The Green Bay Packers left Florida with a win, but not much breathing room. A 17-14 escape over the Baker Mayfield-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Matt LaFleur’s team a result, yet the performance again left plenty to sort through.
It should not have come down this close. Green Bay had enough going for it to handle business more cleanly, but the Packers kept finding ways to make life harder than it needed to be. Even so, there were a few signs of progress in the mess, and a handful of players clearly stood out for better or worse.
Kaleb Johnson was one of the brighter spots. He did put the ball on the ground, but he still looked like the most effective running back Green Bay has had this season by a wide margin.
Johnson needed only eight carries to pile up 42 rushing yards, good for 5.3 per attempt, and most of that damage came on a 31-yard burst. The standard has been low, but he at least brought some quickness.
Laken Tomlinson also helped steady things up front. The Packers’ offensive line still has a long way to go, especially in pass protection, but Tomlinson’s presence made a noticeable difference in the run game.
Green Bay should be better when Kevin Zeitler, and maybe even Mekhi Becton, are on the field, but this was a step in the right direction. For once, a Packers lineman was actually moving people.
Rookie Brandon Cisse continued to show why his development is worth watching. He has had his rough patches, but the physical edge he plays with keeps showing up.
Against Tampa Bay, he allowed two catches on two targets, but those receptions totaled only 13 yards, with the biggest gain going for 9. He also finished with five total tackles, including four solo stops, and kept contributing against the run.
Tucker Kraft gave Green Bay the kind of response it needed from him. He has not matched his usual standard this season, and his comments after the loss to the Atlanta Falcons only added to the frustration around him. This time, though, he led the team with six catches on seven targets, finished with 42 yards, and scored his first touchdown of the season.
Edgerrin Cooper was in the middle of a strong outing before a potential season-ending injury changed everything. He made a major play early with an interception, then added nine total tackles, four of them solo, and a sack before leaving. There is no official update yet, but it would be a major surprise to see him back this season.
MarShawn Lloyd’s struggles continued. He looked hesitant on his carries and kept running into traffic, with his vision once again working against him.
Even with the offensive line not exactly helping, he has not shown the kind of playmaking Green Bay expected. He averaged just 1.9 yards per carry in this game and is sitting at 2.7 for the season.
He should not be the featured back next week against the Chicago Bears.
And then there was Matt LaFleur. A win still did not make this one feel clean.
Green Bay had no business letting it get this close, and the play-calling again drew questions. LaFleur leaned on deep shots when he did not need them and got conservative when the moment called for more aggression.
That has become a pattern, and even after a victory, it is hard to imagine fans feeling especially good about it.
In Other News...
Packers Fans Just Got A Viral Gameday Distraction They Didn't Expect
A Packers-Buccaneers game already had enough going on with Green Bays early-season struggles, but one fan in the stands managed to steal a different kind of spotlight. A photo of a female Packers supporter dressed in a cheese-themed outfit started making the rounds on social media, quickly turning into one of the most discussed images from the afternoon.
The reaction stretched well beyond the Green Bay crowd, with Buccaneers fans jumping in online as the picture spread. It also fit a familiar pattern for Packers gamedays, where the action on the field sometimes shares space with viral fan moments that take on a life of their own long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Face Week 4 Pressure From An Unexpected Bucs QB
An undrafted rookie is suddenly set to get his first meaningful NFL shot in Week 4, and it comes with the kind of spotlight Green Bay did not have circled back in August. Jalon Daniels is expected to be in line for significant work for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Packers, a matchup that carries a little extra intrigue because of the urgency surrounding a 0-3 start and the need for somebody to jolt the offense.
Former Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden added to the buzz by publicly encouraging Daniels, framing the moment as both an opportunity and a test of mindset. For Green Bay, the bigger picture is simple: a young quarterback stepping into a pressure-filled setting can bring unpredictability, and the Packers will be dealing with a Tampa Bay team hoping this change at the position can finally spark a turnaround. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Defense Suddenly Has A Massive Edgerrin Cooper Problem
Edgerrin Cooper had been giving the Packers exactly the kind of impact they need from the second level before his day ended abruptly against Tampa Bay. The linebacker was carted off with a non-contact Achilles injury in Week 4, and the immediate concern now is not just about the game he left, but what Green Bay may have lost if the injury keeps him out longer than expected.
For a defense that has been counting on Cooper to be a difference-maker, the next steps suddenly matter a lot. Green Bay is waiting for more information on the severity, while Zaire Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie are the names most likely to be asked to absorb the workload if Cooper is sidelined long-term. [Read more 🡒]