Packers Win and Get Company in the Cellar

It didn’t matter to the Green Bay Packers that their second victory of the season came against another team sharing last place in the NFC Central Division.

“It feels good to win regardless of the circumstances,” said Green Bay Coach Forrest Gregg after Sunday’ 31-7 victory over Tampa Bay.

The Packers had good numbers on offense and defense. The 31 points was their biggest point production of the season and the defense had a season-high six quarterback sacks.

“It wasn’t any contest from start to finish,” Tampa Bay Coach Leeman Bennett said. “We didn’t do a good job of picking up the blitz.”

Tampa Bay, already thin in the backfield, lost its leading ground gainer in the first quarter when James Wilder aggravated a rib injury. He had 4 carries for 0 yards before leaving the game.

“When you lose your No. 1 runner, it hurts,” Bennett said. “Wilder just has bruised ribs, and I don’t know how long he’ll be out.”

Without Wilder, Tampa Bay gained only 63 yards rushing.

Both the Packers and Buccaneers are 2-9.

Packer quarterback Randy Wright, who completed 18 of 29 passes, threw for 3 touchdowns.

Wright threw touchdown passes on plays of 53, 12 and 5 yards as the Packers took a 21-0 halftime lead.

Wide receiver Phillip Epps caught the first and third of Wright’s touchdown throws. James Lofton caught the second for his 50th career touchdown.

Wright also threw three interceptions, all in the first half. The three touchdown passes were a single-game high for Wright, a third-year pro.

The Packers made it 24-0 on Al Del Greco’s 27-yard field goal at 10:06 of the third quarter to cap a 56-yard drive off the opening kickoff of the second half.

Walter Stanley’s 37-yard punt return set up the Packers’ next touchdown, which came with 2:11 left in the third quarter on Gary Ellerson’s one-yard dive.

Tampa Bay scored its only touchdown with just over three minutes left in the game when Gerald Carter caught a 10-yard pass from Steve Young.