Lions Divisional Round Preview Against Buccaneers
Previewing Detroit Lions divisional round playoff contest against Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field.
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00:00 Following a convincing defeat over the Los Angeles Rams,
00:03 the Detroit Lions move on to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
00:06 in the NFC Divisional Round.
00:08 Here today to give his analysis on the game
00:10 is SIL Lions' John Mackram.
00:13 John, give me your thoughts, analysis, and predictions
00:15 for this game and how the Detroit Lions will perform
00:18 against the Bucs this weekend.
00:20 - Yeah, Cameron, real exciting.
00:22 Another home playoff game
00:24 in front of the passionate crowd at Ford Field.
00:26 I would expect both teams to be real excited
00:29 to play well, to make it one of the best contests
00:32 of the weekend.
00:33 I expect both teams to play differently
00:35 than they did back in week six
00:37 when the Lions were able to go to Raymond James Stadium
00:39 and defeat the Bucs 20 to six.
00:41 You also gotta remember that the Lions
00:43 were without several key players like Jonah Jackson,
00:46 Jameer Gibbs, CJ Garner-Johnson were not available.
00:50 Now all back.
00:51 I expect the Detroit Lions offensively
00:53 to keep playing at such a high level.
00:56 You saw Jared Goff coming out last week
00:59 and lead the offense to three consecutive touchdowns.
01:01 It's gonna be a much different battle
01:04 against the Buccaneers as Todd Boal defense,
01:06 very stout, led by Vida Vella and that defensive line
01:10 that has been real solid against the run.
01:13 Yeah, the Detroit Lions are gonna need to establish the run
01:15 with Jameer Gibbs and David Montgomery,
01:18 but it's gonna be much more difficult.
01:20 So I would expect too that Amon Ross St. Brown,
01:23 Jamison Williams, Josh Reynolds
01:24 are gonna be a factor as well.
01:27 When you look at the Tampa Bay Bucs,
01:28 it may be a situation in which you need
01:30 to attack them via the air.
01:32 And that means more importantly, Sam Laporta,
01:35 who's gonna be even healthier this week,
01:37 is going to be a factor.
01:38 I just think that the Buccaneers are gonna have
01:40 a real tough time stopping the Lions.
01:43 And you look at it on the other side,
01:44 Baker Mayfield is very similar to Jared Goff,
01:47 an established veteran who had difficulties
01:50 with former teams and now found a situation
01:53 in which he's respected, has been embraced
01:55 by the Buccaneers locker room,
01:56 and they got a convincing win against the Eagles.
01:59 But Cameron, when you look at it,
02:01 this Detroit Lions team is playing very well.
02:03 Ben don't break defense offensively,
02:05 they're playing at a very high level.
02:07 Really now it's great to be able to examine
02:10 if the Lions play up to their capabilities,
02:12 if they play clean, get a couple turnovers,
02:15 they're a football team that can compete with anybody.
02:18 And I think that, yeah, early on the odds favor the Lions,
02:22 but I do think it'll be a close contest
02:24 with the Detroit Lions edging out the Buccaneers.
02:27 It may not be a blowout, but I could see the Lions
02:30 defeating the Buccaneers by a touchdown.
02:32 As Ford Field erupts, makes it difficult for Baker Mayfield,
02:36 and I think the Lions defense has benefited
02:39 from having a quarterback, yes, that's mobile,
02:41 but not so elusive that you can't get to him.
02:44 If Aiden Hutchinson, who I think is the key
02:47 for this Lions defense, maybe a returning James Houston,
02:51 helps execute as well the pass rush.
02:53 But if Aiden Hutchinson is able to get those pressures
02:57 like he has been, it's gonna be a long afternoon
03:00 for the Buccaneers.
03:02 And Cameron, you understand the two big weapons,
03:05 Chris Godwin and Mike Evans,
03:06 they're gonna have some productivity,
03:08 but if the Lions can continue their stout red zone defense,
03:12 then this Detroit Lions football team will find themselves
03:14 in the NFC Championship game next week.
03:18 - John, well said, and hopefully the Buccaneers
03:20 can adjust to that weather in Detroit.
03:22 Thanks for all the insight.