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BUCCANEERS at LIONS

WHEN: Monday, October 20, 2025 | WHERE: Ford Field | KICKOFF: 7:00 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck | ANALYST: Troy Aikman | SIDELINE: Laura Rutledge & Lisa Salters

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Edge Lions On Monday Night Football

The Bucs have already proven they can win on Monday Night Football, beating the Texans in Week 2 to end their five-game losing streak in primetime that occurred last year. Tampa Bay has already shown it can beat an NFC heavyweight, winning at Seattle in Week 5 and then coming out victorious versus San Francisco last week. The theme of this year’s Buccaneers team is “find a way to win” – despite a rash of injuries – and Tampa Bay has done that in all but one game this year. As long as the team’s special teams mishaps are behind them, I actually like the Bucs chances of winning at Detroit – a venue they won at last year in Week 2, 20-16.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Points have been hard to come by against the Lions in the last three meetings. Detroit won at Tampa Bay in 2023, 20-6, and then again in the playoffs in the Motor City, 31-23. Last year the Bucs prevailed, but largely due to incredible red zone defense, holding the Lions to 1-of-7 in the red zone and picking off Jared Goff twice. Once again Detroit is really good in the red zone offensively, but Tampa Bay’s red zone defense is awful, ranking 28th in the league, and allowing touchdowns on 68.75% of the time. Yet I think Todd Bowles and his unit won’t that bad on Monday night.

Josh Grizzard has out-dueled the likes of Mike Macdonald and Robert Saleh the last two weeks as the Bucs have scored 30 points or more the last two games. I think he’ll figure out a way to attack the Lions depleted secondary and stymie (enough) Aidan Hutchinson to score more points than the Lions. I could see Rachaad White having a big day in the passing game on screens, swing passes and maybe even a go route or wheel route down the sidelines. I was going to pick the Lions to win this game, but the loss of playmaking safety Brian Branch to a suspension was the turning point for me. Mike Evans’ return helps the Bucs get a hard-fought victory.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Lions 24
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 5-1

Matt Matera: Bucs Keep It Rolling With Another Big Offensive Performance

It appears that it doesn’t matter who is in and out of the lineup for the Bucs, as long as Baker Mayfield is playing at an MVP level and has at least one of his top receivers, that’ll be enough to get the job done. The Bucs should take full advantage of a very injured Lions’ secondary that is also without strong safety Brian Branch due to a suspension that was upheld. 

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The greatest offensive player of all time in Bucs history, Mike Evans, makes his long-awaited return on Monday night. While I don’t believe he’s going to play 75 to 80 percent of the snaps, he is still going to have a big impact in this game. They’ll hit Evans deep and also force the defense to put a ton of focus on him, opening things up for Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson and Tez Johnson. Those reserve receivers proved they could shoulder the responsibility last week and they’ll do it again. 

Tampa Bay’s defense is getting healthier, too, as it looks like corners Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison are back. Lions quarterback Jared Goff likes to get rid of the ball quick, so I expect Todd Bowles to blitz often and rely on his corners to play tight coverage against the talented Detroit receivers. I don’t know if Yaya Diaby and Haason Reddick can replicate what they did last week, so pressure will have to come from the interior with Vita Vea. If the Bucs can limit the damage, they’ll stay at the top of the conference.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 31, Lions 23
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 5-1

Adam Slivon: Bucs Beat Lions To Solidify Themselves As NFC’s Top Dog

Before this season, I chalked this week’s Bucs game against the Lions as a loss in my yearly predictions (which had Tampa Bay finishing 12-5). Even heading into this week, I wrestled with who would come away with the win on Monday Night Football. Well, it is hard to bet against Baker Mayfield and the rest of the squad right now, especially as they have pieced together back-to-back 30-point games in impressive fashion. Heading into Detroit will not be any easier, but they are 5-1 for a reason, with much of that being their resilience and winning close games.

