Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield became the first visiting quarterback to ever record a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field as the Buccaneers beat Green Bay 34-20 on Dec. 17.
Mayfield gashed the Green Bay defense as he completed 22-of-28 for 381 yards and four touchdowns.
Chris Godwin was Mayfield’s number one target on the day, as the Pennsylvania State alum recorded 155 yards on 10 receptions. Superstar receiver Mike Evans was held to just 57 yards on four receptions, but one of those receptions went for a touchdown. That touchdown for Evans was his 97th career touchdown, which puts him 12th on the all-time list and ties former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski and Las Vegas wide receiver Davante Adams.
Green Bay’s run defense continued to struggle in this game as well, as Tampa Bay’s running back Rachaad White picked up 89 yards on 21 carries. White also recorded two receptions for 50 yards.
“We have to challenge much better in the backend, I get it, they have some good wideouts, but you have to be willing to challenge, especially if you are getting gashed,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Mayfield’s biggest throw of the day came late in the game, as the Buccaneers were up 27-20 and facing a third-and-four from its own 48-yard line. Mayfield dropped back and hit David Moore right past an outstretched hand from Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. Moore took the pass and ran down the right side of the field before scoring a touchdown. The play was originally reviewed but was determined that Moore crossed the goal line to give the Buccaneers a 14-point lead with 6:30 left in the game.
Green Bay was unable to rebound from the two-score deficit, as its final push came up short.
On the first five plays of the ensuing drive, Packers quarterback Jordan Love got five different Packers involved with Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath, Patrick Taylor, Tucker Kraft and Dontayvion Wicks helping to advance the ball to the Tampa Bay 30-yard line. From there, three incomplete passes set up a fourth-and-10 for Love and the offense. On fourth down, Love dropped back and was sacked for a loss of 19 yards, ending Green Bay’s hopes of winning a game with huge playoff implications.
For Green Bay, Love completed 29-of-39 for 284 yards and two touchdowns.
In his first game since Nov. 19 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Aaron Jones recorded 13 carries for 53 yards, adding another 16 yards through the air on four receptions. Wicks was the leading receiver for Green Bay in the game, recording 97 receiving yards on six receptions.
“I think that they easy we started was decent – we put some good drives together, and I think the the thing that hurt us was getting down to the red zone and not capitalizing on some of those opportunities,” said Love, alluding to the two field goals and a turnover on downs that Green Bay was forced to settle for. “That’s definitely what hurt us tonight.”
Green Bay opened its scoring early, as Mayfield was stripped of the ball on the Buccaneers four-yard line. After Jones got stuffed for a one-yard loss, LaFleur called for a screen pass on the next play. Love dropped back and hit Kraft, and with a great block from Rasheed Walker, Kraft leaped into the end zone for his second career touchdown.
Love’s second touchdown pass came on one of his best plays in his young career.
On third-and-14 from the Tampa Bay 17-yard line, Love took the snap and was forced to roll to his right. It appeared Love could have ran for the first down, but instead he threw a dart to the corner of the end zone. In heavy traffic, Jayden Reed made a contested catch, while keeping both feet in bounds in what was reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers throwing a touchdown to Davante Adams.
“On those plays, anything can happen. Basically, I had a corner route – I was kind of a decoy route,” said Reed, on his touchdown. “It was kind of scramble mode and I turned towards Jordan and we locked eyes. He made a great throw, so I could make the catch.”
The loss for Green Bay now gives the Packers a 6-8 record. With the Chicago Bears losing this week, Green Bay still holds a one game lead over its rivals to avoid the bottom of the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings also lost this week, maintaining Green Bay’s one-game deficit to the team.
That may all be for nothing though, as the Packers now slide to the 11th seed in the NFC, making the next three games on its schedule as close to a must win as possible.
For what it is worth, according to the New York Times Playoff Simulator, the Packers currently hold a 26% chance to make the playoffs. If the Packers were to beat the Carolina Panthers next week, those chances only rise to 34%. If the Packers do beat the Panthers, then a win in week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings would spike those chances all the way up to 65%.
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