Packers Loss Sets Up Major Wild Card Showdown With Bucs
December 12th, 2023
Green Bay QB Jordan Love.
Who would have thought just two weeks ago that when the Bucs traveled to Cheesehead Central this week there would be so much on the line for a wild card?
Yes, the Bucs lead the NFC South with four games to go. That doesn’t mean the Bucs are a lock for the playoffs. But even with a 6-7 record, a wild card spot is very much in play for Tampa Bay should they p!ss away the NFC South.
The Packers’ defense choked away a lead with under two minutes left last night losing to the Giants 24-22. That sets up a wild card showdown in northeast Wisconsin on Sunday.
Even if the Bucs lose Sunday, the NFC South would remain in play. But a loss Sunday and the wild card seems out of reach, or at least the Bucs will have painted themselves into a nasty corner.
Same with Green Bay. Unlike the Bucs, Green Bay has no shot to win the NFC Central. So they are playing for their playoff lives when they host the Bucs on the frozen tundra of historic Lambeau Field.
Gets your brats ready!
Though Joe knows better than to trust any weather forecast for the Midwest more than two days out, the long-range forecast from AccuWeather.com for the Bucs-Packers game looks for a high of 42 degrees.
Trust Joe. This time of the year, that is about as good as it gets for Green Bay.
December 12th, 2023 at 12:07 am
i see a high of 37 degrees for sunday afternoon on my phone…
that’s pretty darn cold
December 12th, 2023 at 12:18 am
The Packers, much like the Bucs do, struggled through the most of the game against the Giants… In the 4th quarter they did just enough to get a 1 point lead but then the defense let the Giants march down the field in the final moments to get a last second field goal for the win… Seen the Bucs do that far to often!
Next Sunday is hard to predict being unsure which team will have the better 4th quarter….. Hopefully the curse of Bowles is weaker in the colder weather…
December 12th, 2023 at 12:29 am
We will win…because the Packers do not have a winning record.
December 12th, 2023 at 12:36 am
My heart wants the Bucs to win the next 4 games, win NFC South and at least win their first playoff game. My mind says that’s unlikely and for the future of the team it would be better to lose all 4 games so Bowles is replaced by an offensive coach, we have a shot at a better QB in the draft, mayfield is signed to a team friendly 2-3 year team friendly contract and the new QB learns from Mayfield and the new coach. Mayfield plays with heart and can lead the team but he isn’t “elite” enough to consistently compensate for the Oline, bad coaching and his own errors. So in the short term (1-2 years), I would love to see him under a better coach and improved Oline to see how good he really is and if he isn’t the long term future, then the new qb is up. Overall, I want to see progress if we win the nfc south with the same record as last year and are trounced at home, then we are just treading water. Eventually the saints and falcons will fire their coaches for better ones then improve while we are stagnant. If mayfield is part of that progress then great but if not we need a better replacement then some veteran being bounced from another team.
December 12th, 2023 at 12:59 am
Gonna need more than 144 passing yards and -50% passing% from Baker to win this game. Winfield can’t bail us out every game.
December 12th, 2023 at 1:19 am
We are running better and great receivers can’t catch bad passes. We have a lot going for us right now.
December 12th, 2023 at 1:55 am
A meaningful game in December at Lambeau! Ahh remember the NFC central days.
Oops just remembered we could not buy a win at Lambeau back in those days. Sorry!
Go Bucs!
December 12th, 2023 at 2:17 am
They got the running game going just in time. GB struggled with Barkley and DeVito running the ball
December 12th, 2023 at 3:45 am
They are depleted at wide receiver just decimated by injuries. If they somehowamge to throw for over 280 yards Todd blows will again show his asp. I love that new 9 man defensive scheme he’s running it’s brilliant and innovative a very original idea. I’m sure the rest of the other league took notice and will copy it.
December 12th, 2023 at 5:03 am
Drunkinybor Says:
“I love that new 9 man defensive scheme he’s running it’s brilliant and innovative a very original idea.”
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Its brilliant because it ensures theres two defensive players always rested ….Bowles is innovative always looking long term for the advantage……..lol
December 12th, 2023 at 6:27 am
Paratrooper is spot on. I hope the Glazers realize Bowles is not the solution going forward. His defensive scheme is outdated, his team is not disciplined and the horrendous mistakes continue even in week 13. Bucs need a new center and guard, another RB and a QB in the first round. On defense, need another edge rusher and DB.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:31 am
Bucs have a shot but this is where the Bowles coaching staff is gong to be tested.
Big test this coming Sunday.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:38 am
I’m so indifferent about this coaching staff. I think when the season started, there was a promise, “you got 2 years coach Bowles”… that’s the conversation I think that was had. Why? You don’t hang your career on a first time play caller like Canales, if I’m fighting for my job in 2023, I get someone that has called plays before. Then the pressure of the season happens, and we overachieve early vs. later in the season, and we’ve been steady ever since, which is the worst way to compete in this league imo, especially with a fan base that just doesn’t like the stoic demeanor of Bowles.
