Packers: History on side of Green Bay in NFC Championship Game
By Mark Powell
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers impressed many on Sunday night, but they’ll be up against the Packers and history next weekend.
Despite having Tom Brady and an explosive receiving corps, the Bucs are aiming to do what no other team has accomplished in the history of the Super Bowl era. Worst yet, they must do so on the road in a tough environment at Lambeau Field, in what’s likely to be frigid weather. But this is what Bruce Arians and Co. went out and signed Brady for, anyway.
No team in the modern Super Bowl era has ever hosted the big game and played in it in the same season. It’s a tough task to begin with, and with the pressure on, Brady will be asked to deliver in a big way.
No host city ever has had its home team play in the Super Bowl.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 18, 2021
Tom Brady and the #Bucs are one game away.
Do the underdog Buccaneers have what it takes to run past the Packers?
The key to defeating the Packers — especially on the road — is keeping Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s explosive offense off the field. The Bucs have a solid rushing attack should they choose to employ it, with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette forming a productive duo. Taking the ball out of Brady’s hands in a big game is a bold approach, but it’s what Arians must do to ensure he gives his defense the rest necessary to handle a full 60 minutes against the likely MVP.
When necessary, of course, Brady can make the throws to bring it home. For the Packers sake, we hope Mike Pettine will have a better plan in place than he did to stop the run in last year’s NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. Yet, the Buccaneers defeated the Packers in Week 5 this very season in part due to a strong running game.
One can expect the Buccaneers to employ such a strategy. Whether it works or not is all up to Pettine. No pressure, coach.
Next. Here’s an Aaron Rodgers stat that will blow your mind. dark