half certainly changed the game in a major way. Up to 10-0 and with the ball, the Packers were fortunate enough to climb three points early with a touchdown. Instead, Jamel Dean skipped a pass to Davante Adams and sent her back for a touchdown. Three games later, a tilted ball intended for Adams on the third down ended up in the hands of Bucs safety Mike Edwards, and the resulting comeback set up a 2-yard touchdown. A 10-0 game turned into 14-10 in the blink of an eye, and the Packers never recovered. The Bucs had 25 points to take in the regular season (fifth in most) and added five more in the playoffs, including four against the Saints on Sunday. Much like the divisional round against the Rams, the Packers must protect football against another disruptive defense. Green Bay finished with a low turnover of 11 in the NFL in 2020 and an 11-0 record when not returning the ball this season.
3 Redemption of the red zone
AP Photo / Mark LoMoglio
The Buccaneers have scored on their four trips to the red zone. Needing a save or two to slow the bleeding before half-time, Mike Pettine’s defense couldn’t keep Tom Brady and the Bucs out of the end zone. Twice in the second quarter, Brady threw touchdown passes – one to rookie Tyler Johnson and another to Rob Gronkowski – third in the red zone. The other two opportunities were excusable. An interception put the Bucs on the 2-yard line on one, and a Josh Jackson penalty gave the Bucs the first and the goal from the 2-yard line later in the second period. Still, the Packers will need to be better at finding saves if – or when – the Bucs break into the 20. The good news: Green Bay finished eighth in the NFL stopping touchdowns in the red zone, largely due to ‘an excellent late finish. in the season.
4 No pressure
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Packers made life way too comfortable for Tom Brady in the first meeting. On 27 assists, Brady was under pressure on just five losses, per Pro Football Focus. Playing from a clean pocket, the six-time Super Bowl champion tore the Packers apart. Mike Pettine has blitzed 12 times, but found little success. The Packers need to do better to get the heat up on Brady, especially in key situations like the third down and in the red zone. Brady is too smart and his weapons too good for the Packers to survive without a better performance from the group rushing through the passes. Once again, there’s good news: The Packers pressured Jared Goff nearly 50% of his retirements on Saturday.
5 Stonewalling Aaron Jones
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Packers gave Jones 10 carries, but the games only gained 15 total yards. Several, including a handful of runs to the perimeter, lost yards or died on arrival. The Packers tried to stretch the Bucs over the edge, but linebackers Devon White and Lavonte David were too quick. The Packers ended up getting 20-yard runs from Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon, so the Bucs can’t be considered impenetrable. Additionally, the Packers rushed nearly 200 yards against the Rams, with most of the production based on simple inside zone concepts. That could be the way to go on Sunday, although the potential return of Vita Vea could throw a wrench into those plans.
6 Defense midfielder
AP Photo / Jason Behnken
The Buccaneers took advantage of the Packers’ midfield defense in October, rushing for 158 yards and getting five catches for 78 yards from tight end Rob Gronkowski. Mike Pettine’s squad need a lot better play from the linebacker and safety posts on Sunday. Every position seems to be going in the right direction, although the Packers gave up a few big plays in midfield against the Rams. Keep in mind that the Bucs ran the ball well in New Orleans, Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones combining for 125 yards. It’s a big physical combo that could be tough to handle in the cold Sunday, but the Packers handled Derrick Henry and David Montgomery very well in the cold to end the season.
7 Jaire vs. Evans
Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) is seen with a Black Lives Matter message on the back of his helmet before the Green Bay Packers play the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday, September 20, 2020.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught just one pass in the first meeting, despite struggling with an ankle problem entering the game. With Jaire Alexander mainly outweighing Evans, the Bucs have gone elsewhere with football. The match should be reviewed on Sunday. Will Tom Brady avoid Alexander again? He has plenty of secondary targets to lean on including Gronkowski, Chris Godwin, Tyler Johnson, Scotty Miller, and possibly even Antonio Brown, though his status is unknown. The Packers didn’t face Brown in the first meeting. It will be a big test for high school.
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