The Buccaneers make their way north to Lambeau Field to battle the Packers (off last week) as these clubs renew their NFC Central rivalry.

Including playoffs, the Packers have nearly doubled the Buccaneers' win total (26-14-1) in this rivalry and have prevailed in 15 of the last 18 meetings dating back to the teams' second encounter in 1990.

A year ago, the Bucs and Packers split their regular-season series for the first time since 1995. In Week 2 at Lambeau Field, Packers QB Brett Favre threw for 237 yards and a pair of scores and Green Bay's defense came up with four takeaways and six sacks as Green Bay built a 23-0 lead enroute to a 23-15 victory.

Three months later on a Monday night at Raymond James Stadium (Week 14), Buccaneers QB Trent Dilfer completed just 9-of-22 passes for 181 yards (1 INT), 126 yards coming on scoring strikes to WRs Jacquez Green (64 yards) and Bert Emanuel (62 yards), while the Tampa defense sacked Favre eight times as Tony Dungy's club held on for a 24-22 triumph.

Including playoffs, the Buccaneers have dropped 10 straight road games in this series (0-8 at Lambeau Field, 0-2 at Milwaukee) dating back to 1990. Tampa Bay's last victory as a visitor in this rivalry a 23-21 triumph at Lambeau Field in '89.

Numbers: Including playoffs, Buccaneers QB Trent Dilfer is 2-7 in 10 career games (9 starts) vs. the Packers, throwing for 1,750 yards, 4 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions while being sacked 30 times. Including playoffs (1996-99), Dilfer has thrown 56 interceptions in his last 54 games, 10 of those returned for touchdowns.

Including playoffs, Packers QB Brett Favre is 12-2 in 15 career games (14 starts) vs. the Buccaneers, throwing for 3,457 yards, 29 touchdown passes and just 8 interceptions while being sacked 33 times. Since 1995 (77 games, including playoffs), Favre is 57-20, throwing for 140 touchdowns and just 45 interceptions in his 57 wins compared to 28 scores and 32 interceptions in 20 losses. Favre has thrown for 19,698 yards in those 77 games.

The Buccaneers allowed 364 yards, 21 points and three offensive touchdowns in their Week 4 loss at Minnesota; in their previous four games dating back to '98, the Buccaneers' defense had given up just 677 total yards (169.3 YPG) and 32 points and have allowed just 1 offensive touchdown in those 4 contests. The Bucs have returned 1,393 kickoffs in their 24-year history (1976-99) and have never scored a touchdown on a kickoff return. The Buccaneers have forced 20 turnovers in 10 wins, nine turnovers in 10 losses dating back to '98. They have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in seven straight games dating back to '98. The Bucs have committed two or more turnovers in four straight games.

In his last 20 games (including playoffs) dating back to '97, Packers RB Dorsey Levens has carried 417 times for 1,689 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 89 passes for 694 yards and three touchdowns.

Things To Look For: While the Buccaneers finally managed to end the Packers' hex last season, they're still looking to end their losing streak on Green Bay's home field, which is always easier said than done for every team. Look for Packers' QB Brett Favre to take a page from the Vikings' playbook last week and attack the Tampa secondary early and often, putting Buccaneers' QB Trent Dilfer in catch-up mode.

Etc.: After losing their first five games in '96 and opening 1-8 under head coach Tony Dungy, the Buccaneers are 26-19 in their last 45 contests dating back to '96 (including 1-1 in playoffs). But after opening 5-0 in 1997, Buccaneers are just 16-17 (including playoffs) in their last 33 games. Tampa Bay is 19-55 on the road in the 1990s (1-1 in '99). Since 1996 (including playoffs), the Buccaneers are 27-27 under head coach Tony Dungy, including 10-17 vs. NFC Central rivals. Since '97 (including playoffs), the Bucs are just 8-11 vs. NFC Central rivals.

The Packers are just 5-5 vs. divisional rivals dating back to 1998 (1-1 in '99), this after going a combined 15-2 (including playoffs) vs. NFC Central rivals in 1996 (7-1) and '97 (8-1). Since 1992 (including playoffs), the Packers are 49-5 at Lambeau Field (including 5-0 in playoffs). Including playoffs, they have won 46 of their last 48 at Lambeau Field and they are 27-4 at home (23-3 at Lambeau Field, 4-1 at Milwaukee) vs. NFC Central rivals dating back to 1992.