Packers 17, Buccaneers 14: Love's Two Scores, Then the Stops

October 4, 2026 - Tampa - Matt LaFleur's offense had first-and-goal and then a red-zone throw into coverage. Kaleb Johnson fumbled inside the 5. Jordan Love threw a pick to Jacob Parrish. Green Bay still left Raymond James Stadium with a 17-14 win because the defense kept saying no.

The Green Bay Packers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and evened out at 2-2. Tampa Bay fell to 0-4 for the first time since 2013. Love was 22 of 30 for 197 yards, two scores, and that interception. Jalon Daniels, making his first NFL start, went 19 of 27 for 148, a touchdown, two picks, and 55 rushing yards. Baker Mayfield watched in a splint.

Golden, Tucker, Smack from 58

The first quarter was zeros. Love needed 16 plays and 68 yards, converting a third fourth down, and lofted 2 yards to Matthew Golden with 12:54 left in the half. 7-0. Sean Tucker answered from 2. 7-7. Nine plays, 54 yards.

Edgerrin Cooper intercepted Daniels late in the half. Trey Smack hit from 58 as time expired. 10-7. Cooper later left with an Achilles injury, per the Packers. The defense still had to finish the day without him.

Love found Tucker Kraft from 2 in the third. The play was incomplete on the field. Green Bay challenged. Reversed. 17-7. Mark Redman had a 25-yard catch on the drive. Kaleb Johnson ripped 31. Kraft finished with six catches for 42 and that score.

Daniels opened the fourth with an 84-yard drive. He scrambled 21 yards. Kenny Gainwell picked up 12 on a screen, then caught a 10-yard touchdown on a roll to the left. 17-14 with 14:49 left. Gainwell had two catches for 22 and the score. Bucky Irving ran 16 times for 61. Chris Godwin caught six for 31.

Two takeaways that did not become points

Green Bay marched anyway. Johnson fumbled near the goal line. Tampa Bay's recap credits Vita Vea with the force and Zyon McCollum with the recovery at the 4. The Packers listed Tykee Smith on the force. Either way the ball was Tampa Bay's. The Buccaneers botched a snap, Graham Barton fumbled, and they punted.

Love threw the next red-zone chance to Golden. Parrish intercepted it at the 7 and returned it 8 yards. Tampa Bay still could not score. The last drive reached Green Bay territory. Fourth-and-11. Evan Williams came free off the edge. Daniels' throw died incomplete. That was 0-4.

The Packers had 283 yards and 2 of 10 on third down. Ten penalties, most of them on offense. LaFleur said they were in first-and-20 quite a bit, and that 17 points is not the standard. Chris Brooks had a 27-yard run and left with an ankle injury. MarShawn Lloyd caught five for 36. Christian Watson had three for 47.

Tampa Bay had 275 yards and 141 on the ground. Daniels was sacked three times. The Buccaneers have allowed 16 sacks through four weeks. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith each forced a fumble. None of it became a first win. Four straight losses by seven points or fewer, per the club. Protection broke on the snap that ended it.

AthX Engine on a one-score escape

AthX Engine NFL scoring already has the Week 4 lines in. Williams' sack and interception land at 61.50, the top total in this game. Parrish is 54.50. Cooper is 42.00 before the Achilles. Kraft is 26.25. Love is 23.76. Green Bay's team line is 53.00.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a Packers secondary that covered for two wasted red-zone trips, and for a Buccaneers quarterback room that just started an undrafted rookie. They move together. They are not the same number.

Track Love, Kraft, Cooper, Mayfield, and both clubs on the marketplace. Chicago visits Green Bay on Oct. 11. Tampa Bay visits Dallas on Thursday night.

*Sources: ESPN game page, Packers.com in-game recap, Packers takeaways, Buccaneers.com recap, Buccaneers takeaways. Packers.com listed Tykee Smith forcing Johnson's fumble; Buccaneers.com listed Vita Vea. AthX Engine Week 4 lines scored from nflverse weekly stats (CC-BY 4.0). Information only; not financial advice.*