Through The Spyglass: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have earned a spot in the Divisional round of the playoffs and will face off against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The two teams met prior in the season in Week 6 with the Lions emerging victorious in a 20-6 win. The Bucs are on a "revenge tour" after stomping out the Eagles in the Super Wild Card round and are looking to avenge their early season loss with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line.
In this weekly article, BucsGameday will preview the upcoming opponent. We’ll break down their prior season, the moves they’ve made this year, and the top players to watch on the offense and defense to give you insight into what to expect on game day.
Matchup History
Former NFC Central division rivals, the Lions and Bucs have played 61 games against each other since 1977. Detroit holds the slight edge against Tampa Bay with 32 wins to 29 losses. The last two times these teams met before this season, the Buccaneers won convincingly, including a 47-7 victory in 2020. However, the Bucs win streak was short-lived with a 20-6 loss in Week 6 of this season.
Looking Back At 2022
The Lions have been on an upswing since the hiring of head coach Dan Campbell in 2021. The former Saints assistant head coach has brought a tough-as-nails culture to Detroit with his players buying in. Last season the Lions finished second in the NFC North with a 9-8 record. Though the building blocks were set in place by Campbell to build a contender after a 7-2 finish to end the season.
What’s New In 2023
Armed with two first-round picks, The team made several moves in the draft to land four players who have made an immediate impact. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has brought his game to the next level and edge Aidan Hutchinson has been a top pass rusher in the league. The Lions are the media darlings of 2023. They are an aggressive well-coached team trying to claim the top spot in an Aaron Rodgersless NFC North.
Top Players On Offense
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
St. Brown has developed into one of the game's brightest young receivers. Brown finished the regular season with 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. He works primarily out of the slot for the Lions but they like to use him everywhere. St. Brown was named a first-team All-Pro at wide receiver this season.
QB Jared Goff
Goff has turned his career around with the Lions. Once thought of as a throw-in on the trade that netted them two first-round picks, he has made his case as one of the better quarterbacks in the league. Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense fits him like a glove. He’s limited his turnover and maximized his efficiency in Detroit.
OT Penei Sewell
Swell took a step further this season and was named a first-team All-Pro at right tackle. He is quickly establishing himself as one of the premiere right tackles in the NFL. Sewell is the tone-setter for the Lions offensive line and is efficient as a run blocker and pass blocker.
Top Players On Defense
DE Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson was a force this season with 11.5 sacks. He had 14 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, a recovery, and an interception. He’s quick, powerful, and has an array of pass-rush moves to beat teams with. Hutchinson's bread and butter is a nasty spin move he can deploy at any time. Hutchinson wreaks havoc on all three downs for the Lons.
S Brian Branch
The Lions use Branch in a variety of roles all over the field. He can cover the slot or play safety and is a sure tackler. Branch is always around the football and had a pick-six off of Patrick Mahomes in his first career game under his belt.
DT Alim McNeil
After a rough start to his career, McNeil has come on this season. He is the anchor in the middle and is a big reason behind the Lions' number two defense against the run. Not just a great run stuffer he can also get pressure on the quarterback and had a career-high five sacks this year.
Final Thoughts
The Lions are red hot right now and have the luxury of a home playoff game. In Week 6 they were without several of their top offensive players as running back Jahmyr Gibbs and guard Johan Jackson were out. Running back David Montgomery left early with an injury and they were also without defensive back Brian Branch as well.
Ford Field will be rocking after recording the fourth loudest crowd in NFL history last week and the Bucs will need to leave it all out on the field if they're going to upset the Lions.
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage, news, and analysis throughout the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2023 season.
