Packers: Showdown with Tom Brady’s Bucs could be high-scoring game

The Packers’ meeting with the Bucs could be high-scoring.

A key matchup in the leadup to this season’s showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be between Mike Pettine’s defense and the Tom Brady-led offense.

Green Bay’s pass defense was solid in 2019, ranking No. 14 in the NFL, but it will need to put in a strong performance an offense featuring Brady, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and a returning Rob Gronkowski.

But where the Packers can win this matchup is with their offense.

Packers offense can find success against Bucs defense

Tampa Bay’s defense ranked No. 30 against the pass last season, allowing just over 270 yards through the air per game. It allowed 30 passing touchdowns in total with 12 interceptions.

This offseason has been all about building the offense. Signing Brady and trading for Gronkowski, then selecting tackle Tristan Wirfs in the first round, are all signs they are going all-in with this offense.

Franchise-tagging edge rusher Shaquil Barrett, who had 19.5 sacks last season, was the right decision, but the Buccaneers haven’t done much to strengthen the defense this offseason.

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is the only defensive player they added in the opening five rounds of the draft in April.

The Bucs do have some very good players on defense and this group has the potential to take a step forward in 2020. They also did a good job of re-signing key players on this side of the ball. However, did Tampa Bay do enough to add to a defense that allowed 28.1 points per game (fourth-most in the NFL) last season?

Green Bay’s defense could struggle to contain Tampa Bay’s high-powered offense but Aaron Rodgers and company should be able to move the ball, especially if they can get the ground game going.

This has the potential to be a high-scoring contest. The Packers offense will need to be up to the challenge.