Packers-Buccaneers Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Derrick Brooks And The Bucs Take Down The Pack

SCOUTING REPORT

Bucs must take advantage of Packers' beat-up secondaryThis is a critical matchup between one-time division rivals. Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden must design and stick to a more balanced offensive game plan than the one his club followed in Week 3. It will be difficult, though, even given the declining health of the Packers' secondary. Green Bay needs a win to prove its weakening status as a legitimate contender. Will QB Aaron Rodgers hold up in his first start at Raymond James Stadium against defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's vaunted Tampa 2 defense? Expect Packers coach Mike McCarthy to spread the field with multiple groupings, opening up the field for the run game and RB Ryan Grant.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
GNB	6-10	419	380	4-4	2-6	4-2	5-7
TAM	9-7	361	323	6-2	3-5	3-3	8-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 64.7 4434 30 7 Flynn 58.3 58 0 1

Tampa Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Freema... 54.6 1857 10 18 Johnso... 50.4 685 4 8

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 282 1253 4.4 11 Rodger... 58 316 5.4 5

Tampa Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 210 821 3.9 4 Ward 114 409 3.6 1

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jennin... 68 1113 16.4 4 Driver 70 1061 15.2 6

Tampa Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Winslo... 77 884 11.5 5 Bryant 39 600 15.4 4

Full Player Stats: Green Bay | Tampa Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	GNB	351.0
	TAM	341.0
Yards Passing	GNB	238.3
	TAM	226.2
Yards Rushing	GNB	112.8
	TAM	114.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	GNB	334.3
	TAM	306.1
Pass Yds Allowed	GNB	202.8
	TAM	187.3
Rush Yds Allowed	GNB	131.6
	TAM	118.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Tampa Bay leads 4-2
Sep 25, 2005	GNB 16, @TAM 17
Nov 16, 2003	GNB 20, TAM 13
Nov 24, 2002	GNB 7, TAM 21
Nov 4, 2001	GNB 21, @TAM 20
Oct 7, 2001	GNB 10, TAM 14

Despite a loss at home last weekend, the Green Bay Packers haven't regretted handing over the offense to a new quarterback this season.

If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' play-calling is any indication, it's pretty clear they feel the same way about their own similar situation.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers look to bounce back from their prime-time defeat Sunday when they visit Tampa Bay, which is coming off an overtime victory that featured 67 pass attempts by Brian Griese.

Green Bay (2-1) has been rewarded for sticking with Rodgers after Brett Favre came out of retirement in July, as Rodgers led the Packers to victories in his first two starts.

Even though he was held without a touchdown pass in a 27-16 loss to unbeaten Dallas on Sunday night, Rodgers threw for 290 yards, ran for a score and remained without an interception this season. He's seventh in the NFL with a 102.9 passer rating.

Still, the Packers were frustrated with their performance against the Cowboys, as they allowed 453 yards of offense, including 217 rushing yards. Their own offense had to settle for three field goals of less than 40 yards.

"It was a big game, it was a great measuring stick for our football team," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "And I'll tell you exactly what I told them, the Dallas Cowboys are farther ahead than we are right now, and that's the facts, and it's Week 3. How much farther ahead, we'll answer that question. We have work to do."

They'll have to do it without one of their defensive mainstays after cornerback Al Harris injured his spleen Sunday. Harris has started every game for the Packers since joining the team for the 2003 season, but he may miss the rest of the year.

While cornerback Charles Woodson helped hold Dallas' Terrell Owens to two catches for 17 yards Sunday, the Packers allowed a pair of big plays to Cowboys receiver Miles Austin after Harris left the game.

"Anytime you lose guys, it's hard, but you expect other guys to step up," Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "But certainly losing Al, a guy of that caliber, that hurts. Anytime you lose a guy like that, it's not good."

Tampa Bay (2-1) hardly needed more encouragement to keep throwing. The Buccaneers passed on 80 percent of their offensive plays in a 27-24 overtime win at Chicago on Sunday, as Griese set a franchise record for pass attempts in going 38-of-67 for 407 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Perhaps most impressively, his offensive line did not allow a sack.

"We're excited about our line; we've said that since the beginning of camp," Bucs coach Jon Gruden told his team's official Web site. "We're the youngest group in football and we think we have the makings there to be outstanding."

The unit certainly helped Griese, who supplanted Jeff Garcia as the starter after Week 1. He threw for just 160 yards in a 24-9 win over Atlanta on Sept. 14, but more that doubled that total Sunday.

With extra motivation to beat the Bears, who traded him in the offseason, Griese led an 11-play, 79-yard drive in the final two minutes that was capped by the tying touchdown. He then orchestrated a 12-play, 90-yard drive in overtime to set up the winning field goal at Soldier Field.

"This is huge," Gruden said. "We lost a difficult game at the end of regulation (24-20 on Sept. 7) in New Orleans, and we didn't want to lose another in a similar fashion."

Griese directed a similar rally to beat the Packers last season, leading the Bears to a 27-20 win in Green Bay on Oct. 7. Chicago trailed 20-10 late in the third quarter, but Griese threw two touchdown passes, including the winning score with 2:05 left.

Griese, in fact, has not lost in three career starts against the Packers. He beat them the last time Tampa Bay and Green Bay met Sept. 25, 2005, a 17-16 Bucs win at Lambeau Field.

The former division rivals faced off twice a season through 2001, but the 2005 victory was their only meeting in the last four years.

Green Bay's only win in six visits to Raymond James Stadium came in their last trip, 20-13 on Nov. 16, 2003.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Joyner: All-Pro selections determine HOF

OK, so Jerry Rice? Slam dunk to make Canton. But if you want a barometer for guys getting robbed and such, well, it's quite simple: If a person has six consensus All-Pro selections in their career, they're likely going to make it. Let K.C. Joyner explain.

Source: Bucs hire ex-Bills QB coach Van Pelt

The Buccaneers have hired former Bills quarterback coach and interim offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt as their quarterback coach for the 2010 season, according to a source.

S Atari Bigby isn't back yet, but he's ready to go

Atari Bigby says he feels great, and that's saying something, considering how the Green Bay Packers' strong safety limped through the 2008 season.

Packers Daily Briefing 06.01.09

Jun. 1, 2009 6:00 a.m. Good morning. Here is your PDB for Monday, June 1, 2009. It contains all the links, info, analysis and occasional humor you'll need to start your day.

Tauscher's replacement will be green

The Green Bay Packers won't anoint a new starting right tackle until August, but they'll go to training camp with a pretty good idea about the identity of Mark Tauscher's successor.

Rodgers looks to expand leadership

Aaron Rodgers' strong 2008 season has him operating the 2009 Packers offense with confidence - much more so than last year at this time.

Bucs' Zuttah apparently ahead of Sears at left guard

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are undergoing a changing of their left guard, and it definitely appears as though the key figure in that change is second-year pro Jeremy Zuttah.

Jackson needs swagger

If Amarri Jackson wants to make sure he gets to training camp and through the preseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Antonio Bryant has some veteran advice for the Sarasota native.

Receiver Kelly Campbell savors his chance to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each time Bucs receiver Kelly Campbell reads a headline about an NFL player who has been arrested or otherwise gotten into trouble, he can't help but immediately think about the potential consequences.

Dungy is moving forward

It had been a busy Thursday morning but now Tony Dungy was heading back across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa after a couple of meetings in a campaign to increase parental involvement in Florida public schools.

Mangurian looking for discipline on Bucs' OL

Two months before the start of training camp, Tampa Bay's new offensive line coach has a chilling message for his minions: If you're not planning on being smart and disciplined, don't bother showing up.