The Buccaneers after knocking off last years NFC Champs will travel to Detroit to take on the Lions. They played in mid-October at Tampa and the Lions won that game 20-6. This game will be played on Sunday, Jan. 21 with kickoff at 3:00pm the game will be on NBC.

I'll take the Lions at home.

Detroit 27-17.

I'm pulling for Detroit now so I'm probably skewed a bit but I'll say...

Lions 30

Bucs 24

The Lions have too many weapons even against a good TB defense.  Lions by 2 scores.

I don't trust the Lions but I am taking the Lions in this one.

I'm not getting caught up in Tampa handling Philadelphia last week. They checked out on the season six weeks ago and the Bucs just put them out of their misery. I also feel like some are discounting the Rams game last week, who were playing some of the best ball of any NFL team coming into the playoffs. Not that I believe Detroit is a world-beating team, but I would feel comfortable giving the 6.5.

Detroit 29
Tampa Bay 20

I'm going to choose to look at this game as one where I can't lose.  I'm a Bucs fan - I'll always pull for them.  But I'm also a fan of long suffering franchises (provided I don't hate them).  And it doesn't get more longsuffering than the Lions, though Cleveland does try so very hard.  So if the Bucs lose, I will be comforted that it will mean that the Lions get to advance to the NFC Championship, where hopefully they beat whoever they play.  Them getting to the Super Bowl would be awesome.

Like bugatti, I wouldn't read into Tampa's win.  I saw that coming a mile away, because Philadelphia imploded the back half of the year, and they were also quite injured.  Detroit is neither.  The only thing working against Detroit is lack of experience, and Tampa Bay isn't overflowing with it either.  Detroit is the more talented team, and at home.  They get it done by two scores.

Getting ready to kick off!

3-3

10-3 Lions.

10 all half way through the 3rd.

17-10 Lions