National Football League
Green Bay 35, Tampa Bay 26
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 20, 2011
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Temperature: 32°
Head Official: Alberto Riveron
Attendance: 70498

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdowns, defensive tackle B.J. Raji ran for a score and the Green Bay Packers held on for their 16th straight win with a 35-26 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Green Bay, which has matched its best start since 1962, is the first defending Super Bowl champion to start 10-0 since the 1998 Denver Broncos.

Rodgers’ first win in three starts against Tampa Bay didn't come easy. The Packers got a stern test from the Buccaneers (4-6), who entered as 14-point underdogs after losing their last three games by a combined score of 88-43.

Elbert Mack’s interception with just under six minutes left gave the Buccaneers the ball at the Tampa Bay 45-yard line. Five plays later, Josh Freeman threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe, which cut the Packers’ lead to 28-26 with 4:25 to play. The interception was Rodgers' first in four games.

But the Packers recovered a surprise onside kick and Rodgers threw a 40-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson – his second of the game - two plays later.

Tramon Williams’ interception sealed the win and maintained Green Bay's three-game lead in the NFC North.

Tampa Bay trailed 21-10 at the half but never went away. Mike Williams’ 9-yard touchdown catch brought the Buccaneers to with 21-19 with 13:09 left in the fourth. They missed a chance to tie the game when tight end Kellen Winslow dropped the ensuing two-point conversion despite being wide open after Desmond Bishop slipped.

Rodgers then led an eight-play, 85-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run from John Kuhn to make it 28-19.

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Tampa Bay   Green Bay
LeGarrette Blount Player James Starks
18 Attempts 11
107 Yards 38
5.9 Avg Yards 3.5
1 Touchdowns 0
54 Long 20
Receiving
Tampa Bay   Green Bay
Kellen Winslow Player Jordy Nelson
9 Receptions 6
132 Yards 123
14.7 Avg Yards 20.5
0 Touchdowns 2
37 Long 40
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Tampa Bay 455 121 334 3 2 1 2.0 0
Green Bay 378 91 287 5 0 2 2.0 0
Upcoming Games
  • Green Bay will play their next game on the road against Detroit. The Packers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Tennessee. The Buccaneers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.