Baker Mayfield shines as Buccaneers defeat Packers

[December 18, 2023]  Baker Mayfield completed 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pulled away for a 34-20 win over the host Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.
 
Chris Godwin finished with 10 catches for 155 yards to lead Tampa Bay (7-7). Mike Evans, Rachaad White, Ko Kieft and David Moore had one touchdown catch apiece from Mayfield, who finished with season highs in passing yards and touchdowns.  

Dec 17, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) reacts after earning a first down during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Love completed 29 of 39 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay (6-8). Tucker Kraft and Jayden Reed each hauled in a touchdown catch.

The Buccaneers scored touchdowns on each of their first three drives of the second half.

Mayfield connected with White for a 26-yard touchdown on the first possession after halftime. That increased Tampa Bay's lead to 20-10.

Green Bay cut the deficit to 20-17 with 4:18 to play in the third quarter. Reed made a catch along the right side of the end zone and got both feet inbounds for a 17-yard touchdown.

The Buccaneers made it 27-17 on Kieft's first reception of the season. He caught a short pass and barreled across the goal line for a 2-yard score.

Green Bay settled for a 33-yard field goal from Anders Carlson to pull within 27-20 with 10:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Buccaneers then delivered their longest score of the game to make it 34-20 with 6:30 left. Mayfield fired a quick pass near midfield to Moore, who made two defenders miss and outraced the rest of the Packers' secondary for a 52-yard touchdown.

Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead on its opening possession. Chase McLaughlin made a 39-yard field goal.

In the final minute of the first quarter, the Packers pulled ahead 7-3. Kraft hauled in a 5-yard pass for the second receiving touchdown of his rookie season.

The back-and-forth battle continued as Tampa Bay took a 10-7 edge on the next possession. Evans caught a 19-yard pass for his 11th touchdown.

A 36-yard field goal by Carlson evened the score at 10-all with 7:09 remaining in the first half.

Tampa Bay grabbed a 13-10 halftime lead thanks to a 46-yard field goal by McLaughlin with 10 seconds left.

--Field Level Media

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