Game day: How to watch and things to watch as Lions battle Buccaneers
Game information
● What: Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field
● When: Sunday, Sept. 15, 1 p.m.
● How to watch: FOX (Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnson, Laura Okmin)
● How to listen: 97.1-FM The Ticket in Metro Detroit or any number of network affiliates around the state.
● Line: Detroit -7.5
● Officiating assignment: Clay Martin’s crew. He officiated two Lions games in 2023, including the team’s 20-6 win over Tampa Bay in Week 6.
● Last meeting: The Lions beat the Buccaneers, 31-23, in the Divisional Round of last year’s playoffs.
Coverage from the week
● Three-and-Out: Meat left on bone hints at lofty defensive ceiling
● Lions seeking defensive identity built around violence and fear
● Film review: Pass rush's potential and thoughts on revamped secondary
● What’s different about the 2024 Buccaneers
● Carlton Davis downplays first game against former team
● The debut episode of the Detroit Football Network podcast
● Malcolm Rodriguez has carved out a defensive role
● Debut of end-of-the-week thoughts led by Barnes’ versatile role
● This week’s mailbag tackles the idea of trading Hendon Hooker
● 6-foot-4 wide receiver Tim Patrick gets the call off the practice squad
Three things worth watching
● In two meetings with the Buccaneers last season, including a Divisional Round matchup, Amon-Ra St. Brown hauled in 20 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Now you're telling me the same opponent has to deal with a motivated and frustrated All-Pro while trying to cope with a banged-up secondary?
Good luck, fellas.
In Week 1, St. Brown spent a touch more time running routes out of the slot than he has the past two seasons. It’s not much of a sample size to call it a trend, but if the Lions revisit that schematic approach against Tampa Bay, it sets up a head-to-head matchup with rookie Tykee Smith.
To make matters worse for Smith, he missed practice Thursday and Friday with an illness. But he did travel with the team, suggesting he’s trending toward playing. Still, you have to believe he won’t be at his best.
That’s right, angry All-Pro against a rookie not at 100%. If St. Brown doesn’t catch at least seven balls and go over 100 yards in this one, it would be a colossal upset.
● Against the fourth and fifth offensive tackles on the Los Angeles Rams depth chart, we saw Aidan Hutchinson accomplish exactly what you’d expect from a Pro Bowl-caliber edge rusher.
The former No. 2 overall pick established residence in the Rams backfield, posting a nearly 50% pass-rush win rate, pressuring quarterback Matthew Stafford 11 times, and preserving the tie that sent the game into overtime with a sack on the final play of regulation.
Now we get to see how Hutchinson handles some real competition, in the form of three-time Pro Bowler Tristan Wirfs.
In 2023, Hutchinson arguably had his worst pass-rushing performance in Week 6 against the Buccaneers, generating a single QB pressure. He emphatically rebounded in the postseason, terrorizing Tampa Bay's blocking with eight pressures, three QB hits and a sack. But none of that damage came against Wirfs, who ended the night with a clean sheet: zero pressures allowed.
Also working against Hutchinson is the anticipated absence of Marcus Davenport, who is doubtful due to a groin injury. He was impactful in the opener, generating six pressures, mostly with a pocket-crushing bull rush. That injury could allow the Buccaneers to commit extra resources to slowing Hutchinson.
As always, expect to see Hutchinson move around the front. He rushed significantly more from the right side of the formation in the opener, but a greater percentage of his snaps were on the opposite side in both games against Tampa Bay last year. To maintain the mismatch advantage, he'll likely see far more of Justin Skule, who is expected to fill in for Luke Goedeke at right tackle after the former Central Michigan standout suffered a mid-week concussion.
Skule started 12 games for the 49ers from 2019-20, but has played fewer than 50 offensive snaps since joining Tampa in 2022.
● I won’t pretend to know Aaron Glenn’s game plan, but I hope the defensive coordinator asks Davis to shadow Mike Evans.
First, I think Davis is best suited to handle Evans’ size. Sure, Detroit’s defensive back is still giving away four inches and close to 30 pounds, but compared to rookie Terrion Arnold — who is a couple of years away from achieving grown-man strength — give me the physical veteran in the matchup with the future Hall of Famer all day.
Instead, let the speedy Arnold chase around the equally fleet-footed Chris Godwin. That matchup should be fun, too.
There’s little doubt Davis had to cover both Evans and Godwin countless practice snaps over the years. And Glenn raved about the compelling scouting reports Davis provided his Detroit teammates earlier this week. Still, there’s just something about the strength-on-strength, power-on-power matchup that’s exciting, particularly when you consider how amped Davis will be to make his former employer regret their decision to unceremoniously deal him away this offseason.
Tweaked the Hutchinson section this morning to acknowledge Luke Goedeke suffered a mid-week concussion and has been ruled out of this contest.
Good point about Davis on Evans and Arnold on Godwin. In man to man snaps, Godwin in the slot against Amik is concerning. Amik has not played well inside in his career. It’s one defensive spot the Lions have downgraded by moving Branch to safety.