The Bucks defeated the Falcons 29-25 in the tiebreaker to take the lead in the NFC South, and will face the Packers (6-7) at Lambeau Field in Week 15. Tampa Bay will be looking for its first three-game winning streak since the final three weeks of the 2021 season.
If the Bucs win, it will mean a lot to them as they get back to .500 with three games remaining and solidify their spot at the top of the division for another week. The Falcons will face the Panthers, who have one win, this week, while the Saints will face the Giants, who are 5-8. Tampa Bay’s loss will be difficult to accept, as the team will likely fall from the top spot soon after reaching the top spot in Week 14.
The Packers are in the thick of playoff contention. They currently own the last wild card spot, but are in just as much of a “must win” mode as the Bucks. Green Bay has been outstanding in December over the past few years under head coach Matt LaFleur, but Monday night’s loss to the Giants dropped them to 16-1. The Bucks will be tasked with going 16-2. But it’s not easy.
lastly…
Bucs DT Logan Hall and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The last time these two teams met was in Week 3 of the 2022 season. The Packers visited Raymond James Stadium and narrowly won 14-12 thanks to Aaron Rodgers’ two touchdowns and a missed two-point conversion late in the game by the Bucs. Tom Brady threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Russell Gage with 14 seconds left, but a two-point try cost them a chance to win in overtime.
The Bucks were without Mike Evans (suspended) and Chris Godwin (injured) for that game, severely hampering their offense. Gage and Breshad Perriman’s fumbles didn’t help, but Gage led the receivers with 12 catches for 87 yards and a late touchdown.
The Packers lead the all-time series against the Bucs with a 33-22 record, but their last meeting at Lambeau Field was in the 2020 NFC Championship Game. It was a memorable day for Tampa Bay, who won 31-26 and moved on to Super Bowl LV and the championship.
Bucs and Packers trends
After falling to 4-7 with back-to-back losses to the 49ers and Colts, the Bucks won back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 1 and 2. They defeated the Panthers 21-18 at Raymond James Stadium. Two weeks ago, they came from behind to beat the Falcons 29-25 in Atlanta last Sunday, coming out on top in the second half.
Bucks NT Vita Vea and Eagles C Jason Kelce – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
With consecutive wins, Tampa Bay regains first place in the NFC South with tiebreaker. The Bucks, Falcons, and Saints are technically tied at 6-7, but the Bucks and Falcons have better division records than the Saints. From there, Tampa Bay had a record against common opponents in the tiebreaker with Atlanta. With this, Todd Bowles’ team is now the fourth seed in the NFC. If this season ended, the fifth-seeded Eagles would come to Raymond James Stadium for Super Wild Card weekend.
As Baker Mayfield said after his team’s win over Atlanta, a come-from-behind victory means nothing if you don’t take care of business against Green Bay. After the trip to the frozen tundra, the Bucks have games against the Jaguars (8-5), Saints (6-7) and Panthers (1-12) awaiting them.
2023 was a great year for the Packers. They started by trading longtime quarterback and four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers. It meant the Jordan Love era officially began in Green Bay, but it didn’t start well. The Packers were 3-6 through Week 10, but have made a huge comeback and are now in position to make the playoffs.
After starting 3-6, Matt LaFleur’s team won three straight, defeating the Chargers, Lions and Chiefs. But they faltered last Monday night, losing 24-22 to Tommy DeVito’s Giants on a last-second field goal.
At 6-7, the Packers currently hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC, but several teams are following suit. The Rams, Seahawks, Falcons and Saints (and Bucs if they don’t win the NFC South) are there at 6-7.
Here are the Bucs and Packers standings heading into Week 15.
Bucks offense: 22nd in scoring offense (20.2 PPG), 23rd in total offense (304.4 yards per game), 20th in passing offense (214.4 yards per game), 29th in rushing offense (90.0 yards per game).
Packers offense: 18th in scoring offense (21.5 PPG), 18th in total offense (329.3 yards per game), 18th in passing offense (223.0 yards per game), 19th in rushing offense (106.3 yards per game).
Bucks defense: 13th in scoring defense (20.8 points per game), 27th in total defense (362.8 yards per game), 30th in passing defense (264.1 yards per game) and 10th in rushing defense (98.8 yards per game). yard)
Packers defense: 11th in scoring defense (20.5 points per game), 19th in total defense (342.1 yards per game), 8th in passing defense (200.2 yards per game), and 31st in rushing defense (141.8 yards per game). yard)
As of Wednesday, the Packers are 3.5-point favorites with the over/under set at 41.5 points (By MyBookie.ag).
