The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to go to Detroit to face the Lions Sunday,, another team this squad lost to early in the regular season.
“Any given Sunday,” all that mumbo jumbo, but the Bucs are facing a very uphill battle against a team coming off this first playoff victory decades.
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The Lions feature a dynamic offense that is much different than the skeleton crew Philadelphia ran out there; Detroit receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the best slot guys in the NFL, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is looking like an absolute steal out of the second round, and the dynamic duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs at the running back position is going to cause the Bucs some huge problems.
Add in an elite game manager in Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and one of the best o-lines in football, and the Bucs could be in for a shootout.
Detroit’s defense does need some work, with a secondary that can be lit up at any time (sixth most passing yards given up in the league), but the rush defense is one of the best in football. Tampa Bay will have to rely on Baker and the receivers to be their best selves Sunday, otherwise things could get ugly quick.
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I think these Buccaneers will rise to the occasion to make it a game, but unfortunately I’ve got the Bucs falling in a close battle, losing 24-21 on the road.
Don’t let that dampen their season if it comes to fruition; this has been a really fun team to watch, with a surprising amount of young talent, some decent cap space, all of their draft picks, and a possible franchise QB in Baker Mayfield, who became the only Bucs quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards and three tuddys in a playoff game last Monday (take that, Tom).
The Buccaneers’ future is a lot brighter than it looked at the beginning of the year.
With the Cowboys continuing their amazing tradition of blowing it in the playoffs, this padt weekend couldn’t have gone any better.
Fire those cannons.
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This article originally appeared on CLTAMPA.COM and is used with permission.
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Sunday the Buccaneers face a hungry Lions team with a passionate base that includes Eminem
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