Brats & Beer

Battle Of The Bays

So what do we have on tap this week in the battle between Green Bay and Tampa Bay? A meeting between former division rivals, both coming off playoff seasons with designs on repeating, each of them with a 2-1 record and fighting to hold on to their lead in their respective divisions. Yes, I’m completely stoked for this Sunday’s game.

The Packers offense comes into this game ranked fifth in the league in points scored (29.3) and eighth in yards gained (366.0). Aaron Rodgers has proven himself more than capable of helming this team, but he’s coming off his first big loss and needs to rally the weapons around him. It’ll be a big challenge on the road against a Bucs defense that has allowed just 19 points per game (10th). That vaunted Tampa 2 is starting to show some cracks, however, according to a comment from Michael Lombardi at The National Football Post:

The Bucs defense surprised me watching tape yesterday, as they have given up way too many deep plays down the field and rank in the bottom third of the NFL in allowing plays of over 25 yards. This is very unlike a Monte Kiffin defense. And it looks like teams are doing a better job of attacking them after the half. The 3rd quarter has been an issue for the Bucs; they’ve been outscored 21-3 in 3rd quarter this season.

Indeed, the Saints had five big plays against the Buccaneers in the opening game of the season, with three of those going for touchdowns. And last week the Bears managed two big pass plays, plus another big run off a fake punt. The Packers are a big play offense with Greg Jennings and Donald Driver looking to take it to the house every time they touch the ball, so I’m looking forward to an exciting afternoon.

What worries me, though, is Green Bay’s defense because of all the injuries. Atari Bigby is out for Sunday with a hamstring, Nick Collins will start but might not see every snap because of his back injury, and of course there’s Al Harris’ spleen. Backups Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah, and yes Jarrett Bush will all see significant time on the field and they all need to step up their game this week.

What can help the depleted secondary from being exposed on Sunday is if the seven guys in front of them have the sort of game we expect from them every week. The defensive line got schooled pretty good by the Cowboys so it’ll be interesting to see how they respond against the Bucs. A lot has been made of Brian Griese’s 67 dropbacks last week, and while I don’t think we’ll see that kind of performance Sunday, the pass rush (hands up) and the linebackers (sure tackles) do need to be ready to defend against the dink and dunk.

I would interject here also that Green Bay’s special teams unit needs to step it up on Sunday, and yes I’m looking at you, Derrick Frost. No more 37-yard line drives, huh? It’s time we saw whatever it was that made Ted Thompson dump the Scramblin’ Canuck in favor of you right before the season.

The Packers have an excellent opportunity this week to right their ship, so to speak, by sinking that pirate boat of the Bucs. It’ll be a close match for much of the afternoon, I suspect, but big plays on offense will put Green Bay over the other Bay 27-19.

Yarr! Go, you Packers! Go!