At Ford Field on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came out victorious with a 20-16 win on the road. The Bucs' red zone defense spurred the team, as did Chris Godwin's physicality. Baker Mayfield finished the game completing 12-of-19 attempts for 185 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Godwin nabbed 117 yards on seven receptions and Mayfield made an impact on the ground with 34 rushing yards and a touchdown.
On the Bucs' opening offensive possession, Chris Godwin brought the visiting team to the 49 on a crosser over the middle of the field. Two plays later, a defensive pass interference by Terrion Arnold on Trey Palmer set the Bucs up at first-and-goal from the five. Baker Mayfield was sacked by Lions' edge phenom Aidan Hutchinson on third down for a loss of nine yards, forcing a Chase McLaughlin 30-yard field goal.
Tampa Bay's defense came up big on the ensuing drive as Jared Goff's first pass was intercepted by second-year corner Zyon McCollum, putting Mayfield and company right back on the field at the Detroit 44-yard line. Mayfield was sacked again by Hutchinson, this time for a loss of 12 on second down. From third-and-22, Godwin quickly got to the perimeter and picked up 19 yards, but the unit came up short of the sticks. McLaughlin drilled a 55-yard field goal, making it a 6-0 ballgame.
On the following drive for Detroit, Jameson Williams worked over the top of the Bucs' defense on a vertical route and picked up 50 yards. A roughing the passer penalty by Tampa Bay set up the Lions at first-and-goal. Following a third-down incompletion to Williams, Jake Bates kicked a 22-yard field goal. On the ensuing possession for the Bucs, Hutchinson recorded a sack trick on Mayfield on third down, quickly winning the one-on-one, setting up a subsequent punt.
The Lions then marched down the field, as Goff found the soft spot in zone and connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a gain of six yards. The home team came up short of the end zone as Lavonte David recorded an open-field tackle on Gibbs on third down, forcing a Bates' 35-yard field goal, which evened the score at six.
Godwin became the go-to catalyst on the next drive, as Mayfield rolled out of the pocket twice and found the RAC-artist for gains of 17 and 11 yards – both resulting in first downs. It was only fitting that Godwin put the exclamation mark on the drive with a touchdown. Mayfield hit Godwin down the left sideline for a 41-yard score, giving the Bucs' a 13-6 advantage. From the slot, Godwin delayed his release, making the defender think he was going to break inside, then he turned on the jets down the perimeter once the DB took the bait.
On the next drive, Jordan Whitehead forced an incompletion over the middle of the field and a pass breakup by Christian Izien on third down forced a Lions' punt. The Lions' defense stepped up nearing the end of the second quarter as Brian Branch intercepted Mayfield's pass intended for Mike Evans at the Tampa Bay 44-yard line. The Lions were not able to cash in with seven before the half. Detroit's offense had 12 men on the field, which forced a 10-second runoff, subsequently ending the second quarter.
Coming out of the half, St. Brown picked up 20 yards and a roughing the passer penalty on the Bucs tacked on an additional 15 yards for Detroit. On the ensuing play, Williams gained 15 yards on a reverse. A three-yard pass to David Montgomery on third down forced a Bates' 32-yard field goal. The Bucs followed suit with a three-and-out, as Hutchinson fired off the edge for his fourth sack on Mayfield, forcing a punt.
On the Lions' next drive, a tackle for loss by Jordan Whitehead on Gibbs set up second-and-14. Goff connected with St. Brown on the ensuing play for a gain of 17 yards and Montgomery finished off the 12-play, 68-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown rush up the middle for the score, making it a 16-13 game. On the subsequent possession, Mayfield showcased his wheels and cutback-skills on the ground. On third down, the signal-caller scrambled around the right tackle for a gain of 11 yards. The next play, Mayfield was in the end zone, extending his arm over the goal line after an 11-yard run up the middle. The moxie quarterback put the team on his back and spurred the club to a 20-16 lead in enemy territory. The Lions answered with a punt following a Goff incompletion to Kalif Raymond on third down.
The next drive was stalled with a third-down sack of Mayfield by Hutchinson, the edge rusher's fifth. The Lions marched down the field on the following drive after a Gibbs' 24-yard run put the club in favorable field position, but Bucs' Christian Izien picked off a deep lob at the Tampa Bay nine-yard line and returned the interception 18 yards to the 27. The Bucs were unable to take advantage with points and punted following an incompletion to Jalen McMillan.
On the Lions' following drive, an 18-yard gain by Raymond and a nine-yard gain by St. Brown on out routes moved the sticks, but a critical tackle for loss on Gibbs by Tykee Smith on second down set up third-and-seven. After Sam LaPorta was short on third down, the Lions went for it on fourth down and Gibbs broke free for a 23-yard gain. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka dropped Gibbs in the open field for a loss of four following a quick screen pass on first down and following stops by Jamel Dean and SirVocea Dennis, the Lions went for it on fourth down. The home team fell short of the end zone after Whitehead and Izien stopped Gibbs short of the first down in the red area. Jake Camarda then punted the ball to the Detroit 47, and it was returned nine yards. The Bucs' defensed halted the Lions' comeback bid for a victory in Week Two over the Lions.
