NFC Championship: Buccaneers @ Packers - Sunday, Jan 24th, 2:05 PM

[jerichoholicninja]

Packers/Chiefs happened over 50 years ago. I doubt the majority of NFL fans could tell you who played the first Super Bowl. I haven't seen anyone mention that the Super Bowl is in Tampa Bay. Brady leading the first team to a Super Bowl in their home stadium is a huge story. Rodgers is a great QB but Brady's Q Score blows ARod's out of the water. If the NFL could figure out a way to make it Brady/Rodgers in the Super Bowl they would but they'll take Brady 10 times out of 10.

[CheezWizHed]

Doesn't matter if fans can tell you. It is a marketing ploy. They will tell you.

 

Plus, Rodgers vs. Mahomes can be billed as the State Farm Bowl.

 

Yes, Brady making it again, in TB, with both AFC/NFC teams will be big too. But the majority of fans would hate it and some wouldn't watch.

[Outlander]

Pretty confident the Packers will handle the Bucs, probably even easier than the Rams game. Like Favre when he got old Brady will struggle in the cold.

[MrTPlush]

If the line holds up and they don’t turn the ball over it should not end up that close. Yes, the first meeting and last week the Bucs only won on the back of huge turnovers. However, that’s a big part of their game...turnovers. We have had two turnovers in the last 7 games or something crazy. This is not the week to start slacking with the ball.

 

Honestly, when the OL plays well and we don’t turn it over there is probably not a team that can beat us outside of the Chiefs. Rodgers is simply on another level this year. If the OL keeps him upright and they don’t shoot themselves in the foot the offense is ridiculous.

[CheezWizHed]

I think Brady will hold up in the cold better than Drew Brees. Bigger QB, bigger hands, more used to playing in cold conditions.

 

But overall, I think the game is going to be similar to playing the Rams -> big defense, averagish offense. The Bucs are better up the middle (LBs) than the Rams, but worse DBs.

 

Defensively, we are very different than we were in the 5th game of the season. Our LB and DL are playing MUCH better. Keke (if he is healthy) and Clark really stepped it up in the last 6 weeks. Lowry's improvement mirrors those around him. Lancaster has been adequate and Snacks brings improved depth. Barnes has really grown and matured in the middle. He and Kirksey are starting to look much better together. Overall, the defense has gelled very nicely this year.

 

If we can top 25 points and not turn the ball over, we should win. If we are able to eliminate the pass rush (like they did against the Rams), I think we will beat them by 2+ scores.

[nodakfan17]

It would be quite a credit to the Buccaneers defense if they were able to beat Brees, Rodgers, and Mahomes. I don’t think a team has ever faced 3 quarterbacks of that caliber in a single playoff.

[Underachiever]

It would be quite a credit to the Buccaneers defense if they were able to beat Brees, Rodgers, and Mahomes. I don’t think a team has ever faced 3 quarterbacks of that caliber in a single playoff.

Uh, you forgot Heinicke, hello!

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think the Packers are a better team and should win, but there are so many NFCCG demons for me at this point, that I am fully prepared for a crushing loss. One we lose at the end, or get crushed from the start. I'm just conditioned for something to go wrong.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Packers/Chiefs happened over 50 years ago. I doubt the majority of NFL fans could tell you who played the first Super Bowl. I haven't seen anyone mention that the Super Bowl is in Tampa Bay. Brady leading the first team to a Super Bowl in their home stadium is a huge story. Rodgers is a great QB but Brady's Q Score blows ARod's out of the water. If the NFL could figure out a way to make it Brady/Rodgers in the Super Bowl they would but they'll take Brady 10 times out of 10.

 

I think the NFL would love a Brady/Rodgers Super Bowl, but not so convinced that a ton of fans would love to see Brady play in the Super Bowl.

 

A lot of people are bored of it. The matchup the NFL gets is going to be really good no matter what. Buffalo getting its 5th shot with a young star at QB, or the new vs. old in Mahomes vs. whatever. They have to be pretty happy with the final four they got.

[CheezWizHed]

So win or lose, does Brady return next year?

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yeah, Brady's back for 2022. I haven't seen any indication otherwise and he played very well. I don't think he even has a date in mind for retiring. As long as he is feeling good, I think he'll keep coming back. Still throws a nice deep ball too. Wouldn't surprise to see him playing at 48 at this point, if someone will have him.

[stoutdude04]

So win or lose, does Brady return next year?

 

I think so. He still looks like he has some juice, whereas Rivers and Brees both looked 'washed up'. I saw both of them fail to throw the ball 45 yards at one point this year.

[nodakfan17]

I think the Packers are a better team and should win, but there are so many NFCCG demons for me at this point, that I am fully prepared for a crushing loss. One we lose at the end, or get crushed from the start. I'm just conditioned for something to go wrong.

That’s pretty much where I’m at too. I’ll be pulling hard for the Packers on Sunday, but have tempered my expectations.

[OldHeidelberg]

We were around 7 point underdogs and on the road in the last 3 NFCC that we lost. Before that in my lifetime we were 3-1 and although I am not sure the line @SF in 97 I know many expected us to win that even if slight underdogs. 2007 Giants is the only outlier as we were 7 point favorites at home and still lost. We are at home and Rodgers is playing the best football of his life or near it. I think we got this, I will be very disappointed of course if we don't. Tampa hasn't been to the playoffs in a decade, my gut tells me even with Brady they may not be quite ready for this one yet.

