The Lions travel to Tampa Bay on Sunday to take on the 3-1 Buccaneers. Sunday's contest will have Detroit looking to remain perfect on the road to start the season.
Last time out: Detroit took care of business against a winless Carolina Panthers team in Week 5. Three takeaways in the first half put the Lions in front early, cruising to a 42-24 victory. Aidan Hutchinson and Jerry Jacobs both picked off Bryce Young and Will Harris recovered a fumble forced by Alim McNeill.
Jared Goff and the offense capitalized on all three Panthers turnovers for 21 points. With Amon-Ra St. Brown out, Josh Reynolds stepped up, notching 76 yards on 4 catches and a touchdown. David Montgomery and Sam LaPorta remained steady contributors as well. Montgomery ran in a touchdown and recorded over 100 yards again, while LaPorta added 47 yards and two touchdowns.
Tampa Bay's Week 4 win (26-9) over New Orleans was the last time Tampa Bay was in action as they had an early bye last week. The Buccaneers were stout defensively. They forced two fumbles and an interception, and allowed just 70 yards rushing, while keeping the Saints out of the end zone.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield had his best performance of the season with three touchdowns, 246 yards, a 78.1 percent completion rate and a 116.9 passer rating. Mayfield was also a threat with his legs, running for 31 yards on eight attempts. Chris Godwin was Mayfield's favorite target, going for 114 yards on eight catches.
View photos of the starters for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Head Coach Todd Bowles
Offensive Coordinator: Dave Canales
Co-Defensive Coordinators: Kacy Rodgers and Larry Foote
Special Team Coordinator: Keith Armstrong
(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
WR Mike Evans
Backed up by Trey Palmer and Rakim Jarrett
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
WR Chris Godwin
Backed up by Deven Thompkins
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
T Tristan Wirfs
Backed up by Justin Skule
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
G Matt Feiler
Backed up by Aaron Stinnie
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
C Robert Hainsey
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
G Cody Mauch
Backed up by Nick Leverett
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
T Luke Goedeke
Backed up by Brandon Walton
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
TE Cade Otton
Backed up by David Wells
(AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
TE Ko Kieft
Backed up by Payne Durham
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
QB Baker Mayfield
Backed up by Kyle Trask
(AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
RB Rachaad White
Backed up by Sean Tucker and Ke'Shawn Vaughn
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
DL Calijah Kancey
Backed up by Mike Greene
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
NT Vita Vea
Backed up by Greg Gaines
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
DL Logan Hall
Backed up by William Gholston and Patrick O'Connor
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Backed up by Yaya Diaby and Markees Watts
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
ILB Devin White
Backed up by K.J. Britt
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
ILB Lavonte David
Backed up by SirVocea Dennis
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
OLB Shaquil Barrett
Backed up by Anthony Nelson and Cam Gill
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
CB Jamel Dean
Backed up by Zyon McCollum and Dereck Pitts
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
CB Carlton Davis III
Backed up by Dee Delaney and Josh Hayes
(AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
Backed up by Kaevon Merriweather
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
S Ryan Neal
Backed up by Christian Izien
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
P/H Jake Camarda
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
K Chase McLaughlin
(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
LS Zach Triner
(AP Photo/Alex Menendez)
PR/KR Deven Thompkins
Backed up by Trey Palmer and Rachaad White
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Comparison: The Lions and Buccaneers don't share any like opponents but have played a very similar strength of schedule. Tampa Bay opponents have a combined record of 10-10 and Detroit opponents have a combined record of 13-12.
Matchups: Goff and the Lions' pass game will have their hands full on Sunday. The Buccaneers are top five in the NFL with six interceptions. Goff had gone 383 passes without an interception dating back to last season but has thrown three interceptions in the last four games. Opponents are also averaging just 6.5 yards per catch and have reached the end zone only four times through the air against the Bucs' defense. St. Brown returning to a Lions passing game that ranks top 10 in yards per game should make this a key matchup.
In their last meeting: Tampa Bay won, 47-7, at Ford Field. Tom Brady had four touchdowns while the Lions played with backup quarterbacks Chase Daniel and David Blough after Matthew Stafford got hurt on the first drive.
The overall series: The Lions hold a slight 31-29 edge over Tampa Bay. The two are an even 3-3 in their last six.
Matchup Odds: ESPN Analytics favors Detroit with a 55 percent chance to win.
Here are 5 Buccaneers storylines to follow heading into Sunday's matchup:
1. Baker Mayfield: Bucs allow me to be best version of myself
Former first-overall pick Baker Mayfield seems to have found the right situation with the Buccaneers after bouncing around last season ... READ MORE
2. Todd Bowles looks ahead to Lions vs. Bucs, 'Take care of business' | Press Conference
Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles speaks to media on how they are preparing to slow down the Lions offense ... WATCH
3. Creamsicle is Here, Division Leaders Prepare for Battle | Bucs Insider
Catch up on all the Bucs news with team reporter Casey Phillips and senior writer & editor Scott Smith … WATCH
4. Antoine Winfield Jr., Chris Godwin Among Bucs' 2023 Captains
The Bucs just recently named their captains for 2023 after deciding to wait a few weeks into the season … READ MORE
5. Baker Mayfield on Being Named Captain, Focusing on Lions | Press Conference
Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield discusses his competitive mentality, being named a captain, and the challenge the Lions present … WATCH
