Lions Secure Spot in NFC Championship Game with Late INT
- Tom Mele, Contributor
Ford Field MI - Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Barnes on a pass
over the middle which sealed the 31-23 Detroit Lions win and their first trip to the NFC championship game since 1991.
The Lions (14-5) used the arm of QB Jared Goff who was 30 of 43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns and the legs of rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs who ran for 74 yards on nine totes including an electrifying 31 yards score that put the Lions up for good at 24-17 in the fourth quarter.
The teams traded field goals in the first quarter and in the second, Detroit went up 10-3 on a 9-yard
scoring pass to WR Josh Reynolds. Tampa missed a FG attempt but Baker Mayfield led the Bucs on an
impressive 92 yard drive right before the half culminating on a 2 yard TD pass to Cade Otton who on the
day made 5 receptions for 65 yards. WR Mike Evan led the way in receiving for Tampa catching 8 passes
for 147 yards and a score.
With the game tied at 10 at the half both teams traded scoring drives in the third. Detroit used a combination of short passes and runs to move 64 yards in 10 plays culminating in a short one-yard score
by Craig Reynolds. Tampa used the passing of Mayfield, who was 26 of 41 for 349 yards to tie the game
on a 12-yard scoring pass to RB Rachaad White.
Mayfield was impressive throwing for three touchdowns, but it was the two interceptions that made the
difference. A first half deflected pass by Mike Evans was intercepted by C.J. Gardner-Johnson and
resulted in the early 3-0 lead for Detroit. The difference here is Tampa (10-9) had a chance to pick off
Goff in the endzone before the FG but defensive back Jamel Dean dropped the underthrown ball.
HC Dan Campbell and the Lions now move on to San Francisco next week to take on the top seed 49er’s
who survived the Green Bay Packers a day earlier with a final score of 24-21. It is only the second appearance in the championship game in the Super Bowl era for Detroit and this motor city team has not won two playoff games since the last time they won the NFL Championship in 1957.
Super Jets Fan Awesome Amy has been impressed with the play of rookie TE Sam Laporta all season and
Sam did not disappoint corralling in 9 passes for 65 yards. Awesome Amy believes with Sam and WR
Amon-Ra St. Brown who caught 8 passes for 77 and a TD, the Lions have a great shot next week.
Next Week
NFC Championship Game
Detroit at San Francisco