Gameday Tampa Bay
January 21st, 2024
Postseason Game 2
Divisional Round
Bucs (10-8) at Lions (13-5)
Kickoff: 3 p.m.
TV: NBC and WFLA-TV Channel 8, locally) with: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Kaylee Hartung and Melissa Stark.
Streaming: Peacock, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions apply. Subscription may be required).
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 Channels 225 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed) or SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88 (Westwood One national feed).
Weather: Believe it or not, the Bucs will be playing in a dome today. Yes, the Lions actually have played home games in a dome since 1975. If there are any Bucs fans crazy enough to tailgate outside in Detroit, expect sunny skies and temperatures in the low 20s, per AccuWeather.com. Heading out after the game, skies will be clear with a temperature of right around 20 degrees, which will quickly drop.
Odds: Per BetMGM, as of midnight, Bucs +6 (+220); over/under 49.5.
Referees: Bill Vinovich and his gang will work today’s game. Vinovich and his outfit, per Joe Gibbs of Sharp Football Analysis, like to keep the flags in their pockets. This crew averaged the fewest penalties per game in 2022, 8.5. In 2021, Vinovich’s gang threw zero flags for roughing the passer and just four last season. Also last year ,Vinovich and his posse threw the third fewest defensive holding penalties per game and the fewest defensive pass interference penalties per game.
Injuries: Bucs — Questionable: OLB Shaq Barrett (ankle), RB Chase Edmonds (toe), John Wolford (illness), Tae Davis (illness), CB Jaycee Horn (toe). Lions — Out: WR Kalif Ramond (knee). Questionable: LB James Houston (ankle), TE Sam LaPorta (knee).
Outlook: In Joe’s mind, this game will be won or lost on the backs of the Bucs’ defense, specifically the pass rush. Jared Goff is simply not a good quarterback when pressured. He is, per Matt Bowen of BSPN, a bottom-third quarterback in the NFL when facing pressure. So the simple solution is to pressure Goff. Easier said than done. Unless YaYa Diaby can get a pass rush, the Bucs don’t have an edge rush. Last week against the Eagles Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett woke from an eight-game slumber and got two pressures on Jalen Hurts. Is that because the Bucs sometimes went to a six-man front and Shaq was scot-free? At least one rush certainly was but Joe doesn’t know if that specific rush was a pressure or not. Diaby has only been slightly better. It sure seems like offenses have figured out a book on Diaby now that he is starting. He is a monster against the run but an edge rusher needs to be consistent in hounding the quarterback. The Lions’ pass defense is soft and if Baker Mayfield just has an OK game the Bucs should be able to put up points on the Lions. So the key is to limit Goff. To do that the defense has to get in his face. Can Bucs coach Todd Bowles find a way to get home on blitzes without getting roasted by Goff? This will be the key to teh Bucs playing in the NFC Championship next week.
Fun facts: Last week Baker Mayfield became the first quarterback in Bucs history with 300+ passing yards (337) and three touchdowns in a postseason game without a pick. … RB Rachaad White has 75 or more scrimmage yards in each of his playoff game appearances. … Mike Evans this season became the fifth player in NFL history with 12 or more receiving touchdowns in five different seasons. … Chris Godwin in last four straight games against Detroit has five or more catches and at least 65 yards receiving. … Lavonte David, who turns 34 Tuesday, had two tackles for loss against Philadelphia and recorded his first postseason forced fumble. In the Week 6 meeting with Detroit, David had 12 tackles and a sack. … All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield this year became the first defensive back since 2000 (Rodney Harrison) with 120 or more tackles (122), 10 or more passes defended (12) and five or more sacks (6) in a season. … Carlton Davis had two passes defended last week. In eight playoff games as a starting cornerback, Davis has six passes defended.
.@rondebarber is breaking down our Wild Card win 🎥#RaiseTheFlags pic.twitter.com/apLI6MN0jD
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 18, 2024
January 21st, 2024 at 12:14 am
No Ira playoff podcast?
