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The Green Bay Packers’ defense has not been a strong source of turnovers yet this season. With three takeaways, the unit ranks just 27th in the NFL, and fortunately the team has a +3 turnover differential thanks to the offense’s tremendous ball control through four games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers? They are a different story.
Tampa has a +2 differential on the season, but that is largely because they rank sixth in the NFL with nine takeaways. They have given the ball up seven times this season, with Tom Brady throwing four interceptions — two of which have been returned for touchdowns. That should mean that the Packers will have some opportunities to create those field-tilting plays on Sunday.
Meanwhile, one of the few issues that the Packers have had on offense this season — something that dates back to last year as well — is struggling in the goal line offense. The team’s success in punching the football in from the one-yard line is rather mystifying, and Matt LaFleur and his staff will need to find some answers so that situation does not continue to be a challenge.
All that and more in today’s curds!
Packers defense is primed for a big game Sunday | Packer Report
Tom Brady's stat line through five games looks eerily close to that of Jameis Winston a year ago, and he has thrown two pick-sixes already this season. That could mean the Packers' defense will have opportunities to make big plays on the football this weekend against the Buccaneers.
Undrafted Krys Barnes making the most out of unusual rookie year | Packers.com
One of the more impressive and surprising players on the defense has been Barnes, the undrafted linebacker from UCLA. He has only played about a third of the team's snaps on defense, but he ranks second on the team in total tackles and is quickly filling up the tape with some impressive plays.
6 things the unbeaten Packers can improve coming out of the bye | Packers Wire
Tackling is probably the biggest area that the team needs to improve upon overall, however, as the defense as a whole should have nightmares about their effort and lack of success in New Orleans.
From the 1, It’s Been the Longest Yard | SI.com
Strangely, the Packers' offense has been a mess at the one-yard line, scoring just three times on ten plays in 2020 and just five of 15 opportunities last year. Compare that to the league-wide 55 percent scoring rate from a yard out and you see a weird trend emerging.
Green Bay Packers beating odds en route to looming showdown vs Seattle | Packersnews.com (subscription required)
Green Bay and Seattle are the only two teams this year to start the season 4-0 against their opponents and 4-0 against the spread, and since they don't play each other during the regular season, it looks like another playoff matchup could well take place.
Cover 1-cross is one of the most resourceful coverages for defenses – The Athletic (subscription required)
The Athletic is running a series called Teaching Tuesday to explain specific schematic concepts in football. This week they address one of the variations on a basic, common coverage scheme to see how it is an adjustment to deep crossing routes, one of the ways that offenses often attack cover 1.
Louisville Danger Run is the most COVID-19-friendly haunted attraction | Louisville Courier-Journal
Do you need your haunted house fix but don't want to leave the safety of your car due to the coronavirus? Louisville has just the experience for you!