Buccaneers 24, Lions 21
DETROIT -- Mike Glennon threw two touchdown passes to Tiquan Underwood, including the go-ahead 85-yard score, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upset the turnover-prone Detroit Lions 24-21 on Sunday at Ford Field.
Glennon, the Buccaneers' rookie quarterback, had 247 yards passing and cornerback Leonard Johnson returned one of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's four interceptions for another score as the Bucs (3-8) won their third straight after starting the season 0-8. Bobby Rainey, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 163 yards and scoring three touchdowns against Atlanta, was held to 35 yards on 18 carries.
Detroit committed five turnovers while falling to 6-5. Stafford threw three touchdown passes and wide receiver Nate Burleson, who missed the previous seven games with a broken forearm suffered during an auto accident, caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Tight end Brandon Pettigrew's 18-yard touchdown grab over the middle gave Detroit a 21-17 advantage with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter. The Lions drove deep into Tampa Bay territory on their next possession but Stafford threw his second interception when safety Keith Tandy stepped in front of wide receiver Calvin Johnson at the 1-yard line.
Tampa Bay regained the lead during the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Underwood beat the one-on-one coverage of cornerback Chris Houston and caught Glennon's bomb in stride.
The Bucs had a chance to extend their lead midway through the quarter after Danny Gorrer's punt block at the Detroit 11 but Rian Lindell missed a 35-yard field goal try.
Gorrer made another big play on Detroit's ensuing possession, forcing a Kris Durham fumble that safety Kelcie McCray recovered. Once again, Tampa Bay came up empty as Lindell misfired on a 50-yard field-goal attempt.
Johnthan Banks killed off the Lions' final drive when the ball popped out of Johnson's hands inside the 5-yard line on a Stafford pass and Banks grabbed it.
Leonard Johnson's 48-yard interception return gave Tampa Bay a 17-14 lead 50 seconds before halftime. Johnson, a backup cornerback, snagged a Stafford throw intended for Pettigrew, raced down the right sideline and somersaulted into the end zone.
Detroit had taken the lead with 4:33 remaining in the half on tight end Joseph Fauria's 10 yard catch. That score answered the Bucs' lone offensive touchdown of the half, a 7-yard pass from Glennon to Underwood.
Burleson scored the game's first touchdown on a 5-yard reception earlier in the quarter. He caught four passes on that drive.
NOTES: Johnson surpassed the 9,000-yard career receiving mark. ... CB Darrelle Revis missed the second half with a groin injury. ... The Bucs played without S Dashon Goldson, who was suspended one game by the NFL for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Atlanta WR Roddy White in last week's game. ... Buccaneers LB Mason Foster (concussion) and G Carl Nicks (foot) were also inactive. ... The Lions had won three of the last four meetings and held a 29-25 all-time series lead. ... Detroit plays at Ford Field for three of its next four games, beginning with the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay. Tampa Bay plays at Carolina on Sunday.
