NFC Championship Preview: Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay
Brady and the Bucs look to knock off Rodgers and the Packers for the second time this season.
The frozen tundra. Lambeau Field.
Ok, I may not have the mystique tone of NFL Films legend John Facenda. But the historical aura that hangs over the majestic setting of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin still remains. For a chance to go to Super Bowl LV, we have ourselves a classic on our hands. Before us are a pair of organizations that are polar opposites when it comes to historic measure within the NFL. Yet, we also have a stage where two of the best quarterbacks to ever do it over the past decade and a half will try to one up each other for the right to be called NFC champion. Can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers complete the trifecta with three road playoff wins to emerge victorious in the NFC? Or will Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers get redemption and prevent the Bucs from making history? Here is the breakdown of the NFC title game between the Buccaneers and the Packers.
Time: Sunday, January 24th, 3:05 PM EST
Network: FOX
Buccaneers Keys To Victory
The Tampa Bay offense has been on a steady roll over the past month or so, largely since their bye week in Week 13. In four of their last five outings, the offense has registered over 400 total yards. Over the past three games, the Bucs have averaged over 35 points per game, 436 yards per game, and 6.4 yards per play. As quarterback Tom Brady leads the helm, this is a Tampa offense that is capable of scoring at will and their offensive firepower must lead the charge here.
Making a return to the field for the Buccaneers is a mountain in the middle of the defensive line. At 350 pounds, Vita Vea is a clog at defensive tackle for the Buccaneers and the massive run stuffer has recovered from a fractured leg suffered early during the regular season. Now, an already strong Buccaneers run defense gets even bigger and better. Not only will the presence of Vea aid the run defense but the ability to collapse the pocket from the interior and rattle Rodgers will be something to monitor also.
Packers Keys To Victory
Protecting Rodgers is always a priority but this may have to be amplified a bit. During the regular season, the Buccaneers were fifth in total sacks, third in quarterback hits, and second in quarterback pressures. When the two teams met in week six, the Buccaneers defense was able to register five sacks as the Bucs dominated in a 38-10 win. Keeping Rodgers upright and able to escape the pocket if need be is critical for the Packers offense and their offensive rhythm.
The previous matchup between the two teams was a simple story of the Packers offense not being able to get anything going. The unit was only able to total just 204 yards on offense with Rodgers being sacked four times and throwing two interceptions. Benefit of the doubt should be given to a talented Packers offense with their second crack at the Buccaneers defense but protecting Rodgers and finding offensive consistency are two huge factors that the Packers must execute in order to emerge victorious.
Prediction
Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a showdown. It’s Rodgers vs. Brady with the victor advancing to play for another Super Bowl title. Well, it’s more to it than that. There is a plethora of talent around both legendary quarterbacks.
For the Bucs, their defense has been engineering big plays late in games and has developed a respectable reputation because of it. We saw it last week against the New Orleans Saints with the defense generating three second half turnovers that allowed the Saints to go scoreless in the second half.
Rodgers gets the spotlight but receiver Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones have been quiet playmakers throughout the season and it will be tough for the Bucs defense to solely focus on one.
Tampa will be missing a vital playmaker in Antonio Brown, who is out with a knee injury. But when you have a pair of stud receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the duo allows the blow to be soften a bit.
Keeping Rodgers bottled up is tough to do once in a season, let alone twice. Which is the tasking that stands before the Bucs. Both teams have future Hall-of-Famers under center. Both teams have a front seven on defense that is able to set and maintain the tone of a game. What prevails is that one team has a defense that has developed a knack of making a game-changing play or two when it matters the most.