The Basics

The Packers head south next Sunday, October 4, to take on the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is at noon Central on FOX. Tampa Bay opened the year 0-2, so on paper this is exactly the kind of game Green Bay needs to get back on track. Then again, we said the same thing about the Falcons last week. The Packers still lead the all-time series 34-24-1, but the Bucs won the last meeting 34-20 back in 2023, so this isn’t a team Green Bay can just show up and beat.

What to Watch For

Everything starts with the run game. After 17 rushing yards against Atlanta, MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson have to give this offense something on the ground, even if it’s just enough to keep the Tampa defense honest. On the other side, Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin can hurt you, and the Packers defense just gave up almost 500 yards. Don’t expect help from Micah Parsons yet either, since he’s still on the PUP list. My prediction is a close one, but I’ll say Packers 24, Bucs 20, because this team is too good to go 1-3. Probably.

Sources: Buccaneers.com, Wikipedia, Buccaneers-Packers rivalry, CBS Sports.

Featured photo: Adog, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.