SATURDAY AFTERNOON FOOTBALL: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DETROIT LIONS

BY ADAM GREENE

There’s a good chance you’ll still be putting your kids’ toys together Saturday afternoon as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers jockey for playoff positioning against the hapless Detroit Lions, who have somehow, once again, found their way into a nationally featured game.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANERS AT DETROIT LIONS (+10, O/U: 54)

Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.

Kickoff: Dec. 26, 1 p.m. EST

Broadcast: NFL Network

THE HISTORY

From 1978-2001 the Bucs and Lions met up twice a year for a series of mostly forgettable and meaningless games as NFC Central also rans. As such, they’ve played a lot, 59 times in fact, and one time, unbelievably, in the postseason. They met up in the 1997 NFC Wild Card game with the Trent Dilfer led Buccaneers dominating the Scott Mitchell led Lions 20-10 in one more game that would waste the Hall of Fame career of running back Barry Sanders.

The Lions hold a 31-28 advantage in the all time series that’s managed to continue, mainly due to third and fourth place scheduling, even after the league separated the teams in 2002. They last met a little more than a year ago with Tampa claiming the 38-17 win. Jameis Winston threw for 458 yards, four touchdowns, and I hope you are sitting down when you read this and not drinking something hot that will mess up your PC, tablet or phone during the ensuing spit take, just one interception. Chris Godwin caught five passes for 121 yards and Breshad Perriman hauled in five for 113 yards and three touchdowns.

Detroit was led into battle by back up QB David Blough who, remarkably, is a real person and still on the Lions’ roster at No. 3 on their depth chart. Blough, whose name is either pronounced “blow” or “bluff” and I’m going with “blow,” threw for 260 yards and two picks. His favorite target when throwing to his own team was Danny Amendola, who caught eight for 102 yards.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-5)

Tom Brady did that thing he does last week when he led his team back from a double digit deficit to the Atlanta Falcons. Brady finished with 390 yards passing and two touchdowns with no picks. Mike Evans hauled in six for 110 yards and Antonio Brown caught five for 93 and a score.

DETROIT LIONS (5-9)

The Lions, after picking up their post-coach firing win, immediately lost the next two because they’re terrible. Last week they were crushed by the Tennessee Titans to the tune of 46-25. Matt Stafford threw for 252 yards and a touchdown. Marvin Jones Jr. caught 10 passes for 112 yards and a score.

THE PICK

Tampa Bay has nothing to lose with this game other than playoff seeding. They’ve all but secured their spot and, realistically, should be booking a flight out to either Los Angeles or Seattle at this moment. Detroit is looking for its next coach and deciding if they want to start a hard rebuild without Stafford or a soft one with him. I think they should keep their vet QB and he’s the only reason this one stays close. Bucs 27, Lions 20

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