Green Bay Packers predictions: NFC championship game vs. Tampa Bay

You might have heard about a game being played at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

It’s been described as Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady, but it’s really the Green Bay Packers vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The winner gets a berth in Super Bowl LV.

There’s a lot of talk, discussion and analysis leading up to the game, especially centering around the two quarterbacks.

Who will win? We’ll find out soon enough. But lots of people have an opinion.

Here’s this week’s Packers predictions from around the web:

Barry Wilner of the Associated Press: Packers 30, Buccaneers 27

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times: Buccaneers 28, Packers 24. “From the Colts to the Cardinals to the Buccaneers, Bruce Arians has had a lot of success against the Packers in recent years. Green Bay is playing with incredible efficiency on offense, with that hinging on establishing the run. That’s harder to do with Vita Vea returning for Tampa Bay. Cold weather doesn’t scare Tom Brady.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com: Packers 27, Buccaneers 20. “This will be Tom Brady against Aaron Rodgers. It doesn’t get any better than that. But this game will come down to Rodgers against the Tampa Bay defense more than anything else. That defense was outstanding last week against the Saints, locking down the receivers in man coverage and making it tough for Drew Brees. But that’s going to be a bigger challenge against this Green Bay offense, especially the way Rodgers can make plays off schedule. Green Bay made the top-ranked Rams defense look ordinary last week. I think they will continue that here as well. Rodgers is playing the best football of his career. The Bucs were improved on offense last week because they ran the ball. That will have to play out in this one as well. They have to control the football. Brady will challenge down the field, but without the run game it might be a lot tougher against that Green Bay pass rush. In the end, I think Rodgers is playing too well. It will be close for a bit, but Green Bay will win by a touchdown to get to the Super Bowl.”

NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal: Buccaneers 31, Packers 30. “In a game that I believe will be decided by which team has the ball last, I give the slight edge to Brady closing this one out like he has so many times before.”

John Breech of CBSSports.com: Packers 30, Buccaneers 23. “You can fool Aaron Rodgers once, but you cannot fool him twice. The Packers QB is playing at an MVP level and I think he out-duels Tom Brady here. Also, the kickoff temperature is expected to be 29 degrees and by principle, I cannot pick a Florida team to win in that kind of weather.”

Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News: Buccaneers 30, Packers 27. “This game will be an instant classic with Brady and Rodgers having an epic duel. This game will come down to whichever team has the ball last. With 10 meetings, Green Bay and Tampa Bay would each win five. When Brady is involved in games like these and playing this well, it’s hard to go against the six-ringed GOAT, even with a three-time MVP to be on the other side. The coin flip lands on Tampa over Green Bay this time.”

The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote: Packers 31, Buccaneers 24. “Tampa Bay key: Protect Brady, whose efficiency plummets when pressured. GB key: Get Aaron Jones and run game going, because nobody is deadlier than Rodgers when his play-action is working. By winning would become first team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. But the Gee Bees are home now, and oh that matters. Lambeau in January, even with a pandemic-limited crowd, is a big edge, and Packers have won 15 of past 16 home games vs. Bucs. This is Rodgers’ fifth NFC title game but first at home, and he has better talent around him than Brady. (It’s anecdotal, but Pack has seven Pro Bowl selections to Tampa Bay’s one). Rodgers’ favorite target, Davante Adams, figures to dominate Bucs CB Carlton Davis. Key will be GB’s strong O-line protecting Rodgers better than it did in October. Pack is 11-0 this season when it has no turnovers; TB was fifth in takeaways. Rodgers got the best of an elite Rams defense last week. He will do the same against a lesser D Sunday in outdueling Brady.”

Bill Bender of the Sporting News: Packers 31, Buccaneers 28. “With these two quarterbacks, it comes down to a handful of plays. The Packers will hold on to a one-score lead at halftime, but Tampa Bay ties it early in the fourth quarter with an Antonio Brown touchdown. It really might come down to which quarterback has the ball last – and which defense comes up with the stop. How much of an advantage is Lambeau Field? We think it makes the slight difference in an instant classic.”

Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times: Packers. “In a more neutral environment, Tampa Bay could have counted on its young defense to shift the balance in the Buccaneers’ favor by pressuring Rodgers. In that scenario, the team would rely on Brady to put up points against a good defense that is not nearly as explosive. But in Green Bay, with snow showers in the forecast and a game-time temperature expected to be around 30 degrees, a team from Florida — even one with a New England icon at quarterback — will be out of its element. The Packers fought hard to secure home field advantage throughout the N.F.C. playoffs, and this game should reward them for that effort, ending the Buccaneers’ attempt to be the first team to appear in a Super Bowl in its home stadium.”

Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com: Packers 27, Buccaneers 23. “I don’t think Tampa can play that well again, and I don’t think Rodgers can play as poorly.”

Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com: Packers. “I’ve been talking about Green Bay’s natural home-field advantage for a few weeks now. If the forecast holds and we get snow at Lambeau, I don’t know how the Packers lose. Aaron Rodgers and this offense are built for the elements. It’s not about just being cold, but the snow changes the footing and the Packers are the team with the experience there.”

Pete Fituak of Collegefootballnews.com: Packers 27, Buccaneers 23. “It’ll be a tight battle through the third quarter, and then the MVP-to-be will come through. Rodgers will connect on a few key third down plays, the offense will be balanced, and the Packers will get a breakthrough scoring drive to take the lead for good. Brady will get close, but a late drive will stall, the Packers will grind out one more score on a field goal to go up four, the D will hold, and it’ll be off to the Super Bowl as Rodgers gets his shot at a second ring.”

Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Packers 28, Buccaneers 24.

Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith and Mike Florio: MDS – Packers 30, Buccaneers 24; Florio – Buccaneers 27, Packers 24.

Oliver Hodgkinson of Pro Football Network: Packers 35, Buccaneers 28. “[I[t’s difficult to see the Tampa Bay offense going toe to toe with the Green Bay offense.”

Sportsnaut’s Vincent Frank: Packers 31, Buccaneers 28.

Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic ($): Packers 30, Buccaneers 24.

Anonymous coach, player and scout via The Athletic ($): Scout and coach pick the Packers but the player is going with the Buccaneers.

All seven writers at USA Today predict a Packers victory.

All six analysts at SI.com are picking the Packers.

Two of three writers at Athlon Sports think the Packers will win.

Eight of 10 SB Nation writers predict a Packers victory.

Four of five PennLive.com writers pick the Packers to win.