National Sports

Love’s 2 TD passes lead Packers to narrow win

TAMPA, Fla. -- An ugly win left the Green Bay Packers dissatisfied.

Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes and the Packers overcame two fourth-quarter turnovers to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17-14 on Sunday.

Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels threw two picks that led to 10 points in his first career start filling in for Baker Mayfield, who missed a game for the first time in his three-plus seasons in Tampa Bay because of a dislocated thumb.

The Packers (2-2) wasted two opportunities to extend a three-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Buccaneers couldn’t capitalize.

“There were some positive things but we’re never going to be satisfied with scoring 17 points in a game,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “That’s just not to our standard and we have to find ways when we’re in the red area to convert. We can’t be turning the ball over. We can’t have penalties. That is a stingy defense. You have to give them a lot of credit. ... But we also have to clean up a lot of stuff. It’s gotta get fixed and it’s gotta get fixed now.”

Tykee Smith forced Kaleb Johnson to fumble inside the 5 with just over nine minutes left in the game. A’Shawn Robinson recovered at the 4 but the ensuing drive went nowhere.

“A great teacher is the bench. If guys don’t start holding onto the ball, they’re gonna be sitting on the bench,” LaFleur said bluntly.

The Packers then had a first-and-15 at the Buccaneers 26 when Jacob Parrish picked Love’s pass and gave Tampa Bay the ball at the 15 and a chance for a comeback win.

Instead, Daniels threw a short screen pass to Emeka Egbuka on third-and-16 and incomplete on fourth down from the Packers 47. Coach Todd Bowles passed up a 65-yard field-goal attempt by Chase McLaughlin, who made one from that distance last year.

Bowles said a little wind factored into the decision not to try it.

The Buccaneers are 0-4 for the first time since 2014. Only the 1992 Chargers overcame an 0-4 start to make the playoffs.

“I’m the head coach. I can do more. I can always do more. I’ll always take the blame,” Bowles said. “We’re gonna fight, we’re gonna stick together and we’re gonna figure this thing out. And I’ll lead them to that. It’s my job.”

Love tossed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Golden on fourth down to give the Packers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Evan Williams made a sliding interception near the sideline to give Green Bay the ball at the 32. Love connected with Tucker Kraft for 10 yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive going. Kraft also took a direct snap and sneaked for a first down on another fourth-and-1 at the Buccaneers 10.

The Packers turned an interception by Edgerrin Cooper in the final minute of the first half into a field goal. Cooper stepped in front of Daniels’ pass to Kameron Johnson, caught the ball falling to the ground, got up and returned it 18 yards to the Buccaneers 44. Trey Smack kicked a 58-yarder to give Green Bay a 10-7 lead.

Love’s 2-yard TD pass to Kraft on the opening drive of the third quarter extended the lead to 17-7.

Depleted

Cooper was carted off the field in the third quarter with an Achilles tendon injury. The Packers are still missing three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is recovering from surgery for a torn ACL suffered last December.

Love got his best protection this season despite playing played behind an offensive line missing three starters: Zach Bako-Bewele, Aaron Banks and Jacob Monk. Laken Tomlinson became the fourth player to start at left guard. Veteran guard Kevin Zeitler signed earlier in the week was inactive.

After taking 31 QB hits in the first three games, Love took two.

Up next

Packers: Host Chicago on Sunday.