AllGreenBayPackers.Com

Raji celebrates after his touchdown run. Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bucs are struggling. The Packers are not. This looks like another blowout win for the Packers, but I guess we have to play the game first. Personally, I see this game going more like the Rams game than the Vikings game. The Packers will always be in control, but it won’t be the complete domination that everyone expects.

With the Thanksgiving showdown against the Lions just a few days away, I also think the Packers might get a little bored today. Speaking of bored, you’ve probably had enough of my pregame ramblings. Lets get to the game.

Packers inactivies: CB Davon House, LB Robert Francois, LB Jamari Lattimore, LB Frank Zombo, OG Ray Dominguez, OT Chad Clifton and TE D.J. Williams.

Mike Neal makes his 2011 debut today. I thought the Packers would wait until the Thanksgiving game, but this is a nice surprise.

Safety Tanard Jackson is inactive for the Bucs. That’s going to make it even more difficult for Tampa Bay to slow down Jermichael Finley and Green Bay’s WRs.

First half

We get Joe Buck and Troy Aikman today. I love my touchdowns called in a monotone voice.

The Bucs convert on 3rd and 7 and Clay Matthews leaves the game with some sort of injury. Not a great start.

With Matthews on the sideline, AJ Hawk hits Josh Freeman’s arm on 3rd and 4 and the Packers offense will go to work. Dom Capers brought the pressure on that series.  Read more... (1349 words + 1 image, estimated 5:24 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

When a 9-0 team like the Green Bay Packers welcomes a 4-5 club like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there are going to be a number of factors that favor the undefeated team at home. And really, Packers fans probably don’t need much for comfort as they head into Sunday. I’ve haven’t witnessed much nail-biting in the lead up to Week 11. However, if you are one of those fans who is sweating the Packers upcoming game against the Bucs, maybe the following five factors will calm your mind.

1. The Bucs really struggle on D

The Packers offense is playing well enough right now that matchups become more or less a moot point. But when scanning the Buccaneers’ defensive numbers in 2011, it’s hard to ignore the kind of mismatch we could see on Sunday. Through nine games, the Bucs currently rank No. 31 in total defense (401.2 yards/game), No. 28 in pass defense (263/game), No. 29 in rush defense (138.2/game) and No. 27 in points allowed (25.9/game). According to Pro Football Focus, the Bucs are the third-worst rated defense in the NFL. It’s bad across the board. Aaron Rodgers and Co. is always a threat to put a big number on the board, but it looks like a near certainty on Sunday against this Bucs defense.

2. End of a tough stretch  Read more... (847 words + 1 image, estimated 3:23 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny

Nine down, seven to go.  The Green Packers have crossed the halfway mark in their quest for a perfect regular season en route to a repeat Super Bowl trip.

This week the Packers aim for win number ten, the number where Packers coach Mike McCarthy allows his players to begin discussing the “p-word”—playoffs. It took the Packers the full season to reach that threshold last season. This year, they can hit ten wins the fastest way possible.

Standing in the Packers way are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Expected to contend for the title in the difficult NFC South, the Buccaneers instead have slumped to 4-5 and have lost three in a row.

Haven’t we seen this script somewhere else before?

The Packers have a chance to avenge one of the most embarrassing losses in franchise history when in 2009 they lost to a winless Buccaneers team in Tampa which happened to be quarterback Josh Freeman’s first start.

Will revenge truly be a dish best served cold?

Key Buccaneers Players

QB Josh Freeman

At this time last year, Freeman was dubbed the next big thing.  He was emerging as the next superstar quarterback in an already stacked NFC South.  He played solid in his rookie year of 2009 and grew in 2010. The plate was set.

Instead, Freeman has fallen back to earth and it could be argued that he has regressed. He has thrown for nine TDs to go with 13 interceptions.  While he doesn’t have a very talented receiver corps, he still needs to be smart with the ball.  Read more... (920 words + 1 image, estimated 3:41 mins reading time)

---- Get AddToAny