The Detroit Lions made a strong comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional playoffs, securing a 31-23 victory and advancing to the NFC Championship.
The Lions were head to head with the Bucs for most of the game, ending the first, second, and third quarters with tied scores. It was in the fourth quarter that rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs stood out and propelled the Lions to break free. Gibbs ended up contributing 74 rushing yards on nine carries and added 40 receiving yards on four catches.
Second-year edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who secured eight sacks in his past four games including the win against Tampa Bay, gave a solid performance on the defensive front. The Lions' defense recorded three sacks in the game, marking the fourth time they achieved that figure in a playoff game since official team sacks were recorded in 1963.
Meanwhile, quarterback Jared Goff went 30-for-43 for 287 yards, and threw two touchdown passes, marking the first time he threw multiple touchdown passes in a playoff game throughout his career.
The Lions are set to play against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Coach Dan Campbell expressed his belief in the team's potential.
I envisioned that we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that's where we're at
Dan Campbell, Head Coach of Detroit Lions
However, a significant concern for the Lions was their secondary, as Tampa Bay's Mike Evans exploited it with eight catches for 147 yards, contributing to the Buccaneers' 349 passing yards. This vulnerability in covering talented receivers is a consistent challenge for the Lions, as seen in their wild-card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Additionally, Detroit also lost several players in the game like left guard Jonah Jackson, sidelined in the first half due to a knee injury, and tight end Brock Wright, who suffered a broken forearm in the second half. Both players’ return in the upcoming game remains questionable.
Buccaneers’ performance
On the other side of the field, the Bucs’ saw its downturn in the fourth quarter wherein the team conceded two touchdowns.
“We fought,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “Anything short of the Super Bowl is a disappointment. We didn’t come in to make noise. We came in to get to the Super Bowl. So from that standpoint, it’s a disappointment.”
The Bucs, however, defied expectations after a mid-season slump, finishing with a 10-9 record and securing the NFC South title for the third consecutive season.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield's interception on the final drive sealed the victory for Detroit, concluding the Bucs' "revenge tour." Mayfield's performance included completing 26 of 41 passes for 349 yards and with three touchdowns. His two intercepted throws, however, remain a factor in the team’s defeat.
Mayfield expressed his regret, saying that football is both a complex and straightforward sport. “Just a bad, bad mistake by me, and it sucks because I know what type of group we’ve had all year and that we fought to get to this point,” he said.
A NextGen stat highlighted that Mayfield faced his two fastest sacks of the season during the game, coming from Hutchinson and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Detroit offensive lineman Taylor Decker also praised the Bucs’ performance. He described them as "a great group, especially against the run." Decker said the team had to "soften a little with the pass" to outplay the Bucs, signifying the opponents' defense capability.