Well, well, well, it seems like the Packers had quite the rollercoaster of a game against the Buccaneers on Sunday. And by rollercoaster, I mean the kind that makes you question your life choices and wonder if you'll ever find true happiness again.
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: Joe Barry, the Packers' defensive coordinator. Oh, Joe, Joe, Joe. Where do I even begin? It's like he was trying to win a contest for the most lackluster defensive performance of the season. I mean, even fans could have put up a better fight.
The Packers lost to the Buccaneers 34-20 on Sunday, with the Buccaneers' offense dominating the game. The Packers' defense reached a new low under Joe Barry. They struggled to contain the Buccaneers' passing attack, allowing Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield to throw for 381 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Mayfield had a perfect passer rating of 158.3. This is the first time in NFL history that an opposing quarterback has posted an excellent passer rating against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Packers also struggled against the run by allowing 100 yards on the ground. Chris Godson had ten receptions for 155 yards against the Packers. The Buccaneers averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Barry's defense struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback, with the Packers only managing one sack and five quarterback hits. This uninspiring defense failed to force a turnover, thus allowing the Bucs to control the game from start to finish. The Packers' offense could never catch up or keep pace with the Buccaneers.
In a game crucial to playoff standings, the Packers' defense struggled to contain the passing attack. They failed to generate pressure on Mayfield, allowing Tampa Bay's receivers to have a big day. Chris Godwin and David Moore combined for 237 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Overall, the Buccaneers dominated the game, with the team putting up 452 yards of total offense and not punting in the second half.
The Packers quarterback, Jordan Love, had a solid performance. He completed 29 of 39 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns. Their running game, however, was ineffective. Even with the return of Aaron Jones, the team only rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries. Rookie WR Dontayvion Wicks, a 5th-round pick out of Virginia, led with six receptions for 97 yards.
In summary, Baker Mayfield had a record-setting performance to beat the Packers in a game where the Bucs' offense dominated and the defense struggled all afternoon. If the struggle on defense continues through the last three games of the regular season, I predict that some Packers coaches will be catching the last bus out of Green Bay.
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