Senior Author\/Editor
For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 2023 postseason is being outlined by second possibilities.
The Buccaneers opened their postseason journey on Monday evening with a dominant 32-9 win over the visiting Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. That avenged a Week Three loss \u2013 additionally on a Monday in Tampa \u2013 that was equally lopsided, however within the different route, because the Eagles totally managed a 25-11 resolution.
By beating the Eagles and advancing to the Divisional Spherical, the Buccaneers earned one other shot at redemption, as they head to Detroit to face a Lions squad that stifled them in Week Six by a 20-6 margin. If they will get previous the Lions and into their second NFC Championship Sport in 4 years, the Bucs will face yet one more staff, both the 49ers or Packers, that they performed throughout the common season. (They misplaced to San Francisco in Week 11 and received in Inexperienced Bay in Week 15).
“To me, it is like we’re on a revenge tour at this level,” stated cornerback Zyon McCollum. “Beating the Eagles after which going through the Lions, who we misplaced to earlier within the 12 months, that is every little thing we might need.”
The Lions are coming off their first playoff victory in 30 years, a 24-23 nipping of the Los Angeles Rams that let out quite a lot of pent-up feelings from Detroit followers, who made Ford Subject a particularly raucous atmosphere. Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, who have been traded for one another in 2021, engaged in an impressive duel, with Goff finishing 22 of 27 passes for 277 yards, one landing, no interceptions and a 121.8 passer ranking. Extremely, the Lions had 4 gamers rating 10 or extra touchdowns throughout the common season and three of them discovered the tip zone in opposition to the Rams \u2013 tight finish Sam LaPorta and working backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.
“Jared Goff is a extremely good quarterback,” stated Bucs linebacker Ok.J. Britt. “We have simply received to ensure we get in our throwing home windows, ensure that we’re taking away what he is actually good at. He is aware of what he is good at. We’re attempting to make it possible for we have got to restrict him, as a result of he is a extremely good quarterback \u2013 probably the greatest I’ve seen on movie.”
The one participant among the many aforementioned quartet that did not rating in opposition to the Rams was first-team All-Professional wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. All he did was catch seven passes for 110 yards after an everyday season that noticed him haul in 119 passes for 1,515 yards.
“We undoubtedly need to respect all people that they’ve, however St. Brown has been taking part in actually, actually good ball, so we have now to maintain a watch out on him specifically,” stated McCollum. Him, LaPorta\u2026they’ve quite a lot of weapons.”
This would be the second straight recreation wherein Goff will probably be matched up in opposition to a fellow former first-overall draft decide; Stafford had that honor in 2009, Goff in 2016 and the Bucs’ Baker Mayfield in 2018. Mayfield helps to increase a particularly profitable first season in Tampa and his playoff debut on Monday was spectacular, as he threw for 337 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 119.8 passer ranking. Mayfield says the playoffs require a “heightened consciousness” among the many gamers due to the do-or-die stakes, however when it comes to execution it nonetheless comes right down to the small print.
“I discussed it previous to final week \u2013 groups within the playoffs do not beat themselves,” he stated. “The staff that makes the least quantity of errors is normally the one which wins, so [it’s] taking good care of the ball, eliminating adverse performs. Simply figuring out your job back and front, figuring out no matter performs and schemes we have now within the gameplan, figuring out precisely what appears we will expect and go execute.”
Heading into Monday evening, the Buccaneers have been positive they might produce a a lot completely different end result in opposition to the Eagles than the primary time round as a result of they believed that they had developed fairly a bit as a staff since September. Likewise, the Bucs really feel like they’ve a shot to flip the script in opposition to Detroit in a rematch three months later, however they know that will probably be a major problem in opposition to one of many NFL’s greatest groups.
“I feel we have gotten harder over the course of the previous few weeks,” stated Head Coach Todd Bowles. “All people has lastly gotten again and is taking part in on the similar time. We have been subbing guys out and in of there \u2013 quite a lot of guys have been taking part in. If you happen to add the younger guys with that, there was quite a lot of consternation occurring there. The communication has gotten loads higher. All people is trusting the man subsequent to him they usually’re taking part in for one another.”
GAME AND BROADCAST DETAILS<\/strong>
ALL-TIME HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES<\/strong>
The Buccaneers-Lions sequence dates again to 1977 and is likely one of the extra even ones on Tampa Bay’s listing of won-loss information in opposition to numerous opponents. The Bucs had pulled to inside three on the all-time ledger with wins in each 2019 and 2020, however Detroit fired again with a 20-6 win earlier this season to extend its result in 32-28. The Bucs’ report in Detroit can also be almost even, at 15-16.
