~!@##LiveStream~NFL//Game:: Buccaneers vs Lions Live Stream 2021 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions Live
By: New Mexico Bowl Live Stream
Tags: NFL

Live Now::https://tinyurl.com/y2v8qpwc

Live Now::https://tinyurl.com/y2v8qpwc

Last time these teams met, Jameis Winston racked up 458 yards and four touchdowns in the win while Detroit started David Blough, who was predictably not good with no touchdown passes and two interceptions. Of course, both teams have new starting quarterbacks and have changed dramatically in the past year.

In Week 15, Tampa Bay (9–5) once again didn’t look its best but managed to defeat Atlanta 31–27 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After a slow start, Tom Brady finished with 390 passing yards as the Bucs overcame a 24–7 deficit with 7:34 left in the third quarter. Leonard Fournette had two rushing touchdowns, but the running game struggled overall. Meanwhile, the defense allowed Matt Ryan to slice them up time and time again. But a win is a win and as a result, the Bucs are just a game behind New Orleans in the NFC South and can lock up a playoff spot with a victory (or a tie) on Saturday.

Detroit, on the other hand, was officially eliminated from postseason contention last week after a 46–25 loss at Tennessee dropped the Lions to 5–9. Matthew Stafford gutted out a solid effort, finishing with 252 passing yards and a touchdown. But the defense surrendered 463 yards and six touchdowns. Detroit totaled 430 yards on offense, but the defense’s woes and three turnovers helped produce a familiar result, a loss.

Tampa Bay at Detroit

Kickoff: Saturday, Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Spread: Buccaneers -9.5

Three Things to Watch

Intangibles

Motivation should not be lacking for the Buccaneers, who have won two straight games since their bye and still have a lot to play for. Tampa is close to locking up a playoff spot, which will end the NFC’s longest active playoff drought (13 seasons), but the division is still in play with New Orleans’ recent struggles. It’s a short week for the Bucs and a second straight road game, but they’ll be ready. Detroit has lost four of five, negating the spark the team had right after the team fired Matt Patricia following the Thanksgiving loss at home to Houston. The Lions will close the season out at home against the Vikings and then prepare for a lot of changes.

2. Will the real Bucs defense please stand up?

There is plenty of talent on this Tampa defense, but the unit has struggled to show consistency. Six times this season the Bucs have allowed 20 points or fewer, but they also have surrendered 27 or more on six other occasions. Getting to the quarterback (43 sacks, tied for fourth in NFL), isn’t really a problem, but overall they are 27th against the pass, including 27 touchdown passes allowed.

This defense has plenty of appealing pieces in linebackers Devin White and Shaquil Barrett, as well as defensive linemen Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh, but the secondary, including guys like cornerback Carlton Davis, have struggled over the past few weeks. Detroit is no offensive juggernaut, ranking in the middle of the league in both scoring (23.9 ppg) and total (357.1 ypg) offense, but the Lions have scored 20 or more points in four straight games. This offense could give Tampa problems with Stafford his usual solid self and rookie D’Andre Swift coming into his own. The Bucs’ D is capable of shutting teams down so we’ll see if they can rise to the occasion once more in this one.

3. Balance on offense

Every team has run on the Lions, who are 29th in the NFL at 137.3 rushing yards per game and have given up a league-high 24 touchdowns on the ground. Tennessee gouged Detroit for 195 last week with Derrick Henry (147 yds., TD) and Ryan Tannehill (2 rushing TDs) both doing damage. For Tampa, leading rusher Ronald Jones II remains on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, but he also underwent surgery last week to put in a pin in his broken finger, so he may not be available either way on Saturday.

Fournette will see an increased workload once again, but the former Jaguar is averaging less than four yards per carry, although he does have five touchdowns. LeSean McCoy and Ke’Shawn Vaughn are other options, but neither has done much to this point. Taking some pressure off Tom Brady will become more important with the playoffs and the potential for more games in cold weather both getting closer. One piece of good news for the Bucs’ offense is that starting left tackle Donovan Smith was removed from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, so he should be back in the lineup.

