Buccaneers vs. Packers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

Two teams headed in vastly different directions will hook up in Week 11 when the undefeated Green Bay Packers play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers have been a disappointment this season. Following a 10-win season in 2010, they are sitting at 4-5 in the NFC South. Quarterback Josh Freeman has taken a huge step back and the offense has struggled as a result. The defense has been terrible all season, which does not help the offense when they have to throw the ball 30 to 40 times each game.

On the flip side, the Packers have been the best team in the NFL all season. They are 9-0 and the offense is rolling over everyone right now. Aaron Rodgers is head and shoulders above every other quarterback in the league right now. The defense has been spotty, but they are showing signs of improvement each week.

Where: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

When: Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX; DirecTV Channel 708

Listen: WFUS 103.5 / WDAE 620 AM, Sirius Channel 136 (Tampa Bay); WTMJ & Statewide Radio Network, Sirius Channel 86 (Green Bay)

Live Streaming Audio: NFL.com Audio Pass ($29.99 for year, $27.99 team specific, $9.99 a month)

Betting Line: Green Bay (-14)

What’s At Stake?

The Buccaneers are quickly fading out of the playoff race, but more important than that, they have to start playing for pride. They go through games like they don’t care or just wishing that they would be somewhere else. They are more talented than that and head coach Raheem Morris has taught them better.

The Packers are entering that territory where we start to mention the word “perfection.” It is still too early to expect them to do it, but considering how well they have played all season, it is not too early to dream about what might be in seven short weeks.

Buccaneers’ Injury Report

Out: DT Gerald McCoy (Biceps), DL George Johnson (Knee), RB Earnest Graham (Achilles)

Packers' Injury Report

Out: RB Alex Green (Knee), T Chad Clifton (Hamstring), S Nick Collins (Neck)

Doubtful: LB Frank Zombo (Hamstring)

Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, Sleeper

Start ‘Em: Packers WR Jordy Nelson

Anyone can tell you to start Aaron Rodgers, so I figured why not give you someone else to pay attention to? Nelson has had a fantastic season so far with 633 yards and seven touchdowns on just 34 receptions.

The Buccaneers secondary has been terrible all season long, so you know that the Packers receivers are going to have a field day. You can start any of them and not have to worry, but Nelson will be the star of the show.

Sit ‘Em: Buccaneers RB LeGarrette Blount

Blount averages a respectable 4.3 yards per carry, but he has been incredibly inconsistent this season. He has run for 34 yards in two of his last three games and lacks the same burst that made him so effective last year.

Going up against the Packers' eighth-ranked run defense is not going to make things better for Blount. If you have him on your team, make sure he does not see your starting lineup this week.

Sleeper: Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman

Despite Freeman’s struggles this season, he looks like a solid fantasy play this weekend. The Packers pass defense has been spotty all year and opposing quarterbacks have been able to take advantage of them.

Freeman could easily throw for over 300 yards and three touchdown passes. Of course, if the Packers secondary is starting to turn a corner, he could also throw three interceptions. I believe the former more than the latter.

What They Are Saying

Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman has had his share of problems this season, some of which can be attributed to a thumb injury that hinders his ability to grip the ball, but he feels that it is getting better each week and is close to being back to normal. 

From Rick Stroud (via TampaBay.com):

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"Being out there, you have to play well enough to win,'' Freeman said. "The thumb is continuing to get better, it's feeling great. I'd say nearly 100 percent right now. It's not something I'm concerned about...it's basically normal.''

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Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been lighting up the scoreboards and stat sheets all season long, but in an interview with Grant Napier on Sacramento radio station KHTK, he said that he is surprising himself. 

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“I think offensively we’re playing really well. Personally I’ve had a better start than I think I could’ve even imagined. It’s a product of our defense getting turnovers and our offense making the most of our opportunities. We’ve had a number of red zone opportunities and made the most of those. We’ve had some big plays as well with guys making big catches and runs.

It’s going really well right now and we’ve gotta keep it rolling. We’ve got a tough stretch here with three games in a little over 10 days so this will be a good stretch and a good barometer of how we’re playing.”

 

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Buccaneers Player To Watch: QB Josh Freeman

The biggest reason that the Buccaneers have struggled this season is because of Freeman’s struggles. He has a chance for a breakthrough this week against a spotty Packers secondary.

If Freeman can expose the defense early, his confidence will grow and the Buccaneers can keep this game interesting.

Packers Player To Watch: QB Aaron Rodgers

Now I am going to go with the obvious choice, if only because Rodgers has been so great this season and he could have his best game of the season against a weak Buccaneers defense.

Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each game this season and at least 300 yards in six of nine games played.

There are not enough superlatives to describe the way that Rodgers has been playing this season, so I will just say that he is really good at his job.

Key Matchup: Buccaneers Wide Receivers vs. Packers Secondary

If you want to compete with the Packers, you have to be able to score points. The Buccaneers haven’t been able to do that consistently this season, so the performance of the wide receivers becomes more critical.

The Buccaneers receivers, led by Mike Williams and Preston Parker, are built on power and being physical and not speed, so they will have to implement a short passing game to try and open things up down the field.

If that does not happen, this game will get out of hand in the first quarter.

Prediction

How do you bet against the Packers at this point?

Packers 35, Buccaneers 20