Look around this league past and present, there’s so many unsuccessful coaching staffs out there that were so hopeful. Guys like Kliff Kingsbury, hell one of his Cardinals teams I thought was ready to make a serious move, and then it just completely unraveled with Murray and injuries. Those are the coaches that are willing to come to Tampa to give us a look. We’re not landing a McVay, there’s too many other attractive options out there. The last 2 times we landed solid coaches, was Gruden on a trade that cost us our future, and Arians who had to come out of retirement, who’s coaching tree had just done poor enough job on their own where most/all were available to join the Bucs. Perfect storm.
Point being, I still think players need to play, and when they make bone headed decisions or blow a coverage, it’s always the coach to fall on the sword. You guys see the Bowles post-game locker-room speech? It’s hard not to think that this team is not together. I love the energy I saw, they all want this.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:43 am
Glazers will see a mass mutiny if they retain Bowles and his staff for next season.
We know who Todd Bowles is as a HC. We have eyes.
Would ANYONE ANYWHERE like to take a bet that this won’t be his last head coaching job in this league ever again? He can’t get fired fast enough for me.
Lastly this guy is no defensive guru. He’s a lousy HC and a slightly better DC.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:57 am
This is the 2nd time I’m going to gb in December for a Bucs packers game and still no damn snow last time we got got by Brett hundlley or whatever his name was
December 12th, 2023 at 7:05 am
i bought tickets to the GB game over the summer – december and the frozen tundra and needing to go at least once and all that. while i had weirdly hoped for a high of 25 i’ll take playoffs on the line in december any day. go bucs!
December 12th, 2023 at 7:23 am
Jeff’s grandpa Says:
December 12th, 2023 at 6:57 am
This is the 2nd time I’m going to gb in December for a Bucs packers game and still no damn snow last time we got got by Brett hundlley or whatever his name was
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I recall the Snow Bowl at Lambeau back when Steve Young (yeah, THAT Steve Young) was the Bucs QB. Bucs stunk up the joint back then, lost, and Young split for greener pastures. Climate change is here, and times are different now. So, the Pack lost to the who? Giants? More like midgets. Aren’t they the bottom feeders in their Division this year? No reason why Bucs can’t win. This isn’t the 1980s and the NFC Central. Now, back in those days you had to be nuts to be a Bucs fan. Guess I qualified. 🙂 Enjoy your trip.
December 12th, 2023 at 7:32 am
Joe needs to include an option for every thread : press 1 to type “coach sucks, QB sucks, GM sucks, fire them all”
December 12th, 2023 at 8:05 am
“So your telling me we have a chance”?
December 12th, 2023 at 8:15 am
Bowles has not won 3 consecutive games since 2017. He’s only done it twice in his HC career; once in 2017, once in 2015. We’ll see if his team is “growing up.”
December 12th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Drunkinybor Says:
“I love that new 9 man defensive scheme he’s running it’s brilliant and innovative a very original idea.”
It’s hard to get called for 12 men on the field when you only play 9. It’s called “strategery.” Bowles is an innovator.
December 12th, 2023 at 8:29 am
Will be there for the game!! 42 degrees is about as good as it’ll get and it’s going to be glorious. Do I cheer for playoffs or for a draft pick?
December 12th, 2023 at 9:04 am
Not sure when you are going up but at the stadium there is a Packers museum. Naw, don’t care about the Packers but it is basically a shrine to the NFL. All kinds of stuff from the NFL in the 1920s-1960s, not just the Packers. It’s really well done. Wish the Bucs would have something like that.
Every NFL fan should experience Lambeau Field once. It really is a celebration of the NFL. The place and the vibe really has a college feel to it.
The stadium is right smack in the middle of a neighborhood, a stereotypical suburban neighborhood (think of the neighborhood just to the southeast of The Licht House). Joe was driving to the stadium maybe three hours before the game (have to get there early) and kids were throwing footballs from one side of the street to the other with the traffic driving under their passes.
Sort of Norman Rockwell Americana.
First time Joe was up there, Dan Lucas of WFLA was sitting next to Joe. Across the field from us was like an old digital high school scoreboard (just the time and score). Just above that scoreboard was the Packers Ring of Honor. Bart Starr, Don Hutson, Vince Lombardi, Reggie White, Ray Nitschke, Forest Gregg, Paul Hornung, Jerry Kramer … the names go on and on.
Lucas looks at Joe, points to the names and says, “Now THAT’S a Ring of Honor!”
December 12th, 2023 at 9:55 am
The attacks on the Coach amuse me.”Move on from him and that will.turn things around.” Right. Like they did when we moved on from Lovie, Greg, and Dirk. What turned us around was getting Brady. Did Belechik have a mild stroke or something, and go from Hall of Fame coach to loser overnight? Draft and free agent decisions are the key factor. Make a mistake on Daniel Jones and you’re in trouble. Get unbelievably lucky with Brock Purdy and you’ll do well.
