Jared Goff handed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions superior to the NFC Championship Sport with a 31-23 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.
Looking for their first Tremendous Bowl berth, the Lions will journey to California to face the San Francisco 49ers subsequent Sunday. Detroit will probably be taking part in within the convention title sport for the primary time because the 1991 season.
Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 74 yards, together with the go-ahead 31-yard rating within the fourth quarter. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 77 yards and a landing, whereas Sam LaPorta had 9 receptions for 65 yards for Detroit.
The Lions’ second playoff win in as many weeks got here three years to the day after Dan Campbell was launched because the downtrodden franchise’s new head coach.
“I envisioned that we might have an opportunity to compete with the large boys, and that’s the place we’re at,” Campbell stated. “All you’ve bought to do is get in.”
For the second week working, Lions followers chanted Goff’s identify.
“That is our final one in entrance of them and so they had been particular (Sunday), as they had been final week,” Goff stated. “They deserve it. They deserve this, they should get pleasure from this and hope to present them much more coming ahead.”
Baker Mayfield handed for 349 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for the Bucs. Mike Evans caught eight passes for 147 yards and a landing.
Derrick Barnes’ interception of Mayfield with 1:33 remaining clinched Detroit’s victory.
The Buccaneers exceeded expectations in 2023 by profitable the NFC South and a wild-card sport, however now they head into the offseason with pending free-agent choices to make about Mayfield and Evans.
“I like this group,” Mayfield stated. “I’ve stated that each one 12 months, and it’s genuine, I imply that. It might imply so much for me to convey again plenty of key items to get this again collectively.”
The sport was tied at 10 at halftime.
Detroit struck first on Michael Badgley’s 23-yard discipline aim. Tampa Bay answered with Chase McLaughlin’s 43-yard discipline aim.
The Lions regained the lead early within the second quarter on Goff’s 9-yard scoring go to Josh Reynolds.
McLaughlin banged a 50-yard field-goal try off the left upright with 2:24 remaining within the first half.
The Bucs tied it with 15 seconds left on a 92-yard drive that took simply 1:13. Evans’ diving 29-yard reception arrange Mayfield’s 2-yard scoring go to Cade Otton.
Detroit regained the lead with 3:48 left within the third quarter. Craig Reynolds scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal.
Tampa Bay answered once more, as Rachaad White scored on a 12-yard display go from Mayfield with 10 seconds left within the third.
The Lions struck again rapidly, as Gibbs burst by way of a gap and scored from 31 yards out with 13:13 left within the sport to make it 24-17.
After Detroit pressured a punt, its offense drove 89 yards to extend the lead. Goff connected with St. Brown on a 9-yard passing play to make it 31-17.
Mayfield accomplished a 16-yard landing go to Evans with 4:37 left. Evans had a 24-yard reception on fourth-and-14 earlier within the drive. The Bucs tried a two-point conversion, however the go was damaged up.
–Subject Degree Media
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