The Detroit Lions are coming into this marquee matchup with the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers off a win over the Carolina Panthers, a game that the Lions dominated from the opening whistle to the final whistle. While the Bucs are coming in off their Bye Week, in their last game, they beat the New Orleans Saints 26-9 in Week Four.
Detroit Lions 4-1 (1st Place in NFC North) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-1 (1st Place in NFC South)
Date: Sunday, October 15
Time: 4:20 p.m. EST
TV Channel: FOX
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Line: Lions -3 / O/U: 43.5
2023 Season Stats
Detroit:
2023 Offense (League Rank) —
Total Yards: 1922 (5)
Passing Yards: 1217 (8)
Rushing Yards: 705 (6)
2023 Defense (per game averages) —
Total Yards Allowed: 1464 (7)
Passing Yards Allowed: 1122 (18)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 342 (4)
2023 Cumulative Points Scored: 148 (4)
2023 Cumulative Points Allowed: 107 (17)
Tampa Bay:
2023 Offense (per game averages) —
Total Yards: 1206 (32)
Passing Yards: 858 (28)
Rushing Yards: 348 (32)
2023 Defense (per game averages) —
Total Yards Allowed: 1274 (2)
Passing Yards Allowed: 895 (4)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 379 (6)
2023 Cumulative Points Scored: 84 (25)
2023 Cumulative Points Allowed: 68 (3)
Series History/All-Time Records
All-time head-to-head record: Detroit Leads 31-29-0
Current streak: Tampa Bay has won two straight
Last Detroit win: 2017 (24-21)
Last Tampa Bay win: 2020 (47-7)
2023 Top Players
Detroit Lions
Passing: Jared Goff – 111-159, 1265 yards, 9-3 (TD-INT)
Rushing: David Montgomery – 88 ATT, 371 YDS, 6 TD
Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown – 26 REC, 331 YDS, 2 TD
Tackles: Alex Anzalone – 35 (24-11)
Sacks: Aidan Hutchinson – 4.5
Interceptions: Jerry Jacobs – 3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Passing: Baker Mayfield – 87-125, 882 YDS, 7-2 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Rachaad White – 63 ATT, 206 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving: Mike Evans – 20 REC, 337 YDS, 3 TD
Tackles: Antoine Winfield Jr. – 31 (17-14)
Sacks: Vita Vea – 3.5
Interceptions: Christian Izien & Dee Delaney – 2
Lions Players To Watch:
Offense: Running Back – David Montgomery
Montgomery has been the primary ball carrier to start the year, and Jahmyr Gibbs has not been practicing due to a hamstring issue. The Buccaneers’ rush defense ranks sixth in the NFL; Montgomery averages 74.2 yards a game, while the Tampa Bay defense averages to allow 94.75 yards a game. The Lions will need Montgomery to have a big day behind one of the best offensive lines in football to help propel them to victory.
Defense: Defensive Back – Jerry Jacobs
The Buccaneers are loaded at wide receiver with two of the best in Mike Evans (if he plays) and Chris Godwin; Jacobs will be covering one of them. His main concern in this game is to worry about the deep ball as Baker Mayfield is known to like to air it out, so Jacobs will need to be prepared for that and not commit any pass interference penalties and look to either intercept or break up the play and now allow the Tampa Bay offense to get a big play.
Bottom Line: Detroit Lions look to pick up fifth win of 2023
The Detroit Lions have gotten off to a great start, but the next four weeks will be tough starting this week as they play the Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, the Bye Week, and then the Los Angeles Chargers. If they can come out of that 3-1, they will be in great shape for the rest of the season. These four games will be the ultimate test of how good this Lions team is.
