Tampa Bay Scores 20 Unanswered, Freeman Wins Debut

NFL News - November 8th, 2009 - Written by John

And then there are the advantages of switching quarterbacks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers honored it's history, recognizing Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon and wearing the delightful creamsicle uniforms of pre-1996. Then they turned to a brand new quarterback and won their first game of the season, 38-24, over the Green Bay Packers.

Rookie Josh Freeman passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns in his debut, and Tampa Bay's special teams produced two huge plays, and suddenly no one is left to replicate the Detroit Lions' winless season. Head coach Raheem Morris was able to draw up an offensive game plan that produced the most offensive touchdowns in any game this year. Freeman's three scores each went different recipients, with the game-winner going to Sammie Stroughter from seven-yards out.

But with a lack of a running game, which only produced 81 yards, the Bucs also had to get help elsewhere. They got it from their special teams. Geno Hayes blocked a punt early in the second quarter and it was scooped up by Ronde Barber for a touchdown.

Late in the fourth quarter, Clifton Smith set up a touchdown when he took a kickoff 83 yards down to Green Bay's 18. That led to a Freeman touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow that made it 28-23.

The Packers, meanwhile, have lost two-striaght games and it's hard to decide which one is more heartbreaking. Last week, Brett Favre walked into Lambeau Field with a vendetta and claimed his second win over his former team while being showered with boos.

But Sunday, Aaron Rodgers was picked off three times for the first time this season and had the lowest QB rating of the year (60.3). The Packers led 28-17 early in the fourth quarter, but surrendered 20 unanswered points.

Rodgers had a chance to win the game with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, needing just a field goal down 31-28. But he was intercepted when Jason Jones tipped a pass of 4th-and-12. Tanard Jackson picked the ball out of the air and scored from 35-yards out.

It was the cleanest game of the year for the Bucs. They were only penalized twice and turned it over only once.

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