Packers at Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Fla.
Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001
AT A GLANCE: The top two teams in the NFC Central square
off in a battle that could help decide the division winner. The Buccaneers have won the
last three meetings between the teams in Tampa Bay.
|
| OVERVIEW:Critics will say the Packers have yet to be
truly tested. They’ll say wins over Detroit, Washington and Carolina only prove that
Green Bay (3-0) can feast on the NFL’s weaklings. But in the parity-stricken NFL,
that argument is hard to follow. The convincing nature of these wins seem to suggest the
Pack is back, but there’s no question Green Bay will face its toughest test yet this
week vs. the Buccaneers (1-1).
Coming off a 21-day hiatus, the Bucs battled to the end vs. Minnesota last week but
fell short, as QB Brad Johnson’s last-ditch comeback effort was thwarted by an
interception. Now that they’re back in a weekly cycle, the Bucs hope to be a bit
sharper.
After losing 15 of 18 meetings since 1990, the Buccaneers have turned around their
fortunes vs. Green Bay, winning three of the last five, with each win coming at home.
Tampa Bay, which finally will host its home opener, has gone 20-5 at RJS over the last
three seasons (including playoffs).
The Bucs should have a measure of revenge on their minds after their division-title
hopes last season were snapped in a Week 17 overtime loss to the Packers. With nine
seconds left in the fourth quarter, Martin Gramatica’s 40-yard field-goal attempt
went wide right. Ryan Longwell then won it for Green Bay with a 22-yarder 6:31 into
overtime.
When the Packers have the ball:
All eyes will be on one of the most entertaining matchups in the league: QB Brett Favre
vs. DT Warren Sapp. Both are among the most competitive players in the league, and
they’re not shy about showing emotion. Sapp first must contend with OLG Mike Wahle,
who’s on the comeback trail after a subpar 2000 season. Wahle, a better run blocker
than pass blocker, might receive some help at times against the athletic and speedy Sapp,
who has a repertoire of moves that have embarrassed blockers. |
|
|
| Raymond James Stadium |
| Tampa, Fla. |
| Date: Sunday, October 7, 2001 |
| 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: First |
| Season Record: |
| |
Green Bay |
3-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
1-1-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay |
3-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
0-2-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Green Bay (R) |
1-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
0-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay (R) |
1-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay (H) |
0-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Green Bay |
3-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
0-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Green Bay |
3-0-0 |
| |
Tampa Bay |
0-0-0 |
|
| Though a pair of interceptions marred his performance, Favre continued to sizzle last
week, throwing three TD passes for the second straight game. Favre has done a great job of
spreading the ball around and keeping defenses off-balance. He won’t hesitate to dump
the ball off to RB Ahman Green, but he’s also tested teams deep. WR Bill Schroeder,
in particular, has stepped his game up a notch. He’s shown a knack for making the
acrobatic catch and keeping his feet inbounds. Despite allowing 312 passing yards to the
Vikings last week, the Buccaneers’ defense made some plays. CBs Donnie Abraham and
Ronde Barber each batted down two passes, and OLB Derrick Brooks recorded 20 total
tackles. The matchup of Brooks vs. Green figures to be a good one. As evidenced by his
tackle total, Brooks has the ability to makes plays all over the field. Green’s
combination of speed and power have put him among the league’s top running backs.
Outside, Abraham and Barber will have to contend with Schroeder and WR Antonio Freeman,
who has been looking good as both a receiver and a punt returner. RS Allen Rossum has been
out with a hamstring injury.
When the Buccaneers have the ball:
QB Brad Johnson continues to impress, having completed 66.2 percent of his passes. But
the Bucs haven’t been able to finish off drives. Last week they stalled at the
Minnesota six- and seven-yard lines and settled for two field goals. They’ve also
been without their trademark running game. RB Warrick Dunn has averaged 3.7 yards per
carry, and he left last week’s game with a foot injury (check status).
WR Keyshawn Johnson has played a much more prominent role in his second season with the
Bucs, catching 14 passes through two games. He had only six catches at this point last
year. Johnson will see a lot of Packers CB Mike McKenzie, but Darren Sharper or LeRoy
Butler could help out at times. Green Bay’s safeties have been interchangeable with
their defensive responsibilities.
