Detroit Lions will host Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field in divisional round of NFL playoffs.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 John, the Lions now know their divisional round foe and that would be Baker Mayfield
00:04 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
00:05 What do you make of that being the case for the Lions going into Sunday at Ford Field?
00:10 Yeah, Vito, real interesting.
00:12 We intently watched here at All Lions the Eagles and the Buccaneers game and boy, the
00:17 Eagles, what a downfall, what a swoon for them after starting the year off 10-1.
00:22 You recognize that that was a football team that really entered the postseason on a downslide.
00:27 The Buccaneers took full advantage at Raymond James Stadium, having an opportunity now for
00:32 Baker Mayfield.
00:34 Similar story to Jared Goff, a quarterback that was cast aside, had to rebuild his image
00:40 after a failed stint to start his career.
00:43 And you look at it, they're playing a real solid brand of football, very physical.
00:47 Dan Campbell during his weekly radio interview definitely took notes and said that one of
00:51 the first things that jumped off the page in his review and watching the Bucs and the
00:57 Eagles was the physicality of the Buccaneers, their defensive line, their ability to pressure
01:03 the quarterback and get after it.
01:05 And you look at it and you realize, my goodness, Vito, that defense is playing better than
01:09 earlier this year when the Lions defeated the Buccaneers on the road 20-6.
01:13 Baker Mayfield is playing better and this contest is going to be quite the challenge
01:19 for the Lions.
01:20 You recognize that Baker Mayfield is protecting the football, getting the football out quickly,
01:26 got some new swagger, has an ability now to lead his football team.
01:29 The team is rallying behind the veteran and you realize Vito Vea and the defense is going
01:35 to pin their ears back trying to get after Jared Goff.
01:39 And just like the run of recent opponents, the Buccaneers feature a supremely talented
01:46 wideout in Mike Evans.
01:48 So you look at the Buccaneers team and they're going to come into forward field playing quite
01:51 confident and the Detroit Lions are going to have to bring their A game again like they
01:56 did against the Rams if they're going to want to advance.
02:00 But Vito, here's an interesting thought.
02:02 If the Detroit Lions win this contest, the opportunity that they will have to appear
02:07 in the NFC title game, I think bodes well for this Detroit football team.
02:12 The Buccaneers got the Lions' attention and it should be quite the interesting close contest
02:17 this Sunday at Ford Field.
02:19 It's insane.
02:20 With the win, as you said, John, the Lions will be playing in the NFC championship game.
02:24 Just incredible news for the Lions there.
02:26 John, thanks for all the time.