Buccaneers - Lions live online: stats, scores and highlights | NFL Divisional Round

Can the Lions stop the pass game?

The Lions defense ranks 27th in pass defense, allowing an average 247.4 passing yards per game. Over just the last four games, it's gotten even worse, increasing to 379.8 yards per game.

That's...not good news for today. when they'll be up against top receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. 

Despite these stats, however, in their first matchup in Week 6, the Lions defense did a great job at containing the Bucs receivers. They held Evans to just four catches on 10 targets for 49 yards. While Godwin had a slightly better night, catching six of seven passes for 77 yards, neither one was able to get a score.

Can they hold them again tonight?

Let's talk quarterbacks

Jared Goff vs Baker Mayfield

Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Buccaneers quarterback BakerMayfield have a lot in common.

They were both No. 1 Draft picks, two years apart. They were both sort of given up on after they had some rough seasons in the NFL. Goff's Lions went 3-13 in his first season in Detroit. Mayfield, despite leading the Browns to their first playoff game since 2002, was pushed to the backburner to make room for DeShaun Watson. Mayfield then went to the Panthers for a minute, then the Rams, winning just one game as a starter before they let him go, too. Then, Tom Brady retired and the Bucs replaced him with Mayfield.

Matthew Stafford, who was the Lions starting quarterback before Goff, won a Super Bowl the year he was traded to the Rams. This year, Goff’s Lions knocked Stafford and the Rams out of the playoffs after taking them to their first home playoff game in 32 years.

And now Mayfield is playing in the Bucs as NFC South winners and in the Divisional Round of the playoffs after being cast aside three times.

Oh, well that's embarrassing...

But hey, it's nice they won't have to worry about the frigid temps!

Back in the game

When the Bucs and Lions played each other in Week 6, Detroit was missing some crucial players...

-Running back Jahmyr Gibbs 

-Guard Jonah Jackson

-Cornerback Brian Branch

-Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson

-Defensive lineman Josh Paschal

-Edge rusher James Houston 

And RB David Montgomery had to leave the game in the first half.

All of those key players should be back to face the Buccaneers today. They were able to win 20-6 without them. How will they do with them?

Lions lead series over Bucs

The Lions hold the lead in the regular season series against the Buccanners at 32-28. The Bucs, however, lead 1-0 in the playoffs. 

The last time these two teams met was in Week 6 of this season, when the Lions beat the Bucs 20-6. This will be their first time meeting in the postseason since 1997, when the Bucs beat the Lions 20-10 in the Wild Card round.

Bucs and Lions - How did they get here?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the regular season 9-8 and won the NFC South with that record, for a record third straight season. That's how they were able to host last week's Wild Card game against the Eagles. 

In that game, the Bucs obliterated Philly, sending them home after an embarrassing 32-9 final score. The Bucs are no strangers to the playoffs, having qualified in the last four seasons in a row and having made it there a total of 14 times overall.

That's quite different than the Lions, who we mentioned just won their first playoff Game iin over three decades. They finished the regular season at 12-5 (quite the improvement from last season) and won the NFC North, their first division title since 1993.

The last time the Lions were even in the playoffs was back in 2016. This time, they get the home-field advantage, another first since 1993. And it's the first time in franchise history that they host two home playoff games. Their path here started off hot and never slowed down - they beat the defending Super Bowl champs Chiefs in the NFL season opener and then started the season 8-2. They finished with an offense that ranked top five in both points and yards per game.

More of the latest news on the the NFC teams left in the postseason...for now.

Lions hoping to keep momentum

The Lions have made it further than they have in a long, long time. Last week's Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Rams was their first postseason win in 32 years.

Today, they will have the advantage of hosting the game at Ford Field again as they take on the NFC's No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If they win, they will be playing in their first NFC Championship Game since 1991 and would face the NFC top seed San Francisco 49ers.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to our live coverage of today's NFC Divisional Round playoff Game between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It's Jen here today to bring you all the pre-game buildup, live scores, highlights, stats, and commentary throughout the game, and all the fallout from after. 

Let's go!