The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ last trip to the Frozen Tundra was a big success, resulting in an NFC Championship win. But that was the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading there once more to play the Green Bay Packers for the third year in a row. The team will face a daunting task, as playing at Lambeau Field in December can often be a harsh and brutal challenge. The weather actually doesn’t look too bad for Sunday’s matchup — it’s set to be 41 degrees with 83% humidity — but it remains a trial nonetheless for any who play there in the final frame of the season. Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield both spoke on the upcoming game.
Head coach Todd Bowles briefly noted how cold the weather gets there, but he was more focused on the team — a team he noted plays well at this time of year in Green Bay.
“I’m sure the weather plays a part in some of the things they do, but they have a good football team. They’re very well coached and they finish up ballgames in December. We’re trying to finish up ballgames in December. I don’t know too much about the history that they had against the Buccaneers, but we’re going up there to win a game. This is this year’s Buccaneers and we’ve got to go by this year.”
Quarterback Baker Mayfield lamented that he has yet to play a game there outside of December. Mayfield is 0-2 at Lambeau field, having lost there as a member of the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams, and he also mentioned an aspect of the field that many may not think about — the grass.
“I’ve only played there in December, so yeah, it’s kind of hit or miss with the weather and what you’re going to get. Guys just have to be prepared for the grass. That’s something I learned pretty quickly – it’s slick. This late in the year, obviously it’s not in the best condition. It’s a little bit longer, so you’ve got to be ready for that. Then, in the football aspect, it’s a historical place. I grew up a huge Brett Favre fan, so the first time I got to go up there, I just kind of took it all in pregame. When it comes down to it, it’s still a football field when the game comes. It’s a special place to play and a great opportunity for us in this end-of-season push that we have coming on. They’re in a similar situation as us, so it’s going to be a good matchup.”
Playing at Lambeau Field is a special prospect for many. Bucs inside linebackers coach Larry Foote played there multiple times during his own NFL career, and he cited Lambeau (along with the Los Angeles Coliseum) as a stadium that has a special aura around.
“There are certain stadiums I was fortunate to walk in that just had an aura about [them] – the [Los Angeles Memorial] Coliseum and then Lambeau Field,” Foote said. “I don’t know, you’ve got to be there, but there is something special about those two places.”
The Bucs will take on the Packers there at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday in an attempt to get back to playing .500 football.
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