Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offense Lifeless in Green Bay Packers Loss

Dec 21, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown (12) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Bay Packers celebrated a playoff berth while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers inched closer to the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft Sunday afternoon.

The Packers cruised past the Bucs 20-3 at Raymond James Stadium behind 318 passing yards by Aaron Rodgers and seven sacks by the Green Bay defence.

Tampa Bay (2-13) was held to 109 yards of offense and picked up just six first downs. They didn’t get their first until there was 3:45 left in the first half.

Green Bay’s (11-4) front seven dominated the Bucs’ offensive line from start to finish. Clay Matthews registered 2.5 sacks while Julius Peppers had two. Datone Jones, who had half a sack, picked off McCown late.

An Eddie Lacy 44-yard touchdown gave the Packers a 7-0 lead with 49 seconds left in the first quarter before Mason Crosby added a field goal in the second. The Bucs got their only points of the game from Patrick Murray’s right foot as he kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Crosby kicked another field goal in the third quarter before Rodgers sealed the win with a one-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson with 2:45 to play.

McCown completed 12-of-26 passes for 147 yards while Doug Martin had just 17 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans combined for 109 yards on seven catches. They are both less than 10 yards away from 1000-yard seasons.

Bradley McDougald and Alterraun Verner both had nine tackles in a secondary that played well for the most part, especially on third down. Michael Johnson had the Bucs’ lone sack.

Mason Foster injured his achilles in the first quarter and did not return.

Tampa Bay finishes its season with a home game against the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.