Official Packers vs. Bucs NFC Title Game Discussion Thread

[Jaire]

Has Tampa ever won in Lambeau?


Maybe once.

This is a long shot for the Bucs. If GB doesn't turn it over, they win. That easy. Fewest turnovers ------->>> SB. And the Pack have the fewest thus season. They are ready for this.

[Joemailman]

Has Tampa ever won in Lambeau?


Maybe once.

This is a long shot for the Bucs. If GB doesn't turn it over, they win. That easy. Fewest turnovers ------->>> SB. And the Pack have the fewest thus season. They are ready for this.

By my count, Packers are 20-7 against Bucs at Lambeau. Most of Bucs wins came in 1980's though. Packers have dominated in Favre/Rodgers era. https://www.pro-football-reference.c...tm2=tam&yr=all

[MadtownPacker]

Yes, 3 times Since 2010 SB year. Pay attention

[bobblehead]

Feels like the Packers have started fast in nearly every game and most opening possessions.

In this type of game - you want to set the tone early.

Offensive keys seem pretty basic: protect Arodg, play a clean game and win ToP. Be prepared for heavy zone and have a quick insert adjustment if they play contrarian.

Defensively: TB’s red zone has dried up in last 3 weeks (38%) - so we’ll see if Packers can keep that going, pressure Brady (he was only sacked once vs the Saints and Zero times in our first matchup).

Championship games also have that weird X factor play. Stuff happens you just don’t see in other playoff or reg season games. Coaches need to have the team ready to get over weird plays, weird calls and just focus the Offense on hanging 30+. If our Defense can’t keep Brady/Jones and co to under 30, they don’t deserve the chance for the trophy anyway.

I think GB will lead by 3 at the half and enter the 4th Q behind but will pull ahead mid 4th Q and lean on Jones/Dillon to take it home.

Let’s fucking go!

Pack 30
Bucs 24

Interesting final score. I have said to friends the keys are GB scoring 30 and or holding TB to 24 or less. Either one should lead to a win. What we can't have is GB scoring 24 or less. We likely lose that scenario. Of course if our D turns into a sieve and we give up 30+ we also are likely to lose.

[bobblehead]

Bobble, I respect your opinions, but you'd be hard pressed to say the game has not changed. The rules have changed drastically over the past fifty years to favor offenses. Especially pass offenses. If you look at the run-pass ratios of the 70's they're much higher than now. It didn't pay to pass when defensive players could almost literally take a receiver's head off, or could put sticky all over their gloves, and QB's could get slammed to the ground.

It's not that running games disappeared, it's that offenses became more efficient in passing. Completion percentages today are ridiculous compared to even the 80's or 90's, much less the 70's. Mike Holmgren famously used a short passing game as a substitute for running. If Edgar Benett had fifteen carries for 60 yards, that was a solid Packer running game when Holmgren was coaching.

I don't think those numbers will fly on Sunday for Aaron Jones. It has morphed back toward running - which I love - and which I'd like to see the Packers do. Unless, of course, TB stacks the box to stop the run. Then you pass on them, of course.

I agree with many of your points. Yes, the rule changes really changed the game. Also the ratios have tilted more towards a higher pass %. However, I am not quite old enough to have been a big fan in the 70s so I'm going say mid 80s onwards. Thats 35+ years of football. In that time you have always needed to run the ball effectively and that never changed. If I concede a point its that passing became much more successful as rules changed. Did teams get that much better at it? Meh, I think the rules made them better and thus led to more success.

That being said, I stand by my point. Teams haven't won the Owl without being able to do both. Passing isn't MORE important than running effectively. When the playoffs come around the refs swallow the whistle (see spearing play that changed the course of KC/Clev game) Today TB will be holding our WR. Interference won't be called as liberally. We will need to run effectively to win. For all the accolades Brady is given, without a good run game for the last 2 decades he would be just another really good QB.

[bobblehead]

0-3 leads to 0-6.

Every time Rodgers/Packers have lost to a team in Regular season, they then lost to them in conference championship.

Will home make a difference?

Trivia- Favre lost to Giants at home in 2007 conf championship

I am too lazy to look it up, but it seems to me that many of those 3 we had to go to their house and lose, then that was the tie breaker or the difference in record so we had to go to their house in the NFCC game as well. I used to get pissed we had to constantly go TO dallas and SF. Wasn't it something like 30 years between the ice bowl and when Dallas came back TO GB?

[Jaire]

By my count, Packers are 20-7 against Bucs at Lambeau. Most of Bucs wins came in 1980's though. Packers have dominated in Favre/Rodgers era. https://www.pro-football-reference.c...tm2=tam&yr=all

Thanks.

One loss in 2005 since 1990 (when I started watching). That's what I thought. I lived in TX that year and didn't follow. The Pack's worst season in 30 years (4-12).

[bobblehead]

Yes, 3 times Since 2010 SB year. Pay attention

0-3 leads to 0-6.

Every time Rodgers/Packers have lost to a team in Regular season, they then lost to them in conference championship.

Will home make a difference?

Trivia- Favre lost to Giants at home in 2007 conf championship

You clearly said EVERY time and made no such "since 2010" reference. So in conclusion, getting snarky and telling someone to "pay attention" when you didn't even pay attention to your own post makes you...... Ok, just going to leave it at that.

[Jaire]

Good little write up on matchups.

I haven't read much. I agree that Vita Vea is the big key. He's gonna wreck the game plan if he's a full go. TOs will decide it. White has a few observations I didn't know about, esp regarding Brady (since I haven't watched the Bucs at all.)

I think our pass rush can get to Brady. We can crush the pocket better than any squad I remember since the 90s.

https://t.co/Egja1D9WVE?amp=1

[Fritz]

If the Bucs do play as aggressively as it appears they will, MVS may be key. A couple of bombs to him (that he catches) would get them to back off a bit.

I'm not happy that after getting thrashed last year in SF, The Flower could do no better in the NFC Cahmpionship game. I hope he's gained some experience and plans better for this round two game.

But this one's at Lambeau, and that's good. I do wish the fans could pack the place, though.

[RashanGary]

I've been impressed with the refs staying out of the playoff games. Weird to see such a legitimate tourney. Now it's a matter of staying true to that for two more games.

Hope we win the turnover battle. Hope 12 learned how to play this D from week six. Hope our D has a solid game. Hope the temps drop. Oh man, this is an exciting game! Can't wait

[Joemailman]

Gonna be close to 30 degrees. Might even see some sun during the game. Sunny in Wausau right now. Looks like wind should be 5-10 MPH out of west.

[GB-Brandon]

[Bossman641]

Offensively, use the same plan as last week. Run it between the guards and take a few deep shots off play action.

Defensively, for the love of God please don't play soft or only rush 3. Brady has made a career out of taking the short stuff to TE's and RB's, and I don't mean that as an insult. He'll throw to Fournette and Brate all day.

Winfield currently a game time decision. His loss would be big

[Fritz]

I'm with Bossman on the game plan.

You play soft defense and you're doing Brady a favor. He'll dink and dunk all the way down the field, he won't make mistakes, and the next thing you know Tampa's had the ball for eight minutes and scored a TD.

I'm nervous about this one. I hope the Packers bring their A game. I'll never forget watching the 2016 season NFC Championship game, and my heart sinking as I realized that Green Bay was playing a lousy game, and they really couldn't match up, talent-wise.

I think this year's team is as talented as any we've seen around here since 2014, but I hope they don't drop another clunker on us like they did last year, or this year down in Tampa.