Tampa Bay Buccaneers Spoil Heroic Effort of Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson, win 20-16

The Detroit Lions were seeking to start an NFL season 2-0 for the first time since 2017.

In their way was another previous playoff opponent from last season. While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the Week 2 contest as a depleted group on defense, their offense found success in their opening victory against the Washington Commanders.

Detroit was seeking to improve in all areas, since its opening game resulted in a victory. However, the team did not play its best brand of football.

With DJ Reader debuting, there was elevated excitement and expectations that Aidan Hutchinson and the defensive line could severely impact Baker Mayfield’s efforts to move the football.

Despite injuries, the Buccaneers’ defense put forth a valiant effort over the course of 60 minutes.

Here are several takeaways from the Lions’ 20-16 loss to Tampa Bay.

Key defenders force Buccaneers into early field goal

No doubt, the Buccaneers wanted to target their key offensive weapons early in the contest.

After the Lions won the opening coin toss and deferred, wideout Chris Godwin was targeted early on the Buccaneers opening offensive drive.

Mayfield, who Terrion Arnold called a “risk-taker” earlier this week, quickly looked in the rookie’s direction, firing a deep shot to wideout Trey Palmer. The rookie was flagged for the third time in his young career, setting up Mayfield and his offense in prime field position.

Brian Branch broke up a pass in the end zone and Aidan Hutchinson pressured Mayfield to force the Buccaneers into a field goal try.

Late in the second quarter, Branch was able to pick off a Mayfield pass that was intended for Mike Evans, haulting a drive that could have resulted in Todd Bowles’ squad taking a two-score lead.

Officials do not throw flag against Buccaneers defender

After the Buccaneers took an early 3-0 lead, the officials seemed to miss an interference call on wideout Jameson Williams.

Looking to be aggressive early, Goff dropped back to throw on Detroit’s first offensive play of the game. Unfortunately, cornerback Zyon McCollum intercepted the pass, as Williams was apparently interfered with, which disrupted his route.

The Buccaneers were able to extend their early lead to 6-0 on a 55-yard made field goal by Chase McLaughlin.

Jameson Williams sparks offense

Entering Week 2, the discussion surrounding the former first-round pick was consistency, as the speedy wideout does not just want to have sporadic performances.

After the early turnover, Goff tested the Buccaneers secondary, successfully connecting on a 50-yard pass to Williams, who had gained clear separation from Jamel Dean.

The Buccaneers defense thwarted the efforts of the Lions their first occasion into the red zone, forcing Bates to make a 22-yard-field goal.

Really, who can stop that pic.twitter.com/oN2ts9QdM5

— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) September 15, 2024Aidan Hutchinson records sacks in bunches

Aidan Hutchinson was a constant force in the backfield for the Lions, particularly with three sacks in the first quarter. He nearly derailed the Buccaneers’ first drive, as he strip-sacked Mayfield to force a field goal try.

Hutchinson had sacks on each of Tampa Bay’s first three drives. It was the third time in his career he has had three sacks or more in a game, and he became the fourth player since 1994 to have three sacks in the first quarter of a game.

The Michigan product has 10.5 sacks in his last four regular season games, which is the most by a Lions player over a four-game span in franchise history. He recorded another early in the second half and finished with 4.5 on the afternoon, a sack shy of a franchise record.

The former first round pick has become the first Lions player with four or more sacks in a game since Keith Ferguson did it back in 1986.

Secondary blunder on Buccaneers’ first touchdown

After Arnold missed time in the first half with a finger injury, the Buccaneers scored their first touchdown when the rookie returned.

Kindle Vildor had replaced the No. 24 overall pick for a series.

Mayfield was able to take advantage of miscommunication in the secondary, as Godwin was able to find himself completely wide open on a fake screen.

Amik Robertson fell victim to a fake screen and their appeared to be miscommunication regarding coverage on the back end.

Uncharacteristically, Detroit could not capitalize late in the second half, as several offensive players ran on the field prior to Goff spiking the football, resulting in a 10-second runoff and the half ending before a field goal try could be attempted.

At halftime, Campbell told the television broadcast, “I totally screwed my team.”

Aggressiveness in second quarter in a defensive battle

After the Buccaneers first touchdown, Campbell dialed up the aggressiveness on Detroit’s next offensive drive.

Seemingly stuffed, Detroit dialed up a fake punt from their own 20-yard line. Rookie Sione Vaki was on the receiving end of a 17-yard reception from punter Jack Fox, who has a solid passing track record on fake punts.

Later in the same drive, David Montgomery successfully ran on 4th-and-2 to move the chains.

Unfortunately, the drive stalled midway through the second quarter.

Offense gets in rhythm late in third quarter, struggled to record touchdowns

Detroit’s first touchdown of the afternoon came towards the tail end of the third quarter.

Goff and the offense were able to convert on three third downs en route to a 12-play, 68-yard scoring drive that ate up 6:00 on the clock.

David Montgomery scored Detroit’s first touchdown on a 1-yard scamper, and gave his team the lead,16-13, with a little over 3:00 remaining in the quarter.

The Buccaneers answered right away, as Mayfield drove his team 70 yards in six plays that only took a little over 2:00 off the clock. The veteran signal-caller showcased his scrambling abilities throughout the drive, and scored on an 11-yard run. It gave the Buccaneers a 20-16 lead.

Jahmyr Gibbs helped spark a scoring drive midway through the fourth quarter. A 22-yard scamper helped put Detroit in a position for the go-ahead touchdown.

Unfortunately, Goff threw an interception to Christian Izien with just over 7:00 remaining.

The Lions had two opportunities in the red zone at the end of the game, but both resulted in turnover on downs. The second of them, an incompletion to Tom Kennedy, ended the game.