Matthew Golden just punched in a 2-yard touchdown reception on fourth down, putting the Green Bay Packers up 7-0 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in the second quarter. With 12:54 left in the first half, this drive was a statement, showing some serious grind from the Packers’ offense.
The Drive’s Relentless Grit
This wasn’t some easy walk into the end zone, man. The Packers had to battle, running nine plays from inside the Tampa Bay 10-yard line, and they converted *two* fourth downs on that single possession. Think about that. First, they were looking at third-and-2 at the 10, and MarShawn Lloyd grabbed just one yard. What do they do? Tucker Kraft takes a direct snap on fourth down and gets three crucial yards to keep it alive. Then, after Chris Brooks picked up three, and Jordan Love tossed two incompletions, it looked dicey. But hold up, Bucs cornerback Jacob Parrish got flagged for defensive pass interference targeting Golden. That reset the downs, gave them a fresh set, and Green Bay kept pushing.
Golden’s Glimmer, Love’s Efficiency
Even after the DPI, the Bucs defense tried to hold, with Brooks losing two and Lloyd losing three. But Love found Lloyd for four yards, setting them up at the Tampa Bay 2-yard line. That’s when Golden, who didn’t even score a single touchdown as a rookie last season, stepped up big for his second score of the year. Talk about a glow-up! Love, meanwhile, is looking sharp, going 7-of-9 for 45 yards so far. Kraft’s pulling his weight with three catches for 30 yards, and Brooks has churned out 30 yards on four carries. It’s a full team effort getting that ball in the end zone.
It’s just the first half, but the Packers are making a huge statement, already up 7-0 on the road. That kind of relentless, fourth-down converting drive sets a tone. The Bucs are gonna have to respond, because Green Bay is looking to keep that momentum rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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