Packers: Grades for Week 3 performance in win vs. Bucs

Despite Aaron Rodgers matching up with Tom Brady, this was never going to be an offensive battle. The Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were set for a defensive showdown, and it delivered.

Two touchdowns proved to be enough for the win.

Here are our Week 3 grades for the Packers.

Packers offense: C

It was hard to believe the start the Packers made. Aaron Rodgers was on fire in the opening quarter and the Packers were moving the ball with ease.

Green Bay marched down the field on the opening drive, going 75 yards in a little over six minutes. Rodgers found Romeo Doubs for a touchdown.

On the next possession, the offense delivered again, this time going 71 yards in just under seven minutes. Rodgers connected with Allen Lazard for another touchdown to put Green Bay in control.

Another touchdown looked on the cards when Green Bay had first-and-goal on the third offensive drive, but an Aaron Jones fumble changed the course of the game.

From there, Todd Bowles made adjustments for the Bucs’ defense, and the Packers didn’t have the answers.

Green Bay’s offense was shut out the rest of the way and finished the game with two turnovers.

We saw the good and the bad from the offense this week. But they get a C grade as they were matched up against a dominant defense.

Packers defense: A

One of the most dominant defensive performances by the Packers in recent memory.

Unlike in the opening two weeks, Green Bay shut down the run, limiting Tampa Bay to just 34 yards on 14 carries.

Tom Brady struggled to find success against Joe Barry’s defense. It took 42 pass attempts to put up 271 yards and a touchdown.

Green Bay sacked Brady three times and came close on multiple occasions, and the defense also forced two turnovers.

Limiting the Bucs to just 12 points, the defense won this game.

Packers special teams: A

This was a great game for the special teams.

First, there weren’t many mistakes. Amari Rodgers called for a fair catch when he had room to run, but that’s about the only negative from an otherwise strong performance on fourth down.

Rodgers otherwise had a good game, and it could’ve been even better had a couple of nice punt returns not been called back for penalties.

Pat O’Donnell pinned the Bucs inside their own 20-yard line on five of his seven punts. Keisean Nixon made a fine play to down a punt on the Bucs’ one-yard line.

Green Bay’s coverage was good.

Overall, an excellent game on special teams.