The Buccaneers are ready for the fight.
Buccaneers ready for 'battle-tested' Lions in NFC showdown originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers know they'll be walking into a buzzsaw in Week 7 as they travel to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions, who will be wanting retribution for the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
With the Buccaneers at 5-1, and the Lions at 4-2, this game has big implications for seeding, with either one capable of being the No. 1 seed in the NFC this season. Last time the Buccaneers played the Lions on the road, it was a 20-16 win in Week 2 last season, so it does hold good memories for Todd Bowles' team.
But that was last year, and the Lions have different coordinators now, so what are Bowles' thoughts on this version of Detroit?
"No different than last year," Bowles said. "Tons of talent, very well coached, a very tough team. They got talent at every position. Always a tough place to go play up there. They're going to be battle-tested. They're tough on both fronts, offensively and defensively.
"They make plays on the back end in the secondary. They got big play receivers. They got two-headed monsters at running back. So, it's going to be a big challenge for us."
So, pretty much good at everything. Got it, Todd.
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Buccaneers aiming to stamp Super Bowl aspirations in Detroit
Tampa Bay, through six weeks, has its fair share of people who believe in them as a Super Bowl contender, but others are more skeptical.
What's one way that the Buccaneers can show they are deserving of that title? Beat the Lions in their own building. Yes, that is a tough thing to accomplish, but this Tampa Bay team does have the means to slay Detroit.
With Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and maybe Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka out, Baker Mayfield might have to take on Detroit with lesser-known weapons, although that worked out well against the San Francisco 49ers.
If the Buccaneers want to truly announce themselves on the national stage, beating the Lions would do it and, in the process, signal to the rest of the NFL that Tampa Bay is to be taken seriously in 2025.
More Buccaneers news:
- Todd Bowles reveals 'gut feeling' of 5-1 Buccaneers | Sporting News
- Buccaneers get brutal injury update ahead of key Lions clash | Sporting News
- Bucs' Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin get negative Week 7 injury updates from Todd Bowles | Sporting News
- How long is Emeka Egbuka out? Buccaneers suffer another WR injury as rookie goes down | Sporting News
Category: Football
