Wrap-up: Bucs 38, Packers 28

November, 8, 2009
Nov 8
7:21
PM ET
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Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert

The good news for Green Bay is … well, sorry. I can’t think of any good news.

Yes, the Packers’ loss Sunday at Tampa Bay left them tied with Chicago in the NFC North with a 4-4 record. But it’s starting to look like second place in this division isn’t going to matter as much as we once thought it would.

Like the Bears, the Packers have become a broken record of the same weekly problems. That they manifested themselves against previously-winless Tampa Bay is particularly embarrassing, but in reality it only serves to reinforce what we’ve been saying all along.

The Packers’ switch to the 3-4 defense hasn’t taken and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is taking far too many sacks. Go ahead and add another six sacks to his season total after Sunday’s game. Rodgers also threw a season-high three interceptions, and Tampa Bay converted those turnovers and some special teams breakdowns into 27 of its 38 points.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, coach Mike McCarthy said: “We were not prepared to the level that we should have been.” But even an under-prepared team should have been able to win this game. The Packers, like the Bears, have deeper issues.

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