Game Information
Date: Sunday, November 20, 2011
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Lambeau Field (72,928)
2011 Records: Tampa Bay 4-5, Green Bay 9-0 Network Television: FOX
Play-by-Play: Joe Buck, Analyst: Troy Aikman, Sideline: Pam Oliver National Radio: Sports USA
Play-by-Play: Bob Fitzgerald, Analyst: Ross Tucker Sideline: Tony Graziani Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM) Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Analyst: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives Last Game: Tampa Bay lost vs. Houston, 37-9; Green Bay won vs. Minnesota, 45-7
NIKO’s TAKE:
Can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upset the Green Bay Packers today? I’ve called it all week, that it would not surprise me one bit if they do, the Packers are in the middle of 3 games in 11 days, could be looking forward to Detroit on Thanksgiving, you have the Bucs who SHOULD be the most focused they’ve been all year.
But it all comes down to plays; The Bucs have to make them, and early. An opening posession drive for a TD would go a long way in signaling an upset. But Green Bay does have some ‘pay back’ of their own for the Bucs. Aaron Rogers has never beaten Tampa Bay, and the Bucs upset them in Raymond James in 2009 for Raheem Morris’ first win ever as Head Coach. The other key is the Green Bay Packers 31st ranked pass defense. A crisp Bucs offense COULD have a field day. Green Bay is just not that good to go 16-0 like the Patriots did a few years ago.
Most people are predicting a blowout Bucs loss. It’s not going to happen, but unless EVERYTHING goes just right, the Packers are too much for the Bucs. I wont be shocked if the Bucs win, in fact I’ve said for weeks I saw the Bucs upseting the Packers if they stayed undefeated, but I’ll be proud of the Bucs if they can keep it respectable. 15 straight wins for the Packers…is it time to end?
Nikos prediction: Bucs 28 Packers 27 – IF the Bucs Can score a TD in the first QTR. Otherwise, Packers 31 Bucs 21
MISMATCHES! Historical look at losing Bucs teams playing an awesome opponent on the road-
Many times the Bucs during a losing record or season have taken on a superbowl runner up or winner from either that same year or year prior. 4 times the results ended in blowout losses, but twice the Bucs UPSET those teams. The rest, the Bucs played them close. Today the Bucs have a losing record at 4-5 and play the defending SuperBowl champs…
1977-0-2 Bucs (0-16 lifetime) visit the Cowyboys the year they win the SuperBowl. Result: 23-7 Dallas win.
1984 4-7 Bucs travel to San Francisco who won SuperBowl that year over Miami. Result: 24-17 49ers win.
1985 Opening day Bucs at SuperBowl champion Chicago Bears. Bucs finished 2-14. Result: 38-28 Bears
1986 2-11 (eventually 2-14) at Chicago Bears who were Superbowl champs year prior. Result: 48-14 Chicago blowout.
1989 3-4 Bucs at Superbowl runners up Cincinnati. Result: 56-23 Bengals blowout.
1990 4-6 Bucs at SuperBowl champion San Francisco. Result: 31-7 49ers blowout.
1993 4-10 Bucs at Denver Broncos, Mile High Stadium w/John Elway playing. Result: 17-10 Bucs upset.
1994 2-4 Bucs at SuperBowl Champion San Francisco. Result 41-16 49ers blowout.
1996 1-6 Bucs at SuperBowl champion Green Bay Packers. Result 13-7 Packers
2003 4-4 Bucs at SuperBowl runners up Carolina. Result: 27-24 Panthers
2006 3-8 Bucs at SuperBowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Result: 20-3 Steelers
2009 2-12 Bucs at SuperBowl champion New Orleans. Result: 20-17 BUCS UPSET
2011 4-5 Bucs at Superbowl champion Green Bay. Resut:??
All-Time Series
The Packers lead the all-time series 30-21-1 in the regular season but Tampa Bay has won seven of the last ten meetings, including the three previous games. Since 2002, the two teams have only met once in Green Bay, a 17- 16 Buccaneers victory, during the 2005 season. The Bucs and Packers have played at least once in every year except 1976, 1982, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010 since Tampa Bay entered the league in 1976. The two teams split the season series in each of the four seasons from 1998-2001. Since the divi- sions realigned in 2002, Tampa Bay has won four of the five meetings with Green Bay. Tampa Bay won 21-7 on November 24, 2002, 17-16 on Septem- ber 25, 2005, 30-21 on September 28, 2008 and 38-28 on November 8, 2009 and Green Bay won 20-13 on November 16, 2003. Green Bay also pre- vailed 21-7 in a divisional playoff win at Lambeau Field in 1997. The teams first met in 1977, a 13-0 Packers win in Tampa. The Bucs notched their first series wins in 1979, when they swept the Pack en route to the NFC Central title. After a 14-14 tie in the next encounter, Tampa Bay won three consecu- tive contests. The Bucs captured four consecutive wins from 1987-89, their longest streak in the series.
SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
Overall Regular Season Series: ………….Green Bay leads series, 21-29-1
Home Record vs. Green Bay Packers:………………………………. 14-12-1
Road Record vs. Green Bay Packers:…………………………………….7-17
Current Streak:…………………………. Buccaneers, three games (2005-09)
Buccaneers Longest Streak:…………………………. Four games (1988-89)
Packers Longest Streak:…………………..Six games, twice (last 1992-95)
Regular Season Point Total:………………..Buccaneers 817 – Packers 977
Most Points, Buccaneers:……………………. 38, Buccaneers 38-28 (2009)
Most Points, Packers: ………………………………55, Packers 55-14 (1983)
Most Points, both teams: ………………………….69, Packers 55-14 (1983)
Fewest Points, Buccaneers: …….0, three times, last Packers 27-0 (1991)
Fewest Points, Packers:…………….3, twice, last Buccaneers 31-3 (1992)
Fewest Points, both teams: ………………………. 13, Packers 13-0 (1977)
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