Rodgers, Pack seek revenge
They get a shot to atone for blowout loss to Bucs
GREEN BAY, Wis. — All that stands between the Packers and their first Super Bowl berth in a decade is the one team that managed to shut down their high-powered offense this season.
Green Bay is the NFL’s highestscoring team but had its lowest point total of the season in a 38-10 loss at Tampa Bay back on Oct. 18. The Packers have a chance to avenge that defeat Sunday when they host the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game.
“I think our team has come a long way from that day, but everything’s just words at this point,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. “You’ve got to go out there and you’ve got to have a great week of preparation and you’ve got to go earn it on the field. So that’ll be our mindset and that’s how we’ll approach it.
Aside from some second-half struggles in a loss to the Colts and a win over the Panthers, the Packers’ offense has been mostly unstoppable since the Bucs game. That didn’t change Saturday in a 32-18 divisional playoff victory against the Rams, who entered the night leading the NFL in most defensive categories.
“We’re not too worried on who’s on the other side of the ball,” Packers receiver Allen Lazard said after the game. “We know who we have on our side of the ball.”
The Packers earned their seventh consecutive victory and followed their usual winning formula: They build big leads by scoring at will early on.
They scored touchdowns on their first two possessions at Detroit. They reached the end zone on each of their first three series against the Panthers and Titans, and in both their victories over the Bears. They collected three touchdowns and two field goals on their first five drives against the Rams.
After throwing 48 touchdown passes with only five interceptions during the regular season, Aaron Rodgers had two more touchdown passes and ran for a score against the Rams.
“I think it’s one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to lead this team,” Rodgers said after the game. “To be counted on by my teammates to bring, not just my physical play, but my presence, my emotions, my words, and I strongly believe in speaking things to life. We’ve been talking a lot about how a positive wave can be so powerful. I feel like we have that wave building and building and building and it’s kind of been backboned by so many great people.”
The Packers also started out well in their first meeting with the Bucs, as they built a 10-0 lead before Rodgers threw consecutive interceptions. One was a pick-six. The other was returned to the two-yard line to set up a touchdown.
Rodgers was 16-for-35 for 160 yards as the Packers gave up 38 consecutive points after taking that 10-0 lead. Now, they get another shot at the Bucs with a Super Bowl appearance at stake.
“What’s happened in the past at this point, it really doesn’t matter,” LaFleur said. “It’s about what we do moving forward.”