Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur says he “absolutely” will take on a bigger role in assisting the Packers’ slumping defense as they try to boost their fading playoff hopes. “If I thought that was the best solution today, then we’d make that decision,” LaFleur said Monday, one day after the Packers’ 34-20 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. LaFleur then explained why he didn't think Barry was to blame.
Green Bay running back Aaron Jones is returning from a knee injury to help the Packers withstand the absence of backfield mate AJ Dillon in the Packers game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Jones is available to play for the Packers (6-7) after missing three games, but Dillon is out because of a broken right thumb.
Green Bay’s defense has hit a wall — and so have the Packers' playoff hopes. Six days after allowing Tommy DeVito to drive the New York Giants for a winning field goal as time expired, the Packers (6-8) got picked apart by Baker Mayfield in a 34-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
LAST WEEK: Buccaneers won 29-25 at Atlanta on Sunday; Packers lost 24-22 on the road against the New York Giants on Monday night BUCCANEERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (29), PASS (20), SCORING (22). PACKERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (19), PASS (18), SCORING (17-T) BUCCANEERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (27), RUSH (10), PASS (30), SCORING (13). PACKERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (31), PASS (8), SCORING (11) TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Buccaneers plus-6; Packers even BUCCANEERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Baker Mayfield is making the most of an opportunity to jump-start his career with Tampa Bay, the fourth team he's played with in the past two years.