The Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored a decisive win along the line of scrimmage during Sunday’s showdown against the Green Bay Packers, fueling a one-sided, 38-10 victory for the Bucs over the previously unbeaten Packers.
As expected, pressure decided the winner. More specifically, the imbalance of the pressure was the deciding factor.
According to Pro Football Focus, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was under pressure on 18 of his 41 dropbacks (43.9 percent). He took four sacks. When under pressure, Rodgers completed just 30.8 percent of his passes, averaged 3.7 yards per attempt, threw the ball away four times and had a passer rating of 43.1.
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was hardly bothered by the Packers’ pass-rush.
Per PFF, Brady was under pressure on just five of his 27 dropbacks. When kept clean on 22 passing plays, Brady completed 68.2 percent of passes, averaged 7.0 yards per attempt and had a passer rating of 103.0.
The Buccaneers blitzed Rodgers without fear, and it worked. When blitzed, Rodgers completed 35.3 percent of his passes and tossed two interceptions. Three of his four sacks were the result of a blitz from Todd Bowles.
Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett combined for 11 pressures. Overall, the Bucs had eight players with at least two pressures. Five different players hit Rodgers.
The Packers, meanwhile, got little from their star rushers. Za’Darius Smith was on the field for all 27 of Brady’s dropbacks but created only one pressure. Kenny Clark, returning from a groin injury, had zero pressures on 18 pass-rushes. Kingsley Keke and Dean Lowry both went 0-for-13. Preston Smith led the way with two total pressures.
Coverage was certainly a factor. While Rodgers was stuck holding the football on many of his dropbacks, Brady got the ball out of his hands quickly and generally on time. Covering and pressuring often go hand-in-hand. Bowles and the Bucs did a better job disguising coverages and confusing Rodgers than Mike Pettine and the Packers did with Brady.
The Bucs protected their future Hall of Fame quarterback, both with scheme and execution. The Packers did not. The end result Sunday accurately reflected the imbalance of pressure.