Game 2

Bucs (1-0) at Lions (1-0) 

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: FOX (WTVT-TV Channel 13 locally) with Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin.

Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket (YouTubeTV) and 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 Channel 383 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: Excellent late-summer day in the upper Midwest. Tailgaters will wake up to sun and a slight chill in the air at 65 degrees, which will warm up quickly, per AccuWeather.com. Of course, the game is in a climate-controlled dome, so no weather worries there. The kickoff temperature for those heading to the dome from the bars is expected to be 81. By the time the game ends, it will be a perfect 85 degrees and sunny. Strong mid-September day in Motown. Probably one of the few left in that neck of the woods this year.

Odds: Per HardRockBet, as of midnight, Bucs +7.5 (+275); over/under 51.5.

Referees: If history is accurate, this game has a good shot of being much closer than Joe thinks it will be. Today’s referee is Alex Kemp. In the games his gang has worked, the home team is 13-19 against the spread, per Sharp Football Analysis. This means that more often than not, the road team covers. As of midnight, the point spread was Bucs +7.5. So if Kemp’s history holds true, this ought to be a one-score game. Or better for the Bucs.

Injuries: Bucs —  Questionable: DL Logan Hall (foot), CB Zyon McCollum (concussion), S Tykee Smith (illness). Out: RT Luke Goedeke (concussion), DT Calijah Kancey (calf), CB Josh Hayes (ankle), S Antoine Winfield (foot). Lions– Questionable: S Kerby Joseph (hamstring), T Penei Sewell (ankle), WR Jameson Williams (ankle). Doubtful: DL Marcus Davenport (groin). Out: S Ifeatu Melifonwu (ankle), WR Isaiah Williams (abdomen).

Outlook: Jared Goff just kills the Bucs. He has only lost to Tampa Bay once in four games. And even then he lit up Todd Bowles’ offense for 40 points back when Goff was the Rams quarterback in 2019. The best way, many say, to slow Goff is to get him on the ground with an interior rush. The Bucs got to him in both games last year, Week 6 when Goff was sacked three times, and in the divisional round of the playoffs (four sacks0. It didn’t matter. Goff threw for 353 and 287 yards, respectively. At least that extra sack in the playoffs helped keep the game close. The first time the Lions and the Bucs squared off last year, there was no Calijah Kancey to get at Goff from the interior. Guess what? There’s no Kancey to get to Goff today. On face value, Joe thinks the only way the Bucs win the game is if the game turns into an old-fashioned, classic Big XII-like shootout like when the Bucs beat Goff back in 2019 in the Los Angeles Coliseum. And Baker Mayfield has been in his share of these types of games — in college. The Bucs just don’t have the run game (yet) to take on a physical, beastly run defense like Detroit has. If Detroit has a weakness, it’s the Lions’ pass defense. If the Bucs are going to win today, Joe thinks it is going to be one of those games that the first team to 40 points wins. Thankfully, Zyon McCollum reportedly cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play. Joe thought the Bucs may get a break as dangerous wide receiver Jameson Williams was listed as questionable on the Lions’ injury report. However, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Saturday that Jameson will play today.

Fun facts: In the first game of the 2024 season last week Bucs QB Baker Mayfield was one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL throwing for four touchdowns. In the last game of the year last season in the playoff loss to the Lions, Mayfield was better. And worse. While he threw for 349 yards, Mayfield also threw two picks. The second pick pretty much clinched the game for the Lions. … RB Rachaad White loves the road. Arguably his best game came on the road alright — in Munich two years ago. Last year in nine road games, White had 890 scrimmage yards (98.9 per game). In his last five road games, White has had over 90 scrimmage yards each game. … If last year was any gauge, WR Mike Evans will have a big day. Evans loves playing in Detroit. In his last two games there, including last year’s divisional round playoff game, Evans has 18 catches for 328 yards and three touchdown catches. … It seems ILB Lavonte David also enjoys playing in Detroit. In three of his last four games in Ford Field, David has at least two tackles for loss. … Strange but true: OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is looking for his third straight regular season game with both a sack and a forced fumble. … Lions QB Jared Goff murders the Bucs. He is looking for his third straight game against the Bucs with at least 350 yards passing and two touchdowns. … RB Jahmyr Gibbs has a touchdown from scrimmage in eight of his last nine games. … DE Aidan Hutchinson has a sack in five of his last six games. … The Bucs need to find a way to slow down DB Brian Branch. Last year against the Bucs in the playoffs Branch had nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

Ira Kaufman Talks Lions Rematch, Comments At One Buc, Mike Evans Perspective, Luke Goedeke Nightmare, Game Predictions & Much More

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