Lions Advance to NFC Championship with Victory Over the Buccaneers
In what has been a magical ride for the 2023 Detroit Lions, the good mojo continued Sunday afternoon, as they advanced to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991, with their 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The battle between the Lions and Bucs saw the game come down to the wire, as Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff would put on a show for their respective teams. However, Goff and the Lions would get the last laugh after two fourth-quarter touchdown drives and a late defensive stop would seal the win for Detroit. The win for Detroit sends them to Santa Clara, to square off against the top-seed San Francisco 49ers, with a trip to Super Bowl 58 on the line in the NFC Championship Game next Sunday. Let’s take a look at how the Lions came away with the Divisional Round victory.
The Lions’ defense would get off to a strong start, as safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson would intercept Mayfield to set the offense up with excellent field position. The Lions would capitalize with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Michael Badgley to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. The Buccaneers would respond on their next drive with a 43-yard field goal by kicker Chase McLaughlin to tie the game up at 3-3. Three minutes into the second quarter, the Lions would get their first touchdown of the afternoon, as Goff would find wideout Josh Reynolds for a 9-yard touchdown grab to take a 10-3 lead. With 15 seconds before halftime, the Buccaneers would square the game up at 10 apiece, as Mayfield would connect with tight end Cade Otton for a short 2-yard touchdown reception.
In the second half, the Lions’ offense would come alive, as they would retake a 17-10 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Craig Reynolds. With 15 seconds left in the third quarter, the Buccaneers would tie the game up at 17-17, after running back Rachaad White scored on a 12-yard screen pass into the end zone. To begin the fourth quarter, the Lions would regain a 24-17 lead, as running back Jahmyr Gibbs sprinted for a 31-yard touchdown run. After a Buccaneers punt, the Lions would extend their lead to 31-17, following a 9-yard touchdown catch by Amon-Ra St. Brown with six minutes left. The Buccaneers would not go away, as Mayfield would connect deep with veteran wideout Mike Evans for a 16-yard touchdown grab to trim the Lions’ lead to 31-23, with four minutes left.
Following a punt by Detroit, the Bucs would have an opportunity to tie the game up late in regulation. However, the Lions’ defense would seal the victory, as linebacker Derrick Barnes would intercept Mayfield to end the game and start the celebration in the Motor City. In the win, Jared Goff would have one of his best starts this season, as he finished going 30 for 43, with 287 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Lions would get their run game going in the second half, as Jahmyr Gibbs would have nine carries for 74 yards and a touchdown. In his resurgent 2023-24 season, Mayfield would finish his season going 26 for 41, with 349 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. It was also a busy day for Buccaneers’ wide receiver Mike Evans, who had eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.
