The Bucs were looking to cement their place as the best team in the NFC South, while the Lions were looking to extend their lead atop the NFC North.
In the end the Bucs defence couldn’t hold out long enough for the offence to find its groove (which it never did). So let’s look at our three takeaways from the game.
BAKER MAYFIELD IS KEY FOR BUCS
Coming in to the season I’m not sure I thought Baker Mayfield was good enough to be Bucs QB. But not until this week did he show that. Up until now I have been impressed, and ready to admit I was wrong. I still am, because this game showed just how important Mayfield has been this season.
And unlike the rumours about him, he took the blame. After the game Mayfield said, “We sucked today. I sucked today, we sucked today — it was awful. … If we play like that, we’re gonna lose every time. Defense and special teams did an amazing job yet again, and offense — we just need to pick our s— up.”
Completing just 19/37 was just a horror show. The fact he stood up there are took it on the chin tells me he can still get the Bucs to the playoffs, and may be the longterm solution.
THE BUCS DEFENCE IS LEGIT, AND TIRED
The hard part about a loss like this is that the defence played well enough to win, and deserved way more from the offence. And now they’re tired after being on the field for 36:30. It’s not a good place to be, and can’t happen every week or injuries will happen more regularly as we hit the second half of the season.
Despite giving up 380 total yards this was a good game from the defence as they held the now 5-1 Lions offence in check for most of the day.
THE LIONS MAY ACTUALLY BE A DECENT TEAM
Jared Goff threw for 353 yards and put up 20-points on a good Bucs defence, and took the Lions to 5-1 and gave them a 3-game lead in the NFC North. Yes it’s early in the season, but keep an eye on this Lions team because they could be real dark horses this season.
After the game Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell summed up the game, and the Lions season, “I can’t say enough about our defensive performance today and really for five games this year, to be honest with you. Man, we’re just playing as one unit right now. When your defense only gives up six points it’s saying a lot.”
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 19 | 13 |
| Passing 1st downs | 16 | 12 |
| Rushing 1st downs | 2 | 0 |
| 1st downs from penalties | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd down efficiency | 9-16 | 2-12 |
| 4th down efficiency | 0-0 | 1-2 |
| Total Plays | 69 | 54 |
| Total Yards | 380 | 251 |
| Total Drives | 11 | 10 |
| Yards per Play | 5.5 | 4.6 |
| Passing | 340 | 205 |
| Comp-Att | 30-44 | 19-37 |
| Yards per pass | 7.2 | 5.4 |
| Interceptions thrown | 0 | 1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost | 3-13 | 1-1 |
| Rushing | 40 | 46 |
| Rushing Attempts | 22 | 16 |
| Yards per rush | 1.8 | 2.9 |
| Red Zone (Made-Att) | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| Penalties | 5-35 | 5-33 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Interceptions thrown | 0 | 1 |
| Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Possession | 36:30 | 23:30 |
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