Buccaneers win over Packers, Packers’ playoff hopes fade thanks to a defense that can’t get stops

The Buccaneers defeated the Packers at Lambeau Field 34-20 and improve to 7-7. Baker Mayfield put on a clinic in the Frozen Tundra, completing 22 of 28 passing attempts for 381 yards, four touchdowns and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Chris Godwin spearheaded the attack with 155 yards on 10 receptions and Rachaad White finished with over 100 yards from scrimmage for the fourth-consecutive game.

The Buccaneers opening 10-play, 54-yard drive ended in a Chase McLaughlin 39-yard field goal. Kenny Clark sacked Baker Mayfield on third down, forcing Tampa Bay to settle for three. For the Packers, Aaron Jones rushed for over 40 yards on their opening drive. An incompletion from fourth-and-two from Jordan Love to intended target Jayden Reed put Mayfield and cast right back on the field. The momentum flipped in favor of the Packers as Kingsley Enagbare sacked Mayfield and stripped the ball at the Tampa Bay four-yard line. Enagbare recovered the fumble, and the Packers took advantage of the turnover. Green Bay's two-play drive resulted in a Tucker Kraft five-yard touchdown.

The Packers got within one score twice in the second half, but both times the Buccaneers answered with a long TD drive to stay in command.

Mayfield finished 22-of-28 for 381 yards with four TDs, no INTs and the maximum 158.3 rating. He came up just 16 yards shy of his single-game career high of 397 yards. As a team, Tampa Bay racked up 452 yards of offense.

Typically during Barry's tenure, the defensive problems have been more with stopping the run. The Packers ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed coming into Sunday but were a respectable eighth against the pass despite playing most of the season without All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, who has been healthy enough to practice despite a shoulder injury but was inactive for the sixth straight game Sunday.

“Some things you don’t see, you didn’t see on film, and then some things that you’ve just got to react too fast,” Valentine said.

The Packers must react to these two losses and figure out how to shore up their defense if they want to make an unlikely playoff run.

“We’ve got to get a win,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “Every game that we play is a must win.”

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Sarah H

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