TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to 0-4 for the first time since 2013 Sunday, dropping a 17-14 decision to the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium in a fourth consecutive loss decided by seven points or fewer.
Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, starting in place of Baker Mayfield - who dislocated his right thumb late in Week Three against the Vikings - completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, adding 55 rushing yards. The Buccaneers have now allowed 16 sacks through four weeks, after entering Sunday ranked 32nd in the NFL having surrendered 13.0. Daniels was sacked three times in the loss.
“We just had a negative play,” Head Coach Todd Bowles said. “We didn’t get it done. We’ve been here a couple weeks now at the end of ballgames and we’re not finishing. We’ve got to find a way to finish the game.”
The game turned in the final minutes when Packers safety Evan Williams came free on a blitz, forcing Daniels into an incomplete pass on fourth-and-11 in Green Bay territory to seal the outcome. Tampa Bay totaled 275 yards of offense, converted five of 12 third-down attempts and averaged 4.5 yards per carry on 141 rushing yards. Bucky Irving led the ground game with 61 yards. Sean Tucker scored on a two-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter, and Daniels connected with Kenny Gainwell on a 10-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 17-14.
Tampa Bay’s defense held Green Bay to 283 yards and 15 first downs, with just two conversions on 10 third-down attempts. Tykee Smith forced a fumble by Kaleb Johnson near the goal line in the fourth quarter, recovered by Zyon McCollum at the four-yard line, and Jacob Parrish intercepted a deep pass at the Tampa Bay seven-yard line and returned it eight yards. Despite the turnovers, the Buccaneers failed to score off either takeaway, while Green Bay converted two Bucs turnovers into 10 points.
Tampa Bay generated no sacks and hit Packers quarterback Jordan Love only twice, despite Green Bay playing with a makeshift offensive line. Josiah Trotter led the defense with nine tackles. Antoine Winfield Jr. posted six tackles and a forced fumble before leaving with an oblique injury.
“The ball was coming out in 2.4 seconds, which he’s very good at,” Bowles said of Love’s release. “He’s one of the best starters in the league at getting the ball out so we tried to concentrate on coverage. Those guys were trying to rush the passer hard [but] the ball was coming out so fast.”
Chris Godwin Jr. caught six passes for 31 yards and tight end Cade Otton added four receptions for 37 yards as Daniels’ primary targets. The Buccaneers travel to Week Five with their season already in an early hole not seen in more than a decade.