Final Analysis

The Lions may make things interesting at first, but Tampa’s talent will win out. I think the Bucs take care of business in this one even if they put together another slow start. A close game at halftime becomes a rout late as the visitors enjoy their post-Christmas stop in the Motor City by clinching their first playoff berth since the 2007 season.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of our Lions fam. Hope you are able to spend some time with some loved ones, either in person or virtually. If you have to work today or can’t be with family or friends, I’ve been there. It gets better, I promise.

Anyways, with the Detroit Lions out of the playoffs, it being a holiday, and this game being almost impossible to predict due to the Lions missing half of their coaching staff, we’re going to keep this week’s On Paper prediction a bit brief.

Lions ass offense (14th in DVOA) vs. Bucs pass defense (7th)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a position to lock up a playoff spot on Saturday, should they pull off a road win against the Detroit Lions. You’d think it will come easy — for the first time this season, we’re going to see an NFL team without its head coach due to COVID-19 concerns. And not only will Detroit be without its interim HC in Darrell Bevell, but plenty of other assistant coaches as well.

But who knows? What if the Lions pull off something spectacular with wide receivers coach Robert Prince acting as the interim-to-the-interim head coach?

Vegas doesn’t think so: The Buccaneers are 9.5-point road favorites. The over/under is set at 54.

Below, you’ll find our staff picks and predictions for the game.

Zach Goodall: Buccaneers 35, Lions 24

Even without Bevell calling plays as he is also the offensive coordinator, the Lions should be able to score points behind the arm of Matthew Stafford and the brains of Sean Ryan, who will handle playcalling duties. Ryan is considered an up-and-coming bright mind in the league with ample experience developing quarterbacks, and this chance to put together a sound gameplan could help with future offensive coordinator interviews for the 48 year old.

The Lions have scored under 20 points in just one game this season, I should add. This game could have a bit of a shootout feel.

But, in the end, the Bucs are the more complete team and are certainly more comfortable with their on-field coaching staff at this point. The Lions own the NFL’s №30 team defense, №29 rushing defense, and №27 passing defense.

That should be enough for a double-digit dub in the Bucs’ favor.

Jason Beede: Buccaneers 38, Lions 21

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot to play for on Saturday while the Detroit Lions have nothing to lose.

The Lions are hoping to rain on the parade of the Bucs, who are in search of their first playoffs since 2007. While I am expecting the Bucs to still come out to a slow start, as usual, quarterback Tom Brady knows how to win when it’s needed most and has already won four games this season when trailing by at least ten points.

Last week, I predicted that tight end Rob Gronkowski would catch another touchdown, and while he didn’t, I have a feeling Santa Claus, or in this case Brady, will wrap up and gift him his sixth touchdown of the season against the Lions.

Despite a predictable slow start to the game on Saturday, the Bucs will lead at halftime by a touchdown, and when it’s all said and done, finish on top by multiple scores. Besides, the Lions will be down multiple coaches against the Bucs due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

Donavon Keiser: Buccaneers 31, Lions 17

Tampa Bay has had the ability to focus on Detroit and game-plan accordingly. Detroit probably can’t say the same as a massive wrench was thrown into the Lions’ gameplan, as interim head coach Darrell Bevell and numerous defensive assistants won’t be on the sidelines due to COVID-19 contact tracing.

As such, the Bucs should finally play a complete game this Saturday against the 5–9 Lions, despite being down Ronald Jones II (pinky/reserve/COVID-19 list).

Tom Brady and Co. should do plenty against a depleted Lions secondary that has allowed 264 passing yards per game. Leonard Fournette will step in as RB1 and should see a fair amount of touches similar to last week, in which he ended with 17.

On defense, the Buccaneers are likely to be without Carlton Davis III (groin), who has been one of the most consistent cornerbacks in the league. Without Davis, the Buccaneers should see a healthy dose of a passing attack, as the Lions running offense should be limited.

The Buccaneers should have no problem covering as they have a chance to finally make it back to the playoffs, after a long 12-year drought.