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Detroit Lions predictions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A 'hat and T-shirt game'

carlos monarrez, shawn windsor and dave birkett, detroit free press
·2 min read

Free Press sports writers make their predictions for the Detroit Lions (5-9) game vs. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) at Ford Field on Saturday (1 p.m., NFL Network and NBC in Detroit):

Carlos Monarrez

Will all due disrespect to backup interim head coach Robert Prince and to interim defensive play-caller Evan Rothstein, if the Lions somehow win this game, they should both get instant battlefield promotions. But that’s not happening against Tom Brady, who leads one of the NFL’s best passing and scoring offenses for a motivated Bucs team that – as coach Bruce Arians likes to is a “hat and T-shirt” game – can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie. Before the Lions had all their COVID-related coaching problems, I picked the Bucs to win, 28-20. Now I’m adding 10 points to the Bucs and taking 10 points away from the Lions. Pick: Buccaneers 38, Lions 10

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Shawn Windsor

QB Tom Brady (12) is on the verge of leading the Buccaneers to their first playoff berth since 2007.
QB Tom Brady (12) is on the verge of leading the Buccaneers to their first playoff berth since 2007.

Matthew Stafford will play, so that should keep the game competitive early. But the Lions will be missing four defensive starters from a defense that already was struggling. Oh, and interim coach Darrell Bevell and several coaches are quarantined. Pick: Buccaneers 34, Lions 23

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Dave Birkett

The Lions match up better against the Bucs than they did Tennessee, but with everything that has gone on this week – from Brayden Coombs’ firing to the COVID-related coaching staff changes – this game has the potential to be another rout. Perhaps the Lions keep it close early, during whatever feeling-out period there is with new play callers. But Tampa’s offense is too explosive, the Lions are too short-handed on defense and this week was too hectic for that to last. Brady and the Bucs can clinch a playoff spot with a victory, and I think they get it in relatively easy fashion. Pick: Buccaneers 38, Lions 21

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions predictions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Who wins and why