That is the second postseason assembly between the 2 golf equipment, and the primary in a quarter-century. The Buccaneers broke a 14-year playoff drought in 1997 and landed a house recreation in opposition to Detroit within the Wild Card Spherical, as 4 completely different groups from the previous NFC Central made the postseason. The Bucs and Lions had cut up throughout the common season however the playoff recreation in Tampa on December 28 was all Tampa Bay in a 20-10 remaining that wasn’t that shut. RB Warrick Dunn and FB Mike Alstott mixed for 140 dashing yards and Alstott’s 31-yard landing run within the third quarter gave the Bucs a 20-0 lead that was sufficient to ship them to the following spherical of the playoffs on the dwelling of yet one more NFC Central staff, the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Detroit’s win in Tampa in Week Six included a robust efficiency from quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 353 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, hitting All-Professional extensive obtain Amon-Ra St. Brown 12 occasions for 124 yards and a rating. Detroit’s protection restricted the Bucs to 251 yards of offense and Baker Mayfield was intercepted as soon as, marking the one recreation all season wherein he threw an interception however no touchdowns.
Previous to this 12 months’s recreation, the Bucs two current wins within the sequence have been each blowouts, a minimum of when it comes to the ultimate rating. In 2019, Tampa Bay left Detroit with a 38-17 win in Week 15, and virtually precisely a 12 months later went again to the Motor Metropolis for a dominant 47-7 rout. Within the former recreation, the Bucs ran out to a fast 21-0 lead on three lengthy landing passes by Jameis Winston, two to Breshad Perriman and one to Scotty Miller. Detroit rallied behind fill-in quarterback David Blough, finally pulling to inside seven factors within the fourth quarter, however Detroit native Sean Murphy-Bunting ended any comeback ideas with a 70-yard pick-six. Within the latter recreation, Tom Brady had 4 landing passes by halftime so he ceded the second half to Blaine Gabbert, who threw two extra. Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski have been each on the receiving finish of two of these scoring passes. The Lions prevented a shutout due to a 74-yard Jamal Agnew punt return landing, however the Bucs completed the sport with a yardage benefit of greater than 400 yards, 588-186.
The Bucs have a deep shared historical past with the Lions as a result of they have been fellow members of the aforementioned NFC Central from 1977-2001. Then the NFL realigned in 2002 and the five-team NFC Central turned the four-team NFC North, with solely the Buccaneers departing to begin over within the extra geographically correct NFC South. Regardless of that cut up, the Buccaneers and Lions nonetheless noticed one another steadily within the years that adopted. The truth is, from 2005-17, the 2 groups met eight occasions, with the Lions holding a 5-3 edge in that span. That included the 2 most up-to-date conferences earlier than the 2019 rematch, a 24-21 Detroit win in Tampa in 2017 and a 34-17 Lions resolution in Detroit in 2014. Tampa Bay’s greatest run within the sequence spanned that 2002 divisional divorce, with the Bucs profitable six of the eight video games performed between 1999 and 2005.
The Buccaneers and Lions spent most of their shared 25 years within the NFC Central punting the sequence lead backwards and forwards. The pinnacle-to-head report was tied at 5-5 after the primary 10 video games, 11-11 after the primary 22, 15-15 after the primary 30, and so forth. Detroit did draw back just a little bit within the first half of the Nineties by profitable 5 straight, at a time when the nice Barry Sanders was usually tormenting the Buccaneers, however the aforementioned 1999-2005 run evened issues again up a bit.
Despite the fact that the 1997 recreation was the one time Tampa Bay and Detroit met within the postseason earlier than this week, it wasn’t the primary time they performed what was primarily an elimination recreation. The Buccaneers visited Detroit within the remaining week of the 1981 common season, with every staff proudly owning an 8-7 report. The winner would take the NFC Central crown and a playoff berth; the loser can be eradicated. The Buccaneers received, 20-17, keyed by an 84-yard Kevin Home landing catch and a 21-yard fumble return by David Logan after a sack by Lee Roy Selmon.