December 12th, 2023 at 10:48 am
Was just up in the mountains and it was low 40s during the day, 20s at night… beautiful weather for some football!
Packers will be chomping at the bit to win this one as they’re fighting for their lives. Can the Bucs match the intensity? Can they play a mostly clean game and limit mistakes?
December 12th, 2023 at 10:50 am
Cool story Joe^
One of my best friends is a diehard Packers fan. Hoping we get to travel up there one day for a Bucs Packers game.
December 12th, 2023 at 11:07 am
“Gets your brats ready!”
I grew up across the Ohio river from Cincinnati a very German town. Brats were big there as well.
Makes me want to puke!!! Lips and arseholes wrapped in white carcas that looks like an intestine and it usually swells and bursts when cooked.
Brats are right up their with Scots Haggis…heart, liver, and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, …
December 12th, 2023 at 11:16 am
@Swampy:
Daniel Jones is an average quarterback with limited escapability behind a below average o line.
Getting pasted to the ground seven times a game will make anyone gun shy.
December 12th, 2023 at 11:22 am
Thirty five or 40 and full sunshine IS GREAT football weather.
GO BUCCANEERS !!!!
December 12th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Kinda wish they had beat the Giants. They will be up and sky high for the Bucs. If the temp falls below 32? Bucs no can do.
December 12th, 2023 at 1:06 pm
I have read many post much of you said look at the attendance nobody behind bowles well there was 62750 fans in the stands on Sunday so WTF r u talking about this fan base was there for bowles & the entire team only 1 talking trash r the losers on this site
December 12th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Beeej says is u r post name like a blow job ? what an idiot obviously u r as classy as I r post name jackass
December 12th, 2023 at 2:11 pm
I’ve been a fan since day 1-1976 ! Suffered through the bad days, which were
many, back then ! I have always supported the “BUCS”, during the good and
the bad ! What pisses me off, is all these so-called fans, who attach their names
to the “BUCS”, yet trash the team ! There are only 32 teams in the NFL, with
only 30 stadiums, and Tampa Bay is one of them ! So, please don’t call
yourself a “BUCS” fan, while trashing our team ! “GO BUCS-GO BAKER MAYFIELD- WIN NFC SOUTH ! THREEPEAT !
December 12th, 2023 at 4:09 pm
@Joe…
Nice comments on Lambeau Field. Lot of community pride there, since the team is publicly owned. Stockholders can’t sell or cash in their shares. All profits are invested back into the organization, unlike billionaire owners of other teams who only see it as a $ sign.
December 12th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
As a Bucs fan since ’97, I’d say best long term outcome will be a record that assures us of new coach next year.
A one and out in Play-Offs, could be fun, but is of little long term use if we must experience another ’22 or ’23 like season next year.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Adam… 37 for a high? That is good weather this time of year in the land of the Frozen Tundra. 40 is great. Thank goodness that even we old guys can be gym rats this time of year up here.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Brats..was at Lambeau this summer for the Seahawks pre-season game. A couple pieces of advice. The fans are great so don’t worry… it isn’t Philly. But it will be chilly especially if there is any wind, so dress as warm as you can and layer up. And those aluminum seats are hard and cold. Try to find a stadium seat if you can that meets the specs and find a way to get it with you, or see if you can rent one. Man those seats are hard on the rear and back after about an hour. And you will know why the fans love to stand.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:52 pm
Brats.. I should say Aluminums benches…like at a HS or college game. No theater seating for the average fan. Now maybe Joe or Ira would get those warm boxes, with running brats and beer. But for us… yikes.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
BTW…said this game would likely be for all the WC marbles, two weeks ago, if anyone remembers.
December 12th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
Joe… I said that this game would be for all the marbles about two weeks ago. Saw the young Packers playing better and knew with the weakness of the South, that the Bucs record could put them on a collision course.
December 12th, 2023 at 8:16 pm
Am I the only lifelong Buc fan here that’s having trouble caring if this team is eliminated in Week 18 or Week 19? I can’t see any path they win a championship, and that’s why you play. This is a clown show in Wild Card race this year.
December 13th, 2023 at 9:06 am
Love like Ridder and still in there first full year behind center. Many times at the point of taking over a game they cough it up. Sometimes it’s early and they manage to regroup and have the team in it at the end.
Problem with young QBs if they struggle the first couple seasons teams move on and they rarely get s second shot. On the flip side s Young QB can come in and have one great season on a good team and then play bad , lose, and get multiple new chances going forward. List includes names like Tebow, Grossman, RGIII, Glennon, Osweiler snd Cassell. Eventually they can’t BS their way to a starting gig and become a backup or do college color and commercials.