The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) used a solid defensive effort and three Matt Bryant field goals to beat the visiting Green Bay Packers 31-20 Sunday. For most of the Bucs, it was a huge win over a NFC contender. But for Bryant, it was an ending to a week that was anything but easy.
Just four days removed from the passing of his infant son, and just a day removed the funeral, Bryant proved to be the hero by kicking the eventual game-winning field goal with 2:26 left in the fourth.
"It's been a very, very difficult week, especially for Matt," Buc's Coach Jon Gruden said. "You have to pray for him. He's a man of very few words, always has been, always will be. I think he needed the game today. He needed football today, and did he really perform."
The Packers (2-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game after Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers hooked up with Greg Jennings for a 25-yard touchdown.
But the Buc's defense responded and took control of the rest of the contest. Rodgers was picked off twice in the second quarter, which led to 10 Buccaneer points, and was continually harassed by the Buc's pass rush.
Tampa led 13-7 at half, but the Buc's defense came out in the second half and continued their relentless assault.
Buc's ageless linebacker Derrick Brooks caused a Ryan Grant fumble, and safety Jermaine Phillips scooped up the fumble and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Brooks played his best game all season, and he looked like the player that was such a dominant force earlier in his career. Brooks finished with a forced fumble and an interception.
"Unbelievable," Gruden responded when asked about Brooks' performance. "He made plays sideline to sideline. There's a lot of strength left in Derrick Brooks and we need him in the final 12 weeks."
After the Grant fumble, however, the Packers stormed back, and on 3rd-and-18, Rodgers again hooked up with Jennings for a 48-yard touchdown. But Rodgers appeared to injure his shoulder on a scramble earlier in the series, and he ran off the field after the touchdown in visible pain.
While backup Matt Flynn was warming up on the sidelines, Packer corner Charles Woodson was busy giving the Packers the lead back. On 3rd-and-3, he picked off Bucs QB Brian Griese and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown that gave the Pack the temporary lead 21-20.
But it was Bryant who would be the hero, deservedly, and his field goal gave the Bucs a 23-21 lead that they would not relinquish.
Rodgers later returned to the Packers' lineup, but he was picked off by Gaines Adams after being blasted by a Buccaneer defender. Bucs running back Earnest Graham took the next hand-off and sealed the win with a 47-yard run to the Packers' one-yard line. Graham punched it in on the next play to give the Bucs a 30-21 win.
Packers Coach Mike McCarthy was unsure if Rodgers would be able to play next week vs. Atlanta, but early indications are that Rodgers may have separated his shoulder.
"I'm sure we'll take a look at it [Monday]," Rodgers said. "If there's a way I can go, I'll go."
Notes: Rodgers' first interception snapped his 157-attempt streak without an interception. It was the third-longest streak in team history...Packers safety Nick Collins posted his third interception of the season, while corner Tramon Williams made his first pick thus far...Packers QB Matt Flynn went 2-for-5 for six yards in his NFL debut.
—Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
2 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
MJ Kasprzak 9 months ago
Well done as always, Zach. It was a tough game to watch, but I actually felt better about losing when I found out about Bryant--his nine points were the difference, and he deserved that win.
Edit Comment Cancel
Zach Kruse 9 months ago
thanks MJ, Packers need to turn it around -- on the offensive and defensive lines in particular -- right now. We can't run, or stop the run, and Rodgers is getting sacked far too often.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.