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Packers at Buccaneers
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| Our Expert |
When Packers have the ball |
When Bucs have the ball |
Prediction |
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Lance Allan
Pregame Analyst, Packers Gameday
Sports Anchor/Reporter, Today's TMJ4
More
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Run the ball. Ryan Grant says he can finally cut it loose in practice. He'll need to during the game. The Bucs will want to control the clock, so the Packers need to fight fire with fire by winning the time of possession battle by grinding it out on the ground and keeping the pressure off of Aaron Rodgers. It will be a plus to have Scott Wells back at center, and Jason Spitz at right guard.
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Bucs want balance. Trust me and take this to the bank: Brian Griese will not throw the ball 67 times. He's still icing his arm down after that air assault against the Bears. Jon Gruden will want more balance, and you can be sure he noticed the 217 yards and 5.7 yards per carry that Dallas racked up. It's gut check time for the Packers defensive line as Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn expect to get fed a lot of carries.
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Buccaneers 19, Packers 16. Keep in mind I'm 3-0, undefeated, one game better than the Packers. So I say it's a knockdown, drag out slugfest under the Florida sun.
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Jeff Falconio
In-Game Anchor, Packers Gameday
Co-Host, Wisconsin Sports Weekend
Contributor, Sportsbubbler
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Protecting Aaron Rodgers. The Buccaneers have seven sacks in the last two games and will try to be as disruptive as Dallas was last week.
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Lots of Tampa Bay passes. Brian Griese put the ball in the air nearly 100 times in two weeks. Look for Jon Gruden to continue the aerial assault against a depleted secondary.
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Buccaneers 20, Packers 16. Despite 67 attempts by Griese, Tampa Bay didn't give up a sack last week. Without Al Harris, the Packers will struggle to get off the field.
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Jim Ganzer
Editor, Sportsbubbler
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Short passing game. The Packers need to stay in front of the Tampa Bay defensive backs. It's important to work the quick slant and get the ball to the wide receivers immediately. Slow developing plays will work to Tampa's advantage.
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Stop runs up the middle. Guards are exploding into Green Bay's linebackers. The defensive line needs to slow them to allow linebackers the ability to flow with the play.
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Packers 27, Buccaneers 17. Green Bay will use a controlled approach, eating up the clock and limiting mistakes.
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Greg Matzek
Co-Host, Wisconsin Sports Weekend
Contributor, Sportsbubbler |
A healthy Ryan Grant. His hamstring is improving, but the run/pass balance was out of whack once the Packers were forced to chase the Cowboys.
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Tampa Bay running the ball. The Buccaneers coaching staff is well aware of how the Packers' run defense was gashed last week. They will use a lot of Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn (yes, he STILL plays) and probably not pass 67 times like they did against the Bears.
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Packers 20, Buccaneers 13. There's usually not a lot of points put up when these two teams play. I think the Packers hold off the Bucs on the road and seal it with a late turnover.
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Dan O'Donnell
News Anchor/Reporter, 620WTMJ
Co-Host, Wisconsin Sports Weekend |
Ryan Grant against an uncharacteristically bad Bucs run defense. Aaron Rodgers needs to keep on keeping on, but the real key will be Ryan Grant getting the running game going against a Buccaneers defense that has given up 121.3 yards per game on the gruond this year
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Green Bay's secondary against an uncharacteristically high-powered Buccaneers offense. Tampa Bay's "O" is 7th in the league in yards per game, so Green Bay will need to keep the pressure on Brian Griese, who threw a whopping 67 passes last week, to make up for the absence of Al Harris.
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Packers 23, Buccaneers 20. Gaines Adams and Derrick Brooks are a bit banged up, so look for the Packers to control the tempo with their running game and hold Griese and company in check.
(Editor's note: Dan uncharacteristically forgot to put the word uncharacteristically in this part of the prediction.)
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Jay Sorgi
Postgame Anchor, Packers Gameday
News and Sports Anchor/Reporter, 620WTMJ
Contributor, Sportsbubbler |
Healthy back, healthy O-line, healthy time of possession. At last, the Packers have their full arsenal back on both the offensive line and the running back slot with Ryan Grant. Turn him loose, especially with draws and screens to make the Bucs' defensive speed work against them. That, and keep the ball in your hands to make the Bucs' defense tired and frustrated in the fourth quarter while the Packers offense is tired but successful.
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Front four domination. The Packers' defensive backs belong in Bellin Hospital, not a football field. No Al Harris, probably no Atari Bigby, and Charles Woodson and Aaron Rouse not 100%. Coverage sacks won't happen. Pickett and Jolly must tie O-linemen up on 1st and 2nd down and let the Packers' top-flight linebackers fly to the football and create 3rd and longs. Then Kampman, Jenkins and company MUST own those downs to take the pressure off the secondary.
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Packers 24, Buccaneers 21. Tampa Bay came back on Chicago last week because the Bears can't score points. The Packers can, and even against a great defense, they'll do enough to steal the win in the Gulf heat and humidity. Look for a buzzer-beating "dagger" from Mason Crosby.
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Todd "The Llama" Welter
Producer, Sports Central
Reporter, 620wtmj.com
Contributor, Sportsbubbler |
Handle Tampa Bay's speed and physicality. Tampa Bay may not have as quick or as punishing a defense as Dallas, but they can still bring the same problems of speed and toughness which the Packers' offensive line can't handle.
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The Buccaneers going after the Packers' battered secondary. Tramon Williams has proven he will give up a big play or two.
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Packers 21, Buccaneers 17. Tampa Bay does not have nearly as many playmakers as "dem Cowboys" do on either side of the ball, so the Packers should be able to handle this physical, quick defense better.
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