Lions repeatedly sputter in red zone in narrow loss to Buccaneers

(Credit: Getty Images)

Detroit — The Detroit Lions’ 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Ford Field will be defined by the home team’s squandered opportunities.

The Lions made seven trips into the red zone, but came away with just one touchdown in the defeat. That included a failed fourth-and-8 snap in the final minute as running back Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped short of the first-down marker at the 6-yard line.

The inability to capitalize was further punctuated by an operational error at the end of the first half, when the field goal unit rushed off the sideline before quarterback Jared Goff could spike the ball, resulting in a 10-second runoff that ate up the remaining clock.

Detroit’s defense did what it could to keep the game close, limiting the Buccaneers to a little more than 200 yards of total offense, while holding them to 2-for-9 on third downs, but it wasn’t enough.

The loss drops the Lions to 1-1 on the season, while the Buccaneers move to 2-0 with the win.

Game ball

It was a nice bounce-back game for St. Brown, but it would be wrong not to give the nod to Hutchinson. The edge rusher dropped Mayfield three times in the opening quarter and finished with a career-high 4.5 sacks, the second-most by a Lions player in a game since the stat became official in 1982.

Scoring summary

First quarter

● 11:31 — Tampa Bay moved quickly down the field thanks to an 18-yard completion to Chris Godwin and a 41-yard pass interference infraction against rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold.

After two DPIs in the end zone last week, Arnold drew a flag for more of the same, jostling with the receiver while the ball was in the air. That set up first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, but the Lions held, with Brian Branch coming up with a run stop on first down and a pass deflection on second down before Aidan Hutchinson sacked Baker Mayfield on third-and-goal. Chase McLaughlin easily made a 30-yarder to open the scoring. BUCCANEERS 3, LIONS 0

● 9:00 — Taking over at Detroit’s 44-yard line, the Buccaneers moved backward across midfield with a false start penalty and another Hutchinson sack. But a 19-yard screen on third-and-22, but them on the outside of McLaughlin’s range and the kicker sent it through from 55 yards out. BUCCANEERS 6, LIONS 0

● 7:13 — The Lions responded to the six-point hole with an immediate deep shot to Jameson Williams, who beat cornerback Jamel Dean on a corner pattern and received a perfect ball from Goff for a 50-yard gain.

A roughing the passer infraction on the next snap gave the Lions first-and-goal at the 10, but they couldn’t get it across the goal line for six with three tries, settling for a 22-yard Jake Bates field goal. BUCCANEERS 6, LIONS 3

Second quarter

● 12:47 - Amon-Ra St. Brown wasn’t targeted Detroit's first two drives, but outdid his Week 1 production during this series, catching four balls for 41 yards as Goff completed his first seven passes to steer the Lions into the red zone.

But the offense stalled inside the 20 again, in part because Goff and Williams weren’t on the same page on a timing route, which set up a third-and-long from the 18-yard line. Bates came through again, with a 35-yarder this time, to knot things at six. BUCCANEERS 6, LIONS 6

● 9:08 — A great series for Mayfield, who twice escaped a collapsing pocket to find Chris Godwin for chain-moving completions. Then, on first-and-10, the Buccaneers schemed up a Godwin wheel route from the slot that stressed Detroit’s zone coverage, resulting in the speedy receiver coming wide open down the left sideline for a 41-yard score. BUCCANEERS 13, LIONS 6

Third quarter

● 11:53 — It was an explosive start to the second half for the Lions with a 20-yard completion to St. Brown, bolstered by another roughing the passer penalty against Tampa. The offense quickly added 15 more on an end-around to Williams, but continued to sputter in the red zone, taking another three points off a 32-yard kick by Bates. BUCCANEERS 13, LIONS 9

● 3:26 — The Detroit possession got off to a shaky start with a couple of misfires by Goff, including one that was nearly intercepted. But a Williams third-down conversion sparked a lengthy series that included two more drive-extending grabs on third down by Sam LaPorta and St. Brown.

David Montgomery polished things off with a first-and-goal plunge from a yard out. LIONS 16, BUCCANEERS 13

● Detroit’s lead lasted fewer than three minutes after a 15-yard facemask penalty against Arnold and a 21-yard completion to rookie Jalen McMillan kickstarted Tampa’s response.

Mayfield put the finishing touches on the drive with two runs. The first, an 11-yard scramble on third down, pushed the Buccaneers into the red zone. Then, on the next snap, the QB ran a designed draw to get across the goal line and put the visitors back in front. BUCCANEERS 20, LIONS 16

Fourth quarter

● None

Turnovers

● On Detroit’s first offensive snap of the game, Williams collided with safety Christian Izien on a post pattern, knocking the receiver off a timing route that was easily intercepted by Zion McCollum

● With the Buccaneers threatening to extend a seven-point lead before the half, Branch did a nice job reading Mayfield’s eyes on a third-down crossing pattern, drifting to his left to make a leaping interception.

● Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Lions in field-goal range, Goff took a big hit from Tampa defensive lineman Greg Gaines, causing a deep pass to float directly into the waiting hands of Izien, ending the scoring threat.

Notable

● The Lions successfully executed another fake punt with Jack Fox connecting on a 17-yard toss to rookie Sione Vaki on fourth-and-12 from the team’s own 20.

Key stats

● Goff was shaky, completing 34-of-54 for 307 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions.

● St. Brown paced the Lions with 11 grabs for 119 yards. Williams added five receptions for 79 yards to maintain his hot start to the season.

● Gibbs paced the Lions with 84 yards on the ground, punctuated by a 24-yard carry.

Injuries

● Arnold briefly exited with a finger injury, but returned with a massive wrap on his left hand the first defensive series of the second quarter.

● Vita Vea, Tampa’s dominant defensive tackle, was ruled out with a knee injury in the second half.

● Alex Anzalone suffered a concussion in the second half.

● St. Brown hobbled to the sideline during the final possession with an unknown injury.

Inactives

Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw was the only surprise on Detroit’s pre-game inactive list. The second-round draft pick served as the first cornerback off the bench in the opener and logged 11 special teams reps, including work as a gunner on punt coverage.

Also inactive: Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, linebacker Trevor Nowaske, offensive tackles Giovanni Manu and Colby Sorsdal, wide receiver Isaiah Williams and defensive end Marcus Davenport.

Melifonwu (ankle) and Williams (abdomen) had previously been ruled out, while Davenport came into the day doubtful with a groin injury.

Next game

The Lions hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Arizona for a matchup with the Cardinals next Sunday at 4:25 p.m. After playing the Cardinals five straight seasons, and nine out of 10, it’s been three years since the teams last squared off.