After a difficult start to the NFL season in September, the campaign is set to wrap up in two weeks with Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. This matchup is one of the most anticipated in recent years, with fans eager to see whether the Chiefs will push through the semifinals and lift the Lombardi Trophy for a second straight year or fall short this time.
The AFC semifinals will keep fans on the edge of their seats, but the NFC matchup promises its own drama. Two of the strongest teams of the season have advanced from the NFC Divisional Round, and the host team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will face a well-drilled Green Bay Packers side.
With such a high-stakes showdown ahead, the big question is where sports bettors will place their confidence: with the Green Bay Packers or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Below is a preview of the game and the key storylines to watch in the NFC Divisional Finals.
Game Details
The Green Bay Packers, with fourteen wins, will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with thirteen victories this Saturday, January 24, 2021. It is the NFC championship game, and whoever wins will head on to the Super Bowl LV finale.
The game will settle at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Casters of the game are led by Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Of course, there is still limited attendance in the field, and full health protocols are imposed.
Quarterback's Tale Of The Tape
Aaron Rodgers will serve as the starting quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, while Tom Brady will fill in the role for the Bucs. Rodgers is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player recipient and a three-time NFL Passer Rating Leader. Looking into Rodgers scoring statistics this year, he had accomplished 4,299 passing yards with 48 touchdowns per interceptions.
On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had made the right decision in trading Tom Brady from the Pats as their starting quarterback. Brady is a six-time Super Bowl Champion, a four-time Super Bowl MVP, and a three-time NFL MVP. In his current scoring statistics, Brady had made 4,633 passing yards and 40 touchdowns per interception.
Coaching Staff Comparison
Matt LaFleur had worked as a head coach for the Green Bay Packers since 2019. He had made a total of 32 regular-season games, which is typically few. Out of the coaching years that he spent with the Packers, he got 26 victories and six losses, with a winning percentage of 81.3%.
On the contrary, Bruce Arians led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Upon joining the Bucs for the said year, Arians made 112 total regular-season matches. From that, he closed 67 victories and 44 defeats, with a winning percentage of 60.3%.
Last Meetings (12/17/2023)
The last time the Packers played the Bucs was on December 17, 2023. The Buccaneers won that game 34 to 20 over the Packers. It was a physical matchup with Tampa Bay pulling ahead and holding control through key drives. The Buccaneers scored more touchdowns and made enough defensive plays to secure the win.
Team Rankings
The team rankings of both Packers and Bucs are determined via player performances both on the defensive and offensive sides. The Packers ranked first in PPG, generating 31.8, while the Bucs are at third rank with 30.8 PPG. For passing yards per game, the Bucs ranked second with 289, while the Packers are far behind at the 9th place, which only got 257.
Looking into their overall season rushing yards, the Packers ranked in 8th place with 132 average scores while the Bucs are in 28th place generating only 94 average points. For the Pro Football Focus, the Packers are in 1st place while the Bucs are in 2nd.
Best Players
For the Packers, there are a set of Pro Bowlers that are expected to dominate the match. These players are Aaron Rodgers (Q.B.), Aaron Jones (R.B.), Davante Adams (W.R.), and Jaire Alexander (C.B.).
On the flip side, the Bucs had not much to offer as the only Pro Bowler will be Jason Pierre-Paul (D.E.). But, the Bucs have a lucky charm tandem through Brady and Gronkowski. These two are expected to perform big in the NFC Divisional Final Round.
Takeaway
It’s without a doubt that both teams have something to offer in the NFC. As far as the players are concerned, it seems the Packers got more veteran players than the Bucs. However, the Bucs have a seasoned coaching staff compared to the Packers.
Hence, the NFC Divisional Championship game is not something you should miss out on. Unlike the previous season, where it's usually played by the huge favorites, this time, the underdog teams have the chance to shine the brightest. Is everything ready for the Packers to reign supreme at the NFC, or will the Bucs be able to steal the NFC belt?
