Packers: 3 games Aaron Rodgers will have to win with his arm
By John Buhler
2. Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, Sept. 25)
With two division games right out of the gate, the Packers should be 2-0 heading into their big road date at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Presumably coming off a late Sunday afternoon thriller at U.S. Bank Stadium over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 and an absolute drubbing of the rebuilding Chicago Bears at home in Week 2, this will be the Packers’ first big test.
Factor in that it will be late September in Florida, and it will be humid as all get-up in Tampa. That will be an issue the Packers will have to overcome, as well as going up against the best team the NFC South has to offer in their stadium. This may also be the final time Rodgers faces Tom Brady. They are not exactly rivals, but this game will be one FOX will absolutely create a tentpole out of.
Though the Packers have plenty of time to rebound from a road loss in Tampa Bay, they do play in the slightly harder division than the Buccaneers, strictly because of Minnesota. Brady could have a 2015 Peyton Manning season for all we know, but this is a game where Rodgers needs to prove to everyone that he has want it takes to orchestrate a Brett Favre-ian NFL MVP three-peat of sorts.
Having the head-to-head tiebreaker over another prospective division winner would be massive.