The Buccaneers’ season comes to an end, coming up short against the Lions 23-31. Entering the game as underdogs, the Bucs went blow for blow with Detroit for much of the game, but down the stretch, the Lions’ offensive weapons were simply too much for Tampa Bay to overcome.
On both sides of the ball, the Bucs played admirably but made too many mistakes to overcome a talented and disciplined Lions squad. Baker Mayfield threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns but also threw two interceptions. He also took four sacks, most by unblocked rushers. On defense, the Bucs pass rush struggled to pressure Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns while taking just two sacks.
The Bucs began the game with an ideal sequence, forcing a three-and-out from the Lions offense. Their fortunes turned on their first offensive drive when a Baker Mayfield pass bounced off Mike Evans and landed in the hands of Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who took the ball to Tampa Bay’s 41-yard line.
Though the Lions pushed all the way to the Bucs’ 3-yard line, Tampa Bay’s red zone defense held with Jamel Dean nearly picking Jared Goff. Detroit settled for a field goal.
The offense looked to pick up the slack on their next drive, but a nickel blitz by Brian Branch caught Baker Mayfield for a nine-yard sack. The lost yards forced the Bucs to settle for a field goal of their own.
The Lions finally broke through on their next drive, scoring on a 14-play drive off a nine-yard Josh Reynolds touchdown catch. Down 10-3, the Bucs traded punts with the Lions before Chase McLaughlin missed a 50-yard field goal towards the end of the half.
With less than two minutes left in the half, Tampa Bay’s defense forced another Lions three-and-out, giving the offense one last shot at tying the game. Baker Mayfield made good on the opportunity, driving 92 yards and finding Cade Otton in the endzone. The half ended with teams tied 10-10.
Mayfield to Otton! @Buccaneers tie it up before the half.
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38BNYS pic.twitter.com/hzhTtcuhnO— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
The second half opened with a defensive battle with both teams gaining a total of 24 yards in three possessions. The Lions broke the offensive drought with a 29-yard catch and run by tight end Brock Wright, leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Craig Reynolds.
Tampa Bay were quick to respond with their own touchdown drive. A pair of big throws from Baker Mayfield to Cade Otton put the Bucs into scoring position. After just dodging a drive-killing sack, Baker Mayfield found Rachaad White on a 12-yard screen for the touchdown, tying the game 17-17.
BAKER TO WHITE. Bucs answer back to even the score.
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38BNYS pic.twitter.com/rpFyHbMv6H— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
The tie did not last long with the Bucs defense collapsing to start the fourth quarter. Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs ripped through the defense and juked Antoine Winfield Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown run. The Bucs followed with a three-and-out, giving Detroit the opportunity to take firm control of the game.
The Lions did just that on the next drive. When Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean went down with a back injury on the first play of the drive, Goff began picking on his replacement Zyon McCollum. The second-year corner first gave up a key third-and-15 conversion then a back-breaking nine-yard touchdown reception, both to Lions star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Down two touchdowns, the Bucs were not yet out. After struggling with drops, Mike Evans came alive, converting on 4th and 14 with a 24-yard catch and catching a 16-yard missile from Baker Mayfield in the endzone. Todd Bowles called for the two-point conversion, but the back shoulder fade to Evans was not successful.
Time winding down, the Bucs defense came up big one last time. After a Shaq Barrett sack was nullified by a hands-to-the-face penalty on Carlton Davis, Lavonte David made a key tackle for a loss on a David Montgomery screen. Jared Goff missed on third down, forcing the punt with two minutes left.
With the game on the line, Baker Mayfield went to work from Tampa Bay’s 10-yard line with just under two minutes left in regulation. On his second pass, Mayfield faced another nickel blitz from the Detroit defense and threw to a well-covered Cade Otton. Lions LB Derrick Barnes intercepted the pass, ending the game and Tampa Bay’s season.
Tampa Bay was competitive throughout the game, and absent some key mistakes on both sides of the ball, victory was not out of the question until late. Despite falling short in the divisional round, the Bucs clearly overachieved the broader preconceptions of the team before the season. With a strong playoff run, the Bucs should enter the offseason considered among the best teams in the NFL.
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