January 21st, 2024 at 12:49 am
Odds gave me Bucs +6 and I was all over that. Collected my 1500 today then put a 10 in the piggy slot and hit for 50. Cashed out and drove home, it was game time.
And I put 20 on
Ravens -9.5
Packers +10
Bucs +6
Bills -2.5
January 21st, 2024 at 12:53 am
To Todd Bowles: DON’T SCREW THIS UP!……
January 21st, 2024 at 1:41 am
I believe Deven Thompkins is going to break one for a td.
January 21st, 2024 at 7:19 am
Collinsworth, ugh!
Isn’t there a drinking game associate with this dude’s commentary?
January 21st, 2024 at 7:49 am
She’s smokin’!
January 21st, 2024 at 8:39 am
Good thing I’m into Bucs Radio cos I HATE Cris Collinsworth! He constantly looks down his nose at the Bucs, and central FL where his yahoo azz is from! Now, I really hope Bucs win decisively. Disappointed that the Pack blew it in the last minutes, but sh#t happens. C’mon, Tampa Bay!!
January 21st, 2024 at 8:42 am
Not sure I like the Ref crew. Sounds like the Lions will be allowed to get away with a lot of potential PI and roughing the passer calls.
January 21st, 2024 at 8:50 am
Who is Tae Davis (illness), CB Jaycee Horn (toe) for the Bucs?
January 21st, 2024 at 10:10 am
I love Chris. I am so glad he will be commenting instead of Troy Aikman (who I can’t stand).
January 21st, 2024 at 10:38 am
3rd week of Panthers injuries! Honestly, keep it going it’s a good luck charm at this point… 😂
January 21st, 2024 at 10:54 am
I’ll take Collinsworth over that boring, dull Aikman any day. Chris is a 1977 graduate of Titusville Astronaut High School. He was a QB in high school and the Florida 100 yard dash champion. He singlehandedly beat my high school in the playoffs running for 3 TDs. I think the final score was 21-0.
January 21st, 2024 at 10:54 am
I normally really like Collinsworth but if you’re on the other side of the team he’s gushing about it gets rough. He’ll be gushing about the Lions all game.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:14 am
If Mayfield has passing lanes that allow him to throw through windows he will have some success. If he has to drop them in over a fence he will struggle.
GB did a great job getting hands up and forcing Purdy to try to drop passes in.
GB was the first 7 seed to advance to the Divisional round and had they not given away the store against the Bucs then TB would have been up against history as the 7th with NO in the 4th Seed. If the Bucs made the playoffs at all. Folks would think that Tampa may have beat San Fran yesterday based on how they beat the Packers convincingly. Maybe if the QB could get out of the pocket and look downfield instead of the line to gain.
Rams were playing some of the best football down the stretch and the Lions stepped up. Could the Lions lay down today? Sure but it’s usually after the kill and the prey has been consumed.
Bucs caught some breaks and had some fortunate timing to get to this spot. Will need a few more breaks today to advance.
Underdogs are 1 of 2 in the red zone in Divisional Round. . GB was there twice and Texans never reached it.
Teams are pretty similar but I think Montgomery and Gibbs will be the difference.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:18 am
Like Lawrence Taylor use to say, Play like a bunch of hungry wild dogs Bucs and you will win.
January 21st, 2024 at 11:50 am
Everyone LISTEN TO ME ! I know more about football than those guys who were hired instead of me. I can use a keyboard. Can any of those guys who were hired? Maybe, but not as good as me. I was also the third best flag football player in my 4th grade class! So when it comes to football, I know EVERYTHING!
Now if all those “so called, professionals” that the Bucs hired would give me a call they would be Super-bowl champions EVERY YEAR.
That being said. GO BUCS!
January 21st, 2024 at 11:51 am
Sorry about my last rant.I was possessed by David
January 21st, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Collinsworth was drafted with the pick we traded Cinci for used car salesman Jack Thompson