Incredibly, the Green Bay Packers’ Week 4 opponent is more desperate for a win than they are. The Packers will be in Tampa Bay on Sunday, hoping not to get burned by a floundering Buccaneers team still seeking its first win.
Green Bay has looked more like a pretender than a contender so far and is coming off an embarrassing 21-point loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football, while Tampa Bay has lost all three of its games by a touchdown or less.
The Packers spent the mini bye week revamping an offensive line that has been in disarray since the season began. Hopefully, Laken Tomlinson, Mekhi Becton, and Kevin Zeitler will help right the ship.
The Buccaneers are without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, who dislocated his right thumb
in last week’s loss to Minnesota, and will have to roll with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels.
That gives Green Bay an edge, though these three key matchups could also have a big impact on who comes out on top:
Packers CBs Keisean Nixon and Brandon Cisse vs. Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka
Tampa Bay may be down a quarterback, but they still have a supremely talented receiver in Egbuka. As a rookie, he finished the 2025 season with 63 receptions for 938 yards and six touchdowns.
The Packers couldn’t cover the No. 1 receiver in last week’s loss to the Falcons, letting Drake London catch nine passes for a career-high 194 receiving yards. Daniels and Egbuka won’t have much chemistry, yet it wouldn’t be surprising if Daniels—who has yet to complete a pass in the regular season—leaned on his best weapon.
The Buccaneers like to move Egbuka around, but they could keep him in a certain spot if they find a matchup they like. Hopefully, Nixon and Cisse show up better prepared, so neither gets picked on by a rookie quarterback in his debut.
Packers run defense vs. Bucs RB Bucky Irving
London wasn’t the only one who gashed Green Bay last week, as Bijan Robinson mirrored his 194 yards, but on the ground.
Irving isn’t on Robinson’s level, but he isn’t a slouch either. The third-year back is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season and has forced 10 missed tackles. Irving could see a large workload this week if he’s healthy. He’s been limited in practice this week with a glute injury. But even if Irving isn’t at 100%, Kenneth Gainwell is a serviceable backup.
Without Mayfield, expect Tampa Bay’s offense to try and pound the rock.
Packers interior OL vs. Bucs DT Vita Vea
Remember when Vea requested a trade during the offseason? Welp, any dream of him coming to Green Bay was crushed when he signed a one-year, $30 million extension to remain a Buccaneer through 2027.
The two-time Pro Bowler has racked up 35 career sacks over eight seasons and is vital to a Tampa Bay run defense ranked second in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (76.0). So far this season, Vea has just three pressures, no sacks, and no tackles for loss, but this week presents a potentially favorable matchup.
The Packers' interior offensive line play has been a disaster, which is why they brought in reinforcements. Tomlinson has been the starting left guard in practice this week, but it’s still unclear if Zeitler will be right guard. Either way, center Sean Rhyan, the two veterans, or perhaps Donovan Jennings can expect to have their hands full.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers vs. Buccaneers: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 4
