Packers @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Packers 14, Buccaneers 12
Writer: Justin Havelock (@HavelockJustin on Twitter)
Today was a scorcher down in Tampa Bay, Florida and it definitely showed on the field. As temperatures hit a high of 91° F (33° C), the heat wore down both sides in this matchup with players desperately trying to cool off and stay hydrated on the sidelines. The heat was so punishing that shortly after catching a touchdown, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard was sick on the Packers’ sideline. I’ll spare you the video here, but it is available on my Twitter feed for those that are curious.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: 27/35, 255 Yards, 2 TD, INT | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Aaron Rodgers seemed thrilled to have his longtime teammate David Bakhtiari back in this game. Bakhtiari was eased back into the offense in his season debut, playing in a rotation at left tackle with offensive lineman Yosh Nijman, after having missed most of the past two seasons due to a knee injury. Under protection from the three-time Pro Bowler, Rodgers was dialed in for most of the night.
This was easily the best game of the young season for Rodgers, and not just because he managed to fill the box score against a quality defense. The reigning MVP looked completely in his element, in spite of the heat, getting the ball downfield on plays like this 27-yard strike to Allen Lazard.
absolutely perfect placement from Aaron Rodgers despite an untouched blitzer in his face. nice work from Lazard to bring it in, too pic.twitter.com/uY27BiiG5U
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) September 25, 2022
Packers’ center Josh Myers left the game in the fourth quarter with some cramping, which is worth monitoring on practice reports going into Week 4.
Running Back
AJ Dillon: 12 Carries, 32 Yards | 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 6 Yards
Aaron Jones: 12 Carries, 36 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 11 Yards | Fumble (Lost)
The Packers’ run game did not look like the usual dominant two-headed beast against the Buccaneers. Aaron Jones gave up a key fumble at the two-yard line on 3rd & Goal and his longest rush of the day was a ten-yard gain on the opening drive of the game. AJ Dillon also struggled, rushing for seven yards right before halftime which would eventually stand as his biggest play in Week 3. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a strong run defense that forced two fumbles against the New Orleans Saints last week and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season. I would not be hitting the panic button on either Jones or Dillon after this week’s performance.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Romeo Doubs: 8 Targets, 8 Receptions, 73 Yards, TD, Fumble (Recovered)
Allen Lazard: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 45 Yards, TD
Robert Tonyan: 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 37 Yards
Randall Cobb: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 57 Yards
Tyler Davis: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 26 Yards
Juwann Winfree: 2 Targets
Despite an early fumble (which he managed to recover), Romeo Doubs had a breakout game today. The rookie wide receiver appears to have earned Aaron Rodgers’ trust, as his eight targets are a season-high for this Packers offense. His performance certainly had Football Twitter waxing Shakespearean in this one.
ROMEO, OH, ROMEO DOUBS TD 🔥pic.twitter.com/34fUbihiXe
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) September 25, 2022
Doubs was by far the biggest beneficiary of the injuries to the Packers receiving corps as Sammy Watkins was moved to Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury and fellow rookie Christian Watson missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury as well. (Are we sure hamstring injuries aren’t contagious?)
Romeo Doubs through 3 quarters: eight catches for 73 yards, 1 TD.
He's the first Packers WR besides Davante Adams to record eight receptions in a game since Randall Cobb in Week 1 of 2018, per @ESPNStatsInfo.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 25, 2022
Allen Lazard may have battled dehydration on the field, but at least he didn’t have to worry about battling the Buccaneers’ secondary as he was consistently able to get open throughout the game.
Here’s the Allen Lazard TD moments before he got sick on the sideline. pic.twitter.com/NZ4NL4EXge
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) September 25, 2022
Robert Tonyan is purely a volume option at the tight end position. He will likely earn the occasional touchdown this season, but his fantasy value is directly tied to his target share in Green Bay.
As much as Randall Cobb is firmly on the periphery of this offense, Rodgers still has good chemistry with the veteran wide receiver and he should continue to be a deep threat in this passing game. Tyler Davis racked up most of his production on a 23-yard catch in the second quarter. Juwann Winfree was elevated from the practice squad but was unable to make an impact with both of his incompletions coming on a quick throwaway out of bounds.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Tom Brady: 31/42, 271 Yards, TD | 1 Carry, -1 Yards
Tom Brady was his usual self in this matchup, despite the single touchdown. The lack of options in the passing game hindered him without Mike Evans (suspended one game for an altercation in Week 2), Chris Godwin (hamstring), and Julio Jones (knee). This play may have been called back on a holding penalty but when Tom Brady needs to create space- he does.
Tom Brady? Running the ball? Yes indeed.
📽️: @NFL pic.twitter.com/PtePYXDEpL
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 25, 2022
The Buccaneers’ offense had multiple drives into Green Bay territory that were ended on crucial fumbles, including one by Breshad Perriman right before the half. They shot themselves in the foot for most of the game, and it wasn’t until the final drive that the Packers’ zone defense allowed Brady to rack up the yards en route to a last second TD. Brady needs Evans and Godwin back in a big way.
Running Back
Leonard Fournette: 12 Carries, 35 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 35 Yards
Leonard Fournette struggled to move the ball on the ground against the Packers to the tune of 2.92 Yards Per Carry but managed to take advantage of a depleted passing game for the Buccaneers. Fournette was listed as questionable with a hamstring injury going into Week 3, so it’s quite likely he just wasn’t at full strength today. Rookie running back Rachaad White did not see any touches this week.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Russell Gage: 13 Targets, 12 Receptions, 87 Yards, TD, Fumble (Lost)
Cameron Brate: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 52 Yards, Fumble (Recovered)
Cole Beasley: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 12 Yards
Jaelon Darden: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 25 Yards
Breshad Perriman: 1 Carry | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 44 Yards | Fumble (Lost)
Kyle Rudolph: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 12 Yards
Scotty Miller: 5 Targets, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Russell Gage stepped up with three of the Buccaneers’ top wide receivers out this week. Mike Evans (suspended one game for an altercation in Week 2), Chris Godwin (hamstring), and Julio Jones (knee) were all inactive against Green Bay. The Packers were unable to stop Russell Gage as his only incompletion came early in the second half after he slipped and appeared to re-aggravate a hamstring injury that kept him limited in practice this week. Gage managed to come right back in and continue to top off a strong performance.
Russell Gage MAKES THE CATCH for the touchdown! Bucs need a 2 point conversion to tie! #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/ASUAe6o49l
— Pro Football Culture (@proftblculture) September 25, 2022
Cameron Brate had a solid day as well, solidifying his status as former Buccaneer Rob Gronkowski’s successor in this offense. Brate will likely never reach the lofty production of his predecessor but could continue to have productive weeks as Tampa Bay’s top tight end.
Cole Beasley quite literally slid into Tom Brady’s DMs this week in order to get signed to the Buccaneers practice squad and eventually elevated to the active roster. Brady in turn was rewarded with a four-yard catch on 4th & 1 from Beasley on the opening drive but Beasley only received three more targets the rest of the way. Beasley was a last-minute addition to this offense and was not officially activated until Saturday so his role with the team may be worth monitoring going forward. Jaelon Darden, Breshad Perriman, Kyle Rudolph, and Scotty Miller are unlikely to see any relevance when this passing game is fully healthy.