After the worst start in who knows how long, the Green Bay Packers continue to find themselve in must-win games. This time, they head down to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. I don’t know what will be hotter, the kickoff temperatures in Tampa Bay or the coach’s seat of whatever coach loses this game: Matt LaFleur or Todd Bowles.
This game feels like a lot is on the line. The general manager of the Packers, Brian Gutekunst, must also be feeling some of the heat. Over the past several days, Gutekunst added not one, not two, but three offensive linemen. It goes to show you that the Packers are willing to make changes if things aren’t working out. The Packers are having a historically bad year with their o-line. I mean, right now, Green Bay has the 32nd ranked offensive line, which of course is dead last. But, if you were to choose which 32 ranked offensive line is the worst out the past several seasons of 32nd ranked offensive lines, it’s this current Packers team.
Green Bay had to do something. And they did. So now what? Well, they still have to play their games, and now they have Tampa.
So, what are the keys to winning this game and getting back into their winning ways?
Packers First Key Is Easy
Green Bay and Jordan Love have the weapons necessary for a top notch offense. The problem has been the o-line. Love hasn’t had enough time to find his reads. The running game can’t get going to set up the play action. Everything about the offensive line has just been bad.
But, with the additions of Kevin Zeitler, Laken Tomlinson, and Mechai Becton (Becton will not play on Sunday), the Packers are trying something new by getting some veteran talent up front. Like I said in last week’s article, it doesn’t have to be good. It just needs to be serviceable. Simplify things up front, give the running game a chance, and give Love a chance.
Even with these additions, the offensive line has quite the challenge ahead of them. Vita Vea will be on the the other side of the line and he is a handful. There’s a reason why the clips that came out of practice showed some of the offensive linemen working on double teams. It’ll be imperative to contain Vita Vea.
Defense Can’t Break Contain
The Buccaneers starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will be out of this game with a thumb injury. That means Tampa Bay will be starting undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. The Packers defense should have the edge against Daniels, but Green Bay can’t let him run wild.
Jalon Daniels is a mobile quarterback and plays quite a bit differently than that of Baker Mayfield. The Packers key on defense is to stop the run, contain Daniels and prevent him from gashing the defense with his legs. Force the young quarterback to beat the defense with his arm. If the Packers can do that, then this should be a win for the Packers and the Packers defense.
However…
Packers Other Keys To Winning
It’s going to be hot. Raymond James Stadium will be hot and humid. Game time temperature could be around 90°F and feel like around 100°F. And, the Buccaneers have chosen to wear their white jerseys, forcing the Packers to wear their dark green and make them feel a bit more of the heat.
The Packers will need to make sure that they are doing everything possible to keep the players cool on the sideline as much as possible. They’ll also need to make sure that everybody is hydrated. I’d expect a few players to suffer from cramps so how will they overcome that? They’ll have to make adjustments throughout. Can’t let cramps determine the outcome of this game.
There is too much at stake!
This game will determine a lot about the future of this season and of the Packers going forward.
But, regardless of what happens,
It’s always, Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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