(Photo: NBC Sports) 

NFC Game Of The Week

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions

Buccaneers (5-1):

It’s time to start taking them seriously. I have several words I could use to describe this football team, and I’m willing to share the list if you’re willing to follow along: grit, toughness, moxie, swagger—and now, I can add patience to the mix. I actually chuckled the other day when I saw their Twitter page after their win—they shared a photo that said, “Our first victory formation of the season.” While it made me laugh, it was also a true statement. They’ve escaped many of their games by the skin of their teeth, but on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, they handled their business and won by double digits for the first time all season. It may be early to say this, but this has been the best team I’ve seen in the NFC up to this point. I knew they’d be the favorite to win the NFC South and be a good football team again, but to get off to this kind of start and have people talking the way they have? They’ve been remarkable, and I like what I’ve seen from them. Todd Bowles continues to shine and lets his players be themselves. But where would the Buccaneers be without Baker Mayfield at this point? Even without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, you can throw just about anyone out there with him and he’ll get the job done. He’s gone from the inconsistent quarterback we saw in Cleveland to a player who now lets the game come to him—the game has slowed down for him. He’d get my vote for league MVP if I had to cast one today. This Monday night, the Bucs take their show on the road against a team they’ve come to know well over the past few years.

Lions (4-2):

Entering Week 6, they were one of the hottest teams in the league. I even mentioned that the Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers felt distant and long ago. People can argue that they only dominate bad teams all they want, but at the end of the day, I look at it this way: you play who’s in front of you, and wins are wins which are hard to come across in our league. However, Sunday night in Kansas City was the worst I’ve seen them look since that Week 1 loss to Green Bay—and even they know it. I’ve seen my fair share of this team over the last few years, and when they’re clicking on all cylinders, they’re a tough out. When the ground attack with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery gets going, it opens up everything else. But I have to give the Chiefs defense credit—that was their best performance of the year, and they did a great job keeping the Lions offense contained. This team’s identity is rooted in running the football and winning the battle in the trenches. But that wasn’t the case Sunday night at Arrowhead. I also want to address the Brian Branch incident while I’m here. I understand that football is emotional and tempers can flare, but he can’t do what he did to JuJu Smith-Schuster after the game. One, it makes you look like a sore loser, and two, you had 60 minutes to handle your business on the field—and you didn’t. The Lions will look to bounce back Monday night against a quality Bucs team.

Buccaneers X-Factor: Rachaad White

I really like what Rachaad brings to the table for this Tampa Bay offense. He can impact the game as both a runner and a receiver, especially in check down situations for Baker. The Lions are stout against the run, but in this game, I think Rachaad can be impactful in the passing attack. If he can create chunk plays in the flat or on angle routes, it will keep the Detroit linebackers honest and help neutralize Aidan Hutchinson from consistently pressuring Baker.

Lions X-Factor: Amon-Ra St. Brown

He’s one of the best wide receivers in the league. Every time I watch him, I’m reminded of Hines Ward—though Amon-Ra is the better pure receiver, they share that tenacity, especially as blockers. Amon-Ra is the heartbeat of the Lions offense, and he’ll be key Monday night against a blitz-heavy Bucs team. Todd Bowles loves dialing up exotic pressures to force quick decisions, and this is where Amon-Ra thrives. If he consistently wins underneath and moves the chains, he’ll be a problem for Tampa’s defense.

Final Thoughts:

These teams have seen a lot of each other recently. They met in Tampa in 2023 and again in the playoffs that season—both games won by the Lions. Last season, they met in Week 2, and the Bucs got their revenge in a close 20–16 win. Now, we get a Monday night battle under the lights. The NFC has been fun to watch this year with the Eagles, Packers, Rams, Seahawks—and now, these two teams in the mix. Keys for Tampa: Keep Baker Mayfield protected at all costs. This Lions defensive front thrives on collapsing the pocket,  the Bucs offensive line must keep Baker clean—if he’s scrambling early, it will throw off the rhythm, get positive gains on 1st and 2nd downs. Detroit is elite at forcing 3rd-and-long situations & contain Jahmyr Gibbs—his speed can break Tampa’s defensive structure. Keys for Detroit: Get the ball out quickly to slow down Tampa’s aggressive front. If the ball’s already gone, the blitz can’t hit home, stay balanced on offense, even if Tampa crowds the box. Don’t abandon the run game & control the middle of the field. Tampa loves crossers and in-breaking routes—those need to be limited. This is a great way to end Week 7, and I think we’re in for a thriller.I like the Lions to bounce back in this one.

Prediction:

Lions 34, Buccaneers 30