The Bucs will have to contend with an improved Packers pass rush that has recorded 15
sacks in three games. DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila doesn’t start, but he sees plenty of
action against the pass. From his elephant end position, which is lined up farther outside
than a normal defensive end, Gbaja-Biamila is able to utilize his speed around the corner.
He gave Lions rookie OLT Jeff Backus fits in Week One and could do the same to Kenyatta
Walker, the Buccaneers’ rookie left tackle.
Green Bay was without starting WLB Nate Wayne last week because of a knee injury (check
status). He was replaced by Chris Gizzi.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Sept. 30. |
|
Offense |
| WR |
84 Schroeder, 85 Bradford, 89 Ferguson* |
| OLT |
76 Clifton, 79 Stokes |
| OLG |
68 Wahle, 63 Ferrario* |
| C |
58 Flanagan, 52 Winters |
| ORG |
62 Rivera, 63 Ferrario* |
| ORT |
65 Tauscher, 72 E. Dotson |
| TE |
88 Franks, 83 Martin*, 87 Collins |
| WR |
86 Freeman, 80 Driver, 82 Lee |
| QB |
4 Favre, 18 Pederson, 10 Burris |
| RB |
30 Green, 25 Levens, 32 Mealey, 29 Goodman |
| FB |
33 Henderson, 32 Mealey |
Defense |
| DLE |
90 Holliday, 98 Lyon |
| DLT |
93 Brown, 95 Walker |
| DRT |
75 Flanigan, 71 S. Dotson |
| DRE |
91 Thierry, 94 Gbaja-Biamila, 99 Reynolds* |
| SLB |
59 Diggs, 50 Williams |
| MLB |
55 Harris, 51 Marshall* |
| WLB |
54 Wayne, 57 Gizzi |
| LCB |
34 McKenzie, 27 McBride |
| RCB |
37 Williams, 21 Jue*, 20 Rossum |
| SS |
42 Sharper, 31 Akins |
Specialists |
| P |
9 Bidwell |
| PK |
8 Longwell |
| H |
18 Pederson, 9 Bidwell |
| PR |
20 Rossum, 86 Freeman, 82 Lee |
| KR |
20 Rossum, 32 Mealey, 29 Goodman |
| KC |
60 Davis, 52 Winters |
* Rookie |
|
|
Offense |
| WR |
81 Green, 85 Anthony, 87 Murphy |
| OLT |
67 Walker*, 69 Pierson |
| OLG |
64 McDaniel, 75 Washington, 68 Grice* |
| C |
62 Christy, 75 Washington |
| ORG |
60 Coleman, 65 Hochstein*, 68 Grice* |
| ORT |
71 Wunsch, 76 Curry |
| TE |
83 Moore, 80 Yoder, 84 McDermott |
| WR |
19 K. Johnson, 86 Williams, 88 Wynn* |
| QB |
14 B. Johnson, 10 King, 1 Hamilton |
| RB |
28 Dunn, 22 Stecker |
| FB |
40 Alstott, 27 Abdullah, 43 Cook* |
Defense |
| DLE |
78 Jones, 94 White |
| NT |
92 McFarland, 98 Cannida |
| UT |
99 Sapp, 91 Darby |
| DRE |
97 Rice, 94 White, 96 Wyms* |
| SLB |
53 Quarles, 51 Singleton, 58 Cerqua* |
| MLB |
59 Duncan, 52 Webster |
| WLB |
55 Brooks, 50 Gooch |
| LCB |
21 Abraham, 26 Smith* |
| RCB |
20 Barber, 25 Kelly |
| SS |
47 Lynch, 46 Gibson |
| FS |
34 Jackson, 33 Vance, 38 Howell* |
Specialists |
| P |
3 Royals |
| PK |
7 Gramatica |
| H |
3 Royals |
| PR |
86 Williams, 81 Green, 22 Stecker |
| KR |
86 Williams, 81 Green, 22 Stecker |
| KC |
84 McDermott, 83 Moore |
* Rookie |
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