Fri Sep 26 13:57:31 2008

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Rodgers, Pack, Vying for Bounce-Back vs. Bucs

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(Sports Network) - For his latest test, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get to show the world how he handles adversity.

Fresh off his first loss as an NFL starter, Rodgers and his team will look to recapture the magic of their 2-0 start when they meet the homestanding Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

Rodgers, who looked mostly impressive while engineering wins over the Vikings (24-19) and Lions (48-25) in the first two weeks, couldn't get the Pack over the hump against the Cowboys (27-16) last Sunday night at Lambeau Field. The former first-rounder threw for 290 yards in the game, but had trouble finishing off drives on a night that saw Green Bay held out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.

Following the setback, Rodgers will have to show both his teammates and the NFL-viewing public that his confidence remains strong.

He'll have a tall order against a Buccaneers club that looks like it might be hitting its stride.

Following a heartbreaking loss to the Saints to start the year, Tampa Bay has managed back-to-back wins over Atlanta (24-9) and Chicago (27-24 in overtime), helping the Bucs into a first-place tie in the NFC South along with the Falcons and Panthers.

Quarterback Brian Griese, who took over starting signal-caller reins for Jeff Garcia in Week 2, moved to 2-0 in his latest stint with the Bucs by coming up with some late-game heroics against the Bears.

The journeyman rallied Tampa Bay from a 24-14 deficit inside of the final two minutes of regulation, sending the game into overtime with a one-yard pass to tight end Jerramy Stevens with seven seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

In the extra session, Griese engineered a 12-play, 90-yard drive culminating in a game-winning 21-yard field goal for Matt Bryant.

Griese set a franchise record for passing attempts with 67 in the game - just three off the NFL mark - and completed 38 passes for 407 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the win.

The status of Bryant for Sunday's game is unknown after the Bucs' four-year kicker suffered an unspeakable tragedy earlier this week. On Wednesday, it was learned that Bryant's three-month-old son, Matthew Tryson, had died in his sleep in the early morning hours that day.

Bryant and his wife, Melissa, released the following statement on Wednesday.

"Melissa and I are overcome with the amount of support we have received from the community during this difficult time. We would like to thank our Buccaneers family and the Glazers for their support and outpouring of love.

"Tryson enriched our lives for the short time that he was with us and we will never forget his smile. We know Tryson's death has deeply touched the community and we appreciate the love and prayers from our Buccaneers fans."

SERIES HISTORY

Green Bay has a 29-19-1 lead in the all-time series with Tampa Bay, but was a 17-16 home loser when the teams last met, in Week 3 of the 2005 season. The Packers' most recent win in the series came in 2003, when they went into Raymond James Stadium and emerged with a 20-13 win. Tampa last won a home game in the series in 2002.

The Packers' 21-7 win in a 1997 NFC Divisional Playoff at Lambeau Field marks the only postseason meeting between the two former NFC Central rivals.

Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden has a career record of 2-2 against the Packers, including a loss while serving as head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1999. Green Bay's Mike McCarthy will be meeting both Gruden and the Bucs for the first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE THE BALL

Though Rodgers (796 passing yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) played a role in Green Bay's first loss of the season last week, it is difficult to argue with the job he has done overall. The fourth-year-pro has a solid 102.9 passer rating through three games, and has been nearly immune to the major mistakes that usually befall inexperienced signal-callers. Rodgers has found Greg Jennings (19 receptions), Donald Driver (15 receptions, 1 TD), and tight end Donald Lee (10 receptions) with frequency, with Jennings leading the NFL in receiving yards (373) as Week 4 begins. Rodgers could be helped this week by the return of No. 3 wideout James Jones (4 receptions, 1 TD), who is questionable with a knee injury. Rookie Jordy Nelson (5 receptions, 1 TD) caught four balls for 42 yards in Jones' stead last week. The Packers have had their problems in the running game, as Ryan Grant (166 rushing yards) has been bothered by a hamstring injury and has just 74 yards on 28 carries (2.6 yards per attempt) in his last two games. If Grant continues to struggle, Brandon Jackson (93 rushing yards, 1 TD, 5 receptions) might get more of a chance to show what he can do. The Green Bay o-line allowed a bloated five sacks of Rodgers last Sunday.

