When the Green Bay Packers (4-0) take the field Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2), as many as 11,500 fans could be in attendance at Raymond James Stadium. It will be the first time this season the Packers will experience crowd noise that isn’t computer generated.
No. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will not be practicing the silent count during the practice week. No. 11,500 fans does not move the needle on the decibel meter to the point of confusion. Still, a home field advantage exists for the Buccaneers in the form of Mother Nature.
Packers hall of famer Mark Tauscher is all too familiar with the heat and humidity in Tampa.
“Its definitely a challenge,” Tauscher tells Wisconsin’s Afternoon News. “I’m sure when the guys got back from their bye week that they couldn’t leave, the first thing that Bryan Engel, the Head Trainer and all of the nutrition people are gonna say is ‘over-hydrate’.”
The Packers have won their last three meetings against the Buccaneers, but are just (2-7) all time at Raymond James Stadium.
“This is something that the guys have not had to deal with and it can be an issue going down there – especially in the third and fourth quarter – with IV’s and everything else.”
Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur is preaching hydration this week, and even cranked up the heat inside the Don Hutson center during the practice week.
Sunday’s forecast in Tampa calls for a high of 86 with high humidity.