Raymond James Stadium will hold a Week 4 game with early-season pressure on both sidelines Sunday afternoon. The Buccaneers are 0-3, yet each loss has been close enough to show they can fight. The Packers are 1-2 and coming off a rough 35-14 loss to Atlanta. Now Green Bay arrives in Tampa with a clear chance: take advantage of a Buccaneers offense missing its confident leader, Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield is expected to miss this game with a thumb injury, which changes the shape of Tampa Bay’s challenge. He has thrown for 615 yards and added 65 rushing yards in three games, often creating plays when the pocket breaks down. Without him, the Buccaneers need to protect the football, stay patient and let their other playmakers carry more of the load.

That starts with Bucky Irving. The quick-cutting running back has rushed for 180 yards and caught 13 passes, making him useful whether he is charging through a small opening or slipping out for a short throw. Irving is questionable with a glute injury, so his availability matters greatly. Tampa Bay averages 94.3 rushing yards per game, while Green Bay has allowed 340.7 total yards per game. If Irving plays and finds room early, he can keep the Packers from focusing only on the pass.

Emeka Egbuka can make that job easier. The young wide receiver leads Tampa Bay with 13 catches and has shown he can stretch a short pass into a bigger gain. With Mike Evans gone and Chris Godwin questionable because of an ankle injury, Egbuka may need to be the steady target over the middle and down the field. Tampa Bay has given the ball away too often this season, including five more turnovers than it has taken away. Its fill-in quarterback must make safe decisions when Green Bay’s defenders close in.

The Packers have their own problems to solve. They gain more than 315 yards per game, mostly through the air, but score only 18.7 points per game. Their running game has produced just 48.7 yards per game, which makes the offense easier to predict. Green Bay needs more help from MarShawn Lloyd, a speedy young back who can catch passes as well as run. A balanced attack would give quarterback Jordan Love more space to work.

Love’s biggest weapon has been Christian Watson, whose 17 catches include four touchdowns. Watson’s size and speed make him a danger far down the field, like a sprinter with a football in his hands. Tight end Tucker Kraft provides another sturdy option on shorter routes, where he can break tackles after the catch. The Packers may be without several linemen and defensive players, while pass-rush star Micah Parsons remains unavailable, so Green Bay cannot assume this road trip will be easy.

Tampa Bay’s defense has allowed only 282.7 yards per game, much less than Green Bay’s defense has allowed, but it needs to finish drives with stops. The Buccaneers must pressure Love without leaving Watson alone deep. Green Bay must avoid the sloppy mistakes that have helped opponents pull away.

The Buccaneers have the home crowd and enough talent to make this a hard battle. Still, Mayfield’s absence is a giant hurdle against a Packers offense led by Love and Watson. Prediction: Green Bay Packers win.

Packers Aim to Turn Tampa Bay’s Quarterback Problem Into a Road Win