The Detroit Lions (5-9) head back to their stomping grounds quite short-handed to face off against a dangerous Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) group. The Bucs are looking to end their 13-year playoff drought by clinching a playoff spot with a win in this game.
It was almost this time last year these two teams faced off, resulting in a 38-17 Bucs victory, during the time the Lions were missing Matthew Stafford and relying on David Blough to lead the charge. Fortunately, the Lions will have Stafford this year even though he is banged up. The significant change for the Bucs this year: they are lead by Tom Brady instead of Jamies Winston.
This past week has not been kind to the Lions in the slightest. After getting embarrassed by the Titans in a 46-25 loss, the coaching staff has taken a massive hit. After going rogue on last week’s fake punt, former special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs was let go.
Then, due to a positive COVID-19 incident, the Lions will be without interim head coach Darrell Bevell and wide receivers coach Robert Prince will be tasked with running the team this week. On top of that, most of the defensive coaches, including defensive coordinator Cory Undlin will be absent from the contest leaving the defensive play-calling to head coach assistant/research & analysis, Evan Rothstein.
With many of these coaches thrust into these roles for the first time and facing a high-octane Bucs team led by Bruce Arians and Brady, the light isn’t shining too brightly for the Lions this week.
According to NFL Pickwatch, 95-percent of experts are siding with the Bucs, who are coming off back-to-back wins, beating the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 and a comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.
With so many of the Lions play-callers out for this game, the Lions petitioned the NFL to flex the game back to Sunday, but they were ultimately denied leaving a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.
Now it probably wouldn’t have matter in the long run, considering the Lions looked out-matched, to begin with, but rolling with the inexperienced coaching staff, this game might be worse than we may have anticipated and might be over before it starts.