BUCS VS. LIONS
Sunday, 3 p.m., NBC RECORDS: Bucs 10-8, Lions 13-5
LINE: Lions by 6½
SERIES: Lions, 32-29
LAST MEETING: Lions, 20-6, Oct. 15 BUCCANEERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (32), PASS (17), SCORING (20).
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (5), PASS (29), SCORING (7)
LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (5), PASS
(2), SCORING (5).
LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (2), PASS (27), SCORING (23).
TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Buccaneers plus-8;
Lions even.
KEY MATCHUP: Detroit’s running game against Tampa Bay’s defense. Lions are looking forward to playing Bucs with RBs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs after the veteran was hurt in the second quarter and the rookie missed the game with an injury three months ago. The duo, running behind a strong offensive line, has helped Detroit flourish on the ground with 135.9yards rushing per game. Bucs have been one of the league’s best against the run, giving up just 95.3yards per game.
KEY INJURIES: Bucs are as healthy as they’ve been all season, although QB Baker Mayfield has sore ribs and played through an ankle injury the past two games . ... Lions LB Alex Anzalone was limited in practice after playing with shoulder and rib injuries last week . ... Punt returner and receiver Kalif Raymond may miss a second straight game with a knee injury.
ETC.: Bucs are only team in NFC that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons. They’ve won six postseason games since 2020, trailing only Kansas City’s eight. … Mayfield, who’s with his fourth team in six seasons, is 2-1in three playoff starts. He’s one of three QBs — along with Jordan Love and Brock Purdy — who had 15or more TD passes on the road this season. … WR Mike Evans had 10receptions for 181yards and two TDs the previous time he faced the Lions at Ford Field late in 2020 . ... Evans is only player to begin a career with 10consecutive seasons with 1,000yards-plus receiving. He had 79catches for 1,255yards and tied for the league lead with 13TD receptions this season. … Bucs lead NFL with 16takeaways over the past four postseasons . ... Lions are coming off first playoff win in 32years, ending an NFL-record, nine-game postseason losing streak . ... Detroit is hosting two playoff games in a season for first time, hoping to earn two postseason victories for the first time since winning 1957NFL title . ... Amon-Ra St. Brown has had 100yards receiving or more in 10games, including playoffs, to lead NFL . ... Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta have combined for 23 scrimmage TDs, including the playoffs, for highest total by a pair of rookies on a team since the 1970 merger . ... LaPorta has 11TDs and only Mike Ditka, who scored 12times in 1961, had more TDs as a rookie TE in NFL history . ... WR Josh Reynolds became first Lion with at least 75yards receiving in the first quarter of a postseason game against his former team last week . ... DE Aidan Hutchinson has a chance to join another former Michigan star, LaMarr Woodley, as the two players to have at least a pair of sacks in their first two playoff games since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.