Sunday Six-Pack: Packers’ Embarrassing Defense Puts Playoffs in Peril

The Green Bay Packers needed to win to boost their playoff chances on Sunday against Tampa Bay. Instead, the defense was gashed for more than 400 yards and 34 points in a 14-point loss.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It was an old-school NFC Central battle of the bays when the Green Bay Packers locked horns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field for the first time since Aaron Rodgers faced off against Tom Brady for an NFC Championship in January 2021. 

This game was not as big as that one, but it was the biggest game of the Packers' season to date.

According to the New York Times, the Packers playoff chances would have jumped from 49 percent to 64 percent with a win. A loss would have dropped them to 26 percent. 

With an embarrassing defensive performance, and too many mistakes on offense the Packers have gone from controlling their playoff destiny to wondering which way is up. 

The entire defense gets to wear the collar for today's performance. 

Game Ball: Dontayvion Wicks

Just six days ago, Dontayvion Wicks said that his ankle was f***ed up. 

His diagnosis felt like a poor indicator of his ability to play against Tampa six days later.

Not only did Wicks play, but he thrived. 

"It's awesome when you're able to see guys battle when you're not at 100 percent, that's what you want to see." Jordan Love said after the game. 

Wicks was the team's leading receiver with six catches for 97 yards. 

The Packers have certainly found something in Wicks, the fifth-round pick from the 2023 draft. 

Any discussion involving who the best receiver is in Green Bay has to include Wicks. 

On a day where there were not many bright spots, Wicks was one, and that's a positive development for today's game, but more importantly, the future.  

Lame Ball: The Defense 

This might feel like a copout, but the defense allowed Baker Mayfield to reach his season-high for passing yards before the third quarter expired. They gave up a perfect passer rating to a guy on his fourth team in three years. 

They allowed more than 100 yards on the ground, including more than four yards per carry to Rachaad White and Chase Edmonds. 

This game felt like one where the Bucs could have thrown for 400 or run for 200. It was just a matter of what they chose to do. 

Will LaFleur Fire Barry After Loss to Buccaneers?

If a defense cannot stop the run, and cannot stop the pass... 

When Joe Barry was asked earlier this season what number mattered the most to him, he said the number on the scoreboard.

The defense faltered there as well. The Bucs scored 34 in addition to piling up 453 yards. 

Baker Mayfield had a perfect passer rating on the day. 

There is not one player to single out, so the whole unit gets to wear this dubious award. 

Pivot Point: David Moore Long Touchdown

On a day when Chris Godwin tormented the Packers, it was a former Packer who finally stuck a fork in them.

The Bucs were facing a third and 4 from around midfield when Mayfield fired a strike to David Moore.

Moore had a cameo as a punt returner in Green Bay during the 2020 season. 

He showed off those return skills after the ball was in his hands. 

Moore beat De'Vondre Campbell and the rest of the Packers' secondary for a 52-yard touchdown.

SHEESH! A 52 yd TD for David Moore! 😮

📺: #TBvsGB on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kw7mays4qU pic.twitter.com/HHjcnKui3c

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2023

That put the Bucs up 34-20, and killed any hope that Green Bay had for a comeback. 

Play of the Game: 10 to 11 Looks Like 12 to 87

The Packers were stumbling all over themselves for the first 40 minutes of the game. They trailed 20-10 facing a 3rd and 14 in the red zone. 

A field goal would have helped, but with the situation at kicker, field goals are no sure thing.

Then Jordan Love made a play that looked a lot like one his predecessor often made. 

Love escaped the pocket to his right. He looked like he had room to run. 

Instead, he fired a dart into the end zone to Jayden Reed. 

"Once I started scrambling I kept my eyes downfield and saw Jayden in the back end zone breaking toward the corner, he made a great catch to keep his toes inbounds." Love said after the game. 

Reed, to do his part for this analogy, dragged his toes in the end zone to look a lot like Jordy Nelson would on the receiving end of passes from Aaron Rodgers.

This one put the Packers within three points and gave them life. 

.@jordan3love with a 17-yard dart to @JaydenReed5! 🎯

TOUCHDOWN 🙌#TBvsGB | #ProBowlVote | #GoPackGo

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/Rpij3k30SX

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 17, 2023

Deferring The Toss 

Matt LaFleur had been more aggressive the last two times he won the coin toss, taking the ball to start the game.

That worked against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The Packers marched right down the field for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. 

Last week against the Giants, Love and the offense did not take advantage of their coaches' aggression, going three-and-out.

Today, LaFleur returned to his usual trend of deferring to the second half after winning the coin toss. 

The Bucs would move the ball down the field before Kenny Clark sacked Baker Mayfield to force them to kick a field goal. 

They did not get a chance to double-dip when their final drive of the second quarter stalled with a little more than two minutes to play, and they were forced to punt.

Baker Mayfield would move the Bucs down the field to get them into scoring range.

It looked like the Packers' defense made a stand when Lukas Van Ness sacked Mayfield, and Rashan Gary drew a holding penalty.

Instead, Mayfield completed a 24-yard pass to Chris Godwin to put them into field goal range. 

Chase McLaughlin would make a 46-yard field goal to give the Bucs a 13-10 halftime lead. 

Looking Ahead

The Packers have fallen to 6-8 and are now on the outside looking in for the NFC playoff picture.

Their playoff chances according to the New York Times have plummeted to 26 percent with today's loss.

They'll travel to Carolina next week to take on the team with the worst record in the NFL, though the Panthers are coming off a 9-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons. 

The Packers are now in a position where they likely need to win the rest of their games even to have a chance at the playoffs.

If nothing else, they have proven they are capable of beating anyone, but also losing to anyone. 

Mayfield, Buccaneers Embarrass Barry, Packers 34-20