Lions tame Bucs, reach first NFC title game in 32 years

 

[January 22, 2024]  Jared Goff passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the Detroit Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game with a 31-23 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

Seeking their first Super Bowl berth, the Lions will travel to California to face the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. Detroit will be playing in the conference title game for the first time since the 1991 season.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 74 yards, including the go-ahead 31-yard score in the fourth quarter. Amon-Ra St. Brown caught eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Sam LaPorta had nine receptions for 65 yards for Detroit.

The Lions' second playoff win in as many weeks came three years to the day after Dan Campbell was introduced as the downtrodden franchise's new head coach.

"I envisioned that we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that's where we're at," Campbell said. "All you've got to do is get in."

For the second week running, Lions fans chanted Goff's name.

"This is our last one in front of them and they were special (Sunday), as they were last week," Goff said. "They deserve it. They deserve this, they deserve to enjoy this and hope to give them a lot more coming forward."

Baker Mayfield passed for 349 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for the Bucs. Mike Evans caught eight passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Derrick Barnes' interception of Mayfield with 1:33 remaining clinched Detroit's victory.

The Buccaneers exceeded expectations in 2023 by winning the NFC South and a wild-card game, but now they head into the offseason with pending free-agent decisions to make about Mayfield and Evans.

"I love this group," Mayfield said. "I've said that all year, and it's authentic, I mean that. It would mean a lot for me to bring back a lot of key pieces to get this back together."

The game was tied at 10 at halftime.

Detroit struck first on Michael Badgley's 23-yard field goal. Tampa Bay answered with Chase McLaughlin's 43-yard field goal.

Jan 21, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) comes down with the touchdown in the end zone making the score 31-17 as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) tries to stop him during second half in a 2024 NFC divisional round game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Seals-USA TODAY Sports

The Lions regained the lead early in the second quarter on Goff's 9-yard scoring pass to Josh Reynolds.

McLaughlin banged a 50-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright with 2:24 remaining in the first half.

The Bucs tied it with 15 seconds left on a 92-yard drive that took just 1:13. Evans' diving 29-yard reception set up Mayfield's 2-yard scoring pass to Cade Otton.

Detroit regained the lead with 3:48 left in the third quarter. Craig Reynolds scored on a 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal.

Tampa Bay answered again, as Rachaad White scored on a 12-yard screen pass from Mayfield with 10 seconds left in the third.

The Lions struck back quickly, as Gibbs burst through a hole and scored from 31 yards out with 13:13 left in the game to make it 24-17.

After Detroit forced a punt, its offense drove 89 yards to increase the lead. Goff hooked up with St. Brown on a 9-yard passing play to make it 31-17.

Mayfield completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Evans with 4:37 left. Evans had a 24-yard reception on fourth-and-14 earlier in the drive. The Bucs attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass was broken up.

--Field Level Media

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