The Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play an exciting Week 3 matchup in Tampa, Florida. It’s always fun to watch Tom Brady go up against Aaron Rodgers. Which quarterback has the edge on Sunday?
Let’s see what the NFL odds tell us at the top sportsbooks!
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, September 25, 2022 – 04:25 PM EDT at Raymond James Stadium
We’ve got a quarterback rivalry on the slate for Sunday. It’ll be Tom Brady of the Buccaneers against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers.
The Buccaneers are 2-0 on the season but won’t have Mike Evans for this game after he was suspended for his actions last week. Brady could be without Evans, Chris Godwin, and Julio Jones coming into this game. Godwin and Jones are currently hurt but aren’t ruled out just yet.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have the best targets either. He’s enjoyed Sammy Watkins the most. To lead the team, Watkins has 6 receptions for 111 yards in two games this season.
The Buccaneers have been incredible on the defensive end, hoping that could help them get past the Packers in Week 3.
When the Buccaneers Have The Ball
The Buccaneers could be without their top three receiving targets heading into this game. The offense has already struggled, as the Buccaneers have gained 313 yards per game through two weeks.
When Tom Brady is under center, it rarely matters who is pass-catching. However, these three absences could play a significant role in the outcome of this game. The pass protection hasn’t been all that great for Tampa Bay, and the run game is extremely weak.
However, the Buccaneers will likely want to commit to the run in this game. That might not be a bad idea, knowing that the Packers have allowed 153 yards per game on the ground this season.
The Packers are one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL and have also struggled to make tackles with plenty of missed opportunities in two games. On the other hand, the pass rush for Green Bay is dangerous, and with the way that the Buccaneers have played in pass protection, the Packers have a couple of sacks and deflections in the passing game.
When the Packers Have the Ball
The Packers have been much more efficient in the run game. Green Bay has earned 157 yards rushing per game through two games this season. The run blocking can get better, but between Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, the Packers are confident with the ball on the ground.
Green Bay has been waiting for their young receivers to make plays. But for now, Sammy Watkins seems like the favorite target for the Packers.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers’ worst trait on defense has been in the run game. Still, Tampa Bay has held opponents to 86.5 yards per game on the ground. It’s not that they’re bad on the ground. It’s just that the defense is better everywhere else on the field a little bit more.
Tampa Bay has one of the best defenses in the NFL. The coverage has been on lockdown, and they’ve really been good with tackling in the open field.
The Packers are going to want to run early n the Buccaneers and see if they can earn a solid amount of yards. Tampa Bay has allowed 13 points in two games this season. It won’t be easy to score in this game for Green Bay.
Game Prediction
If the Buccaneers are limited at wide receiver, Tampa Bay isn’t going to have the best time on offense. They’ll likely try to commit to the run and use Leonard Fournette whenever they can, as a rusher and pass catcher.
On the other hand, the Packers are going to want to rush the ball early as well, knowing how great Tampa Bay has been in the passing game, especially in coverage.
This could be a low-scoring affair between two of the best quarterbacks of our generation.
Packers vs. Buccaneers: Pick and Prediction
With that said, I’m looking at the Under 41. On both defenses, the weakest area is the rushing defense. The Buccaneers will have a healthy Leonard Fournette while the Packers have averaged over 150 yards on the ground behind Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
As these two teams run, the clock will tick down. I’m also going to believe that if one of these teams can get to the red zone, they’ll be turned away and score just 3 points.
Take the Under for your NFL picks.
NFL Pick: Under 41 (-110) at DraftKings