What will decide the Bucs vs. Packers matchup?
Bucks RB Rathard White – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucs offense will look to take advantage of the Packers’ 31st-ranked run defense, while the Packers may try to expose the Bucs’ 30th-ranked pass defense. Regardless of which offense executes the game plan better, and which defense does better at taking the opposing offense out of that plan, Lambeau will have the upper hand.
For Tampa Bay, playing against a weak run defense might not have meant much even a month ago. This game had the league’s worst ground game a year ago and was stuck in the same spot going into the season. However, despite the fact that they are only 29th in rushing offense, the Bucs are now better suited to run the ball and try to control Sunday’s game against the Packers in that way.
In Week 14 against the Falcons, Rashard White and Chase Edmonds both ran well down the stretch, and the offensive line did an outstanding job in that aspect of the game. White has had two 100-yard rushing games in the last three weeks and has topped 100 total yards five times in the past seven games. In one of the two games in which he didn’t reach 100 total yards, he still finished with 98 yards.
If White can keep rolling against a Packers defense that has allowed over 120 rushing yards nine times in 13 games and over 200 yards in four games, the Bucs will be in good hands. Now it’s up to Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin.
Packers QB Jordan Love – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Meanwhile, Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense will look to expose the Bucs’ struggling pass defense.Carlton Davis III and Zion McCollum have been playing better lately — and McCollum just had what might be his best game as a pro.. But overall, the Bucs are near the bottom of the league in passing, with six QBs having a 300-yard passing game against Tampa Bay this year.
Love has really impressed as of late, going 99-of-147 (67%) for 1,075 yards, nine touchdowns, and one interception over the last four games. Before Monday’s loss to the Giants, he had gone three straight games without an interception.
Green Bay has a trio of young receivers who have performed well for Love this year. None of them have flashy numbers, but they all have surprisingly consistent numbers. Jaden Reed (48 catches, 540 yards, 5 TDs), Romeo Dubs (49 catches, 537 yards, 7 TDs), Christian Watson (28 catches, 422 yards, 5 TDs) Both have played great roles at various times for the Packers. Year.
But the disadvantage for Love and the Packers this week is that their receiving corps is strong. Watson missed Week 14 with a hamstring injury, and Reid and fellow rookie Dontaevion Wicks (25 catches, 394 yards, one touchdown) were injured Monday night against New York. It will be worth monitoring the status of each as game day approaches.
Key players to watch
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo courtesy of USA Today
A week after almost single-handedly defeating the Panthers, Mike Evans was not involved in the Bucks’ win over the Falcons in Week 14. Atlanta tried their best to take him, but even if he was open, Baker Mayfield wouldn’t. Don’t let him have the ball. He gained eight yards on six targets and had just one catch. Expect to see him bounce back against the Packers since the 2020 NFC Championship Game, when he caught three passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Antwon Winfield Jr. seems to make a game-changing play or two every week. The Buccaneer defense rightfully follows his lead.. He will look to continue his excellent run at the expense of Jordan Love, who has been the team’s best player this season and has 11 interceptions and one lost fumble this season. The Packers have allowed just 26 sacks this season, tied for the fewest in the league, so coach Todd Bowles may consider using Winfield on some blitzes to add pressure. unknown.
Packers WR Romeo Dubs Photo courtesy of USA Today
Romeo Dubs is one of the Packers’ leading touchdown scorers with seven touchdowns, and if Jaden Reed, Christian Watson or Dontaevion Wicks miss Sunday’s game, he will will especially attract the attention of the Tampa Bay defense. Even if any or all of these three play, Douce is the one to watch. In last year’s Packers-Bucs game, he had eight catches for 73 yards and one touchdown on eight targets.
Rashan Gary is a threat. He’s someone to worry about for a Packers defense that currently has the third-fewest sacks in the league. He has nine of Green Bay’s 29 sacks this year, including six lost tackles and two forced fumbles. The Michigan product is one sack away from breaking a career high, and while Tampa Bay’s offensive line has been formidable in pass protection this year, Gary was a factor in Sunday’s game. It shouldn’t be a shock.
Bucs vs. Packers game information
when: Sunday, December 17th
where: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
kick off: 1:00 PM ET
tv set: CBS – Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Tiki Barber & Matt Ryan (analysts), AJ Ross (reporter)
Bucks Radio: 98Rock – Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (color), TJ Ribbs (reporter)
