2021 NFL Playoffs: NFC Championship
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 Green Bay Packers
Sunday, January 24th
FOX 3:05 ET
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Not that it actually matters all that much, but shouldn’t Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers get the late day marquee spot over the AFC Championship? The seeding is better on the other side, but …
It’s TOM BRADY vs. AARON RODGERS.
Yeah, but it was Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers in Week 6, too, and it was Ndamukong Suh and the Tampa Bay defensive line vs. wearing Rodgers as a hat in in the 38-10 destruction.
It shouldn’t matter too much considering these are tough guys playing for a shot in the Super Bowl, but the early forecast is around 20ish and snow on Sunday afternoon in Green Bay. The guys from Florida are going to have to get used to be really cold really quickly.
Here’s where this gets interesting, though. When it was snowing in Green Bay’s Week 16 game against Tennessee, the passing game was fine, but it was the grinding ground attack that took over.
Tampa Bay has the NFL’s No. 1 run defense and allowed just 104 rushing yards against New Orleans. However, Rodgers isn’t going to throw the soul-crushing interceptions that Brees did, and the blocking scheme that was such a disaster that first time around will fix the glitch.
Knee-Jerk No Research Prediction: Green Bay 24, Tampa Bay 20
Early Line No-Look Guess: Green Bay -5
Actual BetMGM Line: Green Bay -3.5 o/u: 51
NFL Playoff Conference Championship First Thought Predictions
– Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs