ClutchPoints
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Monday Night Football riding high. They were winners of two straight and boasted one of the NFC’s top records. As such, they looked poised to make a statement against a Detroit Lions team missing several key defensive starters. Instead, they were the ones humbled.
In a 24-9 defeat that was never as close as the score suggested, the Bucs looked flat, unfocused, and overmatched. The offense was sluggish, the defense was inconsistent, and their leaders failed to rise to the moment. Detroit was led by a brilliant 218-yard performance from running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions gashed Tampa Bay in every phase. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield’s MVP buzz fizzled. The injury to Mike Evans added insult to injury, too.
This was a game the Bucs could have used to prove they belong among the NFC’s elite. Instead, it showed how far they still have to go.
The Buccaneers fell in a primetime matchup that exposed all their current flaws. The offense, averaging over 27 points per game during their recent winning streak, looked lifeless. Tampa Bay mustered just 269 total yards and nine points. That was their third-lowest output since Baker Mayfield became the starter.
The defense held early. They forced two turnovers and sacked Jared Goff four times. They couldn’t contain Gibbs, though. The Lions’ dynamic running back torched them for a franchise-record 78-yard touchdown and piled up 218 total yards from scrimmage. Detroit’s balance and physicality kept Tampa Bay guessing all night. Meanwhile, the Bucs failed to establish any rhythm offensively.
Mayfield’s lone touchdown came on a 22-yard screen to Tez Johnson in the third quarter. That briefly cut the deficit to 14-9. However, after that, Detroit took control. Evans’ concussion and shoulder injury robbed Mayfield of his top target. Without Evans stretching the field, the Bucs became predictable and stagnant.
By the time the clock hit zero, Tampa Bay’s brief reign atop the NFC had ended. It was replaced by questions about durability, depth, and discipline.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most to blame for their Week 7 loss to Detroit Lions.
Mayfield has been the heartbeat of this team. He has carried them through adversity with guts, grit, and leadership. Against Detroit, though, all that swagger disappeared.
This should have been a chance to shine under the lights against a banged-up secondary. Instead, he delivered one of his least inspiring performances of the season. He finished 23-of-38 for 228 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The stat line wasn’t disastrous, but the performance felt hollow.
Mayfield was out of sync with his receivers all night. His timing was off, his pocket presence hesitant, and his decision-making erratic. With Evans sidelined, he forced throws into tight windows that weren’t there. There were no improvisational magic or fourth-quarter fireworks. It’s only one loss, but it’s...
