TAMPA, Fla. — 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, 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, who is from Kansas State and was 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. I can't say I did anything spectacular. I just played within myself, and when we had opportunities I took them."

Freeman, 21, 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.

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

Aaron Rodgers threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay. 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."

The Bucs trailed 21-17 at halftime before Freeman threw second-half TD passes to Kellen Winslow and Stroughter, the latter with 4:14 remaining in the game. Freeman's 2-point conversion pass to Clayton put the Bucs up 31-28. The defense ensured victory when Tanard Jackson picked off Rodgers and and weaved 35 yards to a touchdown.