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SPORTS Saturday 23 January 2021
NFC Matchups: Where else to start but Brady and Rodgers?

By BARRY WILNER A real contrast here.
AP Pro Football Writer Arians has been around
More than 100 players will as long as the NFL itself;
suit up for Sunday's NFC well, not quite, but this is his
championship game, so try 46th year in coaching. He
to ignore all those talking began in college in 1975
heads making mention of and in the pros in 2001,
only two: Tom Brady and and his open-minded ap-
Aaron Rodgers. proach on offense always
Yes, it's as juicy a matchup has matched changes in
of quarterbacks as the cur- the game. Arians is a two-
rent NFL can offer. The Bat- time AP Coach of the Year,
tle of the Bays might well winning as the interim with
be decided by what Mr. Indianapolis in 2012 when
Six Rings does against the Chuck Pagano was bat-
Packers' defense, or what tling leukemia, and in 2014
the 2020 All-Pro Rodgers with Arizona.
manages versus the Buc- It took a while, but he has
caneers' D. melded the play calls with
The only time Green Bay Brady's preferences, and
(14-3) was overwhelmed he has allowed Bowles to
this season was a 38-10 loss oversee a big-play de-
in October to the Bucs (13- fense.
5). Matt LaFleur, also an offen-
That said, here's what each sive mastermind but more
team will be looking at in in the workings of the re-
Lambeau Field. cent schemes, has meshed
WHEN THE BUCS HAVE THE beautifully with Rodgers
BALL: and what his quarterback
We'll get to Brady in a mo- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers waves to spectators after an NFL divisional playoff prefers called. LaFleur, 41,
ment, because a decent football game against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. put more emphasis on the
amount of Tampa Bay's Associated Press running game to relieve
chances will depend on Rodgers of carrying the en-
running backs Leonard safeties Adrian Amos and the time on an underrated David, could be decisive. tire load.
Fournette and Ronald Darnell Savage to handle group of cornerbacks fea- The Packers' All-Pro center, Mike Pettine, like Bowles a
Jones being productive. the big guy as best they turing Carlton Davis, Jamel Corey Linsley, probably will former head coach, has
They have been, particu- can. Dean and Sean Murphy- need to help out against put together an aggres-
larly Fournette, in recent For Brady to get a shot at a Bunting. Indeed, both sack threats Jason Pierre- sive squad led by the Smith
games. seventh Super Bowl title, his teams have impressive sec- Paul and Shaq Barrett. LG Brothers and Alexander.
If the offense is balanced, protection, anchored by ondaries, with rookie An- Elgton Jenkins had a strong INTANGIBLES:
Brady is at his most dan- left guard Ali Marpet and toine Winfield Jr., and Jor- season. Green Bay's other While this is old hat for
gerous. He might occa- rookie right tackle Tristan dan Whitehead performing standout blocker, All-Pro LT Brady — in a football sense,
sionally test cornerbacks Wirfs, must stand up against well at safety for Bowles. David Bakhtiari, is injured. isn't everything to Brady? —
Jaire Alexander, Kevin King Za'Darius Smith and Preston Unlike Brady, Rodgers can SPECIAL TEAMS: his new franchise has been
and Chandon Sullivan with Smith, both potential game create outside the pocket, Not much to laud on either to one Super Bowl, winning
deep throws, but more like- changers for the Packers. and he's especially dan- side. Not very special, no. it in February 2003. There's
ly will rely on stud wideout Green Bay will do some gerous when doing so. His Veteran placekicker Ma- a hunger in Tampa, and
Mike Evans, the re-emerg- blitzing, though not as star running back, Aaron son Crosby is solid, making there's always a hunger in
ing Antonio Brown, and much as Buccaneers de- Jones, not only is terrific in all 16 field goal attempts, Brady.
Chris Godwin and Scotty fensive coordinator Todd the ground game, but he's but missed four PATs for Plus, no franchise has ever
Miller on shorter plays that Bowles figures to do. a top-level receiver. Few Green Bay. He knows how played in a Super Bowl on
allow them to gain yards Don't expect the Bucs (nor teams run screens to wide- to kick in rough conditions, its home field.
after catch. Coach Bruce the Packers) to commit outs as well as the Pack — of course. Among Cheeseheads,
Arians ruled out the re- many turnovers, either. except the Buccaneers, Packers punter JK Scott also there's a belief that Rodg-
emerging Antonio Brown WHEN THE PACKERS HAVE who rank second in that can deal with the winds ers and the Pack should
because of a knee injury, THE BALL: category to Green Bay's and weather at Lambeau, have been in more than
but a missed tackle on the Green Bay doesn't have fifth. but he's a bit inconsistent. one NFL title game. This is
others by any Green Bay the multi-pronged attack Drops can be an issue for Green Bay struggles in the best overall team he
defender easily could lead Tampa Bay does, but it Adams' comrades, but punt coverage and rarely has been on, including the
to six points. has the top receiver in this Rodgers seems to have threatens to break a return, 2010 champions.
While the Bucs have the game in All-Pro Davante confidence in all of them — but the Bucs are suscep- And the memory of being
more established tight ends Adams. It's pretty simple Allen Lazard, Marquez Val- tible to them, especially on blown out so badly in last
in Rob Gronkowski and when it comes to some- des-Scantling and TE Rob- kickoffs. year's NFC championship
Cameron Brate, they might what neutralizing Rodgers, ert Tonyan, who might be Tampa Bay's Ryan Succop, by San Francisco remains
not have the most impact- who is having perhaps the the most improved player now in his 12th pro season, fresh. As does the 38-10 loss
ful at the position (see be- best season of his Hall of in the NFL for 2020. Tonyan made 28 of 31 field goal to Tampa Bay three months
low). But Gronk in particular Fame-caliber career: slow seems to get more open tries but missed five extra ago.
has always been a big-play down Adams. Few op- than any other tight end in points. No, we don't get it, "What's happened in the
guy in big games for Brady, ponents have done so no the league. either. past at this point, it really
and Green Bay doesn't matter who or how many His matchup with Tampa Punter Bradley Pinion has a doesn't matter," LaFleur

have linebackers who ex- DBs cover Adams. Bay's superb linebackers, big leg. said. "It's about what we do
cel in coverage. Look for The burden will fall much of Devin White and Lavonte COACHING: moving forward."q