[PinaMadness]

I think the Packers are a better team and should win, but there are so many NFCCG demons for me at this point, that I am fully prepared for a crushing loss. One we lose at the end, or get crushed from the start. I'm just conditioned for something to go wrong.

Me too. I didn't want to see Tampa again and I fully expect to lose. Brady magic. That guy's lived a charmed life.

[homer]

I fully expect to be up by 6 with about 2 minutes left and Brady has the ball at his own 20.

[HiAndTight]

I'm pretty confident that we'll win. With that said, I think Tampa is probably pretty confident that they'll win as well.

 

I think the reason I'm more nervous than usual is that I think we SHOULD win. I was just happy to be in the NFC Championship game last year but I figured if GB won it'd be lucky. Maybe the team felt the same way

 

 

Yeah...this^^^

 

Happy to be in the NFCCG last year and hoped we could figure it out.

Happy to make it vs the Falcons and thought back to 2010 and hoped we could win.

 

This team SHOULD win and would that makes it so much worse. Like...losing due to an onside kick with a SB trip on the line.

[HiAndTight]

Yeah, Brady's back for 2022. I haven't seen any indication otherwise and he played very well. I don't think he even has a date in mind for retiring. As long as he is feeling good, I think he'll keep coming back. Still throws a nice deep ball too. Wouldn't surprise to see him playing at 48 at this point, if someone will have him.

 

Since Gronk has already said he's coming back, you have to assume that he knows Brady is.

 

I don't know if he'll play 4 more years...but it wouldn't shock me. Especially if he stays in Tampa with all the talent they've got. They just added a stud RT in Wirffs who could move to the left side and he has an incredible WR'ing core even if AB doesn't come back.

 

I thought he'd have been better off going to SD and SD using their pick on Simmons, or Indy. Football's had to predict, but Brady playing and being in a Championship game...seems inevitable at this point.

[jerichoholicninja]

With Brees retiring and the Panthers and Falcons not looking to be very good anytime soon that division is the Bucs for the next couple years.

[TURBO]

It doesn't really matter what the sports media wants either, they have no bearing on the outcome of the game. But it's not like they're getting Bears/Titans if they don't get the Brady/Mahomes bowl. The insinuation that Packers/Chiefs is an inferior marketing product compared to Bucs/Chiefs is weird to me. It's the State Farm Bowl. It's a rematch of Super Bowl 1. It's arguably the two most talented QBs in NFL history and the two best offenses facing off on the biggest stage. It's a matchup of two MVPs and two Super Bowl MVPs. It's an extremely marketable matchup and storyline.

 

Wait a minute, did you just anoint Mahomes as one of the best two QBs in NFL history? That might be a little premature maybe?

 

If you said Brady and Rodgers, that wouldn't have made me cringe, that is at least a formative argument, but Mahomes top two, EVER?

[TURBO]

Packer-Chiefs in a repeat of SB I is pretty compelling story... moreso than Brady in the SB again.

 

You don't think that Brady leaving New England, and landing in the Super Bowl in his first year in Tampa, without Belichek is compelling to the sports world?

 

How many fans were around when Super Bowl I took place? The only reference to that game for most is media coverage and the history books. Everyone who is currently an NFL fan knows Tom Brady and his accomplishments. Having him leave the team he won numerous Super Bowls with, then go to the Super Bowl with another team the very next season, is monumentous sports coverage fodder. It will be covered relentlessly on the National Media, where as a Super Bowl I rematch will get a mention, but won't be as important or interesting nationally.

 

I realize you are all Packer fans, and there is nothing more important than the Packers in WI, but if anyone questions the interest level nationally of Brady back in the super bowl without the Pats and Bill B. over the rematch of Super Bowl I which took place 53 years ago, I think maybe the homerism has been taken too far.

[TURBO]

 

Honestly, when the OL plays well and we don’t turn it over there is probably not a team that can beat the Bucs outside of the Chiefs. Brady is simply on another level this year. If the OL keeps him upright and they don’t shoot themselves in the foot the offense is ridiculous.

 

Fixed.

[TURBO]

So win or lose, does Brady return next year?

 

Yup, he'll be back either way imo... Question is, will Gronk be back and willing to take a pay cut to stay with Brady?

[adambr2]

Packer-Chiefs in a repeat of SB I is pretty compelling story... moreso than Brady in the SB again.

 

You don't think that Brady leaving New England, and landing in the Super Bowl in his first year in Tampa, without Belichek is compelling to the sports world?

 

How many fans were around when Super Bowl I took place? The only reference to that game for most is media coverage and the history books. Everyone who is currently an NFL fan knows Tom Brady and his accomplishments. Having him leave the team he won numerous Super Bowls with, then go to the Super Bowl with another team the very next season, is monumentous sports coverage fodder. It will be covered relentlessly on the National Media, where as a Super Bowl I rematch will get a mention, but won't be as important or interesting nationally.

 

I realize you are all Packer fans, and there is nothing more important than the Packers in WI, but if anyone questions the interest level nationally of Brady back in the super bowl without the Pats and Bill B. over the rematch of Super Bowl I which took place 53 years ago, I think maybe the homerism has been taken too far.

 

I think it's homerism to think that the vast majority of fans nationally aren't sick of Brady and have no desire to see him in another Super Bowl.

[nodakfan17]

Of course I want the Packers to go all the way, but I honestly wouldn’t mind much if Brady won another one. He’s head and shoulders above his contemporaries in terms of postseason accomplishments, so one more wouldn’t really change the narrative. I worry about another QB getting to 2 before Rodgers because then we’ll have to listen to insufferable Packer fans who think Rodgers would have won 4 titles by now if they were GM.