Derrick Brooks hasn’t been himself this season. A sore hamstring
has seen to that, feeding the perception that the 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker
and Tampa Bay’s aging defense are slowing down.
Aaron Rodgers will tell you otherwise.
Brooks had one of three interceptions off Green Bay’s young quarterback and also
forced a fumble that Jermaine Phillips returned 38 yards for a touchdown Sunday,
helping the Bucs (3-1) beat the Packers 30-21.
“Unbelieveable,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. “We know he’s been nursing and
working through an injury. What he played like today was the Derrick Brooks that
everybody recognizes. He made plays sideline to sideline. There’s a lot of
strength left in Derrick Brooks and we need him in the final 12 weeks.”...
Aaron Rodgers passed to Greg Jennings to the left for 25
yard gain (Mason Crosby made PAT)
7 - 0
2nd Quarter
12:09
TB
TD
Brian Griese passed to Alex Smith to the left for 9 yard
gain (Matt Bryant made PAT)
7 - 7
6:43
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 23-yard field goal
7 - 10
1:07
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 36-yard field goal
7 - 13
3rd Quarter
6:00
TB
TD
Ryan Grant rushed to the right for 2 yard loss. Ryan
Grant fumbled. Jermaine Phillips recovered fumble and returned for 38
yards (Matt Bryant made PAT)
7 - 20
1:46
GB
TD
Aaron Rodgers passed to Greg Jennings down the middle
for 48 yard gain (Mason Crosby made PAT)
14 - 20
4th Quarter
13:43
GB
TD
Charles Woodson intercepted Brian Griese for 62 yards
(Mason Crosby made PAT)
21 - 20
2:26
TB
FG
Matt Bryant kicked a 24-yard field goal
21 - 23
1:56
TB
TD
Earnest Graham rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
(Matt Bryant made PAT)
21 - 30
Team Statistics
GB
TB
First Downs
8
20
Passing
6
7
Rushing
2
9
Penalty
0
4
Third Down Efficiency
4-13
5-14
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-3
1-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
181
327
Total Plays
53
71
Average Gain Per Play
3.4
4.6
NET YARDS RUSHING
28
178
Rushes
18
41
Average Per Rush
1.6
4.3
NET YARDS PASSING
153
149
Completions-Attempts
16-32
15-30
Yards Per Pass Play
4.4
5.0
Times Sacked
3
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
18
0
Had Intercepted
3
3
PUNTS
5
4
Average Punt
38.0
49.5
PENALTIES
7
8
Penalty Yards
74
70
FUMBLES
1
0
Fumbles Lost
1
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
23:10
36:50
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Brian Griese, led the Bucs past the Bears last week but it took
him 67 pass attempts to get the job done. If he has to throw that many against
the Packers, Tampa Bay will be a sure loser.
Despite a loss at home last weekend, the Green Bay Packers
haven't regretted handing over the offense to a new quarterback this season.
If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' play-calling is any indication, it's pretty clear
they feel the same way about their own similar situation.
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers look to bounce back from their prime-time defeat
Sunday when they visit Tampa Bay, which is coming off an overtime victory that
featured 67 pass attempts by Brian Griese.
Green Bay (2-1) has been rewarded for sticking with Rodgers after Brett Favre
came out of retirement in July, as Rodgers led the Packers to victories in his
first two starts...more
Inside the Game Plans:
Notable:
PACKERS: The
heat will literally be on the Packers as they attempt to rebound from a
loss to Dallas. The game-time temperature Sunday at Tampa Bay is
projected to be in the upper 80s. Green Bay has been able to withstand
the figurative heat when adversity crops up -- it hasn't lost two
straight games since late in the 2006 season. Bucs quarterback Brian
Griese probably won't need to throw half as much as the club-record 67
passes he made in their previous game at Chicago if Green Bay doesn't
iron out its run deficiencies on defense. The Packers surrendered 217
yards on the ground to the Cowboys last week...FULL
STORY
BUCCANEERS: Jon
Gruden wants to get back to running the football with Earnest Graham and
Warrick Dunn. He may have the services of RG Davin Joseph, which will
give them more thump. But Gruden also isn't going to beat his head
against the wall if the running game isn't there. In fact, given the
success of Griese in the two-minute offense last week, it wouldn't be
shocking to see the Bucs use the hurry-up offense early in the game...FULL
STORY
Buccaneers QB Brian
Griese attempted 67 passes against the Bears in Week 3, the fifth most
in a single game all-time. Griese completed 38 of those 67 attempts for
407 yards against Chicago, both career-high numbers for the 11-year
veteran
Green Bay has scored 38
fourth-quarter points this season, most among all NFL squads
Bucs' Griese can relate to Packers' Rodgers
Chicago Tribune
Rodgers' Packers (2-1) face Griese's Bucs (2-1)
Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in what two months ago had the potential to be
one of the most anticipated ...
Matchups: Packers at Buccaneers
SportingNews.com
Greg Jennings, WR, Packers. Jennings leads the NFL with
373 receiving yards, and that is product of his ability to run after the catch.
...
14.8
21.5