It wasn’t Greg Jennings, or Jordy Nelson, it wasn’t James Starks or Ryan Grant, it wasn’t even Aaron Rodgers. Of all the Packers offensive weapons, it was massive defensive tackle BJ Raji that scored the first offensive touchdown for the Green Bay Packers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Raji, lining up at fullback, punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to cap a comical Packers drive that started at their own 12-yard line. The Buccaneers defense failed to get off the field, allowing Rodgers and the Packers to convert on 5 third downs.
The key play of the drive came all the way back at the 16-yard line when the Buccaneers forced the Packers to punt. Special teamer Jacob Cutera burst untouched through the Packers line and had Packers punter Tim Masthay dead to rights, but, inexplicably pulled up at the last second, possibly the avoid a flag for roughing the punter. As Cutera failed to tackle the punter, he pulled the ball down and ran for the first down, extending the drive that eventually led to the Raji touchdown. The play may have been a microcosm of the entire Buccaneers season.
Albert Haynesworth was shaken up on the drive when he was hit by his own defensive lineman while attempting to make a tackle on a James Stark screen play. He missed a few plays but returned.
The Buccaneers have had two offensive drives, have one first down, and have punted twice. Sounds about right.