The scenario was very related a 12 months later when the Bucs and Lions matched up in Tampa within the penultimate week of the common season. Attributable to a gamers’ strike that shaved seven video games out of the center of the season, the Bucs and Lions have been every 3-4 with two video games to go. Tampa Bay rallied from a 21-6 deficit to win 23-21, then received once more the following weekend in opposition to Chicago to sneak into the playoffs. This time, nonetheless, the Lions additionally received their final recreation and made the playoffs, too, at 4-5.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS<\/strong>
SENIOR COACHING STAFFS<\/strong>
Tampa Bay:
Detroit:
2023 ROSTER ADDITIONS<\/strong>
Buccaneers:
Lions:
ADDITIONAL 2023 CHANGES\/DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE<\/strong>
Buccaneers:
Lions:
INJURY REPORT<\/strong>
Key:
DNP: Didn’t take part in observe
LP: Restricted participation in observe
FP: Full participation in observe
NL: Not listed
Buccaneers:
Lions:
WEATHER FORECAST<\/strong>
Domed stadium. Outside climate: Sunshine and clouds combined. Excessive of 24, low of 14, 7% likelihood of snow, winds out of the SW at 9 mph.
GAME REFEREE<\/strong>
Head referee: Invoice Vinovich (18th season, fifteenth as referee)
BETTING LINE<\/strong>
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS (common season)<\/strong>
Buccaneers-
Factors Scored: Ok Chase McLaughlin, 120
Touchdowns: WR Mike Evans, 13
Passing Yards: QB Baker Mayfield, 4,044
Passer Ranking: QB Baker Mayfield, 94.6
Dashing Yards: RB Rachaad White, 990
Receptions: WR Chris Godwin, 83
Receiving Yards: WR Mike Evans, 1,255
Interceptions: S Antoine Winfield Jr., 3
Sacks: OLB Yaya Diaby, 7.5
Tackles: LB Lavonte David, 133
Lions-
Factors Scored: RB David Montgomery\/Ok Riley Patterson, 80
Touchdowns: RB David Montgomery, 13
Passing Yards: QB Jared Goff, 4,575
Passer Ranking: QB Jared Goff, 97.9
Dashing Yards: RB David Montgomery, 1,015
Receptions: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, 119
Receiving Yards: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, 1,515
Interceptions: S Kerby Joseph, 4
Sacks: DL Aidan Hutchinson, 11.5
Tackles: LB Alex Anzalone, 129
TEAM STAT RANKINGS (common season)<\/strong>
Buccaneers-
Scoring Offense: twentieth (20.5 ppg)
Whole Offense: twenty third (313.0 ypg)
Dashing Offense: thirty second (88.8 ypg)
Passing Offense: seventeenth (224.2 ypg)
First Downs Per Sport: twenty fifth (17.6)
Third-Down Pct.: tenth (41.5%)
Sacks Per Cross Try Allowed: 14th (7.04%)
Pink Zone TD Pct.: thirtieth (45.8%)
Scoring Protection: sixth (19.1 ppg)
Whole Protection: twenty third (344.2 ypg)
Dashing Protection: fifth (95.3 ypg)
Passing Protection: twenty ninth (248.9 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Sport: twenty first (19.8)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: twenty third (40.9%)
Sacks Per Cross Try: seventeenth (7.86%)
Pink Zone TD Pct. Allowed: third (42.6%)
Turnover Margin: ninth (+8)
Lions-
Scoring Offense: fifth (27.1 ppg)
Whole Offense: third (394.8 ypg)
Dashing Offense: fifth (135.9 ypg)
Passing Offense: 2nd (258.9 ypg)
First Downs Per Sport: fifth (22.1)
Third-Down Pct.: eleventh (41.5%)
Sacks Per Cross Try Allowed: third (5.12%)
Pink Zone TD Pct.: third (64.1%)
Scoring Protection: twenty third (23.2 ppg)
Whole Protection: nineteenth (336.1 ypg)
Dashing Protection: 2nd (88.8 ypg)
Passing Protection: twenty seventh (247.4 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Sport: twenty second (19.9)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: twelfth (37.1%)
Sacks Per Cross Try: twenty second (6.97%)
Pink Zone TD Pct. Allowed: twenty ninth (66.0%)
Turnover Margin: t-Sixteenth (0)
WHAT TO WATCH FOR<\/strong>
NOTABLY QUOTABLE<\/strong>
The Buccaneers and Eagles will meet within the postseason for the sixth time on Monday evening in Tampa, and the way the house staff handles Philadelphia’s proficient offensive and defensive fronts would be the key
The Bucs end the common season with a recreation in Charlotte Sunday that can decide whether or not or not they’re nonetheless taking part in subsequent weekend, in opposition to a Panthers staff that took them right down to the wire in Week 13
The Buccaneers will attempt to get a season sweep in opposition to their division rivals on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, and within the course of lock up a playoff spot for the fourth 12 months in a row
Raymond James Stadium will probably be dwelling to a conflict between two Florida groups in first place of their division however scratching and clawing to take care of their spot within the playoff hunt
Working below a playoff mode mentality, the Buccaneers head to Lambeau Subject on a two-game profitable streak and must cope with younger quarterback Jordan Love and a proficient Inexperienced Bay defensive entrance
The Bucs head to Atlanta for a recreation that’s essential to their division title hopes, they usually’ll face a Falcons staff that ranks sixth in dashing on offense and seventh in scoring on protection\u2026Damage updates, sequence historical past, statistical leaders and extra
