TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Warren Sapp hesitated, then answered the question.

Tampa Bay has lost 13 of 15 games to NFC Central rival Green Bay since 1992. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle was asked if beating the Packers to clinch a playoff berth Sunday would signal a changing of the guard in the division.

"I don't know," Sapp said. "But it's a chance for us to bury a team that we've been trying to catch for a very long, long time, put ourselves in the playoffs and not have to worry about them any more. It's a challenge we've got to go out and meet."

Although the first-place Bucs (9-5) have won eight of their last nine games at Raymond James Stadium, they're coming off an embarrassing 45-0 loss at Oakland that put their playoff and division title drive on hold.

If the worst loss in franchise history isn't enough to motivate them this week, then there's the added incentive that a victory would eliminate Green Bay (7-7) from contention.

Packers safety LeRoy Butler thinks he knows what's running through the minds of the Bucs, who are 1-7 against the Packers under coach Tony Dungy, including a 26-23 loss at Green Bay on Oct. 10.

"They've got some great leaders," Butler said, rattling off the names of Sapp, linebacker Hardy Nickerson, fullback Mike Alstott, running back Warrick Dunn and tight end Dave Moore.

"They can get their team refocused, kind of rub their hands together and say: `Let's move on for the Packers. This is a team that when they're down, we want to put a foot on their throats and keep them down."'

The Bucs also expect Green Bay to play with the urgency of a team with something to prove. The last time the Packers failed to qualify for the playoffs was 1992, Brett Favre's first year with the club.

"We're going to get their best shot," said Tampa Bay safety John Lynch.

"They've got probably the greatest competitor in the NFL in No. 4. He's going to come out slinging and we're going to see his best. They're fighting for their lives. We're fighting for our lives.

"I like for this kind of game. We're both familiar with each other, so there's not going to be a lot of tricks out there."

Butler lashed out at Packers fans last week because of what he perceived as a lack of support for first-year coach Ray Rhodes and his assistants.

"I think it's always unfair when a new coach comes in with a team that's had so much success, and people want you to match that success. But you have different personnel, you have different scenarios. And I think the people up here are a little bit spoiled," Butler said.

"I think you can never question a guy's job after one year. It's ludicrous to even think that you would fire anybody on this staff after one year. That's just like signing your first-rounder for one year and all of a sudden cutting him the next year. You never do that."

The Packers won the earlier meeting against the Bucs on Favre's late touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman, improving to 3-1. They've lost six of 10 since, while Tampa Bay has rebounded to win seven of nine.

The Bucs lost for the first time with rookie Shaun King at quarterback, gaining a season-low 137 yards against the Raiders. An even bigger concern, though, has been the deterioration of the running game, which has produced 75 yards the past two games.

Dorsey Levens rushed for 99 yards and Favre threw for 390 the last time the teams played. Packers offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis said it might take similar numbers, particularly rushing, to get a win again.

The Bucs allowed 262 yards rushing against the Raiders, and have vowed to redeem themselves.

"Any loss is a tough loss., but this was a little tougher to swallow. We felt like we should have won the game," Nickerson said. "But those guys came out. They were hungry and had a point to prove. That's the way we've got to go out and play from here on out."

GREEN BAY Season schedule and results

TAMPA BAY Season schedule and results

September 12 Oakland W 28-24 September 19 @Detroit L 15-23 September 26 Minnesota W 23-20 October 10 Tampa Bay W 26-23 October 17 @Denver L 10-31 October 24 @San Diego W 31-3 November 1 Seattle L 7-27 November 7 Chicago L 13-14 November 14 @Dallas L 13-27 November 21 Detroit W 26-17 November 29 @San Francisco W 20-3 December 5 @Chicago W 35-19 December 12 Carolina L 31-33 December 20 @Minnesota L 20-24 December 26 @Tampa Bay 4:15pm ET January 2 Arizona 1:00pm ET

September 12 NY Giants L 13-17 September 19 @Philadelphia W 19-5 September 26 Denver W 13-10 October 3 @Minnesota L 14-21 October 10 @Green Bay L 23-26 October 24 Chicago W 6-3 October 31 @Detroit L 3-20 November 7 @New Orleans W 31-16 November 14 Kansas City W 17-10 November 21 Atlanta W 19-10 November 28 @Seattle W 16-3 December 6 Minnesota W 24-17 December 12 Detroit W 23-16 December 19 @Oakland L 0-45 December 26 Green Bay 4:15pm ET January 2 @Chicago 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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