Packers take this one in the Battle of the Bays
The Packers improved to 2-1 after their 14-12 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
TB got the ball first and drove down for a field goal. GB answered with a touchdown, the first for Romeo Doubs in his career. The Packers scored another TD on their next series, this one to Allen Lazard, and took a 14-3 lead into halftime. The Packers were unable to score any points in the second half, but they were able to prevent TB from getting a game-tying 2-point conversion late in the game. Lazard recovered the onside kick to seal the win.
Thoughts about this victory:
To beat a team like TB and a quarterback like Tom Brady, you have to finish drives, and the Packers did just that in their first 2 series. They were unable to finish others, but they held the ball and kept it away from Brady for the most part.
The defense came to play, forcing and recovering 2 fumbles and keeping the running game under control. They did allow a TD with 14 seconds left in the game, but they prevented TB from tying the game on a 2-point conversion attempt, tipping Brady’s pass and knocking it away.
That fumble by Aaron Jones near the goal line late in the first half was unfortunate. Aaron Rodgers threw an interception in the second half as well. At least the defense showed up, forcing and recovering a fumble after Jones fumbled and only allowing a FG after the interception.
Whenever Rodgers and Brady play in the same game, there will be a lot of hype. Neither one played anything resembling their best games, although both were missing key receivers and the defenses had a say in the matter as well.
It’s an unusual circumstance when the play clock hits 0. Teams usually can snap the ball within a second of the play clock expiring and not get called for a delay of game penalty, like what happened to the Bucs on their TD. The play clock expired again as they were going for 2, but they didn’t get the benefit of running a play that time. I know the Packers got away with it in the past when the play clock expired, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the rules committee clarifies and changes the rule in the future.
The important thing is the Packers got the victory, which means they own the tiebreaker over TB should it come to that. We never know what January will bring, but this is likely the last time the Packers will face off against Brady in the regular season.
Next Sunday, the Packers will face Brady’s former team, the New England Patriots, at Lambeau Field in another late-afternoon game. For now, let’s enjoy this victory! Have a great week Packer fans!
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
