Brady outplays Rodgers as Tampa Bay rallies, routs Green Bay

Green Bay handed first loss of season in drubbing from Tampa Bay

BUCCANEERS 38, PACKERS 10

TAMPA, FLA. » So much for Tom Brady vs. Aaron Rodgers.

A stingy Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense turned a rare meeting between the Super Bowl- winning quarterbacks into a mismatch on Sunday.

Brady outplayed Rodgers, however a young Bucs secondary was equally impressive in setting the tone for a 38- 10 rout of the previously unbeaten Packers, who unraveled after taking a 10- 0 lead and limiting Tampa Bay to just five offensive plays in the first quarter.

Rodgers threw two interceptions — Green Bay’s first turnovers of the season — within a three- pass span of the second quarter to turn the 10- point lead into a 14- 10 deficit.

Cornerback Jamel Dean returned the first pick 32 yards for a touchdown. Safety Mike Edwards ran the other back 38 yards to the Packers 2 to set up another TD.

“Jamel made a hell of a play. It was a huge play. It sparked us,” Brady said.

“That pick- 6 changed the entire ballgame,” coach Bruce Arians said.

It was the 43- year- old Brady’s first signature victory since signing with the Bucs ( 4- 2) after a historic 20- year run with the New England Patriots, which included nine NFL title game appearances and six championships.

He got his favorite target from his days with the Patriots into the mix, throwing a 12- yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski for a 28- 10 halftime lead. It was Gronkowski’s first TD since December 2018 and the 79th for the quarterback/ tight end tandem — tied for fourth on the alltime list with Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton.

“I thought everybody stepped up and stepped in,” Arians said.

Brady also threw a 7- yard TD pass to rookie Tyler Johnson and Ronald Jones rushed for 113 yards and a pair of TDs for Tampa Bay, which didn’t turn the ball over, allow a sack or commit a single penalty after being flagged 11 times in a one- point loss to Chicago in its previous game.

Rodgers finished 16 of 35 for 160 yards and no touchdowns.

Brady, meanwhile, was 17 of 27 for 166 yards and two TDs without an interception.

Jason Behnken, The Associated Press Tampa Bay linebacker Devin White, left, sacks Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the second half Sunday in Tampa, Fla. Rodgers was sacked four times in the game.