In the second round of the playoffs, the Buccaneers will travel to Detroit to play the Dan Campbell and the Lions. The Lions just defeated the Rams in a hard-fought game to capture their first postseason victory in thirty-two years. Despite having some vulnerabilities, Detroit seems to be a motivated group that isn’t content to stop at one victory. Baker Mayfield had another outstanding performance for the Buccaneers as they defeated the Eagles handily. The Bucs are one win away from the NFC Championship, yet many had them receiving the first overall pick in this year’s draft. I think either team can win, and both will want to be successful. There are undoubtedly weaknesses on both teams that the other team will try to take advantage of, which go play a big part in earning a victory.
The Bucs, led by Baker Mayfield, are coming off a crushing victory against Philadelphia on Monday. The Bucs were dominant on both sides of the ball, scoring 32 points while limiting the Eagles’ offense to just 9 points. Lately, Baker Mayfield has excelled at making smart choices and almost never turning the ball over. It has been difficult for cornerbacks to cover both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans this season, and they have been a terrific combination for Baker. Rachaad White has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry this season on the ground, however, he has been quite effective as a receiving threat, amassing almost 600 yards on more than 60 receptions. Despite their ups and downs throughout the season, the Bucs defense just finished one of its greatest performances of the year. They have a strong defensive line, anchored by Vita Vea and rookie YaYa Diaby, that allows them to consistently put pressure on passers. Lavonte David and Devin White, their linebackers, have both played exceptionally well. The Bucs’ secondary is their greatest vulnerability. Their cornerbacks have a history of giving up open field tackles and huge plays in the air. Safety Antoine Winfield stands out in the secondary after having a standout season and being named to the all-pro squad. If the Bucs hope to win this weekend, they will need to limit Goff and the Lions’ big plays in the air. Their defense is certainly strong enough to contain the Lions’ offense, but they will need one of their best performances from their offense. This weekend’s game will take place in a challenging environment, and while I believe it will be extremely difficult for them to win, it is still possible.
The Lions just defeated the Rams by a close margin to earn their first postseason victory in thirty years. Jared Goff led the offense beautifully, completing 80% of his passes and producing some excellent throws. Amon-Ra St. Brown, who caught seven receptions, including the game-winning first down catch, demonstrated why he was named to the first team all-pro team. Josh Reynolds, who looked like he did at the start of the season, also had a good game against his former team. Goff was well-protected by the offensive line, which gave him plenty of time to throw while only allowing Aaron Donald three pressures. Although the running game wasn’t as effective as it had been, Gibbs and Montgomery both managed to score. Despite the defense’s ongoing struggles, Hutchinson’s dominance continued. Hutchinson recorded two sacks on Stafford in addition to a career-high nine pressures. Additionally, the run defense maintained its dominant play, allowing Kyren Williams just 61 rushing yards. Linebackers Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone not only made plays to help stop Williams in the run game, but also contributed to the pass game. The secondary is still the Lions’ largest area of trouble. Both Kindle Vildor and Cam Sutton have been below average and frequently allow good receivers to have a huge game. Puka Nacua was a major factor in the Rams’ offense last week, as he hauled in nine receptions for 181 yards and a score. As a slot corner, Brian Branch has excelled, limiting Cooper Kupp to only five catches for 27 yards. The three safeties have also performed well, with each one making crucial pass breaks and providing excellent backfield coverage. I believe there is a potential for the Lions to win this game handily. They’ve limited the Bucs offense to six points earlier in the season, and their attack is capable of demolishing this defense. Although I believe that this game will be competitive at first, I believe that Detroit pulls away and advances to the NFC Championship.
My Prediction: Lions 30 Bucs 17
