The Green Bay Packers will be looking to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010 when they play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.
After being eliminated from Super Bowl contention at the same hurdle by the San Francisco 49ers last year, read on below to see why Green Bay could be bound for glory again in 2021.
Why 2021 Could Be Green Bay’s Year as Packers Prepare for Second Straight NFC Championship Game
Fresh from obliterating one of the league’s best defences to smithereens by posting 32 points against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round, Aaron Rodgers and Co. will have to be on song again to get past a stout Bucs defence.
In a titanic matchup that features two of the finest passers to have graced the league in Rodgers and Tom Brady, Sunday’s NFC title game is set to be an all-star offensive shootout. The All-Pro ability of Davante Adams, who finished fifth in regular-season receiving yards with 1,374, will be key to the Packers’ chances of victory against the expert arm of former Patriots quarterback Brady.
Green Bay’s hopes do not rest solely on an air-raid though, after Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and AJ Dillon ran the Rams into the ground with 191 yards between them.
Indeed, their strength in depth in the backfield may give them an advantage. With the contest likely to be a close one, having fresh running backs in an attempt to wear down the opposition defence in the fourth quarter may give Green Bay the edge.
Although a team containing Tom Brady can never be ruled out, if the Pack can make it to Super Bowl LV, they will fancy their chances of winning a first Lombardi Trophy since 2010. Were they to make it to the Big Game, they would face a banged-up Patrick Mahomes or a Buffalo Bills team making their first Super Bowl appearance since 1993. The Packers’ potent offence, led by an excelling Rodgers, is why Green Bay are -3.5 point spread favourites to claim a first crown in 11 years.
Not only have the Packers been sizzling on offence, but their defence has hit peak performance at the perfect time, allowing fewer than 20 points in each of their last four matchups. Having been blown away by Brady and the Bucs in their regular-season game, a 38-10 blowout, Mike Pettine has revived a unit that looked shaky and unreliable to start the season.
Stopping the quadruple threat of Antonio Brown, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and tight end Cameron Brate will be no easy assignment for Green Bay. However, if they adopt a bend but don’t break approach, whilst controlling time of possession through the ground game and striking in the air when required, then they should fancy their chances of denying Tampa Bay the opportunity to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium on February 7th.
Whatever the outcome of the game, it is sure to be a fascinating encounter between two of the league’s most high-powered offences that will make for an entertaining and exhilarating watch on Championship Sunday.
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