Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs game with six quick-hitting topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what will lead to a Tampa Bay victory or loss, and a couple of key matchups to watch each week.

The Bucs are 5-1 after a long-awaited win over the 49ers, who had beaten Tampa Bay in each of the last three years. Now the Buccaneers travel to Detroit to take on a physical Lions team that is 4-2 after getting whipped on Sunday Night Football in Kansas City. Tampa Bay got a 20-16 win at Detroit last year in Week 2. Can they do it again despite a litany of injuries, especially along the offensive line and at wide receiver? The Bucs are hoping for the return of wide receiver Mike Evans this week to help their cause on offense.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs

The 5-1 Bucs head to Detroit in Week 7 to take on the 4-2 Lions with a golden opportunity to prove they are indeed the best team in the NFC. After a statement win over San Francisco, Tampa Bay is riding high, but a road matchup against the Lions is the kind of test that separates contenders from pretenders. Another victory at Ford Field would solidify the Bucs’ status as a legitimate threat for the NFC’s top seed and give them a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker against another playoff-caliber team in the NFC for the third week in a row.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

For Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles, this game is about consistency and credibility. The Bucs can’t afford a letdown after last week’s emotional high. Detroit plays tough, physical football, and the Bucs’ ability to match that intensity will say a lot about their identity moving forward. On defense, Tampa Bay has a chance to further cement its reputation as one of the league’s most opportunistic units if it can continue to take the ball away. The Bucs have won each of the last two games with a 2-0 turnover margin.

A win would push Tampa Bay to 6-1 – the team’s best start since 2021 – and keep the Bucs in firm control of the NFC South. A loss, however, could stall their momentum and reignite questions about whether this team can stack wins against top-tier opponents on the road, especially with games at Los Angeles and at Buffalo after the bye. This is a prove-it game in every sense.

What’s At Stake For The Lions

At 4-2, the Detroit Lions return home in Week 7 with a chance to reassert themselves as one of the NFC’s true power players. After a disappointing loss at Kansas City last week, Dan Campbell’s team needs a strong response – and beating the 5-1 Bucs would do just that. This is a pride game for Detroit, a chance to remind the league that Ford Field is one of the toughest venues in football and that this Lions team still belongs in the contender conversation.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

A win would vault Detroit to 5-2 and keep them firmly in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed, while restoring confidence in Jared Goff and an offense that’s sputtered at times against aggressive defenses. The Lions’ physical identity will be challenged against a battle-tested Tampa Bay squad that has been thriving on toughness and a recent penchant for takeaways.

Defensively, it’s about regaining their edge – getting pressure on Baker Mayfield and forcing him into mistakes and stopping the run. If the Lions drop this one, the NFC North race could tighten, and the aura of dominance they’ve built over the past year might start to fade. But if they punch back and beat a red-hot Bucs team, Detroit can reestablish itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

The Bucs Win If…

For the Bucs to notch a statement win on the road against the Lions, Tampa Bay’s offense needs to stay balanced and efficient. Baker Mayfield has done a great job of protecting the football with just one interception, but he’ll need to be sharp against a Detroit defense that thrives on pressure (19 sacks) and forcing mistakes. He must take advantage of a weakened Lions secondary that will be without both starting cornerbacks and strong safety Brian Branch, who has been suspended. Mayfield must also continue to use his legs with some timely scrambles to pick up first downs.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs’ offensive line, especially the right side, must hold up against Aidan Hutchinson and company, giving Mayfield time to find Mike Evans and Tez Johnson downfield. Establishing even a modest ground game with Rachaad White will be key to keeping the Lions’ pass rush honest and maintaining manageable down-and-distance situations. The right side of the offensive line can’t allow Pro Bowl pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to wreak havoc all game.

Defensively, the Bucs must focus on limiting Detroit’s physical run game led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Todd Bowles’ defense has been stout up front, but gap discipline and tackling will be critical against one of the league’s best offensive lines. The Bucs also have to make Jared Goff uncomfortable – disrupting his timing with disguised coverages and interior pressure. The key to beating the Lions in Week 2 last year was great red zone defense and picking off Goff twice. Antoine Winfield Jr. and the secondary must stay disciplined against play-action shots to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.

