I was on the fence last week and ultimately chose to roll with the Bucs over the Eagles, and I was proven right in the form of a resounding 32-9 win for Tampa Bay that booked this trip to face Detroit in the NFC Divisional Round.
I think last week, in part, was a combination of everything clicking — a masterful game plan from Todd Bowles, an in-his-bag type of play-calling night from Dave Canales and the players making key plays at the right time after getting an early lead. I think another part of last week’s game was the Eagles being in complete disarray and having no answers to their collapse that began after they started 10-1.
It all worked out beautifully for the Bucs last week, and while I think they have more than a puncher’s chance this week, I think their momentum might run out in Motown.
Riding high from their emotional win last week — their first playoff win since the 1991 playoffs — I think the Lions thrill the home crowd at Ford Field again with a victory that sends them into the NFC Championship Game for the first time since those 1991 playoffs.
I actually don’t hate this matchup from a Bucs standpoint. They were in the game when the two teams met in Week 6 and only fell out of it because of some poor execution on offense and an inability to survive third downs on defense. I think Tampa Bay plays a better game this time around, but I think Detroit does, too.
The duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t get to make its presence felt in Week 6 and I think it will on Sunday. Not only that, but I’m not sure the Buccaneers secondary will be able to do enough to slow down the likes of Amon’Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds and Sam LaPorta.
For the Bucs to win this one, the offense may need another 30-point performance, and I’m just not confident enough in this group to go on the road and do that. It could definitely happen and I wouldn’t be surprised if Tampa Bay found a way to win in the Motor City and advanced to the NFC title game. My heart is telling me to go in that direction, really. But my head is saying to make the safe pick, and that’s the home team that has been looking like a top contender in the NFC all year long.
ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Lions 27, Bucs 20
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 10-8
Josh Queipo: Good Vibes Defeats Great Vibes In Bucs’ Road Win
I’m past the X’s and the O’s and the analytics. In a bonkers season filled with just about every quarterback in the league and their mother going down with injuries, the Eagles falling off a cliff, and the Texans going from worst to first, the only thing left to analyze is vibes. And the vibes are great with both of these teams. Detroit has run a throwback to the days of Ace of Base and Jurassic Park (the original) – back to the 1990s when the Lions were a good team with Barry Sanders and then Calvin Johnson. The Lions are coming off a win at home for the first time in 30 years against their beloved former quarterback, Matthew Stafford.