Lions HC Dan Campbell and Bucs HC Todd Bowles- Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs offense, and especially Baker Mayfield, will have every chance to rip apart the Lions secondary as it is in shambles. Without cornerbacks Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, D.J. Reed, and Avonte Maddox, as well as safeties Brian Branch and likely Kerby Joseph, nearly every key contributor will not be available, leaving backups lining up against Tampa Bay wide receivers. While battling their own injuries, Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson have been more than productive. Add in Mike Evans if he returns, and there should be no problems throwing the ball if Mayfield can avoid the grasp of Aidan Hutchinson. Consistent play from the offensive line will help and aid Rachaad White running the football.

Not as talked about as Mayfield, Jared Goff is putting together just as excellent of a season leading Detroit’s offense. Goff is as a efficient as they come throwing the football, and he has a lot of elite weapons, starting with Amon-Ra St. Brown. What helps Tampa Bay is the fact that cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison appear good to go, and a fully intact secondary looks ready to give No. 16 problems.

The duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery is a tough draw, but the run defense has only allowed one big game so far this year. It will come down to just how much Todd Bowles’ defense can get stops playing four-down defense with the way Dan Campbell is aggressive going for it. Just as important will be the four-man pass rush, but I predict the Bucs have a repeat of last year and come away with a nail-biting win.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Lions 24
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 5-1

Bailey Adams: It Might Be Heart Over Head, But I’ll Pick The Bucs Again

You’ve got to understand something about me. I grew up on the Bucs, and until recently, the majority of my memories regarding this team and franchise are centered on losing. Tampa Bay lost and lost and lost from the time I was 10 until I turned 22. And even though things turned around in the Tom Brady era and have kept trending in the right direction in the Baker Mayfield era, there’s still a part of my mind that is scarred by the old Bucs. It’s that part of my brain that is telling me a 6-1 start with five wins over teams in playoff contention is just too good to be true.

My head is telling me that a win on Monday night in primetime over the Lions just can’t happen because things can’t go too well for the Bucs for too long, right? There has to be a setback, even if it’s a small one and this team bounces back with a win next week to hit the bye at 6-2. That’s how I’ve been conditioned to think. But damn it, I’m not listening to my head. I’m going with my heart. If I pick the Bucs and they lose, costing me my perfect predictions record, then so be it. At least I’ll go out on my shield.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

But with all of that said, there is another, less cynical part of my mind that also thinks picking Tampa Bay over Detroit is the right move. I trust Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard a whole lot right now, and as much as the Lions front seven will look to impact the game, I think the Bucs will find a way to take advantage of the banged-up, razor-thin Detroit secondary. And as much as Jared Goff and the Lions offense does scare me, I oddly have a pretty strong sense of belief in this Buccaneer defense to do just enough once again and complement a strong offensive effort to get this team to 6-1.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 31, Lions 27
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 6-0

Josh Queipo: Bucs Fall In Nailbiter

The similarities between these two teams is astounding. Both are near, if not at, the top of the NFC and this could be a playoff prequel. The Bucs will have to account for a high-powered offense with playmakers that can attack every blade of grass. And while some thought the Lions would falter after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. But they are once again in the top five in the NFL in EPA/play this year.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

While I think highly of the Bucs’ revamped secondary the Lions have multiple weapons they can attack use to attack Tampa Bay’s linebacker level. And that is where I think the difference in this game will be born out. Detroit offensive coordinator John Morton will use running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to create mismatches with the Bucs second level to create enough offense to get the win at home.

The Bucs offense should be able to keep up for the most part. Mike Evans returning should be a huge boon against a depleted Lions secondary. But their pass rush should still be formidable as Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill will keep the Bucs offensive line busy. The Lions linebacking corps is a solid group that should keep the Bucs running game in check and help make up for some of the deficiencies behind them. And the homefield advantage is what really kicks it in Detroit’s favor for me.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Lions 27, Bucs 26
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 5-1