By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla.(AP) -- Wearing one of those ghastly creamsicle jerseys
that are an ugly reminder of Tampa Bay's past, rookie Josh
Freeman gave the struggling Buccaneers plenty of reasons to be
optimistic about the future.

The third quarterback selected in this year's NFL draft led the
previously winless Bucs to a 38-28 victory over the Green Bay
Packers in his first start Sunday, ending the league's longest
losing streak at 11 games.

Playing with poise that belied his inexperience, Freeman passed
for 205 yards and three touchdowns, including a 7-yard throw to
Sammie Stroughter on fourth-and-4 for the go-ahead TD with under
5 minutes to play.

"I felt really relaxed," said Freeman, the 17th pick in the
draft and the third quarterback taken behind Matthew Stafford
and Mark Sanchez.

"I didn't get too high or two low," the 21-year-old said. "I
can't say I did anything spectacular. I just played within
myself, and when we had opportunities I took them."

Freeman became the youngest quarterback to open a game for the
Bucs, who have had 10 different players start at the position
since winning the Super Bowl seven seasons ago. He's the third
this year.

"That's a great start to how we want to be, how we want to work,
how we want to play," said the 33-year-old Raheem Morris, who
has known Freeman since the rookie was a freshman at Kansas
State and Morris was the defensive coordinator there.

"However you do it, it's impressive. His age really doesn't
matter at this point. ... He's got to lead us to where we've got
to go."

Freeman completed 14 of 31 passes with just one interception. A
critical second pick by Green Bay's A.J. Hawk was wiped out by
an illegal contact penalty against Hawk during Tampa Bay's
go-ahead drive.

Three plays later, Freeman threw 29 yards to Michael Clayton to
set up his second TD pass of the day.

"He kept his composure and made plays," Packers linebacker Nick
Barnett said.

The Bucs (1-7) are the last team in the NFL to win this season,
ending a skid that was the franchise's longest since 1976-77
when they dropped an NFL-record 26 in a row wearing the uniforms
the team donned against the Packers.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns for Green
Bay (4-4). The league's top-rated passer also threw three
interceptions and had one returned for a TD that put the game
out of reach in the final minute.

Rodgers was also sacked six times, hiking Green Bay's NFL-worst
total to 37 in eight games.

"It's pretty frustrating," Rodgers said. "I think our offense
and special teams put our defense in a tough position."

In addition to wearing retro uniforms, the Bucs made Hall of
Famer Lee Roy Selmon the first inductee into the Ring of Honor
at Raymond James Stadium. They trailed 21-17 during the halftime
ceremony, but Freeman refused to let them lose.

The rookie threw second-half TD passes to Kellen Winslow and
Stroughter, a seventh-round draft pick who was wide open in the
right corner of the end zone with 4:14 remaining in the fourth
quarter.

Freeman's 2-point conversion pass to Clayton put the Bucs up
31-28. The defense, which had all of its sacks after halftime,
ensured victory when Tanard Jackson picked off Rodgers and -
instead of going to the ground with under a minute left - weaved
35 yards to a clinching TD.

Rodgers threw a 74-yard TD pass to James Jones on Green Bay's
second play from scrimmage, then led an 11-play, 69-yard march
that Ryan Grant finished with a 3-yard run that made it 14-7
late in the opening quarter.

Cornerback Elbert Mack, beaten badly on Jones' long touchdown,
returned one of Tampa Bay's interceptions 36 yards to the
Packers 8 to set up Freeman's first pro TD pass, a 6-yarder to
Derrick Ward.

Trailing 14-7, Tampa Bay's Geno Hayes blocked a punt that Ronde
Barber scooped up and ran 31 yards for his 14th career
touchdown. Freeman led a 74-yard field goal drive just before
the half, trimming Tampa Bay's deficit to 21-17.

Rodgers looked like he might have put the game away when he
scrambled 12 yards on third-and-goal to give Green Bay a 28-17
lead.

But Clifton Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to set
up Freeman's 7-yard TD pass to Winslow and spark the comeback.

The loss was the second straight for Green Bay, which fell to
Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings the week before.

"It doesn't feel good. This one definitely hurt," coach Mike
McCarthy said. "I'm disappointed in the way we played. We have
some recurring problems that we have not cleaned up yet."

Notes: Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber got his 13th career
return touchdown on a blocked punt. Barber is tied for the
third-most return touchdowns all time. He trails Deion Sanders
(19) and Rod Woodson (17) for the most return touchdowns in NFL
history. ... Green Bay running back Ahman Green gained 45 yards
rushing and has 8,208 yards rushing with the Packers, surpassing
Hall of Famer Jim Taylor (8,207) for the most rushing yards in
franchise history. ... Bucs WR Antonio Bryant was inactive
because of a sore left knee. ... Jones finished with four
receptions for 103 yards for Green Bay. Grant rushed for 96
yards on 21 attempts. ... Packers RT Mark Tauscher (knee) played
for the first time this season, but was not able to finish the
game.