Game 5

Lions (4-1) at (3-1) Bucs 

Kickoff: 4:25 p.m.

TV: FOX (WTVT-TV Channel 13, locally) with Adam Amin, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver.

Streaming: NFL+ and Buccaneers.com (Geographic restrictions apply).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game also will be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 135 or 239 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: Great day to break out the creamsicles. Per AccuWeather.com, tailgaters will party under sunny skies in the low 80s. At kickoff, look for a temperature of 81. That will pretty much remain steady until the fourth quarter when it will drop to 75. No precipitation is expected.

Odds: Per BetMGM, as of midnight, Lions -3; over/under 42.5.

Referees: Clay Martin and his gang will work today’s game. While on face value it appears Martin and his outfit may lean to home cooking, if you are a gambler, not so much so. Some 40 percent of Martin’s penalties come against the home team. However, against the spread, home teams with Martin’s gangs are 33-43-1 in his career.

Injuries: Lions — Out: S Brian Branch (ankle), RB Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), G Jonah Jackson (ankle), RB Zonovan Knight (shoulder), TE James Mitchell (hamstring), CB Emmanuel Moseley (knee), DL Josh Paschal (knee). Questionable:  CB Khalil Dorsey (knee), TE Sam LaPorta (calf). Bucs — Doubtful: OLB Shaq Barrett (illness), OLB Anthony Nelson (concussion).

Outlook: It is a good thing the Bucs may be the healthiest they’ve been since the start of the season. They’re going to need help from everyone and maybe from the Lions, too. Joe was disturbed how the physical Eagles manhandled the Bucs for three quarters on a Monday night three weeks ago. In the fourth quarter, the Bucs opened things up and looked like they could play with the Eagles but who knows if Philadelphia already mailed it in by thee. The Lions are just like the Eagles, but maybe more dangerous on offense. The Lions have no trouble scoring early. The Bucs have scored two field goals in the opening quarter all season. That cannot continue today. The Bucs must show they can handle playing a very physical team like Detroit. Buffalo is sort of physical, too. San Francisco certainly is. And if the Bucs are going to make the playoffs, every team they probably will face in the postseason will be physical. The best way to shut down a physical team is to stop the run — which the Bucs aren’t all that good at this year — and get after the quarterback. If the Bucs can do that, they’ve got a shot.

Fun facts: Bucs WR Mike Evans needs one touchdown catch to tie Lance Alworth, Hines Ward and Paul Warfield (85) for the 18th-most touchdown receptions in NFL history. Alworth and Warfield are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. … If the Bucs win today, it will be the sixth time in franchise history the team has jumped out to a 4-1 record to start the season. The other times the Bucs have done this came in 2021, 2005, 2002, 1997 and 1979 seasons. … If Bucs CB Dee Delaney gets a pick today, he will become the first Bucs defender since Lavonte David in 2013 to have a pick in three straight games. … If Lions RB David Mongomery runs for 100 yards today, he will be the first Lions running back to run for 100 or more yards in three straight games this century. The last Detroit running back to run for 100 yards or more in three consecutive games was Barry Sanders in 1998.

As we get ready to face the Lions, take a look back at our win over the Saints with @RondeBarber 🎥#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/y3HRFOn7kd

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 11, 2023