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Game Ball** Rookie Mike Evans scored both of the Buccaneers touchdowns, becoming the first player in team history with three two-TD-reception games in the same season. Still, for most of the day the Bucs' offense ran through veteran WR Vincent Jackson. Even with very little else working on offense, Jackson and QB Josh McCown were able to hook up for 10 catches and 159 yards. That tied for the 15th-highest yardage total in franchise history and it was a season high for Jackson in terms of both receptions and yards. Since Evans' breakout in November, teams have begun to focus their defense in his direction a bit more, and Jackson has taken advantage as the Buccaneers hoped and expected he would.Play of the Game
Photos from the first half of Buccaneers vs. Lions at Ford Field in Detroit.
With Detroit's lead at just 7-3 in the second quarter and the game still very much in doubt, McCown threw a high pass in Evans' direction on third-and-10 from the Bucs' 20. Trying to leap for the ball and fight off a defender at the same time, Evans got his hands on the ball but couldn't pull it in. S Glover Quin never broke stride and was able to make a sliding interception of the ball as it passed through Evans' hands, just barely staying inbounds. The Lions scored a touchdown on the short field produced by that turnover and never again saw their lead go lower than seven points.
Turning Point
Photos from the second half of Buccaneers vs. Lions at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Buccaneers scored just before halftime to pull within seven points and believed they could take the opening possession of the second half to get right back into the game. Iinstead, the offense went three-and-out and as soon as Matthew Stafford got his hands on the ball he immediately launched a 53-yard strike down the middle to Calvin Johnson. The Bucs' defense held there but the three points that Detroit netted on the drive made it a two-score game again and the Bucs would get no closer.
It Was Over When
The Bucs still had a chance in the second half, down by 10 points and driving just across midfield. However, the drive fizzled out of scoring range and, even though the Bucs were able to punt it down inside the 10, RB Joique Bell immediately ripped off a 57-yard run to set up the game's final score.
