Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tied With Detroit Lions at Halftime
DETROIT -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already exceeded the expectations of many by making it to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, but they'll need to continue surprising people to make it to the NFC Championship Game to face the San Francisco 49ers as near full touchdown underdogs against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
A loud - like 'pardon me I can't hear myself type' loud - Lions crowd shuffled into Ford Field to cheer their team and boo the Buccaneers and were pleasantly surprised when the home team won the coin toss and opted to receive the ball to start the game.
The bold move to set the team resulted in a three-and-out for Detroit but that didn't keep the fans down long as an interception thrown by Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield that deflected off receiver Mike Evans was brought in by trash-talking safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff got his second drive started at the Bucs 41-yard line following the turnover and nearly threw an interception that was dropped by cornerback Jamel Dean in the end zone. The result was a Detroit field goal that put the Buccaneers behind, 3-0.
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) during the first quarter in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field.
Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Coach Todd Bowles' Tampa Bay squad was able to answer back on their next drive covering 49 yards in their next four plays before bogging down and settling for a 43-yard field goal.
That 3-3 tie was the score at the end of the first quarter and it held up for five plays before Detroit hit paydirt for the first time on a Goff pass to receiver Josh Reynolds.
The score put the Lions up 10-3 with 12:33 left in the half and with 2:29 remaining the Buccaneers got into range for another field goal try that was missed from 50 yards out by kicker Chase McLaughlin.
With the Bucs down seven and Detroit taking over at its 40-yard line Bowles and his defense needed a stop to prevent more points from going up on the board before halftime.
The defense responded by securing its second three and out of the game, first since the first drive of the game, and gave the Buccaneers offense the ball back with 1:28 left in the half.
Looking to put up points at the end of the half Tampa Bay got back-to-back explosive plays from Mayfield to Evans for gains of 27 and 30 yards each.
The plays put the ball at the Lions' two-yard line with 19 seconds, and on 1st and Goal Mayfield connected with tight end Cade Otton for the game-tying touchdown score.
With that, and a McLaughlin extra point, the Bucs knotted it up at 10-10 which is our score entering halftime.
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