The Buccaneers and Packers may not fit the classic definition of an NFL rivalry, but these two teams have a way of stirring up old emotions whenever they meet. Tampa Bay and Green Bay shared the NFC Central for nearly 25 years, and the history between them has produced plenty of memorable flashpoints - from Warren Sapp telling Mike Sherman to “put a jersey on” to Tampa’s most recent NFC Championship win.
They’ll add another chapter in 2026, but the next matchup already has plenty to watch. Green Bay enters with a team that has become a familiar playoff presence, reaching the postseason seven straight years. Last season, the Packers nearly knocked off the rival Chicago Bears on the road in the wildcard round, and this year they’re expected to be in the mix for the NFC North again, with the Bears and Detroit Lions also in the hunt.
At quarterback, Jordan Love is no longer the unknown quantity he once was. He closed last season with 23 touchdowns, six interceptions, a career-best 66.3 completion percentage and 3,381 yards. For Green Bay, that’s a solid foundation.
The receiving picture has shifted, though. Romeo Doubs led the Packers last season with 724 yards and 55 catches, and he tied for the team lead with six touchdown receptions before signing with the New England Patriots. That opens the door for Christian Watson to take on a much larger role.
Green Bay clearly believes in Watson, handing the North Dakota State standout a four-year, $110.5 million deal. On paper, the number is eye-catching, especially since Watson has never topped 620 yards in a season over his four-year career.
But the production was already hinting at more. Last year, even with Doubs leading the team in raw numbers, Watson may have been Green Bay’s most dangerous wideout.
He matched Doubs with six touchdown catches and finished with 611 yards on 35 receptions, despite missing seven games because of injury. Over a full season at that pace, he would have cleared 1,000 yards.
Defensively, the Packers’ outlook also hinges on Micah Parsons, who is expected back around Week 5. When healthy, Parsons is one of the best players in the world. The catch is that the Buccaneers will see Green Bay in Week 4, before that return is supposed to happen.
So when Tampa Bay lines up against Green Bay, it won’t just be another regular-season game. It’ll be another swing in a long-running mini-rivalry that has already delivered its share of tension, and could be set for more.
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Buccaneers Have One 2026 Uniform Decision Fans Wont Ignore
The Buccaneers already have three uniform looks lined up for 2026, giving fans the familiar home and road set along with the orange creamsicle alternate that always draws attention when it comes back into the rotation. Under the NFLs new rule allowing four uniforms per team, the missing piece has become the one that naturally invites speculation, especially for a franchise with one of the leagues more recognizable color identities.
One logical candidate is the pewter alternate set from 2020, which would give Tampa Bay a more modern fourth option without leaning on a look that was tied to a special one-year celebration. The white 76 throwbacks were part of the 2025 50th anniversary season, and the team had already made clear they were not intended to carry over, so the question now is which direction the Buccaneers choose when they finally round out the closet for next season. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A Bigger Question About Al-Quadin Muhammad
Al-Quadin Muhammads spring attendance raised an eyebrow in Tampa Bay, but when mandatory minicamp arrived, the edge rusher showed up in excellent shape and quickly eased some of the early concern. The Buccaneers had been waiting to get a clearer read on where he stands physically, and his arrival gave them a better sense that he is ready to factor into the defensive front.
Muhammad said he followed the same offseason training plan he used a year ago, the one he believes helped set up one of his most productive seasons. That matters for a Tampa Bay defense looking for reliable depth and a player who can compete for a meaningful role, and the next step is seeing how that preparation translates once the pads come on and the roster battles sharpen. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Is Closing In On A Massive Bucs Milestone
Baker Mayfield has already carved out a notable place in Buccaneers history, and the next step in that climb is starting to feel real. He sits third on Tampa Bays all-time passing touchdown list with 95, trailing only Jameis Winston and Tom Brady, and his steady production has been one of the defining constants of his three seasons with the team.
Mayfield has thrown at least 26 touchdown passes in each year in Tampa Bay, which puts him on a path to keep moving through the franchise record book if he stays healthy. Beyond touchdowns, he is also chasing other team marks in wins and passing yards, all while trying to help the Buccaneers turn individual milestones into the kind of season that ends with a Super Bowl run. [Read more 🡒]