The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12) will take on the Green Bay Packers (10-4) on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Here are several matchups between individual players and/or certain team units that could go a long way towards determining the game's final outcome:
CBs Johnthan Banks & Alterraun Verner vs. WRs Randall Cobb & Jordy Nelson
The Bucs secondary has faced a string of impressive WR tandems (Jones & White, Jeffery & Marshall, Tate & Johnson) and has held opposing offenses to just 205 passing yards per game (ypg) over the last six weeks. They will face perhaps their toughest task today. Cobb and Nelson account for more than 64% of the Packers' receiving yards this season and 22 of the teams' 35 receiving TDs.
DT Akeem Spence vs. C Corey Linsley
With All-Pro Gerald McCoy now on IR, Spence (33 tackles, two sacks) must step up and provide an inside pass rush to keep Aaron Rodgers from finding a rhythm. Spence will see a lot of Linsley, a rookie fifth-round pick, who has started every game and is Pro Football Focus's third-highest rated center, having allowed just one sack and two QB hits all season.
WR Mike Evans vs. CB Sam Shields
Evans added another TD to his rookie-leading total of 11 last week. While the Packers rank 13th with 251.4 receiving ypg allowed, they have allowed 20 TDs to opposing wide receivers, the second most in the NFL. Bonus note: If Evans gains 52 yards and Vincent Jackson puts up 69 yards, they will be just the third team with two 1,000+-yard receivers this year.
WR Randall Cobb is second on the Packers' offense with 1,076 receiving yards while CB Johnthan Banks is the Bucs' interceptions leader with four
LB Lavonte David vs. RB Eddie Lacy
Lacy is averaging 98.3 rushing ypg over the last four weeks, at a pace of 5.3 yards per carry. He has runs of 10+ yards on 15 of his 73 carries in that time frame. David, who posted 12 tackles and a sack last Sunday, will lead the attack in limiting Lacy's numbers. Despite missing two games, David has 133 tackles, the second most in the league.
QB Josh McCown vs. LB Clay Matthews
Matthews has 7.5 sacks on the season, leading his team, and has been producing highlights no matter which LB position he lines up in. He adds two forced fumbles and an interception to his resume. McCown will need to account for Matthews on every play and do his best to avoid pressure in order to have success finding his receivers downfield.
RBs Doug Martin & Charles Sims vs. S Morgan Burnett
The Bucs RB duo had 178 combined yards from scrimmage last week thanks to a few big rushes from Martin and strong open-field moves from Sims. They will have a good chance to continue that recent success against a Packers defense that is allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game. Burnett leads Green Bay and all NFL defensive backs this season with 112 tackles.
