The Buccaneers are back. Tell a friend. Missing three defensive starters against a Super Bowl-caliber opponent, Tampa Bay stepped up and delivered a statement 20-16 win at Detroit on Sunday.
Jordan Whitehead, Christian Izien and SirVocea Dennis converged to stop Jahmyr Gibbs on fourth-and-8 inside the Bucs’ 10-yard-line with just over a minute remaining. That stonewall effort came one possession after Izien picked off a Jared Goff pass intended for Amon-Ra St. Brown at the Buccaneers’ 26 earlier in the final stanza.
Tampa Bay held the Lions to just one touchdown in seven trips inside the red zone, what head coach Todd Bowles said was the tale of the tape.
“We showed a lot of fight,” said Bowles, whose club advanced to 2-0 for a second straight season. “That’s a great team over there. We know they’re a great team.
“It took a Herculean effort from a lot of guys. A lot of guys went down. We’re pleased with the win.”
Quarterback Baker Mayfield scored a Herculean, go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, blasting into the end zone from 11 yards out, answering a Detroit score that temporarily gave the Lions their first lead, 16-13. That’s when Izien and the defense took over, holding Detroit to a punt, interception and two turnovers on downs over a quartet of final-period possessions.
Mayfield got 117 yards and seven catches, including a 41-yard touchdown, from wide receiver Chris Godwin. The quarterback also led the Buccaneers with 34 rushing yards.
Tampa Bay (2-0) hosts Denver next week at Raymond James Stadium.