Packers Defense Falters In 34-20 Loss to Tampa Bay

Baker Mayfield is not a Pro Bowl Quarterback. But on Sunday at Lambeau he looked like one and had the stats to match. A 158.3 QB rating. Four touchdowns. No interceptions. He connected on 22-28 passes. He converted seven of eleven third downs and Tampa Bays only 4^th down attempt. Tampa Bay was held to 99 yards rushing but averaged 3.7 a carry and repeatedly gained big chunks on second and long.

The lone highlight for the Packer defense was a first quarter strip/sack of Mayfield that led to 7 of Green Bay’s 20 points. The Packer defense forced one punt, had one turnover and five sacks, but gave up six scoring drives, including three touchdown drives in the second half. They would have given up a fourth, but the Buccaneers’ Rachaad White chose to kneel down at the 12 instead of going for points in the closing seconds.

In their prior two games the Packers had elected to receive the ball after winning the toss. On Sunday, LaFleur trusted his defense and elected to kick to Tampa Bay.

The statistics said that was a good move. Tampa Bay had not scored on an opening drive all season. But the Packer defense gave up three passes for 11, 24 and 12 yards in a ten-play drive that was finally thwarted at the Green Bay 21-yard line by Kenny Clark’ and Rashan Gary’s sack of Mayfield. Tampa Bay hit the field goal to lead 3-0.

Love responded with a 71-yard drive that ended in failure with a poor overthrown pass intended for Jayden Reed who was open. Green Bay was able to take the lead after Enagbare beat his blocker and strip/sacked Mayfield. The touchdown came on a really nice play call, a comeback screen to Tucker Kraft, his first as a professional. The Packer lead lasted for three minutes and 28 seconds.

That was all it took for Mayfield to drive his Buccaneers offense 75 yards. The only third down Tampa Bay faced was the final play, a third and six from the Green Bay 19. Mayfield found Evans alone in the end zone. Packer corner Eric Stokes was torched on the play. Stokes was not alone struggling in the Packer pass defense. Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell were beaten repeatedly during this game.

Watching the difference between the linebacker play of Tampa Bay and the Packers was telling. The Bucs linebackers continually diagnosed run plays, penetrating and tackling Packer runners for minimal gain. For the Packers, that type of play will happen occasionally, but not consistently.

If you are a Packer fan looking to the future, there are bright spots to be hopeful for next year. The young receivers have stopped dropping balls and look like they could be an elite group as early as next year.

Jordan Love still makes plays that makes fans groan, but he has learned how to handle the blitz, recognize defenses, and change plays at the line of scrimmage. His bad decisions are reduced, and his interceptions have disappeared. All this behind an offensive line that is a couple of pieces away from being elite. The run game is still struggling, the receivers and tight ends are still learning how to block in the NFL, but there is improvement there as well.

Love and the offense scored 10 second half points on four possessions. Green Bay opened the second half with a three and out but moved the ball against a good defense three times. The offense had only one three and out for the game and two punts. Love’s QB rating was 115, he just couldn’t keep pace with Mayfield’s career day.

The game ended in depressing fashion with Love being sacked and fumbling on a desperate 4^th and 10 play call. But the game was already decided. In a repeat of Monday night’s loss to the Giants, the Packer defense was picked apart in the late third and early fourth quarter.

Only time will tell how coach LaFleur will respond to these defensive failings in the off season. Next week, on Christmas Eve morning, the Packers play the lowly Carolina Panthers. Let’s hope for the best Christmas present any Packer fan can receive.