Eight Turnovers, Six Sacks: The Packers Defensive Masterpiece vs Tampa Bay in 1991

The Green Bay Packers struggled mightily through the 1991 season. But in a game that ESPN’s Chris Berman would refer to as “The Bay of Pigs,” the Packers defense stepped up and shut out the Tampa Bay Bucs 27-0 to end a four-game losing streak. The win was a rare one for the Packers, who struggled in all three phases of the game that season. But the defense recorded six sacks and forced eight turnovers to earn this win. Don Majkowski threw for 223 yards and a touchdown while Mark Murphy intercepted two passes. Today we look back at the eight turnovers and six sacks in the Packers defensive masterpiece versus Tampa Bay in 1991.

Eight Turnovers, Six Sacks, The Packers Defensive Masterpiece vs Tampa Bay in 1991: The Buildup

Neither of these teams were going anywhere in 1991. Both teams entered this game with 1-6 records. Both coaches were on the hot seat, and both teams were not just losing but losing ugly. The Packers had been shutout the previous week by the Bears 10-0 on Thursday Night Football. It was their fourth straight loss.

The Bucs won their first game of the season in Week 6, edging the Eagles 14-13 but then lost to the Saints 23-7 to drop to 1-6.

The Packers were 2-0 against the Bucs over their last 13 games dating back to 1990 but were 0-11 against the rest of the NFL. They hoped their good luck against the Bucs would continue as they headed south to Florida for this road game.

Defense Starts Quickly

The Packers went three-and-out on their first two drives of the game while the Bucs went three-and-out on their first possession. Penalties set Tampa Bay back in their own zone on their second possession. An illegal block on the punt return started them at their own 10. On second and 10, quarterback Chris Chandler dropped back to pass and was sacked by defensive end Matt Brock. The ball squirted loose and was pounced on by linebacker Brian Noble who rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. The Packers led 7-0.

“A prime example of being in the right place at the right time,” Noble said after the game. “Matt [Brock] knocked it away as Chandler tried to step up in the pocket and I just happened to be there.”

On the next Bucs drive, safety Chuck Cecil intercepted Chandler at midfield and returned it to the Bucs 24. The drive stalled inside the 10 and the Packers settled for a 34-yard field goal by Chris Jacke to make the score 10-0 Green Bay.

Eight Turnovers, Six Sacks, The Packers Defensive Masterpiece vs Tampa Bay in 1991: More Turnovers Lead to Points

Late in the first quarter, Bryce Paup of Green Bay knocked the ball out of Reggie Cobb’s hands and LeRoy Butler fell on it at the Bucs 23. That set up a 43-yard field goal by Jacke and the Packers led was now 13-0.

In the second quarter, Murphy intercepted Chandler twice to end Tampa Bay drives. In fact, the Packers forced turnovers on five of the Bucs seven drives in the first half.

Finding Offense

The defense continued to play well in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, new quarterback Jeff Carlson was intercepted by defensive lineman Esera Tuaolo who rumbled with the ball for 23 yards to the Tampa Bay 19.

“I was thinking six,” Tuaolo said. “I was so surprised when I got it. [So] I just started running and I didn’t look back. I had the goal line in mind.”

The Packers took full advantage of this turnover. After two runs by Keith Woodside, Majkowski found tight end Ed West for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Green Bay led 20-0.

The Packers closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter with their only scoring drive of the game not set up by a turnover. The key plays were a 28-yard pass from Majkowski to Woodside and a 10-yard pass to wideout Charles Wilson. It set up a four-yard touchdown run by Vince Workman that made the score 27-0 with a little over six minutes left in the game.

The Bucs finally started a drive as Carlson led them to the Packers 13. That drive ended when Jerry Holmes intercepted Carlson in the end zone to preserve the shutout.

Eight Turnovers, Six Sacks, The Packers Defensive Masterpiece vs Tampa Bay in 1991: The Aftermath

The win meant a lot for the struggling Packers. “It’s a great feeling. It beats the hell out of the alternative,” said Packers coach Lindy Infante.

“You win championships with defense and it’s good enough for us to have a much better record,” said center James Campen. “They were really bringing the heat today.”

The defense stopped the Bucs in all phases of the game. Tampa Bay gained just 35 yards rushing and 170 total yards. “The big thing was knowing they had to throw the ball,” Cecil said after the game. “That makes such a difference. It was really different today. It was a nice feeling.”

The offense was also happy to get on track in the second half. “What helped was that we were able to run the ball and that opened up the play action. It wasn’t easy at all. Tampa’s got a good defense,” Majkowski told reporters.

The win failed to jumpstart the Packers season. They lost their next three games and finished with a 4-12 record. Infante was fired, as was GM Tom Braatz. The Packers hired Ron Wolf as the new GM and Mike Holmgren as the coach. That offseason, they traded for quarterback Brett Favre. They improved to 9-7 and ended more than two decades of mediocrity.

The 1991 Packers weren’t very good, but on this day, the defense dominated and they enjoyed their first shutout since the Snow Bowl against Tampa Bay in 1985.