The Bucs will attempt to climb again into the NFC South title race with a recreation in opposition to a Carolina staff that has a brand new head coach, a promising rookie quarterback and a few reinforcements on the way in which\u2026Damage updates, sequence historical past, statistical leaders and extra
The Bucs are hoping to begin a profitable playoff stretch drive in Week 12 however most cope with a high-scoring Colts offense and a protection good at taking the ball away\u2026Damage updates, sequence historical past, statistical leaders and extra
After each groups snapped shedding streaks with spectacular wins in Week 10, the Buccaneers and 49ers will meet in California on Sunday because the Tampa Bay protection tries to include a well-rounded San Francisco assault
As they search to snap a shedding streak and get again within the thick of the NFC South race, the Buccaneers will face one other spectacular rookie quarterback because the Titans flip to Will Levis to paved the way
The Bucs face heady rookie QB C.J. Stroud and a rising Texans squad on Sunday as they try to get a quicker begin on offense and finish a three-game skid
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was mic’d up for the Wild Card Spherical showdown in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles. Hear from the beginning quarterback as he leads the Bucs to the Divisional Spherical throughout their dominant 32-9 win.
A have a look at Friday’s damage report forward of the Divisional Spherical matchup
The Buccaneers will tackle the Lions in a Divisional Spherical showdown on Sunday. Right here is tips on how to view the motion
The Buccaneers will head to Motown to tackle the Lions within the Divisional Spherical of playoffs. Listed here are 5 gamers to look at
For the divisional spherical, the Bucs’ redemption tour rolls into Detroit, the place they may face a deep group of offensive weapons, a particularly fired-up crowd and one other stiff check for the perimeters of the O-Line
Head Coach Todd Bowles spoke to the media following Friday’s Divisional Spherical observe. HC Bowles mentioned the well being of gamers heading into Detroit and the way necessary it’s to handle yards-after-catch.
Maintain knowledgeable with our day by day updates: Information, notes and extra in January 2024
Get a behind-the-scenes have a look at the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wild Card Spherical matchup the place the Bucs despatched the Eagles packing in electrical style.
View photos from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Divisional Spherical observe on 01\/19\/2024
Crew Reporter Casey Phillips and Workers Author\/Reporter Brianna Dix dive into the Wild Card win in opposition to the Eagles, potential matchups vs. Detroit within the Divisional Spherical and tips on how to transfer on to the NFC Convention Championship.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield spoke to the media following Wednesday’s Divisional Spherical observe. QB Mayfield mentioned being proud of the win however having ‘greater targets’, trusting within the scheme and the staff’s mindset forward of their recreation in opposition to the Detroit Lions.
This week, Buccaneers followers have questions on Baker Mayfield’s future, probably good matchups within the Detroit recreation, related groups from the Bucs’ previous and extra
A have a look at Thursday’s damage report forward of the Divisional Spherical matchup\u00a0
Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales spoke to the media following Thursday’s Divisional Spherical observe. OC Canales mentioned anticipating a bodily playoff recreation in opposition to Detroit, discovering the spots to take huge photographs and the way the staff has ‘completed’ all 12 months
Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey wakes up with “GMFB” and discusses his first playoff expertise and previews divisional spherical matchup vs. the Detroit Lions.
The Buccaneers head to Detroit within the Divisional Spherical of the playoffs to face a high-powered Lions staff in yet one more postseason rematch\u2026Crew leaders, sequence historical past, roster notes and extra
QB Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have thrived on defying expectations in 2023, and a playoff recreation in opposition to a well-liked Lions staff in a raucous atmosphere offers them one other shot at doing simply that
First-year gamers Calijah Kancey and Trey Palmer set the tone in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles within the Wild Card matchup
A have a look at the Lions’ prime playmakers who may impression the end result of Sunday’s Divisional Spherical showdown
Crew Reporter Casey Phillips and Senior Author & Editor Scott Smith speak about all the newest Bucs information on this week’s version of Bucs Insider. The duo discusses the Bucs dominating Wild Card efficiency vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, what to anticipate within the upcoming matchup vs. Detroit and the Bucs planning a ‘redemption tour’ for the 2023-2024 NFL Playoffs.
© TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED <\/p>\n