The ability to cover Green Bay's fine fleet of receivers will be a key for the Buccaneers, and that directive will be made easier if rookie Aqib Talib (1 INT) is able to return from a one-week absence due to a hamstring injury. Talib is listed as probable. Corners Ronde Barber (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Phillip Buchanon (11 tackles, 1 INT) will have primary responsibility in slowing Jennings and Driver. Rookie safety Tanard Jackson (16 tackles) is second on the team in tackles. The Buccaneers pass rush has generated eight sacks through three games, including 3.5 from Greg White (8 tackles) and a pair from second-year-pro Gaines Adams (7 tackles). Adams logged his first career interception last week, picking off a Kyle Orton pass and returning it 45 yards to paydirt. The Bucs are one of two NFL teams (Baltimore) that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown on the year, with linebackers Barrett Ruud (25 tackles, 1 INT) and Derrick Brooks (10 tackles) leading the run-stopping effort along with tackles Chris Hovan (15 tackles) and Jovan Haye (8 tackles).

WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL

Griese's (567 passing yards, 3 TD, 3 INT) big day against the Bears came despite the absence of No. 1 receiver Joey Galloway (8 receptions), who was nursing a foot injury and is listed as questionable on this week's injury report. Veteran targets Antonio Bryant (13 receptions) and Ike Hilliard (16 receptions, 2 TD) stepped up with major performances in Chicago, and will have to do the same if Galloway is out again on Sunday. Bryant caught 10 balls for 138 yards in the win, and Hilliard added six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Stevens (5 receptions, 1 TD), in his first game following a two- game NFL suspension, caught five passes for 61 yards and the game-tying touchdown in perhaps his finest outing as a Buc. Earnest Graham (223 rushing yards, 1 TD) needs to shake off a rough game against the Bears a week ago, in which he managed just 16 yards on 12 carries. Veteran Warrick Dunn (134 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 1 TD) was the more productive of the two backs, adding 58 yards on nine total touches. The Bucs line has allowed four sacks thus far in 2008, and could get guard Davin Joseph (foot) back this week. Joseph is listed as probable.

Griese will do his best on Sunday to take advantage of a banged-up Green Bay secondary. Cornerback Al Harris is likely to miss the season with a ruptured spleen, while corner Charles Woodson (toe), safeties Nick Collins (back), Atari Bigby (hamstring) and Aaron Rouse (knee) are all questionable for the Tampa Bay game. Cornerback Tramon Williams (8 tackles) is likely to take Harris' spot in the starting lineup. Up front, the team will need a big pass- rushing contribution from the likes of Aaron Kampman (10 tackles, 4 sacks) and Cullen Jenkins (10 tackles, 2.5 sacks) in order to mitigate the problems on the back end. McCarthy's squad will also require a better run-stopping effort than the one offered forth last week, when Dallas gutted Green Bay for 217 yards on the ground. Tackles Johnny Jolly (8 tackles) and Ryan Pickett (9 tackles) must have more of a presence, and linebackers Nick Barnett (15 tackles), A.J. Hawk (26 tackles, 2 sacks), and Brandon Chillar (13 tackles) need to make more plays behind them. The Packers are allowing 5.7 yards per rush, the worst figure in the league.

FANTASY FOCUS

Owners of Rodgers have been encouraged to start him based on his consistency, which included last week's 290-yard effort in a loss. He, wideout Greg Jennings, and kicker Mason Crosby are no-brainer picks for the starting lineup, and Driver remains a solid No. 2 option. Grant is bound to pick up his play at some point, but the Bucs stop the run well so if you have another option, you might want to use it. Tight end Donald Lee and the Packers defense are acceptable but not great starting options.

On the Tampa Bay side, Griese can't be expected to put the ball in the air 60- plus times every week, but Gruden obviously has confidence in his passing ability and that makes him attractive. With Galloway likely out this week, and with the injury to Harris negatively impacting the Green Bay secondary, think hard about using Hilliard and Antonio Bryant this week. The Bucs defense has really only shut down one attack so far (Atlanta), and doesn't figure to dominate Green Bay in the same manner.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Rodgers has been successful against defenses of both the Vikings and Lions this season, and the common denominator of those units is that both use the Tampa-2 scheme also utilized by the Buccaneers. Attacking the Tampa-2 requires quick decision-making and accuracy, and Rodgers has shown proficiency in both of those areas so far. Green Bay will move the football and score some points, but how will the Packers fare defensively? Well enough, in all likelihood. Griese is a journeyman for a reason, and can be counted on for a mistake or two. With his top wideout Galloway hobbled, Griese won't have enough weapons to lead his club past a quality Packers team this week.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Packers 22, Buccaneers 19