Jordy Nelson's fourth-quarter touchdown cemented a victory for the Green Bay Packers as they overcame the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-3 at the Raymond James Stadium, ensuring that Mike McCarthy's team will be in the playoffs for the sixth year running.
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The first quarter proved to be a testing affair for both sides, but Green Bay finally made some progress a minute before the end of the period when Eddie Lacy completed a standout rush from 44 yards.
The Packers moved further in front with just under five minutes to play in the first half as Mason Crosby sent home a kick from 42 yards to make it 10-0.
Tampa made sure their first-half efforts did not come to nothing as they grabbed their first points just before the end when Patrick Murray kicked from 43 yards out to leave the scores at 10-3 going into half time.
Much like the first quarter, the third failed to provide many clear-cut chances or much joy for the crowd as the opening 15 minutes of the second half passed with neither side impacting on the scoreboard.
Following on from some clinical work earlier in the game, Crosby returned in the fourth to give his side another three points with a 25-yard field goal, pushing the Packers into a 13-3 lead with just under 15 to play.
Green Bay were able to secure their victory in the fourth when Aaron Rodgers threw a simple one-yarder into the path of an obliging Nelson to leave the final score at 20-3.
Christopher Dodd