The Lions Win If…

For the Lions to defend their home turf and hand the Buccaneers their second loss of the season, they’ll need to play to their physical identity on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Detroit must set the tone early with its dominant offensive line, opening lanes for Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to wear down Tampa Bay’s stout front seven. Establishing the run will help neutralize Todd Bowles’ blitz-heavy scheme and open up play-action opportunities for Jared Goff.

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs – Photo by: USA Today

Goff has been sharp at home, but he’ll need to stay poised against disguised pressures and quick reads, finding Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in rhythm with short and intermediate passes to keep the chains moving will be key to countering Bowles’ blitzes and pressure packages. The Lions only have three turnovers on offense this year and the Bucs have just two. Protecting the ball will be paramount on Monday night.

Defensively, the Lions’ front four has to win the battle in the trenches. Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill need to collapse the pocket and make Baker Mayfield uncomfortable, forcing him into hurried throws. Detroit’s linebackers must bottle up Rachaad White and limit the Bucs’ screen game, while the secondary can’t afford to give Mike Evans and Tez Johnson free releases. Playing tight coverage and tackling well after the catch will be essential. If the Lions can control time of possession and dictate the tempo, they’ll have the formula to beat a confident Buccaneers squad at Ford Field.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs RT Charlie Heck vs. Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson

Last year, Detroit’s Pro Bowl pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, went off for 4.5 sacks with three of them coming against reserve right tackle Justin Skule, who was filling in for the injured Luke Goedeke. This year it’s reserve Charlie Heck manning the right tackle spot in place of Goedeke and he’s got quite a challenge in front of him. Heck played pretty well against the 49ers, and has the advantage of playing right tackle since Week 2 when Goedeke re-aggravated his foot injury. Last year when Skule replaced Goedeke, he only had two days worth of practice and didn’t play in the season opener. At least Heck has four starts already on the season.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and former RT Justin Skule and Lions DE Aidan Hutchison – Photo by: USA Today

Hutchinson is back from a broken leg that sidelined him for more than half of the 2024 season and looks as good as ever. He leads the Lions with six sacks and could feast against Heck in one-on-one situations. With the Bucs without Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this week, Baker Mayfield could certainly use Cade Otton out in routes to help out as a receiver. But offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard needs to pick and choose when he can do that and when Otton needs to stay at the line of scrimmage and help Heck with chips and double-team blocks on Hutchinson.

Complicating matters for Heck and the Bucs is that they will have a new starting right guard this game. Luke Haggard, who started the last three games next to Heck, injured his shoulder and will be out this week. We don’t know if it will be Michael Jordan, Elijah Klein or Dan Feeney starting in place of Haggard, but communication will be key in an absolutely loud Ford Field on Monday night. The Lions will also stunt and twist Hutchinson inside to attack the right position, as they did last year. So the pass-offs between Heck and whoever is playing right guard must be smooth and timed right in Detroit.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Defense

Bucs DT Vita Vea vs. Lions Interior Offensive Line

The Lions want to establish their potent ground game, which ranks eighth in the NFL, averaging 128.7 yards per game. Detroit is even more prolific on the ground at home where David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have helped the Lions average 143 yards per game at Ford Field. Tampa Bay has the league’s fifth-best run defense, surrendering just 88.2 yards per game – largely due to the effectiveness of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea. The 347-pound Vea clogs the A gap and makes running between the tackles very difficult for opposing offenses.

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

Not only is Vea a premium run defender, he also excels at collapsing the pocket on passing downs. With his brute force and power, Vea can walk guards and centers right back into the laps of quarterbacks or simply just pancake opposing interior offensive linemen. Detroit’s Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow retired during the offseason and Graham Glasgow slid over from guard to play center. He’s played well, but not at the level Ragnow played in recent years.

Detroit has two young guards in Christian Mahogany, who is in his second year, and rookie Tate Ratledge. Both excel as run blockers, but have struggled as pass protectors. Each has allowed two sacks this season. Vea and the Bucs run defense needs to stymie the Lions’ rushing attack on first down with the hope of setting up third-and-long situations. Then Vea, who has 2.5 sacks on the season, can blow up the pocket from the middle as a pass rusher and take advantage of the Lions’ youth along the interior of their offensive line.