The Detroit Lions made a primetime statement on Monday night, dismantling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24–9 at Ford Field.
The win moves Detroit to 5–2 on the season and reaffirms the team’s reputation as one of the NFC’s toughest, most physical squads.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was the star of the show, torching Tampa Bay’s defense for 218 total yards and two touchdowns.
His 78-yard scoring run in the first half swung momentum early and ignited a Detroit offense that never let up.
🔒 Defense Smothers Mayfield, Silences Bucs’ Attack
Detroit’s defense turned the game into a clinic, suffocating Baker Mayfield and holding Tampa Bay to just 58 total yards in the first half.
Star wideout Mike Evans left the game with a shoulder injury — later confirmed as a broken collarbone — which only made matters worse for the Bucs’ offense.
By night’s end, the Buccaneers finished with 262 total yards and 15 first downs, converting just 4-of-16 third-down attempts while facing relentless pressure from Aidan Hutchinson and company.
🎯 Efficient Goff, Explosive Gibbs Lead the Charge
Quarterback Jared Goff played mistake-free football, completing 19-of-27 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown.
With the defense dominating, the offense leaned on Gibbs and short-yardage reliability from Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta to control the clock.
Tampa Bay’s only touchdown came late in the fourth quarter on a Mayfield-to-Chris Godwin connection, but the game was already well in hand for Detroit.
🗣️ Campbell Praises Team’s Resilience
Head coach Dan Campbell applauded his team’s bounce-back effort after last week’s loss.
The Lions have now gone three full seasons without losing consecutive games, underscoring the team’s consistency under Campbell’s leadership.
🏴☠️ Bucs Searching for Answers
The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 5–2 and exposed several offensive issues. Without Evans, the passing game lacked explosiveness, and the rushing attack failed to generate big plays.
📊 Final Stats
Top Performer: Jahmyr Gibbs — 218 total yards, 2 TDs
Next Up: Detroit hosts the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Tampa Bay returns home to face the Atlanta Falcons.