After two wins away from home, the Bucs returned to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday afternoon for a showdown with the Packers, another NFC favorite. Tampa Bay’s offense continued to miss its top weapons in another disappointing effort that resulted in a 14-12 loss in front of an announced crowd of 69,197.

Tampa Bay opened the game with a promising drive, with Tom Brady finding Breshad Perriman for 24 yards on the first play of the day before later hitting newcomer Cole Beasley for a first down on fourth-and-1. But a third-down sack brought the Bucs’ momentum to a halt and the offense had to settle for a 45-yard field goal from Ryan Succop. Nonetheless, the home team had an early 3-0 lead.

The Packers responded, though, with a methodical drive. They fed Aaron Jones, and Aaron Rodgers made some big throws to Romeo Doubs (21 yards) and Randall Cobb (17 yards). Shortly after, Green Bay took a 7-3 lead on a five-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Doubs. The score stayed 7-3 until the Packers put together another long drive, going 71 yards in 12 plays before Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a six-yard touchdown. With that, the visitors extended their lead to 14-3.

Packers RB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay’s defense struggled for much of the first half, but its offense didn’t offer much itself. And as the Packers were about to make it 21-3 late in the first half, it was once again Todd Bowles’ defense making the big play. Jones caught a pass near the goal line, but Vita Vea and Lavonte David got in on the tackle and knocked the ball loose. Logan Ryan recovered it in the end zone for a touchback, keeping it an 11-point deficit.

The Bucs found some life on offense after the turnover, working up-tempo as Brady completed passes to Russell Gage, Cameron Brate, Leonard Fournette and Gage again. But after another completion to Perriman, the Packers took momentum – and the ball – back. Quay Walker forced the fumble, with Darnell Savage recovering. Green Bay didn’t do anything with the turnover, but the Bucs still went to the locker room down 14-3.

The Buccaneer defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half and the offense got moving thanks to a pass interference call drawn by Brate, but then another mistake proved costly. Gage made a catch on a quick throw, but Keisean Nixon poked the ball loose and Jarran Reed recovered.

But Tampa Bay’s defense continued to do the work. The two teams traded punts in the third quarter before Logan Ryan gave the Bucs a spark. He intercepted Rodgers near midfield, setting Brady and the offense up at the Green Bay 47.

A 19-yard pass from Brady to Brate got the drive going, but an incompletion on 3rd & 9 at the 27 meant another Succop field goal try. His 45-yarder got Tampa Bay within 14-6 with 6:22 left in the third quarter and turned the defense’s forced turnover into points.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

Bowles’ defense continued to hold Rodgers and the Packers scoreless, but the offense just couldn’t take advantage. Even when it looked like things were about to get rolling thanks to a 25-yard pass from Brady to Jaelon Darden, it didn’t end well. After the big gain, the Bucs tried a double reverse and Scotty Miller lost the ball. Cameron Brate recovered, but it was a loss of 12 yards. Brady was then sacked, which set up a 3rd & 30. Unsurprisingly, Tampa Bay didn’t convert.

The Packers killed some clock on the ensuing possession, getting it down under three and a half minutes before rookie Logan Hall came up with a third-down sack to force a punt. With 3:11 left, Tampa Bay’s offense got one last shot from its own 11-yard line.

Passes of nine, 15 and five yards from Brady to Gage got the drive going, then Fournette took a pass for 17 yards to the Green Bay 43 before the two-minute warning hit at the 1:54 mark. An 11-yard pass to Brate and a 10-yarder to Fournette got the Bucs down to the 22. Two plays later, Brady hit Gage at the 10-yard line.

Another two plays later, Brate drew a pass interference call at the Packers’ 3-yard line. And then, finally, Tampa Bay found the end zone. Brady connected with Gage for a one-yard touchdown pass, getting the Bucs within 14-12. But a delay of game on the two-point try set the Bucs back, and Brady’s pass on the conversion attempt was tipped before falling incomplete. With that, the Packers held on to win 14-12.

Brady finished the day 31-of-42 for 271 yards and a touchdown, while Gage led all receivers with 12 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Third-down inefficiency was the killer for Tampa Bay, as the offense went just 2-of-11. Green Bay started 4-of-4, but finished 6-of-15. The Bucs shut the Packers out in the second half, but the offense couldn’t do enough in the end. Hall was one of the defensive stars, earning his first sack and totaling three quarterback hits on the evening.

Tampa Bay (2-1) will look to bounce back next week, hosting the Chiefs (2-1) on Sunday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m.