If Aaron Rodgers wasn't scrambling for his life every other snap, the Green Bay Packers would probably be in a better situation. Poor play from the offensive line has been burying the Packers, who can take a fresh breath of air now that Brett Favre is in the rear-view mirror.
Green Bay can exhale this week with a road test against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, and is trying to erase the memories of last week's tough 38-26 loss to the NFC North-rival Minnesota Vikings in Favre's return to Lambeau Field. Rodgers was sacked six times on Sunday and has been brought down a league-high 31 times in 2009. He is also dealing with foot and toe injuries that have hampered him during this week's practice.
The ailment for Rodgers isn't considered serious, and he will surely be under center for a Packers team that had its two-game winning streak stopped last week and fell to 4-3 on the year. Green Bay is now tied with Chicago for second place in the division standings.
Perhaps Rodgers tweaked his foot while scrambling for 52 yards on five carries trying to avoid the Minnesota rush which was highlighted by three sacks from end Jared Allen. Rodgers, who passed for 287 yards with three touchdown strikes and no interceptions, has been sacked 14 times in the two games against the Vikings this season. Head coach Mike McCarthy tried to adjust by putting young tackles T.J. Lang and Allen Barbre in the lineup, even though veterans Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher were available. McCarthy said he will see how Clifton and Tauscher progress through the week before he makes any significant changes to the offensive line.
Clifton has been sidelined four full games and parts of two others this season due to an ankle injury, while Tauscher hasn't played yet since signing with the team almost a month ago. The Packers' offensive line should have a favorable matchup this week, however, with Tampa Bay's lowly pass rush on the docket.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's decision to roll out the retro uniforms from the John McKay era against its former NFC Central mates may not have come at the best time. The Buccaneers are expected to don the classic Orange and White digs with a winking "Buccaneer Bruce" embossed on the side of the helmet, reminiscent of when the team lost its first 26 games in franchise history between 1976 and 1977. The team, though, did eventually start winning games and even made it to the 1979 NFC Championship Game.
Bucs first-year head coach Raheem Morris is 0-7 in his initial season, while Tampa Bay has dropped 11 in a row dating back to last year. The Buccaneers are also 0-7 to start a season for the first time since losing the first nine tests of the 1985 campaign.
Morris hopes another switch at quarterback will get him in the win column for the first time, as rookie Josh Freeman is slated to make his first NFL start in favor of an ineffective Josh Johnson. Freeman got a taste of the NFL world in Tampa Bay's 35-7 loss to the New England Patriots at London's Wembley Stadium on October 25, throwing for 16 yards on just 2-of-4 passing.
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