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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Hundley had a terrific performance in Pittsburgh Sunday night. The Green Bay Packers No. 2 quarterback threw three touchdowns, completed 65.4 percent of his passes and had a 134.3 passer rating in a 31-28 defeat. Two weeks earlier, Hundley had a 110.8 passer rating and led Green Bay to a 23-16 win at Chicago.
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In two road starts since stepping in for the injured Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), Hundley is 35-for-51 for 457 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a stellar 122.8 passer rating.
Inside the supposed comfy confines of Lambeau Field, though, Hundley has been a disaster.
In three home starts -- all losses -- Hundley and the Packers are averaging just 11.3 points per game. Hundley has thrown four interceptions, no touchdowns, and has a pathetic passer rating of 58.9.
Hundley and the Packers are home again Sunday when they host Tampa Bay at noon. Whether or not the young quarterback can reverse course at Lambeau will go a long way in determining if the Packers can try saving a season that's slipping away.
"You know, we try to play our best each and every week," Hundley said Wednesday. "We always try to play great at home, so we've just got to come out and do what we're coached to do."
So far, Hundley hasn't done that in his home starts. Not even close.
In Hundley's first home start against New Orleans on Oct. 22, he completed just 48.0 percent of his 25 passes, threw for a pedestrian 87 yards and had a 39.9 passer rating. The Saints toppled the Packers that day, 26-17.
After a bye week, Hundley gave a respectable performance against Detroit. But Hundley also didn't throw a touchdown pass and the Packers dropped a 30-17 decision to the Lions.
Hundley had a winning performance the following week in Chicago, then was miserable in a 23-0 home loss to Baltimore on Nov. 19. On that day, Hundley threw three interceptions, took six sacks and had a passer rating of 43.6.
"Football's not perfect," Hundley said. "Some weeks you're going to have a great week, some weeks you're not. For me, it's just staying consistent. I would love to be lights out every week, but I've just got to make sure I do what I'm coached to do. Stay within the game plan, don't make the bad mistakes and just execute."
Hundley should have a chance for his best game at home yet on Sunday.
Tampa Bay ranks dead last in total defense (395.5) and 32nd in passing defense (284.6). The Buccaneers are a respectable 20th in points allowed, but have leaks throughout their secondary.
The Packers, who have lost three straight home games and are tied for ninth place in the NFC, need Hundley to shine if they hope to reverse course.
"The most important thing is the decision making," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said of Hundley. "That will always be the area of game experience that there's just no substitute for it. The discipline of the position is extraordinary. It's clearly the biggest challenge of any position on the field, and that's where decision-making is so key.
"A small mistake at quarterback play could be a critical error in the game. That's what you've got to stay away from. There are mistakes that you make, there's decisions that you make, but it's the critical errors that can change the course of a game."
For the Packers to change their fortunes at Lambeau, Hundley must play like he's done on the road.
SERIES HISTORY: 54th regular-season meeting. Packers lead series, 31-21-1 and are 16-5 all-time at Lambeau Field.
--Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who missed last week's game with an ankle injury, practiced Wednesday and is optimistic he'll play Sunday.
"I am. I am. I want to," Clark said. "It just all depends on how my ankle heals and what the doc thinks and what coaches think viewing me at practice, and how I feel. I'm optimistic about it and everything. My body has been healing fast, too. I just have to keep on going with the same process I've been doing."
--Outside linebacker Clay Matthews, who missed last week with a groin injury, was a limited participant at practice and hopes to play Sunday.
"I'm feeling good actually," Matthews said. "I did some running pregame Sunday and it wasn't quite there yet. I don't think I could have made it through a game. But every day I was getting exponentially better, so I feel really good today. I was able to take some team reps; granted it was a light practice, but I definitely envision seeing myself out there Sunday."
NOTES: RB Aaron Jones, who went down with a knee injury on Nov. 12, was back at practice on Wednesday. ... CB Kevin King (shoulder) did not practice Wednesday. ... RB Ty Montgomery (ribs), who has been inactive the last two weeks, did not practice Wednesday.
