Up next: NFC-leading Buccaneers made major upgrades, but are hobbled, especially on offense, heading to Detroit
Allen Park — With how frequently the Detroit Lions have seen the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in recent years, we’re starting to get NFC Central vibes around these parts.
This will be the fourth meeting between the franchises since 2023, including a division round playoff game in 2024. Detroit won both games two years ago, including the postseason matchup, but dropped a tough home game in Week 2 last season, 20-16, after a dreadful 1-for-7 day in the red zone.
The Buccaneers, who have made the postseason five straight years, are rolling to start the current campaign. They’re 5-1 and hold the top spot in the NFC.
How different could the Buccaneers possibly be from the squad that came to town a year ago? As it turns out, considerably.
Offensively, everything continues to revolve around quarterback Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 pick who revitalized his career when he landed in Tampa Bay three years ago. Presently, he’s playing the best ball of his career, with 12 touchdowns to one interception, thrusting him to the forefront of early MVP chatter alongside two previous winners of the award, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Mayfield is thriving under first-year coordinator Josh Grizzard, the 35-year-old whiz kid who is the team’s fourth person to hold the role in the past four seasons after the previous two — Dave Canales and Liam Cohen — landed head-coaching jobs.
Tampa is sixth in scoring, averaging 27.5 points per game. That’s actually down a little from last year, but more impressive when you consider star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have missed a combined seven games, while running back Bucky Irvin, who amassed more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage as a rookie a year ago, has been out the past two.
That’s a credit to Mayfield, obviously, but the instant impact of rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka has been key. He has 469 yards and five touchdowns through six games.
But here’s the crazy thing: Mayfield might be without all of those weapons this week. Coach Todd Bowles has already ruled out Godwin and Irvin. Then, Egbuka suffered a hamstring strain last Sunday, and the early prognosis isn’t promising. Evans has the best chance of playing after missing the past three weeks, also with a hamstring strain, but things remain up in the air to begin the week.
The Buccaneers are facing the realistic prospect of Sterling Sheppard, Kameron Johnson, and seventh-round draft pick Tez Johnson as their top-three receiving options, with the capable but less dynamic Rachaad White heading the backfield rotation.
That’s a significant less potent arsenal.
It should make for a compelling matchup against a decimated Detroit secondary, which will be down starting cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and DJ Reed, top backup Avonte Maddox, and starting safety Brian Branch is suspended for the contest after starting a postgame skirmish in Kansas City with an open-handed smack of Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Hell, All-Pro Kerby Joseph might sit out, too, depending on whether the team wants to give him some extra time to rest a nagging knee injury.
These teams are taking the next man up concept too far. Way too far. It’s probably not what the league envisioned when it booked the sides for a primetime showdown. C’est la football.
Defensively, the Bucs also made some notable changes. They paid a hefty sum to upgrade their pass rush, parting with former and incredibly underwhelming first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in favor of Hasaan Reddick. The sacks are lacking, but Reddick has 25 pressures on the young season, more than Tryon-Shoyinka had last season.
In the second level, they replaced K.J. Britt by promoting two-year backup SirVocea Dennis to the starting lineup. He’s been solid against the run, but a liability in coverage.
Finally, in the secondary, third-round pick Jacob Parrish is seeing a ton of reps, splitting time between the slot and outside. Meanwhile, former Lion cornerback Kindle Vildor has also worked his way into the rotation, repping ahead of rookie Benjamin Morrison, who has been battling injury. Vildor had an impact in last week’s win over San Fransico, defending two passes and intercepting one. Not bad for a guy who didn’t pick a throw and tallied just five breakups in 22 games for the Lions.
In last year’s matchup against Detroit, the Bucs were down a star, missing All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. due to a foot injury. He’s back and thriving in his do-everything role.
What is gained with Winfield’s presence is countered by the absence of dynamic interior defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. He’s been lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Clearly, regardless of Monday’s outcome, both teams would probably be thrilled to escape the matchup without adding any new names to their respective injured lists.
Great opportunity for the Red Cross to do a promotion with the Lions and Bucs.
Lions by 14 and I’m being pessimistic.