Greg Brady
NFL pundit on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You've got to get points off a turnover so maybe both teams are slightly satisfied with that - Detroit because they've got some points on the board and Tampa Bay because they bent but didn't break when backed up to their end zone.

Field goal - Lionspublished at 20:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2024

20:19 GMT 21 January 2024

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-3 Detroit Lions

Michael Badgley chips over a short 23-yard field goal as the Lions fail to punch the ball in from close range on third down.

David Montgomery got the hand off but he was hammered as he tried to barge over the line, and Dan Campbell didn't fancy take a chance of scoring a touchdown on fourth down from four yards out.

Still, points on the board for Detroit.

Detroit have run the ball well to get inside the five-yard line, but Jared Goff almost gives it away as he lobs a ball into the end zone and right at Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean.

He really should've caught that interception but it bounces off his chest and Goff gets a huge slice of luck - can the Lions make the most of it?

Image source, Getty Images

The very next play after the sack, Detroit get the ball back as CJ Gardner-Johnson collects and interception off Baker Mayfield.

It was not all the QB's fault as his throw to Mike Evans was pretty good, but the talented veteran receiver made a bit of a mess of it and tipped it up for Gardner-Johnson - who was one of three Lions who could've grabbed it.

The roof almost comes off Ford Field.

There's a free runner coming off the edge as safety Ifeatu Melifonwu comes steaming into the backfield unopposed and hammers into Baker Mayfield for the sack.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the regular season strongly while the Philadelphia Eagles were in freefall.

And it showed as they met last Monday, with the Bucs dumping out last season's Super Bowl runners-up with rejuvenated quarterback Baker Mayfield claiming three touchdown passes and 337 passing yards.

The Buffalo Bills later beat Pittsburgh to follow the Bucs into the Divisional Round. Click below to watch all the highlights.

Quick three-and-out for the Lions though, which is the perfect start for the Bucs to try and quieten the crowd down.

But the noise is still very much there as Baker Mayfield strides onto the field.

Some of these Detroit fans have waited a lifetime to see their team win in the play-offs and they've brought their voices with them as Tampa Bay get the game underway.

Jared Goff will have first use of the ball at Ford Field.

Image source, BBC Sport

Forget Mahomes v Allen - Baker Mayfield v Jared Goff is the only game tonight to see two former number one overall picks in the draft facing each other.

Goff did get to a Super Bowl with the team that drafted him, the Rams, but was deemed surplus to requirements, while Mayfield has bounced around a bit after leaving Cleveland.

Who would you rather have as your QB? Thumbs up for Goff, down for Baker...

Image source, Getty Images

Baker Mayfield has been around the league since being the top draft pick for the Cleveland Browns, but he looks to have finally found his ideal landing spot in Tampa.

He was brilliant last week against the Eagles, and although he's been hit-and-miss at times this term, he did become the first QB to ever have a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field in a win over Green Bay.

Mayfield became the first Bucs player ever with 300 yards and three touchdown passes in a post-season game last week, which is some going considering Tom Brady was the previous QB...

He's been controversial at times, but one thing we know is he's tough, and he's the ultimate competitor - he'll definitely leave it all out on the field tonight.

It was an emotional night in Detroit last week for the long-suffering Lions fans.

Dan Campbell's team has restored pride in the Motor City and the Lions held on to clinch the team's first play-off win in 32 years.

After waiting 30 years just to host a play-off game, Detroit is staging its second in two weeks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now coming to Motown.

The winners in Detroit tonight go to San Francisco after the 49ers and Green Bay Packers produced the best game of the play-offs so far last night.

The 49ers are the top seed in the NFC Conference, are favourites to win the Super Bowl because of their star-studded roster, and were at home to Green Bay - the NFC's seventh and lowest lead.

Yet the Packers led 21-14 after a thrilling third quarter so the 49ers had to pull off a late fightback to join Baltimore in the last four. Quarterback Brock Purdy answered his critics by leading a game-winning drive while running back Christian McCaffrey, favourite to be this season's Offensive Player of the Year, had two rushing touchdowns.

The Lions certainly have their fair share of celebrity fans, with Eminem topping the bill in the stands last week for the Rams game.

And photos of more celebs at Ford Field are already dropping tonight.

Here's actor, musician and one half of one of the greatest Hollywood comedy double acts of all time - Jeff Daniels.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Dan Campbell has restored pride in a Detroit Lions side that has previously been a bit of a laughing stock - one of only two sides to have had a winless 0-16 season.

They'd basically had nothing to shout about since winning the 1957 NFL Championship in pre-Super Bowl times, until they ended a 30-year wait for a home play-off games last week.

And now they're back today with a team that Campbell has built to be strong in all phases - Jared Goff leading a balanced and free-scoring attack and an energetic young defence.

Finishing 12-5 was huge, bagging a first play-off win for 32 years was colossal, and now they're just a game away from the NFC Championship game. And perhaps even better is they could be challenging for the next few years too.

Image source, Getty Images

The underdogs of the play-offs, the Bucs hardly set the world alight in the regular season with their 9-8 record just about pinching what in truth was a poor NFC South.

They followed a run of six defeats in seven with one of five wins in six to end the season, before showing that it's all about getting there when they took out the Eagles last week.

And it was a total rout of last year's Super Bowl runners-up as well, with Baker Mayfield throwing three TDs and the defence dominant - showing they're a threat when they put it together.

It'd be a huge shock to see them in the NFC title game, but we've seen many times that absolutely anything can happen in the play-offs.

The Baltimore Ravens were the first team to book a spot in next week's Conference Championship games.

The Ravens are the top seed in the AFC Conference having finished with the NFL's best record in the regular season (13-4).

After their first-round bye, they joined the play-offs at home to the AFC's fourth seed Houston, and although they were tied at 10-10 after a hard-fought first half, Baltimore dominated the second.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson, the favourite to be named this season's Most Valuable Player, finished with two rushing touchdowns and two touchdown passes to register just the second play-off win of his career.

Here's what's to come tonight, and after the opening Divisional Round games on Saturday, the challenge is pretty simple - win and you face either Baltimore or San Francisco for a place in the Super Bowl:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions (20:00)
• Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills (23:30)

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome back pigskin fans to a real super Sunday of NFL play-off action, and oh boy do we have a couple of games for you.

The Detroit Lions waited three decades to host a play-off game and tonight will be their second in a week! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers arrive looking to spoil the party.

And later, the final game of the Divisional Round is the big one, as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen renew their rivalry as the Kansas City Chiefs visit the Buffalo Bills.

So get your snacks ready, settle in and get ready for what should be a grandstand Sunday.