NFL Preview & Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions
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| NFL Preview & Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions - Photo: The Streamable |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a position to lock up a playoff spot on Saturday, should they pull off a road win against the Detroit Lions. You'd think it will come easy - for the first time this season, we're going to see an NFL team without its head coach due to COVID-19 concerns, as cited by Sports Illustrated-AllBucs. And not only will Detroit be without its interim HC in Darrell Bevell, but plenty of other assistant coaches as well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions Broadcast
Date: Saturday, December 26
Game Time: 1:00 pm ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Network: NFL
Watch 2020 Week 16 Trailer | Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers below:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) vs Detroit Lions (5-9) Game Preview
Why Detroit Lions Will Win
The Tampa Bay secondary has struggled in a big way over the last several games. The one time it didn’t was when Minnesota spent the game two weeks ago running on the Bucs for the most yards they gave up all year on the ground, as cited by College Football News.
In the other three games in the last four, Tampa Bay was hit for well over 300 yards. Playing Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff had something to do with that, and then Matt Ryan went off last week.
The Detroit passing game has a few issues and concerns – to put it mildly – but the O has hit 240 passing yards or more in eight of the last nine games.
Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win
Detroit has hit a wall.
It was bad before, and now Matthew Stafford is questionable at best, interim head coach Darrell Bevell is out, and the team continues to have defensive issues. How bad have things been? The NFL’s worst scoring defence has allowed 30 points or more in each of the last four games.
Tampa Bay can’t do too much manoeuvring in the playoff chase, but a win makes the 5 seed possible. As long as Tom Brady and the passing game stay hot – not a problem against this Detroit secondary – this should be a breeze.
Fantasy Football Player To Watch
WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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| Photo: The Spun |
Can Godwin finally break out? He’s way, way, way overdue for a big game with just four touchdown catches and no 100-yard days on the year. Mike Evans has been a force, Antonio Brown caught a big touchdown last week, and Rob Gronkowski has been a bigger part of the puzzle. If you’re ever going to play Godwin, this would be the week against this Detroit D.
What’s Going To Happen
Detroit is going to be plucky. It’s fighting, it’s been a different-energy team since Matt Patricia was fired, and … It’s been awful.
The defence is struggling way too much, the offence shouldn’t be able to keep up if Tampa Bay gets off to a decent start, and the Bucs and Brady should stay hot.
Lions vs. Buccaneers: Line PredictionsThe Lions may make things interesting at first, but Tampa's talent will win out. The Bucs will take care of business in this one even if they put together another slow start, CBS Sports. A close game at halftime becomes a rout late as the visitors enjoy their post-Christmas stop in the Motor City by clinching their first playoff berth since the 2007 season. Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Lions 13 |
