Zone, Cover 2, and why I’m picking the Bucs to upset the Packers
Joe Johnson
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Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers was considered the most talented quarterback in league history before one Patrick Mahomes entered the scene. That having been said, Rodgers wasn’t exactly Rodgers the last couple seasons. That is, until 2020 where he (re)emerged as the best passer in the league with an amazing touchdown to interception ratio if 48-to-5.
Rodgers had one bad game this season it coincidentally against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game he threw for just 160 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions for a QB rating of 35.4. It was his only multi-interception game of the season, and was not coincidentally due to the fact that the Bucs employed zone coverage on 61% of plays.
As Vikings fans saw the week after the bye, Rodgers doesn’t really perform well against cover 2 formations, and that’s something that Matt Lafleur and Rodgers clearly have thought about in the weeks since the Bucs were the only team that kept the Packers league leading offense to under 20-points.
Despite the fact that the Packers are favorites against the spread by 3 point this weekend, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Bucs will come out on top at Lambeau. If anyone can figure this out it’s 2020 Rodgers, although if you can knock Matt Lafleur for it’s been his ability to adjust mid-game.
Luckily, again, they’ve had a lot of time to consider what happened the first time against the Bucs. But, it’s definitely something to keep an eye out for this weekend as Rodgers and Brady duke it out for all the marbles.
My pick is Tampa winning a close one for this reason, as I think that the Bucs are the more balanced team and that we’ll get a glimpse of vintage Brady this weekend.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 38
Green Bay Packers – 30