If the Detroit Lions were looking to make a statement Monday night, they certainly accomplished that.
Detroit put together a dominant defensive showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a convincing 24-9 victory, holding Tampa Bay to just 252 total yards and nine points -- the third-lowest total for the Buccaneers under Baker Mayfield in his three years as their starting quarterback.
The Lions limited Tampa Bay to 3.9 yards per play and forced punts on the Buccaneers' first five possessions. Tampa didn't score until its eighth drive, completely shut down by Detroit's relentless defense.
Jahmyr Gibbs fueled the Lions' offense with a career night, finishing with 218 total yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage. Gibbs ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run -- the Lions' longest play in 14 years -- while totaling 17 carries for 136 yards and three catches for 82 yards. Detroit finished with 379 yards of offense and 5.9 yards per play despite a missed field goal, a turnover on downs, a fumble and an interception.
Gibbs delivered one of the greatest individual performances by a running back in Lions history. His 218 scrimmage yards were the most by a Lions player in a game since Calvin Johnson's 329 in 2013, and he became the first Lion since Kevin Smith in 2011 to record 200-plus scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in a single game.
Here was all Gibbs accomplished on Monday night:
Tied for the most touchdowns by a Lions player through his first 39 career games (38) since 1970 -- matching Barry Sanders
This was all with Sanders in attendance by the way.
The Lions certainly had a goal to pressure Baker Mayfield on Monday night, and they were able to take advantage of the Buccaneers' quarterback. Mayfield was just 9 of 13 for 62 yards when pressured, throwing an interception and finishing with a 47.6 passer rating. Mayfield was sacked twice, and the Buccaneers committed two turnovers when pressured, as the Lions' defense disrupted the tempo of Tampa's passing attack.
The Buccaneers went scoreless on their first seven possessions, punting on the first five before Sterling Shepard's fumble and Mayfield's interception. They were down 14-0 at that stage of the game and should have been down more if not for a Goff fumble, a Goff interception and a Jake Bates missed field goal.
Even with the Lions' miscues, Detroit still had control of the game because of the pressure it created on Mayfield. The Lions had four sacks and eight quarterback hits in the game.
The Lions improved to 13-3 in prime-time games under Dan Campbell, winning five straight on "Monday Night Football" -- the longest streak in team history. They have gone 51 straight games without back-to-back losses, the longest streak in franchise history. Detroit does have a prime-time loss this season but is 2-1 in prime-time matchups.
The opposite holds true for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are 1-7 in prime-time games with Baker Mayfield as their quarterback, compared to 23-10 in all other games. This was the Buccaneers' first prime-time game of the season, and Tampa Bay has two more currently on the schedule (at Rams, vs. Falcons).
With the Buccaneers' loss, the Packers (4-1-1) are the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Tampa Bay (5-2) falls from the No. 1 seed to No. 4, while Detroit moves from No. 7 to No. 5 with the win. The Lions trail the Packers by one game in the loss column in the NFC North, while the Buccaneers lead the Panthers by one game in the NFC South.
The Lions (5-2) have their bye week before hosting the Vikings in Week 9. The Buccaneers (5-2) travel to New Orleans to face the Saints in Week 8 before their bye week.
The Lions stop the Bus on 4th down and Tampa Bay gets nothing. The Bucs are 4-of-15 on third down with just 219 yards of offense and averaging 3.7 yards per play. They have just one touchdown and Baker Mayfield is averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.
Total dominance.
16 plays for 54 yards and 5:30 off the clock. The Lions defense is just smothering Baker Mayfield and this offense. The Bucs offense looks completely stymied in the pass game.
Jahmyr Gibbs is the 10th player in NFL history to have 135+ rushing yards, 80+ receiving yards and two rushing TDs. The last player to do so was Chris Johnson in 2009.
National Running Back Day should have ben hold today, because Jahmyr Gibbs is dominating. Gibbs had 4 carries for 28 yards on that ensuring drive, including a 5-yard TD. he also had a 28-yard reception -- totaling 56 yards on the drive. Gibbs has 217 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs, and we're still only in the third quarter.
Big response for the Lions. It's 21-9.
Johnson takes this screen pass in for the touchdown, a 22-yard score to get the Bucs back in this one. Tampa Bay converted a 4th-and-2 via a Rachaad White run, sparking that 11-play, 67-yard drive to open the second half.
Let's see if the Lions respond. Bucs got 9 unanswered from scoring at teh end of the first half and beginning of second half. It's 14-9 Detroit.
Just a brutal way for Evans to end this one, his first game back from a hamstring injury. Evans was ruled out following this play,
78-yard TD run for Jahmyr Gibbs. The longest TD run of Gibbs' career and the longest rush TD by a Lions player since Jahvid Best in 2011 (88-YD rush TD). Gibbs has 10 carries for 106 tonight.
Plenty of interior pressure for the Bucs tonight. This time SirVocea Dennis gets to Goff as the Lions fall to 0-3 on third down. The over/under was 52.5 heading into this game by the way.
While it's only 7-0, the Lions are outgaining the Bucs 160-22. Detroit is averaging 8.0 yards per play while Tampa is averaging 2.2. The Goff fumble has played a role in why this game is close, along with the Lions being 0-2 on third down and 0-1 on fourth down.
Yaya Diaby forced the fumble on jared Goff, getting to him before his arm went forward. That is a fumble, and the Bucs have an opportunity to strike. & takeaways to 2 giveaways this year for Tampa.
Baker Mayfield was sacked by Jack Campbell on 2nd-and-5, and was pressured to get rid of the ball quickly on 3rd-and-6. Good pressure by the Lions on the first drive.
The Lions easily finish off a 6-play, 69-yard drive, capped by Amon-Ra St. Brown's 27-yard TD catch. St. Brown gets open on an out route, as one of the best route runner sin the league lives up to his reputation. jared Goff was 2-of-3 for 57 yards on that drive, hitting Jahmyr Gibbs for a 30-yard pass as well.
Goff leads NFL with 14 pass TD entering Week 7
Here's Detroit's numbers at home this year:
2-0, 43.0 PPG at home this season -- 2-2, 26.3 on road (hence why the Lions are favored)
The Buccaneers have 0 giveaways in their wins this season. They have 6 takeaways in their 5 wins. They are tied with the Chiefs for the fewest giveaways in the NFL (2). Both their giveaways were in a Week 4 loss to the Eagles.
Simply put, if the Bucs don't turn the ball over they win.
