A new era in Tampa Bay began Sunday, and while the outcome of its first day was positive, the team has not turned a corner yet and we're far from knowing just what kind of quarterback that rookie Josh Freeman will be.

In his first day on the job, the 17th overall pick in this year's draft helped the Buccaneers snap an 11-game losing streak with a 38-28 upset of the Packers. Freeman completed 14-of-31 passes for 205 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran four times for 20 yards. The Kansas State product led Tampa Bay back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit, throwing two of his TD passes in the final quarter, including a seven-yard toss to rookie WR Sammie Stroughter that put the Bucs ahead for the first time.

Head coach Raheem Morris made it sound as though the Bucs have hit the reset button on their season after the game.

"That's a great start to how we want to be, how we want to work, how we want to play," he said. "However you do it, it's impressive. (Freeman's) age really doesn't matter at this point. … He's got to lead us to where we've got to go."

The PFW spin

This was an important win for the Bucs no matter how it's sliced. After starting 0-7, this club will take whatever it can get. Freeman should look back at his first start fondly, but one win shouldn't cloud perspective when it comes to the Bucs in 2009. Freeman hasn't suddenly changed the direction of their season and he didn't win this one on his own.

The Bucs were able to finally get that elusive first victory because of special-teams play, a swarming pass rush that produced six sacks and three interceptions, the last of which was returned for a TD by FS Tanard Jackson to seal the deal late in the fourth quarter. Geno Hayes also blocked a punt and Ronde Barber returned it for a TD, and RS Clifton Smith returned a kickoff 83 yards that helped set up the Bucs' first fourth-quarter TD.

QBs Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson didn't get that kind of help from the supporting cast during their starting stints. Freeman only engineered three drives of more than 17 yards. Ten of the team's 13 drives were for 17 yards or less, and Tampa Bay gained just 19 yards on offense in the third quarter. The Bucs were 3-for-12 on third-down conversions. Clearly, there are still many issues on offense that need to be worked out.

One of things that can't be taken away from Freeman, though, is the fourth-quarter drive that put the Bucs ahead for the first time and for good. That was all on him, and it is the main reason the team's fans have reason to be a bit more optimistic than they were before Sunday. Freeman didn't lose his composure in a pressure-filled environment. He rose to the occasion instead. The rookie went 4-of-7 on that drive, completing passes to three different receivers, and helped drive the team 72 yards down the field for what ended up being the game-winning score.

It's going to be very tough for the Bucs the rest of the way, so they ought to savor this victory. The offense didn't look much better than it did when Leftwich or Johnson were at the helm, and special teams and turnovers caused by the defense put Freeman in a position to succeed.