The Green Bay Packers head to Florida looking to get to 2-2 facing a similarly desperate team in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are hoping to avoid an 0-4 start which would likely be a death sentence for their postseason hopes.
Despite the 0-3 record, Todd Bowles’ defense will provide a real challenge for a Green Bay offense which has been stuck in neutral early in the season, and Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love need to show they can find the right answers.
Here are the three key areas to watch when the Packers have the ball:
What is the plan at guard?
The biggest question entering Sunday’s game from a Packers perspective is who is playing at the two guard spots, which have given the offense so much trouble early in the season.
Laken Tomlinson and Kevin Zeitler have been signed
to try to salvage the situation. Will either veteran be ready to play by Sunday? Tomlinson seems likely to start at left guard, but Zeitler’s readiness is less certain.
In terms of the kind of test Green Bay’s O-line will face this week, Bowles is famous for being blitz-heavy, and indeed his Buccaneers defenses have ranked third in blitz rate since 2022.
However, they have not been getting home so far this year, ranking 31st in pressure rate and 21st in sack rate, despite blitzing at the fourth-highest rate early in 2026. Edge rusher and first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. has also been ruled out.
Once again, the biggest X-factor in the game is whether the Packers offensive line can handle the blitz. If experienced players like Tomlinson and Zeitler can go, one would imagine Green Bay will have a better chance, even if they are new to the team.
Since 2022, Both Tomlinson and Zeitler have allowed a lower pressure rate when opponents blitz compared to when they don’t. Sean Rhyan was much worse against the blitz than not in 2025, but has flipped that so far in 2026.
Tampa Bay has been an extremely difficult defense to run against, ranking fourth in expected points added (EPA) per rush allowed and third in rushing success rate allowed. They have three defensive backs with a PFF run defense grade of 81 or better.
It will be interesting to see if LaFleur commits to the run more than last week, when the Packers had only nine carries, or if he feels they will hit a brick wall if they try to establish the run this week.
Bring back YAC
The Buccaneers defense looks susceptible to yards after the catch if the early season is anything to go by, and that means this has to be a Tucker Kraft game for the Packers.
Their star tight end arguably played the worst game of his career last week, but this could be a bounce back spot. Tampa Bay ranks 27th in completion percentage allowed, 26th in YAC per reception and 28th in missed tackle rate through three games.
Regardless of what the offensive line is able to do, Green Bay should focus on getting the ball out of Love’s hands and letting his weapons do the work in this one. Jayden Reed being out for the year is a blow, but if Kraft, Matthew Golden and Christian Watson are getting the ball in their hands with a runway, it will be a productive afternoon.
Third down and red zone
Part of the Packers’ early-season struggles has been an inability to extend drives or finish them with touchdowns when they do get to the end zone. They will need to make a big improvement in that regard on Sunday.
Green Bay ranks 32nd in third down conversion rate and 27th in red zone touchdown rate after three games. Tampa Bay has the ninth best third down defense and are fifth best in the red zone.
This defense is not a soft touch, ranking eighth in yards per play allowed and second in yards allowed per drive. The Packers are not likely to march up and down the field at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, so they must execute on key downs and make the most of scoring opportunities.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 3 things on Packers offense vs. Buccaneers: Bring back YAC
