Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs game with six quick-hitting topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what will lead to a Tampa Bay victory or loss, and a couple of key matchups to watch each week.

The Bucs’ 2026 season is on life support as the team has started the year with a shocking 0-3 record. Not only did Tampa Bay lose last Sunday to Minnesota, but the team also lost quarterback Baker Mayfield to a dislocated thumb and will start undrafted free agent rookie Jalon Daniels in his place against Green Bay. The Packers come to Raymond James Stadium with a disappointing 1-2 record after getting humiliated at home on Thursday Night Football in a 35-14 loss to the previously winless Falcons.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs?

Todd Bowles is squarely on the hot seat after the team’s 0-3 start, and a loss to Green Bay would turn up the heat even more. The Bucs are 2-10 in their last 12 games dating back to last year, and the team simply can’t do enough to win close games anymore. To make matters worse, Baker Mayfield is out a minimum of three games with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. That means Bowles and Co. will start rookie backup QB Jalon Daniels, who will have to face the Packers on Sunday and then quickly prepare for a Thursday Night Football game at Dallas on a short week.

That makes getting a win on Sunday even more important. Daniels will need improved play all around him, especially from the offensive line, which has underachieved and has allowed an NFL-high 13 sacks so far. And offensive coordinator Zac Robinson needs to dial up better plays as well. His play-calling has been lackluster to say the least. While the defense has started to play better, Tampa Bay’s offense seems to be regressing each week since the season opener.

Bucs OC Zac Robinson – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

What’s At Stake For The Packers?

Green Bay looks like a terrible team this year. After getting beaten by Minnesota in the season opener, 39-22, the Packers barely beat the Jets in overtime, 20-17, before a terrible loss to the Falcons in the home opener, 35-14. The Packers have gotten killed in the trenches so far this season. Green Bay can’t stop the run on defense and can’t run the ball well on offense. The Packers have the league’s 28th-ranked run defense, allowing 138.7 yards per game on the ground. Green Bay’s running game ranks dead last, averaging a paltry 48.7 yards per game.

The Packers sorely miss star edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is on injured reserve to start the season and will be out on Sunday, as well as star running back Josh Jacobs, who is suspended by the league for a domestic violence charge that happened during the offseason. Matt LeFleur is under fire in Green Bay and is fighting for his life as the team’s head coach. Losing to a winless Atlanta team and a winless Tampa Bay team – especially with 10 days to prepare – would increase the chances of him being fired.

Packers QB Jordan Love and HC Matt LaFleur – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs Win If…

Tampa Bay needs to follow Atlanta’s blueprint from last Thursday’s 35-14 win at Green Bay. The Falcons further exposed the Packers in the trenches by rushing for 242 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Granted, the Bucs don’t have Bijan Robinson, who ran wild for 194 yards and two touchdowns, but Bucky Irving could post his first 100-yard day on the ground if the offensive line can have similar success to what the Falcons were able to do. With rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback, a 40 combined runs by Tampa Bay’s backs and no more than 20 passes could be the recipe for success on Sunday.

Defensively, the Bucs played their best game of the season last week against the Vikings. Tampa Bay needs to continue to be dominant against the run, as the unit ranks second in the league in run defense, allowing just 76 yards per game on the ground. Green Bay can’t run the ball without Josh Jacobs, and averages just 48.7 yards on the ground, which ranks dead last in the NFL. As bad as the Bucs’ interior offensive linemen have played, the Packers’ are even worse and must be exposed.

Bucs RBs Kenny Gainwell, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Packers Win If…

Green Bay has had extra time to prepare for Tampa Bay and has tried to retool its awful offensive line in an effort to help run the ball better. Too much pressure is on Jordan Love without any balance on offense, and the only real chance the Packers have to put up points is through the air with wide receivers Matthew Golden and Tampa-native Christian Watson, as well as tight end Tucker Kraft. The good news is that the Bucs’ pass rush hasn’t been too threatening so far, so the Packers must give Love time to throw.

Defensively, Green Bay has to shore up its run defense, especially after getting trampled by Atlanta last week. The Bucs offensive line suddenly can’t pass protect, so new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon must blitz more than usual, which is 30.1% of the time and ranks 11th in the league. Gannon might also have to stack the box more than he usually does to help his run defense and pressure rookie QB Jalon Daniels, but the Packers play zone 79.7% of the time. That means his secondary might need to play more man coverage than usual.

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs Offensive Line vs. Packers Defensive Front

There will be some Hawkeye-on-Hawkeye crime on Sunday as two former Iowa stars square off. Tristan Wirfs is the best lineman the Bucs have and he’ll be battling the Packers’ best D-lineman in edge rusher Lukas Van Ness, a former first-round pick who leads Green Bay with 2.5 sacks. The Packers sorely miss edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is out on Sunday due to his injured reserve status, especially this week with the Bucs offensive line playing so poorly in pass protection. But it’s not so much Wirfs and Luke Goedeke as it is guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch, who have combined for three sacks, 16 pressures allowed and four holding penalties.

The best thing the Bucs can do is win first down with an average of five yards per play. That should set up third-and-short situations, which favor runs – or even bypass third downs altogether. The more the Bucs can run the ball against the Packers the better, especially with rookie Jalon Daniels getting his first start at quarterback. Tampa Bay needs to attack Green Bay’s defensive front, which has struggled to stop the run – evidenced by the fact that safety Evan Williams is the leading tackler with 29 stops. The Packers are allowing nearly 140 yards per game on the ground.

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and RG Cody Mauch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Defense

Bucs Defensive Front vs. Packers Offensive Line

Through two games, Todd Bowles’ defense has been incredibly stout against the run, ranking second in the league in run defense, allowing an average of just 76 yards per game. That must continue against the league’s worst-ranked rushing team, as Green Bay is averaging under 50 yards per game on the ground. The Packers are contemplating some changes to the interior, as the guard play has been horrific. Packers guards Jacob Monk and Jager Burton have combined to allow 21 pressures, 10 QB hits and one sack. Tackle Jordan Morgan isn’t any better, allowing 11 pressures, five QB hits and two sacks.

While the defensive front has been great against the run, Tampa Bay’s pass rush has been lackluster with just six sacks in three games. The unit came to life last week against a bad Vikings offense, notching three sacks, which was a step in the right direction. David Walker leads the team with two sacks, but the veterans – Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby – have yet to record a sack and their overall play has been disappointing. Yet against this Packers offensive line there should be multiple opportunities for the vets to shine this week against Jordan Love as long as coverage holds up.

Packers offensive line – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect