Bucs head coach Todd Bowles was excited – and a bit relieved – in the locker room following the team’s 20-16 win at Detroit in a revenge game against the Lions. Bowles’ banged up defense pressured Lions quarterback Jared Goff throughout the game and forced him into a pair of interceptions. In two losses to Detroit last year Goff threw four touchdowns but did not throw an interception.

Cornerback Zyon McCollum, who was coming off a concussion he suffered in Week 1, had his first career pick on Goff’s first pass of the day. He nearly had two more and wound up with a career-high four pass breakups in Detroit.

While Tampa Bay’s defense didn’t register a sack on the day, it did break up nine of Goff’s passes and didn’t allow in points in the fourth quarter after surrendering two late touchdowns in last year’s 31-23 loss at Detroit in the playoffs.

Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today

The last four Lions possessions on Sunday ended in a punt, an interception by Christian Izien, who was filling in for All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and two turnovers on downs – both of which ended inside Tampa Bay’s 30-yard line.

“Hey, guys – that’s a hell of a win in a hell of a place,” Bowles said. “And that was a hell of a team over there. Like last year, guys, it only gets us to 2-0. We didn’t win a championship today, right? And we haven’t even been full speed. I’m sure they weren’t, but we were half speed as well.  We’ve got things to get better at.

“Enjoy the day, enjoy the ride, enjoy the night, we’ll watch the film. We’ve got to be on to Denver. We’ve got to be on to Denver. We’ve got to act like we’ve been here. Act like we’ve been here, but that’s a hell of a job! Hell of a job! Break it down.”

Baker Mayfield Praises Todd Bowles’ Bucs Defense

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

At that point, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles turned it over to his players as he exited to go speak to the media. Inside linebacker K.J. Britt and quarterback Baker Mayfield joined forces in the locker room to break it down for the team.

Mayfield began by praising Todd Bowles’ defense for holding the Lions to just 1-of-7 (17%) in the red zone.

Detroit scored just one touchdown and kicked three field goals on Sunday after scoring four touchdowns and kicking one field goal in the playoff win over Tampa Bay back in January to end the Bucs’ 2024 season and advance to the NFC Championship Game.

“Hey, defense I can’t say enough about you guys,” Mayfield said. “That’s a f*cking hell of job, man – holding up in there in the end. Offense, scratched it and clawed – good team win. Keep building this thing! Bucs on three – one, two, three, Bucs!”

You can watch the clip of Bowles’ address to the team in the video below.

The Lions fell to 1-1 with the loss, but the Bucs begin the season 2-0 for a fourth straight year. Meanwhile the Broncos will come to Tampa Bay for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff with a 0-2 record. The Bucs are tied with the Saints atop the NFC South – both with 2-0 records, although neither team has played a division game yet. The Panthers are 0-2, while the Falcons lost their home opener to Pittsburgh last week and will play 1-0 Philadelphia on Monday Night Football.