Packers 2017 schedule release: Game-by-game predictions
By Kenn Korb
Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Something about Tampa Bay always seems to make them a tough opponent for Green Bay.
Back in the Brett Favre days, this team was one of the tougher annual matchups for the Packers behind their tough defensive units; from 1998-2005, Green Bay was 5-6 against the Bucs, with 10 of those games ending in a one-score difference.
Since the 2002 league realignment (which moved the teams to different divisions), the teams haven’t played nearly as often, but even in the Aaron Rodgers era we’ve seen some of those same issues come into play to a degree (in four games against the Bucs, Rodgers is just 2-2).
This Bucs team looks like a potential playoff challenger behind QB Jameis Winston and an influx of many new talents over the past few seasons. WR Mike Evans is one of the best in the league, Winston is a rising star, and the defense has a good mix of young players (Kwon Alexander) and talented veterans (Gerald McCoy, Brent Grimes) which can take a big step with their moves this offseason (J.J. Wilcox, Chris Baker, upcoming draft picks).
Green Bay is lucky this game comes at home, because that might be what makes the difference needed here. Green Bay should be able to attack the Bucs’ corners besides Grimes, and their run defense is not all that good (#24 in Run Defense DVOA), so there will be places to attack.
McCoy could cause some havoc against the weakened interior of Green Bay’s offensive line to help keep things close, but I think Rodgers can lead his team to have an efficient day while taking care of the ball while his own defense forces the opposite outcome for the still turnover-prone Winston.
Packers 23, Buccaneers 17 (8-4)