Quick Hits Preview: 1989 Edition

The Bucs haven't won at Lambeau Field since 1989. If you are watching the game I'm sure the announcers will repeat this fact roughly two dozen times followed by unabashed praise of the man, the myth, and the legend that is Brett Favre.

In case you haven't heard, Favre is a man who discovered the wheel, and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal . . . and brawn. That's what kind of man Favre is. (Ten points if you can name the movie I stole this quote from.)

Tampa Bay has played at Green Bay fourteen times since 1989, and every one of those games has resulted in a very long plane ride for the Bucs back to Tampa. Most of those times Green Bay was clearly the better team, and the mystique/home crowd at Lambeau was enough to tip the scales in favor of the Packers. In the last three games the Packers have won by three points or less.

I'm probably jinxing the Bucs merely by writing this but the Lambeau mystique was sufficiently killed (or perhaps just put to sleep for the season, knock on wood) when a Browns team led by Trent Dilfer defeated the Packers last week. Trent Dilfer, battling his own winless streak at Lambeau, had to play an emotional Green Bay team which retired Reggie White's number at halftime. What should have been a defining game for the Packers turned into an embarrasement when the defense could not stop the Cleveland offense with two minutes left in the game when a touchdown would have won the game for the Packers.

Since I live in Northern Virginia this was going to be the only game I could watch from home all year. Normally, I have to venture out to a local sports bar which meant watching the game from the most awkward angle imaginable. But since the Redskins are not playing this week, the Bucs game is going to be the locally televised one o'clock game. I, however, will be at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Prince William County watching Tiger Woods battle Vijay Singh.

While I didn't want to miss the Bucs game, the President's Cup was just too appealing to pass up. Sorry Gruden and company but the opportunity to watch Tiger, Phil and Vijay in-person is going to beat out watching the Bucs play a winless team on television.

Anyway on to my quick hits preview :

• I don't expect Cadillac Williams to get the 25 carries he has been averaging the last two weeks. With Williams suffering a minor injury last week, Michael Pittman will get more carries against Green Bay.

• The Green Bay defense is giving up 250.5 passing yards a game, eleventh worst in the NFL. Green Bay has very little talent in its secondary, which should mean a good day for Brien Griese and his number one target, Michael Clayton.

• Green Bay lost its two starting guards in the offseason and their replacements have been woefully inadequate. Monte Kiffin will blitz up the middle regularly to disrupt Brett Favre and stuff the Green Bay running game.

• Expect plenty of the two headed monster that is Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. The Green Bay offense has centered around these two runningbacks and for the Packers to be successful at least one of them needs a big day.

• The Green Bay defense has been weak against tightends. Lions TE Marcus Pollard gained 58 yards and a touchdown, while Browns TE Steve Heiden had 104 yards and two touchdowns. If Griese gets the ball to him, Alex Smith could be in for a big day.

• Green Bay has the seventh ranked run defense (78.5 yards a game).

• On second thought, the Lambeau mystique is alive and well.