The Green Bay Packers fell to 6-7 last week against the Tommy “Cutlets” and a below-average Giants team. I know the Packers fans don’t want to hear it, but that also makes the Packers below average. If they have any chance of salvaging the season and making a real push for the playoffs, they need to win at home against another favorable opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here are the three keys to beating Baker and the new-look Buccaneers.
Green Bay Packers Must Stop the Run
You might ask why stopping the run is one of the keys this week. The Buccaneers haven’t been particularly good at running the ball all season. They are ranked 29th in the NFL, averaging only 90 yards on the ground per game. However, over the past three games, things have turned around for them, and a big part of that is the run game and Rachaad White.
Joe Barry has been criticized all season for his lack of attention to detail in stopping the run. If you want to play safe in a two-high shell against Mahomes and Herbert but against Backup quarterbacks and Baker Mayfield, make them earn it. Those quarterbacks need play-action to succeed.
If they don’t have a run game, play-action isn’t effective. I also want to make a side note that the Players must also tackle. It’s not all on Barry; the players need to perform. Rachaad White is no bum. He is tied for 20th in forced missed tackles with 30 total.
Get Jordan Love Going Early
Jordan Love is seemingly a different player when he is in a rhythm early. When he makes throws on time and with good fundamentals, he looks like one of the best QBs in the NFL. When he has a slow start, it generally looks terrible until the third and fourth quarters.
Nobody wants to live in that world of constantly trailing in games. This team might be better at winning close games in a year or two. This current iteration of the Packers plays better with a lead.
Something that should help the Packers get going early is the Tampa defense. The Buccaneers are ranked one spot below the Packers on third down defensively. They are getting off the field 42 percent of the time. They are also a coin flip on fourth down. This means there should be some opportunities to extend drives.
Win the Urgency Battle
What do I mean by win the urgency battle? It simply means that whoever comes out more ready to play and has the intensity will have the edge in this game. The Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need this game to stay alive in the playoff race. Don’t underestimate how impactful getting this game at home will be.
Whichever team wins Sunday will have the inside track to make the playoffs. One thing that Aaron Rodgers didn’t do in his rookie season is make the playoffs. Getting in would go a long way for Jordan’s confidence and his teammates confidence in him moving forward.
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