- REWATCH: Buccaneers-Lions on NFL+ Premium
- READ: Buccaneers' Evans to miss majority of season with broken clavicle
- READ: Lions' Campbell on Gibbs' performance in win: 'It was huge'
- READ: Detroit's unsung defense steps up, surprises even Campbell
- Detroit's defense delivers phenomenal performance. The Lions had plenty of reasons to struggle defensively Monday night. They entered the game without three of their top defensive backs (Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox) due to injury and lost a fourth because of Brian Branch's postgame conduct following their Week 6 loss to Kansas City leading to a suspension. Making matters worse, Rock Ya-Sin exited the game in the second half due to cramps, eliminating another defender from the thin unit. Those absences would cut down a lesser team at the knees and make for a field day for an offense as explosive as Tampa Bay, but not these Lions. Under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, Detroit proved it is a resilient bunch, receiving standout performances from Amik Robertson, well-traveled nickelback Arthur Maulet, and backups Erick Hallett, Nick Whiteside and Thomas Harper. Their combined efforts -- plus a ferocious defensive front that racked up 20 QB pressures and four sacks -- made Monday night into a nightmare for early season MVP favorite Baker Mayfield, a result that was essential after Detroit's offense failed to capitalize on the turnovers forced by the Lions' defense. On a night when Jared Goff was nowhere near his best self, the Lions needed their defense to stand tall. They stood like a brick wall.
- Mayfield finally encounters an insurmountable obstacle. Through six weeks, no quarterback in the NFL was playing better football than Baker Mayfield. He owned a sparkling stat line, authored four last-minute comeback victories, heroically led the Buccaneers to a statement win over the 49ers in Week 6 and presented a rather intimidating challenge to a Lions team seeking a bounce-back performance after a frustrating loss to the Chiefs. For the first time in 2025, however, Mayfield appeared overwhelmed by the moment. He wasn't skittish, but he did appear unusually frantic in the pocket and saw the level of difficulty increase after losing Mike Evans to injury in the first half. Mayfield frequently overshot his intended targets and rarely found the going easy against Detroit's defense, succumbing to the combined challenges presented by the opposition inside a raucous Ford Field. His final line -- 28 for 50, 228 yards, one touchdown and one interception -- captures the difficulty of the night, an uncharacteristically inconsistent night that Bucs fans will hope is an aberration.
- Gibbs is one of one. Jahmyr Gibbs' reputation as an explosive, dynamic, three-down threat was cemented long before Monday night, but that shouldn't detract from the performance Gibbs produced in front of a national audience. The running back was electric from the start, ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run, racked up 218 scrimmage yards (136 rushing, 82 receiving) and powered a Lions offense that was largely directionless when he wasn't handling the football. Gibbs shredded the Buccaneers, bailing out Goff on a night in which the quarterback looked uncomfortable and proving once again how special of a back he is. It's fair to wonder if the Lions improve to 5-2 without Gibbs. Fortunately, Detroit fans don't need to waste their time with such thoughts thanks to their star runner.
- Injuries pile up for Bucs. Tampa Bay's 5-1 start was impressive for more than just the fashion in which the Buccaneers had won their games through the first six weeks. The Buccaneers have endured a number of absences and subsequent losses along the offensive line, haven't had the luxury of a fully healthy receiving corps and entered Monday night without Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, two starting offensive linemen and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey. They knew they'd have to overcome such challenges again versus a top-tier opponent in a hostile environment Monday night, but also were fortunate to welcome back receiver Mike Evans -- that is, until Evans exited in the first half with a concussion and shoulder injury. The combination of these absences limited the Buccaneers on a night in which they needed all of their resources to overcome a ferocious Lions defense, and when they faced must-have third and fourth down situations in the fourth quarter, Evans' absence was glaring. Hopefully, they'll get Irving and Godwin back before long. Luckily, the bye week is right around the corner.
Next Gen Stats Insight from Buccaneers-Lions (via NFL Pro): Jared Goff finished just 1 for 7 on passes over 10 air yards for 24 yards and an interception. Lions pass catchers gained 194 yards after the catch, the fifth-most by any team in a game this season, with YAC accounting for 80.5% of Goff’s passing yards.
NFL Research: Jahmyr Gibbs' 218 scrimmage yards are the most recorded by a Lions player in a game since Calvin Johnson piled up 329 in 2013.
