At this point, all Bucs fans are all too familiar with this feeling.
The team is playing well, guys are looking good, then a primetime game against a quality opponent happens and it all goes to pot. Over the last two years, we’ve seen it happen against the Chiefs, the Ravens, the Eagles, the Bills, and the Lions…the Bucs find themselves unprepared and unproductive under the bright lights, and that carried over with a stinging 24-9 defeat Monday.
The entire offense looked off-kilter and took a massive blow when franchise cornerstone Mike Evans sustained a terrifying concussion and shoulder injury that ruined what should’ve been his triumphant return after a hamstring issue costed him 3 games. The defense fought hard and created multiple turnovers but could only do so much against the wagon that is Detroit’s excellent offense.
It’s a tough loss and will make for a long plane ride home, but the turnaround is short with another road game against the division rival New Orleans Saints Sunday before heading into the bye week. Let’s do some quick shouts and move on.
Offensive Top Performer: WR Tez Johnson
The diminutive seventh-round rookie led the Bucs receivers on an overall poor night for the unit, but Johnson still deserves credit.
After a rough start that saw some route miscommunications with Baker Mayfield, Johnson made some key plays, headlined by his elusive 22-yard touchdown on a screen. He finished with 4 catches for 58 yards and the score.
Cade Otton had to fight the Lions and the refs but still led the team in overall receivers with 7 catches for 65 yards. Props to Emeka Egbuka for gutting through a minor hamstring issue to mirror Johnson in catches and yards just without the score.
Nothing else was particularly notable. Mayfield was absolutely terrible all night long, his worst game in more than a year. We’ll see how quickly he can shake it off.
Defensive Top Performer: EDGE Yaya Diaby
Diaby has steadily ascended this season to be consistent disruptor for the Bucs defense, and the numbers are starting to show it.
He consistently pressured Goff when the game was still within reach, highlighted a strip sack that brough his season total up to 4. He also chipped in 5 total tackles.
Jamel Dean snagged his third interception of the year, while Tykee Smith played well again with 13 combined tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed as he continues to acclimate well to safety. Antoine Winfield Jr. made some plays as well, including a touchdown-saving tackle, en route to an 8 tackle night.
The defense honestly played well for most of the night, but the two massive plays allowed to Jahmyr Gibbs will overshadow it all.
Special Teams Top Performer: P Riley Dixon
Dixon did fine enough to try and control field position for the Bucs, as he pinned a season-high 4 punts inside the 20 and averaged 43.8 yards per kick. He didn’t get anything blocked so that was about the only thing worse that could’ve happened.
Not much else to say, Chase McLaughlin gave the Bucs some life at the end of the first half with a 53-yarder. That was all he got called on to do.