Sharpe Is Sharp, Catches Four Touchdown Passes : NFC: Packer receiver ties club record and also plays quarterback in 37-14 victory over Buccaneers.

The Green Bay Packers found another way for Sterling Sharpe to attack a defense Sunday.

Sharpe caught four touchdown passes in a 37-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and also lined up at quarterback for two plays, running for five yards on one and completing the only pass he has thrown during his career on the other.

Sharpe, who set a NFL single-season record with 108 receptions last year, finished with 10 catches for 147 yards, the 21st 100-yard game of his career and his third against NFC Central rival Tampa Bay (1-5).

The four touchdowns, on plays covering seven, 10, 30 and 32 yards, equaled a team record set by Don Hutson against the Detroit Lions in 1945.

“He’s a hell of a player and we have to get the ball to him,” said Brett Favre, who completed 20 of 35 passes for 268 yards. “After the first quarter, I knew it was going to be a good day for both of us.”

The Packers (3-3) forced three turnovers and held the Buccaneers to 65 yards total offense in the first half. By the time Tampa Bay got on track, the score was 30-0.

“We really looked good on both sides of the ball,” Favre said. “The effort’s always been there. That’s never been a problem, but execution has been in the past three or four games. Finally, we put it all together.”

Craig Erickson, benched in the first half with Tampa Bay trailing, 14-0, returned late in the third quarter to throw two touchdown passes to Horace Copeland.

Terrell Buckley and LeRoy Butler each had interceptions against Erickson in the first quarter, and Johnny Holland snatched a Steve DeBerg pass and returned it 30 yards to set up Green Bay’s third touchdown.

Sharpe began that drive at quarterback, lining up in shotgun formation and breaking up the middle for five yards on first down. He threw to Mark Clayton for one yard on second down before Favre, who had been watching from the sideline, returned.

The Green Bay quarterback threw six yards to Sharpe on third and four, and the Packers continued marching with Sharpe gaining 20 yards on a pass from Favre. On second and six from the Tampa Bay 10, Sharpe caught his third touchdown pass.

He showcased his open-field running ability on his longer scoring plays. He eluded cornerback Roger Jones with a move at the Buccaneer 28 on the 30-yard touchdown. He scored his last touchdown after taking a pass on the sideline and breaking to the middle of the field to go 32 yards.