Lions Sink Buccaneers as Gibbs and Defense Shine
This was an important win — and one that might matter even more down the line. Monday night’s 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t just keep Detroit rolling; it could carry real weight when we start talking about NFC seeding and tiebreakers in December.
But make no mistake — this wasn’t about offensive fireworks. It was about grit, toughness, and a defense that looked playoff-ready.
Defense Was the Story
Detroit’s defense owned Monday night. Down multiple starters in the secondary, this group didn’t just hold its ground — it dictated the game. Quite remarkable for a M*A*S*H unit!
Tampa Bay entered averaging 26.4 points per game. Detroit held them to nine. Baker Mayfield, who came in completing better than 67 percent of his passes, was limited to 28-of-50 for 228 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.1 rating — just 4.6 yards per attempt and a long gain of only 20 yards.
The Lions’ front applied constant pressure — four sacks, seven QB hits — and the Bucs managed only 53 rushing yards on 18 carries. Tampa finished 4-of-16 on third down. That’s the kind of defensive dominance that travels in December.
It was great to see Alim McNeill back on the field and causing chaos up the middle. He is a dominant force, and it didn’t seem like he’s been away from the game for nearly a year.
Patchwork Secondary, Elite Results
Even with four Week 1 starters missing, Detroit’s defensive backfield turned in its best game of the year.
- Amik Robertson forced a second-quarter fumble that flipped momentum.
- Arthur Maulet snagged a first-half interception.
- Nick Whiteside broke up three passes, including a near-touchdown.
- Erick Hallett led the team with eight tackles, most of them in open space.
Mayfield rarely had a clean look. The coverage was disciplined, physical, and connected — the kind of performance that builds a team’s identity, even if some of the players on the field won’t be with the team long term.
There will come a time when the secondary gets healthy and the usual starters return, but I’ll remember this one as the night I was cheering for names I barely knew — and they delivered.
Inside the Locker Room
Dan Campbell has perfected the postgame locker room celebration. I look forward to seeing who receives the game balls and what the coach has to say about the game and standout players. He started with the defense.
“Dude, how about the defense? Nine points allowed, four-for-16 on third down, one interception, one fumble recovery, 252 yards allowed — that’s outstanding. You play like that, you win every game.”
He reminded them there was still cleanup work ahead but made it clear: this is the standard.
Then came the game balls:
- Offense: Jahmyr Gibbs — 136 rushing yards, 82 receiving, 2 touchdowns, 218 total yards.
- Defense: Jack Campbell — 8 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, 1 QB hit, 1 pass defensed.
- Versatility: Derrick Barnes — 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 pass breakup.
Barnes got emotional accepting his, saying, “Feels so good to be back. That was a long recovery. Means a lot to me.” Then he pointed to his coordinator: “This really goes to Shep, man. He put us in great positions to go make plays.”
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard shook his head: “It’s always been about players — always will be. Do y’all see how good we can be? Nameless faces — we line up and play anybody.”
And as the huddle broke, Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered the final words: “Let’s come back hungry! Lions on three — one, two, three!”
No theatrics. No gimmicks. Just accountability, belief, and a defense-first identity taking root.
Gibbs Shines, But Offense Still a Work in Progress
Jahmyr Gibbs was the spark plug: 17 carries for 136 yards (8.0 avg), 6 catches for 82 yards, 2 TDs, 218 total yards. Every time he touched the ball, he looked like the best athlete on the field.
But beyond Gibbs, the offense wasn’t crisp. Jared Goff was efficient — 20-of-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown — yet the passing game lacked rhythm. Detroit went 5-of-13 on third down and punted five times. A couple of drops and one misread route cost them points.
The takeaway: the Lions moved the ball, but they haven’t peaked offensively — and that’s a good problem for a 6-2 team to have.
A Well-Timed Bye Week
The bye arrives at the perfect time. Detroit’s defense has been grinding through injuries, and the offense can use the break to sharpen its timing and chemistry.
Top priorities over the break:
- Get healthy in the secondary — four DBs on the mend could return soon.
- Re-sync the passing game — easier said than done, but Goff missed some throws that he normally makes. He’s faced some pressure and can only take what the defense gives him.
- Reinforce defensive fundamentals — I thought the tackling was excellent in this game. Equally impressive was the fact that Detroit defended 12 passes through tips and pass breakups. Those are ingredients for winning football.
The schedule helps, too. Detroit enters the bye with one of the best rest advantages in the NFC — meaning the Lions will log more total rest days than their upcoming opponents over the remainder of the season. None of their post-bye opponents are coming off a bye of their own, and the team avoids short-week turnarounds that often wear clubs down late in the year. In practical terms, it means more recovery time, more prep time, and fewer opponents with an extra week to game-plan for them — a small but real edge as December and playoff positioning come into focus.
What Comes Next
At 5-2, Detroit sits about where I thought they would be at this point in the season. As good as I feel about where the team stands, they aren’t in first place. It feels like they should be, but Green Bay sits atop the division with a 4-1-1 record.
With key NFC matchups looming. Monday’s win could end up being the difference in January if seeding or conference record comes into play.
If the defense keeps performing at this level and the offense finds that next gear, the Lions could find themselves once again at the top of the head in a crowded NFC Championship race.
Bottom Line
The Lions didn’t need to score 40+ points to win this game. Instead, they needed to weather the storm, and they delivered.
The defense was dominant. Gibbs was electric. The offense did enough, but knows it can be sharper.
Now comes the bye, a chance to heal up and fine-tune what might be a team that may finish with a record not quite as good as last year, but better prepared to get to the big dance.
Detroit heads into the break confident, battle-tested, and hungry for more — and after Monday night, the rest of the NFC knows it.
