Entering this weekend, both of these teams would be in the playoffs. Both sit at 6-7. Tampa Bay is currently leading the NFC South division while Green Bay holds the 7th and final playoff seed in the NFC. Should the playoffs begin this weekend, the Packers would be traveling to Dallas to take on the NFC East-leading Cowboys while the Buccaneers would host the 10-3 Philadelphia Eagles.

Safe to say this is a huge game for both sides. Should Green Bay win out, they’d secure a playoff spot and finish with a 10-7 record. However, should the Packers lose just one more game, it’d be tough for them to get into the playoffs at 9-8…but they still could.

Tampa Bay, while leading the NFC South, shares the same 6-7 record as their divisional rival Falcons and Saints. That division will come down to the last weekend, and the winner will be awarded a home playoff game – fair or not, it is what it is.

Matchup

The Packers get to face one of the worst rush offenses in the NFL. However, that may not be a good thing. The Bucs may just see what they’re able to accomplish by running the ball all game long in hopes of keeping it close, which would likely work. What Packer fans should hope for, is Baker trying to take over. In his previous two starts at Lambeau (one as a member of the Browns on Christmas Day in 2021, Mayfield threw 4 interceptions, with the last sealing the game on the final drive when only trailing by 2. Then last season, 51 weeks later, this time with the Rams, the former Heisman winner was less than pedestrian and lost 24-12. There may be something about Joe Barry that Baker can’t figure out, and with the 29th-ranked rushing offense, hopefully the Packers are able to take advantage and win the turnover battle – which seems to be the reason why Tampa has 6 wins, as they’re +6 in the turnover differential department.

This game may be decided by the availability of Tampa Bays’ outstanding DT Vita Vea (#50). He can dictate a game, however, if the Packers’ OL plays like they did in their last outing at Lambeau (Dec. 3rd vs Kansas City), Love should resemble the QB during the 3-game win streak vs the wind-influenced performance at the Meadowlands this past Monday night.

Prediction

Buccaneers 26 (+3.5)
Packers 27

Season: 4-9
Overall: 91-61