This Sunday afternoon will be another meeting between two of the best NFL quarterbacks of all-time in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. It is also a meeting of two teams with Super Bowl aspirations and stacked rosters. The Bucs and Packers compare very well against each other and it should make for a competitive contest throughout.

Talking to the media on Wednesday, Rodgers addressed what it will take to beat the Bucs on Sunday afternoon. 

“I think it’s really important for our defense to come out and have a real solid performance on the road and set the tone for us,” Rodgers said. “Offensively, we’re going to have to take care of the football, and be methodical at times if we have to be. High completion percentage, and then be able to run the ball.” 

Rodgers’ Struggles Against The Bucs

Rodgers will face a Bucs defense that has not allowed opposing quarterbacks to take care of the football or be methodical. Against the Saints last Sunday, the Bucs forced five turnovers, including three interceptions and two fumbles.

It has been hard for Rodgers to play up to his MVP standards in his career coming down to Tampa Bay throughout his career, and this defense presents his greatest challenge yet. In the four games he’s played in Tampa, Rodgers is 1-3 with five touchdowns to eight interceptions. 

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett and Packers QB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by: USA Today

Arguably his worst game against the Bucs came in 2020 facing Tom Brady. In that Week 6 contest that the Bucs won 38-10, Rodgers was 16-of-35 passing for 160 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, while also being sacked four times. 

“Their defense is fantastic,” Rodgers added. “[They have a] great front, really solid back end, and a great guy calling it. First in sacks, six turnovers forced, 13 points total. They’ve had a really nice start to the season.”

This is a Bucs defense that brims with playmakers. From Vita Vea, Shaq Barrett, Devin White, Lavonte David, and Antoine Winfield Jr, half of the defense is Pro Bowl-caliber at all levels. 

Through Week 2 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), the Bucs rank first in their coverage grade at 85.4, second in tackling at 79.9, and their overall defensive rank is third at 75.4. Whether you’re looking at the advanced grades or raw results, it is evident that the Bucs defense can turn the tide and take over at any time. 

“We Need A Herculean Effort”

On The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday, Rodgers addressed the odds of coming in and walking out with a win. “[We’re going] on the road Week 3 against an opponent that’s going to be favored and we’re not expected to win,” Rodgers said. “We need a Herculean effort to go down there and get the dub.”

What the Packers will need is for their rookie wide receivers to step up against a well-trained Bucs secondary. With Sammy Watkins ruled out of the game Sunday, the responsibility will fall on unproven guys like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. “I think Christian has had a couple opportunities, but we still got to find more ways to get him some specific plays,” Rodgers said. “Romeo didn’t have as many opportunities, we got to find ways to get him involved.”

One player Rodgers singled out who is going up against these receivers is Antoine Winfield Jr., who he had nothing but praise for. “You see Winfield now playing the slot, he’s done a great job, he can play anywhere,” Rodgers said. “He reminds me a lot of his dad in a lot of ways. He’s talented at multiple positions, can play in the slot, catch the ball, cover, tackle. [He] can hit, he’s a special player.”

Menacing Or Stout?

Bucs DT Logan Hall and OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

We’ve already talked about the Bucs defense being menacing, but Rodgers described them with a different adjective: stout.

“This is a stout defense, but we have the right concepts and the right schemes to move the ball against anybody,” Rodgers said. “A lot of times we just get in our own way, that’s what we’ve done too many times the first two weeks.”

Early in the season, both the Bucs and the Packers have yet to find their offensive grooves to match the play of their respective defenses. The Bucs are hoping they can delay Rodgers getting to his MVP-level of play at least another week, and it doesn’t help that his blindside protector and some of his targets are battling injury.

Besides just wide receiver Sammy Watkins being out, the Packers latest injury report shows left tackle David Bakhtiari and wide receivers Watson and Randall Cobb as questionable.

It will take nothing short of excellence for Rodgers and the Packers to come in and get a “dub” against the Buccaneers in their home opener, but the battle of arguably the two best quarterbacks in the game will likely come down to which defense is more elite.