Following a 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions return home to Ford Field to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. Tampa Bay currently leads the NFC with a 5-1 record, while Detroit sits at 4-2, tied with four other NFC teams.
Last week: The Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 30-19, holding them to just a field goal in the second half.
History: The two teams have met 63 times with Detroit leading the all-time series 33-30.
In their most recent matchup Week 2 of the 2024 season, Tampa Bay came away with a 20-16 win in a back-and-forth game that saw neither team scoring in the fourth quarter.
Storyline to watch: Both teams are dealing with injuries on opposite sides of the ball, which should make for an interesting matchup.
The Buccaneers may be without their top receivers Monday night as Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans are listed as questionable and Chris Godwin Jr. and running back Bucky Irving as out.
The Lions are short in the secondary with Terrion Arnold, Kerby Joseph and Avonte Maddox out, Brian Branch serving a one game suspension, and five on injured reserve.
Tampa Bay's possessions will be the matchups to watch with both teams missing key players.
Next up:
- The Lions have a Week 8 bye.
- The Buccaneers travel to the Caesars Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, October 26 at 4:05 p.m.
View photos of the starters for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Head Coach: Todd Bowles
Offensive Coordinator: Josh Grizzard
Special Teams Coordinator: Thomas McGaughey
(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
WR Mike Evans
Backed up by Ryan Miller
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
WR Chris Godwin Jr.
Backed up by Sterling Shepard and Kameron Johnson
(AP Photo/Logan Bowles)
LT Tristan Wirfs
Backed up by Benjamin Chukwuma
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
LG Ben Bredeson
Backed up by Luke Haggard
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
C Graham Barton
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
RG Elijah Klein
Backed up by Dan Feeney
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
RT Charlie Heck
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
WR Emeka Egbuka
Backed up by Tez Johnson
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
TE Cade Otton
Backed up by Payne Durham and Devin Culp
(AP Photo/Kevin Ng)
QB Baker Mayfield
Backed up by Teddy Bridgewater
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
RB Bucky Irving
Backed up by Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Josh Williams
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
DL Greg Gaines
Backed up by C.J. Brewer
(AP Photo/Logan Bowles)
NT Vita Vea
Backed up by Elijah Simmons
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
DL Logan Hall
Backed up by Elijah Roberts
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
OLB Yaya Diaby
Backed up by Chris Braswell and Markees Watts
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
ILB SirVocea Dennis
Backed up by John Bullock
(AP Photo/Joe Robbins)
ILB Lavonte David
Backed up by Deion Jones
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
OLB Haason Reddick
Backed up by Anthony Nelson
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
CB Jamel Dean
Backed up by Benjamin Morrison and Kindle Vildor
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
CB Zyon McCollum
Backed up by Jacob Parrish and Josh Hayes
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
Backed up by Christian Izien and Sebastian Castro
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
S Tykee Smith
Backed up by Kaevon Merriweather
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
P/H Riley Dixon
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
PK/KO Chase McLaughlin
(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
LS Evan Deckers
(AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
PR Kameron Johnson
Backed by Tez Johnson, Emeka Egbuka and Rachaad White
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
KR Sean Tucker
Backed up by Josh Williams and Emeka Egbuka
(AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
KR Kameron Johnson
Backed up by Rachaad White and Tez Johnson
(AP Photo/Logan Bowles)
Here are five Buccaneers storylines to follow into Monday's matchup:
1. Egbuka will be game-time decision Monday night
Tampa Bay provides injury updates ahead of Monday Night Football at Ford Field. READ MORE.
2. 5 Bucs to watch against the Lions in Week 7
The Buccaneers will travel to Motor City to take on the Lions in Week 7. Here are five players to observe. READ MORE.
3. Mayfield building his case of MVP
Team reporter Casey Phillips, senior writer/editor Scott Smith and staff writer/reporter Brianna Dix talk about all the latest Bucs news in this week's edition of Bucs Insider. WATCH.
4. Red zone defense could be the key in Detroit
The Bucs and Lions will put on a prime-time show on Monday night at Ford Field, in a game pitting two teams that avoid turnovers and score a lot of points, with Detroit particularly thriving inside their opponents' 20-yard line. READ MORE.
5. Mayfield: Leadership is about instilling confidence in teammates
The leadership that QB Baker Mayfield has shown for the Buccaneers' young and untested players is a big part of the reason why they have been able to succeed when injuries thrust them into key roles. READ MORE.
