Packers 35, Buccaneers 26
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.