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A pair of teams who were both opening-week winners meet in Michigan as the defending NFC South-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers oppose the NFC North-winning Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon. It’s a rematch of the divisional-round playoff game of last season, won at this venue by the Lions, 31-23. That was a 17-17 game entering the final quarter.

In last week’s opener, it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers whipping visiting Washington, 37-20, as quarterback Baker Mayfield (289 passing yards, four touchdowns), fresh off his new contract, had his way with the defense of the Commanders.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

There weren’t many notable quarterback achievements last week, but Mayfield proved an exception, albeit against a team that’s been quite porous.

Detroit is also 1-0 after escaping the pesky Los Angeles Rams, 26-20 in overtime. It wasn’t quarterback Jared Goff’s finest hour (18-of-28, 217 passing yards, one touchdown), but the Lions ran wild (163 yards, more than five yards per carry). David Montgomery’s one-yard ‘dash’ during ‘free football’ won the game.

They will need more balance when facing an improved Buccaneers team.

Detroit is a touchdown favorite (total at 52), according to NFL odds.

It’s the 63rd meeting (including the postseason) between the teams. Detroit is leading, 33-29.

Here’s a look at what to expect in Motown during the season’s second week…

Ford Field Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

It was ages ago (2018, to be exact) when the Cleveland Browns selected quarterback Baker Mayfield as the first overall selection in the draft.

He did revive a Cleveland franchise that had been in disarray for many years without a legitimate quarterback, Mayfield, despite sizable numbers with the Browns, was deemed to be expandable. So, after four seasons by Lake Erie, he was off to the Carolina Panthers and Los
Angeles Rams. He’s now firmly entrenched in Tampa Bay, leading the Buccaneers (career-best 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns) into the playoffs last season.

Mayfield and the Bucs built an early 13-0 lead against Washington and never had an anxious moment. He was able to find seven different targets while rookie running back Bucky Irving led the team with 62 ground yards.

In last season’s playoff loss to the Lions, Mayfield was both good (349 passing yards, three touchdowns) and bad (two interceptions).

Lions Weren’t Pretty

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown – Photo by: USA Today

It’s somewhat of a quirk in the schedule that finds the Detroit Lions opening this season against the two teams they whipped in the playoffs last season. Before eliminating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they edged the Los Angeles Rams.

Regarding last Sunday, Detroit had a 10-3 lead over the Rams in the waning moments of the second quarter. LA’s two-minute drill ended in an interception. Detroit did build a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter, but couldn’t prevent an LA rally that sent the game into overtime.

As was mentioned, Detroit needed every bit of a terrific run game to win, despite the visitors having an advantage in virtually every other category.

Lay the Wood

Bucs CB Jamel Dean and Lions TE Sam LaPorta – Photo by: USA Today

Detroit is 5-1 (+500) to win the NFC, while Tampa is 30-1 (+3000), as per NFL conference odds. While Tampa Bay did slap around a rebuilding/repulsive Washington Commander team last week, going on the road presents a much tougher test this time around.

There isn’t the rookie quarterback (Jayden Daniels) the Bucs saw in the opener, but rather a seasoned vet in Jared Goff. Let’s not dismiss Daniels’ team-leading 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Goff wasn’t great to begin the season, but he did toss a pair of scores against Tampa Bay in the aforementioned playoff game last season. He isn’t a runner in the mold of Daniels, but if the Bucs could not contain the legs of the rookie, can they limit the very good backfield tandem (David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs) of the Lions?

Remaining at home makes things that much easier with the Lions, so that’s the way we’re going.

Take the Detroit Lions -7 Sunday afternoon.